Dec. 19, 1991
* U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford visited Robbinsville, as part of a “fact-finding” tour in Western North Carolina. Sanford visited the Mills manufacturing plant before taking part in a luncheon at the Joyce Kilmer Restaurant.
* Stecoah residents Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Johnson celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. The couple had nine children, 36 grandchildren and 64 great-grandchildren. At the time, Mr. Johnson was 92; Mrs. Johnson was 88.
Dec. 19, 1985
* In the fallout of a decision to close the local jail, the county received a $5,131.26 bill from Swain County – for housing inmates just in the previous month. While Graham County Sheriff A.J. Peterson said a bill from Cherokee County had yet to arrive, he told the Star that 72 trips and over 5,000 miles had been logged to transport inmates to the neighboring detention centers. Update: Commissioners just voted where to build a new justice center this fall – but the problem was evident some 39 years ago.
* James D. “Jimbo” Phillips was convicted of possessing a Cooper’s hawk. The Star noted that it was “illegal to injure, kill or possess birds of prey such as hawks, owls and eagles.” The 35-year-old Phillips was assessed a $150 fine, plus $25 in court costs. He was also given a 60-day suspended jail sentence, which he would serve on probation.
Dec. 19, 1969
* A tract of land off Long Branch Road opened as a sanitary landfill. Both the Town of Robbinsville and Graham County were combining forces to operate the site, which was defined as “a place where garbage and rubbish are compacted and covered with earth.”
* Teacher-education student Judy Carolyn Hooper was selected to travel to Colombia for a 10-week international program. Provided through Western Carolina University, the internship was set to help fulfill requirements for degrees.
-Compiled by publisher/editor Kevin Hensley