GrahamCounty

Local beekeeper Allen Wamsley carefully extracted lavender honey from a hive in the Yellow Creek community on July 3. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Local beekeeper Allen Wamsley carefully extracted lavender honey from a hive in the Yellow Creek community on July 3. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Lavender honey harvest draws community colony

It took three years for a combination of factors to sync perfectly at Marie’s Lavender Farm and yield almost 50 pounds of unique lavender honey.
Keeping a garden has been a way of life for Mitch Rogers since he was a teenager. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Keeping a garden has been a way of life for Mitch Rogers since he was a teenager. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Deeply rooted

* 2nd in a 4-part series Sweetwater – From the time Mitch Rogers was around 15, he has been able to run a digging plow. He remembers helping his grandfather Bill Marr on their farm on Sweetwater.  Fast forward 55 years and you will still find Rogers in the garden.

Multi-vehicle accident leaves one injured

Tallulah – A 3-car accident Friday morning resulted in one patient being airlifted to UT Medical Center in Knoxville. According to the accident report filed by highway patrolman Kosal Thach, the incident occurred around 9:53 a.m.

Exposure charges dismissed

Sweetgum – A District Court judge recently dismissed charges against a local man accused of exposing himself in front of a minor two weeks prior.
Cheset and Jeremy Williams have carefully sculpted the side of a mountain in Graham County to become their single source for food. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Cheset and Jeremy Williams have carefully sculpted the side of a mountain in Graham County to become their single source for food. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Livin’ off the land

* 1st in a 4-part series Yellow Creek – It all started with chickens.  In 2020 – when the world was on standby, thanks to the COVID pandemic – Jeremy and Cheset Williams decided it was time to make healthier choices in their diet, and bought a few chickens.
Graham County resident Susan Crowe (second from left) was presented with the Lula Owl Gloyne Person of Excellence Award at the June 15 Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala. Also pictured is Dale Robinson, Jr. (left), chairman of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation; plus Judy Gloyne-Tiger and Jayden Crowe (right), family members of Lula Owl Gloyne.

Graham County resident Susan Crowe (second from left) was presented with the Lula Owl Gloyne Person of Excellence Award at the June 15 Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala. Also pictured is Dale Robinson, Jr. (left), chairman of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation; plus Judy Gloyne-Tiger and Jayden Crowe (right), family members of Lula Owl Gloyne.

Under her watchful eye

Cherokee – The groundwork for a local resident to be named this year’s recipient of the Lula Owl Gloyne Person of Excellence Award began 12 years ago. It was the 2012 Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala.
A three-year state grant has made sure nurse  practitioners’ Norma Burdette (left) and Meggan Smith continue to serve patients at the Graham County Department of Public Health. Photo courtesy of Donna Stephens/Graham County Department of Public Health

A three-year state grant has made sure nurse practitioners’ Norma Burdette (left) and Meggan Smith continue to serve patients at the Graham County Department of Public Health. Photo courtesy of Donna Stephens/Graham County Department of Public Health

Grant retains pair of nurse practitioners

Tallulah – The Graham County Department of Public Health has ensured non-stop medical care for the next three years. Thanks to a yearly community health grant of $150,000 from the N.C.
The accommodations at K’s Kennels make the visitors jump for joy. Business owner Kensley Phillips looks on as Willow expresses her excitement with the stay. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The accommodations at K’s Kennels make the visitors jump for joy. Business owner Kensley Phillips looks on as Willow expresses her excitement with the stay. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Pampered pups

Tallulah – All of us have heard the saying, “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”  If you don’t believe it, just ask 19-year-old Kensley Phillips.  Phillips is proof that passion can become profit and loving what you do is just gravy on the dog bone.
A routine probation visit earlier this month ultimately yielded 348 grams of methamphetamine. Photo courtesy of N.C. Department of Adult Correction

A routine probation visit earlier this month ultimately yielded 348 grams of methamphetamine. Photo courtesy of N.C. Department of Adult Correction

Probation visit results in meth bust

Ronnie Ray Underwood, Jr. Sweetgum – Deputies with the Graham County Sheriff’s Office accompanied North Carolina Probation and Parole on a June 4 home visit and left with much more than a check-in from the resident.