Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / June 9, 1966, edition 1 / Page 1
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\ x Ahead In Carolina The Democrat led all N. C. weeklies to 1665 Press Assn, contests. Four first place awards Included the one lot General Excellence. BOONE WEATHER iV An Independent Weekly Newspaper ... Seventy-Eighth Year of Continuous Publication Kay 31 June 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 54 60 34 89 33 75 38 78 48 74 50 VOLUME LXXVIII—NO. 50 June 6 '77 49 tr. - enow Given To Nearest Halt Hi ’ • 72 47 75 50 78 50 73 58 87 51 74 54 78 51 BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1966 10 CENTS PER COPY 22 PAGES—3 SECTIONS YOUR TAXES AT WORK—This $67,812 road-bridge project is a link being built from Highway 105 into the populous Hound Ears area south of Boone. The concrete construc tion bridge, pictured, will span Watauga River above Shulls Mills dam. Cars have used a wooden low-water bridge to cross the river for years. Of the total cost, Federal High way Trust Funds comprise $33,906, allotted from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Public Roads. This amount is matched by funds from the North Carolina State High way Commission. (Staff photo) Watauga Tax Rate Set At One Dollar The tax rate for Watauga County for the fiscal year 1966-67 has been set at $1 per hundred dollar valuation, as against the $1.13 rate in effect during the last year. The Board of County Com missioners in setting the new rate at their regular meeting Monday pointed out that the tax rate had been raised to $1.13 per hundred, due to the sale of bonds , tor the Watauga High School" aiiii''"Watauga County Hospital. in ch the $1.00 to be collected the greater portion, or 38 cents, will go to the Debt Service Fuhd for payment of principal and interest on outstanding bonds. Last year 45c of the $1.13 was designated to this fund. The School Fund was allotted 25c on the dollar and represents an increase of 4c over last year. It is significant to note that this will provide for increased pay for school bus drivers which has been a problem for years be cause qualified drivers could not be obtained at the low rates of pay being paid. The General Fund will receive 24c; Health and Welfare 2c; Social Security 7c; and Wel fare Administration 4c.vV*’*’r*~"‘ Substantial surpluses from the current year were carried over from all of the previous designa tions except the School Fund and Welfare Admiinstration. A detailed explanation of the new budget will be published later for the information of all concerned. Late Spring Frosts, Freeze Damage Crops Another late spring frost has taken a heavy toll on many Watauga County farm crops, and severe damage has been noted in mountain forests. After the mercury dipped to 34 and 33 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of last week, crop land and home gar dens in the lower elevations of the County seem to have taken a real beating. County Agent L. E. Tuckwil ler advises that the apple crop is practically destroyed. A May frost, three weeks ago, was ex pected to be the last of an in clement spring, and many ap ple blossoms were cut short, al though a fairly good crop was still in the offing. Tuckwiller said he thinks strawberries escaped f u t h e r damage in the second frost, and says the crop will come up short largely because of the first damaging dew. Tobacco was hit hard, he said, and even some potatoes suffered. However, there is still time to replant tobacco. Of the damaged potatoes, size of the crop may reduce grade, the agent said. Tuckwiller said the Monday night, Tuesday morning frost seemed to hurt the Boone area most, while Wednesday morn ing was more severe in the Cove Creek area. He said dam age was especially heavy to streamside crops, and he had heard unofficial estimates of 26 degrees in Cove Creek, and 29 degrees for Boone. Much of the com crop was nipped, but is expected to come out alright. In some areas beans, cucumbers and tomatoes were ruined. Grapes were dam aged, and a light crop is ex pected. Tuckwiller said he will be (Continued on page six) ELIZABETH ANN WILLIAMS WANDA CRITCHER WHS Students To Be Sponsored At Girls’ State Two Watauga High School students will be sponsored at Girls’ State at U. N. C.-Greens boro, June 26 to July 2, by Wa tauga Unit 130, American Le gion Auxiliary. Elizabeth Ann Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Williams, Boone, and Wanda Critcher, daughter of Mr. and (Continued on page six) BREMCO Annual Meet In Lenoir On Saturday Member owners of the Blue Ridge Electric Membership Cor poration, North Carolina’s larg est rural electric cooperative, will be gathering In Lenoir Saturday, June 11, for their 30th annual membership meeting. This is a highlight of the year's activities of the locally owned organization. At this time, the member owners gather to hear reports on the opera tions of their business for the coming year. The theme of this year’s meet ing is “A Year of Change.” The program will have aa its future speaker, Mr. Harry B. Caldwell, chairman of the National Ad visory Committee to the Secre tary of Agriculture and Execu tive Secretary of the North Car olina Farmers Cooperative Council. Reports from the off icers and management will be illustrated by slides taken with in the cooperative’s area. This pictorial presentation is design ed to better inform members about the aras of their business operations with which they do not have day-to-day contact It will also show bow the mem ban, the employees, and the cooperative as a corporate cit izen have all worked together for the total development of Northwestern North Carolina during the “Year of Change.” Over 11,09# members will be receiving $78,951.37, thus sharing in the amount of mar gins which accrued in 1957. Through owning their own business the members share in any money left over after all expenses and obligations are met. “This is one benefit ,of cooperative ownership of (Continued on p*gt six) — “Many Still Unemployed” W atauga Dropped F rom Depressed Area Category 54.3% WHS Students Plan Further Study Watauga High School seniors who graduated last week will enter a variety of schools, col leges and jobs within the next few months. In a recent survey of senior plans, 54.3 per cent plan to continue their education. Of the class of 232 members, 74 will enter two-year or four year colleges, and 52 will enter other educational institutions. Some of these will be commun ity colleges, technical institutes, beauty schools, and business schools. Of the remaining 45.7 per cent who will not continue in school, 54 young men and wo men plan to work in local in dustries. Non - manufacturing jobs will get 19 graduates, and clerical work will get 18 others. Other plans include military service, 2; agricultural work, 3; marriage and homemaking, 3; and presently undecided, 7. Mrs. Margaret Gragg, Guid ance Director at Watauga High, states that current plans of sen iors indicat* a greater number this year than in previous years will continue their education. For the past five years, approx imately 40 per cent of Watauga County graduates continued their education beyond high school. Horn Auditions To End Friday Final auditions to fill last minute vacancies in the pro duction staff of “Horn in the West” will be held June 10 at 2 p. m. on stage of the Daniel Boone Amphitheatre in Boone. Rehearsals begin June 11 for the “Horn’s” 15th season open ing June 25. Several principle understudy roles are yet to be filled. Un derstudies for the parts of Dan iel Boone, Preacher Sims, and Judge Henderson will be chos en during the Friday tryouts. In addition five positions in the drama’s chorus are to be filled. Altos and tenors are especially needed. Production director Gene Wil son reports that all positions in the dancing and technical units have been filled. The cast will number approx imately 85 when auditions are complete. Berry Show And Sale Scheduled Watauga County strawberry growers and the Boone Rotary Club will sponsor a strawberry show and sale from 2 to 4 p. m. Wednesday, June 19, on the Court House lawn, Boone. County Extension Chairman L. E. Tuckwiller says all Coun ty growers are invited to bring berries to show and encourages those who wish to purchase strawberries to patronize the sale. Little League Registration Registration for little league ball players will be held at 4:30 p. m. Monday, June 13, at the Little League Ball Park, Blue Ridge Shoe Plant Boys ages 8 through 12 in Watauga County who are lnter szted are asked to tie than. Glenn Andrews (left), president of the New River Valley Development Association, shakes hands with Mr. Kemp Doughton, former speaker of the State House of Repre sentatives. Mr. Doughton spoke in behalf of the Association to the Highway Commis sion Friday. Beside him are Paul Campbell and Stanley Harris Sr. State Commission Told Of Area HigEway Needs BY RACHEL RIVERS The State Highway Commis sion, in session Friday at Grove Park Inn, Asheville, heard a delegation from Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties make its plea for improvement and partial relocation of High way 221 to connect with an Interstate at the Virginia line and run into a well-traveled Florida route south of here. Glenn Andrews, Boone, pres ident of the New River Valley Development Association encom passing the three counties, was accompanied by Stanley Har ris Sr., Paul Campbell, Col. Clyde Miller, Fred McNeal and Mrs. Armfield Coffey. Col. Miller, president of the Boone Chamber of Commerce, presented to Commission Chair man Joseph Hunt and the Com missioners charts regarding the growth within Watauga County as compared to roads. Percentages Miller said Appalachian State Teachers College has increased in students 53 per cent in a five-year period; payroll is up 84 per cent; and cost of build ings, 57 per cent. Industrial employees have increased 182 per cent between 1960 and 1965. This increase does not include employment by the newly built Vermont-American Corporation. Motels have increased from 35 to 46, or 31 per cent and tourist revenue is 75 per cent up—from $8 million to $14 mil lion. Power customers in two years have increased 21 per cent; and telephone customers, 16 per cent in five years. Watauga County taxes, 1960 to 1964, have shown substantial increases; individual income, up 70 per cent; state sales tax, 38 per cent; intangibles, 42 per cent; and property, 88 per cent for an overall increase of 60 per cent. Compared to all this, Miller pointed out, primary, secondary hard-surface and secondary un saved roads have increased from 527.27 miles to only 548.61 miles. This is an increase of 4 per cent. Ashe County In neighboring Ashe County, industrial employment increas ed 420 per cent in a five-year period. Motel revenue wai up 94 per cent; travelers increased 162 per cent; telephones were up 125 per cent; power users increased 10 per cent; agricul ture showed an overall loss of 36 per cent; and roads showed no increase in the five-year per iod. Mrs. Stella Anderson, editor of the Skyland Post, mc’d the Association’s brief audience with the Commission. She in troduced Floyd Crouse, who joked that if “221 were indicted for being the worst secondary road in the state, I don’t think any opposition could be organ ized.” Crouse said that 221 from Twin Oaks, north of Sparta, to Boone is part of the original county seat road constructed 40 years ago. He said that in many places 30 to 35 miles an hour is all a motorist can make. “This is part of the tourist route from the Great Lakes to Florida.” Crouse warned that too many people are leaving Western North Carolina because of the condition of 221. He called attention to Ap palachian State Teachers Col lege and suggested that recon struction of 221 would encour (Continued on page six) Whopper Of Sale For Wagon Train A whopper of a sale is being planned by the Boone Merchants Association for Thursday, Fri day and Saturday (June 30, July 1 and 2) of Wagon Train Week. The procession of pion eer wagons and riders will ar rive in Boone July 1 and parade through town July 2. The city-wide sale will be known as Daniel Boone “Wagon Train Days” and, says John Robinson, it may become an an nual event. All merchants are being asked to participate and “really give our people and our summer visitors a wagon load of values.” Each merchant will promote and conduct his sale as he so desires, but the business houses where wagon train sales are be ing conducted will be marked by 20” x 60” sale banners, available from the Merchants Association for use on store fronts. If you are a merchant, see John Robinson for banners and other information on Wagon Train Days. If you are a shopper, watch for this show-stopper of a sale! Development Agency Acts On Jobless Ratio Watauga is one of 13 North Carolina counties dropped from the Economic Development Ad ministration’s list of “depressed areas”. Still listed are 26 coun ties which the EDA classes as rural areas, which are designat ed as needy by the agency. EDA said eligibility is based on an area’s ratio of unemploy ment. Counties excluded will no longer be eligible for public works grants and loans under the EDA program. The follow ing counties will be dropped July 1: Alleghany, Ashe, Anson, Beaufort, Cumberland, Halifax. Hoke, Lincoln, Pitt and Wa tauga. Brunswick, Dare and New Hanover are not eligible under the new ruling. Employment Figures Watauga County is one of four counties under the juris diction of WAMY Community Action, Inc., a poverty agency whose headquarters are in Boone. Executive Director Ern est Eppley said Monday, “I am The Federal grant of $lf 003,500, through EDA, offer ed to the Town of Boone for its water-sewer project April 29, was accepted and hence confirmed in a letter May 9, according to Mayor Wade E. Brown. surprised and disappointed that Watauga County has been elim inated from the Economic De velopment Administration’s list* ing of depressed counties in North Carolina. “I am happy that employment statistics are improving, but I do feel that many people in Wa tauga County are still unemploy ed or under-employed. “We have been trying to find out for weeks why the Economic Development District encom passing the Watauga-Avery-Mit chell-Yancey area has not been set up and staffed. We wonder if the new ruling from Wash ington will effect the plan to establish this Economic Devel opment District. “Mr. William Thomas, our new deputy director, who has training and experience in com munity planning and who work ed with the Department of Con servation and Development in Raleigh, has been contacting county attorneys and county commissioners to find out where counties stand on overall planning. We know that assist ance can be obtained through [he Farmers Home Administrq [ion for county wide water and sewerage surveys and plans, and :hat grants can be made through (Continued on page six) Museum Area To Be Built AsFeature ‘Horn9Grounds The Southern Appalachian Historical Association took steps Monday to begin a nuseum area on the "Horn in she West” grounds; $1,200 is ipproved for the project. Bob Conway, historic site specialist with the State De lartrnent of Archives and His ory, advised the executive sommittee of the feasibility of he venture. Hearing Conway’s enthusiasm 'or a historic museum in Joan*, th« onnimltt— approved the project Conway said that funds will be available as the area is developed at Daniel Boone Theater. SAHA is proceeding to have its log school house erected at the direction of L. T. Tatum and H. R. Eggers. The commit tee approved up to $1,000 from the membership fund for this purpose and approved $200 to Stock the Tatum cabin with museum items. H. R. Eggers, L. T. Tatum and Mrs. B. W. Stalhagi com prise the location committee for the school house. In addition to the la* school and cabin a frame buildin* on the grounds will also n»iii» historic items. Conway advised that the museum area be fenced with split-rails, and that a small ad mission charge be made. Seaae one should be posted in each building, he said. The specialist said he will as stat the Historical fmrlittn .
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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June 9, 1966, edition 1
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