Local

District Attorney Ashley Welch, left, and Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith confer privately before a press conference following the death of Detention Officer Francisco Flattes allegedly at the hands of an escaped inmate in June 2025 at Tri-County Community College.

District Attorney Ashley Welch, left, and Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith confer privately before a press conference following the death of Detention Officer Francisco Flattes allegedly at the hands of an escaped inmate in June 2025 at Tri-County Community College.

Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith resigning after DA 'loses confidence'

Randy Foster
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Body Update: Sheriff Dustin Smith is resigning, effective Friday. His full statement is below. Also, his resignation followed a request for him to resign from the district attorney.
Photos by Samuel Jokich/Staff Correspondent Thanks for the grub: These hungry deer were happy to have a snack during this weekend’s snowfall in western Cherokee County.

Photos by Samuel Jokich/Staff Correspondent Thanks for the grub: These hungry deer were happy to have a snack during this weekend’s snowfall in western Cherokee County.

Quick Reads

David Brown
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Body WASHINGTONNational News Literacy Week  
This is the front page of the Feb. 3, 2021, edition of the Cherokee Scout, which was five years ago this week.

This is the front page of the Feb. 3, 2021, edition of the Cherokee Scout, which was five years ago this week.

This Week in Local History

David Brown
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Body In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
Cannon Crompton/sports@ cherokeescout.com Summer McMahan (left) was crowned the 2025-26 Nantahala homecoming queen Thursday night. She was given the tiara by 2024-25 Nantahala queen Skyler Taylor.

Cannon Crompton/sports@ cherokeescout.com Summer McMahan (left) was crowned the 2025-26 Nantahala homecoming queen Thursday night. She was given the tiara by 2024-25 Nantahala queen Skyler Taylor.

Queen of the Hawks

Cannon Crompton
Tuesday, February 3, 2026