GrahamCounty

Creating a Ripple Effect

Charlie Benton
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Fontana Dam – The Fontana Village Marina has been honored among its peers in the Southeast for its commitment to the environment. The marina has won the 2021 Ripple Effect award for its annual cleanup of the lake, held annually on the first weekend in November.
Miss Gabrielle Celeste Hooper was named Miss Lady Knight 2020-21 during Friday’s homecoming festivities. With Hooper is her escort, Mr. Dalson Jordan. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Miss Gabrielle Celeste Hooper was named Miss Lady Knight 2020-21 during Friday’s homecoming festivities. With Hooper is her escort, Mr. Dalson Jordan. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Queen of enchantment

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Robbinsville – With a “Fairytale” theme lingering in the air, Gabby Hooper was named the 2020-21 Robbinsville High School Homecoming Queen during halftime of Friday’s football game against Erwin. As reality sunk in, Hooper was overwhelmed with excitement.

Local resident returning to state foundation board

Charlie Benton
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Snowbird – A familiar face to many in Graham County will be rejoining the Cherokee Preservation Foundation Board of Directors.  On March 5, the office of Gov. Roy Cooper announced that Janell Rattler would be reappointed as a member-at-large of the board.

Aldermen take steps toward murals; appoint new RTA member

Charlie Benton
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Robbinsville – A pair of new murals were a hot topic at March 3’s Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen meeting, following a presentation by REVVED UP founder John Colwell.  Colwell presented two possible murals for the town, including an abstract mountain scene on the Lovelace building.
Isabella Hyde, Zeke Odom, Sabrina Orr, Cassie Sawyer and Christina Lancaster (from left) were able to re-create what should have been their 2020 prom group photo at Robbinsville High School’s Senior Sunrise Celebration on Wednesday, March 3. Photos by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Isabella Hyde, Zeke Odom, Sabrina Orr, Cassie Sawyer and Christina Lancaster (from left) were able to re-create what should have been their 2020 prom group photo at Robbinsville High School’s Senior Sunrise Celebration on Wednesday, March 3. Photos by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

Sunrise and good times

Charlie Benton
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Robbinsville – The Class of 2021 – which has missed out on prom and several other traditional milestones, due to COVID-19 – was treated to a Senior Sunrise Celebration on Wednesday, March 3.
Jake Shamblin was joined with daughter Thea, wife Mallory and daughter Phoebe (back row); plus sons Levi and Noah during his introduction as the new regional Guardian ad Litem supervisor on Friday. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Jake Shamblin was joined with daughter Thea, wife Mallory and daughter Phoebe (back row); plus sons Levi and Noah during his introduction as the new regional Guardian ad Litem supervisor on Friday. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Championing for children

Charlie Benton
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Robbinsville – Children that find themselves in some very difficult situations in both Graham and Macon counties can now turn to Jake Shamblin, as he takes the helm of the Guardian Ad Litem program in both.  Shamblin officially started as the program’s director on Dec.

Lots of time in the woods

Marshall McClung
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Saturday and Sunday was a busy time for local fire and rescue personnel, as they were involved in a number of missions. Early Saturday afternoon, the Graham County 911 dispatcher received a call from a hiker who had become ill in the Wolf Laurel section of Big Santeetlah.