CHEROKEE COUNTY
20 COVID cases daily
COVID-19 cases have continued to decline throughout September and into early October, with just a handful of new cases reported daily, according to a release from the Cherokee County Health Department.
“We are currently managing around 20 active known cases per day,” the release from Health Director David Badger says. “We had one COVID-related death during the month of September. We have continued to experience spikes in cases related to schools and congregate-type settings.”
The release says it’s important to understand that these numbers only represent reported cases, so it is an underrepresentation of the actual case rate as many people are taking home tests or simply not testing. For the state’s numbers, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.
It’s also important to remember that if you have been exposed or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to take necessary precautions to prevent further transmission, which include self-isolation during the first five days of infection and masking during the second five days or quarantine following exposure. The release says vaccinations and new bivalent boosters are also readily available at your local pharmacy or health department and are effective tools at reducing the risk of transmission if exposed and preventing serious illness from infection.
CHEROKEE
Casinos help raise $184K
Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos held a vendor appreciation event to support Make-A-Wish of Central & Western North Carolina on Oct. 3-4. Attendees were treated to special room rates on hotel accommodations at the resort, a welcome dinner party and a golf tournament at Sequoyah National Golf Club.
The Cherokee Convention Center hosted the welcome dinner party on Oct. 3. The evening was filled with moving testimonies of Wish Kids and families – including Cutter, whose father is a current team member of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.
“Right now, we have 77 children in Western North Carolina that are waiting for their wish,” said Kathy Jetton, president & CEO of Make-A-Wish Central & Western NC. “Our chapter, and all other Make-A-Wish chapters, are locally funded. Your support will directly help us make wishes come true; so, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!”
Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president & general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, added, “We are thrilled to announce tonight that our efforts, plus the generous donations of our guests, have helped raise $33,000 for Make-A-Wish.
“That’s not all; the company has also decided to donate an additional $10,000, making the total donation amount over $43,000, that will help fund six wishes!”
As the night continued, more donations poured in that produced an astonishing all-in donation total. Before the evening ended, Make-A-Wish Central & Western NC proudly announced that $184,000 was raised to support 25 wishes for kids in western North Carolina.
To learn more about Make-A-Wish Central & Western NC, visit the website wish.org/nc.
MURPHY
Win bike & fight cancer
The Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation has kicked off its annual kids bicycle giveaway. This year, the nonprofit partnered with Strider and will give away a 12” balance bike.
Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Get your tickets at Farley Insurance, 1004 U.S. 64 W.
Director Robert Trigueros said you don’t need to be present to win. The bike’s value is $120. For details, visit www.pctf-foundation.org.
RANGER
Blood drive set Saturday
The Ranger Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a bloodmobile drive with Blood Assurance from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. You can sign up until midnight the day before.
To save time, answer health history questions before you arrive at bloodassurance.org/quickscreen. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bloodassurance.org/rangervfd.
MURPHY
Native trees for nonprofit
MountainTrue is accepting orders for its sixth annual Fall Native Tree & Shrub Sale.
Choose from 26 species of native trees and shrubs available in this year’s sale, including large shade trees, native ornamentals, pollinator species, and those particularly beneficial to wildlife. All plants are quality local nursery stock.
Pricing is $15 for 1-gallon, $18 for 2-gallon and $25 for 3-gallon potted plants. Orders will be accepted through Nov. 6, while supplies last. You must pay for the order at the time you submit it in order to secure your species and size of choice.
Pick up your order between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, from the MountainTrue Western Regional Office parking lot downtown. For details, visit mountaintrue.org/nativetrees.
MARBLE
Core called a good buy
Barclays says it remains positive about the long-term viability of Bitcoin, and views Bitcoin miner Core Scientific – which operates a local plant – as a “best-in-class, leveraged play on the crypto ecosystem,” according to coindesk.com.
The crypto winter has clearly been rough for miners, who have seen profit margins shrink as bitcoin prices plunged more than 50 percent this year, while power prices soared and capital dried up. Despite this difficult macro backdrop, Barclays sees The shares of crypto hosting and mining company rose about 9.5 percent in premarket trading on Oct. 4, amid a rally in the Bitcoin price on the hope that financial stability risks and signs of economic slowdown will force the U.S. Federal Reserve to pivot away from aggressive liquidity withdrawal measures.
Barclays initiated coverage of Core with an overweight rating and a $3 price target. The stock had nine buy ratings and an average 12-month price target of $5.97, according to FactSet data.
Compass Point echoed this positive sentiment about the company in a recent report. It said in a note to clients that Core has the scale and experience to make it through the Bitcoin market downturn.
MURPHY
Ballerina party soon
Murphy School of Dance is presenting a Ballerina Princess Party from 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at 281 Tennessee St.
A real Disney princess will be a special guest, with girls ages 3-7 singing and dancing along with her. There will also be a 30-minute ballet lesson.
There is a charge to attend this event. For details, contact Director Torie Pinkleton Westmoreland at 837-8535 or torie.pinkleton@gmail.com, and visit murphyschoolofdance.com.
RALEIGH
Register to vote soon
Eligible individuals who want to cast their ballot on Election Day 2022 must register to vote by Friday.
Individuals who miss that deadline may register and vote at the same time during the one-stop early voting period, Oct. 20 through Nov. 5, at any early voting site in their county. To register, eligible individuals have the following options:
u If you have a North Carolina driver’s license or other DMV identification, you may register to vote online at www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx.
u Any eligible resident can complete a Voter Registration Application and return it to the county board of elections office by 5 p.m. Friday.
North Carolina residents may not register to vote on Election Day unless they become eligible after Friday’s registration deadline due to becoming a U.S. citizen or having their rights restored following a felony conviction.
Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 years old by the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8, are eligible to register and vote.
MURPHY
Difference Day Oct. 22
Murphy is planning a “Make A Difference Day” on the Murphy River Walk, extending to the Payne Street boat ramp area and Sunset Cemetery, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.
Mayor Tim Radford has asked Project MARS/AmeriCorps volunteers to join local residents to make a noticeable difference along the River Walk and other town properties. For details, email mayortimradford@gmail.com.
The volunteers will be doing a little bit of a lot of things, from trimming low branches and vegetation to cleaning benches and picking up litter. Graffiti will be removed, gravel will be put down and signs repainted. Everyone is welcome, and lunch will be served.
ROBBINSVILLE
Big day for Corridor K
State and local officials celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 3 for Corridor K, a project that will improve mobility in western North Carolina and create a unique land bridge over a highway so hikers and wildlife can safely travel the area.
“This gives us the opportunity to enhance lives in Graham County and opportunities for health care and education, and it opens doors for economic development,“ said Eric Boyette, secretary of the N.C. Department of Transportation. “It will increase options on how to get to Graham County while still maintaining the beauty of this area.”
The Corridor K project will realign U.S. 129, N.C. 143 and N.C. 28 between U.S. 129 near Robbinsville and the existing four-lane section of N.C. 28 in Stecoah. The entire 12-mile project will be lined with wider shoulders, passing and climbing lanes. It also includes a 10-foot multi-use path from Stecoah Road to Hyde Town Road, sidewalks beside N.C. 143 from the high school to the intersection of U.S. 129 and Five Point Road, plus the massive land bridge that will carry the Appalachian Trail.
A contract for the first section – from the intersection of U.S. 129 Five Point Road to the intersection of N.C. 143 and Beech Creek Road – has been awarded to Watson Contracting in Franklin for $46.6 million. Construction activities may begin as early as next week. The section from Beech Creek Road to Stecoah Gap has been awarded to Charles Blalock & Sons Inc. for $116.4 million.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. today at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- 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.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown