Local

Judge shows mercy on habitual offender

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Robbinsville – Braxton Sawyer is a habitual offender whose latest charges were both felonies — possession of a firearm by a felon and fleeing/eluding arrest. He faced years of hard time. The 31-year-old Graham County resident pleaded guilty to both charges in Superior Court in Robbinsville on Feb.

Pair of board members resign from Robbinsville Tourism Authority

Koda Moody
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Robbinsville – The Robbinsville Tourism Authority has gone through some major changes over the last month. Director Karen Taylor and board member Teresa Garland have resigned due to personal reasons. Taylor resigned after the Jan. 25 meeting, while Garland resigned at the end of the Feb.

Santeetlah tourism board seeks to spend

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Lake Santeetlah – Facing the end of its only funding source, the Town of Lake Santeetlah’s Tourism Development Authority board scrambled to spend the $37,000 or so that remains in the authority’s bank account.

Faculty to get $3.9K supplements

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools’ officials found themselves in the unusual position of spreading extra money around – including pay supplements of $3,914 for each of 105 teachers in the district. The new funds are the result of the state budget that was passed in November 2021.
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’

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 3, 2022
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

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 3, 2022
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

Randy Foster
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
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

Randy Foster
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
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.