In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Dec. 23, 2015, Scout: Cherokee County Toys for Tots brightened the lives of more than 1,000 children with free Christmas gifts.
u Jarrett Warner, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force, sent a special thank-you letter to Murphy residents for showing great kindness to him and his
family 33 years after their vehicle broke down in
town.
Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown wrote about “A modern Christmas miracle,” when a group of Muslims in Kenya helped protect a group of Christians traveling with them by bus when they were hijacked by terrorists. Update: His column is being reprinted this week by request.
Dec. 24, 2015, Journal: The Andrews Twin Cinema was packed with science-fiction fans, many wearing outfits to match the movie, to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The theater was the only one in the country opening the movie on a Thursday.
Officials with Cherokee County Schools restarted the Big Brothers Big Sisters program at Andrews Elementary School to provide mentoring to students, who were selected due to having unusual stress in their homes.
25 years ago – Dec. 27, 2000, Scout: Dr. Dan Eichenbaum said, “We as citizens get no help from government agencies at all,” after a rock quarry opened in Hot House, with a hot-mixed asphalt plant also in the works. Update: Eichenbaum would later serve at least three terms as a Cherokee County commissioner.
The Murphy Police Department provided
food and gifts to 21 senior citizens in town. Chief
Larry Payne said lots of local businesses helped with the noble cause at Christmastime.
Steve and Jo Crowe of Appalachian Land Co. in Ranger offered a free information seminar called “Eating God’s Way” (encouragement for taking responsibility for your own health). “Diets are never fun, but choosing health is!”
Dec. 27, 2000, Journal: Outboard Marine Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, costing at least 329 Cherokee County residents their jobs at the Andrews plant. The employees were notified via a Federal Express letter. Update: Team Industries works out of that plant today.
Ray Frazier was named to replace Jame Buchanan Sr. on the Andrews Board of Aldermen after Buchanan replaced Jim Dailey as mayor. “I’ve been going to board meetings for 30 years,” said Frazier, a longtime town worker.
50 years ago – Dec. 25, 1975, Scout: Dot Mason, executive secretary of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, wrote a clever Christmas story as if it happened in 1838. All dates, names and people included were real.
USDA-inspected turkeys were on sale for just 46 cents a pond at Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Murphy. If you preferred pork over poultry, smoked hams – or at least the shank portion – were on sale for 99 cents a pound.
Dec. 24, 1975, Journal: Sadly, this edition is missing from our files.
– Publisher David Brown