In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 5, 2012, Scout: Scott Bull, 38, of Murphy, received up to 37 years in prison for sharing child pornography. His attorney claimed Bull was addicted to watching porn.
- Lilly Cash of Ranger, who was paralyzed in an automobile accident the year before that took the life of her mother, was named grand marshal of the Murphy Christmas Parade.
- Murphy fell to Plymouth 20-15 in the state 1A championship football game after a fourth-quarter drive came up just short.
Dec. 6, 2012, Journal: Despite a curfew of 10 p.m. being in effect, local businesses continued to suffer from acts of senseless vandalism, like various windows being broken.
- Emily Nicole Smith, 25, and Jeremy Noah Lane, 30, both of Andrews, were charged with breaking into residences across Cherokee County.
25 years ago – Dec. 3, 1997, Scout: Murphy Mayor Chloe Moore was retiring after 31 years in office. Update: Bill Hughes replaced Moore as mayor and served 20 years, which means Murphy only had two mayors for more than half a century.
- Local officials and residents warned that a phone solicitation allegedly from the “Narcotics Association” could be a scam. Update: It was.
- Forumer Scout publisher and manager Jack Owens Sr. died at age 62. His replacement as publisher, Weaver Carringer of Brasstown, said Owens became a “fine Christian man” after being saved a few years ago.
Dec. 4, 1997, Journal: Mike Huskins, 17, tackled a distraught 68-year-old man who rammed his car into a truck on the Andrews High School campus. Principal Mike Rogers said of Huskins, “He did an admirable thing.”
- The sixth Huddle House restaurant opened, this one just off the four-lane highway in Andrews. Update: The local Huddle House, like many other restaurants nationwide, has closed since then.
50 years ago – Dec. 7, 1972, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved buying a $7,500 addressing machine for the county tax office.
- The Cherokee Scout, in cooperation with leading downtown merchants, were bringing Santa Claus to town – by helicopter. Update: Apparently, Santa’s reindeer were resting up for Christmas Eve.
- Lewis King, a member of the Cherokee County Board of Education for 21 years, retired. A steak dinner was held in his honor at O’Dell’s Restaurant in downtown Murphy.
Dec. 6, 1972, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our archives.
– Publisher David Brown