About Cherokee County, NC

It was a beautiful sunny and blue sky day as my cousin from Maggie Valley, NC stopped by for a visit. We had a great lunch at the Italian Cafe and then headed over to the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. We spent lots of time in the Gift Shop and picked up some watercolor note cards by Margo Locke, and various other pottery items. The Folk School was having weekend classes so we were invited to take the self-tour of the classes and observe their creative makings. First we spent a little time in the History building and then caught a small music group and dancers practicing. Now on to our tour, with map in hand we started down at the Blacksmith Shop and had a great tour of the students there forging and hammering away. One of the best things about the Folk School is they really have small classes usually not more than 12 or so that you really get special instruction and attention with each class you take. Next we headed over to the Fiber Arts for weaving; then on to the Woodcarving; Enameling and Windsor Chair Making. Then we headed over to the wonderful smells from the class learning to Smoke Meats. In that same building was the Spinning class with wool and wheels everywhere. Then across the street for the Watercolor class and finally, the Woodturning class. By then we were pretty tired and took a quick drive through town and headed back home. What a great day with family and opportunity to see all these classes and visit with the students. Every class we visited I asked if they were local residents or visiting - everyone was from another state or town. The John C. Campbell Folk School is and a great place to come for a week long or weekend class to learn and experience some these creative arts.

The recent news that a government appointed panel (US Preventive Services Task Force) published recommendation against routine screening of mammograms should CONCERN every WOMEN. The panel even urged against teaching and encouraging women to do routine self-examinations.

" The beginning of Heath Care Rationing"

I am a BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR who 12 years ago at age 40 had a mammogram.The test showed abnormal shapes of cells in my right breast. I had a biospy and was diagnosed with Ductual Carsomina Insitu. This can only be detected by a mammogram.

I was healthy women, wife and mom, with 2 beautiful little boys..... I was terrified!!!!. I ended up having a mastectomy along with reconstructive surgery.I was very lucky because it was detected early and I didn't need any radiation or medication.... I have been CANCER FREE for 12 years.

I have a mammogram every year... I always wonder if I had not had that mammogram when I was 40, would I be here today to tell my story. I am very active in my community - Murphy NC - Rely For Life www.RealyForLife.org and I encourage all WOMEN to have a mammogram.....

Wouldn’t coming home to this setting just make you leave all the stress of your day behind you? Come home and just relax as you sit out on your porch watching the falling leaves blow by. We can all have stressful days with all that we have going on with our businesses, family and just all the little things that seem to pile up on us, but our homes are our retreats and place to shut that door of all those things, for a short time anyway, that fill our mind and time away. It’s great to live in the mountains and have this type of scenery to come home to, but no matter where we live we need to have that place and time to be restful and re-energized so we can wake up to the new day the Lord provides for us. No matter where we live He is ultimately the One that gives us that breath and strength that we can truly find peace and restfulness in.

November is on track to keep the pending home sales at the same high level posted in September and October in Murphy, North Carolina and Cherokee County. With 20 homes under contract from November 1-15, buyers continue to take adantage of the bargains in our market here in the mountains.

Now that the Federal Housing tax credit has been extended and expanded to include move up/repeat home buyers, more and more prospective buyers are coming back to the Murphy area, ready to take advantage of this one-time cash bonus to middle-class American homeowners.

Interest rates remain at historic lows, with a conventional 30 year loan available at 4.75% interest. Here are the rates at Macon Bank in Murphy as of November 19, 2009:

30 Year Fixed Rate

20 Year Fixed Rate

15 Year Fixed Rate

There's a great new option for grocery shopping in Murphy, North Carolina.

United Grocery Outlet has just opened its newly expanded store in the shopping center on Andrews Road in Murphy. The new store is double the size of the former location on Hwy 64. With a wide, well-lit produce aisle and large upright freezer cases, the new location gives shoppers more choices while keeping the low prices that they are known for.

There's a welcome addition in this new larger location - a full meat department with butchers who will cut your steaks any size you want.

During opening week the store had a full page ad in the Cherokee Scout, advertising specials like boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.49/lb. and a whole boneless New York strip cut to your order for $3.99/lb. I stopped in for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread and walked out with $168 worth of meat, produce and even a couple of very nice $2 picture frames in my cart.

The aisles were crowded with shoppers taking advantage of the bargains opening week. But just like at the former location, the policy is "what you see is what you get."

Don't go there with a specific list in your pocket or you're bound to be disappointed. The store only carries closeouts, bulk purchases and items close to the expiration date. So if you make it your first stop, you can load up on the specials and fill out your shopping list at one of the other grocery stores in town.

One last plus - the store now carries beer and even a selection of wines.

With all the holiday meals and entertaining just around the corner, the new Grocery Outlet is like an early gift to Murphy shoppers from Santa.