In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – Sept. 21, 2011, Scout: While Cherokee County was touting its manned convenience centers, residents who lived near a proposed dump site off N.C. 294 in Hiwassee Dam weren’t crazy about it.
- Murphy Medical Center’s Two Hours From Anywhere run raised $31,000 to benefit the hospital’s foundation. Frank Kline, a freshman from Robbinsville High School, was the overall winner.
- Local contemporary Christian band Rather to be Chosen, founded by Scott Kelley and Ronnie Waldroup, was recording its first album.
Sept. 22, 2011, Journal: The The Andrews Zoning Board proposed making changes to the downtown map to create a mixed-use area.
- Hours for the Andrews Health Clinic increased from 2 1/2 to 22 hours per week. Update: The clinic later closed due to lack of use.
25 years ago – Sept. 18, 1996, Scout: The Murphy Area Business Association, led by President John Maddox, was working to revitalize downtown. Update: While that group is no longer together, a new Murphy Business Association formed a few years ago.
- Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dot Mason of Murphy was retiring after 26 years. Her handpicked replacement was Phylis Blackmon of Brasstown.
- Ingles supermarkets had sirloin steak on sale for only $1.98 per pound.
Sept. 19, 1996, Journal: The Andrews Board of Aldermen approved switching to an Emergency 911 addressing plan.
- The parking lot at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews was paved for the first time since the facility opened in 1956. Update: The facility closed several years later.
50 years ago – Sept. 23, 1971, Scout: The Murphy Housing Authority was nearing federal approval to build housing for low-income residents.
- A countywide bond referendum was set to answer whether local residents wanted to approve $300,000 in bonds to rebuild an Andrews Elementary School building damaged by fire. Update: The Scout later endorsed the proposal.
- Murphy police Officers Arvil and Larry Payne were in high-speed pursuit of an unidentified vehicle in the early morning hours when the police car’s right rear axle broke and the wheel fell off, causing the car to run off the road and down an embankment.
- The Cherokee Scout & Clay County Progress was designated a “National Blue Ribbon Newspaper” by the National Editorial Foundation in Washington.
- A black widow spider bit 6-year-old John Horton of Marble, but the boy survived after a couple days at Providence Hospital in Murphy.
Sept. 22, 1971, Journal: The Oasis Temple Motor Corps were coming to downtown Andrews to display their motorcycle trick-driving talents.
- The Andrews junior varsity football team put a 32-0 whipping on Murphy.
- Edward Bryson resigned as director of Four Square Community Action based in Andrews.
– David Brown