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Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council Rep. Adam Wachacha (far left) and Roger Smoker (far right) gather around the six latest graduates of the Dadiwonisi Language Program, all of whom were recognized at a Monday ceremony. In-between Wachacha and Smoker (from left) are language instructor Cassidy Galaviz, Callie Bush, Malakai Littlejohn, Lauryn Rattler, Rachel Ballou, Lakoda Bird, Troy Jones and Mike Wachacha. Photo courtesy of April Johnson/Contributing Photographer

Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council Rep. Adam Wachacha (far left) and Roger Smoker (far right) gather around the six latest graduates of the Dadiwonisi Language Program, all of whom were recognized at a Monday ceremony. In-between Wachacha and Smoker (from left) are language instructor Cassidy Galaviz, Callie Bush, Malakai Littlejohn, Lauryn Rattler, Rachel Ballou, Lakoda Bird, Troy Jones and Mike Wachacha. Photo courtesy of April Johnson/Contributing Photographer

'Be the voice’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Snowbird – In 1872, Graham County took action to create a school system for the Cherokee on the Snowbird Reservation. On Sept. 6, 1880, a school district was established and the Cherokee attended a one-teacher schoolhouse.
Alarm was widespread across social media earlier this week, after screenshots of a Snapchat conversation revealed that an unidentified Robbinsville Middle School student was considering gun violence at the institution.

Alarm was widespread across social media earlier this week, after screenshots of a Snapchat conversation revealed that an unidentified Robbinsville Middle School student was considering gun violence at the institution.

Student investigated for threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Robbinsville – Local parents, faculty and students alike were once again on-edge this week, after word broke that an adolescent had spoken to someone about potentially bringing gun violence into Robbinsville Middle School.

Lake clean-up returns Saturday

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Lake Santeetlah – The annual effort to help keep one of Graham County’s main tourism draws aesthetically pleasing is just around the corner. The non-profit Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group has announced that its next clean-up will take place Saturday.
Monday was circled on the calendar as AdventHealth’s opening of urgent care services in Graham County, but the Hendersonville-based provider is aiming for an October debut. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Monday was circled on the calendar as AdventHealth’s opening of urgent care services in Graham County, but the Hendersonville-based provider is aiming for an October debut. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Urgent care opening delayed – again

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Robbinsville – Though decals adorn the front entrance and a sign welcoming everyone sits on the corner of South Main Street, the scheduled date for AdventHealth’s urgent care opening came and went with no patients seen. Optimism was through the roof when AdventHealth held an open house on Aug.

Schools reacts swiftly to online threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Robbinsville – Though officers and staff alike determined in about a 30-minute window that a widespread social media post held no merit locally, Graham County Schools still erred on the side of safety in a bizarre start to the school day. Around 7:30 a.m.
Graham County native Slade Trammell recently performed in Austria. Photos courtesy of Trianne Newbry

Graham County native Slade Trammell recently performed in Austria. Photos courtesy of Trianne Newbry

88 keys to finding delight

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Rosenegg, Austria – Even though Slade Trammell has memories of riding on bulldozers with his grandpas as a child, he figured out early on that the piano stool was where he belonged.  “I don’t remember a period in my life when I wasn’t banging on the piano,” says Trammell.
Constructed in 1942, the Graham County Courthouse is easily the most identifiable landmark in downtown Robbinsville. The aging structure has a lengthy checklist of issues that have not been addressed – topics that have drawn the attention of the 43rd Judicial District. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Constructed in 1942, the Graham County Courthouse is easily the most identifiable landmark in downtown Robbinsville. The aging structure has a lengthy checklist of issues that have not been addressed – topics that have drawn the attention of the 43rd Judicial District. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Judge issues courthouse warning

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Robbinsville – It has been over six years since the Graham County Board of Commissioners were first given a directive: speed up the gameplan for a justice center.  To date, a site has yet to be selected.
Analisa Collins was named Robbinsville Elementary School's 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Analisa Collins was named Robbinsville Elementary School's 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Making a lasting impact

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 5, 2024
It is the time of year when school bells and referee whistles tickle your ears; when students head back into the classroom; teachers enter those classroom doors and begin to plan for another year of instruction with a new group of students; and fear of the unknown situations that can and – probably...
This comparison of the same bridge over Little Snowbird Creek shows the work completed by Adams Contracting: before (July 28, 2021) and after (June 27, 2023).

This comparison of the same bridge over Little Snowbird Creek shows the work completed by Adams Contracting: before (July 28, 2021) and after (June 27, 2023).

County shores up Little Snowbird

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Snowbird – All the paperwork has been filed – and the Little Snowbird Watershed is much improved as a result. Damage sustained by Hurricane Micheal’s contribution to Graham County on Oct.