USForestService

A section of stepped trail, just beyond this bridge and to the left, was damaged during a storm and forced the closure of half of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest’s most popular hiking trail. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Work to restore Joyce Kilmer trail expected this summer

Randy Foster

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Slickrock – It’s a short stretch of trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, but with a big impact. Storm damage last year forced the U.S. Forest Service to block one end of the most popular hiking trail at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in Graham County. Only half of the 1.

Brush fires threaten homes

Marshall McClung

Friday, April 23, 2021

Tuskeegee – Firefighters with the N.C. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service and Stecoah Fire Department responded to a small brush fire in Tuskegee Acres around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Quick response from firefighters resulted in the fire being kept small, although three structures were threatened.

Georgia hiker rescued

Marshall McClung

Friday, July 31, 2020

Cheoah – The Graham County and Stecoah rescue squads were joined by the Monroe County, Tenn. Rescue Squad and members of the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday, July 21, in response to a 5 p.m. call from a hiker needing assistance in the Slickrock Creek area.

An unidentified firefighter emerges from the smoke and flames that consumed nearly 400 acres around Fontana Lake last week. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service.

Fires burn over 400 acres

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Almond – A cloud of mystery still lingers over a pair of wildfires that burned more than 400 acres around Fontana Lake last week. Officials first discovered the two blazes late April 14 in both the Wolf Creek and Tsali areas of southeastern Graham County. Both fires were burning on U.S.

Forest roads closing until April

News Staff

Thursday, January 2, 2020

From staff reports The Nantahala National Forest will begin seasonal road closures on the Cheoah Ranger District today. Roads are expected to reopen Wednesday, April 1, depending on the weather. Closing roads to motorized vehicles seasonally helps reduce road maintenance costs.

Woman drowns in creek

News Staff

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Big Santeetlah – Officials have confirmed that a Huntsville, Ala. woman drowned in Big Santeetlah Creek on Oct. 7, and the death is being investigated as suspicious. Kathleen Polce Miller, 60, was at a campsite just past Stewart Cabin with her husband.