News

Lake Santeetlah council shuffled again

News Staff
Thursday, November 9, 2023
At the local level, only two races were contested during the 2023 election season: seats on the councils of Graham County’s two smallest municipalities, Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah.
Fontana Village Marina Manager Brandon Jones helps unload trash during the Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup on Saturday. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Fontana Village Marina Manager Brandon Jones helps unload trash during the Fontana Lakeshore Cleanup on Saturday. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

65,000 pounds lighter

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Fontana Dam – All were encouraged to help keep Fontana Lake beautiful during the sixth annual Fontana Lakeshore Trash Clean-Up, which was held from Friday-Sunday.
It has been over five years since Graham County Sheriff’s Office personnel Edward Cable (center) and Jerry Crisp escorted Garrel Alvah Orr out of the Graham County Courthouse after being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his daughter-in-law Lora Orr. Monday, Garrel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

It has been over five years since Graham County Sheriff’s Office personnel Edward Cable (center) and Jerry Crisp escorted Garrel Alvah Orr out of the Graham County Courthouse after being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his daughter-in-law Lora Orr. Monday, Garrel pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Orr pleads guilty

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – In a case that has lingered for over five years, Garrel Alvah Orr, 82, pleaded guilty Monday in the death of his daughter-in-law, Lora Orr in February 2018. Orr was sentenced 70-96 months in the state department of adult correction in Raleigh.
Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams leaps across a mixture of limbs Oct. 6 at Murphy. In the first round of the state playoffs Friday, Adams broke the all-time rushing record for both the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Adams breaks record; Knights dominate Gryphons in playoff opener

Kevin Hensley
Friday, November 3, 2023
Robbinsville – When Rylee Anderson hung up his jersey for the final time in 2019, he did it on perhaps the biggest high possible for a running back: fresh off a state title and fully cemented as the school (and conference) all-time rushing leader.
Conner Hyde (22) scored the lone Robbinsville Mites touchdown in Saturday’s semifinal game against Franklin. Though all four Black Knights teams qualified for the postseason, the Mites are the only Robbinsville team advancing to the Cracker Bowl. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Conner Hyde (22) scored the lone Robbinsville Mites touchdown in Saturday’s semifinal game against Franklin. Though all four Black Knights teams qualified for the postseason, the Mites are the only Robbinsville team advancing to the Cracker Bowl. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Mighty Mites heading to the ‘ship

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Sylva – A monopoly on Cracker Bowl crowns is at stake this weekend. Oh and there’s that little variable called “bragging rights” to consider, as well.
Sophomore Abby Wehr ultimately was Robbinsville’s top finisher at Saturday’s 1A Western Regional cross-country meet, placing 40th in the girls race. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Sophomore Abby Wehr ultimately was Robbinsville’s top finisher at Saturday’s 1A Western Regional cross-country meet, placing 40th in the girls race. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Crossing the finish line

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Bryson City – The 2023 Robbinsville cross-country season will forever be looked back on as the year the reset button was pushed.

Students safe after bus accident

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County Schools’ Bus 16 was involved in an accident Oct. 26, near the Black Knight Way/Rodney Orr Bypass (U.S. 129) intersection. A farm tractor pulling a house trailer was left-of-center while the bus was stopped and about to turn into the high school.
Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Knowing the outcome of the play was fully in the bag, Robbinsville senior Cuttler Adams reaches back for a high five from Tanner Hedden during his 102-yard interception return for the game-winning touchdown in the late stages of Friday’s win over Swain County. The victory solidified the Black Knights’ 27th divisional title. Photos by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

How the SMC was won

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 2, 2023
The box score from Oct. 27, 2023's Smoky Mountain Conference title game between Swain County and Robbinsville. Robbinsville – Friday’s divisional title game was everything it was built up to be – and then some.

Lail case moved to March

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Robbinsville – A new admin session has been scheduled for the second person charged with “death by distribution” in the history of the county. Zada Louise Lail – 54, of Robbinsville – is due back for the session March 1, 2024.
It did not take long for Bob Colvin Field to become heavily occupied Friday night, moments after the Robbinsville Black Knights secured their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title by defeating Swain County under the Big Oaks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

It did not take long for Bob Colvin Field to become heavily occupied Friday night, moments after the Robbinsville Black Knights secured their 27th Smoky Mountain Conference title by defeating Swain County under the Big Oaks. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Whatizit? It’s Robbinsville, again

Kevin Hensley
Friday, October 27, 2023
Robbinsville – Friday’s divisional title game was everything it was built up to be – and then some. Two programs with a decades-old rivalry – Robbinsville and Swain County – spent 48 minutes in combat on Bob Colvin Field, vying for the premier bragging rights in the Smoky Mountain Conference.