GrahamCountyNC

Appalachian Trail hiker rescued

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Fontana Dam – The Graham County 911 Center received a cell phone call from a female hiker on the Appalachian Trail, requesting assistance just after 3 p.m., Monday.  Elayna Simmons, 28 of Cincinnati, Ohio, was hiking alone when she became ill almost five miles in on the trail from Fontana Dam.
Graham County EMS Director Brian Stevens (left) and Graham County Fire and Rescue Commander Jeff Millsaps show off the Starlink routers donated through a fundraiser jumpstarted by local resident Judy Carpenter.

Graham County EMS Director Brian Stevens (left) and Graham County Fire and Rescue Commander Jeff Millsaps show off the Starlink routers donated through a fundraiser jumpstarted by local resident Judy Carpenter.

Providing essential links

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Panther Creek – The only reason Judy Carpenter is going public with her fundraising efforts now is that her work the initial go-around was actually too successful.

Hoco changes proposed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Robbinsville – Everything from the style of dress to meeting a number of qualifications just to be on the homecoming court are being proposed as part of a sweeping change to the yearly format.

Fontana Dam mayor, others resign

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Fontana Dam – Business rolled along as usual for the first 15 minutes of Friday's Town of Fontana Dam council meeting, the first since Feb. 26's gathering turned into a heated exchange between mayor Rob Hardy and Robin Turner with Fontana Ventures, LLC.

Busy day for fire and rescue

Marshall McClung
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Saturday turned out to be a busy day for Graham County Fire and Rescue – and included personnel from the Snowbird unit, the North Carolina Forest Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Kae (left) and Moe Salah will greet customers at Skyway Convenience, which has re-opened to the public after closing its doors in February 2023. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Kae (left) and Moe Salah will greet customers at Skyway Convenience, which has re-opened to the public after closing its doors in February 2023. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

New outlook, same location

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Santeetlah – Cherohala Skyway Convenience Store re-opened under new owners and management Feb. 19.  Kae and Moe Salah look forward to meeting new friends and serving the community. Although the two men are new to the operation, their partner Imran Alam owns 19 gas stations in North Carolina.
Reality sets in for Taylor Rennoldson as a Taser makes contact at Friday’s certification course. Holding Rennoldson are deputies Logan Howarth (left) and Justin Stewart; chief detective Travis Brooks is in back, moments after deploying the Taser.

Reality sets in for Taylor Rennoldson as a Taser makes contact at Friday’s certification course. Holding Rennoldson are deputies Logan Howarth (left) and Justin Stewart; chief detective Travis Brooks is in back, moments after deploying the Taser.

To protect and serve

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Robbinsville – When summoned to the witness stand, it is crucial that an officer of the law can confidently state why a particular use of force was deployed in the apprehension a suspect. There is nothing like first-hand experience to back up what is said while the officer is under oath.

Pastell indicted for death by distribution

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Mountain Creek – Just 2 ½ weeks after the second charge of death by distribution against a local man was dropped, a grand jury indicted the suspect on the same offense. Bobby Huel Pastell, 32, was handed another death by distribution charge Jan. 14, following the Dec.

Fires continue

Marshall McClung
Saturday, March 22, 2025
There was little rest for the weary, as U.S. Forest Service firefighters were atop Graham County’s highest mountain – Big Huckleberry – off the Cherohala Skyway on March 10.  A campfire had escaped into the grassy area and was controlled after burning less than an acre.