In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 19, 2014, Scout: A total of 21 wrecks and several power outages were reported over the last week in Cherokee County due to ice and snow.
- In a Valentine’s Day feature, Mike and Peggy Hamby of Murphy believe their marriage has lasted more than 40 years because of their love and commitment to each other.
- The Cherokee County Board of Education decided to join a lawsuit against the state’s new voucher program, which took money away from heavily regulated public schools and into unregulated private schools. The Cherokee Scout wrote an editorial strongly supporting their decision.
Feb. 20, 2014, Journal: Four Andrews police officers walked away from their jobs after expressing concern and frustration with decisions made by the new mayor and board of aldermen, which included hiring an administrative police chief who was an unsworn officer and not able to make arrests.
- The Andrews Board of Aldermen voted to sell Andrews Broadband to Dnet of Franklin for $50,000. That was a far cry from what the town spent creating and developing the service. Update: A new state law essentially put the kibosh on Andrews Broadband’s ability to become profitable by no longer allowing customers outside of the town limits.
25 years ago – Feb. 17, 1999, Scout: An inquiry conducted by the N.C. Department of Revenue resulted in a report that found former Cherokee County commissioners and a tax office official had changed property valuations. Update: Those commissioners were also found to have not properly advertised property revaluation work sessions.
- Beloda Waldroup, owner of the Shoal Creek Diner, was surprised when would-be robbers, armed with a knife, tried to take her hard-earned cash. She surprised them back by pulling out a .38 caliber hand gun from under the bar and telling them it was time to leave. No arrests were made, and no one was hurt.
- A new health center was being considered at Hiwassee Dam High School, although Superintendent Gary Steppe said they couldn’t do it because the school lacked medical staff and did not employ a physician.
Feb. 18, 1999, Journal: Jerry Lee Blankenship, 20, of Andrews, was charged with making a bomb threat at Andrews High School, resulting in the evacuation of students in grades 6-12.
- A 35-inch RCA television, a dual head tape deck, a petty cash box containing about $20, an office-size refrigerator and $20 from the cafeteria was taken during a robbery at Nantahala School.
50 years ago – Feb. 21, 1974, Scout: Supplies of gasoline in Murphy were low, but still better than in neighboring towns, as the national crisis got worse in the United States.
- Iowa White Lovingood of Hanging Dog celebrated turning 100 years old with a big family dinner and reception at Hanging Dog Baptist Church.
- Bruce Voyles, a 1971 graduate of Hiwassee Dam High School, had a book supplement titled Murphy, North Carolina published in the Georgia Poets Anthology. Update: Today, Voyles writes the column “Roads Less Traveled” every other week in the Scout.
Feb. 20, 1974, Journal: Andrews High School hired Andrew Whitely, a health and physical education teacher, to be the Wildcats’ head football coach. He was previously head coach at West Fannin High School in Blue Ridge, Ga.
- The Andrews boys basketball team (20-5) captured the Smoky Mountain Conference title, under Coach of the Year Ken Solesbee, with a 66-56 win over Sylva-Webster.
– Publisher David Brown