ANDREWS
VFW awards scholarship
Andrews VFW Post 7620 recently awarded its annual $1,000 scholarship to Carley Clark of Andrews.
Clark is a senior at Andrews High School who plans to attend Western Carolina University to study education. She already works as an assistant with first-graders at Andrews Elementary School.
The VFW, a fraternal organization for veterans, also engages in community enrichment projects. Andrews Post 7620 offers weekly morning coffee and meetings, and welcomes veteran visitors.
Details: Email vfw7620@gmail.com or facebook.com/Andrews-VFW-Post-7620.
MURPHY
Adams gets ALC training
Cherokee County Commissioner Ben Adams has successfully completed the Advanced Leadership Corps training offered annually to select local elected officials by the School of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
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ALC is an intensive leadership development program designed by the School’s Center for Public Leadership & Governance. The week-long residential program is a dynamic experience that helps participants learn about their own leadership styles, inspire others to work toward a shared vision, and gain insights into how to work together to build better relationships and achieve far-reaching results.
“I would like to thank all the citizens of Cherokee County for the opportunity to advance my leadership skills and knowledge in order to better serve all citizens of Cherokee County, the most amazing citizens in the state of North Carolina,” Adams said in a release.
Support from the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and Empower Retirement allows elected officials from across the state to attend with only modest cost to the local unit of government.
ANDREWS
Reading ceremony
One Dozen Who Care Inc. will hold the awards ceremony for those who participated in the fourth annual Black History Month reading challenge at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Andrews Public Library, 871 Main St.
All students who participated will be given awards for completing the challenge, having read books from the Purel Miller African-American Book Collection housed at the library. There will be a brief presentation before the ceremony; families and friends are encouraged to attend.
Details: Visit facebook.com/odwcinc and facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.
MURPHY
Work on water line
Town contractors will work at night on the downtown waterline rehabilitation this week, according to a release.
Work will take place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Thursday. A scheduled water outage is planned for downtown at 11 p.m. Sunday. Water will be restored before 6 a.m. Monday.
The outage will only impact downtown water customers. Additional scheduled outages will be announced Monday.
“Town contractors are nearly complete with all service connections, and will work to finish tying in the new water lines to the distribution system next week,” the release says. “We appreciate your cooperation throughout this project, and sincerely thank you for your continued patience as the town seeks to wrap up the project in the next few weeks.”
ANDREWS
Poker Run rescheduled
The Rotary Club of Murphy has rescheduled the fourth annual Franklin Barnett Memorial Poker Run from Saturday, April 6, until Saturday, Oct. 12.
This change is to allow riders to enjoy the fall colors of the Western North Carolina mountains along the route. The yearly run raises funds for and benefits the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust, or CART. Riders of all vehicles can participate.
The route will be announced later, but riders will gather at 9 a.m. at Snowbird Mountains Brewery, 378 Locust St. There will be food trucks and live music at the gazebo in Hall Memorial Park downtown afterward.
Details: Visit facebook.com/RotaryClubofMurphy.
GOLDSBORO
Murphy’s a ‘Champion’
Forty Main Street Champions will be honored for their contributions to downtown revitalization and community building in 2023 during a recognition ceremony today in Goldsboro. With the addition of this year’s honorees, 415 Main Street Champions have been recognized by the N.C. Department of Commerce since 2000.
“Main Street Champions come from all walks of life, but they share common traits,” Liz Parham, director of the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, said in a release. “They roll up their sleeves, invest time and money in their communities and lead by example.”
The 2023 N.C. Main Street Champions include Murphy, with leadership from council member Gail Walker Stansell.
MURPHY
Police give town spots
The town has removed parking restrictions for six parking spaces that had been reserved for police use after the Murphy Police Department moved its headquarters from the ground-floor corner of the old Carnegie Library Building on Peachtree Street to a renovated bank building at Hill Street.
“We don’t need them any more,” Town Manager Chad Simons said on March 3.
Two of the spaces will be dedicated to handicapped parking. The council also decided to dedicate two parking spaces on nearby Alpine Street for the Cherokee County Historical Museum.
The police department has completed the bulk of its move to the new headquarters at 498 Hill St., but a long, tedious process remains with the moving of evidence stored at the old headquarters. Every item must be inventoried and documented before it can be moved to the new evidence room on Hill Street to maintain a chain of custody that will hold up in court.
ANDREWS
New board members
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce has four board seats available for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Nola Cooper, executive director of the chamber, is soliciting nominations from members in good standing through March 31. There will be a month of transition for new board members in July, and the board will elect officers in August. Members serve three-year terms.
Details: Visit visitandrewsnc.com.
MURPHY
Meeting on county Friday
If you have suggestions, ideas or concerns for making Cherokee County “a better place to live for you and your family,” you’re invited to join Concerned Citizens of Cherokee County for a meet-and-greet event.
The meeting will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Murphy, 517 Hiwassee St. There will be beverages and light snacks. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Details: Email CCCC-4Cs@protonmail.com.
MURPHY
Town hall meeting set
Cherokee County Commissioner Ben Adams has announced a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the fellowship hall of Murphy First Baptist Church, 517 Hiwassee St.
Bring questions, as there will be an open discussion. Topics that won’t be discussed include closed sessions, contracts, the Department of Social Services lawsuits and personal issues.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- No public meetings are scheduled.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright.