GrahamCountyHealthDepartment

Settlement reached on town sanitation bill

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Robbinsville – A settlement regarding a sanitation bill in excess of $23,000 has been finalized. At June 17's Graham County Board of Commissioners meeting, county manager Brady Cody presented a May invoice for Robbinsville's past-due amount of $23,914.80.
A three-year state grant has made sure nurse practitioners’ Norma Burdette (left) and Meggan Smith continue to serve patients at the Graham County Department of Public Health. Photo courtesy of Donna Stephens/Graham County Department of Public Health

A three-year state grant has made sure nurse practitioners’ Norma Burdette (left) and Meggan Smith continue to serve patients at the Graham County Department of Public Health. Photo courtesy of Donna Stephens/Graham County Department of Public Health

Grant retains pair of nurse practitioners

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Tallulah – The Graham County Department of Public Health has ensured non-stop medical care for the next three years. Thanks to a yearly community health grant of $150,000 from the N.C.

Land designated for fitness center

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Robbinsville – Plans for a public fitness center close to the county seat received a sprint forward Monday. The Graham County Health Board – made up by commissioners, with an advisory council on standby – voted unanimously to designate one acre of property off West Fort Hill Road for the facility.
Nurse practitioners Meggan Smith (left) and Norma Burdette have both joined the staff at the Graham County Department of Public Health. The hires are a resolution to the void that Graham County Urgent Care & Family Practice’s closing could have on local healthcare. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Nurse practitioners Meggan Smith (left) and Norma Burdette have both joined the staff at the Graham County Department of Public Health. The hires are a resolution to the void that Graham County Urgent Care & Family Practice’s closing could have on local healthcare. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

One door closes, another door opens

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Tallulah – Citing “ongoing unexpected financial issues,” The Graham Star was informed just as the final copies of its Aug. 24 edition rolled off the press that Graham County Urgent Care & Family Practice was closing exactly one week earlier than believed. Dr.
Newly-appointed Graham County Department of Health Director Donna Stephens announced that plans are being explored to renovate the former Green’s Foodway into a new fitness center. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Newly-appointed Graham County Department of Health Director Donna Stephens announced that plans are being explored to renovate the former Green’s Foodway into a new fitness center. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Local fitness center discussed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Tallulah – One universal consensus between residents is that a fitness center in Graham County is desperately needed. Donna Stephens agrees – and is looking to make the dream a reality.
Donna Stephens has been appointed interim health director for Graham County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Donna Stephens has been appointed interim health director for Graham County. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘I want to help everybody in our county’

Kevin Hensley
Friday, March 31, 2023
Tallulah – The last two local health directors have both had the addendum of ‘interim’ tacked onto the front of their job titles. But there is nothing temporary about Graham County’s latest appointment to the role.

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.

Health board meeting short, contentious

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 19, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners summoned the Graham County Health Advisory Board for a special meeting on Jan. 10, but it didn’t go quite like expected and lasted around five minutes.
Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Commissioners postpone decision about emergency contraception

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Tallulah – Graham County commissioners faced an issue that pitted their responsibilities as stewards of county government against their religious beliefs, with the hot-button topic of abortion on the agenda — the day before Election Day.