RobbinsvilleNC

Robbinsville High School’s Lisa Keener has been named the North Carolina History Day Teacher of the Year.

Robbinsville High School’s Lisa Keener has been named the North Carolina History Day Teacher of the Year.

‘To remain ignorant of history is to remain forever a child’

Latresa Phillips
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Robbinsville High School is determined to help students reach maturity – and with teachers like Lisa Keener, they are succeeding. Keener was recently named as the 2023 North Carolina History Day Teacher of the Year, for the high school division.
Confetti and Silly String filled the upper reaches of the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Friday, as the Class of 2023 celebrated their graduation. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Confetti and Silly String filled the upper reaches of the Robbinsville High School gymnasium Friday, as the Class of 2023 celebrated their graduation. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

87 afforded diplomas

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Robbinsville – Tears were shed, fond memories recalled and – more importantly – 87 girls and boys transformed into women and men before the collective eyes of those gathered inside the Robbinsville High School gymnasium on Friday.
As evident from the bottom row of bleachers at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium, support for the seating area has caused a significant shift in the alignment of the arrangement, which has Graham County Schools exploring other venues to play “home” football games this fall. Note the large gap between the two bottom sections and the off-center meeting points of the row above.

As evident from the bottom row of bleachers at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium, support for the seating area has caused a significant shift in the alignment of the arrangement, which has Graham County Schools exploring other venues to play “home” football games this fall. Note the large gap between the two bottom sections and the off-center meeting points of the row above.

Big Oaks football unlikely this fall

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Robbinsville – ‘This should be good,’ quipped Graham County Board of Education Chair Rodney Nelson.
Haylee Crisp (left) and Erica Daniels have been best friends since kindergarten, so it is fitting that both sit atop the Robbinsville High School Class of 2023. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Haylee Crisp (left) and Erica Daniels have been best friends since kindergarten, so it is fitting that both sit atop the Robbinsville High School Class of 2023. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

1 valedictorian ... 2 salutatorians?

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Robbinsville – The road to academic excellence is often filled with a myriad of stops and starts. Think about the journey: 12 years. A lot can happen in 12 years.
The Cody Family Scholarship was afforded to 19 different Robbinsville students at May 16's Academic and Scholarships program. All names are listed from left. Front row: Delaney Hooper, Lindsay Brittain, Emma Harrison, Erica Daniels, Michael Yan, Dirk Cody, Dana Adams, Destanee Trammell, Kensley Phillips, Montana Adams, William Cable and Caleb Turpin. Back row: Elizabeth Boyle, Alex Knight, Logan Hooper, Mackenzie Brooks, William Carpenter, Abigayle Lancaster, Lorin Hogsed, David Lovingood and Brock Adams.

The Cody Family Scholarship was afforded to 19 different Robbinsville students at May 16's Academic and Scholarships program. All names are listed from left. Front row: Delaney Hooper, Lindsay Brittain, Emma Harrison, Erica Daniels, Michael Yan, Dirk Cody, Dana Adams, Destanee Trammell, Kensley Phillips, Montana Adams, William Cable and Caleb Turpin. Back row: Elizabeth Boyle, Alex Knight, Logan Hooper, Mackenzie Brooks, William Carpenter, Abigayle Lancaster, Lorin Hogsed, David Lovingood and Brock Adams.

Over $1.3 million awarded to seniors

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Robbinsville – Less than two weeks before their days in high school come to an emotional close, the Robbinsville High School Class of 2023 learned how much aid they will receive to further their education. Over $1.
The home bleachers at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium are crumbling underneath, forcing the Graham County Board of Education to act swiftly and announce a temporary closure Monday afternoon. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The home bleachers at Modeal Walsh Memorial (Big Oaks) Stadium are crumbling underneath, forcing the Graham County Board of Education to act swiftly and announce a temporary closure Monday afternoon. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Structural integrity of stadium bleachers forces temporary closure

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 18, 2023
Robbinsville – With just nine days remaining before the first of two year-end events set to be held at Modeal Walsh Memorial Stadium for Robbinsville High School, the Graham County Board of Education received some unsettling news.

2nd ‘death by distribution’ charges filed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 18, 2023
West Buffalo – For just the second time in history, charges of “death by distribution” have been filed in Graham County, after a local man overdosed on a lethal combination of fentanyl and methamphetamine last year.
Robbinsville High School senior Skylar Jerkins shows off his debut novel, Yesteryear. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Robbinsville High School senior Skylar Jerkins shows off his debut novel, Yesteryear. Photo by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

His story has just begun

Latresa Phillips
Monday, May 15, 2023
Robbinsville – Ask writer Skylar Jerkins what makes a good story, and he will tell you that it takes an unexpected twist.

Loitering ordinance tabled

Kevin Hensley
Monday, May 15, 2023
Robbinsville – Among civil debate, there was at least one universal consensus that emerged from the April 27 public hearing about a proposed loitering ordinance inside the Robbinsville town limits: there’s a problem, but there has to be a proper way to address it.
The final existence of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care in Graham County was recently erased, as a lawsuit between the county and the facility’s owner has been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The final existence of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care in Graham County was recently erased, as a lawsuit between the county and the facility’s owner has been dismissed. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Urgent care lawsuit dismissed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Robbinsville – It’s over. With a favorable outcome looking dim for the defendant, Dr. David Castor – director of Bryson City-based Smoky Mountain Urgent Care – moved to have a longstanding lawsuit between himself and Graham County dismissed on April 4.