MURPHY
Art Walk on Friday
The first First Friday Art Walk of 2024 will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday downtown.
Enjoy springtime and art with a side of live music at the Art Walk, as Cletus Way will be performing in the square. Socialize with local residents, have some food and drinks, and see the new businesses and new artists along the walkways.
Details: Visit valleyriverarts.com.
BRASSTOWN
Friends & Family Day
Everyone is welcome to John C. Campbell Folk School for the third annual Friends & Family Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
This is an exciting time for families and community members to come tour our open studios, according to a release. Participate in hands-on making, enjoy live craft demonstrations, be entertained with music and dance performances, and savor local food. Stop by the Keith House when you arrive to grab a map with a list of locations and activities before you begin.
Studio activities include blacksmithing, straw loom weaving, sewing quilt squares, hand build an animal sculpture with clay, carving hearts with the Brasstown Carvers and more. Learn about the folk school’s founding by visiting the History Center, which will be open during the free event.
Details: Visit folkschool.org/friends or call 828-837-2775.
HENDERSONVILLE
Edwards in violation
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) – who represents North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, which incudes Cherokee and surrounding counties – was sanctioned April 24 after having been found in violation of federal law and the rules of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The House Communications Standards Commission, the bipartisan commission of the House of Representatives responsible for enforcing laws and rules governing all “mass communications” sent out by congressmen, in a 6-0 decision, “found substantial reason to believe a violation occurred” relative to newsletters that Edwards sent to constituents last year. The commission acted on a complaint filed on March 13 by the Henderson County Democratic Party, according to a release.
That complaint alleged that email newsletters sent out by Edwards in May, June, July and December of 2023, violated federal law and House rules by including personal attacks and disparaging comments about President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. Such attacks are specifically prohibited.
Publicly available information on the House website reveals that in 2023 Edwards sent out more mass mailings, email newsletters, alerts, social media posts and robo calls than any other member of the North Carolina delegation. In fact, he was No. 3 in the entire Congress, at 250, only behind Bob Good (R-Va.) and Zachary Nunn (R-Iowa).
MURPHY
Early voting with runoff
Early voting for the 2024 second primary began on Thursday and ends Saturday, May 11.
Second primaries are being held statewide for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor and state auditor. A second primary also is being held for the Republican nomination for U.S. House District 13, which includes all of Caswell, Person, Franklin, Lee, Harnett and Johnston counties, as well as parts of Wake and Granville counties. The winners of the second primaries will be the Republican nominees on the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election ballot.
All registered Republicans in North Carolina may vote in the statewide second primaries for lieutenant governor and state auditor. Also eligible for those contests are unaffiliated voters who either didn’t vote or voted the Republican ballot in the March 5 primary.
In addition, the State Board of Elections clarified that North Carolinians convicted of felonies who have not completed their sentences – including any jail or prison term, as well as any periods of probation, parole or post-release supervision – are not permitted to register to vote or vote in the state. On Jan. 1, a new state law took effect making it a crime to vote while serving a felony sentence, if the voter knows they are not permitted to vote.
MURPHY
National Day of Prayer set
There will be a National Day of Prayer event on the steps of the Cherokee County Courthouse downtown from noon-1 p.m. Thursday. Everyone is invited to the free event.
The theme for this year is “Life Up the Word/Light Up the World.” Pastor Chris West from Shepherd of the Mountains Church will lead those attending in prayer.
MURPHY
Planning board off
The scheduled Tuesday night meeting of the Cherokee County Planning Board was canceled.
The board is awaiting an updated draft of the high-impact ordinance from the environmental attorney, according to assistant county manager Maria Hass. Once the updated draft is received, a new meeting will be scheduled.
PEACHTREE
Graduating from college
The end of the 2024 spring semester at Tri-County Community College is quickly approaching, and with it come the annual commencement ceremonies for students and their family and friends, as well as faculty and staff.
The commencement celebration began Thursday with the college’s Medical Assisting Pinning Ceremony. The Region A Nursing Consortium Pinning for both Tri-County and Haywood Community Colleges will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, in the Enloe Multi-Purpose Room on the main campus.
Graduation will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, in the Enloe Multi-Purpose Room.
Students receiving their high school equivalency diploma will be recognized at the high school equivalency graduation at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in the Enloe Multi-Purpose Room.
Details: Call 828-837-6810.
PEACHTREE
Students car show
Students in John Worden’s class at The Oaks Academy alternative school, which is part of the new Schools of Innovation & Technology, are planning their second car show.
The next show is planned for from 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the school, which is just off of U.S. 64 East Alternate. All proceeds from the show, and any hot rods they sell in the future, will go back into the “Hot-rodding 101” program so each year there will be another vehicle for students to build.
Details: Visit easternhotrodder.com.
MURPHY
Working on resurfacing
Town contractors are continuing partial resurfacing work for the downtown waterline project on Tennessee Street.
While parking spaces will be blocked the evening prior to the work, spaces will reopen as the work progresses during the day.
Details: Visit townofmurphync.com.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page, if possible.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday, May 13, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 20, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.