In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – April 22, 2015, Scout: The Hiwassee Valley Recreation Foundation raised $49,000 to keep the Hiwassee Valley Pool & Wellness Center open in Murphy, as Cherokee County commissioners refused to pay more.
- A Peachtree man followed home by a neighbor after a dispute over car damage – a keying – opened fire with a rifled hitting the bed of the truck and leading to his arrest on charges of discharging a weapon into a moving vehicle.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a new adult business ordinance, although it left out adult bookstores and printed materials, which were hot topics of local debate. Local pastors hoped another ordinance was forthcoming.
April 23, 2015, Journal: Hubert Myers, 73, a well-known Andrews businessman with many friends, did not come home from a hunting trip and was found dead in the Reece Farm area. He apparently slipped and hit his head.
- The “IOI Red Hots” choral group from Industrial Opportunities Inc. in Andrews were showing off their musical talents as part of the plant’s College & Career Readiness Program.
25 years ago – April 19, 2000, Scout: While 92% of all Local Education Agencies in the state offer a supplement to school employees, Cherokee County was not one of them. An official from the N.C. Association of Educators asked county commissioners to reconsider, but no vote was taken.
- The Multiple Agencies Narcotics Unit returning to work after a mishap with a state grant application was resolved. Cherokee, Clay and Macon counties contributed to the unit.
- The school-based health clinic in Hiwassee Dam was open but rarely used. Only 34% of eligible Hiwassee Dam students were enrolled, while the number of Ranger students signing up was even less at 23%.
April 20, 2000, Journal: Jonathan Cope, 14, of Topton, was one of the more successful drivers in go-kart racing, zipping around at 110 mph. His parents, Kenny and Marilyn Cope, took him to races across the country.
- The newly formed Cherokee County Crime Commission was working to upgrade the Andrews Police Department’s jail as well as improve the salaries of all law enforcement personnel.
50 years ago – April 24, 1975, Scout: Former Murphy mayor and police chief Oliver Neil Sneed died after a period of declining health. He was well known and respected around town.
- J.D. Wood of Suit saved the life of his pastor, the Rev. Edward Altland of Friendship Baptist Church, after Altland lost control of his tractor and it ran him over. Wood jumped on the runaway machine and stopped it, but Altland still suffered three broken bones in the incident.
April 24, 1975, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown