WATAUGA COUNTY In the Heart of the Northwest- r * em North Caroline winter and summer tourist resort area. % : VOL. LXXXI—NO. 23 Ah Independent Weekly Newspaper . . . DEMOCRAT Eighty-First Year of Continuous Publication BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1963 10 CENTS PER COPY BOONE WEATHER MM BUSwenastl Noe. 26 60 22 I Not. 27 56 27 Not. 28 66 46 tr. Not. 28 66 84 Not. 30 47 30 Dee. 1 45 32 Dee. 2 64 32 M 30 PAGES—3 SECTIONS 8S&68SSB stssssm What a tree! Since blank and white’film seldom draws much at a line between the green of a tree and the green of grass, some of the men spread a line beside the 35-foot Frazier Fir about to be moved from-the former Dick Bingham homestead. The principals in the story are Ray G. Farthing (second from right), owner of the tree, and R. Vann Massey (fourth from left), purchaser of the tree and manager of Tarrytown Mall In Rocky Mount. (Staff photo) Frantic Search Ends In Watauga Perfect Yule Tree Is Found Burley Prices Higher Than Ever Before On Boone Market . Burley tobacco prices were high and steady the first four days a* tbs Boone Market. >.. » According to Stanley A. Harris Sr., sales supervisor the local tobacco board totrades, Farmers Burely Ware house sold 1,345,174 pounds for $989,700.38 or an average of more than $73.50 per hundred pounds. Harris pointed out that a great many baskets sold for $77 per hundred. The average for the first four days was about $2-per hundred better than ever before. Also, the price was just as good Friday as on Monday. Monday’s sale was to be at Farmers warehouse with each day’s sale beginning at 9 a. m. Harris pointed out that sale days are Monday through Friday with no sales at all on Saturday. This is contrary, and serves as a correction, tor incorrect information earlier received by the newspaper. Harris added that after Monday, “we hope to sell the crop the same day the farmer gets it in—before 2 o’clock.” SnowCarnivalPlans Are Going Forward The North Caroline Carnival Committee met at the Boone Chamber of Commerce Tues day, Nov. 19, to plan the Snow Carnival proposed for Boone Jan. 17, 18 and 19, the be ginning of National Shi Week. James Hastings, Boone Rec reation Director, headed the committee. Robert Bingham elaborated on Snow Carnival plans at the Chamber of Commerce board of directors meeting Tuesday. He said a parade is planned for Friday, Jan. 17, and an art showing of regional scenes Is scheduled for that night. Also on Friday, an apres ski dance is planned at Blowing Rock Ski Lodge. Saturday ata closed luncheon, certified beauty judges will se lect a Queen to be announced that night at the Snow Ball at Seven Devils. Promotion of the event will cover a five-state area, Bing ham said and the N. C. Travel Council, a division of the State C & D Board, will hold a press conference in Raleigh to help launch the ptfcllcity. Tentative (Continued on page two) BY RACHEL RIVERS Two days before Thanksgiv ing. a three-day search through much of the surrounding moun tain range ended in Watauga County near the Ray G. Farth ing home between Vilas and Sugar Grove. Hunted was a 35-foet&h*iiftle/j mas tree to be the seasonal core at interest at Tarrytown Mall, a Rocky Mount (N. C.) shopping center. Hunter was R. Vann 'Massey, Tarrytown Mall manager, who explained he had flown to Hendersonville Satur day before Thanksgiving. From there he drove to Burnsville and subsequently traveled to Roan Mountain, to Volney, Va„ and to Mt. Rogers near White Gap. He arrived in this vicinity Monday night and thanks to John Gilliam and L. E, TuckwiUer, Massey found his tree. 100 BANDS It was Ray Farthing’s 35 foot Frazier Fir, which he ex plains Is a native of the Grand father Mountain-Roan Mountain area. When it was painted white and hung with lights last week. Cong ressman Jim Gardner was to have traveled to Rocky Mount Friday to turn on the lights and get Rocky Mount officiaUy on its way toward Christinas. Massey said more than 100 bands and choirs appear at the Mall during the Yule season and the lighting and the music are synchronized. Consequently, the lights turn blue when low notes are played or sung and change to red in response to high notes. Last year 700,000 shoppers enjoyed the tree display and this year an Increase in traffic is expected. It’s one part seasonal business and one part Tarrytown Christinas Music Festival, an event of which Massey says Ms firm is quite proud. The shopping complex has 300,000 square feet, an amount Sale Of Christmas Seals Said To Be Brisk In Area The IMS Christmas Seal Campaign goes Into Its fourth week with a gratifying response from many persons and firms who have answered their Christ mas Seal letter generously. Announcement comes from . Tom Doughton of Sparta, Dr. C. E. Miller of West Jefferson and Charles H. Blackburn Jr. of Boone, who are serving this year as co-chairmen of Alls ghany-Ashe-Watauga Tubsrea loels Association. "Your support of the pro grams provided by tbs Christ mas Seal Campaign enables an active hand In hand effort of tfa* local Tidmrculosls and Bm» juratory Disease*, the North Carolina Tuberculosis and Res piratory Diseases and the Na tional Tuberculosis and Res piratory Diseases Associa tions, Combined efforts are quite important in the help to control the problems as they relate to tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases," theyan nouneed. Tuberculosis, chronic bron chitis and emphysema are greatly aggravated by smoking and air pollution, according to the U£. piddle Health Service. Almost 48,000 new active cases H tuberculosi* were found in the J3. in • recent year, with 10,000 active cases end over >30,000 errested cases. Chronic bronchitis affects ibout four million persons. Em j*ysema, a chronic respiratory disease, is so crippling that it is second among disabilities for which workers are given So cial Security benefits. "These facts point up the. need for your continued support of the Christmas Seal pro grams," said Ruth Draughon, local director at Alleghany Ashe-Watauga TB and RD As sociation. i which will double in a forth coming expansion. Congressman Gardner’s appearance in Rocky Mount was his first public function since running for Governor on the Re publican ticket. Massey said. Formerly, the Rocky Mount firm had depended on the State of Vermont*#** trees-,-'last week being its first, seek-and-uncov er mission in North Carolina’s mountains. Massey was en thusiastic about his find and said one of the main purposes of making the selection here was to draw attention to Watauga’s splendid forestry. A television station had of fered to buy film of the project if it could be supplied. But everything happened so quickly, by the time the moving operation was underway it was too late to get a local cameraman to the scene. Massey also planned a massive newspaper publicity program, but because the local newspaper maintains only an offset darkroom not geared for production of prints, it was un able to be of immediate help. Film containing other local shots could not be spared until after it was professionally pro cessed early this week. The whole event wound up not getting the scope of coverage needed prior to Gardner’s appearance in Rocky Mount, but Massey left with a praise worthy fir mounted onto a trac tor trailer. And who knows? He (Continued on page two) CAPSULES OF WATAUGA County tacts released since spring from government agencies re veal a great deal about the average local household and its Inhabitants. Taxable property amounts to <3.534 per capita, and Increase of 67.9 per cent in a five-year period In which the national rise was 37.3 per cent. All together, Wataugans spend <5,350,000 for food, or 20 cents out . ..... ■s.iv.ji:.''.'; Santa Claus Is Coming \ . : Jf Gay Christmas Parade Big Saturday Feature Clowns, Bands And Politicians Horses, Floats Boone’s gala Christinas pa rade will organize at the Horn n the West grounds Saturday ifternoon, start its march at 1 p. m. and get uptown about 1:15, according to Jim Hast ings. Hastings is in charge of this fear’s procession, billed as a record event both in size and quality. G. D. Barnett has of fered to be director of the pa rade, which will feature horses and clowns, bands and poli ticians and all manner of floats. Among the features will be the Charlotte Drum and Bugle Corps, the Watauga High School and Appalachian State Uni versity maiching bands, Bob bies Majorettes of Bristol, the Carolina Clowns androck’nroll music, courtesy of Jimmy Hig gins and group. Television cowboy star Fred Kirby and Joey the Clown will be here as will Congressman Jim Broyhill of the 10th Dis trict. And, of course, Santa Claus. FLOATS Floats include Tweetsie R R, Seven Devils, Grandfather Golf and Country Club, Invershiel, Coca-Cola, Beech Mountain, Pet Milk, Pepsi Cola, Homecoming Queen Ollie Jackson of Watauga High, the new*'1ifiss'"Watauga, the Mecklenburg Jaycees and WATA. Other special units will be choirs from the Boone United Methodist Church, Midget Foot ball players, 4-Hers, Boy and Cub Scouts, the Girl Scouts, a trusty fire engine, a few an tique cars and some horses arranged for by Hiram Brooks and the Rev. Edd Crump. Kays Gary plans to ride in a (Continued on page two) New Officials Take Offices Monday was the first day in office for Watauga County’s new officials. Seen from the left (front row) are Judge J. E. Holshouser Sr. and Judge Ray Braswell, Magistrate Ralph Greene and Tax Supervisor Carlton Lyons; (second row) County Commissioner Gene Wilson, Magistrate Fred McNeal and Commissioners Kenneth Wilcox and Perry Greene; (third row) Magistrate Hade Smith, Tax Collector Ralph Hayes and Veterans Service Officer J. W. Norris. The District Court Judges preside in the five-county 24th District. A former County Commissioner, Lyons served as Boone’s Chief of Police until being appointed Tax Supervisor. The city vacancy soon is to be filled, according to Mayor Clyde Greene, (Staff photo) Watauga Court Term Will Convene D ec*19 The first term of District Court in Watauga County will be conducted at the Courthouse Thursday and Friday, Dec. 19 and 20, Judge J. E. Holshouser Sr. of Boone presiding. The first session under the new District Court system will be Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 4 and 5, in Mitchell Coun ty with Chief District Judge Ray Braswell in charge. The two men were elected in the 24th District which involves Avery, Madison and Yancey in addition to the two counties al ready named. On the homefront, Clerk of Court Orville Foster said this week the full-time vacancy re maining in the minimum staff of magistrates for WataujaCounty has been filled. The name of William Hade Smith of Route 1, Banner Elk, was suggested by Foster and approved by Judge W. E. Anglin, senior regular resident Superior Court Judge. The other full-time magis trate is Ralph Greene and the pail-time official is Fred Mc Neal. Starting full-time salary is $4,800 per year with $2,400 allotted for McNeal’s services. A roster of local office hours was being made up this week but no final schedule was re leased Tuesday. Court will be held in Avery County, Dec. 12 and 13, by Judge Braswell. Judge Holshouser will hold court Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 16 and 17, in Yancey County, then in Watauga later that week and in MadisonCounty Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 30 and 31. The January schedule is as follows: Jan. 6 and 10, Mitch ell County, Judge Braswell; 13 through 17, Avery, Judge Hols houser; 20-4, Yancey, Judge Holshouser; and27-31, Madison County, Judge Braswell. Feb. 3-7, Judge Braswell will preside in Watauga County. Local magistrates have some authority in both criminal and civil matters (Nov. 28 issue), but work under the direct super vision of the District’s judges and according tp a set scale of penalties for certain offenses. The new system became operative in the 24th District Monday, Dec. 2. Court Of Honor Set For Tonight A District Court of Honor will be bold at 8 Thursday night in the courtroom of the new Court Dr. H. C. Evans, president of Lees McRae College, will be present for the awards program being sponsored hr Boy Scout Troop 109. An Eagle rank will be conferred on a Scout that night and Scoutmaster Joe Miller of Boone says the special ceremony for the event will be most Impressive. [iriv .-J ... . .» ■ ■ ; ; • ; ijl Town Acts On Contractor Damage, Garbage Pickups The Town of Boone released statements Tuesday pertaining to the work of contractors within the city limits and also a forth coming change in city garbage operations. The first statement was “to notify all contractors perform ing work within the town limits of the Town of Boone that they shall be held responsible for the cost of repairing any streets, sewer and water lines, and wa ter meters or any other proper ty of the Town of Boone which the contractor may destroy, break or damage to any degree.” Due to the continuing increase in garbage pick-upand shortage of equipment and man, begin ning Jan. 1, 1969, the Town will no longer be able to enter private driveways in residen tial areas to pick up garbage at the house. “All citizens are asked to please co-operate by placing their garbage cans beside the city street abutting their prop erty in order to speed up the process of garbage pick-up. “It is necessary that this method be followed in order that the trucks may cover the required territory and stay on schedule. Property owners are asked to furnish a sufficient number of regulation garbage cans with lids to hold their amount of garbage without spill ing onto the ground. “Any loose trash and garbage scattered on the ground will be left for the property owner to clean away.' Two Injured In Crash Of Cars A two car accident at the intersection of Faculty Street and Route 105 last week re sulted in more than $600 dam ages and sent two people to Watauga County Hospital. According to Police Chief James Lyons, James Wilson Beach, SO, of Boone had stop* ped at the stop sign on Faculty before entering Highway 105. He then drove his 1964 Ply mouth into the side of a 1964 Renault driven by Lowell E. Staley of Butler, Tenn., who was driving north. Injured were Staley and Ron nie Russell Howard, both in the Renault. Lyons said that no chargee were placed and tha accident was termed unavoidable.