Quick Reads for March 25, 2026

  • Grand reopening: Narrative Bookstore is moving from Suite C to Suite A of the Mill Building in downtown Murphy. The suite previously hosted Blue Ridge Olive Oil Co.
    Grand reopening: Narrative Bookstore is moving from Suite C to Suite A of the Mill Building in downtown Murphy. The suite previously hosted Blue Ridge Olive Oil Co.
  • Fish Fry Fridays: Serving up meals at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church’s in Andrews are Eli Badillo, Everardo Diaz with Jose Martinez in the back. Customers on the right include Connie Killian, Kay Foy and Jacqueline Hulse. The next fry is from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 27. The meal includes fried fish, fries, hush puppies, dessert and drink, $15 for adults and $10 for children under age 10. Meals are available for dine-in or carry-out. Call 828-321-4463 or visit the church's social media.
    Fish Fry Fridays: Serving up meals at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church’s in Andrews are Eli Badillo, Everardo Diaz with Jose Martinez in the back. Customers on the right include Connie Killian, Kay Foy and Jacqueline Hulse. The next fry is from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 27. The meal includes fried fish, fries, hush puppies, dessert and drink, $15 for adults and $10 for children under age 10. Meals are available for dine-in or carry-out. Call 828-321-4463 or visit the church's social media.
  • Political protest: This unidentified man was exercising his First Amendment rights at the intersection of U.S. 19/74 and Hiwassee Street in Murphy at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The Cherokee County Democratic Party is sponsoring a “No Kings” event from 2-3 p.m. Saturday.
    Political protest: This unidentified man was exercising his First Amendment rights at the intersection of U.S. 19/74 and Hiwassee Street in Murphy at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The Cherokee County Democratic Party is sponsoring a “No Kings” event from 2-3 p.m. Saturday.

    MURPHY: Bookstore’s new home  

    Narrative Bookstore will host a grand reopening celebration Wednesday, April 1, after a soft opening Tuesday.

    The event will feature giveaways, new merch launching, special themed beverages, a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and more. Narrative Bookstore has evolved a lot over the last two years, according to owner Brooke Adams.

    “When Narrative started, I wanted to create a community-minded space where everyone could share the joy of reading,” she said. “It has grown and expanded so much, and I’ve gotten to know really great people.”

    Adams hopes this move will help their business thrive by improving their visibility with more space as a way to bring even more of the community together.

    “The dream has always been to make Narrative a community space where people can get together, and we now have the space to do that. Even if they aren’t readers, we want them to feel welcome to come in and hang out,” Adams said. 

    Narrative hosts regular monthly book clubs, including a Fantasy Book Club and Fiction Book Club. They hope to introduce a silent book club in the future where people can bring whatever they are currently reading and will have the opportunity to discuss with others after if they want.

    In addition, Indie Bookstore Day will be celebrated on the last Saturday of April. 

    Details: Narrative Bookstore will be at 104 Tennessee St., Suite A, in Murphy. Visit bookshop.org/shop/narrativebooksnc.


     

    MURPHY: ‘No Kings’ set for Saturday  

    The Cherokee County Democratic Party is sponsoring a “No Kings” event Saturday.

    All interested attendees should gather in the Murphy roundabout from 2-3 p.m.  

    The police department has asked participants to stay on the sidewalks, out of the road and off the newly planted grass.

    Organizers ask attendees to not block sidewalks nor business entrances, keep the event peaceful and follow directions from safety leads. Bring signs and enthusiasm.

     

    BLAIRSVILLE, Ga.: Dealing with suicide loss  

    A Caring Communities: Guidance for Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss event will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Union County Schools Fine Arts Center, 926 Panther Overlook.

    Participants will understand suicide as a complex health issue along with the impact on survivors. Learn

    practical ways to support suicide loss.

    Details: Contact Nathaniel Prentice at heros.serving.heros@gmail.com, call 706-897-9638 or visit afsp.org.

     

    MURPHY: Jail & Bail set May 8  

    The Rotary Club of Murphy announces the return of its crowd favorite annual fundraiser, Jail & Bail, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Downtown Pizza.

    This high-energy, laughter-filled event brings the community together for a great cause – supporting the club’s Youth Services programs, including Rotary Reads, a local literacy initiative; student scholarships; and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

    Throughout the day, local “suspects” – including the Cherokee Scout, town officials and other familiar faces from around the community – will be “arrested” by members of Murphy Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Once “booked,” each suspect must raise their “bail” to be released. Friends, family, coworkers and friendly rivals can donate to set them free.

    Details: Email Holly Goddard at goddardha2@gmail.com.

     

    ANDREWS: Going back into ‘Woods’  

    The Community Youth Players will present a Stephen Sondheim musical classic in its youth theater adaptation Into the Woods Jr. at the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut St. downtown. 

    Evening performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and ages 17 and under. Children ages 5 and under receive free admission. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. 

    This adaptation is directed by Sawyer Bradley, a longtime volunteer with CYP in his sixth time at the helm of a production.

    The musical centers on an interconnected thread of stories long cherished as fables and fairytales including popular characters such as Cinderella and Jack from the Beanstalk story as well as Little Red Riding Hood, which culminates with each character learning to “be careful what you wish for.”

    The youth theatrical adaptation by James Lapine allows for a “happier ending” with most of the original first act reconfigured to highlight the central story of The Baker and His Wife, while also meshing stories and coincidences with the other characters. The original second act is eliminated for “younger audiences.”

    Details: Visit facebook.com/ACT2Players.

     

    CULLOWHEE: Screening ‘A Sacred Thread’  

    PBS North Carolina is hosting a special of the documentary A Sacred Thread from 5:30-8 p.m. today in the Bardo Arts Center Performance Hall at Western Carolina University.

    Originally premiering in July 2025, A Sacred Thread provides viewers with an immersive look at the Snowbird Cherokee of western North Carolina, a resilient community working to preserve their ancestral language, traditions and connection to the land.   

    This free event will feature the screening of the film followed by a panel discussion with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and members of the Snowbird Cherokee who were featured in the film. 

     

    CHEROKEE COUNTY: Public meetings

    THIS WEEK

    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners has called a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday for the purpose of filling two vacancies on the board. The Cherokee County Republican Executive Committee will present recommendations for filling the two commissioner vacancies. 


    COMING UP

    • Cherokee County Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble, to select candidates for consideration as superintendent. Following this meeting, the board will hold its regular April meeting at 5:30 p.m.
    • Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, April 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 107 Peachtree St. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
    • Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the town’s Facebook page.
    • Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday, April 13, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
    • Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
    • Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19 in Andrews.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. Live-streamed on the Scout’s Facebook page.
    • Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session to discuss animal control Monday, April 20, immediately after the 6:30 p.m. meeting.
    • Murphy ABC Board meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, at the ABC Store, 818 U.S. 64 W. in Murphy.
    • u herokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
    • Cherokee County Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble, to go into closed session to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment or conditions of initial appointment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee.