UNAKA
Town police seek feedback
The Murphy Police Department is conducting an online survey to improve its standards and practices in order to best serve the community.
The police department is distributing fliers with a QR code that directs mobile devices to the online survey, which can also be found at townofmurphync.com/form/murphy-police-department-survey. Questions ask about community safety and perceptions of the Murphy Police Department, including responsiveness, communication and crime prevention.
The survey also includes boxes where respondents can type in answers for questions about how the department can increase trust and transparency, ways to improve community policing and what is the biggest public safety challenge in the community. The survey takes a few minutes to complete.
MURPHY
County OKs school funds
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a total of $25,994 in expenditures for Cherokee County Schools using sales tax proceeds on Jan. 6.
Funding requests were approved to hire an architectural firm to expand restroom sat Murphy Middle School ($11,000), gym
stage padding at Hiwassee Dam High School ($9,004), cafeteria fire suppression system repairs ($2,506) and carpet replacement at Peachtree Elementary School ($3,484.
The expenditures were requested by the Cherokee County Board of Education. The board of commissioners has oversight over school expenditures and must provide final approval for most expenses.
ANDREWS
Coffee & cops set for Friday
The first Coffee With a Cop for 2025 is planned from 8-10 a.m. Friday at Morning Fog Coffee & Eats, 1219 Main St. downtown.
Join your neighbors and local law enforcement officers for coffee and conversation. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know local officers.
Details: Call Cherokee County sheriff’s Chief Deputy Justin Jacobs at 828-837-2589, Ext. 1416.
MURPHY
Upgrades for town vehicles
The Town of Murphy is upgrading some of its rolling stock and looking at ways to upgrade others.
The town council approved a bid of $512,939 for a new tanker truck for the Murphy Fire Department. A FEMA grant will cover $373,000 of that cost.
The town is exploring a fleet management proposal from Enterprise Fleet Management (part of the Enterprise car rental corporation) to gradually swap out the town’s vehicles with new vehicles. The program could save the town money on vehicle purchases and maintenance, while Enterprise Fleet Management makes money through the leases and by selling gently used leased vehicles on the open market for a profit.
The town is also planning to replace a trailer-mounted jetter machine used to clear clogs in sewer lines.
UNAKA
Game Night set Saturday
Looking for a fun way to spend Saturday evening? The mark your calendar for Game Night at the Unaka Community Center from 5-7 p.m.
Bring your friends, your family and your game face for an evening full of laughter, friendly competition and community spirit. Whether you’re a board game champion or just in it for the fun, there’s something for everyone.
Details: Email Nancy Helms at greetawnc@aol.com.
ASHEVILLE
$1.65 billion for recovery
Gov. Josh Stein joined Adrianne Todman, head of the Department of Housing & Urban Development, last week in Asheville to announce two major Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery awards totaling more than $1.65 billion.
“I am deeply grateful to HUD and to our congressional delegation for its investment in the people of western North Carolina as they continue to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene,” Stein said. “These grant awards will help us make progress rebuilding homes, repairing critical infrastructure and providing relief to small businesses.”
“Western North Carolina communities have been impacted by devastating disasters – damaging homes, destroying infrastructure and stretching local capacity to recover,” Todman said. “This $1.65 billion in disaster discovery funds will help rebuild homes, develop affordable housing, assist impacted small businesses and repair roads, schools, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure.”
The awards include $1,428,120,000 to the State of North Carolina and $225,010,000 to the City of Asheville. The funding comes from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025 enacted on Dec. 21.
CLARIFICATION
There was an article on page 1A in the Jan. 8 edition of the Cherokee Scout about a Hayesville man who died after being Tased by law enforcement officers. While officers say the man ingested a plastic bag, his cause of death is still unknown. Since the case has been taken over by the State Bureau of Investigation, it could be several months before the full story can be told. The Scout did not intend to imply otherwise in the headline.
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.
- Some local, state and federal government offices will be closed Monday for the holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
- Murphy ABC Board meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the ABC Store, 818 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy.
- 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 and Editor Randy Foster.