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When local residents look back on 2021, chances are they will think of the coronavirus, inflation and at least one of the top stories from 52 editions of the Cherokee Scout.
While Cherokee is considered a small rural county, it rivals large urban areas for the amount of news that gets created inside our borders. So pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and take a look back at some of the articles that were important in the last year.
January
Jan. 6: A trio of teenagers was charged with assault on an Andrews juvenile. … Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, including the one in Murphy, were planning to offer sports betting soon.
Jan. 13: Tiffany Dawn Wooten of Andrews was charged with scamming an elderly Hiwassee Dam woman out of more than $500 over the course of a month. … Dutt & Wagner egg farm produces about 500,000 eggs every day outside Andrews. … One week later, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was still the primary topic of debate nationwide, with a Hiawassee, Ga., man facing charges.
Jan. 20: Larry Limon of Murphy pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge. … Big Brothers Big Sisters celebrated National Mentoring Month with their Littles.
Jan. 27: Consolidating Cherokee County Schools or repairing existing campuses will likely come with a tax increase. … Music played during the inauguration of President Joe Biden was composed in Murphy by Dr. Kimberly Archer, who wrote “Fanfare Politeia.” … About 100 people gathered at the Cherokee County Courthouse in downtown Murphy in recognition of National Sanctity of Human Life Day.
February
Feb. 3: Local and state law enforcement agencies began the new year with the understanding that chokeholds are no longer allowed during an arrest except in situations where deadly force is authorized. … Royse Brown of Murphy survived falling asleep at the wheel and tumbling down a hill, but that’s just the beginning of his frightful story. … Harold Edward Curry of Murphy died when his vehicle collided with another vehicle on U.S. 64 West.
Feb. 10: Watco rail services reached out to Murphy to inquire about providing freight service. … The Murphy Town Council is floating the idea of rewarding employees who get the COVID-19 vaccine. … Cherokee County Schools and Union County (Ga.) Schools are partnering on career education programs
Feb. 17: SpaceX received 417.4 million in federal grant money to provide satellite-based broadband internet service in underserved areas of western North Carolina, including Cherokee County. … Robert Pirkle of Marble was tased twice before surrendering to sheriff’s deputies in a standoff over private property. … A Wolf Creek woman was burned and her dog perished in a fire that destroyed her home.
Feb. 24: David and Amanda Mashburn pleaded guilty to stealing more than $96,000 from the Hanging Dog Volunteer Fire Department. … The Learning Center charter school in Murphy announced plans to add a high school.
March
March 3: Shane Donovan McKinney will not stand trial for the murder of Johnny Mark Lowery after a judge ruled he was mentally incapable.
March 10: Jackie Slaughter, who once faced a murder charge in Graham County, was on trial for attempted murder in Cherokee County. … Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer said he will not seek a third term in office.
March 17: In a controversial 3-2 vote, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a plan to build one high school to serve Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy. … Dallas Wilson, 3, of Brasstown, is recovering from a serious accident, with a thumbs-up sign being his trademark.
March 24: A Martins Creek woman died in a house fire. … A jury convicted Jackie Slaughter of a lesser charge of assault with a deadly weapon and not attempted murder.
March 31: Defense attorneys for Jackie Slaughter were seeking “appropriate relief” in asking the court to overrule the jury and drop all charges. … Murphy Mayor Rick Ramsey decided not to seek re-election, and he would like to see Tim Radford of WKRK radio carry on his work.
April
April 7: The number of Cherokee County parents arrested this year due to their child missing class more than doubled compared to last school year. … After serving as chief deputy for both a Democrat and Republican, Joe Wood said he plans to run for sheriff on his own in 2022.
April 14: Cherokee County law enforcement officials were led on three high-speed chases, including one that was accompanied by the Cherokee Scout. … The local real estate market is booming, but there isn’t enough supply to keep up with the demand.
April 21: Andrews Police Chief Colin Gillespie – along with Officers Logan Howarth, Coyle Olsen and Greg Shields – were suspended pending a probe by the State Bureau of Investigation. The move came after at least two security cameras inside town hall were moved, one of which covered an entrance to at least one of the evidence rooms. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office took over patrol duties. … The annual Spring Fling was coming to downtown Andrews on Saturday, the first local event of the season.
April 28: Local residents Andrea Charles and Marcia Weeks were charged in a drug-smuggling scheme at the Cherokee County Detention Center. … Jacob Cresmen of Marble has conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, with Mount Everest up next.
May
May 5: Three residents were arrested after a raid in Hiwassee Dam netted 130 pounds of marijuana, guns and cash. … Clay County jail work crew escapee Roy Lockaby Jr. was captured while bathing at a river in Peachtree.
May 12: The Murphy football team won its 10th state championship with a 14-7 victory over Northside-Pinetown at N.C. State University. … The fatal overdose of Nikita Derreberry of Murphy shines a light on mental health issues. … Clay County sheriff’s Lt. Heath Woodard of Andrews announced he will run for Cherokee County sheriff in 2022.
May 19: A jury awarded a father and daughter a combined total of $4.6 million against Cherokee County and the Department of Social Services after a federal civil trial in Asheville. … State officials shut down Carolina Care Homes Inc. in Andrews after an investigation found that residents were being neglected. … Larry Limon of Murphy received six years in prison as a result of child pornography charges. … The full story of Sgt. Christopher Lockett, whose family is from Murphy, can finally be told more than two years after his self-inflicted death.
May 26: Gregory Darrell Moore of Topton admitted stealing almost $2 million from his employers. … Mike Conner of Murphy has learned how to make guitars from scratch.
June
June 2: Four people are living out of a small commercial building in downtown Andrews that a former tenant says is a “death trap.” … Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy High schools – plus The Oaks Academy and Tri-County Early College – all celebrated in-person graduation ceremonies as the long school year came to an end.
June 9: Cherokee County authorities were looking for Jeremy Lee Golden, a Wolf Creek man suspected of setting fires at four homes. … Cherokee County Schools received the go-ahead from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state archeologists’s office to restart construction of the new School of Innovation & Technology in Peachtree. … Jonathan Neal Deaton of Murphy said love and addiction led him to sell drugs, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison.
June 16: After his surprise retirement, Murphy High School head football coach David Gentry was called a “superhero” by one player. … Andrews Police Chief Colin Gillespie resigned amid a State Bureau of Investigation probe of the police department. … Murphy assistant police chief Dustin Smith is running for sheriff of Cherokee County, which is where he got his start in law enforcement.
June 23: Cherokee County’s insurance company has filed a lawsuit asking that a court absolve it from any liability to pay monetary awards based on the Department of Social Services’ former use of custody and visitation agreements. … A female inmate nearly died from an overdose inside the Cherokee County Detention Center.
June 30: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners passed a budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year containing a 4-cent millage rate increase, For a home valued at $200,000, that’s about $80 a year.
July
July 7: Brent McMahan, a former narcotics detective in the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, accused the District Attorney’s Office of covering up crimes committed by four current and former members of the sheriff’s office. … Andrews Aldermen Scott Stalcup is building a home outside of the town limits and therefore won’t seek re-election, while several others signed up to run for municipal offices in Andrews and Murphy. … Andrews and Murphy celebrated the Fourth of July with a day full of events, leading up to nighttime fireworks.
July 14: Cherokee County sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Morgan is expected to undergo knee surgery soon after allegedly being attacked by Robert Reed of Murphy. … Two Murphy Town Council members, Nolan Smith and Karen Watson, are not seeking re-election this year.
July 21: David Hughes, a former supervisor with the Cherokee County Department of Social Services, pleaded guilty to his role in using custody and visitation agreements. … Several headstones at Harshaw Cemetery in Murphy were vandalized last spring as friends work to preserve the historic chapel. … All mayoral and council seats are being contested in this year’s municipal elections. … Andrews terminated police officer Coyle Olsen following a pre-disciplinary conference.
July 28: A Cherokee County jury was still deliberating in the kidnapping and rape trial of James Allen Bass as the Cherokee Scout went to press. … Local attorney Jerry Townson says state prosecutors filed false charges in claiming custody and visitation agreements are illegal. In addition, Clay and Macon counties will no longer help the Cherokee County Department of Social Services with this CVA cases, which have spawned a civil lawsuit and criminal charges.
August
Aug. 4: Members of James Bass’ family wept in court after a jury found him not guilty of rape and kidnapping a local woman. He was found guilty of simple assault. … Several law enforcement officers representing various agencies took it upon themselves to reset heavy headstones at historic Harshaw Cemetery after vandals knocked several over. … Parents’ protests seemed to work, as the Cherokee County Board of Education made masks optional for the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Aug. 11: The N.C. Department of Public Safety is investigating a traffic stop conducted in Culberson by probation officer Harold Mashburn, who was placed on administrative leave. … Jeff Crane dropped out of the race for mayor of Murphy, leaving Tim Radford as the only candidate.
Aug. 18: Cherokee County sheriff Derrick Palmer has given the owners of “sweepstakes” facilities until Aug. 26 to close or be shut down as per state law. … A 56-unit affordable housing complex is planned to be built behind Walmart in Murphy. … A sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a dog owned by Danny Mayberry of Andrews after he was bitten while trying to serve paperwork.
Aug. 25: COVID-19 continues to take its toll on Cherokee County, with area hospitals crowded and two more local residents dying from the coronavirus. … Schools were back in session, and students were face to face without wearing masks. … Ann Rose dropped out of the Murphy City Council race after a local resident questioned her residency address.
September
Sept. 1: At least one local citizen is struggling to navigate changes in Cherokee County’s animal control ordinance after a neighbor’s dogs attacked her on Beaver Creek. … Controversial topics, like whether to allow nonresident business owners to vote in town elections, were raised during an unusual candidate forum at the Andrews Recreation Center. … In honor of Labor Day, the Scout looks at what attracted some businesses and people to Murphy.
Sept. 8: The dozen “sweepstakes” businesses operating in Cherokee County may have shut down, but a new court filing and proposed state law could change things in the future. … The new TL McNabb Fire Station was dedicated in Hiwassee Dam, with a grand opening set for Oct. 23. … Andrews High School students created a memorial to the 13 U.S. service members who died in an attack outside of the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Sept. 15: Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies raided a sweepstakes video business, which led to three people facing drug charges.
Sept. 22: The Andrews Police Department has a new evidence room, but a new officer was suspended after a domestic incident. … The Castle of Joy in Bellview is a sight to behold, and you can even stay a night there. … The 28th annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride came through Murphy with a lot of history.
Sept. 29: A settlement was reached with the family of Joshua Long, who sued Cherokee County after Long died while in the custody of the detention center. … Medicaid expansion is back on the table, with state Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) planning to file a new bill. … The N.C. Department of Transportation’s widening project on U.S. 19/129 in Bellview will impact 150 properties, and lead to the demolishing of a home built “by family, for family.”
October
Oct. 6: A plane crashed in Tathum Gap near Andrews with a couple aboard, and there were no survivors. … Western Carolina Regional Airport celebrated its 75th birthday with a special day of activities. … A video not turned over to the defense during discovery led to a mistrial at the Cherokee County Courthouse.
Oct. 13: Heaven Cordell has agreed to a nearly half-million dollar settlement with Cherokee County over the Department of Social Services using custody and visitation agreements to remove children from their homes. … The annual Oktoberfest festival was a rip-roaring time in downtown Andrews. … Torin Rogers was named Murphy High School’s 2021 homecoming queen. … Grants up to $25,000 are available to Andrews area businesses thanks to an economic partnership.
Oct. 20: Cherokee County’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program held a Murder Mystery Theater that was so good some people thought the actors really were mad enough to kill someone, but it was all in good fun. … Former Cherokee County Department of Social Services director Cindy Palmer resigned as business officer. She and former county attorney Scott Lindsay are expected in court Monday over the use of custody and visitation agreements.
Oct. 27: Former Cherokee County Department of Social Services director Cindy Palmer pleaded guilty to her role in using custody and visitation agreements, but she will not serve any jail time if she complies with the court’s conditions. … The Cherokee County Paranormal Society hunts down “ghosts” in local buildings. … Reach of Cherokee County Inc. is fighting back, especially during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
November
Nov. 3: Residents near Harshaw Road were upset about the noise being produced by a crypto mining farm.
Nov. 10: Matthew Wondra of Murphy was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in a local drug network. … After a third crypto mining facility is built in Cherokee County, the next one likely would not be built for some time due to the power capacity needed for them. … Andrews re-elected James Reid as mayor and Steve Jordan as alderman, plus elected Brandi Smith to the board.
Nov. 17: Business comes in all shapes and styles while shopping local in Andrews. … There was a three-month wait to get an appointment with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles office in Andrews.
Nov. 24: The homeless in Cherokee County are not like some people think, and help is available behind the scenes. … District Attorney Ashley Welch and assistant district attorney John Hindsman were sued by law enforcement officer Eric Giles over a Giglio letter that essentially keeps him from testifying in court.
December
Dec. 1: Cherokee County sheriff’s officials executed three search warrants in the Andrews Valley and ended up arresting seven people on a wide variety of drugs and firearms charges. … A local family fed 896 residents free of charge for a special Thanksgiving Day in Murphy.
Dec. 8: Logan Sneed was taken into custody after allegedly firing shots at Murphy police officers, forcing the lockdown of two schools. … John Mark Armbruster, 72, died while serving in the Cherokee County Detention Center, where he was admitted with several medical conditions.
Dec. 15: Molly Cordell of Murphy received a $4 million settlement with the Cherokee County Department of Social Services over the agency’s use of a custody and visitation agreement that separated her from family. … Two people were arrested after a domestic argument led to a search of a U-Haul truck and 900 pounds of processed marijuana valued at $3 million. … The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners is considering a new noise ordinance to hopefully quiet loud crypto mining facilities.
Dec. 22: Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr., 53, of Hayesville, received 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to threatening U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He was in Washington on Jan. 6. … Cherokee County Toys for Tots once again upped the ante, providing presents to 1,200 area children the year. … Child care is in a crisis situation, with fewer workers willing to take low wages.
Dec. 29: Nicholas Brumbley, who spent a dozen years in jail for killing a 3-year-old in Hiwassee Dam, is back behind bars after being arrested following what officials called a crime spree. … Cherokee County’s new School of Innovation & Technology remains on track to open in summer 2023.
Cherokee County’s sports year in review will be published in next week’s edition of the Cherokee Scout.