Charge EVs at BRMEMC
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. is cutting the ribbon today on the first Electric Vehicle fast-charger site in Georgia as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s regional Fast Charge Network.
Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is the first local power company in Georgia to install a fast-charging site. The network covers parts of seven states and will add around 80 public fast charging sites to existing infrastructure so EV drivers on major travel corridors are never more than 25 miles from the nearest public fast chargers.
TVA’s goal is to have over 200,000 EVs on the road in our region by 2028. EV drivers can save up to $1,000 per year compared to gasoline costs when they switch to electric.
Art Walk set Friday
MURPHY — The Valley River Arts Guild will present the Murphy Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, with dozens of arts and crafts vendors and musicians flocking to downtown to showcase their art, perform music and have a good time.
Everyone is invited to the free monthly event. For details, call 828-360-3038 or visit valleyriverarts.com.
Forest plan facing suit
NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST — A coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service last week signaling their intent to sue unless officials fix flaws in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan that put endangered forest bats at risk.
The Southern Environmental Law Center – on behalf of MountainTrue, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife and Center for Biological Diversity – sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue, which is a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act. The letter explains how the Forest Service relied on inaccurate and incomplete information during the planning process, resulting in a plan that imperils endangered wildlife.
According to a release, the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan outlines where activities like logging and roadbuilding are prioritized and where they are restricted. The plan, published earlier this year, will have a significant and lasting impact on the forests as well as the animals and plants that live there.
However, even though these forests are a critical refuge for hundreds of rare species, these groups say the plan prioritizes logging in the wrong places, even when it threatens endangered wildlife. The Notice of Intent to Sue alleges the Forest Service had information showing increased risks to endangered species but withheld that information from the Fish & Wildlife Service, which oversees endangered species protection.
Edwards’ rep shares status
MURPHY — Staff for U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) helped more than 1,000 people resolve issues with federal agencies, according to field representative Lake Silver.
Silver briefed the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners on July 17 about the District 11 congressman’s first six months in office.
The more than 1,000 constituents who received help from Edwards’ office included veterans, disabled, citizens on Social Security, etc. Total benefits secured because of Edwards’ assistance total close to $2 million – averaging about $2,000 per constituent helped.
Edwards has used two of the 15 appropriations requests he has at his disposal seeking grant funding in Cherokee County – $1 million toward Murphy infrastructure, and $1.5 million to bring broadband internet to northwest Cherokee County, Silver said.
Crisis line turning 1
RALEIGH — State officials are lauding the success of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline one year after its debut.
The 988 lifeline number allows North Carolinians to connect with a trained counselor via call, chat, or text any time, day or night. The three-digit line was launched in July 2022.
Officials with the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services say that since its debut, there has been a 31 percent increase in residents reaching out for support. Ninety percent of the callers with thoughts of suicide reported an improvement in how they felt by the end of the interaction.
The next step will be the introduction of so-called peer “warm lines,” where individuals can speak to specialists with lived experience, potentially reducing any perceived stigma associated with mental illness or substance use disorder.
Food bags for families
MURPHY — First United Methodist Church of Murphy will be handing out bags of non-perishable food to families with children from 5-6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.
This effort is intended to help fill the gap between the end of the Cherokee County Schools Summer Nutrition Program, which ended July 28, and the beginning of school late Monday, Aug. 28. The bags will be first-come, first-served, and can be picked up in the church’s parking lot, 73 Valley River Ave. Each bag will contain enough food for several days.
First United Methodist Church will also host the Soul Table monthly free lunch – Soul Table – from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. All are welcome.
Calling for the internet
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband & Digital Equity has extended the deadline for its request for proposals to prequalify internet service providers to participate in multiple broadband expansion programs, beginning immediately with the $400 million Completing Access to Broadband program.
Vendors may now submit proposals via the N.C. electronic Vendor Portal at evp.nc.gov/solicitations until 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14. The request for proposals and the accompanying response form are available online.
The CAB program, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, creates a partnership between the division and individual participating counties to foster broadband expansion in North Carolina as part of Gov. Roy Cooper’s plan to close the digital divide. Details: ncbroadband.gov.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT Public meetings
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
Cherokee County Planning Board meets Monday after the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting.
Cherokee County Needs & Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Unaka Community Center, 14945 Joe Brown Highway.
COMING SOON
Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy.
Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page. The meeting date was changed to consider approving bids for the CDBG Valley River Apartments project; the bid opening is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.