In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – July 2, 2014, Scout: John Anthony Hill, 43, of Peachtree, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of George Paul Pfleider. The suspect claimed he was defending himself from a home invasion.
- The Coalition Against Fracking in Western North Carolina was meeting in an attempt to stop the N.C. General Assembly from approving hydraulic fracturing in the region. A college professor said the state’s geology simply doesn’t support fracking.
- Matthew Osborne was named editor of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal. Update: Osborne, who previously served as publisher/editor of The Graham Star, still works with CNI today as editor of the Northeast Georgian newspaper in Cornelia.
July 3, 2014, Journal: Main Street was the place to be for the annual Heritage Day festival in Andrews, which included a Wagon Train Parade downtown.
- The Town of Andrews was beginning to see the light at the end of the Andrews Broadband Network tunnel, which after settlements was expected to have cost local taxpayers $750,000.
25 years ago – June 30, 1999, Scout: First Citizens Bank in Peachtree was robbed by a man who handed a teller a note. This incident came only one week after David Ray Luther, 48, of Andrews, was charged with robbing First Citizens Bank in Hayesville. No weapons were seen in either robbery.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners raised the millage rate from 47 cents per $1,000 of appraised property value to 57 cents. “Expenses are coming in faster than revenues,” as Commissioner Ernest Jones put it.
- Local law enforcement authorities found 65 marijuana plants after hiking more than a half-mile to find a patch of weed growing near Webb Creek in Marble.
July 1, 1999, Journal: Rumors and fears that it would not reopen grew in the community after Baker Furniture closed its Andrews plant for the Fourth of July holiday. At least 81 Baker employees were given layoff notices earlier in the year.
- The Western North Carolina Wagon Train hitched up for its annual ride to Robbinsville. Update: The Wagon Train no longer camps yearly in Andrews.
50 years ago – July 3, 1974, Scout: Traffic on U.S. 64 between Hayesville and Franklin was expected to get moving again. However, road construction difficulties forced some drivers to take Old U.S. 64 for part of the route.
- Former Cherokee Scout photographer Larry McInturf shared his personal story of going blind from diabetes at only 27 years old.
July 3, 1974, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown