WATAUGA COUNTY
In the Heart of the Northwest
ern North Carolina winter and
summer tourist resort area.
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . Eighty-First Year of Continuous Publication
BOONE
Home ot Appalachian State Uni
versity; in Boone, Blowing Rock
and Linville Scenic Triangle.
VOL. LXXXI—NO. 22
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1968
0 CENTS PER COPY
24 PAGES—2 SECTIONS
Gwyn Hayes signed the oath of office to fill out the threeman Board of Alderman at the Thursday
night meeting in City Hall. Hayes succeeds the late Fred Gragg and will serve Mr. Gragg's unex
pires term to the June, 1969, city election. Originally from North Wilkesboro, Hayes has been
active in the Republican party for sometime. In Boone, he has been a moteler for 10 years, is a
charter member and president-elect of the Boone Civitan Club, is president of the Boone Cham
ber of Commerce and is former president of the Grandfather Mountain Motel Association. He and
Mrs Hayes attend the Greenway Baptist Church and he has served several church offices. Their
children are Garvey Hayes of Boone and Mrs. Willa Gray Rhoades of North Wilkesboro and they
have one granddaughter. Hayes said he is pleased to accept the appointment as it is yet another
opportunity to contribute to the progress tithe community. As Hayes signs the oath, Mayor Clyde
Greene (center) and Dr. Hadley Wilson look on. Dr. Wilson was named Mayor Pro-Tern of tlj
Aldermen. The third member of the board, Dr. James Graham, was unable to attend because of
illness. (Staff photo)
Six-County Teenage Group
Plans March Dimes Effort
A six-county meeting of Teen- evening, Nov. 19, in Boone.
Age Program (March of Dimes) Miss Susan Lawrence, area
chairmen was held Tuesday co-ordinator for Northwest
Makes!
Mr. Grover Robbins deposited $4,860,000 with Alfred
Adams at The Northwestern Bank in Boone Friday.
The deposit represents the Carolina Caribbean’s re
ceipts from sale of its stock which went on the market
some 10 days ago.
Adams says the sum represents the largest single
deposit th«) bank had handled locally. Kays Gary of the
Robbins enterprises says the money will be used for the
rr further development of the Carolina Caribbean program
at Beech Mountain and also other enterprises of this home
based operation.
All banking will be done at Northwestern here, Mr.
Gary said.
Grover Gray Wilson
Morehead Nominee
Grover Gray Wilson, son of
Dr. and Mrs. Hadley Wilson,
has been selected as the 1968
nominee from Watauga High
School for the John Motley
Morehead Award at the Uni
versity of North Carolina.
His selection, announced by
the Watauga County Morehead
Scholarship Committee, quali
fied him for district competi
tion and interviews before the
District Selection Committee
GROVER GRAY WILSON
^rTrjnranrjrMQDnnnnEQEfl
by Friday, Nov. 15. District
winners then will meet state
competition in January.
The Morehead Award of $2,
000 per year to study at the
University of North Carolina
in Chapel Hill is provided by
the John Motley Morehead
Foundation. Bases of selection
are moral character and lead
ership, scholastic ability and
extracurricular attainments and
physical vigor.
As the Watauga High School
candidate for the award this
year, Gray has maintained an
all “A* record in high school;
has served as a member cf the
student council; has been active
in football, basketball, wrest
ling and track; is president of
the National Beta Club; and
was selected to attend Gov
ernor's School in 1968.
Other seniors at Watauga
High School who were nominated
for consideration for the award
and were interviewed by the
county committee are Robert
McNeely, Phillip Smith, Pau]
Miller and J. C. Triplett. All
of these young men possess
similar records and willbeeli
gible for financial aid througl
scholarships at several col
leges.
yaanaaaaannaaanaaauaar^
\ Busted Britches Brigade
Feature Of Yule Parade
E The flrit 50 children in Watauga County to write Rec
P reation Director Jim Hastings at the Boone Recreation
Center will be part of the Busted Britches Brldgade
inarching in the Boone Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec.
7.
! The Brldgade has three requirements: youngsters
1 must between ages 7 and 15; must make their own eos
i tomes; and must have no parade experience.
The local Recreation Director borrowed this idea from
i Kays Gary of the Char lotto Observer who three years ago
' started the Fancy Panto Platoon for the Carousel Parade
in that city.
The 1988 Boone yule parade is expected to be one of
the best ever with several unusual features Including the
Carolina Clowns and special floats and other attractions by
forth Carolina TAF, was in
:harge of the meeting at the
Cardinal Restaurant and Miss
Lynn Autrey, chairman for W.i
auga, welcomed the group..
In her statements, Miss Law
rence mentioned that the teens
are happy to be volunteers for
the March of Dimes. “Some
times we are not called upon
for the many services we can
render,” she said. “Since we
have been called upon, we want
to be the best volunteers in the
country.
we teens iw-vc a *»*
the future because the future is
ours. We should make it the
best we possibly can. As future
parents, we want the future to
be bright for our children.”
Miss Lawrence continued
“There are many ways we can
do this but I believe to begin
with, we must have healthy chil
dren. This is the reason that
every young person should be
interested in the March of Dimes
. . . our friend for many years.
“First the Salk vaccine was
developed by them,” she said.
“Now, in the field of birth de
fects, they tell us how we may
keep our minds and bodies
healthy and by their direction
the chances of our children
being healthy are greater.
“Now again, there are vac
cines on the market, or will
be soon, that can assure that
two more destroyers have been
put aside. These are just a few
reasons why I am a volunteer
for the March of Dimes. I feel
sure that when young people
(teens) realize these things I
have spoken about, we will have
many more to volunteer.”
Mrs. Billie Eubanks, volun
teer advisor for the two Caro
linas and Georgia, presented
the filmstrip, More Than Love,
and told what is planned in her
area for the Dimes campaign
in January.
She also gave the first show
(Continued on page two)
_
PARTICULARLY APROPOS TO this week le the seasonal
greetirg spanning East King Street near the Highway 105
Extension. Mrs. Bev Russing, chsirman of Christinas decora
Sons tor the town, says Grant Ayers of New River Light It Power
Company again ia co-operating with the Town of Booneandi
ia hoped that the Christmas lights »‘U be turned on sometim
this week. (Staff photo)
Braswell Is Named Chief Judge
New District Court System
Goes In Effect Next Monday
ASU Freshman
Struck By Car
A 17-year-old Appalachian
>tate University freshman re
ceived severe contusions but
escaped other serious injury
»vhen he was struck by a car
last Thursday while on his way
to class.
Jerry Louis Neuner was
standing beside Faculty Street
when a 1963 Volkswagon driven
by an Oxford (N.C.) man left
the road and hit him.
According to Gary Morgan of
the Appalachian Campus Police,
Larry Eugene Townsand, 21,
was traveling south on Faculty
when a bright morning sun hit
his fogged windshield. The
Volkswagon ran off the right
side of the road some 700
feet south of Stadium Drive.
No charges were placed
against Townsand at the time,
but Bob Thomas of the ASU
Police said the case is under
investigation.
Neuner lived in Miami, Fla.,
before coming to Boone.
A HUGE OAK COMES TO EARTH—What was believed to be the oldest oak in the State of North
Carolina toppled to the ground about three weeks ago after three men spent some four hours
plying it with power chain saws. It was felled on property owned by Council Mains (left) near his
Vanderpool Farm west of Boone. Main said breakage of the limbs was becoming a hazard, so
he decided to cut the oak as a safety precaution. It was as solid as a young tree, but the splintering
caused in the core of the tree precluded being able to count the rings to derive age. It might have
been a couple of centuries old, or more. The other gentleman in the picture, Don Horton, lives
near the site arri says he remembers the tree being much the same size throughout his lifetime.
The day before Christmas, Horton will celebrate his 81st birthday. For other pictures, turn
the page.
Rash Of Traffic Accidents Due
To Slippery Highways, Streets
Several automobile accidents
occurred during slick weather
Tuesday, Nov. 19, but persons
involved were uninjured. Total
damage estimates were $2,200.
In its report of the following
accidents, the Boone Police De
partment pointed out that snow
had fallen intermittently during
the day and was beginning to pile
up by late afternoon:
At 5 p.m., police answered
a call to the intersection of
Blowing Rock Road and Clement
Street. Nancy Sue Bodenhimer,
20, had been traveling north on
Blowing Rock Road in a 1967
Volkswagon and when she ap
plied her brakes, the car slid
across the center line into a
1966 Chevrolet driven by Edgar
Gill, 50. Damage to both cars
was about $200 and no charges
were made.
At 5:20 an officer was dis
patched to Greasy Corner to
investigate an accident involving
a 1962 Chevrolet and a 1962
Plymouth. The report filed by
: Chief Red Lyons said that the
‘ Chevrolet, which was driven
! by Nathen Rodger Colvard, 61,
slid into the back of the Ply
mouth driven by Norman Luther
j Norris. Again, no charges were
placed.
i Later in the evening, Clyde
Caswell Miller, 71, pulled into
- Hardin Street from the Winn
Dixie parking lot and collided
with a 1963 Chevrolet driven
by Jack Finley Cook, 44. One
hundred fifty dollars damages
resulted and road conditions
were blamed.
Four hundred dollars in dam
ages were estimated after an
accident in which Salley Ann
Mieszkiewicz. 19. of Salisbury,
wtao was operating a 1964 Ram
bler, hit a 1964 Ford driven
by Judith Annette Clark, 20, of
Hillsborough. The Rambler was
reportedly following the Ford
east on newly paved Faculty
Street when it went into a skid
and out of control.
At Perkinsville, a three-car
Scott Inaugural
Program Is Mapped
Thirty-six hours of inaugural
activities beginning with a ball
and ending with a public re
ception at the mansion will
begin in Raleigh. January 2
at 4 p.m.
An 18-member committee and
12 subcommittees began plan
ning the social-political-gov
ernment extravaganza in early
November shortly after Gov
ernor-elect Bob Scott set Jan
uary 3 for the inauguration.
Governor Dan K. Moore will
trigger the festive occasion
when he publicly proclaims the
start of the inaugural cere
monies at 4 p.m.
The inaugural ball will be
held from 7:30 until midnight at
William Neal Reynolds Coli
seum. It is sponsored by the
Junior League of Raleigh and
the American Legion Host *i.
Ceremonies the following day
will begin with private church
services for the new governor
and his family at Hawfields
Presbyterian Church, Route 1,
Mebane. Afterwards, the family
will be brought to Raleigh in
♦ho Governor’s limousine.
At 11:05 honors will be rend
ered at the mansion, after which
the Governor and Governor
elect and their families will
be escorted to Memorial audi
torium for the inauguration. Af
terwards, a 19-gun salute will
be fired and the parade will
follow. Several thousand Na
tional Guardsmen, Bandsmen
and floats will pass in review.
The public reception will be
gin at the mansion at 8 p.m
damage. Ray Ellis Weaver, 28,
had stopped to make a left
turn from Highway 421 onto the
Perkinsville Road when his 1958
Volkswagon was hit from the
rear by a 1965 Plymouth driven
by Elizabeth Ann Pitts, 18,
erf Blowing Rock. The Plymouth
then was struck by a car driven
by James Edwin Holder of North
Wilkesboro.
In the only accident to draw
charges from the Police De
partment, a 1966 Ford driven
by Robert Ted Edmisten, 30,
of Sugar Grove, ran into the back
of a 1961 Pontiac operated by
Orus Richard Sutton, 52, of
Boone. Sutton was stopped on
Highway 105 preparing to turn
left onto Watauga High School
Drive. The Pontiac was dam
aged $700 worth while $500
was the estimate given for the
Ford. Edmisten was charged
with following too closely.
Doc Watson To
Headline Blue
Crass Jamboree
Doc Watson will headline the
Blue Grass and Folk Jamboree
to be sponsored by the Boone
Jaycees at 8 pjn. Saturday at
Watauga High School.
The stage show also will fea
ture Arlie and Ora Watson and
their group, the Highland String
Band, and Larry Campbell and
the County Playboys.
Admission is $1.50 for adults
with children under 12 admitted
free. Tickets will be sold at
the door only.
Watson has concertized in
ternationally and Larry Camp
bell’s group has won more than
100 blue grass contests. Those
planning to attend are urged to
be there early in order to gel
a good seat.
WHS Teachers
Are Honored
Teacher Appreciation Week
at Watauga High School con
cluded Friday in an assembly
program to honor all teach
Mark Wilson, chairman of
the program, introduced the
teachers, student teachers,
t graduate assistants and other
5 staff members. Eddie Scroggs
and Sharron Johnson presented
(Continued on page two)
2 Magistrates
Are Nominated
By Clerk Foster
Watauga County Monday will
begin handling its local civil
and criminal trials under the
new District Court System,
which is the State Legislature’s
10-year campaign to standar
dize and upgrade the State’s
lower courts.
Voters in the 24th District
(Watauga, Avery, Mitchell,
Madison and Yancey counties)
elected Republican attorneys
J.E. Holshouser Sr. of Watauga
and Ray Braswell of Avery
County as DistrictCourt Judges.
Braswell, appointed Chief
District Judge by the Chief
Justice of the N.C. Supreme
Court, is now working up a
schedule of court dates for the
counties.
MAGISTRATES
In compliance with the Judi
cial Department Act of 1965
(Chap. 310, S.L. 1965), district
court magistrates are to be
nominated by the Clerk of Su
perior Court who in Watauga
County is Orville Foster.
Starting under the minimum
quota of two full-time and one
part time magistrate, Foster
said Thursday that Ralph Greene
and Fred McNeal were nomina
U--U LUI lUil-UUIC ^iv-MHiv
magistrates respectively. Arm
field Coffey had been considered
for the remaining full-time po
sition but declined because of
his business responsibilities.
Foster said that while a third
magistrate is yet to be ap
pointed, nominees were ap
proved early this month by
Judge W. E. Anglin, senior
regular residentSuperior Court
Judge.
Salaries for full-time here
are recommended at $4,800 per
year ($6,000 is maximum) and
for part-time, $2,400. Foster
said his office does not pre
scribe salary, hours or work
ing conditions.
Serving the District for terms
of two years, the magistrates
will surplant justices of the
peace and as officers of the
District Court will be under
the close, direct supervision of
Judges Holshouser and Bras
The magistrates’ office lo
cation and hours also are to
be determined this week. Wa
tauga's maximum staff of mag
istrates would be four full
time and one part-time.
However, Foster explained
that the system is so new here
that they will start at mini
mum and see how well things
work out.
AUTHORITY
According to an Institute of
Government publication from
UNC-Chapel Hill, the magis
trate’s “authority in criminal
matters is severely curtailed.’
In criminal actions within
the jurisdiction of the District
Court, he has power:
“(a) In misdemeanor cases,
other than traffic offenses, in
which the maximum punishment
which can be adjudged cannot
exceed imprisonment for thirty
days or a fine of $50, exclu
1 sive of costs, to accept guilty
1 pleas and enter judgment;
“(b) In misdemeanor cases
involving traffic offenses, to
accept written appearances,
waivers of trial and pleas of
guilty, in accordance with a
schedule of offenses and fines
promulgated by the chief dis
trict judge;
“(e) In any misdemeanor
case, to conduct a preliminary
examination and bind the ac
cused over to the district court
for trial upon a waiver of ex
amination or upon a finding erf
probably cause, making appro
priate orders as to bail or
commitment;
i “(d) To issue arrest warrants
(Continued on page two)