MURPHY
Burger King settles lawsuit
North Georgia Foods, Inc., a Georgia-based company operating several Burger King restaurants – including one in Murphy – has agreed to pay $60,000 and provide other relief to settle a sex harassment, retaliation and pregnancy discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the agency announced Thursday.
According to the EEOC’s complaint, from at least August 2018 through July 2019, a team member at North Georgia Foods’ Murphy location was sexually harassed by a male assistant manager. The harassment included vulgar sexual comments, threatening behavior and unwelcome sexual touching. The team member complained multiple times and asked not to work alone with the male assistant manager.
North Georgia Foods did not take action to stop the harassment, but instead removed the team member from the schedule completely in June 2019. The company refused to communicate with the team member and later refused to reinstate her employment. The EEOC also alleged the team member was discriminated against because of her pregnancy.
This alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects employees from sex-based harassment in the workplace. The suit was resolved by a two-year consent decree that prohibits North Georgia Foods from discriminating and retaliating against employees.
“The outcome of this case demonstrates that employers who ignore complaints of sex-based harassment in the workplace or retaliate against employees for asserting their rights under Title VII will be held accountable,” EEOC Regional Attorney Melinda Dugas said in a release.
MURPHY
Mayor on SWC board
 |
Mayor Tim Radford has accepted the appointment of vice chair on the executive committee for the Southwestern Commission Regional Council of Governments.
In his two-year role, Radford will work with other elected officials in the seven westernmost counties in North Carolina and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to prioritize issues that the region can work together on to improve the quality of life for residents of the southern Blue Ridge.
Radford said in a release that building relationships is the key benefit of the Council of Governments.
“There is power in numbers and power in good relationships,” he said. “For newly elected leaders such as myself, we don’t have all the answers on day one of taking office. Having access to an impressive knowledge base such as the Southwestern Commission and its members is huge in helping small towns such as Murphy thrive.”
Radford added working as a region on important issues such as housing, broadband access, and substance addiction is especially important in this area.
“Many people have no idea that Murphy is closer to the capitals of five other states (Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kentucky) than we are to our own capital, leaving many folks living here often feeling disconnected from Raleigh,” he said. “The Southwestern Commission not only connects us with state and federal dollars, but also with other local leaders here in far-western North Carolina who are likely facing similar issues as Murphy and, together, we can solve problems.”
“I am grateful to Mayor Radford for his willingness to serve and I look forward to working together with him,” said Russ Harris, executive director for the Southwestern Commission “He is a true servant leader who puts other people first, and he will be a great asset to the region.”
ANDREWS
Oktoberfest, County Fair
The Andrews Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Andrews have worked together to schedule a fun lineup of events.
The chamber’s annual Oktoberfest will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, in order to allow the town to host the Cherokee County Fair from Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15. This was done in order to secure rides for this year’s fair, which should make it better than ever.
Chamber Director Nola Cooper said holding Oktoberfest on Sept. 30 actually works out well because Germany’s event starts in September and ends on the first weekend of October, putting Andrews right in that time frame.
MURPHY
TVA seeks public input
The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public input on proposed transmission system improvements to prepare for growth and increase power reliability in the Appalachia area encompassing parts of Cherokee County in western North Carolina and Polk County in eastern Tennessee.
TVA proposes to invest about $28 million to build the Martins Creek Switching Station and a new power line. The new line would begin at the existing Apalachia Hydro Plant and extend southeast to the Tap to Ranger and Harshaw Road-Weaver Transmission Lines, then connect them to the proposed Martins Creek Switching Station.
The new line would be about 27 miles and built using primarily steel, H-frame structures with the potential for steel towers and single-pole structures as indicated by design.
TVA is committed to working with area stakeholders during the course of the project and encourages public input. The public should visit TVA’s website through Monday, Feb. 20, at tva.virtual.com/appalachia. The public can submit comments and ask questions via the website. Detailed maps showing the different locations being considered for the proposed switching station and transmission line are available on the website.
The public may also submit comments by contacting TVA’s Austin Ethridge toll-free at 800-362-4355, by email at newtransline@tva.gov, or by mail to him at: Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., MR 4G, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801. The deadline for comments is Feb. 20.
TVA is investing over $2 billion in transmission system improvements across the service area from 2021-25 to build the energy grid of the future that will continue to provide, clean, low-cost, reliable power. For details, visit tva.com.
ANDREWS
Duke seeking 17% bill hike
The average monthly electric bill for roughly 2 million North Carolinians could increase by about $20 per month by 2026 under a proposed rate increase filed by Duke Energy Carolinas on Thursday.
The rate hike submitted to the North Carolina Utilities Commission would increase the company’s revenues by about $823 million over three years, with 75 percent going toward improvements to align with the state’s forced transition to “clean energy,” according to Duke Energy statement.
“Our customers expect us to deliver reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy every day,” Duke Energy North Carolina President Kendal Bowman said. “We’re very mindful of the financial pressures our customers face. Our rates are well below the national average, and we remain committed to keeping rates as low as possible.”
Duke Energy Carolinas serves homes and businesses in western North Carolina, including Andrews and eastern Cherokee County. The company last requested a rate increase in 2019.
The proposal submitted Thursday would increase the monthly bill for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month by $12.54 starting Jan. 1. Rates would increase the following January by $3.90 and by another $3.18 in January 2026, if approved by the commission.
FRANKLIN
Legislators’ committees
Cherokee County’s representatives in the General Assembly have been picked to serve on vital committees during the upcoming legislative session.
State Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin), who served four years in the House and is beginning his third year in the Senate, will serve as co-chair of the Senate’s Health Care committee as well as the Health & Human Services appropriations committee. He will also serve on the Commerce & Insurance, Eduction/Higher Education, Pensions & Retirement & Aging and State & Local Government committees.
State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin), who took over Corbin’s seat in the House seat two years ago, has been appointed as one of six deputy majority whips, placing him among the most powerful Republicans in the House. Gillespie also will serve on the Appropriations, Agriculture & Natural & Economic Resources (co-chair), Environment (co-chair), Agriculture (vice chair), Appropriations (vice chair), Federal Relations & American Indian Affairs (vice chair) Wildlife Resources (vice chair) and Disaster Recovery & Homeland Security committees.
“These committees play a vital role in shaping legislation that affects the lives of North Carolinians,” Gillespie said in a release. “I look forward to working together with my legislative colleagues to advance policies that will benefit all of North Carolina.”
After the ceremonial opening of the 2023-24 legislative biennium on Jan. 11, the General Assembly adjourned for two weeks, as per state law. The House and Senate return today to begin official legislative business.
RALEIGH
State hosting World Games
The Jan. 10 announcement that North Carolina will play host to the 2029 World University Games has been met with much fanfare.
“Well it was tremendously exciting,” Hill Carrow, who serves as chair and CEO of the North Carolina Bid Committee, told ABC News. “You know, there was a lot of jumping up and down and hugging, high-fiving and clapping, and a lot of hand good handshakes and everything.”
Carrow is in Lake Placid, N.Y., with other members of the North Carolina delegation who were on hand when FISU decided on North Carolina.
The be-here-before-you-know-it competition is estimated to bring $150 million to North Carolina. Some projections believe North Carolina will see an economic impact of $300 million.
CORRECTION
The article “The life of rape kit” on page 1A in the Jan. 18 edition of the Cherokee Scout contained a reporting error. Law enforcement agencies have 45 days to get the kit to the state lab. However, the lab has no deadline and can return results anywhere from months to more than a year later. The Scout regrets the error.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- No public meetings are scheduled from Jan. 25-31.
COMING IN FEBRUARY
- Murphy Town Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at Murphy Electric Power Board, 5 Wofford St. downtown.
- Cherokee County Board of Commissioners meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority meets at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in the Murphy Visitors Center, 20 Tennessee St.
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the Facilities Building, 85 4th St.
- Cherokee County Veteran Forces meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at Central Office, 911 Andrews Road in Murphy.
- Andrews ABC Board meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, in the multi-purpose room of the Cherokee County Courthouse, 75 Peachtree St. in downtown Murphy.
- Cherokee County Department of Social Services Board meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the DSS conference room, 4800 U.S. 64 W. in Ranger.
- The Cherokee County Board of Health meets at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 13, at the Cherokee County Health Department, 228 Hilton St. in Murphy.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.