ANDREWS
Chamber dinner set
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner and awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at Andrews United Methodist Church, 101 Chestnut St. downtown.
In addition to a meal, the Andrews Community Youth Players will be performing. The guest speaker is Cabrina Horton of the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority.
The chamber is looking for businesses to decorate tables for the dinner. For details, call Executive Director Nola Cooper at 321-3584.
Tickets to the dinner are $20. They can be purchased at the chamber office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, as well as from 1-5 p.m. Friday); FernCrest Winery Tasting Room (see Jan Olson); or online at www.VisitAndrewsNC.com/dinner-tickets (there is a $1 handling fee).
CHEROKEE COUNTY
34 COVID April cases
The Cherokee County Health Department reported 34 new positive test results for the coronavirus in April.
Of those cases, which do not include unreported positive results from home test kits, six of them were fully vaccinated without a booster, while six others were fully vaccinated with a booster. That means 22
were not vaccinated at all, with ages 19-39 having the most positive test results with 16.
“Cases have remained low through the month of April, with an average of 10 known active cases at any point in time,” Health Director David Badger said. “We are currently seeing a slight increase in current known cases, running between 15-20 active cases at any point in time.”
He added that the second booster shot is available at the office in Murphy; only 24 percent of local residents have been vaccinated with at least one booster. For details, call 837-7486.
MURPHY
Food bank moving on
The Cherokee County Sharing Center food pantry and The Sparrow’s Nest have joined forces to become one to better serve the community, now operating as the Sharing Center Food Bank.
The new distribution days and times will be Mondays and Fridays from noon-2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Murphy, 517 Hiwassee St. (at the former Sparrow’s Nest building). The Sparrow’s Nest will continue its MANNA kitchen mission from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays.
Food bank officials said they were sad to leave First United Methodist Church of Murphy, but First Baptist provided an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. Traffic was often a problem downtown as well.
Everyone can receive food twice a month. For details, call 837-2615 or 360-4041.
MURPHY
State Farm scholarships
Steven Aft’s State Farm Insurance office has announced the 2022 Extra Mile Award Scholarship winners, with “some of the most deserving candidates yet in the program’s storied 10-year history,” according to a release.
This year’s winners of a $500 scholarship are:
- Cayla Postell – Andrews High School.
- Emma Grindstaff – Hayesville High School.
- Sierra Jones – Hiwassee Dam High School.
- Faith Ann Revis – Murphy High School.
- Sarah Gibby – Robbinsville High School.
For details, visit www.ExtraMileAward.com.
SWANNONOA
Kids for Life founder ride
The Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation is holding the first Mike Traynor Memorial Ride on Saturday, June 4, at Harley-Davidson of Asheville, 20 Patton Cove Road.
Former employees and volunteers are coming to Asheville from all over the country to honor Traynor, founder of Ride for Kids (Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation) in Asheville. The ride is open to everyone – and all brands
of motorcycles – to have
fun and raise money for the kids.
Before coming to work at Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation, Director Robert Trigueros of Murphy worked with Traynor for eight years. “He was a significant influence in what I do and my dedication to the kids,” Trigueros said.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. and is $35 per rider, $15 per passenger. For details, email rtrigueros.pctf@att.net or visit www.pctf-foundation.org.
ROBBINSVILLE
‘How can they believe that?’
In these high-stress times, we hear more about people joining what are sometimes called “cults.” Why would someone join such an alternative religion? Was it brainwashing or an actual conversion? What can friends and family do, if you hope the person leaves the cult?
A special speaker coming to the area has studied many of these groups for 33 years and has written articles and books about them. Retired and living in Brasstown since 2019, Dr. Kathe Lowney is an academic sociologist whose primary focus was on new religious movements or “cults.”
She’ll share insights about conversion, deconversion and why cults have flourished in certain times in U.S. history at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, in the Graham County Public Library, 80 Knight St. Everyone is invited to come with any questions.
This event is sponsored by the Educational Outreach Program of Tri-County Democratic Women. For details, call Lynne Stevens, 386-690-3317.
WESTERN N.C.
Affordable internet here
There is a new federal subsidy program that can help households in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties pay for internet service.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, accepted by many Internet Service Providers, gives households $30 a month to cover the cost of internet service (or up to $75 per eligible household on tribal lands). Additionally, eligible households who register with participating ISPs may receive a one-time subsidy of $100 for computer devices.
ACP is a $14.2 billion program made possible by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. Consumers looking for information on the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program should visit fcc.gov/acp.
Public Housing and Section 8 residents are eligible for ACP funding based on their receiving HUD housing assistance, and the ACP subsidy is not considered income for the purpose of determining program eligibility or household rent.
For details, call Four Square Community Action at 828-321-4475 and ask for the housing specialist.
NORTH CAROLINA
How do you get the news?
At least 1.1 million North Carolina households lack access to a broadband connection, cannot afford an internet subscription or do not have an adequate device. Additionally, many lack experience to use digital services like telehealth, online education or job boards.
As a result, more than half of N.C.’s 100 counties are, or are at risk of becoming, news deserts. More than 40 newspapers closed from 2004-18 nationwide, and six North Carolina counties have no newspaper. This disproportionately impacts rural communities, where affordable and reliable broadband access simply does not exist, leaving residents without essential news and information about their communities.
Selected during the third Google News Initiative North America Innovation Challenge to receive a share of more than $3.2 million to help build ideas that address the need for research in local news, the Carolina Public Press project, “NC Connection: Closing the News Gap,” seeks to discover the news needs and distribution preferences of those North Carolinians living beyond the end of the “digital line.”
To complete the survey, visit https://bit.ly/cppgni22, or text survey to 866-716-1266. Carolina Public Press plans to share all methodology and learnings with industry peers in published case studies and on its website.
RALEIGH
State seeks internet cash
Gov. Roy Cooper has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce declaring North Carolina’s intent to participate in the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment Program.
“State and federal partnerships are critical to helping us close the digital divide and North Carolina is all in on getting internet for all,” Cooper said. “This effort will pave the way toward a future where everyone will have access to high-speed and high-quality internet.”
This will bring additional funding to connect unserved households and businesses across the state with high-speed internet service, according to the N.C. Department of Information Technology. Cooper has
requested $5 million in initial planning funds for the state.
Expanding access to high-speed internet in North Carolina is a key priority for the governor Cooper. In July 2021, he announced the creation of the nation’s first Office of Digital Equity & Literacy. In 2018, he launched the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Grant Program.
HAYESVILLE
8th Steins & Wine is here
The eighth annual Steins & Wine Around the Square will return Saturday inside the Historic Clay County Courthouse/Beal Center grounds, with both new vendors and popular favorites to taste or buy drinks by the glass.
The popular event is sponsored by Historic Hayesville Inc. as a fundraiser for downtown projects. The proceeds from this year’s event will be used to restore the old town hall as a classroom.
Gates will open on Sanderson Street at 4 p.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m. with food to enjoy with any flavor of beer or wine. Attendees must be ages 21 or older to consume alcohol and identification is required to enter the event.
Tickets are $15 each and available at Tiger’s Store on Herbert Street or the HHI Centennial Exhibit at 116 Sanderson St., next to the Hayesville Post Office.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- None scheduled this week.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has scheduled the following budget meetings for 6:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy: Thursday, June 2; Monday, June 6 – the public hearing on the county manager’s recommended budget will be held at the beginning of the regular meeting, while the budget work session will be held immediately following conclusion of the regular meeting; Thursday, June 9; and Monday, June 13.
From staff reports.