MURPHY
State GOP chair visits
The N.C. Republican Party visited the Cherokee and Macon County Republican parties during a swing through western North Carolina on Sept. 6.
State GOP Chair Jason Simmons and more than 30 Cherokee County GOP members met during breakfast at The Mason Bar, discussing the absentee voting period and how the final 60 days of the campaign were critical to winning not just in the county, but statewide.
“We had a great swing through our counties in the west to join with them and show that winning statewide means traveling across the entire state,” Simmons said. “Our ground game is critical, and the county parties are the backbone of everything we do.”
Simmons then visited with the Macon County Republican Party at their headquarters in Franklin. Simmons addressed the crowd about winning races not just in the county and encouraged those in attendance to remember to bring family, friends and neighbors to vote this year.
Details: Visit nc.gop.
ANDREWS
Town debates social district
The Andrews Board of Aldermen discussed several enhancements to downtown Thursday, including allowing sidewalk dining, directional signage and creation of a social district that would allow pedestrians to stroll about while sipping on alcoholic beverages.
Alderman James Mclean proposed the town seek N.C. Department of Transportation approval to allow sidewalk dining and the social district. Aldermen Brandi Smith discussed what would be needed for directional signage to help visitors find their way downtown.
Although Sage, a high-end restaurant, recently closed, downtown Andrews has seen growth in dining and entertainment, most recently the opening of Morning Fog, a popular breakfast and lunch venue on downtown’s east end. Other popular events and venues include Food Truck Fridays, downtown festivals, Cups & Cones, Tattered Tartan Pub, Hoppy Trout Brewing Co., The Blue Stage, Snowbird Mountains Brewery and FernCrest Winery Tasting Room.
A social district would have set hours, boundaries and safety measures, town attorney Holly Christy said. The boundaries would likely be from The Blue Stage to FernCrest Winery Tasting Room on Main Street, and First Street between Cherry and Chestnut streets.
Allowed by law since September 2021, social districts are becoming increasing common in tourist-oriented downtowns in North Carolina. More than 50 communities have active social districts with several more exploring the possibility. Sylva and Brevard have active social districts, and Franklin is considering one, according to Community Impact North Carolina, a group that opposes social districts in the state.
The Murphy Town Council earlier rejected a social district proposal.
MURPHY
New election ballots costly
County boards of elections in North Carolina are working to design and print new ballots for the 2024 general election following a costly state court decision.
In a 4–3 ruling Sept. 9, the N.C. Supreme Court required election officials to remove the We The People party line from the presidential contest on the ballot, including the party’s presidential nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. After fighting to get on the ballot, Kennedy fought to get off it after suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump.
The Cherokee County Board of Elections office confirmed Thursday that it would cost local taxpayers about $3,500 to print new ballots, unless the state decides to pay for it. Commissioners will likely vote on a budget amendment soon, with the money possibly coming from the county’s contingency fund.
County boards of elections were prepared to send ballots to voters late last week, which is the state law deadline to begin absentee voting. With the court decision, revised ballots will now be printed and delivered to eligible voters who have requested an absentee ballot as soon as they are available, which is expected to occur in the next couple weeks.
Because of the order to reprint ballots, the State Board is preparing for the possibility that North Carolina cannot meet the 45-day deadline in federal law – Saturday – for distributing military and overseas ballots to voters. The State Board has begun discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense to seek a potential waiver of that deadline.
Details: Visit ncsbe.gov.
ANDREWS
County Fair Oct. 11-13
The Cherokee County Fair returns to Andrews Recreation Park, 160 Park St., for its third consecutive year Friday though Saturday, Oct. 11-13.
The fair will open at 10 a.m. each day with differing closing times of 10 p.m. Friday, 11 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Rides will open at 5 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday and Sunday. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12. Ride tickets and wristbands will also be available for purchase, with food vendors on hand.
The fair will again feature various rides and games provided by R&D Amusements. There will also be live music each evening and all day Saturday, including the return of the Danny Dawson Band and Georgette Jones, daughter of country music legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette, as the headliner Saturday evening.
The popular church service will also take place at 10 a.m. Sunday.
The fair, sponsored by the Town of Andrews along with local businesses and organizations, is seeking volunteers for the event. Email hello@cherokeecountyfair.org to sign up.
Details: Visit cherokeecountyfair.org.
MURPHY
Council seat to stay vacant
The Murphy Town Council may allow Keisha Dockery’s old seat on the council to remain vacant.
Dockery resigned from the council in August, saying she was moving outside town limits to give her child better educational opportunities. Her seat comes up for election in 2025.
The council has six seats plus the mayor, and absences from town council meetings have been rare – other than Dockery, who was frequently absent.
The council only needs four members to have a quorum, or enough people to hold a meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Frank Dickey, filling in for Mayor Tim Radford at the Sept. 10 meeting, suggested that unless any council members have a “burning desire” to appoint someone in particular, they could keep the seat vacant until the election.
Other council members agreed.
MURPHY
BBBS Gala set on Oct. 5
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cherokee County will sponsor its annual fundraising gala at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at The Hackney Warehouse downtown.
The gala is themed “BBQ – Boots & Beer.” Dress is Western casual but not required.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cherokee County is a nonprofit organization working to ensure every child has an enjoyable, long-term relationship with a caring adult who sees their potential. Mentors are selected and matched with children facing adversity.
Tickets are $100 per person. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina.
Details: Visit the BBBS office at 90 Tennessee St., Suite E, in downtown Murphy; call 828-361-0989; or email Gloria Dockery at cherokee@bbbswnc.org.
MURPHY
Poor results at Big Lots
Big Lots, a well-known discount home goods retailer with a local store on Andrews Road, sent shockwaves through the business world by unexpectedly postponing the release of its financial results last week, according to msn.com.
This highly unusual move has raised alarm bells among investors and analysts, who fear that the company may be on the brink of bankruptcy. Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, has expressed serious concerns about the retailer’s future, suggesting that bankruptcy may now be the “ultimate destination” for Big Lots.
Details: Visit biglots.com.
MURPHY
Canning & Chow Chow
The Cherokee Clay Food Alliance is hosting its first Canning & Chow Chow Day at the Murphy Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday to celebrate this Appalachian delicacy.
There will be demos on water bath and pressure canning, fermentation, and a make-and-take chow chow activity. The N.C. Cooperative Extension Donation Station will be on site to accept donations for local feeding programs and test your pressure canner gauge.
Inside the L&N Depot at the market, there will be a canning equipment and book swap, along with non-alcoholic drinks for sale. Bring usable items that are in good condition to swap.
Demos and swap are free to attend, but there is a suggested $10 donation to make and take your chow chow. Signup deadline is 10 a.m. inside the depot.
Details: Visit facebook.com/cherokeeclayfoodalliance.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble. Live-streamed on the school district’s YouTube channel.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, in Room 342 at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy, to discuss animal control. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown, Editor Randy Foster and Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright.