In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 27, 2013, Scout: Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise officials were looking at property near Snap-on Tools to possibly build a casino in Murphy. Update: We know it today as Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, which opened in 2015.
- The Cherokee Scout series The N.C. Mental Health Shuffle continued, with part three focusing on how a complicated set of issues resulted in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office using a lot of man hours to handle people with mental health issues.
- The Scout’s Celebrate Cherokee County campaign in 2012 resulted in more than $12,500 in free advertising being given to dozens of local charities and nonprofit agencies, with the local newspaper also donating $2,500 in cash for a total benefit of $15,000.
Feb. 21, 2013, Journal: As part of the Andrews Journal’s celebration of Black History Month, an in-depth report focused on the past, present and potential future for good ol’ Happy Top, a predominately African-American community outside Andrews.
- The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee worked with Andrews to conserve the town’s 930-acre watershed.
25 years ago – Feb. 25, 1998, Scout: Fugitive Eric Robert Rudolph was still on the loose, presumably in western North Carolina, as 200 people were involved in the search for him.
- An infant simulator made teenagers think twice about pregnancy as part of a deterrent program in Cherokee County Schools.
- Matthew Mull of Hot House was working for safer job conditions after his father was electrocuted in 1995 at a Lee Jeans plant being built by Wells & West Inc. of Murphy.
Feb. 26, 1998, Journal: Far-western North Carolina’s area code, including Cherokee County, was changing from 704 to 828.
- The Andrews Board of Aldermen approved contracting out operations of the town’s water treatment plant to Mike Ladd with a three-year contract worth $87,360.
50 years ago – Feb. 22, 1973, Scout: Venice Revis, 19, of Marble, and Ronnie McInturff, 23, of Andrews, died when their car smashed into the rear of a tractor-trailer. Revis apparently fell asleep at the wheel.
- The wife of former Cherokee County sheriff Claude Anderson was charged with possession of more than 80 pounds of marijuana in Westminster, S.C.
- Changing state laws moved Andrews and Murphy’s town elections from April until November.
Feb. 21, 1973, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our archives.
– Publisher David Brown