MURPHY
6th-grader wins state
Aleeah McKay travelled to Raleigh with her grandparents, Wayne and Judy Holland, on May 3 to compete in the N.C. Soil & Water Conservation annual Speech Contest and placed first among sixth-graders.
The theme for this year’s Soil & Water Conservation contest was “The Living Soil.” Aleeah is a student of Kary McClure at Murphy Middle School.
Aleeah’s speech was a very descriptive, informative conservation message about why we need to protect the soil since it is a “living thing” and vital to life. She was one of four sixth-graders to compete in this year’s state contest.
Aleeah previously won first place at the Cherokee County level as well as the Area 1 level (16 western-most counties in North Carolina). She is the first sixth-grade speech entry to win the state contest from county schools.
Next year’s contest theme is “Wetlands Are Wonderful.” Soil & Water Conservation education coordinator Sheri Goodlet is available to present lessons on the theme to classes not only for the speech contest, but for posters, projects and essays.
Details: Call Sheri Goodlet at 828-837-6417, Ext. 3, or email sheri.goodlet@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.
MURPHY
Last school band show
The Murphy Band Program will be presenting the end-of-year concert at 6:30 p.m. today in the Murphy High School gym.
The concert will feature performances by middle school and high school band students. The theme of this concert is “Resistance, Reflection and Resilience.”
The high school band will premier the composition, “Triumph from Darkness,” which was written by students in the Murphy High School Band. Everyone is invited to the free show.
MURPHY
$36K OK’d for schools
Funding was approved for projects at two Cherokee County schools.
Murphy Elementary School was approved $23,634 to replace flooring in its gymnasium, while Murphy High School was approved $12,423 for a commercial athletic washing machine.
The expenditures were requested by the Cherokee County Board of Education and approved by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners at its May 6 meeting. Proceeds will come from half-cent sales tax for school infrastructure costs.
NANTAHALA
Fees rising in forest?
The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to change fees at several recreation areas in the Nantahala and Uwharrie National Forests, and the public is invited to provide input to proposed fee changes through July 2. The goal of these changes is to improve visitor experiences through site and trail upgrades paid for by the collected fees.
These fee changes are only proposed, according to a release. After public comments are received, the Forest Service will assess the comments and concerns, then present the fee proposals to the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups.
The proposed fee changes the Forest Service seeks comment on include:
- Cheoah River Paddle Pass – new $10 annual pass option (existing $2 daily pass remains unchanged).
- Dry Falls, Whitewater Falls and Whiteside Mountain – increase from $3 to $5 per vehicle per day, increase from $15 to $30 for annual pass.
- Uwharrie Hunt Camp – increase from $5 to $15 per night. (Passes purchased are honored across all three sites.)
Details: Visit fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/recfeeproposals.
MURPHY
Commission lauds clerk
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation making May 5-11 Clerks to the Boards of County Commissioners Week.
The proclamation was issued at the May 6 board meeting. Board clerk Maria Hass, who is also assistant county manager, was not at the meeting.
The office of the clerk to the board provides the communication link between citizens, the county board, administrative offices and local government partners, the proclamation reads.
The position of clerk is one of the oldest in local government, dating at least to biblical times, and whose term has long been associated with the written word. Modern-day clerks are the official record keepers for their counties.
MURPHY
County seeks shelter funds
Cherokee County is seeking a grant to install generators at the Unaka Community Center, Andrews Community Center and at a location to be determined in Hiwassee Dam.
The upgrades will allow the facilities to be used as emergency shelters in time of need. Funding comes form the Local Emergency Shelter Grant, which is intended to address deficiencies in shelter capacity across the state.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved pursuit of the grant at its May 6 meeting. The deadline to apply is May 31.
MURPHY
‘Building Bridges’
Everyone is invited to attend a community conversation on “Building Bridges: Our Community’s Commitment to Transforming Public Education” from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 73 Valley Rive Ave. downtown.
Organizers ask residents to “join us for a presentation and community conversation about how we can advocate for strong public schools that serve all children, especially our most vulnerable, as a way to love our neighbors and build beloved community.”
The event is being sponsored by Pastors for North Carolina Children and everychildnc.org.
Details: Visit tinyurl.com/BuildingBridgesWNC.
MURPHY
Council gets town budget
The Town of Murphy’s proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year was submitted to council members on May 7.
A copy is available for public inspection in the office of the clerk to the board of commissioners at Town Hall. The Murphy Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 5 p.m. or soon thereafter, on Monday, June 3, in the conference room at 5 Wofford St. downtown.
A copy of the proposed budget can also be reviewed at townofmurphync.com. Public comments can be mailed to P.O. Box 130, Murphy, NC 28906, or emailed to manager@townofmurphync.com.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- 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. This meeting will also contain a public hearing on the closeout of CDBG Project #19-I-3101.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the store, 13934 U.S. 19.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.