10 years ago
* Two workers were injured and a county garbage truck was totaled in a wreck on U.S. 129 at Jack Branch Road-curve. Truck driver, Dale Anderson and Trent Fabian, both were airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville and were treated and released. The driver lost control, crossed the centerline and plowed into a ditch, strewing garbage throughout the area. State Trooper, Kosal Thach said that the driver was charged with driving too fast for conditions. According to Commissioner Raymond Williams, the truck had 60,000 miles on the odometer and was also the oldest in the fleet. During the fiscal year, more than $740,000 had been spent on garbage collection in Graham County.
* Tacey Trammel worked hard to leave a mark at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The former Lady Knight was no stranger to hard work at 5 feet 2 inches, after making the decision to be a basketball player. Not only did her hard work pay off in earning three Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year awards, during her high school years, it also got her a full basketball scholarship. “I’m really having to work hard to prove myself all over again,” (in college), Trammel said. “Here I am a short girl from Robbinsville.” Trammel said the hardest thing about her first year in college was being away from home. It became more of a job for Trammel instead of something she did for fun. But she was always found doing what she does best, shooting the ball.
25 years ago
* The skies had threatened rain most of the day on this Saturday, June 12, as they had for weeks. The clouds kept hikers cool while exploring trails in Graham County and the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest. A log footbridge was only one of several along the 20-mile Loop Trail. The sound of rushing water prevails along this trail and shallow fords, (a shallow crossing point), were near the footbridges for those who prefer to wade their creeks. The trail head for the loop and several others was at the 20-mile Ranger Station located between Fontana Village and Deals Gap on Highway 28.
* Patricia Dillard, a communication skill teacher at Robbinsville Middle School was recognized as one of Western North Carolina’a most creative teachers. 32 teachers received their awards and the program was sponsored by Western Carolina University. Dillard had a bachelor’s degree in English and had taught at Robbinsville for ten years. This was the third year of this awards program. Criteria for the program included; enthusiasm, ability to stimulate students’ thinking, willingness to try new teaching techniques and to inspire fellow teachers to try alternative methods of teaching.
-Compiled by Diane West