News

Urgent-care services reopened for residents Tuesday. Until more staff comes aboard, the crew will be limited to just three on-site personnel: Dedie Barker, Meggan Smith and Emily McKeehan – all Graham County natives. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Urgent care returns

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Robbinsville – For some, news of urgent care services rebooting in Graham County might have been the greatest Valentine’s Day gift they could have received.

Koleson Dooley defiantly pins Avery County’s Connor Brewer in the heavyweight bout of Feb. 1’s Western Regional Finals match at Swain. Dooley’s pin gave Robbinsville an 18-6 lead, but the Vikings would rally and advance to the state-dual championship. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights drop heartbreaker in 1A Western Regional finals

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Bryson City – Robbinsville’s pursuit of the program’s second dual-team, state-wrestling championship came to a gut-wrenching conclusion Feb. 1 at Swain County High School. Entering the postseason with the No. 1 seed, Robbinsville (29-4) faced a fired-up Swain County (No.

The Robbinsville Middle School Lady Knights (competing as the Peak Wrestling Club) concluded their debut season by winning the 7th Annual Women’s K-8 State Championship Tournament on Saturday in Advance. Photos courtesy of Susan Crowe

Debut season ends with state title

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Latesha Orr, 7th-8th Grade 101-105 pound champion. Advance – For two days, thousands of aspiring varsity wrestlers sampled the competition that will stand in front of them for years to come. But when the RISE Indoor Sports Complex in Advance began to finally clear at 9:30 p.m.

Lady Knights head coach Lucas Ford goes over some final instructions just before tip-off Friday against Hayesville, with his starting line-up (from left): Suri Watty, Desta Trammell, Liz Carpenter, Kensley Phillips and Aubrie Wachacha. Robbinsville will enter the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament at Andrews with a No. 2 seed. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights finish 2nd in conference

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Robbinsville – Lucas Ford summed up Tuesday’s dominant showing against Swain County in one sentence: “If we play like that in the conference tournament, we’ll win it.” It’s a hard point to argue, really.

Lady Knights junior Zoie Shuler takes flight during an indoor track meet at Swain County on Jan. 11. Shuler is the favorite to win at least two state championships for Robbinsville this weekend. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Golden opportunity

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

* State indoor track preview Cherokee – No matter what, state championships seemed to elude Zoie Shuler’s freshman season. It did not take long for the redheaded super-athlete to grow tired of the trend.

The Snowbird Lady Warriors Termite Girls capped off a perfect 11-0 season by defeating Copper Basin, Tenn., on Saturday in the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference Tournament finals. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

11 up, 11 down for Warriors

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Murphy – Not one single team in the Smokey Mountain Youth Conference this season had a response to the attack of the Lady Warriors. In a preview of what’s to come, the Snowbird Termites (11-0) ended their chase of history Saturday, knocking off the Copper Basin (Tenn.

Interim finance director discussed by town

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Robbinsville – The revolving door of personnel inside Town Hall continues to spin. Alderman Brian “Taco” Johnson resigned last month, releasing a statement that noted the need for several upcoming medical procedures that would leave him unable to fulfill his role.

Local woman found dead; investigation ongoing

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Robbinsville – An unusual chain of events over the weekend led to officers linking together a burning car and a deceased resident, at two different locations. Late Saturday night, a call was received that a car was burning on Tatham Gap Road.

Natasha Williams began her first stint as an elected official in December. Photo by Randy Foster/The Graham Star

‘We hit the ground running’

Randy Foster

Thursday, February 9, 2023

• Second in a 3-part series Robbinsville – Natasha Williams said during a candidate forum in 2022 that having new blood on the Graham County Board of Commissioners wouldn’t be a bad thing. In the May 2022 primary, voters seemed to agree.

Members of the Black Knights mob head coach Jake Beasley in the locker room Tuesday, moments after Robbinsville wrapped up its first Smoky Mountain Conference title since the 2013-14 season. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Mission: accomplished

Kevin Hensley

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Robbinsville – Finally. The last time Robbinsville’s varsity boys won a conference title in basketball, this year’s seniors were still in elementary school.