Tribal primary held
Kevin Hensley
Voters eyeing the 2025 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council race now have their finalists for the Sept. 4 general election.
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Regional
Photographs used in The Graham Star's June 27, 2024 feature on a young entrepreneur opening a local kennel that provides all the comforts of home – appropriately titled "Pampered Pups" – caught the eyes of judges in this year's North Carolina Press Association contest. K's Kennels Owner Kensley Phillips looks on as Willow expresses her excitement with the stay. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com
Graham Star wins 3 N.C. Press Association awards
News Staff
Graham Star graphic designer Madison Ledford showed how much fun a snow day could really be, as she took photos submitted by The Star's Facebook followers and created this page to win second place in the North Carolina Press Association's annual editorial contest.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Man dies in motorcycle crash
Kevin Hensley
Santeetlah – A single-vehicle accident Saturday claimed the life of a Florida resident.
According to a report from the N.C. Highway Patrol, John A. Friede, 78, of Port St. Lucie, was operating a 2008 Yamaha MC and traveling east on N.C.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Local teacher receives state biology award
Latresa Phillips
Robbinsville – Ben Davis has been named the Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year for North Carolina by the National Association of Biology Teachers.
An instructor at Robbinsville High School, Davis joins an elite group of teachers from each of the 50 states, plus Washington D.C.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Local squad assists in park rescue
Marshall McClung
Fontana Dam – Tory Lynnes and Larry Crisp of Graham County Fire and Rescue assisted the Swain County Rescue Squad and National Park Service on a July 20 mission in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Graham County 911 Center received a request from Swain County around 10 p.m.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Former Swain sheriff arrested on rape charge
Kevin Hensley
Bryson City – More than three weeks after news of his arrest and subsequent retirement shocked western North Carolina, former Swain County sheriff Curtis Abraham Cochran was placed behind bars once more on a new charge last week.
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Justin Waldroup assists Kensie Belk, Bella Eddings and Ella Dockery (from left) with a fire hose demonstration during last week's youth fire and rescue academy. Photo courtesy of Graham County Fire and Rescue
Youth fire, rescue academy held
Marshall McClung
The inaugural Graham County Youth Fire and Rescue Academy in Graham County was held last week.
Assistant Fire and Rescue Chief Troy Grindstaff – who is also the training instructor – was the driving force behind setting up the training.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Raleigh hiker rescued on waterfall trip
Marshall McClung
Tapoco – The heat and humidity may have been too much for 72-year-old Raleigh resident William Barnes, on a hike to Bear Creek Falls on July 14.
Barnes and his wife had left on the hike near Tapoco Lodge sometime before 1 p.m.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Local woman arrested during trafficking operation
Kevin Hensley
Bryson City – A Robbinsville woman was arrested last week in Swain County as part of a law-enforcement operation regarding drug trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Construction was already underway at the former home of Stanley Furniture and Oak Valley Hardwoods off Snowbird Road on Tuesday, as EcoKing Solutions begins preparations to establish its first manufacturing plant in the United States. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com
EcoKing coming to town
Kevin Hensley
Robbinsville – It's hard to keep such good news under wraps for so long, but the Mountain West Partnership did an excellent job subduing the rumblings from what was going on for a number of months at 68 Snowbird Road.
To many, that address will forever be associated with Stanley Furniture.
Thursday, July 24, 2025