In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Oct. 1, 2014, Scout: The Valley River Humane Society’s animal shelter in Marble was cited by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services as being overcrowded and unsanitary. The shelter – which had 144 dogs on hand, despite a capacity of only 75, along with 104 cats – was given 30 days to fix the problems.
- Oct. 8: Howard Mingus, 76, of Murphy, was killed when his vehicle was struck by another driving at an “excessive speed.” Ethan Taylor Smith, 22, of Bethlehem, Ga., was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Mingus’ wife, Ann, was a longtime associate of the Cherokee Scout’s press plant.
Oct. 2, 2014, Journal: A series of articles on the Andrews wastewater treatment plant showed what locals could learn from Robbinsville’s similar plant, which bounced back strong after a previous failure.
- Oct. 9: Andrews High School senior Cierra Cutshaw was named the 2024 homecoming queen. Korbin Smith, 3, who was fighting cancer, was the Wildcats’ honorary captain for the football game.
25 years ago – Sept. 29, 1999, Scout: Nathan Hass, 29, of Murphy, was extradited to Monroe County, Tenn., on a murder charge and for burning a vehicle in Andrews. His wife – Denise Hass, also 29 – was charged with accessory after the fact.
- Oct. 6: John Samuel Cleveland, 52, was indicted in the 1998 murder of John Raymond Chester, who was shot in the stomach with a .22-caliber pistol in Ranger.
Sept. 30, 1999, Journal: Three tons of perishables were sent from Andrews – “the little town with the big heart” – to flood-ravaged counties in eastern North Carolina. Update: Valley residents are helping victims of Hurricane Helene today.
- Oct. 7: Senior Shanna Mintz was named Andrews High School’s 1999 homecoming queen at halftime of the Wildcats’ football game.
50 years ago – Oct. 3, 1974, Scout: Members of the Murphy Hospital Authority said plans were going full-steam ahead to build a new hospital and nursing home in Peachtree at an estimated cost of $4 million. Update: Just two weeks later, the plans received full approval from the state.
- Oct. 10: The Cherokee County Board of Education sold land adjoining Marble Elementary School to the Valleytown Rural Fire Department to build a new firehouse, while another property cutting across Murphy High School was sold to the N.C. Department of Transpiration for a new four-lane road project.
Oct. 2, 1974, Journal: Mrs. Marvin Driver, 61, of Andrews, was recognized for being able to put 38 out of 40 small bore .22-caliber slugs into the center of a circle smaller than a dime at 50 yards.
- Oct. 9: Nantahala Power & Light Co. asked local utility customers to use 20% less power after “critical” shortages of coal were reported by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
– Publisher David Brown