MURPHY
FBI notifies of school threat
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the FBI on Saturday about a Snapchat post in which a student commented about “shooting up” a school in Cherokee County, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s deputies, along with the assistance of the Andrews Police Department and Juvenile Justice Division, investigated the situation. A juvenile petition was issued, and the juvenile was placed in a secure facility.
The release says there are no known credible threats for any Cherokee County Schools. The school district was notified about the post as soon at the sheriff’s office became aware of it and were updated throughout the investigation.
“The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will NOT tolerate any threats toward our schools, even if the individual thinks it is a ‘joke.’ There are no joking matters when it comes to the safety of our children at school,” according to the release.
MURPHY
Trial date in slander suit
Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers set a trial date of March 31, 2025, in local resident Karen Close’s civil lawsuit against Republican activist Margaret Ackiss.
Close is suing Ackiss for slander and libel. She is seeking more than $100,000 in both damages and punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 29 in Cherokee Superior Court. Murphy lawyer Zeyland McKinney is representing Close as the plaintiff, while Ackiss hired Morrisville-based law firm K&L Gates LLC to represent her in the case.
Close alleges that Ackiss used a series of social media posts that ruined her reputation, cost her a job and interfered with her ability to find work. Ackiss denies the allegations.
Sellers extended the deadline for mediation in the case to Feb. 14, 2025.
MURPHY
Area teacher supplements
Cherokee County Schools teachers will be receiving supplements in two installments this school year, one in December and the other in March 2025. The first payment will be $1,622, with the second being about that amount.
Supplements are provided under state law. Certified teachers and instructional support personnel are eligible. Administrators qualify if they are paid on a teacher pay schedule. Central office employees and non-certified employees are not eligible.
To qualify, eligible staff must be in continuous employment with Cherokee County Schools on or before Sept. 30.
Eligible staff hired after Sept. 30 but before Feb. 28, 2025, will receive a pro-rata share of $1,622 of the remaining allotment on or before May 31.
MURPHY
Rare Bird at 4 years
September is a special month for 14 independent coffee businesses in eight states, as they celebrate business anniversaries ranging from one to 18 years. Shop owners credit Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea’s 7 Steps to Success program for helping them open and run their coffee shops.
That includes Rare Bird Emporium at 680 Andrews Road, which opened in September 2020. The shop, owned by Kate and Pav Templeton, blends a unique coffee experience with local artisan crafts. Their mission was to create a community gathering place.
“After months of sheltering in place, we wanted our new store to be a safe place for people to feel comfortable and have conversations again,” Kate said. “Of course, nothing brings people together like coffee!”
Their connection to Crimson Cup came through a family referral from the owner of Jitters Coffee House. The couple found the expertise invaluable in opening their business.
“Coming from never having a business like this to creating a business plan and knowing that it was a proven concept reassured me we could do this,” Kate said.
“I’d advise other owners to work with Crimson Cup from the very beginning,” Pav added. “We didn’t end up saving money doing it ourselves, because we had to go back and redo a lot of things. There were mishaps we could have avoided by having their guidance from day one.”
Details: Visit crimsoncup.com.
HIWASSEE DAM
TVA work to impact traffic
In coordination with the N.C. Department of Transportation, the Tennessee Valley Authority will close one lane of Hiwassee Dam Access Road from Tuesday, Oct. 1, through Friday, March 28, 2025, to conduct maintenance work at Hiwassee Dam.
This work – which is essential to maintain the safety of the dam and its ability to reliably generate clean energy – is part of the TVA dam safety team’s efforts to ensure proper operation of the hydrogenation facility’s seven spillway gates, according to a release.
The visitor parking area, along with the lakeside lane of the road across the dam, will be closed for the duration of the project. It will also be necessary to close the entire road on certain days for work that requires heavy equipment. Signage will be put in place in advance to inform motorists about dates for full-road closures.
For safety reasons and to minimize impacts to the public, TVA attempts to schedule dam safety project work when water levels are lower. Motorists should exercise caution when crossing the dam, pay close attention to signage and expect delays. The project time frame may be adjusted in the event of inclement weather. TVA appreciates the public’s understanding as we conduct this needed maintenance.
Details: Visit tva.com.
MURPHY
Music in Fain Alley
The Fain Alley Music Series downtown returns from 5-7 p.m. Saturday with the Jonah Graves Trio performing live.
The event takes place in the alley next to Black & White Market on Valley River Avenue. Food is for sale at each event, but the entertainment is sponsored by Downtown Murphy and the Cherokee County Arts Coalition.
Details: Visit townofmurphync.com/main-street-murphy/page/fain-alley-music-series-0.
RALEIGH
Citizens get $115 million
For the fourth year in a row, the Unclaimed Property Division of the Department of State Treasurer has set a record for returning unclaimed money, putting over $115 million back into the pockets of the rightful owners, state Treasurer Dale Folwell announced.
“Go to and search your name for free. Look for your parents’ names, your children’s names, your maiden name. It’s possible your church, business, Little League, civic group or other organizations to which you belong have money waiting to be returned,” Folwell said in a release.
Under state law, the treasurer is safeguarding nearly $1.3 billion in funds that are turned over, to DST. The money is awaiting return to the rightful owners after being lost, misdirected or overlooked.
The unclaimed property consists of bank accounts, wages, utility deposits, insurance policy proceeds, stocks, bonds and contents of safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned.
Details: Visit NCCash.com.
RALEIGH
High school gets financing
Construction of a new school and other school-related capital projects received a significant push forward when the Local Government Commission approved a financing request from Macon County.
Macon County won approval of $69 million in financing for construction of a new high school and will pay off its limited obligation bonds through general fund revenues. Macon County got a boost from a separate $62 million state needs-based capital fund grant, money that was set to go to Cherokee County for a new high school before new commissioners and school board members refused to match the grant.
Officials say the existing Franklin High School has safety issues and compliance deficiencies with the Americans With Disabilities Act that make it necessary to replace it with a new high school. The proposed project will be built on a 28-acre parcel, accommodate 1,400 students and cost over $100 million.
Details: Visit nctreasurer.com.
RALEIGH
Ideas to get faster online
Gov. Roy Cooper is encouraging North Carolina local and tribal governments, nonprofits and broadband service providers to help identify areas that need access to high-speed internet.
These organizations are encouraged to submit data challenging eligible locations for inclusion in the federal Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment program, which launches in early 2025. The program provides $1.53 billion to North Carolina to bring high-speed internet to underserved areas.
The BEAD Challenge Process allows entities defined by the National Telecommunications & Information Association to provide input to ensure that the BEAD program’s eligible locations map accurately represents residents’ and businesses’ high-speed internet access needs.
The state officially launched the BEAD Challenge Process last week. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3.
Details: Visit ncbroadband.gov.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 6:30 p.m. Monday 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 and Editor Randy Foster.