News

Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Sitting Robbinsville Mayor Steve Hooper (left) files for re-election with Graham County Board of Elections Director Teresa Garland on July 6. Hooper was the first candidate to file in Graham County for the 2021 general election. Photo by Tasha Holder/Graham County Board of Elections

Slow turnout in candidate filing

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Filing for the 2021 municipal elections ends at noon Friday. And as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, only six of the 14 seats up for grabs have received interest.

Huddle House annexation discussed

Charlie Benton
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Robbinsville – The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to begin the annexation process for a Tallulah Road property, accepting an annexation petition for certification by Town Clerk Sonya Webster.
Kathie Hatton (front) and Len Sheffield have spent the last eight years focused on growing a plentiful garden on South Fork Road, following their respective retirements and full-time move to Graham County. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Kathie Hatton (front) and Len Sheffield have spent the last eight years focused on growing a plentiful garden on South Fork Road, following their respective retirements and full-time move to Graham County. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Labor of love

Charlie Benton
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Tuskeegee – One of Graham County’s most unique gardens is located far out on South Fork Road, near the Double 00 Farm at the home of Kathie Hatton and Len Sheffield.
Casey Adam Haney (left) and his attorney Michael Fox in court Monday afternoon in Graham County. Haney is scheduled to be tried for two counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of statutory rape this week. The incidents allegedly took place in 2017 and 2018 with the same female victim. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Casey Adam Haney (left) and his attorney Michael Fox in court Monday afternoon in Graham County. Haney is scheduled to be tried for two counts of indecent liberties with a child and one count of statutory rape this week. The incidents allegedly took place in 2017 and 2018 with the same female victim. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Haney trial scheduled to begin this week

Charlie Benton
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Robbinsville – A man accused of sex crimes in Graham County is scheduled for trial this week.
Rossi Wachacha (seated, center) signed his letter of intent to play college football at Lenoir-Rhyne University on June 30. Front row (from left) are father Jeremy Wachacha, Rossi, brother Jace Smith, mother Melissa Smith and sister Jaxtyn Bark. Standing in back (from left) are Rossi' girlfriend Tishara Sneed, friend Court Carpenter, aunt Jennifer Wachacha, cousin Cannon Gross, aunt Paige Gross, grandfather Wayne Wachacha and cousin Dasan Gross. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rossi Wachacha (seated, center) signed his letter of intent to play college football at Lenoir-Rhyne University on June 30. Front row (from left) are father Jeremy Wachacha, Rossi, brother Jace Smith, mother Melissa Smith and sister Jaxtyn Bark. Standing in back (from left) are Rossi' girlfriend Tishara Sneed, friend Court Carpenter, aunt Jennifer Wachacha, cousin Cannon Gross, aunt Paige Gross, grandfather Wayne Wachacha and cousin Dasan Gross. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Wachacha signs with Lenoir-Rhyne

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Robbinsville – It was quite fitting that Rossi Wachacha signed to play college football on the same field where he made a name for himself.
James Buchanan proudly stands with his garden off Tallulah Road. Buchanan has been focusing on gardening since retiring from the construction industry in 2015. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

James Buchanan proudly stands with his garden off Tallulah Road. Buchanan has been focusing on gardening since retiring from the construction industry in 2015. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Digging retirement

Charlie Benton
Saturday, July 10, 2021
* Green Thumbs: Second in a five-part series Tallulah – When he was a child, 73-year old James Buchanan's family garden was a matter of survival.

Dutcher charges voluntarily dismissed

Charlie Benton
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Robbinsville – A repeat offender had two charges voluntarily dismissed in Graham County District Court on July 1, but was also arrested on two charges of failure to appear the same day.

Tourism authority discusses upcoming plans

News Staff
Saturday, July 10, 2021
By Koda Moody Special to The Graham Star Robbinsville – With the Graham County Heritage Festival now in the rearview mirror, Robbinsville Tourism Authority members began preliminary discussions of what residents can expect to enjoy during the remainder of the year.
Six-year-old contestant Ryder Fortenberry worked hard to finish the watermelon-eating contest, held as part of the Graham County Heritage Festival on Saturday. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Six-year-old contestant Ryder Fortenberry worked hard to finish the watermelon-eating contest, held as part of the Graham County Heritage Festival on Saturday. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Festival returns after COVID hiatus

Charlie Benton
Saturday, July 10, 2021
Robbinsville – Graham County’s largest festival returned with a bang this year, after a yearlong hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered on Courthouse Square in Robbinsville for the annual Graham County Heritage Festival.