News

The children who participated in the Graham County Sheriff Office’s “Shop with a Cop” on Dec. 14 gather with law-enforcement officials outside Walmart in Murphy. Photos courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

The children who participated in the Graham County Sheriff Office’s “Shop with a Cop” on Dec. 14 gather with law-enforcement officials outside Walmart in Murphy. Photos courtesy of Graham County Sheriff's Office

Local children ‘Shop with a Cop’

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Murphy – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office spread holiday cheer to local children last week, with the annual “Shop with a Cop” event taking place Dec. 14.

16 file for 2024 races

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Robbinsville – The majority of candidates wishing to file for local races held out until the final stretch before submitting their paperwork.
Crews begin to extract a Toyota Highlander from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. Jan. 19, after the SUV crashed into the water during the early morning hours. Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero, 23, passed away in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Crews begin to extract a Toyota Highlander from Lake Santeetlah around 5 p.m. Jan. 19, after the SUV crashed into the water during the early morning hours. Jose Alfredo Moreno-Romero, 23, passed away in the accident. Photo by Randy Foster/Community Newspapers, Inc.

Arrest made in fatal crash

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Santeetlah – A nearly 11-month investigation into a fatal SUV crash has resulted in the arrest of a local resident.

Serve returned

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Robbinsville – Former Town of Robbinsville Interim Finance Officer Michael Richardson’s small claims case against the municipality’s aldermen Debbie Beasley and Kenneth Hyde was continued to Tuesday, Jan. 2. “I was hoping to get it over with today,” said Hyde.
Cameron Allison – shown taking flight in Nov. 30’s home game against Swain County – produced back-to-back, 22-point performances in the last week for Robbinsville’s 10-0, middle school Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Cameron Allison – shown taking flight in Nov. 30’s home game against Swain County – produced back-to-back, 22-point performances in the last week for Robbinsville’s 10-0, middle school Black Knights. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights now 10-0

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Robbinsville – When the Hiwassee Dam/Ranger rolled into the Robbinsville Elementary School Gym parking lot Dec. 7, a lot of anticipation followed suit. The second game of the year was in the back of both teams’ minds: Robbinsville had won the Nov. 9 appointment, 52-44.
Lleyton Hooper applies a half-nelson during Tuesday’s dual against Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Jacquline Gayosso/Contributing Photographer

Lleyton Hooper applies a half-nelson during Tuesday’s dual against Cherokee. Photo courtesy of Jacquline Gayosso/Contributing Photographer

Dual frenzy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Robbinsville – Six duals in a span of four days would be a grind for most programs. For Robbinsville, it’s business as usual. The Black Knights welcomed schools from across – and outside – the state for Saturday’s inaugural H.O.O.T.
Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (21) jostles with Smoky Mountain’s Kieara Ensley (2) and Julia Macauley over a rebound during the Lady Knights’ win over the Lady Mustangs on Dec. 7. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Delaney Brooms (21) jostles with Smoky Mountain’s Kieara Ensley (2) and Julia Macauley over a rebound during the Lady Knights’ win over the Lady Mustangs on Dec. 7. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Lady Knights shake off overtime road scare

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Anna Williams (left) attempts to evade a Smoky Mountain defender in Robbinsville’s successful JV season opener Dec. 7. Highlands – The trip to Highlands School often produces a mixed reaction from any team that endures the winding journey to the plateau.
Dane Knott shouts instructions to the Black Knights in the ealry moments of Robbinsville’s win over Smoky Mountain on Dec. 7. A sophomore, Knott has taken the reins as the Knights’ point guard this season. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Dane Knott shouts instructions to the Black Knights in the ealry moments of Robbinsville’s win over Smoky Mountain on Dec. 7. A sophomore, Knott has taken the reins as the Knights’ point guard this season. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Varsity boys flexing in early portion of season

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Kyzik Teesateskie eyes an inside shot during the first half of Dec. 7's tango with Smoky Mountain.
The Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen voted to give the fence along East Main Street/Veterans Hill a complete facelift. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

The Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen voted to give the fence along East Main Street/Veterans Hill a complete facelift. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Fence to be replaced

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Robbinsville – A bid of $63,169 was approved by the Robbinsville Board of Aldermen at its Dec. 6 meeting, to completely replace the fence along East Main Street/Veterans Hill. “It is in pretty bad shape,” observed alderwoman Debbie Beasley. “Wooden fences will always need to be repaired.

Mental health, nutrition addressed

Ruby Annas
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Robbinsville – The Graham County Board of Education approved adding new procedures for student mental health support, discussed funds for school meals and other items.