MARTINS CREEK
Center may close soon
The Martins Creek Community Center is in danger of closing, and local residents are asking for your support.
A handful of volunteers who are trying to revitalize the center are asking concerned people to attend the next meeting of the Martins Creek Development Club at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 4605 Martins Creek Road. To RSVP or for details, call Judy Perez at 813-310-2267 or email dennisp41@verizon.net.
Membership is free to all residents in the Martins Creek Fire District. The center’s challenges include high expenses, limited resources, decreased use and the need for a new board of directors.
ANDREWS
Town says water safe
The Town of Andrews received numerous calls last week from concerned citizens questioning whether recent events in Ohio will affect the water quality in this area.
“Everything about our water is safe right now,” Pete McNeely, the operator in charge of Andrews’ water systems, said in a release. “We have very pristine reservoirs that we draw our water from, and we don’t have anything close to our reservoirs that would cause any contamination. It’s safe to drink.”
The Town of Andrews tests for bacteria in the water on a daily basis and tests for synthetic organic carbons and volatile organic chemicals on a yearly basis. However, town officials are planning to conduct the yearly tests earlier than usual to ease concerns over the situation in Ohio having any effect locally.
“So far, we’re clear,” McNeely said, “but we’re definitely going to get those yearly tests done early. I’m also planning to regularly test for vinyl chloride over the next several months just as a precaution.”
Town officials also remain in touch with state officials, who are monitoring the situation up north as well.
“Transparency is important to us,” Mayor James Reid said. “If something happens, the state will notify us, and we’ll notify local residents immediately.”
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.
Big Dance here soon
Let the good times roll during The Big Dance 2023 at Young Harris College starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 4.
This year, choose your own theme for the table-decorating contest. Star Wars? The 1970s? Georgia football? It’s up to you! DJ Mike Jones will take requests all night long.
Bring your food and drinks, or order from the college’s dining services. All proceeds support local students through the Bob & Carol Head Local Scholarship Campaign.
For tickets, visit www.yhc.edu/bigdance.
DUCKTOWN, Tenn.
Lost miners are sought
The Ducktown Basin Museum is in the preliminary stage of gathering information regarding employees who lost their lives while on-the-job working for the mining industry in the Copper Basin. Assuming adequate funding becomes available, plans are to design and develop a memorial exhibit honoring those employees.
If you have knowledge of anyone who lost their life while working for the various Copper Basin mining companies, email information to the Ducktown Basin Museum at burrahill@gmail.com.
Types of information needed include name, date of death, circumstances surrounding death and any other information corroborating the incident, like newspaper articles, accident reports, obituaries, etc. This is necessary to ensure the museum has accurate information before the project begins.
If you have questions, you may contact the museum at the email address above or by calling 423-496-5778.
GREENVILLE, S.C.
First Miami, UCB merge
United Community Banks Inc. and First Miami Bancorp Inc. have announced a merger, United will acquire First Miami and its wholly owned subsidiary – First National Bank of South Miami – in an all-stock transaction with an aggregate value of about $115.9 million.
That prices works out to $1,330 per share of First Miami common stock, based on United’s 10-day average closing stock price of $33.02 as of Feb. 10. First Miami shareholders will receive a special cash dividend at closing from net proceeds of the sale of certain investment securities.
FNBSM is headquartered in South Miami, Fla., and operates three offices in the high-growth Miami metropolitan area. As of Dec. 31, 2022, FNBSM had total assets of $1.0 billion, total loans of $594 million and total deposits of $867 million.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, First Miami shareholders will receive 40.2685 shares of United common stock for each share of First Miami common stock outstanding. The Merger is expected to be accretive to United’s earnings per share, excluding transaction costs, by about $0.09 per share, or 3 percent in 2024.
MURPHY
County’s 3rd Formal Ball
Cherokee County’s third annual Formal Ball will be held from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Hackney Warehouse on Hiwassee Street.
Cost is $25 in advance, $30 at the door. The theme is “Spring Fling,” hosted by Danner Hartness. Local high school students, including college student under age 21, are welcome.
Tickets will be sold at Andrews, Hiwassee Dam, Murphy, The Oaks Academy and Tri-County Early College high schools. You an also buy a ticket through Hartness via Venmo or cashapp @dannerh21.
ANDREWS
Downtown beautification
The Town of Andrews and Andrews Chamber of Commerce are once again inviting local businesses and residents to sponsor the seventh annual Downtown Beautification Project.
The project places 90 floral baskets on 45 stands throughout town from May through October. It costs $225 to sponsor a basket.
For details, call coordinator Bill Anderson at 828-321-2111, Ext. 20.
CHEROKEE/CLAY
Senior Games start in April
The Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games will be held from Saturday, April 22, through Saturday, May 20, with games, sports and SilverArts Showcase events planned in the two counties.
The Senior Games Kickoff will be held at 10 a.m. April 22 at the Clay County Recreation Center in Hayesville. For details, visit www.cherokeecountyseniorgames.org.
CLARIFICATION
The caption underneath a map on page 1A in the Feb. 1 edition of the Cherokee Scout needs to be clarified and updated. The N.C. Department of Transportation’s proposed roundabout on U.S. 64 West in Murphy would be built next to The Local Market, which formerly was a Big D convenience store. The new ownership invites everyone to stop by.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Murphy Town Council will hold a special meeting to discuss 2023 goals and priorities at 9 a.m. Friday at the Murphy Fire Department downtown. (This will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
COMING SOON
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, March 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. (This meeting will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. (This meeting will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, March 13, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- The Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 13, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. (This will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 15, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. (This meeting will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.