10 years ago
* When Sharon Kephart heard, “kidney failure and transplant” in 2008, she was devastated. A year later – after being put on a transplant list – a co-worker of 17 years prior, Clarice Brooks, contacted Kephart. After learning of Kephart’s condition – and that friends or family did not qualify as donors – Brooks offered her a kidney. After many tests, the transplant was approved and surgery was successful, as the kidney began working immediately. Brooks and Kephart loved telling of their experiences in detail, including a testimony at Lone Oak Baptist Church.
* The 4-H Shooting Club was pleased to have five Graham County youth to qualify for state finals at the Millstone Center in Ellerbe. Representing the county were Junior Keener, shotgun (1st place in district); Jonathan Holder, shotgun and archery (1st place in district); Wesley Brooks, archery; Garrett Holder, shotgun and archery (1st place in district); and Drey Keener, air rifle.
25 years ago
* A two-car accident near Granny Squirrel on U.S. 19/74 left 1 passenger in critical condition and threee others injured. The Andrews and Graham County Rescue squads used the Jaws-of-Life to cut off the roof of Sheila Carter’s Ford Sedan to extract Carter’s son Burt, who was flown to the UT-Medical Center in Knoxville. Carter was rear-ended by Mary Wishon of Topton, who was taken to Murphy Medical Center, treated and released, along with two others. Burt was still in critical condition at press time; charges were still pending.
* A report from a ginseng hunter led the Graham County Sheriff’s Office to an illegal marijuana plantation. The 220 plants found in the north end of the county were removed by deputies and were estimated to carry a $220,000 street value at their maturity. Deputies burned the marijuana plants after they were removed.
* The Black Knights posted a 20-9 victory over Polk County. The first series of plays were ineffective for both teams, but on Robbinsville’s second possession, the Knights took the ball over for a touchdown, putting them ahead as they continued to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter when Sterling Crisp made a 17-yard touchdown.
-Compiled by Diane West