Murphy Bulldogs punch ticket to the state championship
Murphy’s football tradition continues after the Bulldogs claimed the North Carolina 2A West regional title with a 14- 2 win over Starmount at home. A dominant defensive performance in a muddy game sealed a trip to next week’s state championship matchup.
* The regional final was played Friday night in Murphy with Starmount as the visiting team.
* Murphy’s defense held Starmount to a single safety and controlled the tempo.
* The win sends the Bulldogs into the state championship game with a shot at another title.
* Final game details, including opponent and venue, will be set by the state association.
Sources:
News Date: December 6, 2025.
Hayesville Lady Jackets earn early season win with balanced attack
Hayesville’s girls basketball team opened December with a road win highlighted by balanced scoring and strong team play. A recent Clay County Progress story describes how multiple players contributed key points as the Lady Jackets pulled away in the second half.
* The Lady Jackets relied on several scorers instead of a single standout.
* Defensive pressure helped turn stops into offense as the game went on.
* The win builds momentum for a busy stretch of early-season games.
* Fans can follow schedules and results through Hayesville High School and local coverage.
Sources:
* https://www.claycountyprogress.com/sports-newsletter/balanced-attack-propels-lady-jackets
News Date: December 4, 2025.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express offers festive river rides
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Holiday Express is running through December, offering one-hour holiday-themed rides along the Toccoa River from the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge. Decorated rail cars, onboard stories, and a visit with Santa make it a seasonal favorite for families.
* Holiday Express trains operate on select dates between early December and Christmas Eve.
* The trip includes holiday music and a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”
* Children receive a jingle bell and a candy cane as part of the experience.
* Hot chocolate and snacks are available in the concession car on board.
Sources:
* https://brscenic.com/holiday-special-rides/
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/holiday-express--blue-ridge-scenic-railway/
News Date: December 6, 2025.
Blairsville’s Kris Kringle Mountain Market and Christmas parade fill the day
Blairsville is hosting a full slate of holiday events today, starting with the Kris Kringle Mountain Market at the Union County Farmers Market and continuing into the evening with the town’s Christmas parade and tree lighting on the Historic Downtown Square. Visitors can make a full day of local shopping and celebration.
* The Kris Kringle Mountain Market runs from ten in the morning to two in the afternoon.
* Dozens of vendors offer crafts, food, baked goods, and seasonal gifts.
* Kids can enjoy visits with Santa and family-friendly entertainment at the market.
* The Blairsville Christmas Parade and tree lighting follow later in the day downtown.
Sources:
* https://members.visitblairsvillega.com/events/details/kris-kringle-mountain-market-139646
* https://blueridgecountry.com/events/kris-kringle-mountain-market-2025/
* https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/december-events-2025
* https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/christmas-holiday-shopping-metro-atlanta-north-georgia-2025
News Date: November 28, 2025.
County and Valley River Humane Society reach agreement on Marble shelter
Cherokee County and the Valley River Humane Society have reached an agreement to keep the long-running Marble animal shelter operating under updated terms. The deal follows months of questions about funding and the future of shelter services.
* The Marble shelter has served Cherokee County for many years as a home for stray and surrendered animals.
* A recent Cherokee Scout piece reports that county officials and the humane society worked out a new arrangement.
* The agreement allows shelter operations to continue rather than wind down or close.
* Residents can still adopt pets locally and rely on animal control having a designated facility.
Sources:
* https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/county-humane-society-make-deal
News Date: December 2, 2025.
Andrews Wildcats winter sports schedule gets underway
Andrews High School’s winter sports are moving onto the calendar, with boys and girls basketball and other teams beginning their early-season schedules. Online schedules and highlight clips show the Wildcats taking the floor in early December against regional opponents.
* MaxPreps lists boys and girls basketball games for Andrews through December and beyond.
* Video highlights posted through school-related channels feature recent matchups against Smoky Mountain and other teams.
* Home dates give Andrews residents chances to support student athletes close to home.
* Fans can track times and locations through official school and athletics pages.
Sources:
* https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/andrews/andrews-wildcats/basketball/boys/
* https://fan.hudl.com/usa/nc/andrews/organization/50844/andrews-high-school
News Date: December 3, 2025.
Twin Cities Market and Copperhill Express parade highlight Copper Basin holiday
In the Copperhill and McCaysville area, today’s Twin Cities Market and the Copperhill Kiwanis Christmas Parade, known as the Copperhill Express, bring a full day of activity to the riverfront. The market fills the morning while the parade steps off in the afternoon through the twin downtowns.
* The Twin Cities Market runs from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon near the historic steel bridge.
* Shoppers can visit local farmers, makers, and small businesses from both sides of the state line.
* The Copperhill Kiwanis Christmas Parade lines up near McCaysville City Park, with float judging around midday.
* The parade is scheduled to begin at two in the afternoon, with Santa appearing on the final float.
Sources:
* https://copperhill.gov/events-calendar/twin-cities-market-december-6/
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/twin-cities-farmers-market/
* https://copperhill.gov/events-calendar/copperhill-kiwanis-christmas-parade-2025/
* https://cityofmccaysvillega.gov/event/christmas-parade/
News Date: December 6, 2025.
North Carolina marks National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
North Carolina officials are joining national observances of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day on Sunday, December 7th. A recent state announcement directs that United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities be flown at half staff in honor of those who died in the nineteen forty-one attack.
* The order calls for flags to be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Sunday.
* This year marks eighty-four years since the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
* The observance honors the more than two thousand service members and civilians killed that day.
* Communities and veterans groups often hold local remembrance activities and educational programs.
Sources:
News Date: December 5, 2025.
Supporter spotlights – Wagner Worx and Black Bear Heating & Air
Two local businesses are in the spotlight this weekend for the ways they serve and invest in the region’s small businesses and residential communities.
* Wagner Worx Co-Working Bar celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting on December 5th in downtown Murphy, hosted by the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce.
* The co-working space provides desks, meeting areas, and a social environment for remote workers, entrepreneurs, and students.
* Black Bear Heating and Air, LLC in Hayesville is a locally owned, fully licensed and insured HVAC company focused on residential heating and cooling.
* As colder weather settles in, both businesses highlight how local services support comfortable homes and flexible work in the mountains.
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Wagner-Worx-Co-Working-Bar-61576193198614/
* https://www.facebook.com/61576193198614/posts/%EF%B8%8Fcall-to-business-owners-%EF%B8%8F-our-grand-opening-is-on-december-5th-friday-11-3-we-a/122163403892873106/
* https://www.facebook.com/61576193198614/posts/we-are-open-today-mrs-wagner-is-healing-up-nicely-from-getting-her-wisdom-teeth-/122164577762873106/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Black-Bear-Heating-Air-LLC-61556296084695/
* https://www.yelp.com/biz/black-bear-heating-and-air-hayesville
* https://www.mapquest.com/us/north-carolina/black-bear-heating-air-660662039
News Date: December 5, 2025.
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Notes, methods, and rights
This update is assembled using a mix of human editorial judgment, public records, and reputable local and regional news sofacurces, with help from artificial intelligence tools to search, summarize, and organize information. All information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Every effort is made to keep details accurate at publication time, but readers and listeners should always confirm time-sensitive items such as event times, ticket availability, and closures with official organizers before making a special trip.
All original content, formatting, and presentation for the Appalachia Daily Update are copyright 2025 River Run Digital, all rights reserved. To learn more about River Run Digital and its local news projects, visit
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