Newspapers / The Smoky Mountain Times … / Oct. 23, 1969, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Smoky Mountain Times (Bryson City, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The Smoky Mountain Times Votume 87 — Number 5 — Smoky Mountain Timet — Bryson City, N.C. - Thursday, October 23,1969 SCOTT WS!TS AREA TO SHAKE HANDS & USTEN TO PROBLEMS Around Town The North Carolina State Highway Patro! reports four accidents in Swain County iast week. Whiie making fiftenn contacts, there was one charged with runk driving, five with speeding, one pedestrian vioiation, six other hazardous moving vioiations, and two non hazardous vioiations. Officers patrolled a distance of some 2,679 miies with the week beginning October 13 and extending through October 19. *** The Quaiia PTA wii! hoid its annua! Halloween Carniva! Saturday night, October 25. A number of interesting games are planned, both children and adult bingo will be part of the program. !t all starts at 6:00 ( p.m. at the Qually Elementary School in Whittier. The public is cordially invited. *** Oneal Muse, midget-mite co-ordinator for the Bryson City Jaycees informed us this week that the Midget-Mite season has been completed and that uniforms are now being taken up. Any member of either the Mite or Midget team who has not turned in his uniform is asked to please do so immediately. You may turn them in either at the Smoky Mountain Times office or at Bennett's Drug Store. *** Don't know whether you 1 have notigpd or not, but the steel for the new bridge on Everett St. has arrived, and you should notice a lot of progress in the next couple of weeks, weather permitting. *** Well, we have been getting a lot of comments about our over confidence in the Bryson City football team this week after our humiliated defeat (6-0) to Franklin last week. But as the old saying goes "every dog shall have his day," and don't be surprised when we win the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship this year, and even if we don't our boys are still No. and Swain High is still the best. So there! AAUW Women To Meel The Bryson City Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet Monday evening, October 27, at 7:30 at the Cherokee School Library. The program is "Art and You" and is given by Mrs. Mary Chiltoskey. Hostesses for the program will be Violet Anderson, Mary Chiltoskey and Ernestine Walkingstick. A11 members are urged to be present. Oneal Muse and tootsie Wright, chairman and vice-chairman of the Swain County Democrat Committee are pictured above chatting with Gov. Bob Scott. Roads Major Topic During Luncheon Gov. Scott showed much concern and interest in the probiems of Swain County and spoke very favorabiy about taking some action toward highway improvement in this area. He pointed out that his reason for being in wester North Carolina was to , "shake some hands and iisten to your needs, too often people in this far west area feei that they do not see enough of their eiected officials, 1 not only want to see the people in western North Carolina and visit with them but 1 want to hear their problems and see if some action can't be taken to solve these problems ' Gov. Scott spoke of being saddened by the tragic death of this district's State Highway Commissioner, J. Boyd Crisp. He said, "the warmth this man knew from the people of this area was very much in evidence at his funeral Tuesday afternoon." Gov. Bob Scott spoke to about 125 guests at a luncheon meeting held in his honor at the Fryemon Inn here in Bryson City Wednesday Transmountain Road Major Topic At Annaa! Chamber Of Commerce Dinner The Swain County Chamber of Commerce held its annua! dinner meeting last Thursday night in the Bryson City High Schoo! Cafeteria. Coi. H. H. H. Ciark, formeriy of Florida, and now of Bryson City, acting secretary for the chamber, presided over the meeting as matafof ceremonies. Mrs. R. E. Nordiine, president of the Woman's C!ub, caiied the meeting to order. Explaining her part in connection with the Woman's Ciub and the Swain County Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Nordiine said "that after the genera! public had given up the Chamber of Commerce as a iost cause the Woman's Ciub decided that as one of their civic projects of the 1969 term they wouid take the reigns and try to get the chamber back into operation. " After the initial weicome by Mrs. Nordiine, the colors was presented and posted by Steve Youngdeer Post No. 143 of the American Legion from Cherokee. Rev. Joe Morris rendered the innovation and dinner was served by Mrs. Buff and her Future Homemakers of America members. After dinner Mrs. Ha Ferguson addressed the meeting and explained, "as part of the decision to operate the Chamber of Commerce the Woman's C!hb appointed a committee & operate the chamber and appointed Mrs. Ha Ferguson as its chairman. Working together, this committee, soiicited membership from businesses and merchants in the Bryson City and surrounding areas." Mrs. Vemon McHan was appointed by the committee as treasurer of the chamber. During the meeting Thursday night Mrs. McHan reported that the chamber had 76 paying members with 44 of this 76 paying an extra $10 fee for advertisement in a very interesting brochure put out by the chamber depicting pieces to stay white in the Swain County area in the Great Smokies. Mrs. McHan expiained that approximate^ 10,000 of these brochures were handed or maiied out during the tourist season. Other expenditures confronting the chamber were stationery and ietterheads, a new typewriter, $100 for postage and saiary for the operators of the information booth on the square. She reports that as of the meeting Thursday night the chamber Continued on page 2 Judge /McLean Hoids Two Day Session Of StojEnnricu^ Court A relatively tight Superior Court criminal calender was disposed of during the first two days of Superior Court heid in the Swain County Court House this week. The honorable W. K. McLean, presided over the fall term with the honorable Marcelius Buchanan, solicitor for the state. t Individual cases on the docket were: William Dennis Laney charged with aiding and abetting in drunk driving and no operators license. Continued until March 1970 session. Samuel Jesse Walkingstick, Jr. charged with driving while license revoked and driving drunk Continued until March session. Robert Lee Shuler charged with breaking, entering and larceny. Continued until March session. ! Charles Stephenson, Jr. charged with breaking and entering. The state took a no! pros with ieave. Charies Bennett Stephenson charged with receiving stoien goods. The state took a noi pros with ieave. Fred Lee Day charged with embezzlement. Continued indefinitely. Charies Bennett Stephenson charged with accessory before the fact. The state took a noi pros with ieave. David Seay charged with breaking and entering. Continued untii March session. Grover Gene O'Dear charged with possession burgiary toois. Continued untii March session. Grover Gene O'Dear charged with breaking and entering. Continued unti! March session. Arnoid Keiiy charged with possession burgiary toois. Continued untii March session. Amoid Keiiy charged with breaking and entering. Continued untU March session. Donaid G. Woody charged with possession of burgiary tools. Continued to March session. Donaid G. Woody charged with breaking and entering. Continued untii March session. James Bennett Jones charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Entered a idea to assault by pointing d pistol. Fine $300. Charles Stephenson, Jr. charged with breaking and entering. Entered a plea to non felonious breaking and entering. 18 months suspension 3 year probation. Shiriey Owenby charged with forgery. Prayer for judgment continued until March session. Fred Lee Day charged with larceny. Continued indefinitely. Fred Lee Day charged with Continued on page 6 Mrs. R E. Nordling is pictured above giving the introductory speech during the annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner Thursday night. Col. H.H.H. Clark is seated to her right. Funera! Services Heid For Commissioner Crisp Funerai services for J. Boyd Crisp, State Highway Commissioner for Swain, Graham, Cherokee, and Clay counties, Were held Tuesday after at 2 p.m. in the Robbinsviiie Baptist Church were he was a member. Crisp was kiUed when his Cessna singie engine airplane crashed iast week en route to Raieigh from the Andrews-Murphy Airport. Crisp and Mrs. Tony Ayers of Tapoca were reported missing Wednesday night after ieaving the Andrews airport around 9:30 Wednesday morning. Mrs. Ayers was empioyed by the Graham County Schooi System and made the trip with Crisp for the purpose of attending a State Extension Homemakers Ciub meeting in Greensboro. The four seat piane went down in the Green River Cove area in Henderson County. The crash scene was discovered about 1:30 p.m. Saturday by Poik County residents, Moses Bradley and his son, Willard. They notified the Henderson County Sheriff's Department wh ich dispatched searchers to the area. Crisp, a native of Graham County, was appointed commissioner Juiy 30 by Governor Bob Scott. Governor Scott was in attendance for the funerai services. Governor Scott said Saturday night after the crash sight and bodies had been discovered that, "Mr. Crisp has rendered distinguished services since his appointment. He has been a friend of mine for many Continued on page 2 morning. Gov. Scott attended the iuncheon as part of a speaking tour he is now conduting throughout western North Caroiina. Ted Krenzke, superintendent of the Cherokee Indian Agency, gave the introduction address and acted as chairman for the meeting. Bryson City Mayor Eiien Hines, recognized the guests in attendance and introduced Gov. Scott. Due to the tight scheduie , he was expected in CuHowhee at 2:30 for another speaking engagement, Gov. Scott discarded his pianned speech and devoted the entire program to the problems confronting Swain County. "1 feel that I would be wiser to devote the time to you and your problems than I would to deliver my Inned speech," he said. Freel Owle, chairman of the Cherokee Planning Board, speaking in behalf of the Cherokee Reservation, presented Gov. Scott with a documentary outline of the road conditions and problems confronting the town of Cherokee during the busy tourist season. Mr. Owle pointed out, "On Friday, October 17th, over 12,000 automobiles traveled over a 2 lane highway in the vicinity of the Oconaluftee Ranger Station on U S. 441. We have noted traffic tie-ups that have backed traffic for as much as five miles during the tourist season. We need the help of the NdH& Carolina Highway Dept, hr easing some *of these problems." Gov. Scott listened very attentively as Mr. Owie spoke and agreed with him that .some action must be taken. He told the audience that he would turn htis matter Over to the State Highway Dppt. and that a study would be made to see how his of See and the Highway Dept, could relieve some of these traffic tie-ups. Mr. Henry J. Truett, speaking in behalf of the Swain County Planning Board confronted the Gov. with a Cottege Day Successfut ^ Coilege and Career Day was considered a success at Swain County High Schooi Monday with some 55 coiieges and about 300 students participating. Seniors from Stecoah, Cherokee, and RobbinsviUe were invited as guests of Swain High in order to take advantage of the program. The program was arranged by Swain High's guidance department. Coiieges were present at invitation only. The question was asked: "Why wasn't such and such coiiege here? " One student even asked why UCLA wasn't here. The main answer is space shortage and iong distances. Aiso, severs! schoois which were invited couldn't come. The program was arranged after a great deai of thought and work by the schooi, and, from the standpoint of providing genera! information a bout schoois and careers, served its purpose weii, the high schooi said. PTA Endorses Sates Tax The Bryson City Schoois Parent-Teacher Association adopted the following resolution at a meeting held Oct. 14, 1969 in the Bryson City School Cafeteria: "Be it resolved by the Bryson City Schoois PTA that public support be given to the one cent sales tax issue in view of the Swain County Board of Commissioners stated resolution that 80% of derived funds be used for a school building fund and capital outlays." tetter wetcoming him to our area and extending a cordial invitation to him to return as often as possibte. The tetter atso asked Gov. Scott for his assistance in speeding up work on the planned 4 tane highway from A shevitte through Western North Carolina. "We, the Planning Board of Swain County, feel that completion of this road would entice tourist to return to the area year after year rather than pass us after they have once been tied up in traffic jams for several hours. Toursit are often heard saying when they are caught in a traffic jam, if I ever get out of this D. . . place, I will never come back. " The letter also asked the Gov.'s assistance in dealing with the Federal Government in connection with the Trans-mountain Road Contract of 1943. Mr. Truett pointed out to the Gov. that approximately 75% of Swain County is now federally owned. We need this road or an alternate proposed by the National Park Service that would link Bryson City with Townsend, Tennessee. Gov. Scott promised to give these problems his immediate attention and told the group, "Your voice has been heard and I plan to take these problems up with the State Highway Commission and see if we can't get some action started up here. 1 fully believe that highways and the public school system are the keys to the future of NoHh Carolina. 1 fully intend to help not only Swain County, but all of Western North Carolina to the best of my ability ." Free! Owle is pictured above welcoming Gov. Bob Scott prior to a luncheon meeting yesterday. Gov. Bob Scott is pictured at the head of the serving line at a luncheon given in his honor yesterday at the Fryemont Inn. Locai Rock Hound Makes Big find Cowan Wikle, a life-long resident of Swain County and a teacher at the Aimond Elementary School, has been a rock collector all of his life but this past week-end will long be remembered by Mr. Wikle and his rock hound companions. Mr. Wikle had the good fortune about a year ago to discover one of the largest rubies ever to be found in western North Carolina. The ruby weighed 206% carats and was accompanied by two 80 carat rubies and one 75 carat ruby. Mr. Wikle was quoted at thk. time saying,"! still can't believe it happened to me." However, Mr. Wikle felt last year could only be a sample of his feelings today. After returning from a week-end trip that netted a find of an 830 carat ruby as well as a 200 carat sapphire. The ax-sided jewel measures 1% inches along the barrel and 1% inches across the top. Mr. Wikle would not divulge his finding place, (and we can't blame him), but did say that it was within a 50 mile radius of Bryson City. In chatting with him, he fa!! feitiva) Set Saturday The Annua! Fai! Fest!va! will be he!d at the Almond Schoo! October 25, 1969, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and continuing unti! 12:00 p.m. There wiU be several booths including the fish pond, bingo, darts, shoot the teacher, etc. Hamburgers, hot dogs, cakes, pies, coffee and soft drinks will be sold in the school cafeteria, following the crowning of the king, queen, prince, princess, and page. There will be cake walks and other contests in the auditorium. Tire PTA sponsors the festival each year and the proceeds will be used for library books, equipment, and extra expendable material for the primary grades. Help your child and the school by attending and participating in the festival. relayed to us that he knew of at least 12 places In Clay County, 8 in Macon, and 6 in Jackson where rubies could be found and were quite plentiful. He also said that even though he had never found a ruby in Swain County there were at least 2 places where sapphires could be found. Asking for confirmation of the weight, Mr. Wikle informs us that he carried THE ROCK to Ruby City in Frankiin where Mr. Earrie Clatt weighed it for him. Our next question was, what's it worth? To this, Mr. Wikie had to think a minute and then answered, "due to the iack of impurities it is not as valuable as it would be if it had an impurity known as silk. If it contained this impurity, it wouid be valued between $8,000 and $10,000. Now, who knows, it makes no difference, it's not for sale anyway." This is a close-up shot of the big ruby find made by Cowan Wikle last week. This little jewel is 830 carats and is valued in the thousand dollar bracket. Mr. Cowan Wikle is pictured above holding a ruler beside the ruby he found while rock hunting during the weekend. The stone measures 1% inches along the barrel. *\ t*
The Smoky Mountain Times (Bryson City, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 23, 1969, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75