In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Oct. 7, 2015, Scout: Kelvin Wayne Blaylock, 59, of Peachtree, was charged with murder in the death of Michael “Chicago” Davis, 30, who was renting a room from Blaylock. Davis was survived by a 6-year-old son.
- A number of firefighters from Cherokee and surrounding counties were helping fight wildfires in the Western United States, where more than 1,000 homes had been destroyed
- The annual Fall Festival at John C. Campbell School in Brasstown was washed out for the first time by rainfall. Executive Director Jan Davidson said it was a tough call, but the right one to make.
Oct. 8, 2015, Journal: An Andrews man was indicted in a brutal rape case resulting in four charges. Bond was set at $100,000 for Robert Andrew Defore, 39, of Higdon Loop.
- Dillon “Cornbread” Ward was gaining fame as a member of the Andrews Wildcats’ football team, and he made it clear that he has never been a “Murphy boy,” as one Bulldogs coach claimed.
25 years ago – Oct. 11, 2000, Scout: A Virginia man was at the Cherokee County Jail in Murphy after allegedly driving to the county three times in an attempt to abduct a 14-year-old boy living in the area “for immoral purposes.” Bond was set at $750,000.
- Employees at the Western Forge plant in Peachtree were producing 100,000 screwdrivers every day, less than half as many as expected once the plant was fully operational.
- Murphy stung Robbinsville 53-27 in football, with the Bulldogs getting revenge from the Black Knights allegedly running up the score during their game the year before.
Oct. 12, 2000, Journal: Both companies bidding on a project to clean up debris at the Granny
Squirrel convenience center owed fees to the Cherokee County Landfill, and one Andrews business owner owed back county property taxes.
- Dan White, former chair of District Memorial Hospital in Andrews, complained to the Andrews Journal that his arrest on charges of failure to stop for a blue light and resist, obstruct and delay were treated differently by the local newspaper than other people charged with similar crimes.
50 years ago – Oct. 9, 1975, Scout: The rebuilt Ranger United Methodist Church building – which was destroyed by a tornado on April 3, 1974 – was dedicated by the Rev. James Coleman, superintendent of the Waynesville United Methodist District.
- Jimmy Stiles, 37, of Martins Creek, died in a one-car accident on Spur 60 in Culberson. His vehicle “plunged off the road and wrapped around a tree” on wet roads due to rain.
Oct. 8, 1975, Journal: Western Carolina Telephone Co. planned to ask the N.C. Utilities Commission for a substantial increase in monthly service and installation fees. Basic residential rates would go up from $2.05 to $4.05 per month.
– Publisher David Brown