The Erwin Record

09/14/2025

Fall migration provides many opportunities to watch birds, but some birds look much different by the time the season arrives.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/living/birds-with-different-spring-and-fall-looks-challenge-birders/article_2442a277-2964-48b4-aace-9467c8729320.html

Birds with different spring and fall looks challenge birders

09/13/2025

On this date 109 years ago, a circus elephant named Mary met her demise, hanged in the Clinchfield Railroad yard in Erwin for killing her keeper in Kingsport. In the decades since that time, Mary’s death has inspired books, plays, songs and other mentions by such well-known names as James Agee and Barbara Kingsolver.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/living/elephant-mary-hanged-in-erwin-hurricane-edna-slams-new-england/article_7fd35b32-2e51-43c9-9a03-d7a814906799.html

Elephant Mary hanged in Erwin, Hurricane Edna slams New England

09/13/2025

Sassafras Moon Herbal Festival back in Erwin on Sept. 20.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/news/sassafras-moon-herbal-festival-returns-to-erwin-sept-20/article_5393ce80-e8e1-49c3-bb82-9451be8cd070.html

The Sassafras Moon Herbal Festival brings free classes, vendors and family activities to downtown Erwin with a focus on Appalachian herbal traditions.

09/13/2025

The new Spike Lee film had Denzel Washington, but is that enough?
https://www.erwinrecord.net/living/highest-2-lowest-suffers-from-more-lows-than-highs/article_604dcc1a-6203-47d1-99c9-2658a0b36a00.html

Spike Lee's ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ suffers from more lows than highs even with Denzel Washington

09/12/2025

Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association to host river recovery event.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/news/nora-to-host-event-with-focus-on-river-recovery/article_c5212d1d-ea7d-47fb-888d-205af2f64a5a.html

Nolichucky Outdoor Recreation Association to host event with focus on river recovery

09/12/2025

Jimmy Erwin helped lead the county through those dark early weeks after Helene.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/special/ema-director-jimmy-erwin-leads-unicoi-through-helene/article_2ea77de2-075d-4047-9303-9c085e582be8.html

Unicoi County EMA director and longtime first responder, Jimmy Erwin, reflects on nearly four decades of service, his faith and the community’s resilience after Tropical Storm Helene.

09/12/2025

Flag Pond Ruritan donates to help Temple Hill students with supplies, plans for a community yard sale and pancake breakfast.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/ruritan-donation-assists-temple-hill-with-school-supplies/article_7eb71a25-de69-448f-a964-d08975c4d955.html

Flag Pond Ruritan donation assists Temple Hill with school supplies

09/11/2025

Ballad Health officials spoke this afternoon from the site of destroyed Unicoi County Hospital about the future of rural healthcare in the region.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/news/health/ballad-health-marks-one-year-since-hurricane-helene/article_d1767651-270a-46aa-8542-cde1ee13e5a9.html

Ballad Health reflected on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene, highlighting the hospital rescue, the community response and plans to rebuild healthcare access in Unicoi County.

09/11/2025

Local writer Bev Freeman, author of the series “The Madison McKenzie Files,” invites everyone to vote in The Erwin Record’s “Apple a Day” photo contest. People can vote on their favorite entries once per day per category. Visit https://www.erwinrecord.net/apple-a-day to cast your votes.

09/11/2025

Out of an abundance of caution, officals eveacuated Unicoi County High School after the possible presence of smoke was detected.
https://www.erwinrecord.net/news/unicoi-county-high-school-evacuated-after-suspected-smoke/article_cc225beb-e370-4df4-a18c-d1f316bae3a7.html

Unicoi County High School was evacuated Thursday morning after reports of suspected smoke, though all students and staff remained safe.

09/11/2025

Josh Ollis and SWAT team members were among the first responders deployed to help evacuate patients from the Unicoi County Hospital on Sept. 27, 2024. https://www.erwinrecord.net/living/sgt-josh-ollis-honored-for-leadership-during-helene-rescues/article_f6472fa0-dd26-40f7-b05d-bd489bd7e5cb.html

Sgt. Josh Ollis of the Erwin Police Department has dedicated nearly two decades to law enforcement, leading SWAT operations, criminal investigations and emergency rescues during disasters.

09/11/2025

Erwin native Earl Williams and his co-workers hurried to the nearest television to watch news coverage of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. On that morning 24 years ago, they were miles away from the mayhem in New York City, but Williams and his colleagues had a connection to the Big Apple – their company had an office in the World Trade Center. https://www.erwinrecord.net/living/county-native-was-close-to-disasters-on-9-11/article_931203b2-6a30-11ef-ae26-c38ffc545073.html
#9-11

County native was close to disasters on 9-11 Looking back on 24th anniversary 9-11