An unidentified staff person with the Valley River Humane Society coaxes cats from beneath a building.

Mason Lovingood is six months older than Ralston Hogsed, but is shown here already heartily enjoying their friendship as babies.

This concept image shows the dining terrace at Ramsay’s Kitchen planned for Murphy.

Photos by Aiden McCoy Williams/Staff Correspondent The Appalachian Wildlings Forest School meets weekly from 1-5 p.m. Thursdays at the Rivercane Walk by John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

N.C. Department of Health & Human Services

Katie Singleton enjoys spending time with her dog, Dutch. The German shepherd is trained to help find missing persons.

This is the front page of the Jan. 21, 1966, edition of the Cherokee Scout, which was 58 years ago this week.

Ann Williams, a teacher at Andrews Middle School, was named District Teacher of the Year by Veterans of Foreign Wars during a ceremony Friday in Franklin, with her family on hand. She was previously named County Teacher of the Year by VFW Post 7620 in Andrews. She received a certificate thanking her for “promoting citizenship education in your classroom and school,” a Challenge Coin and $100, plus her nomination will now be considered at the state level. One parent called Williams “a strong woman who makes

Cherokee County sheriff’s Deputy Hunter Wood helps deliver Code Purple bags to those who need it at the Hurlburt-Johnson Friendship House homeless shelter in Murphy.