In last week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Nov. 19, 2014, Scout: Cherokee County Commissioner Cal Stiles denied trying to buy votes after Commissioner David Wood expressed dismay that the board voted against spending $270,000 to renovate Tri-County Early College High School in Peachtree, instead offering county employees one-time bonuses.
* Emilie Craven, a 2012 graduate of Murphy High School, unselfishly decided to donate bone marrow to a stranger – a 50-year-old woman with acute leukemia – because she was a “perfect match.”
* David and Tammy
Ott family of Cherokee County were happy just having two sons – until they said God pressed upon their hearts the desire to foster children, which ultimately led them to adopt two other young boys.
Nov. 20, 2014, Journal: Town Administrator Blake Proctor resigned less than two months into the job because of what he called “personality differences” between himself and members of the Andrews Board of Aldermen.
* Andrews Police Chief Joel Deese resigned and was transferred to patrol officer, while Sgt. Richard Taylor was named the town’s interim police chief. Deese said he was “disappointed in the (aldermen’s) decision.”
25 years ago – Nov. 17, 1999, Scout: Nearly two months after the parking lot robbery of two employees of Wendy’s in Murphy, warrants were issued for two suspects. However, neither suspect was still in Cherokee County.
* Brush fires on private land in the Bates Creek community on two out of three days was under investigation by the N.C. Forest Service.
* Late rainfall has not prevented a “very dry” season, according to the Farm Service Agency. Corn crops still fared well during drought conditions, but others suffered.
Nov. 18, 1999, Journal: An Andrews native, Dr. Al Swan, was hired to replace Dan White as chief executive officer of District Memorial Hospital on an interim basis.
* For financial reasons, the Andrews Board of Aldermen decided to delay several planned improvements, which included upgrades to the public library, recreation department and town hall.
50 years ago – Nov. 21, 1974, Scout: The long-awaited new four-lane highway project between Andrews and Murphy was scheduled to start in the spring. The total job was expected to cost millions of dollars and take years to build. Update: It did just that.
* Murphy beat Polk County 30-25 in the first round of the state 1A football playoffs. Bulldogs star running back Willie Brown was injured in the first quarter, but Dwight Bennett helped carry the rushing load.
Nov. 20, 1974, Journal: For a third week in a row, it was burning hot in town. This time, fire caused extensive smoke and water damages to the home of Milton Harden, manager of Northwestern Bank in Andrews.
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In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Nov. 26, 2014, Scout: Cherokee County Emergency Medical Services received a new fleet of four ambulances, replacing old vehicles that rock a lot more because of excess bulk and as a result can be hard to handle.
* An Andrews man was cleared of 14 sex abuse charges, some involving a minor, by a jury that took a little more than an hour to decide. The mother of one of the victims blamed the District Attorney’s Office for not calling their “star witnesses” from the Cherokee County Department of Social Services and HAVEN Children’s Advocacy Center.
* Maria Garrett of Marble is the only local member of the Western Carolina University “Pride of the Mountains” marching band to perform in the annual Macy’s Day Parade on Thanksgiving Day.
Nov. 27, 2014, Journal: One week after being demoted, former Andrews police chief Joel Deese resigned. Sgt. Matthew Cox also handed in his two-week notice. Earlier in the year, four other officers all resigned at the same time.
* Stephen Bradley McCoy, 36, a volunteer firefighter in Nantahala, was tragically killed during an early morning fire at his home. His daughter Daphne, 9, was sent to a burn unit in Atlanta to recover from her injuries.
25 years ago – Nov. 24, 1999, Scout: Jeffery Scott Ledford, 25, of Murphy, was found shot to death in Hot House. While sheriff’s officials investigated, his body was sent to Sylva for an autopsy.
* An endangered species of mussel thought to be living in the Hiwassee River put the brakes on the U.S. 64 East project, which would eventually lead to building a road on the other side of the river.
* Nathan Hass, 28, of Murphy, remained in a Tennessee jail on a $1.5 million bond after being charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, specially aggravated robbery, theft over $1,000 and mutilation of a corpse in the death of the Rev. William B. Petty, a United Methodist minister.
Nov. 25, 1999, Journal: A coyote or wild dog was to blame for attacking Maggie, a 9-year-old toy poodle owned by the Blaylock family. The pet didn’t survive being bitten.
* Savannah, a golden retriever, was the newest employee at Radio Shack in Andrews. The service dog was a capable canine assistant for store owner Bill Seal, who was left paralyzed on his left side after a stroke.
50 years ago – Nov. 28, 1974, Scout: The outgoing Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved making repairs to the courthouse before they left office. Update: Another outgoing board of commissioners agreed to expand and renovate the courthouse in 2010.
* The Grizzly Bear Trading Post was preparing to hold a grand opening in a new building on U.S. 64 West in Ranger. The Grizzle brothers – Lamar and Lanier – owned and operated the popular business. Update: The Grizzly Bear Restaurant remains open on the same highway but in Murphy.
Nov. 27, 1974, Journal: This edition, sadly, is missing from our archives.