GrahamCountyNC

Final poll numbers unveiled

Robbinsville – Provisionals and lingering absentees made little impact on a pair of local races in the 2024 general election. Following Nov. 14’s provisional meeting and Friday’s canvassing, the Graham County Board of Elections officially certified the final voting numbers for Nov. 5’s ballot.
This dilapidated motel near the southern outskirts of Robbinsville has received a grant for renovation into a boutique. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

This dilapidated motel near the southern outskirts of Robbinsville has received a grant for renovation into a boutique. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

‘Graham Motel’ set to receive facelift

Robbinsville – The intersection of Five Points Road and U.S. 129 North will soon have a fresh coat of paint. An Oct. 17 announced from the North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority revealed that 22 grant requests had been approved, statewide.
As a mist rises off the water, volunteers sift through garbage strewn about a bank that normally is underwater during warm months on Fontana Lake during last month’s clean-up. Photos courtesy of Brandon Jones/Fontana Village Marina

As a mist rises off the water, volunteers sift through garbage strewn about a bank that normally is underwater during warm months on Fontana Lake during last month’s clean-up. Photos courtesy of Brandon Jones/Fontana Village Marina

Beauty preserved

Fontana – In 2017, community members and volunteers in the Fontana Dam area joined Brandon Jones for the inaugural lake clean-up.  In a day and a half, 12 people had collected 22,000 pounds of garbage.  It was a start.
Amanda Gyongyos and Jim Huffman (front row), plus David Crowe and Sharon Crowe (back) stand to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at Friday’s Robbinsville High School Veterans’ Day program. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Amanda Gyongyos and Jim Huffman (front row), plus David Crowe and Sharon Crowe (back) stand to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at Friday’s Robbinsville High School Veterans’ Day program. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Students thank veterans

Robbinsville – Football wasn’t the only thing on the minds of students at Robbinsville High School on Friday, as the institution hosted its annual “Salute to Our Veterans” program.
Dry conditions have sparked at least four brush fires in Graham County over the last week. The efforts to curb the spread of flames began Tuesday, Nov. 5, when this blaze started off Hoot Owl Hollow. Photo courtesy of Frank Cline/U.S. Forest Service

Dry conditions have sparked at least four brush fires in Graham County over the last week. The efforts to curb the spread of flames began Tuesday, Nov. 5, when this blaze started off Hoot Owl Hollow. Photo courtesy of Frank Cline/U.S. Forest Service

Everything’s on fire

If you are a firefighter – or have one in the family – you are subject to being awakened at unearthly hours when normal people are fast asleep. Such was the case Tuesday, Nov. 5, when firefighters rolled out of bed around 5 a.m., to respond to a brush fire in the Atoah Circle area of Graham County.
Graham County Schools will be constructing a new elementary school on this plot of land, which sits adjacent to the current high school baseball field. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Schools will be constructing a new elementary school on this plot of land, which sits adjacent to the current high school baseball field. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Deal struck for new school property

Robbinsville – With surveys completed, Graham County Schools has announced the price and amount of land to be acquired for a new elementary school. At Nov. 5’s board of education meeting, assistant superintendent/facilities director David Matheson revealed that 6.

Tennessee officer dies after accident

Cherohala – A Georgia man has passed away from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle accident on the Cherohala Skyway last month. According to a report from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 52-year-old Ringgold resident Enoch Daniel Ian Hurd was traveling east on N.C.

3 new faces voted into office

Robbinsville – In overwhelming fashion, Graham County voters spent the last 2 ½ weeks frequenting the polls. Of 6,262 registered voters in the county, 3,354 cast a ballot during the one-stop (early) period – or 53.6 percent.

Injured hiker rescued

Snowbird – The Graham County 911 Center received an SOS from a device that can send messages via satellite from a hiker around 5:20 p.m., Saturday. Corey Williams – 34, of Huntsville, Ala.
Robbinsville Elementary School teacher Keilah Stewart recently won statewide recognition for her work as a math instructor for local students.

Robbinsville Elementary School teacher Keilah Stewart recently won statewide recognition for her work as a math instructor for local students.

Teacher wins state math award

Robbinsville – Keilah Stewart has been selected as the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Outstanding Elementary School Mathematics Teacher for the 2024-25 school year.