GrahamCountyDepartmentofPublicHealth

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.
A resident parked this Coachmen RV on the side of N.C. Hwy. 28 in the Wolf Creek community over a month ago, raising the ire of neighbors due to its questionable setup.

A resident parked this Coachmen RV on the side of N.C. Hwy. 28 in the Wolf Creek community over a month ago, raising the ire of neighbors due to its questionable setup.

Mired in controversy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Wolf Creek – Residents within the area of Wolf Creek Heights and Gunter Hollow say they have raised concerns with local officials over a RV that has parked and set up what appears to be a temporary dwelling near the N.C. Hwy. 28 roadside.

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.

Health director resigns

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Tallulah – The Graham Star confirmed late-Tuesday morning that Graham County Public Health Director Beth Booth has turned in her resignation, effective Feb. 3. No reason was made public about why Booth is resigning from a position that she has held since 2017.

Report provides insight into Ella vote

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Robbinsville – In November, the Graham County Board of Commissioners was split over whether to continue providing the emergency contraceptive called Ella through the Public Health Department.
Graham County resident Brandi Adams addresses the local health board during Nov. 15’s special-called meeting about the controversial “Ella” emergency contraceptive. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Graham County resident Brandi Adams addresses the local health board during Nov. 15’s special-called meeting about the controversial “Ella” emergency contraceptive. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

County not liable for firing

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Amid controversy over whether the Graham County Public Health Department should be dispensing emergency contraceptives, another controversy simmers.
Becky Garland – standing at the podium during a Board of Health meeting on Nov. 21 – is a Cherokee County resident and Graham County Government finance director. She clocked out from her job so that she could argue on behalf of family planning services. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Becky Garland – standing at the podium during a Board of Health meeting on Nov. 21 – is a Cherokee County resident and Graham County Government finance director. She clocked out from her job so that she could argue on behalf of family planning services. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

County combating controversy

Randy Foster
Friday, December 2, 2022
Robbinsville – For Bible Belt county commissioners, few issues weigh more heavily than birth control.

Ella to remain

Randy Foster
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Robbinsville – With a narrow majority, Graham County commissioners on Monday voted that a controversial emergency contraceptive medication will continue to be an option for women who seek family planning care from the Graham County Public Health Department.