Murphy NC 28906

The fourth annual Poker Run to benefit Children’s Miracle Network will begin with registration at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 16, 2007, at Cherokee County Cycles in Andrews, North Carolina.

Riders will travel to Robbinsville, through the Nantahala Gorge, and end at Wal-Mart in Murphy, NC.

Food, drink, and entertainment will be available about 3:00 pm at Wal-Mart.

Cost is $20 for riders and $10 for passengers.

Prizes will be awarded for the Best Poker Hand and the Worst Poker Hand. Wildcards are $10 each.

Cherokee County Cycles and Wal-Mart will donate numerous prizes.

All riders are welcome and everyone is invited to join the activities following the run.

For more information, call 828-837-9184 or 828-321-0499.

Harry Norman, Realtors is happy to announce the opening of their new office in Murphy, NC.

They have announced a day of excitement on Friday, June 22, 2007, as they welcome the newest Harry Norman, Realtors office in Murphy.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 1:00 pm, and will be followed by lunch, door prizes, and agent giveaways.

“Harry Norman, Realtors is the premier name in western North Carolina and north Georgia real estate. We’re a member of the HomeServices of America family of real estate companies, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and the second largest full-service independent residential real estate brokerage firm in the US with 400 branches and more than 21,000 active real estate agents. Our knowledge of the area’s magnificent homes, exclusive communities, and prime investment opportunities sets the standard in service and satisfaction.”

The Murphy NC office is located at 89 Tennessee Street, directly across from Moose Hollow in downtown Murphy, NC 28906.

For more information, call 828-837-1090.

ELLIJAY, Georgia, April 25, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Appalachian Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq:APAB), the holding company of Appalachian Community Bank, today announced the grand opening of its new federally chartered thrift subsidiary, Appalachian Community Bank, F.S.B. The thrift’s operations are based in McCaysville, Ga.

Appalachian Community Bank, FSB, has completed the acquisition of Appalachian Community Bank’s existing banking center in McCaysville, and its loan production offices in Ducktown, Tenn., and Murphy, N.C., which have become full-service banking centers. The McCaysville office is located at 109 Blue Ridge Drive, the Ducktown office is located at 125 Five Points Drive and the Murphy banking center is located at 3000 West US 64.

“With the opening of our thrift operations, we can now deliver our full range of customer-focused community banking products and services to fast growing communities beyond the borders of our traditional North Georgia markets,” said Chief Executive Officer Tracy R. Newton. “We also are better positioned to become strong supporters of the communities that surround our new locations in southeastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.”

The new thrift offers customers a full array of community banking products and services, including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, commercial and consumer loans, real estate financing, mortgage lending and other financial products.

“This important milestone gives us a great deal of flexibility for the long-term growth of our company,” said Joe Moss, president and chief operating officer. “Being able to branch into any state at a relatively low cost will allow us to strategically grow our banking franchise where and when it makes the most sense.”

About Appalachian Bancshares Inc.

Appalachian Bancshares Inc., based in Ellijay, Ga., is the $758 million-asset bank holding company of Appalachian Community Bank, a state-chartered bank organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, and Appalachian Community Bank, F.S.B., a federally chartered thrift. Through its subsidiaries, Appalachian Bancshares provides a full range of community banking services to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses, real estate developers, contractors and farmers. Appalachian Community Bank, which also operates under the trade name of Gilmer County Bank, has full-service banking offices throughout North Georgia in Ellijay, East Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Chatsworth and Dawsonville. Appalachian Community Bank, F.S.B. has full-service banking offices in McCaysville, Ga., Ducktown, Tenn., and Murphy, N.C. The common stock of Appalachian Bancshares is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market, under the symbol APAB. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at www.apab.com.

Musicians from across the state will again share the stage with the North Carolina Symphony in Capital Bank Blue Skies and Red Earth, a celebration that showcases the richness of traditional music of North Carolina, in performances in Asheville, Cullowhee, Hickory, Murphy, and Rutherfordton.

The local concert will start at 7:30 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2007, in Enloe Hall at Tri-County Community College on US 64 East.

Blue Skies and Red Earth was conceived, in part, to celebrate the orchestra’s 75th anniversary.

Fame Conley, a sales associate at the Cherokee Scout for over two years, was named an advertising All-Star during Community Newspaper Inc.’s annual advertising meeting on March 9, 2007.

She also helped the Cherokee Scout earn first place for Increase in Display Ads.

Of the 30 newspapers in CNI, only eight sales associates received All-Star recognition for 2006, and two of them were from the Murphy Region.

On May 1, 2007, Thomas Roskelly joined the Cherokee Scout as a sales associate.

He has an extensive background in newspaper advertising. Roskelly was the classified advertising manager of the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times and Evening Independent, retail advertising manager of the Lakeland (Florida) Ledger, and corporate advertising director for the new York Times Affiliated Group in Florida.

He also served as advertising and marketing director for several businesses.

Roskelly will work with Sales Manager Donna Cook and Sales Associate Fame Conley on the Cherokee Scout’s sales team.

You can contact Thomas Roskelly at his office at 828-837-5122, on his cell phone at 828-361-2210, or via email at advertising@cherokeescout.com .