Nov. 28, 1985
* The names of those killed in a plane crash discovered near the Cherokee/Graham County line were finally released to the public. Marty Black, 38 and Charles A. Wagner, 35, were the only two aboard when the flight took off from Onley, Ill., some eight months prior. The small plane crashed near Dillard Top, but was reportedly en route to Nashville, Tenn. The wreck sat in the remote woods until another pilot spotted the debris.
* The Graham County Sheriff’s Office and board of commissioners were at odds – as the Star put it, “AGAIN.” Disputes over deputy salaries were unable to be resolved, sending the case to arbitration underneath Superior Court Judge for District 30, James U. Downs. Allegedly, commissioners reduced the salary of deputies when finalizing the 1985-86 fiscal budget without consent from sheriff A.J. Peterson – a violation of state statute. Commissioners argued that instead of a pay cut, deputies received a $711 raise. Update: For those keeping score at home, that is N.C. G.S. 153A-92 (b)(1). It is still on the books today.
Nov. 28, 1975
* Robbinsville’s town administration was set to exit office, as mayor William Dale Laughter and aldermen Ray Phillips, Charlie Riddle and Billy Ray Jordan were not re-elected. In an exit statement, the panel encouraged “major critics” rally behind the new aldermen and mayor’s efforts, “since criticism is an empty effort unless the critics is willing to join in and bear part of the burden in solving the problems that they SO WILLINGLY POINT OUT.” Update: Those last four words are not a typo. They were placed in all caps in the 1975 report.
* The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Auxiliaries were sponsoring a special “Pearl Harbor Day” meal at Joyce Kilmer Restaurant. Veterans and their wives were all invited to attend. The cost was $2.50 per person. Update: After making a now-infamous cameo in the movie Nell, Joyce Kilmer Restaurant today is known as Lynn’s Place.
Nov. 28, 1969
* Jim Lankford was assigned by the Daniel Boone Council Boy Scouts of America as a new special-project worker in the Nantahala district (Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties). His primary responsibility was to ensure the continued growth of Scout Packs, Troops and Posts, but Lankford was also set to conduct training for volunteers.
* Janice Williams became the first student-teacher assigned to her home county by Western Carolina University, as she was placed at Robbinsville Elementary School. She was designated to a sixth-grade classroom.
-Compiled by publisher/editor Kevin Hensley