Local

Trail hiker falls ill, rescued

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 11, 2024
A hiker who had fallen ill was rescued from the Appalachian Trail on Saturday. The Graham County 911 center received a call from a woman around 10:45 a.m., saying her father was sick and might need some assistance in getting out of the woods.

Water loss astounds town

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Fontana Dam – Until the aging water lines are replaced, it seems the Town of Fontana Dam will have to make due with its multiple water leaks.
A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

Separate debris fires wreak havoc

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Sunday was anything but a day of rest for local firefighters, as they were busy with two brush fires. The largest fire began shortly after 4 p.m., near Maggie Wachacha Road, in the Santeetlah area. It was started from a debris burn on tribal land.
The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Be like Mike

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Known as a friend to all, it was not uncommon to see Mike Hyde conversing with a student in the halls of the elementary school. Here, Hyde strikes up a conversation with Strider Graves. * Editor’s note: The writer was a classmate of Mike Hyde.

GOP nominates Lynn to fill vacancy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Robbinsville – The Graham County Republican Party acted swiftly to fill the void left by Debra “Hank” Dinschel’s sudden resignation from the board of education, publicly announcing a nominee for the seat Saturday. Andy Lynn will appear before the school board at 2 p.m.
As part of a training exercise, the Graham County Fire Department conducted a controlled burn on a kudzu patch behind the EMS base off West Fort Hill on March 25. Though this fire was monitored from the get-go, brush fires being set across the county have proved difficult to maintain in recent weeks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

As part of a training exercise, the Graham County Fire Department conducted a controlled burn on a kudzu patch behind the EMS base off West Fort Hill on March 25. Though this fire was monitored from the get-go, brush fires being set across the county have proved difficult to maintain in recent weeks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

More dry weather, more brush fires

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The recent stretch of dry weather brought more brush fires over the last week. A resident was burning a brush pile near Mount Nebo Baptist Church when the fire got out of control around 4 p.m., Friday. Snowbird and Graham County Fire Departments, N.C. Forest Service, and U.S.

‘Give us a seat at the table’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Robbinsville – For the first time in almost a decade, the Graham County Board of Education will be tasked with appointing a new superintendent. The district’s faculty wants a say in who gets the nod.
Thanks to a 10-year deal with AdventHealth, urgent care services will return at this county-owned facility within the next 3-6 months. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Thanks to a 10-year deal with AdventHealth, urgent care services will return at this county-owned facility within the next 3-6 months. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Urgent care term is 10 years

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Robbinsville – AdventHealth will enter into a 10-year contract to provide urgent- and primary-care services to Graham County.
After nearly 38 years of producing finely-crafted cheese and pottery, Bruce DeGroot and Karen Mickler of Yellow Branch Farm recently decided to shut down their operation. Photo courtesy of Sam English

After nearly 38 years of producing finely-crafted cheese and pottery, Bruce DeGroot and Karen Mickler of Yellow Branch Farm recently decided to shut down their operation. Photo courtesy of Sam English

Grate at their Kraft

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Yellow Branch – Geoffrey Chaucer is credited with developing an expression that dates to 1374, “Everything has an end.” This observation is certainly true regarding the Yellow Branch Cheese Farm, which closed its cheese production farm at the end of February.