News

Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Highway tested

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
"We're not afraid to travel" has been a long-standing mantra of the Robbinsville wrestling program. After all, how else can you test the theory of finding the best competition to make yourself the best if you are unwilling to log a few miles?
Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Another conference setback

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – Coming off a decisive 45-29 win over Highlands on Jan. 4 – vindicating a 51-48 overtime triumph at Highlands on Dec. 8 – the Lady Knights appeared poised to steer the ship back on course in divisional action Friday.
Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter unloads a corner jumper during the second half of Friday’s win over Hayesville. Carpenter’s 14-point evening led Robbinsville’s output. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter unloads a corner jumper during the second half of Friday’s win over Hayesville. Carpenter’s 14-point evening led Robbinsville’s output. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

(Home) court is in session

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – With three straight road games against Little Smoky Mountain Conference schools on the docket ahead, the Black Knights’ resounding defense of their home court will be put on ice.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights gathered at half court in Bryson City on Monday to commemorate a 14-0 regular season after defeating Swain County in the finale. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights cap unbeaten regular season

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Bryson City – When the Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights completed the program’s first perfect regular season since a stretch of back-to-back, undefeated runs from 2009-11, there was very little fanfare.
Ford Street has long combated drainage issues brought on by rainfall, but a new grant could finally resolve the problem. Photo courtesy of Shaun Adams

Ford Street has long combated drainage issues brought on by rainfall, but a new grant could finally resolve the problem. Photo courtesy of Shaun Adams

Lift station, street drainage discussed

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – The Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen added many important items to Jan. 3’s agenda, including the town’s lift station needing repairs and other town projects. The self-cleaning bar/filter screen – or lift station – is not operating and needs to be replaced.
Construction on a Celebrate Recovery building off Hares Creek Road has progressed nicely since last year. Here, John Felton, Andy Girl and Doug Underwood work on the exterior. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Construction on a Celebrate Recovery building off Hares Creek Road has progressed nicely since last year. Here, John Felton, Andy Girl and Doug Underwood work on the exterior. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Construction on recovery center worth celebrating

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, January 11, 2024
John Felton stands inside the future fellowship hall at the Celebrate Recovery building. Tallulah – There is no doubt when there is a need in Graham County, Graham County shows up. Last week, the Celebrate Recovery Facebook page posted a need for insulation for the building project on Tallulah.
Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Workers finish extracting a 2016 Toyota Highlander that plunged into Lake Santeetlah on Jan. 19, 2023. Freddy Romero, 23, perished in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Top 10 of 2023: the Year in Review

News Staff
Thursday, January 11, 2024
It was another year chocked full of news around Graham County. Though it would be impossible to recap every newsworthy event of 2023, The Graham Star looks back at 10 of the most significant moments.

Need for speed

Ruby Annas
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Zito Media Internet speeds are not living up to what Graham County citizens paid for. “I am confident in the design of the network and that it is providing the speed advertised,” said Zito Media president Jim Rigas. “If there are any ongoing issues, we want to investigate and resolve them.
Authorities found Carley Walls’ vehicle burning on Tatham Gap Road roughly 12 hours before her body was discovered some 15 miles away in Robbinsville. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Authorities found Carley Walls’ vehicle burning on Tatham Gap Road roughly 12 hours before her body was discovered some 15 miles away in Robbinsville. Photo courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Autopsy shifts case to homicide

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Robbinsville – Almost 11 months after a local woman was found deceased, autopsy findings have finally be unveiled. Blunt-force trauma, methamphetamine toxicity and environmental hypothermia were cited as the causes of Carley Dunn Walls’ death on Feb. 5, 2023.