Local

Sam Jokich/Staff Correspondent   Despite dreary gray skies, the Spring Festival in downtown Murphy was a hit and drew a large crowd Saturday.

Sam Jokich/Staff Correspondent   Despite dreary gray skies, the Spring Festival in downtown Murphy was a hit and drew a large crowd Saturday.

Town springs into festival season

Abigail Blythe Batton
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body The family friendly event bustled, with parents and dogs chasing after small children running from the bouncy house to the giant slide.
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Mill closure affects 300 county jobs

Randy Foster
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body Murphy – State and local agencies are scrambling in reaction to the looming closure of a packaging paper mill in Canton with widespread impacts, including the loss of hundreds of j
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Hiwassee Dam Park to expand

Randy Foster
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body The park is off of N.C. 294 on a county-owned 38.4-acre parcel neighboring Hiwassee Dam School and the Hiwassee Dam Community Center, and surrounding the Hiwassee Dam Volunteer Fire Department.
Abigail Blythe Batton/Staff Correspondent   Lorrie Rooney, 22 Hump director, and Gary Wilson, director of Warriors Veteran Outreach, capture the energy of their annual 22-mile, roundtrip trek from Murphy to Marble and back on an overcast day April 29. The walk represents the 22 U.S. military veterans who on average commit suicide each day.

Abigail Blythe Batton/Staff Correspondent   Lorrie Rooney, 22 Hump director, and Gary Wilson, director of Warriors Veteran Outreach, capture the energy of their annual 22-mile, roundtrip trek from Murphy to Marble and back on an overcast day April 29. The walk represents the 22 U.S. military veterans who on average commit suicide each day.

22 Hump sad but optimistic

Abigail Blythe Batton
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body Walk from Murphy to Marble helps raise awareness of suicides
Myles Godfrey was described by his family as “a sweet boy with a heart full of love” and “the best snuggler.”

Myles Godfrey was described by his family as “a sweet boy with a heart full of love” and “the best snuggler.”

Community mourns loss of 4-year-old boy

Lorrie Ross
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body Hayesville – Cherokee and Clay county churches and residents, as well as people from other communities, have rallied to offer prayers, financial help and more to Kaci Jones and Mas
Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Cooking demonstrations drew folks in to view cookware products and taste free samples. A steady crowd of folks attended the Home & Garden Show on April 29-30.

Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Cooking demonstrations drew folks in to view cookware products and taste free samples. A steady crowd of folks attended the Home & Garden Show on April 29-30.

No place like home & garden

Anngee Quinones-Belian
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Body Blairsville, Ga. – Folks planning home projects as well as those just wanting to see what’s new were treated to a two-day free Home & Garden Show on April 29-30.
Photos by Abigail Blythe Batton/Staff Correspondent Carlee Catuto, a Murphy High School senior, won Best in Show at the Cherokee County Arts Council on April 21 with her charcoal painting, “The Woman.”

Photos by Abigail Blythe Batton/Staff Correspondent Carlee Catuto, a Murphy High School senior, won Best in Show at the Cherokee County Arts Council on April 21 with her charcoal painting, “The Woman.”

Arts Council honors local students’ work

Abigail Blythe Batton
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Body Murphy – The Cherokee County Arts Council hosted a lively awards ceremony for talented local student artist on April 21 at their large gallery in the E.C. Moore building.