Don’t sell off our property
On April 21, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a petition that, among other things, advocates for the land surrounding Hiwassee Lake to be made available to rich developers. It is an official document that purports to be on behalf of all 25,000 residents of the county.
I’ve not talked to a single resident who thinks this is a good idea. Quite the opposite. Everyone I’ve spoken to is vehemently against it.
Right now, the U.S. Forest Service doesn’t sell land. It only trades it. But a provision in the “big beautiful bill” will create an unheard-of route to provide for the sale of the public lands that belong to all of us. If the provision passes, the federal government would be required to sell off between 2.2 and 3.3 million acres of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service over the next five years.
The 11 states that would be affected by the proposal are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
North Carolina is not on the list of affected states, but once the precedent is set we all know we will be next. Our county boasts some of most beautiful places on earth. If given half a chance, rich developers will come for it and, according to this petition, we’ll be happy to give it to them. Right now, we can fish, hunt, camp and hike whenever we want. Selling it to the private commercial developers, or even making it a state park, will change all that – especially for the deer and bear hunters, as no hunting is allowed in state parks.
I would like to respectfully ask the commissioners to formally repeal and rescind this petition. It does not represent the views of the citizens of this county. Even though there are other things in the petition we might all agree on, selling our public lands to the rich developers is a step too far.
Jason Chambers, Ogreeta
Enjoying man on the street
I just want to say how much I appreciate that the Cherokee now interviews local residents for a “man on the street”-style question of the week in “Your Opinion Matters.”
Seeing the faces and hearing the voices of everyday community members in “Street Talk” is one of my favorite longtime features in the Clay County Progress, and I am delighted to see it come to the Scout.
Harrison Keely, Brasstown
Let’s go back to kindness
Dear neighbors,
Are you aware the Republicans’ budget bill will cut $793 billion from Medicaid, which sustains you or your loved ones? My grandson is kept alive by Medicaid – and without it, he will die.
Are you aware that Medicare is also to be cut by $500 billion if the GOP bill passes?
Are you concerned that Elon Musk’s DOGE team of teenagers has invaded your Social Security, IRS tax records and medical records so your privacy, once protected, is now available to be used against you and sold on the private market?
Are you aware that Christianity, the loving way of Jesus, has been hijacked by folks who have raised President Donald Trump to be their “god.” A god who preaches hate and division, who builds walls to keep out people of the wrong color, who sends brown-skinned people to torture prisons in El Salvador, who rips apart families, and illegally federalizes the California National Guard and U.S. Marines against Americans exercising First Amendment rights.
And do you remember this president pardoned all Jan. 6 rioters who invaded the Capitol and beat police nearly to death, several of whom died and all of whom were traumatized for life?
The president who is a felon on 34 counts, who was judged guilty of the sexual assault of E. Jean Carroll, and who is accused by Elon Musk of being part of the Jeffrey Epstein child pedophile ring. This is the man you choose to safeguard your life, your children’s lives?
I pray for everyone these days, that we will find our way back to kindness and community, to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, and bless one another as Jesus taught us to do.
Joan Tidwell, Murphy
Immigrants not enemies
Many already know about Senate Bill 153, the N.C. Border Protection Act, but in short it is for the state’s cooperation with Immigration & Customs Enforcement and the prohibition of any University of North Carolina institution from establishing a sanctuary for immigrants.
What many don’t seem to understand is that immigrants aren’t our enemies. If anything, the big guy in Washington is our enemy. By having all of these undocumented immigrants removed (or even those taking the legal way) from our area, we will see a downfall of many different things around here.
Think about it. Immigrants have built many of the facilities in our county. Immigrants make the towns of Andrews and Murphy more beautiful with flower beds and hanging baskets. Immigrants have worked so hard here, just to be hated and forcefully taken away.
Some might also like to know that in the United States, immigrants have paid almost $100 billion in taxes. They do their part.
I’m a Catholic. I’m a Christian. And what Christ would tell us about immigrants would go against all these so-called “Christians.”
As Pope Leo XIV says, “Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms … Let us invoke the spirit of love and peace,
that he may open borders, break down walls, dispel hatred and help us to live as children of our one father who is in heaven.”
As a child of immigrants, having to worry about my family and me being separated is something no one should ever have to go through. Immigrants like my parents have worked tremendously to provide my siblings and me a better opportunity at life.
Just think about that.
Joshua Badillo-Jimenez, Andrews
Fed spending cuts needed
The last two Cherokee Scout online polls show a lot about us and our priorities.
First, we say by 58% we should not raise the debt. Another 25% would not raise it unless certain terrible conditions arise. Then 81% say no to cutting Social Security or Medicare.
Since these two expenditures make up about 35% of all federal spending, it would be almost impossible to cut spending unless we start there. DOGE has given us a starting point, but it’s not enough. Do we really expect Congress to make the cut and keep them? Also, just like Social Security and Medicare, some of the DOGE cuts are important to some of us.
We all like it to be Christmas year-round and, sadly, I’m probably no different. Unless we really are willing to sacrifice, I fear what we are leaving for our children and grandchildren.
Michael Berlin, Murphy
The writer is a retired Social Security Administration district manager.
A dangerous generalization
After reading William Holland Jr.’s faith column in the Cherokee Scout concerning the determination of whether you are a Christian or not, I felt a need to respond.
Illustrating to us the single two emotions that humans feel when approached, confronted or asked about eternal life after death, the author states there is a dichotomy that separates “saved” individuals from those that “hide in shame” when they are aware of their “rebellious” nature.
In a gross oversimplification, the author states there are two attitudes and emotions people are capable of experiencing when discussing eternal life after death. “Those who believe” will be “excited and grateful” when considering their eternal destination of a “glorious paradise.”
Concerning the reactions of those who do not believe, the author declares they “criticize and declare that God is only a dream and the Bible is a fairy tale.” While proclaiming we “mock those who stand for Him,” the author makes a generalization that’s dangerous and reductive.
It’s dangerous in the way humans can marginalize followers of another religion, thought and discipline. It’s reductive to say all who aren’t believers would say the Bible is untrue.
I believe it’s dangerous to Christians who may struggle with separating enemies of Christianity with those who have been raised and taught differently with no ill intent toward the followers. I believe it’s dangerous to non-believers who may struggle with shaking a perception that Christians are judgmental and unwelcoming. I believe it’s reductive and dangerous to assume if you don’t believe, then you can do nothing but oppose.
These words aren’t meant as an attack against the author. I respect his thoughts, abilities and ideas.
I respect the Cherokee Scout for being a medium in which we can share these things.
Jesse Anderson, Marble
Grateful for Senior Games
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind and generous support in 2025.
The Cherokee/Clay Senior Games & SilverArts would not be the success it is without the support of sponsors like you.
In 2025, we have continued to grow and reach more seniors than ever before. The weather did not always cooperate, but we managed to complete every event.
This year, we had 227 participants, of which 61 were first-time competitors. A total of 838 medals were awarded to participants over six weeks of competition, which included 50 individual sporting events and 33 Silver Arts categories.
The local games may be over, but many of our participants are now looking forward to taking part in the N.C. State Finals in Raleigh in September and October.
We also have plans to continue some activities throughout the year – such as table tennis, bocce ball, cornhole, mini golf and air rifle target shooting – to keep our seniors active and connected. Needless to say, pickleball is alive and well.
Once again, I would like to “thank you” for your continued support of the Cherokee/Clay Senior
Games & SilverArts organization for without it, this would not be possible.
Terence Faries, Murphy
The writer is coordinator of the Cherokee/Clay Senior Games & SilverArts.