Regional

NCDOT gets some reprieve ... with strings attached

News Staff
Friday, November 15, 2019
By Julie Havlak Carolina Journal News Service Raleigh — The N.C. Department of Transportation’s financial woes may be over, but its headaches live on. After the department overspent by $2 billion, the legislature gave the department $200 million, but at a price.

New House map could help Democrats get seats

News Staff
Friday, November 15, 2019
By Brooke Conrad Carolina Journal News Service Raleigh — The state House has passed a new congressional map, giving Democrats a better chance to pick up U.S. House seats in 2020, based on recent voting history. The new map in House Bill 1029 was proposed Thursday, Nov.

Local church aiding cause

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Stecoah – Volunteers at Stecoah Baptist Church will collect shoebox gifts for children living in poverty overseas this year, as part of the Samaritan’s Purse Project’s Operation Christmas Child.
Detention officers Dakota Crisp, Jordan Rogers and Randy Price (from left) recently completed the North Carolina Detention Certification class at Southwestern Community College. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Detention officers Dakota Crisp, Jordan Rogers and Randy Price (from left) recently completed the North Carolina Detention Certification class at Southwestern Community College. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Trio of detention officers graduate

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Joseph Jones continues to bolster his sheriff’s office. Three detention center trainees – Dakota Crisp, Randy Price and Jordan Rogers – completed the 209 credit-hour N.C. Detention Certification class at Southwestern Community College in Sylva on Nov. 1.

Homeless problem rising in Graham County

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, November 14, 2019
“I’ve been homeless off and on for five years, but it’s not like I sleep on the street.” Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the twenty-something woman walking the streets of Andrews has experienced homelessness in Cherokee, Graham and Swain counties.

Candidate takes grassroots approach to campaign

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Robbinsville – First-time Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Atul Goel visited Graham County on Friday, introducing himself to voters as he works his way through every county in North Carolina.
Junaluska is buried in the center of this memorial, which overlooks Robbinsville. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Junaluska is buried in the center of this memorial, which overlooks Robbinsville. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Cheoah's most famous son

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, November 14, 2019
At the top of a hill in Robbinsville perches one of Graham County’s best-known landmarks: the grave of Junaluska, the Cheoah Valley’s most famous citizen.
Coach Lucas Ford (left) can't contain his excitement as Clayson Lane (15) and Lex Hooper (20) rejoice in the moment Friday night at Murphy, after Robbinsville moved the chains for the final time in a Smoky Mountain Conference title-clinching 17-14 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Coach Lucas Ford (left) can't contain his excitement as Clayson Lane (15) and Lex Hooper (20) rejoice in the moment Friday night at Murphy, after Robbinsville moved the chains for the final time in a Smoky Mountain Conference title-clinching 17-14 win over the Bulldogs. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

What a Knight!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Murphy – In a high-stakes situation, Robbinsville hit the jackpot. The Black Knights (11-0) rallied from a halftime deficit Friday night at Murphy (9-2) to stun the Bulldogs 17-14, clinching the program’s first Smoky Mountain Conference title since 2015.

Governor vetoes teacher pay raises

News Staff
Saturday, November 9, 2019
By Rick Henderson Carolina Journal News Service Raleigh — North Carolina public school teachers and higher education employees hoping to get a pay raise will have to wait. Perhaps until January. Gov.