In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 1, 2012, Scout: Cherokee County taxpayers were stuck with paying the bills to clean up busted methamphetamine labs, as the state was no longer covering those expenses.
- The Cherokee County Detention Center in Murphy began housing inmates from state prisons who were convicted of misdemeanor offenses, earning $40 per inmate per day. Update: The county also earned money from housing federal inmates at the time.
- The Murphy boys swim team brought home the Smoky Mountain Conference championship, with Matt Lewis taking two individual titles.
Feb. 2, 2012, Journal: The 1958 state championship basketball team, Keith Jones and Kenneth Solesbee were all inducted into the Andrews High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
- New Dizzy Dean baseball and softball leagues were forming in Andrews.
25 years ago – Jan. 29, 1997, Scout: Ralph Lewis Dockery, 53, died as a result of smoke inhalation from a fire at his home in Hanging Dog.
- “Hitler didn’t pose as big a threat as the county commission,” Frank Cook of We The People said about a proposed junk car ordinance. Update: The ordinance did not pass, which is obvious to anyone who drives around the county.
- Two local residents died in unusual cases. Paul Trombley, 31, of Murphy, was killed by an alleged self-inflicted gunshot in south Florida, while N.C. Forest Service Ranger Mike Mauney, 43, died after falling from a tree in his yard.
- Jeremiah Brinke of Murphy was the lone Bulldog to go undefeated in the Far West Invitational Wrestling Tournament.
Jan. 30, 1997, Journal: A landmark in the gorge, the Nantahala Village Inn, was destroyed by fire.
- Andrews beat Murphy 46-45 in basketball, as Adam Brooks scored the winning basket with just 18 seconds remaining in the game.
50 years ago – Feb. 3, 1972, Scout: Construction was expected to begin on the new Wachovia Bank in downtown Murphy, at the site of the former Murphy Baptist Church. Update: PNC Bank is working at that location today.
- Winifred Townson Wells, a native of Murphy, was named to the Superior Court bench by Gov. Bob Scott, making her the only female judge on that court.
- The “scrumdidilyumptious” movie Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was playing at the U.S. 64 Drive-In in Peachtree.
Feb. 2, 1972, Journal: The proposed four-lane highway linking Andrews and Murphy needed to pass environmental plans in order to be given the go ahead. Update: It did and was.
- Renegade salesmen were claiming to represent Andrews High School in a magazine scheme.
– Publisher David Brown