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PRICE ?
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FKANKUN, N. C, THURSDAY, JULY ?, IMS
FOURTEEN PAGES
Franklin And Highlands
Begin New Year With
Same Tax Rate
A $115,429.14 budget was
adopted by the Franklin Board
of Aldermen Monday night ? an
increase of $5,577.46 over last
year's.
Previously the board set the
tax rate for the 1953-54 fiscal
year at $1.10 per hundred "val
uation, the -same as last year.
The increase will be applied
for payment of a new $9,465
fire truck for the town, accord
ing to members of the budget
committee. Delivery of the
truck is expected the last of
this month.
With the end of the fiscal
year on July 1, the town had
a cash-on-hand account of
$11,978.87, Town Clerk C. O.
Ramsey reporlid to the board,
and uncollected 1952 taxes
totaled $6,623.45.
Estimated expenditures listed
on the budget include:
Debt Service (retiring ol
bonds and Interest on all oth
ers) $25,155; General Fund
(salaries and office expense),
$14,315.26; Police Department
(salaries and operating ex
penses), $8,875; Fire Depart'
ment (includes initial payment
of $3,194.87 for new Are truck),
$6,620; Water Department, (in
cludes $9,038.96 for sewer and
water line extensions), $20,738.
96; Street Department (includes
estimated $10,000 from Powell
BUI aid), $$2,226.92.
Study of the proposed budget
occupied most of the board's
time at Monday's meeting.
Other matters Included the
decision to install a telephone
at Chief of Police C. D. Baird's
home and giving Mr. Ramsey
pvtjrrltv to advertise for bids
on eas,(o:'., t* tpf and tubes, bat
teri"s, and wash jobs on town
equipment.
niuniin.^fo
The Highlands Town Board
"?~nday night, in its first meet
ing of fiscal year 1953-54 adopt
ed the same tax rate as last
year, made Highlands a bird
sanctuary, and elected a mayor
pro tern.
For the seventh consecutive
year, the town set the tax rate
at S2.25: general tax rate being t
$1.50 service ra*?. .-.'a.
Switching fron: the
? board voted to make Highlands
a bird sanctuary under an act
of the General Assembly. Under
the measure, "it shall be un
lawful for any person to hunt,
kill, or trap any birds within
the (Highlands) territorial lim
its." However, predatory birds,
including pigeons, crows, starl
ings and English sparrows do
not fall under such protection.
Maximum punishment for vio
lation is $50 fine or 30 'days
imprisonment.
Alderman Steve Potts was
elected mayor pro tem, to serve
until June 1, 1955.
Paving the way for a suc
cessful "Hillbilly Day", the
board voted to block off the
center of Main Street from
Third Street to the post office,
thus keeping the center park
ing area clear for pedestrians,
and authorized the roping off
of the traffic light intersection 1
for the street dance and con
struction of a bandstand under
the light. With an eye to fu
ture public events, the most im
mediate being "Hillbilly Day",
alderjnen voted to purchase a
150- watt amplifier and loud
speaker.
Bids for a new utility truck
were reviewed and decfelon was
made to accept that offered by
Clayton Motor Co., Inc. The
new truck will be a 1953 half
ton Chevrolet Commercial, for
which the town will trade Its
present truck and pay $575.
The board also moved to ad
vertise for bids for garbage col
lection from residences and
businesses.
MOORE PROMOTED
C. Gordon Moore, of Frank
lin, State Highway Department
mechanic, has been promoted
to district mechanic, with head
quarters in Burnsvflle Mr.
Moore assumed his new duties
the first of this month While
Mrs. Moore will spend part of
her time with Mr. Moore In
Burnsville, they will continue
to make Franklin their home.
County Commissioners
Set Same Tax Rate
As Last Year
Setting the same tax rate as
last year ? $1.20 per hundred
valuation ? the Macon County
Board of County Commissioners
Monday adopted a budget for
the 1953-54 fl&oal year.
Total county property valu
ation was set at $14,500,000. an
Increase of $700,000 over last
year.
With 100 per cent collections,
the commissioners estimate the
$1.20 tax rate will bring in
(174,000. This amount, coupled
with an estimated $300,000 due
the county in federal and state
aid, constitutes the county's op
erating budget for the new
year.
In the distribution of the tax
rate figure, changes are noted
tn the amounts going to the
General Fund, Public Welfare,
and Schools, (capital outlay).
The General Fond this year
receives 20 cents of the $1.20,
as compared with 15 last year;
Public Welfare receives an In
crease of 5 cents, from 10 last
year to 15; and Schools, (Cap
ital Outlay), Is cut back from
46 cents to 10.
According to W. E. (Gene)
Baldwin, chairman of the board,
public welfare was given a low
er share last year because of
a surplus of funds. However, he
said there is no surplus this
year, accounting for the 5-cent
increase.
The- 40 cents granted Schools
(Capital Outlay) last year was
set-to cover the construction of
the new Chapel (Negro) School,
which is ixpected to be ready
for use this fall. Since this ob
o j?aQE 12
EVANGELISTIC
SERIES OPENS
HERE ON SUN.
Presbyterian College
Founder Will Be
Guest Speaker
Dr. John McSween, president
emeritus of Presbyterian Col
lege, Clinton, S. C., will be guest
speaker at the annual interde
nominational evangelistic series
at the Friendship Tabernacle
the week of July 12-19.
Announcement of Dr. Mc
Sween 's appearance here was
tnade this week by the Rev.
Bryan Hatchett, pastor of the
Franklin Presbyterian Churcft.
The selection of a guest speak
er this year went to the Pres
byterian church under a rota
tion agreement among Franklin
churches sponsoring the annual
series.
Services will begin nightly at
8 o'clock, according to Mr.
Hatchett.
In preparation for Sunday's
opening of the series, the Pres
byterian pastor announced that
a union prayer service Will be
held at the First Baptist Church
tonight (Thursday) at 8 o'clock.
Church-goers of all demonlna
tions are Invited to attend.
Dr. McSween, who is well
known throughout the South,
has devoted himself exclusively
to evangelistic work since re
tirement from Presbyterian Col
lege some years ago.
Dr. McSween 's subjects and,
the texte for the series are: i
Sunday: "God's Conditions for!
Revival", 11 Chron. 7:14.
Monday: "Power Unlimited",'
Phil. 4:13. I
Tuesday: "The Secret of
HapphMW, John 15:11. f
Wednesday: "God's Ambassa
dor", Luke 9:35.
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 12
Eastern Star
State Heads
Visit Monday
The worthy grand matron,
Mrs. Bernice D. Bjonerud, of
Wilmington, and Worthy Grand
Patron Vernon J. Spivey, of
Williams ton, Monday night
made their first official visit
of the year to the Nequassa
Chapter No. 43, Order of East
ern Star.
In addition to Franklin, oth
er host chapters for the visit
of the state officers included
Glenville No. 222, Highlands No.
284, Oce No. 139 (Dillsboro),
and Tuckasiegee No. 16 (Bryson
City). An estimated 100 persons
attended.
Prior to a joint meeting at
Slagle Memorial Building, the
visiting dignitaries and the
worthy matrons and patrons of
the host chapters had dinner at
Kelly's Tea Room.
Other visitors include Mrs.
Hilda Halliburton, of Clyde,
grand conductress; Mrs. Esther
Spivey, wife of the worthy
grand patron; and Mrs. Doris
Barrett, district deputy grand
matron, and M. T. Jarrett, dis
trict deputy grand patron, both
of Dillsboro.
Mrs. Helen Snyder, worthy
matron of the Nequassa chap
ter, presided at the meeting.
Following speeches and a re
view of activities, each of the
host chapters honored the state
officers with flowers and gifts.
Yesterday (Wednesday) Mrs.
Snyder and several from the
Nequassa chapter attended a
district school of instruction in
Haye8ville.
MW SEE MOVIE
More than 2,000 persons at
tended free showings of the
Billy Graham film, "MrJJnpa;'
at the Friendship TaSeTnaeTe
here Friday and Saturday
nights. The picture was brought
here by local ministers.
HIGHWAY HEAD
EXPLAINS USE
OF ALLOCATION
Buchanan Defends Move
To Borrow Money
For Project
Harry E. Buchanan, commis
sioner of the 14th State High
way Division, this week issued
the following statemeni in re
gard to the recent transfer of
funds from Macon County for
completion .of the US 23 link
from Cowee Gap tc Dillsboro in
Jackson:
"It has come to my attention
that some citizens in Macon
County are criticizing W. E.
Baldwin, chairman of the board
of county commissioners, in
connection with the transfer of
$450,000, which had been set up
for part of the road from
Franklin to the Georgia line, to
the Cowee Gap-Dlllsboro proj
ect.
"I found out as soon as I was
appointed highway commission
er that there was only $500,000
set up and available for the
grading and paving from Cowee
Gap to Dillsboro. The engineers
advised me that this was just
about half enough money to do
the job.
"I also found out that the
$450,000, If used to let the con
tract from Franklin toward:
the Georgia line, would only do
part of this job and if this
contract were let it meant that
Franklin would be cut off and
bottled up on both sides.
"I was advised that if the
$450,000 was transferred to the
Cowee Gap-DUlsboro project i1
would enable me to let the con
tract for that link of road al
at one time and would save
many months of the road being
closed from Franklin tc Dills
boro.
SEE NO 4. PAGE 12
Ex-Sylva Principal
Gets Franklin Post
GOES TO ATLANTA
E. W. RENSHAW
I Mr. Renshaw, supervisor ol
, the NtnUdt National Forest
for the past seven yean, hai
been assigned to the regional
forest office in Atlanta, follow
ing the closing of the Nanta
1 hala headquarters hem. Mr.
Renshaw wiU be with the diri
1 sion of state and private for
: | ests, and will assume his new
duties August 1, after winding
up the dosing of the local of
fices. His family will not move
to Atlanta until sometime later,
. SING ON SUNDAY
' i
: The second Sunday sing wtl
; be held at the Gold Mine Bap
tist church beginning at 1:4!
' p. m., Ralph McClure, president
I announced this week.
Rain Fails To Dampen Spirit Of The Fourth
School Board Elects
Smith From Field
Of Five Men
Ralph L. Smith, a native of
Hayesvtlle and Sylva Central
School district principal for
four years, Monday night was
hired by the Macon County
Board of Education as principal
of the Franklin Schools.
The selection of Mr. Smith,
who was one of five men con
sidered for the post by the dis
trict school committee, fills the
vacancy left by R. G. Sutton,
whose contract was terminated
by the school board near the
close of the past school year,
following a heated controversy
over the recommended firing of
Franklin Coach Ralph (Chuck)
McConnell.
In school work for more than
18 years in this state, Mr. Smith
attended Central State Teach
ers College, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.,
and was graduated from West
ern Carolina Teachers College,
Cullowhee. He received his mas
ter's degree from George Pea
; body College, Nashville, Tenn.
Mr. Smith has served as
I principal of the Ogden Consol
idated School and for 11 years
held the post of district prin
cipal of Hayesvtlle High School.
He resigned as district prin
cipal in 8ylva last year because
> of pressing business matters in
? Hayesvtlle, where he was in
partnership with his brother- in -
. law.
Mr. Smith was the unanimous
choice of the four members of
the five-man board present at
Monday's meeting. W. N Ery
! son, of Highlands, was absent.
After recommending the dis
' missal of the Franklin coach
? and the conditional employ- ?
ment of teacher Richard D.
Stott in May ? both with the
sanction of the district com
mittee ? Mr. Sutton became the
central figure in a controversy
which produced protests both
from school patrons and chil
dren.
Damp wea'he- failed to pen
etrate the zealous spirit of th<
Fourth of July in this count]
and most of the day's festivities
came off as scheduled.
Despite intermittant shower
most of the Morning, the small
tyit colorful. Fourth paradi
moved danr ? r!y througl
downtown F - kh - (See bot
torn picture 'eft of Girl Scout':
winning fl^at." and on to th(
'~'etic fie1." where most of th<
. ? 1 events (Bottom right, the
youow set and the greasi
pol^i wpic doggedly run off un
til a -vy downpour about l:
o'clock put a soggy damper 01
them. The only real victim o
the weather was the afternoon*:
baseball game between th<
Franklin All-Stars and th? Isa
bella (Tenn.) All-Stars. Althougl
the weather broke about noon
the field was for "mudders'
only.
The entire spirit of the da;
was reflected in the attitude:
of the seven beauties compet
ing in the "Miss Fourth of July'
beauty contest. In a stead;
drizzle, these spunky youni
ladles sloshed through almost
ankle-deep mud to parade be
fore the Rotary Judges ant
more than 200 spectators, man:
of whom sought shelter when
they could find It. determine*
not to miss the show, ( See cen
ter picture left).
Contestants in the "Mis:
Fourth" contest were (Toj
picture, left) Misses Ann Hays
sponsored by Belk's ?epartmen!
Store: Shirley Dean. Carollnt
Pharmacy; Naomi Elliott, Jun
ior Woman's Club; Sarah Cor
bln, Macon Motor Company
Carolyn Bryson, Burrell Motoi
Company: Wllma Renshaw
Lions Club; and Marianni
Johnston, Twins' Shop. ?
Winner of the contest wai
Miss Renshaw. who is shown lr
the picture at top right being
congratulated by Holland Mc
Swain. chief Rotarian beaut y
picker.
All in all. it was a wonderful
day.
Highway Patrolmen C. M
Byrd and V. E. Bryson report
ed "not even a scratched fend
er" for the entire week-end a.?
the safety-conscious county
toed the line.
One fireworks mishap was re
SEE NO. b, PAGE 12
In view of tne ticttiisn issue,
the district committee and the
school board reversed a prior
' decision to rehire Mr. Suttrn
5 for another year and termina -
ed his contract.
In the meantim0. Ccerh M -
. Connell and M' Sto'.t resign?-!.
" County School S">n,f Hollar'i'
i| McSwain said Monday night tl *?
two vacancies at the high
school will be filled with the
assistance of the new principal.
Mr. Sutton recently informed
the board he would take his
case to court, if necessary, but
as yet has not followed up his
1 1 assertion.
?, At Monday's brief hour-long
f | session, the board, reviewing
district committee recommen
dations, named the following
teachers to fill vacancies in the
elementary schools: Wilford
Corbin and Mte Joyce Hugglns,
Iotla; Miss Louise Bryson, East
Franklin; Mrs. Talltha Good
, win, Cowee; and Mrs. Onnie
s | Cabe, Cartoogechaye.
Dr. A. Rufus Morgan, Epis
copal rector, appeared to con
sult with the board on the dis
position of the old Chapel
(Negro) School. Explaining that
the Episcopal church sold the
land for the building to the
county and that about one
third of the building is still on
Episcopal property, Dr. Morgan
asked that the church be con
sidered in the disposal of the
SEE NO. 0, PAGE 12
The Weather
The week's temperatures and rainfall. m
recorded m Franklin by Manaoa S<W
Hydro4o|nc Laboratory:
franklin
Temperatures
. High Low Rain
Wednesday 92 65
Thursday ... 91 65 j
Friday 88 65 .14
Saturday 85 85 _2t
Sunday 87 66 .<?
Monday 91 eg
Tuesday 88 65
highlands
by w c. Newton
and Tudor N Hall.
Temperatures
. . High Low Rate
Wednesday 86 57
Pl"rsday 76 60 is
Friday ? 83 62
Saturday 80 62 n
Sunday - 83 61 M
Monday 86 5? trace
Tuesday ..._ 83 62 .70