Local

Church Mouse Ministries Program Coordinator Erin Emmons (left) and board president Dot Beasley are fully invested in serving the community through the organization’s various programs. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘The reward far outweighs the workload’

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Robbinsville – Church Mouse Ministries, Inc., Board President Dot Beasley, 92, shared her experience of working with the Graham County nonprofit. “It has been my passion of over 40 years and I feel joy in doing good for people who need it,” Beasley said.

Mayor challenges key policy

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Robbinsville – Citing a need for immediate access to the office's printer, Mayor Shaun Adams has now openly questioned why he does not have a key to the main lobby of Robbinsville Town Hall.

Local attorney Brady Cody has been hired as the new Graham County Manager.

Cody named new county manager

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Robbinsville – After a 27-month search, a new Graham County Manager has been hired. Brady Cody was formally introduced as the county's next manager at Tuesday's budget meeting, filling a void that began when commissioners opted not to re-appoint project manager Jason Marino to the dual role Dec.

Car fire spreads into woods

Marshall McClung

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Meadow Branch – There was another brush fire before heavy rainfall arrived in Graham County early Monday morning. A vehicle fire was reported just before 9:30 p.m., Sunday night on Old Field Gap Road. The fire spread to the surrounding wooded area.

'Who says you can't go home?'

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Robbinsville – At the age of 10, Slade Trammell played his first concert in Robbinsville. He knew then that piano was his calling. “I don’t remember a period in my life when I wasn’t banging on the piano,” said Trammell. He was enrolled at The Webb School in Knoxville, Tenn.

Appalachian Trail hiker rescued

Marshall McClung

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Fontana Dam – The Graham County 911 Center received a cell phone call from a female hiker on the Appalachian Trail, requesting assistance just after 3 p.m., Monday. Elayna Simmons, 28 of Cincinnati, Ohio, was hiking alone when she became ill almost five miles in on the trail from Fontana Dam.

Graham County EMS Director Brian Stevens (left) and Graham County Fire and Rescue Commander Jeff Millsaps show off the Starlink routers donated through a fundraiser jumpstarted by local resident Judy Carpenter.

Providing essential links

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Panther Creek – The only reason Judy Carpenter is going public with her fundraising efforts now is that her work the initial go-around was actually too successful.

Hoco changes proposed

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Robbinsville – Everything from the style of dress to meeting a number of qualifications just to be on the homecoming court are being proposed as part of a sweeping change to the yearly format.

Fontana Dam mayor, others resign

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Fontana Dam – Business rolled along as usual for the first 15 minutes of Friday's Town of Fontana Dam council meeting, the first since Feb. 26's gathering turned into a heated exchange between mayor Rob Hardy and Robin Turner with Fontana Ventures, LLC.

Busy day for fire and rescue

Marshall McClung

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Saturday turned out to be a busy day for Graham County Fire and Rescue – and included personnel from the Snowbird unit, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.