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Robbinsville’s Murphy Shanahan wrangles his opponent to the mat during Monday’s first-round postseason dual against Langtree Charter Academy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Murphy Shanahan wrangles his opponent to the mat during Monday’s first-round postseason dual against Langtree Charter Academy. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Bet on Black

Robbinsville – In swift fashion, the Black Knights proved why they are the No. 1-ranked team in class 1A. Robbinsville (21-1) hosted the first and second rounds of the state dual-team championship Monday, with the Knights taking on Langtree Charter Academy (No. 29 seed) and Rosman (No.
Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips tries to slow down the progress of Murphy’s Torin Rogers on Tuesday. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Robbinsville’s Kensley Phillips tries to slow down the progress of Murphy’s Torin Rogers on Tuesday. Photo by Justin Fitzgerald/Cherokee Scout

Near miss

Robbinsville – The Lady Knights had the Bulldogs on the ropes Tuesday night. Unfortunately, some late heroics for the visitors proved costly.
Bryce Adams (10) stretches to out-rebound Highlands’ Kasen Mitchell on Jan. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Bryce Adams (10) stretches to out-rebound Highlands’ Kasen Mitchell on Jan. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Comeback tour continues

Robbinsville – The Black Knights have captured lightning in a bottle. Winners of its last five games, Robbinsville (9-9, 3-4) has consistently pleaded its case for a postseason appearance, which would snap a four-year drought.

Church restoration still underway

Robbinsville – The Old Mother Church is still raising funds for much-needed repairs. Robbinsville United Methodist Church Pastor Eric Reece sat down with the Robbinsville Tourism Authority at its Jan. 25 meeting, to discuss the progress made thus far with the restoration project.

School bus, truck involved in collision

Snowbird – An inbound Graham County school bus and a pickup collided on Snowbird Road just west of I.U. Gap Road on Jan. 27. There were no injuries, but it delayed the start of the school day for the approximately 20 students riding the bus.
Peanut – a mixed miniature Doberman and deer head Chihuahua – was always present when The Graham Star was out for delivery. The beloved dog passed away Jan. 11.

Peanut – a mixed miniature Doberman and deer head Chihuahua – was always present when The Graham Star was out for delivery. The beloved dog passed away Jan. 11.

‘We spoiled that dog’

Marble – A coyote took Peanut on Jan. 11, and shopkeepers throughout Graham County are heartbroken — but not as much as Neal Wachob.

Post-holiday spike worse than last year

Robbinsville – The usual post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases was more than three times worse in Graham County this year than in 2021, according to testing data. Between Dec. 22 and Jan.
This graph shows COVID-19 trends from the outset of the pandemic. Graphic by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

This graph shows COVID-19 trends from the outset of the pandemic. Graphic by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Schools shift mask policy

Robbinsville – The Graham County Board of Education on Tuesday warily voted to return to voluntary masks on school properties (except on buses, where masks are still mandatory), but is prepared to return to the table later in February if any school has a COVID-19 positive test rate of 10 percent or...
Robbinsville's Christian Phillips (right) jockeys for control with Alleghany's Cameron Worrick during Monday's second-round state dual against the Trojans. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville's Christian Phillips (right) jockeys for control with Alleghany's Cameron Worrick during Monday's second-round state dual against the Trojans. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Black Knights march toward state crown

Bryson City – It was not the way things had hoped to go. Robbinsville (No. 1 seed, 22-2) knocked off Smoky Mountain Conference foe Swain County (No. 5 seed, 18-4) in the third round of the N.C.