In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 17, 2014, Scout: With more than 100 cases of the flu confirmed, Cherokee County Schools shut down two days before the Christmas break to allow teachers and students to rest up and get healthy.
- Dr. Dan Eichenbaum sued former friend Ed Figueroa, who ran against him for the District 4 seat on the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, alleging that some Facebook posts he made were “defamatory.” Figueroa called the lawsuit “frivolous and without merit.”
- The Hurlbert-Johnson Friendship House in Murphy, the only HUD-recognized emergency homeless shelter west of Asheville, hoped to put people who stay there on a path to recovery and self-sufficiency.
Dec. 18, 2014, Journal: Andrews Aldermen Gary James filed a civil lawsuit against Andrews Mayor Nancy Curtis, accusing her of defamation of character for something she said at a special-called meeting.
- The Andrews Nighttime Christmas Parade – which then was the only parade held after dark in the tri-state area, shined as a gem of holiday fun. Local volunteer Barbara El-Khouri was the grand marshal.
25 years ago – Dec. 15, 1999, Scout: Joshua Tavers Hampton, 20, who was only serving a 90-day sentence for breaking into a drink machine, escaped from the Cherokee County Jail in Murphy one day and was arrested the next day at a private home in Marble. He got away from the jail via a second-story window that had an unlocked screen.
- Jim Cabe, lead counsel for convicted murderer Jody Morrow of Cherokee County, said “mistakes were made” by the defense during his trial, including not calling two witnesses to testify.
- There was a full page of students in the academic honor roll of 10 schools in Cherokee County. Amanda Clonts, Crystal Posey and Amanda Truett were on the A list from Hiwassee Dam High School.
Dec. 16, 1999, Journal: John Macaw – outgoing director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms – said his “gut instinct” told him fugitive Eric Rudolph was dead, not hiding out in nearby mountains. Update: Macaw’s gut was wrong this time; Rudolph is still alive today and serving a life sentence at a federal prison in Colorado.
- The old Rock Gym at Andrews Elementary School, built in 1934, was demolished due to safety concerns. Future Andrews alderman Steve Jordan won a $20,000 bid to tear down the historical landmark.
50 years ago – Dec. 19, 1974, Scout: The Murphy Jaycees’ sponsored Christmas Parade was considered “a great success.” The Peachtree Community Development Club had the first-place float for its “Joy to the World” theme.
- The Cherokee Scout and the Murphy Jaycees joined forces to sponsor an advertisement that pointed out the negative aspects of getting drunk overwhelm anything positive you get from having a drink.
Dec. 18, 1974, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown