Regional

Reach opens Graham County office

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Robbinsville – More help for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault is now available in Graham County. The Cherokee County-based Reach organization has opened an office in Robbinsville, inside the Liberty Missionary Church (300 Five Points Road, Suite 2).
State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), the Rev. Eric Reece, Graham County Commissioner Lynn Cody, and AdventistHealth representative Graham Fields (from left) discuss AdventHealth’s proposal to build a 67-bed hospital in Buncombe County. Graham County is within Buncombe County’s hospital service area. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), the Rev. Eric Reece, Graham County Commissioner Lynn Cody, and AdventistHealth representative Graham Fields (from left) discuss AdventHealth’s proposal to build a 67-bed hospital in Buncombe County. Graham County is within Buncombe County’s hospital service area. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

AdventHealth pitches new hospital

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Robbinsville – One-of-three hospital companies vying to fill an identified need for 67 more hospital beds in Buncombe County held a “listening session” Monday in Graham County, 1-of-3 outlying counties identified as within the hospital region’s service area.
Jay Patel of Jonesboro, Ga., Chris Meaker of Charlotte, Jeff Millsaps of Graham County Rescue Squad and Mayur Malde of Sewanee, Tenn. (from left) attend a check presentation at Blue Waters Resort on Lake Santeetlah on Saturday. The group, Smokies GT, donated $5,000 to the rescue squad. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Jay Patel of Jonesboro, Ga., Chris Meaker of Charlotte, Jeff Millsaps of Graham County Rescue Squad and Mayur Malde of Sewanee, Tenn. (from left) attend a check presentation at Blue Waters Resort on Lake Santeetlah on Saturday. The group, Smokies GT, donated $5,000 to the rescue squad. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Car club donates $5,000 to county rescue squad

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Lake Santeetlah – A car club of Porsche GT enthusiasts that regularly raises money for cystic fibrosis research donated $5,000 to the Graham County Rescue Squad on Saturday at Blue Waters Resort, where members of the group were staying.
Graham County Jail Adminstrator Marlon Jackson (left) looks on as Bryan Aaron Berryman turns in his necklace and watch in Graham County Superior Court on July 13. Berryman had just been sentenced to between 11-15 ½ years in prison for a litany of charges obtained in an April 2021 arrest. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Graham County Jail Adminstrator Marlon Jackson (left) looks on as Bryan Aaron Berryman turns in his necklace and watch in Graham County Superior Court on July 13. Berryman had just been sentenced to between 11-15 ½ years in prison for a litany of charges obtained in an April 2021 arrest. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘3 strikes’ and you’re out

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 21, 2022
Robbinsville – A 52-year-old Robbinsville man with a long criminal history from his youth was convicted of theft-related felonies from last year and will spend up to 15 ½ years in prison.
Appalachian Road Show will perform as a part of Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s “An Appalachian Evening” series at 7 p.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of Erick Anderson Photography & Design

Appalachian Road Show will perform as a part of Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s “An Appalachian Evening” series at 7 p.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of Erick Anderson Photography & Design

‘Authenticity never goes out of style’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Stecoah – To sit back and enjoy a performance by Appalachian Road Show is to sit back and enjoy a trip through musical history. In today’s market, it’s a challenge to be unique enough to stick out from the rest of the pack.
Traffic was blocked in both directions just after 4 p.m. June 29, when a disabled three-wheel motorcycle being towed by a Good Samaritan rolled over on Sweetwater Road about two miles east of Rodney Orr Bypass. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Traffic was blocked in both directions just after 4 p.m. June 29, when a disabled three-wheel motorcycle being towed by a Good Samaritan rolled over on Sweetwater Road about two miles east of Rodney Orr Bypass. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

3-wheeler rider injured while being towed

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Sweetwater – A Kentucky man suffered a broken arm and other injuries, after losing control of his three-wheeler motorcycle on N.C. Hwy. 143 (Sweetwater Road), about two miles east of U.S. Hwy. 129 (Rodney Orr Bypass) on June 29.
For the fourth time in five years, Graham County Transit has been recognize with a Safety Award from the N.C. Public Transportation Association. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tracy Jenkins, Donna Hill, transit director Juanita Colvard, Penny Postell, Jennifer Conley, Donna McCracken and Kenny Blevins. Back row: Michael Collins, Michael Badalucca, Andrew Hyde, Terry Crawford, Lamar Carver, Frank Deyton and Tommy Holland. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

For the fourth time in five years, Graham County Transit has been recognize with a Safety Award from the N.C. Public Transportation Association. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tracy Jenkins, Donna Hill, transit director Juanita Colvard, Penny Postell, Jennifer Conley, Donna McCracken and Kenny Blevins. Back row: Michael Collins, Michael Badalucca, Andrew Hyde, Terry Crawford, Lamar Carver, Frank Deyton and Tommy Holland. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Safety is a lifestyle

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 7, 2022
West Fort Hill – The results speak for themselves: if you want a safe trip, Graham County Transit has you covered. For the fourth time in a five-year span (2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022), the department has been awarded one of six safety awards from the N.C. Public Transportation Association.
Then-Cherokee Indian Police Chief Josh Taylor delivers comments to an audience during the dedication of the Jacob Cornsilk Community Complex on June 3. Taylor announced his resignation to spend more time with family on June 10, effective Monday. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Then-Cherokee Indian Police Chief Josh Taylor delivers comments to an audience during the dedication of the Jacob Cornsilk Community Complex on June 3. Taylor announced his resignation to spend more time with family on June 10, effective Monday. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Cherokee Indian police chief resigns, replacement named

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Cherokee – Cherokee Indian Police Department Chief of Police Josh Taylor stepped down on Monday, just 11 months after taking the job. Captain of Corrections Carla Neadeau was named interim police chief. Neadeau has been with the department since 2009 and is the first woman to lead the department.