In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 9, 2015, Scout: A billboard placed by Cherokee Guns on U.S. 64 West in Murphy that urged the country to not accept 10,000 refugees from Syria stirred debate among national religious leaders and local residents.
- Attorney Eric Stiles and his wife, Jillian, were arrested on various drug charges after they were found asleep in their vehicle off of N.C. 294 in Hiwassee Dam. A “significant quantity” of methamphetamine was allegedly found in the vehicle.
- Cherokee Scout Editor Matthew Osborne wrote an editorial with the headline, “Here’s to opposition,” encouraging local residents who care about education to run for one of three seats on the Cherokee County Board of Education up for vote in next year’s elections.
Dec. 10, 2015, Journal: Ethics accusations and infighting returned to the Andrews Board of Aldermen after a 3-2 vote to appoint Bob Ferreira, executive director of the nonprofit Andrews Valley Initiative, as chair of a proposed Andrews Planning Board.
- Even after spending $100,000 on repairs to the historic rock building that was Andrews Town Hall on Main Street, the flat roof still had leaks after heavy rains. A similar roof problem at the town library took $20,000 to repair.
25 years ago – Dec. 13, 2000, Scout: Cherokee County had 352 reported sites of Southern pine beetle infestation, leading all 32
reporting counties in the state. N.C. Forest Resources called it a problem of “epidemic proportions.”
- A 16-year-old boy charged in the death of a 17-year-old girl received a suspended sentence. His truck had run off of Pleasant Valley Road and he overcorrected, lost control and rolled over. The girl was a passenger in the truck.
- A Virginia man faced up to 20 years in jail for alleging traveling to Cherokee County three times in order to engage in a sexual act with a girl under age 18. He was charged with abducting a minor as well as destroying evidence.
Dec. 14, 2000, Journal: Andrews Aldermen Jake Buchanan Sr. was named mayor and town manager by the board after the resignation of Jim Dailey. As mayor, Buchanan was to receive $400 per month; as town manager, he was to be paid $9 per hour, plus $10 a week for gas. Update: That hourly pay rate was well below the state average for that job.
- Dr. David Ackerman of Andrews was sworn in to the Cherokee County Board of Education along with incumbents Mary Ruth Keller and Keith Lovin. Members received $100 a month, with the chair getting $200.
50 years ago – Dec. 11, 1975, Scout: The U.S. Forest Service, reacting to a September court decision, unwillingly banned timber cutting and sales on its land in North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
- For the second year in a row, the Cherokee County Community Development Council was recognized for Outstanding Achievement during the Western North Carolina Community Development Program in Asheville.
Dec. 10, 1975, Journal: Andrews Middle School band members David Gilbert, Maria Crisp, Catherine El-Khouri, Jana Jones, Monte Rogers and David Carter qualified for the Western District Junior High All-State Band.
– Publisher David Brown