10 years ago
* Graham County’s Finance Officer Becky Garland and the county staff were honored by the N.C. Department of State Treasury, for improving the county’s financial reporting. The county was awarded the top award in the state for “improvements” in financial reporting and transparency. Garland said that assistant Michelle Crisp and acting County Manager and Clerk Kim Crisp were vital in the turnaround, as records reflected an increase from eight percent or below, to a solid 14 percent contingency. Update: Garland later served as both finance officer and county manager, but is now back as just Graham County’s Finance Officer.
* Still looking for a win, the Robbinsville Black Knights took to the field to face the Hayesville Yellow Jackets. Sophomore Cain Ammons started on the mound for the Knights and held the Jackets to three runs in two innings, with only two earned runs. The Jackets capitalized on Robbinsville’s infield errors in the third inning, to score 10 runs and put the game out of reach. Hayesville went on to win, 14-1.
25 years ago
* Money from drug busts, Carl Cooper’s expertise as a pilot and wise management have provided Graham County with a search and rescue helicopter, and a team that is the envy of larger and richer counties. “It hasn’t cost Graham County one cent,” Cooper said. Raymond Williams, chairman of the board of commissioners, agreed and said that all costs for insurance and gas were provided by the program, not by the county. Gary Crisp took a turn practicing repelling out of the helicopter, maintained by Cooper.
* The first wrestling team in Graham County history to win the Western Regional Championship was honored in Superintendent Donald Andrews’ spotlight. Members included Jason Sawyer, Sterling Crisp, Darrell Anderson, Josh Carver, Raymie Williams, Wayne Sawyer, Drew Hill, Ryan Kutcher, Trevor Peterson, Dustin Millsaps, Mikey Oliver, Greg Barlow and Kyle Orr. The head coach was Mitch Beasley and he was assisted by Lynn Hooper and Branyon Colvin.
– Diane West