In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – June 4, 2014, Scout: While Cherokee County commissioners were eyeing more cuts to the next fiscal year’s budget, Sheriff Keith Lovin was seeking four more patrol cars at $28,000 each.
- It was a tale of two Ashleys – Ashley Raper was the valedictorian, while Ashley Jourdain was the salutatorian and vocational honors student, at Hiwassee Dam High School.
- The seventh annual Walk for Foster Care raised $17,000, with more than 200 people raising far more than the National Foster Parent Association expected.
June 5, 2014, Journal: Valedictorian Erin West, salutatorian Seth Pyle and vocational honor student Kati Trammel were the top students in the Andrews High School Class of 2014.
- Art teacher Leslie Holloway was voted Teacher of the Year, while Kevin Inabinet was named Support Person of the Tear, at Nantahala School.
25 years ago – June 2, 1999, Scout: Cherokee County’s property tax rate would almost double – from .47 cents per $100 of valuation to .82 cents – if the preliminary 1999-2000 budget was approved. County Manager Randy Wiggins said the 35-cent increase was needed in order to meet all department requests.
- The Learning Center Board of Directors announced that interim director Mary Jo Trueba and teacher Karen Brinke would serve as co-directors of the charter school in Murphy. Update: The charter closed two years ago due to “financial irregularities.”
- Environmental education students at Hiwassee Dam Union School planted a tree in memory of longtime resident Kenneth LaCharite as part of the school’s 30 Trees in 30 Days program.
June 3, 1999, Journal: Charges were dismissed against Phillip Rogers, 45, of Andrews, for shining a red laser pen light at a National Guard helicopter that was searching for fugitive Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph.
- The Town of Andrews was planning to buy the former Owenby building on Reagan Street for $275,000. Officials planned to use it a site where small, fledging businesses could get started by local residents.
50 years ago – June 6, 1974, Scout: County Manager Tom Gentry presented a proposed budget for the next fiscal year that included taxing all property at 100 percent of appraised value, instead of a more confusing method.
- Herman Estes of Brasstown was a contestant on the television show To Tell the Truth. Estes was the answer to the question, “Who is the real fifth-generation descendant of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone?”
- WCVP radio in Murphy replaced the 450-foot tower that was toppled by a tornado with a new, taller tower. Dennis and Jo Henderson of Greenville, Texas, came to town to help make that happen.
June 3, 1974, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen approved a budget of $216,190 for the 1974-75 fiscal year, a record high for the town. The new national minimum wage of $2 per hour caused some increases.
- Mrs. Skip (Kandie) Plummer, a new resident of Andrews, caused a few chuckles when she couldn’t remember the name of her hometown while appearing on the popular CBS daytime quiz show The Match Game.
– Publisher David Brown