GrahamCountyNC

Trio of brush fires keep county crews busy

Only a few days after a recent snowfall, fire weather returned.  A landowner was burning brush on Jimmy Davis Road in the Massey Branch area Nov. 13, when the fire got out of control. Members of the N.C. Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service responded to the blaze  around 1:40 p.m.

Man dies in single-vehicle accident

Santeetlah – An accident early Saturday morning claimed the life of a Robbinsville resident. A report from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol stated that 22-year-old Aaron Gerald Phillips was traveling east in a Ford F250 truck on Joyce Kilmer Road around 12:28 a.m.
Robbinsville native Haylee Van Deusen (seated, center) is shown surrounded by friends and loved ones prior to receiving the NCWorks Governor's Young Adult Award for Distinction at a ceremony in Greensboro last month.

Robbinsville native Haylee Van Deusen (seated, center) is shown surrounded by friends and loved ones prior to receiving the NCWorks Governor's Young Adult Award for Distinction at a ceremony in Greensboro last month.

Resilient character

Greensboro – On Oct. 17, 2025, Josh Stein announced this year's winners of the Governor's NC Works Awards of Distinction.

Allen promises to be accountable to community

In his second bid for sheriff, county native Leon Allen is building a campaign based around his strong belief in God and his passion for the community. "This county is my home," reads a portion of Allen's candidacy announcement.

Votes gained, but seats remain same after provisionals

Robbinsville – Friday's unsealing of the 2025 municipal election provisional ballots resulted in candidates for Robbinsville's board of aldermen and mayor races all receiving additional nods of approval from constituents, but not enough to change the outcome of Nov. 4's unofficial results.
The 115th Annual Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony was held in Robbinsville on Nov. 5. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The 115th Annual Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony was held in Robbinsville on Nov. 5. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

‘The mountains are calling’

Robbinsville – It was on a Saturday – Nov. 5, 1910 – that the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a memorial for Chief Junaluska in Robbinsville.  Pastor Armstrong Cornsilk – a friend of the great chief – spoke kind words, hoping that “All could be happy together.
The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

Local woman rescued after becoming lost on hike inside Joyce Kilmer

Santeetlah – The Graham County 911 Center received a call concerning a missing hiker in the Joyce Kilmer Forest shortly after 8 p.m., Oct. 25.