Robbinsville

Participants in a summer art program at Robbinsville Middle School proudly stand with Graham County Schools’ faculty and staff Nov. 3, in front of a new mural that recently debuted on the side of a local shopping center. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Participants in a summer art program at Robbinsville Middle School proudly stand with Graham County Schools’ faculty and staff Nov. 3, in front of a new mural that recently debuted on the side of a local shopping center. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

As they say, it takes a village

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – The culmination of a summer art project is on permanent display for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to a grant, Robbinsville Middle School was able to host a two-week camp in July, which was open to rising 6th-8th graders.
Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Claudine Gibson (center) argues against emergency contraception pills being provided by the Graham County Department of Public Health at Monday’s meeting. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Commissioners postpone decision about emergency contraception

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Tallulah – Graham County commissioners faced an issue that pitted their responsibilities as stewards of county government against their religious beliefs, with the hot-button topic of abortion on the agenda — the day before Election Day.
Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior fullback Kage Williams (33) soaks in the realization that he will be playing his first home game of the season before first-round playoff action kicked off Friday. Williams ended up with two rushing touchdowns and two PATs in Robbinsville’s 40-14 win over the Ironmen. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Goes together like biscuits and gravy

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – He’s back.
Willow (left) and Lisa Trantham pose beside a news photo displayed at The Graham Star. The photo includes Gentry Trantham, left in the photo, saluting during a Boy Scouts flag-burning ceremony. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

Willow (left) and Lisa Trantham pose beside a news photo displayed at The Graham Star. The photo includes Gentry Trantham, left in the photo, saluting during a Boy Scouts flag-burning ceremony. Photo by Randy Foster/news@grahamstar.com

‘Never met a stranger’

Randy Foster
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robbinsville – There are lots of things that can be said about Gentry Trantham, but two stand out: he was arguably the most famous resident of Graham County, and though he had a small, misshapen physical heart, no one in Graham County had a bigger heart for people or for God.
Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville senior Kensley Phillips fires a shot toward a pair of Smoky Mountain defenders in a Sept. 19 road match. Phillips has been named the Co-Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Phillips named Conference Player of the Year

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – For the first time in her career, Kensley Phillips has been named the Player of the Year. For the second time in her coaching career, Kadey Phillips has been named the Coach of the Year.
The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Black Knights’ defense – led by Haden Key, Quinn Jumper, Jude Campbell, Roman Jones, Cuttler Adams and Carlos Lopez (clockwise from center) – swarm Hayesville’s Taylor McClure to stuff the Jackets’ top running threat Friday. Robbinsville held Hayesville to just 64 rushing yards on the night. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The real Black Swarm

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Hayesville – Admittedly, there was a lot of hype surrounding Friday’s Smoky Mountain Conference title game in Murphy. So it’s OK if you forgot that Robbinsville played a game just 15 miles away at the exact same time. However, the Knights did not forget.
Offers from two SEC schools speaks volumes about the softball acumen of Robbinsville junior Zoie Shuler. Ultimately, she announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee on Oct. 26. Photos courtesy of Kate Luffman/University of Tennessee Athletics

Offers from two SEC schools speaks volumes about the softball acumen of Robbinsville junior Zoie Shuler. Ultimately, she announced her commitment to the University of Tennessee on Oct. 26. Photos courtesy of Kate Luffman/University of Tennessee Athletics

Volunteering her services

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Robbinsville – In retrospect, the decision was made long ago. As a Graham County native, Zoie Shuler grew up just on the other side of the mountain from Knoxville, so a love for the Tennessee Volunteers almost came as a birthright.
Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville’s youth football program collected three Cracker Bowl championships Saturday in Sylva. The Termite Black Knights shutout the previously-unbeaten Franklin Panthers 6-0. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

3 games, 3 titles

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Sylva – Nail technicians across the region had to be swamped Monday morning.

Roger Dale Smallen

News Staff
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Roger Dale Smallen, 71 of Lenoir City, Tenn., – formerly of Dublin, Ga. – passed away Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Dale was a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He enjoyed a successful career as a high school football coach.