In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 13, 2013, Scout: State Rep. Roger West (R-Peachtree) introduced a bill in the General Assembly that would allow live opossums to be used during the annual New Year’s Eve Possum Drop in Brasstown, which was facing criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and others. Update: The bill, cleverly titled “The Opossum Right-to-Work Act,” was eventually approved by legislators.
- The Cherokee Scout started a four-part series called The N.C. Mental Health Shuffle, with part one focusing on families in crisis and asking the question, “Is the state’s mental health system broken or just inadequate for western North Carolina?”
- As part of the Scout’s celebration of Black History Month, an in-depth report focused on the past, present and potential future for Texana, a predominately African-American community outside Murphy.
Feb. 7, 2013, Journal: Andrews High School inducted the 1963 football team, the 1963-64 basketball team and Butch Sursavage, who played on both teams, into the Wildcats’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved spending $40,000 to make repairs and improvements at the Andrews Town Pool.
25 years ago – Feb. 11, 1998, Scout: A massive manhunt was underway in Cherokee County for Eric Robert Rudolph, who was wanted for questioning in the bombing of the New Women All Women Clinic in Birmingham, Ala. The FBI was appealing for assistance from local citizens.
- Cherokee County was told to repay the U.S. Treasury $55,490 within 30 days after an audit of equipment at the former farmers market in Ranger.
- Senior Jessica Kephart nailed five 3-pointers en route to scoring 17 points and leading the Murphy girls basketball team (14-4) to a 65-38 blowout of Polk County, Tenn.
Feb. 12, 1998, Journal: The arrests of three local residents on various charges were the beginning of a major offensive against illegal drugs, such as crack cocaine, by the Andrews Police Department.
- Ten people filed to run for sheriff of Cherokee County – Jack Thompson, David White, Frank Milazzo and Carl Wanson (Republicans) as well as Roger Baker, Alan Kilpatrick, Mack Gibson, Bill Carver, Bill Bandy and Rod Sacharnoski (Democrats).
50 years ago – Feb. 8, 1973, Scout: Cherokee Hills Golf Course sold for $535,000 to John D. McArthur of Palm Beach, Fla., who was called the fifth-richest man in the United States. Update: Sadly, the course closed several years ago.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners talked at length about the possibility of constructing a comprehensive vocational school for local students. Update: The Schools of Innovation, opening this fall in Peachtree, will contain a Career Academy vocational school.
- Hiwassee Dam residents asked the new highway commissioner, Dr. W.A. Hoover, to help implement improvements to the “really dangerous” N.C. 294.
Feb. 7, 1973, Journal: The mobile home of Flora Lunsford in Marble was destroyed by fire. Blame for the blaze was placed on a faulty oil heater.
- Willard Greene of Marble was approved by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners to serve as the veterans services officer for the eastern end of the county.
– Publisher David Brown