Robbinsville

Junior Aubrie Wachacha eyes a second-quarter basket Monday at Pisgah. Robbinsville’s center had 13 points against Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior Aubrie Wachacha eyes a second-quarter basket Monday at Pisgah. Robbinsville’s center had 13 points against Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville cannot thwart sharp shooters

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Newport, Tenn. – Coming off head coach Lucas Ford’s 100th win Jan. 3, the Lady Knights embarked on a pair of long road trips for non-conference action. Robbinsville (9-4) admittedly had a tough draw, facing a pair of 3A powerhouses in Cocke County, Tenn., on Friday and Pisgah on Monday.
Members of the Robbinsville High School gather around the championship plaque the Black Knights collected Saturday, after going 5-0 and winning the Enka Duals in Candler. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Members of the Robbinsville High School gather around the championship plaque the Black Knights collected Saturday, after going 5-0 and winning the Enka Duals in Candler. Photo courtesy of Robbinsville Wrestling

Check the trophy case

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Candler – If the trend continues, they might have to re-name the famed “Jet Hanger” at Enka High School, “Robbinsville’s House.” For the third time this year, the Black Knights traveled to suburban Asheville on Saturday. The task ahead?

New finance officer resigns in first week

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Robbinsville – It’s back to the drawing board for the Robbinsville Board of Aldermen to fill the top staff position at Town Hall. Robbinsville Mayor Shaun Adams said Annette Carver – who the board hired to be the town’s finance officer – has already stepped down from the position.
Prior to Tuesday’s home game against Blue Ridge School, the Robbinsville Lady Knights took a moment to recognize head coach Lucas Ford, who recorded his 100th win while guiding the program Jan. 3 at Hayesville. From left are Suri Watty, Anna Williams, Anna York, Desta Trammell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Kensley Phillips, Abby Wehr, Ford, Aubrie Wachacha, Liz Carpenter, Olivia Lewis and Fala Welch. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Prior to Tuesday’s home game against Blue Ridge School, the Robbinsville Lady Knights took a moment to recognize head coach Lucas Ford, who recorded his 100th win while guiding the program Jan. 3 at Hayesville. From left are Suri Watty, Anna Williams, Anna York, Desta Trammell, Katie-Lyn Gross, Kensley Phillips, Abby Wehr, Ford, Aubrie Wachacha, Liz Carpenter, Olivia Lewis and Fala Welch. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Not too shabby for a football coach’

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Robbinsville – A lot of factors have to be in the mix to create the right formula for a coach to record 100 wins.

‘Taco’ resigns as alderman

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Robbinsville – Just a year into his second term, Alderman Brian “Taco” Johnson resigned Monday from the Town of Robbinsville Board of Aldermen, citing personal issues.
Graham County acting manager Kim Crisp, commissioners Natasha Williams, Jacob Nelms, Connie Orr (seated), Lynn Cody and Keith Eller (from left) appear with Dr. David Booth and his wife Cora Booth (right), following contract negotiations Monday. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Graham County acting manager Kim Crisp, commissioners Natasha Williams, Jacob Nelms, Connie Orr (seated), Lynn Cody and Keith Eller (from left) appear with Dr. David Booth and his wife Cora Booth (right), following contract negotiations Monday. Photos by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Plans for new provider underway

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Robbinsville – Graham County commissioners are in final negotiations with a physician to take over urgent-care services, after Bryson City-based Smoky Mountain Urgent Care closes its Robbinsville practice at the end of this month.
Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Black Knights junior Donovan Carpenter (11) was more than willing to pull away from Brevard’s Baker Buchanan (on the floor), Tre Crite (3) and Jaylen Brown (24) on Dec. 29, after Carpenter escaped with the game-clinching steal at the buzzer. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Gifting season’s beatings

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Sylva – One of the fun variables with a Christmas tournament is that you often play teams you are unfamiliar with. Both Veritas Christian Academy and Brevard had to learn a lesson many programs in Western North Carolina have already fell victim to: Robbinsville simply does not quit.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips (right) drives past Brevard’s Shaniya Cook during Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational appointment with the Lady Devils. The Lady Knights’ shooting guard was all over the floor in the lopsided victory, picking up her first career triple-double in the process. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips (right) drives past Brevard’s Shaniya Cook during Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational appointment with the Lady Devils. The Lady Knights’ shooting guard was all over the floor in the lopsided victory, picking up her first career triple-double in the process. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Repetition is key

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
  Sylva – It takes a lot of chips falling into place for any basketball player to record a triple-double. For such a polished, versatile athlete like Kensley Phillips, everything clicked from the opening tip of Dec. 29’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational finale for Robbinsville.

Wendell Waldroup

News Staff
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Wendell Waldroup, 91 of the Eller Branch community of Robbinsville, N.C., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at his residence. He was a native of Graham County, and the son of the late Posey and Mertie Phillips Waldroup.
John Colwell has served as executive director of REVVED UP since August 2020, but recently announced his intent to step down from the post. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

John Colwell has served as executive director of REVVED UP since August 2020, but recently announced his intent to step down from the post. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

REVVED UP starts year surrounded by questions

Randy Foster
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Robbinsville – John Colwell, chairman of the board of REVVED UP, did more than plan the organization’s annual Christmas dinner in December; he was planning his future.