GrahamCounty

Operation Stop Arm is a week-long initative that sees officers crack down on those who offend school bus laws. Even on a rainy Tuesday morning, drivers like Bobby Howell has to make sure each student he picks up arrives at school safely. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Operation Stop Arm is a week-long initative that sees officers crack down on those who offend school bus laws. Even on a rainy Tuesday morning, drivers like Bobby Howell has to make sure each student he picks up arrives at school safely. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Operation Stop Arm promotes school traffic safety

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Robbinsville – Operation Stop Arm, a N.C. State Highway Patrol campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of ignoring school bus stop arms, increased traffic patrols in school zones, around school buses and at school bus stops Monday. The initiative lasts until Friday.

Studies link alcohol bans to increased meth use

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 24, 2019
After a six-year study of Kentucky counties, researchers at the University of Louisville concluded that “dry counties” tend to have more intense problems with methamphetamine abuse than counties where alcohol is legal.

Flu virus strikes county

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Dr. John Tucker of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care in Robbinsville recently confirmed that the flu virus is already active in Graham County.
Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (left) and senior Christopher Shope behold a Pagani automobile that visited the campus Oct. 16. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville High School principal David Matheson (left) and senior Christopher Shope behold a Pagani automobile that visited the campus Oct. 16. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Not your everyday car

News Staff
Thursday, October 24, 2019
By Matthew Miller Special to The Graham Star Robbinsville – When Robbinsville High School is mentioned in conversation, one may think of academics, clubs, or sports.  However, for a brief moment Oct. 16, the focus on campus was automotive.
The Pressley Girls were just one of several groups to perform at Saturday’s festival. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

The Pressley Girls were just one of several groups to perform at Saturday’s festival. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Mountain life highlighted

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Stecoah – In spite of threatening skies, the 23rd annual Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s Fall Harvest Festival, ranked by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events of 2019, turned the 10-acre Stecoah campus into a two-day “quintessential showcase of traditional mountain life.

Council members abruptly resign

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Lake Santeetlah – Two town council members recently tendered their resignations in a span of three days. Patrick O'Donovan submitted his resignation Oct. 4, with Mary Williams following suit Oct. 7.

Ministry through hiking

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Robbinsville – The Robbinsville United Methodist recently won a $250 Fresh Expressions grant to help the congregation support hikers on the Appalachian Trail.  Pastor Eric Reece and church members such as Marcia and David Davies have been helping AT through-hikers for more than four years now.

Nothing new on cell tower

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Robbinsville – Cell phone users in Graham County have waited months for the new 210-foot tower on Johns Road to go on-line. But they will have to wait a bit longer.
The most current drought map shows more than 70 percent of N.C. residents living with drought or abnormally dry conditions.

The most current drought map shows more than 70 percent of N.C. residents living with drought or abnormally dry conditions.

Drought increases fire danger

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, October 17, 2019
As every farmer and gardener is well aware, western North Carolina has been in drought or near-drought conditions for some time.  Severe heat coupled with a lack of rain has thrown much of the region into dangerously dry conditions, the likes of which have not been seen in two years.

Woman drowns in creek

News Staff
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Big Santeetlah – Officials have confirmed that a Huntsville, Ala. woman drowned in Big Santeetlah Creek on Oct. 7, and the death is being investigated as suspicious. Kathleen Polce Miller, 60, was at a campsite just past Stewart Cabin with her husband.