The News Record r SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY On thm Insidm Patriot Seniors Play Their Last Game S. ? i, . . . Turn To Page 2 78th Year No. 45 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL. N.C. THURSDAY, November 15, 1979 15' Per Copy THE SIDEWALKS OF MARSHALL are nearly complete, as the work crews race the weather to finish the downtown street renovation before winter sets in. County Is Seeking Master Plan To Aid Recreation The Madison County Recreation Department has begun a county-wide survey of citizens' recreations needs and desires. In cooperation with the Land -of -Sky Regional Council and the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Com munity Development, it is now distributing a recreation ques tionnaire and seeking to have as many residents as possible fill it out. The questionnaire is being handed out through communi ty groups, schools, and other organizations. It is also printed in this week's issue of The News-Record on page four. Persons of all ages are urged to participate in order for the county to gain an ac curate assessment of each community's existing and future recreation needs. Questions regarding this survey should be directed to Kevin Morley, Madison Coun ty Kecreation Director, at ?49-2905. Questionnaires should be turned in by Dec. 14. "This questionnaire is a crucial element of our plann ing process," said Morley. , "From it we will have a better idea what the needs hwere are. We know that the county needs many, many more out door recreation facilities than it has now, and we are trying to determine the best kind of facility to use. "One of the most practical ways to encourage recreation in this area," he went on, "may be to build the kind of all weather slab that can be used for a number of activities, such as tennis, basketball and even dancing." One advantage of these slabs, according to Morley, is that tbey don't require a lot of supervision. Hie county can't afford a large enough staff to cover each community and program various contests, leagues, and so on that some ?ports require. But these slabs pretty well take care of themselves - they are what is known as non-supervised, self programming facilities. They don't require a lot of overhead, people can use them in a number of different ways, and they will be useable year-round for 30 or 40 years. Another reason the county may use these slabs is the gasoline situation. It would be possible to build a large, cen tralized facility, offeirng a variety of fields, courts, or other structures, but for most people in Madison County the expense and time involved in reaching such a facility would discourage the use of it. The county Recreation Com mission has been working on ways to finance the expansion of facilities here, and it now appears that this will be possi ble. The county can apply for a grant from the federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, which would be distributed by the state Department of Natural Resources and Community Development (DNRCD). Such a grant requires that the county contribute in two ways. First, it stipulates that the county draw up a master plan, explaining what it in tends to do county-wide. The distribution of the question naire is the first step in this process, for which the plan ners have to know what the people's needs are. Second, the government money must be matched by community money to the ex tent of 50 percent - or by the coat equivalent of 50 percent. And it is this second possibility that is relevant to Madison County. The community's share of the cost can come in the form of cash, labor, or materials. Thus if a small community wants an $8,000 all-weather slab but can't come up with $4,000, it might come up with the equivalent of that amount in labor or materials. A bulldozer operator might contribute four hours of his time, accoun ting for the market value of that machine and labor. Or a sawmill owner might con tribute so many board feet of lumber. Ten people with ham mers and nails might spend a weekend putting up backstops; and so on. Morley is a firm believer in the importance of exercise, not only during school years but throughout life. "A goal I hold very strongly," he said, "is the goal of lifelong health and fitness. I believe it is the duty of local government to provide the facilities; and it is up to the individual to take it from there. I believe that good health is essential to overall well-being, some people have probably never been healthy to the degree that brigns well being. This is what we are try ing to make possible in the county." The "master plan" required for this project will involve the entire four-county area com prising Region B - Madison, Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties. Beside the recreations needs survey, the plan will include an inven tory of existing recreation facilities and programs, iden tification of problems, a five to-ten-year plan for the pro grams and facilities, and means for implementing the plan. One of the best means for implementing the plan here is through the county's many community development groups, such as those in Sleepy Valley, Hopewell/Walnut, Upper Laurel, Greater Ivy, and other areas. After the results of the questionnaire have been com piled, Morley plans to talk with members of these groups to learn of their needs first hand. All residents are en couraged to contribute their requests and information both through the questionnaire and by calling the recreation com mission. Broadway Director At MHC To Direct 'The Tempest' Dr. William Martin - a direc tor, playwright, choreographer, critic, lec turer, instructor. With all those adjectives trailing after his name, one would expect a demanding, perhaps even gruff person. Especially when it is added that the person has directed a Broadway play that was nominated for five Tonys (the stage equivalent of fUmdom's Oscar) including Best Musical of 1975, and whose resume and conversa tion drips with names such as Edward Albee, Frank Langella, Celeste Holm, Col leen Dewhurst, Ben Gazzara, and Anne Bancroft. "I think that at the audition and the firt rehearsals, the students were actually scared of me. They didn't really know what to expect - who is he, what is he," Martin comments with a smile. Actually Dr. William Martin is a very amicable person, with an infectious laugh, pier cing blue eyes set off by a shock of thick black hair. He is at Mars Hill College to direct the school's production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest," which will open Dec. S for an extended run through the 16. The Department of Theatre Arts count Martin's guest directorship as one of the best things to happen in a long time. "We wanted to introduce our actors and students, to Shakespearian drama, but we wanted an accomplished Shakesperian to do this first play," notes Jim Thomas, chairman of the department. "We are extremely happy to be able to have Dr. Martin. What he is doing includes giv ing private acting lessons, which is quite a bonus. Im agine - one of Broadway's top directors giving private lessons to our students!" "The students here are beginning to realize that ac tors have a great deal to say about what happens in a play," comments Martin. "We are working with a lot of young students - freshmen and sophomores, and at first they still expected the director to be a person who tells them, 'Stand here, say this and move there,' but now they are begin ning to feel the character and even to make suggestions." " 'The Tempest' is really a DOUG TAYLOR, left, of the Farmers Home Administration in Marshall accepts a Certificate for Outstanding Accomplishment from John Collins, FmHA district director for the 15 westernmost counties. The award, signed by State Director James T. Johnson, was made "In recognition of high quality work performance substantially exceeding the nor } mal requirements of your posi tion." These awards are given out only rarely to FmHA personnel, according to John Collins. Tve ... i ill ttnfW f nui A4]/ .IJin rc " woi kw *itn mem tor ^4 years, he said, "and I've only gotten ooe. The main reason for this one is that Douglas makes more farm loans than anyone else in this district." The primary mission of the FmHA is the development of rural areas through tow-interest loans for houses, farms, cattle, equipment, fertilizer, rental units, water and sewer lines, and com munity facilities, such as fire sta tions, medical buildings, and libraries. The FmHA helped build story of two groups of people - those who are natives of the island and those Wtoo ship wreck there. One of the things I am doing wtth the actors is to rehearse them separately from each other until they have realized their characters and then begin to rehearse them together, and let them relate to each other." Martin plans to drape the stage of Owen Theatre with mftaria) usually reserved for scrims. Because this material Is gauzy, it can be back-UI to appear transparent or front-lit to appear solid. "We want to show the environment as a fluid, living one," Martin notes. Also contributing to this "living" environment will be the fairies and sprites whose costumes will be made from the same material. In fact, With the addition of head dresses and the like, these characters will be the sets in several scenes. There will be some special effects, but these will be sub dued because, according to Martin, "The story line has to be unobstructed, clean and clear. Shakespeare is a great (Continued on Page 3) County Singers Will Perform This coming Saturday and Sunday there will be a special celebration at the Walnut School. The Madison County Arts Council is sponsoring a SongFest, a festival of folk and sacred songs. It is dedicated to all who sing in the car, in the Adds or in the shower when there's no one around to hear, or sing tale telling ballads 'and heart-felt gospel songs to listening children. The time informa tion was misprinted last week, so here's the schedule; On Nov. 17, from 7 to 10 p.m., the program will be folk songs and ballads, sung by Berzilla Wallin, Dellie Norton, Sheila Rice, Sharon Garter, Peter Gott, Joe Chandler, Inez Chandler, Mary Eagle, Debra Ross and others. On Nov. M, from 2 to S p.m., the program will be gospel and sacred songs, sung by Cas Wallin, Evelyn Ramsey, Hie Green Family Trio, The Walnut Gospel Singers, Ar thur Nolan, The Gahagan Cousins, The Tokens, Earl Ramsey and Tricia Roberts, the Dave Shelton Family, Steve Rice and others. There will be an admisaton charge of 11 for adults and 80 cent* for children, and concea stous will ba sold. The pro ceedi from this SongFeat will hopefully raiae enough fundi to finish the last of the baaic everyone's efforts, big or small, whether they donated money, cookies, enthusiasm or elbow-grease have brought the facility close to being ready to open. A couple of more work days and some money raised, nickle by dime, and it will be ready for movies, music, plays, anything. But no one should ever lose sight of the fact that this is the Madison County Arts Council. Our own. And our own energies and support are still, and will always be, needed for the MCAC to survive. All performers at the SongFest are county residents. The MCAC has received a $500 grant from the North Carolina Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts to help pay a sti pend to the performers, all other procees go to the PAROTT Project. Opportunity Corporation Receives Grant Of $130,750 From Community Services A Community Services Ad ministration (CSA) grant of \ $130,750 has been awarded the Opportunity Corporation of Madison-Buncombe Counties, Cong. Lamar Gudger an nounced last weak. Tfce funding is to administer CSA programs for low-income persons in the areas of transportation, weatberixa ttai, criaia assistance, houa ing, health care and training in nutrition and meal manage ment. Lonnie D. Burton ia ex ecutive director of the Oppor tunity Corporation of Madison-Buncombe Counties, which ia located at 50 Weatgate Pkwy. The Madison County office is located at the Marshall Recreation Park on Skyway Drive. Hot Springs Plans A Public Hearing 11m Town at Hot 8priafi will conduct a Mcond public tearing on Nor. It at 7 p.m. at tba H* Spring Town Hall - i? to coaplat* $ pro application for funds for Com manity Envelopment from the Department at nnwlig aad CHARLENE BALL, president of the Madison High School chapter of Future Homemakers of America, displays some March of Dimes literature gathered for this year's Snow Queen/King Contest. FHA members are now out gathering contribu tions to the March of Dimes. Each penny gathered counts as a "vote" toward election as King and Queen, who will be crowned at the FHA dance Nov. 17, from 8 p.m. to mid night. The winners will be crowned by last year's Snow Queen, Mary Jane Pressley. < Last year Madison High FHA collected more than $700 for the March of Dimes. County ^ citizens are urged to contribute if one of the 60 Madison FHA members comes to your r< door or puts a jar or can in your store. The . March of Dimes is the nation's leading , organization working to prevent birth defects in children through education, training, and y medical services. ? g> & i Maw Hill PTSA To Sponsoi Its Annual Fall Festival On Nov. IT the PTSA of Man Hill School win -| a fall festival Booths will be 8* up \m tow* along CoU