POLK LIBRARY
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91
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THE WORLD'S SMALLEST DAILY NEWSPAPER
Founded Jan. 31. 1928 by Seth M. Vining
(Consolidated with the Polk County News 1955)
Jeffrey A. Byrd. Editor and Publisher
The Tryon Daily Bullciin (LISI'S 6411601 ix
published daily except Sal and Sun for 51' per
year by rhe Tryon Daily Bullelin. Inc. 106 N. Trade
Si.. P.O. Box 790. Tryon. N.I. 287112
Tin© Tryoo Daily iDDetD
Phone 859-9151
®
Vol. 65 - No. 112
The weekend weather: Triday,
high 95, low 69, hum. 55 per
cent; Saturday, high 93, low
70, hum. 35 percent: Sunday,
high 92, low 68, hum. 62
percent. No rain.
They warned you. They said
NEVER DO IT. But you did
anyway. You peeked at the
eclipse last Thursday.
We've all glimpsed at the sun
when there is no eclipse. Wlty
all the fuss when there is one?
What happens to those who
look?
Tlie problem with an eclip
se, said Dr. Tom Perraut, an
ophthamologist in Columbus, is
that the moon blocks most of
the sun and people can stare
riglit at it without discomfort.
Normally, it is so uncomfor
table to look at the sun that no
one will do it for long.
Perraut said there have been
cases where people high on
drugs would stare at sunsets.
But normal people under nor
mal conditions just won't do it.
Unless there's an eclipse.
Only about a third of the sun
was blocked by the moon for
viewers in the Thermal Belt
Thursday - so the pain we feel
looking into the sun probably
discouraged pecking, Perraut
(Continued On Back Page)
Printed In the THERMAL BELT of Western North Carolina
TRYON.N.C 28782
Senate Bill II
Worked For Polk,
Supt. Causby Says
The North Carolina education
reform effort called Senate Bill
II did its job in Polk County - it
motivated educators to work as
a team in meeting educational
goals.
That's what Supt. James F.
Causby told the Polk County
Board of Education last week,
sizing up the first year of the
three-year state program.
Polk County Schools met 88
percent of the goals the local
committee of teachers, admin
istrators and district officials set
for the 1990-91 school year, he
said.
That means Polk County
Schools reduced drop out rates
(from 1.8% in 1989 to .89%),
increased their average daily
attendance figures (from
94.42% to 94.636%), improved
their students' end-of-course
test results, improved elemen
tary students' writing scores,
and students' achievement test
scores.
Each school also missed
some goals and Causby said
school staffs are analyzing the
results now and developing
strategies to improve.
As a system, Polk County fell
short in four areas: the percent
age of seniors having passed all
courses required for entry to
the UNC system (36.9%, goal
was 37%. State accreditation
standard is 35%), 3rd grade
science, end-of-course test
(Continued On Back Page)
TUESDAY, JULY 16.1991
John H. Vining
Vining Receives
Top Agent Award
John H. Vining, Polk County
cooperative extension director,
has been selected as the top
young agricultural agent in the
12-county Southwestern
Extension District.
Vining's selection was made
by the North Carolina Assn, of
County Agricultural Agents. He
was cited for helping to intro
duce new enterprises into the
county, and for strengthening
the program in urban horticul
ture.
Vining, 31, has been a mem
ber of the Polk extension staff
since 1982 and director since
1988. He received his award
Friday, July 12 at the annual
state meeting of the agents
association in Greensboro.
The Cooperative Extension
Service provides educational
(Continued On Back Page)
12 Pages Today
2UC Per t ops
Fall Steeplechase
To Run October 12
Yes, Virginia, there will be a
fourth annual Tryon Hounds.
Fall Steeplechase here. Mark
your calendar, it's Saturday,
Oct. 12.
"We're tremendously excited
about it and the positive effect a
fall steeplechase has on the
community at large," said
Bonnie Lingcrfelt, president of
Tryon Hounds and chairman of
the fall meet.
Lingerfelt said that delaying
the decision until now had been
a matter of economics, not
interest in the race meet itself.
She said the race broke even its
first year and has grown con
siderably more profitable each
year since. Attendance contin
ues to grow also.
"The Gulf War and recession
had a major impact on securing
race sponsors earlier in the year.
Typically, we've had our spon
sor commitments by January.
Everyone was waiting to see a
resolution of the Gulf crisis and
a definite upturn in the econ
omy.'*
Lingerfelt said that the Tryon
Hounds board of directors and
membership had to be sure that
the race would be economically
viable.
"First, it is a major fundraiser
for the organization and its
beneficiaries, including FENCE
(Foothills Equestrian Nature
Center) and local business.
Second, it requires an intensive
volunteer effort by a relatively
small group. And finally, we
(Continued On Back Page)