In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 20, 2013, Scout: A home at 627 Mountain Top Drive in Ranger was destroyed by fire. Homeowners Thomas and January Roskelly were treated for smoke inhalation, and they also lost several beloved family pets in the fire.
- The Cherokee Scoutseries The N.C. Mental Health Shuffle continued, with part two focusing on how some children, developmentally disabled and elderly people can fall through the cracks of the state’s system.
- The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution calling any laws passed by the federal government that violate the Second Amendment null and void. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.
Feb. 14, 2013, Journal: Billy Joe Brady, 45, of Cherokee, and Brianna Amanda Powers, 22, of Sylva, were charged with stabbing and running over a man in Marble. The man received care for his injuries but was released.
- Laurel Hall, a junior at Andrews High School, was a level nine gymnast in the U.S.A. Olympics Gymnastics program, just one level below the elite.
25 years ago – Feb. 18, 1998, Scout: The air-and-land search for Eric Robert Rudolph expanded beyond Cherokee and into neighboring counties after he was named a suspect in the bombing of the New Women All Women Clinic in Birmingham, Ala. Meanwhile, the Cherokee Scout received a letter from the so-called “Army of God,” which claimed responsibility for two bombings in Atlanta, that was turned over to the FBI. Update: The FBI returned the letter to the Scout after Rudolph’s conviction, where it remains in our archives.
- u Hiwassee Dam Union School was awarded a $75,000 grant to be used at Ranger Elementary School to help teachers identify alternative learning styles.
- u A cousin wrote a tribute to Frank Crawford, a former Cherokee County sheriff who was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 3, 1953. “Frank was a much loved and respected man,” Gene Crawford wrote.
Feb. 19, 1998, Journal: The FBI offered a $1 million reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of fugitive Eric Robert Rudolph.
- Pastor Willie Baldwin of the Aquino House of Prayer said Rudolph and his family never attended his church, despite national media reports to the contrary.
50 years ago – Feb. 15, 1973, Scout: The Murphy Town Council voted to sell water to Texana, which members of the community hoped would solve their ongoing water problems.
- More than 100 rescue squad members participated in the search for Roosevelt Hamby, 41, of Hiwassee Dam, who had been missing for two weeks. His shoe was found near the shoreline of Appalachia Lake.
- Graves Furniture in Murphy offered a new 25-inch color console television for $549 – a savings of $100!
Feb. 14, 1973, Journal: The Andrews Magnavox plant was shutting down for two weeks, affected several hundred hourly production workers.
- Steve Johnson and Susie Postell were named king and queen, respectively, of the Heart Fund Dance at Andrews High School.
– Publisher David Brown