In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – July 9, 2014, Scout: Tony Hall, 53, of Marble, was facing multiple sex offense charges – including second-degree rape – just three months after his brother – Michael Thurman Hall, 54, of Murphy, a former town police officer – was given two life sentences for sexual acts committed against a 9-year-old.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners cut all funding for the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition. The nonprofit had received $5,000 in the past.
- Dr. Dan Lunsford, a graduate of Andrews High School, was named president of Mars Hill University. He is the son of the Rev. Fred and Gladys Lunsford.
July 10, 2014, Journal: Many businesses in Cherokee County were expanded through exporting. For example, Native Touch organic skin care products made in Andrews were being shipped around the world. Update: Unfortunately, Native Touch has since moved.
- The manager of Monte Alban Mexican Restaurante was charged with serving four teenage girls alcoholic drinks. The manager and all of the girls were arrested after he first claimed they must have sneaked behind the counter and stolen tequila.
25 years ago – July 7, 1999, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved raising the property tax rate from 47 cents per $100 valuation to 57 cents. A consultant was hired to study the county’s offices for “efficiency.”
- The man who robbed First Citizens Bank in Peachtree was still at large. The man was described as being age 35-45; 5 feet, 8-10 inches tall; and weighing 140 pounds with dark hair.
- The Town of Murphy was awarded a $2,612,200 state grant to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and rehabilitate sewer lines.
July 8, 1999, Journal: Baker Furniture decided to close its Andrews plant, with 260 employees impacted.
- The Town of Andrews was awarded a $2.5 million state grant to make improvements to the water system, along with a $1.8 million grant to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant.
50 years ago – July 11, 1974, Scout: Lowell “Mossie” Hardin was killed by a shotgun blast on Beaver Creek after a drinking binge.
- Peachtree residents were petitioning for a fire tax vote to finance a rural fire department in the community. Update: It was approved.
- The Ku Klux Klan planned a meeting to share information on the white supremacist organization. “Fighting communism is our primary goal now,” according to George Stringer Sr., exalted cyclops for the United Klans of America.
July 10, 1974, Journal: Andrews Police Chief Milton Mashburn, Cherokee County sheriff’s Deputy Craig Breedlove and Sheriff Blaine Stalcup pulled up a small plot of marijuana, “a weed which has infested the county increasingly in the past few years.”
- The third and final day of the Cherokee County Bluegrass Jamboree was held at Healy Fields in Andrews.
– Publisher David Brown