In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Jan. 28, 2015, Scout: A Marble man and a Ranger man were arrested after allegedly luring a couple into a wooded area, where they robbed them of whatever money they had.
- Julien Highsmith of Brasstown was honored for his service on D-Day during World War II, as France gave him the Legion of Honor – the country’s highest award.
- The Hiwassee Dam girls basketball team won its 14th straight game, 49-34 over Hayesville. Senior captain Morgan Helton and junior Haylie Shope led the way with 12 points apiece, moving the Lady Eagles up to being ranked No. 2 among North Carolina’s class 1A high schools.
Jan. 29, 2015, Journal: New interim town administrator Ray Frazier asked the mayor and all board of aldermen members to return their keys to town hall, citing a non-specific security threat. Aldermen Gary James disagreed, calling it “just another way to cut us out of the loop.”
- Andrews native Kathleen Foley was honored as the Undesignated Base Marine Corps Spouse of the Year for her contributions to the U.S. armed forces. The couple based in College Station, Texas, had three young children.
25 years ago – Jan. 26, 2000, Scout: A 19-year-old inmate at the Cherokee County Jail in Murphy survived an attempt to hang himself using a bed sheet tied to the inside door of his jail cell bars. The jailer found him like that, only with his feet touching the floor.
- Despite the number of school violence incidents rising from 12 to 17 during the 1998-99 school year, Superintendent Gary Steppe said students in Cherokee County were safer than ever before.
- Charles Harmon of Murphy wrote a pointed letter to the editor, saying, “We should not hijack God to use as justification for our political views. … Let God come down on whichever side of the a political issue he wishes. Who are we to decide for Him?”
Jan. 27, 2000, Journal: Three dozen residents in an area proposed for annexation cried foul to the Andrews Board of Aldermen, saying, “We don’t want none of it.” A public hearing was planned.
- Southeast Bomb Task Force inspector-in-charge Steven McCraw confirmed that the $1 million reward offered for fugitive bombing suspect Eric Robert Rudolph, formerly of Nantahala, was good regardless of whether he was captured alive or bought in dead.
50 years ago – Jan. 30, 1975, Scout: Wayne Rogers and Dewey Rogers were killed, while Billy Rogers was injured, when a family fight erupted into violence in Peachtree. Harold Rogers was charged with murder.
- Burt Reynolds’ classic prison football flick The Longest Yard was playing at the Henn Theatre in downtown Murphy, while the Murphy 64 Drive-In was playing Henry Fonda’s My Name is Nobody.
Jan. 29, 1975, Journal: The Peachtree Products plant was closing permanently after a temporary layoff. About 332 employees were affected by the decision.
– Publisher David Brown