In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – May 16, 2012, Scout: C.B. McKinnon asked for a runoff in his Cherokee County Board of Commissioners Republican primary election race against Steve Higdon. Update: McKinnon won the runoff as well as the general election, then served two terms on the board.
- Property values dropped an average of 27 percent across the county after the latest revaluation.
- No. 3 seed Mitchell defeated No. 2 seed Murphy in the state 1A baseball playoffs before moving on to face Andrews in the next round.
May 17, 2012, Journal: Sally McTaggert of Andrews was charged with trafficking morphine.
- Vintage cars were rolled out for Andrews Cruise Night, which helped fund the Police Pals program. Update: The event raised more than $1,500 that year.
25 years ago – May 14, 1997, Scout: The first Spring Fling & Street Dance was held in downtown Murphy. Update: That annual event has since been replaced by the Murphy Spring Festival, which was held May 7.
- Attending school on Saturday was possible for students who missed too many days after a vote by the Cherokee County Board of Education.
- The Murphy golf team won the Smoky Mountain Conference championship behind senior Joseph Watson, who was also named Golfer of the Year. Update: Watson is the Bulldogs’ head football coach today.
May 15, 1997, Journal: A runway truck ran into a house in Maltby, starting a fire in the carport that ignited vehicles and the home.
- Roy Carter, athletic director for Andrews High School, preached the gospel of having a drug-free sports program.
50 years ago – May 18, 1972, Scout: Bids to build a new Andrews Elementary School building came in $100,000 over budget.
- Murphy police started enforcing the town’s unmetered two-hour parking limit. Not everyone was happy about it.
- Garrett Hedden of Gold Branch came to town and managed to convince a swarm of bees to leave someone’s car at Dollar General Store and fly into a cardboard box. The bees were then taken to his house, where they quickly started making honey.
May 17, 1972, Journal: Cherokee County’s per-pupil expense was higher than the state’s average.
- A new state law regulated how teachers could be dismissed by local boards of education.
– Publisher David Brown