MURPHY
Art Walk is coming soon
The Valley River Arts Guild will present the Murphy Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, 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 attend the free event. For more, read the letter to the editor on page 5A.
Details: 828-360-3038, valleyriverarts.com.
ANDREWS
Wicked play starts Friday
The ACT 2 players are bringing Ray Bradbury’s classic Something Wicked This Way Comes to the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut St. downtown, for the next two weekends.
Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as Oct. 6-7. There will also be matinees at 3 p.m. Sunday as well as Oct. 8.
Adult tickets are $15, with students and ages 60 and over $10. For can make reservations in advance.
Details: 828-361-2781.
ASHEVILLE
Bill strips local power
A draft conference report of the state budget released to the media last week includes language that would prohibit counties (§ 153A-145.11) and cities (§ 160A-205.6) from passing ordinances, resolutions, or rules that would restrict, tax, or charge a fee on auxiliary containers – the definition of which includes bags, cups, bottles and other packaging.
This language would pre-empt local control and undermine existing provisions of the N.C. Solid Waste Management Act that give counties and cities the authority to ban single-use plastic bags and other forms of packaging and the use of plastic foam (e.g., Styrofoam) in food ware, according to a release from MountainTrue.
The inclusion of the pre-emption in the budget comes as both Asheville and Durham are considering ordinances to reduce plastic pollution, and the towns of Woodfin and Black Mountain have passed resolutions in support of a Buncombe County-wide ordinance. In 2021, Wilmington also passed a resolution encouraging the reduction of plastic waste.
Efforts to reduce plastic waste are popular among citizens and businesses. A survey from the City of Asheville received nearly 7,000 resident responses and showed support at 80 percent. Among 57 businesses surveyed in the Asheville area, there was widespread support for a waste reduction ordinance banning single-use plastic bags, plastic takeout containers and Styrofoam products.
Details: mountaintrue.org.
DUCKTOWN, Tenn.
Book covers Polk politics
Local author Tyler Boyd has released a new book, The Biggs Machine: Old Time Politics in Polk County, Tennessee.
The Biggs Machine tells the story of Sheriff Burch Biggs, his corrupt empire and how it all came crashing down following World War II. Extensively researched, including interviews with local residents who lived during the Biggs regime, this is a true story of how absolute power corrupts absolutely and is a cautionary tale to prevent history from repeating itself, according to a release.
There are strong Cherokee County, N.C., connections in this book. It also features issues the country has been debating over the past several years, including police brutality and election fraud.
Several book signings are planned at:
- Thursday, 5-7 p.m., East Polk Public Library in Ducktown.
- Saturday, 2-4 p.m., Kimsey Ridge (old Ducktown School).
- Thursday, Oct. 5, 3-5 p.m., Ducktown Basin Museum (Hoist House).
- Saturday, Oct. 28, 1-3 p.m., Cherokee County Historical Museum in downtown Murphy, N.C.
RALEIGH
Records law under attack
A proposed amendment to the state’s public records law was added to the N.C. House budget bill last week, without forewarning, that poses a significant threat to the public’s right to see public records in the hands of the General Assembly when records are archived.
The N.C. Press Association “aims to turn back this unprecedented and unjustified attempt to change the public’s right to know in North Carolina,” according to a release.
The changes amend G.S. 121-5 by adding a new subsection to read: “(d1) General Assembly. – Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or order, rules, or regulations promulgated or adopted thereunder, the custodian of any General Assembly record shall determine, in the custodian’s discretion, whether a record is a public record and whether to turn over to the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, or retain, destroy, sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of, such records. When requested by the Legislative Services Officer, the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources shall assist in the preparation of an inventory of the records to which the request applies.”
RALEIGH
Small town Main Street
North Carolina’s designated Main Street and Small Town Main Street communities have leveraged more than $5.2 billion in public and private investment in downtown districts since 1980, according to figures released last week by the N.C. Department of Commerce.
During the 2022-23 fiscal year, North Carolina’s Main Street programs leveraged $684,637,060 in local public and private investment and saw 365 new businesses and nearly 3,000 jobs added in their downtown districts. Murphy has participated in the program.
Since the inception of the Main Street Program in the state, more than 7,800 buildings have been rehabilitated, with net gains of more than 35,000 jobs and nearly 7,800 businesses. The N.C. Main Street & Rural Planning Center manages the program as part of the Commerce Department and its Rural Economic Development Division.
Details: commerce.nc.gov/mainstreet.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy, to discuss updated project plans for the former National Guard armory.
- 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 at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. 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.
COMING SOON
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Cherokee County NASA Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Culberson Community Center, 4348 N.C. 60.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at noon Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.