News

Leaving big shoes to fill

Tallulah – When Graham County’s Marshall McClung began his dual careers in search and rescue and wilderness firefighting in 1967, Lyndon B. Johnson was president.

Keeping tradition alive through art

  According to Luke Swimmer’s mother, he became an artist at the age of two, when he first picked up pencils and began to draw. “My whole family is artistic,” said Swimmer. “My grandma was known for her pottery and my other grandmother painted.

'School is still the safest place to be'

  Robbinsville – “Statistically, public school is the safest place in America,” said Graham County Schools’ Assistant Superintendent Robert Moody.

Resort owes Fontana $95K

Fontana Dam – Ongoing attempts by the Town of Fontana Dam to collect funds owed by Fontana Village Resort & Marina have not been resolved. During the Nov. 20 council meeting, Town Administrator Zelerie Rogers said the resort owes the town is behind $86,245, which dates back to the end of June.

State congressional candidate filing put on hold

By Kirk Ross Carolina Public Press Less than a week after legislators approved new districts in a party line vote, the three-judge panel overseeing the latest redistricting lawsuit put candidate filing in elections for North Carolina’s 13 congressional districts on hold.
Snowbird resident Onita Bush (center) was presented with the One Dozen Who Care’s Community Treasure Award on Saturday, Nov. 9. With Bush is organization founder Ann Miller Woodford and director Dawn Colbert.

Snowbird resident Onita Bush (center) was presented with the One Dozen Who Care’s Community Treasure Award on Saturday, Nov. 9. With Bush is organization founder Ann Miller Woodford and director Dawn Colbert.

Local woman receives Community Treasure Award

One Dozen Who Care, Inc. presented the Community Treasure Award to community leader and Indigenous Matriarch Onita Bush at their annual Elder Diner celebration, which was held Saturday, Nov. 9.
Dr. Debbie Denise Reece is hopeful of a 100 percent response to the upcoming 2020 census, as demonstrated by her speech at the GREAT meeting Nov. 14. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Dr. Debbie Denise Reece is hopeful of a 100 percent response to the upcoming 2020 census, as demonstrated by her speech at the GREAT meeting Nov. 14. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

GREAT meeting focuses on 2020 census

Fontana Dam – The latest GREAT (Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team) meeting, hosted by the Fontana Village Resort and Marina and sponsored by Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, took place at the resort’s lodge Nov. 14 and included a guest speaker, as well as a Thanksgiving feast.

Spirit of a Warrior

Native Americans volunteer for service in the U.S. Armed Forces at a rate three times higher than non-Natives.

Budget impasse impacts Medicaid

Raleigh – N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen recently warned that her office “can’t make a February start date” for Medicaid transformation “without a state budget in place.” As of Friday, the state legislature was still at a budget impasse.
Pictured is one of the 10 piglets born to Large Black pig, Piper, at Double 00 Farm in Tuskegee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Pictured is one of the 10 piglets born to Large Black pig, Piper, at Double 00 Farm in Tuskegee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Local pigs help preserve rare breed

Tuskegee – What do the Large Black pig, the Leghorn Chicken and the Cleveland Bay horse have in common?  All three are examples of heritage breeds, animals that thrived on small farms until industrialized agriculture pushed them to near-extinction.