10 years ago
* The third trip to Raleigh for economic development director Andy Cable – in hopes of securing $500K for the planned Stanley Young America Recreation Park – was unsuccessful. Cable was advocating for the grant from the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which was set to be built on 36 acres off Long Creek Road after Stanley Furniture deeded the property back to Graham County. Update: The park never came to fruition.
* As mayor Steve Hooper was sworn into office by Graham County Clerk of Court Tammy Holloway, he was already planning his first official meeting as mayor. In a separate ceremony, aldermen Jacky Ayers, Jan Brooks and Bobby Smith were administered the oaths for their seats, as well.
* Sophomore runner Shawnda Martin continued to excel in distance running for Robbinsville High School. Her first record was set at McAlpine Greenway in Charlotte, with a time of 19:04 seconds. Her second record was set in Winston-Salem; competing against the best distance runners in the “Dash for Doobie Two Mile Tune-Up,” she clocked in at 11:35, breaking the previous school record by 113 seconds. Martin brought home a silver medal from the event.
25 years ago
* The search for a missing pilot and airplane last seen one month ago was suspended. The 71-year-old pilot and the Piper Cherokee 180 he was navigating were presumed down somewhere between Ohio and the Andrews Airport. According to Civil Air Patrol Maj. Steve Siske, “The flight plan of the missing plane was never filed.” The pilot was expected to land at Andrews Airport about 4:30 p.m. Nov. 4. The missing pilot was the father of a task-force agent involved in the search for notorious criminal Eric Robert Rudolph.
* It had been 4 ½ months since George Nordmann told officials that bombing suspect Eric Rudolph had taken his truck and a supply of food. Rudolph had evaded law enforcement officers for 10 months. FBI Director Louis Freeh indicated that the “search had not grown stale.” About 150 agents were involved in the search.
* Robbinsville’s girls basketball teams went toe-to-toe with the Smoky Mountain Mustangs at home, but failed to bring home the win. The Lady Knights lost their contest, 58-45; while the JV Lady Knights game fell 41-30.
50 years ago
* The Black Knights stomped the Rosewood High School Eagles at Big Oaks Stadium, easily clinching the state championship with a 50-0 win. Robbinsville dominated with 254 yards rushing and 81 yards passing. Quarterback Scott Perkins passed for two touchdowns and scored an additional two, on a 4-yard rush and a 75-yard pick-six. Robbinsville’s final score came on a 12-yard run by Tommy Hooper. In the playoffs, the Knights had scored a total of 112 points. Robbinsville finished the year and the 1973 championship was its third in five years.
* The “lady” cheerleaders led the pep rally in the gymnasium in preparation of the title game. Impersonating the cheerleaders were Floyd Millsaps, Tony Odom, Hall Jenkins, R.L. Crisp, Jack Lovin, Bill Morphew, Scott Millsaps and Carl Green.
-Compiled by Diane West.