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VOL. LXVm? NO. 16
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL IS, 1953
TEN PAG1
THRASH SAYS
SURVEY NEAR
COMPLETION
Announces Three Macon
Roads To Be Paved
In Future
A state highway survey now
under way on US 23 from Cowee
Gap to Dillsboro should be com
pleted soon, according to L.
Dale Thrash, 10th division
highway commissioner.
Although this proposed strip
of highway is in Jackson Coun
ty, its completion is of impor
tance to Macon County, since
It will tie in witn the new US
23 link from Franklin to Cowee
Gap, which already is in the
final stages of grading.
Mr. Thrash said field notes
on the Jackson survey will be
sent to Raleigh for plans and
contract arrangements as soon
as the survey is finished, and
added:
"I hope this will not be too
long, because the detour is a
great inconvenience to many
people."
The commissioner also an
nounced that three Macon
roads are due to be paved with
non-bond funds made available
by Governor Scott last year.
These roads are Iotla School
Road, 2.6 miles from Burning
town-lotla Road at the Moody
Farm to NC 28 at the Iotla
Bridge; Coweeta Hydrologic
Laboratory Road, one mile; and
the Middle Skeenah Road.
t Locally, the proposed highway
stretch from Cowee Gap to
Dillsboro has provoked consid
erable comment because its con
struction will lag far behind
that of the one from Franklin
to Cowee Gap. It is pointed out
that, unless the two stretches
are opened at the same time,
motorists will have to detour
around US 23 in this county for
possibly another two or three
years. The main artery of travel
was closed to traffic between
Dillsboro and Franklin in Oc
tober of last year when grad
ing operations on the Macon
stretch started.
March Road
Work Listed
For County
During the month of March,
the State Highway Commission
completed 9.6 miles of stabiliza
tion and .5 mile of paving in
Maoon County, according to an
announcement made this week
by L. Dale Thrash, 10th division
commissioner.
Roads stabilized, and their
lengths, were River Bend Road,
3.1 miles; Mountain Grove
Road, 1.3; Hudson Road, 1.1;
Siler Road, 1 mile; Buck Creek
Road, 1.5; and Wilson Road, .6
Road, l.g; and Wilson Road, .6
mile.
The .5 mile of paving was on
the Bryson Branch Road.
Mr. Thrash said a total of
2.85 miles of paving and 18.5
mttes of stabilization was com
pleted in the division during i
the month.
'Players' Second ^
Play To Be Given
Night Of April 17
A three-act comedy, "A Ready
Made Family", will be present
ed by the Franklin Community
Players Friday evening, at the
East Franklin School auditori
um at 8 o'clock.
The production is the second
one for the non-profit amateur
theatrical group, which was
formed last summer.
Haying roles in the play are
Mrs. Ruby Mashburn, Mrs. Ted
Reber. Miss Betsy Russell, Jim
Williamson. Miss Margaret
Crawford, Miss Patty Lou Phil
Hpe. Dan Angel, Mrs. Lucille
Siler, and Holland McSwaln.
Miss Inez Crawford Is the di
rector. Proceeds of the per
formance will go Into the or
ganization's treasury to buy
lights and props for future pro
ductions.
Advance tickets are being sold
by Franklin school children.
Admission will be 75 cent* for
admits and 40 for children under
tke a?e of 13.
Local Woman District H.D. Head
? Franklin Press Photo
A highlight of the District 2 Home Demonstration Club federation held here Wednesday of
last week at the Franklin Methodist Church was the election of officers. In the picture above,
(L to R) Mrs. J. S. Gray, former president of the N. C. Federation of H. D. Clubs, is shown in
stalling Mrs. E. M. McNish, of this county, as district chairman, and Mrs. W. J. Grady, of Jackson
County, as vice-chairman. Mrs. George Culbreth, of Swain, secretary-treasurer, and Mrs. Cart S.
Slagle, of this county, the reelected historian, were absent when the picture was made. The event
drew some 2*0 women from Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties.
Franklin And Highlands
Prepare For Balloting
Horsley And Love File
As Candidates; 10
Are In Race
Saturday's filing deadline
found two men in the race for
mayor and eight for the six
seats as aldermen in Franklin's
non-partisan election slated
May 5.
Bill Horsley, local restaurant
owner, and T. T. Love, Cowee
School principal, both tossed
their hats in the ring Saturday.
Last week, Mayor W. C. Burrell
and the entire incumbent board
? Verlon Swafford, A. G. Cagle,
Oscar Ledford, Erwin Patton,
Frank Martin, and J. C. Jacobs
? filed for reelection.
C. Banks Finger, attorney, was
the first to enter the race, fil
ing as a candidate for mayor
several weeks ago.
The town's registration books
were thrown open Saturday in
the town office and two more
Saturdays, April 18 and 25, have
been set aside as registration
days. John M. Moore is regis
trar and J. A. Palmer and L.
C. Higdon are judges. April 25
will be challenge day.
Apparently the election won't
set the political woods on fire
as in past years, for none of
the 10 candidates has started
actively campaigning.
However, with the balloting
slightly more than two weeks
away, campaigning could reach
a fever pitch in the closing
days.
BASEBALLERS
WBHGAMES
Coach Stott's Nine Puts
Bryson City, Cullowhee
Out Of The Way
The Franklin High School
baseballers waded into season's
play this week by winning their
first two games.
Last Wednesday afternoon
Coach Dick Stott's lads opened
the season on the local diamond
against Bryson City, winning
the game 16 to 3.
Then on Friday in Cullowhee,
Richard Renshaw uncorked some
of . the speed he displayed on
the gridiron last fall to steal
home from first base and give
the locals a 2 to 1 victory in a
game that went into two extra
frames.
Vic Teague started on the
mound in Wednesday's game
against Coach Norris '(Peeweei
Jones' nine and Grady Corbin
took over the last three innings
of the seven-inning high school
game.
Catcher Roger Seay was the
backbone of the Franklin team,
pounding out two home runs
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 10
GETS GRADE A
The Cullasaja lunchroom, the
last one built in the county, is
the first school lunchroom to
receive a Grade A rating. The
rating was given this week fol
lowing an Inspection by Sani
tarian H. T. Collins.
Commissioner Hall Only
One In Highlands
To File
Only one man has filed as a
candidate In the Highlands elec
tion on May 5. The deadline is
Saturday.
Commissioner Tudor N. Hall
has filed for reelection. In ad
dition to Mr. Hall, the incum
bent board of commissioners is
composed of Charles J. Ander
son, Harry A. Holt, C. Edward
Potts, and L. W. Rice.
Mayor W. H. Cobb is ending
his fifth term.
All offices are for two years.
Cancer Drive
Is Under Way
The annual American Cancer
Society fund drive is now
under way in this county under
the leadership of Mrs. Lester
Conley. This year's goal is
$433.35.
Mrs. Conley, who has headed
the drive here for the past
eight years, during which time
the county has never failed to
top its goal, has been ill at her
home for several weeks.
However, she still intends to
conduct the drive and this week
.requested citizens, schools, clubs,
and civic organizations to mail
contributions to her in Frank
lin.
PLAN BAKE SALE
The St. Agnes Episcopal Aux
iliary will hold its monthly bake
sale tomorrow (Friday) at 9
a. m. at the Children's Shop, it
has been announced.
DEAN'S BILL
UNFAVORABLE
School Board Election
Measure Killed
By Committee
Macon Representative Walter
Dean's bill to provide for the
election of the county board of
education by the people last
Friday was reported out un
favorably by the house educa
tion committee. -
The proposed bill called for
sweeping changes in the present
election set-up, including the
nomination and election of the
five-member board in the pri
mary and general election with
out confirmation by the gen- ;
era] assembly, staggered terms
of office, and a stipulation that j
no candidate be required to I
make or sign any statement re
garding party affiliation.
He introduced the bill in the
house on April 1.
More Than 100 Local
Students Will Enter
Events At Cullowhee
More than 100 Franklin High
School students will compete In
the 7th Annual High School
Field Day Friday and Saturday
at Western Carolina Teachers
College in Cullowhee.
Field day events cover all
phases of high school work
from fine arts to athletics. Last
year the local high school
placed third. The annual com
petition is open to all high
schools in the 14 Western coun
ties.
N. DOCKERY
SENTENCED
TO CHAMBER
Macon Jury Finds Man
Guilty Of Killing
Law Officer
A Macon County jury last
Wednesday afternoon returned
a verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree in the Chero
kee County trial of Noah Dock
ery, a 45-year-old wood cutter
charged with the shotgun slay
ing of Cherokee Sheriff Prank
C. Crawford on March a.
Judge Allen H. Gwyn sen
tenced Dockery to death in the
state gas chamber and set the
execution for May 29. However,
defense council, 6. L. Houk, of
Franklin, and O. L. Anderson,
of Murphy, announced inten
tions of appealing the verdict
to the state supreme court.
The Macon Jury, which de
liberated lor 45 minutes, made
no recommendation for mercy.
Members of the Jury were H.
W. Cabe, foreman, J. B. Brendle.
Earl Justice, Vernon Bryson,
Van Vanhook, G. B. Dayton,
Ted Campbell, Morris Ledford,
James McCall, Harry Higgins,
Nat Phillips, Earl English.
The jury was selected from a
special venire of 100 citizens.
District Meeting
Of V.F.W. Slated
Here This Sunday
The local Veterans of Foreign
Wars post will be host to some
75 V. P. W. men and Ladies'
auxiliary members at a District
17 meeting here Sunday.
Election of district officers
will be the main feature of the
session, which is set for 2 p. m.
The men will hold their meet
ing at the post home on Palmer
Street and the Auxiliary mem
bers will gather at Slagle Me
morial Building.
The district embraces Bun
combe and all counties west.
Judge Will Discuss
Delinquency Tonight
At Otto PTA Session
Judge Allen H. Gwyn, who is
presiding at the April term of
superior court here, will speak
on juvenile delinquency at a
meeting of the Otto Parent
Teacher Association tonight
(Thursday) at the school.
The meeting, to which the
public is Invited, is scheduled
for 7:30 o'clock.
All-Night Service
Slated At Calvary
Baptist April 25
An all-night church service
at the Calvary Baptist Church,
about 12 miles from Franklin
on the Georgia road, was an
nounced this week for April 25.
The service is set to start at
7:30 o'clock.
REINSTATED
MR. MEADOWS
Franklin Postmaster Zeb V.
Meadows, who was recalled to
active duty in the U. S. Navy
on March 23, 1951, has been re
instated and took over his post
at the post office this (Thurs
day) morning. E. W. Long has
served as acting postmaster in
his absence. Mr. Meadows, who
holds the rank of lieutenant in
the navy, served 14 months in
the Atlantic as executive of
ficer of the minesweeper, USS
Jubilant, and then became com
manding officer of the USS Pel
ican, another minesweeper,
which spent 10 months in Ko
rean waters.
CRIMINAL END
OF TERM NEAR
Judge Gwyn Wraps Up
Most Cases; Civil
Docket Next
With the exception of a few
cases, Judge Allen H. Gwyn.
resident judge of the 21st Judi
cial District, Tuesday afternoon
wrapped up the light criminal
docket for the April superior
court term, which convened
Monday morning.
The judge is expected to com
plete the civil docket, which
lists 21 cases, including 11 di
vorces, by the end of the week.
Approximately 80 cases were
scheduled for trial on the
criminal docket. 25 of them in
volving drunk driving.
A packed courtroom of spec
tators was on hand for the
opening of the term Monday
morning, but the audience be
gan to dwindle as court prog
ressed.
Court dispositions will appear
in next week's issue of The
Press.
SCOUTS SET RALLY
The Nantahala Girl Scout
Area will hold a rally and train
ing day program at the East
Franklin School Saturday from
10 a. m. to 3 p. m., it has been
announced.
Macons Rural Community Contest Council
? Staff Photo by J. P. brody
Pictured above U the Macon County Rural Community Development Council, which was elected at a special meeting Tuesday
night of last week to conduct a rural contest in this county. Members of the county council will function as a steering
committee. In the photo are <L to R) : Morris L. McGough, manager of the Asheville Agricultural Council, Inc., who explained the
community development program at the meeting, and the following members of the council: Walter Taylor, president of Holly
Springs, W. W. (Bill) Sloan, representative of the Nantahala Power u4 Light Company, John Crawford, American Legion repre
sentative, County Agent S. W. Mendenhall, secretary, Erwtn Patton, Patton community president, W. YV. Reeves, Veterans of For
eign Wars representative, and Frank Plyler, Franklin Jayeees representative. Presidents of the other nine communities entered in
the contest will serve on the e ell a* directors.
REPORT SAYS
COUNTY HOME
A DISGRACE'
Three-Man Grand Jury
Body Gives Findings
On Conditions
A three-man committee from
the grand jury leveled a bar
rage of criticism at conditions
at the county home and other
county facilities and after hear
ing the committee's report
Judge Allen H. Gwyn called the
board of county commissioners
in for a conference.
After his talk with the county
commissioners. Judge Gwyr;
said he reviewed the report witfc:
the commissioners and suggest
ed they give "diligent consider
ation" to its recommendations.
The judge added that, being -
unfamiliar with the situation in
the county in regard to taxes
and financial condition, he did
not take any judicial steps to
assure that the recommenda
tions were carried out.
Here's what the committee,,
composed of John M. Archer^.
Jr., Harold Enloe, and Eugene -
Crawford, said about the county
home, which has been under
constant fire from grand juries;
and citizens for several years:
"It is a disgrace and a shame?
on the citizens of Macon Coun
ty that such a place should ex
ist and be called a home forr
our unfortunate aged people
"An adequate new home wrUfc
complete new furnishings am
urgently needed ...
"Immediate action should w*
I taken ? not tomorrow ? but jo?
day. We urge the citizens oE
Macon County to visit the coun?
' ty home and take whatever ac
tion is necessary to see that,
the above recommendations are
carried out."
In addition to the county
home, the committee inspected
the jail, prison camp, court
house, and six of the 10 white
schools in the county.
Only minor things were noted
at the prison camp, but a visit
to the jail gave rise to a tecaro
mendation for a new and mod
ern buildins; and a suggestion
that the jailer be paici an ade
quate monthly salary, in addi
tion to the present $1 per pris
oner and a 60-cent turnkey fee .
Rather than recommend
building a new courthouse, as
prior grand jury committees
have done, the three men urged
the modernization of the 71
year-old landmark, with the
suggestion that the offices of
the sheriff and the county
superintendent be shifted to
another building so the entire
east side of the ground floor
could be converted to offices
and vault space for the regis
ter of deeds and clerk of su
perior court offices.
The report pointed out the
need for additional vault .space
in all county offices fpr storing,
records.
All of the schools inspected:
were reported in good condition,,
with the exception of the Chap
el (Negro) School. Construction/
of a new Negro school is ex
pected to get under way this,
month.
Overcrowded conditions at
several schools was found, the
committee said, and it pointed
out the need for 10 to 12 ad
ditional classrooms. Also recom
mended was the expenditure ot
an estimated $30,000 for furni
ture and equipment In the
schools, and the purchase of
seven or eight new schoofc
busses. The three men noted
that several busses are operat
ing with overloads of pupils ta?
a dangerous extent".
SHORT CALL
The Franklin Fire Depart
ment didn't have to travel far
to put out a chimney fire short
ly after noon Monday.
Roaring out of the fire house,
its siren screaming, the truck
took a sharp turn to the right
to Mrs. Margaret Qrtfway's.
house on Iotla Street ? two doors
from the fire house.
CALLING PLAYERS
All baseball players interest
ed in organizing an All-Star
team In Franklin are asked t?
meet at the Franklin stadium
Saturday at 4 p. m.
G. O. P. PLANS MEETING
The Republican Party haw
plans a county-wide meeting
tonight (Thursday) at Ik*
county courthouse at 8 o'clock
It has been announced.