In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Aug. 28, 2013, Scout: A Cherokee County mother expressed disappointment and disgust that a convicted sexual offender – Mikal Snow Mitchell of Sylva – was given such a light sentence that he was free to rape and abuse her daughter, who was under 12 years old.
- Due to budget challenges, Cherokee County Schools lost 10 teachers and 12 assistant positions. State funding cuts led to a loss of $1.6 million for the local district.
- The Tennessee Valley Authority raised the rates it charged utility companies by 1.5 percent, leading to higher bills across the tri-state area.
Aug. 22, 2013, Journal: Musician Steve Jordan of Andrews won a picking’ and grinning’ bluegrass contest – the Georgia Mountain Fair Talent Search – which allowed his band to open for Gene Watson at the fairgrounds. Update: Jordan, an Andrews alderman today, was a Cherokee County commissioner then.
- The Andrews Police Department acquired three Humvees from the U.S. Department of Defense Excess Property Program. Assistant police chief Joel Deese also helped obtain firearms from the fed’s surplus equipment. Update: The department no longer has the Humvees.
25 years ago – Aug. 26, 1998, Scout: Missing 5-year-old Ian MacIsaac was found more than 24 hours after rescuers started looking for him in the Culberson area. He only suffered scrapes and bruises despite being in the woods overnight.
- Two years after community and school leaders requested safety improvements, the speed limit on N.C. 294 in Hiwassee Dam was lowered to 35 and 45 mph in certain areas.
- A visiting couple from Plant City, Fla., praised a young man with the last name Burch, who had a “pretty red-headed wife,” for climbing up a tall tree and rescuing a kitten that refused to climb down for three days.
Aug. 27, 1998, Journal: The executive officer of District Memorial Hospital in Andrews, Dan White, responded to rumors by saying no doctors were asked to resign.
- The Town of Andrews sought a loan to buy the former Owenby manufacturing plant, which had an asking price of $325,000, saying it would be a good site for an industrial park.
50 years ago – Aug. 23, 1973, Scout: The 55th annual Cherokee County Agricultural Fair, sponsored by the Murphy Lions Club, was set to begin at the fairgrounds, which were next to the Rock Gym. “Honest” Homer Scott and his Georgia Amusement Co. furnished the rides.
- L.C. Harron, 47, of Texana, faced a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting and cutting of his son-in-law, George William Hobson, 23, of Texana. Hobson was also slashed with a knife during the family fight.
- Dee Witt Sharp, who operated the emergency ambulance service in Cherokee County, said the subsidized service was in danger of shutting down, leaving residents without another option. Update: Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services comes to residents’ aid today.
Aug. 21, 1973, Journal: Ronnie Lynn, 17, of Robbinsville, was killed when his motorcycle overturned on Tatham Gap Road near Andrews. It was Cherokee County’s second traffic fatality of that year.
- The next municipal election was set, with Mayor Ty Burnette and all four members of the Andrews Board of Aldermen – Leo Hurst, Ray Hogsed, Richard Parker and Sam Ward – running for re-election. Challenger Milton Harden, manager of Northwestern Bank, was also running for a seat on the board.
– Publisher David Brown