10 years ago
* Local man Donnie Stiles won the lottery and split his $200,000 Powerball win, with his aunt Connie. Connie and Donnie occasionally played the lottery for fun, whenever the mood hit them, agreeing to share the money if one of them won. On Oct. 23, Connie urged Donnie to double-check Powerball numbers. The win was the largest amount won so far in the Powerball history in either Graham or Macon counties.
* Former Black Knight Kurt Odom earned national football recognition for his stellar performances on the field and in the classroom. Odom had a perfect 4.0 grade point average as a kinesiology major at Campbell University. Odom played in all nine games for the season, with a start as a running back. To be eligible of this prestigious honor, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore, in academic standing, having at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key reserve on his team.
25 years ago
* Tony Phillips was the first murder victim of the county this year when Joe Billy Hayes allegedly shot him in the face with a small-caliber handgun. According to Chief Deputy Jerry Crisp, “Hayes was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, based on statements and evidence collected at the crime scene.” Phillips, 44, was a native of Graham County. Bond for Hayes was set at $150,000.
* A wreath was laid on the grave of Chief Junaluska, as part of Veterans’ Day observances in Graham County. Junaluska was honored as a vet who fought in the Indian wars led by Andrew Jackson. American troops were fighting the Creek Indians and called on the Cherokees for help. They were bitter enemies, claiming the same territory. North Carolina later made Junaluska a citizen, after he was determined to remain in his homeland. He was awarded 357 acres of land in what is now Robbinsville.
50 years ago
* Nearly 1,000 Black Knight fans huddled around their radios on Friday night as the school-owned radio station – WRHS – brought Robbinsville live coverage of the Robbinsville/North Dublin football game. Jubilant “hollers” were heard from vehicles which jammed the streets within the signal area. The live-game activities were made possible via telephone cable. WRHS had been operating off the same equipment for four years without any repairs or adjustments. This topped equipment performance of most commercial stations of comparative age.
* Robbinsville Black Knights’ traveled to Calypso, coming home with a big victory by beating the North Duplin Rebels 14-6. Robbinsville received on kickoff, but didn’t score in the first quarter. With 34 seconds left in the second quarter, Randall Birchfield threw a 13-yard pass to Dwayne Cable for the Knights’ touchdown. Jacob Jackson’s two-point conversion put Robbinsville ahead to stay. Doing a fine job again on defense were tackles Dewiltt Wachacha and Dale Hill.
-Diane West