AWARD WINNER
In 1966 and 1967 the Democrat won
10 State Press Assn, awards for
General Excellence, Excellence in
Typography, Local News, Adver
tising, Columns and Photographs.
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper
Seventy-Ninth Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE WKA’
1967 HI Lo Snow
June 6 70 43
June 7 72 46
June 8 75 46
June 9 78 48
June 10 80 52
June 11 74 49
June 12 76 50
VOLUME LXXIX—NO. 50
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1967
10 CENTS PER COPY
24 PAGES—2
Bl
Dr. W. H. Plemmons, president of Appalachian State Teachers Collie, welcomes the membership of Blue Ridge Electric.
Wants Better Highways
BREMCO Shows 21.6% Increase In ’66
More than 300 attended the
31st annual membership meet
ing of Blue Ridge Electric Mem
bership Corporation on Satur
day.
I The Cooperative’s consumer
I owners met at the Broome
Kirk Gymnasium on the campus
of Appalachian State College in
Boone. The meeting was pre
sided over by the president,
Mr. Bert Mast of Zionville,
North Carolina.
“This Is Your Business** was
the theme of the meeting. Dr.
W. H. Plemmons gave the wel
coming address. The coopera
tive membership viewed slide
illustrated reports by officers
and the manager. The members
were assured their business
was in sound physical and fi
nancial condition and that it
experienced a 21.6% increase
in sales in 1966 over the pre
vious year. Some 1200 new mem
bers were added.
Recognition was given five
students for their winning ef
forts in the Youth Tour to
Washington Contest which was
sponsored by the cooperative
the first time this year. The
students were Gilbert B. Good
man, Jr. of Boone, Richard
Dixon of Lenoir, Jimmy Par
sons of Lansing, Doug Joines
of Sparta, and Steve Tuttle of
Boomer. The students won a
five-day tour of the nation’s
capital through their competing
in a written quiz contest which
was made available to high
school Juniors in the area.
The students will tour Wash
ington the week of June 12
with approximately 1,000 other
youngsters from electric co
operatives throughout the na
tion.
Resolutions adopted by the
membership urged the board
of directors and management
to pursue lower rates for pur
Daniel Boone Wagon Train
Starts Rolling Next Week
i ne mtn annual uamei Boone
Wagon Train will assemble at
Memorial Park, North Wilkes
boro, June 24 and 25.
Tuesday, June 27, Wagon
Master Dewitt Barnett of Boone
will head * em up along the
D. H. JOHNSON
Johnson Goes To
Union Carbide
In Oak Ridge
D. H. Johnson of Boone has
accepted a position with Union
Carbide Corporation in Oak
Ridge, Tenn.
A spring graduate of Appa
lachian State Teachers College,
he received his Master's de
gree, having majored in chem
istry. With Union Carbide, he
will be an associate chemist
in the research department.
The son of Mr. and Mrs.
Hal Johnson of Blue Ridge Av
enue, he graduated from Appa
lachian High School and attended
N. C. State at Raleigh one year
before transferring to ASTC.
At both institutions, he was
a Dean's List student.
At State, Johnson was a mem
ber of Phi Epsilon Pi, serving
as vice-president of his frater
nity. At Appalachian State, he
was elected to several offices
within the Collegiate Civics
Club, lettered in soccer three
years and in his senior year
was elected captain of the soccer
team.
He also was a member of the
"A" Club at Appalachian.
Mrs. Johnson, originally from
Charlotte, has been teaching
eighth grade at Parkway Ele
mentary School.
The couple will reside at 133
West Vance St., Oak Ridge.
trail pioneer Daniel Boone used
in migrating from the Yadkin
Valley to Kentucky.
Ivey Moore of North Wilkes
boro, will be back for the fifth
year, portraying the role of
chief scout.
Moore, who is register for
the train, said last week he
expects about 100 wagons. Two
horseback riders per wagon will
add up to a procession roughly
the size of last year's.
On Monday, June 26, at2 p. m.
John Dawson, president of the
Wagon Train Corporation, will
join Wilkesboro officials in wel
coming trainsmen and visitors.
Moore said Rep. James T. Broy
hill has been asked to take part
in the public program.
The wagon train will parade
through North Wilkes boro start
ing at 3:40 p. m. and a jubilee
will be held that night.
Leaving at 8 a. m. Tuesday,
the Train will camp the first
night at Ferguson; Wednesday
night at Darby on Elk Creek;
Thursday night at Triplett on
the Blue Ridge; moving on into
the Boone camp Friday, June 30.
The annual Wagon Train
Parade will start through Boone
at 10 a. m. Saturday, July 1.
Food, music and square danc
ing will be available at each
encampment.
Says Farm Outlook
In South Is Bright
"The outlook for Southern
agriculture in the future is ex
tremely bright," according to
s. C. Eggers, president of the
Federal Land Bank Association
of Boone, who has just return
ed from the Golden Anniversary
Conference of Federal Larxl
Bank Associations held at the
Hotel Americana in Miami
Beach, Florida,
“We feel that the need for
long-term credit by farmers
will continue to increase at an
accelerated pace," Mr. Eg
gers explained. "Our future
plans are to effectively meet
these needs of farmers."
The Boone Association is one
of 46 farmer-owned land bank
associations which make and
service long-term loans out
standing in the amount of more
than $420 million to farmers
in the two Carolinas, Georgia
and Florida.
Other officials of the Boone
Association attending the con
ference were 0. Paul Bower of
Jefferson, vice president; Gor
don A. Chambers of State Road,
director; Carlis Lee Mitchell
of Sparta, director; and J. Dykes
Wilson of Granite Falls, di
rector; and John H. Hollar, man
ager.
The Boone Association han
dles the making and servicing
of loans for the Land Bank
in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery,
Caldwell, Mitchell, Watauga and
Wilkes counties out of the as
sociation office in Boone.
chased power and to work with
agencies and groups for the
comprehensive multipurpose
development of various river
basin areas to the end that
lower cost electric power will
be available to the members
of the cooperative,. The mem
bers indicated their support of
the enactment of legislation
which will permit Blue Ridge
Electric and other systems to
meet their responsibilities as
rural electric utilities. They
urged road improvement and
pledged to support the efforts
of local and state leaders to
secure improved highways. To
tal development of the North
west North Carolina area was
urged. Member owners erf the
organization pledged support to
the board of directors and man
agement in pursuing the con
solidation study which deals with
the possible merger of Blue
Ridge Electric with three other
cooperatives
Five members were elected
by a vote of the general mem
bership to serve three-year
terms on the board of directors.
They were: D. M. Edwards,
Alleghany District; C. B. Gray
beal, Ashe District; D. R.Moore
and Oren Teague, Caldwell Dis
trict and Bill E. Brown, Watauga
District.
Gov. Reagan
May Visit Boone
Ronald Reagan may be com
ing to Boone after all.
A letter from Gov. Rea
gan's schedule secretary, Miss
Patricia Gayman, to Herman
Wilcox, manager of Boone's
outdoor drama, Horn in the
West, states:
“This is to let you know
that we have not forgotten your
invitation to Governor Reagan
to attend the Horn in the West
production.
“I have checked with our leg
islative people, and they inform
me that, although the date of
adjournament has not been set,
they anticipate the Legislature
will not adjourn until late Au
gust.
“Should there be any chance
that the Governor will be able
to attend, I will most assuredly
be in touch with you."
The original invitation, back
ed up by a correspondence from
Gov. Dan K. Moore, asked Rea
gan to attend on a specific
date, for which he was already
booked.
Notables Asked To Attend
Horn Opening Next Week
Comptrollers of the “Horn in
the West” Monday decided to
move into the sixteenth season
without the traditional free, pre
view performance of the drama.
The production willopenFri
day, June 23.
Director Ward Haarbauertold
the executive committee of the
Southern Appalachian Historical
Association in luncheon session
he is pleased with the cast arxl
the rewrite to conform the play
to Daylight Savings Time.
Run-throughs will begin Mon
day night, he said, lnvitb* com
mittee members to come out
during the week and give him
the benefit of pre-opening crit
icism.
Dr. W. H. Plemmons, presi
dent of Appalachian, will be ask
ed to make introductory re
marks the light of the opening.
The Rev. Robert Young, pastor
erf Boone Methodist, will be ask
ed to deliver the invocation.
Guest list for opening night
will include Sen. Sam J. Er
vin, Congressman James Broy
hill, Secretary of State Thad
Eure, Mrs. Dan K. Moore and
other state and local leaders.
Dr, I. G. Greer, president
of the Association, is not ex
pected to be able to attend,
because of a lingering illness.
Haarbauer said much of the
technical equipment has been
replaced and reproduction is
excellent.
Herman W. Wilcox, manager
of the drama, announced that
Press Association Night at the
Horn is set for Friday, July 7.
At that time, a direct descen
dant of Daniel Boone will be
here.
Mrs. Harold Rice represent
ed the Grandfather Motel As
sociation at the Daniel Boone
Hotel.
On Original Site
Bids Asked On Watauga
County’s Courthouse
_
space Located
For Storing Of
Vital Records
Most of the stumbling blocks
which lay in the way of a new
court house for Watauga County
are gone.
County Commissioner Glenn
Hodges Monday said the County
is advertising for bids on the
$450,000 court house approved
at the polls last November. Bids
will be opened June 29 and con
tracts let toward the construc
tion of the two-story, brick
structure.
The building must be com
pleted within one year from the
time contracts are let.
Hodges said the Commission
ers have learned that in the ori
ginal estimate of the architects,
Coffey & Annas of Lenoir,
money was provided for tearing
down and hauling away the old
court house.
The bond election specified
that a court house be construct
ed on the site of the present
one.
ECONOMICAL
Some weeks ago, a bill was
introduced in the N. C. General
Assembly which would have al
lowed the site of the court
house to be changed.
Hodges explained that this was
on condition that the people
would approve this, and if suit
able land could be found. He said
discussions with many indivi
duals and trips to several pos
sible sites evolved the feeling
that “It seems, economically,
it will be better to go along
with the original plan, even
though there will be limited
parking. ”
Parking available on the
northwest side of the present
Court House would be obliter
ated with the construction of the
larger facility. This fact promp
ted Commissioners to consider
an alternate site.
STUMPED
Another problem which
stumped the new Commission
ers in their effort to carry
out the bond issue proposal
was storage for County records.
That meant fire proof vaults,
which were not available to
them.
However, Hodges says he has
learned that the County can,
according to the General Sta
tutes, put on a guard or watch
man, thus eliminating the cost
of supplying a fireproof system
which would be used only dur
ing the construction period.
“We have located what we feel
is an adequate space for all
records,*’ in the former Con
solidated School.
A more recent problem to
overcome, he noted, was that
several have gone to the
Commissioners with the idea
that a jail was voted for simul
taneous construction with a
Court House.
Since the jail was not in
cluded in the bond election,
he said one will not be built,
but added he was greatly en
couraged with “the progress
that’8 been made on the County
jail.”
Hodges said some plumbing
and flooring remains to be done
before the jail will pass in
spection per the recommen
dations of the Grand Jury.
When the bond issue was
drawn up, it was determined that
the jail and the rock annex to
the Court House would remain
in service. Several County of
fices operated from the annex.
Be Sure To Get
Out And Vote
Saturday will be challenge
day and Tuesday, June 20, will
find voters at the ballot boxes
in City Hall.
All registered voters are
urged to turn out and support
the candidates of their choice.
THE DE-MOLAY, 54 Junior Masons of Boone, are playing a big part in community service.
Here, (from left) Roy Tugman, Chamber of Commerce Manager Fred McNeal, Donald Lee Payne,
and Chamber secretary Miss Sally Miller pose at a garden site near the C of C on Hardin Street.
Payne, who last month graduated to the Order of Mason, but who still works with De-Molay,
helped Tugman deliver a truckload of dirt to the site where Mrs. Vivian Reynolds and co
gardeners will be at work soon. The gardeners recently planted flower boxes in front of the
Chamber. Members of the De-Molay, who range in age from 14 to 21, have distributed several
thousands of brochures to area motels and this summer will take thousands more to motels
restaurants and service stations. (Staff photo) m motels
58 Percent WHS Seniors
To Continue Education
In a surveyor post-high school
plans of the 260-member gra
dauting class at Watauga High
School, Mrs. Margaret Gragg,
Guidance Director, has found
that 58 per cent plan to con
tinue their education.
This number, she says, is 4
per cent higher than last year’s
senior class plans and consider
able higher than the North Caro
lina average.
College plans of 110 of the
151 graduates who will continue
their education are as follows:
85 will attend four-year col
leges, 10 will attend two-year
colleges and 15 will enter com
munity colleges. Of the remain
ing 41 in this group, technical
institutes will claim 20; busi
ness schools, 6; beauty schools,
3; nursing schools, 5; and other
trade schools, 6.
Among the 42 per cent, or 109
students, who do not plan to go
on to school, 10 will enter Mili
tary service, 33 will enter cleri
cal work, 39 are available for
work in industry, 21 expect to
work in other types of jobs,
and some 6 are undecided about
their future.
Of the colleges which these
110 graduates will enter, Ap
palachian has accepted approxi
mately 64.
Other colleges to receive Wa
tauga seniors are UNC at Chapel
Hill, 3; UNC at Greensboro,
2; N. C. State, 6; East Caro
lina, 2; Lees-McRae, 5; Wilkes
Community College, 15; out-of
state colleges, 6; and one each
to Guilford, Mars Hill, Wake
Forest, Lenoir-Rhyne, Win
ston-Salem State Teachers Col
lege, St, Andrews Presbyterian
and Wingate.
Non-college institutions these
young people will attend are
Caldwell Technical Institute
(Lenoir), 3; Catawba Valley
Technical Institute (Hickory),
3; King’s College (Charlotte),
3; Draughon Business College
(continued on page twelve)
Poppy Sales Committee
Tabulates Record Sales
The Poppy Committee of the
American Legion Auxiliary an
nounced a near record intake of
$250.35.
The report was made by com
mittee women Mrs. Ralph Greer
and Mrs. Hettie Hodges at the
regular business meeting.
Proceeds from the Poppy Day
sale will be used to pay dis
abled veterans in the state's
four veterans’ hospitals for
making the poppies, for cards
ind presents for the men at
Christmas and to help children
rf needy veterans in Watai^a
County.
Expressing appreciation to
own and County residents who
bought poppies, Mesdames
Greer and Hodges, on behalf
>f the Auxiliary, also expressed
fianks to Misses Darlene Hicks,
Ioann Hicks, Sheryl Miller,
Gonnie Crawford, Marilyn
Brown, Judy Sherwood, S»ron
Hayes and Sandra Cleary for
helping distribute poppies.
They also thanked the Wa
tauga Democrat, Radio WATA
and Mayors Brown and Hardin
for publicity and proclamations.
A covered dish luncheon was
served atthe home of Mrs.Cleve
Gross for poppy workers as well
as for Legionnaires who placed
flags on veterans’ graves.
Thirty-five members aixl
friends attended the apprecia
tion event.
Mrs. Greer also reported on
plans to send two girls. Misses
Jane Dougherty and Beth Law
rence, to Girls’ State, June
26-30, at Greensboro. Two boys
are to be sponsored by the
Blowing Rock Legion Post.
Mrs. Roy Rirfty, president,
presided. Prayer was led by
Mrs. Troy Norris, chaplain, at
the first oi the neewtng and at
adjournment. Legion members
joined the Auxiliary for i sfi ash
merits.