Local

Child care staffing shortage leaves centers struggling

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 27, 2022
North Carolina child care providers are finding it difficult to hire and retain qualified staff, as the state continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey. As a result, 32 percent of child care providers have abruptly closed classrooms, with little notice to parents.
From left, host Rob Mason, exchange students Seoyun Choi and Giorgia Magnani, and host Robin Mason gather for a picture beside West Buffalo Creek. The dog’s name is Tucker. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

From left, host Rob Mason, exchange students Seoyun Choi and Giorgia Magnani, and host Robin Mason gather for a picture beside West Buffalo Creek. The dog’s name is Tucker. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Culture shock

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Snowbird – Considering they are both teenage girls, Giorgia Magnani and Seoyun Choi could hardly be more different. Giorgia is a 17-year-old from Cervia, Italy, a coastal tourist town of about 28,000 people on the Adriatic Sea.
Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams signs the first alcholic beverage permit – issued to Ingles – on Jan. 20.

Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams signs the first alcholic beverage permit – issued to Ingles – on Jan. 20.

Ingles application seeking state approval

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Robbinsville – The Town of Robbinsville has forwarded the first beer and wine application to the state since the November 2021 election, when residents voted to resume some alcohol sales for the first time since 1948.
Discarded medical supplies are piled on the floor at the Graham County Emergency Services garage on Fort Hill Road. A whistle blower complaint alleges that some of the supplies were misidentified as being past their expiration date due to labels being misunderstood.

Discarded medical supplies are piled on the floor at the Graham County Emergency Services garage on Fort Hill Road. A whistle blower complaint alleges that some of the supplies were misidentified as being past their expiration date due to labels being misunderstood.

Complaint alleges EMS mismanagement

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Link to full complaint: https://www.grahamstar.
Robbinsville Middle School’s Cooper Adams (front) and Isiac Collins were two of the students that helped feed homeless veterans in Asheville over the Christmas holiday.

Robbinsville Middle School’s Cooper Adams (front) and Isiac Collins were two of the students that helped feed homeless veterans in Asheville over the Christmas holiday.

Athletes help feed veterans at Asheville homeless shelter

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Asheville – A group of 10 Robbinsville athletes and a coach traveled to Asheville on Dec. 30 to prepare and serve meals to homeless veterans at a shelter there.

Opioid-related grants now available in county

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Tallulah – Dogwood Health Trust – an Asheville-based health and wellbeing non-profit, whose service area includes Graham County – recently announced a second round of funding for opioid-related collaborative planning grants available to the counties, municipalities, or the Eastern Band of Cherokee...
Kimberly Vaught, the beloved general manager of Historic Tapoco Lodge, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 10.

Kimberly Vaught, the beloved general manager of Historic Tapoco Lodge, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 10.

'More than a lodge keeper’

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Tapoco – Historic Tapoco Lodge has been a Graham County landmark since it was built in 1930 and Kimberly Vaught – its general manager for just five of those years – left an indelible mark on the lodge, its staff, and its guests. Vaught, a 56-year-old resident of Robbinsville, died Monday, Jan.