Marble
Schools chief to step down
Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Keevin Woody will be stepping down at the end of June.
Woody is not seeking a renewal of his four-year contract, which was first awarded by the previous school board that had developed a controversial plan to consolidate the county’s three primary high schools. Four new school board members elected in 2022, along with the board of commissioners, rejected that plan.
The superintendent, who holds a doctorate-level degree, is hired by the board of education, executes policies set by the board and runs day-to-day operations at the county’s 12 campuses and 13 schools.
Woody met with the school board in closed session at Thursday’s meeting and announced his wishes.
“We voted Thursday after closed session to begin the search for his replacement,” school board member Jeff Tatham told the Cherokee Scout.
Upon returning to open session, the board approved to contract with Campbell Shatley PLLC to perform a superintendent search. The position pays around $150,000 annually.
Marble
Schools will sell property
Following a professional evaluation, the Cherokee County Board of Education decided not to develop a 99-acre parcel of rugged terrain across the highway from Murphy high and middle schools.
The board hired Civil Design Concepts, PA, to evaluate the property to determine whether it would be financially feasible to put a new high school campus there. The property was given to the school system by the N.C. Department of Transportation years ago and had been previously listed for sale as surplus without success.
Cost to grade the property into something that could be developable and build access roads would be $27.9 million including a $5.5 million contingency, according to documents presented to the school board Thursday.
Just 17 acres of the 99-acre parcel is developable, according to the study.
The board approved Chair Steve Coleman’s suggestion to once again attempt to sell the property rather than develop it for school purposes.
MURPHY
Family seeks help post fire
A recent house fire that took everything from Michael and Kelli Dockery, and their four pets, has left them in a dire situation: the harsh reality of cold weather without a home.
The urgency to build a tiny house is critical, as they need lumber and other materials to create a safe and warm shelter for themselves and their beloved animals. A Go Fund Me site has been created to help raise the money to make that a reality.
“This is a time when community support can make a real difference. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help them get the resources they need to start rebuilding their lives,” the Go Fund Me item reads. “It’s heartbreaking to see them struggle, and your generosity can provide them with hope and comfort during this challenging time.”
Kelli Dockery thanks those who have helped out so far. “I know our Lord will bless them,” she wrote on social media. “Please continue prayers, they are very much needed.”
Details: Visit gofundme.com/f/shelter-for-mike-kelli-and-their-pets-after-fire?
ANDREWS
Chamber is in the Valley
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce wants to continue being present and accessible to the Andrews Valley with expanded office hours.
Through April, chamber Executive Director Victoria Ivie will be downtown from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays in the Garden 58 building at 992 Main St.
Details: Visit cherokeecountychamber.com.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Big Brothers, Sisters sought
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina is calling on local leaders, parents, retirees, business owners and community-minded residents to help shape the future of mentorship for children in Cherokee County by serving on a local advisory council.
Advisory council members serve as local champions for children and youth, ensuring that mentoring programs remain strong, visible and responsive to the needs of their community. Council members help by:
- Acting as brand ambassadors, sharing the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters throughout the community.
- Helping plan activities and experiences for “Littles” enrolled in the program.
- Supporting local fundraising efforts that keep mentoring programs accessible and sustainable.
Details: Email program coordinator Tina Raffler at tinar@bbbswnc.org.
MURPHY
Local moves up on ‘Idol’
Local resident Braden Rumfelt received a golden ticket on Feb. 2 and will be moving on to the next round of the hit television show American Idol on ABC.
Tune in on Mondays to see how far the Murphy singer will make it in Nashville, Tenn., and if a star is born.
WASHINGTON
$290M set in recovery help
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have entered into a $290 million Good Neighbor Agreement to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in western North Carolina.
The agreement – the largest of its kind for the Forest Service – will speed up recovery efforts, create new jobs, reduce overall costs and strengthen communities impacted by the hurricane.
This agreement empowers the commission to perform comprehensive recovery efforts across the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests during the next 10 years. The commission will remove storm debris, repair roads and recreation areas, manage invasive species, restore damaged watersheds and improve wildlife habitat. While the majority of the Pisgah and Nantahala forests have reopened following Hurricane Helene, a significant amount of work remains to repair damage to roads, recreation areas, trails and watersheds.
Details: Visit fs.usda.gov/managing-land/farm-bill/gna.
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 Murphy.
- 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. 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. Editor Randy Foster contributed to this report.