In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Aug. 21, 2013, Scout: Animal control in Cherokee County became a larger issue after one person reportedly left newborn puppies to die in a trailer and another allowed horses to starve, along with numerous reports of nuisance dogs.
- Murphy beat Hayesville 14-0 in an alumni football game, with 35 Bulldogs getting one more chance to beat the Yellow Jackets, something the high school players had done 47 times in the previous 53 years.
- William Todd Flowers, 37, of Burlington, received a sentence of 30 years in prison for trying to sexually coerce and entice a minor girl who lived in Cherokee County.
Aug. 15, 2013, Journal: An audit of Andrews’ finances showed a check for $126,148 was left in the town’s safe for eight months before being deposited in the N.C. Management Trust Fund, according to Town Manager Teresa Ricks. Update: Ricks works as Cherokee County’s tax assessor today.
- Gail Hopkins, 50, of Andrews, decided to go back after being out of school for 32 years. She enrolled in Tri-County Community College in Peachtree to expand her career opportunities.
25 years ago – Aug. 19, 1998, Scout: Cherokee County was ordered to pay $55,490 to the U.S. Treasury to cover the cost of missing equipment at the Farmers Market, despite the county’s appeal.
- Bo Gritz – a retired Green Beret colonel, author, radio show host and former presidential candidate who came into the national spotlight during the Weaver family’s 1992 standoff in Ruby Ridge, Idaho – was in Andrews to hopefully “bring in” fugitive Eric Rudolph. Update: He and his team left a week later; Gritz tried to lure in the fugitive by saying a $1 million reward for his arrest would go to Rudolph’s mother.
- A group of residents asked the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners to enact a land-use management program, as discussed in a Cherokee Scout editorial, to keep the proposed Permission Rock Quarry from opening in Hot House.
Aug. 20, 1998, Journal: Andrew Leister, 16, of Andrews, faced charges of operating a motor vehicle without a license and reckless driving after five teenagers were involved in a wreck on Bristol Avenue.
- Former Andrews police officer Jeffrey Shane Kephart, 24, was arrested and charged with assault on a female, communicating threats and injury to personal property. Police Chief Clay Hardin said the charges didn’t have anything to do with the resignation.
50 years ago – Aug. 16, 1973, Scout: Bill Forsyth was named to the Murphy Town Council to fill out the expired term of W.T. “Bud” Brown, who moved to Suit. Update: Forsyth still serves the town today as a member of the Murphy Power Board.
- In the biggest news about a colonel to hit the area since the Vietnam War, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that a restaurant was coming to Murphy. Update: KFC is in the same location today.
- The Murphy Bulldogs majorette team in 1973-74 included Cathy Alexander, Joan Holland, Marlene Hughes, Pam Stiles, Lisa Warner and Pam Wiggins.
Aug. 15, 1973, Journal: After Andrews High School English teacher James Wood received a clean contract for the 1973-74 year, he dropped his lawsuit against Cherokee County Schools.
- The Andrews Planning & Zoning Board recommended that part of East Main Street be rezoned from residential to commercial. Update: Why, yes, Andrews and Murphy have had zoning laws for many years. Cherokee County, however, does not.
– Publisher David Brown