In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 16, 2015, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Education approved spending more than $700,000 to buy Chromebooks and cases for all 1,800 students in grades 6-12. Update: The school board has since switched to using iPads.
- Clay Logan was planning on dropping a live opossum unless the court intervened during the annual New Year’s Eve Possum Drop at Clay’s Corner in Brasstown. Update: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals did, in fact, file an appeal in the case.
- Cherokee Scout Staff Photographer Ryan Revock’s latest Community Portrait focused on Stix in the Mud, one of three different Morris dance teams at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.
Dec. 17, 2015, Journal: Andrews officials got high marks from the their local auditing firm for reversing three flaws to the town’s financial situation in recent years. The year ended with a budget surplus.
- A 32-year-old Andrews man went back to the house he recently moved out of, leading to his arrest on breaking and entering as well as drug charges after he confronted the new tenant. His key still worked.
25 years ago – Dec. 20, 2000, Scout: A little over a year after APAC Tennessee Inc. was permitted to run a rock crushing operation in Hot House, the same company wanted to operate a hot mix asphalt plant on the local site.
- Cherokee County native Ann Miller Woodford received the Outstanding Rural Leadership award from the Rural Economic Development Organization. Woodford is the founder of One Dozen Who Care.
- The Lady Bulldogs picked up a hard-fought 53-49 win over the rival Wildcats. Murphy’s Nicole Watson hit a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. Lindsay Roberts had 10 points and seven blocks for the Dogs, while Andrews senior Brittany Phillips lead all scorers with 25 points.
Dec. 21, 2000, Journal: Former mayor Jim Dailey came by Andrews Town Hall with a check for $3,600 to pay for metal roofing and vinyl railing he acquired using town funds. He apologized for abusing the citizens’ trust. Update: Dailey had been removed from office.
- The Wildcats’ boys basketball team defeated Murphy 64-49 in Smoky Mountain Conference action. Joel Creasman led Andrews with 16 points. Kurtis Wilson added 12 points, while Brandon Brown and Josh Postell scored 11 each.
50 years ago – Dec. 18, 1975, Scout: Michael Shane Millsaps, 4, of Marble, became the sixth person to die from an accident on Cherokee County roadways in 1975. One car had six people overall, while the other contained four.
- Mrs. M.J. Jordan, one of the owners of Jordan’s Market, and assistant manager B.J. Fish were abducted by gunmen as they drove away after robbing the store. The fairly nice robbers later told officials where to find them.
Dec. 17, 1975, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown