GrahamCounty

Just two months into his service, Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit has already faced a heavy workload. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Just two months into his service, Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit has already faced a heavy workload. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘We are building teams’

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 2, 2023
* First in a 3-part series Robbinsville – Brad Hoxit is a career law-enforcement officer, who knows the terrain as well or better than anyone in law enforcement, having patrolled Graham County’s roads as a state trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol.
An unidentified worker looks over the floor of a bathroom that has been closed for remodeling at the Graham County Community Building. A pipe burst around the remodel overnight Friday, causing the county offices to close. As of Tuesday, the offices have not reopened. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

An unidentified worker looks over the floor of a bathroom that has been closed for remodeling at the Graham County Community Building. A pipe burst around the remodel overnight Friday, causing the county offices to close. As of Tuesday, the offices have not reopened. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Pipe leak floods Graham County offices

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Robbinsville – A construction error led to a water line break and major flooding Friday at the Graham County Community Building on Knight Street, forcing county offices to close temporarily.
For the second time in a 7-week span, a threat from the student body at Robbinsville High School forced Graham County Schools to alter its schedule. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

For the second time in a 7-week span, a threat from the student body at Robbinsville High School forced Graham County Schools to alter its schedule. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Online threat delays school day

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Robbinsville – It is becoming a disturbing trend across the country: threats made either by phone or online that endanger local school systems. Sadly, the Graham County School district has recently found susceptible to the issue – twice, in a 7-week span.
This map illustrates the new U.S. Forest Service management plan for a large portion of the Southern Region, as it pertains to Graham County.

This map illustrates the new U.S. Forest Service management plan for a large portion of the Southern Region, as it pertains to Graham County.

Forest Service releases responses to management plans

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – The U.S. Forest Service issued a Jan. 19 response to objection issues raised for the revised Nantahala and Pisgah forest plan.

Santeetlah council has not met since mid-November

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Lake Santeetlah – The Town of Lake Santeetlah Town Council is having a hard time getting together. The council has cancelled every meeting since November, either because of procedural issues, prior commitments, illness, scheduled vacations, or combinations of these.
Following a public hearing in November, the N.C. Department of Transportation has opted to replace this aging bridge on Lower Mill Creek Road, instead of the original plan to remove the bridge and construct two turnarounds. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Following a public hearing in November, the N.C. Department of Transportation has opted to replace this aging bridge on Lower Mill Creek Road, instead of the original plan to remove the bridge and construct two turnarounds. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Lower Mill Creek Bridge will be replaced

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Tallulah – They listened. Officials with the N.C. Department of Transportation were greeted by a large turnout of opposition to a Nov.

County closing in on new urgent care contract

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners were expected to make final decisions after Wednesday’s press deadline on a contract with Dr. David Booth to take over urgent care operations in the county. The board of commissioners were scheduled to meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
Robbinsville Middle School Principal Tonia Walsh (right) leads a tour of officials Tuesday, including county project manager Jason Marino, county finance officer Becky Garland and interim county manager Kim Crisp (from back). Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Middle School Principal Tonia Walsh (right) leads a tour of officials Tuesday, including county project manager Jason Marino, county finance officer Becky Garland and interim county manager Kim Crisp (from back). Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

$4.5 million well spent

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – School officials officially unveiled the new Robbinsville Middle School addition Tuesday, a $4.5 million structure intended to relieve overcrowding at the high school/middle school complex off Sweetwater Road.

Smith named interim health director

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners appointed Meggan Smith – a Robbinsville-based family nurse practitioner – to fill in as interim public health director, following Beth Booth’s impending departure from the Public Health Department on Feb. 3. The Board of Commissioner recessed from its Jan.
Crews begin to extract a Toyota Highlander from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. Jan. 19, after the SUV crashed into the water during the early-morning hours. Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero, 23, passed away in the accident, while the driver and a rear-seat passenger managed to escape. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Crews begin to extract a Toyota Highlander from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. Jan. 19, after the SUV crashed into the water during the early-morning hours. Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero, 23, passed away in the accident, while the driver and a rear-seat passenger managed to escape. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

County rocked by fatal SUV crash into lake

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 26, 2023
In this photo from the Feb. 9, 2017 edition of The Graham Star, Freddy Romero erupts in jubilation after securing the state dual-team, championship-clinching pin for the Robbinsville Black Knights. Romero was honored before Jan. 19’s match against Swain County and Andrews.