Quick Reads

  • Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent Donation station: Drop off supplies for Andrews Elementary School at the Andrews Public Library from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
    Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent Donation station: Drop off supplies for Andrews Elementary School at the Andrews Public Library from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
  • Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Good mourning cloak: The feeling of spring in the air could almost be felt as a mourning cloak butterfly was spotted warming itself on a driveway under bright and sunny skies on March 18 in Bellview.
    Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Good mourning cloak: The feeling of spring in the air could almost be felt as a mourning cloak butterfly was spotted warming itself on a driveway under bright and sunny skies on March 18 in Bellview.
  • Nicole Wright/ Staff Correspondent Port-o-jon: When you gotta go, you gotta go, and a vandal apparently thought lots of things had to go last week in and around this mobile restroom near the Andrews Public Library.
    Nicole Wright/ Staff Correspondent Port-o-jon: When you gotta go, you gotta go, and a vandal apparently thought lots of things had to go last week in and around this mobile restroom near the Andrews Public Library.

    ANDREWS

    Library helps school supply

    The Andrews Public Library is seeking donations for Andrews Elementary School students.

    Drop off supplies for school during the library’s regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

    Items needed include baby wipes, Lysol spray, Clorox wipes, lip balm, construction paper and card stock, notebooks, pencils and pens.

    Bins are at the front entrance of the library or can dropped off at the circulation desk.

    Details: Visit facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.

    MURPHY

    22 Hump set for April 26

    Warriors Veteran Outreach is gearing up for the 11th annual 22 Hump to raise awareness for veteran suicide and veterans’ needs in Cherokee County on Saturday, April 26.

    The walk will begin at 9 a.m., with registration at 8:30 a.m. Walkers will leave from behind The Mason Bar in downtown Murphy.

    The walk will again span the 11-mile stretch between downtown and Marble along U.S. 19/74 East, then return to Murphy. The “22” refers to the average number of U.S. military veterans who commit suicide every day.

    Details: Call Warriors Veteran Outreach at 828-557-6881 or visit warriorsveteranoutreach.com.

    ANDREWS

    ‘Port-o-jon’ still remains

    After meeting with Town of Andrews leaders, the Andrews Public Library branch of the Nantahala Regional Library closed its public restroom, and the town provided a port-a-jon adjacent to the rear parking lot entrance.

    After a series of sewer and maintenance issues late in 2024 and earlier this year, the town and library’s management sought ways to rectify the “significant maintenance issues,” according to a Facebook post from the Nantahala Regional Library.

    The issue “will be revisited with town leadership” in the future as they seek to “work to reduce intentional damage of public facilities.”

    The town determined to close the restroom facility based upon a N.C. General Statute regarding no need for providing restrooms for the public in buildings not serving food. Take A Break Portables of Hayesville is providing weekly servicing to the mobile restroom.

    Details: Visit facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.

    DURHAM

    AI ‘pilot’ in state office

    N.C. Treasurer Brad Briner and OpenAI announced Thursday a pilot program to use artificial intelligence to improve government services for state residents.

    “Over the next 12 weeks, the Department of State Treasurer and OpenAI will explore ways to safely and responsibly use ChatGPT in combination with publicly available data to increase operational efficiency and enhance public service delivery” to residents, according to a release.

    “Innovation, particularly around data and technology, will allow our department to deliver better results for North Carolina,” Briner said. “I am excited to explore the possibilities ahead.”

    This first-of-its-kind partnership will utilize artificial intelligence to enhance the way the department conducts business, discover process improvements and ensure that DST is delivering the best possible results.

    ANDREWS

    Welcome to vets in 2026

    The annual Welcome Home Veterans: A Tribute to All Who Serve event will return Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Western Carolina Regional Airport.

    Due to various factors and scheduling conflicts with other regional fall events, there will not be an event in 2025. By shifting to spring 2026, organizers aim to secure an even stronger lineup of static aircraft displays and veteran resource vendors and extended fundraising opportunities to enhance the experience for all attendees.

    More details will be announced as the event approaches. Veterans, families and community members are encouraged to save the date in 2026 and come honor those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.

    Details: Call the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce at 828-837-2242 or email director@cherokeecountychamber.com. If you are interested in being a vendor, call Danna Pash, director of Cherokee County Veteran Services, at 828-835-8663, Ext. 1899, or email danna.pash@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.

    Home show set for July

    The Northeast Georgia Home & Garden Show scheduled for this weekend at the Towns County Recreation & Conference Center has been canceled.

    Instead, officials will focus their efforts on the July 26-27 Home & Garden Show in Blairsville, Ga.

    Details: Visit expomanagementinc.com.

    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.
    • 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.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chairman’s Forum meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Tri-County Community College Center for Applied Technology, 2415 Airport Road in Marble.

    COMING SOON

    • Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
    • Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m.  Monday, April 14, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
    • Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
    • Murphy ABC Board meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the ABC Store, 818 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy.
    • Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
    • Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chairman’s Forum meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, in the Texana Community Center, home of District 3 Commissioner Ben Adams.

    Compiled by Publisher David Brown. Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright contributed to this report.