News

Members of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8635 and American Legion Post No. 192 begin the retiring of colors to wrap up Nov. 10’s Veterans Day recognition at Robbinsville High School. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Members of both the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8635 and American Legion Post No. 192 begin the retiring of colors to wrap up Nov. 10’s Veterans Day recognition at Robbinsville High School. Photo by Ruby Annas/news@grahamstar.com

Paying respect

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Robbinsville – Robbinsville High School and Robbinsville Middle School presented a Veteran’s Day Program on Nov. 9 in the high school gym. A podium was set in the middle of the room in front or the guest veterans.
Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Quinn Jumper is shown rushing for one of his two touchdowns last week against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Jumper did not find the end zone Thursday against Mountain Island Charter – but his defense kept the Raptors rocked throughout Robbinsville's 40-7 triumph in the second round of the state playoffs. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Raptors prey for relief

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – Through the first two games of the postseason, the Black Knights have outscored visitors 95-14. Thursday’s second-round playoff appointment with the Mountain Island Charter Raptors played out much like the round-one showdown with Thomas Jefferson on Nov.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration of Peyton Brooks’ late-game bucket in Monday’s season opener against Murphy. From left are Peyton Weaver (24), Bam Nelms (11), Landen Eddings, Eli Lambert, Carsan Snider (22) and Xamuel Wachacha (15). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights erupt in celebration of Peyton Brooks’ late-game bucket in Monday’s season opener against Murphy. From left are Peyton Weaver (24), Bam Nelms (11), Landen Eddings, Eli Lambert, Carsan Snider (22) and Xamuel Wachacha (15). Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Welcome to our house

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – There are times words are briskly typed onto a keyboard as a way to gently inform the public how a particular game turned out for either the home team or the visitors.
Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Cuttler Adams (4) takes the handoff from Robbinsville quarterback Donovan Carpenter during the 2023 playoff opener Friday against Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy. Adams broke both the all-time rushing record for the Black Knights and the Smoky Mountain Conference early in the game. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School

Record keeper

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from Friday's game. 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 Smoky Mountain Conference) all-time rushing leader.
The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Mites make it official Saturday, gathering around the 2023 Cracker Bowl Championship trophy to soak up the moment after winning their fourth title in a row. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Making a bowl statement

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The box score from the Mites' 2023 Cracker Bowl championship game. Murphy – Saturday’s Mites championship game proved that the deeply chronicled rivalry between Swain County and Robbinsville shows no signs of slowing down.

Town water-meter cap damages tire, wheel

Ruby Annas
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Robbinsville – During the Nov. 1 Town of Robbinsville meeting, aldermen voted to resolve damages caused by a water-meter cap, and opened the floor for an update on Graham County Schools’ remodel of the former Veterans of Foreign Wars building. On Oct.

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.