Local

Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway (right) swears in the new Town of Lake Santeetlah councilmembers Tuesday afternoon (from left): Tina Emerson, Ralph Mitchell and Connie Gross. Recent appeals at both the local and state level have attempted to dispute the legitimacy of Emerson and Gross’ residency, but both challenges have been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway (right) swears in the new Town of Lake Santeetlah councilmembers Tuesday afternoon (from left): Tina Emerson, Ralph Mitchell and Connie Gross. Recent appeals at both the local and state level have attempted to dispute the legitimacy of Emerson and Gross’ residency, but both challenges have been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Santeetlah appeals dismissed at state level

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Raleigh – After a pair of local protests were dismissed, another pair of appeals have been thrown out at the state level. Through a public records request, The Graham Star obtained documents containing the official decisions of the N.C.

County Deputy cleared after June shooting

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 9, 2021
Tallulah – A Graham County sheriff’s deputy has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting death of a Dickson, Tenn., resident. Deputy Courtney Heaton fatally shot 31-year-old Mickey Ray Rice on June 20, after officers gave chase when Rice fled from a traffic stop in Robbinsville.

Corbin to seek re-election to state senate seat

Charlie Benton
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Franklin – Someone will represent western North Carolina in the U.S. Congress, but it won’t be Kevin Corbin. Despite originally intending to run for Congress, state Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, announced on Nov. 22 that he would run for re-election to his seat in the N.C. State Senate instead.

Fontana Dam recognized for water quality

Charlie Benton
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Fontana Dam – Graham County’s smallest municipality has been lauded for the quality of its water, being named as one of 64 North Carolina municipalities to receive optimization awards for 2021. The awards were first announced by the N.C.
Long-overdue upgrades to Graham County’s oldest structure – Old Mother Church – will be extensive, thanks to a recent architectural analysis. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Long-overdue upgrades to Graham County’s oldest structure – Old Mother Church – will be extensive, thanks to a recent architectural analysis. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Church restoration to require foundation work

Charlie Benton
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Fort Hill – A clearer picture of what work needs to be completed before the Old Mother Church is ready for the next 150 years has come to light, following an architectural inspection.

Broadband company eyes Fort Hill tower location

Charlie Benton
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Robbinsvile – A Bryson City-based internet service provider has begun the process of expanding into Graham County, asking for permission to build an antenna in the Fort Hill community. Adam Henson of Sky Wave Wireless Internet presented to the Graham County Board of Commissioners at its Nov.

Council approves front entrance contract

Charlie Benton
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Lake Santeetlah – An ongoing, front-entrance project took a step forward, with the approval of a contract with Aldridge Brothers Construction to build the structure. The contract was approved after Town of Lake Santeetlah Councilman Keith Predmore presented it at the Nov.