Quick Reads

  • Jared Putnam/editor@cherokeescout.com The Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital Wound Care Center is now open in the hospital annex, which is the former site of the nursing home at the hospital in Peachtree. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in July. Erlanger has also welcomed Drs. Andrew Beeghly, Wendy Corso and Mark Gilbert to the local health-care team.
    Jared Putnam/editor@cherokeescout.com The Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital Wound Care Center is now open in the hospital annex, which is the former site of the nursing home at the hospital in Peachtree. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in July. Erlanger has also welcomed Drs. Andrew Beeghly, Wendy Corso and Mark Gilbert to the local health-care team.
  • Jared Putnam/editor@cherokeescout.com Water plant operator Pete McNeely discusses valves that were recently replaced. The Town of Andrews will receive $13,798,000 for drinking water line replacements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades, while the town’s overall grant money for infrastructure is expected to clock in around $18 million. The majority of Andrews’ infrastructure funds, about $11 million, will be spent on an extensive rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant.
    Jared Putnam/editor@cherokeescout.com Water plant operator Pete McNeely discusses valves that were recently replaced. The Town of Andrews will receive $13,798,000 for drinking water line replacements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades, while the town’s overall grant money for infrastructure is expected to clock in around $18 million. The majority of Andrews’ infrastructure funds, about $11 million, will be spent on an extensive rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant.
  • Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians speaks during the WNC Rebounding Stronger Summit at the Cherokee Convention Center on Aug. 9. More than 120 regional leaders gathered to discuss the challenges and solutions facing rural western North Carolinians.
    Principal Chief Richard Sneed of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians speaks during the WNC Rebounding Stronger Summit at the Cherokee Convention Center on Aug. 9. More than 120 regional leaders gathered to discuss the challenges and solutions facing rural western North Carolinians.

    ANDREWS

    County man wins lottery

    Roberto Jimenez Llamas of Andrews took a chance on a $20 scratch-off ticket and won a $100,000 prize.

    Llamas bought his lucky Premier Cash ticket from White’s Exxon on U.S. 19. He arrived at lottery headquarters Aug. 16 to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $71,016.

    The Premier Cash game debuted in August 2021, with four top prizes of $2 million and eight $100,000 prizes. One $2 million prize and one $100,000 prize remain to be claimed.

    Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. A $15 million grant, using money raised by the lottery, is helping Cherokee County build the new Schools of Innovation & Technology. For details, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.

    PEACHTREE

    Take a trip in Sept. 3

    Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cherokee County are going to Paris, and the community is invited to join them.

    On Saturday, Sept. 3, they will host their fundraising event, “An Evening in Paris,” at McGuire’s Millrace Farm off Hendrix Road. Cocktails and hors D’oeuvres will be served at 5 p.m. with dinner to follow.

    A silent auction will be open throughout the evening. The organization strives to help youth reach their full potential through one-on-one mentoring.

    For tickets, contact the local Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 828-361-0989 or go online to secure.QGIV.com/event/paris.

    ANDREWS

    New interim town admin

    Larissa Dooley has been appointed interim town administrator; she also serves as Andrews’ chief finance officer.

    Mayor James Reid said he has requested assistance from state officials in finding a permanent replacement for former town administrator Sandy Dobson, who resigned on Aug. 3. He is aiming to fill the role in September.

    “Hopefully by next month, we’ll have interviews and go ahead and get somebody in that seat,” Reid said.

    RALEIGH

    Fall Litter Sweep set

    The N.C. Department of Transportation is looking for volunteers for the Adopt-A-Highway Fall Litter Sweep, which runs from Sept. 10-24 this year.

    Each April and September, the department calls on volunteers to help remove litter from roadsides. Volunteers from local businesses, schools, non-profits, churches and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean.

    “North Carolina is a wonderful place thanks to the thousands of volunteers who donate their time every year,” said David Harris, state roadside environmental engineer. “The Litter Sweep is a great opportunity to get outdoors with family and friends and work alongside the DOT to ensure North Carolina remains a beautiful place to live and work.”

    Volunteers can request gloves, safety vests and bags from their local county maintenance office during the sweep People looking to participate should contact their local litter management coordinator. For details, visit the website www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/litter-management/Pages/litter-sweep.aspx.

    ANDREWS

    Trammell benefit set

    A benefit yard sale and auction will be held Saturday in the Andrews Community Center for Michael Trammell of Topton, who suffered a massive heart attack and is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery.

    The yard sale will begin at 8 a.m. and run until about 2 p.m. There will be a cake walk from 2-4 p.m. (donations are needed), hot dog plates will be sold starting at noon and the auction begins at 4 p.m.

    There will also be a 50/50 raffle and more. For details, call Amy Waldroup at
    557-2677.

    RALEIGH

    Comment on finance rules

    The State Board of Elections invites public comment on proposed campaign finance rules addressing processes for North Carolina political committees or referendum committees that fail to file a campaign finance disclosure report by the statutory deadline.

    The public comment period is open and runs through Friday, Oct. 14. Comments may be made online at www.ncsbe.gov/2022-public-comment-period-campaign-finance-rules, via email at rulemaking.sboe@ncsbe.gov or by mail at Attn: Rulemaking Coordinator, P.O. Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27611-7255.

    A virtual public hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19. Call 1-415-655-0003 and enter the code 2434 089 2268# to participate.

    RALEIGH

    COVID not emergency

    Gov. Roy Cooper ended the state’s COVID-19 State of Emergency last week.

    With vaccines, treatments and other tools to combat COVID-19 widely available, and with new legislation providing the requested flexibility to N.C. Department of Health & Human Services and health-care providers to continue to respond, the state is poised to continue comprehensive pandemic response without the need for the State of Emergency, according to a release.

    Many of the state’s public health measures combatting the pandemic had previously been lifted, but the State of Emergency continued to allow the distribution of vaccines and tests and regulatory flexibility to ensure staff capacity in the state’s health-care system. Following legislative changes made in the budget signed by Cooper in July, the State of Emergency was removed.

    “The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to our state and people now have the knowledge and the tools – like vaccines, boosters and therapeutic treatments – to keep them safe,” Cooper said. “Executive orders issued under the State of Emergency protected public health and helped us save lives and livelihoods.”

    ASHEVILLE

    Congress debate set

    The candidates for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District seat – Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Libertarian David Coatney and Republican Chuck Edwards – have been invited to appear at a joint candidates forum from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31.

    A diverse panel of guests will join Blue Ridge Public Radio Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp and Smoky Mountain News Politics Editor Cory Vaillancourt for the “Best in the West: North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District forum.”

    Questions will come from Dr. Edward Lopez, director of Western Carolina University’s Center for the Study of Free Enterprise; Richard Sneed, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Dewana Little, executive director of YMI Cultural Center; and Susan Mim, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust.

    The event will be broadcast live on Blue Ridge Public Radio as well as at BPR.org and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

    LOCAL GOVERNMENT

    Public meetings

    THIS WEEK

    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. (Watch live via the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)

    COMING SOON

    • Local, state and federal government offices, as well as the Cherokee Scout, will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, for the Labor Day holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.
    • Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. (Watch live via the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
    • Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. (Watch live via the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
    • Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. (Watch live via the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
    • Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
    • Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. (Watch live via the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
    • Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.

    From staff reports.