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VOL. LXVin? NO. M
FRANKLIN. N. C? THURSDAY, DEC. XI, 1*53
SIXTEEN PAGES
?Staff Photo by I. P. Brady
Erwin Patton (right), president of Patton Community, re
ceives a check for $100 from Congressman George A. Shuford.
Mr. Pai ton's community, which won the local rural contest, was
awarded ihe check for winning 4th place in the W.N.C. contest.
Congressman Shuford presented awards to the winning com
munities at a special meeting in Asherilie Saturday.
Patton Wins 4th Place
In Area Rural Contest
Patton Community? lst-place winner In the 1953 Macon County
Rural Community Development Contest ? gathered in more hon
ors in Ashevllle Saturday by winning 4th place in the W.N.C.
rural contest.
Caraon and Clark's Chapel, 2nd and 3rd place winners In the
local contest, were awarded certificates of achievement by the
sponsors of the area contest.
The winners of the W.N.C. event were announced Saturday
afternoon in Asheville at a spe
cial awards meeting at the Bat
tery Park Hotel.
A beaming Erwin Patton,
president of Patton Community,
received a $100 check on be
half of his organization from
HISTORY PRINTED
A story on the early history
of the prize-winning Patton
Community may be found on
the front page of the second
^ section of this issue.
Congressman George A .Shu
ford, who made the awards
presentations.
Representatives of the Carson
and Clark's Chapel, in addition
to a number of others from
here, were on hand for the
meeting.
The occasion marked the sec
ond time an area award has
come to this county. In last
year's event, Holly Springs tied
tor 5th place.
Sponsors of the W.N.C. con
test are the Asheville Citizen
Times Company, Farmers Fed
eration, Asheville Livestock
Yards, and the Asheville Agri
cultural Development Council,
Inc.
BOARD TABLES
SMC PROPOSAL
Terms School Ouster
Paper Impractical,
Superintendent Says
The Macon County Board of
Education Monday turned an
unofficial thumbs down on a
resolution advanced by the
Smoky Mountain Athletic Con
ference that could bounce a
high school out of the confer
ence because of unsportsman
like conduct on the paTt of
fans.
The resolution, adopted by
the conference at a meeting in
November, states:
? . If any fans are involved j
in acts of a sault, as defined by
law, on officials, visiting play
ers, or coaches, the school that
those fans represent may be
expelled from conference athle
tics for a period of one calen
dar year. Provided: That a
meeting of designated confer
ence representatives be . held
within one week, at which a
quorum of conference schools
be present, not counting the
offending school, and a vote
of two-thirds majority for ex
pulsion. Provided : It can be
shown that the school Involved
has failed to take every pre
caution to forestall and prevent
said assault."
County School Supt. Holland
McSwain said the board dis
cussed the resolution and was
of the opinion that It would be
impractical. The issue was not
put to a vote.
Sale of the old Clark's Chapel
School building to J. D. Franks
for $150 was approved by the
board.
SEE NO. 1. PAOH S
License .Plate
Sales Moving
Ahead Of 53
Local motorists are buying
North Carolina's 1954 license
tags at a much faster clip than
they did last year, according
to Verlon Swafford, manager of
the Carolina Motor Club branch
office in Franklin.
By Tuesday ? the end of the
first week of sales ? a total of
336 plates have been sold, as
compared with only 239 for the
corresponding period last year,
he, reported.
The deadline for buying new
tags Is January 31 and Mr.
Swafford repeated his sugges
tion that motorists "buy early
and avoid the rush." The CJM.C.
office is located at the rear of
the Western Auto Associate
Store on Main Street.
A break-down of first week
sales: automobiles, 230; trucks,
95; trailers, 10; motorcycles, 1.
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL CLOSED
BY FIRE CHIEF
Building Fire Hazard;
Surprise Move Gives
Children Holiday
Three-hundred eighty chil
dren had an unscheduled holi
day Tuesday, following an order
Monday night by Franklin Fire
Chief A. C. Tyslnger closing the
Franklin Elementary School and
the old high school building as
fire hazards.
County School Supt. Holland
McSwain said yesterday the
necessary repairs to the ele
mentary school are now being
made and the school should re
open not later than tomorrow
(Friday). Use of the gymnasium
in the old high school will be
allowed under certain proviso
ions.
Meanwhile, the 380 "orphans"
are being kept busy with play
ground periods and classes in
the new high school building.
The gleeful children showed
up for school bright and early
Tuesday, but were sent back
home because school officials
were unable to make Immedi
ate adjustments to handle the
surprise move by the fire chief.
. Chief Tysingex said Monday
night, after he had met earlier
with the school superintendent
and several members of the
county board of education to
give notice of the comdemna
tion order, that he received his
instructions from the State Fire
Warden's office in Raleigh. The
school will remain closed until
the necessary repairs are made,
he added.
Among other things, Chief
Tysinger said repairs w}ll have
to be made in the elementary
school boiler room, including
the installation of fire walls
and overhead protection in the
event a boiler explosion should
occur.
"Things to be done in the old
high school are too numerous
to mention," he declared.
He did say, however, that the
school may continue to use the
gymnasium section for basket
ball, provided the balcony is not
used and all four exits to the
outside are opened. Three of
the four doors were nailed shut
when he made his inspection,
he said.
A no smoking order in the
gymnasium will be strictly en
forced, he added.
fc ? Staff Photo by J. P. Brad ?
Franklin faces were familiar faces in Asheyille Saturday
preceding the a.nnual Optimist Bowl game at Memorial Stadium.
The local band, under the direction of S. F. Beck, led off the
pre -game parade of bands and beauties through the downtown
area. (L to R) Misses Carlene Sorrells and Margaret Jones talk
over the Western squad's chances in the game with two grid
stars in on the know ? End Bill Hunnicutt, former Frr.nklin
Panther now with Lee H. Edwards High in Ashevllle, and Frank
lin's Gene Mashburn: Hunnicutt was one of the big guns in the
Western squad's 7 to 2 upset victory over the East. Miss Sor
rells, runnerup in Franklin's homecoming queen contest, sub
stituted in the Optimist contest for Miss Lela Jo Gailey, who
was unable to attend.
Cop's Good Turn
Almost Backfires
A good turn almost backfired
on Policeman Homer Cochran
here Saturday afternoon.
The officer said he noticed
Harley Roper, of Franklin, stag
gering In the Bank of Franklin
building, supposedly under the
Influence of some Intoxicant, '
and suggested that he go home. I
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 8
ATTENDANCE CONFERENCE
County School Supt. Holland
McSwain left yesterday (Wed
nesday) to attend the state
school superintendents' confer
ence In High Point. He will re
turn Friday.
T. B. Seal Campaign
Is Launched Here
The annual Christmas T. B
Seal campaign was launched
this week by County Chairman
Fred Dowdle, of Franklin.
Letters containing seals and
a plea for contribution have
been mailed, the chairman said
In line with the campaign,
seven films on tuberculosis are
| being shown in schools through
out the county. Mrs. Frank
8hope, public health nurse, also
spoke to home demonstration
club leaders on the disease yes
terday (Wednesday).
I
Preparing For Green Market
? j taff Photo by J. P. Brady
The Macon Home Demonstration Curb Market is setting a
first this year by sponsoring a "Christmas Green Marker", here
Friday and Saturday from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. And the ladies
have expended a lot of time and energy making the Yale deco
rations. Shown above arranging some of thq many items that
will be on sale are (.L to R) Mrs. Eugene Couch, county craft
leader, Mrs. Jack Cabe, president of the county council, Mrs.
J. R. Ray, county home beautification leader, and Mrs. Joe
Setser, chairman of the Nonah Craft Center and committee.
Proceeds of the market are earmarked for the craft center.
Items Cor sale will include Christmas candles, floating candles,
{aim leaves, wreaths, sprays, and various other Christmas
greens.
Franklin Is
Strictly For The Birds
Let it be known ? Franklin is strictly for the birds.
At the suggestion of the Franklin High School Junior Wild
life Club, the board of aldermen Monday night passed an
ordinance making the town an official bird sanctuary.
So from here on all birds ? except, of course, such undesir
ables as starlings, jays, crows, English sparrows, coopers,
hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, grackles, buzzards, and their
nests and eggs ? fall undler the shadow of the long arm of
the law.
The board also instructed officers to strictly enforce all
ordinances regulating the discharge of firearms within the city
limits.
Billy Harper, president of the high school club, read a reso
lution drawn by his organization suggesting the adoption of
ordinance to protect the feathered brethren and the board
took immediate action. The club was authorized J,o erect signs
designating the town as a bird sanctuary.
Also, the new bird law gives the "Wrf' to stray dogs and
unclean cats. Officers plan to bear down on ridding the town
of these natural enemies of the bird.
The only other official action taken by the board was to
accept a proposition made by W. W. Reeves to supply 167
feet of sewer and water line to the Trimont Heights sub-divis
ion, if the town would install the lines. The board accepted
with the understanding the lines would be deeded to the town
after installation.
'Dollar Worshippers' Threat
To Nation, Judge Patton Says
"Dollar worshippers", jeal
ousy, and greed are gradually
undermining the basic Ideals
this country's forefathers fought
and died for, Judge George B.
Patton declared in his charge
to the grand jury with the
opening of the December term
of Superior Court here Monday
morning.
Too many people judge others
by what they have, rather than
what they are, the judge as
serted, and the nation as a
whole seems to think friend
ship of other nations can be
bought on the open market like
any commodity.
"But they're wrong . . . bad
wrong", Judge Patton warned,
"for friendship Is something
you cannot buy."
In some cases, he explained,
foreign aid money from this
country is going into the hands
of politicians, who are using it
to play politics in other lands.
Some foreign governments are
guilty of taking money and
food from the United States
and fooling their peoples into
believing they are supplying the
needs, he said.
"Unless we get hold of our- j
selves and put the dollar bill
back down in the dollar bill
place, quit trying to buy friend
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 8
Trial Of Criminal
Cases Ends Tuesday
Special Judge George B. Patton, of Franklin, capped off the
criminal side of the December term of Superior Court yester
day (Wednesday) at noon and this morning plans to move Into
trial of civil matters.
The criminal docket ? composed mostly of motor vehicle cases ?
was disposed of rapidly by the Judge and Solicitor Thad D. Bry
son, Jr., from the term opening Monday morning. The majority
YULE SPIRIT
IN THE AIR
Number Of Events
Scheduled Here As
Christmas Comes
The tangy spirit of Christ
mas is very much in the air in
Macon County, with just 12
shopping days remaining.
Carol sings, Yule decorations
contests, and special Christmas
programs and plays are sched
uled as the day of all days ap
proaches.
Franklin's Main Street twink
les nightly with a colorful criss
cross of lights Installed by vol
unteer firemen; the town is
seething with early shoppers
and court- week crowds; and
businessmen are bracing them
selves for that last-minute
rush.
It looks like it's going to be
a big Christmas.
The county's home demon
stration clubs will lead off the
celebration this year with a
Christmas Community Sing
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
at the Franklin Presbyterian
Church. Mrs. Robert D. Burn
ette, county H. D. music leader,
is in charge of the program. S.
F. Beck will direct the Macon
County Chorus and Mrs. Mar
garet Cooper will be accompan
ist. The programs lists several
selections by the chorus, in ad
dition to favorite carols by those
attending.
"Star of Bethlehem", a
Christmas play, will be present
ed by the children of the Car
toogechaye School next Thurs
day evening (December 17) at
8:15 o'clock. The play, to which
the public is invited, will follow
the regular meeting of the
school P. T. A.
December 22 at 7 p. m., a
county-wide Christmas carol
singing will be held on the
Town Square under the auspices
of the Macon County Minister
ial Association. A choir compos
ed of voices from churches all
over the county will be directed
by Lowell McKee. The Rev.- Bill
Shields, the Rev. Bryan Hatch
ett, and Dr. A. Rufus Morgan
are in charge of the program.
In the event of adverse weath
er, the sing will move to the
courthouse.
A Jaycee-sponsored Christmas
program is slated for Decem
ber 23 at 8 p. m. at the Frank
lin Methodist Church. Admission
will be a gift for the needy.
The program will include selec
SEE NO. 4, PAGE 8
Shell Be 103 Years Young Monday
w? WWWW?#..| m
Macon County's "younfest" citlxen has another birthday cominc up Monday. Mrs. Martha
Jane "Aunt Jane" Bryson will be 1?3 years yonnr. No birthday party Is planned for her this year
and she will spend a quiet observance with her family aX her home on Bryson Branch where she
has lived for 7? year*. Seven of her sons are still living. The eldest. Will Bryson. Is 7*. The pic
ture above was taken at "Aunt Jane's" birthday party last year. The youifster is her rreat
Tandson, Dennis Bryson. son of Mr. and Mrs. J >tan A. Bryson, of Cullasaja.
of the defendants pleaded guil
ty, paving the way for speedy
dispositions.
Eleven actions are scheduled
for trial oh the civil docket, In
cluding five divorce cases.
Judgments handed down by
the court through Tuesday noon
Include:
Elzie Nichlson, drunk driving,
60 days suspended, $100, costs.
Ray Eugene Henry, speeding,
$10, costs.
Harry Ladd, violation of pro
hibition laws, 4 months sus
pended, $50, costs.
Mllas Andrew Donaldson,
speeding, $10, costs.
W. A. Norton, drunk driving,
60 days suspended, $100, costs.
Eckel Rowland, forcible tres
pass, nol pros with leave.
Ernest Bennett, non-support
of Illegitimate child, capias Is
sued.
Leon Williamson, drunk driv
ing, 60 days suspended, $100,
costs.
Guy Addison, drunk driving,
60 days suspended, $110, costs.
Marvin Potts, drunk driving,
$100, costs.
Robert Glenn Owens, drunk
driving, 60 days suspended,
$100, costs.
Reld O. Watson, speeding, $10,
costs.
Leonard Morris Henson, drunk
driving, 60 days suspended, $100,
costs.
Shirley Walter Kerns, aban
donment, capias Issued.
Charlie William Paul, care
less and reckless driving, con
tinued pending disposition of
civil action.
Norman P. Fitzgerald, aban
donment, continued.
Bennie Lenoir, drunk driving,
4 months suspended, $200, costs.
Lester B. Chappel, drunk driv
ing, called and failed, capias
issued.
Joseph Snyder, non-support
illegitimate child, nol pros with
leave.
Marshall. Pettis, drunk driv
ing, $100. costs.
J. D. Welch, resisting arrest,
alias capias Issued.
Henderson Hayes, drunk driv
ing, capias issued.
Grover Eugene Crisp, care
less and reckless driving, $25,
costs.
Kenneth B. McCoy, drunk
driving, careless and reckless
driving, speeding. 90 days sus
pended, $125, costs.
Edward Franks, taking and
possessing doe deer, $100, costs.
T. A. Tllson, taking and pos
sessing doe deer, nol pros with
leave.
W. H. Mashburn, non-support,
nol pros with leave.
Troy Arvll Welch, permitting
non-licensed person to operate
motor vehicle, $25. costs.
Alma Ledford, no driver's li
cense, $25, costs.
Neville McCoy, drunk driving,
no driver's license, careless and
reckless driving, speeding, $210,
costs.
Zeb Buchanan, carrying con
sealed weapon, called and fail
ed, capias issued.
Arthur D. Hayes, drunk driv
ing, carrying concealed weapon,
called and failed, capias Issued.
Williams Smalls, no driver's
license, operating vehicle on
borrowed license, called "and
failed, capias issued.
Arthur Ellja, loaning driver's
SEE NO. 5, PAGE 8
TNe wmV's temperature# and rainfall, at
r-'conled in Franklin by Mansoa Stilea,
I*. S. wrathsr observer, and at the Coweeta
Hydrologic Laboratory:
Wednesday 59 15
COWEETA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 53 18
The Weather
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
...... 52 22 trace
63 47 1.02
69 29
61 47 .30
62 28
62 18
Thursday
Friday .
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
? ....
53 48 1.62
66 28 11
62 50 54
57 26 .38
59 19
54 24