In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – July 8, 2015, Scout: Murphy Medical Center was locked down after a man allegedly threatened to “shoot sheriff’s office deputies and blow them up” while on the Peachtree hospital’s campus. The Andrews man blew up when he was asked to stop smoking a cigarette near the emergency room entrance.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were far apart on providing emergency medical services to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy. Update: The two sides eventually came together.
- The summer 2015 edition of Country Roads magazine in the Cherokee Scout featured stories about a local couple who bred Labrador retrievers, Shoals Creek Falls being a “hidden gem” in the area and a “horse whisperer” taking on new challenges.
July 9, 2015, Journal: Jessica Darlene Russell, 44, of Andrews, was charged with first- and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, felony child abuse causing serious injury and felony child abuse by sex act after a lewd video was found on her cell phone.
- A steady rainfall on the Fourth of July caused the holiday fireworks display to be moved to Labor Day weekend. “It’s not a Wagon Train without some rain,” said a smiling Elizabeth Crisp, who had two horses in the annual event.
25 years ago – July 12, 2000, Scout: Thanks to new resort laws passed by the N.C. General Assembly, Cherokee Hills Golf Course & Country Club off of Harshaw Road in Murphy could now sell beer, mixed drinks and liquor. Coolers were no longer allowed.
- Megan Ashley Sullivan, 2, whom the community called a “miracle baby,” died following complications from her third open-heart surgery. Her parents are Jackie and Vickie Sullivan of Cherokee County.
- Experienced businesswoman and all-around nice person Linda Miller was hired as a staff writer for the Cherokee Scout. Update: Miller sadly died from cancer several years later. The local newspaper honored her by holding a 5K run, with all proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society.
July 6, 2000, Journal: A whopping $7,472,510 budget for the general fund and water/sewer fund was approved by the Andrews Board of Aldermen. A total of $5,484,000 of that amoount came from bonds and grant funding.
- Cherokee County was dropping its planning department, ending director Ann Miller Woodford’s job. The Andrews resident was thought to be the first black person to serve in a county position.
50 years ago – July 10, 1975, Scout: A reward of $1,000 was offered for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Charles Odom, 52, who was found dead at his home in Grape Creek.
- Everett English, Lyle Carringer and Boyd Pullium finished first through third, respectively, in the golf tournament sponsored by WCVP-AM 600 radio in Murphy. Station owner Dennis Blakemore presented the winners’ checks. Update: From being on the air for so many years, Dennis’ voice has become part of the area’s culture.
July 9, 1975, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
- In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – July 15, 2015, Scout: A 62-year-old Murphy man was involved in his second standoff with law enforcement authorities in 18 days after he allegedly threatened to shoot a hotel clerk if she did not give him a room.
- Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies were seeking suspects after a baby goat was wrapped in a garbage bag and left in a trash disposal can in Marble. The goat was being cared for in Martins Creek. Update: A 59-year-old Marble man was charged with the crime a week later.
- Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley strongly encouraged the N.C. Board of Education to not merge the Cherokee and Clay county school systems, saying, “I don’t like it at all.”
July 16, 2015, Journal: A 79-year-old Robbinsville man was arrested after allegedly exposing himself to three people while driving down U.S. 19 in Andrews. The man called himself a minister and said he was innocent; however, a check of his record showed a similar offense in 2011.
- Lisa Anderson was named principal of Andrews High School. She had been assistant principal of Murphy High School for almost eight years before being promoted. “I am really excited to be here,” she said.
25 years ago – July 19, 2000, Scout: An elderly Cherokee County woman fell off of a mountainside in Dickey Mountain Estates, crashing about 75 feet through small trees, brush and briars. She was airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville with a skull fracture and spleen injury.
- Max Blakemore – owner of Blake Realty and WCVP-AM 600 in Murphy – passed away at age 79. Update: My mother worked in his real estate office, while my stepfather and I worked at the radio station, from 1981-82. Max was a great guy.
- Incumbent Mary Ruth Keller, chair of the board, was running unopposed for the District 2 seat on the Cherokee County Board of Education. School board terms then were for six years.
July 13, 2000, Journal: Evelyn West of Andrews was named the Wildcats’ No. 1 fan. She attended all of Andrews High School’s basketball games that season – except two the Cats lost. Update: She was a good luck charm indeed.
- Incumbent Keith Lovin, David Ackerman, Eddie Adams and Gary C. Rogers – all of the Andrews area – filed to run for the District 1 seat on the Cherokee County Board of Education.
50 years ago – July 17, 1975, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Education was soliciting bids to build new buildings at Andrews and Murphy elementary schools. A total of $951,000 was available for the projects.
- The horror film The Exorcist was playing at the Murphy 64 Drive-in, giving new meaning to the old phrase, “The devil made me do it.”
July 16, 1975, Journal: The A&P Supermarket in Andrews was phasing out operations, with a Piggly-Wiggly store opening in the same location under the new local ownership of Reid Grindstaff, part owner of Grindstaff’s & Stanley’s Supermarket, a neighborhood store that was staying put.
– Publisher David Brown