In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Aug. 14, 2013, Scout: Cherokee County’s planned convenience center dump site near the intersection of N.C. 294 and Candy Mountain Road in Hiwassee Dam was met with anger from some local residents, who were upset that plans were made without considering their input.
- For the third consecutive year, Cherokee County Schools had one of the top-10 graduation rates out of the 115 systems in North Carolina, coming in at 91.7 percent.
- Publisher David Brown’s column introduced readers to an Arizona man and former local resident named Gary Chamberlain, who would move back to Cherokee County and lead a years-long, anti-litter initiative before succumbing to cancer. Update: Gary’s constant smile and persistence in getting things done are still missed.
Aug. 8, 2013, Journal: Korbin Smith, 2, of Andrews, was hoping to make a full recovery after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his chest. The community rallied around “Baby Korbin.”
- Eve Miranda of Andrews, a Native American medicine woman, shared traditional herbal cures to treat common ailments that still work today.
25 years ago – Aug. 12, 1998, Scout: A member of the Southeast Bomb Task Force was injured while searching for fugitive Eric Rudolph near Andrews, falling several feet down a rocky slope and breaking his wrist.
- Each end of the rows of visitor-side bleachers at Murphy High School’s Bulldog Stadium were being replaced in a project costing an estimated $7,000.
- Peachtree Elementary School Principal Tim Coffey and five teachers were recognized at a banquet in Raleigh for the school’s outstanding academic growth. Update: Coffey, a resident of Andrews, sadly passed away earlier this year.
Aug. 13, 1998, Journal: The town pool at Andrews Recreation Park was closed, with lack of use cited as the cause. Park director Johnny Anderson called it a monetary decision.
- Despite having only 38 students, Nantahala High School was named a “School of Distinction” for its 1997-98 test scores, something no other school in North Carolina accomplished that year.
50 years ago – Aug. 9, 1973, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners joined the Murphy Town Council in considering an anti-smut law after a group of local pastors said they wanted to “clean up this county.”
- Frank Rose Jr., a native of Unaka, purchased Townson Funeral Homes in Andrews, Hayesville, Murphy and Robbinsville. Update: That’s why you know them as Townson-Rose Funeral Homes today.
- Barbara Stalcup of Murphy, who directed the champion Carolina Sweethearts cloggers since the group was formed in 1957, was set to be inducted into the Mountain Square Dancing Hall of Fame in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Aug. 8, 1973, Journal: Andrews businessman and philanthropist Joe El-Khouri was named to the Cherokee County Board of Education, filling the seat vacated by Dr. Charles Van Order in the spring.
- Four loaves of something called “Marvel sandwich sliced white bread” could be purchased for just a buck at the A&P grocery store. Update: It’s unknown whether “DC” had a bread of its own at the time. (That only makes sense if you know comic superheroes.)
– Publisher David Brown