The News-Record & Sentinel

06/11/2025

Marshall artist Lauren Rutten’s Save This Piece 24K gold leaf Helene photo exhibit and community writing project will be on display throughout November at Marshall High Studios and at Zadie’s Market/Old Marshall Jail.

The 24K gold leaf photos were inspired by three concepts: paying homage to the local creeks and rivers, including the French Broad. Rutten also paid homage to the Japanese pottery tradition of Kintsugi.

"That is the idea of repairing broken pottery with gold leaf, where you're not hiding the damage. You're actually elevating the damage, recognizing its beauty and its vulnerability," Rutten said.

Rutten also took inspiration from the Hebrew phrase "Tikkun olam," which means "repairing the world," a Jewish concept of social justice and ethical action.

Get the story here.

Marshall resident Lauren Rutten's Save This Piece exhibition features photos of the Helene cleanup in Marshall and uses 24-karat gold leaf.

05/11/2025

For the first time in its history, the Hot Springs Town Board will be comprised of all women, as Lisa Gahagan, Tammy Shelton and Wendy Stancil were the top vote getters in the Nov. 4 election.

Read about it here.

There will be two new members on the Hot Springs Town Board, as Lisa Gahagan and Tammy Shelton will join incumbent board member Wendy Stancil.

04/11/2025

After some setbacks, Madison County approved the construction of a new rodeo arena.

Construction will begin by Nov. 14, according to County Manager Rod Honeycutt. Get details on the rest of the timeline here.

The board of commissioners approved moving forward with amendments to Phase One of the project for a covered arena at the county fairgrounds.

31/10/2025

👏 👏 👏

With upcoming risks to SNAP funding and possible benefit disruptions, we know that families in the area are going to feel the pinch.
If you’ve been affected, bring your kids (12 and under) into Jimmy’s Munch Box for a FREE meal off our kids’ menu or a small cheese pizza — no questions asked.

We care about our community, and we don’t want any child going without a good meal. 🍕🍔

👉 Just stop by and dine in with us — this offer is for dine-in only.
Ask about the free kids meal when you order, and we’ll take care of the rest.

📍 759 Carl Eller Rd, Mars Hill
🕒 Open Mon, Tue, Thurs–Sat | 11 AM–7 PM
(Closed Wednesdays & Sundays)

Let’s look out for one another, WNC. That’s what community is all about. ❤️

30/10/2025

The Madison County Board of Elections will meet Nov. 19. By Dec. 5, the majority and minority plan members will need to submit plans to the state board of elections on their proposed plans for the March 2026 primary elections.

The county board of elections' three Republican members are proposing to cut the number of early voting sites for the March 2026 primary election to one site, citing cutting costs as a major motivation, while the board's two Democrat members are in favor of keeping three early voting sites, arguing that the Madison County Board of Commissioners have already included funding for the three sites.

Get the story here.

The Madison County Board of Elections voted 3-2 to approve a plan to reduce the number of early voting sites from three to one beginning in 2026.

25/10/2025

Former wrestlers and area coaches reflect on longtime Madison High coach John Clark's death after Clark died yesterday, Oct. 24, from pancreatic cancer. He was 62 years old.

His former athletes remember him as a coach who poured everything into each athlete, and someone who had great pride in his native Madison County program.

Clark helped develop a homegrown program, as he helped coach Madison County’s youth league wrestling and coached Madison Middle School wrestling as well.

Hear tributes on Coach Clark here.

Former Madison High wrestlers and Western North Carolina wrestling coaches paid tribute to longtime Madison coach John Clark, 62, after his death.

24/10/2025

A Yancey County Schools student and his grandfather, a Yancey County Schools staff member, were both killed in a side-by-side utility vehicle (UTV) wreck, the Yancey County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post Oct. 23.

Get the story here.

A Yancey County Schools student and his grandfather, a Yancey County Schools staff member, died in a side-by-side utility vehicle wreck.

23/10/2025

Hot Springs Town Board candidates speak on Helene recovery, most important issues in public forum. The forum lasted roughly two hours and was live-streamed on the town’s page, Town of Hot Springs, NC.

There are 6 candidates vying for 3 spots on the town board.

Get the story here.

Six candidates for Hot Springs Town Board met Oct. 21 to answer questions from residents in a public forum. There are three seats on the board.

22/10/2025

Nearly four years to the day after burying her brother, Randy Wayne Sherlin, 24, who was killed in a barn along Doug Cove Road in Marshall, an alleged accomplice in the crime, Adrienne Tipton, 37, accepted a plea deal. Tipton was charged as accessory after the fact, as well as with first-degree burglary, larceny after breaking and entering, robbery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a firearm, all felonies.

The News-Record spoke with Kasey Holcombe, Sherlin's sister, about her brother's death and the ruling.

"My family and I have been sentenced to a lifetime of pain while she sits here breathing, speaking and asking for leniency for this plea deal," Holcombe said. "But there is no plea deal for us, or leniency for us. There's no relief and no break from this pain we carry every second of every day."

Get the story here.

Adrienne Tipton, 37, was sentenced to serve 63 months to 88 months. Tipton was charged with accessory after the fact in the killing of Randy Sherlin.

21/10/2025

21/10/2025

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/madison/2025/10/17/nc-gov-stein-announces-6m-grant-to-reduce-flood-risks-after-helene/86725890007/

Gov. Josh Stein and DEQ Sec. Red Wilson were in Marshall to highlight the Flood Resiliency Blueprint program. Marshall is one 11 sites in the project.

21/10/2025

The Bailey Mountain Preserve's Smith Farm celebrated its many new accommodations, including its new amphitheater, additional parking, paved walkways, bathrooms, as well as two newly restored barns at the Farm: the Wallin Barn and the Flu-Cured Barn.

The town of Mars Hill joined with members of the Appalachian Barn Alliance, Friends of Bailey Mountain and Mars Hill University staff to celebrate the new additions at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Hear from some of the speakers and see photos from the site here.

The town of Mars Hill joined with local partners to celebrate the additions, including an amphitheater, parking improvements and two restored barns.