Local

Cameron and Hannah Anderson (left) stand with Hannah’s grandfather Billy Holder, who is helping them with their garden off Lower Stecoah Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Cameron and Hannah Anderson (left) stand with Hannah’s grandfather Billy Holder, who is helping them with their garden off Lower Stecoah Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Sitting under the learning tree

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Stecoah – Billy Holder was the last gardener featured in The Graham Star’s “Green Thumbs” series in 2021. The 88-year-old Stecoah resident had three gardens back then (he has four now), but this story is about the torch he handed off this year to his granddaughter, Hannah Anderson.
Cherokee Language Summer Course students recite the Pledge of Allegiance Saturday at the Graham County Heritage Festival. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Cherokee Language Summer Course students recite the Pledge of Allegiance Saturday at the Graham County Heritage Festival. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Festival continues rebound

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Robbinsville – Stop a local on the street and ask how many vendors used to adorn the courthouse square for the Graham County Heritage Festival. In response, their adulation and memories will simply flow.
There is green as far as the eye can see at the Robbinsville Community Garden, which is located behind the Church Mouse thrift store between North Main and Ford streets in Robbinsville. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

There is green as far as the eye can see at the Robbinsville Community Garden, which is located behind the Church Mouse thrift store between North Main and Ford streets in Robbinsville. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

In full bloom

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Robbinsville – As inflation hits families in the pocketbook, Robbinsville Community Garden offers an inexpensive way to grow your own food, especially if you don’t have gardening space of your own.
Two signs identifying Ronnie Milsap Highway were installed on U.S. Hwy. 129, one near Yellow Creek Road (pictured here) and the other near Meadow Branch Road, not far from the community where Milsap spent some of his childhood. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.c

Two signs identifying Ronnie Milsap Highway were installed on U.S. Hwy. 129, one near Yellow Creek Road (pictured here) and the other near Meadow Branch Road, not far from the community where Milsap spent some of his childhood. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.c

State installs signs on Ronnie Milsap Highway

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Tapoco – Eighteen months after a seven-mile stretch of U.S. Hwy. 129 in Graham County was named in his honor, Ronnie Milsap Highway signs have been installed between Yellow Creek Road and just past Meadow Branch Road, not far from the community where Milsap was raised. The N.C.
Then-Cherokee Indian Police Chief Josh Taylor delivers comments to an audience during the dedication of the Jacob Cornsilk Community Complex on June 3. Taylor announced his resignation to spend more time with family on June 10, effective Monday. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Then-Cherokee Indian Police Chief Josh Taylor delivers comments to an audience during the dedication of the Jacob Cornsilk Community Complex on June 3. Taylor announced his resignation to spend more time with family on June 10, effective Monday. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Cherokee Indian police chief resigns, replacement named

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Cherokee – Cherokee Indian Police Department Chief of Police Josh Taylor stepped down on Monday, just 11 months after taking the job. Captain of Corrections Carla Neadeau was named interim police chief. Neadeau has been with the department since 2009 and is the first woman to lead the department.

Gunshot to head killed suspect in 2021 chase

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Tallulah – A gunshot wound to the head proved fatal for a Dickson, Tenn., resident after a high-speed 2021 chase, according to the autopsy. The Graham Star just received the results from a June 21, 2021 autopsy conducted on 31-year-old Mickey Ray Rice last week.
Valerie Frapp was recently named the new GM of the historic Tapoco Lodge, ending a 4-month vacancy for the role. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Valerie Frapp was recently named the new GM of the historic Tapoco Lodge, ending a 4-month vacancy for the role. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘This will always be home’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Tapoco – If you spend any time with Valerie Frapp, you will quickly learn just how much she loves Tapoco Lodge.

Schools funding shortage escalates

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools are in the red by over $620,000, as costs continue to mount. With school out for the summer, the Graham County Board of Education had an unusual late-month, special-called meeting to tie up loose ends, one of which won’t be resolved any time soon – funding.