In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – July 11, 2012, Scout: A lawsuit over whether a will was valid slowed down progress as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians considered building a new casino in Marble. Update: Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel opened in 2015, albeit on property closer to Murphy.
- Bath salts and synthetic pot were seized from four local stores, some that didn’t know what they had.
- The Scout’s series on local communities focused on Texana, which was established by former slave Texana “Texas” McClelland and her family.
July 12, 2012, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen planned to enforce teenage curfew laws, which prohibited people under age 16 from gathering in public places from midnight-5 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on other days.
- The 55th annual Western North Carolina Wagon Train rolled though the Andrews Valley. The Smoky Mountain Wagon Train also started in Andrews before ending in Robbinsville.
25 years ago – July 9, 1997, Scout: Chairman Charles Laney surprisingly resigned from the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, citing the need to spend more time with his family and on his business. Republican Party officials were meeting to choose a replacement. Update: A week later, only one of the other two commissioners showed up at a special meeting to pick a new chairman, forcing a delay.
- The Cherokee County Department of Social Services was reprimanded by the state for allowing employees to illegally forge clients’ names on documents. County attorney Scott Lindsay said he was unaware of any forthcoming charges or fines.
- While the sewer project in Murphy was “a big mess,” Town Manager Ann Payne said it should be a completed within six weeks.
July 10, 1997, Journal: High winds roared through Fourth of July festivities in Andrews, breaking glass, toppling trees and cutting off electricity.
- Andrews Mayor Jim Dailey asked Valleytown residents to help rebuild Ferebee Park, which was heavily damaged in the July 4 storm.
50 years ago – July 13, 1972, Scout: A 9-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ was placed at Greenlawn Cemetery in Peachtree.
- The State Board of Health approved a new sanitary landfill off U.S. 19/74 in Marble for Andrews, Murphy and Cherokee County to use.
- The tomato packing shed in Murphy was preparing to buy and ship about $250,000 worth of homegrown vegetables.
July 12, 1972, Journal: This edition is sadly missing from the bound archives.
– Publisher David Brown