MURPHY
‘Pollock in Parking Lot’
The Murphy Art Center is planning a special event, “Pollock in the Park,” from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Saturday at 33 Valley River Ave. downtown.
This free event promises to be a lot of fun. Come inside for directions Saturday
Warning: Wear old clothes, as you will be painting with squirt guns in the style of artist Jackson Pollock on a huge art canvas.
The internet tells us that “Paul Jackson Pollock was an American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was widely noticed for his ‘drip technique’ of pouring or splashing liquid household paint onto a horizontal surface, enabling him to view and paint his canvases from all angles.”
PEACHTREE
Chamber sets dinner meet
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Member Dinner Meeting will be held Thursday, Aug. 25, at McGuire’s Millrace Farm off Hendrix Road.
The evening will begin with networking at 5:30 p.m., featuring hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, followed by dinner. The Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year and Organization of the Year awards for 2022 will be handed out afterward.
To make a reservation, visit cherokeecountychamber.com or call 837-2242.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Openings at Head Start
Head Start serves families of children ages 3-5 in Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties, including children with minor to severe disabilities for eligible families.
The school year begins in August and is over in late May to early June. There is no charge for services from Head Start, as it is licensed by the N.C. Division of Child Development & Early Education. The goal is to prepare children and families for success in school and life.
Head Start provides children literacy, cognitive development and social-emotional development, along with the children’s health and well-being. Creative curriculum is used to plan lessons and activities centered around the children’s interest. Children are provided hands-on, interactive learning, along with materials and opportunities for creative play. Teachers provide the support for children to grow socially and learn through problem-solving and reasoning skills.
Head Start also helps connect families with local resources, including educational, medical, dental, nutritional and family social services. Parents can continue to use these resources after their child has transitioned into kindergarten.
The offices, at 63 Clay St. in Andrews and 161 Thomas St. in Murphy, are accepting applications as well as hiring teachers and assistants. Applications are available at foursquarecommunityactioninc.com. For details, call the Andrews office at 828-321-0641 or Murphy at 828-837-9756.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
377 COVID cases in July
There were 377 positive cases of COVID-19 reported in July to the Cherokee County Health Department, according to a release.
Of those cases, 135 were fully vaccinated without a booster, while 71 were vaccinated with a booster shot. The age category with the largest number of cases is 60 and over, which had 137, including one death.
According to the state Department of Health & Human Services, 77 percent of North Carolina adults have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while 59 percent have received at least one booster shot as well. Among children and teenagers, 29 percent have been vaccinated.
“We are managing over 100 active known cases per day,” the health department says in the release. “We did have one COVID-related death during the month of July, but overall hospitalization and death rates have not been increasing at the same rate as previous upticks in active cases.
“It is important to understand that these numbers represent reported (known) cases, so it is an underrepresentation of the actual case rate as many people are taking home tests or simply not testing. If you have been exposed or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, take necessary precautions to prevent further transmission, which include self-isolation during the first five days of infection and masking during the second five days or quarantine following exposure.”
HIAWASSEE, Ga.
Dedicated to fallen heroes
The annual Benghazi-Twin Towers Memorial Ride & Veterans Appreciation Event will start at Towns County Veterans Park, 1400 U.S. 76, with registration being held from 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24.
All motorcycles and patriotic vehicles on 2-4 wheels are welcome to participate in the escorted memorial procession flying the U.S. flag, flashing lights and blowing horns to honor our nation’s fallen heroes, organizers say. The procession will arrive at Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews, N.C., where it will become park of the annual Welcome Home – A Tribute To All Who Serve event.
For details, call Dr. Dan Eichenbaum at 361-2649 or email drdan@drdansfreedomforum.com.
ANDREWS
4th Welcome Home event
The the fourth annual Welcome Home – A Tribute To All Who Serve event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Western Carolina Regional Airport, with a crowd of more than 10,000 people expected.
This year, the event includes an air show as well as several classic airplanes on display for viewing. There will be classic cars, motorcycles and military paraphernalia from the past. We will also host a chili cook-off, and there will be food vendors and free ice cream.
The day begins with a parade, leaving Andrews at 9 a.m. and arriving at the airport about 10 a.m. in time for the opening ceremonies. Annie Lloyd of Hayesville will open with the song “God Bless America.”
At 12:30 p.m., the Benghazi/Twin Towers Memorial Riders will present a memorial ceremony. At 1 p.m., the North Star Airshow group will kick off the event with aerial maneuvers.
The Rude Carpenters Band and Az Us will be rocking Hangar A from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. as the ceremonies continue at the front stage. There will be a presentation of the colors and flag-folding demonstration. Stephen Phillips and Sherry Raines will be masters of ceremonies for this event.
John Ivie of Ivie Funeral Home sponsors this event each year. American Legion Post 532 of Hayesville and Post 96 of Murphy will host the event. He wanted a way to honor our veterans while providing them with needed services.
There will be a Stand Down Service as well as veteran service officers on hand to talk with about benefits, needs and other help. Ivie said we should give tribute to those who have served, and this is an event where the whole community can say thanks.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Farmers get flooding help
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler announced that farmers in 11 additional counties are eligible for the Western N.C. Agricultural Crop Loss Program for damages and losses due to flooding and excessive rain from Tropical Storm Fred and an April 2021 freeze and frost.
The deadline to apply is Aug. 31. A total of $10 million is available. Counties include Cherokee, Clay, Jackson and Macon counties for damage and losses from flooding and excessive rain due to Tropical Storm Fred.
The program will cover losses of crops, feed, livestock, aquaculture and farm infrastructure for farmers. The agricultural commodities must have been planted but not harvested, or for aquaculture commodities raised on or before Aug. 17, 2021.
The application and required forms can be downloaded at www.ncagr.gov. For questions about the program in general, call 866-747-9823. Applicants may also reach out to Cherokee County Cooperative Extension or Farm Service Agency offices for application
support.
MURPHY
$70K raised for veterans
Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos proudly presented a $70,000 check to Folds of Honor last week. The donation is the result of funds raised during the company’s six-week beverage fundraising event, in addition to the generous donation of $10,000 from its SALUTE Committee.
“Partners like Harrah’s Cherokee make it possible for us to provide the support we do to military families,” said David Nein, president of Folds of Honor Western Carolina. “This year’s generous donation will fund 14 scholarships, so thank you to your hard-working team and patrons for their efforts.”
This is the sixth consecutive year Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Valley River Casino & Hotel have successfully led this fundraising initiative to help Folds of Honor’s mission to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This year’s donation brings funds raised to date by Harrah’s Cherokee to nearly $250,000.
THIS WEEK
Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. today at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.