News

Local hikers located

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Cheoah – Graham County Rescue Squad and U.S. Forest Service personnel were involved in yet another search. But this one took a little longer – beginning Sept. 9 and ending Sept. 10 – and for the first time in recent memory, the search mission wasn’t inside the Joyce Kilmer Forest.
Sweetgum resident George Poerner spent the last year building this 14-foot canoe. The 86-year-old veteran plans to launch the craft in Graham County waters soon. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Sweetgum resident George Poerner spent the last year building this 14-foot canoe. The 86-year-old veteran plans to launch the craft in Graham County waters soon. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Driving Miss Riley

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 17, 2020
Sweetgum – Most anyone that had projects going pre-COVID placed the plans on hold. George Poerner opted to press forward with his. Motivated by a chance visit to New York more than two decades ago, the Irvington, N.J.

Mold repairs moving forward

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Robbinsville – The exterior of Town Hall will be undergoing a major facelift over the next few months. The motivation? A mold issue, exacerbated by heavy rainfall over the last year. At the Sept.

More lost hikers found

Marshall McClung
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Cheoah – Holidays are usually busy times for rescue personnel. This Labor Day weekend was no exception. Graham County 911 dispatchers received a cell phone call shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, from a couple in the Joyce Kilmer Forest, stating that they were lost.

Federal grant to cover new sanitation truck

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 10, 2020
The Graham County Board of Commissioners recently put out bids for a new sanitation truck. Thanks to the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program, the price tag will be covered. The Trump Administration announced Aug. 24 that the U.S.
The Leary’s (couple at right) were frequently asked by travelers who stopped at Deals Gap to pause for a photograph in front of the sign outside their store, Crossroads of Time. Photos courtesy of Cathy Mathews

The Leary’s (couple at right) were frequently asked by travelers who stopped at Deals Gap to pause for a photograph in front of the sign outside their store, Crossroads of Time. Photos courtesy of Cathy Mathews

The Real Dragon (Part 2 of 2)

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Cathy Mathews remembers her father Pete Leary waking up to cook for the anglers staying at the Deals Gap motel around 5 a.m. each day. He also reached out to fishing publications, spreading the word about the nest-egg sitting in the northwestern corner of North Carolina.

County, Stecoah discuss new lease

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Robbinsville – The renewal of a lease between Graham County and the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center needs to be completed within the next month. All indicators are that the final paperwork will come just in time.

Santeetlah hires new zoning administrator

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 3, 2020
Lake Santeetlah – Just a couple of weeks removed from agreeing to hire a new zoning administrator, the town moved forward with finalizing the paperwork. At a special called meeting on Aug. 24, council members discussed Bryan Farley’s contract.