THE NEWS RECORD
SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY
On thm Intldm ... ?
Basketball is big
in Madison County
...see pages 2,6,8
78th Year, No. 2
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL. N C.
THURSDAY, January 11, 1979
15* Per Copy
Public Asked For View On US 19-23
DEDICATION of the Marshall-Walnut Medical Center will be
held next Monday in the Little Theatre at Madison High
School. The program will begin at 2:30 p.m. and the unveiling
of plaques will follow at the M-W Center between Marshall
and Walnut. Former Gov. Bob Scott, federal co-chairman of
Appalachian Regional Commission, will be the principal
speaker. He will be introduced by James Bernstein, director
of office, Rural Health Services, Raleigh. The Madison High
School Band will participate. Jerry Plemmons, chairman of
the Building Committee, stated that the facility is the result
of people working together and the fine leadership of com
munity citizens who conducted the fund drive in March and
April. He also complimented all those who have supported
the Hot Springs Health Program over the years.
County Students Do Well
On State Competency Test
Dr. Bobby Jean Rice,
supervisor of Madison County
Schools, stated that on Nov. 1
and S, 1978, 196 11th grade
students in the Madison School
system were administered a
reading and mathematics test
as a part of North Carolina's
new competency testing
program. Approximately 98
percent of 178 students passed
the mathmeatics teat.
However, 23 percent of the
students gol 96 percent of the
mathematics questions
correct. Forty percent of the
students got 90 percent of the
answers correct. Four
students made perfect scores
on the mathmetics test and
two students made perfect
scores on the reading test.
Only nine students failed
both parts of the test. Many of
the students who failed the
test had obtained scores very
dose to passing. School ad
ministrators were very
pleased with the results of the
test. During the school term of
1976-77, students in Madison
County were able to attend
only 171 of the 180 school days
due to inclement weather. In
1977-78 they were able to at
tend only 170 of the 180 days.
The competency testing
program was legislated in the
1977 General Assembly
through House Bill 304. This
law provided that, beginning
in the fall of 1978, competency
tests be administered to all
llth- grade students in the
state as a requirement for
graduation.
The North Carolina com
petency test is a basic skills
test designed to measure
minimum competency, not
ideal achievement. The
specific tests selected for
administration are SHARP
(Senior High Assessment of
Reading Progress) and
TOPICS (Test of Proficiency
in Computational Skills). Both
an published by CTB
McGraw-Hill and each contain
130 items.
The North Carolina com
petency testing program waa
administered to 11th grade
students in the public schools,
nan-public schools, ' and
federal schools and special
schools on Nov. 1 and 2, 1978,
with make-up testing taking
{dace Nov. 7, 8, and 9, 1978.
Personnel in local education
agencies (LEAs) attended
administrative workshops,
developed monitoring plans,
and undertook measures to
insure the security of the
competency tests. These
activities were monitored by
state department and local
education agency personnel.
In addition to normal local
and state graduation
requirements, it is necessary
for each student to pass both
sections of the competency
test in order to receive a high
school diploma. Those whotail
either or both tests will be
given additional instruction in
learning those skills which
they do not possess.
All of the students who
failed to pass the test will be
immediately enrolled in a
remedial English and-or
mathematics class where
extensive remediation will be
provided. An individual
educational plan will be
written for each student
showing his weaknesses and
remediation will be geared
toward his needs as indicated
by the teat results.
These students will retake
the parts of the competency
test which they failed (math
or English) on May 1 and 2. If
they are unable to pass the
test in May, they will continue
in remedial classes during the
senior year. Two op
Continued on Page 5
New Growers
Can Request
Leaf Quota
Farmers may make an
application for a new grower
quota for burley tobacco with
the ASCS office not later than
Feb. 13.
To be eligible for con
sideration for a new grower
quota for burley tobacco a
farmer must own a farm, have
no interest in a farm as owner
or operator which has an
established . burly tobacco
quota, he must derive at least
90 percent of his income from
?Jarming or farm products, and
must also have proof of ex
perience in raising burly
tobacco for two years of the
last five years on a farm with
a current tobacco quota.
Any farmer who is in
terested in applying for a new
grower quota for burley
tobacco and feels that he may
be eligible, should contact the
ASCS office in Marshall.
Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday
except national holidays.
Judge Lacey Administers Oaths To State Prosecutors
In an impressive ceremony
bald New Year's Day in the
Avery County Courthouse,
Judge Robert Laeey ad
ministered the oaths of office
to District Attorney Clyde
Roberts and his assistants,
Tom Rusher, Forest Bali and
Harold Bailey. '
Court Magistrates Gary
Buchanan and Jason Ht?hes
were also sworn. "It gives me
a gsat deal of pleasure to be
here for this ceremony,"
Judge Lacey stated, adding
"I'm proud of the officers of
this district The office of
district attorney is an
d^Titt^t^P^rclU
And that ym can do things
such as dismissing matters st
24th Prosecutorial District in
the general election and began
his four-year term Jan. 1. The
34th District is comprised of
Avery, Watauga, Mitchell,
Yancey and Madison counties
In the lengthy oith repeated
after Judge Lacey, District
Attorney Roberts swore in a
steady voice to uphold the
constitution, to bear faithful
and true allegiance to the
state of North Carolina, and to
the const! rational powers and
wMw'"" which an or may
tx estoblkhsd by the
government; It (Mend,
attorney; and Harold Bailey
as administrative assistant. "
Judge Lacey then ad
ministered oaths to Rusher,
Ball and Bailey, similar to
that given District Attorney
Roberts.
Roberta spoke briefly at the
conclusion, stating, "We
appreciate this fine
ceremony; very imprsestve,"
and spoke highly of the district
resident JudgH, Lacey and J.
Ml.
LEFT TO RIGHT ClydsM. Roberts, district
attorney; Tom and Forest II, *
assistant district attonwyt; Judge Robert
The Division of Highways of
North Carolina Department of
Transportation (NCDOT) will
conduct a public hearing Jan.
24 in Mars Hill to discuss
alternative locations for the
proposed improvement of US
23 from the intersection of US
19 near Mars Hill to the
Tennessee state line.
The public hearing will be at
7:30 p.m. in the Mars Hill
Elementary School
During the hearing, NCDOT
staff will explain the alter
native locations for the
proposed improvement, right
of-way procedures and
requirements, housing
relocation advisory assistance
and the state-federal part
nership in road construction
projects.
"US-23 is part of Interstate
40 in Asheville and is a direct
north-south link from
Asheville to Tennessee," said
Secretary of Transportation
Tom Bradshaw. "This project
is part of the commitment by
the governor and his Board of
Transportation to economic
development in the
Appalachian region and
balanced economic growth
statewide."
Four alternative locations
for the proposed improvement
have developed. The four
alternate locations and their
environmental impact are
contained in the draft en
vironmental impact
statement.
A map of the alternatives
and copies of the draft en
vironmental statement are
available for public review
and copying in the division
office of the NCDOT located
on Orange Street in Ashevflk
and in the Mara Hill Town
Hall.
The public is encouraged .tp
submit suggestions and ask
questions about the protest
during the hearing.
This 10.6 mile project,
estimated at $22.3 million, it
included in the Transportation
Improvement Program fer
right-of-way to begin in fiscal
year 1961 and construction to
start in fiscal year 1962.
Additional information
about the hearing may be
obtained from W.A. Garrett
Jr., administrative assistant,
Highway Design B ranee,
Division of Highways, N.C.
Department of Tran
sportation, Raleigh 27611,
telephone (919) 733-3244
County Not Affected
By Wilderness System
George Olson, forest
supervisor of the National
Forests in North Carolina,
announced results of the
Roadless Area Review and
Evaluation in a news con
ference in Asheville on Jan. 4.
His announcement coin
cided with that of Department
'J Agriculture officials
throughout the country.
Olson stated Thursday that
the Secretary of Agriculture
will recommend 66,000 acres
of National Forest land in
North Carolina for immediate
inclusion in the wilderness
system.
Two areas of the French
Broad Ranger District, Big
Creek in Madison County and
Wildcat in Haywood County,
were dropped from the final
recommendation and will not
be included in the 66,000 acre
allocation. According to
District Ranger Joe Wallace
at Hot Springs, the two areas
will be returned to multiple
use management and will be
managed, like other lands for
production of timber, wildlife,
recreation and water.
The Roadless Area Review
and Evaluation, better known
as RARE II, began last year to
determine qualifications of
National Forest lands for
possible inclusion in the
Wilderness System. The study
ended on Jan. 4 when
Secretary of Agriculture Bob
Berglahd made public his
recommendations to
President Carter.
The recommendations of
designated areas will be
passed on to Congress for
passage of an act to designate
the areas as Wilderness. At
that time use of motorized
equipment and development
activities will be prohibited.
During the evaluation process
areas which should be con
sidered were recommended
by people in pubttc hearings
These meetings and written
comments revealed 38 areas
totalling 207,000 acres in North
Carolina to be studied. The
final recommendations by
Secretary Bergland will in
clude 15 areas totalling the
66,000 acres. Five other areas
will be further studied in the
land processes and may later
be set aside for Wilderness.
These areas contain vym
acres, none of which are in
Madison or Haywood counties.
Mars Hill College
To Offer Classes
In Madison County
The Mars Hill College
continuing education program
has announced its spring
schedule for 1979. The
program, which is in its fifth
year, has graduated 75
students with four-year
baccalaureate degrees.
In Hot Springs, Group
Discussion (English 215) to be
taught by Mrs. Elizabeth
Watson is scheduled from ? to
8 p.m. on Monday nights. On
the same night, Miss Gail
Webster will teach Physical
Education 101 (Foundations of
Physical Education) from 8 to
10 p.m. Classes will not begin
until Feb.S.
On the college campus, a
number of courses are
scheduled. General education
courses or courses required of
all students include English
213 (Advanced Composition
and Research) to be taught by
Pauline Cheek on Monday
nights from 0-8 p.m..
Mathematics 110 (Probability
and Statistics) to be taught by
Dr. Dob Russell on the same
night from B to 10, and FSMB
(Greek and Roman Culture)
to be taught by M.H. Kendall
on Thursdays from ? to ? p.m.
Courses in education indwte
Education 304 (Psychology
and Behavior of the School
Child) on Tuesday nights toft*
offered by W.L. Lynch,
Education 401 (Psychological
Foundations) on Wednsec|ky
afternoons; Education 434
(teaching reading in the
content area) by Mrs. Lou
Therrell on Tuesday af
ternoons; and Psychology 363
(Identification and counseling
of the Gifted) by JuUe Long en
Tuesday afternoons