In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Sept. 26, 2012, Scout: Pilot Bill Ruthven of Murphy walked away without injury after his 4-year-old, self-built Glass Air single-engine aircraft
had a crash landing in a soybean field near Western Carolina Regional Airport in Andrews.
- A federal judge upheld the closing of the Tellico trails, taking away one of the area’s largest tourism draws, which included off-road vehicle events.
- The Scout’s series onlocal communities highlighted Culberson, which was once a hub of activity and business in Cherokee County.
Sept. 27, 2012, Journal: After 19 years, Ray Frazier claimed his firing as manager of Andrews Recreation
Park was politically motivated, as he had announced he was running for town alderman.
- Andrews High School senior Emily Peacock chose as her senior project to raise money for the family of the Rev. Paul Hacklander, pastor of Andrews United Methodist Church, who suffered a massive stroke and could not speak.
25 years ago – Sept. 24, 1997, Scout: Cherokee County members of the National Guard’s 130th Signal Battalion got a scare when the C-130 they were riding in landed hard at Asheville Airport.
- Kelly McDonald of Martins Creek Elementary/Middle School was named Cherokee County Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Update: McDonald is principal of Ranger Elementary/Middle School today.
- A total of 166 bags of trash and other items were removed from local waterways during the annual Big Sweep cleanup campaign. Update: This year’s Litter Sweep was held from Sept. 10-24.
Sept. 25, 1997, Journal: Former Andrews resident Charles Frazier hit it big with his first novel, Cold Mountain, which received glowing reviews. Update: Cold Mountain was made into a hit movie in 2003.
- Andrews High School’s 1997 homecoming court featured students Holly Hyde, Rebekah Thompson, Laura Wilson, Misty McLean, Shanon Nicole Howard and Paula Martin.
50 years ago – Sept. 28, 1972, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Education voted to merge White Church Elementary School with schools in Murphy, which included about 80 students. Update: Local parents approved the merger by 61 percent in a survey.
- Noland Wells, 78, died at Providence Hospital in Murphy. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a dairy farmer, well-known as a bear hunter and prominent in Democratic politics.
- Murphy dumped 300,000 gallons of raw sewage daily into the Hiwassee River over several weeks due to sewage pumps breaking down.
Sept. 27, 1972, Journal: Cherokee County Commissioner W.T. Moore of Andrews, a member of the board for 14 years, died
after a lengthy illness. He was 81.
- Andrews’ football team won its first game of the season, 14-0 over Cherokee. Bob Penland led the way by scoring both touchdowns for the Wildcats.
– Publisher David Brown