AWARD WINNER
In last 3 years Democrat has won
14 State Press Assn, awards. Eight
of them are first place awards.
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . Eightieth Year of Continuous Publication
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BOONE WEATHER
Hi Lo Snow Free.
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VOL. LXXX— NO. 49
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1968
10 CENTS PER COPY
20 PAGES—2 SECTIONS
1 CEMENT-MIXER O V ERT URNS—E riday was a long hot afternoon,
especially behind Brown and Graham Motor Company, East King
Street, Boone, where a cement-mixer owned by Brown Brothers
Construction Company took a tumble when the bank of a construc
tion roadway broke under its weight. According to Mack Brown,
J. C. Fletcher, who was driving, was not hurt by the actual over
turning of the truck, but was struck in the head by a cinderblock
which was in the floorboard of the cab. Taken to Watauga County
ffospital, Fletcher was treated and released later that day. The
approximately four-hour attempt to upright the truck was handled
by bulldozers, from which cables were strung to the stranded
vehicle« These were owned by Joe Williams and Claude Hampton;
one of the machines is seen at right, while the other was stationed
on the road from which this scene was shot. A Brown and Graham
wrecker also was called into action, but Brown said the single ^
largest asset was the Boone Lumber Company fork-lift, driven
by John Greene. Here, the back of the fork-lift rises with the
weight as its front, though it finally managed to provide enough 1
pressure to start the mixer on its way back to a four-point ’
stance. According to Mack Brown, part of a bank was cut away
so that the hoist equipment could finish the job. The cab of the t
truck was heavily damaged by the fall, although still another ma
jor consideration was the fact that several yards of cement were
being hauled at the time. (Staff photo)
Fred Gragg Succeeds Phil
Vance As Boone Alderman
After accepting the resigna
tion of Phil H. Vance Jr. from
the Town Board of Aldermen,
Boone officials met in special
session Monday night to ad
minister the oath of office to
Fred Gragg, Vance’s succes
sor.
Dr. James B. Graham, Al
derman and secretary to the
Board, said Vance’s resigna
tion was officially tendered Fri
day night after a letter had
been rent to Boone Mayor Clyde
R. Greene. Under the terms of
mayor-city council form of
government, only the remain
ing Aldermen were qualified
to appoint someone to the po
sition.
Vance wrote:
“Due to increasing business
and personal problems, I find
it necessary to resign as Al
Mayor Clyde Greene (left) presides in this Monday night session which placed Fred Gragg (right)
on the Town Board of Alderman in place of former Mayor Pro-Tern Phil Vance (second from
right). Workii* up the papers is Dr. James B. Graham. The third Alderman. Dr. Hadley Wil
son, is currently vacationing. (Staff photo)
53% Watauga Hi Students
Plan To Enter Colleges
As Watauga High School sen
iors completed their plans for
next year, a survey conducted by
the Guidance Department re
veals that 53 per cent of the
class will continue their educa
tion beyond high school.
With a total number of 255
graduates (including 4 summer
school students), 135 will enter
school next fall. Of this num
ber, 74 will enter four-year col
leges, 13 will enter two-year
colleges and 15 will enter com
munity colleges—making a total
of ICS or 40 per cent of the
class.
Other plans for continued edu
cation include 16 to technical
institutes, 1 to • business
school, 2 in nurse’s training
schools and 14 in other trade
schools—making a total of 33
or 13 per cent of the graduates.
In addition to the two girls en
tering nurse’s training, 6others
will train for a nursing career
In two-year colleges,four-year
colleges and technical insti
tutes.
Those who do not plan to con
tinue their education total 120
or 47 per cent of the class. Of
tills number 5 young men will
enter military service, 2 girls
(continued on page two)
Meat Camp Resident
Is Shot In Boone
Police Chief Bed Lyons re
port* the shooting Sunday morn
im of a Meat Camp resident
whom he said is Earl Woodring.
Lyons said the shooting occ
urred sometime from 3 to 3:15
in a house on Straight Street
in Boone and that the Police De
partment answered the call aa
soon as they were summoned.
Woodring was believed to have
been shot by a small calibre pis
tol. He was hit in the lower ab
domen, according to Lyons, and
rushed to Watauga County Hos
pital in serious condition.
Charges have not yet been
made in the case still
being investigated.
derman of the Town of Boone.
I shall appreciate your advis
ing the remaining members of
the Board of my action, in or
der that the vacancy can be fill
ed as soon as possible.
“I have enjoyed my service
on the Board and regret that I
no longer have the time to do an
affective job and feel the necess
ity to step down at this time.”
Appointed to fill the term un
til the June (1969), city elec
tions, Gragg is to be Mayor Pro
Tern, the position held by Vance.
Now personnel manager of
IRC, Gragg was employed by
the corporation in September,
1953, as part of the ground-work
crew preparing for the opening
of the Boone plant in January,
1954.
Prior to going with IRC,
Gragg was Clerk of the Watau
ga County Superior Court for
seven years. After a three year
tour in the U. S. Navy during
World War II, he had taught one
year at Bethany High School in
Rockingham.
Gragg’s wife is guidance
counselor at Watauga High
School and their daughter, Mar
garet, who is a teacher in the
Mecklenburg School System,
will enter graduate school in
Charlotte this summer.
The outgoing alderman served
on the Board since the June elec
tion of 1967.
The Vance family came here
in 1936 from Plumtree, N. C.
Vance graduated from Appa
lachian State Teachers College
and was in business with his
father from 1946 until the
elder’s retirement. Since,
Vance has been sale operator
for the recapping company on
North Depot Street, Boone.
As a member of the First
Baptist Church of Boone, Vance
has been Superintendent of the
Junior High Department. The
Boone Jaycees voted him a sig
nal honor, giving him the Dis
tinguished Service Award.
As a member of the Boone Ro
tary Club, Vance has held all
offices but that of secretary. He
is now a director of the Boone
Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Graham and Gragg are the
Republican members of the
Board, whUe Dr. Hadley Wilson
is a Democrat.
Commencement Thursday
764To Receive Degrees
Appalachian U. T oday
A total of 764 students are
andidates for various degrees
hich are to be conferred dur
ig commencement exercises
) be held at Appalachian State
diversity Thursday morning.
Bachelor of science degrees
re due to be awarded to 599
eniors while 46 others are sch
eduled to obtain bachelor of arts
degrees.
Master of arts degrees are
to be conferred upon 118 stu
dents who have qualified in the
graduate school program. In
addition, one will receive the
certificate of advanced study.
The commencement program
will be staged at 10:30 a. m. in
Broome-Kirk Gymnasium. Dr.
Paul Sanders, Dean of Academ
ic Affairs, will present the can
didates for the B. A. and B. S.
degrees, and Dr. Cratis Will
iams, Dean of the Graduate
School, will present those for
the Master’s degrees. Dr. W. H.
One Injured By Gunshot
In Burglary At Clubhouse
Fifteen cents was mighty
Lttle to get shot for.
That was the impression of
sheriff Ward Carroll of Wa
auga County who is conduci
ng a joint investigation with
iBI Agent Charles Whitman
a find the accomplice of a 32
rear-old man shot Friday night
n a break-in episode at the
3oone Golf Course Clubhouse.
Carroll said James Albert
Cottrell, 23, an employee of
he Club was alerted by noises
ibout 11 p. m, When he got to
he Clubhouse, according to
"arrolll, Cottrell found the door
3pen and two men behind the
cash register. The Sheriff said
they had a combination wrench
tire tool which they had torn up
a National Cash Register valued
at more than $1,200.
Cottrell, who Is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cottrell of
Boone, leveled his gun at the
pair and tried to get them to sit
down while he called for help.
Carroll said they made a try
for the door and Cottrell fired
a warning shot, telling them,
in Carroll's words, they would
be shot if they tried it again.
As Cottrell was going to the
telephone, Carroll said “They
kept crowding him," then as
they rushed for the door, Cott
rell shot one of the men with a
20-guage shotgun and the other
dashed past his partner and
escaped before the gun could
be reloaded.
The Sheriff said the wounded
man, who was struck in the leg
by the blast, identified himself
as Billy Roger Hutchens, 32, of
Boonville, N. C. Hutchens still
was in Watauga County Hospital
the first of the week. Being ques
tioned by the Sheriff and Agent
Whitman, Hutchens reportedly
has revealed only the first name
of the man who escaped.
Shortly after the incident,
Clayton Cannon of Wilkes
County arrived at the Club
(continued on page two)
Send-Off Breakfast For
Miss Watauga Next Saturday
The Boone Jaycees will have a send-off breakfast
at 7 o’clock Saturday morning in honor of Miss Myra
Davis, Miss Watauga.
Sponsored by the Jaycees as a contestant in next
week’s Miss North Carolina contest, Myra will receive the
good wishes of the Jaycees, Jaycettes and other citizens of
Boone and Watauga County as she leaves for the Charlotte
event.
Speaker for the breakfast at the First Baptist Church
will be Dr. J. Boyce Brooks, Miss Davis’pastor, who will
discuss “Inner or Spiritual Beauty.” Townspeople are
cordially invited to attend.
Reservations may be made through Jaycee Chaplain
Richard Hill at 264-9561 or Jaycee president Walter Broy
hill at 264-3895.
Avery Co. Will Have
Mtn. Laurel Festival
The Avery County Lions Club
and Newland Womans Club in
vite all area residents and va
cationers to Avery County’s
23rd “Mountain Laurel Fes
tival*’ Friday and Saturday
June 7 and 8 at the Newland
High School Gym at 7:30 p. m.
Featured will be four age
divisions, as follows:
1. Little Miss—ages 6 to 8
2. Junior Miss—ages 9 to 12
3. Miss Tennager—ages 13
to 16
4. Miss Mountain Laurel
ages 17 to 23
Judging in the first three di
visions will be Friday evening,
with winners being announced
and crowned on Saturday even
ing. Competition for the title of
“Miss Mountain Laurel” will
take place Saturday with con
testants competing in swim
suit, talent and evening gown.
Admission each evening is
$1.00 for adults and 50(! for
children.
Come and join Avery County
in what promises to be its finest
festival ever!
8 Years With No
School Days Lost
The principal of Cove Creek
Elementary School is planning
to award a certificate to James
Vaughn Brown, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Vaughn Brown of Vilas, for
attending school eight years
without missing a day.
Plemmons, ASU President, will
xjnfer and award diplomas
ivhich will be presented by Dean
Meredith, registrar.
Dr. Felix C. Robb, Director
af the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools, will pre
sent the address to the graduat
ing class. He is a former presi
dent of Peabody College, and
is an outspoken proponent of
education’s responsibility to aid
in maintaining and expanding
freedom.
The 645 undergraduate de
gree total and the 118 Master’s
degree total are record figures
for Appalachian.
Candidates for degrees in
local area counties, are as fol
lows (candidates for the B. S.
degree unless otherwise noted);
ALLEGHANY —Billie Ann
Carter of Laurel Springs and
Phillip Lawrence Sexton of
Sparta.
ASHE—Benjamin Franklin
Wilson (BA) of Grayson; Linda
Roland Bare, Ronda Duane
Bledsoe (MA), and Stephen Ray
Church (BA), all of Fleetwood;
Virginia Dare Lynch, Richard
Lee Shepherd, both of Lansing;
Richard Dobbin Miller of Todd;
Wanda Irene Blackburn, Wil
liam Clay Church and Patricia
Ann Given, all of West Jeffer
AVERY—Mary GailDraughon
of Banner Elk; Kay Nelle Col
lins (MA) of Newland; Carolyn
Burleson Canupp (MA), John
ny Arthur Canupp and Marian
Sue Vance, all of Minneapolis;
and Glenda R a e Thompson dL
(continued on page two)
Commencement Speaker—Dr.
Felix C. Robb, director of the
Southern Association of Col -
leges and Schools and a for
mer president of Peabody Col
lege, will present the address
Thursday when Appalachian
State University confers de
grees upon 764 students. The
graduation exercises will begin
at 10:30 a. m. in Broome-Kirk
Blue Ridge Electric Personnel
To Appear On National TV Show
Ronald J. Knouseand Herman
Anderson, directors of area de
velopment of the member and
community services department
of Blue Ridge Electric Member
ship Corporation, were to be in
Washington June 3 and 4 to nar
rate a video program for na
tional television.
The highlights of this program
will be the story of how North
west North Carolina has worked
durir^ the past decade to bring
about the orderly growth and de
velopment of all its human and
natural resources for better
socio-economic conditions for
all its people.
Robert M. Long, assistant
administrator of the Rural Elec
tric Electrification Administra
tion, Washington, D.C., analy
zed numerous reports and
visited several areas of our na
tion. Out of 1,000 rural electric
co-operatives. Blue Ridge
Electric was selected for this
role because of outstanding ac
complishments made possible
through the incorporation of the
most ntodern techniques in area
and industrial development.
Colored photographs which
have been made throughout this
area of the state, will be used
to depict the development tak
ir« place in industry, agricul
RONALD J. KNOLSE
ture, secondary and higher edu
cation, travel and recreation
and seasonal sports.
The real success phases of
the story will be on how this
progress has been made pos
sible by the organization of an
HERMAN ANDERSON
area development association,
with its county and community
division, and the co-ordination
ct hard work of local busin
esses, industry, chambers of
commerce, civic groups, local
agencies of the three branches
of government and technical
guidance from N. C. State Uni
versity—all these pooling their
planning ability, resources and
existing programs and direction
toward a common set of objec
tives and goals.
While in Washington, Knouse
and Anderson have appointments
with the Rural Areas Develop
ment Staff of the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture. Appear
ances are scheduled for the
daily television program.
Across the Fence, interviews
with Marcus Childs, syndicated
columnist with the Post Dis
patch, and Norman Craft of the
media staff of the National Rural
Electric Co-operative Associa
tion.