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Dee Walsh gives one final pep talk before what proved to also be his final preseason scrimmage Aug. 16 at T.C. Roberson High School. After winning 189 career games in 22 seasons at his alma mater, Walsh announced he was stepping down as both head football coach and Robbinsville High School’s athletic director Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Dee Walsh gives one final pep talk before what proved to also be his final preseason scrimmage Aug. 16 at T.C. Roberson High School. After winning 189 career games in 22 seasons at his alma mater, Walsh announced he was stepping down as both head football coach and Robbinsville High School’s athletic director Friday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

End of an era

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Dee Walsh was the quarterback of back-to-back state championship football teams for Robbinsville in 1973 and 1974. The Black Knights were 21-5 during the run. Robbinsville – One could argue that Dee Walsh has spent more time coaching Black Knights football than in the comfort of his own recliner.

More snowfall, more … brush fires?

Marshall McClung
Friday, January 31, 2025
Santeetlah – Apparently, the saying “history repeats itself” is true: the last two snowfalls in Graham County have both been followed by brush fires in the same weeks.  Maybe the next time it snows, firefighters will be tempted to grab fire rakes instead of snow shovels. Shortly after 3 p.m.
Robbinsville High School senior Shalimar Daniels soaks in the adulation of fans across Big Oaks Stadium on Oct. 4, after being introduced as an honorary attendant during homecoming. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

Robbinsville High School senior Shalimar Daniels soaks in the adulation of fans across Big Oaks Stadium on Oct. 4, after being introduced as an honorary attendant during homecoming. Photo by Royce Worbington/The Graham Star

'Forever our sunshine’

Latresa Phillips
Friday, January 31, 2025
Shortly after being informed of Shalimar Daniels’ passing Jan. 23, students at Robbinsville High School got to work  creating this tribute near the front entrance to the facility.

Town could close by May

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 31, 2025
Fontana Dam – It may seem to many that the Town of Fontana Dam is relatively new. That’s because – relatively speaking – it is: its first council was sworn in May 8, 2011. But only 13 ½ years after its formation, the final months of Fontana Dam as a municipality could very well lie ahead.
Suri Watty takes flight amongst the flocked defense of Lady Eagles Olivia McNabb (15), Bella Stiles (44), Sky Taylor and Abby Harris (21) on Jan. 14. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Suri Watty takes flight amongst the flocked defense of Lady Eagles Olivia McNabb (15), Bella Stiles (44), Sky Taylor and Abby Harris (21) on Jan. 14. Photo by Kyla Garland/The Graham Star

Knights scorch Maroon Devils

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Dane Knott prepares to deposit a foul shot Tuesday at Swain County. Knott led Robbinsville with 22 points in the win over the Maroon Devils. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star Bryson City – The Knights’ returned to Smoky Mountain Conference play Tuesday with great vengeance and furious anger.
Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Skyler Anderson wraps up West-Oak’s Gunner Mease during the 106-pound finals of the James Orr Invitational on Saturday. Photos by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Anderson, Panama run the table

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Adair Panama applies a low waist-lock on Glenn’s Yusel Aguilar en route to winning the 113-pound weight class Saturday. Robbinsville – Proving that less is better, the Black Knights’ two lightest grapplers sawed through the field during the James Orr Invitational on Saturday.

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.