Regional

Dean Castaldo and his arson companion Dante (right) present a Fire Prevention Class at the Graham County Public Library on Monday. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Dean Castaldo and his arson companion Dante (right) present a Fire Prevention Class at the Graham County Public Library on Monday. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Arson detection team visits Graham library

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Robbinsville – A very special guest visited the Graham County Public Library on Monday, to help educate members of the 4-H Club during their first meeting of the year.  This visitor detects chemicals from two miles away, helps put arsonists in jail and once proved the FBI wrong.
Jason William Burrell’s five-day crime spree ended Wednesday, Jan. 22, when the Volkswagen he had stolen crashed in Bellvie’s Curve on Junaluska Road in Cherokee County. Photo by Robbi Pounds/rpounds@grahamstar.com

Jason William Burrell’s five-day crime spree ended Wednesday, Jan. 22, when the Volkswagen he had stolen crashed in Bellvie’s Curve on Junaluska Road in Cherokee County. Photo by Robbi Pounds/rpounds@grahamstar.com

Crash ends five-day saga

News Staff
Thursday, January 30, 2020
By Penny Ray and Robbi Pounds Community Newspapers, Inc. Andrews – A five-day caper concluded on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 22, when an armed robbery suspect flipped the getaway car into Junaluska Creek around 1 p.m..  “We took him to the hospital. He’s fine, and he’s in jail,” said Lt.
The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights pose with the 2019-20 championship tournament bracket, moments after defeating the Hiwassee Dam/Ranger Eagles to win the title on Jan. 23 in Hayesville. From left are Dane Knott, Roman Jones, Luke Lovin, Tytan Teesateskie, Donovan Carpenter, Bryce Adams, Zeke Silvers, Xander Wachacha, Quinn Jumper, Andrew Scrivner, Drake Anderson, Austin Colangelo, Hugh Forbes and Isiac Collins. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

The Robbinsville Middle School Black Knights pose with the 2019-20 championship tournament bracket, moments after defeating the Hiwassee Dam/Ranger Eagles to win the title on Jan. 23 in Hayesville. From left are Dane Knott, Roman Jones, Luke Lovin, Tytan Teesateskie, Donovan Carpenter, Bryce Adams, Zeke Silvers, Xander Wachacha, Quinn Jumper, Andrew Scrivner, Drake Anderson, Austin Colangelo, Hugh Forbes and Isiac Collins. Photos by Byron Housley/The Graham Star

Champions!

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Hayesville – For the first time since 2014, Robbinsville can lay claim to the Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Title. A 43-41 win over the Hiwassee Dam/Ranger Eagles (No. 3 West seed) Jan. 23 in Hayesville secured the Black Knights’ basketball bragging rights.

Black Knights reach finals

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Hayesville – As expected, Robbinsville Middle School’s strong regular-season campaign cultivated high championship tournament seeding. The Black Knights (13-2) grabbed the No. 1 East seed, while the Lady Knights (10-5) were awarded the No. 2 East seed.

Redemption time is here

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Andrews – Robbinsville’s chance to both avenge a loss and shake up the Smoky Mountain Conference standings awaits them. The Lady Knights (11-3, 3-3) knocked off Andrews (1-13, 0-7) on Friday, but fell to Cherokee (10-5, 5-2) on Tuesday evening. Up next is Friday, Jan.

Read between the lines

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Andrews – Take one look at Robbinsville’s win/loss record and on paper, it looks like a night off for opponents. But how foolish it would be to take the Black Knights (1-11, 0-6) lightly, as the group is clicking and becoming a dangerous foe as the second-half of the season dawns.
Robbinsville’s Justin Stewart has full control of Rabun Gap, Ga.’s Aidan Loring during the 160-pound finals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Stewart won the bout 3-0 to seize the bracket. Photo by Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer

Robbinsville’s Justin Stewart has full control of Rabun Gap, Ga.’s Aidan Loring during the 160-pound finals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Stewart won the bout 3-0 to seize the bracket. Photo by Jenny Millsaps/Contributing Photographer

Smith, Stewart win James Orr Invitational

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Robbinsville – Known regionally as one of the toughest tournaments of the season, Saturday’s James Orr Invitational certainly lived up to the hype. The annual showcase – hosted by Robbinsville – brought 15 teams into Graham County, including schools from Georgia and Tennessee.
Pinto beans are a pivotal part of any Appalachian diet. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Pinto beans are a pivotal part of any Appalachian diet. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Pinto beans, the winter staple

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, January 23, 2020
“No matter the day, no matter the weather, no matter what else was happening in the world, I was sure of this: cracklin’ cornbread and pinto beans with fat back would always be found in her house.
A tobacco barn on Hwy. 143, captured after snow fell in Graham County in Jan. 2018. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

A tobacco barn on Hwy. 143, captured after snow fell in Graham County in Jan. 2018. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Fading barns harken simple times

Robbi Pounds
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Half a million tobacco barns once sat in North Carolina fields.  In recent decades, many states have actively discouraged tobacco production, while industrialized farming methods rendered tobacco barns largely irrelevant to the modern farm.