Local

Cody Lominac’s senior photo from the U.S. Military Academy. He is the son of Tim and Shannon Lominac of Murphy.

Cody Lominac’s senior photo from the U.S. Military Academy. He is the son of Tim and Shannon Lominac of Murphy.

‘It was a long, hard journey’

Randy Foster
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body Cody Lominac pushes past harrowing injuries to graduate from West Point
Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent Andrews Mayor James Reid surprised the holiday crowd by participating in the annual “Belly Flop” competition, fully clothed, to whoops and hollers at the town pool.

Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent Andrews Mayor James Reid surprised the holiday crowd by participating in the annual “Belly Flop” competition, fully clothed, to whoops and hollers at the town pool.

Low-key crowds make a more intimate gathering for holiday

Nicole Wright
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body With the yearly frenzy of the outfield growing as the plane neared, crowds ran to the drop site heartily shoving peanuts into their respective bags and buckets, but this year there was a better pay out as those red, white and blue peanut guaranteed winners.
Bobbie and Silas Allen have been married for 50 years. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 22, with their anniversary party benefitting the Valley River Humane Society.

Bobbie and Silas Allen have been married for 50 years. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 22, with their anniversary party benefitting the Valley River Humane Society.

Animals benefit from golden wedding anniversary

Anngee Quinones-Belian
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body Liberty – For every decade of marriage, a special gift can be given to commemorate the event.
DJ Brown/Contributing Photographer Local volunteers return to their vehicles after using chainsaws to clear a fallen tree from Joe Brown Highway on Sunday, allowing traffic to pass.

DJ Brown/Contributing Photographer Local volunteers return to their vehicles after using chainsaws to clear a fallen tree from Joe Brown Highway on Sunday, allowing traffic to pass.

Drivers break out chainsaws

Randy Foster
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body Grape Creek – Savvy drivers in the mountains of western North Carolina don’t leave home without a chainsaw.
Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Robert Lee Garland of Hiwassee Dam holds his rotating pill dispenser that helps prevent medication errors.

Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Robert Lee Garland of Hiwassee Dam holds his rotating pill dispenser that helps prevent medication errors.

Local man invents pill dispenser that prevents misuse

Anngee Quinones-Belian
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body Hiwassee Dam – “All I want to do is help people,” Robert Lee Garland said with a smile while sitting alongside his wife, Suzhen Zhang-Garland.
Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent The Texana Community Center was near capacity during the Juneteenth celebration June 15. Organizers are already looking forward to next year.

Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent The Texana Community Center was near capacity during the Juneteenth celebration June 15. Organizers are already looking forward to next year.

Texana celebrates Juneteenth with all-day festival

Nicole Wright
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
Body Texana – While Americans celebrated freedom last week with annual Fourth of July celebrations nationwide, locally another group of Americans celebrated the final “declaration of in
Stacy Van Buskirk/Staff Correspondent Splish splash: Olive Smith of Murphy and her son Elijah, 18 months old, enjoy a day swimming and splashing in the Murphy Health & Fitness Center’s pool.

Stacy Van Buskirk/Staff Correspondent Splish splash: Olive Smith of Murphy and her son Elijah, 18 months old, enjoy a day swimming and splashing in the Murphy Health & Fitness Center’s pool.

Quick Reads

David Brown
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Body MURPHY Art Walk on Friday The Art Walk returns with blocks of fun from 5-8 p.m. Friday downtown.