MURPHY
Skiers stop in county
Students from Berry College in Rome, Ga., recently stopped at Walmart in Murphy for lunch in the parking lot on their way to Cataloochee Ski Resort in nearby Maggie Valley.
Laura Vining from Germany, team captain since 2021, has led the
college team to No. 3 in their division. Cataloochee Ski Resort has 18 slopes and trails – 44 percent are rated for beginners, 39 percent are rated for intermediate and 17 percent are advanced trails.
PEACHTREE
Black ties for TCCC
The Tri-County Community College Foundation will host a Black-Tie Gala from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at McGuire’s Millrace Farm off of Hendrix Road.
There will be a silent auction, dinner and open bar, along with blackjack, poker and roulette. There also will be a wine pull.
Tickets are $200 each. Sponsorships are available. For details, call 828-837-6810.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Giveaway helps kids
The Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation’s 2023 kid’s bike giveaway campaign got under way last week.
Tickets cost $20 each, or five for $40, to win a 16-inch kid’s E-bike from Moose Racing. Director Robert Trigueros said the bike is valued at $800.
Tickets are available at Cherokee Guns,1936 U.S. 64 in Murphy and the Fannin County MX Track Racing Series rounds. The drawing will be held in October, and you don’t have to be present to win.
RALEIGH
Updating voter rolls
In 2023, county boards of elections across North Carolina will conduct several important and required processes designed to keep the state’s voter rolls accurate and up to date.
These routine processes are required by state and federal laws. Accurate voter rolls are maintained by removing voters who have moved or died or are otherwise ineligible to vote in that jurisdiction. Voter roll list maintenance is important because it ensures ineligible voters are not included on poll books during elections.
As a result of these processes, the number of North Carolina voter registrations will decrease in the first half of 2023. As of Feb. 25, about 7.2 million voters were registered in the state, down from more than 7.4 million on Jan. 1.
County boards will send mailings this year to voters with whom there has been no contact since Oct. 9, 2020. Counties have begun printing and mailing these notices, which must go out by April 15. The registrations of these voters will be canceled if they do not vote or otherwise confirm their registration by January 2027.
MURPHY
Open house at Hackney
The historic Hackney Warehouse off of Hiwassee Street downtown is holding an open house from noon-4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18.
Organizers are looking for local businesses that would like to put business cards and, preferably, gift cards into their bride bags. They also are looking for businesses who would like to provide gift cards to put into three giveaways.
Email thehackneywarehouse@gmail.com if you are interested in this marketing opportunity.
CHEROKEE
Casino gives to shoe fund
Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos presented a donation of $21,076 to Shoes for Schools of Cherokee County that will aid in their efforts to provide socks and shoes, coats and other clothing to children in need so they have the essentials needed to thrive and succeed.
Funds raised were the results of an initiative that began in July that allows guests to donate their change on ticket redemption kiosks to local nonprofit organizations at Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos. In addition to guests’ donations, the company has also pledged to match funds up to $10,000.
“We are overjoyed by the continuous support of our guests who have joined us in our effort to give back to our local communities through this donation opportunity,” said Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos. “Any time we can give back to others is special to us, but when we have the backing of our guests it makes it that much sweeter.”
Additional organizations guests can help support include Folds of Honor, Meals on Wheels and the Valley River Humane Society.
RALEIGH
Comment on transportation
People are invited to provide comments on the draft version of the N.C. Clean Transportation Plan, which outlines strategies to accelerate the decarbonization of the transportation sector.
The N.C. Department of Transportation published the plan to its website last week, prior to the first of six open house meetings. The meetings are aimed at educating people about the plan and giving them a forum to provide feedback. People can also provide feedback at ncdot.gov until Wednesday, March 15.
The DOT and more than 220 stakeholders worked for more than a year to develop the draft plan, which explores strategies to advance clean transportation investments and workforce development. The draft plan encourages an equitable transition to cleaner
transportation alternatives, such as zero- and low-emission vehicles, and offers strategies to deploy electric charging stations and other clean transportation infrastructure to support the transition.
HICKORY
TCCC joins Bear Bound
Lenoir-Rhyne University and 14 local and regional community colleges signed agreements last week to expand transfer student access and make a four-year degree more affordable. Called Bear Bound, the program builds on existing efforts to make Lenoir-Rhyne a viable option for community college students who transfer after completing their associate degree.
Tri-County Community College in Peachtree is one of the participating schools. For details, visit www.lr.edu.
RALEIGH
Democrats pick leaders
At the semi-annual State Executive Committee meeting of the North Carolina Democratic Party last week, members elected Anderson Clayton to serve as state party chair.
“I want to thank my fellow SEC members and North Carolina Democrats across the state for trusting me to lead our party as we prepare for the 2023 and 2024 elections,” Clayton said. “I ran for chair because I believe that we can build a brighter future for NCDP from the ground up, and I can’t wait to get to work.”
North Carolina Democrats also elected a diverse leadership team:
- Jonah Garson, first vice chair;
- Dr. Kimberly Hardy, second vice chair;
- Elijah King, third vice chair; Melvin Williams, secretary.
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 Hackey 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.
MURPHY
After Hours with BBQ
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce invites residents to the first AfterHours Networking Event of 2023 from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at Smoky Mountain BBQ Co. on Tennessee Street.
This is a great opportunity to introduce your business and yourself in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Lance Collins from Tri-County Community College’s Small Business Center will be there to update the chamber on what the Small Business Center can do.
Admission is free. For details, visit cherokeecountychamber.com.
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 across two counties.
The Senior Games Kickoff will be held at 10 a.m. April 22 at the Clay County Recreation Center in Hayesville. Look for the special section on the Senior Games this spring with all the details in the Cherokee Scout and Clay County Progress. For details, visit www.cherokeecountyseniorgames.org.
ANDREWS
Downtown beautification
The Town of Andrews and Andrews Chamber of Commerce are inviting local businesses and residents to help 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 Bill Anderson at 321-2111, Ext. 20.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- The Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
COMING SOON
- 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 Needs & Solutions Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 20, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20, in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. (This meeting will be live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets Monday, March 20, in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy, immediately following the county commission meeting.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.