Museum says thanks to all
On behalf of the Cherokee County Historical Museum, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the many partners who have made our recent progress possible. Thanks to a generous grant from the Tourism Development Authority of Cherokee County, we have been able to move forward with significant renovations to our new facilities located in the lower portion of the museum. This investment is helping us create a more accessible, engaging and educational space for residents and visitors alike, and we are sincerely grateful for the TDA’s commitment to preserving and promoting our local heritage.
We also wish to express our sincere thanks to the Murphy Town Council, Mayor Tim Radford and Town Manager Chad Simons for their cooperation and support throughout the process of securing and preparing this portion of the building. Their willingness to assist and encourage our efforts has made a tremendous difference as we continue restoring and revitalizing this important community asset.
Our gratitude likewise extends to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, whose ongoing support has helped sustain the museum and ensure that our mission continues. We especially want to thank County Manager Randy Wiggins for his guidance, assistance and steady support as we navigate this period of growth and renovation. We also thank assistant county manager Maria Hass for her guidance and help, which have been invaluable.
In addition, we are deeply appreciative of the recent private donors whose generosity has allowed us to take bold steps forward. Their contributions, along with the faithful giving of so many longtime supporters, are instrumental in helping us preserve the stories, artifacts and culture of Cherokee County for generations to come. We
are equally grateful for our future donors, whose continued partnership will help us complete the important work still ahead.
With all of this support, the museum is experiencing an exciting season of renewal, and we look forward to hosting a special spring event where we will showcase the renovations, share updates and celebrate the many great things happening within our walls. We warmly invite the community to join us as we unveil these improvements and continue our shared mission of preserving our past.
Terrisa Carringer, Trevis Hicks, Murphy
The writers are Cherokee County Historical Museum executive director and Cherokee County Historical Museum Council president, respectively.
Some locals hold us back
The mountains aren’t broken – just a few people running things who shouldn’t be. Everyone in western North Carolina knows this truth:
- It’s never the whole community causing trouble.
- It’s always the same handful of people in the same little circles making the same bad decisions.
- And somehow … they’re always the ones sitting in the important chairs.
Here’s what happens in counties like ours:
- Paperwork gets “interpreted” however someone feels that day.
- Gossip travels faster than facts,
- Mistakes get covered instead of corrected.
- Positions get handed out like favors.
- Accountability depends on who your family is.
- Rumors turn into “records.”
- Nobody’s double-checking anything.
It’s not conspiracy. It’s small-town politics mixed with zero training and too much ego.
And when the wrong person enters something into a system – even by accident – the whole region treats it as gospel truth.
One lazy mistake becomes everybody’s problem.
Folks in WNC are some of the hardest-working, straight-shooting people anywhere. We don’t need perfection. But we do need basic competence from the people making decisions that affect the rest of us.
This region deserves, accuracy over attitude, skill over favoritism, facts over feelings and responsibility over “that’s just how they do it.”
Let’s be honest. Western North Carolina isn’t being held back by outsiders. It’s being held back by a few locals who were never qualified for the jobs they were handed.
We’d all be better off if we stopped pretending otherwise.
Meredith Yates, Murphy
Going down a cruel path
How many of you reading this stand with President Donald Trump when he told the military and intelligence officers, who had put out a reminder to the military to obey the Constitution, to not obey illegal orders? Did you know your president called for these patriotic officers to be murdered, to be hung?
How many of you in this community are going down the path of cruelty and madness, as this president continues to terrorize so many of our best, most hard-working citizens?
It’s up to each one of us to stand up, to speak up.
Joan Tidwell, Arden
Area ministry says thanks
This note was attached to a plate of holiday treats.
Thanks so much for your service to our community. We truly appreciate you, Cherokee Scout.
In Christian love.
Murphy Adventist Christian School and Women’s Ministries of Murphy Seventh-day
Adventist Church
TDA grant to museum
I am writing on behalf of the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority regarding the Nov. 19 article about the $37,430 grant awarded to the Cherokee County Historical Museum.
We greatly appreciate your coverage of this important initiative; however, we would like to clarify an error that resulted from a miscommunication during proofing. The article referred to the granting organization as the “TVA” rather than the “TDA.” While this may seem minor, accurate representation is important to our organization and the community we serve.
The TDA board – Joan Posey-Neumann, Cal Stiles, Sandra Daley, Steve Dickey, Hank Parker Jr., Sherry McGregor and Michael Shiedy – and I are deeply committed to supporting our local community and giving back to the local economy as much as our resources allow. Tourism plays a vital role in Cherokee County’s economic health, and grants like this one do more than enhance the experience for visitors; they also help strengthen the community as a whole by preserving local heritage, supporting cultural institutions, and fostering civic pride. We are especially excited to see this project come to life, helping to showcase the rich history and heritage of Cherokee County for residents and visitors alike.
We understand how such errors can occur and sincerely appreciate your attention to this matter. We hope the Cherokee Scout will ensure that readers have accurate information about the TDA’s work and its ongoing support of initiatives that benefit both tourism and our local community.
Thank you for your understanding and your continued dedication to Cherokee County reporting.
Casey Kerr, Murphy
The writer is executive director of the Cherokee County Tourism Development Authority.
U.S. should bless Israel
This letter is in response to Mary Mason’s Nov. 26 ad regarding Israel, Zionism and the Great Deception.
The issue before us is all about God keeping His covenant and His promise, not whether Israelis deserve the land. This should be such comfort to all who have been “grafted into” those eternal covenants by believing in God’s way to salvation, namely Jesus Christ. His ways and thoughts are truly higher than ours.
Besides the political reason to support a nation that provides democracy in the Middle East, blessing Israel is a nation’s way to respect God’s choice of a land and people to bear His name. According to Joel 3, God is going to judge all the nations “on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land.” When our nation withdraws from blessing Israel, it simply will not go well for us.
As believers in Christ, we should all encourage our leaders to help Israel in as many ways as possible, even if they are flawed like the rest of us. Romans 11:28 says, “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”
May we all keep growing in our pursuit to know God personally and understand Him in His mysterious ways. In Christ.
Kathy Ross, Murphy
A heartfelt thank you
As we close out another year, Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties extends our deepest gratitude to the community that continues to stand beside survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Your generosity, compassion and unwavering support have strengthened our shelter, empowered families in crisis and brought hope to those rebuilding their lives.
From donations and volunteer hours to kind words, advocacy and partnerships, every act of support has made a meaningful difference. Because of you, survivors had safe shelter, children found stability, families accessed healing resources and individuals discovered pathways to independence.
We are honored to serve a community that believes in safety, dignity and second chances.
Thank you for helping us continue this life-changing work. Your commitment inspires us every day.
Cecilia Crawford, Murphy
The writer is executive director of Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties. You can reach her office by phone at 828-837-2097, by email at director@reachofcherokeecounty.org or by visiting reachofcherokeecounty.org.