The Appalachia Daily for May 20, 2026, Wednesday

Cherokee County Honors Fallen Hero Francisco FlattesOn National Peace Officers Memorial Day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office paid tribute to Detention Officer Francisco Flattes. His name is now permanently etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Sheriff Chris Wood described the engraving as a permanent reminder of Francisco’s courage and the sacrifice he made for Cherokee County.Sources:2026-05-15 | https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/27435-detention-officer-francisco-paul-flattes/2026-05-15 | Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office official announcementRoad Work Continues in Cherokee and Clay CountiesDrivers should plan extra time this week. Martins Creek Road (SR-1556) southwest of Murphy remains closed in both directions for construction through mid-August. In Hayesville, expect ongoing lane closures and detours on US-64 Business and nearby county routes. Check DriveNC.gov before traveling.Sources:2026-05-19 | https://drivenc.gov/Murphy Police Sergeant Adam May – A Hometown Hero in BlueA recent profile in the Cherokee Scout highlighted Sergeant Adam May’s journey. After years as a land surveyor in Georgia, May chose law enforcement to serve his community. He comes from a family with deep roots in military and police work and says he still finds purpose in the job despite the daily challenges.Sources:2026-05-05 | https://www.cherokeescout.com/local-newsletter/day-life-adam-may-sergeant-murphy-police-departmentGraham County Heritage Festival Brings Veteran CelebrationMark July 3-4 on your calendar for the Graham County Heritage Festival in downtown Robbinsville. The two-day event features live music, crafts, food trucks, fireworks, and a special salute to veterans. It’s a wonderful chance for neighbors from Graham, Cherokee, and surrounding counties to gather and honor service.Sources:2026 | https://grahamcountytravel.com/event/graham-county-heritage-festival/Produced by River Run Digital Media and Entertainment – https://www.facebook.com/groups/riverrundigitalmedia or https://x.com/RRDigital_mediaRiver Run Digital Media and Entertainment is a division of RiverRun Digital www.riverrun.digitalTake care of your neighbors, and they’ll take care of you.Notes, methods, and rightsThis Appalachia Daily Update was created with the help of AI tools working alongside a human editor. All information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Rights for the Appalachia Daily Update are reserved by River Run Digital Media and Entertainment, which produces hyperlocal news for small towns across Appalachia and beyond. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adu.riverrun.digital