MURPHY
Art Walk set Friday
The Valley River Arts Guild will present the June Murphy Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, with dozens of arts and crafts vendors and musicians flocking to downtown to showcase their art, perform music and have a good time.
Everyone is invited to the free monthly event. For details, call 828-360-3038 or visit @valleyriverartsguild on Facebook.
MURPHY
Midgets wrestling
Chevelles at 66 Hiwassee St. is bringing in an interesting night of entertainment starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, when Midget Mayhem Wrestling Goes Wild comes to downtown live.
This show features all of your favorite midget wrestlers. Come early to pre-game and see the stars of Midgets With Attitude while they prep for their debut. According to a release, “These guys are fast and will have you laughing until you pee in your pants.”
The event is for ages 21 and up. Tickets start at $21.99. For details, visit eventbrite.com/e/midget-mayhem-wrestling-goes-wild-murphy-nc-21-tickets-602826278627?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse.
MURPHY
Edwards here on Thursday
U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) will join staff members in his mobile office, the Carolina Cruiser, downtown from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Thursday.
The cruiser will be parked in front of the Murphy Police Department, 93 Peachtree St. Edwards and staff will be ready to meet with constituents and assist with casework. For details, visit edwards.house.gov.
MURPHY
Trash site gets name
A planned convenience site in the Unaka area has a formal name: Joe Brown Highway Convenience Site.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the name at its May 23 meeting, following input from residents in the area that will be served by the new site.
“It’s easier to pronounce,” board Chair Cal Stiles said.
The county closed two sites in early April, one on Hiwassee Dam Access Road and the other in Bear Paw, and also plans to close the Whitener site on Joe Brown Highway. Meanwhile, it is buying an acre at 12726 Joe Brown Highway for a new site – for $38,157 including closing costs – and plans to improve an existing site in the Texana community.
Both sites will be staffed. The Whitener site will close when the new Joe Brown Highway Convenience Center opens.
MURPHY
Hearing on budget set
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a proposed 2023-24 spending plan on May 23. A public hearing is scheduled for Monday, with final approval scheduled for Monday, June 26.
The proposed $58.2 million budget keeps the property tax millage rate at 61 cents and has no fee increases. It adds $500,000 to the general fund balance and $2.9 million for the annual installment in a lawsuit settlement against the Department of Social Services. It also includes a $400,000 contingency fund.
The budget includes a 2 percent cost-of-living raise for county employees as well as $64,831 for four part-time positions to staff convenience centers in Texana and Joe Brown Highway.
There is also a proposed $133,234 increase in funding for the Valley River Humane Society. One more budget workshop was planned but canceled following board Chair Cal Stiles’ suggestion that the board approve the proposed budget without changes.
ROCKY MOUNT
DMV adding new services
In a continuing effort to provide more services online, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will allow residents with a State ID card to renew online and teenage drivers with a Level 3 Full Provisional License to upgrade to a regular Class C license up to one year after expiration.
Previously, once these credentials had expired, these renewals and upgrades had to be done in-person at a driver license office. Regular Class C driver licenses can already be renewed up to two years after expiration.
“Allowing these services
to be completed online should help shorten lines and wait times at our offices by getting folks that would have to come to the office out of the line altogether,” DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said.
“As long as it has not been expired for more than one year and they didn’t renew online last time, residents can now skip the trip to the DMV and order these credentials online.”
Additionally, the state plans to begin communicating directly with customers that have provided their email addresses and checked a box indicating their interest in receiving updates from the DMV while utilizing an online service. For details, visit MyNCDMV.gov.
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.
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
Vote for the best in town
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce’s annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, in the fellowship hall of Andrews United Methodist Church, 101 Chestnut St. downtown.
Before that can take place, it’s time to vote for the annual awards. The deadline is Friday to make your voice heard online at visitAndrewsNC.com/annual-awards-vote. If you would prefer to vote by paper ballot or know someone who would, call Executive Director Nola Cooper at 828-321-3584 and ask to have one mailed to you. Email director@andrewschamber.com for details.
Nominees for Joe El-Khouri Volunteer of the Year for 2022:
- Bill Anderson.
- Jeff Cooper.
- Michelle Morgan.
- Jan Olson.
Nominees for Business of the Year for 2022:
- Dragon Ass Smoked BBQ.
- Homespun Hobbies Bakery & Mercantile.
- Jumpers Party Rentals.
- Locust Trading Co.
Nominees for Beautification Project of the Year for 2022:
- Andrews Garden Club.
- Pamela Hopkins.
- Mark Marvin.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. (Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Commissioners Boardroom at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. (Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.)
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. (Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.)
COMING SOON
- Andrews Housing Authority meets to discuss the annual plan at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at the authority office, 291 Whitaker Lane.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. (Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.)
- The Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, June 12, in the Murphy Visitors Center.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 12, at the Cherokee County Health Department.
- Cherokee County NASA Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, in the Texana Community Center.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, at the Cherokee County Courthouse in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.