In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Sept. 16, 2015, Scout: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council voted to cut all ties with the Washington Redskins football team in the wake of a perceived endorsement of the team’s longstanding, and controversial, nickname by Principal Chief Michell Hicks.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved redrawing fire maps to exclude tribal lands after officials discovered that volunteer fire departments were not covered by liability insurance in those areas.
- Lifelong Cherokee County resident and three-term sheriff Jack Thompson passed away at age 84. “Men like him don’t come along every day,” Murphy Mayor Bill Hughes said. “He was a good man, a good citizen and a role model.”
Sept. 17, 2015, Journal: A jam-packed special called meeting of the Andrews Board of Aldermen drew heated exchanges as the board rescinded a prior vote to table a water and sewer rate increase, then went ahead and approved the increase anyway. Mayor Nancy Curtis banged her gavel several times to restore order.
- State Rep. Roger West (R-Peachtree) said the $300 million in federal highway funds socked away for the so-called Corridor K project won’t be used for anything but roads – including not being spent on rail projects.
25 years ago – Sept. 20, 2000, Scout: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was waiting for an autopsy report in the death investigation of Melissa Dawn “Lisa” Bailey of U.S. 64 West in Murphy, who died two months prior.
- The Hiwassee Valley Recreation Foundation was raising money to replace the former Lions Club public pool near the Rock Gym in Murphy. Finding just the right spot to put the pool was up first.
- Marie Trull took first place in the tricycle race at the annual Kids Fair in Murphy. Her younger sister, Amy Trull, came in a close second. Update: A rematch is 25 years in the making.
Sept. 21, 2000, Journal: The Andrews Fire Department was riding high with a new truck, including a ladder that stretched 85 feet. The total cost was $88,000.
- Andrews residents asked the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners to support placing a traffic light near the Andrews Rest Area and U.S. 19/74. Several accidents had occurred there.
50 years ago – Sept. 19, 1975, Scout: The new Piggly-Wiggly Supermarket opened on Main Street in Andrews in the former A&P location.
- A dozen local residents were charged with bootlegging after 32 cases of beer were confiscated along with 41 pints of tax-paid liquor, a gallon of homemade wine and nine gallons of non-tax-paid “white whiskey.”
Sept. 17, 1975, Journal: A 16-year-old boy from Hayesville went on a “rampage” in Andrews. He ended up being charged with reckless driving, hit and run property damage, running a stop sign and driving without a license.
– Publisher David Brown