Net Paid CIRCULATION Last Week 2791 gtfj* IjigblanV JRacoman It seldom fails ? let two Southerners meet . . . and they won't talk about the Civil War at all . . . But let a North erner join them and up pops the Civil War. ? James Street. 72nd Year ? No. 6 Franklin, N. C., Thursday, February 7, 1957 Price 10 Gents Sixteen Paget RISING WATER in the Little Tennessee River spilled over into the Macon County Airport runway last Thursday, curtailing ' v ? si?n photo activities . . . well, curtailing them to a certain extent, that is. (See picture, Page 4). Little Damage Done Here By Heavy Rain And Flood Macon County escaped with little damage from floods trig gered by heavy downpours last week. This wasn't the case, however, in nearby Jackson and Chero kee counties, where rampaging rivers and streams caused thousands of dollars in damage and forced the evacuation of many from their homes. School busses going to the Rose Creek, Tellico, and Burn ingtown sections from Franklin High were allowed to leave early Thursday because of rising water. A number of pupils from Rose Creek and Burningtown were unable to make it to school Friday. River Up Swelled by intermlttant down pours, mountain streams press ed the Little Tennessee River out of its banks early Thurs day morning. By late afternoon the Macon 'County Airport ? an Inevitable victim of high water ? resembled a sea plane base. However, little high water dam age was reported here. Through 8 a. m. yesterday (Wednesday i Franklin's rainfall for the month (Feb.) totaled 4.46 inches; Highlands, 4.79; and Coweta, 5.20. Record Rain Nantahala Power and Light Company reports the highest rainfall ever recorded for a 24 hour period fell a;t its Nanta hala dam and plant on Jan. 31. This was 4.5 inches at the plant and 3.40 inches at the dam. On this day it is estimated that 4,673 cubic feet of water per second poured into Nanta hala Lake. The lake rose 20.5 feet between 6 a. m: Wednesday of last week and 6 p. m. Mon day. From 8 a. m. last Wednesday to 8 a. m. Thursday, Franklin had a 3.15 rainfall. A 3,23 read ing was recorded at Cartooge chaye on Thursday. Weil No Wetter, Aldermen Award Contract For Another Franklin's "dry hole" well is no wetter at the 450-foot mark than it was last week qut 418. Town officials Tuesday night let the contract for sinking a new shaft at another location. Thirty-two feet of free dig ging at no extra cost to the town failed to stir up any more water in the "dry hole" and the Virginia Well and Machin ery Company pulled out its rig Tuesday morning. Officially, the town abandon ed the dry well last week, but the well digging outfit offered to dig on to the 450- feet level while a new location was sought. When the company quit at this level, the well was coughing up only about two gallons a min ute. meeting in regular session Tuesday night, Mayor W. C. Burrell and his aldermen re viewed new bids for another shaft and awarded another contract to the Virginia outfit Its bid was the same as for the old well, $6.65 per loot. How ever, since it already is on lo cation, the company offered a $100 rebate, which had the ef fect of cutting the bid to $6.32 per foot on the basis of a 300 foot shaft. Three other concerns submit ted bids, H. C. Huffman, of Hickory, $7 per foot; F. B. Rog ers, of Franklin, $5 per hour, plus all materials; and B. M. Hughes, of Anderson, S. C., $6.50 per foot. Two sites are being eyed by the board for the new shaft. First choice Is near Sheriff J. Harry Thomas's home across from the airport and the other is in the old Crawford sub-divi sion. ? i j * m ai^tl /huw Miss Stanfield Reads Her Bible Nantahala Delegation Seeking Funds For Shop Learns System Has Problem *\ aeiegauuu lium ii autatiaia School seeking funds to, equip its new vocational shop learned Monday that , money is a pretty general problem over the whole county school system. The delegation, made up of Nan ? ? ? Schools Resolution Approved By Boards A double-barreled resolution dealing with school construction and the legislative budget for education got a stamp of ap proval from both the Macon Board of Education and the Ma con Board of County Commis sioners here Monday morning. The resolution, which origi nated with the school board and was then presented to the com missioners, first requests the General Assembly to authorize the calling of an election for a state-wide bond issue to con struct needed school plants and, secondly, endorses the budget request of the state board of education for the next two VPflTR Copies of the resolution have been mailed to Macon's legisla tors, Rep. G. L. Houk and Sen. Kelly E. Bennett. The resolution emphasizes that many counties in the state, including Macon, have previous ly voted the amount in county bonds for school construction and that the "remainder of the state school improvement fund of 1953 is not sufficient to meet the needs of the present and the near future". It further points out that a state-wide bond issue could supply these needed facilities. He's Really On The Job Franklin's new parking meter checker, George J. Conley. can't be accused of shirking his daty. In his first three days at work (he started Feb. 1) the town collected three times the number of fines it did during the whole month of January, according to Town Clerk C. O. Ramsey. And to Mr. Conley, a violation is a violation. He has given tickets to at least two a'.dermcn, and has tagged Police Chief C. I>. Faird's pr vate car and police man Homer Cochran's pickup truck. laiiciia i~i uiuiisai ox:ny n. nan aiiu A. Howard Cross and John Wis hon, members of the school com mittee, made its pitch before both the Macon Boara of County Com missioners and the Macon Board of Education. Prom both boards came the word that no funds are now avail able. A similar situation also exists in Highlands, where a vocational shop has Just been completed School Supt. Holland McSwain estimates that about $10,000 is needed to properly equip both shops. However, the superintendent said "it may be next fall before we can do it, though." He and the board members as sured those from Nantahala that some provisions would be made in the 1957-58 school budget for the shops, but that little coula be done before then. To offer some relief, the board authorized Supt. McSwain to se cure what equipment he could for Nantahala, possibly through sur plus channels. "It's unfortunate," Mr. McSwain observed following the meeting, "but our present budget isn't ade quate for even present needs, much less something extra." The superintendent also said he is renewing the county's request for two vocational teachers to staff the shod6 at Nantahala and Highlands. A request was submitt ed to Raleigh several months ago. "We'll keep renewing it until we get some action," he declared. .. He said he plans to investigate the matter when he is in Raleigh later this month. Mr. McSwain explained that the state requires at least an enroll ment of 100 before approving P. vocational teacher. Both Nanta hala and Highlands are short of this figure, the former with an en rollment of 90 and the latter with 80. The state does, however, make exceptions in special cases, he said, adding: "We're hoping Nantahala and Highlands will be the exceptions." COLLEGE OFFICIALS HERE Representatives of Bereft Col lege, Berea. Ky . and Brevard Col lege discussed college careers with seniors oi Fianklin Hisih this past week. Officials of other colleges will be visiting the high schools in the county at intervals between now' and the end of school, ac cording to Principal Harry C Corbin. -V ? ? ? Cuilasaja Woman Believes In Regular Church Going "The Old Devil likes to get on our trail and he's always ready to kick us if we'll slow down enough for him to catch up." If the Old Devil has been looking for Miss Mae Belle Stanfield, whose words those are, he's likely to find her at the Cullasaja Assembly of Ood. Miss Stanfield hasn't missed a Sunday of preaching or Sunday School In the last 17 years. And the big handsome certi ficate which hangs inside the entrance of the Cullasaja church attests to her perfect attendance, with the seven teenth year being marked down recently. It hasn't been the Idea of a fancy attendance scroll, which has encouraged her these years, Miss Stanfield said, it has been the need she felt to be at the church to nourish her spirit. During the nearly two dec ades, she taught the primary class (for 13 years) and was secretary - treasurer of the church (for five years and, fol lowing an interruption, now for the last four years). Presently, she also is teaching the junior class. Lives Alone Miss Stanfield, a pleasant middle-aged woman who lives alone in the old family place on the Cullasaja River, has one thing which she does first every day after breakfast. With the dishes cleared, she sits down to read her Bible. She has no system for read ing the Holy Book. Instead, she opens It and begins at whatever SEE NO. 1, PAGE 8 FATE OF BUS RESTS WITH COMMISSION Local Delegation Protests Change At Friday Hearing Is Franklin going to lose its morning bus to Ashevilie? The answer to this question now rests with the State Utilities Commission, which conducted a hearing into the matter in Ashe ville Friday afternoon after pre viously blocking a move by smoky Mountain Stages. Inc., to eliminate the bus without first petitioning the commission. A decision is expected from the commission at any time. Questioned At the hearing before Com missioner E. V. McMahan, of Brevard, the key figure was J. H. Quattlebaum, vice president of traffic for Smoky Mountain Stages, who testified as a sworn witness and was questioned at SEE NO. 2, PAGE 8 Board Eyes Jail N^eds The Macon Board of County Commissioners took a look at the jail Monday with an eye to ex panding its facilities ? a recom mendation made by the grand jury in Dec. Although they took no action formally, the commissioners dis cussed building a concrete block structure on the back side of the jailer's quarters. The structure would contain two rooms, to be used by the jailer's family. Part of the living space now used by the jailer's family is in the basement. If a new structure is built, this area would become available for cells. ' Sheriff J. Harry Thomas spoke to the commissioners on the "acute need'' for additional space. Other Business In other business, the commiss ioners received an insurance com pany notice that Ralph W. Cun ningham, Franklin taxi driver, is insured, as required by law; re ceived a letter from the State Board of Health that W. E (Gene I Baldwin, chairman of tht board, has been re-appointed another state-wide bond issue for school buildings, and <2> the school budget for 1956-57 as pre pared by the state board of educa tion. The resolution will be trans mitted to Macon County's legis lators. The semi-annual list of names of more than 400 persons on county welfare rolls, with the amounts they receive, was filed with the commissioners by the Welfare Department as a public record. All three members of the board. Chairman Baldwin. Wiley Brown, and John W Roane, were present at the meeting. Franklin Girls T ops In Division Cinch Title When Swain Beats Next Team In Line Even with games still to play, the Franklin High lassies Friday night sewed up the eastern di vision girls baskebtall crown of the Smoky Mountain Conference. While the grils' were handing Webster an 82 to 36 shellacking on the home court. Swain High was knocking off second place Glenville, putting Franks in be youd the reach of axy challenges. Mavis Gibson hit the hoop for 36 points against Webster to pace the girls to their eighteenth straight victory and twelfth con ference match this season. The Girls' Tourney Bid Goes To Swain High Franklin High was unsuccessful in its bid to get the Smoky Moun tain Conference Girls Basketball Tournament. Following a meeting of confer ence officials Monday night, it was awarded to Swain High in Bryson City. Robbinsville got the boys tournament. Tournament play is scheduled to get under way next week, ac cording to Principal Harry C. Cor bin. Although it is still to be de cided at a meeting this week-end. the girls probably will play the 13th, 15th, 21st, and 23rd, If the procedure of past tournaments is any indication. By the same token, the boys should play the 14th. 16th, 20th, and 22nd. (As soon as the official schedule of games is available, it will be posted on The Franklin Press bul letin board at the courthouse.! Assistant Agent Reports For Work Mrs. Joan Hennessee. of Sylva, Monday took over duties here as assistant to the home agent, Mrs. Florence S. Sherrill. She succeeds Mrs. Jessie D Cabe. who held the position for some three years. A native of Knoxville. Tenn.. and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Mrs. Hennessee has been hired on a "temporary, basis" until Sept. 1. at which time Mrs. Cabe is expected to rejoin the staff. Mrs. Hennessee is the wife of Jack Hennessee, of W. C. Hennes see Lumber Company, and has been substitute teaching at Cher okee High School in recent months. Just Forget About It . . . Just forget all that to-do about Brer Groundhog seein' his shadow on the 2nd. .Shucks, any real moun taineer knows that Ground hog Day is Feb. 14. So disregard all that city fied propaganda and look to the 14th for the little arfitnal's forecast. Houk Leaves For Raleigh On Tuesday; Says He Has No Legislation In Mind Macon's Rep Guy L. Houk left Tuesday for Raleigh where he is attending the 1957 session of the general assembly, which opened yesterday (Wednesday). Accompanying him is Mrs. Houk, who expects to return home later. Asked what prospective legis lation had been brought to his attention, he replied: "The re quests for money. Every state agency wants more money . . . It's going to be a rough ses sion." This will be Representative Houk's second term in tha leg islature, having served in 1955. For seniority purposes, however, he has three sessions to his credit, last summer's special ses sion on the scbools-segregatlon issued being counted, as well as the regular convenlngs. ? On 11 committees In the 1955 session. Representative Houk said he wouldn't attempt to guess what committees would be assigned him this time. "I'll leave that to the Speaker." While in Raleigh, he will live at the Sir Walter Hotel, located about four blocks from the Cap itol Mr Hook game was played on the local court when weather conditions prevented it from being held in Sylva, as scheduled. Tuesday night the girls took an easy 52 to 21 victory in a game here with Highlands. Miss Gibson led in scoring with 22 points. This gave the girls nine teen straight. Boys Win Franklins' boys racked up victories during the week also. They downed Webster 50 to 43 with Gary Clark, Larry Brooks, and Willard Smith each bucket ing 12 points. In Tuesday's clash with Highlands. Smith had one of his best nights of the season, hitting for 36 points to lead his team to a 61 to 43 win. Tomorrow 1 Friday >' night the locals journey to Glenville for games. > The Smoky Mountain tournaments get under way next week in Robbinsville and Bryson City. Team Members Members of the championship girls' team include forwards Lucy Henry. Mavis Gibson. Bon nie Lee. Claudette Leatherman, Carolyn Dowdle, Shirley Lenoir, Barbara Carpenter, and Leota Beck; and guards Jean Phillips. Jean Sutton, Frances McClure, Joyce Cabe, Joyce Cole, Joyce Pendergrass, Grace Shepherd, Kate Buchanan. Helen Setser. Inez Hedden. Garnetta Vanhook. and Edith Sheffield. Mrs. Rose Corbin is coach. On Probation For A Year A 12-month probation has been slapped on Franklin High School athletics by the Smoky Mountain Conference referees' association for the roughing up of a referee. The incident occurred here Jan. 29 during the Cullowhee? Frank lin meeting when an adult fan. reportedly angered over the Way the game was being called, struck the official. Sitting in on a hearing into the matter last week. Principal Harry C. Corbin said he was told that any recurrence of trouble be tween local fans and the associa tion's referees will mean officials to referee Franklin's games will no longer be supplied. Although he recognized the seri ousness of the situation, the prin cipal pointed out that Franklin High has not been the only offend er. He said he learned at the meet ing that Swain High is just end ing a probationary period and that other schools in the conference have been similarly involved in years past. Register Of Deeds Now Out Of Hospital, Is Working At Home Lake V. Shope was back home this week after a stay at Angel Hospital where he has been con fined with osteomyelitis. Still unable to be at his court house post, as register of deeds, ?nevertheless. Mr. Shope was ask ing for work. He had work that could be done at home sent to him there. The Weather Th?' week's temperatures and rainfall below ai?- recorded in Franklin by Manson Stiles, U. S. weather observer; in Highlands by Tudor N. Hull and W. C. Nrwton. TV A ob itory. Re:i linjrs nre for the '24-hour period ending at S a.m. of the day listed. FRANKLIN High 55 60 70 60 54 68 61 Wed., Jan. 30 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday COWETA Wed., Jan. 30 55 Thursday Low Raiti 47 .02 Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday , HIGHLANDS Wed , Jan. 38 53 63 70 58 54 66 65 Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday 58 60 50 54 61 M 47 47 33 42 51 52 49 45 48 51 30 42 52 52 46 46 48 37 3.15 258 .52 .15 .71 .09 49 .70 1.00 2.89 .53 .30 .97 .35 .16 .49 M 2.48 50 32 trace 53 1.45 SO .19 ? 08