CHEROKEE COUNTY
Events for Halloween
Halloween events for 2022 kick off from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, with the annual Trunk or Treat on Main Street in Andrews.
Main Street will be closed to traffic from Cherry to Walnut streets from 2:30-5:30 p.m. for this event. If it rains, the festivities will move inside to the Andrews Methodist Church fellowship hall.
If you’re handing out goodies, park in a space on Main Street, decorate your trunk – or hatch if you have an SUV – fill it with goodies and set up at 2:30 p.m. Keep in mind that there will be children of all ages attending Trunk or Treat, so you should decorate and costume yourself accordingly.
Just down the four-lane highway two days later, A Murphy Haunting will be celebrated from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 – the actual day of Halloween. Local businesses will set up tables on the square downtown for a safe candy-gathering experience. In addition, trick-or-treaters will be out and about in the Duke Street area of Murphy, the most popular door-to-door spot in the county.
MURPHY
Blankets & comforters
A local ministry hopes to blanket Murphy in warmth this winter.
Free gently worn blankets and comforters will be given away to the homeless and needy from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church of Murphy, 517 Hiwassee St.
Share this information with anyone who may need it. For details, email mkmason2002@yahoo.com.
MURPHY
A Capitol Christmas
Santa Claus will travel from the North Pole to meet local children and view the Capitol Christmas Tree from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, as part of the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour.
Murphy was chosen as the commencement spot for this year’s “Mountain to Sea” Capitol Christmas Tree Tour, which will begin Saturday, Nov. 5, deep in the Pisgah National Forest where Ruby, a 78-foot tall red spruce, has been honored among her peers to represent North Carolina on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
Ruby will arrive with full escort in Murphy, where she will open her festive tour across 14 communities in North Carolina and two more in Virginia before settling into her esteemed place at the Capitol on Friday, Nov. 18.
The town invites the public to view the tree and sign the Christmas card on the truck’s side on Nov. 6 at the Cherokee County Courthouse. The celebration will include Christmas caroling, children’s activities, food trucks and a “walk” through an interactive display of the four national forests in North Carolina to learn about each forest’s ecosystems and employees.
The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.TownofMurphyNC.com for details.
RALEIGH
135,400+ early votes
About 135,400 North Carolina voters cast ballots on the first day of in-person early voting Thursday. The turnout was on par with the nearly 136,500 voters who cast ballots on the first day of in-person early voting in 2018.
“We had a solid first day of in-person voting, with very few incidents reported around the state,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections.
Through Thursday, nearly 187,000 voters, including about 51,500 by-mail voters, had cast ballots in the 2022 midterm general election. That’s an increase of 20 percent from the 155,200 voters who had cast ballots at this point in 2018.
Through Thursday, nearly 208,000 voters had requested absentee ballots for this election. The in-person early voting period continues through 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
RALEIGH
Mailer was inaccurate
The State Board of Elections has received numerous calls from voters across North Carolina who are confused or angered by mailers that include information, sometimes inaccurate, about whether they voted in the 2018 or 2020 elections.
The mailers include the words “Important Voter Notification” in red letters at the top and a chart with purported information about whether the voter voted in 2018 and 2020. At least some of the mailings also state: “According to your North Carolina state election record, you skipped the 2018 mid-term election.”
Through preliminary investigation, the State Board has determined that the voter information on the cards is sometimes incorrect and does not match official state voter records. The mailer – sponsored by Voter Education Network Independent Expenditure PAC – instructs voters to contact the State Board of Elections if they believe the voting record on the card is incorrect. It includes the phone number and website of the State Board.
“We recognize the importance of efforts to encourage people to vote,” said Patrick
Gannon, public information director at the State Board. “However, providing inaccurate information decreases confidence in our elections.”
ANDREWS
Lonesome Hoedown
The annual High Lonesome Hoedown will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Jimmy’s Pick N Grin, 220 Upper Valley River Lane.
Tickets are $100 each or two for $150. There will be dinner, drinks, dancing and a silent auction.
All proceeds benefit High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Hanging Dog, one of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s Organizations of the Year for 2022. For details, email highlonesomestables@gmail.com or call 835-3739.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
More blood donations
Blood Assurance is pleading for donors after a serious decline in donations during fall break for many area school districts. The nonprofit experienced a 90 percent reduction in donations, compared to the week before.
As of Oct. 17, it had just a one-day’s supply of O-positive, O-negative and B-negative blood units available for distribution to more than 70 regional medical facilities.
“With so many folks traveling, fall break really hurt us,” according to Dr. Liz Culler, chief medical officer for Blood Assurance. “Blood transfusions are taking place every two seconds, so it’s imperative we get people to our donation centers and mobile blood drives over the next couple of days.”
Platelet donations are also in critical demand, with fewer than 30 units on the Blood Assurance shelves. Donors can schedule an appointment at www.bloodassurance.org/schedule, by calling 800-962-0628 or texting BAGIVE to 999777. Walk-ins are accepted.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St.
COMING SOON
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.