GrahamCounty

Stiles Heating & Cooling was just one local dropoff center quickly established in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, as many in Graham County got right to work doing whatever it took to deliver necessities to areas of Western North Carolina significantly affected by the storm’s Sept. 29 landfall. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Stiles Heating & Cooling was just one local dropoff center quickly established in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, as many in Graham County got right to work doing whatever it took to deliver necessities to areas of Western North Carolina significantly affected by the storm’s Sept. 29 landfall. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Western North Carolina heavily impacted by Helene

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Graham County was fortunate enough to only be hit with downed trees and steady rainfall, in the wake of Hurricane Helene invading Western North Carolina on Friday.

Hiker found on Big Snowbird

Marshall McClung
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Snowbird – Graham County dispatch received a call from a worried father in Charlotte around 5:25 p.m., Saturday. He had not heard from his son, 18-year-old Samuel McMasters, since 1:30 p.m., Friday.  McMasters was camped on Big Snowbird Creek.

Commission candidate questions records requests

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Robbinsville – Machelle Crisp contends that her public records requests should be no more than “the click of a button.” County attorney J.K. Coward says that Crisp’s requests would take several, full work days to complete.

Visitor spending up in 2023

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Spending in Graham County increased by two percent in 2023, according to an annual study released by VisitNC.  A recent news release from Graham County Travel & Tourism reported $55.98 million was transacted by local and visiting individuals inside the borders, which is up from $54,860,400 in 2022.
Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council Rep. Adam Wachacha (far left) and Roger Smoker (far right) gather around the six latest graduates of the Dadiwonisi Language Program, all of whom were recognized at a Monday ceremony. In-between Wachacha and Smoker (from left) are language instructor Cassidy Galaviz, Callie Bush, Malakai Littlejohn, Lauryn Rattler, Rachel Ballou, Lakoda Bird, Troy Jones and Mike Wachacha. Photo courtesy of April Johnson/Contributing Photographer

Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council Rep. Adam Wachacha (far left) and Roger Smoker (far right) gather around the six latest graduates of the Dadiwonisi Language Program, all of whom were recognized at a Monday ceremony. In-between Wachacha and Smoker (from left) are language instructor Cassidy Galaviz, Callie Bush, Malakai Littlejohn, Lauryn Rattler, Rachel Ballou, Lakoda Bird, Troy Jones and Mike Wachacha. Photo courtesy of April Johnson/Contributing Photographer

'Be the voice’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Snowbird – In 1872, Graham County took action to create a school system for the Cherokee on the Snowbird Reservation. On Sept. 6, 1880, a school district was established and the Cherokee attended a one-teacher schoolhouse.
Alarm was widespread across social media earlier this week, after screenshots of a Snapchat conversation revealed that an unidentified Robbinsville Middle School student was considering gun violence at the institution.

Alarm was widespread across social media earlier this week, after screenshots of a Snapchat conversation revealed that an unidentified Robbinsville Middle School student was considering gun violence at the institution.

Student investigated for threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Robbinsville – Local parents, faculty and students alike were once again on-edge this week, after word broke that an adolescent had spoken to someone about potentially bringing gun violence into Robbinsville Middle School.

Lake clean-up returns Saturday

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Lake Santeetlah – The annual effort to help keep one of Graham County’s main tourism draws aesthetically pleasing is just around the corner. The non-profit Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group has announced that its next clean-up will take place Saturday.
Monday was circled on the calendar as AdventHealth’s opening of urgent care services in Graham County, but the Hendersonville-based provider is aiming for an October debut. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Monday was circled on the calendar as AdventHealth’s opening of urgent care services in Graham County, but the Hendersonville-based provider is aiming for an October debut. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Urgent care opening delayed – again

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Robbinsville – Though decals adorn the front entrance and a sign welcoming everyone sits on the corner of South Main Street, the scheduled date for AdventHealth’s urgent care opening came and went with no patients seen. Optimism was through the roof when AdventHealth held an open house on Aug.

Schools reacts swiftly to online threat

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Robbinsville – Though officers and staff alike determined in about a 30-minute window that a widespread social media post held no merit locally, Graham County Schools still erred on the side of safety in a bizarre start to the school day. Around 7:30 a.m.
Graham County native Slade Trammell recently performed in Austria. Photos courtesy of Trianne Newbry

Graham County native Slade Trammell recently performed in Austria. Photos courtesy of Trianne Newbry

88 keys to finding delight

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Rosenegg, Austria – Even though Slade Trammell has memories of riding on bulldozers with his grandpas as a child, he figured out early on that the piano stool was where he belonged.  “I don’t remember a period in my life when I wasn’t banging on the piano,” says Trammell.