MURPHY
Rotary has no trees to sell
For the past 50 years, the Rotary Club of Murphy has set up a Christmas tree lot selling high-quality Fraser Firs to our community at an affordable price.
Officials are sad to announce that this year there is a national shortage of Christmas trees, and as a result the club has been unable to find a supplier who can sell the club trees without a huge markup. Therefore, officials have made the very tough decision to skip Christmas tree sales this year.
Selling Christmas trees is one of the Rotary Club’s primary fundraisers, which allows the club to provide scholarships to local students and support other community needs. In the past, many folks would buy trees from the club or drop off donations just to give back to the community.
“We apologize for the lack of trees this year,” officials said in a release. For those who still want to financially assist, donations may be mailed to: Murphy Rotary Club, P.O. Box 846, Murphy, NC 28906.
HAYESVILLE
Drake job fair Friday
Drake Software will hold a Job Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the multipurpose rom on the second floor of the Clay County Courthouse, 261 Courthouse Drive.
Customer support representatives are need both full and part time. The NCWorks Career Center in Murphy is assisting with the job fair. For details, call
837-7407.
MURPHY
Free dinner for holiday
Connections of Caring Hearts will present a free Thanksgiving dinner to everyone who would like to join at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, at Main Street USA Diner on Hiwassee Street.
Public servants only will be fed from 10-11 a.m. The general public will be fed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal is drive-through or walk-through only due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to help the local family that provides this first-class meal, see the group’s announcement on Facebook.
ANDREWS
Decorate windows
It’s time for Andrews’ annual Christmas Window Contest to make the town look festive for Christmas on Main.
Andrews area businesses are encouraged to decorate your front windows for the season by Friday, then email Andrews Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nola Cooper at director@andrewschamber.com. Judging will take place Dec. 1-4.
Be sure to have your display all lit up on those evenings because judges might come at night. Cooper said she can’t wait to see this year’s entries.
CHEROKEE
Career expo set Saturday
The Inaugural Mountain Community Career and Resource Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Resort Conference Center, 777 Casino Drive.
More than 25 regional employers representing hospitality and tourism, technology, health care, manufacturing and professional services will showcase their career opportunities, and many will conduct on-the-spot hiring. Job seekers are encouraged to bring copies of their resume and dress to impress.
Anyone needing a new resume or updates to an existing one are encouraged to contact the NCWorks Career Center in Murphy at 837-7407 to work with a career advisor. Interview and elevator pitch preparation are also available.
Additionally, community resource organizations covering our seven Western North Carolina counties will be on hand to provide information on their services. Multiple door prizes will be awarded during the expo. The event is open to all, and it will place a special emphasis on honoring the valuable service of U.S. military veterans and their families.
MURPHY
Buy a grill, build a well
The Rotary Club of Murphy is selling raffle tickets for a grill and gift basket through Dec. 15, when the winner will be drawn.
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. All money raised will go to help build a well in honor of the late local resident Nora Starks. For details, email pjm3.rotary@gmail.com.
RALEIGH
More money for education
A North Carolina judge has ordered the state to increase education funding by $1.7 billion.
Superior Court Judge David Lee entered a court order Nov. 10 directing North Carolina to use unallocated money to fund the first two years of a court-ordered action plan within the next 30 days.
In Leandro vs. the State of North Carolina, plaintiffs claimed poor school districts were not receiving the same educational resources as wealthy school districts. They argued the state was not doing what it took to ensure it met its constitutional obligation. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and ordered a plan be drafted to meet the state’s requirement. The plan called for $5.6 billion in new K-12 funding by 2028.
Despite having $8 billion in unused funds, the General Assembly’s current spending plans do not fully fund the court order. Attorneys for the plaintiffs asked Lee to order the state to allocate the funding.
Democrats, including Gov. Roy Cooper, have rallied for full funding of the plan, calling it the “moral” thing to do. Meanwhile, Republicans said Lee’s order aims to override the Legislature’s constitutional authority to control state spending.
ASHEVILLE
Powerball imposters
Reports to BBB Scam Tracker indicate scammers are still using Powerball Winner Manuel Franco’s name to send out text messages, social media messages, phone calls or emails informing people they’ve “been chosen” to receive free money from Franco, according to a release.
Lottery scams like this make it seem as if you are about to receive a sudden financial windfall. Instead, the people sending the messages are just phishing for your personal information or may even be after your money.
There has been an uptick in this scam being reported; 188 reports have been submitted to BBB Scam Tracker from consumers across the United States since 2019. In 2021, there have been 175 submissions to date, an increase from 2020 of 733 percent. Total losses reported in this scam are more than $13,000.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 3:30 p.m. Friday in the former Andrews health department, 226 Main St., to do a walk-through of that building as well as Emergency Medical Services Station 2, which is next door.
COMING SOON
- All local, state and federal government offices – along with the Cherokee Scout and other businesses – will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Scout will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26.
From staff and The Capital Square reports.