Reporting at the Mitchell news-journal
I currently work in my hometown, Spruce Pine, as a reporter at the local newspaper The Mitchell News-Journal. As the sole reporter, I pitch, report on and write a majority of the content in each week’s paper. Below, I’ve outlined some of my favorite stories I’ve written and reported on during my time at the News-Journal so far. To read my most recent stories, click on the button below.
Brian Center Activities Director Debbie Finley, left, and resident Mary Jarvis wave at cars passing by Thursday, May 14, during a drive-thru parade.
Halley Burleson hands out fliers to local residents at the special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25. (MNJ Photo/Juliana Walker)
Jenny Lou Sherburne, a clay artist, said she’s taken time during the pandemic to listen to her “creative dissatisfactions” and take her “artistic temperature.”
Brian Center residents treated to a parade
In early May, in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, members of the community organized a drive-thru parade for the local Brian Health & Rehabilitation Center in Spruce Pine, NC.
For this story, I reported on the scene, anticipating the parade to last a few minutes with a dozen cars. To my surprise, nearly 100 vehicles took part in the parade and it lasted for more than 30 minutes.
Seeing tears of joys on residents faces after not being able to interact with their families and friends for two months was something supremely special. It reminded me of the importance of human connection and my job as a local, small-town reporter.
Community meeting draws scores to Poplar
The Mitchell County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting at the Poplar Community Building in late August in order for commissioners to get community input on possibly designating a seven-mile portion of the Nolichucky River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Commissioners and local resident Halley Burleson, who is spearheading the effort, expressed they hoped people would show up. And show up, they did. More than 100 members of the small community were in attendance. The meeting heated up quickly and stayed hot.
For this story, I was able to venture outside of my comfort zone and interact with members of the small mountain community I have lived near my whole life but had never really gotten to know. It was eye-opening, and because the newspaper had not reported very much on the wild and scenic designation previously, I was tasked with covering the meeting as well as providing a lot of background on the topic.
Local artists cope with how the coronavirus affects them
After wanting to speak with local artists to get their take on the pandemic for months, the stars aligned to allow me to report this feature.
I met with three artists located in Bakersville, NC about how the pandemic had affected them artistically, mentally and financially and it led to a story about privilege, e-commerce and re-focusing artistic expression.
With stories like these, I tend to ask the same questions basically. It’s always fascinating to hear the similarities and differences from people on how they view a topic.
Dixie Renfro, a Bakersville resident and recipient of Meals on Wheels. “The people are just the nicest, and the food is pretty good, considering how picky I can be,” she said, laughing.
‘It’s not just a meal’
My mother has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Mitchell County for several years and when the stay-at-home order went into place, one of my first thoughts was about how that would change.. and how it wouldn’t.
I went with my mom on her meal delivery route one day and talked to nearly all of the meal recipients she delivers to.
Most of them were already staying at home before the Governor’s order, but their lives had still changed just like everyone else.