The last year was a crazy 12 months, 52 weeks or 366 days, however you want to slice it up. But you don’t have to take my word for it; here’s a wrapup of what grabbed the most attention over the course of 2020, which at least emotionally felt like the longest year ever.
January
Jan. 1: The year started with a fiery bang, as a blaze destroyed part of the former Hillbilly Mall, just off U.S. 19/74 in Andrews. Cherokee County Commissioner Cal Stiles and his wife, Janet, who live nearby, later purchased the property, renovated part of it and sold the other part to Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters for another campus. … An Andrews man survived an early morning stabbing near Chestnut and Sixth streets. … The Andrews boys and Murphy girls basketball teams both won Christmas tournaments.
Jan. 8: A former priest in Murphy, Adelbert “Del” Holmes, was on a list of 14 clergy who have been credibly accused of child sexual abuse since the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte was established in 1972. … Heavy rain sparked the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality to express concerns over Tanglewood Dam, but the dam’s structural integrity remained strong despite a call to drain the lake. … Andrews rang in the new year with some stone-cold wrestling.
Jan. 15: A massive storm blocked roads with fallen trees and power lines, leaving 14,000 people without electricity in the tri-state area. … Charleston Ray Waldroup pled guilty to felony child abuse … Kabe Ellis of Andrews passed the 1,000-point total for his hoops career with the
Wildcats.
Jan. 22: Four people were facing drug charges after Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies raided a home on Randy Lane in Murphy. … The Cherokee County Board of Education considered whether to add or eliminate some campuses. … Former Murphy football star Tyrea Allen shared an inspirational message during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast in Texana.
Jan. 29: A crime spree ended with a crash in Junaluska Creek after a high-speed chase through Marble and Andrews. … Martins Creek showed support for its community school. … Even the local sports world was affected by the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
February
Feb. 5: Andrews was not in compliance with the Local Government Budget & Fiscal Control Act, forcing the board of aldermen to rescind a town administrator employment offer. … Deputy Patrol Officer Rebekah Snyder was training to become the county’s first animal control officer. … Murphy’s Sydni Addison passed 1,000 points scored in her basketball career with the Lady Bulldogs.
Feb. 12: Sickness and wintry weather combined to close Cherokee County Schools. … The Andrews wrestling team won the first dual meet in the program’s history. … Area swimmers finished the season strong at the state championship meet.
Feb. 19: Murphy kicked off being part of the N.C. Downtown Associate Community Program, which aims to upgrade the area for businesses and residents alike. … Charles Danny Mayberry of Andrews accused a sheriff’s deputy of police brutality after an altercation, but the deputy was cleared a week later. … Nantahala’s Dylan Stroud scored his 1,000th career point for the Hawks.
Feb. 26: Frontier Communications workers cut fiber wiring and caused a 911 outage for a second time. … Cherokee County property owners were encouraged to review their assessments after revaluations. … The Murphy girls basketball team won the Smoky Mountain Conference championship for a fourth consecutive time.
March
March 4: Police were looking for “serial arsonists” in the Andrews Valley. … Six local residents were facing federal drug charges after a year-long investigation. … Katie Gibson, a Hiwassee Dam basketball player, passed 1,000 points scored for her high school career.
March 11: The coronavirus appeared on the front page of the Cherokee Scout for the first time, though no local residents had tested positive yet. … President Donald Trump tapped our local congressman, U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), to become his chief of staff. … The Murphy girls basketball team was the best in the west after surviving a late rally at Mitchell.
March 18: A Murphy man was charged with killing his infant son. … Cherokee County Schools’ consolidation plan could see the closure of nine campuses. … Another Andrews town administrator resigned. …Due to COVID-19, the state postponed all high school athletics until April.
March 25: Daniel Hughes was acquitted of a murder charge in the shooting death of Terry Owenby in Ranger. … The coronavirus had a clampdown on the area, with States of Emergency declared in Andrews, Murphy and Cherokee County. … The state suspended all high school sports until May.
April
April 1: Four more local residents tested positive for the coronavirus. … Murphy man Jess Nichols won $200,000 from a $5 scratch-off ticket. … Increasingly crowded paths raised questions about walking trail safety statewide.
April 8: A local man was charged with killing a homeless man during a violent attack in Andrews. … Cherokee County reported its first death due to COVID-19. … Local golf courses were providing an outdoors escape from the pandemic.
April 15: Health care and Lowe’s workers tested positive for the coronavirus, as the state’s Stay-at-Home Order closed many local businesses. … The daughter of a late Vietnam War veteran received a full college scholarship. … Undefeated Murphy was still holding out hope to play for the state 1A girls basketball championship.
April 22: The coronavirus found its way into Valley View Care & Rehabilitation Center in Andrews. … Barricades into town were coming down. … David Gentry planned to return for a 37th year coaching Murphy football.
April 29: A roundabout is set to return to main intersection in downtown Murphy, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. … North Carolina closed campuses for the rest of the school year. … The state canceled the remainder of the high school winter championships and spring sports season.
May
May 6: Cherokee County Schools decided to end classes early. … Families held a parade to lift the spirits of residents at Murphy Rehab & Nursing. … The undefeated Murphy girls basketball team was declared state co-champions.
May 13: Tragedy hit the Sowell family of Marble, as a father and son drowned in Hiwassee Lake. … Nate Goodlet of Murphy was stuck at sea as a performer on a cruise ship that wasn’t allowed to dock due to COVID-19 concerns. … Murphy senior hoops star Justice Dorsey signed to play ball at Lees-McRae College.
May 20: A grand jury indicted three officials connected with the Cherokee County Department of Social Services over the use of Custody & Visitation Agreements. … A new adult care living facility was in limbo after county commissioners asked to remove the Certificate of Need. … Hiwassee Dam two-sports star Haylie Shope was coming back to play softball at Young Harris (Ga.) College.
May 27: County Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum encouraged local residents to defy the state’s business shutdown. … School board member Tim West resigned after moving out of state. … Nantahala Outdoor Center reopened, with caution.
June
June 3: The school board approved a plan for one consolidated high school merging Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy. … Special graduation ceremonies were held for local high school students, with masks and social distancing. … Tourism on the Nantahala River continued to increase as more folks vacationed outdoors.
June 10: Hundreds of people rallied in downtown Murphy to show that black lives do matter here. … Some doctors disposed the severity of COVID-19. … The Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team was voted tops among all girls teams in 2019-20.
June 17: Four people were facing charges after a federal drug raid in Hot House. … Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital CEO Mark Kimball was among 11 employees laid off. … Cherokee County sports teams were easing their way back into the swing of things.
June 24: A Murphy teenager was charged with raping a minor girl in Blue Ridge, Ga. … The death of inmate Joshua Long at the Cherokee County Detention Center led to a lawsuit. … The movement to reopen Hanging Dog Campground was gaining momentum.
July
July 1: A single-car accident sadly took the lives of brothers Austin and Avery Hawkins of Hiwassee Dam. … John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown canceled classes as well as the Fall Festival. … Murphy lineman Yousef Mugharbil was receiving plenty of offers to play Division I football in college.
July 8: State lawmakers passed a bill that decreased the right of way along the Andrews-to-Murphy corridor, also keeping hopes for a train return alive. … The Town of Andrews and Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters partnered to open the Andrews Pool. … Andrews quarterback Tucker Holloway was preparing for a future of possibly catching passes at the next level.
July 15: Andrews Police Chief Michael Hobgood resigned, with Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer offering to help the town in the interim. … A survey showed that county parents were “excited” for school to return. … Torin Rogers was getting ready to grow during her junior year with the Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team.
July 22: Town leaders allege “illegal activity” occurred at the Andrews ABC Store. … Local residents shared the realities of dealing with the coronavirus. … The state delayed all high school sports until at least September. … The Georgia Mountain Fair was canceled.
July 29: A habitual felon from Mineral Bluff, Ga., was facing six new counts of breaking and entering. … Former Graham County sheriff Joseph Jones joined the Andrews Police Department. … Trevor Boatright of Marble finished third in team roping at the National Rodeo Finals.
August
Aug. 5: Cherokee County Schools approved a partial in-person plan for students. … Stray animals continued to be a problem in the area. … The state moved high school athletics into Phase 2.
Aug. 12: A different first day of classes lie ahead for county schools under the pandemic. … Summer Santas raised money during a Toys for Tots event. … Murphy took two weeks off after a COVID-19 scare.
Aug. 19: The state delayed the start of the high school football season. … The Wood family has taken care of their land in Andrews and Marble for four generations. … The Andrews ABC Board was accused of not following state statutes.
Aug. 26: A Suboxone clinic was moving near downtown Murphy, but not everyone was happy about it. … The coronavirus was impacting local schools as well as Snowbird. … Friday Night Lights on high school football fields were not likely until February.
September
Sept. 2: COVID-19 quarantines and positive test results shut down Ranger School. … A fire burned a two-story garage in Tanglewood Forest of Murphy. … Retired Peachtree School teacher Suzanne Parker, coordinator of the Cherokee County Special Olympics, was named the N.C. Coordinator of the Year for the Special Olympics.
Sept. 9: The Cherokee County Department of Social Services exceeded benchmarks in key areas. … The First Friday Murphy Art Walk returned with fun and artistry. … The Lady Bulldogs’ basketball team received state co-champions rings.
Sept. 16: Three people were charged after a teenage girl went missing. … Local churches are finding new ways to worship, with many services closed due to the coronavirus. … The state released tentative dates for high school sports seasons.
Sept. 23: Larry Limon of Murphy was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. … An anonymous gift was helping build outdoor classrooms in county schools. … Remembering when Murphy’s Ronnie Carr hit the first three-point shot in college basketball history.
Sept. 30: Micaiah Naylor of Murphy was charged with multiple counts of child porn and rape. … Cherokee Guns was burglarized, but the thieves got caught when they drive back by the store. … More than 30 local athletes competed virtually in the N.C. Senior Games.
October
Oct. 7: Robin Stalcup of Murphy was charged with sexually assaulting a young girl. … A local family’s farm dream lives on at Shaka Alpaca Farm. …Snowbird Mountain Brewery honored former Major League Baseball manager Dave Bristol of Andrews with a new beer, Coach “B” Bristol Brown Ale.
Oct. 14: The Cherokee County Detention Center was cleared of all criminal violations after two officers were fired. … A driver collided with the sheriff’s office building Murphy, stopping only because of cinderblocks. … Local high school volleyball teams were preparing for the season’s hopeful start.
Oct. 21: Local internet service providers were seeking grants to bring broadband to rural areas. … Long lines marked the start of early voting in Cherokee County. … Former Tri-County Early College standout Sydney Bolyard was running well for the University of North Georgia.
Oct. 28: Bryce Hornea of Murphy pled guilty to possessing and distributing sexually explicit images of minors. … COVID-19 took the life of local leader Franklin Barnett. … An Insider’s Exposure Showcase basketball camp taught new skills in Murphy.
November
Nov. 4: Letters from the community sought leniency for a convicted drug trafficker. … More than 5,000 people honored military heroes and had a good time doing it during the second annual Welcome Home Tribute to Veterans event in Andrews. … Local seniors earned 46 medals at the virtual N.C. Senior Games.
Nov. 11: County residents fulfilled their patriotic duty with record turnout in the general election. … Volunteers were ordered to report all offenses in schools. … Murphy veteran Richard Ferris wasn’t expected to make it home from the Vietnam War alive.
Nov. 18: A Robbinsville woman was charged with DWI in a head-on crash. … Andrews developers were encouraging real estate investment. … The state required all student-athletes to wear masks while indoors.
Nov. 25: Two people were arrested after high-speed chases across the county. … The virus accidentally united the Holloway family of Andrews for Thanksgiving. … Annie Dalton of Murphy was planning to continue her softball career at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
December
Dec. 2: Four people were charged with drug offenses at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. … A Marble woman was charged with firing gunshots during a dispute at the Cannon Club on U.S. 64 West in Ranger. … Local swim teams were not going to be able to compete this season.
Dec. 9: A defense lawyer questioned whether a judge-elect could hear certain cases involving a local lawyer after a Cherokee County Republican Party dispute. … Murphy police were set to begin wearing body cameras, while sheriff’s deputies were testing them out. … Volleyball teams were learning how to play behind a mask.
Dec. 16: The Andrews ABC Board was misled about a point-of-sale system upgrade. … Andrews hired Graham County’s former sheriff as its new police chief. … County employees received a 3 percent pay increase. … Superintendent Jeana Conley’s contract was extended by a year. … High school basketball teams hit the floor for first practices.
Dec. 23: A couple that formerly worked for him as Graham County sheriff have sued new Andrews Police Chief Joseph Jones. … Andrews teenager Connor Pressley died in a single-vehicle crash, and police say the driver was later charged with DWI. … Five Cherokee County Schools were getting new principals on Jan. 1. … Yousef Mugharbil signed to play college football at the University of Florida.
Dec. 30: Four dogs died during a house fire in Ranger. … 40 people were vaccinated on the first day shots were available in Cherokee County. … The Murphy girls volleyball team added a player who already has committed to taking her game to the next level at Notre Dame.
Judging from the last year, local news isn’t slowing down anytime soon.