10 years ago
* Larry the Cable Guy rolled into Fontana Village Resort with his production team to film an episode of his “Only in America” cable series. While exiting his tour bus, Larry grinned and commented that he would “not want to travel the road often,” referring to N.C. Hwy. 28 North toward Fontana Dam and Deals Gap. Whitney and crew spent the next day filming with Tennessee Valley Authority employees at the Fontana Dam. The following day, Larry the Cable Guy experienced the Tail of the Dragon, having no idea what was in store on the famous “Dragon,” experiencing 318 curves across 11 miles. Locals commented on his down-home demeanor, as he was so impressed with the beauty here and said he would return for a vacation with his family in the Smokies of western North Carolina.
* Cross country coach Rance Shuler has some of the top runners in the conference, often hearing the names Shawnda Martin and Frank Cline of Robbinsville. Martin, a freshman and Cline, a sophomore, were proving to be among the elite in cross country competition. Martin has won all of her high school meets, edging out Cherokee favorite Kendall Toineeta and Hayesville’s favorite, Katie Bowden. “I’m extremely proud of how these top guns are performing and how they are proving to be good leaders and teammates,” Shuler said. Both are off to a great start for the season, with the goal of putting themselves in the position of competing for the 1A state title in November.
25 years ago
* More than 2,000 BMW motorcycle owners were expected to converge on Graham County for the BMW Riders’ Association International’s 25th Annual Rally. Club President Ed Jergensen said that some had already arrived and were camping at Fontana Village’s swimming complex. They planned to ride the Cherohala Skyway, the Tail of the Dragon and N.C. Hwy. 28 during their time here. “This place is a motorcycle mecca. Lots of things to do besides motorcycle,” Jorgensen said.
* Robbinsville High School’s offense was unstoppable, as they piled up 424 yards in a 41-6 blowout of Polk County. Aaron Gross hooked up with Drew Hill on a 35-yard scoring pass with 0:58 left in the first quarter, giving the Knights a 6-0 lead. From that point on, there was a barrage of Robbinsville’s points. The Knights’ offense was led by Coy Adams – with 158 yards rushing – and Brandon Anderson, with 101 yards rushing. The Black Knights defense played well, holding Polk County to only 170 yards total offense and 23 yards rushing.
50 years ago
* The North Agricultural Extension Service presented a film on the three most western counties, with one being Graham County, over WLOS-TV. The film showed Bemis Sawmill, while the county enjoyed a visit with television editor Ruth Sheehan – later showing her the prize-winning Snowbird community. This program was developed to be used all over North Carolina on all of the educational television channels for the purpose of giving the people of our state a look at Graham County and some of the resources the Tri-County area had to offer.
* The Black Knights beat the Hayesville Yellow Jackets, 46-0. Eddie Phillips got Robbinsville started in the first quarter of the game against the Hayesville Yellow Jackets with a touchdown. Tommy Hooper made the next one, before Dee Walsh passed to Phil Orr for the conversion. Robbinsville scored five touchdowns in the second quarter, with the highlight of the game coming with 23 seconds left until halftime, when Marvin Hollifield went 25 yards for the Knights last touchdown of the game. Tony Howell recovered the ball when Hayesville’s punt was blocked. Hayesville was intercepted four times, twice by Danny Millsaps and one time each by Calvin Key and Scott Perkins.
-Compiled by Diane West