Murphy – Local high school and college students had an opportunity to don their best attire, listen to great music, dance and hang out with friends Saturday night during the third annual Cherokee County Formal Ball at the historic Hackney Warehouse downtown.
Danner Hartness, who graduated from Murphy High School and is attending Tri-County Community College studying business administration, was the organizer of the event. Students from several different area schools converged for the fun four-hour gathering.
“I just wanted to do something for the community,” Hartness said. “I like everyone here, I like all the kids. In high school, I was involved in a lot of student government, so I decided to do something good for everybody.”
Murphy High senior Mason Cook was dressed to the nines. He came to the ball with his girlfriend of just a month, Emma Lallement, who attends Towns County (Ga.) High School as a junior.
“It’s gonna be fun hanging out with a bunch of my buddies, partying a little bit and spending time with people,” Cook said.
He plans on a career in construction management, while Lallement wants to go into nursing.
Upon walking into the warehouse, it was easy to get the feeling that this was a very special place. Little white lights lit up the area’s smiling faces, and flowers next to candles adorned the beautifully set tables. The wooden dance floor was inviting, as DJ Graves with Backwoodz Boyz Entertainment was on stage set to entertain.
Colorful cupcakes and tasty beverages were available to the students inside. Back outside, students were continuing to arrive for the ball, as others were taking photos and conversing with friends.
Averett Templeton, a senior at Murphy High, wants to go into the trades for mechanics, welding or construction after he graduates.
“I have fidgety hands, so I like getting my hands into some oil,” Templeton said. “I like working.”
Of the event, he added, “I think it’s a cool community activity, getting everybody together to meet and make some new friends, have some fun, getting to dance together and just bringing the community together. I’m glad I was able to come out, dress up and have some fun.”
The gentlemen were dressed in a variety of different suits and dress attire. The ladies were adorned in dresses that sparkled in a variety of colors.
“I feel good to be here. I’m ready and excited to dance,” said Alyssa Trantham, who was dressed in a light blue dress that sparkled.
Cameron Grooms, a Murphy High senior, was spotted laughing in the parking lot with his friends.
“It’s pretty cool that they set this all up,” he said. “I feel good about dressing up and coming out to dance with my friends.”
Grooms wants to run track in college and major in architecture.
Gracey Sneed, who was wearing a bright red dress, summed up the evening by saying, “I think this is pretty awesome, because Murphy doesn’t have a lot of dances.”