News

Vehicle starts brush fire

Marshall McClung
Friday, November 28, 2025
Snowbird – Firefighters with the U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service responded to a reported brush fire in the upper reaches of Little Snowbird around 10 a.m., Nov. 20.
Graham County Animal Refuge President and B's Pet Grooming Owner Brittney Holder addresses commissioners during Nov. 18's workshop session. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Animal Refuge President and B's Pet Grooming Owner Brittney Holder addresses commissioners during Nov. 18's workshop session. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Refuge president: 'We need help'

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 28, 2025
Robbinsville – The message from Brittney Holder was straightforward: commissioners need to take action on helping curb the overpopulation of stray animals in Graham County. The owner of B’s Pet Grooming spoke to elected officials during Nov.
Nathanael Shope (left) and Terra Fouts stand with just a sample of the food collected to provide a Thanksgiving meal at Grace Place, A Community Table.

Nathanael Shope (left) and Terra Fouts stand with just a sample of the food collected to provide a Thanksgiving meal at Grace Place, A Community Table.

Giving hearts

Latresa Phillips
Friday, November 28, 2025
As families gather today for a meal of turkey, dressing and all the fixings, it is important to remember that not everyone enjoys a warm home and a hot meal.  Graham County is blessed with several organizations that have been established to help those who are not as fortunate as others.

Middle school hoops plucks Eagles

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 21, 2025
Hiwassee Dam – After loading up the bus and inputting coordinates for the westernmost school in North Carolina on Nov. 13, Graham County's middle school basketball program took care of business in decisive fashion.
Robbinsville’s Isiac Collins (7) dismisses the defensive effort of Andrews’ Isaac Vaught on a third-quarter rushing attempt during Friday’s second-round playoff game. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Isiac Collins (7) dismisses the defensive effort of Andrews’ Isaac Vaught on a third-quarter rushing attempt during Friday’s second-round playoff game. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Total annihilation

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 21, 2025
The box score from Nov. 14, 2025's game between Andrews and Robbinsville.

Trio of brush fires keep county crews busy

Marshall McClung
Friday, November 21, 2025
Only a few days after a recent snowfall, fire weather returned.  A landowner was burning brush on Jimmy Davis Road in the Massey Branch area Nov. 13, when the fire got out of control. Members of the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service responded to the blaze  around 1:40 p.m.

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.
Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Knights claim back-to-back wins

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 14, 2025
Robbinsville – After submitting a shaky showing in its season debut Nov. 3, the middle school Black Knights have more than made up for its initial foray into the 2025-26 slate. Consecutive wins from Robbinsville (2-1) included a delayed 50-23 home trouncing of the Murphy Bulldogs on Tuesday.
Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Lady Knights trio named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 14, 2025
The Lady Knights were the final Smoky Mountain Conference team to be eliminated from the postseason this year, reaching the fourth round for just the second time in program history before falling in a sweep to state finalists N.C. Leadership Academy.