MURPHY
Dialysis center sold
Savlan Capital has purchased the DaVita kidney care center at 1611 Andrews Road for $2 million, according to a release from the company. DaVita has been the lone tenant in the building for 15 years.
The purchase was part of Savlan Capital’s acquisition of five other medical office buildings valued at $12.3 million, including DaVita dialysis centers in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, the release says.
To date in 2021, Savlan Capital has acquired 12 single-tenant medical office assets valued at nearly $26 million. The company has 16 more single-tenant buildings valued at about $45 million under contract and plans to to close on those in the fourth quarter of 2021.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
New roles for county
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners appointed Daniel Graham Raxter to the professional engineer position on the Board of Health.
Raxter has been employed by N.C. Department of Transportation for 23 years and manages the maintenance departments for Cherokee and Graham counties.
Additionally, commissioners appointed Delenna Stiles to be the county tax collector, plus Deborah Tucker, Kathy Hinzman and Sierra Wright as deputy tax collectors. All are already employees of the county.
HAYESVILLE
Carr gets state award
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday that an innovative manufacturer, a virtual internship initiative and four individual North Carolinians have won NCWorks Awards of Distinction for outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development.
The Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction honor outstanding examples from the state’s workforce development system – including the students and jobseekers who receive training, the professionals who provide career services, and the employers and other organizations that support a skilled workforce.
One award went an area resident, LaShea Carr of Hayesville, for Outstanding Adult. While raising two daughters as a single mother in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carr persevered to complete the nursing degree program at Tri-County Community College in the spring. The Tri-County NCWorks Career Center on U.S. 64 West in Murphy supported Carr, particularly through a scholarship to help her complete her training.
While enrolled as a full-time student, Carr also worked as a licensed phlebotomist at Union General Hospital in Blairsville, Ga. She demonstrated leadership by serving as a student ambassador, helping and tutoring other nursing students. Since graduating from Tri-County, Carr has advanced in her health-care career, becoming a registered nurse in the emergency room at Angel Medical Center in Franklin.
MURPHY
Legal Aid opens office
Legal Aid of North Carolina announced that it has opened a local office.
“Legal Aid has represented clients from Murphy to Manteo for decades,” managing attorney Suzanne Saucier said. “We’re excited to say that we now have a brick-and-mortar location in Murphy. This location will help us to improve service to Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties.”
Legal Aid’s new office in Murphy is in a building on the grounds of St. William Catholic Church, at the corner of Hatchett Street and Andrews Road. Legal Aid will share the space with Catholic Charities, although the two entities are unrelated.
The Murphy office is a relocation of Legal Aid’s branch office in Hayesville, which it recently closed after 20 years in operation.
“We want to emphasize that we will continue to advocate strongly for our current and future clients in the Clay County community,” said Joseph Chilton, supervising attorney. “We are also excited to now be in a location that is more central for the entire Tri-County area.”
Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. To apply for assistance, call 1-866-219-LANC or visit legalaidnc.org.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Halloween events set
Here’s what’s happening surrounding the Halloween holiday this weekend.
- The Cherokee County Paranormal Society and Cherokee County Historical Museum invites everyone out for a "Night at the Museum" from 7:30 p.m. to midnight Friday. For tickets, call Terrisa Carringer at 837-6792.
- There will be a costume contest from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday during the "Welcome Home – A Tribute To All Who Serve" event at Western Carolina Regional Airport off U.S. 19/74 in Andrews.
- The Andrews Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Trunk or Treat downtown from 3-5 p.m. Saturday. This event provides a safe environment for kids to trick or treat and parents to see all the great costumes.
- Shepherd of the Mountains and MountainView churches in Murphy are hosting a Bible-themed Trunk or Treat from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at 68 Fairfax Drive.
- Murphy First Methodist Church will be hosting a Trunk or Treat from 3-5 p.m. Saturday on Valley River Avenue downtown.
- Ranger Baptist Church at 151 Walker Road is hosting a Trunk or Treat from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday.
- Murphy Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Fall Festival from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at 252 Valley River Ave.
- The popular Halloween neighborhood around Duke Street in Murphy will have limited access for vehicles during trick or treating Sunday evening.
- If you're looking for a large outdoor Halloween display, check out the one on Joe Brown Highway, just before Grape Creek Baptist Church.
MURPHY
$5K raffle for HAVEN set
HAVEN Children's Advocacy Center is having a raffle fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 13, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hackney Warehouse on Hiwassee Street downtown.
Tickets are $100 each, which entitles the ticket holder to dinner, dessert and a chance to win $5,000. Tickets will be drawn throughout the evening for prizes. At the end of the event, five final tickets will be drawn for a chance to win the $5,000 prize – or the five can split the money, which happened last year.
Enjoy good food and entertainment, as well as an open bar and silent auction, all for a great cause. HAVEN was founded in 2005 and serves Cherokee and Clay counties, helping children and families when abuse is suspected.
Only 225 tickets are available and can be purchased online or at the HAVEN office on U.S. 64 in Peachtree. For details, call 837-5872 or visit www.havencac.org/event-details/5-000-raffle-fundraiser.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
County OKs repairs, hire
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the use of $40,265 of schools sales tax funds for various projects, which includes fencing at Peachtree Elementary School and boiler repairs at Andrews Elementary School.
Also on Oct. 18, commissioners also approved the use of $46,920 in contingency funds to hire a new environmental health employee.
MURPHY
Phillips is GOP chair
For the second time, local attorney Leo Phillips has been appointed chairman of the Cherokee County Republican Party, with Margaret Ackiss being appointed vice chairman.
This month’s general membership meeting will be held in person at El Maguey Mexican Restaurant, 1466 Andrews Road, on Thursday, Nov. 4, with meal orders starting at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting promptly starting at 6:30 p.m.
Previous chair Shannon Greathead stepped down from the position due to health concerns. For details on county GOP activities, call Phillips at 404-277-3253.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Two roads get names
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved names for two roadways on Oct. 18. Nantahala Forest Road and Ahyoka Lane will be added to the county’s road list following the unanimous vote.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- Election Day is Tuesday in Andrews and Murphy.
COMING SOON
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- The Learning Center Board of Directors meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 945 Connahetta St. in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov, 15, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- All local, state and federal government offices – along with the Cherokee Scout and other businesses – will be closed Thursday, Nov. 25, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Scout will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26.
From staff reports.