Snowbird

Matthew Tooni, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, performs at Saturday’s Fading Voices demonstration on the banks of Little Snowbird Creek in Graham County. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Matthew Tooni, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, performs at Saturday’s Fading Voices demonstration on the banks of Little Snowbird Creek in Graham County. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Snowbird Cherokee share customs, traditions during annual event

Randy Foster
Thursday, June 2, 2022
Snowbird – During the Trail of Tears – when many Snowbird Cherokee in Graham County were forcibly evicted from their land to make way for European settlers, starting in the 1830s – some escaped into the wilds.
xFlanked by members of the tribal council – as well as his family – Todd Odom (center, second from right on front row) was inducted as an honorary member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on April 7. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

xFlanked by members of the tribal council – as well as his family – Todd Odom (center, second from right on front row) was inducted as an honorary member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on April 7. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Ganvsvdvdi

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Cherokee – Despite all the adversities – and later, achievements – in the life of Todd Odom, the recognition he was given on April 7 might just rank near the top of the list.
An outline of the area that will be treated as part of the proposed Crossover Project. Map courtesy of U.S. National Forest Service.

An outline of the area that will be treated as part of the proposed Crossover Project. Map courtesy of U.S. National Forest Service.

National Forest management plans stirs up concern

Randy Foster
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Tatham Gap – The U.S. Forest Service is developing plans to restore and protect portions of a 16,000-acre swath of land between Robbinsville and Andrews, which has many in Graham County worried.
The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

The Snowbird Mite Boys captured the 2021-22 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament championship Feb. 5, after defeating Robbinsville in the title game. All names are listed from left. Front row: Whyatt Lewis, Hayden Lewis, Elijah Kirkland, Keni Wolf, Xamuel Wachacha, Elijah Lambert, Jayce Turner, Colby Kirkland, Avery Brown and Landon Eddings. Back row: coaches Cody Teesateskie, Adam Wachacha and Zane Wachacha.

Ultimate Warriors

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Hiwassee Dam – It was a hotly contested nail-biter between two Graham County programs. And in the end, Snowbird prevailed. The Mite Warriors capped off a 9-1 campaign by defeating the Robbinsville Black Knights 35-31 on Feb. 5 in the finals of the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference tournament.

School bus, truck involved in collision

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Snowbird – An inbound Graham County school bus and a pickup collided on Snowbird Road just west of I.U. Gap Road on Jan. 27. There were no injuries, but it delayed the start of the school day for the approximately 20 students riding the bus.

Iva Rowena Rattler

News Staff
Friday, January 7, 2022
Iva Rowena Rattler, 91 of Robbinsville, N.C., passed away Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Graham Health Care and Rehabilitation in Robbinsville, N.C. She was a native of Graham County and the daughter of the late George and Hattie Smoker Rattler.

Rachel Smoker

News Staff
Friday, January 7, 2022
Rachel Smoker, 72 of the Little Snowbird community in Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday Dec. 28, 2021. Rachel was a fluent Cherokee speaker who was preceded in death by her daughters, Sally Anderson and Angela Teesateskie; and granddaughter, Tosha McCarter.

Ronald "Ronnie" Thomas Teesateskie

News Staff
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Ronald Thomas Teesateskie “Ronnie” went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, with his loving family by his side. A native of Graham County and from the Snowbird community, he was the son of the late Tom Teesateskie and Jeanette Sue Rattler Teesateskie.

Brush fire contained within hours

Marshall McClung
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Snowbird – Graham County experienced its first brush fire of the fall season Nov. 10. The Graham County 911 Center received a report of the fire just before 1 p.m., near a home on Dobson Hill in the Snowbird community. Firefighters from the N.C. Forest Service and U.S.

Body recovered in woods

Marshall McClung
Friday, October 15, 2021
Snowbird – The Graham County Rescue Squad, Graham County EMS, and the Graham County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a man down in the woods around 4:40 p.m. Monday. The call stated that a man was down in the woods above Dick Branch Road. Responding units reached the man about 6:15 p.m.