10 years ago
* Graham County reported one of the highest numbers of meth-lab busts in the region in 2012. State Attorney General Roy Cooper said that four meth labs were busted in Graham County. A total of 460 labs were busted in the state, compared with 344 in 2011 and 235 in 2010. More labs were discovered in 2013 in urban and suburban areas and were also “one-pot meth labs”, known as the “shake and bake method.” “About 73 percent of the busts involved were the “shake and bake method,” Cooper said. Update: Cooper is now the Governor of North Carolina.
25 years ago
ν According to the report from the N.C. Highway Patrol, it was raining when Virginia Farr Cole, 22, lost control of her car on Hwy. 19 in Andrews, as she was headed home toward Robbinsville. The car she was driving slid sideways into the path of Cleo and Inez Phillips, also from Robbinsville. Cole was thrown from the vehicle and did not survive the accident. The Phillips’ were transported to District Memorial Hospital in Andrews, as Cleo was in serious condition and held until the following afternoon. Inez was treated and released a few hours after the accident.
50 years ago
ν A Robbinsville woman was taken to Andrews Hospital after being injured when she jumped from a moving car. Juanita Jordan said that the accelerator stuck and she tried to keep her speed down by braking, but soon her brakes gave out. Not being able to get her car stopped, she jumped out. The vehicle continued on for a ¼ mile before stopping near a barn belonging to John Colvard. Between the time the accident occurred and the time the patrolman arrived on the scene, the car burst into flames and burned. State Highway Patrolman David Gladden reported that no charges were filed.
-Compiled by Diane West