News

Man dies in single-vehicle accident

Santeetlah – An accident early Saturday morning claimed the life of a Robbinsville resident. A report from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol stated that 22-year-old Aaron Gerald Phillips was traveling east in a Ford F250 truck on Joyce Kilmer Road around 12:28 a.m.
Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Micah York had a breakout performance Tuesday against Murphy, dropping 22 points in Robbinsville’s lopsided victory over the Bulldogs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school Knights claim back-to-back wins

Robbinsville – After submitting a shaky showing in its season debut Nov. 3, the middle school Black Knights have more than made up for its initial foray into the 2025-26 slate. Consecutive wins from Robbinsville (2-1) included a delayed 50-23 home trouncing of the Murphy Bulldogs on Tuesday.
Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Chloe Adams, Sophomore Middle Hitter: All-Conference

Lady Knights trio named All-Conference

The Lady Knights were the final Smoky Mountain Conference team to be eliminated from the postseason this year, reaching the fourth round for just the second time in program history before falling in a sweep to state finalists N.C. Leadership Academy.

Allen promises to be accountable to community

In his second bid for sheriff, county native Leon Allen is building a campaign based around his strong belief in God and his passion for the community. "This county is my home," reads a portion of Allen's candidacy announcement.

Votes gained, but seats remain same after provisionals

Robbinsville – Friday's unsealing of the 2025 municipal election provisional ballots resulted in candidates for Robbinsville's board of aldermen and mayor races all receiving additional nods of approval from constituents, but not enough to change the outcome of Nov. 4's unofficial results.
Robbinsville's McKynlee Adams splits the defense of Hayesville's Ayden Margo (24) and Kaelyn Cook (2) during Monday's season opener. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's McKynlee Adams splits the defense of Hayesville's Ayden Margo (24) and Kaelyn Cook (2) during Monday's season opener. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Middle school basketball drops season openers

Robbinsville – Things just did not click for the Knights on Monday.
Robbinsville’s Dane Daniels (76) provides some free air time for Kyzik Teesateskie on Friday, after the latter scored his second rushing touchdown at Cherokee. The senior running back leads the Black Knights with 12 touchdowns and enters the postseason with 571 yards on the ground in 2025. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s Dane Daniels (76) provides some free air time for Kyzik Teesateskie on Friday, after the latter scored his second rushing touchdown at Cherokee. The senior running back leads the Black Knights with 12 touchdowns and enters the postseason with 571 yards on the ground in 2025. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights dismantle Braves in season finale

The box score from Oct. 31, 2025's game between Robbinsville and Cherokee. Cherokee – For a brief moment in time, it appeared that Halloween's regular-season conclusion was going to be a close ballgame.
The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

The red dot on this map indicates the location where local resident Misty Buchanan was found after going missing during a hike inside the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on Oct. 25.

Local woman rescued after becoming lost on hike inside Joyce Kilmer

Santeetlah – The Graham County 911 Center received a call concerning a missing hiker in the Joyce Kilmer Forest shortly after 8 p.m., Oct. 25.