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Murphy High School Varsity Cheerleaders performed the 2020 Census “Count Everyone” song at the Cherokee County Commissioners Meeting on August 19. The lively ditty speaks to counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place for a complete and accurate count. The Cherokee County Commissioners adopted a resolution to partner with the 2020 Census in support of a complete and accurate count.
Need Money? Want to Serve Your Community? Local Census Jobs, Federal Funding, and Fair Representation According to the Census Bureau, 384 Cherokee County census taker applicants are required to achieve a complete and accurate 2020 Census for the county. This week the Andrews Valley Initiative, the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, the Nantahala Libraries, and community volunteers mobilized by Mary Ann Anderson serve the county to bring those Census jobs, as well as the federal funding and just representation that will follow. The community joins the 2020 Census Community Partnership and Engagement (CPEP) program in a Census recruitment kick-off headquartered at the Andrews Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers and CPEP partnership specialist Debbie Denise Reese, PhD, will engage and prepare Cherokee County residents to apply as 2020 Census takers. The word here at the Census is that the mountain folk of western North Carolina believe anything worth doing is worth doing 100%. The 2020 Census partnership effort in Cherokee County seeks a 100% applicant recruitment and 100% response to the 2020 Census next April. The Census Recruitment kick-off runs this week between 10 AM and 4 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Attendees will learn how to prepare and submit a Census application. They will learn why an accurate Census count is essential for services that affect everyone in Cherokee County. The count determines funding for programs such as roads, education, housing, economic development, and assistance to children, young mothers, seniors, and veterans. The kick-off sessions target prospective applicants and those in the community who provide services to individuals who might apply as Census takers (train-the-trainer). The schedule repeats every hour, with some flexibility:
Future 2020 Census recruitment events are being planned for Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, and Swain Counties. For more information, contact Debbie Denise Reese, 2020 Census Partnership Specialist, 678-662-2816 or debbie.d.reese@2020census.gov.  The following press release has been issued by Clay County Sheriff's Office. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Hayesville, NC - (October 3, 2019) - On Thursday afternoon, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a residence in the Snoozy Park area of Brasstown, NC to conduct a civil standby. Civil standbys are typically a routine performance of duty to keep the peace between parties involved in civil and or domestically related disputes. Many of these are performed annually without incident, this Civil Standby would be anything but typical. A male subject, 54-year-old Tommy James Anderson of Brasstown, was reported to have armed himself with a rifle and allegedly refused the homeowner entry into her residence. The home owner reported that she heard a gunshot from within the residence and breaking glass. Anderson allegedly pointed the firearm at her before she called law enforcement. Once deputies were on scene Anderson refused to leave the residence and surrender to law enforcement. A standoff then ensued that lasted approximately 3 hours. A perimeter was established around the residence to contain the suspect and prevent any compromise of the community’s safety or involvement of neighboring properties. The perimeter included a section of Old Hwy 64 West which the NC State Highway Patrol secured and detoured traffic in a safe route around the scene. A NC State Wildlife Officer working in the same area also responded to support Clay County Deputies. A negotiator from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene and was able to affectively talk with Anderson over a loud speaker. Macon County Sheriff’s Office also sent a member of their SWAT team to the scene to evaluate and prepare for their response if needed. At approximately 4:50pm, Anderson came out of the residence unarmed and surrendered himself to law enforcement without incident. Anderson was initially charged with Misdemeanor Assault by Pointing a Gun and Felony possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon. Later that same night additional charges were entered for Anderson that included Felony Discharge of a Firearm to Incite Fear and Misdemeanor Resist, Delay and Obstruct. Anderson is being held without bond for 48 hours due to the incident being Domestic Violence related. By statute, Domestic Violence related charges require a 48-hour hold time before the Defendant can have a bond set by the Magistrate Judge. Anderson has previous convictions in Clay and Cherokee County NC for Felony drug charges dating back to 2000. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone that OCTOBER is DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS month. Contact our local REACH Shelter for help - CRISIS HOT LINE (828)389-0797. |
