GrahamCounty

Board member asks for new chairman

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Robbinsville – Just over two hours into Tuesday’s Graham County Board of Education meeting, board member Debra “Hank” Dinschel stated, “I want to elect a new chairman.”Dinschel was almost 30 minutes into a speech on board procedures when she proposed her idea to remove Rodney Nelson from his post.
Robbinsville Elementary School teachers Teresa Moody, Keilah Stewart and Brandy Carpenter (from left) were recently recognized for being in the top 25 percent of statewide educators in developing student growth. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Robbinsville Elementary School teachers Teresa Moody, Keilah Stewart and Brandy Carpenter (from left) were recently recognized for being in the top 25 percent of statewide educators in developing student growth. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

A+ educators

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, February 1, 2024
What do you get when you take three Graham County teachers, add third and fourth grade students, and End of Grade Standardized Tests for 2023?

Now or never

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Fontana Dam – In a nearly two-hour council meeting Jan. 17, Fontana Dam’s woes bubbled to the surface, much like the town’s operator in responsible charge hopes a lingering water leak will soon do. Pure and simple, the smallest municipality in North Carolina has drifted into dangerous waters.

Lead-based paint lingers in jail

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Robbinsville – It’s no secret: the current Graham County Detention Center has maintained a current status long after its expiration date. Between 30-40 inmates are “housed” at any given time by the jail; of that, only eight beds are on-site.

Camper fire kills lifelong resident

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Atoah – An 80-year-old resident was found deceased Monday, after crews extinguished a residential blaze. A Wednesday morning autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Douglas Richard Campbell of 257 Atoah Road. Crews were first dispatched to his Airstream camper around 11 a.m.

Local man charged with animal cruelty

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
A group of residents have spearheaded a movement for better animal control in Graham County, drumming up a topic that has been hotly debated for years. A Facebook post surfaced Jan. 4, showing three deceased dogs lying outside a residence in the Snowbird community.
Public outcry about the county’s decision to shut down all but three sanitation sites led to a crowd of roughly 40 residents lining the community room for Tuesday’s meeting. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Public outcry about the county’s decision to shut down all but three sanitation sites led to a crowd of roughly 40 residents lining the community room for Tuesday’s meeting. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Dumpster problems thrown in the trash

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Robbinsville – “I think we need to redesign the plan, but we need public input before a new plan is put in place.

Questions dumped on Brookfield rep

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Lake Santeetlah – Even with no internet available to the building because of rainy weather, the Town of Lake Santeetlah persevered Jan. 9 with an almost 2-hour-long meeting discussing rules on disposing yard debris in the lake – and much more.

Town lawsuit dismissed ... again

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Robbinsville – Former Town of Robbinsville Interim Finance Officer Micheal Richardson’s small claim case against the Town of Robbinsville was dismissed without prejudice on Friday. Originally, Richardson sued Robbinsville Town Aldermen Debbie Beasley and Kenneth Hyde individually.
Ford Street has long combated drainage issues brought on by rainfall, but a new grant could finally resolve the problem. Photo courtesy of Shaun Adams

Ford Street has long combated drainage issues brought on by rainfall, but a new grant could finally resolve the problem. Photo courtesy of Shaun Adams

Lift station, street drainage discussed

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – The Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen added many important items to Jan. 3’s agenda, including the town’s lift station needing repairs and other town projects. The self-cleaning bar/filter screen – or lift station – is not operating and needs to be replaced.