In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 23, 2014, Scout: Ann Zarichnaya of Crimea, Ukraine, was witnessing a war with Russia firsthand. She lived with Mike and Lisa Evans in Murphy for a year as an exchange student.
- The campaign activities of Sheriff Keith Lovin came into question after a photo showed a re-election sign behind the sheriff’s office. Four year before, photos showed multiple sheriff’s office employees wearing shirts supporting his political aspirations.
- Murphy’s Shania Nicely broke her own record by running the fastest 200 meters in school history at 26.09 seconds. Her sister, Sarah, joined Shania in winning two relay team events for the Lady Bulldogs.
April 24, 2014, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen hired former Cherokee County manager David Badger as temporary finance officer and town administrator. After leaving the county, Badger lost a race for commissioner in the 2012 Democratic primary. Update: Badger is the county’s health director today.
- “Journaling” columnist Kandy Barnard finished a series of well-researched articles on the railroad tracks running through the Andrews Valley, and how they helped build both the community and the local economy.
25 years ago – April 21, 1999, Scout: David Bales, 17, of Marble, was riding a lawnmower on U.S. 19/74 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Nathan McLean, 19. The District Attorney’s Office was looking into whether charges should be filed.
- Lonnie Hoover of Murphy, a retired local attorney, was seriously injured when he fell more than 45 feet from the fifth floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel atrium in Louisville, Ky. Poor eyesight was to blame. Successful surgery repaired damages to both legs.
- Cherokee Scout Editor Tina Hughes wrote a column on how Southern food is comfort food, then shared why and made every reader really hungry.
April 22, 1999, Journal: A liquor-by-the-drink referendum would not be held in Andrews unless 35 percent of the registered voters in town sign a petition requesting it, according to the board of aldermen.
- Larry Deyton, 40, of Andrews, was stabbed during an incident in Nantahala. Claude Laney, 30, of Murphy, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. Laney had just gotten out of jail just four days earlier after being involved in an altercation with law officers in Andrews.
50 years ago – April 25, 1974, Scout: The first mobile homes from the federal government arrived in Cherokee County for residents displaced by the recent tornado to use.
- Ricky Dalrymple, 13, of Martins Creek, was killed on U.S. 19/129 near the Georgia state line after he was struck by a car after riding his bicycle onto the highway from a side road. NO charges were filed against the driver, who officers said tried to avoid the accident.
- About 12 pounds of marijuana went up in smoke as the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office held a “pot party” to burn old evidence. Three people were shown standing close to the smoke for some reason.
April 24, 1974, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown