Murphy linebackers Tyler Simonds (12) and Bailey McTaggart close in on Asheville’s junior quarterback Three Hillier (3) during Wednesday’s scrimmage. Photo by KEVIN HENSLEY
Clockwise from striped shirt: Caleb Grizzle, Leyla Hall, Rylee Jerez, Isabell Denny, Emma Jacobs, Sara Ussery, Lane Davis and Mackenzie Grove answer questions during Tri-County Early College High School’s orientation program Tuesday morning. Photo by BEN KATZ
Murphy’s Slade McTaggart tangles with Plymouth’s Josh Downing during the 1A state championship game on Dec. 17, 2016, in Chapel Hill. McTaggart is one of several seniors who won the state title with the Bulldogs that day and will be suiting up for their farewell campaign in Murphy this season. For more on this year’s local football teams, see the Pigskin Preview special section inside.
Commissioners C.B. McKinnon (left) and Cal Stiles congratulate each other after both won their seats in 2012. McKinnon and other commissioners have made no secret of their desire to see Stiles lose this year’s election.
Jose Hector Alvarado, 44
Cassandra and Matthew Hendrix (from left) embrace their careers as young entrepreneurs with their two Murphy businesses, The Counter Collective and Movie Time Video.

News for Subscribers

All-night standoff ends with murder-suicide

    Hiwassee Dam – A seven-hour standoff ended Tuesday morning in tragedy, as one woman was shot to death before her alleged killer took his own life in the early morning hours.

By Matthew Osborne

Clockwise from striped shirt: Caleb Grizzle, Leyla Hall, Rylee Jerez, Isabell Denny, Emma Jacobs, Sara Ussery, Lane Davis and Mackenzie Grove answer questions during Tri-County Early College High School’s orientation program Tuesday morning. Photo by BEN KATZ

School board will try for $15 million construction grant

    Murphy – Cherokee County Schools will seek a grant for a new campus at Tri-County Community College after the school board approved the measure Thursday.

By Dwight Otwell

Commissioners C.B. McKinnon (left) and Cal Stiles congratulate each other after both won their seats in 2012. McKinnon and other commissioners have made no secret of their desire to see Stiles lose this year’s election.

Stiles denies financing 2016 race as commissioners align with James

    Brasstown – Even with only one seat on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners left to decide in November, local politics are as hot as the weather as summer winds into fall

By Matthew Osborne

Sports for Subscribers

Murphy linebackers Tyler Simonds (12) and Bailey McTaggart close in on Asheville’s junior quarterback Three Hillier (3) during Wednesday’s scrimmage. Photo by KEVIN HENSLEY

LIVE FOOTBALL BLOG: SMC Football begins tonight

    Smoky Mountain Conference football starts for real tonight, with three out-of-conference games for our local teams. Check out updates here tonight starting at 7:30 p.m.

Hiwassee Dam senior Kaylee Cornelius served up 10 aces in the Lady Eagles’ season-opening sweep over Union County, Ga., on Monday night.

Hiwassee Dam sweeps season debut

    Hiwassee Dam – First-match jitters and on-court communication struggles led to a competitive outing in Hiwassee Dam’s season-opening volleyball affair Monday night against Unio

Bulldogs senior wingback Devonte Murray (left) follows the lead of fellow classmate Barron Srabian during the Aug. 8 scrimmage against Asheville. Murray rushed for two touchdowns and had a 36-yard scoring reception over the course of the exhibition game.

Murphy looks sharp in preseason scrimmages

    Asheville – As rain, thunder and lightning wrecked havoc on the planned football jamboree at A.C. Reynolds High School on Aug.

Obituaries

Frances Tolley

    Frances Naomi Tolley, 80, of Murphy, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Erlanger Murphy Medical Center.

Jean Phillips

    Jean Phillips, 78, of Taylors Creek Road, Andrews, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at her home surrounded by her loving family following an extended illness.

Jennifer Dennis

    Jennifer Lynn Dennis, 45, of Murphy, passed away Tuesday, Aug.7, 2018, at her home in Murphy.

Celebrate Cherokee

Murphy’s Slade McTaggart tangles with Plymouth’s Josh Downing during the 1A state championship game on Dec. 17, 2016, in Chapel Hill. McTaggart is one of several seniors who won the state title with the Bulldogs that day and will be suiting up for their farewell campaign in Murphy this season. For more on this year’s local football teams, see the Pigskin Preview special section inside.

CELEBRATE CHEROKEE COUNTY: Local schools let their colors fly

    52 Things to Celebrate About Cherokee County: No. 33 – High School Sports

Christy Armstrong (left), director of Family Resources of Cherokee County, reads to William and Rebecca Armstrong, along with Lynli and Patience Garrett (from left), during the Serendipity playgroup Friday.

CELEBRATE CHEROKEE COUNTY: Finding resouces to help families

   52 Things to Celebrate About Cherokee County: No. 32 – Family Resources

Noah Guerra pulled in “a nice smallmouth” bass and “a couple of largemouth” bass at the confluence of the Valley and Hiwassee rivers. Photo by BEN KATZ

CELEBRATE CHEROKEE COUNTY: 'Great outdoors' a local tradition

   52 Things to Celebrate About Cherokee County: No. 31 – Hunting & Fishing

ScoutBlog

Town council to consider veterans' plea for sign change

    The Fourth of July Parade in Murphy made a nice comeback Wednesday, led by American Legion Post 96 and Cub Scout Pack 400 and followed by plenty of terrific entries.

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