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VOL. LXVIII? NO. 48
FRANKLIN, N. C, WEDNESDAY, NOT. 26, 1*53
TEN PAGES
THANKSGIVING
SERVICES SET
IN TWO TOWNS
County Will Join Rest
Of Nation In Giving
Thanks For Blessings
Tomorrow (Thursday) the
16,000-plus citizens of this small
mountain county will Join the
rest of the nation In giving
thanks for the many blessings
that have come their way in
the past year.
For Macon County, this year's
observance of Thanksgiving has
deep significance for, in broad
terms, its blessings have been
many and far reaching.
Traditionally, the marking of
Thanksgiving here will center
around special interdenomina
tional church services, hunting
PAPER OUT EARLY
Since Thanksgiving is a
legal post office holiday. The
Franklin Press is being issued
a day earlier than usual in
order that subscribers may re
ceive it prior to the holiday.
Normally, the newspaper is
printed Wednesday afternoon
and is mailed Thursday.
Local merchants plan to
close Thanksgiving, but will
remain open all day Wednes
day instead of the customary
half-day.
trips by the male members of
the family, and visits with fam
ilies and friends.
Frankllq, and Highlands both
plan their annual community
wide Thanksgiving services with
all churches participating.
Under a rotation plan, Frank
lin's service this year will be
held at the First Baptist
Church. The service will begin
at 8 a. m. with the Rev. C. E.
Murray, pastor of the Metho
dist Church, delivering the
Thanksgiving message. Dr. A.
Rufus Morgan, rector of the St.
Agnes Episcopal Church, will
preside, and music for the spe
cial service will be supervised
by Miss Eveline Oiedinghagen,
Baptist music director. Holland
McSwain, of the Presbyterian
.Church, will lead a responsive
reading and worshippers will be
welcomed by Verlon Swafford,
of the Baptist Church.
The Rev. John Buell, pastor
of the Highlands Baptist
Church, will preach the Thanks
giving sermon in Highlands at
the Presbyterian Church begin
ning at 9:30 a. m. The Thanks
giving proclamation will be read
by the Rev. Robert E. Early,
Methodist pastor. The Rev. Rob
ert M. Hart, pastor of the host
church, will preside.
This (Wednesday) afternoon
school children will forget their
educational pursuits temporarily
and will be ready to make the
most of their extended Thanks
. giving holiday. Schools will re
open Monday morning, accord
ing to County School Supt. Hol
land McSwain.
P.M.A. SPURTS
A NEW NAME
Agency Title Changed
By Secretary Benson,
But Functions Same
It isn't P.M. A (Production
and Marketing Administration)
anymore; it's A.S.C. (Agricul
tural Stabilization a*id Conser
vation!. according to Mrs. Mary
B. Justice, secretary of the for
mar P.M. A. (now, A.S.C. I office
in the Agricultural Building.
The name change came about
in the recent reorganization
within the Department of Agri
culture by the Secretary of Ag
riculture. Ezra Taft Benson,
Mrs. Justice explained.
On the national level the pro
gram will be known as C.S.S.
(Commodity Stabilization Serv
ice ? instead of P.M. A.
The new agency will carry on
the functions performed by the
old P.M.A.
As of Monday, the secretary
said a total of 615 Macon
farmers had filed requests for
federal cost sharing on conser
vation practices in the 1954 Ag
ricultural Conservation Program.
Requests may still be filed, she
said.
Cost -sharing practices under
the 1954 program Include estab
lishment and improvement of
permanent pasture, alfalfa and
grass legumes, tree setting, and
installation of field drain tile.
Highsteppers Show New Outfits
'?Staff Photo by J. P. Brady
Franklin's High's highstepping majorettes finally received their new uniforms in time for the
last football game of the season, but the delay failed to rob the girls of the pleasure of showing
off the colorful outfits, which coat 965 each. That's Miss Joan Thomas doing the split in front of
the formation, which is made up of (L to R) Misses Frances Huscusson and Dwain Horsley, kneel
ing; and Helen Cochran, Marjorie Moody, and Sharon Swanson.
Franklin Lads And Lassies
Practicing For Sylva Opener
The lads and lassies ol
Franklin High currently are
thumping the hide off basket
balls, preparing for their sea
son opener with Sylva High
School in Sylva December 8.
As things stand now, the local
male and female cagers face a
14-game schedule, seven away
and seven home. Coach R. A.
(Art )Byrd has four open dates
which he hopes to fill between
now and the opening clash In
Jackson County.
Since the boys' and girls'
teams have less than a week of
practice under their belts, the
coach said it is too early to
make any predictions as to how
they will stack up in confer
ence play.
However, on the basis of ex
perience, the local lassies are
picked as leading contenders for
the conference crown, which
they ware last year at the end
of an impressive season.
Counting last season's main
stays ? Jody Lenoir, conference
high scorer, Audrey Gjbson,
Anna Setser, and Fenes Pruitt ?
a total of 29 girls reported out
last week for practice.
? ..r, nroll
lllings ctic aliasing uy nvu
for the boys' team, although
most of last year's squad bowed
out of the loop picture with di
plomas in their hands. Pacing
practice sessions are James
Buchanan, Dolpha Fouts, Bill
Harper, and Tommy Cole, all of
whom saw plenty of action und
er lire last season.
Probable starters for the
Sylva game will be announced
next week, Coach Byrd said.
Other girls out for practice
include Melba Moses, Mavis
Gibson, Jean Phillips, Jean Sut
ton, Joan Mincey, Peggy Seay,
Helen Cochran, Virginia Day
ton, Judy Bradley, Helen Hunt
er, Patsy Cantrell, Barbara
Cunningham, Betty Jean Smith,
Betty Henson, Juanita Haire,
Shirley Shepherd, Betty Duvall,
Carolyn Cochran, Ruth Brown,
Margaret Crawford, Sharon
Swanson, Hazel Vinson, and
Carol Stockton.
Shooting far playing slots on
the boys' team are Wlllard
Smith, Loyd Angel, Mitchell
Houston, Frank Nolen, Calvin
McCalir Larry Potts, Bobby
Young, Bill Oosnell, Ranee Tal
lent, Clyde Williams, Ray De
hart, Bobby Jack Love, Paul
Smith, Bobby Womack, Dick
Bradley. Richard Renshaw,
James Tallent, and Lawrence
Bradley.
Coweeta Has Air
For Foreigners
During Past Year
A foreign air has been hang
ing over the Coweeta Hydroiog
ic Laboratory during the past
12 months, according to E. A.
Johnson, project leader.
During this period, more than
140 foreigners from 22 countries
toured the huge outdoor labora
tory where the effects of water
on land are studied.
Countries represented includ
ed Austria, Australia. Belgium,
China, Denmark, Formosa,
France, Germany, Greece, Hol
land, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal,
Nicarauga, Pakistan, Peru, Ro
desia (Africa), Turkey, Uganda
(Africa), Yugoslavia, and Vene
zuela.
SING IS SLATED
The fifth Sunday sing will be
held at the courthouse Sunday,
beginning at 10 a. m. Singers
from outside the county are
expected, and all singers are
urged to attend. .
A.R.C. HEADS
ARE REELECTED
Macon Chapter Holds
Annual Meet Friday
At Kelly's Inn
All officers were reelected
for another year at the annual
meeting of the Macon chapter
of the American Red Cross Fri
day evening at Kelly's Inn.
The chapter leaders, who
were nominated for reelection
by a committee composed of
Mrs. Velma Conley, the Rev. C.
E. Murray, and Lake V. Shope,
include: Z. Weaver Shope, of
Franklin, chairman; W. R.
Potts, of Highlands, vice-chair
man; J. C. Jacobs, of Frank
lin .treasurer; and Mrs. Gladys
Kinsland, junior chapter chair
man.
Reappointed committee chair
men are Mrs. Mae Shope, home
nursing; Miss Lassie Kelly,
production; E. J. Whitaker, dis
aster; W. W. Sloan, first aid; J.
Horner Stockton, finance; Mrs.
Velma Conley, publicity; Mrs.
Charles Ferguson, home service;
John Edwards, water safety;
and Mrs. Elizabeth McCollum,
executive secretary.
Other members of the chap
ter board Include James L.
Beale, Frank B. Cook, Stacy
Russell, Charles O. Anderson,
Lewis Edwards, and the Rev
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 10
Officials Concentrating Here
On Survey Of School Needs
Macon school oificiais are now i
gearing their activities to the
coming distribution of $50,000,
000 for school buildings In the
state's 100 counties, according
to County School Supt. Holland
McSwain.
This county stands to receive ,
a minimum of $163,000 under i
provisions of the bond issue
passed overwhelmingly by the
voters of the state last month.
Mr. McSwain said concentration
Is now on surveying the needs
In the school system In order
to determine how much more
the county will be allotted on
the basis of need and effort.
All principals In the 11 schools
currently are surveying individ
ual school needs, he said, in
cluding school equipment and
furniture.
A survey of pre-school age
children who will enter school
In the next six years also Is
being conducted, he said.
The superintendent is expect
ing a state survey committee
to arrive here soon and he add
ed, "we want to have all the
information ready for their in
spection."
Macon's record in the bond
election lit ranked 2nd in the
state in the proportion of its
population voting i is being call
ed to the attention of state of
ficials through personal contact
and letters, Mr. McSwain said.
In addition to others, Mr. Mc
Swain has received a congratu
latory letter from Gov. Umstead,
in answer to one he wrote the
state chief executive. The gov
ernor commended the voters for
the fine record they set in the
election.
Brandon Hodges, state chalr
mna of the bond election, also
has acknowledged Macon's
showing. the superintendent
said.
WOMAN. SONS
ESCAPE DEATH
IN HOME FIRE
Jaylor Home In Holly
Springs Destroyed By
Blaze Sunday Morning
A Holly Springs widow and
her two sons narrowly escaped
death about 2 a. m. Sunday
when fire burned their home to
the ground.
Just minutes before the frame
home collapsed, Mrs. Helen Tay
lor and her sons, Billy and Eu
gene, climbed out a window to
safety.
The Franklin Volunteer Fire
Department rolled out of the
city limits to give assistance,
but the fire had gained too
much headway for anything to
be saved.
Mrs. Taylor told neighbors
the entire structure was afire
when the roaring flames awoke
her.
Defective wiring is believed to
have caused the blaze. The
home was a total loss and the
family carried no insurance.
GARDEN CLUB
HOLDS MEET
Plans To Sponsor Essay
Contest For Students
At Highlands School
The Highlands Garden Club
met Thursday, November 19, at
the home of Mrs. Frank B.
Cook.
Mrs. A. T. Carter, president,
reported on the District 1 meet
ing she attended in Franklin.
She was most appreciative of
the warm hospitality shown by
the members of the Franklin
Garden Club.
As chairman of the program
committee, Mrs. Valentine out
lined a series of programs of
varied and outstanding Interest
for the future monthly meet
ings of the club.
Working with the principal,
F. N. Shearouse, the club has
offered juniors and seniors of
the Highlands High School a
first prize of $10 and a second
prize of $5 for the best essays
on the general subject of tree
conservation and landscaping
with the purpose of arousing
interest in the beauty and use
fulness of trees and plants. The
essays are to include a plan for
the Improvement of the school
grounds. The judges are Mrs.
A. T. Carter, Mrs. O. E. Young,
and Willianj Slattery.
Dr. Moreland Hedden, chair
man of the civic beautlflcation
committee, hrought up for dis
cussion a number of suggested
projects. Action was taken to
start work as soon as possible
on landscaping of the Hudson
Library grounds and also to
improve the area around the
Kelsey Monument, which marks
the start of the Kelsey Trail.
There will be some work done 1
on the trail.
The club hopes to solve the
problem of how to keep places
of beauty intact for all to en
joy. Somehow they must be
protected from the extra curri
cular activities of "litterbugs" |
who leave behind them a trail
of unsightly trash.
Plans for Christmas activities
were outlined and committees ?
were appointed to carry them
out. At the close of the busi
ness meeting tea was served.
The next meeting will be De
cember 17 at 2:30 p. m. at the
home of Miss Kate Jungerman.
New License
Goes On Sale
December 1?
With a plea for motorists to
"buy early and avoid the rush",
Verlon Swafford this week an
nounced that North Carolina's
1954 license plates will go on
sale in Franklin December 1
at 9 a. m.
The plates will be sold at the
local branch office of the Car
olina Motor Club, situated at
the rear of the Western Auto
Associate Store on Main Street.
When making his announce
ment Tuesday, Mr. Swafford
said a total of 4,340 1953 tags
had been sold through the local
office since going on sale De
cember 1, 1952.
The new license colors are
the reverse of the 1953 hues ?
that Is, yellow background with
black numerals.
Pocket cards, which motorists
must present when purchasing
new tags, are being mailed this
week, Mr. Swafford said.
In regard to licensing trucks,
he explained that certain
changes were made by the 1953
legislature. In general, licenses
will be issued on the basis of
the driver's declaration as to
the empty weight and maximum
load of his vehicle.
All truck owners must fill
out the blanks on the back of
the registration pocket card, he
said.
Mr. Swafford and Mrs. Kate
Jacobs recently attended a
Carolina Motor ClUb license
school in Ashevllle to familiar
ize themselves with the new
licensing regulations.
11 PANTHERS
BOWL BOUND
Miss Gailey Entered
In Smoky Bowl Queen
Contest Thursday
Eleven Franklin Panthers
have been Invited to play in
the 5th Annual Smoky Moun
tain Bowl in Bryson City
Thanksgiving Day, when the
east meets the west for a post
season football classic.
The kickoff will be 2 p. m.
Slated to don uniforms for
the eastern squad are Bill Dln
nes. Doyle Clark, Wayne Stew
art^ G. D. Buchanan, Gene
Mashburn. Roger Seay, Adolph
Conley, Vic Teague, Connie
Potts, Junior Dills, and Max
Holland.
Local football fans will see
that they have plenty of sup
port. More than 100 fans and
students are planning to take
| in the game.
Preceding the game, a color
i ful parade is scheduled through
downtown Bryson City at 11 a.
m. with the bands, cheerlead
| ers, and candidates for "Smoky
Mountain Bowl Queen" from a
number of schools taking part.
Miss Lela Jo Gailey, Frank
lin's "Homecoming Queen", is
entered in the bowl queen con
test along with beauties from
seven other high schools in the
conference.
According to Joe Sherrill,
chairman of the bowl game
committee of the Bryson /City
Lions Club, additional bleachers
have been added to increase the
capacity to 3.000.
Howard Barnwell, of Swain
High, and T. J. Dupree, of
Cherokee, are coaching the east- ,
em squad. The western coach- [
ing staff is composed of
"Chuck" McConnell, former
Franklin coach, and Hugh Ham
ilton, Andrews mentor.
Hitler's Car Being Shown
For Benefit Of Band Here
Adolph Hitler s personal ar
mored limousine will be display
ed on the Town Square tomor
row (Thursday i, Friday and
Saturday under the sponsorship
of the newly-organized Band
Boosters Club.
No admission will be charged,
but contributions will be wel
comed from those viewing the
late Nazi dictator's car. which
was captured by the Free French
Forces at Bertschesgaden in
May, 1945
The sponsoring organization
will receive 30 per cent of the
amount contributed, according
to club officers
Technical data of the Merce
des automobile: weight, 9,500
pounds; length. 19 feet, 5
Inches; height, 6 feet, 3 Inches;
width, 6 feet. 10 Inches; speed,
135 m.p.h; gas consumption. 3
m.p.g ; gas tank holds 70 gal
lons; 8 straight cylinders; 2
carburetors; motor supercharg
ed, develops 400 h.p.; glass ? iy4
inch thick, bulletproof; body ?
fully steel-plated Vi-lnch thick
RAINS COME.
FORESTS OPEN
TO HUNTERS
Parched County Get#
3.90 Inches Of Long
Awaited Moisture
RAIN: water falling In drops
condensed from moisture in the
air; (2) the fall of such drops;
(3) a fall or shower of any
thing in, or as if in, drops . . .
At long last, a parched Ma
con County thirstily absorbed
3.90 inches of the above defined
rarity Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday after panting through
nearly three months of Tnols
tureless waiting.
The results:
All national forest lands,
closed week before last because
of mounting fire danger, were
reopened to hunters and travel
ers.
.Scheduled deer hunts, post
poned because of the forest
closing order, have been re
scheduled.
Most \V. N. C. fires were
brought well under control or
extenguished with the advent
of rain.
From a Macon standpoint, the
long awaited series of showers
were the first of any conse
quence here since September 29,
according to the Coweeta Hy
drologic Laboratory. And the
period prior to that date was
just about as dry as that after.
The long overdue rains
brought sighs of relief from
weary forest officials, who have
been working around the clock
for weeks trying to stamp out
stubborn blazes over most of
the western section of the state.
And the rain struck a happy
note with deer hunters too.
With the closing of government
lands, scheduled deer hunts
were shelved until rains came.
Tuesday the order was issued
to reopen the forests and a re
vised schedule of hunts was an
nounced. It Is as follows:
November 26-27 and 30: and
December 1-2 and 7-8-9-10.
These dates apply to the Pis
gah wildlife management area,
the Big Creek division of Pls
gah, the Cantrell Creek wilder
ness division, the West Fork
area of the Sherwood manage
ment area, and the Rich Laurel,
Mount Mitchell. Daniel Boone,
Standing Indian. Santeetlah.
Wayah, and Fires Creek man
agement areas.
When compared with damage
in other counties, Macon came
through the critical forest fire
situation with a light siagelng.
Several small fires were report
ed, but these were quickly
hrought under control by crews
of volunteers led by Nantahala
and county rangers.
Cullasaja Picks
Mailboxes For
First Project
About 60 people met at the
Cullasaja School Monday night,
November 23. for the first
meeting of the newly-organized
Cullasaja Community Develop
ment Organization.
A S. JVoods, president, pre
sided. The Rev. Fred Sorrel'.s
gave til" devotional.
Various committees were
named and plans were made to
start work on the signs in thi
community
Erecting uniform mailboxes
was chosen as the first project.
Much enthusiasm is beinj
shown throughout the commun
ity and signs of improvement
already are seen here and there.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bryson are
repairing and painting the in
side of their house; Charlie
Bryson has put a new roof on
his house; work is progressing
on a new addition to the Sugar
fork Baptist Church; and others
are cleaning yards and gardens
and making plans for a very
busy year.
The Weather
The week's temperatures and rain fail. a.?
recorded in Franklin by Manson Sti.ea,
U. S. weather observer, and at the Coweeta
llydrologic Laboratory:
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 68 26
Thursday 67 38
Friday 61 47
Saturday ? 69 51 2 25
Sunday 63 49 ?4
Monday ? 63 36 1.61