In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 5, 2014, Scout: Cherokee County was hit hard by winter storm Leon, blasting cold air and up to 3 inches of snow throughout the Smoky Mountains.
- A detached garage, a car and two Harley Davidson motorcycles were destroyed by a fire in the Tarheel area of Murphy.
- The Cherokee Scout published a full-page survey asking readers how much time they spend with each news item, feature, columnist, page and section. The local newspaper also sought suggestions on what readers would like to see in the future.
Feb. 6, 2014, Journal: The 1964 western North Carolina regional champion football team, coach Cecil Mashburn and lifetime athlete Willie Anderson were inducted into the Andrews High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
- Brittany Williams, daughter of Ann and Dean Williams of Andrews, was making her mark with compelling and creative makeup designs. Update: Her artwork and jewelry are available at Dean’s Art & Music on Main Street downtown.
25 years ago – Feb. 3, 1999, Scout: Paul John Guthrie, 66, of Murphy, was pulling his station wagon onto U.S. 64 West from N.C. 294 when he failed to yield right of way to an oncoming truck, was struck and killed.
- Dixie Belle, a 15-week-old bloodhound puppy – along with her handlers, W.V. Enloe and C.E. Mathis – was added to the K-9 unit at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. German shepherd Rahsha, 6, was the office’s drug dog.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners accepted a recommendation from the county Airport Authority to hire the engineering firm LPA Group of Raleigh to provide a long-term plan for Andrews-Murphy Airport. Update: The place is called Western Carolina Regional Airport today.
Feb. 4, 1999, Journal: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners held a rare meeting in the Andrews Valley, with about 20 local residents coming out live to the Andrews Community Center.
- The Town of Andrews received $112,193 to make improvements to the Beaver Creek and Dan Holland reservoirs. The repairs were needed in order to provide safer drinking water.
50 years ago – Feb. 7, 1974, Scout: In a surprise move, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners abolished all commissioner districts, changing the election procedure so all candidates would be voted on countywide. The lone Democrat on the board criticized the two Republicans who voted for it.
- Six vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction wreck on Scott Laney Hill. Five cars were stopped for a funeral procession when a logging truck ran into the back car and pushed them all together in what officials called a “sandwich.”
- Lois Radford, a native of Cherokee County, was killed when two tractor-trailer trucks collided on a steep four-lane highway on Old Fort Mountain east of Asheville.
Feb. 6, 1974, Journal: Law enforcement officers raided houses in Granny Squirrel and Topton, coming out with a large quantity of market-ready marijuana, a copper still and stolen goods.
– Publisher David Brown