10 years ago
* After serving as assistant superintendent for the past five years, Angie Knight was selected as Graham County Schools’ next superintendent. Knight was the first-ever female superintendent selected for the county. Update: Knight still serves as superintendent today.
* Roger Smoker, a forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service, made it his goal to restore the Trail of Tears, which runs along Tatham Gap road. About 30 students – mostly from Michigan – came to Graham County to also restore a memorial trail to be dedicated to the Trail of Tears.
* The Robbinsville Black Knights brought home two state championships from Raleigh. Spencer McCoy and Zack Orr were both winners in the state’s 1A wrestling championship. Both boys attributed their win to their coaches and for always pushing them.
25 years ago
* Graham County Sheriff Melvin Howell agreed to a contract that would provide law enforcement for the Town of Robbinsville, at $50,000 per year. Alderman Teresa Lewis added that a regular report from the department would avoid any communication issues that had occurred in the past.
* The owners of the 50-year-old Nantahala Village lodge decided to rebuild the structure, after a fire had destroyed it in 1997. The owners strived to maintain some of the same “ambience” that the previous lodge provided.
* Baseball season began with an alumni game. Coach Billy Knight and some of the Robbinsville High students spent time preparing the field on Knight Street, placing sod at the infield baseball diamond.
50 years ago
* The Graham County Centennial council concluded its final business, when checks for $302.85 were presented to a member of each of the local rescue squads. Donation of these checks made the total contributions to three squads $6,908.55. The director of the squads was O.W. Hooper, Jr.
* Deborah Edwards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Edwards of Robbinsville, was one of six students representing Western Carolina University at the Midwest Model United Nations in St. Louis, Mo. This modeling agency was the largest student-run model in the country, with more than 750 students expected to gather.
* Robbinsville’s varsity boys basketball team slipped by Cullowhee, 59-57 and defeated Mars Hill 45-40 to advance to the finals of the District 8 tournament, but lost to Rosman in the finale, 44-35. Coach Bergin Edwards was recognized for the wonderful job he had done as head coach of the Knights.
-Compiled by Diane West