Robbinsville – More help for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault is now available in Graham County.
The Cherokee County-based Reach organization has opened an office in Robbinsville, inside the Liberty Missionary Church (300 Five Points Road, Suite 2). The announcement was made at the July 21 Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team meeting, which was held at Robbinsville High School.
Having a Reach office in Graham County is a step in the right direction, but there is more work to be done.
“We have to have support for five years from the community, before we can have a shelter in Graham County,” said Cecilia Crawford, executive director with Reach of Cherokee County Inc. “No one deserves to have someone else’s hands on them, so we are here to be the voice for the voiceless.”
Additionally, Reach will be visiting Graham County Schools this year to teach social etiquette.
“We truly believe that we have to teach – at the youngest age – what is acceptable behavior,” Crawford said. “We’ll be doing ‘good touch, bad touch’ for the little guys; bullying prevention for everyone; and ‘Safe Days’ for the middle and high school, which will cover things like a healthy relationship.”
Those in need can visit the local Reach office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call the 24/7 crisis line at 828-837-8064.
“We will meet them (victims) anywhere, anytime, to help get paperwork filled out for protective orders,” Crawford added. “We will house Robbinsville residents in our Cherokee County shelter, until we can get one here.”
Junaluska Museum
At the meeting, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Cultural Resources Supervisor Angelina Jumper also provided an update on the planned reconstruction of the Junaluska Museum.
The Eastern Band purchased 32 acres of property on U.S. 129 – near Wehrloom Honey – to rebuild the museum, which was destroyed several years ago when a tree fell at the former location in Robbinsville, where Chief Junaluska is buried.
Jumper shared several details on what is planned for the new museum, including bringing the Cherokee Language Program (which is also open to non-natives) on-site and providing a location for First-Language Speakers to discuss future programs.
“We are in the nitty-gritty of the design process,” Jumper said. “It is really time-consuming, but fun. We are looking to have construction commence by this time next year and then soon after that, start breaking ground.”
The office for both the museum and the language program is still being housed next to Ingles. All other business operations relocated to the new Jacob Cornsilk Community Center in Snowbird last month.
Jumper later explained that the former location – known as the Junaluska Memorial Site and Medicine Trail – will also undergo renovations, including plant signage and native-plant installation.
Kudzu had overran the site and is believed to be the culprit of what caused the tree to fall on the museum. The invasive plant is being eradicated, thanks to a partnership with Asheville-based MountainTrue.
Other news and notes
* Graham County Schools Superintendent Angie Knight said the Robbinsville Elementary School in-house health clinic will be open again for the 2022-23 school year. Knight also informed the attendees of a planned project to paint a 28x16 mural of a dragon on the side of the Village Shopping Center that faces McDonald’s;
* Duke Energy District Manager for the Nantahala Area Lisa Leatherman was asked about efforts to install power at the Cable Cove Campground, which was shuttered earlier this year due to a high price-tag for maintenance and repairs. Graham County Travel & Tourism Board member Dale Wiggins has been advocating for power installation at the campground, which would create more appeal for travelers. Leatherman said discussions between Duke, Graham County Travel & Tourism and the Tennessee Valley Authority were underway, but nothing has been resolved so far.