News

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights begin pre-practice warm-ups Tuesday. Robbinsville kicks off the season Friday at Asheville High School. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights begin pre-practice warm-ups Tuesday. Robbinsville kicks off the season Friday at Asheville High School. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Football is back!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Robbinsville — It’s finally here. The Robbinsville Black Knights make their return to the gridiron Friday, for their first game since the 1A Western Regional Final at Mitchell on Dec. 3.
The county’s 150th anniversary celebration officially began Friday at Fontana Dam. The Gunter Cabin was opened for public exploration throughout the evening. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The county’s 150th anniversary celebration officially began Friday at Fontana Dam. The Gunter Cabin was opened for public exploration throughout the evening. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Celebration wraps up Saturday

Randy Foster
Thursday, August 18, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County turned 150 in January, and the county kicked off celebrations with observance events in Fontana Village and Stecoah last weekend, with the main event — a two-day celebration in Robbinsville — kicking off Friday evening and continues throughout the day on Saturday.
Rising Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler recently finished a 5-week, multi-state trek with her travel softball program, the 16U Carolina Cardinals. Shuler opened a lot of eyes along the way, as she continues to eye taking her talents to the collegiate level.

Rising Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler recently finished a 5-week, multi-state trek with her travel softball program, the 16U Carolina Cardinals. Shuler opened a lot of eyes along the way, as she continues to eye taking her talents to the collegiate level.

Summer of Zoie

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Robbinsville – Most high-school athletes spend the summer enjoying the break from the grind of the often grueling year-round schedule. Zoie Shuler never considered pressing the brake pedal. A rising junior, Shuler has already made waves during her first two years at the varsity level.
Ben Wachacha recently traveled to Greensboro, to represent Robbinsville in the AAU Junior Olympics.

Ben Wachacha recently traveled to Greensboro, to represent Robbinsville in the AAU Junior Olympics.

Reaching Olympian levels of success

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Greensboro – For Ben Wachacha, William Cable and Caden Lail, the last two weeks have been perhaps some of the most exciting of their young lives.
The 2022 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell, Tai Owle, Fala Welch and Abbi Sawyer. Back row: manager Eden Orr, Delaney Brooms, Claire Barlow, Aubrie Wachacha, Liz Carpenter and head coach Kadey Phillips. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2022 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team. All names are listed from left. Front row: Kensley Phillips, Desta Trammell, Tai Owle, Fala Welch and Abbi Sawyer. Back row: manager Eden Orr, Delaney Brooms, Claire Barlow, Aubrie Wachacha, Liz Carpenter and head coach Kadey Phillips. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Back to the basics

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
* Robbinsville volleyball season preview Robbinsville – Losing six seniors presents a daunting task.
Town of Lake Santeetlah Mayor Connie Gross (right) presents a donation of $4,500 to Santeetlah Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Johnson at Aug. 4’s appreciation dinner. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Town of Lake Santeetlah Mayor Connie Gross (right) presents a donation of $4,500 to Santeetlah Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Johnson at Aug. 4’s appreciation dinner. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Santeetlah thanks firefighters with $4.5K

Randy Foster
Thursday, August 11, 2022
*Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an error that appeared in its original publication. Lake Santeetlah – Town of Lake Santeetlah residents showed up to a community dinner at Col. Ernest Manierre Memorial Park on Aug.
The Primitive Quartet (left) returns to its Graham County roots for the Mountain Homecoming next week at Fontana Village Resort.

The Primitive Quartet (left) returns to its Graham County roots for the Mountain Homecoming next week at Fontana Village Resort.

‘This is our heritage’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Fontana Dam – The hills around Fontana Lake will be reverberating next week. The four-day Mountain Homecoming kicks off at Fontana Village Resort on Thursday, Aug. 18, and ends Sunday, Aug. 21.

County celebrates 150th birthday … and you’re invited

Randy Foster
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Graham County’s 150th anniversary celebration events kick off this weekend in Fontana Dam and Stecoah, with two days of celebration in Robbinsville the following weekend. Here’s what’s on tap: Friday, Aug. 12: Fontana Village Resort, Town of Fontana Dam, N.C.
One of the features of the planned Corridor K expansion is a 270-foot-wide land bridge at Stecoah Gap, which will allow wildlife and hikers alike on the intersecting Appalachian Trail to traverse over N.C. Highway 28 without traffic interference.

One of the features of the planned Corridor K expansion is a 270-foot-wide land bridge at Stecoah Gap, which will allow wildlife and hikers alike on the intersecting Appalachian Trail to traverse over N.C. Highway 28 without traffic interference.

Letting to begin for Corridor K next week

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, August 11, 2022
The N.C. Department of Transportation has planned three dates for “letting” – or the reception of bids for a project – along the Corridor K expansion, and the first phase started Tuesday.