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Photo/Joanna McMahan. Rylee Rawls, junior, reflects on win and reaching 400 career strikeouts against Tuscola Thursday, March 27.

Photo/Joanna McMahan. Rylee Rawls, junior, reflects on win and reaching 400 career strikeouts against Tuscola Thursday, March 27.

Rylee Rawls surpasses 400 career strikeouts

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com The Lady Devils softball team, led by pitcher Rylee Rawls, has done it again in a double-header against Andrews High School Tuesday evening. The final score in the first game was 13-0 and the final score in the second game was 19-1.
SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Amy Green, (front, l-r); Diane Jones, Morgan Thompson, Tammy Davis, (middle, l-r) Chris Roth, Bree Clawson, Christine Colcord, Connie Manly, Bronti Rudloff, Mike Shakar, Evan Hatch. (Back, l-r) Ricky Sanford, Ann Bullock, Dan Manley, Lisa Kim Fisher; Melanie Garuffi, Ann Marie Wright, Jeff Delfield, Toby Allman, Arthur Tribble, Nick Nichols.

SMT photo/Sara Eisinger. Amy Green, (front, l-r); Diane Jones, Morgan Thompson, Tammy Davis, (middle, l-r) Chris Roth, Bree Clawson, Christine Colcord, Connie Manly, Bronti Rudloff, Mike Shakar, Evan Hatch. (Back, l-r) Ricky Sanford, Ann Bullock, Dan Manley, Lisa Kim Fisher; Melanie Garuffi, Ann Marie Wright, Jeff Delfield, Toby Allman, Arthur Tribble, Nick Nichols.

Swain County United Gift Fund gives back

News Staff
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Representatives from community organizations out to make a real difference gathered for a luncheon hosted by Swain County United Gift Fund at United Community Bank last Thursday.
SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. More than 150 law enforcement officers, dignitaries, friends and family members wish Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy retiree, a happy retirement at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21. Gardner has 30 years of creditable law enforcement service.

SMT photos/Sara Eisinger. More than 150 law enforcement officers, dignitaries, friends and family members wish Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy retiree, a happy retirement at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21. Gardner has 30 years of creditable law enforcement service.

21 years of service: Gardner retires

News Staff
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Officers from every law enforcement agency in Western North Carolina attended the retirement party for Jason Gardner, Swain County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy, at the Business Education and Training Center on Friday, March 21.
Photo/Rosemary Pearl Moore. Cassie Fortner as Dorothy, Scout Claxton as Scarecrow, Myles Taylor as Tin Man and Hunter Smith as Cowardly Lion stand arm-in-arm on their way to Oz during a ‘Wizard of Oz’ rehearsal at Swain Arts Center Friday, March 14. Approximately 30 Swain County elementary through high school students were cast in the play.

Photo/Rosemary Pearl Moore. Cassie Fortner as Dorothy, Scout Claxton as Scarecrow, Myles Taylor as Tin Man and Hunter Smith as Cowardly Lion stand arm-in-arm on their way to Oz during a ‘Wizard of Oz’ rehearsal at Swain Arts Center Friday, March 14. Approximately 30 Swain County elementary through high school students were cast in the play.

Appalachian ‘Wizard of Oz’

News Staff
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Dorothy’s ruby red boots are sure to glisten under Swain Arts Center’s bright lights in an all student led, Appalachia themed “The Wizard of Oz” production starting Friday, March 28.
Photo/Charles Bryson. Fire crews work around the clock to contain the wildfire across Alarka Tuesday, March 25. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the fire had spread approximately 1,000 acres with 0% containment.

Photo/Charles Bryson. Fire crews work around the clock to contain the wildfire across Alarka Tuesday, March 25. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the fire had spread approximately 1,000 acres with 0% containment.

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

News Staff
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com Fire crews are working around the clock to contain the Alarka wildfire. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the fire had spread approximately 1,000 acres with 0% containment.
Photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain Clean Co-chair Tom Womble spends his morning retrieving a wicker couch swing from the Tuckasegee River behind the pavilion on Saturday, March 15. A little spring rain could not stop nearly a dozen Swain Clean volunteers from picking up around the river and roadways.

Photo/Sara Eisinger. Swain Clean Co-chair Tom Womble spends his morning retrieving a wicker couch swing from the Tuckasegee River behind the pavilion on Saturday, March 15. A little spring rain could not stop nearly a dozen Swain Clean volunteers from picking up around the river and roadways.

Spring rain could not keep Swain Clean away

News Staff
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A little spring rain could not keep nearly a dozen Swain Clean volunteers from picking up around the river and roadways on Saturday. “We got about 40 bags of trash, a car hood and other broken car pieces,” said Swain Clean Co-chair Tom Womble.
Photo/Sara Eisinger. Bobby Jenkins, Swain County Commissioner and site supervisor, (left to right), Lottie Barker, Swain County Manager, Crystal Jones, AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center Executive Director, Celeste Young, AWAKE Case Manager, Kristen Brady, AWAKE Manager and Ashley Cook, AWAKE Operational Coordinator discuss the opening of Youth Wellness Home next to the Business Education Training Center in Bryson City Monday, Feb. 17.

Photo/Sara Eisinger. Bobby Jenkins, Swain County Commissioner and site supervisor, (left to right), Lottie Barker, Swain County Manager, Crystal Jones, AWAKE Children’s Advocacy Center Executive Director, Celeste Young, AWAKE Case Manager, Kristen Brady, AWAKE Manager and Ashley Cook, AWAKE Operational Coordinator discuss the opening of Youth Wellness Home next to the Business Education Training Center in Bryson City Monday, Feb. 17.

Youth Wellness Home opens this spring

News Staff
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Children in Swain County will have a safe place to lay their head at night thanks to a new center opening this spring. Youth Wellness Home is a homelike impermanent placement for kids ages 0-18.
Photo/Sara Eisinger. Bryson City Fire Department Chief Charles Bryson seeks funding to hire additional firefighters during a joint Swain County Board of Commissioners and Town of Bryson City Board of Aldermen work session at the Swain County Administration Building Thursday, March 13. Bryson asked that residents concerned about fire protection contact their any of their five commissioners.

Photo/Sara Eisinger. Bryson City Fire Department Chief Charles Bryson seeks funding to hire additional firefighters during a joint Swain County Board of Commissioners and Town of Bryson City Board of Aldermen work session at the Swain County Administration Building Thursday, March 13. Bryson asked that residents concerned about fire protection contact their any of their five commissioners.

More paid firefighters needed, says Bryson

News Staff
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Bryson City Fire Department Chief Charles Bryson sought funding to hire additional firefighters during a joint Swain County Board of Commissioners and Town of Bryson City Board of Aldermen work session Thursday, March 13.
Submitted photo. Father Nathaniel “Scott” Jackson, 47, who died in the fire, stands with children Nathaniel Jr. (left to right), Anthony and Landon in a recent family photo.

Submitted photo. Father Nathaniel “Scott” Jackson, 47, who died in the fire, stands with children Nathaniel Jr. (left to right), Anthony and Landon in a recent family photo.

Playing for a cause

News Staff
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.com   A basketball tournament to raise money for the Jackson family is scheduled to tip-off in the Swain County Middle School gym at 8 p.m. this Saturday, March 15.
SMT Photo/Sara Eisinger. Pam Pulley stands alongside former Republican Florida state Sen. Nancy Argenziano (2002-08), protesting recent administrative actions at the corner of Everett and Main streets on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4. They rallied with members of Swain County Democratic Party and other supporters to “end executive overreach and uphold the Constitution.”

SMT Photo/Sara Eisinger. Pam Pulley stands alongside former Republican Florida state Sen. Nancy Argenziano (2002-08), protesting recent administrative actions at the corner of Everett and Main streets on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4. They rallied with members of Swain County Democratic Party and other supporters to “end executive overreach and uphold the Constitution.”

Supporters rally against DOGE

News Staff
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Sara Eisinger sara@thesmokymountaintimes.