In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – June 17, 2015, Scout: Blake Millsaps, 23, of Marble, was killed when a car he was riding in crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer in the Oboe (Tenn.) Gorge. He was a former football player at Murphy Higåçh School. The driver of Millsåapså car, and the driver of the truck it hit, both survived with injuries.
- The Valley River Humane Society in Marble asked the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners to continue supporting the animal shelter, saying the county’s contribution only covers 20% of the total costs.
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals once again sued the state over a law designed to make it easy to use a live opossum at the New Year’s Eve Possum Drop in Brasstown. Update: PETA lost the court case, but the event eventually shut down anyway after moving for one year to Andrews.
June 18, 2015, Journal: Andrews High School Principal Virginia Haynes retired after 32 years in education. However, “I’ll always be the No. 1 fan,” she said of the Wildcats. Haynes graduated from Andrews High in 1978.
- Judy Brooks Day was celebrated in Andrews with her own day, thanks to the board of aldermen. “The sweetheart of Andrews” was well known for her ability to help people get things done.
25 years ago – June 14, 2000, Scout: Cherokee County taxpayers owed $1,412,822.96 million in property taxes, with $863,221.55 of that delinquent over the last nine years. After 10 years, back taxes are written off, with the county losing $47,760 this year. Update: You read that last sentence right.
- The Cherokee County Board of Education asked county commissioners to fund new teachers, and their assistants, at an increase of $690,673 in the annual budget. The county had one of the lowest appropriations toward schools in the state.
- Carpenters for Christ came to Hanging Dog Baptist Church and helped with the congregation’s building expansion to make room for more Sunday school classes. About 60 volunteers, motivated to serve by their faith, took part in the project. Update: Jesus himself was a carpenter, making the ministry highly appropriate.
June 15, 2000, Journal: Jose Luis Rodriquez used a disposable toothbrush
to pick a lock and escape from the Graham County Jail. He was from the Cody Hill area of Franklin and expected to head in that direction.
- John Cook was transferred from principal of Andrews Elementary School to principal of Andrews Middle School, where former leader Jennifer Clayton resigned due to illness. Meanwhile, John Higdon was hired as principal of Andrews Elementary.
50 years ago – June 19, 1975, Scout: Cherokee County received a federal grant worth $350,000 to build a farmers market. Commissioners pledged $100,000 toward the project, while six surrounding counties pledged $5,000 each. Meanwhile, the state was preparing to vote on a $100,000 appropriation.
- Two young people from Lake Wales, Fla., were busted when Cherokee County sheriff’s deputies and Murphy police officers found a cardboard box in their vehicle filled with hundreds of pills used in illegal drug sales.
June 18, 1975, Journal: Wayne Rogers, 24, of Andrews, was hired as Cherokee County’s accountant. He was training under longtime accountant Ruth Sprung before taking over the job himself. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Rogers of Andrews.
– Publisher David Brown