MURPHY
Veterans arch is put on hold
A donated arch to commemorate Cherokee County’s veterans at Konehete Veterans Park has been put on hold after county officials learned there was a costly string attached.
Cherokee County resident Oscar Valdes, 92, a Korean War veteran, had the arch constructed at his expense. However, installing the arch at the park, which had “Veterans” added to its name at his suggestion, turned out to cost more than expected.
Dockery Engineering of Murphy estimated engineering costs for the arch at $7,800. Valdes asked the county to pay that portion.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and Murphy Town Council, which share the park, approved the plan in early summer, but that was when members believed the entire structure would be donated. Commission Chair Randy Phillips said he couldn’t support approval when the revision came before the board on Aug. 5.
“I’m all for veterans,” he said, but added he was worried about the precedent that would be set by the county funding – even partially – a private project in the public park.
Other commissioners echoed the concern and added some of their own, including worries about paying for maintenance. Phillips summed it up as “a can of worms.” The board denied the funding request on a split vote – with Dan Eichenbaum, Cal Stiles and Phillips against the funding, Ben Adams and Jan Griggs supporting it.
ANDREWS
Planning for Oktoberfest
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of planning meetings for this year’s Oktoberfest.
The chamber welcomes both local businesses, as well as the public, alongside board members to discuss the annual celebration, which has become a mainstay of downtown every fall.
The meetings will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 20 through Sept. 24, at the chamber office, 955 Main St. downtown.
Each meeting offers brainstorming sessions on topics such as local business participation. Members are also seeking input from vendors and scheduling activities.
Lots of volunteer opportunities are available. Andrews’ annual Oktoberfest is scheduled to take place this year from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.
Details: Call chamber Executive Director Nola Cooper at 828-321-3584 or visit visitandrewsnc.com/oktoberfest.
MURPHY
Leaders’ perk downgraded
Cherokee County commissioners restored a health insurance option for themselves after the benefit had been inadvertently removed.
The county provides a health insurance benefit for full-time county employees, but commissioners aren’t full time. Still, commissioners were eligible for the benefit under previous rules and continued to receive it – but without anything on the books saying they could.
Despite no official rule, some commissioners continued to receive full health care at county expense, but paid the county to add their dependents.
The board corrected the policy at its Aug. 5 meeting, and downgraded their benefit in the process. The board looked at five options:
- Enforce the present policy and have no health-care benefit.
- Allow full benefits on the county dime but not their dependents.
- Allow full benefits on the county dime, with commissioners paying to add their dependents (current practice).
- Allow full benefits at commissioner expense but not their dependents.
- Allow full benefits for commissioners and their dependents, all at commissioner expense.
The board voted 5-0 to allow full benefits at their expense but not their dependents. The change takes effect Dec. 1.
ANDREWS
Auditions for youth play
Auditions for the next Community Youth Players production are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. for Thursday and Friday, Aug. 22-23, at the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut St. downtown.
The auditions are open to ages 7-14; everyone auditioning it is recommended to be accompanied by an adult. The show opens the traditional fall-to-spring season at the center.
The next production will be the classic Treasure Island. Shows are scheduled for early October.
The Community Youth Players are also looking for volunteers who are not interested in performing on stage to assist in volunteering for stage and productions crews. Those roles are available to ages 12 years and older.
Details: Visit facebook.com/ACT2Players.
MURPHY
NASA may still relaunch
The county’s Needs & Solutions Advisory committee – better known as NASA – may still have some life following release of its annual report followed by a spectacular fray between two of its members.
The NASA committee had been holding monthly meetings since March 2023 and released a report in March. However, a falling out between the committee’s chair, Mark Kephart, and its secretary, Margaret Ackiss, left the committee in limbo, and county commissioners have still not done anything with the NASA report.
Commissioners at their Aug. 5 meeting agreed to keep NASA going, but with some tweaks. Commissioner Cal Stiles said they should “redefine the scope before we crank up and start again,” while Commissioner Ben Adams said, “I don’t think it needs to die. We need to focus it a little bit more.”
Board Chair Randy Phillips suggested that the board wait until it has its joint meeting with the Cherokee County Board of Education at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at a location to be determined. Commissioners are also gathering information and seeking guidance from county attorney Darryl Brown before they decide the next phase for the
committee.
NASA committee member Sue Lynn Ledford, executive director at Four Square Community Action Inc., said the group submitted a solid report that included proposed solutions, particularly in the areas of housing, broadband internet and health and safety. She suggested county commissioners emphasize what to do next.
CHARLOTTE
Duke Energy $900M profit
Duke Energy reported a $900 million profit in the second quarter as hot weather helped push revenue far above expectations. Rate increases also played a positive role, according to Business North Carolina.
The utility giant earned $1.13 per share, compared with a loss of $220 million, or 32 cents, a year earlier. Revenue increased to $7.17 billion from $6.58 billion in the same period last year.
For the full year, Duke expects to report earnings per share of $5.85 to $6.10. It noted that it expects earnings to gain 5% to 7% annually through 2028.
Industrial customers are cautionary about the economy, CEO Lynn Good said on a conference call. “The fear of recession is out there,” she said, with customers signaling a stronger economy later this year or early 2025.
Duke Energy has 27,600 employees and 8.2 million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The utility serves the Andrews Valley.
Details: Visit duke-energy.com.
MURPHY
Boards will finally meet
More than half a year after it was requested, Cherokee County commissioners and board of education members settled on a date and time for a joint meeting – but not a location.
County commissioners requested the meeting in February after the school board decided to close middle schools in Ranger and Martins Creek and expand middle schools in Hiwassee Dam and Murphy. The decision, which affects the coming school year, was widely criticized.
The two boards agreed to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16, at the beginning of the commissioners’ regular meeting. A located has not been determined, with officials expecting a large turnout from the public.
The board made the decision in January without public notice; it appeared on the agenda simply as “Facilities” with no further description. An overflow audience of parents attended the board’s February meeting but did not change the decision.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
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.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble. Live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the ABC 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 downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- 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.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown, Editor Randy Foster and Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright.