VOLUME LXXin? NO. 25 PRICE: FIVE CENTS BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1M0
FOR BEST RESULTS
advertisers invariably use the columns ul
(he Democrat. With it* full paid circulation,
Intenaely covering the local shopping area,
H is the bast advertising medium available.
WATAUGA
An Independent Weekly ISewtpaper . . . Seventy-Third Yew of Continuous Publication
The Publigher And Other M ember ?
Of The Staff Of
The Watauga Democrat
Extend Sincere Good Withe* For
A Very Merry Chrhtnuu
Howard Steelman, Jr. Is Slain
By Unknown Gunman In Boston
Car Tags To
Go On Sale
Here Jan. 3
Automobile liceiue tags will go
on tale at the Clumber of Com
merce office January 3.
In order that motorists be serv
ed promptly and efficiently, it is
asked, that the following rules be
observed:
Be sure to remove card from
envelope.
Write name of your county ia
space provided on front.
Sign insurance declaration on
back.
Have correct amount of money
ready, including one dollar for
driver training fee.
Tags will be on sale between 9
a. m. and 4 p. m. Monday through
Foday and 9 a. m. to 12 noon Sat
urday.
No checks will be acccp'cd.
President Wilcox state* that
more than seven thousand tass
were sold here for 1960 and there
were over six hundred traiufen
of tag*. People from adjoining
countics came here for this ser
vice.
Mr*. Rachel Klutlz and Mra.
Kathryn Harmon will again be in
charge of the license bureau.
Democrat To
Have Vacation
The Watauga Democrat will ob
serve Its annual Christmas vaca
tion by remaining doeed Thursday,
Friday and Saturday of this week.
Business will be resumed a* usu
al Monday morning.
Boston, Mass., detectives
have been conducting an in
vestigation into the "snow
ride" slaying of Seaman How
ard S. Steelman, Jr., of Deep
Gap.
Sailors attached to the guid
ed missile frigate Farragut,
tied up at Boston Naval Ship
yard, on which Seaman Steel
man served, and other ac
quaintances of Steelman are
being quizzed fof a clue into
the tragedy.
The body of Steelman was
discovered in a snowbank in
the Roxbury section of Boston
early Thursday morning. He
had been shot twice, through
the left tempi? and below the
left ear, press dispatches indi
cated. Police have theorized
that the body may have been
dumped from a car, due to the
position in which it was found.
Local residents heard no shots.
Robbery had been ruled out u a
murder motive, sines Steelman bad
A wide-spread March hat failed
to turn up the murder weapon. Ex
aminations indicated the shot*
were fired at close range.
Seaman Steclman was on liberty
when ilain. The entire crew of hi*
ship has been questioned.
Mr. Stcdman, 3a years old, was
reared at Deep Gap. He had been
hi the radio and television business
in Doom, served for a time as po
lice officer here, and was letter
carrier at the Boone postoffice.
Funeral Wednesday
Funeral services were held at the
Gap Creek Baptist Church Wed
nesday at 2 o'clock, and burial
was in the church cemetery.
His divorced wife resides in
Thomasville with his- four daugh
ters: Rebecca Jane, Linda Frances,
Martha Joan and Susan Janet Steel
man.
Roe Keller
Dies Sunday
Roe Wilburn Keller, 78, of
Route 3, Boone, died December
18 at Watauga Hospital.
Funeral services were held Dec
ember 20 at 2 o'clock at Oak Grove
Baptist Church by Rev. R. C. Eg
gers, - Rev. E. F. Troutman and
Rev. W. W. Jones and burial was
in Oak Grove cemetery.
Surviving are the widow. Mrs.
Addie Hodges Keller, ? son, Frank
of Hudson; and a daughter, Mag
gie McMahon, Boone. There are
four grandchildren.
U. S. to offer NATO new nu
clear plan.
Adenauer, ill, cancels Paris and
London visits.
Seal Sales
Continue
The 1960 Christmas Seal Sale
Drive continues in the three coun
ty area served by the Alleghany
Ashe-Watauga Tuberculosis As
sociation with the sale goal being
a little better than half reached.
Mrs. Ruth T. Draughn, execu
tive secretary for the association
reports that to date $2,957 has
been received in this year's Seal
Sale from individuals and business
es in the tri-county area. The total
funds received since the mailing
of seals in November are about
60% of the amount the associa
tion has set as necessary to carry
on a successful tuberculin pro
gram.
Dr. H. H. Cooke, Watauga
County Seal Sale Chairman, re
minded citizens that it is through
the TB Association, cooperating
with the State Board of Health,
tiiat each year free X-rays are of
fered here in the county. Funds
collected from the sale of Christ
mas seals make possible these X
ray programs which detect tuber
culosis as well as other lung and
chest disorders.
"Each year when you and I buy
Christmas seals we help support
the TB Association as they carry
on their vital work. The work is
(continued on page four)
Phone Book Indicates
Community Growth
A measure of growth of Watauga
County it the increase in the num
ber of Telephone Directories being
distributed here this week to local
subscribers.
Approximately 3,700 of the De
cember 1900 issue will be delivered
to homes and businesses according
to H. M. Inabinct, manager 'of
Southern Bell Telephone Company,
compared with 3,300 when the last
directory was delivered In Decem
ber, I960.
The new Telephone Directory has
many new and changed listings and
number*. It Is easily distinguish
able from the old green to a glossy
grey cover. Enough directories
have been printed to supply every
telephone subscriber and to allow
for future telephone expansion.
The Classified Section ? Yellow
Pages ? contains listing* for busi
ness telephone subscribers under
headings alphabetized according to
their business or profession. This
lection provide* a convenient ready
reference guide when you want to
locate a firm or individual, the
manager pointed out
CHAMBER COMMERCE REPORTS
Boone Has Experienced
Year Of Marked Growth
Area Has Had
Best Tburist
Business Ever
The Chamber of Commerce has
had an active and particularly
fruitful year, according to a report
made to the membership by Her
man W. Wilcox, president
| Some of the many accomplish
ments of the Chamber ,during the
year are listed, together with some
projects completed by other insti
tutions and individuals:
Sponsored Appalachian High
School Wrestling team to Knox
ville, Tenn., where they won the
crown
Among the multitude of feature
articles in the dally newspapers
and the state and national maga
zines, was a front' page picture of
a local scene on the Saturday Ev
ening Post which created much
interest and inquiries.
WSJS, WSOC, "WBTV, and
WFMYTV ran special events on
Boone and Watauga county. Part
of these features were fed to thf
ABC Television Network,
Paint-Up, Clean-Up campaign
was held, which was one of the
most successful. One of the prize
winners was the garden decoration
in front of the entrance signs on
the 421 Highway entrance east.
Most of the 1960 Chamber pro
grams were built around recogni
tion of our local industries.
The building of the driveway
at the post office from King to
Queen streets for the entrance of
the highway post office buses was
approved.
Farm-City Week was a huge
success, with almost 400 in attend
ance. This annual affair is con
sidered one of the most outstand
ing goodwill builder^.
There were 7,106 vehicle tags
| sold and 015 license transfers
I handled through the Chamber of
Commerce office in 1960.
New and modern AitP Tea Com
pany super market built.
The Chamber of Commerce was
host to 46 people from 24 differ
ent states, who were making a
guided tour in connection with the
Carolina Motor Club of Charlotte.
This was followed up by sending
them 2,300 promotional folders of
various kinds.
The Chamber of Commerce as
sisted the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company of Winston-Salem in
making a movie of Watauga coun
ty. It was presented to the North
west North Carolina Developments
Association. It was shown at the
December membership meeting of
the Chamber of.Commerce.
The North Carolina Educational
Association held their annual con
vention here September 23, with
approximately 2,000 visitors.
' A woodworking conference held
at the Appalachian State Teachers
College in April was sponsored by
the Boone Chamber of Commerce.
This was well attended.
New four-mile extension of Blue
Ridge Parkway opened near Blow
ing Rock.
This year was marked by ? larg
er volume of tourist business with
about ? 11% increase.
Highway 603 was completed snd
officially opened and was later
changed to Federal Highway No.
321 which made a direct rojite to
Johnson City, Tenn.
Addition to Shadowline, Inc.,
which increased their employment
200 persons.
New and modern bank building,
now giving us two /branches.
Squire Boone Cabin, located on
the Horn in the West grounds,
opened to the public.
(continued on page four)
CHILDREN'S PARTY. ? Professor Leo K. Pritchett, of Boone plays Santa Claims at annual Christmas party
of Grandfather Home, Banner Elk. ? Photo Flowers' Photo Shop.
County Committee Members Named
By Carolina Development Group
The Board of Director* of the
Nprthwest North Carolina Deve
lopment Association for Watauga
County appointed the following to
serve on the County Committee for
the coming year:
Community Development Division
Chairman, Jerry Adams, Sugar
Grove; Miss Jean Childers, Boone;
Herbert Aldridge, Rt 1, Banner
Elk; Clyde A. Tetter, Reese; Mrs.
T. R. Snyder, Blowing Rock.
Industry Division
Chairman, Glenn Andrews,
Boone; Ralph Winkler, Boone;
Dempsey Wilcox, .Boone; Stanley
Harris, Boone; Jerry Coe, Boone;
Alfred Adams, Boone.
Youth Division
(To work with 4-H, FFA, HFA,
Scouts, Churches, etc.)
Chairman, Eric DeGroat, Boone;
Jack Groce, Boone; David Spain
hour, Boone; James Moore, Boone;
W. O. Teems, Boone.
Agricultural Division
? Beef Cattle and Sheep
Chairman, Howard Edmisten,
Sugar Grove; R. G. Shipley, Vilas;
Henry Taylor, Valle Crucis.
Dairying? Grade A
Chairman, I. B. Wilson, Zion
ville; Dick Winkler, Rt. 3, Boone;
Vance Keller, Rt 1, Boone.
Dairying ? Manufactured Milk
Chairman, Fred Tester, Reese;
W. R. Vines, Sugar Grove; Hal
Cook, Banner Elk.
Burley Tobacco
Chairman, M. L. Shepherd,
Sugar Grove; Clint Eggcrs, Zion
ville; Ned Glenn, Sugar Gnfte.
Poultry
Chairman, Sam Morctz, Rt. 2,
Boone; Sanford Creed, Reese;
Homer Critcher, Rt. 3, Boone.
Swine
Chairman, Stewart Simmons,
Triplet!; Cecil Swift, Reese; Fred
McGulrc, Reese.
Forestry
Chairman, Dr. Ray F. Derrick,
Boone; Crayte Tcaguc, Boone; Ed
gar Greene, Boone.
Apple Production and Marketing
Chairman, D. T. Brown, Zion
villc; Johnson Chrlstcnbury. Valle
Crucis; Walter Coffey, Rt 2,
Boone.
Small Fruits and Vegetables
, Chairman, J. C. Goodnight
Boone; J. C. Stanbury, Rt. 1,
Boone; Rev. Rhctt Winters, Valle
Crucia.
Travel and Recreation Division
Chairman, L. H. Smith, Boone;
Joe Maple*, Doona; Harold Bice,
Boone.
The Board of Dircctora (or Wa
tauga County are James Marsh, W,
C. Richardson, and Stanley Harris.
Stores Close
T\ext Monday
Most of the stores of the city
are expected to observe Monday of
next week as a Christmas holiday
and remain closed.
The Northwestern Bank and the
Watauga Savings and Loan As
sociation will be closed Saturday
and Monday as will the City and
WaUuga County offices.
Mrs. Austin
Dies At 94
Mrs. Delia Greene Austin, M,
died December 14th at her home,
Route 1, Blowing Rock.
Funeral services were held on
the 18th at 2 o'clock at the Cool
Springs Baptist Church, by Rev.
Clyde Cornett, and Rev. Bob
Shores and burial was in the Wink
ler cemetery.
Mrs. Austin was the widow of
William Austin. A foster son, W.
W. Austin of Blowing Rock sur
vives.
Weed Sales
Closed For
Christmas
The Boone burley tobacco mar
ket closed (or the Christmas holi
days Wednesday, December 21
with what warehouse officials de
scribed as a very satisfactory prc
Christmas sale.
Poundage through December 19
totaled 3,104,234 for an average
price of *66 60 and a gross sale of
$2,067,094.44. This is $9.20 above
the average pre-Christmas selling
price of a year ago, and even with
fewer selling days in this ytnr's
sale, poundage runs very close to
the same figures as on last years
longer selling period.
Tobacco continued to arrive at
the warehouses, although there
was a noticeable slack in activity
as selling operations came to a
holiday halt. Warehouses Will be
open to receive tobacco through
the holiday period, it was learned.
Boone and Watauga* County's
chief source of income during the
winter months is from the tobacco
market. With (he higher-than-ever
prices this season more farmers
will be. able to enjoy Christmas
with the feeling of ease that the
(continued on page 3, section C)
Top Ten Scholars Are
Listed At Appalachian
Name* of the "top ten" in aca
domic standing of the 2,466 stu
dents at Appalachian State Teach
ers College have been released by
Herman Eggers, registrar.
Each of the ten has maintained
an average of 378 quality points or
better out of a possible 4UU in hia
studies so far at the collcge. A
straight "A" average la equivalent
to 400 points.
The top student is Betty Jean
Davis with 394 points She ,1a a
freshman from Waynesville.
Barbara Susan JShepard, a senior
from Burnsville, ranks second with
303 points.
Robert Aides Blanton, a senior
from Gaatonia, and Susan Hunt
Groce, a junior from Winaton
Salcm, tie for third place with 393
quality points.
Other* in order ares JB
John Lett, 389 points, lioone.
Robert Grady Bttch, 384 points,
a freshman from Boone.
Mary Ellen Blevins, 382 points, a
freshman from Crumbier.
Mary Louise Avery, 381 points, ?
freshman front Morganton.
Sallie Todd Davia. 381 point. , a
freshman from Boom.
Ramona Lee Craig, MO points, a
freshman from Lenoir.
Elizabeth Anne Clear, 179 points,
? senior from SaltviUe. Va. K
Lelia Nadien Sadler, 3*9 points. K
? Mpbooun CkwMte. (.j