BEAVER DAM
Camping in vintage style
There will be a Vintage Camper Open House from noon-3 p.m. Saturday at J&J’s Getaway, 87 Horton Road north of Murphy. Entry is free, with donations accepted. Raffle prizes will be available, with proceeds donated to western North Carolina hurricane relief.
In addition, the lemonade station will be set up.
The Thankful Tin Vintage Camper Rally is taking place all weekend at J&J’s.
Details: Visit jandjsgetaway.com.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Free meals this summer
Cherokee County Schools and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be serving free summer meals for ages 18 and under.
Children do not have to be enrolled in Cherokee County Schools to participate. Adults pay $3.50 for breakfast, $5.50 for lunch.
Meals will be provided Monday through Friday at these school cafeterias:
- Andrews Elementary: June 9 through July 25.
- Martins Creek: June 9-27.
- Murphy Elementary: June 9 through July 25.
- Murphy High: June 9 through July 18.
- Peachtree Elementary: June 9-27.
- Ranger Elementary: June 9 through July 18.
Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Lunch is from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
PEACHTREE
New medical facility opens
Appalachian Mountain Health invites everyone to the grand opening of its brand-new state-of-the-art Medical Center at 4226 E. U.S. 64 Alternate, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday, June 30.
The facility is the result of a major investment in expanding access to high-quality, compassionate and affordable care in Murphy and surrounding areas. It’s been a journey since breaking ground on June 23, 2023.
The local location will offers a full range of integrated services, including primary care, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, clinical pharmacy, dental care, women’s health and pediatrics.
Details: Visit appalachianmountainhealth.org.
MURPHY
Elder Abuse Walk planned
The 13th annual Elder Abuse Awareness Walk will be held starting at 5 p.m. Monday, June 16, under the pavilion beside the playground at Konehete Veterans Park.
Entry is free. There will be a community resource time from 5-5:45 p.m., opening regards from 5:45-6 p.m. and the walk begins from 6-7 p.m. Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties is the sponsoring organization.
“Our elder deserves to be treated with respect,” according to a release from Reach. “Join the cause, and spread the word.”
Details: Visit reachofcherokeecounty.org.
RALEIGH
House OKs Helene relief
The N.C. House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 Part II, marking the fifth round of Helene relief funding. The legislation delivers more than $464 million to bolster ongoing recovery efforts in western North Carolina.
The funding package includes substantial investments in critical infrastructure restoration, public facility repairs and direct relief for small businesses affected by the disaster, according to a release.
“We listened to a lot of folks in developing this bill,” said state Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin). “We listened to the agencies, we listened to our local governments, the towns and counties and the non-profits. We listened to the folks on the ground. But most importantly, we listened to our constituents.”
This legislation is a culmination of several months of work by the Western delegation. The House has previously allocated more than $1.4 billion in relief before this bill, which would bring the total to $1.85 billion. The bill moves to the Senate for consideration.
In addition, the bill includes a $1 million grant for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, a 53-mile tourist line based in Bryson City that offers excursions along the Tuckasegee River and into the Nantahala Gorge. The Great Smoky Mountains line saw its expected 2024 ridership drop by 35,000 customers.
MURPHY
Columnist to read poetry
You’re invited to a poetry reading by local author Mary Ricketson at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Cherokee County Arts Council, 33 Valley River Ave. downtown.
Everyone is welcome to come and bring a friend. Ricketson writes a monthly column, “Woman to Woman,” for the Cherokee Scout.
Featured will be poems from Ricketson’s 2022 book, Precious the Mule, along with other selected poems old and new. There will be a time for discussion as well as a reception of food and drink.
Ricketson wrote Precious the Mule in response to a sudden and growing connection with her neighbor’s prize Arabian mule, who was injured in a freak and unusual way.
“I visited the mule often, followed his story and grew to love the mule I had previously only passed by,” she said in a release. “I felt deeply. I began to write, my feelings grew and I kept writing. I nourished a universal feeling of kindness, human compassion and hope. A relationship can grow simply by caring and connecting.”
BRASSTOWN
Folk school granted $50K
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently approved focus area grants in Cultural Resources and Natural Resources totaling $267,000.
John C. Campbell Folk School received $50,000 to support a concert series celebrating its centennial in 2025-26. This funding will attract five major headliners, upgrade the sound system in the outdoor venue, and support marketing and promotions. The project will have a direct economic impact on Cherokee and Clay counties while attracting visitors from southern Appalachia and nationwide.
The Gretchen Batra Fund and Dogwood Charitable Endowment Fund provided co-investment for this grant.
Details: Visit cfwnc.org.
MURPHY
Town saying bye to Elkins
A family picnic will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday under the pavilions next to the Rock Gym at Konehete Veterans Park.
Ona Elkins, an AmeriCorps worker who has spent the last year working with the Town of Murphy, is leaving soon. The picnic is a chance to for parents and students to thank her being the leader of the Mayor’s Rising Stars program and other services to the public.
This is an event for parents to come and express their appreciation for her leadership. The focus is on how Elkins’ journey with AmeriCorps has helped the community.
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.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 12, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 16, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 16, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Murphy ABC Board meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 17, at the ABC Store, 818 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Local, state and federal government offices, and the Cherokee Scout, will be closed Friday, July 4, for the national holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday, July 7.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Chairman’s Forum meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 7, in the Andrews Sunshine Senior Center, 54 Park St., hosted by District 1 Commissioner Cal Stiles.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.