MURPHY
Thankful for a free dinner
The free community Thanksgiving Day dinner is back again this year, and everyone is welcome to join Thursday.
Meals will be served drive-through or walk-through only at Main Street Diner on Hiwassee Street downtown. No reservations are needed; just come as you are and enjoy a warm Thanksgiving meal shared in the spirit of community and gratitude.
Those wishing to help can donate food, funds or time.
Details: Call Cecilia Crawford-Faulkner at 828-837-2097.
MURPHY
Children’s Book Week
The Mayor’s Rising Stars marked Children’s Book Week with a special visit to the Murphy Public Library, delivering autographed copies of two new books by acclaimed children’s author Lester Laminack, which are expected to inspire young readers throughout one of the year’s most celebrated literary weeks.
The student leadership group gathered with library staff to celebrate the annual nationwide event, which highlights the joy of reading and the power of imagination for young readers. The donated books will be added to the library’s children’s collection.
Mayor Tim Radford praised the Rising Stars and Rotary Club of Murphy for supporting literacy efforts in the community.
“Moments like this strengthen the foundation for lifelong learning,” Radford said. “I’m proud of these young leaders and grateful to Rotary for helping put even more books in the hands of children.”
RALEIGH
Filing to start for elections
Voters across North Carolina soon will learn the candidates who will vie for their votes in 2026. Candidate filing for most contests in the 2026 elections begins at noon Monday and ends at noon Friday, Dec. 19.
Depending on the office sought, candidates will file their Notice of Candidacy and pay their filing fees either at their county board of elections office or with the State Board of Elections at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
The 2026 primary election is set for Tuesday, March 3. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Details: Visit ncsbe.gov.
ANDREWS
Duke files for rate increase
Duke Energy is asking state regulators to approve an increase of more than 13% in its rates in 2027 for residential customers, with business customers likely to see smaller increases, according to N.C. Tribune.
The requests continue a trend of sharply higher electricity costs over the past decade. Residential rates in the U.S. climbed 32% in the last decade, outpacing the overall inflation rate, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says.
Duke Energy says customers in the Charlotte and Triad areas using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would pay about $17 more per month starting Jan. 1, 2027, or $162. It also is proposing a nearly 4% increase in 2028, putting the monthly bill at about $168.50.
Duke Energy serves Andrews and eastern Cherokee County. The N.C. Utilities Commission has to approve the rate increases, which Duke says would boost revenue by about $1.78 billion over the two years.
Details: Visit duke-energy.com/home.
MARBLE
Schools get STEM grant
Seven local school systems and four schools were awarded the “Bridging the Grant with STEM-E” grant from Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
This funding will increase accessibility to STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math – by providing elementary through high school students with mobile science unit field trips, exploration in entrepreneurship, STEAM study within their classrooms and teacher STEAM professional development. This grant will provide the teachers and students in far-western North Carolina area tools for increasing STEAM literacy for a stronger future workforce.
Students and teachers from Cherokee County, Cherokee Central, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Macon County, Swain County, New Kituwah Academy, Mountain Discovery Charter, Shining Rock Classical Academy and Catamount School will be included within the grant. This grant partnership includes the schools, Western Region Education Service Alliance and Mountain Satellite Office of the Science House of N.C. State.
LAW & ORDER
Trespassing charges against Kevin and Amanda Vanover, which were listed in the Cherokee County Arrest Report published in the Cherokee Scout in 2024, have been dismissed due to meeting the criteria for being auto expunged, according to the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts Office.
CORRECTIONS
The article “Historical museum undergoes renovations” on page 3A in the Nov. 19 edition of the Cherokee Scout included a reporting error. The Cherokee County Historical Museum received a grant from the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority to help pay for renovations. The Scout regrets the error.
The Our View “An elections daze” on page 4A in the Nov. 19 edition of the Cherokee Scout included a mistake from a state elections website. The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The second primary, if needed, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Look for the Poll Question about this subject on page 4A. The Scout regrets the error.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Local, state and federal government offices – as well as the Cherokee Scout – will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday. The local newspaper’s office will open at 9 a.m. Monday.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 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, Dec. 8, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the town’s Facebook page.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, 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, Dec. 16, at the ABC Store, 818 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 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 Thursday, Dec. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 1, for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. on the following Fridays.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.