News

Suri Watty connects for one of her three hits Friday. The sophomore second baseman totaled five hits, four RBI and two doubles in last week’s series with Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Suri Watty connects for one of her three hits Friday. The sophomore second baseman totaled five hits, four RBI and two doubles in last week’s series with Andrews. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Hits just keep comin’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
An ecstatic Sophie Roberts signals toward the dugout after reaching second on a wild pitch Friday at Andrews. The Lady Knights were fired up from the word go last week, pouring a combined 32 runs in two games against the Lady Wildcats.

Trail hiker falls ill, rescued

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 11, 2024
A hiker who had fallen ill was rescued from the Appalachian Trail on Saturday. The Graham County 911 center received a call from a woman around 10:45 a.m., saying her father was sick and might need some assistance in getting out of the woods.

Water loss astounds town

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Fontana Dam – Until the aging water lines are replaced, it seems the Town of Fontana Dam will have to make due with its multiple water leaks.
A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

A fire that broke out Sunday afternoon in the Santeetlah area required the use of helicopters to help fight the flames overhead. Photo courtesy of Tory Lynnes/U.S. Forest Service

Separate debris fires wreak havoc

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Sunday was anything but a day of rest for local firefighters, as they were busy with two brush fires. The largest fire began shortly after 4 p.m., near Maggie Wachacha Road, in the Santeetlah area. It was started from a debris burn on tribal land.
The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

The passing of beloved Robbinsville Elementary School custodian Mike Hyde ushered in a bevy of tributes. Here, a wall on the 4th/5th grade hallway surrounding his work closet is filled with cards from students who will always remember “Mr. Mike.” Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Be like Mike

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Known as a friend to all, it was not uncommon to see Mike Hyde conversing with a student in the halls of the elementary school. Here, Hyde strikes up a conversation with Strider Graves. * Editor’s note: The writer was a classmate of Mike Hyde.

GOP nominates Lynn to fill vacancy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Robbinsville – The Graham County Republican Party acted swiftly to fill the void left by Debra “Hank” Dinschel’s sudden resignation from the board of education, publicly announcing a nominee for the seat Saturday. Andy Lynn will appear before the school board at 2 p.m.

8 local ballers named All-Conference

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The 2023-24 basketball season officially wrapped up after this year’s state champions were determined over the weekend of March 15-16. With the schedule in the rearview mirror, the Smoky Mountain Conference formally announced its annual All-Conference honorees.
Sydney Adams signals to the dugout after smacking a 2-run, game-tying double Monday at Tuscola. The Lady Knights went on to defeat the Lady Mountaineers, 5-3. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sydney Adams signals to the dugout after smacking a 2-run, game-tying double Monday at Tuscola. The Lady Knights went on to defeat the Lady Mountaineers, 5-3. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

No foolin’ around

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Waynesville – Flashes of just how dominant the Robbinsville Lady Knights can be were on full display Monday. Showing the respect warranted by the Knights’ program, Tuscola (4-7) tossed their No. 1 gun Addi Sampson inside the circle for Robbinsville’s third-straight road game.
There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

There’s plenty for the Robbinsville Black Knights to smile for right now. Winners of five straight, the Knights have crept into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference and are off to their best start in well over 20 years. Photo by Jacquline Gayosso/The Graham Star

Mediocrity goes out the window

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Robbinsville – Every season begins with some sense of optimism. Even if a team is the flat-out pits, there’s always a bright spot to be found. Pitching is young, but will improve with reps. We’re striking out a lot, but we’re taking good cuts at the plate.
As part of a training exercise, the Graham County Fire Department conducted a controlled burn on a kudzu patch behind the EMS base off West Fort Hill on March 25. Though this fire was monitored from the get-go, brush fires being set across the county have proved difficult to maintain in recent weeks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

As part of a training exercise, the Graham County Fire Department conducted a controlled burn on a kudzu patch behind the EMS base off West Fort Hill on March 25. Though this fire was monitored from the get-go, brush fires being set across the county have proved difficult to maintain in recent weeks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

More dry weather, more brush fires

Marshall McClung
Thursday, April 4, 2024
The recent stretch of dry weather brought more brush fires over the last week. A resident was burning a brush pile near Mount Nebo Baptist Church when the fire got out of control around 4 p.m., Friday. Snowbird and Graham County Fire Departments, N.C. Forest Service, and U.S.