MURPHY
Memorial Day ceremony set
The U.S. Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011, will hold a memorial wreath dedication at 8 a.m. Monday in Konehete Park in honor of the Memorial Day holiday.
Just a few hours later, the league will host a Memorial Day ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon at the Veterans Pocket Park downtown. Everyone is invited to both events to honor America’s military veterans.
MURPHY
22 Hump Saturday
The annual 22 Hump will start from Warriors Veteran Outreach headquarters, 46 Valley River Ave. downtown, at 9 a.m. Saturday, walking a 22-mile loop down to Marble and back with a police escort.
The event is held to remember U.S. military veterans lost to suicide – like U.S. Marine Alan Rooney, 27, who served in Afghanistan. His mother, Lorrie Rooney, is organizing this year’s 22 Hump.
Participants will receive a T-shirt and barbecue dinner at the completion of the walk. Anyone wishing to volunteer, call Warriors Veteran Outreach at 557-6881 or visit warriorsveteransoutreach.com.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Take survey on housing
Cherokee County local government, in partnership with Tri-County Community College’s Economic & Workforce Development, has retained Bowen National Research to prepare a local Housing Needs Assessment.
As part of the assessment, a survey is being conducted to obtain residents’ and commuters’ perspectives on the housing needs of the county, and current housing situations. You can help by taking the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CherokeeResComm.
MURPHY
Company honored
Interstate Welding & Steel Supply was recently recognized in Orlando, Fla., for 50 years of being in business, according to Michael Bradshaw, son of the business’ founder, James Gilbert “Red” Bradshaw, who passed away in 2009.
“My father started the business out of the original Murphy Auto parts and became an offshoot of that,” Michael Bradshaw said. “The location moved several times – Murphy, Andrews, Peachtree then back to
Murphy.”
Today, his two older brothers – Earl and Greg Bradshaw – run the business, which is just off U.S. 19/74. Over the years, Interstate Welding has contributed to many community projects, like fighting litter.
ANDREWS
Lions Club sale starts
The Andrews Lions Club continues its annual sales of brooms and mops, offering patio brooms, household brooms, whisk brooms, toy brooms and the more traditional cotton mops.
The sale of these items helps support the visually impaired and the club’s scholarship for a local high school senior, among other ongoing service programs. The Lions Club has been unselfishly serving the community for more than 70 years, and your support is appreciated. Donations of non-perishable items are also welcome.
Brooms and mops are available for purchase at the Cherokee County Food Bank at West End Plaza off Main Street from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Saturdays.
MURPHY
Clean spots for a swim
Starting over Memorial Day weekend, area swimmers, paddlers, anglers and others who enjoy spending time playing in our local rivers and streams can access up-to-date water quality results for more than 85 popular recreation areas throughout western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and north Georgia.
MountainTrue’s Swim Guide program is powered by volunteers and staff, who collect water samples every Wednesday and rush to process, analyze and post the results online at swimguide.org. The website provides a list of nearby testing sites that either pass or fail the EPA guideline for E. coli in designated swimming areas of 235 colony forming units per 100 milliliters.
“We test for E. coli bacteria so that people know when and where it’s safe to swim,” said Callie Moore, MountainTrue’s western regional director.
For details, visit mountaintrue.org.
MURPHY
Drinks = $1 for vets
For the sixth consecutive year, Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos will support Folds of Honor by hosting a beverage promotion at its locations in Cherokee and Murphy.
During the fundraising event, which began May 21 and concludes Monday, July 4, the company will be running a drink special on 16-ounce aluminum bottles of Michelob Ultra and Bud Light. For each bottle purchased, the company has pledged to donate back $1 to Folds of Honor.
In addition to beverage purchases, patrons of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos can also help support the cause with a purchase of an American flag lapel pin, Folds of Honor tee-shirt, or with a cash donation. To date, the company has helped raise $175,000 for Folds of Honor, with last year’s fundraising event resulting in a $70,000 donation to the nonprofit.
CORRECTION
The captions on two photos in the May 18 edition of the Cherokee Scout were transposed. A photo on page 1A featured Kathy Ross, president of the Mountain Potters Network, while a photo on page 9A featured member Carol Merenda. The Scout regrets the error.
SMOKY MOUNTAINS
Railroad improves
The N.C. Ports Authority and 13 short line railroads will be improving their rail infrastructure thanks to about $10.9 million in matching grant funds being awarded as part of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program.
Included in that amount is $921,950 to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for bridge improvements, track, rail and cross tie upgrades in Cherokee, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
The awarded grants are matched with railroad investments to contribute more than $21.7 million in rail infrastructure improvements statewide. Together, these projects will upgrade more than 12 miles of railroad track and 35 bridges in North Carolina.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a special board meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St., to present the 2022-23 budget ordinance.
- All local, state and federal government offices – as well as the Cherokee Scout – will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday. The Scout will reopen as usual from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a budget meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 2, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, June 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. Council members will also hold a public hearing on the proposed 2022-23 budget, which can be reviewed online at www.townofmurphync.com.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. A public hearing on the county manager’s recommended budget will be held at the beginning of the regular meeting, while a budget work session will be held immediately following conclusion of the meeting
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- The Learning Center Board of Directors meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at 945 Connahetta St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a budget meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a budget meeting for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
From staff reports.