In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – March 5, 2014, Scout: Local residents were working on a comprehensive plan for Cherokee County through the Opt-In regional planning group. Update: The consultants’ work has largely been ignored since then.
- Tim Huff, pastor of Murphy Free Methodist Church, joined the 100-mile club at the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center after successfully swimming the distance. The catch? He’s legally blind. Update: That complex is called Murphy Health & Fitness today.
- The Hiwassee Dam girls basketball team ended the season with a 23-6 record in the state 1A playoffs after winning the Little Smoky Mountain Conference. Morgan Helton and Haylie Shope led the Lady Eagles.
March 6, 2014, Journal: Six members of the Andrews Wildcats Marching Band were selected to play in the Far West District Honors Band. Update: Band Director Joslyn Parker is principal of Andrews Middle School today.
- The Andrews High School Chorus ranked at the top during a state contest in Buncombe County. Students were led by new director Tripp Lewis, who replaced the retiring Kim Cozart.
25 years ago – March 2, 1999, Scout: Wayne Lee Odell of Murphy was sentenced to 10 months of house arrest for growing marijuana in the Bell Creek area of the Nantahala National Forest.
- Local resident Russ Worthen was hired as Cherokee County’s new tax assessor at an annual salary of $34,900.
- The Murphy Lions Club Pool closed in 1997, and a concerned group of local residents met to work on plans for a new aquatic center. Update: Those plans came to fruition nearly a decade later with the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center.
March 4, 1999, Journal: The Andrews Recreation Department needed $9,118 to refurbish the town pool up to state standards. Update: There have been many other attempts to do so since then.
- On the advice of town attorney Zeyland McKinney, the Andrews Board of Aldermen decided to start charging churches for water. The free giveaway had gone on for many years.
50 years ago – March 7, 1974, Scout: Wayne Kniffin was named acting director of John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, while Louise Pitman was elected chair of the folk school’s board of directors.
- Early Johnston of Andrews was elected president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. Doyle Tatum of Murphy was vice president, Boyd Davis of Murphy was treasurer and Burnice “Boots” Godfrey of Murphy was secretary.
- The ongoing garbage problem, and the new $150,000 landfill’s ability to handle it, were prime topics at the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners’ meeting. More equipment was needed.
March 6, 1974, Journal: More than 1,500 gallons of water wasn’t enough to save the Marble home of Jack Raxter. The fire started in the kitchen when no one was home. Another fire damaged the wood home in 1971.
- The Town of Andrews planned to wait and see if construction costs fall before soliciting bids for a planned community facility building again in the spring.
– Publisher David Brown