In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 25, 2015, Scout: Snow and ice fell three times in one week across Cherokee County, with schools closing five times over seven days. Update: Schools closed twice last week under similar circumstances.
- Joshua Wright, 33, of Ranger, was found dead in a mountainous area near his home after temperatures dipped below freezing. Sheriff Derick Palmer called it “a tragic ordeal.”
- Residents of Tanglewood Circle in Murphy banded together to fight an early morning woods fire in 13-degree weather. About 40 acres of forest land was also ablaze at the same time just up the road, and arson was suspected.
Feb. 26, 2015, Journal: The headline “Town meeting much a-pool about nothing” accurately described a rumor about the board of aldermen allegedly closing the Andrews Pool. Update: They didn’t.
- u Several Andrews businesses were pushing for a new ordinance to allow open containers of alcohol within certain areas of downtown during special events, similar to Hayesville’s “Wine Around the Square.” Update: The proposed ordinance didn’t pass then, but the Andrews Board of Aldermen is considering just such a social district today.
25 years ago – Feb. 23, 2000, Scout: Tony Woody, 35, of Blue Ridge, Ga., died from injuries sustained during a one-vehicle wreck in Bellview. He was a passenger in a truck where neither he nor the drive were wearing a seat belt, and both were thrown from the vehicle.
- The Dotson family in Unaka lost their home as a result of an early morning fire that apparently started in the chimney above a wood heater. Firefighters managed to save a few photographs and keepsakes.
- Two local teenagers were charged with felony breaking and entering and larceny as a result of three burglaries at Macedonia, Mount Liberty and Snow Hill Baptist churches in Ranger.
Feb. 24, 2000, Journal: A 30,000-square-foot, privately owned hangar was going up at Andrews-Murphy Airport. Wells & West Construction in Murphy was building the steel structure for a company called 54 Squadron LLC.
- The Andrews boys varsity basketball team (20-1 overall, 11-1 in the Smoky Mountain Conference) took home the trophy as conference champions. The coaches that season were Kenneth Solesbee and Joe Barton.
50 years ago – Feb. 27, 1975, Scout: More than 3,000 junked automobiles were removed in Cherokee County over several months as part of various cleanup campaigns.
- Local workers tore down the old livestock building at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds, which had been used for cattle and hog exhibitions over the years. Also demolished was the “rickety old tarpaper-covered wooden gym building,” which had been used to store used clothing for tornado victims.
Feb. 26, 1975, Journal: while the Andrews girls basketball team narrowly lost to Enka 35-34 in the 1A District 8 playoffs. The Wildcats’ boys team beat Stecoah 47-44 to move forward. Gary Gray led the squad with 12 points, while Keith Lovin added 10. Update: Lovin later was elected as a member of the Cherokee County Board of Education before serving three terms as sheriff.
– Publisher David Brown