Regional

Graham confirms 2nd COVID-19 case

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Graham County’s COVID-19 case count has doubled. A Saturday press release from the health department confirmed that another resident has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming just the second case reported in Graham County.
Work is underway to fix an area along U.S. 74 between the Hyatt Creek exit and Bryson City, that has long had cracks in the road and a slow-moving slide. Photo by Terry Greene/Smoky Mountain Times

Work is underway to fix an area along U.S. 74 between the Hyatt Creek exit and Bryson City, that has long had cracks in the road and a slow-moving slide. Photo by Terry Greene/Smoky Mountain Times

Repairs underway on U.S. 74

News Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2020
By Jessica Webb Smoky Mountain Times Bryson City – Repair work now underway on U.S. 74 – between the Hyatt Creek exit and Bryson City – could be compared to making lasagna or a layer cake.
Judy Nichols Memorial Field – home of the Robbinsville High School Lady Knights – was set to host a team that very well could have contended for a state championship this season. New seating was installed behind home plate and improvements were made field-wide in preparation for the year, but the cancelation of the remainder of the school year is going to leave seniors school-wide wondering, “What if?" Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Judy Nichols Memorial Field – home of the Robbinsville High School Lady Knights – was set to host a team that very well could have contended for a state championship this season. New seating was installed behind home plate and improvements were made field-wide in preparation for the year, but the cancelation of the remainder of the school year is going to leave seniors school-wide wondering, “What if?" Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Spring sports season cancelled

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Following the statewide closure of K-12 public schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 year Friday, the N.C. High School Athletic Association quickly made a difficult decision.
This electronic sign sits in the Quality Inn parking lot and greets visitors as they enter Robbinsville, providing instructions on protocol should visitors wish to stay in Graham County. The sign is 1-of-3 placed throughout the county and was approved by the Graham County Emergency Management Coordination Committee during its teleconference Wednesday, April 22. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

This electronic sign sits in the Quality Inn parking lot and greets visitors as they enter Robbinsville, providing instructions on protocol should visitors wish to stay in Graham County. The sign is 1-of-3 placed throughout the county and was approved by the Graham County Emergency Management Coordination Committee during its teleconference Wednesday, April 22. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Tally for curfew arrests reach 12

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
A dozen arrests have been made in connection with violating Graham County’s 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, Sheriff Joseph Jones said during the April 22 Emergency Management Coordination Committee teleconference.

Stay-at-home order extended

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
While surrounding states are seemingly firing back up for close to business as usual, North Carolina will have to wait a bit longer.  Gov. Roy Cooper extended his Stay-at-Home Order for eight more days, as the restriction is set to be lifted Friday, May 8. The original target date was Wednesday.

County manager clarifies FEMA questions

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Graham County Manager Becky Garland read a lengthy statement to listeners of the April 21 board of commissioners teleconference, answering several concerns citizens have raised over reimbursement of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.
Robbinsville High School sat primped and primed for the hopeful return of students, but Friday’s statewide cancellation of the school year dashed the optimism. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School sat primped and primed for the hopeful return of students, but Friday’s statewide cancellation of the school year dashed the optimism. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

School's out

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Robbinsville – The worst fears of faculty and students alike were confirmed Friday, when Gov. Roy Cooper announced the statewide cancellation of the remaining 2019-20 school year. Students were originally set to return to K-12 schools Friday, May 15, which would have ended a two-month closure.

Graham gets 1st confirmed case

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 30, 2020
It’s here. Jade Teesateskie publicly identified herself as the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Graham County in a Facebook post on Monday evening.  “As I’m sure most of you already know ... there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Graham County.
Lilly (left) and Abbie Lancaster work with the N.C. State Extension Office’s Dairy Market Steer Program to care for calves at Double 00 Farms in Tuskegee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Lilly (left) and Abbie Lancaster work with the N.C. State Extension Office’s Dairy Market Steer Program to care for calves at Double 00 Farms in Tuskegee. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

An udder necessity

Matthew Miller
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Tuskegee – Taking care of any animal can be a huge responsibility, and is not for everyone.  For two Tuskegee girls, however, the challenge is welcomed.  Lilly and Abby Lancaster – both 15 years old – work at Double 00 Farms, taking care of the many animals who call the farm home. Through the N.C.
An unidentified firefighter emerges from the smoke and flames that consumed nearly 400 acres around Fontana Lake last week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.

An unidentified firefighter emerges from the smoke and flames that consumed nearly 400 acres around Fontana Lake last week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.

Fires burn over 400 acres

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Almond – A cloud of mystery still lingers over a pair of wildfires that burned more than 400 acres around Fontana Lake last week. Officials first discovered the two blazes late April 14 in both the Wolf Creek and Tsali areas of southeastern Graham County. Both fires were burning on U.S.