TEXANA
Breakfast with King
The Texana Community Development Club will host the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. Monday in the center off of Texana Road north of Murphy.
The cost is $5 for adults, while children ages 12 and under eat free. Everyone is invited to enjoy the meal, fellowship, singing and a special speaker.
The Rev. Charles Lee was born on July 4, 1963 in Asheville, the 10th of 11 children born to James and Mary Frances Lee. After graduating from Asheville High School, he served in the U.S. Army, then graduated from University of North Carolina in Asheville in 1989.
Lee, father of two daughters and grandfather of seven, retired from the City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department after 30 years of service. He has a passion for youth and sharing the “unsearchable riches of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
MURPHY
Police HQ in spring
Retrofits to the new headquarters for the Murphy Police Department are about 85 percent complete, with an on-schedule completion expected by spring, the Murphy Town Council was told on Jan. 2.
The Murphy Police Department will be moving from the cramped downtown location it has occupied on Peachtree Street for half a century to a former bank administration building three times larger and with off-street parking. The town paid previous owner Samuel McAfee $565,100 cash for the 5,600-square-foot building at 498 Hill St.
ANDREWS
1st quarter Art Show
The Andrews Public Library held its first quarterly Art Show of 2024 on Tuesday night, featuring local artists Daniel Ferreira and Melissa Haskill.
Curated by branch co-manager Kelly Bryant, the show enters the sixth year of presenting local artworks to the public. Stop by and view the art when the library is open.
Ferreira’s work, which consists of photography and other media, has been showcased at both the Murphy Art Xplosion and Murphy Art Center. Haskill’s works are acrylic on canvas and will be available for purchase; this is her first exhibit since moving to North Carolina.
Details: facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
‘21 Days of Prayer’
The event “21 Days of Prayer” started Jan. 1 and runs through Jan. 21 nationwide.
American’s Prayer Meetings Movement is spooning the event through Project Pray, with the support of local churches and pastors. People will be praying across the country.
Local, organizers said people are encouraged to contact the prayer call number of 518-318-7117 when their schedules allow.
Details: projectpray.org.
MURPHY
2 promoted with police
The Murphy Police Department announced two promotions.
Adam May was promoted from corporal to sergeant, while Hunter Sanders was promoted to corporal, Chief Tim Lominac announced in a report to the town council on Jan. 2.
MURPHY
Holiday winners
The Downtown Murphy Holiday Display contest ended Dec. 18, with winners picked by three judges: town council member Gail Walker Stansell, Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority Director Casey Kerr and Mainstreet Murphy Design Committee member Marji Hill.
Winners were: Chevelles 66, Best Overall; Fairy Cross Bottle Shop, Best Christmas Cheer; Crafted Dough, Most Unique; Legends Steakhouse, Most Charming; and The Mason Bar, People’s Choice.
Honorable mentions went to Glitz & Glamour, First Citizens Bank, The MAC, Valley River Brewery & Eatery and Simply Sweet Baby Boutique.
ANDREWS
Auditions for ‘Alice’
Auditions will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 17-18, in the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut St. downtown, for the Community Youth Players’ spring production of the classic musical Alice In Wonderland.
A variety of youth, including all school ages, are needed for this production. The play is scheduled for a mid-March performance.
Callbacks will be scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. Jan, 19. Anyone interested in volunteering with the production is encouraged to attend.
Details: facebook.com/ACT2Players.
MURPHY
Biz news downtown
Two downtown businesses closed in December.
The two-decades-old Curiosity Shop bookstore, 46 Valley River Ave., has closed as a result of its owners retiring. A new retail business, Vintage Therapy, is scheduled to open in February.
Smoky Mountain BBQ Co., 104 Tennessee St., has also closed. The building’s owners are working on filling the space.
In other local business developments:
- The former Wherehouse building at 110 Valley River Ave. has been purchased by the owners of Buck Bald Brewing, who plan to renovate the space and move there from 104 Tennessee St.
- Perrone’s Neighborhood Grill, 269 Valley River Ave., has been purchased and will be renamed Neighborhood Grill.
- The former Blake Realty building at 9 West Central St., just off of Peachtree Street, is undergoing renovations and will become a Japanese restaurant called Kobe Grill.
- Bistro 29, 29 Tennessee St., is undergoing renovations to upscale the restaurant’s interior. The owner hopes to reopen in a few months.
BRASSTOWN
Debate set for Saturday
The only 11th Congressional District debate being planned before the primary election Tuesday, March 5, will be held near the Cherokee and Clay county line.
The event is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Brasstown Community Center, 255 Settawig Road. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C. of Hendersonville) will face off with challenger Christian Reagan of Hayesville.
The winner of the Republican primary will face off in the Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election against N.C. Rep. Caleb Rudow (D-Buncombe), the only Democrat filed to run for Congress in the district, which represents Cherokee and surrounding counties.
WESTERN N.C.
Grants are available
One of the ways the Southwestern Commission fulfills its mission of assisting local governments to achieve their goals is with grant writing. Here are two opportunities for the region.
- The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Dogwood Health Trust are launching the WNC Community Enhancement Program. This program will provide grants to charitable organizations and eligible public agencies for projects in downtowns or commercial corridors that enhance appearance, infrastructure or the pedestrian experience. Details to come.
- The Digital Champion Grant program is accepting applications from community service, nonprofit, higher education and regional organizations to expand digital equity and advance digital inclusion. Deadline is Jan. 22, and up to $1.5 million is available per applicant. Details: ncbroadband.gov/digital-equity-grant.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. today in the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
- Some local, state and federal government offices, as well as some businesses, will be closed Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Facilities Building.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at noon Wednesday, Jan. 17, at DSS, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at Central Office.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown, Editor Randy Foster and Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright.