News

Brush fire follows snowfall

Marshall McClung
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Tuskeegee – As an example of how quickly mountain weather can change, locals experienced snowfall and a brush fire in the same week. Graham County 911 was notified of a brush fire near Whiteside Gap Road in the Lower Sawyers Creek area around 1:20 p.m., Jan. 15.
Senior Darion Ledbetter (5) works into the paint and looks to split the defense of North Buncombe’s Cole Edmonds (11) and Tripp Switzer (20) on Jan. 8. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Senior Darion Ledbetter (5) works into the paint and looks to split the defense of North Buncombe’s Cole Edmonds (11) and Tripp Switzer (20) on Jan. 8. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Black Knights end 4-game skid

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Robbinsville – After a tough stretch of losses – which included a pair of 3-point defeats – the Black Knights finally reversed their fortunes Tuesday night. Winless since leaving Hiwassee Dam (6-6) on the better end of a 79-51 blowout Dec.
Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ethan Webster hooks a half on Hayesville’s Mason Ray during Jan. 9’s Smoky Mountain Conference duals. Despite the bout being halted twice to plug a bloody nose, Webster scored a 20-5 technical fall and went 4-0 on the evening. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Divisional domination

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Robbinsville – The Black Knights once again showed why depth and talent equal supremacy in the Smoky Mountain Conference. A last-second shuffle led to Robbinsville hosting the annual league duals Jan.
Robbinsville senior Bryce Adams became just the fifth Black Knight in school history to reach the 1,000-point threshold Jan. 8. With Adams is head coach Jake Beasley. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Robbinsville senior Bryce Adams became just the fifth Black Knight in school history to reach the 1,000-point threshold Jan. 8. With Adams is head coach Jake Beasley. Photos by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

1,000 points down, 163 to go

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Bryce Adams sizes up a free throw shortly after scoring his 1,000th career point from the charity stripe Jan. 8. Robbinsville – Though it was in the back of his mind, doing what was best for the team was Bryce Adams’ priority Jan. 8.
With Smoky Mountain’s Ben Brown (21) looking on, Luke Lovin puts up an inside floater in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Mustangs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

With Smoky Mountain’s Ben Brown (21) looking on, Luke Lovin puts up an inside floater in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game with the Mustangs. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Saddled with struggles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Sylva – At every turn and circumstance, the Knights were thwarted in their quest to start 2025 off in the win column. A 4-game tilt at Smoky Mountain on Tuesday ended with Robbinsville exiting 0-4 on the evening, with only the varsity Black Knights posing a serious threat to the 3A Mustangs.
Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Black Knight Lleyton Hooper secured his 100th career win at Saturday’s Enka Duals. With Hooper is assistant coach David Haney (left) and head coach Travis Hooper. Photos courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Another Hooper wins 100

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Candler – In resounding fashion, Lleyton Hooper joined an esteemed chapter of Robbinsville’s storied wrestling tradition. During the opening match of Saturday’s Enka Duals, the junior grappler dominated Union (Va.) High School’s Dylan Brugger.
Friendly faces greet those who visit the Reigniting Hope Foundation, which launched last year with an initiative to help those who are homeless or have fallen into the struggles of addiction. From left are Tracey Jones, Shelby Jones, Jessica Jones and Raylon Jones. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Friendly faces greet those who visit the Reigniting Hope Foundation, which launched last year with an initiative to help those who are homeless or have fallen into the struggles of addiction. From left are Tracey Jones, Shelby Jones, Jessica Jones and Raylon Jones. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

New foundation offers ‘hope’ for those in need

Latresa Phillips
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Robbinsville – As the cold winds of winter usher in snow and bitter cold, many residents of Graham County need a safe, warm place to sleep and a nutritious meal to help them survive the cold.  The Reigniting Hope Foundation provides just that.
Kase Brooks passed away from injuries sustained in a side-by-side crash Monday.

Kase Brooks passed away from injuries sustained in a side-by-side crash Monday.

Local man killed in UTV accident

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
West Buffalo – A county resident passed away Monday morning after crashing a UTV (utility terrain vehicle) off Huffman Creek Road. First responders were dispatched to the scene at 9:32 a.m, following the report of an accident involving a “side-by-side.
McKynlee Adams launches a long-range jumper Dec. 19 at Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

McKynlee Adams launches a long-range jumper Dec. 19 at Andrews. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights tame Wildcats

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Andrews – The middle school hoopsters touched the court for the final time in 2024 on Dec. 19, traveling to Andrews and emerging with a mixed bag of results. The Lady Knights (7-5) won the afternoon’s opener 45-33, while the Black Knights (5-7) dropped a 58-41 contest.