Regional

Robbinsville Termite Black Knight Braylon Phillips weaves through the Copper Basin, Tenn., defense during a Sept. 28, 2019 showdown. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference announced the cancelation of the 2020 football and cheerleading seasons on June 16. Photo courtesy of Jenny Millsaps

Robbinsville Termite Black Knight Braylon Phillips weaves through the Copper Basin, Tenn., defense during a Sept. 28, 2019 showdown. The Smokey Mountain Youth Conference announced the cancelation of the 2020 football and cheerleading seasons on June 16. Photo courtesy of Jenny Millsaps

Youth football, cheer season cancelled

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 25, 2020
It is a move all involved were hoping to avoid. The 2020 Smokey Mountain Youth Conference football and cheerleading seasons were officially canceled on June 16.

Local man gets 12 years for sexual abuse

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Asheville – A Robbinsville man has been sentenced to 144 months in prison for sexual abuse of a minor. Joseph Dwayne Jumper, 39, received his sentence in U.S. District Court on June 18. Additionally, U.S.

Case count hits 8

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Monday’s Graham County COVID-19 case count included the addition of two new confirmed cases over the weekend, bringing the total in Graham to eight. The last confirmed case was announced June 11, which capped off a week of four new cases. Before that, Graham’s last confirmed case was in early May.

Man drowns in Cheoah

Marshall McClung
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Tapoco – The latest Cheoah River Release was marred by tragedy. Around 3 p.m. Saturday, Graham County Emergency Management Services and Rescue Squad personnel responded to a possible drowning neat Bear Creek Falls on the Cheoah River.

Cawthorn wins Republican primary

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Madison Cawthorn’s bid for the U.S. House of Representatives, District 11 seat received an overwhelming nod of approval from Republicans on Tuesday night. The Henderson County resident earned a resounding victory over Haywood County’s Lynda Bennett, amassing 30,444 votes (65.
Robbinsville senior Rylee Anderson breaks the plane for one of his five 1A state championship game touchdowns on Dec. 14. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Rylee Anderson breaks the plane for one of his five 1A state championship game touchdowns on Dec. 14. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Black Knights win two more, for the road

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Asheville – Much like everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated the possibility of holding the 59th Western North Carolina Sports Awards.

Graham County, Brookfield $71 million apart

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Brookfield Renewable Partners has lost its appeal on the values that have been placed on its Graham County assets. The Toronto-based company began the process of appealing to the Graham County Board of Equalization and Review on April 28, with the second conference taking place May 26.

Hikers take wrong turn

Marshall McClung
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Yellow Creek – Hikers from Cary – on a trip through the Slickrock section of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness area – ran into problems late in the afternoon of Tuesday, June 9.
Moonshiner Steakhouse on Tallulah Road was bustling Friday evening, even amid social-distancing protocols. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Moonshiner Steakhouse on Tallulah Road was bustling Friday evening, even amid social-distancing protocols. Photos by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Bon appetite

Kevin Hensley
Friday, June 12, 2020
Tallulah – Ribs. Homemade pasta. Glazed salmon. Quality food for any restaurant, but for a place dubbed “Moonshiner Steakhouse,” it seems far-fetched.