Local

Planning moves forward for anniversary events

Randy Foster
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Robbinsville – Planning inched forward on Monday for events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Graham County’s founding. Graham County was founded on Jan. 30, 1872, when it was carved out from Cherokee County.
Aaron Whittemore (left) with the Hemlock Restoration Initiative describes the difference between healthy and unhealthy hemlock trees near Robbinsville on March 29. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Aaron Whittemore (left) with the Hemlock Restoration Initiative describes the difference between healthy and unhealthy hemlock trees near Robbinsville on March 29. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Initiative discusses affordable hemlock treatment

Randy Foster
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Snowbird – A small group of people from several surrounding counties gathered around Aaron Whittemore as he described the eastern hemlock tree close by. This tree is struggling to live, he explained.
A section of stepped trail, just beyond this bridge and to the left, was damaged during a storm and forced the closure of half of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest’s most popular hiking trail. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

A section of stepped trail, just beyond this bridge and to the left, was damaged during a storm and forced the closure of half of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest’s most popular hiking trail. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Work to restore Joyce Kilmer trail expected this summer

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Slickrock – It’s a short stretch of trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, but with a big impact. Storm damage last year forced the U.S. Forest Service to block one end of the most popular hiking trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County. Only half of the 1.

Anti-Cawthorn PAC puts support behind Nevarez

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Robbinsville – It’s a crowded field in the N.C.-11 Republican primary led by incumbent U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, but a regional political action committee is putting its support behind one of Cawthorn’s seven opponents. The American Muckrakers PAC (also known as FireMadison.
Dry, windy conditions over the weekend sparked wildfires all over the region. Here, a tree limb severed an electrical line at Fontana Dam on Saturday afternoon, leading to a blaze that lasted late into the night. Photo courtesy of Zelerie Rogers

Dry, windy conditions over the weekend sparked wildfires all over the region. Here, a tree limb severed an electrical line at Fontana Dam on Saturday afternoon, leading to a blaze that lasted late into the night. Photo courtesy of Zelerie Rogers

Dry conditions spark brush fires

Marshall McClung
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Veteran firefighters knew that they were likely in for a busy day Saturday, just by observing weather conditions. And they were correct.

Lawyers cast wider net for land company assets

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 31, 2022
***Aug. 4, 2022 Update: Lawsuit settled between Graham County Land Company, Flexible Funding Tallulah – The receiver seeking to recover $17 million that Graham County Land Company owes its biggest lender is now going after other assets linked to the company’s CEO, Randy Jordan.
Dr. Patricia Johnson (center) receives a replica of a bridge sign from board member Dirk Cody of the N.C. Board of Transportation (left) at a reception in her honor at Cedar Cliff Church on West Buffalo Road on Saturday. Right of her are her nephew Jeremy Sims and her sister Sarah Johnson Sims. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Dr. Patricia Johnson (center) receives a replica of a bridge sign from board member Dirk Cody of the N.C. Board of Transportation (left) at a reception in her honor at Cedar Cliff Church on West Buffalo Road on Saturday. Right of her are her nephew Jeremy Sims and her sister Sarah Johnson Sims. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘Mother of medicine’

Randy Foster
Thursday, March 31, 2022
West Buffalo – Drs. Nettie and Dick Parette practiced medicine in Graham County from the late 1940s until they retired in the mid-1970s. A bridge was later named in their honor over Snowbird Creek on N.C. Highway 143/Snowbird Road. Now another N.C.