GrahamCounty

John Colwell has served as executive director of REVVED UP since August 2020, but recently announced his intent to step down from the post. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

John Colwell has served as executive director of REVVED UP since August 2020, but recently announced his intent to step down from the post. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

REVVED UP starts year surrounded by questions

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Robbinsville – John Colwell, chairman of the board of REVVED UP, did more than plan the organization’s annual Christmas dinner in December; he was planning his future.
Fire engines from around the county were dispatched to a home fire in the Santeetlah area Dec. 29. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Fire engines from around the county were dispatched to a home fire in the Santeetlah area Dec. 29. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Hot ashes spark grass fire

Marshall McClung
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Santeetlah – The Graham County 911 Center received a report of a fire spreading out of control around 2 p.m. Dec. 29. Firefighters with the Graham County and Santeetlah Fire departments, N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service responded to Golf Course Circle off U.S.
Shari Birchfield is set to retire this month, after spending over 20 years serving residents at Robbinsville Town Hall. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Shari Birchfield is set to retire this month, after spending over 20 years serving residents at Robbinsville Town Hall. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Retirement triggers new generation

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Robbinsville – Shari Birchfield began the last month of a 20-year career with the Town of Robbinsville by training her two replacements. On Jan. 27, Birchfield will step down as the town’s long-time water clerk – as well as interim finance director, a position she has held since July.

Health director resigns

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Tallulah – The Graham Star confirmed late-Tuesday morning that Graham County Public Health Director Beth Booth has turned in her resignation, effective Feb. 3. No reason was made public about why Booth is resigning from a position that she has held since 2017.
Citing costly repairs, Cable Cove Campground was shuttered in February and has yet to re-open. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Citing costly repairs, Cable Cove Campground was shuttered in February and has yet to re-open. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

2022: The Year in Review

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Robbinsville – These are some of the top stories covered by The Graham Star in 2022. January * COVID-19: The year started the way one would expect over the past couple of years — with an Omicron-led spike in COVID-19 numbers.
Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will soon be vacating the property the Bryson City-based medical provider has leased from Graham County. However, the county is already working on bringing in another provider and reviving the use of several pieces of medical equipment that have sat dormant for some time. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will soon be vacating the property the Bryson City-based medical provider has leased from Graham County. However, the county is already working on bringing in another provider and reviving the use of several pieces of medical equipment that have sat dormant for some time. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Provider leaving at end of January

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Robbinsville – Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will be closing its Robbinsville practice at the end of January, ending a year-long conflict between the provider and its landlord, Graham County Government.

Ruby Lee Sawyer

News Staff
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Ruby Lee Sawyer, 94 of the Mill Creek community of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Graham Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was a native of Graham County, and the daughter of the late John F. and Julia Orr Shuler.

Aldermen pick new hire to complete staff

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Robbinsville – The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen voted to fill the second of two vacancies in its office staff on Dec. 20, voting to hire Amanda Gyongyos for the Robbinsville Water Department Town Clerk – pending drug test.
Roadside clearing for the upcoming Corridor K expansion has progressed quickly on N.C. 143, with crews beginning at the U.S. 129 intersection and already reaching this location near Nathan Garland Road. A local contractor was awarded the third planned segment of the improvements Dec. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Roadside clearing for the upcoming Corridor K expansion has progressed quickly on N.C. 143, with crews beginning at the U.S. 129 intersection and already reaching this location near Nathan Garland Road. A local contractor was awarded the third planned segment of the improvements Dec. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Local company awarded 3rd ‘K’ section

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Raleigh – Bids for the now-third planned section of Corridor K improvements through Graham County were unsealed Dec. 20. And for the first time since “letting” (awarding of contracts) began Aug. 16, a local contractor is in the mix. Adams Contracting Company, Inc. outbid Sevierville, Tenn.