ANDREWS
Pay raises rescinded
The Andrews Board of Aldermen unanimously rescinded pay raises for the mayor and board members during a special called meeting Thursday.
The Andrews Board of Aldermen approved a $100 pay raise for each member as well as Mayor James Reid on Nov. 9 meeting, following a closed session lasting about an hour. The raise was approved 3-1, with Alderman Steve Jordan casting the sole nay vote.
However, following the meeting former Alderman Randy Hogsed expressed concerns about the legality of the raise. He cited N.C. General Statute 160A-64, which states that a mayor and municipal board may only vote to raise its pay as part of the municipality’s annual regular budget.
After being made aware of the situation, Reid called for the special meeting, where the raises were quickly rescinded without comment. They will likely be added to the 2022-23 fiscal year budget.
The newly elected members were going to be sworn in Thursday, but they cannot be by law until December. The next scheduled meeting of the Andrews Board of Aldermen is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
MURPHY
Help school get painted
The Learning Center charter school needs help from the community as it expands into a second campus downtown.
All of the walls on the new campus, in the bottom floor of the Mountain Vista Inn just off Peachtree Street downtown, needs to be primed, treated with mold-resistant paint, then given two additional coats of flame-resistant paint. The charter has already secured more than $5,000 in funding toward the project, but more is needed to offer high school grades.
If you have any questions, visit www.naturallygrownkids.org. If you would like to help, email steven@stevenaft.com or write to: The Learning Center, c/o Steven Aft, P.O. Box 279, Murphy, NC 28906.
ANDREWS
Town hires new officer
The Andrews Board of Aldermen hired a new police officer during a special called meeting Thursday.
Megan Selby, who said she has worked in law enforcement since 2015 and previously worked with the town in 2016, was unanimously hired by the board on the recommendation of Police Chief Rocky Burrell. Since she is still a certified officer in North Carolina, her hiring was made effective immediately.
Aldermen Steve Jordan thanked Burrell for his good work in building back the Andrews Police Department, especially in hiring a qualified female officer for the force.
MURPHY
Rotary is tree free
For the past 50 years, the Rotary Club of Murphy has set up a Christmas tree lot selling high-quality Fraser Firs to our community at an affordable price.
Officials are sad to announce that this year there is a national shortage of Christmas trees, and as a result the club has been unable to find a supplier who can sell the club trees without a huge markup. Therefore, officials have made the very tough decision to skip Christmas tree sales this year.
Selling Christmas trees is one of the Rotary Club’s primary fundraisers, which allows the club to provide scholarships to local students and support other community needs. In the past, many folks would buy trees from the club or drop off donations just to give back to the community.
“We apologize for the lack of trees this year,” officials said in a release. For those who still want to financially assist, donations may be mailed to: Murphy Rotary Club, P.O. Box 846, Murphy, NC 28906.
MURPHY
Free dinner for holiday
Connections of Caring Hearts will present a free Thanksgiving dinner to everyone who would like to join at 11 a.m. Thursday at Main Street USA Diner on Hiwassee Street.
Public servants only will be fed from 10-11 a.m. The general public will be fed from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meal is drive-through or walk-through only due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to help the local family that provides this first-class meal, see the group’s announcement on Facebook.
MURPHY
Buy a grill, build a well
The Rotary Club of Murphy is selling raffle tickets for a grill and gift basket through Dec. 15, when the winner will be drawn.
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. All money raised will go to help build a well in honor of late local resident Nora Starks.
For details, email pjm3.rotary@gmail.com.
HENDERSONVILLE
Woodhouse seeks seat
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Surrounded by supporters and packed into Henderson County GOP Headquarters at noon Thursday, Michele Woodhouse announced her campaign for the Republican nomination for the newly created 14th Congressional District.
In a fiery speech, Woodhouse continued and made it clear she would be a conservative warrior fighting for the people of western North Carolina. She has served as N.C. GOP District 11 chair since winning election in April, and has traveled all across 6,600 square miles on behalf of Republican candidates.
Woodhouse is a mom of two, Olivia and Marcus, an entrepreneur and successful businesswoman. Raised in Detroit with deep western North Carolina roots, she called herself “a bold, decisive, conservative woman the Squad will fear in Congress.”
RALEIGH
State at top on tax policy
North Carolina was ranked No.1 for its business climate by Site Selection magazine for the second consecutive year.
The business-centered publication releases its annual Business Climate Rankings each November. The magazine evaluated states equally on its criteria and expert survey.
North Carolina was tied for the No.1 spot last year with Georgia, but the state topped the list for several years before. The magazine attributed North Carolina’s top ranking to its corporate tax rate.
“One of North Carolina’s competitive advantages for several years has been its 2.5 percent corporate tax rate – the lowest of the 44 states that levy such a tax,” Site Selection wrote. The state’s other advantages include its regulations, supply-chain logistics, cost of doing business, economic incentives and workforce-training programs.
Republicans have held the majority in the General Assembly for the last decade, but House Minority Robert Reives (D-Durham) said the state had similar business tax rankings when Democrats last led the Legislature in 2010.
Lending Tree ranked North Carolina the best place in the country to start a small business last month, and CNBC has ranked North Carolina No. 2 on its list of top states for business.
HENDERSONVILLE
Vet runs vs. Cawthorn
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Democrat and combat veteran Josh Remillard said will run against Madison Cawthorn in North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District
Cawthorn recently announced that he is switching from North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District to the 13th, which Remillard said is a clear indication he’s afraid of the competition.
“My grandma always told me not to start any fights, but that if I did get into one, I’d damned well better finish it. Madison Cawthorn started this fight, and I’m going to finish it,” Remillard said. “When Madison Cawthorn got on that stage on Jan. 6 and sent that pack of rioters to attack our country, I knew it was my mission to defeat him.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Senate candidate Erica Smith said Cawthorn “is an insurrectionist” and as a result “must be expelled from Congress immediately.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- All local, state and federal government offices – along with the Cherokee Scout and other businesses – will be closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Scout will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
COMING SOON
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Learning Center Board of Directors meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 945 Connahetta St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
From staff and The Capital Square reports.