In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 4, 2012, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Education questioned whether it was worth the massive cost and effort to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools. Update: Board members ultimately decided to stick with getting
accreditation.
- Murphy High School driver education teacher Dwight Henry showed students how to deal with distractions while on the road, which can include yourself.
- Tyler Shields, 17, of Hiwassee Dam, pulled in a state-record 66-pound striped bass after a 45-minute battle with his 10-pound test line on Hiwassee Lake.
April 5, 2012, Journal: Green Beret Jim Hamilton of Andrews led “A” teams around the world before he met John Wayne in Vietnam.
- Four local residents were charged with stealing $25,000 worth of scrap metal items.
25 years ago – April 2, 1997, Scout: The National Transportation Safety Board reported that a fatal plane crash the previous month at Andrews/Murphy Airport was not the result of a plane malfunction. Update: It was later discovered there was no record of the pilot making a weather check.
- The U.S. Census showed Cherokee County had a population increase of 8.7 percent from the previous decade, with Peachtree and Brasstown the greatest growth areas.
- Murphy’s Kristy Kent was named the Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year in basketball, while Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Cissy Dyer was Coach of the Year. Tabitha Kephart, plus boys players Nathan Crubaugh and Brandon Dockery, were also All-Conference selections.
April 3, 1997, Journal: Officials with the Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties drug task force were waiting to see if their unit would be funded by another $100,000 federal grant or, better yet, a total of $400,000.
- Gina Lopp, Joy Passmore and Maggie Cross of Nantahala High School spent a day with the local newspaper as part of a career shadowing program.
50 years ago – April 6, 1972, Scout: Cherokee County officials were given a stern warning by the state – build a new jail or start making significant renovations to the existing one. Update: The Cherokee County Detention Center in Murphy was not built until 2008.
- A public hearing was planned to discuss a proposed four-lane highway between Andrews and Murphy, which the Scout “heartily” supported. Update: More than 150 people attended that meeting mostly to back the road, which is called
U.S. 19/74 today.
April 5, 1972, Journal: Joseph and Dorothy Chastain of Marble were both seriously injured when their car was hit by a freight train at Hyatts Creek Road.
- Historian Larry Huls of Mars Hill College, a native of Andrews, talked about his experiences during the Vietnam War serving with the U.S. Army.
– Publisher David Brown