LakeSanteetlah

Lake clean-up returns May 4

Lake Santeetlah – The annual effort to help keep one of Graham County’s main tourism draws aesthetically pleasing is just around the corner. The non-profit Lake Santeetlah Preservation Group has announced that its next clean-up will take place Saturday, May 4.
A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

Separate debris fires wreak havoc

Sunday was anything but a day of rest for local firefighters, as they were busy with two brush fires. The largest fire began shortly after 4 p.m., near Maggie Wachacha Road, in the Santeetlah area. It was started from a debris burn on tribal land.

Questions dumped on Brookfield rep

Lake Santeetlah – Even with no internet available to the building because of rainy weather, the Town of Lake Santeetlah persevered Jan. 9 with an almost 2-hour-long meeting discussing rules on disposing yard debris in the lake – and much more.
Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Top 10 of 2023: the Year in Review

It was another year chocked full of news around Graham County. Though it would be impossible to recap every newsworthy event of 2023, The Graham Star looks back at 10 of the most significant moments.
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. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

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. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Arrest made in fatal crash

Santeetlah – A nearly 11-month investigation into a fatal SUV crash has resulted in the arrest of a local resident.

No approval, no meeting

Lake Santeetlah – It is apropos that the final Town of Lake Santeetlah council meeting before the newly-elected members are sworn in next month was was unable to take place Nov. 9.

Lake Santeetlah council shuffled again

At the local level, only two races were contested during the 2023 election season: seats on the councils of Graham County’s two smallest municipalities, Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah.

Meet your Lake Santeetlah candidates

Lake Santeetlah – The 2023 election cycle features two municipal races within Graham County: Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah. Seven candidates are vying for five seats on the Santeetlah council, which has been the center of disputes and controversy for several years.

No meeting? Let’s talk about fiber!

Lake Santeetlah – One local municipality’s council had intentions to hold an official town meeting Oct. 12 – but for the second time in recent memory, the whole council was not present.