10 years ago
* An elderly Tennessee man, Sam Watson, was lost in the mountains near Hooper Bald for two nights around Christmas 2008. After enduring high winds, heavy thunderstorms with hail, sleet and snow – followed by dense fog – the Graham County Rescue Squad continued the search, finding his wrecked car and Watson on Christmas night. After spending over three weeks in the University of Tennessee Medical Center, losing his leg and foot to frostbite, Watson’s faith held strong. After finally meeting his rescuers four years later, Watson said that God had answered his prayers by sending Jeff Millsaps and Dalton Adams.
* The Robbinsville Lady Knights ended their playoff run with a loss to Cherokee in the third round. The Knights jumped out to a big lead within minutes and by the end of the first quarter, they were cruising with a 19-9 lead. It was the third quarter that broke the Lady Knights’ back. After putting only three points on the board – compared to Cherokee’s 14 – it was a deficit that Robbinsville never recovered from, as they fell 44-37. The Lady Knights finished the season with a 25-3 overall record and 11-1 conference record.
25 years ago
* Lynn Cody and Rocky Sampson, both of Robbinsville, were selected for inclusion in the 1996 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America. Since 1966, the program has honored men and women between ages of 21 and 40 who were distinguished in serving their communities, professional leadership, academic achievement, business advancement, cultural accomplishments, as well as civic and political preparation. Nominations came from clergymen, business leaders and civic organizations.
* Robbinsville’s six state-qualifying wrestlers – Kyle Orr, Wayne Sawyer, Sterling Crisp, Drew Hill, Trevor Peterson and Greg Barlow – wrestled hard in the state tournament and gave the Black Knights an 8th-place finish, out of 64 1A-2A schools. Before the state wrestling championship’s began in Charlotte last week, coach Mitch Beasley said that he was proud of his team. The six that wrestled were “among the top 16 in their class in the state,” Beasley noted.
50 years ago
* After the first meeting of the Graham County Board of Commissioners – at King Coopers Store in 1872 – it was decided that a county seat would have to be selected and a courthouse constructed. The “Old Wooden Courthouse” – completed in 1896 – unfortunately became a fading memory by the generation only left to remember. Many recalled when the big two story building in the center of Robbinsville was also the center of county life. Before the days of newspaper, telephone, etc., the wooden government house served as news center for the county.
* With second place in the District 8 Tournament and first place in the Smoky Mountain Conference, the Robbinsville Lady Knights completed a very successful season for Coach Bergin Edwards. In the district tournament, Robbinsville won over Owen 46-35 and Mars Hill 46-34, but were defeated by North Buncombe 45-38. Robbinsville also beat Murphy to attain the Smoky Mountain Championship.
-Diane West