Local

Indiana man killed in motorcycle wreck

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Deals Gap – A multi-vehicle accident just inside the North Carolina line Saturday afternoon claimed one life. First responders were unable to revive 51-year-old Darren Ege, after Ege went left of the center line and struck a vehicle head-on. The collision occurred around 4 p.m. on U.S.
Completion of the new agricultural barn at Robbinsville High School will be undertaken by students once the fall 2023 semester gets underway. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Completion of the new agricultural barn at Robbinsville High School will be undertaken by students once the fall 2023 semester gets underway. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Moooove over; there’s a new building in town

Latresa Phillips
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Robbinsville – Fall 2023 promises to be an exciting new school year at Robbinsville High School.
Some attach the qualifier of “Young” in front of the group now, but the sounds of The Inspirations have barely changed with the new line-up. The quartet will be at the Mountain Homecoming in Fontana Village, set for Aug. 17-20.

Some attach the qualifier of “Young” in front of the group now, but the sounds of The Inspirations have barely changed with the new line-up. The quartet will be at the Mountain Homecoming in Fontana Village, set for Aug. 17-20.

‘Mountain Homecoming’ returns to Fontana

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Fontana Dam – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20, KJV). Anyone who attends the Mountain Homecoming cannot leave and truthfully say the Lord was not present – in fact, He might be impossible to miss.
Blue lights pierced the nighttime sky late Friday, as members of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office executed a pair of search warrants in Robbinsville. All told, seven individuals were arrested from two different homes off Ford Street. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Blue lights pierced the nighttime sky late Friday, as members of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office executed a pair of search warrants in Robbinsville. All told, seven individuals were arrested from two different homes off Ford Street. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Under a cover of darkness

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
* Editor’s note: Last week, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office invited The Graham Star on a pair of missions: one staged, one very real. This is a firsthand account.
Robbinsville High School Principal David Matheson, Graham County Project Manager Jason Marino and Brandon Lovin of Lovin Contracting (from left) discuss fencing options while standing above a newly-placed retaining wall at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School Principal David Matheson, Graham County Project Manager Jason Marino and Brandon Lovin of Lovin Contracting (from left) discuss fencing options while standing above a newly-placed retaining wall at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium on Monday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Too near home to turn back now

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Robbinsville – As officials, administrators and contractors alike stood over the two new retaining walls that have been erected to support new seating at Big Oaks Stadium on Monday, a certain air of confidence lingered in the strategy session.
A group stands in-between two of the three massive generators that power Fontana Dam’s efforts Friday. The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded a limited number of the public and media access to the facility for the first time since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

A group stands in-between two of the three massive generators that power Fontana Dam’s efforts Friday. The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded a limited number of the public and media access to the facility for the first time since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Open the dam gates!

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Fontana Dam – As the chosen few clamored inside the visitors entrance to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s greatest architectural achievement Friday, a then-unidentified man stepped forward with a tool most today would not recognize, cupped in his right hand. “Anybody know what this is?
The Graham County Board of Elections met for the first time since its unanimous reappointment Monday. From left are Teresa Eller, secretary; Lowell Crisp, member; Billy Ditmore, member; Juanita Colvard, chair; and Keith Rogers, vice chair. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The Graham County Board of Elections met for the first time since its unanimous reappointment Monday. From left are Teresa Eller, secretary; Lowell Crisp, member; Billy Ditmore, member; Juanita Colvard, chair; and Keith Rogers, vice chair. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Municipal races cemented

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Robbinsville – It has been a very productive stretch recently for the Graham County Board of Elections. Finally cozy in its offices at the Graham County Community Building (196 Knight St.
Stacy Carpenter is the successor to Becky Garland as the Graham County Finance Officer. Carpenter even describes her first 90 days in the role with a Garland-ism: “You’re drinking from a fire hose.” Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Stacy Carpenter is the successor to Becky Garland as the Graham County Finance Officer. Carpenter even describes her first 90 days in the role with a Garland-ism: “You’re drinking from a fire hose.” Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘It’s about the people’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Robbinsville – Becky Garland’s successor has dove in with both feet, accepting the role of Graham County Finance Officer just as budget season kicked off.
After a lot of brainstorming, ground was first broken on the Graham County EMS garden earlier this year. From left are Bob Keber, Travis Chastain, David Maennle, Drew Silvers and Cameron Wiggins. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

After a lot of brainstorming, ground was first broken on the Graham County EMS garden earlier this year. From left are Bob Keber, Travis Chastain, David Maennle, Drew Silvers and Cameron Wiggins. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

New way of delivering aid

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, July 27, 2023
* Conclusion of a 4-part series West Fort Hill – Our gardens are often a place of mediation, therapy or healing. Whether the end results be amazing or disappointing, there are no mistakes, only experiments.