Regional

Tennessee officer dies after accident

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Cherohala – A Georgia man has passed away from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle accident on the Cherohala Skyway last month. According to a report from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 52-year-old Ringgold resident Enoch Daniel Ian Hurd was traveling east on N.C.
Stephanie Oakey’s Poems of a Southern Nobody was just released as both a hardcover and an e-book.

Stephanie Oakey’s Poems of a Southern Nobody was just released as both a hardcover and an e-book.

60 poems in a book

Latresa Phillips
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The loss of Sandra Brooms (left) last year inspired her daughter Stephanie Oakey (right) to write poetry. One year later, Poems of a Southern Nobody has been recognized in USA Today.

3 new faces voted into office

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Robbinsville – In overwhelming fashion, Graham County voters spent the last 2 ½ weeks frequenting the polls. Of 6,262 registered voters in the county, 3,354 cast a ballot during the one-stop (early) period – or 53.6 percent.
Following the closure of I-40 between North Carolina and Tennessee, tractor-trailers have met numerous warning signs – such as this one, at the intersection of N.C. 28 and N.C. 143 in Stecoah – to provide notice that U.S. 129 in Tennessee (the “Tail of the Dragon”) does not allow commercial vehicles over 30 feet. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Following the closure of I-40 between North Carolina and Tennessee, tractor-trailers have met numerous warning signs – such as this one, at the intersection of N.C. 28 and N.C. 143 in Stecoah – to provide notice that U.S. 129 in Tennessee (the “Tail of the Dragon”) does not allow commercial vehicles over 30 feet. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

I-40 closure impacting local traffic

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Tatham Gap – An accident inside the Nantahala Gorge on Saturday led to traffic being re-routed through an unusual route: Tatham Gap Road, a single-lane dirt road that serves as an alternate connection between Robbinsville and Andrews.
Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin; second from right) visited Graham County Schools on Friday, to formally present a check in the amount of $42 million from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The grant money will go toward the construction of a new Robbinsville Elementary School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin; second from right) visited Graham County Schools on Friday, to formally present a check in the amount of $42 million from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The grant money will go toward the construction of a new Robbinsville Elementary School. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

State representative presents grant check to school system

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Robbinsville – It was more of a formality, but Graham County Schools was presented with a $42 million check Friday, which will go toward the much-needed construction of a new Robbinsville Elementary School. District 120 Rep.
The annual Trail of Tears Walk attracted participants of all ages. Photo courtesy of Angie Knight/SnowbirdNEST

The annual Trail of Tears Walk attracted participants of all ages. Photo courtesy of Angie Knight/SnowbirdNEST

Attendees walk trail ‘where they cried’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Long Creek – It was a nippy morning as hikers hit the trail early Saturday for the annual Trail of Tears Walk, which commemorates the Cherokee Nation’s journey from the mountains they called home to resettle in Oklahoma during one of the darkest times in American History.

Lawsuit against Swain sheriff dismissed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 3, 2024
A lawsuit filed nearly three years ago against Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran and former Deputy Charles Robinson has been dismissed with prejudice – meaning it can never be brought back before a court. The Sept. 20 declaration by U.S. Magistrate Judge W.
As part of the Corridor K improvement project, crews are expected to launch construction on a planned two-tier land bridge at Stecoah Gap. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

As part of the Corridor K improvement project, crews are expected to launch construction on a planned two-tier land bridge at Stecoah Gap. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

2 years later, Corridor K is 43 percent complete

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Today marks two years since dignitaries from the North Carolina Department of Transportation converged onto a press conference outside Robbinsville High School, to usher in the launch of a road improvement project first conceived by the Appalachian Development Highway System in 1965.