PODCAST · news
We Are Mitchell
by Mitchell County, NC Government
We Are Mitchell is a collection of information and interviews about the recovery response to Hurricane Helene in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Produced in a partnership between Mitchell County Government and WTOE Radio in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, We Are Mitchell is committed to giving citizens updated accurate information on how our communities are recovering.
Episodes
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Preserve, Plan, and Protect - Brandon Pitman
Preserve, Plan, and Prosper is an August 26th workshop sponsored by Mitchell County Cooperative Extension to provide information on farm and forest land preservation. It allows landowners to learn more about preservation of their properties along with land succession planning opportunities.…
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Fireworks Safety this July 4 - Andrew Brewer
Mitchell County Fire Marshal Andrew Brewer joins us to discuss how to be safe using fireworks during the Independence Day holiday. We also have a brief discussion about the drought conditions in the region and we wrap up with a review of making preparations as we are in hurricane season.
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Red Cross Wildfire Presentation June 6, 2026 - Stephanie Pitman
Stephanie Pitman with the Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group joins us to discuss an upcoming presentation by the American Red Cross and North Carolina Forest Service on wildfire safety. The presentation is Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the former Bowman Middle School in Bakersville.
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Fire Danger is High - Bryan Brewer
Mitchell County Assistant Fire Marshal and Fire Coordinator Bryan Brewer joins us to discuss the dangerous wildfire conditions in our region, what the Burn Ban means and how it is being enforced, and steps to take to protect yourself from the threat of wildfires.
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FEMA Deadline is March 25 - Sophie Phillips
The deadline for filing appeals to FEMA on open claims is March 25, 2026. Mitchell Long-Term Resilience Group representative Sophie Phillips joins us to discuss the deadline and what options might be available to those who filed a FEMA claim.
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The Drought - Jason Boyer
WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer joins us to discuss the severe-level drought that our region has now been experiencing for several months and what that means both for pour weather and for the risk of wildfires in our region.
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Spring Wildfire Season - Bryan Brewer
Spring Fire Season is upon us, and Mitchell County Fire Coordinator Bryan Brewer joins us to discuss the dangers that are out there again this spring and steps you can take to help prevent wildfires.
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Tourism Summit is March 19 - Kelly Jones
The second Mitchell County Tourism Summit is March 19. Tourism Development Authority Director Kelly Jones joins us to talk about the summit and the unveiling of a new branding initiative for Mitchell County tourism along with what they expect from tourism for the area in 2026.
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Landscape Recovery and Preparedness Open House - Zac O‘Donnell
Damage to the streams, land, and trees, is a legacy that Helene has left in Western North Carolina. On Saturday, February 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, the Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development group is coordinating a group of agencies and organizations who are working to either repair that...
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January 31 Winter Storm Update - Jason Boyer
The worst of the snow has passed us, but now dangerous cold is setting in WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer shares what to expect as we head for Sunday and a cold start to next week.
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Emergency Management Says Get Prepared Again for Winter Weather - John Masters
As snow returns to our region for the weekend, Mitchell County Emergency Management is getting ready for the storm. John Masters, Assistant EM Director for the county joins us to go over preparations being made to deal with this storm.
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Here Comes Winter Storm #2 - Jason Boyer
Get ready because here it comes! Winter storm #2 is expected to begin in our area Friday afternoon. WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer joins us to share what they are expecting from this storm and the timeline for its effects.
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RenewNC Deadline is January 31 - Stephanie Pitman
The deadline to enroll for consideration by RenewNC for funds to help repair damage from Hurricane Helene is Saturday, January 31. Stephaie Pitman with the Mitchell County Long-Term Resilience Group joins us to talk about the program, help for those who have questions about RenewNC, and shares…
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Winter Storm Number Two - Jason Boyer
WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer is with us to talk about round two of winter weather that is approaching Mitchell County this weekend. Looks like we are going to have the first substantial county-wide snowfall Friday and Saturday. He gives us details on the storm including timing, what to expect,...
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Winter Weather Update for January 27, 2026 - Andrew Brewer
Mitchell County Emergency Management Director Andrew Brewer joins us with an update on conditions in Mitchell County following the ice/freezing rain storm of the past weekend, plus we discuss another potential winter storm for the end of this week.
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January 26, 2026 Weather Update with Jason Boyer
WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer has a weather update for Monday afternoon, night, and Tuesday morning (January 26 & 27). It‘s gonna be dangerously cold and we encourage everyone to stay in and stay safe as life-threatening cold combined with icy conditions makes being out treacherous.
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Winter Storm Update - Andrew Brewer
Mitchell County Emergency Management Director Andrew Brewer gives an update on the winter storm as of Sunday, January 25, 2026 at noon. He shares what we can expect for the next couple of days.
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Jason Boyer - Weather Update for January 24, 2026
Precipitation is beginning to fall from the winter storm and WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer has the latest updated forecast for Mitchell County.
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Bryan Brewer - Dealing with Carbon Monoxide and Frozen Water Pipes
Bryan Brewer, Fire Coordinator for Mitchell County, joins us to discuss two important things to remember during this winter weather: guarding against carbon monoxide poisoning and dealing with frozen water pipes during extremely cold weather.
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Jason Boyer - Update on Winter Storm
WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer joins us with an update on the approaching winter storm and the final steps you should take to prepare for its arrival Saturday afternoon.
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Andrew Brewer and Allen Cook - Make Preparations for Winter Storm
County fire Marshal and Interim Emergency Management Director Andrew Brewer and County Manager Allen Cook release a public statement concerning preparations for the winter storm for the weekend of January 24-25, 2026.
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WLOS Meteorologist Jason Boyer on the Potential Winter Storm on January 24-25, 2026
Jason Boyer of WLOS television in Asheville joins us to talk about the approaching winter storm, including how the forecast is developed, what is expected to happen in the area for the event, and steps you should take now to prepare.
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Andrew Brewer on Making Preparations for the Potential Winter Storm
Mitchell County Fire Marshal and Interim Emergency Management Coordinator Andrew Brewer joins us to talk about the potential winter storm for January 24 & 25. He goes over preparations the county is making for the storm and gives tips on what residents should do to be ready for “The Next 72.”
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Merry in Mitchell 2025 - Kelly Jones
Merry in Mitchell returns for its second season this Christmas and Kelly Jones, Director of the Tourism Development Authority in Mitchell County joins us to talk about this celebration of the Christmas season and how local individuals, businesses, and organizations can get involved.
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POWR Water Study in Mitchell County - Jackie McDonald-Gibson
NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill joined forces to look at changes in water sources in our region that may be due to Helene's visit in 2024. Today, we talk with Jackie McDonald-Gibson from NC State about POWR, a study on drinking water in Mitchell County that was conducted earlier this…
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November 1 Agriculture Summit - Brandon Pitman
Mitchell County Cooperative Extension is joining forces with Yancey County Cooperative Extension, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, and the Mayland Community College Small Business Center to host an Agricultural Summit at the Mayland Community College Yancey Campus on Saturday, November 1 from 9...
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Town Hall Meeting - October 23, 2025
Mitchell County Government held a town hall meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2025 in the auditorium of the old Bowman Middle School in Bakersville. This is the audio from that meeting, including questions from attendees. We apologize in advance for some of the lower-quality audio present. There...
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Old Crow Medicine Show Concert - Gina Phillips
A headlining act will be performing in Spruce Pine October 25 when Old Crow Medicine Show takes the stage as part of a benefit to raise money for Helene recovery. Hilloween founder Gina Phillips is the guest on today's program and she talks about how the concert is coming about, sharing tidbits...
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Wildfire Threat from Helene - Philip Jackson, NC Forest Service
The threat of wildfire in Western North Carolina has been greatly increased with the tree and foliage damage caused by Helene. On today‘s We Are Mitchell, our guest is Philip Jackson with the North Carolina Forest Service who discusses what happened to our forestlands and how you can prepare your...
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September 26, 2025 Briefing About Potential Tropical Weather - Andrew Brewer
Andrew Brewer, Interim Mitchell County Emergency Management Director, released this statement Friday about potential tropical weather impacting the region the week of September 29-October 3.
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Remembering Helene Commemoration on September 27. - Sophia Phillips
Remembering Helene is coming up on Saturday, September 27 at three fire stations in Mitchell County. Sophia Phillips gives one last update on what will be taking place, plus we talk about the project to gather stories about Helene that will be recording at each location on Saturday.
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Remembering Helene (Part 2) - Sophia Phillips
A special series of events are planned for Saturday, September 27 to commemorate the 1st anniversary of Helene striking our region. Sophia Phillips joins us again to talk more about what is happening on that special day.
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Remembering Helene - Sophia Phillips
There is a special set of commemorative events scheduled for September 27 at three fire departments in Mitchell County. Under the collective name Remembering Helene, these gatherings will feature food, giveaways, prizes, a speaker, and more. Sophia Phillips joins the podcast to discuss the plans...
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The Night Sky in 2024 - Dr. Dan Caton
While the focus of our podcast has been the recovery from Helene‘s fury, there was more going on in the sky in 2024 than the hurricane. There was a solar eclipse, two auroras, and a comet that all appeared in our region last year. And the capper happened a month before Helene: a meteor exploded...
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Hellbender Festival in Spruce Pine - Spencer Bost
The first Hellbender Festival is coming to downtown Spruce Pine August 30. WTOE‘s Bruce Ikard caught up with Downtown Spruce Pine Director Spencer Bost for a quick discussion of the festival and all the events taking place.
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VRC-LTRG Merger - Stephanie Pitman
Mitchell County‘s Volunteer Resources Center, which was formed shortly after Helene struck the area last year to organize volunteer groups and match them with needs is merging with the Mitchell County Long-Term Resiliency Group as of September 1st. While the Center is going away in name, its…
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Debris Update - Allen Cook
There has been confusion over the Private Property Debris Removal program that is trying to get started up in Mitchell County. Allen Cook joins us to try and help clear up some of the confusion and explain what is going on with that program, the public debris collection site in Bakersville, and...
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DT's Reopening - David Niven
It has been a long, hard climb back, but DT's Blue Ridge Java on Lower Street in Spruce Pine is slated to re-open by the end of August. Owner David Niven joins us to talk about the upcoming reopening, what's new and different, and the things they learned by basically rebuilding a hundred year-old...
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Mitchell County Town Hall - August 14, 2025
Updates on recovery efforts, including debris removal were the main topics for the August 14, 2025 Town Hall put on my Mitchell County. Here is the audio from the meeting held at 4:30 in the old Bowman Middle School Auditorium. If you have questions or comments, please email...
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New Emergency Management App - John Masters
Mitchell County Emergency Management is rolling out a new app for phones that is a one-stop for information and updates when there is an emergency or disaster affecting the county. John Masters joins the program to talk about the app, what it features, and why it is a good idea to install…
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Private Property Debris Removal Update - Allen Cook
Private Property Debris Removal is on again in Mitchell County. Allen Cook, County Manager, joins us to discuss the changes in the program and the new phone number associated with it, plus he outlines the process as things proceed.
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PTSD and Helene - Hannah Weber and Jordyn Phipps
One aspect of the recovery from Helene that is often overlooked is the mental health of all of us who went through the disaster. June was Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and Hannah Weber along with Jordyn Phipps took some time to talk about how PTSD is very real for a lot of...
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Debris Removal Update - Allen Cook
Private property debris removal is beginning soon and County Manager Allen Cook joins us to talk about changes to the debris removal programs that are taking place to prepare for the new program‘s start, plus he updates us on the private road and bridge repair program, which has a deadline for...
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Weather Forecast Words - Jason Boyer
With the recent flooding in Texas and from Tropical Storm Chantal in central North Carolina, it has again been demonstrated the vital importance of paying attention to weather forecasts, watches, and warnings. The National Weather Service has been making changes to forecasts in recent years…
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July 4 Veterans Dinner - Rocky Btanch and Bruce Ikard
First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine honors veterans each July 4th with a lunch, and with the recovery from Helene well underway, the church is making a special effort to reach area veterans and their families and inviting them to come to eat and be honored for their service to our country. Church...
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Fourth of July Safety and Hurricane Preparedness - Andrew Brewer
The July Fourth holiday is a time of being outdoors and enjoying barbecues and other activities. Andrew Brewer, interim Emergency Management Coordinator for Mitchell County, joins us to talk about being extra careful this year. In particular, with the increased risk of fire due to the extensive...
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SEARCH Helene Interviews - Marvin Rogers and Bruce Ikard
An in-person survey of Mitchell County residents is taking place on Friday, June 27 and Saturday, June 28. The Sustaining Essential and Community Healthcare organization, better known as SEARCH. is conducting interviews on the effects of Helene on our area and residents. WTOE’s Bruce Ikard had a...
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Private Road and Bridge Repair - Allen Cook
August 3, 2025 is the deadline to apply for the State of North Carolina‘s program that repairs or replaces private roads and bridges damaged by Helene. County Manager Allen Cook joins us to talk about this program that doesn't just provide money to repair damage. It provides engineers to evaluate...
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MARC and the Long-Term Resiliency Group Update - Stephanie Pittman
Even though we are nine months out from the devastation caused by Helene, there are still volunteers and resources available for county residents to get help with repairs. Stephanie Pittman is our guest today, talking about the Multi-Agency Resources Center, which is located in Bakersville at the...
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The Rhododendron Gardens on Roan Mountain - Alexandra Davidson
There is exciting news that the famous Rhododendron Gardens atop Roan Mountain. For the first time since 2023, the general public will be able to tour the gardens while they are blooming this week (June 20, 2025). We talk with Alexandra Davidson of the Forest Service about the double challenge of...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
We Are Mitchell is a collection of information and interviews about the recovery response to Hurricane Helene in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Produced in a partnership between Mitchell County Government and WTOE Radio in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, We Are Mitchell is committed to giving citizens updated accurate information on how our communities are recovering.
HOSTED BY
Mitchell County, NC Government
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We Are Mitchell currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is We Are Mitchell about?
We Are Mitchell is a collection of information and interviews about the recovery response to Hurricane Helene in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Produced in a partnership between Mitchell County Government and WTOE Radio in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, We Are Mitchell is committed to giving...
How often does We Are Mitchell release new episodes?
We Are Mitchell has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts We Are Mitchell?
We Are Mitchell is created and hosted by Mitchell County, NC Government.
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