HANGING DOG
Utility adds substation
Beginning Tuesday, April 23, and running through Thursday, April 25, Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. will be transitioning to the new Hanging Dog substation, weather permitting.
During this time, you may experience multiple outages of up to five hours in length. Blue Ridge Mountain EMC crews will work as quickly as possible to minimize these outages.
Many people will notice Blue Ridge Mountain EMC crews in the area and at your residence during this time. The utility asks residents to please secure any dogs that may have a tendency to bite.
RALEIGH
Photo ID seminars
The State Board of Elections is offering free seminars about the photo ID requirement for voting to help ensure that voters have the information they need before casting their ballot in the 2024 general election.
The Voter Photo ID Seminar informs attendees about the new ID requirement for voting in North Carolina. It covers acceptable forms of photo ID for voting, expected experiences for voters at early voting sites and Election Day polling places, and how registered voters can get a free photo ID if they do not have one.
Another seminar, the Accessibility in Voting Seminar, provides information aimed at helping voters with disabilities to vote, including the online portal where visually impaired voters may request and submit their ballot, curbside voting, and related topics. This seminar also provides information about the photo ID requirement.
State Board staff can present these seminars in person anywhere in North Carolina or online via Microsoft Teams. Any interested group can request a seminar at NCSBE.gov.
Details: Visit BringItNC.gov.
MURPHY
Studio tour starts soon
The first Smoky Mountain Studio Tour – showcasing the studios of more than a dozen local artists from the Appalachian Smoky Mountains of Cherokee County, western North Carolina and northern Georgia – starts this weekend.
This free, self-guided tour takes place April 21-22 and 27-28. You’ll get a sneak peek at the working studios of painters, photographers, fiber artists, glass artists, furniture makers, wood carvers and clay sculptors as they work to create masterpieces.
Parking and refreshments will be available on the tour. Studios will be open, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All you need is a vehicle to get yourself around.
Check in at the MAC – Murphy Art Center, 12 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy – anytime during Studio Tour weekends to pick up a brochure and enjoy the demonstrating artists before embarking on a fun couple of weekends of visiting individual artist studios.
Details: Visit valleyriverarts.com.
MURPHY
A party for the artists
Get ready for an enchanting evening of art, entertainment and community at the Cherokee County Arts Coalition’s first Member Party, which is open to the public at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at 33 Valley River Ave. downtown.
The night will be filled with live music, networking opportunities and refreshments, according to a release. Everyone is welcome to attend and experience the vibrant arts culture in Cherokee County.
In addition, members are invited two exclusive seminars: “Picture This: Photographing Your Artwork Like a Pro” and “Unlocking the Secrets of Successful Grant Writing.”
Details: Visit cherokeeartscouncil.org.
CHEROKEE
Remember the missing
Qualla Boundary MMIW, in partnership with Museum of the Cherokee People, announces a Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives Archiving Event from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in the multipurpose room of the museum, 589 Tsali Blvd.
Museum of the Cherokee People seeks to provide a safe place to house copies of community materials for its Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives Collection. Community members are invited to bring items to be archived, including but not limited to photos, archival materials, newspaper clippings, video recordings, voice recordings and any other materials (both physical and digital) that show images or provide information about people missing from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Museum of the Cherokee People Collections staff will be available to make digital scans on the spot and return the original material to its keeper. Requests to place access restrictions on relatives’ photos will be honored. Lunch will be provided during these sessions.
The event is held during Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Awareness Month. Sunday, May 5, which National Day of awareness for this missing indigenous women.
Details: Visit motcp.org.
CORRECTION
There was an error in an article on page 9A in the April 10 edition of the Cherokee Scout. Preliminary work at the Sharing Center Food Bank to prepare for a new sink and restrooms, which were paid for by a T-Mobile grant, was done by volunteers from the food pantry as well as Shepherd of the Mountains church in Murphy. The Scout regrets the error.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
COMING SOON
- 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, if possible.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Planning Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.