In this week’s archives of the Cherokee Scout and Andrews Journal:
10 years ago – March 14, 2012, Scout: About 45 seconds of pure terror preceded years of expensive rebuilding after an EF-2 tornado struck Cherokee County.
- Robert Edward Walker, 43, of Murphy, was charged with murder in the shooting death of Amy Nixon, 31, of Martins Creek. The two had an on-again, off-again relationship before Nixon was shot in the head.
- The seventh annual Empty Bowls event raised $7,000 for Cherokee and Clay county food pantries.
- Murphy forward Katrina Evans, who finished her Lady Bulldogs’ career with 1,595 career points, was named the Smoky Mountain Conference Player of the Year by the league’s coaches.
March 15, 2012, Journal: The nonprofit Andrews Valley Initiative proposed taking over the Andrews Broadband Network after new state rules cut into the coverage area.
- Local teenager Lee-Anna Stafford was recovering after being found unresponsive on the side of N.C. 141 after what doctors thought was a severe asthma attack.
25 years ago – March 12, 1997, Scout: The body of Kenneth James, 62, of Murphy, who went missing from a Ducktown, Tenn., medical facility, was found in a marshy area just off U.S. 64. No foul play was suspected. Update: A week later, James’ death was declared due to hypothermia.
- Two experienced Hiwassee Dam firefighters were injured when their truck wrecked en route to a fire.
- Marvin Raper of Murphy was not going to be reappointed to the N.C. Department of Transportation Board, bit the said process already in the making – like the five-lane expansion of N.C. 60 in Culberson – would continue. Update: Development didn’t happen on that highway quite as well as expected.
March 13, 1997, Journal: A draft policy that would allow student-athletes at Andrews high and middle schools to be tested for drug abuse was up for discussion.
- A total of 46 mailboxes were vandalized inside the Andrews Post Office downtown, although no mail was believed to have been taken.
50 years ago – March 16, 1972, Scout: Concerned about reports of alcohol and marijuana use, the Murphy Town Council voted to place a temporary ban on public dances at the Rock Gym.
- A new co-op of farmers from Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties installed a machine to wash and separate tomatoes before packing for shipment.
- Michael Brickie, 23, of Lakeland, Fla., was busted in Murphy on six narcotics charges.
March 15, 1972, Journal: Holly and Martha Bowles were in town to campaign for their father, gubernatorial candidate Hargove “Skipper” Bowles, in a reception organized by Dr. Charles VanGorder and John Snow.
u James Payne, 96, of Culberson, was at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews at the same time his great-great grandson, Russell Martin, was born, with the other generations present for support.
– Publisher David Brown