One of the most beautiful, poignant sounds to echo out into the ancient mountains of Western North Carolina is that of a train whistle in motion. And in downtown Bryson City, that iconic howl is heard almost daily. Most recently, it signaled the inaugural departure of the Great Smoky Mountains Music Train. 

Hello from Room 2 at the Everett Hotel, overlooking the corner of Everett and Main in downtown Bryson City. Exactly 12 hours ago, I was stepping off the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Music Train (six acts in six cars with six bartenders over the course of three hours), only to be quickly swept into a nearby dive bar, CJ’s Grille, just across the tracks on Depot Street. 

The annual “Arts & Crafts Drive-About Tour” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 26-27 at featured studios in Bryson City, Stecoah and Robbinsville.

With their studios open to the public, the self-guided driving tour highlights artisans who have built a livelihood with their creative talents.

Regional Americana act Somebody’s Child will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

For more than a decade, Ashley Claxton and Cola Williamson have been filling the venues of Western North Carolina with their intrepid sounds.

The new Bryson City wastewater treatment plant broke ground on May 19 in a public ceremony, but town Director of Engineering and Public Works Nate Bowe anticipates far less recognition during the next phase of the project.  

“In the utility world, there’s not a lot that’s typically visible, except during construction, when we’re in everybody’s way, and we’re making a mess,” he said, adding that “public feedback is not usually positive.” 

Swain County Commission meetings have become increasingly heated over the past couple of months. 

One side consists of several vocal constituents and Commissioner David Loftis, sick of what they categorize as unlawful decisions and a general lack of transparency on behalf of the board.

Even ahead of calculating the budget, Swain County’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 costs are likely to be higher, said County Manager Lottie Barker. 

“It’s across the board, different depending on what the department has asked for, as well as special appropriations.

Residents, business owners and community leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Swain County are invited to attend a pair of public open house meetings.

The Swain County open house will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Community Room of the Swain County Administration Building in Bryson City. The EBCI open house will be held from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Yellowhill Community Building in Cherokee. 

To the Editor:

I sent this letter via email to our congressmen, Rep. Chuck Edwards and Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis.

In Bryson City, I'm preparing to vote in the Primary. We’re a poor county; most of the property is national forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Candidates for local offices are telling us how they plan to fund our outdated, worn-out infrastructure. There’s not enough sewer or water service for a new middle school, new housing or new business structures.

Swain County commissioners held a Feb. 3 work session with updates about animal shelter funding and the interim county manager. But since neither process was explicitly spelled out to the public, audience members may have left with remaining questions. Here’s a breakdown of some potential questions. 

What happened regarding the labor cost of the animal shelter? Did commissioners do anything wrong?