In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Aug. 13, 2014, Scout: Beloved husband and father Tony Evans of Hanging Dog was killed after his vehicle hydroplaned off wet roads during a thunderstorm and collided with a tree off of Old U.S. 64 near Tri-County Community College in Peachtree. He was only 40.
- Murphy resident Mary Beth Cornwell lost her leg as a result of a motorcycle crash several years ago. However, her prosthetic leg helped her survive an attack by two large chow dogs.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10222 of Murphy was named an “All-American Post,” making it the top one in the country. Larry Reid, the post’s commander at the time, said, “We worked hard to get this award.”
Aug. 14, 2014, Journal: Beloved native Sean Patterson, a 1990 graduate of Andrews High School, was killed instantly due to injuries sustained during an automobile accident in Wake Forest. He was 42 and married to Lindy.
- Andrews High School Class of 2014 graduates Dakota Bateman, Colin Gillespie, Chase Hardin and Seth Pyle were all named
Eagle Scouts during a ceremony at Andrews United Methodist Church. The scoutmaster was Robert Hardin, and his assistant was Greg Kilma.
25 years ago – Aug. 11, 1999, Scout: Logging was halted in the Nantahala National Florist after endangered Indiana bats were found in Cherokee, Graham, Macon and Swain counties. Buckhorn lumber owner Dennis Curtis called it another “tragedy for the mountain people.”
- Cherokee County officials said the cost to run a recycling program exceeds the benefits. County recycling coordinator Tom McGuire said he recently shipped a load of plastic, and the freight bill was worth more that what was received in return.
- Anne Locke was the new trainer for the Murphy Bulldogs’ football team, replacing longtime staff member Bobby Barton. The squad, 8-4 last season, was busy preparing for the season opener.
Aug. 12, 1999, Journal: The new $4.89 million Andrews Middle School opened to rave reviews. The campus is on 25 acres donated by The Lee Co. next door. Update: Lee eventually stopped making jeans here, and Industrial Opportunities Inc. works out of the plant today.
- Andrews elementary and high schools were both named Exemplary, while Andrews Middle was a School of Distinction, on the annual N.C. Public School Report Card.
50 years ago – Aug. 15, 1974, Scout: Construction was ready to begin on a new public library in Murphy. Total cost was set at $467,600, 80 percent which was paid for by an Appalachian Regional Commission grant.
- Murphy Town Council members met with the Murphy Jaycees to discuss plans to build a community center at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. Jaycees President Dennis Blakemore said $10,000 had been put aside for the project, if approved by the town and county commissioners.
- The “Cuz’s Corner” column by “Bagley” started with the clever line, “On account of that all of my readers, both of them, are powerfully interested in my health, I have to tell them I been sorta puny for the several days.”
Aug. 14, 1974, Journal: The Wildcat Club had spent about $5,000 – so far – including $2,000 on a new field members hoped to be ready to play on next year. Mike Whitley also started his weekly “Coach’s Corner” column.
- Bud Hogsed didn’t let being in a wheelchair get in the way of his 11 a.m. trip from his home in Happy Top to visit friends on Main Street in Andrews. For more than 20 years, he supplied the power. Then a longtime friend, Melvin Oft of Marble, got him an “electric chair” to use, making formerly 45-minute routes only 10 minutes long.
– Publisher David Brown