MURPHY
Local events coming soon
Main Street Director Laura Lachance released a list of upcoming events in the area. More information will become available as the dates approach.
- Murphy Music & Brews – Saturday, April 13. This even is coordinated by Shepherd’s Men, a local nonprofit, in conjunction with Buck Bald Brewing.
- Murphy Spring Festival – Saturday, May 4. This is sponsored by the Murphy Business Association.
- Fain Alley Music Series – 5-7 p.m. on last Saturday of the month from May though October. A new series of events that will take place in Fain Alley in downtown Murphy. This is a collaboration between MainStreet Murphy and the Cherokee County Arts Council.
A different downtown Murphy restaurant will be highlighted each month and invited to sell hand-held food at the event. Early hours of the even will allow visitors to explore other restaurants and entertainment options following the music.
- Cycle NC Mountain Ride – Friday through Sunday, Aug. 2-4. This bicycling event is a collaboration between the Town of Murphy, Cherokee County and Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association.
MURPHY
Businesses open doors
Downtown Murphy reports one new business and several other business developments.
- Vintage Therapy Shop is a new business that took the space formerly occupied by The Curiosity Shop at 46 Valley River Ave., next to the Mason Bar.
Two businesses have moved.
- Crafted Dough has temporarily closed while it moves from 13 Tennessee St. to 104 Tennessee St., in the Old Mill Building.
- Appalachian Electric Bikes & Framing has moved from 104 Tennessee St. to 10 Tennessee St.
Work is still underway for Kobe Grill, a new Japanese restaurant that will be located at 9 W. Central St.
A contractor has been chosen to renovate commercial space at 53 Peachtree St., across from the Cherokee County Courthouse.
Interior renovations are in progress at 115 Tennessee St., converting the space into two apartments, office space and retail space.
Interior renovations are also in progress at 17 and 23 Valley River Ave. Half the space is occupied by Simply Sweet Baby Boutique, while the other half is being remodeled for a retail business.
Work also continues at 29 Tennessee St., where Bistro 29 has closed for the month amid interior renovations. The restaurant interior is being “upscaled.”
HIWASSEE DAM
Meeting on internet set
The next community meeting with Peachtree Broadband Fiber will be held in the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department at 2 p.m. Saturday.
During a meeting on Jan. 27 at the Unaka Community Development Club, a map was displayed showing the areas to receive high-speed broadband fiber internet service under this grant from the N.C. Department of Information & Technology. The project bringing broadband fiber to these areas is expected to be completed by October 2025.
Additional funding will help cover other areas, such as Hiwassee Dam. Peachtree Broadband Fiber – formally Murphy Cable Co. – will provide all fiber without copper to the home, data package and landline-like phone service. They are also working on streaming video service.
Most customers will not incur an installation fee, and there won’t be any contracts. The speed will be up to 1 gig, with 2.5 gigs available to customers who have the equipment to handle it.
Details: Call 828-837-7118.
MURPHY
Police have staff changes
The Murphy Police Department announced several additions to the force.
- Parker Southard was sworn in as a certified law enforcement officer and started his field training in early January.
- Officer Caleb Allen completed his 12-week field training and is now working night shift patrols.
- Jake Stoddard, who had been a deputy with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for seven years, was hired as a part-time patrol officer in Murphy. Stoddard has a four-year degree in criminal Justice and is an instructor through the N.C. Justice Academy.
- Brayden Snow, a basic law enforcement training student from Union County, Ga., was hired by Murphy police to begin once he completes his basic training in late June. Snow was a barber and Marine Corps reservist.
ANDREWS
Party to open HQ
The Cherokee County Democratic Party is holding a grand opening for its headquarters and annual Precinct Meeting on Saturday.
The headquarters is in West End Plaza, 142 Main St. Come at noon for pizza and sodas, then stay for the 1 p.m. meeting. All Democrats are encouraged to attend.
Details: Visit ccdp-nc.net.
MURPHY
Student wins sign contest
Abigail McKnight’s design was the winning contest entree for the recently renamed Konehete Veterans Park.
At the time of last year’s contest, McKnight attended Murphy High School, but she is now home-schooled. The Marble resident, although shy, was excited about her design taking first place in the contest, earning her $50 and bragging rights.
McKnight hopes to have a career as a graphic designer someday with her artwork used in designs for businesses and characters for shows.
The new sign features each branch of the military and a message from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The part of the sign in the Cherokee language is translated as: “Where it’s long / They (soldiers) that served / We honor them.”
BRYSON CITY
Grants for fire stations
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) announced Friday that his district office will be hosting grant seminars for fire departments in North Carolina’s 11th district.
The virtual seminar will be held from 6-8 p.m.,Thursday, and the in-person seminars Wednesday, March 6 and 13. The goal of this seminar is to provide more accessibility, education and guidance for fire departments in western North Carolina to prepare and write grants.
The seminar on March 13 will be held from 6-8 p.m. at 45 East Ridge Drive in Bryson City.
Details: Join the virtual seminar Thursday at us02web.zoom.us/j/88233228086?pwd=ZEtoYjZBSmdJWUFFUnFOeFpqa0U3UT09#success.
ANDREWS
Looking for 100 sponsors
The Town of Andrews and Andrews Chamber of Commerce are excited to announce the eighth annual Town Beautification Project, and invite you to join this meaningful endeavor.
Residents and visitors alike enjoy the floral baskets throughout downtown the last seven years, as there is a total of 46 poles and 92 baskets in the project. As a special bonus, and to enhance the town in the winter months from November through March), officials have added “Winter Greenery” to the baskets.
NANTAHALA
Grants to get online
The N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity has announced the internet service providers that have been prequalified to participate in multiple state broadband expansion programs.
Area companies that prequalified include BalsamWest FiberNET LLC, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. and Zito West Holding LLC.
In addition, Nantahala residents will soon benefit from a $50,000 Digital Inclusion grant provided by the Southwestern Commission. The money covers the installation of public Wifi at five facilities among the community.
MARBLE
Free prom dress event
An exciting event for young ladies will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30, as Raine Boutique will be presenting the second annual Free Prom Dress Event.
The free prom dress extravaganza will include a drawing for free hair updo and nails. Beautiful and colorful dresses, shoes, jewelry – as well as makeup – are all available at no cost.
Refreshments will be served and a photo booth will be on site to capture a lasting memory. This free prom dress event will be hosted at Marble Springs Baptist Church, 80 Marble Springs Church Road.
All girls are welcome. Anyone wanting to donate gently used prom dresses can bring them by the Raine Boutique, 916 Main St. in downtown Andrews, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
ANDREWS
Learn more of heritage
The Nantahala Regional Library is again partnering with One Dozen Who Care for the fourth annual reading challenge for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Books can be found in the Purel Miller African-American Book Collection, which is housed at the Andrews Public Library, 871 Main St.
The challenge encourages and promotes the collection to celebrate African-American heritage as well as learn more about the history of Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties. Incentives for reading and reviewing books are offered to each child who completes the review requirements.
Details: Visit facebook.com/odwcinc and facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. today at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the ABC store, 13934 U.S. 19.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at noon Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.