In last week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Sept. 2, 2015, Scout: Maria De Los Angeles Brickman, 53, a part-time resident of Cherokee County, was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after she called 911 and said she shot her husband after an argument. Update: In 2018, a jury found her not guilty by reason of self-defense.
- Murphy police stopped a drunken home invasion when a local 53-year-old man allegedly punched his way through a double-pane window while trying to access the home of a stranger and threatening to kill him.
- A full page of photos marked Scott Hogsed Memorial Conservation Day, with youngsters from across Cherokee County gathering to embrace the outdoors.
Sept. 3, 2015, Journal: After more than seven years of work, Andrews artist and author Ann Miller Woodford completed an epic 648-page book outlining the history of the African-American community across the region. Update: Woodford’s book, When All God’s Children Get Together, should be required reading in local history classes and clubs.
- Off-duty Andrews police Officer Jeff Brown was walking his dog in the early morning hours when he came across a major burglary spree in progress, leading to the arrests off two people allegedly in possession of thousands of dollars worth of equipment stolen from a local business and a N.C. Department of Transportation work shed.
25 years ago – Sept. 6, 2000, Scout: Hiwassee Dam Union School’s Pam Rollins was named Cherokee County Schools Teacher of the Year. She showed dedication, commitment and a hands-on approach.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners were looking at the possibility of buying 40 acres upon which to build a new school in Hiwassee Dam. The board of education’s Phrase III plans include $3 million to repair Hiwassee Dam Union School, but not build a new campus.
- A fifth-grade boy at Ranger Elementary School received a three-day suspension after allegedly giving a recipe for making a bomb to another student. It was the student’s first offense.
Sept. 7, 2000, Journal: Water use at the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center spiked from an average of 4,000 gallons month to 30,000 gallons, yet no leaks nor problems with the meters were found.
- Andrews Journal columnist Reid West told the tale of Gomer, a lost beagle dog who eventually was returned to his family after Cherokee County Commission Chair Barbara Vicknair wrote a personal check for $464 to the Valley River Humane Society. Update: The society returned her check uncashed. Vicknair later became president of the animal shelter’s board of directors.
50 years ago – Sept. 4, 1975, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to spend about $12,000 to buy a special radio communications system for rural volunteer fire departments to use.
- Cherokee County businesses took a $60,000 nose-dive in July that year in sales tax collections. The low level of Lake Hiwassee was partly to blame for the slowing down of local cash registers.
Sept. 3, 1975, Journal: The academic high point for the first week of classes was “Rat Day,” where ninth-grade student vie for the titles of King and Queen Rat. The boys compete wearing female clothing, while the girls compete wearing male clothing. Wallace McKinney was queen, while Sharon Lovingood was king.
– Publisher David Brown
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In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Sept. 9, 2015, Scout: A piece of American history was brought to Western Carolina Regional Airport, as the plane that rescued the real Smokey Bear was being rebuilt in Andrews.
- Staff Photographer Ryan Revock’s Community Portrait look an inside look at Texana, where just about everyone on the hill was related – and the rest “fall right in with us.”
- The Bulldogs’ football team smoked the independent Carolina Wildcats 43-8 on Armed Forces Night in Murphy. Running back Kadrian McRae led the way with 112 yards on the ground, scoring three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
Sept. 10, 2015, Journal: Tom O’Brien, president and chief executive officer of Industrial Opportunities Inc., was lobbying the state’s congressional delegation to protect 85 jobs at the Andrews facility that were in danger due to a federal law.
- A truck taken during a home invasion at Lundsford Mobile Home Park was recovered by police and returned to the owner, an elderly man who was restrained with a towel placed over his head during the shocking incident.
25 years ago – Sept. 13, 2000, Scout: With the Valley River Humane Society facing a $60,000 deficit, Cherokee County Commissioner Ernest Jones suggested unwanted animals be used for research. The animal shelter in Marble requested $141,706 from the county for the next fiscal year, a significantly jump from $22,500 the year before. Update: A letter to the editor in the following week’s edition strongly objected to the research idea.
- Cherokee County Indian Community Club members voted to organize an Indian corporation to operate a bingo hall, with a projected cost of $25 million. Update: The bingo hall eventually gave way to an actual casino in Murphy.
- Longtime Cherokee Scout columnist Bill Hembree wrote that folks could learn a lot just by observing animals’ unconditional love.
Sept. 14, 2000, Journal: Dr. Al Swan was the new president, Mike Dalken was the new chief executive officer and Wayne Austin was the new chief financial officer of District Memorial Hospital Inc. in Andrews.
- Cherokee County Schools received its share of $2.25 million in grant money to operate a new, short-term alternative school program. Middle-school students from Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties would attend.
50 years ago – Sept. 11, 1975, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners bought land in Ranger for a farmers market. A $350,000 federal grant was approved for the seven-county project.
- The movie Jaws was playing at the Henn Theatre in downtown Murphy, giving folks from Florida yet another reason to move to the mountains, where there might be Bigfoot but no sharks.
Sept. 10, 1975, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown