FOR BEST RESULTS
NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER !», 1M7
!Vk"^ •'&!- gl v ** ^1WY ' - - 1
Park Service To
Allow Folders On
Scenic Highway
GEORGE A. FLOWERS, JR.
Geo. Flowers
Purchases
Photo Shop
George A. Floweri, Jr., Hickory
native, radio announcer and United
Press correspondent, has purchas
ed and will take over operation of
Palmer's Photo Shop on East King
street in downtown Boone on Jan
uary 1, it was announced this
week.
Mr. Flowers, who has had many
news photos published in the Hic
kory Daily Record and other news
papers throughout North Carolina,
purchased the Eastman Kodak
dealership and photographic studio
from the estate of the late Palmer
Blair, who was killod taking aerial,
photos in Ashe couffty on March
21 of this year.
A salesman for The Flowers
Company of Hickory, he has been
the representative in Alexander,
Wilkes and Watauga counties for
the past eight years. His resigna
tion from the firm, owned by bis
father and uncle, is effective De
cember 21.
Mr. Flowers is a Hickory High
school graduate, and attended
Clemson and Lenoir Rhyne Col
leges. He is a veteran of World
(Continued on page six)
Judging Team >
Sets Record At
Chicago Show
Douglas Henson of Vilas and
Clint Reese of Reese were two of
the five members of the N. C.
State Livestock Judging Team,
coached by Hayes Gregory, com
peting in the International Live
stock Judging contest in Chicago,
November 30,
The State College team ranked
eleventh in the contest, competing
against thirty-nine other college
teams of the nation.
This, is the best record that any
N. C. State College judging team
haa obtained in this affair.
Democrat To
Be Printed
Next Monday
The Democrat will cone from
the press Monday of wit week,
rather than Wednesday, In order
that the employee* may have
time off for Christmas. The of
fice will remain closed Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, and
he reopened Friday morning.
Monday's edition will be in
the form of a Greetings Issue,
and Merry Christmas copy and
pietnres will he supplied by the
advertising department without
added caat
Mr. Radius and the publisher
will appreciate the usual fine
tooperation of the advertiser*
to the end thai the Monday edi
tion may came ant right on
srhednle. All ad copy for that
edition must he in 4and fey Sat
urday morning.
News contributors are also re
minded to have their copy In
for next week by Friday after
The National Park Service will
break a lone-standing precedent
this summer when folders adver
tising areas immediately adjacent
to the Blue Ridge Parkway will be
allowed at various points on the
Federally-controlled scenic high
way
A series of meetings has already
begun, the last of which was held
in Sparta Monday night, in which
the material to be used in the
folders is discussed between re
presentatives of Chamber of Com
merce and the North Carolina Na
tional Parks and Forests Develop
ment Commissicyi. An earlier
meeting was held three weeks ago
in Asheville at which time the
new folder plan was announced
and particulars discusAd.
The distribution of folders,
which will be handled from uni
form bulletin boards set up at
strategic points along North Caro
lina's part of the Parkway, is a
departure from a long-observed
practice of the Park Service which,
heretofore, has allowed no adver
tising Material to be displayed or
distributed on the Parkway, with
the exception of one Federally-ap
proved brochure' listing accommo
dations and attractions.
Mr. Wililam Medford of Way
nesville, chairman of the N. C.
National Parks and Forests Deve
lopment Commission, told repre
sentative! at both the Asheville
and Sparta meetings of the new
plan and offered his commission's
approved outline for putting the
project in motion.
Areas have been designated
along the Parkway route and
towns and communities within a
prescribed circle are responsible
for publishing an acceptable fold
er to be placed in one of six
standard'twain -mounted on the
bulletin board.
Each board will list the five or
six communities nearest that parti
cular Parkway site and will give
information such as the number
of lodging places, eating establish
ments, car servicing firms, and
miles and direction to the town.
Individual businesses will not be
named on the board, although
they may be listed in the area
folder, at the discretion of the
Chamber of Commerce or organi
sation making it up.
On each side of the board three
racks will be placed, one each for
the areas designated by commun
ity information in the center.
W. R. Winkler of Boone, chair
man of the Commission's Sign
Committee, will have to okay the
folders before they are allowed on
the Parkway. Each area is to sub
mit a detailed copy of its offering
to Winkler's committee prior to
publication.
The arrangement of material
and other relative incidentals ia
left up to the varioua group*.
However, the Commiaaion has
streaaed the importance of print
ing accurate information and has
urged group* to guard against use
of miileading statements, espec
ially where the Parkway and Park
Service are concerned.
Boone and Blowing Rock con
stitute one arc* for which a fold
er will be printed and work on it
ia expected to begin in the imme
diate future.
The folders are to be ready for
display on the Parkway by May V
and Winkler haa set a February 1
deadline by which all copy ia to be
aent to him for approval.
Plans for the publication of the
Boone-Blowing Rock folder* are
currently under consideration by
the Chambers of Commerce of the
two towns. The proposal which
has gained strong support *o far
ia one featuring the main tourist
attractions with compelling pic
ture* and appropriate copy. It ia
thought that thia type folder
would cause the traveling public
to come into the area from the
Parkway in far greater number*
than a brochure heavily loaded
with advertisement*.
Under thl* plan, the three lead
ing attraction*. "Horn in the
Wert" in Boooe. "Tweetsie Rail
road" 4 miles south of Boone on
221, and the Blowing Rock would
pay approximately half the cost of (
the printing, with filling rtationa,
motor courts, hotels, restsursnts,
and car servicing firms contribut
ing the remainder.
These businesses would be soli
cited for funds after the overall
(Continued am page eight)
CORONATION SCENE.—Beth Davis, president of the Playcraftert,
place* the crown on Jean Abbott, the coronation was staged at the
Appalachian State Teachers College Christinas dance December 7.
Queen Jean Reigns Over
Christmas Festivities
The annual Christmas dance,
sponsored by the Playcrafters
December 7, in the New Physical
Education Building Gymnasium,
was held amidst the splendor of
outdoor scenes of the Christmas
season. The Appatones, setting
the mood In music, helped carry
out the theme of the dance, "Blue
Christinas." '
Adding to the atmosphere of the
evening were two large white
trees decked with blue lights,
greenery woven throughout the
lobby, large blue stars adorning
the windows at the entrance, and
the traditional mistletoe. Park
benches and lamp posts under a
sky of glittering stars added to the
outdoor air of festivity. A large
snowman and a window on the
stage through which could be seen
a large Christmas tree with bright
lights, symbolizing, of course "dec
orations of red, in a green Christ
mas tree," gave the finishing
touches.
The climax of the evening's en
tertainment was the presentation
of the Christmas Queen, who was
selected through a campus-wide
election. Jean Abbott, whose es
cort Claude Hinson tore open the
large Christmas package in which
she was concealed, was crowned
by the Playcrafter president, Beth
Davis. The members of the queen's
court were Ann Coitner, Jeanne
Fleming, Nancy Harris. Joyce Ol
lis, Carolyn Wall, and Almeta
Willard.
The following served as com
mittee chairmen: Head chairman,
Ann Costner and Mickey Hagler;
refreshments, Sandra Caudell;
coat booth, Rosa Lee Ates; lobby
decorations, Penny Kirk; stage,
Kenneth Clawson; throne, Maxine
Cooper; crown, Sara Ann Carter
and- Beauie Morton; bleachers,
Adele Williams; snowman, Kay
Bromeling; presentation of Queen,
Jane Marshall and Anne Owens;
decorations, Willie Frye; miscel
laneous, Blance Blevins.
Burley Sales Reach
2,434,466 Lbs. Here
With 2,434,466 pounds of tobac
co sold through Monday of this
week, the Boone burley tobacco
market expected to surpass before
the Christmas recess last year's en
tire season's total of -some 2,800,
000 pounds.
For the season, present indica
tions are that the market will pos
sibly sell a half-million pounds
more than last year, a spokesman
for the Mountain Burley Ware
bouse Company said.
Tile low average quality of leaf
offered for sale has depressed
prices throughout the burley belt
during the past week, but local
warehousemen said a return to
early-season price levels is ex
pected. and that "good tobacco
will continue to bring a good
price."
The market will recess for the
Christmas holiday* after Friday's
aale (Dec. 20) and will reaume on
Monday, January 6.
The warehouae will remain open
during the entire receaa and some
body will be on hand at all timet,
including Chriatmaa Day, to re
ceive tobacco, it wa* announced.
Farm housewives, who depepd
heavily on eggs (or their spend
ing money will be 'delighted to
hear that the Agricultural Mar
keting Service predicts that in
1998 egg< prices • will be higher,
feed costs lower and sales only
slightly under the record volume
of 19M and 1907.
Stores, Offices And
Schools Are Closing
A majority of Boone buaineas ;
places will be closed Christmas
Day and Thursday, December 38,
in observance of the Christmas
holidays, it haa been announced
by R. D. Hodges, chairman of
the Merchants Committee of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Many Boone stores, which have
advertiaed that they will remain
open until 9 o'clock Friday night,
will also be open until 0 Saturday,
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 21, 23,
and 24, for the convenience of late
shoppers, Mr. UodgM said.
The post office will Oh-< i '*• a
holiday schedule Christmas Day,
and the Northwestern Bank will be
closed the 29th and 2flth. aa will
the tow* office and county offices
in the courthouse and anneir.
All elementary and high schools
of the county will clone at noon
Friday, December 20, and resume
claaaes on Thursday, January I.
Appalachian State Teacher* Col
lege began Its Christmas vacata
Hon period on Friday, December
IS. The students will return to the
eampun January 1 for the begin
■iag of classes oa January 2.
■, 'C. Wiml! . Mhi
'Second Milers'
Credit For Civic
Blair Speaks
To Chamber
*
On Thursday
Mr. Tully Blair, president of
Security Life and Trust Company
of Winston-Salem, said here Thurs
day night that a community or a
nation is built by "second milers,"
people who are willing to do more
than is required, who will "go the
second mile." .
Mr. Blair, who is also president
of the Winaton-Salem Chamber of
Commerce, addressed the annual
Ladies Night and installation of
officers meeting of the Boone
Chamber of Commerce, held in
the Elementary School cafeteria.
In installation ceremonies con
ducted by the Rev. L. H. Hollings
worth, the following officers were
inducted for the coming year.
John B. Robinson, president;
succeeding Glenn R. Andrews; O.
K. Richardson, first vice-president;
R. D. Hodges, Jr., second vice
president; .and Alfred T. Adama,
treasurer.
New directors installed were
Hugh Hagaman, Herman Ander
son, Hal Johnson, Jack Williams,
and Phil Vance.
Drawing on the Bible for his
theme, Mr. Blair recounted the
custom in ancient Rome whereby
a Roman by law could force a He
brew to carry his pack at any time
for one mile, and quoted Jesus as
saying, "If a man forces you to go
with him one mile, go With him
twain."
Referring to civic leaders as
"second milers," the speaker-said
the job of the Chamber of Com
merce is to nuke its community a
better place in which to live.
The battle lines are drawn, he
declared, with the spectre of a
controlled state and the guided
economy of socialism on the one
hand, and free enterprise on the
other. It is the duty of today's
leaders, he maintained, to "keep
the road ahead open" for those
who will follow us tomorrow.
The "second mile" concept, Mr.
Blair asserted, must be applied to
the home and the church, as well
as to business and community life.
"None will make progress," he
said, "if you trjTto 'Just get by',
doing only what is required."
Harris Reports
tamer in tne meeting. Stanley
A. Harris, who recently retired a's
executive secretary of the Cham
ber and wan succeeded by Leo
Derrick, made a detailed report of
community progress during the
past year.
Although tome of- the accom
plishment* were not specific pro
jects of the Chamber of Com
merce, he said, they were all aided
and abetted by the civic body, and
"we are all proud of them." The
list included:
Watauga Industries, Inc., which
secured the lingerie plant, Shadow
line, Inc., which Mr. Harris said
"is worth more to Watauga county
than the Chamber of Commerce
has cost since it was organized."
The preparing of a complete
brochure on Watauga County
which was placed on file with the
N. C. Dept. of Conservation and
Development and will aid in sec
tiring more industry.
Boone Developments, Inc., which
plans to build a golf course and
housing development near Boone.
An increaae of IS percent in re
tail sales (according to sales tax
reports.)
The printing and distributing of
20,000 pamphlets on Boone and
Watauga County.
Production and promotion of
the outdoor drama, Horn in the
West.
Bringing home of "Tweetsie the
Train" as a tourist attraction.
The new Linville road and the
improvement and relocation of
other roads in the area.
Listed as "needs for the future"
by Mr. Harris w^re the cooperation
of every elthen, attaining a goal
of 300 members in the Chamber
of Commerce, a planned program,
the necessity of "thinking big to
accomplish big things,",a budget
of at least >10,010 a year, and an
advertising fund set aside for sec
uring more industrial -enterprise*
lor Ute county.
Linville Road Closed By Slide
Huge stones from mountainside close cut in highway
109 near ShulU Mills. Recent heavy rains brought
down the a valance which P. W. McCracken, highway
maintenance superintendent, estimates contains
10,000 to 13,000 yards. Practically all of the slide
consists of stone. This is likely1 the most expensive
cut, from the maintenance viewpoint, on the highway
system in this area. Two former slides contained
about the same amount of material and the cost
ranged from >12,000 to >19,000 on each of .these.
The present slide is about the same size and will
be moved by W. E. Graham Construction Co. The
detour will be used for a month or more. Mr.
McCracken states that soft material lies between the
layera of hard rock on the mountainside, and con
tinued rains provided the "lubricant" which causes
the masses of hard rock to slide. Democrat staff
photo.
Coldest Weather In Years Hits
■ .&■•>•*! " ' " I; J ; / ' '* ' f f / ' 4 I",
Boone; Mercury 1JJ Below Zero
r„. " 1 y »—
Dr. William Smith
Heads Medical Group
Dr. William M. Smith was elect
ed president of the Watauga Coun
ty Medical Society for 1M8 at a
meeting held at the Daniel Boone
Hotel last week. He succeeds Dr.
J. B. Hagaman, Jr.
Dr. Hadley M. Wilson was eleAed
DR. WILLIAM M SMITH
vice-president and Dr. Lawrence H.
Owilejr, secretary-treasurer.
Committee chairmen appointed
were Dr. Wilson, occupational
health; Dr.R. M. Harmon, public
relations; Dr. Owsley, emergency
medical service; Dr. H. M. Cooke
and Dr. Charles Davant, legisla
tion; Dr. J. B. Hagaman. Jr.. rural
health; and Dr Curtis McOown,
cancer.
Dr. Smith was named delegate
to the state society, with Dr. Wil
son as alternate. Together with Dr.
Owsley, they will serve aa the
board of censors.
Radio Station WATA was pre
sented a certificate from the Amer
ican Medical Association for broad
casting a series of medics] pro
grama during the year prepared by
i the aiaofigtWt > £8 »
The meeting, attended by county
public relations personnel Includ
I ing Ralph Tugman, WATA man
ager, Leo Derrick, publicity direc
tor of Horn In the West and man
ager of the Chamber of Commerce,
and Virgil Rollins of .the Watauga
! Democrat staff, was one of a series
| nf meetings held with various pro
fasalaaal group* during Um year.
The medical society hat met with
the coupty commissioners, the
dentists, the druuists, the lawyers,
and county Red Cross officials
with a view to coordinating the
ictivities of all professional groups
in the county as they affect one
another.
It was voted at a previous meet
ing that all Watauga county medi
cal doctors will use a standardised
prescription form bearing the
names of all county drug stores.
These new prescription blanks will
be placed in use in the very near
future.
Medical fees have also been
standardized, both in public health
work and private practice, it was
announced.
William N. Hilliard, director of
public relations for the North Car
olina Medical Society, attended last
week's meeting here and praised
officers and members for their out
standing achievements in the in
terest of public health.
Decorations
Judging Set
Judging of entries in the Boone
Junior Wonuin's Club decoration
contest will take place Sunday
night December 22, it is announc
ed
All who have registered in this
contest are requested to have their
lights on in time for the judging.
The coldeit weather in years wu
recdrded for Boom last week by
Weather Obierver Joe Minor, when
the thermometer took a dip to
ten degree* below aero. This was
recorded at 6 p. m. Thursday when
the official reading was taken at
the V. S. Weather Bureau atation.
The cold was accompanied by
atrong winds and added to the dis
comfort of those who were exposed
to the weather. Snow and ice al
ao hdlped make the situation seem
more severe. A total of about two
inches of snow was on the ground
that day.
A low of five above zero was
recorded the previous day and a
low of three above was reported
on Friday. The temperature never
rose any further than 18 above
all day Thursday. .
In the three years prior to 1967,
for which records were immediate
ly available, the lowest recorded
by the Boone station was five be
low zero, and that was February
12, 1995. The lowest for. 1984 was
recorded January 13 at one above.
In 1990 the' thermometer wenf to
zero for its lowest point January
10.
Warmer weather and rain fol
lowed during the week end and
on Sunday Boone waa almost bask
ing in 98-degree weather. The low
all that day was 39 degrees. The
ground, which had been frozen by
the low mid-week temperatures,
thawed rapidly, and was muddy
in most places.
While Boone was reporting the
10-below, other parts of North Car
olina were having extreme w«ather
also. Mount Mitchell sent in a re
cording of 20-below, while over on
Grandfather Mountain a reading of
19 below was noted.
Blowing Rock Park
Is Gaily Lighted |#J
Playground Park at Blowing
Rock present! a four unit Chriat
maa display which ia attracting
people from far and near.
The entrance, flanked by' huge
Chriatmaa candlea, faces the stable
aeene with life-sized figures. To
the right of this Is the country
church scene with carolleri nearby.
A snow-covered forest scene has
been established on the roof of
the Town Hall and fire engine
building with Santa and his rein
daw threading their way through
It. In the background of all this
Is the huge Christmas tree.
More • dump •( (oar pt*e« grow -
ing close together and standing
nearly fifty feet high have been
covered with hundreds of lights
and topped by a lighted stas.
on the park were
planned by George Suddreth. Jr..
town superintendent of, works, and
executed by the fine crrsr of work
men fot the town who spare no
efforts, summer or wirter, to keep
owing