Mitchell County, NC

NEWLAND — Avery’s baseball seniors contributed mightily throughout the 2021 season, and the trio were pivotal to the Vikings in a split of an afternoon doubleheader at Viking Field on Friday, June 11. The Big Red used a strong pitching performance and key hitting to take the first game of the twin bill, while the team refused to give up in the second matchup, overcoming an eight-run deficit only to have the Mitchell Mountaineers mount a late-inning rally of its own to salvage a split of the two games.

Avery Vikings wrestling continued its march toward state championship glory with a regular-season dual meet finale and Senior Night victory last week over the Mitchell Mountaineers, and concluded the week with 11 separate individual conference champions, 12 state qualifiers and a team title at the Western Highlands Conference Wrestling Tournament at Madison High School on June 10.

BAKERSVILLE — Mitchell Medics EMS Director Bryant Reid hopes to provide a smooth transition of EMS services starting July 1. During the regular meeting of the Mitchell County Board of Commissioners on Monday, June 7, Reid provided an EMS update and said he is looking forward to working with county staff as he helps keep Mitchell Medics on track to go fully live on July 1.

The following information is courtesy of Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Shannon Buchanan, 35, of 11 White Oak Crossing in Bakersville, was charged by Deputy D. LaPlante with misdemeanor resisting arrest, misdemeanor assault and communicating threats. Buchanan was issued a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 16, 2021.

Maude Rachel Miller Mitchell, 97, of Elk Park, North Carolina (the Beech Mountain Community) passed away on Monday, June 7, 2021 at the Charles A. Cannon Memorial Hospital in Linville, N.C. She was born on April 15, 1924 in Avery County, North Carolina, a daughter of the late McKinley Miller...

SPRUCE PINE — Ariana Maniatis joined the News-Journal Monday, June 7 as the paper’s reporter. Maniatis replaces Juliana Walker, who resigned from the position this past February to take a job with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. She had served in the role since March 2020. “I’m excited to...

Driving between his home in Spruce Pine and his family’s Stonbach Farms in rural Mitchell County, Conner Stonbach says he used to see tobacco growing everywhere. But that was in the early 2000s — now, he says, “We’re one of the last ones left.”. Stonbach isn’t exaggerating. The U.S. Department...

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Driving down a mountain can be an intense experience for even the most experienced driver. The twists and turns can be difficult to navigate. "She was flying down those mountains,” Hope Bailey said. "She was on two wheels then we saw her just fly over the side of the mountain!"

The following information is courtesy of Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Lee Hoilman, 51, of 858 Saylor Lake Rd. in Bakersville, was charged by Lieutenant J. Holmes with misdemeanor simple assault. He was issued $1,500 bond and scheduled to appear in court on 6/16/2021.

JB Mitchell (JBo) was born on Beech Mountain on November 30, 1937 and passed away on June 5, 2021. He grew up on Buck Mountain close to the Floyd Hayes family, who encouraged him to work and achieve his goals. JB attended Elk Park School until he joined the Navy...

Lee Hoilman, 51 of 858 Saylor Lake Rd., Bakersville, NC. Lieutenant J. Holmes arrested Hoilman for misdemeanor simple assault. He was issued $1,500.00 bond and scheduled to appear in court on 6/16/2021. Anthony Taylor Fox, 21 of 1025 Cherrybrook Ct., Kannapolis, NC. Lieutenant J. English arrested Fox for warrants issued...

Longtime former Mitchell County Sheriff and former Spruce Pine Police Chief Coy Daniel Hollifield, passed away on Sunday, May 30th. Hollifield, age 72, of Greenberry Road, Bakersville, served as a respected member of the law enforcement community for forty-two years. Coy Hollifield was also a former Marine who served in the Vietnam War. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 5, at 4:00PM in Freedom Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 2:00PM until 4:00PM prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at GreenLee Cemetery on Dale Rd, Spruce Pine with Sgt. EL Randolph Chapter 57 DAV conducting military honors.

MITCHELL COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Authorities are looking for a church bell that was reported stolen in Mitchell County. Detective Cecil Hobson said it happened at the Rockdale Community Church off Rockdale Road. The bell was reported missing on Wednesday, June 2, at around 3 p.m. However, authorities say the...

Phillip Jarrett, age 78, of Hamburg Road in Bakersville, the Bear Creek community, passed away on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals in Asheville. Born on November 27, 1942 in Mitchell County, he was the son of the late Norman and Marie Pitman Jarrett. Phillip...

BAKERSVILLE — Mitchell County Economic Development Commission Director Mickey Duvall this past week released his report for May. Duvall’s report starts with touting the EDC’s Project Red Hawk, which is a North Carolina Department of Commerce Building Reuse industrial expansion project for the county. The EDC will bring the project...

The following information is courtesy of Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Shelby Lynn Schafer, 26, of 355 Lakeside Dr. in Bakersville, was charged by Deputy N. Bowman with misdemeanor possession of Schedule IV controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Schafer was issued a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 16, 2021.

Shelby Lynn Schafer, 26 of 355 Lakeside Dr., Bakersville, NC. Deputy N. Bowman arrested Schafer for misdemeanor possession of SCH IV controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. She was issued $1,000.00 bond and scheduled to appear in court on 6/16/2021. Ryan A. Bateson, 40 of 399 Lakeside Dr., Bakersville,...

New Mountain Bike Pump Track Opened in Western North Carolina. Officials in Spruce Pine, located in Mitchell County, N.C., recently announced the opening of western Carolina’s newest mountain bike pump track called The Thickets. The track opened this past Saturday, May 22, at Brad Ragan Park near Shelter #3. The...

BAKERSVILLE — Starting next year, Mayland Community College plans to make an annual contribution from its Pinebridge Inn revenue to both Mitchell County and the Town of Spruce Pine to provide something in return for the services both entities provide. The decision was made Tuesday, May 18 during a special...