In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 12, 2012, Scout: Town police say Michael Farr, 49, of Murphy, ran a red light at 70 mph, crashed into another vehicle and assaulted an officer before being taken to the hospital.
- Richard Cseh, 52, of Topton, was facing charges in the deaths of 10 puppies only 1 week old.
- The Cherokee Scout’s series on local communities took three parts to highlight Andrews, which once held great significance to the Cherokee Nation.
Dec. 13, 2012, Journal: A coin box containing about $700 in quarters and bills was stolen by an enterprising thief from the office at Mountain View Laundromat downtown.
- The Andrews High School boys basketball team ran up 91 points on Nantahala in a big win. Wildcats junior Chandler Gunther led the scoring with 21 points.
25 years ago – Dec. 10, 1997, Scout: While an auction of land seized by federal authorities prepared to be held on the steps of the Cherokee County Courthouse in downtown Murphy, the owners of the property said the U.S. Marshal’s Office’s claim was not valid. Update: The land did not sell and was sent back to the federal government.
- The Murphy Town Council held off on a request by Murphy Cable TV to purchase King Kable, which held the town’s exclusive contract.
- Andrews natives and sisters Carmen Birchfield Moore and Charlotte Birchfield Johnson finished 10th and 11th, respectively, while running in the women’s
- division of the Atlanta Marathon.
Dec. 11, 1997, Journal: A malfunctioning engine prompted a DC 3 plane to make an emergency landing at Andrews-Murphy Airport. No one was injured.
- Local businessman and historian Dee Whitt Sharp was named grand marshal of the Andrews Christmas Parade.
50 years ago – Dec. 14, 1972, Scout: Ingles supermarket opened in the Valley Village Shipping Center on Andrews Road in Murphy. Update: The store later moved to its current location off of U.S. 19/74.
- The Cherokee Scout was designated as a “National Blue Ribbon Newspaper” for 1973 by the National Editorial Foundation in Washington. Update: It was the fourth year in a row for the local newspaper.
- Gibson’s IGA Foodliner in Andrews had fresh ground beef for only 59 cents per pound, with pork chops on sale for 69 cents a pound. And bananas were available for a paltry 9 cents per pound.
Dec. 13, 1972, Journal: The Andrews town fathers tentatively approved plans to build a new storage and garage building in town.
- About 40 shotgun birdshot pellets splattered and splintered the front door of Jack Herbert on Stewart Road in what was apparently a drive-by shooting. He was president of Nantahala Talc & Limestone Co. in the Nantahala Gorge, which also had a truck damaged by shots the previous evening.
– Publisher David Brown