-TRANSYLVANIA
Land of Waterfalls,
Summer Camps, Verdant
Forests, Brevard College,
Brevard Music Center.
THE TRANSYLVANIA LEVIES
aSe
A State And National Prize-Winning Home Town Newspaper^
Has Industry, Education,
Tourism, Unsurpassed
Recreation, Excellent
Shops And Stores, And
20,000 Of The Finest People
In The World.
Vol. 87 — No. 57
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE
PAID AT BREVARD, N. C. ZIP CODE 2W1J
BREVARD, N. C., MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1974
15c COPY PUBLISHED SEMI-WEEKLY 26 PAGES TODAY
ANTICIPATING the arrival of Brian for Christmas
are his four sisters and parents, show above. They are, from
left, Joan, Dodie, Mary, Jayme, Mrs. Sterk and Mr. Sterk.
(Times Staff Photo)
THE JOY OF THE SEASON reflected on
her face, Dodie adjusts candy cane on Christmas
tree. (Times Staff Photo)
13 Holiday Traffic
Deaths Are Forecast
CHARLOTTE — The N. C.
State Motor Club is predicting
the safest Christmas and New
Years holidays since 1968 but
time, rather than careful
driving, is the major factor.
Carolina will count its
year from 6 p.m. Dec.
midnight, Dec. 25, and
v Last year 40 persons were
killed in the state during a 102
period for each holiday,
49 persons died as a result
accidents in 1972 during 78
periods.
The fewest deaths over
Christmas and New Years in
it years was in 1968 when
persons lost their lives
a similar abbreviated
schedule.
The motor club is
estimating that a total of 13
persons will die' in traffic
accidents on North Carolina
highways during the
Christmas and New Year
holidays.
from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 until
midnight, Jan. 1.
“The loss of a single life is a
tragedy,” Motor Club
President Paul B. Marion
said, “and we caution
motorists to drive with care.
We are especially concerned
over excessive speed and urge
drivers to obey established
speed limits.
Marion said he was hopeful
that the weather would not
hamper traffic conditions
during the holiday period. “If
the weather is good,” he said,
“this could be one of our safest
holidays in a long time. We
certainly hope so.”
Marion pointed out that
traffic fatalities are down
more than 350 from this time
last year and commended the
driving public and the State
Highway Patrol for jobs done
well.
“I just hope the trend
continues,” he concluded.
Surprise Welcome
Awaits Brevard GI
BV DOROTHY OSBORNE
Times Staff Writer
A huge sign, with three-foot
high brightly-colored lettering
on white paper, reads
“Welcome Home.”
That’s the only tangible
evidence that something
unusual is going on at the R. P.
Sterk residence on Delphia
Drive.
The usual Christmas
decorations are there: a
wreath on the front door, a
huge tree beautifully
decorated and stacks of gaily
wrapped packages un
derneath, a sprig of mistletoe
hanging from the arch bet
ween the living room and
dining room.
The sign officially welcomes
home Brian Sterk of the U. S.
Army, who has been in Korea
since November 1973.
The Sterks had not expected
him for Christmas. He had
written that he could not leave
Korea until just after
Christmas.
But he wrote Robert
Morgan, newly-elected U. S.
Senator, who contacted Sen.
Sam Ervin, whose efforts cut
through military red tape to
get the young man home for
Christmas.
The Sterks had not heard
from Brian that he will be
here. Their only news came
from The Times, who received
a news release from Robert
Morgan’s office.
All of the Sterks, except for
the oldest son, Randy, who
lives in Kansas City, will
celebrate Christmas together.
There’s John, age 21, who
lives in Brevard. And at home
are the four girls: Mary, 18,
and a freshman at Brevard
College; Jayne, age 15, a
sophomore at Brevard High
School; Doris, called Dodie,
age 13 and an eighth grader;
and 10-year-old Joan, a fifth
grader.
“Each of them miss the one
who isn’t here,” said Mrs.
Sterk. “They took it when he
wasn’t coming home. But, by
golly, when they learned he
was! Such a display of all that
happiness.”
The sign was the idea and
the work of Dodie and Joan.
Special plans now include
having a few of their neigh
bors in Morgan Heights in.
“And we’ll have an open house
for Brian’s friends,” Mrs.
Sterk said.
Their celebration of
Christmas follows a ritual of
long standing she explained.
“We do the midnight mass
together.” Four of the
children sing in the choir.
“That makes me very proud.
Then we come home and by
then, everyone is ready to go
to bed.”
The ritual continues
Christmas morning. “Here’s
the torture chamber I set up.
We have the pancakes,
orange juice, warm syrup,
then clean up the kitchen and
Babson
Forecast
Coming
The Babson Forecast
of business trends for
1975 will be run in the
December 30 and
January 2 issues of The
Times next week.
Today’s Times is the
only one to be
published this week
in order that the
employes might have a
few days to enjoy the
Christmas season. The
Thursday edition has
been canceled.
Publication will
return to normal
schedule next week.
make the beds, t hen we nave
the gifts. Then I can be a part
of it.”
They open th**ir gifts, first
—See Surprise, Page 2
T 1 >noppiN6
, DAY TILL
i CHRISTMAS
Yule’s Approach
Quiet In County
Last-Minute
Shoppers
In Stores
Christmas was approaching
quietly on Monday, but with
stores loaded with last
minutes shoppers who were
having no problems finding
their needs from good stocks
of merchandise.
Tuesday is expected to be
the biggest day of 1974 for
Transylvania merchants.
The weekend was quiet for
the Brevard Police Dept, and
the sheriff’s men.
Schools ceased operating for
the holidays on Friday at 1:45
p.m. Students will return to
school January S. Brevard
Elementary and Middle
Schools pupils will report to
their old schools on that date,
according to Superintendent
of Schools Harry C. Corbin.
“Some pupils may be
assigned to a different bus for
the return trip home on this
date. Occupancy of the new
Brevard Middle School and
the Brevard Elementary
School will result in a number
of bus route changes.
“Pupils will be properly
notified of these changes and
any necessary adjustments
will be made to insure that the
bus transportation system
continues to operate in an
efficient manner.”
School officials are hoping
to complete the moving of
school equipment from the old
schools to the new ones on
January 2 and 3.
City Hall offices will be
closed Tuesday and Wed
nesday, but will open as usual
Thursday and Friday. Court
House offices will close for
three days: Tuesday,
Christmas, and Thursday.
The driving license
—See Last. Pace 2
The Tree
German legend has it that from time to time
simple, good folk have seen, on Christmas Eve, a
single tree deep in the dark, wintery forest, in
full bloom and aglow with a beautiful child sit
ting in its branches. Asked to comment on this, a
churchman once said, “the blossoming tree is
humanity; the shining lights are good men; and
the child is the Savior.”
Throughout the ages, the tree has been a haven
for mankind:it has sheltered him from the
sweltering sun or from chilling winds; given food
and medicine; provided means of tran
sportation ; yielded weapons with which he could
hunt or defend himself; been the roof over his
head and provided the final resting place for his
body.
The Christmas tree represents all this and far
more. Its lights represent not only good men, but
a lasting Good — that of the birth of a Savior,
which is the light of the world for all people in all
seasons throughout all ages.
Its lights sometimes look like stars and remind
us of the Star of Bethlehem, that bright light
shining today in the hearts of mankind to bring
the hope of peace and the joy of living.
How often we have looked at the lights
reflected in our children’s eyes and seen the
vision of what life could really be, and recalled,
like a mirror to the soul, the dreams we had and
that are never truly lost.
The Christmas tree reminds us yet of what was
and is and shall be.
Reprinted from “Spotlight.”
United Way Exceeds
Goal Of $66,883.58
The Transylvania County
United Way has exceeded its
goal of $66,883.58 with the
contributions reported from
Olin Corporation and em
ployes on December 20, ac
cording to Rev. Harry W.
Philips, president of the local
United Way.
The campaign at Olin was a
joint effort of the Company
and Local 1971 of the United
Paperworkers International
Union. Hourly employees
were contacted by Union
stewards, and salaried em
ployees were contacted by
salaried solicitors. The cam
paign was started in the plants
—See United, Page 3
PISGAH FOREST LIONS CLUB
members on Saturday made their rounds
carrying food boxes to blind and visually
handicapped persons. Delivering this truckload
were, beginning at left nearest camera ana
going clockwise, were: Tommy Burgess, club
president; J. P. Wortman, Homer Cox, project
chairman; and Charles Creasman.