FontanaDam

A smoky close-up of the Sept. 26 destruction on the Fontana Lake peninsula. Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A smoky close-up of the Sept. 26 destruction on the Fontana Lake peninsula. Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Wildfire tamed on Fontana Lake

Ruby Annas
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Fontana Dam – A 10-acre forest fire on Fontana Lake is now contained. The fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. Sept. 26, near backcountry campsite 87 on Fontana Lake. The campsite is located on the peninsula closet to the Fontana Dam.

Driver airlifted after crash

Ruby Annas
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Fontana Dam – At 9:22 p.m. Monday, state troopers Ty Gibbs and Johnathan Jones responded to a crash in the 1500 block of Fontana Dam, on Hwy. 28. The crash involved a 73-year old female, driving a Ford Fiat, who collided into a guardrail, slid across the embankment and overturned.

Precinct judges named

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Robbinsville – Ahead of two municipal contests rapidly approaching in Graham County, the local board of elections announced its selections for officials at the four precincts Monday.
Gloria Struck – a pioneer in the motorcycle world – will be attending this year’s Lace, Grace and Gears rally in Graham County.

Gloria Struck – a pioneer in the motorcycle world – will be attending this year’s Lace, Grace and Gears rally in Graham County.

It takes a Village: ‘Unique’ rally arrives in county

Kevin Hensley
Friday, August 25, 2023
Over a span of four days, attendees will tame the mighty ‘Dragon,’ rumble through Robbinsville and enjoy a plethora of fun activities at Fontana Village Resort.
Some attach the qualifier of “Young” in front of the group now, but the sounds of The Inspirations have barely changed with the new line-up. The quartet will be at the Mountain Homecoming in Fontana Village, set for Aug. 17-20.

Some attach the qualifier of “Young” in front of the group now, but the sounds of The Inspirations have barely changed with the new line-up. The quartet will be at the Mountain Homecoming in Fontana Village, set for Aug. 17-20.

‘Mountain Homecoming’ returns to Fontana

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Fontana Dam – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20, KJV). Anyone who attends the Mountain Homecoming cannot leave and truthfully say the Lord was not present – in fact, He might be impossible to miss.
A group stands in-between two of the three massive generators that power Fontana Dam’s efforts Friday. The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded a limited number of the public and media access to the facility for the first time since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

A group stands in-between two of the three massive generators that power Fontana Dam’s efforts Friday. The Tennessee Valley Authority awarded a limited number of the public and media access to the facility for the first time since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Open the dam gates!

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Fontana Dam – As the chosen few clamored inside the visitors entrance to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s greatest architectural achievement Friday, a then-unidentified man stepped forward with a tool most today would not recognize, cupped in his right hand. “Anybody know what this is?
The Graham County Board of Elections met for the first time since its unanimous reappointment Monday. From left are Teresa Eller, secretary; Lowell Crisp, member; Billy Ditmore, member; Juanita Colvard, chair; and Keith Rogers, vice chair. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The Graham County Board of Elections met for the first time since its unanimous reappointment Monday. From left are Teresa Eller, secretary; Lowell Crisp, member; Billy Ditmore, member; Juanita Colvard, chair; and Keith Rogers, vice chair. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Municipal races cemented

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Robbinsville – It has been a very productive stretch recently for the Graham County Board of Elections. Finally cozy in its offices at the Graham County Community Building (196 Knight St.

Fontana Dam eyeing $238K budget

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Fontana Dam – It’s no surprise that the county’s smallest municipality is relying largely on revenue from a popular vacation destination to shoulder the load of the 2023-24 budget.
Tapoco Lodge Mountain Spa’s Tiffany Duke (left) leads a yoga class through the “Peaceful Warrior” pose June 17. With her coming aboard several months ago, Duke has expanded her reach in the county to two different resorts. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Tapoco Lodge Mountain Spa’s Tiffany Duke (left) leads a yoga class through the “Peaceful Warrior” pose June 17. With her coming aboard several months ago, Duke has expanded her reach in the county to two different resorts. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘Healing, relaxing, therapeutic’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Tapoco – Fontana Village Resort and Tapoco Lodge are nearly seamlessly connected by a 9-mile journey through Rhymers Ferry and Meadow Branch roads in the northeastern corner of Graham County.
The Seabin has been a welcome addition to the continued beautification efforts of Fontana Lake. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The Seabin has been a welcome addition to the continued beautification efforts of Fontana Lake. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Mission: keep Fontana Lake beautiful

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Fontana Dam – Nestled in-between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Nantahala National Forest of Western North Carolina, Lake Fontana forms the southern border of the Great Smokies.