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Robbinsville Middle School’s Carsan Snider cuts toward the paint during Nov. 4’s season opener against Swain.

Robbinsville Middle School’s Carsan Snider cuts toward the paint during Nov. 4’s season opener against Swain.

Smoky Mountain rain

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
Sylva – For the first time in recent memory, Robbinsville met Smoky Mountain for middle school basketball action.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights Band pose with the hardware collected at Nov. 2’s Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, which was held at Enka High School. All names are listed from left in each row. Front row: Rosie Orr, Myley Hyde and Sarai Cervantes. Second row: Jaden Boyle, Sharea Kirkman, Melissa Drouin and Emily Boyle. Back row: J.T. Hyde, Evan Hood, Dreydon Conley, Murphy Shanahan and Wade Rogers. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville High School Band

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights Band pose with the hardware collected at Nov. 2’s Land of the Sky Marching Band Festival, which was held at Enka High School. All names are listed from left in each row. Front row: Rosie Orr, Myley Hyde and Sarai Cervantes. Second row: Jaden Boyle, Sharea Kirkman, Melissa Drouin and Emily Boyle. Back row: J.T. Hyde, Evan Hood, Dreydon Conley, Murphy Shanahan and Wade Rogers. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville High School Band

Wanted: trophies

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
The success of the Robbinsville Marching Band is well-noted. A journey through the program’s room at the high school reveals a seemingly-limitless collection of trophies, adorning the walls of the massive musical space.
Kasen Buchanan (55), John Dominguez (74) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) crunch Swain County’s Zeke Glaspie for a loss in the first half of Friday’s shutout over the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Kasen Buchanan (55), John Dominguez (74) and Tytan Teesateskie (72) crunch Swain County’s Zeke Glaspie for a loss in the first half of Friday’s shutout over the Maroon Devils. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Devils advocates

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
The box score from Nov. 8, 2024's game between Robbinsville and Swain County. Bryson City – Mixed into last year’s run was two different home games against a Smoky Mountain Conference foe: the Swain County Maroon Devils.
As a mist rises off the water, volunteers sift through garbage strewn about a bank that normally is underwater during warm months on Fontana Lake during last month’s clean-up. Photos courtesy of Brandon Jones/Fontana Village Marina

As a mist rises off the water, volunteers sift through garbage strewn about a bank that normally is underwater during warm months on Fontana Lake during last month’s clean-up. Photos courtesy of Brandon Jones/Fontana Village Marina

Beauty preserved

Latresa Phillips
Monday, November 18, 2024
Fontana – In 2017, community members and volunteers in the Fontana Dam area joined Brandon Jones for the inaugural lake clean-up.  In a day and a half, 12 people had collected 22,000 pounds of garbage.  It was a start.
Amanda Gyongyos and Jim Huffman (front row), plus David Crowe and Sharon Crowe (back) stand to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at Friday’s Robbinsville High School Veterans’ Day program. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Amanda Gyongyos and Jim Huffman (front row), plus David Crowe and Sharon Crowe (back) stand to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at Friday’s Robbinsville High School Veterans’ Day program. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Students thank veterans

Latresa Phillips
Monday, November 18, 2024
Robbinsville – Football wasn’t the only thing on the minds of students at Robbinsville High School on Friday, as the institution hosted its annual “Salute to Our Veterans” program.
Dry conditions have sparked at least four brush fires in Graham County over the last week. The efforts to curb the spread of flames began Tuesday, Nov. 5, when this blaze started off Hoot Owl Hollow. Photo courtesy of Frank Cline/U.S. Forest Service

Dry conditions have sparked at least four brush fires in Graham County over the last week. The efforts to curb the spread of flames began Tuesday, Nov. 5, when this blaze started off Hoot Owl Hollow. Photo courtesy of Frank Cline/U.S. Forest Service

Everything’s on fire

Marshall McClung
Monday, November 18, 2024
If you are a firefighter – or have one in the family – you are subject to being awakened at unearthly hours when normal people are fast asleep. Such was the case Tuesday, Nov. 5, when firefighters rolled out of bed around 5 a.m., to respond to a brush fire in the Atoah Circle area of Graham County.
Graham County Schools will be constructing a new elementary school on this plot of land, which sits adjacent to the current high school baseball field. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Graham County Schools will be constructing a new elementary school on this plot of land, which sits adjacent to the current high school baseball field. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Deal struck for new school property

Kevin Hensley
Monday, November 18, 2024
Robbinsville – With surveys completed, Graham County Schools has announced the price and amount of land to be acquired for a new elementary school. At Nov. 5’s board of education meeting, assistant superintendent/facilities director David Matheson revealed that 6.
Robbinsville's Cameron Allison (14), Luke Lovin (3) and Bryce Adams (6) combine forces to drop Thomasville's Keshawn Carpenter during Friday's first-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Robbinsville's Cameron Allison (14), Luke Lovin (3) and Bryce Adams (6) combine forces to drop Thomasville's Keshawn Carpenter during Friday's first-round playoff game. Photo by Bella Eddings/The Graham Star

Knights joust Bulldogs, advance to 2nd round

Kevin Hensley
Saturday, November 16, 2024
    Robbinsville – It took until the third quarter, but the Black Knights showed a familiar playoff swagger Friday night.
Quinn Jumper (12) eyes a T.C. Roberson defender as he cuts upfield Friday. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Quinn Jumper (12) eyes a T.C. Roberson defender as he cuts upfield Friday. Photos by Cheyanne Geyer/The Graham Star

Rams shutout Knights

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
The box score from Nov. 1, 2024's game between T.C. Roberson and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Opportunities for success were few and far between during the Knights’ impromptu return to Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium.
Ryn Hooper had no idea about her big achievement until the semifinals of the conference tournament, when she was recognized for her accomplishment.

Ryn Hooper had no idea about her big achievement until the semifinals of the conference tournament, when she was recognized for her accomplishment.

Administrative assistant

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Robbinsville junior Ryn Hooper concentrates on a set during the Lady Knights’ second-round playoff match at Polk County on Oct. 24. Hooper surpassed the 1,000-assists mark for her career early last month. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.