GrahamCounty

Questions dumped on Brookfield rep

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

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

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.
Construction on a Celebrate Recovery building off Hares Creek Road has progressed nicely since last year. Here, John Felton, Andy Girl and Doug Underwood work on the exterior. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Construction on a Celebrate Recovery building off Hares Creek Road has progressed nicely since last year. Here, John Felton, Andy Girl and Doug Underwood work on the exterior. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Construction on recovery center worth celebrating

John Felton stands inside the future fellowship hall at the Celebrate Recovery building. Tallulah – There is no doubt when there is a need in Graham County, Graham County shows up. Last week, the Celebrate Recovery Facebook page posted a need for insulation for the building project on Tallulah.
Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Top 10 of 2023: the Year in Review

It was another year chocked full of news around Graham County. Though it would be impossible to recap every newsworthy event of 2023, The Graham Star looks back at 10 of the most significant moments.

Items found lead to ID

Deep Creek – The family of 88-year-old Donald Storey have accepted the findings of both evidence collected from an Aug. 18 discovery and DNA testing as confirmation of his death.

Need for speed

Zito Media Internet speeds are not living up to what Graham County citizens paid for. “I am confident in the design of the network and that it is providing the speed advertised,” said Zito Media president Jim Rigas. “If there are any ongoing issues, we want to investigate and resolve them.
Authorities found Carley Walls’ vehicle burning on Tatham Gap Road roughly 12 hours before her body was discovered some 15 miles away in Robbinsville. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Authorities found Carley Walls’ vehicle burning on Tatham Gap Road roughly 12 hours before her body was discovered some 15 miles away in Robbinsville. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Autopsy shifts case to homicide

Robbinsville – Almost 11 months after a local woman was found deceased, autopsy findings have finally be unveiled. Blunt-force trauma, methamphetamine toxicity and environmental hypothermia were cited as the causes of Carley Dunn Walls’ death on Feb. 5, 2023.

Christmas Eve fire burns 1 acre

Atoah – Holidays are often a busy time for emergency personnel – including firefighters. This was the case on Christmas Eve, when a brush fire was reported on Atoah Road around 2 p.m.