TEXANA
Club honors Juneteenth
The Texana Community Development Club will host a Juneteenth celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at 29 Texana Community Center Road. Everyone is invited, and there is no admission fee.
This community event aims to provide educational opportunities, foster cultural proud and build the community, organizers say. There will be activities, prizes, speakers, music, food and a car show.
There will be a fishy fry at noon, with plates for $10, as well as hot dogs, snacks and drinks. Bingo will be played from 5-7 p.m.
Musical entertainment will include Danny Dawson (country), Milele Roots (reggae), Fresh Minds (reggae), Claude “Smoothie” Jackson (rhythm & blues), D. Train (gospel and R&B), Farrah Hall (gospel and pop) and Lyric Jones (pop).
MURPHY
Come take a free ride
Cherokee County Transit wants to give the public a free ride Saturday.
The “Downtown & Around” route will start at 9 a.m. at Beal Circle, with the last return from Walmart at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. All fares are waived, though donations will be accepted.
Everyone is welcome to user the service. The van will also be making a deviation to Texana for the community club’s Juneteenth celebration.
Details: Visit cherokeecounty-nc.gov/233 or call 828-835-4548.
ANDREWS
State OKs town’s bill
The N.C. House of Representatives gave final approval to HB911, Town of Andrews Deannexation, on June 5. The bill, which was requested by the Town of Andrews, would remove a tract of land from the corporate limits.
“I am thrilled about the passage of HB911 in the House,” state Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin), sponsor of the bill, said in a release. “This underscores the importance of collaboration between local officials and their state representatives. Cooperation is essential for addressing the needs of our communities, and I look forward to working with my Senate counterpart and seeing this bill cross the finish line.”
HB911 goes to the state Senate for consideration, with approval expected.
Under Section 1 of Article VII of the N.C. Constitution, the General Assembly is empowered to “provide for the organization and government and the fixing of boundaries of counties, cities and towns, and other governmental subdivisions, and, except as otherwise prohibited by this Constitution, may give such powers and duties to counties, cities and towns, and other governmental subdivisions as it may deem advisable.”
BRASSTOWN
Folk school gets project
Opportunity Appalachia and Mountain BizWorks announce the selection of 29 projects, including one from Cherokee County, to participate in its program aimed at increasing job growth, business support and investment in Central Appalachia.
These projects are set to create more than 2,700 jobs and attract $270 million in financing, targeting a diverse array of developments such as housing, entrepreneurial and clean energy hubs, manufacturing, community centers, arts & entertainment centers, co-working spaces and hospitality, according to a release.
Opportunity Appalachia will actively engage with private investors, banks, Community Development Financial Institutions, New Markets Tax Credits investors, Historic Tax Credit Investors, Opportunity Zone investors and federal agencies to highlight these communities and facilitate their access to necessary financing.
The local one is to create a new Olive Dame Campbell Dining Hall and expanded Visitors Center at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown in order to strengthen the school’s operations and connection to the community. Total costs are estimated at $5 million, creating 25 permanent jobs.
Details: Visit appalachiancommunitycapitalcdfi.org/opportunity-appalachia.
MURPHY
Main Street accreditation
A total of 51 North Carolina communities – including Murphy – have received Main Street America Accreditation status for 2024, the N.C. Department of Commerce announced last week.
The National Main Street America Center and its state coordinating partner, the N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center, announce the list of accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment
to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach. The closet cities to Murphy that also received the honor are Brevard and Sylva.
“I am so proud of our Main Street communities for pursuing excellence in all facets of economic development,” Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders said in a release. “These communities have worked hard to achieve lasting economic prosperity by honoring diversity, inclusivity, local leadership, community engagement, storytelling and historic preservation.”
Since 1980, N.C. Main Street programs have leveraged $5.2 billion in private and public investment, creating 35,144 net new jobs, and rehabilitating 7,833 buildings. In 2023, N.C. Main Street and Small Town Main Street downtown districts leveraged $684 million in public and private investment, 365 net new businesses, 2,969 net new jobs, 427 façade improvements, 331 building rehabilitations and recorded 128,087 volunteer hours, valued at more than $3.8 million in time.
Details: Visit commerce.nc.gov.
MURPHY
‘Stop the Bleed’ set
The National Ladies Homestead Gathering of Cherokee County is partnering with Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services for a “Stop the Bleed” event from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at Murphy First Baptist Church.
This workshop is open to the public at no cost. The local chapter will also be giving away one free tourniquet per family while supplies last.
Details: Visit appalachianladyhomesteaders.com.
BEAR PAW
Lake hosts boat parade
Everyone is invited to Lake Hiwassee for a parade on the water starting at 1 p.m. Friday, July 5.
All proceeds from the event will go to Warriors Veteran Outreach, a nonprofit based in Murphy. This is the second year of the parade, which is organized by Jason Ireson.
Boats will begin lining up at 12:30 p.m. at Mountain View Marina outside of the “no-wake” buoys. It will then progress toward Harbor Cove Marina in Murphy.
Last year, there were about 30 boat entries, with this year expecting more participants. Prizes will be awarded to the top five best-decorated vessels, with additional awards for best dock parties.
In the evening, there will be fireworks at Mountain View and Harbor Cove marinas. There will also be a live band viewable from the water at Mountain View Marina at 6:30 p.m.
The Fourth of July Lake Hiwassee Boat Parade entry fee is $20 and includes “swag.” There is still time to enter a boat or become a sponsor.
Details: Call 727-275-0475 or visit lakehiwasseeboatparade.systeme.io/boat828.
FRANKLIN
Get a taste of Scotland
The Taste of Scotland Society will hold its 25th “Taste of Scotland Festival & Highland Games” on
Saturday at the Macon County Fairgrounds, with a free Ceilidh and Parade at the Gazebo downtown Friday and “Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan” at the Presbyterian Church of Franklin on Sunday.
The festival will fill the fairgrounds for the third year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Performers at the event include the local Misty Mountain Dulcimer Ensemble of Murphy.
Scott Medlin will bring three teams of Heavy Scottish Athletics to put on both men and women’s Scottish games. The Jamestown Pipes & Drums will lead the clan parade, beginning with Clan Gordon as the 2024 Honored Clan.
Adult entrance fee is $15; ages 6 to 12 years $5; ages 5 and under are free.
Details: Call 828-332-1567 or visit tasteofscotland.org.
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.
- 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, if possible.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
COMING SOON
- 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.