The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Murphy, NC – Sheriff Derrick Palmer of the Cherokee County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office reported the November 24th, 2019 arrest of 23 year old Jordan Alex Michelsen for child sexual assault charges.

In September of 2018 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s commenced an investigation into allegations that an adult male had engaged in sexual assaults on a female child sometime during the month of August 2018. During the investigation assistance was given by the Cherokee County Schools, Cherokee County Department of Social Services, and HAVEN Child Advocacy Center. During the investigation Michelsen was identified as a suspect in the sexual assault allegations.

The case was presented to the Cherokee County Grand Jury which handed down indictments for the arrest of Michelsen. At the time of the investigation Michelsen had been living in Andrews North Carolina and had a previous residence in the Culberson Community of Cherokee County. Shortly after the issuance of the indictments Michelsen apparently fled from Cherokee County to Cornelia Georgia and eventually surrendered at the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Jordan Alex Michelsen was arrested for STATUTORY RAPE OF A CHILD BY AN ADULT, FIRST DEGREE KIDNAPPING, INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH CHILD. Michelsen appeared before the Magistrate who set a $250,000.00 secure bond. Michelsen is currently being detained at the Cherokee County Detention Center awaiting a December 02nd, 2019 Superior Court date.

Sheriff Palmer said “Great team work by all. These crimes are difficult on everyone concerned and often take time to bring to conclusion.”

​To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.

Murphy, N.C. – Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital (EWCH) and the Nurse Professional Practice Council honored eight outstanding nurses at the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses ceremony on November 5.
 
The DAISY Award is a national award to honor nurses who exemplify extraordinary, compassionate care. Nurses can be nominated by anyone in the healthcare organization, including patients and family members. 
 
The 2019 EWCH DAISY Award was presented to Debra Lee. The other nominees recognized at the ceremony were Deborah Carter, Katie Gore, Breanna Johnson, Matthew Lyvers, Lisa Parker, Ashley Stiles and Noely Sutton. All nominees were recognized with stories detailing the outstanding patient-centered care they consistently provide.
 
“All eight nominees for this year’s DAISY Award are extraordinary nurses who go above and beyond for patients and their families,” said EWCH chief nursing officer, Teresa Bowleg. “Debra is the perfect recipient for this award, and we congratulate her and thank all of the nominees for their dedication and the kindness they show to our patients.”
 
The DAISY Foundation was created in 1999 after Patrick Barnes passed away from Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. His family wanted to honor his memory and show appreciation for the compassion and kindness shown by the nurses during Barnes’ eight-week stay in the hospital. Barnes’ wife, Tena, created the DAISY acronym, which stands for “diseases attacking the immune system.” For more information about the DAISY Foundation or the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, please visit www.DAISYfoundation.org.