Robbinsville

Camper fire kills lifelong resident

Atoah – An 80-year-old resident was found deceased Monday, after crews extinguished a residential blaze. A Wednesday morning autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Douglas Richard Campbell of 257 Atoah Road. Crews were first dispatched to his Airstream camper around 11 a.m.

Local man charged with animal cruelty

A group of residents have spearheaded a movement for better animal control in Graham County, drumming up a topic that has been hotly debated for years. A Facebook post surfaced Jan. 4, showing three deceased dogs lying outside a residence in the Snowbird community.
Public outcry about the county’s decision to shut down all but three sanitation sites led to a crowd of roughly 40 residents lining the community room for Tuesday’s meeting. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Public outcry about the county’s decision to shut down all but three sanitation sites led to a crowd of roughly 40 residents lining the community room for Tuesday’s meeting. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Dumpster problems thrown in the trash

Robbinsville – “I think we need to redesign the plan, but we need public input before a new plan is put in place.

Overtime thriller

Robbinsville – Inclement weather has thrown the 2023-24 Smoky Mountain Conference Middle School Tournament into chaos. All six of the scheduled quarterfinal games took place Saturday, but the semifinals have been placed on ice – not once, but twice.
Robbinsville’s Novie Dutcher (left) and Abby Wehr close in for a corner trap on  Nantahala’s Zoey Passmore during the Lady Knights’ Jan. 11’s road win. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Novie Dutcher (left) and Abby Wehr close in for a corner trap on Nantahala’s Zoey Passmore during the Lady Knights’ Jan. 11’s road win. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Hawk-eye accuracy

Trey Lambert soars past the defense of Nantahala’s Landon Neal for a fourth-quarter basket Jan. 11. Nantahala – Set to embark on a 3-game loop through 75 percent of the Little Smoky Mountain Conference, Robbinsville’s time on the road was limited to just one game last week.
Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley (215) stares down Mountain Heritage’s Braxton Batchelor at the dawn of overtime in the semifinals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Ensley would soon take a 13-11 decision over Batchelor and was later named the Most Outstanding Boys Wrestler of the tournament. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Robbinsville’s Kellen Ensley (215) stares down Mountain Heritage’s Braxton Batchelor at the dawn of overtime in the semifinals of Saturday’s James Orr Invitational. Ensley would soon take a 13-11 decision over Batchelor and was later named the Most Outstanding Boys Wrestler of the tournament. Photo by Audrey Colvin/The Graham Star

Mat masters

Robbinsville – Another year, another well-rounded showing in their annual home showcase. Saturday’s James Orr Invitational ushered 12 programs from three states into Graham County. But even in a tournament with classifications thrown out the window, the No.

Town lawsuit dismissed ... again

Robbinsville – Former Town of Robbinsville Interim Finance Officer Micheal Richardson’s small claim case against the Town of Robbinsville was dismissed without prejudice on Friday. Originally, Richardson sued Robbinsville Town Aldermen Debbie Beasley and Kenneth Hyde individually.
Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights senior Kage Williams grapples with Brevard’s Ray Laney during Jan. 3’s home tri-match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Highway tested

"We're not afraid to travel" has been a long-standing mantra of the Robbinsville wrestling program. After all, how else can you test the theory of finding the best competition to make yourself the best if you are unwilling to log a few miles?
Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Senior center Aubrie Wachacha rips free from a rebound struggle with Highlands on Jan. 4. Wachacha’s early run in the game set the path for Robbinsville to conquer the Lady Highlanders. Photo by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Another conference setback

Robbinsville – Coming off a decisive 45-29 win over Highlands on Jan. 4 – vindicating a 51-48 overtime triumph at Highlands on Dec. 8 – the Lady Knights appeared poised to steer the ship back on course in divisional action Friday.
Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter unloads a  corner jumper during the second half of Friday’s win over Hayesville. Carpenter’s 14-point evening led Robbinsville’s output. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

Black Knights senior Donovan Carpenter unloads a corner jumper during the second half of Friday’s win over Hayesville. Carpenter’s 14-point evening led Robbinsville’s output. Photos by Fala Welch/The Graham Star

(Home) court is in session

Robbinsville – With three straight road games against Little Smoky Mountain Conference schools on the docket ahead, the Black Knights’ resounding defense of their home court will be put on ice.