10 years ago
* Two brothers were killed when a car careened around a curve on U.S. 129, north of Robbinsville. Augustine Nwaeayi of Atlanta lost control of his 2004 Honda and slid into oncoming traffic in the southbound lane. Brothers Grover Jones, 67, and Timothy Jones, 57, were traveling south on motorcycles, when they met the speeding car in the curve, crashing head-on. Both motorcycle drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was airlifted to UT Hospital in Knoxville.
* Navy Commander James Kriner retired from the U.S. Navy and would return to Robbinsville, after serving 29 years of distinguished, naval service with the military. He was the husband of Kim Hainge, a columnist with The Graham Star. Kriner was a qualified Surface Warfare Officer and Engineering Officer, with extensive training in law enforcement and anti-submarine operations. He was also a graduate of the University of Florida, with a bachelor’s degree in botany. Kriner was a passionate motorcyclist and looked forward to returning to the roads of the area. Update: Hainge sadly no longer writes columns for The Star, but the couple is still together today.
* Robbinsville swept the Andrews Wildcats 33-0 on homecoming. It was the Knights’ first shutout of the season. “This game was sandwiched between two big games, requiring lots of emotion,” said head coach Dee Walsh. “They put up 577 offensive yards and kept Andrews out of the end zone. That says a lot for their determination.” Dakota Crisp completed half of his passes for 179 yards, including a 45-yard bomb to receiver Alex Walsh for the Knights’ first score of the game. Update: Appropriately enough, Robbinsville once again welcomes Andrews this week as its homecoming opponent.
25 years ago
* A safety meeting was called with 70-plus hunters and outdoorsmen caucusing with federal investigators and law enforcement. Federal investigators Don Bell and Terry Turchie said that the task force was 100 percent certain that Eric Rudolph was still in the Nantahala area. The hunters and outdoorsmen were assured that the agents were highly-trained and would not be taking potshots at hunters or “bushes.” The task force didn’t want to interfere with hunters, but they were asked to be aware of their surroundings. Hunters were given pictures and descriptions of Rudolph.
* The Graham County Schools System had a new band and choral instructor. Jennifer Paul, a 1998 graduate of Mars Hill College, was assigned to direct the bands in grades 5-12, as well as the new choral program at Robbinsville High School. After student teaching with former band director Mike Wilson, Paul was hired in Graham County with lots of community support. “The kids were in these classes because they want to do it,” Paul said. She also wanted them to value music for what it can offer in their lives.
* Robbinsville traveled to Rosman and lost a hard fought battle to the Tigers, 21-14. This was the Knights’ first conference loss of the season. The game was tied 14-14 at the end of the third quarter, but turnovers late in the game plagued Robbinsville. The Black Knights were still in good shape in the division though, boasting a 2-1 record.
50 years ago
* Coy Privette – president of the N.C. Christian Action League in Graham County – asked people to consider the campaign theme “People Who Care.” Privette said, “Because we care about clean water, we are encouraging people to vote for the clean water bond; because we care about the needless slaughter of innocent people on our highways, because of drinking drivers, we are asking the thinking people of our state to vote against liquor by the drink.” Update: The effort was successful, with sales of alcohol inside the city limits not returning until 2021.
* Slowly but surely, the railroad was growing back to life. The track-repair effort had extended another ½-mile in just a week. J.B. Waldroup’s crew was well on its way to Sweetgum. Work also continued on other fronts. Mr. Ranger and Mr. Herd repaired parts of Locomotive No. 1925 – and with it, made a trial run over repaired sections of the railroad. The two came back with a good report.
A new locomotive – No. 36 – had came to the county Oct. 11 and hoped to be in-service by mid-December.
* The Black Knights won their homecoming game by defeating Hayesville, 30-0. Robbinsville had the lead at halftime, 22-0. After the crowning of Miss Black Knight Darla Wilson by last year’s queen Julie Pullium, the Knights returned to the field for the final touchdown. Andy Jordan tackled Hayesville’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety. The Black Knights passed for 128 yards, while the defense held Hayesville to just 37 yards of passing.
-Compiled by Diane West