MURPHY
Chainsaws at Art Walk
There will be lots of sawin’, showin’ and shakin’ goin’ on downtown Friday night during the monthly Art Walk.
Kick off your Labor Day weekend by watching five dueling chainsaw artists at work on the square in front of The Murphy Art Center. The Valley River Arts Guild is calling the event “Bear on the Square,” and all five artists will be sawing wood chunks and trunks into woodland creatures and bears of all sizes, including some life-size.
The chainsaw artists will be on the square carving all afternoon Friday as well as most of Saturday. All wood items will be available for purchase.
To add to the fun, the MAX Project, Murphy Art Xplosion, Outdoor Art Gallery, produced by the Arts Guild, will be installed throughout downtown at 13 locations, with 61 new artworks themed “Water in Appalachia.” A total of 70 artists from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana and North Carolina submitted files of their creative photography, paintings and digital art in order to compete for one of the top feature slots.
The 34 top feature artists selected will each receive a licensing fee of $100 for the use of their artwork, paid through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The MAC will host an artist reception from 5-8 p.m. Friday, and the pubic is invited.
Also at the Art Walk, shake and shimmy to live music by the band Dottie, as well as peruse and purchase the arts and crafts of more than 75 sidewalk vendors. Sample food and beverages in local pubs and restaurants, plus have the kids create free crafts at The MAC.
Details: ValleyRiverArts.com.
RALEIGH
Gillespie new whip
State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin) was elected as majority whip by his colleagues in the N.C. House
of Representatives on Aug. 16.
Serving in his second term, Gillespie represents the 120th House District, comprising Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties.
“I am deeply grateful and honored to have received the support of my colleagues for House Majority Whip,” Gillespie said in a release. “This position reflects their confidence in my abilities as well as signifying the importance of having a voice from far-western North Carolina in a leadership role. I remain steadfastly committed to representing my community’s needs and ensuring their concerns are heard at the highest levels of government.”
In addition, Gillespie serves on the following:
- Chair of the Appropriations-Agriculture, Natural & Economic Resources Committee.
- Chair of the Environment Committee.
- Vice chair of the Agriculture Committee.
- Vice chair of the Appropriations Committee.
- Vice chair of the Federal Relations & American-Indian Affairs Committee.
- Vice chair of the Wildlife Resources Committee.
- Member of the Disaster Recovery & Homeland Security Committee.
ANDREWS
Tell UPS we need 5
UPS has decided to stop delivering five days a week to Andrews, Brasstown, Nantahala and Topton.
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce would like to enlist your help in calling and emailing company officials to express our concerns about the negative impact their decision will make to our businesses and community. The Franklin distribution office continues to tell chamber officials that this is out of their control, but if residents band together they could make a difference and change some minds.
Make a phone call: 404-828-6000 (ask to speak with Logistics & Distribution).
Send an email: Please put in the subject line ANDREWS, NC DELIVERIES [ref:_00DF05wsA._5003k2ZqEZu:ref].
MURPHY
Ceremony set on 9/11
A 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony is being planned from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 11, in the memorial area at Konehete Veterans Park.
Everyone is invited to attend the special event. Here’s the schedule:
- 11 a.m. – Open with prayer by Chaplain J.D. Baker.
- 11:05 a.m. – Pledge of Allegiance; the Honor Guard with American Legion Post 96 will present the Colors.
- 11:15 a.m – Speaker: Murphy Fire Chief Al Lovingood.
- 11:30 a.m. – Speaker: Ranger Fire Chief Mike Taylor.
- 11:45 a.m. – Speaker: Cherokee County Commissioner Jan Griggs.
ANDREWS
County fair back in fall
The Cherokee County Fair returns to town in October, and ticket sales begin Sept. 1.
The second annual version of this county fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15, at Andrews Recreation Park, 160 Park St.
Ticket packages for rides include family packs and all-day wristbands. There will be games, competitions, vendors, live music and demonstrations. This year’s theme is “Mountain Grown,” including a look back at farming, agriculture and Native American practices.
Details: cherokeecountyncfair.org.
MURPHY
Meeting set on sheriffs
“The County Sheriffs: America’s Last Hope,” with retired Sheriff Richard Mack of Arizona, is coming to Murphy First Baptist Church, 517 Hiwassee St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9.
All citizens are invited to attend this special event. Learn how sheriffs and peace officers, as well as any public office holder who has taken the oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution – including aldermen, commissioners, council members and school board members. Learn how the Constitution applies in today’s world, protecting your rights and freedoms, ending tyranny and corruption in our community and across the country, why our sheriffs are so important and much more.
Mack, founder and president of the Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association, and Sheriff Dar Leaf of Michigan will be the featured speakers. Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith will introduce.
For questions, call 678-372-3212. To register for a fee of $70, visit form.jotform.com/231725784551158.
PEACHTREE
Chamber sets annual meet
The annual dinner meeting for the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce will he held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at McGuire’s Millrace Farm, 600 Hendrix Road. The dress code is to “cowboy or cowgirl it up with your best duds.”
There will be appetizers and drinks while networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner of homemade fried chicken or slow-cooked brisket, creamy mashed potatoes, buttermilk Southern fried okra, squash casserole and Miss Linda’s savory yeast rolls at 6:30 p.m. There will be door prizes, awards will be given out and the keynote speaker is state Treasurer Dale Folwell.
Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at the chamber office, 805 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy, or online at business.cherokeecountychamber.com/events/details/annual-member-dinner-meeting-for-cherokee-county-chamber-of-commerce-38939.
CORRECTION
Due to an editing error, the Nantahala Public Library was misidentified on page 1A in the Aug. 23 edition of the Cherokee Scout as being part of the Nantahala Regional Library, which only has libraries in Andrews, Hayesville, Murphy and Robbinsville. Nantahala is part of a different library system. The Scout regrets the error.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Local, state and federal government offices, along with the Cherokee Scout, will be closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday. The Scout will reopen at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Cherokee County Needs & Solutions Advisory Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, in the Ranger Community Center, 165 Little Ranger Road.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at noon Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.