Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent  Folks came out Sunday afternoon under sunny skies to the 409 Building in Murphy with their dirty vehicles for a sudsy $7 hand wash. “I came from Andrews just to get my car washed here and support these guys. I don’t even know where Grape Creek is, but out here we need our fire departments. It’s a good wash,” happy customer Stephen Fillow said. The Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department used the building’s parking for a fundraising car wash to help raise needed fund

This is the front page of the Sept. 4, 2019, edition of the Cherokee Scout, which was six years ago last week.

Randy Foster/editor@cherokeescout.com Valleytown Fire & Rescue personnel stand by as a downed power line arcs on a stand of bushes off of Pisgah Road in Andrews on the evening of Aug. 22. A branch or tree fell on the live line, cutting power to Duke Energy customers south of impact. Firefighters arrived shortly after 8 p.m. Friday and stood watch until a Duke Energy line workers arrived and restored power. There were no injuries and no property damage, aside from the vegetation and power line.

Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent Students flood the hallways at Hiwassee Dam High School, which received a B grade, on the morning of Aug. 25 for the first day of the 2025-26 school year. 

Photos by Nicole Wright/Staff Correspondent  The Cherokee County Fair will be in Andrews for the fourth consecutive year, this year with the added benefit of not having an entry fee. There will be new rides, too.

Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent  A planning session at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for a newly proposed citizens auxiliary unit brought out members of the community interested in learning more on Aug. 28. The group was engaged and motivated, offering their thoughts and ideas .