Local

Open house spotlights new equipment, hours

Robbi Pounds

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Robbinsville – Graham County Commissioner Connie Orr could not stop herself from bragging about Smoky Mountain Urgent Care, at the clinic’s open house Monday. “This is the brainchild of Claudine Gibson and Juanita Colvard.

A replica Cherokee winter house stood at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, Okla. Photo by Cindy Downes/Contributing Photographer

Winter houses helped Cherokee survive cold

Robbi Pounds

Thursday, January 30, 2020

As winter began to show its teeth over the last few weeks, mountain-dwellers may have felt tempted to crawl in a hole in the ground and not come out until spring. The instinct to hibernate can be strong this time of year.

Dean Castaldo and his arson companion Dante (right) present a Fire Prevention Class at the Graham County Public Library on Monday. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Arson detection team visits Graham library

Robbi Pounds

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Robbinsville – A very special guest visited the Graham County Public Library on Monday, to help educate members of the 4-H Club during their first meeting of the year. This visitor detects chemicals from two miles away, helps put arsonists in jail and once proved the FBI wrong.

'Armed' man arrested on school grounds

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Robbinsville – A 31-year-old man was arrested Friday morning, when officials say he was spotted with a weapon on school grounds. Jesse James Pratt – who gave an address of 22 Doug Sneed Garage Drive in Murphy – was spotted on the campus of Robbinsville’s Four Square Head Start around 8:29 a.m.

Black Knights reach finals

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Hayesville – As expected, Robbinsville Middle School’s strong regular-season campaign cultivated high championship tournament seeding. The Black Knights (13-2) grabbed the No. 1 East seed, while the Lady Knights (10-5) were awarded the No. 2 East seed.

Redemption time is here

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Andrews – Robbinsville’s chance to both avenge a loss and shake up the Smoky Mountain Conference standings awaits them. The Lady Knights (11-3, 3-3) knocked off Andrews (1-13, 0-7) on Friday, but fell to Cherokee (10-5, 5-2) on Tuesday evening. Up next is Friday, Jan.

Read between the lines

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Andrews – Take one look at Robbinsville’s win/loss record and on paper, it looks like a night off for opponents. But how foolish it would be to take the Black Knights (1-11, 0-6) lightly, as the group is clicking and becoming a dangerous foe as the second-half of the season dawns.

Robbinsville’s Justin Stewart has full control of Rabun Gap, Ga.’s Aidan Loring during the 160-pound finals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Stewart won the bout 3-0 to seize the bracket. Photo by Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer

Smith, Stewart win James Orr Invitational

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Robbinsville – Known regionally as one of the toughest tournaments of the season, Saturday’s James Orr Invitational certainly lived up to the hype. The annual showcase – hosted by Robbinsville – brought 15 teams into Graham County, including schools from Georgia and Tennessee.

General fund at $10 million

Robbi Pounds

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Robbinsville – During Tuesday’s meeting with the Graham County Board of Commissioners, County Manager and Finance Officer Becky Garland was “very proud to report” that Graham County’s general fund holds over $10 million.

Graham shows support for Medicaid expansion

Robbi Pounds

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Raleigh – Graham County Manager Becky Garland and Board of Commissioners Chairman Dale Wiggins made the six-hour drive to Raleigh on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to participate in a press conference addressing the need for Medicaid Expansion.