ANDREWS
Food Truck Friday here
The final Food Truck Friday event off 2021 will be held from 5-8 p.m. this week, bringing good food, entertainment, a beer and win garden, local and visiting vendors downtown.
There will be picnic tables on First Street and parking on Main Street. There will also be musical entertainment.
In addition, the Andrews Chamber of Commerce will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, in the office at 955 Main St. downtown. Executive Director Nola Cooper invites the public to stop by for door prizes, finger foods, soft drinks and lots of fun the entire day.
For details, call 321-3584 or see visitandrewsnc.com.
MURPHY
9-11 ceremony held Saturday
A 9-11 Commemoration Ceremony will be held at noon Saturday on the steps of the Cherokee County Courthouse on Peachtree Street downtown.
The event itinerary includes an opening prayer, presentation of the colors, remarks from Commander LeCount from American Legion Post 96, remarks from civic leaders and closing prayers. All are welcome to remember and honor this day, and those who sacrificed so much.
ANDREWS
Hot Summer Nights nears
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7620 and the U.S. Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011, will present Hot Summer Nights, a cruise-in automobile show, from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at Hall Memorial Park downtown.
Bikes, cars and trucks will be on display; they are free to show, and the event is free to attend. There will be hot dogs, popcorn and more. For details, see the group’s Facebook pages.
MURPHY
Alcohol training
The N.C. ABC Commission will offer responsible alcohol seller/server training, which is designed to address issues that affect businesses selling alcohol for on-premise consumption as well as off-premise consumption, from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at Penland Senior Center, 69 Alpine St. downtown.
Course content is geared toward managers and staff of any state business with ABC permits, according to a release from Mountain Projects. However, all members of the public are welcome to attend and learn about the state’s ABC laws and regulations.
The free two-hour seminar provides participants with the most current information on alcohol laws as well as covers techniques for preventing underage and intoxicated patrons. Masks will be required at the training, and social distancing will be observed. Register online at https://www.mountainstrongwnc.org/events/responsible-alcohol-seller-server-program-rasp.
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.
Blue Ridge EMC meets
The annual meeting of the Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corp. is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the Towns County Recreation & Conference Center off U.S. 76.
The terms three members of the board of directors expire with the meeting. The nominating committee has recommended the following members – all incumbents – to serve another three-year term:
- Fannin County – Gayland Trull, who retired from Southwest Airlines in 2014 and today operates Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews.
- Towns County – Roy Perren, principal of Towns County High School.
- Union County – Jack Lance Jr., a lifelong local resident and licensed real estate attorney.
Registration will begin at 4 p.m. The High Country Harmonizers will provide entertainment, and there will be prizes, food and drinks available at the meeting.
MURPHY
Refinancing hearing set
The Murphy Town Council will hold a public hearing at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, at the Murphy Fire Department, 1 Firehouse Lane, to take public comment concerning a proposed financing contract, under which the town would borrow about $1,650,000 to refinance existing loan obligations.
According to a released from the town, the refinancing will reduce borrowing costs and save Murphy money. The proposed financing would be secured by a lien on the fire station and associated land.
The town’s plans are subject to change based on the comments received at the public hearing, and the council’s subsequent discussion and consideration. Murphy entering into the financing is subject to obtaining approval from the N.C. Local Government Commission.
Persons who want details or to make written comments in advance of the hearing may contact Town Manager Chad Simons at 837-2510 or manager@townofmurphync.com.
RALEIGH
Bill will ban ‘race theory’
A bill that blocks North Carolina's K-12 schools from promoting critical race theory is on its way to Gov. Roy Cooper.
The state House gave House Bill 324 final approval Sept. 1 with a 61-41 vote. The bill prohibits schools from promoting more than a dozen concepts about racism and discrimination, most of which came from critical race theory.
The theory is centered around the idea that race is a social construct used to oppress people of color. Critical race theory gained new notoriety in response to the 1619 Project, a New York Times multimedia piece that connects slavery to capitalism.
Despite first being approved in the House 66-40 in May and passing the Senate 25-17 on Aug. 26, the measure led to a lengthy debate. Democrats said the bill would censor history. Republicans said it would stop schools from pushing inappropriate concepts.
MURPHY
Helping out health care
The Murphy Rotary Club is gathering items for a new Healthcare Heroes Appreciation Basket Project.
During the Aug. 30 meeting via Zoom, club members discussed supporting local local health-care workers as they struggle with rising COVID-19 cases. Supplies and snacks will be gathered for baskets, which will be given to area hospitals.
Items like power and meal bars, individually wrapped snack foods, individual serving chip bags, cookies, personal hand sanitizers (70 percent alcohol) and personal hand lotion should be dropped off at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, 805 U.S. 64 W., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday. For details, email chamber Executive Director Sherry Raines at director@cherokeecountychamber.com or club President Trevis Hicks at trevhicks007@gmail.com.
MARBLE
Lunsford to get honored
The N.C. Department of Transportation is inviting the public out at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24, for a ceremony naming a bridge in honor of the Rev. Fred B. Lunsford.
The event will take place at Marble Springs Baptist Church, 80 Marble Springs Church Road. Lunsford is a U.S. Army veteran who has dedicated a lifetime to serving families and children in his community.
For details or to RSVP, contact Sazia Bashar at sbashar@ncdot.gov or 919-707-2681.
ANDREWS
Airport party set
Western Carolina Regional Airport will celebrate its 75th birthday with a party from 11-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2.
This free event is open to the public, and children are welcome. Rib Country barbecue will cater the party, which will includes live music, daring formation flyovers, a brief talk on the history of the airport and hangar tours, including access to the aircraft. Gayland Trull, manager of the airport, hinted that there may even be a helicopter on display.
The airport originated in 1946 and has been vital to Cherokee County’s economy. Saturday’s celebration will be its first birthday party, and the airport won’t host another one until it turns 100.
This is an outdoor event and will proceed with or without rain. Several professional aviators will be on hand to answer questions and assist with tours.
ANDREWS
Oktoberfest set Oct. 9
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce is accepting vendor applications and inviting residents to attend Oktoberfest, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, downtown.
For details, call Jan Olson at 321-1600 or email Jan@FernCrestWinery.com. And save the date for a day of fun.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces will meet at 10 a.m. today at the Veterans Building, 63 Drew Taylor Road in Peachtree.
- Cherokee County Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority will meet at 2 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
COMING SOON
- Andrews ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
From staff and The Center Square reports.