In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – May 1, 2013, Scout: A light experimental aircraft crashed while landing at a private airfield in Brasstown. Pilot Edwin Burch, 71, of Murphy, broke both an arm and leg in the accident.
- Jim Evelyn, an 84-year-old grandfather in Murphy, outwitted scammers who were impersonating his granddaughter on the phone in an attempt to get him to send money. He called the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office instead.
- The Hiwassee Dan Lady Eagles softball team was only one win away from its first-ever regular-season Smoky Mountain Conference title after beating Murphy 7-4, completing a season sweep of the Lady Bulldogs.
April 25, 2013, Journal: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office again raided Topton Store, with investigators seizing synthetic cannabis – called Spice – and cash. Store owner Clara Jessica Frost said she sold nothing illegal and was being targeted.
- A fun lineup of events was being planned for the semi-annual Chautauqua Andrews Valley Experience to enrich people’s lives and promote local culture.
25 years ago – April 29, 1998, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Pat Hardin over her firing at the Cherokee County Department of Social Services for a total cost of $179,600. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sided with Hardin. Update: A confidentiality clause, which may have violated state statutes, kept local residents in the dark about the lawsuit. And instead of using the county’s own attorney, Scott Lindsay, to represent them, commissioners hired a Raleigh attorney, who was paid $69,600 of the above total.
- FBI Director Louis Freel was in Andrews meeting with federal agents involved in the search for accused abortion clinic and Olympic Games bomber Eric Rudolph, who once lived in Nantahala.
- More than 160 people took a walk down memory lane at Ranger School, which was built in 1952 and about to be demolished for a new building.
April 30, 1998, Journal: With FBI Director Louis Freel in town, FBI and ATF agents also met with members of the Andrews Chamber of Commerce to clear up rumors.
- Cherokee Homes was advertising a three-bedroom, two-bathroom manufactured home for only $28,500. That included a $500 gift certificate from Walmart.
50 years ago – April 26, 1973, Scout: A group of young people from Clay County and Cleveland, Tenn., representing the “Jesus Movement” – including a man who hung on a wooden cross – came to Murphy to sing Christian songs and invite people to a special meeting. Update: A movie about just such people, Jesus Revolution, is streaming online today.
- State education officials recommended building a large new vocational education building at Murphy High School to serve all Cherokee County students.
- The movie The Train Robbers, starring John Wayne and Ann Margaret, was playing at the Henn Theatre in downtown Murphy.
April 25, 1973, Journal: Residents were preparing to vote on a 10-cent fire tax to fund the Valleytown Rural Fire Department to serve those who live outside of the town limits.
- After working there for 14 years, Olsen Hall locked the doors to the Andrews Train Depot, which was closing after one last Southern Railroad came into town.
– Publisher David Brown