Rogelia Vega Evans, 26, of Lexington, N.C. was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 to 180 months in prison for engaging in sexual contact with a minor by force in Indian Country, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Upon his release from prison, Evans will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

Firefighters observed little fire activity on the Flint Gap Fire yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 18. While the current acreage estimate is 58 acres, only a few areas are actively burning within the perimeter. The fire is 0 percent contained; however, firefighters observed only 12 areas with heat along the perimeter yesterday.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) approved an application on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 that restores the name of Clingman’s Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), to its original Cherokee name, Kuwohi (mulberry place). 

The School Board of Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) met on Monday, Sept. 16, in the Central Office Board Room. The meeting was called to order at 4:47 p.m. by Chairperson Jennifer Thompson.

As the sun glistened off of the clouds hanging in the valley at Kuwohi, mulberry place, on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 10, students were learning about the history of the site that is special to the Cherokee people. 

Resolution No. 294 (2024) was taken up by Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) in its Thursday, Sept. 5 session and called for the addition of recognition for Mary Jane Letts as a visionary and collaborator with Susan Bradley Jones in redesigning the Oconaluftee Island Park. 

The Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143 members introduced the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) to the Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) during the regular session on Thursday, Sept. 5.

Ben Cordell, of Greenville, S.C., got in line at the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. at 1 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 to be the first in line as the business was opening later that morning for adult-use (21+) sales to all for the first time.  The line of more than 1,000 people snaked through the parking lot.