GrahamCounty

Local man convicted for beating girlfriend

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Robbinsville – A Graham County man beat his girlfriend so severely that he realized she needed medical attention, but then beat her some more so that he could convincingly say her injuries were from a traffic accident.
Appalachian Road Show will perform as a part of Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s “An Appalachian Evening” series at 7 p.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of Erick Anderson Photography & Design

Appalachian Road Show will perform as a part of Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s “An Appalachian Evening” series at 7 p.m. Saturday. Photo courtesy of Erick Anderson Photography & Design

‘Authenticity never goes out of style’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Stecoah – To sit back and enjoy a performance by Appalachian Road Show is to sit back and enjoy a trip through musical history. In today’s market, it’s a challenge to be unique enough to stick out from the rest of the pack.
Flanked by her agricultural production, Vicki Walsh proudly shows off the garden she has cultivated on Lower Mill Creek Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Flanked by her agricultural production, Vicki Walsh proudly shows off the garden she has cultivated on Lower Mill Creek Road. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Like father, like daughter

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Tallulah – Vicki Walsh was surprised when she got a call asking her to be featured in The Graham Star for its weekly Green Thumbs series. Her garden isn’t a big deal and she hadn’t been doing it all that long, she said. She was, of course, wrong.
Town of Lake Santeetlah council member Diana Simon answers questions from attorney John Noor at the July 7 preliminary voter challenge hearing with the Graham County Board of Elections. Seated in the gallery between Noor and Simon is council member Tina Emerson, who is one of eight in Lake Santeetlah being challenged. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Town of Lake Santeetlah council member Diana Simon answers questions from attorney John Noor at the July 7 preliminary voter challenge hearing with the Graham County Board of Elections. Seated in the gallery between Noor and Simon is council member Tina Emerson, who is one of eight in Lake Santeetlah being challenged. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Voter challenge moves to hearing

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Robbinsville – After careful examination and testimony, the Graham County Board of Elections has decreed that eight separate voter challenges showed probable cause for an evidentiary hearing.
Sophomore Graylen Orr – shown delivering a pitch April 11 against Brevard – was 1-of-3 Black Knights that received an All-Smoky Mountain Conference Honorable Mention. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Sophomore Graylen Orr – shown delivering a pitch April 11 against Brevard – was 1-of-3 Black Knights that received an All-Smoky Mountain Conference Honorable Mention. Photo courtesy of Crystal White/Contributing Photographer

Black Knights receive 3 honorable mentions

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 7, 2022
With the conclusion of the 2022 spring sports season in the rearview mirror, the All-Smoky Mountain Conference baseball and softball awards were recently announced. Though no Robbinsville players made the All-Conference list, the future is bright.
Traffic was blocked in both directions just after 4 p.m. June 29, when a disabled three-wheel motorcycle being towed by a Good Samaritan rolled over on Sweetwater Road about two miles east of Rodney Orr Bypass. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Traffic was blocked in both directions just after 4 p.m. June 29, when a disabled three-wheel motorcycle being towed by a Good Samaritan rolled over on Sweetwater Road about two miles east of Rodney Orr Bypass. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

3-wheeler rider injured while being towed

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Sweetwater – A Kentucky man suffered a broken arm and other injuries, after losing control of his three-wheeler motorcycle on N.C. Hwy. 143 (Sweetwater Road), about two miles east of U.S. Hwy. 129 (Rodney Orr Bypass) on June 29.
For the fourth time in five years, Graham County Transit has been recognize with a Safety Award from the N.C. Public Transportation Association. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tracy Jenkins, Donna Hill, transit director Juanita Colvard, Penny Postell, Jennifer Conley, Donna McCracken and Kenny Blevins. Back row: Michael Collins, Michael Badalucca, Andrew Hyde, Terry Crawford, Lamar Carver, Frank Deyton and Tommy Holland. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

For the fourth time in five years, Graham County Transit has been recognize with a Safety Award from the N.C. Public Transportation Association. All names are listed from left. Front row: Tracy Jenkins, Donna Hill, transit director Juanita Colvard, Penny Postell, Jennifer Conley, Donna McCracken and Kenny Blevins. Back row: Michael Collins, Michael Badalucca, Andrew Hyde, Terry Crawford, Lamar Carver, Frank Deyton and Tommy Holland. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Safety is a lifestyle

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 7, 2022
West Fort Hill – The results speak for themselves: if you want a safe trip, Graham County Transit has you covered. For the fourth time in a five-year span (2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022), the department has been awarded one of six safety awards from the N.C. Public Transportation Association.

Never too early to plan for Halloween

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Robbinsville – Planning has started for the Trunk or Treat downtown Halloween celebration. The Robbinsville Tourism Authority met on June 29 for its monthly meeting and starting working out details for the annual celebration, held on Main Street and one of the town’s most popular annual events.
An architectural rendering shows a conceptual plan for a new Graham County Justice Center off West Fort Hill Road. Graphic courtesy of Heery Design, Orlando, Fla.

An architectural rendering shows a conceptual plan for a new Graham County Justice Center off West Fort Hill Road. Graphic courtesy of Heery Design, Orlando, Fla.

Details emerge for planned Graham County Justice Center

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
West Fort Hill – Graham County government has released details for a centralized justice center it plans to build on an 11-acre parcel off West Fort Hill Road.
A lawsuit between Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Graham County has been ordered to enter mediation.

A lawsuit between Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Graham County has been ordered to enter mediation.

Judge orders mediation in county, urgent care lawsuit

Randy Foster
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Robbinsville – A Superior Court judge has ordered a mediated settlement conference between Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Graham County government before a trial can take place.