In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 9, 2014, Scout: The Stanley Furniture plant in Robbinsville was closing, leaving 400 people across the region without good jobs.
- Six local girls were crowned winners in the second annual Miss Amazing Pageant in Murphy. Alice Spittler sang a special song about her late friend and former Miss Amazing Heather McLean of Murphy.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners gave Tri-County Community College in Peachtree another $75,000 to get them through the end of the fiscal year. The college requested $967,000 from the county that year, but only $752,000 was approved.
April 10, 2014, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen voted to also make Mayor Nancy Curtis the acting town administrator and deputy finance officer, as Teresa Ricks’ position with the town was in question.
- Around a month after four officers resigned in protest, Andrews Police Chief Joel Deese and Administrative Chief Andrews DeLuna hired three new officers – Brandon Lawrence of Murphy, Dakota Lyvers of Warne and Krosty Painter of Andrews.
25 years ago – April 7, 1999, Scout: Susan Fredrichs and Helen Faulkner of Murphy shared solutions to the litter problem in Cherokee County, including having civil service workers pick up trash year-round.
- Jerry Lee Blankenship entered a no contest plea on charges that he called in a false bomb threat to Andrews High School. He received 120 days in jail, suspended, with two years of probation. Update: While he later tried to say it wasn’t him on the phone, officials say Blankenship identified himself during the call.
- Murphy Head Start students went on an Easter parade around town, providing a smile to workers at Murphy Town Hall and other areas.
April 8, 1999, Journal: Lynn Holloway, 47, of Andrews suffered a heart attack while racing at Tri-County Speedway in Brasstown. He was running fourth when his car started to slow down, and he slumped over. While waiting to be transported to an Asheville hospital, Holloway had another heart attack and tragically died.
- Food, underwear, toilet paper, snake-bite kits and men’s boots were among the items stolen from homes in the area federal agents were searching for fugitive Eric Rudolph, according to Newsweek magazine.
50 years ago – April 11, 1974, Scout: A killer tornado raked through western Cherokee County, leaving four people dead and 40 people injured, while causing millions of dollars in damages. Federal disaster status was sought by county commissioners.
- Wally Avett, editor of the Cherokee Scout, wrote a front-page editorial on the tornado, encouraging the community to give generously to programs that help those hurt in the storm. More than a dozen photos depicting the tornado’s aftermath were published in that edition.
- The Lewis Brothers Big Top Circus came to town, and you could watch for just $1-$2, thanks to the Jaycees.
April 10, 1974, Journal: The Cherokee County Board of Education asked county commissioners for $541,422 as the local share, which could cause a tax hike if approved. However, during the previous year’s budget hearing, the school board sought $290,000, which commissioners cut by $70,000.
- The Andrews Board of Aldermen gave final reading to a proposed ordinance designed to stiffen enforcing the collection of water service fees. The ordinance was now the law.
– Publisher David Brown