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Peanut – a mixed miniature Doberman and deer head Chihuahua – was always present when The Graham Star was out for delivery. The beloved dog passed away Jan. 11.

Peanut – a mixed miniature Doberman and deer head Chihuahua – was always present when The Graham Star was out for delivery. The beloved dog passed away Jan. 11.

‘We spoiled that dog’

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Marble – A coyote took Peanut on Jan. 11, and shopkeepers throughout Graham County are heartbroken — but not as much as Neal Wachob.

Post-holiday spike worse than last year

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Robbinsville – The usual post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases was more than three times worse in Graham County this year than in 2021, according to testing data. Between Dec. 22 and Jan.
This graph shows COVID-19 trends from the outset of the pandemic. Graphic by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

This graph shows COVID-19 trends from the outset of the pandemic. Graphic by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Schools shift mask policy

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Robbinsville – The Graham County Board of Education on Tuesday warily voted to return to voluntary masks on school properties (except on buses, where masks are still mandatory), but is prepared to return to the table later in February if any school has a COVID-19 positive test rate of 10 percent or...

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.