Quick Reads

  • Photos by Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent  A beautiful cardinal adorned Tennessee Street in downtown Murphy on May 11 during the annual Spring Festival. The street art was created by Jessica Beegle of Ranger using colored chalk. She travels around the country drawing for special events. Her cardinal and dogwood flower drawing was in honor of spring. She has been drawing with chalk for about 10 years.
    Photos by Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent  A beautiful cardinal adorned Tennessee Street in downtown Murphy on May 11 during the annual Spring Festival. The street art was created by Jessica Beegle of Ranger using colored chalk. She travels around the country drawing for special events. Her cardinal and dogwood flower drawing was in honor of spring. She has been drawing with chalk for about 10 years.
  • Snacking over shopping at the Murphy Spring Festival on May 11. Six-year-old Deklin and 9-year-old Liam Delevan from Marble were all about the eats.
    Snacking over shopping at the Murphy Spring Festival on May 11. Six-year-old Deklin and 9-year-old Liam Delevan from Marble were all about the eats.

    MURPHY

    Art Walk on Friday

    The Art Walk returns with blocks of fun from 5-8 p.m. Friday downtown.

    The monthly special event is promoted by the Murphy Art Center and organized by the Valley River Arts Guild. Enjoy streets filled with artists, shopping, dining and entertainment, like the newly installed art of the outdoor MAX Project. Music on the Square will be The AZUS Band.

    Details: Visit ValleyRiverArts.com or call 828-360-3038.

    CHEROKEE COUNTY

    Tax hikes in fire districts

    Two volunteer fire departments in Cherokee County – Peachtree and Wolf Creek – are seeking tax rate increases to fund expansions that could end up saving taxpayers money.

    The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners gave tentative approval of a 2.5-cent tax increase for the Peachtree Fire Department and a 5.5-cent increase for the Wolf Creek Fire Department.

    The board will make a final decision during its annual budget public hearing Monday, June 24.

    Both fire departments aim to upgrade equipment, staffing and build substations to serve outlying communities within their service districts. Fire officials believe any tax increases will be more than made up for in reduced property insurance costs.

    The tax increase in Wolf Creek is expected to generate $121,759 in annual revenue, while the Peachtree increase would generate $92,347.

    ANDREWS

    DMV open Saturdays

    The Cherokee County office of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles, also known as the local drivers license office, will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from June 8 through Aug. 24.

    The office at 1440 Main St. will be able to issue drivers licenses and identification cards during that time.

    Details: Call 828-321-1442.

    FRANKLIN

    Corridor K gets $20M

    U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) announced Thursday that Graham County will be the recipient of $20 million for the construction of Corridor K.

    The award, which Edwards had repeatedly pushed for, was made to the N.C. Department of Transportation through the U.S. DOT Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program. Edwards has previously supported multiple applications for funding for Corridor K and hosted meetings with U.S. DOT to advocate for the importance of this project in North Carolina’s 11th district.

    In addition to submitting a letter of support for this grant, Edwards introduced bills to address the obstacles surrounding funding for Corridor K and remove federal red tape that inhibits development along the Appalachian Development Highway System. These bills aim to support growth and economic development in the Appalachian region by connecting the underserved region to the greater interstate system.

    “The $20 million funding for Graham County’s construction of Corridor K is great news for WNC,” Edwards said in a release. “The Appalachian Mountains make up the vast majority of our beautiful district, and I’m grateful that the U.S. DOT agreed with me about the merit in funding to build this highway and give the region the necessary resources to boost economic development in an underserved area of the district.”

    LOCAL GOVERNMENT

    Public meetings

    THIS WEEK

    • Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
    • Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
    • Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.

    COMING SOON

    • Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 13, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page, if possible.
    • Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 17, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19.
    • Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 24, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
    • Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 27, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.

    Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.