News

George and Elizabeth Ellison are pictured at their home on Lands Creek.

George and Elizabeth Ellison are pictured at their home on Lands Creek.

Renowned naturalist George Ellison has died

News Staff
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Swain County resident and renowned naturalist and author George Robert Ellison II died on Sunday, Feb. 19 at the age of 81.
Pandemic-era added funds for SNAP benefit recipients are set to expire for North Carolina on March 1.

Pandemic-era added funds for SNAP benefit recipients are set to expire for North Carolina on March 1.

Extra SNAP benefits to expire at end of February

News Staff
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   The extra SNAP benefits introduced to help people during the pandemic will officially expire for North Carolinians as of March 1, according to Janet Jones, Swain County Department of Social Services Economic Services Supervisor.
Fred Crawford, president of the Smoky Mountain Beekeepers Association, shows off one of his beehives at his farm in Whittier.

Fred Crawford, president of the Smoky Mountain Beekeepers Association, shows off one of his beehives at his farm in Whittier.

Smoky Mountain Beekeepers president shares the joys of managing beehives

News Staff
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Smoky Mountain Beekeepers Association president Fred Crawford currently has three beehives on the 13-acre farm where he lives in Whittier, which he hopes will produce fruitful bounties of honey and wax as the weather warms.
Timber framing going up at the building owned by Rollon and Sherry Smith next to Everett Street bridge was drawing attention this week.

Timber framing going up at the building owned by Rollon and Sherry Smith next to Everett Street bridge was drawing attention this week.

Smith building on Everett Street will make Tuckasegee River the main attraction

News Staff
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
A new project in town has people stopping on the Everett Street sidewalk to stare. Early this week, an impressive timber frame started going up right next to the Everett Street bridge along the Tuckasegee River.

Deciding what's best for erosion control

News Staff
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Jessica Webb editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County Board of Commissioners provided for time to further discuss a plan to rescind the local erosion and sediment control ordinance during the work session meeting last Tuesday (Jan. 7).
Swain County High School Athletic Director Neil Blankenship is now a member of an exalted club for his profession, as he’s been added to the 29th class of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) Hall of Fame. But he’s too busy and too humble, to spend time gloating. “It’s not my cup of tea,” Blankenship said. “I’m not in it for the awards.” At many—if not all—of Swain High’s sporting events one can find Blankenship night after night, he takes time to do things some athletic directors mig

Swain County High School Athletic Director Neil Blankenship is now a member of an exalted club for his profession, as he’s been added to the 29th class of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) Hall of Fame. But he’s too busy and too humble, to spend time gloating. “It’s not my cup of tea,” Blankenship said. “I’m not in it for the awards.” At many—if not all—of Swain High’s sporting events one can find Blankenship night after night, he takes time to do things some athletic directors mig

Swain's Neil Blankenship added to NC Athletic Directors Hall of Fame

News Staff
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Larry Griffin lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com   Swain County High School Athletic Director Neil Blankenship is now a member of an exalted club for his profession, as he’s been added to the 29th class of the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) Hall of Fame.

BOE installs Fuller as interim director

News Staff
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Swain County Board of Elections met for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7 with a short agenda. Orders of business included reviewing information on the hiring process for new director and a discussion about an interim temporary assignment.

Aldermen hire Sam Pattillo as new town manager

News Staff
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Not every leadership transition smooth  but Bryson City Town Board of Aldermen are confident in this will be. Current town manager Regina Mathis turned in her resignation Jan. 10 and will be leaving the position Feb. 17. On Monday evening, Feb.