ANDREWS
Town water gets $13.7M
Gov. Roy Cooper announced July 27 that communities statewide will receive a record $789.4 million in water and wastewater infrastructure funding to help pay for 385 projects statewide, including 140 construction projects.
“Clean drinking water is necessary for healthy families and thriving communities and businesses,” Cooper said. “The historic level of investment provided by the American Rescue Plan will help increase resiliency, support economic growth in our state and improve access to clean water in the communities that need it most.”
“These funds will replace aging infrastructure and help utilities remain viable, which benefits the health and economic well-being of communities across our state,” said DEQ Secretary Elizabeth Biser.
In Cherokee County, Andrews will receive $13,798,000 for drinking water line replacements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Town Administrator Sandy Dobson said the overall total of grants received for infrastructure will be around $18 million, and there could be more to come.
“We are applying for other grants for the recreation and police departments,” she wrote on Facebook. “It is a very exciting time for Andrews!” There will be more details about the grants in next week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout.
MURPHY
Church sets time capsule
Murphy First United Methodist Church on Valley River Avenue downtown will have a ceremony dedicating and blessing the updated time capsule that will be “replaced” behind the cornerstone of the church building during the 11 a.m. worship service Sunday.
Everyone is welcome to attend. For details, see the article on the church’s time capsule in the June 29 edition of the Cherokee Scout.
MURPHY
Art Walk set Friday
The Valley River Arts Guild will present the Murphy Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. Friday, with dozens of arts and crafts vendors and musicians flocking to downtown to showcase their art, perform music and have a good time.
Everyone is invited to the free event. For details, call 360-3038 or visit @valleyriverartsguild on Facebook.
WARNE
Benefit for senior dogs
“Love Doesn’t Keep Track of the Years,” a charitable benefit honoring the Senior Scenter for Elderly Dogs, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Warne Community Center, 4759 Old Highway 64.
The event, which is sponsored by the Hidden Mountain Brilliance homeschool academy activity group, will include a food truck, 50/50 raffle, live auction and live gospel entertainment.
MURPHY
Next Tasty Tuesday set
Tasty Tuesday will be held at the L&N Depot, 4 Railroad St. downtown, from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday.
There will be food trucks and craft beer, with live music, tables and chairs in the depot. The event will be held rain or shine. For more on food trucks, see the article in the July 20 edition of the Cherokee Scout.
RALEIGH
Felons can vote today
Starting last week, an individual serving a felony sentence who is not in jail or prison may register to vote and vote. An individual must also have resided in North Carolina for at least 30 days prior to the election, be a U.S. citizen and be at least 18 years old by the next general election.
Previously, under a state statute, a person serving a felony sentence could not register to vote or vote, whether they were in or out of prison, until they completed that sentence. This meant that felons serving probation, post-release supervision, or parole were not able to register or vote, until they completed their term of supervision.
Earlier this year, however, a state Superior Court determined that denying voting rights to people serving their felony sentences outside of jail or prison violates the state constitution. This decision has been appealed; however, the N.C. Court of Appeals has ordered that the decision should go into effect as of July 27.
This means that, for the time being, any person serving a felony sentence outside of prison or jail is eligible to register to vote and vote. Those in jail or prison for
a felony conviction are not allowed to register or vote. If a person is in jail awaiting trial for a felony but has not yet been convicted, they retain their voting rights. In North Carolina, a person never loses their voting rights for a misdemeanor conviction.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy. (Watch via the Scout’s Facebook Live.)
Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St. downtown.
Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St. (Watch via the Scout’s Facebook Live.)
COMING SOON
Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy. (Watch via the Scout’s Facebook Live.)