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VOLUME LXXV. ? NO. SI
DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Neumpaper . . . Seventy-Fifth Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE. WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1M3
? CENTS
BOONS WU1
1003 Hi Lo prec. 82 Hi Lo
Jan. 22 43 0 " " ?
Jan. 23 41 19
Jan. 24 19 -12
Jan. 29 39 2
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan 28
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i? pages? t Sections
A LIGHT SNOW and sub-zero temperatures were recorded
la Watauga County during the last week. The above picture
waa made near Zionville last Friday, following a anow which
measured leu than an inch deep. Lowest thermometer
reading! were minus 12 degrees Thursday and two below
sero Monday.? Staff photo.
SHERIFF MYERS OFFERS TESTIMONY
Greer, Three Others Held
Without Bail For Shooting
Lenoir ? Millard Greer and
Ralph Ray Parsons were charg
ed with the January 18 murder
of Blowing Rock's late Chief of
Police William D. Greene at a
preliminary hearing here Sat
urday.
Parsons' 22-year-old wife,
Cared, and 17-year-old Mrs. Mil
licent Evon Hinson are charg
ed with aiding and abetting in
the slaying of Chief Greene.
Len Hicks Is
Held In Fatal
Shooting Case
Len Hicks was ordered held
under $9,000 bond last week
following a coroner's inquest in
connection with the January 12
shotgun death of James Henry
Matheson, 21, of Valle Cruris.
Hicks, 23, has been formally
charged with murder, according
to sheriff Dallas Cheek of
Boone.
Hicks, one of twelve to testi
fy at the hearing, said that the
gun discharged accidentally as
he sat in an automobile.
The coroner's jury recom
mended Hicks be held for grand
jufy actio* at the April term
of Watauga Superior Court. The
Jury said it found negligence
on Hicks' part
Hicks and five other men
were held for questioning after
ICatbeson's body was found
about 11 p. m. January 12 in
the yard of Bill Hicks' home.
Bill and Len Hicks are related,
but not closely, Cheek said.
All but Len Hicks were re
leased two days later. Len Hicks
was free under $2,000 bond
pending the inquest Following
the inquest, Hicks was formally
charged with murder and is to
appear in court this April.
Testifying in addition to Len
Hicks were Don Clay Hicks,
Dean Hicks, Council Mains, Bill
Hicks, Callie Hicks, Louise
Hicks, Sandra Hicks, Dallas
Cheek, Charlie Whitmire, Hugh
Young, and Carl Presnell.
The corner is Richard Kelley.
Justice of the Peace Claude
Goble of Lenoir ordered that
the two men and two women be
held without bond for the Feb
ruary 25 term of Caldwell Sup
erior Court.
Among the estimated 200
persona who attended the hear
ing were the blond widow of the
slain chief and an aunt of Chief
Greene.
Greer and Parsons, 48 and 22
respectively, showed no out
ward emotion when Justice of
the Peace Goble ordered that
they be held in jail without the
privilege of bail for trial in the
term of Caldwell Superior
Court starting February 25.
Twice during the 72-minute
hearing Greer leaned over to
confer with his court-appointed
Attorney Ted West of Lenoir.
The Parsons aie represented by
Attorney A. R. Crisp of Lenoir.
Absentee Probe
Is Directed At
West Carolina
Raleigh ? State Elections
Board Chairman William Joslin
said Saturday the State Bureau
of Investigation may begin a
probe into alleged voting irreg
ularities in eight Western
North Carolina counties.
The Charlotte Observer said
Saturday two of its reporters
had unearthed evidence of vote
buying, forgery, fradulent reg
istration and violation^ of the
state voting laws in Ashe, Clay,
Jackson, Madison, Polk, Swain,
Watauga and Yancey counties.
Gov. Terry Sanford had been
asked at his news conference
Thursday whether he had had
a chance tp study Joslins re
commendations for tightening
voting laws in North Carolina.
Sanford replied he han't, but
said he told Joslin "to do all
possible to see that elections
are above question."
Joslin said Saturday that
although the Elections Board
cooperated with the Observer
in its investigation, there was
some fresh evidence turned up
he didn't know about
Legislators Visit ASTC
To Discuss Its Needs
For two consecutive Satur
day!, legislators of the State
General Assembly have visited
Appalachian State Teachers Col
lege to see and discuss matters
relating to education and press
ing needs of the college.
The Home Economics depart
meat, trustee* and wives, ad
ministrative staff and wives
served as hosts at a tea in
the Home Economics building
and the president's office, lunch
eon la {be college cafeteria, a
tour of the earn, antertain
j?T
meat of the wives of the legis
lator*, and a visit to the Blow
ing Rock Ski Lodge- Many of
the legislators remained in
Boone as guests of the college
for a basketball game.
Dr. W. H. Plemmons, presi
dent of the college, welcomed
the legislators and introduced
the Appalachian family.
Ralph Winkler, ASTC trustee
from Boone, discussed the con
tribution that Horn in the West
is making in this area and the
rtrte... whole.
' < ,/ '
Mrs. Hinson is represented by
court-appointed Attorney Ted
West.
Through their attorneys, all
four of the accused entered
pleas of not guilty.
The prosecution produced
two witnesses at the. hearing?
Or. L. G. Strong, Caldwell
County coroner, and Caldwell
Sheriff J. B. Myers.
Qwfstiooed by Justice Gobi*,
Dr. Strong said he made a sup
erficial examination of Uw
slain police chief about six a.
m. Friday, January 18, then
described the wounds he found.
Dr. Strong, under question
by Attorney Sella, said Chief
Greene had been dead approxi
mately an hour when he made
superficial examination of the
body.
Dr. Strong said Chief Greene
had multiple perforations from
a shotgun blast, and that he
died from hemorrhaging of a
ruptured spleen and the main
arteries of the abdomen.
Questioned by Attorney Crisp,
(Continued on page two)
GLENN HODGES'
Glenn Hodges
President Of
County YDC
The Watauga County YDC
met Monday evening at the
Courthouse with about 200 new
members attending. Past presi
dent, James A. Dugger was
highly praised for his faithful
and efficient work this past
year. He is to receive ? gift
showing the appreciation of the
club for hit work.
The new officers were elect
ed by acclamation, thus show
ing the harmony among the
members of the club. The of
ficers are as follows:
Glenn Hodges, president. He
-is a veteran of the Korean
conflict, a foreman at IRC, a
deacon of the Boone Baptist
Church and president of the
Brotherhood there. He is mar
ried to the former Betty Ann
(Continue* oa page two)
mR$&. ?
Teacher Missed
School Last As
A Chi|d Of Five
Mrs. Virginia Strother of
Sugar Grove, titeemed
teacher In the Cove Creek
School lyatem Is ill ia the
Watauga Hospital.
Of late rest Is the fact that
Mrs. Strother has taught
more than thirty-five yean,
and thia ia the first time
since she was five yean of
age that she has miaaed be
ing In school, either as a
student or as a teacher.
Mrs. Strother was reared
at Sugar Grove, the daugh
ter of Mr. and Mr*. Jamei
8. Phillips. *nd la known a*
one of the county's most ded
icated teachers. Her aiany
friends, both In and out of
the teaching profession, will
wish for her an early re
covery, and return to the
classroom.
Dale Dotson
Home Razed
By Fire Sun.
Firemen from the Boone Vol
unteer Fire Department fought
a losing battle againat flames
which destroyed the home of
Dale Dotson on Wilson Ridge
Road, Sunday afternoon at 1:19.
The house, a total loss, was
estimated by firemen as being
worth $8,000. Furnishings lost
in the Maze amounted to an ad
ditional $2,000 to $3,000.
Cecil Farthing, one of the
firemen who answered the call,
stated that the firemen were
(Continued on page two)
BURLEY YIELDS UP
Watauga Farm Income
Was $3,389,386 In '62
Livestock Sales
In County Go To
Over $700,000
High burley tobacco yields
helped Watauga county farmers
to increase their total income
in 1962 by more than a third of
a million dollars over that of
1961, in ipite of a lower sale
price for tobacco and some re
duction in the yield of pasture
hay and vegetable*, according
to the annual report of L. E.
Tuckwiller, County Extension
Chairman.
The grew farm sales In Wa
tauga county, the report shows,
reached approximately $3,389,
38* or about 1337,232 over the
sales of 1961. Burley tobacco
led In gross sales with $1,242,
000 going to the growers. A six
per cent increase In allotted
acres plus an Increase in yield
per acre of approximately 169
pounds on a county-wide basis
provided the additional pound
age to offset the reduced prices
paid last year.
Other enterprises that gave
more dollars to the farmers of
Watauga in 1962 than in 1961
were beef cattle, apples, small
fruits and broilers. Those yield
ing less in 1962 include pota
toes, lambs and dairy products.
The relatively new enterprises
of nursery stock, Christmas
trees, Christmas greenery and
small fruit production are con
tributing more each year to the
county income, the report
shows.
Following burley tobacco la
(roM farm Income are livestock
sales of approximately 1700, MO;
broilers $400,000; fruit and veg
etable sales *400,000; dairy pro
ducts |2M,000; wood products
985,000; and miscellaneous
sales, 9326,386, for the total of
93,988,396.
The North Carolina Extension
Service has set a goal of in
creasing the gross farm income
by 1.0 billion dollars by 1966 in
the state. Watauga's part of
this increase is approximately a
half million dollars, Mr. Tuck
willer said.
"We are proud of the accomp
lishment of the Watauga farm
ers in 1962 and are confident
that they will surpass this goal
and perhaps even double it by
1966," Mr. Tuckwiller said.
Business men urge spending
cut to accompany reduction in
taxes.
Educational Fund For
Greene Family Sought
An Educational and Emer
gency Fund haa been establish
ed for the family of Blowing
Rock Chief of Police, BUI
Greene, who was killed lh the
One of duty.
Those organizations and in
dividuala wishing to contribute
to the fund may do so by mak
ing checks payable to the Com
munity Club of Blowing Hock,
Inc., designating them ? Bill
Greene Memorial. In this way
contributions are tax deduct
ible.
These gifts may be mailed to
Hiss Margaret Vance, Com
munity Club Treasurer, Blow
ing Rock, N. C.
Savings And Loan Continues To
Grow; Names Board, Officers
fflThe Watauga Savings Aid
Loan Association continued tits
phenomenal growth in 1962, (he
stoekholderi of the association
were told last Thursday by
James Marsh, Secretary.
The stockholders were wel
comed by H. G. Farthing, Presi
dent, who told the meeting that
be started with the Savings and
Loan 39 years ago, and that
each year the stockholders had
received a progressive report,
and added, "Sine* James Marsh
' , - : * '?
has been here we have been
gaining more than a million dol
lars a year." Mr. Farthing
thanked the stockholders for
their cooperation and consistent
support of the Association.
Mr. Marsh's report indicated
that the assets of the Associa
tion daring the past ten years
had increased from ?1,??3, 050.30
to $8,931,562.71. Be added
these facto: Net Income in 1K2
?m PMUJS; dividends for
I i
APPALACHIAN EDUCATION SECRETAR
IES held their annual meeting recently at
the Daniel Boone Inn. Those attending the
luncheon included: first row, left to right:
Peggy Whittaker, Becky Younce, Margaret
Wagoner, Maude Carroll, Ruth Redmond,
Helen Baird; 2nd row: Donna Sink, Judy
Norris, Frances Ragan, Scotti Kelly, Becky
Martin, Julia Van Pelt; 3rd row: Ann Farth
ing, Jackie Bynum, Marisha Cooke, Janice
Greene, Hazel Powell, Lennis Wilson; 4th
row: Dianna Brackett, Carolyn Satterfield,
Carole Robinson, Dianne Greene, Earleen
Pritchett; 3th row: Frances Blalock, Pat
Hodges, Shelba Lee, Melba Tugman, Ruth
Snider, Margaret Cook, Mickey Gibson; 6th
row: Carolyn Coffey, Judy Castle, Betty
Greene and Alma Earp. ? Larry Penley photo.
Sanford And Others Will Be
Asked To Attend Celebration
Governor Terry Sanford if
scheduled to attend the Caro
lina Tercentenary Celebration
of "Daniel Boone Crossing the
Blue Ridge" June 30, according
to an announcement this week
by Herman W. Wilcox, general
celebration chairman.
The working chairmen and
special gusets met last Friday
to further plans for the cele
bration next June la connec
tion with the opening of Horn
In the West.
Out of town guests were
Judge Johnson J. Hayes and T.
Edgar Story of North Wilkes
boro, and C. E. Viverette and
Herman Anderson of Lenoir.
Judge Hayes spoke briefly,
telling the group of the import
ance of the celebration, saying
that Watauga county is the gate
way of Daniel Boone trail to the
West and that the Southern
prong of the gateway was right
through Boone. He said that
Daniel Boone and his family
were outstanding, beyond re
proach and contributed much to
the building of this area. He
spoke of Daniel's home place at
Holman Ford in Wilkes and
said he came across the Blue
Ridge in the Bamboo section
of Watauga county.
Plans of the "Wagon Train"
committee, headed by Clyde R.
Greene, are to start a wagon
train at Holman's Ford and
come Into Boone via Cooks Gap,
the Blue Ridge crossing of Dan
iel Boone trail, on Into Boone
for the parade and celebration
by Saturday afternoon, June SO.
Mr. Greene stated that the train
would originate on Thursday,
the jear were (276394.77, an
Increaie ever 1961 of *41,285.46.
New aaviag accouata for the
year IMS, said Mr. Marah, were
*9S7,SM.9?; number of aaviaga
accounts at the end of the year
waa 1,906, which repreaenti
about all the famillea in the
conaty. Loans made daring the
year totalled *2,?16,579.?S. Mr.
Marah commented on the aound
appralaal of the land on which
loans were made and Mentioned
(Continued on pa?? two)
camping out two nights an the
way. The Uit night'* camp will
be pitched in Cooks Gap.
Mr. Greene is anxious to learn
of all ox teams that might be
available to pull the wagons.
He says some teams have al
ready been lined up.
Another meeting was set for
February 4, at which time Dr. I.
G. Greer will speak.
The Committees
Governor Sanford is honorary
chairman of the Tricentenary
Celebration Committee, H. W.
Wilcox chariman. The commit
tee members are:
Finance ? Alfred Adams,
chairman; Glenn Andrews, By
num Greene, Clyde R. Greene,
James Marsh, Estel Wagner,
Glenn W. Wilcox, Carl Smith.
Invitations of Special Guests
? Dr. D. J. Whitener, chairman;
Wade E. Brown, Congressman
Jim Broyhill, S. C. Eggers, Sr.,
(Continued on page two)
ASTC Band To Be Heard
In Concert Friday Evening
The ASTC Band will be pre
sented in Concert Friday even
ing, February 1, at 8 P. M. in
the Fine Arts Auditorium, it
was disclosed today by Charles
L. Isley, Jr., director.
The .concert will be open to
the public, and admission is
free of charge.
A highlight of the concert
will be the appearance of
James F. Burke, internationally
famous - cornet soloist. Burke
has been solo cornetist with the
celebrated Goldman Band of
New York City tor the past 20
years, and has been featured
on many radio and television
shows, "including "The Jackie
Gleason Show," "Wide Wide
World," and "Thy Kingdom '
Comes." His RCA Victor re
cordings have been sold over
the entire world.
The program for the concert
will include the following:
American Salute, Morton
Gould
Pageant, Vincent Persichetti
Hert Wounds, Edward Grieg
Commando March, Samuel
Barber
Cornet solos with band ac
companiment:
Danza Allegre, composed by
James F. Burke
The Magic Trumpet, compos
el by James F. Burke
Amourette, composed by
James F. Burke.
Fantasie, Theme and Varia
tions on "The Carnival of Ven
ice" by Jean Baptiste Arban
1812 Overture, Tschaikowsky.
The 1812 popular, bombastic
overture will be conducted by
Captain James C. Harper,
founder of the Lenoir High
School Band, and past presi
dent of the American Band
masters Association.
Band members include: Ann
Spradlin, Lenoir; Judy Sharpe,
(Continued on page two)
Orion Mather
Dies In Florida
?
Mr. Orion Mather, 76, for
many year* a summer reaident
of Blowing Bock, died last
Thursday in Miami Beach, Fla.,
and funeral services were held
there Saturday.
Othar detail* an unavailable.
Democrat To
Raise Prices
Next Friday
Today, Thursday January
SI, 1a the last day subscribers
to the Democrat may renew
at the old rate of and
$3.00 per year, depending up
on whether they live to Wa
tauga or in some other area.
Effective February 1 (to
morrow), the price will be
?S.M In North Carolina and
H.N outside North Carolina.
Per copy 1* cento.
Soaring postage rates, and
trebled production costa since
the cunsl rates were es
tablished, have tswbtoid to
make the Increase Imperative.
The publishers appreciate
the reaction to the price In
tioM of approval bp onr rend
ers. ,