AWARD WINNER
In 1086 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 . . . Eightieth Year of Continuous Publication
BOONS WE A'
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VOL. LYXX—NO. 4
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1967
10 CENTS PER COPY
22 PAGES—* SECTIONS
ASU RECEIVES NON-RESTRICTIVE GRANT—Dr. W. H. Plem
mons (second from right), president of Appalachian State Uni
versity, is shown receiving a $1,000 grant last week from the
Alcoa Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pa. The grant was awarded by
the aluminum company foundation as a part of its program of
aid to higher education, and the funds may be used “for what
ever purposes” the university may choose. A major portion
of the grant will be used in academic scholarships, officials
say. Presenting the check is W. B. Russell, works manager of
Baden N. C. Works, Aluminum Company of America. At right
is C. W. Mabry, public^-relations director of the Baden firm;
Steve Gabriel, ASUFihancial Aid Director, is at left.
44th Charity Horse Show To
Open Aug. 3 In Blowing Rock
The biggest sports and social
event of the summer, the Blow
ing Rock Charity Horse Show,
opens August 3 this year. It
is the oldest show in the South
east and has become such a
tradition in Blowing Rock that
the first weekend in August
has been known for years simply
as “Horse Show Weekend”.
This year's show is the 44th
held here without missing a
single year, even during the
gasoline rationing days of World
War II. Unlike most horse
shows, there are no night
classes. Evenings are reserved
for parties, many of them for
exhibitors and their families.
This year's social agenda for
exhibitors includes a square
dance Thursday night, a dinner
dance at Blowing Rock Country
Club on Friday night, and a
picnic for junior exhibitors Fri
day whire their seniors attend
a cocktail party. In addition
to these official parties, there
will be a big formal ball at
the Greene Park Hotel and one
at the Country Club on Satur
day night, plus countless pri
vate parties.
This will be the first year
that the Green Park Hotel will
Homecoming
At Grandfather
Home Arranged
Homecoming Day will be ob
served at Grandfather Home in
Banner Elk Sunday July 30.
The program includes church
services at 11 a.m., lunch at
the Home at 12:30 and the alumnae
meeting at the recreation build
ing at 1:30.
All Grandfather Home Alumnae
and their families are urged to
attend.
host the Annual Horse Show
Breakfast and Ball. Mr. G. S.
Pickard, Manager of the Hotel
has already begun preparation
for the gala events and the
outlook is for a most success
ful period of social activity.
Although last year’s show
JAMES RHOADES, JERRY MORETZ
Rhoades, Moretz Given
New Positions At Bank
First National Bank erf East
ern North Carolina has named
James E. Rhoades manager of
the Boone office and Jerry C.
Moretz assistant manager.
Announcement comes from
Mitchell F. Allen Jr., presi
dent of the Jacksonville-based
bank.
Rhoades, who is an assistant
vice-president, replaces Rich
ard F. Atkinson, who has join
ed a bank supplier firm head
quartered in Massachusetts.
A veteran of 20 years in
the banking industry, he serv
ed five years with Wachovia
and 10 years with First Union
before joining First National
of Boone in July of 1963.
He is a native of Winston
Salem where he was on the
board of directors of the Jun
ior Chamber of Commerce and
was a director of the N. C.
Eye Bank. He is a past presi
dent of the Boone Optimist Club,
a director of the Boone Red
Cross, vice president of the
United Fund, a director of
WAMY Community Action, Inc.,
and assistant treasurer of the
Boone Methodist Church. He
is married to the former Miss
Betty West of Winston-Salem.
Moretz, a resident of Boone
for 22 years, began his ca
reer with First National in
1964. He subsequently was el
ected assistant cashier and pr
ior to being named assistant
manager, was operations of
ficer in Boone.
Moretz is a graduate of Appa
lachian State Teachers College
and received a B. S. in busi
ness education. He is first
vice-president of the Boone Jay
cees, a director of the United
Fund and teaches Sunday school
at Bethany Lutheran Church, He
is married to the former Miss
Nancy Coffey of Boone.
Thoroughfare Project To
Be Started In October
The Boone Thoroughfare Plan
will be put under construction
the first of October, according
to Mayor Clyde R. Greene.
The Mayor said the city, the
trustees of Appalachian State
University and the Highway
Commission have agreed to the
last survey of the route, which
closely follows Faculty Street,
ending on Rivers Street at the
intersection of Water Street.
The Thoroughfare reportedly
leaves the Faculty Street route
at the upper tennis court, bank
ing up in front of the two men’s
residence halls facing the Street
and returning to the Street in
the vicinity of the Daniel Boone
Monument.
Plans are to construct under
passes to convey male students
from the dormitories and facili
tate pedestrian travel between
campus and the Conrad Stadium.
Mayor Greene said extension
of the water line from the cor
ner of Depoi and Rivers out
along the Poplar Grove Road
will commence soon. The line
will follow the road behind the
North State Canning Company
as far as the Robert Swift pro
perty, he said.
drew some of the finest horses
ever exhibited in Blowing Rock,
the board of directors predict
an even greater show for this
year. Last year the grounds
wer6 completely redesigned.
The area was landscaped and
spruced up in general, including
a roof for the 600-seat grand
stand. Completely new boxes,
built in double tiers for an
unobstructed view of both show
rings and the outside course,
will seat another 700 specta
tors.
The all new construction was
planned to make the show as
convenient as possible for ex
hibitors as welll as spectators*
The new permanent central
stable includes deluxe stalls
for 36 horses, with a 25 stall
annex. The central stable also
has dormitories for grooms,
wash area, central tack room,
kitchen and an apartment for the
manager, Mrs. Charles Goggi
of Waxhaw.
Construction was also com
pleted last year on an additional
200 permanent stalls, arranged
on a hillside in rows of 40
each.
The show dates are August
3, 4, 5, and 6. Entries will be
accepted until 6 p. m. July 15
according to Mrs. A. A. Hyatt,
secretary. According to Mrs.
Hyatt entries are coming in
from all over the United States.
Judges and officials for this
years show are Mr. Raymond
Shively of Franklin, Tenn., Mr.
Paul Smith of Winter Garden,
Fla., Mr. C. B. “Ted” Rouls
ton, of Fayetteville, N. Y.,Mrs.
Frances Newbill Rowe of Cro
(Continued on page three)
Special Sunday
Night Showing
Of Horn Slated
A special performance ol
“Horn in the West’* outdoor
drama will be held here Sunday
night, July 30.
It will mark the populai
drama’s only Sunday show ofth<
summer, and it has been sche
duled as a make update for the
only rain-out of the season whicl
was experienced last week.
The play, which vividly trace*
a vital decade in the history ol
America’s break to freedom from
British oppression just200 years
ago, is now in its 16th consec
utive season.
Following the special July 31
performance, the drama wil
continue nightly except Sundays
through August 26.
Condemnation Act Unpopular
Deerfield And Bamboo
Oppose Airport There
Open Letter
Of Protest Is
Made Public
Citizens of the Deerfield and
Bamboo communities mean
business in their fight against
location of a airport there.
It all started July 18, when
300 crowded intoSheeler's Store
to talk over condemnation leg
islation introduced by Rep. Mack
Isaacs and approved in the Gen
eral Assembly early this month.
Members of the steering com
mittee (Ralph Estes, Billy Cook,
Mrs. Margaret Elrod, James
Cole, James Harrison) said Fri
day, in a meeting at the home
of Chairman Truman Critcher,
it came as a shock.
The first they knew of the
legislation, which they believe
will facilitate construction of
an airport in Happy Valley, was
the July 13 issue of the Watauga
Democrat.
Cole: “No one has been ap
proached by the Commission
about the purchase of land . ..
We feel some approach should
have been made.”
Critcher: “We want to stress
we are not opposed to an air
port”—
Mrs. Ed H. Wells, secretary:
“But we feel it should not be
located near any residential
They feel their constitutional
rights are being threatened;
that the people have to know
about a bill before it can be
come law and that, in this case,
no notice was given until the
law was in force.
In the Friday night session,
they laid out a variety of maps,
alluding to the “credibility gap**
in statements from members
of the Watauga Airport Com
mission, a six-man board ap
pointed by the towns of Boone
and Blowing Rock, and the Coun
ty of Watauga, and now em
powered to condemn property
for an airport.
In the Deerfield community,
nestled in the western end of
Happy Valley, is the Deerfield
Road Air Strip.
Asked last week whether the
Commission is considering an
extension of the private air
strip, Robert Bingham, secre
tary-treasurer of the Commis
sion, said “We are not talking
about the Deerfield Road air
strip in connection with the
proposed improved airport fa
cility/*
Conversely, the steering
committee says the FAA-ap
proved site in question is with
in 150 yards of the landing
strip, extending eastward down
the valley to a point near the
Blue Ridge Parkway. And, “The
proposed easement extends onto
the present strip/' according
to Cole.
Bingham had been interview
ed on Piedmont Airlines' in
terest in coming here. Steering
committee members noted that
two days after the story ap
peared, a jet made two simu
lated approaches over the Happy
Valley site, while a man made
notes on the passes from the
ground.
(A source close to the Com
mission stated in November,
1966, that this site is the only
feasible location. A second
(Continued on page three)
How To Get To Temporary Courthouse
Watauga Courthouse Ends
Period Of Service Friday
The Watauga County Court
House will complete its 65
year term of service at noon
Friday.
Offices now housed in the
Roles Assigned
In Blowing Rock
Theatre Play
Lead roles have been as
signed in the Blowing Rock
Community Theater's Aug. 31
Sept. 4 production of Shaw's
“Androcles and the Lion."
The first rehearsal is slated
for 8 p. m. sharp, Monday,
July 31, in the Municipal Au
ditorium, according to Di
rector Michael Vetrie.
The title role of Androcles
(Ann-droh-cleez) will be hand
led by H. Leroy Lewis of Blow
ing Rock and Florida. His
shrewish wife will be played
by Sami Collins.
Men and women of all ages
still are needed for non-speak
ing,walk-ons. While this play
will feature some new faces,
Ted Eckman says veteran play
ers erf the past year will be
active backstage, working on
sets, tickets, publicity, cos
tumes, make-up, and lighting.
Walton Allen, president of
the Theatre, and Mrs. Helen
Hartley, vice-president, say
there is a pressing need for
money to help pay for a new
lighting system, which will be a
permanent, professional instal
lation.
Donations, which are deduct
ible, are welcome.
Patron tickets, on sale for
$25, entitle the holder and his
family to admission to all per
formances for one year. Life
memberships can be arranged
for large donations.
structure on West King Street
will open at 8:30 a. m. Mon
day, July 31, in the former Con
solidated School in Junaluska
Heights.
Tax Supervisor Claude Dan
ner, who is in charge of the move
to new quarters, said this week
the County plans to turn the pre
sent Court House over to the
contractors between Aug. 1 and
5.
The building will be demol
ished, and construction of a
$450,000 Court House begun on
the same site. The measure was
approved at the polls in Nov
ember.
Offices housed in the rock
annex and jail will continue nor
mal operations, excepting that
the social security represent
ative will be in the veteran’s
service office of the rock annex
the second and fourth Wednes
day of each month.
The Employment Security re
presentative will be in the court
room of the new location each
Friday, except during court
week when auxiliary arrange
ments will be made.
Danner said the Neighborhood
Youth Corps has packed some
of the records and moved them
to the School, to help cut down
on expenses and time at the
last minute. Fox Brothers will
do a major portion of the mov
ing, he said.
County officials are in the
process of hiring a night watch
man to guard the records in the
School building. County em
ployees will have about 75 per
cent of the space available in the
old Court House, according to
the Supervisor.
The School, which Danner de
scribes as solidly built and
well-equipped, has been leased
to the County from the owner
through Realtor Jerry Coe. The
12-months lease, with an option
for three additional months if
needed, is at a rate of $3,600.
WHEELER FARTHING
Rites Held For
Former Local
Newspaper Man
Funeral services for Benjamin
Wheeler Farthing, 49, son erf
Ben W. Farthing and the late
Dixie Glenn Farthing, a former
resident of Valle Crucis, were
held Sunday afternoon at three
a'clock in the chapel of the First
Baptist Church in Greensboro.
Graveside service was held at
Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salis
bury.
Mr. Farthing who started his
newspaper career at the Watauga
Democrat, with the Appalachian,
was a member of the Greensboro
Record Staff 15 years until his
retirement this spring. Before
he came to the Record, he was
ropy reader, telegraph editor
ind makeup editor for The Knox
ville Journal in Knoxville, Tenn.
For several years he taught a
iunday School class and sang
n the choir of First Baptist
Church of which he was choir
>resident. He sang in the Lyric
rheater's production of “Rose
rfarie" in 1964 and in the Little
rheater's “Mikado** inl965.For
(Continued on page three)
BULLETIN
An Associated Press news release in Asheville Citizen.
Tuesday revealed that the State Supreme Court has
ruled that local airport authorities have no right to pledge
public money for hometown terminals without first winning
specific approval from the voters.
The unanimous opinion was written by Justice I. Beverly
Lake as result of a complaint that a Henderson airport project
was improperly established without a vote of the people.
As a result, Vance County has no right to condemn
property for the facility, justices concluded.
The airport ruling could affect other local authorities
already organized in North Carolina or soon to be set up
under a new state airport bond law, A. P. reported.
Rotary Club To Have
Annual Charity Sale
A single merchant has do
nated 20 televisions to the an
nual Charity Auction, set by
the Boone Rotary Club for 7:30
to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4.
Articles sold are all donated,
some new and some used. Pro
ceeds aid the Crippled Child
ren’s Fund and other charities
and this year's auction will be
in the auditorium of the Ap.
palachian Elementary School.
Refreshments will be served
and door prizes and free gifts
will be featured.
Anyone having articles which
might be useful is urged to
call John Bingham, Glenn An
drews, Wayne Richardson,
George Greene or any other
Rotarian. They will arrange to
have it picked up.