News

The Robbinsville Middle School wrestling team gathers to celebrate its 2022-23 Smoky Mountain Conference tournament championship Dec. 15, moments after winning the title on their home mat.

The Robbinsville Middle School wrestling team gathers to celebrate its 2022-23 Smoky Mountain Conference tournament championship Dec. 15, moments after winning the title on their home mat.

Middle school captures conference-tournament title

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – When your varsity program secures 11 state champions over the last two seasons, the excitement generated is bound to trickle down the food chain. The remainder of the decade is seemingly in good hands for Robbinsville wrestling.
Santa Claus greets exuberant Robbinsville Elementary School children after hitching a ride on a helicopter and landing on the 50-yard line at Big Oaks Stadium on Dec. 15. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Santa Claus greets exuberant Robbinsville Elementary School children after hitching a ride on a helicopter and landing on the 50-yard line at Big Oaks Stadium on Dec. 15. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Santa Claus comes to town

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Santa Claus carved out time from his busy December schedule to make two appearances in Robbinsville over the past week. Mr. Claus’ visits were facilitated by Bob Keber of Robbinsville.
Zirriyah Wachacha drives to the basket Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Zirriyah Wachacha drives to the basket Dec. 5 against Cherokee. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights again tame Cats

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Andrews – In its only action of the week, Robbinsville Middle School once again swept its Cherokee-County neighbors. A quick Dec. 8 zip to Andrews netted the middle-school girls a 34-26 win over the Wildcats, with the middle-school boys picking up a 33-30 triumph.
The Robbinsville Black Knights pause to celebrate their second-straight Falcon Frenzy victory Saturday.

The Robbinsville Black Knights pause to celebrate their second-straight Falcon Frenzy victory Saturday.

Black Knights again conquer Falcon Frenzy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Hendersonville – For the second-straight season, Robbinsville wrestling stood atop the Falcon Frenzy standings. The two-day tournament – held each year at West Henderson High School – concluded Saturday, with Robbinsville posting 176 team points to wrap up the championship.
Robbinsville’s Liz Carpenter (23) and Kensley Phillips slow down the drive of North Buncombe’s Peyton Whitson on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville’s Liz Carpenter (23) and Kensley Phillips slow down the drive of North Buncombe’s Peyton Whitson on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Blackhawks clip Lady Knights

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – The chips simply did not fall in the Lady Knights’ favor. In what evolved into a back-and-forth tussle, Robbinsville (3-2, 0-1) incurred its first loss of the season Friday, dropping a 47-46 heartbreaker to the North Buncombe Blackhawks.
Senior point guard Brock Adams (right) breaks away from a North Buncombe defender in the first half of Robbinsville’s double-overtime win over the Blackhawks on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Senior point guard Brock Adams (right) breaks away from a North Buncombe defender in the first half of Robbinsville’s double-overtime win over the Blackhawks on Friday. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

2x the pleasure; 2x the fun

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – In the end, the Black Knights would not be denied. With a perfect season on the line, Robbinsville and North Buncombe were tied 57-57 late in Friday’s non-conference clash.
Phillip Graham of Almond and Destiny Williams of Robbinsville rest on a cemetery bench after their vehicle crashed at Lone Oak Cemetery on Dec. 7. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Phillip Graham of Almond and Destiny Williams of Robbinsville rest on a cemetery bench after their vehicle crashed at Lone Oak Cemetery on Dec. 7. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

2 unhurt when SUV crashes at cemetery

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Lake Santeetlah – Two people escaped fairly unscathed after their vehicle skidded off the road, crashed through a guard rail and stop sign, ran down an embankment and knocked down gravestones at Lone Oak Cemetery before crashing into a tree.

Vacancies upcoming at Robbinsville Town Hall

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – The town’s elected leaders are now looking to fill two key positions in Town Hall, with Shari Birchfield – the Town of Robbinsville’s interim finance officer and deputy clerk – set to retire in late January 2023. The Board of Aldermen will hold a special called meeting at 10 a.m.
A Graham County deputy is shown stationed outside Robbinsville Elementary School on Dec. 7, after a bomb threat was phoned into the district’s tip line earlier that morning. Graham County Schools were shut down for the day as a safety precaution, with both sheriff’s deputies and state troopers protecting entrances to the schools until the situation was investigated. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

A Graham County deputy is shown stationed outside Robbinsville Elementary School on Dec. 7, after a bomb threat was phoned into the district’s tip line earlier that morning. Graham County Schools were shut down for the day as a safety precaution, with both sheriff’s deputies and state troopers protecting entrances to the schools until the situation was investigated. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Bomb threat a hoax

Randy Foster
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Robbinsville – Graham County schools were closed Wednesday, Dec. 7, following a prank bomb threat called into the schools telephone hotline.