ANDREWS
Food Truck Friday back
Food Truck Friday returns to Hall Memorial Park on First Street downtown this week.
The free event, which is run by the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday with food trucks, vendors and live music. Dr. Paul Constantine is scheduled to perform on the Gazebo Stage.
In addition, there will be picnic tables set up in the park as well as and a beer and wine garden. An expanded children’s area will include a bouncy house, plus there will be a “doggie station” to help keep furry friends hydrated and happy.
Details: Visit visitandrewsnc.com/food-truck-fridays.
ANDREWS
DMV open Saturdays
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles resumed Saturday hours at 16 driver license offices, including one in Cherokee County, as the agency expands service opportunity for the busy summer season.
Services that will be offered during the Saturday hours include driver license or ID cards, renewals or duplicate orders, address changes, REAL ID issuances, and road tests for customers that have already completed the knowledge and written tests.
Walk-in services will be provided on Saturdays through Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to noon in Andrews at 1440 Main St. The next closest office is in Asheville.
“Last summer, we had the Morganton office open on Saturdays,” DMV communications manager Marty Homan said. “They weren’t used, and we were having to send employees home early. We ended up moving the Saturday location to Andrews this year to try to provide additional services to far-western North Carolina. If these service hours are not used, we will move them again elsewhere.”
Homan said there has been a low turnout at the Andrews location so far – only two customers on June 8 and just six on June 15.
Anyone considering a visit to the DMV should first check to determine if they can complete their business online. The state offers many online services, including driver license and ID card renewals, ordering duplicate licenses and ID cards, address changes and voter registration applications.
ANDREWS
Edwards in county
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ mobile office, the Carolina Cruiser, will be at in front of Andrews Town Hall, 188 Main St., from 3:15-4:45 p.m. today.
Staff will be parked outside with the Carolina Cruiser to meet with constituents and assist with casework.
Details: Visit edwards.house.gov.
MURPHY
Mayor with leadership
Southwestern Commission board member and Murphy Mayor Tim Radford recently joined staff Coley Bartholomew, Lee Gibson, Eli Hashemi, Doug Nelson and Debra Ivy in the N.C. Rural Center’s Homegrown Leadership Program.
The program’s purpose is for participants to understand the importance of applying a regional lens for both building long-term solutions to common problems and innovative opportunities for growth. Participants learn and apply skills needed to address current and emerging critical issues and economic trends that will impact the future of their communities and regions.
Details: Visit ncruralcenter.org/homegrown-leaders.
MURPHY
Avery to join board
Local Government Federal Credit Union has announced the addition of Jonathan Avery, administrative assistant with the Town of Murphy Police Department, to its Western Mountain Advisory Council, which includes Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.
Avery will be an integral part of LGFCU’s volunteer-driven initiative to educate people on the benefits of credit union membership and relay feedback to the board of directors regarding available/potentially available products and services, delivery of service and member needs, according to a release.
Advisory council members, who represent the philosophical character of the credit union and contribute their time without compensation, function as LGFCU’s eyes and ears throughout the state, serving as liaisons between credit union members, non-members and LGFCU management.
Details: Visit lgfcu.org.
ANDREWS
No need to boil water
Water restrictions put in place following the system pressure advisory on June 17 have been rescinded, according to a release from the Town of Andrews.
Based on the laboratory analysis of water samples collected from Andrews on June 18, water users are hereby notified that it is no longer necessary to boil water used for human consumption.
Town officials said they appreciate your cooperation.
Details: Call Town Hall at 828-321-5111.
CORRECTION
Due to incorrect information being given to the Cherokee Scout, a graphic on page 1A in the June 12 edition contained an error about insurance ratings for the Martins Creek Fire Department. The correct ISO rating for Martins Creek is 9. The Scout regrets the error.
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.
Hospital gets $250K grant
Thirteen hospitals in rural Georgia will receive $6 million in grants through a state program that will give them a choice of how to use the money.
The Georgia Department of Community Health’s Dual Track Rural Hospital Support program gives grant recipients the option of choosing between funding new or existing graduate medical education programs or providing direct hospital support.
“These awards will provide further support to those hospitals that serve rural Georgians and communities in need,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a release.
The largest of the grants – $1 million – are going to Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville and the Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie. On a local level, Union General Hospital in Blairsville is receiving a $250,000 Rural Hospital Stabilization Grant.
Details: Visit uniongeneralhealthsystem.com.
Public Meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 10 a.m. Thursday at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Local, state and federal government offices and the Scout will be closed Thursday, July 4, for the Fourth of July holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, July 5.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday, July 8, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the town’s Facebook page.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 22, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.