Local

Eric Reece, pastor at Robbinsville United Methodist Church, watches as honorees are named by the Institute for Emerging Issues as “making North Carolina a better place” on Feb. 22. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Eric Reece, pastor at Robbinsville United Methodist Church, watches as honorees are named by the Institute for Emerging Issues as “making North Carolina a better place” on Feb. 22. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

'Making a difference’

Fort Hill – To celebrate the unique calendar occasion of 2-22-22 – and to pay tribute to some special people across the state – the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University recognized 22 people who are making North Carolina “Better 2Gether,” and one of them is from Robbinsville.
Caution tape surrounds The Hub restaurant in Robbinsville. Fire gutted the restaurant early Sunday morning. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Caution tape surrounds The Hub restaurant in Robbinsville. Fire gutted the restaurant early Sunday morning. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘Hub’ of Robbinsville lost to blaze

Robbinsville – Fire gutted The Hub restaurant on Rodney Orr Bypass early Sunday morning, leaving owners scrambling over what to do next. It was the second fire to destroy a Graham County restaurant since August 2021, when the Stecoah Diner burned to the ground. It has not reopened.
An outline of the area that will be treated as part of the proposed Crossover Project. Map courtesy of U.S. National Forest Service.

An outline of the area that will be treated as part of the proposed Crossover Project. Map courtesy of U.S. National Forest Service.

National Forest management plans stirs up concern

Tatham Gap – The U.S. Forest Service is developing plans to restore and protect portions of a 16,000-acre swath of land between Robbinsville and Andrews, which has many in Graham County worried.

Town cancels attorney contract, hires new firm

Lake Santeetlah – On a contentious split vote of the council, the Town of Lake Santeetlah ended its contract with attorney Craig Justus and will go with another Asheville-based law firm for legal advice. At its Feb.
This 13-unit subdivision off Moose Branch Road will provide affordable housing to the Robbinsville-area housing market. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

This 13-unit subdivision off Moose Branch Road will provide affordable housing to the Robbinsville-area housing market. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Work on Moose Branch subdivision set to resume

Robbinsville – With the off-season for construction coming to an end, work is expected to resume on a 13-unit subdivision of affordable housing, off Moose Branch Road. Ground was broken on the Graham County Rural Development Authority’s Moose Branch Subdivision Project in October.
Torey Bennett shows the loppers damaged when he tried to trim limbs overhanging a power line behind his house off Meadow Branch Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Torey Bennett shows the loppers damaged when he tried to trim limbs overhanging a power line behind his house off Meadow Branch Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Perilous task

Meadow Branch – 2022 has been snowy for Graham County.

Candidate filing resumes statewide

Robbinsville – After an 11-week hiatus, potential candidates can resume filing for the 2022 election cycle today. The pause was forced by an uproar at the state level over long-disputed legislative maps, but the N.C.