In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Nov. 25, 2015, Scout: The N.C. Department of Transportation agreed to name the bridge on Joe Brown Highway leading to Texana after the late Roscoe W. Hall – a church deacon, musician, Sunday school teacher, volunteer and friend to the community.
- Cherokee County Manager Randy Wiggins was assigned the duties of economic development director Josh Carpenter, who resigned. Commissioners expressed that they didn’t think the job should be replaced by a full-time position. Update: And it wasn’t.
- Martins Creek School eighth-grader Presley Payne won the annual Cherokee County Schools Spelling Bee for the second time. Autumn Campbell finished second, while Kaylee Campbell came in third place.
Nov. 26, 2015, Journal: Loretta Parker, 78, and her sister, Teresa Parker, 59, both perished in a tragic early morning house fire on Pine Grove Road in Andrews. Citizens quickly came together to help surviving family members.
- Andrews High School senior Jarrod El-Khouri, 18, took his first solo flight after months of training with a professional pilot at Western Carolina Regional Airport. El-Khouri was considering a career in the U.S. Air Force.
25 years ago – Nov. 29, 2000, Scout: A series of stories on Cherokee County’s foster family program showcased Jerry and Nannette Brackett of Murphy, who adopted Sandra just before her sixth birthday.
- Residents on Natural Springs Drive were hearings the sounds of workers and construction equipment for a few months, as a new substation was being built for the Murphy Fire Department; 1,280 square feet at a cost of $49,350.
- Disaster was averted when a plane with faulty landing gear had to land on its belly at Andrews-Murphy Airport. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the plane was actually in pretty good condition, too, after the harrowing ordeal.
Nov. 30, 2000, Journal: The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad declined to make any excursions from Andrews over the next year purely due to economical reasons, according to ownership. There were 16 trips made that year.
- Renovations were nearly complete on the new home of First Assembly of God at the intersection of Locust and Main streets in downtown Andrews. Attendance was 110-120 people each week for Sunday services.
50 years ago – Nov. 26, 1975, Scout: The Great North Carolina Bicycle Race was going to start in Murphy and run through Manteo in a winding, 870-mile route in June. The N.C. Travel Council was sponsoring the $400,000 event.
- The Murphy football team lost 7-6 to Sun Valley in the state 2A playoffs, ending the Bulldogs’ season at 8-4. While Murphy won the offensive statistical battle, fumbles and penalties ultimately cost the Dogs the game.
Nov. 25, 1975, Journal: A 130-page survey of Cherokee County Schools recommended that Marble Elementary School be closed and those students attend Andrews Elementary School instead. Update: That move did eventually happen – 40 years later.
– Publisher David Brown