In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 30, 2014, Scout: The U.S. Forest Service decided to close Hanging Dog Campground in the Nantahala National Forest due to lack of use and rising operating costs. Update: There have been multiple attempts to reopen the campground since then, to no avail.
- Bobby Amjad, owner of Murphy Yellow Cab, drove a man 12 straight hours to Chinatown in New York City so her could see his sister before she died. Amjad called the experience rewarding. Update: Murphy Yellow Cab is no longer in business in Cherokee County.
- Murphy Slackers, a group of volunteers, set up slacklines at Konehete Park for families to try out in a free event. Slacklining is the practice of balancing/walking/jumping on a tensioned strap tied to two points.
May 1, 2014, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen postponed a special meeting to discuss whether to hire David Badger of Murphy as consultant due to a lack of the quorum, leaving Aldermen Gary James disappointed. Update: Badger was hired a few weeks later.
- World champion Cherokee hoop dancer Eddie Swimmer captivated the audience by using 36 hoops while performing at Chautauqua – the Andrews Valley Experience.
25 years ago – April 28, 1999, Scout: The new Cherokee County Planning Board’s emphasis was placed on quality of life. “You have to fund a way to protect what people come here for,” said Alan Lang of the N.C. Department of Commerce.
- A team of students from Appalachian State University were studying artifacts found at the McCombs plantation farm in Peachtree. Some of the finds were called significant, perhaps making the site eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
- In a paid advertisement, Dr. David Mock explained why he was moving his hospital practice to Murphy Medical Center in Peachtree due to feeling “unwanted,” among other problems, at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews.
April 29, 1999, Journal: N.C. Department of Education teams were checking Cherokee County Schools, including Andrews and Marble elementary schools, to ensure student safety.
- The Andrews Board of Aldermen decided to move forward and apply for $1.28 million from state and federal agencies to upgrade the town’s wastewater system.
50 years ago – May 2, 1974, Scout: Try Lee Anderson of upper Pinelog died after he was crushed by his own logging truck in what was called a strange accident.
- In a sad statistic, the Tennessee Valley Authority revealed that 56 people drowned in TVA lakes during 1973, which was actually four fewer than the year before.
- The A&P grocery store in Murphy had chicken fryers on sale for only 35 cents a pound. Update: That amount might not even get you the skin today.
May 1, 1974, Journal: Watergate personality Rufus Edmiston, a native of Boone who was often seen smoking a pipe, visited Cherokee County as a “non-candidate running for a non-office.”
- Andrews Little League President L.V. Blalock threw out the first pitch of the season. Five teams with 15 boys each were playing that season.
– Publisher David Brown