ROGERSVILLE, Tenn.
Murphy man, a mayor, dies
Retired Rogersville mayor Jim Sells, who at one time was the longest-serving mayor in Tennessee, died Jan. 13 at home surrounded by family at age 80.
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Born in 1945 in Murphy, N.C., his family relocated when his father, Vonsel Sells, was transferred with his employment with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Sells was a member of the football team as a student at Rogersville High School, according to citizentribune.com. He was retired from BellSouth after years of service.
Sells first went into government service as an alderman on the Rogersville Board of Mayor & Aldermen in 1971. He was elected mayor in 1978 and was Tennessee’s longest-serving mayor until he retired in 2025. When Sells retired, the room where the board of mayor and aldermen met was renamed in his honor.
MURPHY
Local set to sing on ‘Idol’
Braden Rumfelt will be competing on the upcoming season of the television show American Idol, which starts Monday on ABC.
Tune in to see how far the Murphy singer will make it and if a local star is born.
ANDREWS
Board OKs roof repairs
Andrews Elementary School could get long-needed roof repairs if Cherokee County commissioners go along with a $1.1 million plan approved by the board of education on Jan. 8.
The school board approved two options proposed by REI Engineers, an engineering firm with offices in North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. AEI representative David Honeycutt recommended design options for the AES roof replacement project.
After the presentation and discussion, the board approved the following options and alternates:
- For the 1952 wing at Andrews Elementary School, Option B: Recover existing membrane with new ballasted PVC roof system along with sheet metal flashing and accessories to provide a complete, watertight, 20-year warrantable roof assembly; reuse existing insulation and ballast. Cost: $200,000.
- For the 1972 wing of Andrews Elementary, Option D: Remove the existing roofs (metal standing seam and asphalt built-up roofs), provide new air barrier on top of the existing roof deck, provide new insulation system to meet current energy code, provide new fully adhered PVC roof system along with sheet metal flashing and accessories to provide a complete, watertight, 20-year warrantable roof assembly. The R-Value could be increased to meet current energy codes. The aesthetics of the building would change from the existing galvanized silver standing seam metal to a white single ply membrane. Cost: $895,000.
The firm also recommended repoint masonry on 1952 wing walls, including boiler chimney, for $7,000; and repair cast-in-place concrete canopy structures on 1952 wing for $10,000. The $1.1 million in project funding, which also needs approval from the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, would come the Public School Building Repair & Renovation Fund.
MURPHY
Local’s love of pool honored
Mayor Tim Radford presented local resident James Tharp with an award for his unwavering passion, resilience and commitment to the game of pool.
Tharp has been playing pool since childhood. He still plays and practices on a daily basis. Two years ago, he was injured in a side-by-side vehicle accident, sustaining multiple fractures. Three weeks later, using a wheelchair, he attended a pool game and played with support from a friend.
Despite his challenges, Tharp worked hard to regain his skills. He continues to play, mentor others and is recognized as a top Murphy Pool League performer.
Billiards (aka pool) is a fun, active game that improves eye-hand coordination, focus and problem-solving. It involves physical movement around the table and requires strategic planning for each shot.
MURPHY
Toys for Toys luncheon set
The annual Cherokee County Toys for Tots Donor Luncheon is being planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Legends Steakhouse downtown.
Details: Save the date and visit murphy-nc.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx?nPageID=0&nPreviewInd=0&nRedirectInd=3.
HAYESVILLE
Map shows flood options
In an effort to be transparent to the public as officials look at options to address concerns at the Chatuge Dam spillway, the Tennessee Valley Authority has created an interactive inundation map at that shows where flooding would occur in the unlikely event of a failure at the spillway.
If a large volume of water flows quickly over the spillway during an extreme rainfall event, that water could lift the concrete slabs, according to a release from TVA. Once a slab is lifted, the ground is exposed to the force of the water, which could erode the spillway all the way back until it breaches the reservoir. Breaching means a failure of the dam to hold back the water.
If the spillway were to fail, TVA estimates the flow into the river would reach about 250,000 cubic feet per second. When the Chatuge Dam is in normal hydrogeneration status, about 1,500 cubic feet per second is released.
Details: Visit tva.com/Chatuge.
MURPHY
Gardening classes set
Cherokee County will be offering Pro Series Gardening classes beginning today.
The classes will begin at 9 a.m. at the Extension Annex for participants who want to learn about gardening but are not quite ready to become an Extension Master Gardener. Each class is $15.
Class offerings include:
- Jan. 28 – How to Diagnose Insects & Diseases in the Garden.
- Feb. 4 – Choosing the Right Plants for the Landscape.
- Feb. 25 – Dividing, Potting & Propagation.
Details: Visit cherokee.ces.ncsu.edu/2025/11/pro-garden-series-classes-in-2026.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- No public meetings are planned this week.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown. Editor Randy Foster contributed to this report.