CCSO Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division, Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division, and Clay County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Colby Brett Phillips on March 4, 2026. As a result of the search warrant, 250 grams of Methamphetamine was seized. Previously in the day, an agent attempted to stop Phillips. Phillips stopped his vehicle. As the Agent approached Phillips vehicle from the fro

HANGING DOG, N.C. — A 50-year-old Louisiana man died Tuesday after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Cherokee County, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies responded Tuesday, March 3, to reports of a person with a gunshot wound in the Hanging Dog community. When officers arrived, bystanders had already begun providing aid to the victim. Authorities identified the man as Joseph A. Kieffer, 50, of Louisiana. Investigators determined the gunshot

MURPHY, N.C. — Voters in Cherokee County turned out Tuesday, March 3, for the primary election, with all 16 precincts reporting results by the end of the night. In the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Roy Cooper carried the county with 678 votes, or 84.86 percent. Marcus W. Williams finished second with 35 votes (4.38 percent), followed by Daryl Farrow and Justin E. Dues with 31 votes each (3.88 percent). Robert Colon received 13 votes (1.63 percent) and Orrick Quick had

CCSO Press Release ANDREWS, NC – On March 2, 2026, newly appointed Sheriff Chris Wood visited the students of Andrews Elementary School to participate in a community reading initiative. The Sheriff spent the morning engaging with young learners and emphasizing the critical importance of foundational literacy in early childhood development. During his visit, Sheriff Wood selected the timeless Dr. Seuss classic, Green Eggs and Ham, to read aloud to several students. The event

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Feb. 26, 2026, after receiving information that a Culberson family had discovered two explosive devices while cleaning out property belonging to a deceased relative. Deputies and a narcotics agent responded to the scene and identified the devices as a smoke grenade and an MK2 grenade. Both devices appeared to be live but were determined to be in stable condition. The area w

HIWASSEE DAM, N.C. — Deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible deceased individual on the evening of Feb. 25 in the 500 block of in the Hiwassee Dam community. Upon arrival, patrol deputies confirmed a deceased person at the scene. Investigators from the sheriff’s office Criminal Investigations Division were called in and identified the deceased as a 75-year-old woman. A family member had requested a welfare check at approximatel

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is currently conducting an investigation into the death of an unknown person that was located on Cross Creek Lane in the Hiwassee Dam community of Cherokee County on the night of February 25, 2026. Our office is currently being assisted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office as the investigation continues. While this is an active inve

(Photo taken by Waynesville ABC staff) Waynesville ABC store manager, Mark Strugnell, welcomes Mountain Projects Prevention Manager Libby Ray, as she places a display rack for alcohol locks. Mountain Projects gave away more than 1,500 free locks for bottles, cabinets and refrigerators around western NC during 2025. This prevention strategy is meant to reduce access to alcohol for those who are underage. By Lorrie Ross Mountain Strong Prevention team Locking up beer, wine, a

CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Kevin Garrett Ledbetter, the man previously listed as armed and dangerous by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, has been arrested in Unicoi County, Tennessee, Sheriff Chris Wood announced Tuesday. Ledbetter was the subject of a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) issued on February 13, 2026. At the time, authorities described him as a white male, approximately 5'11" with red hair, last seen wearing a black hoodie and pajama pants near Fall Branch Road and He

MURPHY, N.C. — Murphy native Braden Rumfelt took center stage Monday night on American Idol ’s first Hollywood Week episode, airing Feb. 23 on ABC, delivering a performance that left judges and audiences buzzing. The 22-year-old substitute teacher from Murphy, North Carolina, stepped onto the American Idol stage in Nashville’s Belmont University Fisher Center during the high-stakes opening round of Hollywood Week — a two-part elimination designed to narrow the field from 1

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Press Release The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, VA, and Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, GA arranged the arrest of wanted fugitive Eric Jason Watkins, 50 of Murphy. Watkins had outstanding indictments in Virginia for the following: - Object Sexual Penetration (Felony) - Aggravated Sexual Battery - Indecent Liberties with a Child Agents with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics

Hayesville, N.C. — Families caring for children with mental health challenges now have a new local resource. A community support group called Daily Mental Challenges is launching this month in Hayesville to provide parents, grandparents, and caregivers with a safe space to share experiences, gain support, and access helpful information. The group is designed to assist families managing conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, and s

Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority has approved 12 grant requests totaling nearly $5.9 million to support infrastructure and economic development projects in rural communities across the state. The grants are expected to help create 277 jobs, including 71 previously announced positions, and leverage more than $43 million in additional public and private investment. “When rural North Carolina wins, all of North Carolina wins,”

The Union County–Blairsville Chamber of Commerce announced the return of The Big Dance, an annual fundraiser set to take place at the HARP Center on the campus of Young Harris College. The event will be held at the HARP Center at Young Harris College, bringing back a night of music, dancing and community celebration after a hiatus. Organizers say this year’s event will be larger than past editions, with an emphasis on both entertainment and philanthropy. Proceeds from The Big

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has issued a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert for an armed and dangerous individual believed to be in the area. Authorities are searching for Kevin Garrett Ledbetter , described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, with red hair. Deputies say Ledbetter was last seen wearing a black hoodie and pajama pants. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Ledbetter was most recently spotted near the intersection of Fall Branch Road and Hen

Firefighters have reached 90% containment on the Winding Stairs Alpha Fire burning in the Nantahala National Forest, according to officials. The wildfire has burned approximately 230 acres. Crews made significant progress Tuesday, building handlines and dozer lines along the western edge of the fire while conducting mop-up operations on the northeastern perimeter. Firefighters also completed a small, carefully planned firing operation along U.S. Highway 64 to strengthen the h

Photo from NCCAT-The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Facebook page. The Cherokee County School Board recognized a local educator during its February 5 meeting for earning statewide recognition as an outstanding beginning teacher. Dr. Karen Sumner, Deputy Executive Director of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, and Caesar Campana, Beginning Teacher Coordinator for Cherokee County Schools, presented Morgan Dudley with a plaque hono

The Murphy Riverwalk walking program has released its 2026 calendar, inviting community members to participate in twice-weekly group walks aimed at promoting health, fitness and social connection. Walks are scheduled each Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m., with participants meeting at the pavilion across from The Rock Gym in Murphy. The program runs from February through November, with no walks scheduled in December or January. According to the schedule, walks will be held on t

More than 23,000 North Carolina public high school seniors have accepted direct college admission offers through the NC College Connect program. Between August 2025 and January 2026, students accepted over 88,000 offers, representing roughly 21% of the Class of 2026. The program, now in its second year, automatically matches qualifying seniors—those with a 2.8 GPA or higher—to colleges and universities across the state, removing the need for a traditional application. State S

Gardeners in Zone 7 — which includes Clay and Cherokee counties in North Carolina and Towns and Union counties in Georgia — can take advantage of February to get a jump on the growing season by starting certain seeds indoors. While outdoor planting is still limited this time of year, February is considered an ideal month to begin slow-growing plants from seed. Starting early allows seedlings to develop strong root systems before being transplanted outside once warmer temperat