Local

Man dies in single-vehicle accident

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 21, 2025
Santeetlah – An accident early Saturday morning claimed the life of a Robbinsville resident. A report from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol stated that 22-year-old Aaron Gerald Phillips was traveling east in a Ford F250 truck on Joyce Kilmer Road around 12:28 a.m.
Robbinsville native Haylee Van Deusen (seated, center) is shown surrounded by friends and loved ones prior to receiving the NCWorks Governor's Young Adult Award for Distinction at a ceremony in Greensboro last month.

Robbinsville native Haylee Van Deusen (seated, center) is shown surrounded by friends and loved ones prior to receiving the NCWorks Governor's Young Adult Award for Distinction at a ceremony in Greensboro last month.

Resilient character

Latresa Phillips
Friday, November 21, 2025
Greensboro – On Oct. 17, 2025, Josh Stein announced this year's winners of the Governor's NC Works Awards of Distinction.

Allen promises to be accountable to community

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 14, 2025
In his second bid for sheriff, county native Leon Allen is building a campaign based around his strong belief in God and his passion for the community. "This county is my home," reads a portion of Allen's candidacy announcement.

Votes gained, but seats remain same after provisionals

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 14, 2025
Robbinsville – Friday's unsealing of the 2025 municipal election provisional ballots resulted in candidates for Robbinsville's board of aldermen and mayor races all receiving additional nods of approval from constituents, but not enough to change the outcome of Nov. 4's unofficial results.
The 115th Annual Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony was held in Robbinsville on Nov. 5. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The 115th Annual Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony was held in Robbinsville on Nov. 5. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘The mountains are calling’

Latresa Phillips
Friday, November 14, 2025
Robbinsville – It was on a Saturday – Nov. 5, 1910 – that the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a memorial for Chief Junaluska in Robbinsville.  Pastor Armstrong Cornsilk – a friend of the great chief – spoke kind words, hoping that “All could be happy together.
The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

Local woman rescued after becoming lost on hike inside Joyce Kilmer

Marshall McClung
Friday, November 7, 2025
Santeetlah – The Graham County 911 Center received a call concerning a missing hiker in the Joyce Kilmer Forest shortly after 8 p.m., Oct. 25.
Snowbird's Tayen Bridges competed for the title of "Miss Cherokee" during this year's competition. Photo courtesy of Cherokee One Feather

Snowbird's Tayen Bridges competed for the title of "Miss Cherokee" during this year's competition. Photo courtesy of Cherokee One Feather

An honored tradition

Latresa Phillips
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Cherokee – Each year, the Cherokee community hosts a pageant to crown a representative for the Cherokee Tribal Nation.  Miss Cherokee serves as a cultural ambassador, promoting government, language, history and culture.