GrahamCounty

Graham County was without all eight of its sanitation sites for roughly three weeks, but it appears that the absence of convenience did little to teach those who are largely responsible for the original closures – as evident from this snapshot taken at the Snowbird site on the morning of Feb. 5.

All trash sites re-opened

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Dumpsters were returned to the Bear Creek sanitation site Friday, officially signaling that all eight of the county’s trash centers were back open for business. However, the same issues that played a large role in the board of commissioners’ decision to close five of the locations Jan.

Voting begins today

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Robbinsville – Graham County constituents are welcome to begin making their voices heard at the polls today. The 2024 primary election kicks off with one-stop (early) voting being held at the county’s board of elections office (196 Knight St., Suite A).

Land designated for fitness center

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Robbinsville – Plans for a public fitness center close to the county seat received a sprint forward Monday. The Graham County Health Board – made up by commissioners, with an advisory council on standby – voted unanimously to designate one acre of property off West Fort Hill Road for the facility.

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

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

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.