Local

Dignitaries participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Corridor K highway project in Graham County at Robbinsville High School on Monday. From left are Ronnie Keeter, Wanda Austin, Brian Burch, John Sullivan, Eric Boyette, Chris Peoples, Dirk Cody, Connie Orr and Jacob Nelms. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Dignitaries participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Corridor K highway project in Graham County at Robbinsville High School on Monday. From left are Ronnie Keeter, Wanda Austin, Brian Burch, John Sullivan, Eric Boyette, Chris Peoples, Dirk Cody, Connie Orr and Jacob Nelms. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Corridor K breaks ground

Randy Foster
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Robbinsville – Fifty-seven years in the making, the ceremony to mark the start of the ‘Corridor K’ highway project in Graham County on Monday morning was delayed by another hour and a half.
This line of garbage debris was sitting just outside the former entrance to the Sweetwater Road (N.C. Highway 143) Convenience Center on Monday, but has since been cleaned up. Visuals like this are becoming more common in Graham County. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

This line of garbage debris was sitting just outside the former entrance to the Sweetwater Road (N.C. Highway 143) Convenience Center on Monday, but has since been cleaned up. Visuals like this are becoming more common in Graham County. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Convenience centers may become less convenient

Randy Foster
Friday, September 30, 2022
Bear Creek – The household waste convenience center off Tallulah Road – near Bear Creek Junction – is at the center of a complex problem.
Graham County Health Director Beth Booth displays her Ron Levine Public Health Award, which was given to all directors in North Carolina. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Health Director Beth Booth displays her Ron Levine Public Health Award, which was given to all directors in North Carolina. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘God put me here’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Tallulah – It is a very distinguished award, but this year’s winners might be the most deserving yet. Helping wade through the murky waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, local health directors – 85 to be exact – across North Carolina were recently presented with the Ron Levine Public Health Award.
This photo shows a 5-foot-deep pit filled with a mix of hydraulic fluid and water, where two dogs drowned earlier this month.

This photo shows a 5-foot-deep pit filled with a mix of hydraulic fluid and water, where two dogs drowned earlier this month.

State comes down hard on owner of Oak Valley

Randy Foster
Friday, September 30, 2022
Robbinsville – The owner of an unused industrial site in Robbinsville – where two dogs drowned in a pit of industrial waste earlier this month – has been put on notice by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality about serious violations and has 30 days to fix problems or face mounting penalties.
Nothing was going to erase the smile off Destanee Shay Trammell’s face Friday, after the Robbinsville High School senior was announced as the 2022-23 Homecoming Queen. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Nothing was going to erase the smile off Destanee Shay Trammell’s face Friday, after the Robbinsville High School senior was announced as the 2022-23 Homecoming Queen. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Destined to be Queen

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Robbinsville – Ten members of the senior class experienced a whirlwind Friday. Hair. Nails. Make-up. A parade. Pause for five seconds, then don a dress for photos. Before you know it, halftime arrives and it is time to await the outcome of a vote from your peers.

Second Corridor K contracts opened

Kevin Hensley
Friday, September 30, 2022
Raleigh – Six companies were in the mix when the first round of Corridor K letting took place Aug. 16. Just two pitches were received for the second segment – and for good reason: it is the most daunting task in the process. At an estimate of $83,824,722.
One of two dumpsters sits full on the shores of Lake Santeetlah, following an unload of garbage collected during a community clean-up Saturday. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

One of two dumpsters sits full on the shores of Lake Santeetlah, following an unload of garbage collected during a community clean-up Saturday. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Trash by the boatload

Randy Foster
Friday, September 30, 2022
Lake Santeetlah – More than 70 people combed the shores of Lake Santeetlah on Saturday, collecting enough garbage, debris and discards to fill two large industrial garbage containers.

More Santeetlah roads to be repaired

Randy Foster
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Lake Santeetlah – With falling asphalt prices, a road crew already set to do another job and enough time left in the paving season, the Town of Lake Santeetlah added several streets for repairs during a special called Town Council meeting on Monday.
These are among the over-150 hammerhead worms that Kenneth Brooms has found in his garden off Sweetwater Road. Brooms said he started noticing the worms about four months ago. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

These are among the over-150 hammerhead worms that Kenneth Brooms has found in his garden off Sweetwater Road. Brooms said he started noticing the worms about four months ago. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Invasive worm shows up in Graham County

Randy Foster
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Sweetwater – The first sighting of hammerhead worms – an invasive flatworm from Southeast Asia that preys on beneficial earthworms and could be called the kudzu of insects – has been identified in Graham County.