In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Nov. 27, 2013, Scout: Ben Owens of Tri-County Early College High School was named Cherokee County Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Owens previously worked as an engineer with Dupont for 18 years.
- University of North Carolina at Pembroke and former Murphy High School quarterback Luke Charles was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given annually to the best football player in NCAA Division II.
Nov. 28, 2013, Journal: Two Marble men were arrested and charged with stealing a Mule – in this case, it wasn’t an animal, but an all-terrain vehicle.
- Hayesville took down Andrews 42-7 in the second round of the 1A state football playoffs. Middle linebacker and team leader Jacob Whitaker was out with an ankle injury, hurting the Wildcats’ chances.
25 years ago – Nov. 25, 1998, Scout: Despite Cherokee County having a long-term debt of $11,768,761, interim county manager Randy Wiggins said the county was in good financial shape, as most of the money was for school construction projects.
- Phillip Dean Rogers, 45, of Andrews, was free on bond after being charged with a misdemeanor for shining a red laser at a National Guard helicopter being used by the Southeast Bomb Task Force.
- Register of Deeds Ralph Kephart said his office was rapidly running out of room for the more than 40 pieces of paperwork it received daily, and as a result might have to make an “unpopular” move from the Cherokee County Courthouse in downtown Murphy. Update: He didn’t make the move.
Nov. 26, 1998, Journal: Ten members of the area’s ministerial association met with members of the Southeast Bomb Task Force concerning rumors of why they were actually in the area. Update: They really were there just to hunt for fugitive Eric Rudolph, honest!
- Dozens of members of the National Association of Rail Car Owners of America from across the Southeast traveled to Andrews in order to enjoy a roundtrip excursion to Bryson City.
50 years ago – Nov. 29, 1973, Scout: Alert N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Johnny Robinson picked up a man walking in Andrews who turned out to be Charles Henry Wiggins, an escaped prisoner from South Carolina.
- The Sky City department store in Murphy was offering 8-by-10-inch color portraits for only 47 cents each (plus 50 cents handling). Naturally, customers had the option of buying more photos at various sizes.
Nov. 28, 1973, Journal: Owenby Manufacturing Co. bought land near District Memorial Hospital in Andrews for a new plant. Excavation work had already begun.
- The Cherokee County Humane Society was looking for a solution to abandoned and unwanted stray dogs “roaming wild in packs or straggling alone toward a slow death in the cold or a quick one on the highway.”
– Publisher David Brown