count* us?** THE NEWS - RECORD ^ 1 Volume TVNumber 3 Marshall. N.C. 15 CENTS PEt COPY February II. If7? Hot Springs Precinct Meeting Ends In Confusion, Bitterness The Democratic battle for control of the Hot Springs precinct which erupted into near violence last Thursday night was triggered by Republicans who switched their registration to join the fgay, B6bby Ponder, Hot Springs hardware dealer who presided at the precinct meeting, said. Ponder also said a report that his faction walked out without electing delegates was false. > A spokesman for Larry Phillips, head of the opposing faction, claimed that Ponder td his followers, in apparent nfusion, failed to elect delegates to the county con vention to be held March 5. "We took one count The group had become unruly and I did not want to see blood shed," Ponder said. The tease meeting was held in the Hot Springs school with an estimated MO persons attending. 1 asked my group if they agreed to an 'aye' vote on the entire slate, and there wasn't an opposing vote," Ponder said. Ponder said he challenged 93 persons at the meeting of some 300 in the school house, "but there was actually 70 or SO who were not active Democrats." The Phillips faction com plained that Ponder's ruling was arbitrary and designed to weaken their forces and assure defeat. Ponder said all S3 persons that he challenged had been registered Republicans until recently. "They were lifelong, born and bred and raised Republicans, and supported the Republican party up until last week," he said. It was reliably reported that blows were exchanged as the meeting broke up, but the fights apparently resulted in no serious injury. "One of the Republicans that I challenged - and I have his name and address on a piece of paper where he signed it himself ? is a Republican lawyer who lives In Mars Hill," Ponder said. The lawyer Ponder referred to is Edward B. Krause, who is a candidate for the State Senate from the four-county 26th Senate District which includes Madison County. Ponder conceded that Krause did not attempt to identify himself as one of the Democrats at the precinct meeting. Krause said he was there as legal counsel for Larry Phillips, and that he took no part in the meeting and simply observed the proceedings. "All he asked me to do was to be at the meeting," Krause said of his work for Phillips, "I am going to stay out of it" Krause told The News Record Tuesday morning that, "The only thing that I signed was an attendance sheet presented at the beginning of the meeting." He further stated that he did not vote, attempt to vote or want to vote in the meeting. He also stated that it was impossible for him to be challenged as a Republican because he did not vote. Ponder, a member of the Madison County school board, said he is not chairman of the Madison County Precinct 6 organization at Hot Springs, nor a member of the com mittee or a delegate. "Howard Tino, the precinct chairman, designated me to serve. His granddaughter had been killed, and he was at her funeral in Maryland," Ponder said. Tino was re-elected chairman by the Ponder faction. The fight for seating one of the two slates will come up again at the Madison County Democratic convention in the courthouse in Marshall next month. An appeal by one side or the other is likely at the State Democratic convention in Raleigh. CUVEM. WHITT Mr. dive Whitt, Educator, Honored At Marshall Omt M. Whitt, principal of Marshall Elementary School, was honor td by the faculty and students on February 13, 19*. An oil portrait of Mr Whitt was presented to the school in recognition of his Jftalsoa years of dedicated SiMtonawvering service to the schseL The standing ovation, and several minutes of SBStaiMd applause as the presentation was made, was indeed a moving tribute. . Under Mr. Whitt's capable leadership, many in structional aids have been procured for the school liilnreliall rlamaetam Cr>knnl *i* ?' ?i it iii ,/?Sih ??'?. ' " ?? ! EDWARD B KRAUSF Register I To Vote Don't forget to register to t s too lav. - Tl? registration lead >?" for the March tint Presidential Primary la Monday. Feb ? cloalig at 4:3 p,|L ' Atti : Vtftirl" ? ? ? o^aoa a a "? ? w ?ikjiaa jI HUNDREDS OF MOTORISTS are "rushing" to get the new 1976 License stickers as the deadline draws near. Above pictures were made here Monday showing people lined along sidewalk outside the local license bureau on Main Street. The other photo shows the long line of customers inside the building patiently waiting to get to the desk. Hot Springs Republicans Deny Claims Republicans were not in volved in Thursday night's political squabble between Democratic precinct factions in Hot Springs, a Republican spokesman said Sunday. Mrs. Mildred Gamble, vice chairman of the Madison County GOP, disputed the claim of Democrat Bobby Pander that S3 persons at the meeting of precinct six at Hot Springs were Republicans. Ponder said Friday that a split between two Democratic factions at Thursday's meeting was because S3 members of a faction opposing him were Republicans. "Bobby Pander is trying to blame the Repulbican people of Madison County and discredit us for a split in his own party," Mrs. Gambiesaid Sunday. Her husband, Tony Gamble, registrar for the sixth precinct, said Ponder's claim of so many Republicans switching'parties to disrupt the Democratic meeting was false because he has changed registrations for only six Democrats recently. The Thursday meeting broke up in disorder when Ponder and rival party leader Larry Phillips couldn't agree whether delegates were elected to the county con vention. No one has named the S3 persons whose party registration Ponder disputed. Ponder claimed 70 to SO people at the meeting were not Democrats. ?'V: * Former Chief Of PoUee Reinstated Mayor George Penland and the Marshall board of aldermen stated Tuesday morning that former police chief Faye Eeid has been reinstated and remaned her duties as Chief of Police here Tuesday afternoon. They ah? announced that . Andrew X "Beats" iwadpg. who waa recently named chief, succeeding Mrs. Rett, resigned his position Monday night. The shakeup here Monday 1 night and Tuesday morning J did not effect the regular ? policemen. Fain Davis, Prince X Thomas, Steve Robinson and M Cariie Gunter. I Cooperative Attorneys Still Fighting Rate Increase Cooperative attorneys are working urgently to persuade the Federal Power Com mission to direct Carolina Power & Light Company to delay their wholesale rate increase for at least five months to give them an op portunity to research and produce evidence they feel would prove the rate increase is too high.,These attorneys are also working to obtain a settlement of the rate increase imposed January 1, 1975. Due to the uncertainty of the situation at this time, if CPfcL is allowed to place their proposed wholesale rate in crease in effect March 1, lf76, French Broad Electric Membership Corporation will be prepared to raise retail rates oil bills rendered April 1, 1976 and after. The exact amount of this increaae win be determined in the next few days. Whatever the amount, it will be paaaed on to the members as an increased purchased power and fuel adjustment factor. It will be plainly indicated an the bills and will apply to everyooe alike. By handling the in crease in this way, the members will have no trmihfc in determining the amoant of the increase and where it it coming from. If any members of the Cooperative have qnestiens concerning this rate increase. They are invited to contact tfe* Cooperative office for in formation. Basketball Tournament To Start Here Mondav The Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament will begin in Madison High School's gymnasium next Monday, February 23, it has been announced. Schools to participate in the tourney are: Madison, Mit chell, Heritage, Brevard, Ptsgah, Tuscola and Syhra Webster. On Monday night, three Junior Varsity games are slated. The first game will start at 3:00 p.m. Health Planning Board Changes Dates The Madieon County Health its regular meeting from the to the second Wednesday ?fsis?i5. * CW, Mt county regarding regional piSHfi. ThOM regional plarvs On Tuesday night, three varsity games and one JV game will be played with the JV game starting at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday night four varsity contests will be played. No games are scheduled for Thursday night. Friday night, the tourney will resume with four games. On Saturday night, varsity and Jayvee championship gxmae will be played. Pairings were not made for the tournament in time for this Mrs. Marler Accepts Position Mrs. Sandra Treadway Marler of Rt 5, Marshall Liu (reach Worker al ^ r wfll be 11.00 for stvdcntTirU Ham And Beef Dinner "Pie Ladies' Auxiliary for church improvement far tka Beech Glen Baptist Church fa Dinner in the Mars Hill School Lunchroom - Sunday Feb. 21