Population
Watauga County 22,MO
'■**'■*■ 10 Year Gain 29.27%
Boone 8,SCO
10 Yw Gain 122.19%
WO Preliminary Census Report
83rd YEAR—NO. 23
WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Newspaper Serving The Northwest Carolina Mountain Area
■ _ BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, N. C. THURSDAY DECEMBER 10. 1970 in CENTS
Boone Weather
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32 PAGES—2 SECTIONS
K*6K«*M X
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Mrs. Dessa Mae Edmisten, supervisor of Watauga
Instruction, received a surprise gift of silver at
the Friday morning meeting. She guided the
schools’ work in meeting the standards of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. (Staff
photo)
2,700 Hanoi Letters
Written In Watauga
Mm. Walter Hawkinson, a
Boone resident who was in
strumental in the “Write
Hanoi” campaign operated in
the Two Carolina: by WBTV,
said last week that volunteers
had received some 2,700 letters
here in Watauga County.
She pointed out that many
others perhaps were mailed
directly to the television
station. And Mrs. Hawkinson
added appreciation to other
volunteers and all letter
writers for their sincere
concern for the American
Prisoners of War being held
captive by the North Viet
namese.
The public was asked to
request the names of POW’s,
humane treatment for them
and negotiations for their
release.
WBTV early in the campaign
announced it would see to it
that the letters reached the
Debate Team
Earns Highest
2-State Honor
Watauga High School a af
firmative and negative debate
teams both took first place
Saturday when they competed
with several teams from
Tennessee and North Carolina.
Among those teams was
Tennessee's Unicoi, considered
to be one of that state's top
debate teams.
The meet was at Bowman
High School in Bakersvllle, a
school "very active in debate
work,” says Mrs. Mary
Frances Elvey, sponsor of
forensics at Watauga High
School.
The WHS affirmative team
comprises David Williams and
Tim Westmoreland. Robert
Furr and Ben Thalhelmer are
(Continued on page two)
North Vietnamese. It was
warned that the letters might
not be read individually, but
would be counted.
It was pointed out that the
North Vietnamese mark off
men who are captured by the
enemy and do not want them
back. The letter writing
campaign, additionally, was to
show them that Americans do
care for their men in captivity.
The television station
Monday night announced that
the huge volume of letters was
taken by some staff members
to Paris where it was to be
presented to the Hanoi
Delegation to the peace talks.
But the delegation avoided a
meeting and last word was that
the Charlotteans might get an
appointment Wednesday (Dec.
9). One of the station’s staff
members had reported to
WBTV that if Hanoi
representatives would not
accept the letters, they would
be dumped at the base of the
Eiffel Tower.
The campaign, which was a
grassroots product of the
American Red Cross and oi
anguished POW wives and
families, received wide sup
port in the State’s news media.
Boy Is Struck
By Auto
An ll-year-old boy waa
struck by an automobile about
5:40 Monday afternoon on N. C.
194 near the maintenance shop
of the State Highway Depart
ment.
The youngster, identified by
Patrolman Charles Arrowood
as Gary Lee Moretz of Route 4,
Boone, was admitted to
Watauga County Hospital and
later was released.
The Trooper said the driver
of the car was James Jackson
Davis, who was traveling south
on 194 when he dodged a group
of boys in the right lane and hit
the Moretz boy, who was in the
southbound lane.
12 Million Visit Blue
Ridge Parkway This Year
During November, 7m.il 1 people toared tbe Blue Ridge
Parkway n agataet 7M.1M fer the Hue period la 1Mb a gala of
1.1% flgarea juat releaied by Roanoke Parkway Headquarter*
reveal.
Per tbe ealeader year im to date, 12.Ki.Mi riatter* have
beea tallied far aa lac reate of U%*ver tbe 11,4714*5 reported
hr tbe tome period la ltM.
Vlaltor total! by dietrieta lor tbe 1M* aad 1*7* follow, tbe flrti
figure la each cate being fer 1*7*:
James River. Va.. mile e to MS. 1*1,442; U.1M.
lucky Knob. Va- mile 1*S to217.1*44*1; 170,04.,, “ , '
muff*. N. C„ mile 217 to MS, MJ21; 84,714.
giber Mr mile las to 2M, 2S2.SS7; M*,Mt.- JA
,.. "V. e.,v.rwu^<ojoaajm»rtotaBata*taniliiii|IMWi3B
Historic Milestone In Education
,,*
8 Watauga Elementary
Schools Are Accredited
Christmas Is Bustin’
Out All Over
Community Christmas Tree Lighting
There will be music by the Watauga High School Band, Santa
Claus for the kiddies, and a community Christmas carol singing
Monday evening on the ASU playing field overlooked by the
Dougherty Administration Building.
Appalachian students will furnish candy and favors for the
children, and families from throughout Watauga County are
invited to this happy event—being sponsored for the second year
by the Community-Campus Relations Committee.
At 6 p. m. Monday (Dec. 14), the program will begin with
brief remarks by Boone’s Mayor, Gordon H. Winkler, and by
ASU President Dr. Herb Wey. The devotion will be by Wes
Bratcher, associate pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boone.
The university will be responsible for decorating the big
Christmas tree and the lights will be turned on when the crowd
has assembled.
Christmas carols will be sung by everyone.
Tuesday: Shopping Tour For Children
The following morning—Tuesday, Dec. 15—the Boone
Jaycees’ annual Christmas Shopping Tour and party for needy
children will begin at 9 a. m.
The chairmanship of the project has been undertaken by Dr.
John F. Robinson, a new member of the community-service
Jaycees
He says the tour will be followed at 11 a. m. with a Christmas
party at the Town House Restaurant. And, says Dr. Robinson,
merchants often give discounts so that the Jaycees can stretch
their Christmas-spirit dollars much further.
Jolly Old St. Nicholas, having been in Boone the evening
before for the Christmas Tree Lighting at the university, will be
back in town Tuesday morning—helping the Jaycees spread
their holiday cheer to the little ones.
Children To Help Other Children
There is a popular song with these lyrics: "People... people
who need people are the luckiest people in the world."
That spirit is being felt by the second-grade members of Girl
Scout Troop 98, who meet this week to finish putting together gift
packages for children at the Grandfather Home in Banner Elk.
More later about this worthwhile project.
May We Make A Suggestion?
May We Make A Suggestion?
It could be that with all the
packages you're putting under
the tree, there is still a need for
something a little extra to put
sparkle in a child’s eyes.
The Humane Society of
Watauga County may be able
to fill the bill. Mrs. Velma
Burnley says they have close to
40 dogs, many of them puppies,
for anyone wishing to adopt at
Christmas time. The society
asks for a small donation to
help cover some of its expenses
in operating the shelter, but
this is not absolutely
necessary.
If you’re interested, take a
drive to the shelter. Go east on
U. S. 421 and take the first
paved road to the right after
passing Lowe’s. Bear to the
right at the next turn, then take
a sharp left on State Road 1515.
Continue on the gravel road
past New River Heights and
watch for the sign on the right.
The dogs, and their sponsors,
will appreciate it.
(Photo by George Flower*)
Plenty of reason for pride are the certificates proclaiming all the county’s
schools as accredited elementary schools. Here the Green Valley certificate is
admired by Margaret Hagaman, Daisy Adams, Christine Bingham, Betty Ann
Hodges and Principal Howard Love. (Staff photo)
Marsh Is Named
School Board Head
James Marsh, the only
school board candidate to
receive more than 5,000 votes
In the General Election Nov. 3,
was elected Monday night to
the chairmanship of the
Watauga County Board of
Savings Bond
Sales Quota
Is Passed
Watauga County is one of 20
North Carolina counties to
reach 100% or more of their
goals in the sale of U. S.
Savings Bonds, according to A.
T. Adams, County Volunteer
Chairman for the Savings Bond
Division of the Treasury
Department.
The saie.s in Watauga for the
year were $101,075 o< 106.7% of
the annual goal ot 194,694. In
October bond sales locally
reached $7,654.
Doc Watsor
To Be Seen
On TV
Two nationally-broadcast
television shows are scheduled
to feature Doc Watson, a native
of Deep Gap who has won
acclaim for hia folk singing and
guitar-ability.
The Dick Cavette Show has
taped conversation with
Watson and three musical
selections for airing either this
Thursday (tonight) or on
Thursday, Dee. IT. Mrs.
Watson said early this week
that the network bad not
confirmed a definite date.
In the near future, moat of
one of David Frost's shows will
deal almost exclusively with
the blind folk artist from
Watauga County.
Watson is expected home
Friday from a tour which has
taken him before audiences in
Boston and Chicago.
Education.
Only two of the five men on
the board will get to serve four
years. They are Marsh, who
got 5,180 votes, and Hugh
Hagaman, who received 4,860
votes from the county’s 18
precincts.
The other three men—John
H. Hollar, former chairman of
the board; incumbent member
Edsel Cook; and Joe Hartley,
the only non-incumbent elected
to serve—will be in office for
two years, coming up for
election in 1872.
These staggered terms are
provided in an amendment
passed in the 1969 General
Assembly. Previously, all
members served two-year
terms.
Marsh’s election as chair
man took place in an executive
session declared during
Monday night’s regular
meeting of the board. The oath
of office was given the board
members by Orville Foster,
Clerk of Superior Court.
Secretary-treasurer of the
Watauga Savings & Loan
Association, Marsh and his
I wife Alma Ruth reside on
L Hardin Street. Their sons are
Jimmy, Randy, Lesley and
Ronnie.
Marsh long has been active
in all phases of community,
civic and church activities.
JAMES P. MARSH
Matney
GetsAward
Matney community in
Watauga County was one of
four runners-up in the contests
conducted by the Northwest
North Carolina Development
Association.
Matney received 175 in
recognition of its efforts in
community betterment.
Southern
Assn. OK
Is Given
BY RACHEL R. COFFEY
Watauga County haa climbed
a Mount Everest of educational
excellence.
Last week, the principals «f
all eight elementary schools
here returned from Atlanta
with certificates of ac
creditation issued them by the
Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools.
Back in 1M7, Watauga High
School had qualified under the
Association’s strict, high
minded standards. That eras
the year the principals and
teachers of Watauga County
began their work toward ac
creditation.
Friday's meeting of prin
cipals was one of justifiable
elation that the hard work bad
paid off so handsomely.
Superintendent of Schools
Swanson Richards explained
that the initial procedure, after
expressing intent of becoming
a member of the association. Is
to select Improvement
projects.
At the end of the first year
began the two-year self-study
phase in which, Mrs. Deeea
Mae Edmisten noted, the
school community, its needs
and how the schools relate to
their communities were pin
pointed.
The population of children'!
parents, their occupations and
educations were part of this
and administrators and
teachers began focusing on
things to improve community
relationships.
The total program of each
school, its strengths and
weaknesses, was disected.
They explored means of im
proving buildings, grounds,
equipment, materials, per
sonnel and thence the courses
of instruction.
Dr. Guy Burchfield and Dr.
Jerry Rice of Western Carolina
University were approved by
the association as consultants
throughout the three-year
progress. Mrs. Dessa Mae
Edmisten, as supervisor of
instruction for the county, co
ordinated the work of the eight
schools.
A 36-member committee
came here last April under tbs
chairmanship of Dr. John
Bridgeman of the Ad
vancement School in Winston
Salem. They took a look far
themselves. And liked what
they saw.
Dr. Richards points out that
it is fairly rare in North
Carolina for all the public
schools in a single system to
have won membership in the
Southern Association.
(Continued on page two)
Added $49,000 Set Up
For Road Project In City
An additional $49,000 of
State-wide urban conatructlon
funds was allotted for the
Improvements of US 221 and
321 south inside the city limits
of Boone at a meeting of the
State Highway Commlaaion
last Thursday, according to in
formation given the Democrat
by Commissioner Robert Barr
of West Jefferson.
This sum, Mr. Barr states, is
a supplement to finish the
project which was let to Brown
Bros, of Zionville for
$899,614.79 for 1.383 miles of
grading, coarse aggregate
base course, bituminous
concrete binder for the im
provement of US 221 and 321
from about 450 feet northwest
of NC 105 in Boone
southeasterly to about 70 feet
northwest of the city limits.
The structures were let to John
Brinkley, Inc., of Thomp
sonville for 389,333.51.
The final completion date is
set at November 1, 1971.
The sum of $50,000 was
provided for the resurfacing of
US 421 from east city limits of
Boom aut to SR 1SS7,4.7 BUM
and US 411 from Blue RMS*
Parkway 1.1 mile*.
Aleo of local intern! I* ■
project in Wilkea County
providing *46,000 for remap*
facing US 411 from weat of SR
1304 to Wade Harrie Bridge, M
mile*.
Mm thouaand dollar* au
■et up for paving the aee***
road trout SR 1*4 to the aaar
Hardin Park Elementary
School and for ataMWng Mm
parking area at Mm a cheat