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VOLUME LXXV,? NO. It
? / ?
An Independent Weekly IS eum paper . . . Seventy-Fifth Year of Continuous Publication
Sept 17 70
200
106
_ m
M 3?
til 38
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1M2
? CENTS
It PAGES? 2 SECTIONS
? ? ? ? I >11 I
Flowers Photo
PART OF THE 2800 WHO ATTENDED EDUCATIONAL RALLY
SOLICITOR TO QUIZ WITNESSES
State Election Board Asks
Court Action In Vote Charges
Raleigh ? The State Board of
Elections declared Wednesday
that an SBI probe of alleged
ballot-box stuffing in Watauga
County uncovered evidence of
"definite violations of the elec
tion laws, not mere irregular
ities."
"The charges are serious,"
?aid the board in a statement
?s it urged speedy court action,
"and if true, indicate that an
op?a alter* was mad* to fix the
Democratic primary aftMHV
In Watauga County. The pri
mary was held last May 26.
The board said it has turned
the SBI's report of its probe
over to Solicitor B. T. Falls Jr.
of Shelby "with the request that
he seek one or more bills of
indictment against those per
sons implicated in the election
law violations."
3 Inches Rain
Ends Drought
More than three inches of
rain fell on Boone Saturday and
Sunday, breaking a prolonged
drought, which had dried up
several springs in the area, and
threatened a water shortage
generally.
Although more than an inch
of rain had fallen early this
month, it was not enough to
keep the streams flowing fully
following a dry August, when
little more than two inches of
rain were recorded.
The rain began Saturday af
ternoon, slackened a little dur
ing the evening, but then about
0:30 set in tor good, and by 7
a. m. Sunday, two inches were
recorded.- Uost of Sunday was
dampened by the continual fall,
and on Monday morning at 7
o'clock, another 1.06 inches was
recorded. Mid-morning Monday
the skies brightened, and the
sun came through, but not be
fore another .10 of an inch was
recorded.
"The board hopes," the state
ment continued, "that any per
sons who may be indicted by
the Watauga County Grand
Jury will be brought to trial
promptly in order that this mat
ter may be cleaned up before
the November elections."
The grand jury is scheduled
to meet Sept. 24 at the start of
a criminal term of Superior
Court in the county.
The state board asked for the
'BBT at a meeting here
June 8 at which it heard evi
dence of ballot box stuffing in
the Cove Creek Precinct of Wa
tauga. The board asked the Wa
tauga County Board - of Elec
tions to throw out Democratic
votes cast in the precinct.
It acted after hearing a tran
script of a hearing conducted
by the. Watauga board, at which
two precinct officials testified
they had refused to sign the
vote returns from the precinct.
They said the Democratic bal
lot box contained 206 more bal
lots than there were names on
the poll book.
Solicitor To
Ask Questions
Before Court
Shelby, Sept. 13 ? Superior
Court Solicitor B. T. Falls Jr.
will question witnesses in the
Watauga County ballot stuffing
case next week to determine
whether to seek criminal indict
ments.
Falls said Wednesday he
plans to go to Watauga County
late next week with SB1 agents
who first investigated charges
of ballot stuffing during the
primary election last May.
"If I can get competent evi
dence from witnesses to sup
port an indictment, then I'll
certainly ask for an indict
ment," Falls said.
"I'm not going to whitewash
it. It'll be aired one way or the
other."
Falls said he has read ex
cerpts of the SBI investigation
report and found it full of evi
dence. But he said he will need
to talk with witnesses himself
before asking a grand jury for
an indictment
May Settle
Road Dispute
Grandfather Mountain. ? Cliff
Benson of Raleigh, chairman of
a State Highway Commission
study committee, said Thursday
his committee hopes to come up
with something to satisfy both
sides in the dispute over where
the Blue Ridge Parkway will
run in the Grandfather Moun
tain area.
He made the remark but de
clined further comment after
the committee wound up a
three-day stay here. He said tne
committee would report to the
commission at its next meeting
in Raleigh September 26-27.
The National Park Service
and Hugh Morton, owner of
Grandfather Mountain, have
been at odds over which of
two or three routes through the
Grandfather Mountain area will
De used.
Jaycees Making
Annual Beauty
Pageant Plans
The local Jaycees have been
making plans for the annual
Watauga county beauty pageant.
October 27 has been set as the
date for the event of talent
and beauty, which is to. be held
in the Appalachian Elementary
School auditorium.
Already the entries commit
tee has begun its annual search
lor lovely, talented young lad
ies in our community. The com
mittee plans to contact the
(Continued on page two)
Local United Fund Makes Plans
For Raising $15,000 In October
The Watauga Count; United
Fund is now making plana for
its annual campaign which will
atart in early October.
Glenn Andrews will again be
chairman of the advance gifts
committee and Cecil Miller
chairman of the general solici
tation group.
Dependent upon funds from
the campaign are some twenty
local charities, including every
thing from the Empty. Mocking
Jtaul to the Red Cross and all
types of youth work. There are
seventeen State organization
included, In addition to the lo
cal charities for ? total budget
of almost I15J0W
Mental Health
The United Fund helps sup
port the mental health pro
gram.
The acceptance of mental
illness did not come over-night.
It has taken years of educating
the public and of research to
bring about this change in
thinking, and in the efefctive
treatment ?f mentally ill per
sons.
North Carolina is fast becom
ing recognized as a leader in
the nation's fight against men
tal illness. The North Carolina
Mental Health Association, to
gether with its 37 local associa
tions, has worked diligently in
. ii 1
this field; through education
of it* citizen* by holding semin
ars, workshops, program*, etc.;
through Mholarship* to stu
dent* interested in going into
mental health work; through
legialation, in urging that the
State's commitment laws be
revised (these laws were re
vised during the last legisla
ture); through the support of
Mental Health Clinics; through
the Concerted effort of all citi
zens actively interested in bet
ter mental health.
Throughout the State, indi
viduals, clubs and associations
are cooperating with the
(Continued on page two)
Rev. Atkins
Dies At 81;
Rites Friday
The Reverend John Norton
Atkins, 81, of the Shulls Mills
lection, died at Blowing Rock
Hospital Tuesday evening of
last week after a long period of
declining health.
A retired Episcopal minister,
Rev. Mr. Atkins was a native
of Bayonne, New Jersey. He
established residence at Shulls
Mills 57 years ago, where he
was engaged in the Episcopal
ministry. Later he became
chaplain and superintendent of
the hospital at the University
Tjf ttre South, Sewanee, Tenft.
Besides those in Western North
Carolina, he had served parish
es in New York, Richmond, Va.;
and at the time of his death
was a priest of the New York
Diocese. In recent years he had
lived at Shulls Mills during the
summers, spending the winters
in West Point, Va.
Rev. Mr. Atkins was confirm
ed in Trinity Episcopal Church
in New York City, and was or
dained as a clergyman by the
late Bishop Horner, the first
Bishop of the Western North
Carolina Episcopal docese.
During 1950-91 he served as
supply minister of Grace Church
in Morgantcn. He had served
churches in Hickory, Bat Cave,
Boone, Vaile Crucis and Blow
ing Rock.
Rev. Mr. Atkins' father was
George W. E. Atkins, for a
great many years Vice-Presi
dent of the Western Union
Telegraph Co.
Funeral services were con
ducted at 11 o'clock Friday at
Holy Cross Episcopal Church,
Valle Crucis by the Rev. R. Y.
Winters and the Rev. C. Ward
Courtney, and burial was in the
church cemetery.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Katherine Moran Atkins; three
sons, Joseph A. Atkins of Pitts
( Continued on page two)
Conor Story
Funeral Held
Conor M. Story of Graham
died Thursday, September 6 in
a. Burlington Rest Home after
several year* of declining
health.
Mr. Story was a son of the
late Lorenza and Martha Curtis
Story. He was a native of Cald
well County and a retired car
penter. He was also a veteran
of World War L
The funeral was conducted
Saturday, September 8 at the
Graham First Baptist Church.
Burial was in the Alamance
Memorial Park.
Surviving are the widow, Mrs.
Bonnie Schronce Story of Gra
ham; three sons, C. Max Story
of Winston-Salem, B. Jack
Story of Greensboro and Char
les Story of Kannapolis; one
daughter, Mrs. boscoe S. Wil
liams of Jacksonville, Fla.; one
sister, Mrs. A. K. Hampton ?f
Boone; five grandchildren and
one great grandchild.
NO PLACE FOR UNSKILLED "
es
"You Hold
The Key,"
Says Sanford
Governor Terry Sanford told
a gorup of Watauga students of
all ages Monday night that their
help and support is needed if
North Carolina is going to have
better education.
"We need your support," he
said. "We need your help . . .
if we are going to make our ed
ucation second to none."
The challenge was issued by
the Governor in one of his talks
to students over the state to
inform the students of the
"quality education" program he
is interested in, and has been
'backing during his administra
tion. He intends to visit every
county in the State in support
of the program, and had already
made several speeches Monday
in other counties of the area
before coming to Boone for the
big educational rally which was
attended by 2900 people.
The Governor challenged the
students to stay in school, to
broaden their opportunity,
broaden their outlook, and make
preparation for the ever-widen
ing areai of work and mtponal
bility.
He laid, "So many changes
have been nude ainet World
War II in science, technology,
and human relations that the
youth of North Carolina must
study ]ust a little bit harder
to even keep up. I want for you
as good an opportunity as for
students in any other county
in the State. I want for you a
school system that will measure
up to any in the nation. This
whole state and our nation will
suffer if our boys and girls do
not have the best opportunities
possible."
Governor Sanford stressed to
the students he was speaking to
them directly because it was
they themselves who could
cause a better education. He
said the leaders are well aware
of the many needs of the edu
cational field, and that leaders,
including Dr. W. H. Plemmons,
president of Appalachian State
Teachers College, were at that
very moment in Raleigh going
over some of the needs with
the budget committee.
The place to discuss quality
education, he said, was not with
school officials, state legisla
tures, or boards of education.,
but with the students them
selves.
(Continued on page two)
DINNER.? Governor Terry Sanlord speaks briefly at dinner before addressing educational rally.
At his left are superintendent of schools W. Guy Angell and Mrs. Angell; right Mr. and Mrs. Hugh
Hagaman. ? Flowers Photo.
BEST RESORT YEAR IN HISTORY
B. Rock PlansTV Promotion;
ivic AuditoriumConsidered
Blowing Sock enjoyed the
best season in its history, it was
revealed in reports made to the
Board of Directors of the Blow
ing Rock Chamber of Commerce
last Thursday.
Parkway travel showed an in
ueas* of about 13 per cent
over a year ago, it was stated.
The membership committee
reported 96.84 per cent collec
tions of membership dues for
the year 1962, with the total
membership standing at 363.
The beautili cation of grounds
in front of the Chamber of
Commerce offices was approv
ed along with the refurnishing
of the offices.
The need for an auditorium
ww discussed and preilmiaary
plans were laid. Plans for
local television films were ap
proved, and these films are
to be shown on national tele
vision networks sometime
within the Best sixty days.
The directors alao approved
the purchase of one of these
films to be used by the Cham
ber of Commerce In its pro
motional work for the en
suing year. The film wfll fea
ture Blowing Bock, its sum
mer homes, i(a attractions
and its progress over the
year*. Moat of the pictures
have been made; other* will
Modern Appliance People
Earn Vegas, Hawaii Trip
On Friday, September 14, a
group of 34 area people will
leave the Tri-Cities Airport in
Bristol, Tennessee, tur a trip to
Las Vegas and Honolulu, Hawaii.
They will attend the Gibson
Refrigerator Sales Corp. Con
Autumn Leaf Train
ToMakeAnnualRun
West Jefferson. ? Sunday, Oc
tober 14, the annual Autumn
Leaf Train Excursion cm the
famous Virginia Creeper from
West Jefferson to Abingdon and
return is scheduled to make
its popular run and is expected
to attract hundreds of visitors
as well as local patrons.
?
In addition to scenic beauty
through the mountains and
across White Top, where the
autumn colors are expected to
be at their best, there will be
other special entertainment in
cluding string music.
The excursion train will leave
West Jefferson at 0:00 in the
morning and return in the af
ternoon around 4:30. A wor
ship service is planned en
route at White Top with hymn
tinging. . i.; >(
.>?r.
Lunch will be served on the
train and will be included in
the price of the tickets. The
tentative schedule includes brief
stops at Bristol, Abingdon, and
DIXQUCUI) Vt With
greetings and some brief aster
tainment.
The West Jeferson Women's
Club will sponsor the excur
sion. Mrs. Ed M. Anderson is
the general chaircan. Tickets
must be sold in advance and
some special plans for housing
will be made lor out-of-town vis
itors.
An old-fashioned square dance
is planned for Saturday night
and all visitors who have pur
chased train tickets will be ad
mitted free. There will also be
a craft exhibit Saturday after
noon and night as well as other
planned events.
The price of the round trip
for adults will be *7.00 and
children under 12 years of age
will pay $3.90. These prices in
clude lunch. Children under
five years of age accompanied
by parents may ride for 91.29
and this includes a lunch with
milk.
There will be both ? doctor
and nurse on the excursion, of
ficials said, and > space will
be equipped as a tint aid room.
vention and view the new line
of 1983 appliances while in
Honolulu.
They will be guests at the
fabulous Flamingo Hotel in Las
Vegas for a night on the famous
"Strip" and Bon-Voyage party
at the Flamingo and also at the
Tropicana Night Club where
they wil see the Follies Ber
gerre. They will leave Las Vegas
on a chartered Pan American
Boeing 70 1 Jet for the trip to
Honolulu and a stay at the ex
clusive Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Area people will Include Mr.
John H. Edmisten from Modern
Appliance Co, Boone. He has
been presented this trip through
his excellent sales record for
the past year.
be msde daring the fall <,/ the
year when colors are at their
beet These will be followed
by film* showing ski slopes,
the making of the snow, and
action shots V skiers.
The number of visitors seek
ing information from the
Chamber of Commerce mater
ially increased during the year
and "the Blowing Rock Cham
ber of Commerce has been a
busy place during 1962."
Report On
HornToBe
Made Soon
The Southern Appalachian
Historical Association will meet
October 8th, at which time it
will hear a report of this year's,
operation of Horn in the West,
The Horn has had a very
successful season, according to
H. W. Wilcox, executive vice
president of the drama, but he
points out that expenses have
been increased due to the stag
ing of five additional perform
ances this year.
Major repairs are needed at
the theatre, Mr. Wilcox Ufa,
and adds that, along with other
obligations, it will take several
more good seasons "before we
will be satisfied."
The major purpose now, Mr.
Wilcox adds, is to assure the
general public that the drama
will continue to be presented.
Boone, Blowing Rock Get
Powell Bill Roads Money
The allocation of $1,628,882.
78 in Powell Bill funds to 418
participating municipalities was
announced last week by the
State Highway Commission. The
funds are distributed annually
to qualified cities and towns
lot use In non-highway system
street work within their cor
porate limits. Checks to the in
dividual municipalities will to
mailed from Raleigh the latter
part of this month in order that
they will reach municipalities
by October X.
to Watauga county Slew
ing Rack was allotted 111 r
1X8.M and hw HMMJ1.
In Avery county Bauer
Elk (eta $2,449.51, Newlaad
RMM4 awl Elk Park $3,
587.93. K: .
Powell Bill allocations are
based on a formula using the J
population and street mileage
in the municipalities and the
total allocation this year re
presents an increase over 1061
el <273,746.82.
The six largest allocations
this year art: Charlotte, 8688,
'Mrf.70; Greensboro, HS7.857.5S;
Winston-Salem, |377,4?1.86; Ra
leigh, $326,068.80; A*eville,
8270,773.87;
mm.