UNAKA
Game Night set Saturday
Looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday evening? Mark your calendar for Game Night at the Unaka Community Center from 5-7 p.m. Saturday.
Bring your friends, family and 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.
The Unaka Community Center is at 14945 Joe Brown Highway. Game Night is being sponsored this month by Eddie Cook Supply Center.
BRASSTOWN
Pig Pickin’ feeds families
The Cherokee/Clay Food Alliance is partnering with Still Waters Landing to host “The Big Table” from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the Brasstown Community Center.
The event will feature a family-style meal with all ingredients, produce and pork provided by Still Waters Landing,along with a silent auction. Auction items may be perused when doors open at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced after the meal, which begins at 6 p.m.
Funds raised will help provide meals for local families and individuals through the food bank donation and delivery program. Tickets range from $25-$100 and may be purchased at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, FernCrest Winery, Rare Bird Emporium or Scroggs Farm. There is also a PayPal link to the event from the group’s Facebook events page.
Details: The Brasstown Community Center is at 255 Settawig Road. Visit wncccfa.org.
PEACHTREE
TCCC mourns Wood’s death
Tri-County Community College’s board of trustees mourned the loss of Stephen Woods, 61, of Blue Ridge, Ga., who died on April 28. He was 61 and was serving as chief academic officer and vice president of teaching and learning at Tri-County.
“This has been a difficult two weeks,” Donna Tipton-Rogers, college president, told trustees at their May 8 meeting on the campus.
Woods served the college for nearly 36 years, Tipton-Rogers said, adding that their relationship was such that he often finished her sentences.
“He knew the ins and outs and how to make things happen,” she said. “He gave his heart and soul to the college.”
Tipton-Rogers got the call from Woods’ wife, Patsy, in the middle of the night with the sound of arriving emergency responders audible over the phone.
“We’ll never be able to replace him, and we won’t even try,” Tipton-Rogers said, predicting bumps in the road ahead with the loss of such a wealth of institutional knowledge.
Woods was planning to retired in September, Tipton-Rogers said, but she didn’t believe him.
TEXANA
Dozen-plus at chair’s meet
More than a dozen people attended the chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners’ meeting in the Texana Community Center on May 5.
It was the third meeting using a community forum format hosted by Chair Dan Eichenbaum and accompanied by the local county commissioner. On May 5, it was Commissioner Ben Adams’ turn.
Adams has been holding public events like the one on May 5 throughout his term in office. “My big thing is transparency,” he said. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
As during previous meetings, residents complained about things that county commissioners don’t have jurisdiction over – one resident complained about a sewer smell in her drinking water and others complained about high water costs, both of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Town of Murphy. Although Texana is unincorporated, it receives water and sewer service from the town.
Residents also complained about speeders on Texana Road and the entrance to the newly expanded convenience center having poor visibility from oncoming drivers. Highways are managed by the N.C. Department of Transportation while traffic enforcement outside of towns is handled by the N.C. Highway Patrol, although the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office could step up patrols in that area.
Residents have also long sought a sidewalk in their community but have had no luck getting it approved by N.C. DOT.
Attendees also asked for county support to build a retaining wall around the community center’s basketball court and new, safer playground equipment.
PEACHTREE
College center details shared
A new multi-purpose cultural arts and workforce center at Tri-County Community College will built behind the Enloe Building on the college’s main campus off of U.S. 64 East Alternate.
The facility will be about 33,000 square feet, Paul Worley, vice president of economic and workforce development, told the college’s board of trustees Thursday.
The college hoped to acquire a state-owned parcel beside the Enloe Building where the N.C. Forest Service has an office and storage shed, but the college and the state were unable to come to terms. Now the center will be built behind the Enloe Building, where the college owns a large parking lot.
Groundbreaking for the facility is expected in about a year, although college President Donna Tipton-Rogers said she hopes she can influence earlier approval by the state. Funding for the project has been secured, but approval at the state level must be secured before the project goes out to bid and true costs are determined.
“We can’t let anything else hold us up,” she said. “We must move forward.”
MURPHY
Town updates sign ordinance
The Town of Murphy reminds residents, businesses and advertisers of updated provisions in its sign ordinance concerning off-premise advertising signs and the use of public rights of way.
Off-premise signs – those that promote businesses, services or events not on the property where the sign is placed – are not permitted in the public right of way and subject to removal.
Under §153.067 of the ordinance, unauthorized signs placed on public streets, sidewalks or utility poles are considered forfeited to the public and may be confiscated by town staff. These provisions are intended to improve safety, maintain visibility and preserve the appearance of Murphy. Limited exceptions may apply for special event signage sponsored by nonprofit organizations with prior approval from the town council.
Details: Call Murphy Town Hall at 828-837-2510 or visit townofmurphync.com/media/4556.
TEXANA
Juneteenth event coming
The Texana Community Development Club will present the second annual Juneteenth Celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Texana Community Center, 29 Texana Community Center Road.
The celebration will feature live music, activities, food vendors, presenters, and a car show. Musical performances will include gospel by SOA, blues and R&B by Claude “Smoothy” Jackson, country by Danny Dawson, reggae by Nattie Love Joys, and pop by Lyric Jones. Victor Hall will serve as the MC and live DJ for the event.
Organizers say the event aims to showcase history, foster cultural pride and build a stronger community. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the family-friendly festivities while celebrating the significance of Juneteenth.
MURPHY
Grab your forks, corks
Forks & Corks: Local Savor 2025 starts at 5 p.m.
Thursday, June 5, at The Hackney Warehouse, 11 Railroad St., downtown. Check in by 6:15 p.m.
Join the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for an unforgettable evening celebrating the best local food, drink and community spirit.
Sample the finest local cuisine from top restaurants, caterers, breweries, wineries and more – all in one place. This year’s event features live vintage jazz music by Denise Moore, a Passport & Raffle and voting on your favorites.
Tickets are $45. Only 300 tickets are available.
Details: Email info@cherokeecountychamber.com, call 828-837-2242 or visit cherokeecountychamber.com.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting for budget hearings at 6:30 p.m. today at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Tennessee Valley Authority will hold a virtual meeting to discuss repairs at Chatuge Dam at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with a question-and-answer session. The live link will be at tva.com/nepa.
- 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.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. A public hearing on the recommended 2025-26 fiscal year budget will be held. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting for budget hearings at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Local, state and federal government offices, and the Cherokee Scout, will be closed Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown. Editor Randy Foster and Staff Correspondent Nicole Wright contributed to this report.