GrahamCounty

A member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Robbinsville High School senior Tylie Bridges spent last week as a Governor’s Page in Raleigh. The week gave Bridges a chance to meet Gov. Roy Cooper.

A member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Robbinsville High School senior Tylie Bridges spent last week as a Governor’s Page in Raleigh. The week gave Bridges a chance to meet Gov. Roy Cooper.

Paging Miss Bridges

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Raleigh – Tylie Bridges made history last week by being the first member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to participate in the North Carolina Governor’s Page Program. This program gives high school students the opportunity to learn hands-on by participating in state government.
Dignitaries gather around the new CT scanner at Graham County Urgent Care, which was funded by the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Dignitaries gather around the new CT scanner at Graham County Urgent Care, which was funded by the Golden Leaf Foundation. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Funder visits progress

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Robbinsville – Golden Leaf Foundation Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton visited Graham County Urgent Care and Family Practice on Nov. 9, to see machines the foundation funded first-handed.
A sign outside a residence on Atoah Street has renewed interest in a dog-barking controversy between a pair of adjacent properties, which has spanned almost two years.

A sign outside a residence on Atoah Street has renewed interest in a dog-barking controversy between a pair of adjacent properties, which has spanned almost two years.

New sign, new layer: old dispute

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Robbinsville – A neighborhood feud originating with a barking dog has resurfaced – with the sounds of honking car horns. On Oct. 25, a sign was created from a pallet and black-and-white paint at the Eddings’ residence on Atoah Street.
Cecilia Arrowwood (left) and Jenni Junaluska place the ceremonial wreath on Junaluska’s grave Friday. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Cecilia Arrowwood (left) and Jenni Junaluska place the ceremonial wreath on Junaluska’s grave Friday. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘Very brave, not afraid’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, November 16, 2023
A new marker was unveiled at Friday’s annual Junaluksa Wreath Laying Ceremony in Robbinsville, recognizing the famed chief for his service in the United States military. Robbinsville – He is considered by many the unsung hero of the greatest Native American battle in United States history.
A heavy lack of rainfall has produced a drought across western North Carolina. As seen from this U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map, Graham County is under a “severe drought.” Map courtesy of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

A heavy lack of rainfall has produced a drought across western North Carolina. As seen from this U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map, Graham County is under a “severe drought.” Map courtesy of North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Send down the rain

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
A heavy lack of rainfall in the area has wreaked havoc on conditions outdoors, which has sparked a pair of unrelated fires – one planned, one not – and the implementation of an outdoor burn ban. The North Carolina Forest Service issued a ban for a 14-county area, which went into effect at 5 p.m.

Lake Santeetlah council shuffled again

News Staff
Thursday, November 9, 2023
At the local level, only two races were contested during the 2023 election season: seats on the councils of Graham County’s two smallest municipalities, Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah.
Fontana Village Marina Manager Brandon Jones helps unload trash during the Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup on Saturday. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Fontana Village Marina Manager Brandon Jones helps unload trash during the Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup on Saturday. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

65,000 pounds lighter

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Fontana Dam – All were encouraged to help keep Fontana Lake beautiful during the sixth annual Fontana Lakeshore Trash Clean-Up, which was held from Friday-Sunday.
It has been over five years since Graham County Sheriff’s Office personnel Edward Cable (center) and Jerry Crisp escorted Garrel Alvah Orr out of the Graham County Courthouse after being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his daughter-in-law Lora Orr. Monday, Garrel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

It has been over five years since Graham County Sheriff’s Office personnel Edward Cable (center) and Jerry Crisp escorted Garrel Alvah Orr out of the Graham County Courthouse after being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his daughter-in-law Lora Orr. Monday, Garrel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Orr pleads guilty

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – In a case that has lingered for over five years, Garrel Alvah Orr, 82, pleaded guilty Monday in the death of his daughter-in-law, Lora Orr in February 2018. Orr was sentenced 70-96 months in the state department of adult correction in Raleigh.
Attendees of Oct. 24’s “Shatter the Silence” event placed butterflies outside the Graham County Courthouse – a powerful tribute to victims lost to domestic violence. Photos by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Attendees of Oct. 24’s “Shatter the Silence” event placed butterflies outside the Graham County Courthouse – a powerful tribute to victims lost to domestic violence. Photos by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

‘Leave with these names soaked in your heart’

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Robbinsville – Reach of Cherokee/Graham County hosted “Shatter the Silence” – an event to remember those who lost their lives to domestic violence – outside the Graham County Courthouse on Oct. 24.

Students safe after bus accident

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools’ Bus 16 was involved in an accident Oct. 26, near the Black Knight Way/Rodney Orr Bypass (U.S. 129) intersection. A farm tractor pulling a house trailer was left-of-center while the bus was stopped and about to turn into the high school.