An Independent Weekly Newt paper . . . Seventieth Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THUXSDAY. JUNE M, IMS
SECTIONS
Watauga
Hospital Is
Accredited
Aj a result of a recent survey of
Watauga Hospital by the Joint
Commission on Accreditation, the
hospital has been notified that it
has been fully accredited for a
period of three years.
The accrediting agency is made
up of The American College of
Physicians, American College of
Surgeons, American Hospital Asso
ciation, American Medical Associ
ation, and Canadian Medial As
sociation.
Dr. T. Nordlander, a representa
tive of the Joint Commission of Ac
creditation, visited the hospital
on May 9. The essential divisions
surveyed were the physical plant,
administration, medical staff org
anization and medical record de
partment. The complementary and
service divisions - surveyed were
surgical department, obstetrical
department, anesthesia depart
ment, dietary, and nursing staff.
Dr. Norlander stated that he was
favorably impressed by the ex
cellent medical program carried
on at the hospital. Watauga Hos
pital was first approved in 1997,
and has been fully approved since
that time.
It is pointed out that the ex
amination by the Joint Commission
is purely voluntary, and made only
to those hospitals that request it,
Hospitals are approved for three
year periods only, and must then
be reinspected.
Mrs. Jack Grace, administrator
of Watauga Hospital, expressed her
appreciation to the medical and
surgical staffs, to the board of
trustees, and all the other depart
ments, and employees for their
cooperation in helping to main
tain high hospital standards.
Local Clubs
Vote Yes On
Park Proposal
Various Boone civic organiza
tion* have gone on record as of
ficially endorsing a proposed re
creation park and civic center on
the city-owned Horn in tbe Wert
property, according to an an
nouncement by HugV Hagaman,
chairman of the publicity commit
tee of the Daniel Boone Park
Committee, a group formed to
promote the project. ?
A municipal election it schedul
ed to be held on July 19 to decide
v^hether the Town of Boone will
n^otiate a $190,000 bond issue to
finance the project, which would
provide for a swimming pool,
clubhouse, playground, memorial
gardens, and other facilities.
One of the major prpjects of
the Chamber of Commerce for
1996, said Mr. Hagaman, is to pro
mote the development of this pro
perty for a civic center and
swimming pool.
Other groups that have endors
ed the program, Mr. Hagaman's
announcement said, are the Wo
man's Club, the Junior Woman's
Club, the Rotary Club, the Junior
Chamber of Commerce, the South
ern Appalachian Historical As
sociation, and the Business and
Professional Women's Club.
_ (
Sets Record
For Flight
T-Sgt. Carl H. Cornctt, ion of
Mr. and Mrs. Claud Cornett of
Reel* wa> crew chief of a F-100C,
which he flew to what ia believed
to have been a record for "straight
day! flying time," when the plane
flew 17 straight days for S3 hours
and 39 minutes flying tine. Ac
companying Sgt. Cornett was A
2c Howard W/ Arant. The flight
was made at Victoria. TVxas.
The two-man crew was com
mended by Lt. Col. Ralph E.
Keyea. 730th Fighter Day Squadron
Commander, for its exceptional
ARMED TO THE TEETH
Tucson, ArU. ? Policeman Don
ald Gueatber said a 47-year-old
man he arrested on a drunk charge
was armed to the teeth.
Guentker aaid Hilferio Miguet
had a thin metal atrip acroaa a
partial plate on hia upper front
teeth that waa "razor aharp," and
the man snapped at the Officer
I several tunes.
I i 'i.2 ?
MISS WATAUGA COUNTY? MIm Linda Wey, center, po?e? with her proud parenta, Dr. and Mn Her
bert Wey, after being crowned "Miai Watauga County" for 1996. ? Photo by Palmer'a Photo Shop.
< ' I
Fourth Celebration
.
Is Planned At Rock
Blowing hook, June W? A di
versified Fourth of July celebra
tion, under the general sponsor
ship of the Rotary Club, will be
held over the long holiday week
end.
On Friday the Fourth, the annual
Children'! Horse Show and Pet
Show will be presented at the
hone show grounds at 2 p. m. Mrs
Lloyd M. Tate and those associ
ated with her at <Tate Stables,
will direct the show.
The usual square dance will be
held at the Playground Park !??
villion Friday evening.
Saturday afternoon a Swimming
Meet will be held at the Olympic
Swimming Pool under the direc
tion of George Mattar, Jr.
Saturday evening there will be
? street dancing in front of Play
ground Park with free dancing in
the pavillion to follow.
A (nore complete program will
appear in the next edition of the
Democrat.
Beech Creek Dam
Plans Are Renewed
' ? * " 1 ?? ? ? ? ? . i . I Pprtcno/?fe fnr ?ho rnnttmrfion
Ed Anderson
Dies Tuesday
Brevard, June 24 ? Ed. M. An
derson, 92, Western North Caro
lina newspaper and radio execu
tive, died unexpectedly this morn
ing at the Transylvania Commun
ity Hospital.
Anderson was publisher of the
Transylvania Times here, the
Forest City Courier, the Spindale
Sun, the Alleghany News at Spar
ta and the Skyland Post at West
Jefferson. All are weeklies except
the Forest City paper which is
published twice weekly. ' '
Anderson also was president of
WPMF in Brevard. WBBO in For
est City and was connected with
two other radio stations in Marion
and Elkin.
Anderson was a native of Rock
ingham County. He attended pufar
lie schools in Reidsville and was
a graduate of the University of
North Carolina.
' He served as president of the
North Carolina Press Assn. in
1M2 abd was a past director of
the North Carolina Association of
Broadcasters.
In 1M4-S5, he served as presi
dent of the National Editorial
Assn. During World War II, An
derson was on the War Produc
tion Board in Washington and for
more than 10 years during and
after the war he handled legisla
tive affairs for the National Edi
torial Assn. ia Washington.
He .was a member of Sigma
Delta Chi, professional journalism
fraternity, and of the Methodist
church. He was ofce of the found
ers of the West Jefferson Rotary
Club and was ? member of the
(Continued oo page three)
of the Beech Creek Dam were
brightened last Thursday when a
group of North Carolina and
Tennessee citizens mej in Moun
tain City, Tennessee, to consider
the proposal.
From Boone those attending the
meeting were Representative S.
C. Eggers; H. W. Wilcox, former
Chamber of Commerce president;
and S. H. Ayers, electrical en
gineer for the New River Light
and Power Co.
The meeting discussed and ex
plored the possibility of securing
the construction of the Dam by
the TV A, or other governmental
agency, to provide power for the ,
people of Watauga county, at low i
coat and to furnish immediate ,
employment to our people who :
are hard-pressed for work at this <
time, and for the general welfare ,
(Continued pn page six)
Linda Wey Is
Miss Watauga
Miu Linda Wey, M year old
beauty,- was crowned "Miu Wa
tauga County of 1MB" following
her winning the title In a con
test between nine glrlf at the
Boone Elementary School Satur
day night.
Crowning of Miu Watauga wa*
the climax of the annual contest
which ia sponsored by the Boone
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Miu Wey, daughter of Dr. and
Mrs. Herbert Wey, wUI go t? Char
lotte Thursday, July 10, to compete
in the Miu North Carolina contest.
Miu Mary Lawrence, daughter
of Or. and Mrs. C. Ray Lawrence,
of Boone, was named runner-up,
and Miu Jane Moretii of Deep
Gap, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Moretz, was selected by the
other contestants as "Miu Geni
ality."
Included among the judge* were
Mrs. Joan Melton Grubb, Miu
North Carolina of 1M7; Mrs. Gail
Starke, who was Miu Kansas of
19S5.
Paul Weston of Todd, organiat,
played music as each contestant
appeared on the stage.
Miu Carolyn Wall, of Winston
Salem, presented the talent.
George C. Flowers was master of
ceremonies. Intermission acts in
cluded a dance, "The Charleston,"
lay Miu Joan Aldridge of Chapel
Hill and a toe dartce by Miu Bev
erly Marshall of Kingstree, S. C.
ARMY COMMAND CHANGE
The White House has announc
ed the assignment of Maj. Gen.
Gordon B. Rogers as commander
of the Seventh Army Corps in Eu
rope with headquarters in West
Germany. General Rogers suc
ceeds Lieut. Gen. John F. Uncles,
who is retiring.
MR. AND MRS. W. -SMITH HARMON of Beech Creek, take their first
ride together on TweAiie, after a honey moon trip on the old train
47 /ear* ago. *j.f , ?
/
n - 1
Un beventn.
orn
Good Year
For Drama
Is Seen
. ' ' ' ' I
The curtain will go up Saturday
night on the seventh season pro
duction of Horn in the West,
Kermit Hunter's outdoor drama
dealing with the settling of west
ern North Carolina in the 1770s.
The play, which opened here' in
1952 and which is sponsored by
the Southern Appalachian Histor
ical Association, has played to
approximately a quarter of a mil
lion people and last season regist
ered a 12 and one-half percent in
crease in' attendance, the largest
jump in the show's history.
Leo Derrick, Jr., director of
public relations and promotion,
said today that advance ticket
sales were the highest yet record
ed and that indications point to
ward another banner year.
Horn in the West is regarded
as unique in outdoor theater for
the unusually high percentage of
its actors that return each sum
mer to their roles. Drama authori
ties credit the success and calibre
of the play largely to this fact.
Three of this year's principles
have been with "Horn" since it
opened and the production direc
tor, William C. Ross, has been in
every performance. This season,
however, he was taken out of the
cast to assume directorial duties
after two highly successful sum
mers in the play's lead Previous
ly, he played another top role for
4 years.
Returning for his seventh sea
son as the frontier preacher is
Charles Elledge as Rev. Isaiah
Sims. Glenn Causey, at 6 feet, 4
inches and whose drawl and long,
easy gait are reminiscent of the
famous frontiersman and Indian
fighter he portrays, according to
historians, is another 7-season
veteran and is cast as Daniel
Boone.
Elledge, who had a part in the
current Robert Matchum movie,
"Thunder Road", is principal of
Marion High School and Causey
is on the faculty at Arlington,
Virginia Senior High.
(Continued on page six)
Polio Clinic
Arranged Here
Pointing out that many have not
yet been immunised against polio,
Dr. Gene Reese, president of the
Watauga Chapter, Infantile Para
lysis Association, announces that
? polio vaccination clinic will be
held Wednesday, July 2, 1 to 9
p. m? in the vacant building ad
jacent to the Dixie Store.
Dr. Reese asks that all Watauga
county residents, regardless of age,
attend this clinic and receive the
Salk shots. The cost for the vac
cine will be one dollar.
Pointing out that the danger per
iod for polio is near, Dr. Reese
suggests that entire families should
take advantage of this clinic.
< Photo by Paul Wnton
Heavy equipment It shown being used to get Beone'i golf courie into shape.
Golf Work
Ahead Qf
Schedule 1
Work on the conitruction of the
golf course in Boone is running
ahead of schedule, according to
report* nude to the atockholder*
of Boone Development!, Inc., by
President Wade E. Brown, and
Mr. J. E. Maples, golf architect,
Tuesday evening.
Most of the heavy grading has
been done, trees and bushes have
bees cleared away, the initial
grading has been done on eight
greens and tees, and Mr. Maples
confidently expects to be able to
seed the course during August,
looking to the opening of the
course in 1900.
The grading is being done by
Brown Brothers, 0. M. Hampton
Construction Co.. and Mr. Mont
gohesry has been assisting in the
finishing work.
The report Indicated that the
corporation has bought two trac
tors, truck, trailer and other
equipment to the value of about
18,000:
Meantime, work on the road
ways to the restricted residential
development which is to be a fea
ture of the golf course area, is be
ing carried on, and there ia a
prospect that some lots may be
sold this summer.
Mr. Brown told the .stockhold
ers that $100,000 in stock has been
sold ? the amount permitted un
der the charter, and that present
plans do not call for a provision
to issue more stock. Money may
be borrowed, he said, and repaid
from the sale of the lots on the
^00 acre residential tract.
Highway program's value to ec
onomy debated.
4 .
Navy balloon lands after rising
40,000 feet.
Awards Are Given 1
At Flower Show
Mr*. R. H Harmon. Mr*, Ed
Hall and Ed Ray won the ouUand
ing award* at the annual Boone
Flower Show held last week.
Mr*. Hall won the tricolor rib
bon for her wedding reception
table arrangement in the home of
Dr. and Mr*. William H. Plcm
mona.
Mrs. Harmon'f tricolor arrange
ment waa a dining niche piece in
the home of Dr. and Mr*. Law
rence H. Ow*ley.
The award of merit in the horti
culture dhriai<*i went to Ray. Ap
palachian State Teacher* College
gardener.
Blue ribbon* for arrangement*
in the home of Dr. ud Mr*.
Owriey went to Mr*. R. W. Wat
te in* for a college aon'a room. Mr*.
Hall'* blue ribbon winner waa a
breakfast room table arrange
ment. The other blue ribbon in
the Owiley bono went to Mr*. W.
R. Richardson.
Mr*. Lee Reynold!, Mrs. Paul
Coffey, Mr*. B. W. Stalling* and
Mr*. E. T. Glenn were awards
the blue ribbon* in the PlemnK.n*
home.
In addition to the award of
merit in horticulture U blue rib
bon* were awarded. Dr. 0. K.
Moo*e won two. Mr*. H. M. Cook
two, Mr*. Chloe Grow two. Mr.
Stanley HarrU one. Mr*. J. L.
Goodnight one and Mr*. 0. K.
Kiehardson one.
Judging the display* were Mr*.
Charles Crawford of Charlotte,
Mrs. W. C. Landoline Sr. Mrs.
Fred A Smithdeal, Mr*. R. L.
Adams, Mrs. J. T. Thomas and
Mr*. R K. Mendenhsll, all of Win
ston-Salem; Mrs. Robert L. Un
derwood, Mrs. Baxter S. Sellers
and Mrs. i. . Howard Cole, of
Oreensboit and Mrs. John McKee
w
Norris Acquitted
In Fatal Shooting
A coroner's jury brought in a
verdict Saturday of 'justifiable ]
homicide in the death of Harold <
Watson, 31-year-old Boone uied i
car dealer who wai shot by By n urn I
Non-U, 63, kt the Norria home <
about 12:tt p. m. Friday. 1
Evidence given by Norris, hit ]
wife and 18-year-old daughter at I
a coroner* inqueA "held M M j
o'clock Saturday morning by Cor- I
oner Richard E. Kelley at Wata
uga County Courthouse, revealed |
that Norris and Watson went to i
Norris' home on Boone, Route 1, I
near Meat Camp, to look at a mare |
they planned to breed with Wat- i
son's pony.
The two were riding in Watson's
pickup truck, and had "a few
drinks of whiskey" on the way,
Norria said. When they got to the
Norris home, Mrs. Norris and the
daughter had eaten lunch, and in
vited Watson to eat with Norris.
Troutman To
v k
Be Honored
The Rev. E. F. Troutman, who
has served Grace Luthrean Church
here for twenty years, will be hon
ored at the fifth Sunday Union
Service at the Boone Baptist
Church next Sunday at 7:30 p. m.
Those who will speak briefly in
recognition of Rev. Mr. Troutman'a.
ministry here and his worth to
the community, are: the Rev. J. K.
Parker, Jr., Presbyterian minister,
for the churches; Dr. Herbert Wey,
for the college; and H. Grady
Farthing fkr the business com
munity.
A tape recording of the service
will be made and presented to Rev.
Mr. Troutman.
Everyone 4* invited to attend
this meeting.
During the meal, Mr. and Mrs.,
Morris testified that Wataon'a
:hair tilted back against a cabinet,
ind Norris told his daughter to
help him up so be could finish his
linner. The witnesses said Watson
then hit Norris in the eye with
bis Oat. Norris Oe<| into a . bed
room and Wataon followed him,
kifoeked him down on the bed and
Continued beating him.
Mrs. Norris said Watson had
picked up a loaded shotgun be
longing to Norris,' but she went
Into the room and managed to get
It away from him. Then Watson
went out on the front perch and
she continued into the yard, die
said. Mix Norris had gone to *
neighbor's house to "call the
law", Mrs. Norris said.
"I'm going back in there and
kill him," Mrs. Norris testified
Watson said.
Meanwhile Norris said he got
his .32 caliber revolver from his
bedroom and started toward the
front door. As Watson started to
turn as if to come back into the
house, Norris said he shot him
three times in quick succession,
two of the bullets entering his
body as he was falling.
? Deputy Sheriff George Smither
man arrived on the scene and took
Norris into custody m short time
after the shooting.
Funeral services for Harold
Carlyle Watson were (conducted
Supday at 2:30 at the Boone Bap
tist Church by the pastor. Rev. L.
H. Hollingsworth, and interment
was in the city cemetery.
Surviving are the widow, a son
and two daughters, Ray, Jane, and
Sandra of the home. There are two
sisters and one brother, Mrs.
Ethel Grayson, Winston-Salem;
Mrs. Eloise Martin, Butler, Pa.,
and Brainard Watson, Boone.
Also surviving are the parents,
Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Watson of
Boone.
DEDICATION ? Blowln* Rock Mayor R. R. Hardin preaea
for the Grovcr C. Rohbina Memorial Swimming Pool S
ceremonie* held there Suaday aad Miaa Rath Robbii
daughter of the late civic and huainett leader, unveiled
attending the ceremonies at the pool. {