Local

Christmas Eve fire burns 1 acre

Marshall McClung
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Atoah – Holidays are often a busy time for emergency personnel – including firefighters. This was the case on Christmas Eve, when a brush fire was reported on Atoah Road around 2 p.m.

More digging unveils more town errors

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 4, 2024
* Conclusion of a 2-part report Raleigh – The Graham Star’s second part of an examination on the recently-released North Carolina Office of the State Auditor’s 2023 investigation report of the Town of Robbinsville includes comments from local officials about the non-issued W-2 corrected statements...
Senate 50 Rep. Kevin Corbin (left, holding check, R-Franklin) and District 120 Rep. Karl Gillespie (right, holding check, R-Franklin) spent several hours in Graham County on Dec. 20, presenting checks for various needs across the county. The tour began at the N.C. Department of Transportation’s office, where a check in the amount of $1.4 million was awarded. Photo courtesy of Kevin Corbin

Senate 50 Rep. Kevin Corbin (left, holding check, R-Franklin) and District 120 Rep. Karl Gillespie (right, holding check, R-Franklin) spent several hours in Graham County on Dec. 20, presenting checks for various needs across the county. The tour began at the N.C. Department of Transportation’s office, where a check in the amount of $1.4 million was awarded. Photo courtesy of Kevin Corbin

$4.895 million tour comes to Graham County

Ruby Annas
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) and District Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin) both visited Graham County on Dec. 20, presenting four checks totaling $4.895 million for various community needs. “Our job is to get money for our district and we’ve been very successful with that,” said Corbin.
A familiar face, Sheila Phillips is retiring after operating Town Florist for 33 years. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

A familiar face, Sheila Phillips is retiring after operating Town Florist for 33 years. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Stopping to smell the roses

Latresa Phillips
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Robbinsville – On Jan. 1, 1991, two young ladies – Reba McCracken and Sheila Phillips – opened the doors to a new flower shop in Robbinsville. Two young business partners with a little skill, a little more talent and a lot of prayer, started out in the back of a gift shop at Five Point.
Constant vandalism and a blatant disregard for stipulations that items such as this insulation-filled bundle of debris – left at the Bear Creek convenience site Oct. 4 – need to instead be dumped at the county’s sanitation center, has propelled the department and commissioners alike to take necessary action.

Constant vandalism and a blatant disregard for stipulations that items such as this insulation-filled bundle of debris – left at the Bear Creek convenience site Oct. 4 – need to instead be dumped at the county’s sanitation center, has propelled the department and commissioners alike to take necessary action.

Sanitation, urgent care addressed

Ruby Annas
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Robbinsville – Updates on the Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice, and the Graham County Sanitation Department were provided during Dec. 19’s Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Combating overdoses still priority

Ruby Annas
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Robbinsville – The annual opioid settlement strategic plan was presented to the Graham County Board of Commissioners at the Dec. 19 meeting. The board also wrote a support letter for new legislation concerning child trauma from witnessing a drug overdose.

Audit: Town violated laws, policies

Ruby Annas
Saturday, December 30, 2023
* Part 1 of a 2-part report Raleigh – The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor released the 2023 investigative audit in response to 23 allegations against the Town of Robbinsville and uncovered overrides in policies and laws.

School system nets $14K in grants

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Asheville – The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina awarded three grants – totaling $14,585 – to Graham County Schools from the Learning Links grant.

Changes produce mixed reactions

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Lake Santeetlah – The newest members of the Town of Lake Santeetlah council heard many public comments, discussed town attorneys and more at the Dec. 14 council meeting.