GrahamCounty

Staff and management of Appalachian Mountain Health celebrate a ribbon cutting held Monday outside the Robbinsville office on Tallulah Road. The ceremony recognized a recent batch of upgrades to the facility. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Ribbon cutting ushers in new era for medical facility

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Tallulah – Employees, local management and upper-level representatives crowded outside Appalachian Mountain Health of Robbinsville on Monday, to hold a ribbon cutting signifying the conclusion of $1.3 million in upgrades to the former Tallulah Health Clinic.

Jennifer O'Dell, Gracie Webster, Regina Webster and Dickey Webster (from left) with Sweetgum Baptist Church sing at a recent Celebrate Recovery meeting. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Let's Celebrate Recovery

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Sweetgum – In 1991, John Baker and his wife shared a vision given to John by God for a new Christ-centered ministry where people could find freedom from their hurts, hang-ups and habits. The first night of meeting, 43 people attended and Celebrate Recovery was born.

This map pinpoints the location (circled in red) where an Atlanta man was found after a 12-hour search Aug. 28. Map courtesy of Tory Lynnes/Graham County Fire and Rescue

Rugged search mission lasts 12 hours

Marshall McClung

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Deep Creek – Members of Graham County Fire and Rescue and Stecoah Fire and Rescue were involved in a 12-hour search for a lost hiker in the Deep Creek area of Graham County on Aug. 28. The Graham County 911 Center received a phone call around 5 p.m., Aug. 28 from James Clark.

Kadey Phillips Jones was recently announced as Graham County Schools' 2024-25 District Teacher of the Year.

Jones named Graham County Schools’ Teacher of the Year

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Robbinsville – Graham County Schools has announced third-grade instructor Kadey Phillips Jones as the 2024-25 District Teacher of the Year. Jones began her 10th year as an educator this week.

Crews battle two fires

Marshall McClung

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Even though it is weeks until the usual start of the autumn fire season – and rain has fallen steadily – local crews were dispatched to a pair of separate outbreaks during the last week. Graham County Fire and Rescue – including a Meadow Branch unit – responded to a small brush fire around 1:20 p.

Fire and rescue squad receives $29K grant

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Raleigh – Graham County Fire and Rescue was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $28,694.67 from the office of the state fire marshal. State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said in a May 15 press release that the grant was through the 2025 Volunteer Fire Grant Fund.

A new search and rescue boat – for use in both Graham and Swain counties – was unveiled on the shores of Fontana Lake on Aug. 14. From left are Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit; U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Hendersonville), who helped obtain the funding to purchase the boat; and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Rescue boat revealed

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Lemmons Branch – Three months of speculation regarding the purchase of a new search and rescue boat was cleared up at a quick convergence of local and regional officials Aug. 14. Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit and Swain County Sheriff Brian Kirkland thanked U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.

The Graham County Farmers Market has successfully launched a youth entrepreneurship program, which has given local teenagers the opportunity to learn all the steps involved in running a business. Visitors to the weekly market can find booths such as Joshy Kamps' "Wunder Kinds." Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Teenagers turn a vision into a successful creation

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Robbinsville – Each Saturday, locals from the county and surrounding area set up to market their baked goods, produce and crafts to members of the community.

Speed humps to be re-installed

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Robbinsville – Safety was at the forefront of a 2-0 vote by the Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen at its Aug. 6 meeting, as recently-detached speed humps will be placed back on Atoah, Circle and Ford streets.

Johnny Harrison Holloway (seated, center) bravely served his country in the Vietnam War. On July 18, medals and honors lost throughout the years were re-issued during a ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church. Standing next to Holloway is his wife Kathy. Across the back are veterans Gerard Ball, Adam Wachacha, Warren Dupree and Josh Holloway.

With honors

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Snowbird – Over 55 years after entering the service, Johnny Harrison Holloway was re-decorated with the honors and medals he received during the Vietnam War.