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 arts and crafts, shops and galleries, fine dining and wine tastings. There will be music on the square featuring Space Monks with Troy Underwood, while Dr. Paul Constantine, a former contestant on the television show The Voice, will be playing inside the MAC.
Details: Visit ValleyRiverArts.com or call 828-360-3038.
ANDREWS
Hot Summer Nights nears
Andrews Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7620 will hold its annual Hot Summer Nights Car Show from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday on Main Street downtown.
Main Street will be closed for the event, which will showcase vehicles of all kinds along with arts, crafts and food vendors along the side streets.
Admission is free for spectators. There is a $10 entrant fee for vehicles.
Details: Email vfw7620@gmail.com.
BELLVIEW
Detour on U.S. 19/129
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation closed the southern intersection of Taylor Hensen Road at U.S. 19/129 on Monday to continue modernizing the highway, according to a release.
The southern stretch of Taylor Hensen Road will be closed between Old Evans Road and the highway through February in order to build an onsite detour for the highway and new alignment of Taylor Hensen Road. All traffic will be directed to the northern intersection of Taylor Hensen and U.S. 19/129.
This operation is part of the $67.1 million contract to modernize the highway between U.S. 64/74 and the Georgia state line. Construction began this spring and the contract calls for completion in June of 2029. Drivers are encouraged to drive with caution and obey all posted traffic signs.
Details: Visit DriveNC.gov.
RALEIGH
State OKs new party
The State Board of Elections on July 23 recognized the We The People Party of North Carolina as an official political party in the state.
Recognition of this party means voters have eight choices of party affiliation when registering to vote or updating an existing registration. Voters may register with the Constitution, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, No Labels, Republican or We The People parties, or they can register as unaffiliated. This recognition also means voters registered with a different political party or as unaffiliated may switch their affiliation to the We The People Party if they wish.
The State Board will update voter registration applications to include the new political party option. Until then, voters may register with the new party by checking the “Other” box and writing “We The People” on the line in the “Political Party Affiliation” section of the voter registration form.
Details: Visit ncsbe.gov.
ASHEVILLE
BBBS earns growth award
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America has named Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina a 2023 Growth Award Winner.
The Growth Award recognizes the hard work of agency leadership and staff to provide high-quality programming for the children served, BBBSA said in a release.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team,” BBBSWNC President and CEO Lelia Duncan said. “This is the first time our agency has been recognized with this acknowledgement. Join me in celebrating the grit, determination and dedication this team has shown. They’ve stayed the course focused, enthusiastic and committed.”
BBBS Western North Carolina received Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Platinum Award for growing the number of children served in 2023.
Details: Visit bbbswnc.org.
MURPHY
Be a voice for a child
The Guardian ad Litem program is seeking volunteers in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties, to be the voice of a child in court. The N.C. Guardian ad Litem program thrives on volunteers. and its work is only made possible by dedicated volunteers committed to the cause of keeping children safe from future harm.
Training classes will begin the evening of Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Cherokee County Annex Building (40 Peachtree St. downtown). Start times for the classes have yet to be determined.
In Cherokee and Graham counties, call program supervisor Jake Shamblin at 828-371-9331.
Details: Visit volunteerforgal.org.
CORRECTION
There was a typographical error in the article “Remembering the Wilhide boys” on page 1A in the July 17 edition of the Cherokee Scout. Robert and Wallace Wilhide of Andrews were both Marine Corps pilots who were killed within a few weeks of each other in 1945. A memorial service was held for both of them at Andrews First Baptist Church in August 1946. The online version of the article has been updated. The Scout regrets the error.
There was a reporting error in the article “Nantahala prepared for inaugural arts festival” on page 7A in the July 24 edition of the Cherokee Scout. Lee and Cheryl Walters helped organize the festival, and Cheryl serves as treasurer of the Nantahala Community Development Club. However, local resident Randy Shook has been most instrumental in obtaining a building to use for the Fontana Regional Library and club, which has Mikel Morgan serving as president. The Scout regrets the error.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
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.
- 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, if possible.
- 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, if possible.
COMING SOON
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page, if possible.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page, if possible.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.