In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Feb. 8, 2012, Scout: Cherokee County Detention Center inmate Corey Luther of Murphy, who was already behind bars on first-degree murder charges, faced new charges of allegedly trying to hire a man to kill a sheriff’s investigator along with a local woman.
- Volunteers were trying to remake the former Cherokee County Industrial Park in Ranger into Mountain Folk Center, a place to hold old-fashioned country fairs. Update: Only two fairs were held at the location in subsequent years before the idea was abandoned.
- A sinkhole threatened the building where Murphy Free Methodist Church meets on Cloe Moore Drive.
Feb. 9, 2012, Journal: Harold Garrett, owner of Parts City on U.S. 19, helped locate the thieves who ran off with metal shelves he was going to donate to charity.
- Andrews senior Stephanie Johnson signed a letter of commitment to run track and field at Western Carolina University.
25 years ago – Feb. 5, 1997, Scout: Frank Boyd Chance, 73, of Clay County, was charged with murder after allegedly shooting a Fannin County, Ga., man to death at the Royal Waffle King in Murphy. Update: Chance was denied bond a week later.
- The Cherokee County Board of Education gave preliminary approval to The Learning Center’s application to become a charter school in Murphy. Update: The school is expanding today to include high school grades.
- Junior Hannah Raper, who was escorted by Dexter Stiles, was named Hiwassee Dam High School’s homecoming queen.
Feb. 6, 1997, Journal: Three young people from Andrews were arrested after police were called to a disturbance near Cope’s Body Shop.
- Austin Ensley, 74, of Andrews, was sentenced to 32 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud an insurance company.
50 years ago – Feb. 10, 1972, Scout: The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners put the gears in motion for the community to vote on a $90,000 bond for a planned countywide garbage system.
- The Hanging Dog Community Development Club was formed, with residents encouraged to come out to the first meeting at White Church School.
- The Cherokee Scout was only 15 cents per copy, with annual local subscriptions just $5.20. Update: Then inflation hit for the next five decades.
Feb. 9, 1972, Journal: North Carolina residents were encouraged to make use of free vaccinations, including for red measles and German measles.
- A total of 1,024 state resents were killed by firearms in 1970, according to a study by the N.C. chief medical examiner.
– Publisher David Brown