Local

One of the features of the planned Corridor K expansion is a 270-foot-wide land bridge at Stecoah Gap, which will allow wildlife and hikers alike on the intersecting Appalachian Trail to traverse over N.C. Highway 28 without traffic interference.

One of the features of the planned Corridor K expansion is a 270-foot-wide land bridge at Stecoah Gap, which will allow wildlife and hikers alike on the intersecting Appalachian Trail to traverse over N.C. Highway 28 without traffic interference.

Letting to begin for Corridor K next week

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
The N.C. Department of Transportation has planned three dates for “letting” – or the reception of bids for a project – along the Corridor K expansion, and the first phase started Tuesday.
Dave Crouch of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, drove for three days to make it to Fontana Village in his 2011 Miata. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Dave Crouch of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, drove for three days to make it to Fontana Village in his 2011 Miata. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Alotta Miata!

Randy Foster
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Fontana Dam – Undeterred by waves of heavy rain and a power outage spread over several days, Mazda Miata enthusiasts converged on Graham County for an annual four-day weekend of thrilling drives, camaraderie and opportunities to buy parts for their fiercely-loved, compact sports cars.
Connie Orr, chairman of the Graham County Board of Commissioners, lawyer Dale Curriden and Juanita Colvard, who helped develop the county’s plan for urgent care and imaging services (from left) confer in court Monday, while waiting on a judge’s ruling in a lawsuit filed by Smoky Mountain Urgent Care. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Connie Orr, chairman of the Graham County Board of Commissioners, lawyer Dale Curriden and Juanita Colvard, who helped develop the county’s plan for urgent care and imaging services (from left) confer in court Monday, while waiting on a judge’s ruling in a lawsuit filed by Smoky Mountain Urgent Care. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

County can evict urgent care

Randy Foster
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Robbinsville – A Superior Court judge ruled against Smoky Mountain Urgent Care’s Robbinsville clinic on Monday, saying it was in breach of its contracts with Graham County and that the county is entitled to evict the practice from the county-owned building where the clinic has operated since 2018.

County schools prep for new year

Randy Foster
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools custodians – and some students – are busy getting school facilities ready for Monday, Aug. 22, the first day of school.

Local man faces kidnapping, assault charges

Randy Foster
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Robbinsville – A Robbinsville man was being held in lieu of $85,000 bail on a list of charges, including felony probation violation and kidnapping, and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, damage to personal property, and communicating threats.
Emergency personnel attend to Martha Carpenter, whose car was involved in a collision at the intersection of Woodland Heights Road and Tallulah Road (U.S. Hwy. 129) around noon July 28. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Emergency personnel attend to Martha Carpenter, whose car was involved in a collision at the intersection of Woodland Heights Road and Tallulah Road (U.S. Hwy. 129) around noon July 28. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Collision sends local woman to hospital

Randy Foster
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Tallulah – Two vehicles collided at a Tallulah-area intersection around noon July 28, causing nearly $10,000 in damages and blocking one lane of traffic for about a half hour.

Sheriff drops lawsuit against county board

Randy Foster
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County Sheriff Jerry Crisp has dropped his lawsuit against Graham County commissioners for $209,000 in back retirement benefits, due to lack of documentation and the fact that his primary witness was dead.
Pictured is a mobile hotspot that Graham County Schools will check out for free use by those without internet. Though 300 are available, only 15 have been checked out. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Pictured is a mobile hotspot that Graham County Schools will check out for free use by those without internet. Though 300 are available, only 15 have been checked out. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Group working to improve county’s digital access

Randy Foster
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
West Fort Hill – The Southwest Commission is researching ways to improve rural internet access – with Dogwood Health Trust grant money available – and is conducting scoping meetings to identify specific needs in North Carolina’s westernmost counties including Graham County.

And then, there were two

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Robbinsville – With the May primaries finally in the rearview mirror, local candidates are shifting their focus to the general election. It took a second primary for the Graham County GOP to learn who would represent its party in the race for sheriff.