ANDREWS
Fire in the Valley delay
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7620 will hold its eighth annual “Fire In the Valley” chili cook-off from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday – a one-week delay after last weekend’s winter storm – at the new Hoppy Trout Brewing Co., 889 Main St.
Held annually as a fundraiser for the local VFW post, the event generates monies used for donations to local charities as well as community projects such as helping local veterans and families in need along with providing funds for maintenance and improvements to the local post facility.
There will also be live entertainment and this
year’s festivities will see the return of the Beard & Mustache Contest to be held at 1 p.m.
The entry fee for chili competitors is $20. There is a $5 admission fee to sample all of the chilis represented.
Details: Email vfw7620@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/Andrews-VFW-Post-7620.
MURPHY
Local set to sing on ‘Idol’
Braden Rumfelt will be competing on the upcoming season of the television show American Idol, which started Monday on ABC.
Tune in to see how far the Murphy singer will make it and if a local star is born.
MURPHY
GOP political forums soon
The Cherokee County Republican Party, in partnership with the Cherokee Scout and Local TV 4, is pleased to announce two nights of political forums for Cherokee County GOP candidates.
The debates will take place from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, and Friday, Feb. 6, at the Cherokee County Courthouse downtown.
Here’s the schedule:
- Feb. 5 – Candidates for the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, clerk of court and register of deeds. Scout Publisher David Brown will be the moderator; email questions to dbrown@cherokeescout.com. Remember, questions must apply to all of the candidates in each race.
- Feb. 6 – Candidates for the Cherokee County Board of Education and sheriff. Ralph Robinson of TV4 will be the moderator; email questions to ralphbrobinson@gmail.com.
The Cherokee County Republican Party has also scheduled three candidate meet-and-greet events across the county, giving voters the chance to hear directly from candidates and connect with them in a relaxed, community-focused setting.
Here’s the schedule:
- Monday, Feb. 9, 6-8 p.m. – P.B. Ferebee Community Center, 535 Main St. in Andrews.
- Tuesday, Feb. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Murphy Public Library, 9 Blumenthal St. downtown.
- Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m. – Hiwassee Dam Fire Department, 80 Line Drive off N.C. 294.
Community members are encouraged to attend any or all of these free events.
SHOOTING CREEK
Options for power lines
Clay County attorney Merinda Woody, working with the county’s planning board, came up with alternate routes that have been forwarded for Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. and the Tennessee Valley Authority to consider in a proposed transmission project.
The original route caused controversy because it would cross private property lines, could hamper the views and could create environmental issues, according to opponents. Woody presented an alternate route and map.
- Proposal No. 1: From Tap Point 1 on N.C. 69 across from Mountain Valley store, crossing behind Ingles to the intersection of U.S. 64 west and Myers Chapel Road, then follow U.S. 64 east closely to the proposed substation site and would see the lines follow U.S. 64 all the way up to their proposed substation.
- Proposal No. 2: From Tap Point 2, traversing TVA lands to Chatuge Dam Road, following the Hiawassee River and intersection at U.S. 64 west and Myers Chapel Road, then following U.S. 64 east close to proposed substation site. A benefit is that is already a right of way on U.S. 64.
- Proposal No. 3: Go through the lake. “TVA has to do work on the dam; it’s a good time to put that in,” Woody said.
HAYESVILLE
Clay cancels data centers
Clay County commissioners received applause on several occasions from a crowded room during the Jan. 8 board meeting for a resolution that prohibits commercial data centers from operating in the county. It is believed Clay is the first county in North Carolina to enact this kind of ordinance.
The resolution passed the board unanimously upon a motion from Commissioner Clay Logan. It was also supported by the county’s planning board.
The prohibition applies to all of Clay County, with the exception to the municipality and extra-territorial jurisdiction of Hayesville, which could also opt to adopt the ordinance. Before voting, commissioners heard several comments during the public hearing portion – all of which supported a ban on commercial data centers.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public Meetings
THIS WEEK
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 107 Peachtree St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 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 of each month in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown. The Clay County Progress contributed to this report.