Submitted photo Crews burned large piles of wood and debris collected in 2025 during the 288 Cleanup.
SMT photo/ Sara Eisinger. Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland announces the launch of the office’s mobile app Feb. 9.
Submitted photo. Coaches Jeff Epps (left to right) and Danny Antoine instruct Swain Academy students at Kavod Fitness in Franklin in Feb.
Photo/George Musil. Little girl proudly holds the bucket of Easter eggs she found at Darnell Farms April 12, 2025.
Submitted photo. From left: Katelyn McNorrill, trombone, Frank Carrasco, clarinet; Joy Guest, clarinet; Ernest Locust, bass clarinet; Mya Hyde, flute; Joseph Demonet, trombone; Sarah Smith, alto sax; Deshawn Collier, percussion; Isabel Barker, clarinet; Adam Scheid, baritone; Lucas Dickens, trumpet; Abraham Palmer, bari sax; and Tommy Dickens, clarinet, play in regional All-District Band Clinic at WCU.
Photo/Nate Bowe. The Town of Bryson City is working on various capital projects to improve pedestrian safety, water distribution and sewer collection systems to include current waterline installation near Slope Street Feb. 11.
Photo/George Musil. Darnell Farms draws approximately 100,000 visitors each year, with more than 1,000 having attended the 2025 Easter Eggstravaganza last April.
Since June 2025, three sheriffs have lost their jobs – Dustin Smith in Cherokee County, Bradley Hoxit in Graham County (who at present is only suspended) and Curtis Cochran in Swain County – with Welch playing a central role in all three, and Sellers presiding over two of the cases.
Candidates for House District 119
Submitted photo. School counselors Lindsay Altizer, Swain East Elementary, (left to right); Anna Roland, Swain High School; Neil Holden, Swain West Elementary: Katie Aldridge, Swain Middle School; Ian Roper, Swain High School; and Ciera Wiggins, Swain Middle School, are celebrated at Swain County Schools during National School Counseling Week, Feb. 2-6.