Quick Reads

  • Photos by Randy Foster/editor@cherokeescout.com Firefighters from Valleytown Fire & Rescue stand by while waiting for Duke Energy workers to shut off power to a line taken down by a falling tree across Pisgah Road near Andrews on the afternoon of April 1.
    Photos by Randy Foster/editor@cherokeescout.com Firefighters from Valleytown Fire & Rescue stand by while waiting for Duke Energy workers to shut off power to a line taken down by a falling tree across Pisgah Road near Andrews on the afternoon of April 1.
  • Emergency responders arrive at a downed power line across Pisgah Road near Andrews on April 1. A tree fell, bringing the power line with it. The line serves a couple of houses, among the more than 1,000 residences that were without power because of stormy weather over that weekend.
    Emergency responders arrive at a downed power line across Pisgah Road near Andrews on April 1. A tree fell, bringing the power line with it. The line serves a couple of houses, among the more than 1,000 residences that were without power because of stormy weather over that weekend.

    Raining on food trucks

    Andrews was planning on making Friday nights fun again with the Food Truck Fridays Summer Series from 5-8 p.m. starting last week on First Street downtown, but Mother Nature was having no part of it, raining out the first event.

    This family- and dog-friendly event offers good entertainment with good eats. In addition, craft vendors are ready to display the new handcrafted and handmade wares they’ve been working on over the winter months. Picnic tables are available for dining and chatting, or bring a chair.

    The Gazebo Stage is sponsored by Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel. Here are the dates and music schedule for the upcoming Summer Series:

    • May 12 – Steve Vaclavik.
    • June 9 – Appalachian Smoke.
    • July 14 – Julie Nelms & the Bluegrass Partners.
    • Aug. 11 – Sweet ‘N Sourwood Honey.
    • Sept. 8 – Dr. Paul & Tom Edwards.

    For details on Food Truck Fridays, call the Andrews Chamber of Commerce at 828-321-3584. Follow the chamber on Facebook and Instagram to see who the players are for cooking, music and selling.

    MURPHY

    Praying on the Mountain

    The team from South Korea’s World School of Prayer will be in Cherokee and surrounding counties May 3-7 and invite local residents to pray with them.

    On Wednesday, May 3, the team will be in Hayesville. On Thursday, May 4, the team will be in Murphy for several events:

    • 9:15-11:15 a.m. – Murphy Church of God,129 Church of Christ Road.
    • Noon-1 p.m. – National Day of Prayer, Cherokee County Courthouse.
    • 2-4 p.m. – Murphy First Baptist Church.
    • 7-9 p.m. – MountainView Church, 169 Smith Hollow Road.

    There are two other local events:

    • 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 5 – Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church, 1650 N.C. 141.
    • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6 – Little Brasstown Baptist Church, 6120 Harshaw Road.

    For details, call Ron and Alana Stockman at 727-487-3124.

    MARBLE

    Crypto mine environment

    In an April 9 report, The New York Times identified 34 large-scale Bitcoin mines in the United States, all putting immense pressure on the power grid and most finding novel ways to profit from doing so. Their operations can create costs – including higher electricity bills and enormous carbon pollution – for everyone around them, most of whom have nothing to do with Bitcoin.

    Until June 2021, most Bitcoin mining was in China. Then it drove out Bitcoin operations, at least for a time, citing their power use among other reasons. The United States quickly became the industry’s global leader.

    The graphic with the Times report showed the Core Scientific in Marble uses 104 MW of power, 78 percent of which is derived from fossil fuels, releasing 459,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. For details, visit nytimes.com.

    NATIONAL

    Guide for veterans

    The law firm Florin|Roebig has written a guide on the many different ways discrimination can affect U.S. military veterans.

    The guide, which can be found at florinroebig.com/veteran-rights-discrimination, touches on different points, including:

    • Disabled veteran rights.
    • Discrimination in the workplace, health-care system, social settings and legal settings.
    • The laws protecting veteran rights.
    • What to do if you have experienced discrimination.
    • Government resources.

    MURPHY

    Earth Day ‘seed bomb’

    The Murphy Art Center will host a free event for children, “Earth Day Seed Bomb Make & Take,” from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

    Ages 3-17 are invited to attend the event with instructor Rex Garrison. The project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

    ANDREWS

    A fly-in breakfast

    Western Carolina Regional Airport, 5840 Airport Road, will host a Pancake Fly- and Dive-in Breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, June 3.

    The public is welcome to attend the event. Cost per plate is adults $8 and children $4. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation.

    For details, call Gayland Trull at 404-695-4448 or Chris Williams at 828-591-8688.

    ANDREWS

    Housing meet set

    The 2023 annual plan meeting for the Andrews Housing Authority will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the authority office, 291 Whitaker Lane.

    The capital fund five-year statement will be presented. Copies of these documents can be viewed at the authority office during normal business hours.

    LOCAL GOVERNMENT

    Public meetings

    THIS WEEK

    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a budget hearing for Cherokee County Schools at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.

    Compiled by Publisher David Brown.