In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 15, 2015, Scout: Kenneth James Anderson, 44, of Andrews, and a Georgia woman were killed as a result of a head-on collision with another vehicle on Airport Road that also injured four others. Anderson’s mother, Linda Jones, said her son would “do whatever he could to help others.”
- Interim Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley was promoted to the permanent position by the board of education. She received a two-year contract, and four others who applied were not even interviewed. Update: She retired two years ago.
- Autumn Edwards of Andrews called herself a survivor of sexual abuse – not a victim – as the Cherokee Scout published a Child Abuse Prevention Month story with this note: “Some of the details in this article may be disturbing to readers, but it’s being shared because survivors deserve for the truth to be told.”
April 16, 2015, Journal: A demonstration of what can happen when you drive impaired and distracted was held at Andrews High School, making a point before spring break and prom.
- Andrews Journal Publisher David Brown proposed a new system in which every person would be treated exactly the same way on their federal taxes. Update: Naturally, no one gave it a second thought.
25 years ago – April 12, 2000, Scout: The N.C. Department of Transportation started repaving U.S. 64 West in Murphy. The first part of the project was paving to the Tennessee state line, while part two was paving to the traffic light on Main Street in Andrews.
- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service determined that logging in the Pisgah National Forest was not a threat to the endangered Indiana bat. Logging ended in Cherokee and surrounding counties the year before after 28 bats were found roosting in a dead hemlock tree.
- The regional Smart Start Team were looking to support activities for children up to age 6, along with obtaining a second Bookmobile, as they worked to give parents more reasons to get children out of the house.
April 13, 2000, Journal: The right landing gear of a plane traveling 80 mph collapsed during a routine landing at Andrews-Murphy Airport, causing a propeller to hit the runway and the plane to run into a ditch. Pilot Steve Cranston’s Beagle twin-engine aircraft was damaged, but he was OK.
- A local man with prior hunting convictions admitted he used corn to bait hogs while hunting on U.S. Forest Service land. Forest Service law enforcement supervisor Jenny Davis said enforcing poaching laws was difficult due to staffing issues.
50 years ago – April 17, 1975, Scout: R.E. Minor Construction Co. of Murphy made the lowest of six bids at $317,450 to build a Cherokee County Vocational Education Building at Murphy High School.
- In the “Murphy Personals,” readers learned that Mrs. R.W. Easley and Sarah Harper “spent Monday in Asheville.” Update: Such things were a big deal then.
April 17, 1975, Journal: Four Square Community Action received an emergency allocation of $10,000 from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity for immediate aid to victims of the April 3 tornado.
– Publisher David Brown