Local

Former deputy pleads guilty to child rape

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – A former Graham County sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty to child-rape charges, after a lunchtime plea deal on the day his case was scheduled to go to trial saved him from a possible life sentence.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8636 and American Legion Post 192 provide a color guard at Robbinsville High School’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8636 and American Legion Post 192 provide a color guard at Robbinsville High School’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Thank you, veterans

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – Robbinsville High School and Middle School students paid tribute to veterans Nov. 10, during a special ceremony in the school’s gymnasium.

Every vote counts

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Robbinsville – Both Debra “Hank” Dinschel and Maria Shook had to hope Monday’s absentee counts would provide some form of relief about which of the two would be on the Graham County Board of Education. Instead, the race is tied.

Towns reach agreement for detection device

Randy Foster
Friday, November 11, 2022
Robbinsville – The towns of Robbinsville and Lake Santeetlah have reached an agreement in which the lakeside town will pay a $1,000 fee – plus personnel costs – for use of Robbinsville’s water detection device.

District rolls out plan to improve school grades

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools, responding to low-performance grades at two of its three schools, has developed plans to bring those grades up. The Graham County Board of Education held a special called meeting Nov. 2, to comply with deadlines to formalize the plans.
Participants in a summer art program at Robbinsville Middle School proudly stand with Graham County Schools’ faculty and staff Nov. 3, in front of a new mural that recently debuted on the side of a local shopping center. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Participants in a summer art program at Robbinsville Middle School proudly stand with Graham County Schools’ faculty and staff Nov. 3, in front of a new mural that recently debuted on the side of a local shopping center. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

As they say, it takes a village

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – The culmination of a summer art project is on permanent display for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to a grant, Robbinsville Middle School was able to host a two-week camp in July, which was open to rising 6th-8th graders.
Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Commissioners postpone decision about emergency contraception

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Tallulah – Graham County commissioners faced an issue that pitted their responsibilities as stewards of county government against their religious beliefs, with the hot-button topic of abortion on the agenda — the day before Election Day.
Willow (left) and Lisa Trantham pose beside a news photo displayed at The Graham Star. The photo includes Gentry Trantham, left in the photo, saluting during a Boy Scouts flag-burning ceremony. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Willow (left) and Lisa Trantham pose beside a news photo displayed at The Graham Star. The photo includes Gentry Trantham, left in the photo, saluting during a Boy Scouts flag-burning ceremony. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘Never met a stranger’

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – There are lots of things that can be said about Gentry Trantham, but two stand out: he was arguably the most famous resident of Graham County, and though he had a small, misshapen physical heart, no one in Graham County had a bigger heart for people or for God.

Hoxit wins sheriff race

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – Retired state trooper Brad Hoxit easily defeated former sheriff Russell Moody for Graham County Sheriff in Tuesday’s general election, getting just over two-thirds of votes cast in the race.