Sad loss in community
As difficult as it is for the writer in us to say this, there are times when words simply fall short of what actually needs to be said. This is certainly one of those sad and tragic times.
Francisco Flattes, 56, a transport officer with the Cherokee County Detention Center with a big smile, deserved better than to be gunned down by a federal inmate during a medical appointment on the afternoon of June 30. His family, friends and co-workers deserved to have him around for many more years. Through his despicable actions, this inmate not only took one good man’s life, but he severely damaged many others.
If found guilty of first-degree murder, in addition to his federal bank robbery and other charges, the inmate deserves strong consideration for capital punishment – not because of a desire for vengeance, but because justice demands it. Anyone convicted for taking the life of a law enforcement officer deserves to receive the strongest possible penalty.
There will come a time when federal, state and local agencies will announce the results of an investigation into how this tragedy happened, then hopefully share what lessons can be learned so something like this never happens again. In the meantime, we all grieve for the loss of one of Cherokee County’s finest.
Good riddance
For several years, there have been rumors, and rumors of rumors, of allegedly scurrilous activities surrounding Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran. When he was with our affiliate newspaper The Graham Star in February and March 2022, Cherokee Scout Editor Randy Foster wrote a series of articles concerning a lawsuit filed against Cochran by a local trout farmer.
It would be too easy to say something smelled fishy at the time, but it was hard not to remember that when Cochran was arrested June 27 by the State Bureau of Investigation and Cherokee Indian Police Department, then suspended as sheriff. The allegations against Cochran paint a picture of a quintessential dirty old man preying on vulnerable women just getting out of jail, touching them inappropriately and demanding sexual acts.
Removing an elected official from office is a bold move. We commend District Attorney Ashley Welch for taking the accusations against Cochran seriously.
Good moves
District Attorney Ashley Welch is also leading the charge into cleaning up challenges in the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s evidence room, as reported in the April 16 edition of the Cherokee Scout, while also demanding accountability for the December 2022 SWAT raid in Bear Paw, which led to a local man being shot and $10 million lawsuit settlement.
Speaking of which, Cherokee County and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians got off pretty light in this lawsuit, with insurance companies covering all but deductibles. If a jury watched video of the incident taken from inside the home, there’s no telling what higher number they could have come up with.
We hope the end of this case brings a sense of relief, and hope for the future, to J. Harley Kloepfer and his wife, Alison Mahler. Unfortunately, it has still left another black mark on Cherokee County.
Better iPads
Congratulations to Cherokee County Schools, Chief Technology Officer Dane Rickett and the board of education for a great decision in getting rid of Chromebooks and switching to iPads over the next three years.
Rickett said 92% of local kindergartners have experience with Apple devices, making this an easy transition. During the rollout, grades 9-12 will get iPads in the 2025-26 school year starting this fall.
In order to make this move, the school district will be financing $727,147.36 over four years, with an annual payment of $181,786.84. However, that pales next to enhanced educational experience students will receive using a much more advanced machine – and the district will benefit from students actually wanting to buy their iPad at the end of the school year, instead of tossing their used Chromebooks in the digital trash.
– Publisher David Brown