Quick Reads

  • Bill Belian/Contributing Photographer  This little 2-month-old goat was spotted wearing a pair of hand-painted overalls during Food Truck Friday on June 9 in downtown Andrews. His name is Arrowhead. 
    Bill Belian/Contributing Photographer  This little 2-month-old goat was spotted wearing a pair of hand-painted overalls during Food Truck Friday on June 9 in downtown Andrews. His name is Arrowhead. 
  • N.C. Department of Transportation crews installed a mini-roundabout last month at Walker Woody and Hyatt Creek roads in Bryson City after identifying the intersection as a priority for a Spot Safety Project. According to a release, the mini-roundabout will reduce speeds and the conflicts where vehicles could potentially collide. Large trucks, buses, trucks with trailers can still traverse the intersection by driving on the raised center island, if necessary. For details, visit ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies
    N.C. Department of Transportation crews installed a mini-roundabout last month at Walker Woody and Hyatt Creek roads in Bryson City after identifying the intersection as a priority for a Spot Safety Project. According to a release, the mini-roundabout will reduce speeds and the conflicts where vehicles could potentially collide. Large trucks, buses, trucks with trailers can still traverse the intersection by driving on the raised center island, if necessary. For details, visit ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies

    ANDREWS

    Food Truck Friday here

    Food Truck Friday returns to Hall Park downtown at 5 p.m. Friday.

    Check out the Andrews Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page for a list of food trucks and vendors. Bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy live music at the gazebo. For details, visit visitandrewsnc.com.

    MURPHY

    Special called meeting today

    The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a special called meeting  at 4 p.m. today to receive guidance from the N.C. Department of Revenue as it relates to NCGS 105-287: Changing appraised value of real property in years in which general reappraisal is not made.

    The meeting will be held in the commissioners boardroom at the Cherokee County Courthouse. NCDOR officials will participate virtually via Microsoft Teams Meeting.

    HIWASSEE DAM

    Radio field day planned

    The Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society’s Murphy chapter will hold its annual ARRL Field Day from 2-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Fields of the Wood, 10000 N.C. 294.

    Testing will be available on site for those wishing to become a new operator or upgrade their existing license. Folks are encouraged to attend and try their hand at getting on the airwaves. 

    For details, visit wcars-murphy.org.

    MURPHY

    Business gets $62.5K grant

    The N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority has approved 11 grant requests to local governments totaling $4,478,850, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday.

    The requests include commitments to create a total of 383 jobs, 173 of which were previously announced. The public investment in these projects will attract more than $91 million in private investment.

    The RIA is supported by the rural economic development team at the N.C. Department of Commerce. Grants support a variety of activities, including infrastructure development, building renovation, expansion and demolition, and site improvements.

    Closer to home in the Vacant Building Category, Cherokee County received a $62,500 grant to support the reuse of a 2,976-square-foot building in Murphy as the future home of Valley River Dental. Formerly known as Mimms Family Dentistry, the practice plans to create five jobs and invest $1,137,500 in the project.

    ANDREWS

    ‘Andrews Idol’ nears

    If you’ve always wanted to try out for American Idol, you’re in luck – “Andrews Idol” is coming to The Blue Stage, 889 Main St. downtown.

    The entry deadline is Saturday, and the winner will receive $1,000. For details, visit andrewsidol.com; to enter, email andrewsidol@thebluestage.com.

    WAYNESVILLE

    DOT drivers show skills

    More than 100 employees from across the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division 14 – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Polk, Swain and Transylvania counties – recently participated in its annual Equipment Operators Safety Conference at the maintenance yard in Haywood County.

    The conference showcases the skills and safety precautions taken by employees who work every day on North Carolina roads to provide visitors and residents with a safe and accommodating transportation system. The winners from each event will represent Division 14 at the State Equipment Operators Safety Training Conference in Raleigh, which starts today.

    Two Cherokee County residents were winners at the conference:

    • Backhoe Exercise: Justin Derreberry, Cherokee County Maintenance.
    • Crane Exercise: Larry Flowers, Cherokee County Bridge.

    Division 14 Engineer Wanda Payne said she is proud of the employees, their skills, aptitudes and attitudes, and desire to help drivers in western North Carolina. She also showcased some of her skills on heavy machinery driving a truck through the course, maneuvering a backhoe in tight conditions and swinging the boom of a crane.

    DEALS GAP

    Drive safe on ‘The Dragon’

    Tennessee and North Carolina officials reminded people last week to drive safely if they travel along the “Tail of the Dragon,” a winding stretch of U.S. 129 bordering both states. The “Tail of the Dragon” takes people on a ride that has become well-known, but dangerous for motorcyclists and automobile enthusiasts because the 11-mile stretch includes 314 curves.   

    Officials want people who travel the road to drive the speed limit, stay in your lane, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you, always wear your seat belt and never drive distracted. Use the paved pull-offs for any sight-seeing. For more safety tips, visit ncdot.gov.

    Participating on June 13 were officials with the N.C. State Highway Patrol, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Safety Office and Tennessee law enforcement agencies. In 2021 and 2022, there were 17 crashes on the North Carolina side of the Tail of the Dragon. Five of those crashes involved serious injuries, while 12 involved motorcycles.

    RALEIGH

    N.C. Lottery bets sports

    A new sports betting website launched Friday, as the N.C. State Lottery Commission begins planning and work to implement North Carolina’s sports betting and horse race wagering law.

    The website, nclottery.com/sports-betting, provides initial information about the new law, and will share new information about licensing and regulation as it becomes available. The commission also has started a national search for an experienced senior leader in gaming and sports betting to develop, implement and manage North Carolina’s sports betting and horse race wagering programs.

    Under the new law, lawful wagering in North Carolina is to begin on or before June 14, 2024. No timetable outlining expected dates for application submissions and the granting of licenses is available at this time.

    CORRECTION

    An article about Forks & Corks: Local Savor 2023 on page 7A in the June 14 edition of the Cherokee Scout included a list of participating companies. Unfortunately, Murphy’s Chophouse was not included. The Scout regrets the error.

    LOCAL GOVERNMENT

    Public meetings

    THIS WEEK

    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 4 p.m. today in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Commissioners Boardroom (342) at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in Murphy. (Live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.)

    COMING SOON

    • Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, July 3, 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, July 3, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Local, state and federal government offices and the Cherokee Scout will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the Fourth of July holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 5.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, July 10, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
    • Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 10, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
    • Cherokee County NASA Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at the Bellview Community Center, 270 Old Bellview Road.
    • Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
    • Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Cherokee Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.

    Compiled by Publisher David Brown.