History of 911 in Graham County

The first 911 system in the United States went into operation in Haleyville, Ala. on Feb. 16, 1968, followed six days later by one in Nome, Alaska. Preparations for starting a 911 system began in Graham County around 1992.

Respect our front-line employees

Making public policy is never easy.  We live in a democracy that delegates decision making to elected representatives. They hire staff with expertise to manage and deliver results from the policies that are made in public meetings with citizen input.

Getting some mud in your eyes

One summer, Terry Brotherton, of the East Lincoln Motor Speedway – a dirt track in Denver, N.C. – came up with a great idea to raise funds for the East Lincoln Christian Ministries. Between races at the track, local clergy would race against each other in the dynamic “Clash of the Clergy.

Klancy grew up surrounded by horses

As far back as Klancy Stevens – the daughter of Brian and Kristyn Stevens – can remember, she was around horses and loved it.  She began riding horses at the early age of five years old and has been riding them ever since. Klancy says that she was never afraid of horses even after being thrown.

Planting trees in a troubled world

It is alleged that Martin Luther once said “If I believed the world were to end tomorrow, I would still plant a tree today.”  That statement cannot actually be traced back to Martin Luther – as is often the case with quotes that we find today – but it is a profound statement regardless of origin.

Vaccines: COVID, polio and rabies

Pandemics are nothing new.  The Middle Ages saw bubonic plague. Nearly 100 years ago, the world saw the Spanish flu. AIDS/HIV plagued us in the 1980’s. We have seen Legionnaires’ disease, Ebola, Polio and most recently COVID and its variants.

Examining the morality of charity

Once a child accidentally swallowed a dime.  The mother was so frantic she called out to Grandma to contact the Rescue Squad, 911, anybody.  Grandma said, “I’ll call the preacher, he can get money out of anybody!”  In times of need, I have been called on to help raise funds for worthy causes.

Take precautions to avoid stroke

Each year, about 735,000 people in the United States have strokes. Of these incidents, 137,000 of those people die, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in America. People of all ages and backgrounds can have a stroke.

Taming the mighty Burgen Creek Falls

“Me and Hoot want to invite you on a hike.” “Sure! Let’s go when I get back from the beach.” Thus went the conversation that led to my first foray to Burgen Creek Falls, which is roughly 1 1/4 miles off Atoah Road.

Macksim’s turtle farm

When Macksim Brown was nine, he became interested in box turtles – called terrapins by locals, but pronounced more like “tarpin”.  The Cherokee word for the box turtle – which is from the genus of Terrapene – is said to be “Daksi”.  Now at age 10, Macksim has ten box turtles, all named.