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HHS Band members are, from, front left, Alexis Dockery, Athena Darnell, Sunshine Lamontagne, Maya Polk, Abigail McClure, Georgia Inglima, Ann Gibson and Madison Bright; back, Wyatt Eggleston, Garrett Segars, Jacob Christiansen, Grace Gibson, Kile Cunningham, Leyah Parrinello, Isaiah Ortega, Braedon Garrett, Dallyn Rhea and Felicia Falk. “I am so proud of our students for the growth they have shown this year,” said Dockery.

HHS Band members are, from, front left, Alexis Dockery, Athena Darnell, Sunshine Lamontagne, Maya Polk, Abigail McClure, Georgia Inglima, Ann Gibson and Madison Bright; back, Wyatt Eggleston, Garrett Segars, Jacob Christiansen, Grace Gibson, Kile Cunningham, Leyah Parrinello, Isaiah Ortega, Braedon Garrett, Dallyn Rhea and Felicia Falk. “I am so proud of our students for the growth they have shown this year,” said Dockery.

Hayesville third in Pigeon Forge’s ‘Music at the Parks’

News Staff
Thursday, April 27, 2023
By Alexis Dockery HHS Band Director   On Saturday, April 22 the Hayesville High School Concert Band traveled to Pigeon Forge to perform for the Music in the Parks Festival.
Ricky Johnson stands between his teenage son, Landon, who died by suicide at 18, and Ricky's stepfather, Darrell Jones. The note Landon left for his dad is part of what Johnson shares as he speaks about consequences, perseverance and hope, including information about his own substance use, incarceration and his son's suicide.

Ricky Johnson stands between his teenage son, Landon, who died by suicide at 18, and Ricky's stepfather, Darrell Jones. The note Landon left for his dad is part of what Johnson shares as he speaks about consequences, perseverance and hope, including information about his own substance use, incarceration and his son's suicide.

Suicide awareness: Dad turns tragedy into his inspiration

News Staff
Thursday, April 27, 2023
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   It has been more than seven years since Landon Johnson died by suicide. The day he died is forever etched in the heart and memory of the young man’s father, Ricky Johnson. Landon was 18 when he took his own life on Dec. 12, 2015.

Students applauded for accomplishments

News Staff
Thursday, April 27, 2023
By Marcia Barnes Staff Writer   Loud applause broke out after Head Coach Amy Shelton announced that the 2022-23 high school track and field records were broken by Lila Roberts, Ave Shook, Emma Shook and Marley Espinal. “This made a big impact on our track record,”  Shelton said.

Wreck leaves mother, children hospitalized

News Staff
Friday, April 21, 2023
A young woman and her twin boys were air-flighted to hospitals in Atlanta and Chattanooga and another man to Gainesville, Ga after a Tuesday evening wreck on Highway 64 east of Hayesville. In the two-vehicle accident that occurred at 4:30 p.m.
Emergency responders assemble beside the burning wreckage of a Velocity airplane that crashed shortly after takeoff from Western Carolina Regional Airport on Saturday morning.

Emergency responders assemble beside the burning wreckage of a Velocity airplane that crashed shortly after takeoff from Western Carolina Regional Airport on Saturday morning.

Fatal plane crash in Andrews

News Staff
Friday, April 21, 2023
By Randy Foster editor@cherokeescout.com   Preliminary reports indicate mechanical failure as the cause of a kit-built airplane crash that took the life of a Fort Campbell, Ky., Army helicopter pilot Saturday morning.

Veterans rallying to raise suicide awareness

News Staff
Friday, April 21, 2023
By Lorrie Ross Staff Writer   Suicide is often a taboo subject in American society, but the word suicide hits close to home for Robert Seibert. The Clay County man recently shared a personal story, which he said, “Was quite the eye opener.” “My son was deployed to Afghanistan.

Strategy in place for opioid settlement

News Staff
Thursday, April 13, 2023
By Becky Long Publisher   An advisory team and a detailed strategy has been put in place to make recommendations to Clay County Commissioners regarding the use of opioid settlement funds. The total dollar amount of Opioid Settlement Funds appropriated for the action plan is $187,383.00.
Robert Grand • John Campbell Folk School Madison Rose Handford is excited to see the Easter Bunny at the folk school. The rain did not stop the fun of the hunt.

Robert Grand • John Campbell Folk School Madison Rose Handford is excited to see the Easter Bunny at the folk school. The rain did not stop the fun of the hunt.

Easter event back after two years

News Staff
Thursday, April 13, 2023
By Anngee Quinones-Belian Cherokee Scout   John C. Campbell Folk School’s annual Easter Egg Hunt returned Saturday afternoon, bringing out more than 400 people despite grey and rainy skies. Easter activities were held in the open-air Festival Barn, where the John C.