Robbinsville

Citing costly repairs, Cable Cove Campground was shuttered in February and has yet to re-open. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Citing costly repairs, Cable Cove Campground was shuttered in February and has yet to re-open. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

2022: The Year in Review

Robbinsville – These are some of the top stories covered by The Graham Star in 2022. January * COVID-19: The year started the way one would expect over the past couple of years — with an Omicron-led spike in COVID-19 numbers.
Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will soon be vacating the property the Bryson City-based medical provider has leased from Graham County. However, the county is already working on bringing in another provider and reviving the use of several pieces of medical equipment that have sat dormant for some time. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will soon be vacating the property the Bryson City-based medical provider has leased from Graham County. However, the county is already working on bringing in another provider and reviving the use of several pieces of medical equipment that have sat dormant for some time. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Provider leaving at end of January

Robbinsville – Smoky Mountain Urgent Care will be closing its Robbinsville practice at the end of January, ending a year-long conflict between the provider and its landlord, Graham County Government.
Xander Wachacha – shown unloading a second-half 3 on Dec. 20 at Andrews – had a team-high 21 points in Robbinsville’s loss to Smoky Mountain on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Xander Wachacha – shown unloading a second-half 3 on Dec. 20 at Andrews – had a team-high 21 points in Robbinsville’s loss to Smoky Mountain on Tuesday. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights’ 1st loss comes in tournament opener

Sylva – One team looked like they had not missed a beat. The other struggled to shake off the holiday break. In the first day of the 2022 Smoky Mountain Christmas Invitational, the Robbinsville Black Knights could not replicate the success they had against the hosting Mustangs on Nov.
Robbinsville senior Turner Jackson dictates his Dec. 20 home bout against Hayesville’s Seth McCaslin. Jackson went on to best McCaslin in a 15-2 majority decision. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Turner Jackson dictates his Dec. 20 home bout against Hayesville’s Seth McCaslin. Jackson went on to best McCaslin in a 15-2 majority decision. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville takes 2nd at Devil Duals

Bryson City – Entering the Christmas break, Robbinsville wrestling has already worked its way through 19 duals. The Knights’ latest foray was as a participant in the 16-team Devil Duals, an all-day showcase held at Swain County High School on Dec. 22.

Ruby Lee Sawyer

Ruby Lee Sawyer, 94 of the Mill Creek community of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Graham Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. She was a native of Graham County, and the daughter of the late John F. and Julia Orr Shuler.

Commissioner seeks fire-station funding

Robbinsville – Considering that two fire chiefs serve on the five-member Graham County Board of Commissioners, you might not know it from the condition of the county’s fleet of fire engines.

Aldermen pick new hire to complete staff

Robbinsville – The Robbinsville Board of Aldermen voted to fill the second of two vacancies in its office staff on Dec. 20, voting to hire Amanda Gyongyos for the Robbinsville Water Department Town Clerk – pending drug test.
Roadside clearing for the upcoming Corridor K expansion has progressed quickly on N.C. 143, with crews beginning at the U.S. 129 intersection and already reaching this location near Nathan Garland Road. A local contractor was awarded the third planned segment of the improvements Dec. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Roadside clearing for the upcoming Corridor K expansion has progressed quickly on N.C. 143, with crews beginning at the U.S. 129 intersection and already reaching this location near Nathan Garland Road. A local contractor was awarded the third planned segment of the improvements Dec. 20. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Local company awarded 3rd ‘K’ section

Raleigh – Bids for the now-third planned section of Corridor K improvements through Graham County were unsealed Dec. 20. And for the first time since “letting” (awarding of contracts) began Aug. 16, a local contractor is in the mix. Adams Contracting Company, Inc. outbid Sevierville, Tenn.
With temperatures in Graham County hovering in the single digits for much of the Christmas weekend, Sweetwater resident Brenda Williams captured this telling photo of mist rising off Beech Creek on Friday.

With temperatures in Graham County hovering in the single digits for much of the Christmas weekend, Sweetwater resident Brenda Williams captured this telling photo of mist rising off Beech Creek on Friday.

Bitter cold keeps people inside

The Christmas weekend of 2022 will long be remembered for wind chills well below zero and snow blanketing higher elevations. Power and internet outages were widespread during a plunge of polar air that affected much of the nation.

Report provides insight into Ella vote

Robbinsville – In November, the Graham County Board of Commissioners was split over whether to continue providing the emergency contraceptive called Ella through the Public Health Department.