CherokeeCounty

Wreckage of Life Force 6 blocks Middle Burningtown Road in Macon County on Friday on the morning following a crash. All four aboard survived. Photo by Mia Overton/The Franklin Press

Wreckage of Life Force 6 blocks Middle Burningtown Road in Macon County on Friday on the morning following a crash. All four aboard survived. Photo by Mia Overton/The Franklin Press

Andrews-based air ambulance crashes in Macon County

News Staff
Friday, March 10, 2023
Franklin – Four people survived when an air ambulance en route from Murphy to Asheville crashed in Macon County about 7 p.m. Thursday. Investigators were on scene Friday following the crash of Life Force 6, a medical helicopter based at Western Carolina Regional Airport near Andrews.
A firefighter from Valleytown Fire Department in Andrews helps direct traffic at a collision in Topton on April 28. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

A firefighter from Valleytown Fire Department in Andrews helps direct traffic at a collision in Topton on April 28. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

No injuries after cars collide near Cherokee/Graham border

Randy Foster
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Topton – Two cars collided – but no one was injured – April 28, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 129 in Topton. At about 1:30 p.m., a 2002 Mitsubishi convertible – driven by Tiffany Jillson of Murphy – was headed west on U.S. 19, approaching the intersection with U.S.
A range of people including representatives from the logging industry, environmental groups, and local government listen to U.S. Forest Service officials describe the Crossover Project near the Graham-Cherokee county line on April 22. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

A range of people including representatives from the logging industry, environmental groups, and local government listen to U.S. Forest Service officials describe the Crossover Project near the Graham-Cherokee county line on April 22. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Forest Service hosts Crossover Project tour

Randy Foster
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Topton – There is a weathered wooden sign on a rutted turnout off U.S. Highway 129 southeast of Robbinsville that tells part of a story. “Timber for tomorrow,” the sign reads. “A low quality stand of timber was logged from this area in 1977.

New details in 124-year-old homicide

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Sweetwater – All grave stones tell a story – even the ones too old to make out. But one gravestone in Robbinsville goes above and beyond. Thad Sherrill is buried in the Old Mother Cemetery near the Old Mother Church, under a mature shade tree that caused the gravestone to slant as the tree grew.
A sign at the Robbinsville Wendy’s restaurant advertises help wanted, as Graham County continues to have the highest unemployment numbers in the Southwestern region. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

A sign at the Robbinsville Wendy’s restaurant advertises help wanted, as Graham County continues to have the highest unemployment numbers in the Southwestern region. Photo by Charlie Benton/news@grahamstar.com

A complex picture

Charlie Benton
Thursday, May 6, 2021
While people in western North Carolina are indeed returning to work, compared to the initial drastic dip with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic approximately a year ago, experts familiar with the local job market say the picture is more complicated.
Defense attorney Rich Cassady (left) speaks with his client, Jackie Slaughter, at trial last week in the Cherokee County Courthouse. Photo courtesy of Quintin Ellison Photography

Defense attorney Rich Cassady (left) speaks with his client, Jackie Slaughter, at trial last week in the Cherokee County Courthouse. Photo courtesy of Quintin Ellison Photography

Slaughter convicted of lesser charge in Cherokee

News Staff
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
By Penny Ray Cherokee Scout Murphy – On each day of the trial charging Jackie Slaughter with attempted murder, the judge instructed jurors not to research media reports about the defendant’s past.

FAFSA completion day scheduled for regional students

Charlie Benton
Friday, February 26, 2021
Murphy – Anyone in the area needing to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – in preparation for college – will have an opportunity to get help doing so Saturday, at a Tri-County completion day held by advisors from the Appalachian College Advising Corps.

County to receive funds for reopening schools

Charlie Benton
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Graham County has netted some money to help its public schools reopen safely in the wake of COVID-19.  According to a press release from State Rep. Karl Gillespie, R-Franklin, Graham County Schools will receive $1,252,350 from the $1.6 billion allotted by Senate Bill 36.