MURPHY
‘One Night in Bethlehem’
One Night in Bethlehem, which recreates the time of the birth of Jesus, has changed, but the annual event will still be bustling with excitement as word spreads that the long-awaited Messiah has been born.
This year’s event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at the bottom of Casino Drive. There will be free gifts, games, prizes and food.
There will be booths with vendors dressed in period costumes. Three times during the night, a live Nativity of baby Jesus will be presented. There will be singing and narration. Roman soldiers will patrol the streets and shepherds will tell their story of seeing an angel proclaiming the birth if the Christ.
Many area churches and businesses are involved in this event. Pastor Preston Mashburn of Household of Faith is in charge.
Details: Call Preston Mashburn at 828-361-6598.
ANDREWS
Bingo set at library
Friends of the Andrews Public Library will hold their next monthly bingo night from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16
There will be snacks for sale. Bingo cards will be $10 each or three for $25. There will also be a 50/50 raffle.
November’s event, the first in this monthly series, raised more than $500, according to friends President Kelly Bryant. All of the money raised is used to purchase books, DVDs and other materials for the library at 871 Main St.
Details: Call 828-321-5956 or visit facebook.com/AndrewsPublicLibrary.
MURPHY
$12.5K grant to feed county
The Food Community Initiative – a dedicated partnership of Murphy First Methodist Church, the Cherokee County Department of Social Services and N.C. Cooperative Extension – announces a $12,500 grant from the Nantahala Health Foundation.
While federal SNAP benefits have been issued to families, the delay in distribution placed an intense and unprecedented strain on the community’s food assistance infrastructure. Local pantries successfully met the surge in demand, but their essential inventory and financial reserves were depleted in the process.
The foundation’s grant is crucial for transitioning the focus from reactive crisis management to a long-term investment in community health. The $12,500 will be used immediately to:
- Restore capacity: Fully replenish shelves depleted by the crisis, ensuring consistent and reliable access to food for all clients and restoring the pantries’ operational stability.
- Prioritize nutrition: Dedicate a significant portion of the funds to purchasing high-quality, nutrient-dense foods, including fresh produce and necessary proteins, which are often the first items to run out during high-demand periods.
“This $12,500 grant is more than just restocking shelves; it’s a direct investment in the health of our neighbors,” said Marlana Baker, spokesperson for the Food Community Initiative Team. “The recent crisis showed us the critical role these pantries play. Thanks to Nantahala Health Foundation, we are ensuring our community has consistent access to the most nutritious food available as pantries stabilize their operations.”
MURPHY
Mannequins come alive
It will be hard to tell if two mannequins in the window from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Marketplace Antiques, 41 Peachtree St. downtown, are real or not.
Each year Anngee Quinones-Belian, a staff correspondent with the Cherokee Scout, stands in the window of Marketplace Antiques, bringing with her a surprise guest from the community. Two local residents will pose as holiday mannequins in the shop’s front window as folks walk by, stop and stare. Dressed in the spirit of Christmas, they will stand very still, making it hard to tell if they are real.
Will passersby be able to see movement or make them laugh? Stop by and try. Take photos in front of the window. Who will the surprise guest be this year?
The fourth annual Living Mannequin in the Window event will not only entertain people, but tips will go to the Shop with a Cop program to put a smile on the faces of children at Christmas.
RALEIGH
10 districts get $392M
Ten North Carolina school districts will share more than $392 million in state lottery-funded grants to replace and renovate aging facilities, state education officials said Dec. 3.
The grants target some of the state’s most economically distressed counties. The projects cover seven elementary schools, two high schools, and one Career & Technical Education center. They involve the complete renovation of two existing buildings and construction of 14 replacements.
State officials said several of the facilities set for demolition were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Closer to home, Murphy High School was built in the 1940s.
Altogether, the state received 92 applications totaling nearly $2 billion in requested funding, but only 10 districts were selected. Transylvania County Schools Superintendent Lisa Fletcher, former principal of Murphy High, said the investment, which includes rebuilding the high school campus and adding a new CTE facility, represents more than bricks and mortar.
“We’re doing this so a student who loves working with their hands can learn a trade in a space that looks like a real shop,” Fletcher said. “We’re doing this so a student who dreams of nursing and physical therapy can practice in a space that looks like a real clinic.”
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. today at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. today at Murphy Electric Power Board, 107 Peachtree St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday 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 in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
- 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.
- 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. Staff Correspondents Anngee Quinones-Belian and Nicole Wright contributed to this report.