10 years ago
* Robbinsville High School ranked first in the state for graduation rates and second for use of corporal punishment, although a child advocacy group claims “the punishment hinders academic performance.” School officials used the paddle 31 times last year – second in the state. Corporal punishment has been used for almost 20 years in the high school. Parents could opt-out under written consent, leaving the kids missing class time for three days of in-school suspension.
* A 25-year-old man was found dead at his Hares Creek Road address, with his throat slashed. Investigators were at the scene all day to determine if the incident was an accident or potential homicide. Eric Anderson was discovered inside the home by family members, who reported it to the sheriff’s office. “A major ‘jugular vein’ had been severed in an apparent fall on a glass object,” according to Sheriff Mickey Anderson.
* The Knights slid by Rosman in a close game, 43-37. Skyler Matheson had a stellar performance that led Robbinsville past a determined Rosman team. Matheson carried the ball 18 times for 314 yards and three touchdowns, also stepping into the quarterback slot for injured Dakota Crisp. By halftime, Robbinsville had mounted a 27-16 lead.
25 years ago
* November might bring bone-chilling cold to the mountains of Western North Carolina, but the search for Eric R. Rudolph was expected to heat up. The Southeast Bomb Task Force planned to double its members, as more than 200 agents were involved in the search. A news briefing told of charges that Rudolph was facing. “We’re trying to point out that this is not about abortion, this is about finding a serial killer,” said Terri Turchie, the lead state bureau investigator. “Some of the interviews from locals have provided critical pieces of information that assisted in the charges filed against Rudolph.”
* A steady stream of traffic traveled the Cherohala Skyway, with many people stopping at the overlooks for a picnic or a better look at the colors. Peak color was only a few days away, at that time, but the muted sunshine and clean air induced both professional and amateur photographers to take more than a few shots of the autumn scenery.
* Robbinsville lost to a heartbreaker to Hayesville, 20-15. The Knights dominated the entire first half, as Kaleb Williams ran in a touchdown from 19 yards out. Sterling Crisp successfully reached on the two-point effort, to give Robbinsville an 8-0 halftime lead. Trailing with time running out, the Knights were stopped at the 9-yard line in the final two seconds.
50 years ago
* The Swain County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene of a car accident in Nantahala Gorge, as 20-year-old Robbinsville resident Mack O’Dell Holder was killed and two others critically injured. Those who survived were taken to Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville in critical condition. A fourth man was released after an examination. Holder’s car had skidded 190 feet, striking a tree and had been heading in the direction of Bryson City.
* Virge Jenkins was the 1973 Pumpkin Growing Champion, for producing a 175-pound vegetable. Jenkins was presented with a $25 check for his win. The second-place winner of $15 was Roy Kirkland, with a 172-pound pumpkin, and Lester Jenkins was third place, with a 146-pound pumpkin. The top winners gave out seeds from their pumpkins upon request.
* In only their second loss of the season, the Black Knights lost to Murphy, 42-14. Murphy’s Willie Brown scored four touchdowns on runs of 34, 16, 6 and 10 yards. Robbinsville trailed 16-0 at the break, with the first score was on an 88-yard pass play from Dee Walsh to Danny Millsaps. Andy Jordan later scored on a 90-yard run for the Knights; Scott Perkins then passed to Walsh for a two-point conversion.
-Compiled by Diane West