MARBLE
Schools sweltering
Some Cherokee County elementary schools endured unusually warm classrooms earlier this month, with temperatures as high as 85 degrees at some campuses.
Unseasonably warm weather converged with the school district’s annual switchover from chilled air to heated air. The switchover occurs in November, when crews start with the elementary schools and move on from there.
“The weather threw us a curve,” John Higdon, assistant superintendent in charge of facilities at Cherokee County Schools, told the school board during its Nov. 21 meeting at Central Office. “We did have some warm classes.”
Chillers are winterized during the switchover to keep them from freezing in the colder months. Freezing can cause damage resulting in expensive repairs or even replacement, with new chillers costing around $200,000.
The Hiwassee Dam campus has been limping along with rental units while waiting for a replacement, which is en route. Once the chillers are winterized, it is a complicated process to restore them to service across the district’s 10 or so campuses that use chillers.
It’s normally done in the spring, which is normally not a problem. Classrooms don’t usually need to be chilled in the winter. But it is a problem if weather is unseasonably warm.
School board member Jeff Tatham suggested that classes be held remotely if classroom temperatures get too warm, a suggestion members will take under advisement.
ANDREWS
Airport seeks information
Cherokee County officials want to know what’s inside the hangars at Western Carolina Regional Airport.
Notices were placed outside hangars at the airport notifying lease holders about the effort. The notices, dated Nov. 13, say the county is updating airport records to determine occupancy and consider future hangar lease agreements.
“There is no lease agreement on file for occupancy of this hangar,” according to the notice. “Please provide the aircraft owner’s contact information (name, mailing address and phone number) to the airport manager or employee on duty no later than Monday, Dec. 16, at 5 p.m. If multiple aircraft occupy a hangar and are separately owned, provide the contact information for each owner.
“Failure to provide the requested information may result in Cherokee County gaining access to the county’s hangar in an attempt to ascertain occupancy, and then placing a new lock on the county’s hangar until such time that occupancy and aircraft ownership is determined.”
MARBLE
Board will look at plan
Cherokee County Board of Education members will be taking a new look at a plan issued in 2020 intended to steer school district growth over the next 50 years.
The plan – “Looking Forward, The Next 50 Years, Needs and Resources Long Range Feasibility Analysis” – was released in March 2020 and helped the county secure a $50 million state grant to consolidate Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy high schools into a single campus.
The consolidation plan was controversial and canceled after the county turned back the grant in 2022. However, some school board members have been making decisions while citing the plan in their decisions.
The facilities workshop is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road. The school board’s regular meeting follows at 5:30 p.m., moved ahead a week because of the holiday schedule.
Details: Visit tinyurl.com/5edhwzx3.
RALEIGH
Gillespie still whip
N.C. Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin) was re-elected as the House Majority Whip by his colleagues in the House of Representatives on Nov. 19.
Gillespie is serving his second term representing the 120th House District, which includes all of Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties.
“Receiving this vote of confidence from the members of the House Republican Caucus continues to be a great honor,” Gillespie said in a release.
“This role provides a meaningful opportunity to ensure that the voices and interests of House District 120 and far-western North Carolina continue to be prioritized at the highest levels of state government. In my third term, I look forward to continuing to work hard for my district and serving with integrity on behalf of the citizens who have placed their trust in me.”
The leadership positions selected by the House Republican Caucus are applicable to the 2025-2026 legislative session.
BRASSTOWN
Toy Drive for victims
The Pediatric Cancer Treatment Foundation and Elevation MX are co-hosting Toy Drive & Disaster Relief fundraising event at 10 a.m. Sunday.
This event will be held at Elevation MX, 775 Dog Branch Road. Proceeds will benefit children from low-income families in western North Carolina who lost everything during Hurricane Helene.
“We are hoping that the items and funds raised will make it possible for them to have a better Christmas,” said Robert Triggers, director of the foundation. There will be a silent auction and food truck available at the event.
The entry fee for all classes is $20, plus an unwrapped toy valued at $15-30. The Panty Relay Race entry fee is $30 and Pit Bike Race $20, plus an unwrapped toy. Sponsors of the event include Allen’s Garage and Cherokee Guns.
Details: Call Tyler Payne at 828-557-5776.
RALEIGH
More folks get online
North Carolinians will be able to access community resources that support internet affordability, access to computers and digital devices, digital skills and
literacy, tech support and free wi-fi with one call thanks to a partnership
between the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity and NC 211.
NC 211 is an information and referral service powered by United Way of North Carolina and 47 local United Ways that offers free and confidential information to callers on health and human services within their local communities.
The United Way’s NC 211 service connects callers to verified sources for basic needs, such as housing and utility assistance, food, healthcare and transportation. In addition, it offers digital skills assessments, help setting up an email address, locations of libraries that offer free wi-fi or a computer lab and sites for upcoming computer skills classes.
Their service is available in most languages and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Anyone in North Carolina can dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 for a free and confidential call with a trained community resource specialist that will listen, identify needs and connect them to local resources that offer solutions to fit their situation.
Details: Visit nc211.org.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
* Local, state and federal government offices, and the Cherokee Scout, will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The local newspaper’s office ay 89 Sycamore St. in downtown Murphy will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday.
* 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.
COMING SOON
* Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a work session at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
* Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
* Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
* Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page.
* Andrews Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing at 6:10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St., over whether to repeal a ban on carrying firearms on town property. Live-streamed on the Town of Andrews’ Facebook page.
* Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
* Cherokee County Board of Education will hold a facilities workshop at 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble. Live-streamed on the school district’s YouTube channel.
* Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Central Office, 2230 Airport Road in Marble. Live-streamed on the school district’s YouTube channel.
* Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, in the ABC Store, 13934 U.S. 19.
* Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 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 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.