Local

Graham County Transit has once again received a safety award from the state level. From left are Michael Collins, NEMT coordinator; Donna Hill, dispatch schedule operator; Tracy Jenkins, assistant director; and drivers Angie Jenkins, Micheal Badalucca, Tommy Holland and Terry Crawford. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Graham County Transit has once again received a safety award from the state level. From left are Michael Collins, NEMT coordinator; Donna Hill, dispatch schedule operator; Tracy Jenkins, assistant director; and drivers Angie Jenkins, Micheal Badalucca, Tommy Holland and Terry Crawford. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Graham County Transit receives reward … again

Ruby Annas
Friday, September 22, 2023
West Fort Hill – The results speak for themselves: if you want a safe trip, Graham County Transit has you covered. For the fifth time in a six-year span (2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023), the department was awarded a safety award from the N.C. Public Transportation Association.

New plan includes return of manned trash sites

Ruby Annas
Friday, September 22, 2023
Robbinsville – After voting last month to explore a reduction in the number of available trash sites across Graham County, the board of commissioners heard a proposal from sanitation director Gavin Colvard at Tuesday’s pre-meeting workshop.
Winners of the second annual “Graham County’s Got Talent” were (from left): Megan Brooks, gospel; Ariana Roberts, dance; Aidan Holder and Ryan Lynn, instrumental; Gracie Anderson and Will Phillips, pop/rock; and Mandy Millsaps, Keith Rogers and Anderson, country/bluegrass. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Winners of the second annual “Graham County’s Got Talent” were (from left): Megan Brooks, gospel; Ariana Roberts, dance; Aidan Holder and Ryan Lynn, instrumental; Gracie Anderson and Will Phillips, pop/rock; and Mandy Millsaps, Keith Rogers and Anderson, country/bluegrass. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

$8.8K raised for cancer group

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Robbinsville – The back of Saturday’s program for the second installment of Graham County’s Got Talent featured two selections from the New Testament.
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians member Bo Taylor leads a friendship dance around the mound at the Little Snowbird campground on Sept. 14. The “Earth Keepers” ceremony drew spectators from various countries across society. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians member Bo Taylor leads a friendship dance around the mound at the Little Snowbird campground on Sept. 14. The “Earth Keepers” ceremony drew spectators from various countries across society. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Mound visit

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Eastern Band Elder Alfred Welch began Sept. 14’s “Earth Keepers” mound dance with a traditional Cherokee prayer. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star Snowbird – Imagine a world of beauty, nature and wellness – a world of peace.
Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart confiscated this bag of suspected meth off a suspect during a Sept. 2 traffic stop, after K-9 Sam indicated the presence of narcotics orders in the vehicle. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart confiscated this bag of suspected meth off a suspect during a Sept. 2 traffic stop, after K-9 Sam indicated the presence of narcotics orders in the vehicle. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

K-9 delivers perfect strike

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Robbinsville – A routine traffic stop yielded one of the largest meth busts in Graham County history. On Sept. 2, sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart pulled over a vehicle operated by John Mark Jenkins, 54, a native of Bryson City who listed 149 Maggie Wachacha Road in Snowbird as his address.

Resident found deceased

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Robbinsville – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office is busy trying to piece together what occurred inside a home at the Cheoah Trailer Park on Saturday.
The N.C. Department of Transportation recently activated a warning light to alert drivers approaching the busy U.S. 19/74/129 intersection in Topton. Photo by Kelsey Krizsan/The Graham Star

The N.C. Department of Transportation recently activated a warning light to alert drivers approaching the busy U.S. 19/74/129 intersection in Topton. Photo by Kelsey Krizsan/The Graham Star

Topton warning lights activated

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Topton – It is a meeting point for frequent carpoolers, three counties and all four cardinal directions of travel. It is also in a location with no cell-phone reception, so when an accident occurs, help can often be delayed until a third party can go somewhere to call for emergency assistance.
The Trinity Church Wall Street rings the Bell of Hope at St. Paul’s Chapel each year to remember those who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The Trinity Church Wall Street rings the Bell of Hope at St. Paul’s Chapel each year to remember those who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘Where were you when the world stopped turning?’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 14, 2023
It’s one of those “when Kennedy was assassinated” or “when you found out Elvis died” memories that everyone can relate to if you were alive at the time. Sept. 11, 2001, will forever be embedded in the hearts and minds of every American citizen.
Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick became known worldwide for his long run as one of the featured subjects on the Discovery Channel’s show, “Moonshiners.” The Graham County native passed away Sept. 6 and the tributes that poured in painted a universally-beloved picture of “Jim Tom.”

Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick became known worldwide for his long run as one of the featured subjects on the Discovery Channel’s show, “Moonshiners.” The Graham County native passed away Sept. 6 and the tributes that poured in painted a universally-beloved picture of “Jim Tom.”

Farewell to a native son

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 14, 2023
“I out-slickered ‘em.” In an interview with The Graham Star in 2013, Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick displayed a badge of honor when pointing out he was never arrested for producing moonshine throughout his life. Hedrick passed away Sept.

Stewart named new GOP chair

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 7, 2023
There has been a changing of the guard, so to speak. Blair Stewart was appointed as the Graham County Republican Party’s new chairman at the GOP’s Aug. 26 meeting. He succeeds Steve Odom, who will stay on the local party’s executive committee as vice chair.