GrahamCounty

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians member Bo Taylor leads a friendship dance around the mound at the Little Snowbird campground on Sept. 14. The “Earth Keepers” ceremony drew spectators from various countries across society. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians member Bo Taylor leads a friendship dance around the mound at the Little Snowbird campground on Sept. 14. The “Earth Keepers” ceremony drew spectators from various countries across society. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Mound visit

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Eastern Band Elder Alfred Welch began Sept. 14’s “Earth Keepers” mound dance with a traditional Cherokee prayer. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star Snowbird – Imagine a world of beauty, nature and wellness – a world of peace.
Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart confiscated this bag of suspected meth off a suspect during a Sept. 2 traffic stop, after K-9 Sam indicated the presence of narcotics orders in the vehicle. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Graham County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart confiscated this bag of suspected meth off a suspect during a Sept. 2 traffic stop, after K-9 Sam indicated the presence of narcotics orders in the vehicle. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

K-9 delivers perfect strike

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Robbinsville – A routine traffic stop yielded one of the largest meth busts in Graham County history. On Sept. 2, sheriff’s Deputy Justin Stewart pulled over a vehicle operated by John Mark Jenkins, 54, a native of Bryson City who listed 149 Maggie Wachacha Road in Snowbird as his address.

Resident found deceased

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Robbinsville – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office is busy trying to piece together what occurred inside a home at the Cheoah Trailer Park on Saturday.
The N.C. Department of Transportation recently activated a warning light to alert drivers approaching the busy U.S. 19/74/129 intersection in Topton. Photo by Kelsey Krizsan/The Graham Star

The N.C. Department of Transportation recently activated a warning light to alert drivers approaching the busy U.S. 19/74/129 intersection in Topton. Photo by Kelsey Krizsan/The Graham Star

Topton warning lights activated

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Topton – It is a meeting point for frequent carpoolers, three counties and all four cardinal directions of travel. It is also in a location with no cell-phone reception, so when an accident occurs, help can often be delayed until a third party can go somewhere to call for emergency assistance.
The Trinity Church Wall Street rings the Bell of Hope at St. Paul’s Chapel each year to remember those who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The Trinity Church Wall Street rings the Bell of Hope at St. Paul’s Chapel each year to remember those who were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘Where were you when the world stopped turning?’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, September 14, 2023
It’s one of those “when Kennedy was assassinated” or “when you found out Elvis died” memories that everyone can relate to if you were alive at the time. Sept. 11, 2001, will forever be embedded in the hearts and minds of every American citizen.
Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick became known worldwide for his long run as one of the featured subjects on the Discovery Channel’s show, “Moonshiners.” The Graham County native passed away Sept. 6 and the tributes that poured in painted a universally-beloved picture of “Jim Tom.”

Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick became known worldwide for his long run as one of the featured subjects on the Discovery Channel’s show, “Moonshiners.” The Graham County native passed away Sept. 6 and the tributes that poured in painted a universally-beloved picture of “Jim Tom.”

Farewell to a native son

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 14, 2023
“I out-slickered ‘em.” In an interview with The Graham Star in 2013, Marvin “Jim Tom” Hedrick displayed a badge of honor when pointing out he was never arrested for producing moonshine throughout his life. Hedrick passed away Sept.

Stewart named new GOP chair

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 7, 2023
There has been a changing of the guard, so to speak. Blair Stewart was appointed as the Graham County Republican Party’s new chairman at the GOP’s Aug. 26 meeting. He succeeds Steve Odom, who will stay on the local party’s executive committee as vice chair.
Lynn Deeden (left) and Victoria Baker – representing the Daughters of the American Revolution – oversee Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams’ signing of the annual Constitutional Week Proclamation at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting. This year, the recognition will run from Sunday, Sept. 17 – Saturday, Sept. 23. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lynn Deeden (left) and Victoria Baker – representing the Daughters of the American Revolution – oversee Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams’ signing of the annual Constitutional Week Proclamation at Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting. This year, the recognition will run from Sunday, Sept. 17 – Saturday, Sept. 23. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Back to the drawing board

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Robbinsville – After over two hours in closed session, recently-hired town attorney Leo Phillips opened the doors to the mayor’s office at Robbinsville Town Hall, inviting those still lingering in the lobby inside for what promised to be a long-anticipated announcement.

Meth, ‘mash’ seized during raid

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Tallulah – Proving that you never really know what you are going to find while executing a search raid, members of the Graham County Sheriff’s Office came across a large quantity of suspected mash. Mash, not meth.
Today, Tina Wesson (left, pictured with marketing director Erik Barnett) is the activities director at Tapoco Lodge. Over 20 years ago, she proved her outdoor prowess by winning the long-running competition show, “Survivor.”

Today, Tina Wesson (left, pictured with marketing director Erik Barnett) is the activities director at Tapoco Lodge. Over 20 years ago, she proved her outdoor prowess by winning the long-running competition show, “Survivor.”

She’s a Survivor

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Tapoco – Survival is an instinct we all have at one time or another. Some are resilient and courageous in the face of danger, while others are brave enough to overcome hardship and misfortune.