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VOL. LXIX? NO. 8
FRANKLIN, N. C? THURSDAY, FEB. IS, 1964
FOl'RTEEN PAGES
REPAIR JOB
STARTED ON
HIGHWAY 64
Stale Tearing .Out
Seven-Mile Stretch
Froaa Gneiss To Falls
An extensive repair project on
US 94 (Franklin-Highlands high
way) from Gneiss to Bridal
Veil Palls was started Monday
morniag by the State Highway
Department and the main ar
tery will be closed to through
traffic during the day for at
least fwr weeks.
The project entails the com
plete destruction of the present
seven-Mile stretch of blacktop,
leveling and widening of the
roadbed- where the terrain per
mits, and new surfacing some
time this summer, according to
George Byrd, foreman of the
local department.
Motorists traveling between
Franklin and Highlands during
the day must detour on US 23
(south i and NC 106, near the
N. C.-Ga. state line.
Mr. Byrd said the highway
will fcf open to through-traffic
at night, "but it will be slow
traveling". He recommended
that motorists use the detour
until the project is completed.
Weather permitting, the job
should be completed in about
four weeks, the foreman said.
But even then, the section will
be unpaved, since cold weather
will prevent immediate surfac
ing.
The project starts at Gneiss,
where the concrete highway
from Franklin ends. The black
top from this point on to the
falls has been warped and
cracked by heavy travel and
weather.
NANTAHALA
WANTS ROAD
Citizens Organize
League To Push For
Proposed Highway
Citterns of the Nantahala
Community, weary of waiting
for the state to build a paved
road into their area, have for
med the "Nantahala improve
ment League" and have set
thetr sights on an all-weather
road. v
At a meeting following a ses
sion of the Nantahala P. T. A.
last Thursday night, the citizens
organized the league and imme
diately set their objective ? a
paved highway into the com- j
munity before the 1954-55 school
year.
Funds for the relocation and
paving of the present Wayah
Road into the community al
ready have been allocated and
the survey of the project was
completed early last spring. The
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 12
This Story You Are Preparing
To Read Is True-Even Names
The story you are about to
read is true.
Even the names are the same
to give you factual reporting
(Just tryin' to get the facts,
Mam!)
It's Monday night about 10:30.
Dr. Edgar Angel, Franklin
physician, U driving toward
Dr.. Angel
Franklin on US
64, returning from
a house call. He
passes a man
man standing by
the edge of the
highway near the
Wayah Road. The
doctor slows
down, turns
around, and drives
back to where
me man is siana
lng. He jumps out of his car,
grabs the man and searches
him (finds two knives), and
orders him into his car.
The doctor drives the man to
the Macon Prison Camp ? and
for a good reason. His passen
ger is Will Henson, about 60,
who escaped earlier in the day
from a road gang on River
view Road.
End of story ? almost.
Henson, of the Hanging Dog
section of Cherokee County, is
serving a life sentence for the
murder of his nephew, accord
ing to Sheriff J. Harry Thomas.
He broke from the road gang
about ix o'clock In the morning
and apparently cut cross-coun
try. Arthur Ray and his blood
hounds were called In to track
the escapee, but the hounds
lost the scent In the Bird Cove
section.
Figuring that the prisoner,
who Is crippled in one leg,
would come out on the highway
during the night and try to
hitch a ride out of the county,
Sheriff Thomas, guards from
the prison camp, and other of
ficers threw up a cordon around
the area and waited for him to
appear, sheriff Thomas and
H. T. Ferguson searched cars and
alerted residents In the Car
toogechaye, Wayah, and Rain
bow Springs sections, while
Deputy Newell Pendergrass pa
trolled the highway.
But Dr. Angel's many visits to
the prison camp in the capac
ity of camp doctor paid off. He
said he recognized the prisoner
immediately "and just moved In
on him fast before he knew
what was happening."
In an interview, Sheriff Thom
as praised the doctor's alertness,
commenting "we certainly ap
preciate Dr. Angel's coopera
tion . . . too many citizens would
have just gone on and forgot
ten they saw the man."
Raleigh Specialists Coming Here
For Three-Day School For Farmers
Republicans Set
Meet Wednesday
The local Republican party
has announced plans for hold
ing an organizational meeting
next Wednesday afternoon at
the county courthouse.
Chairman George Reece said
highlights of the session, which
is set for 2 o'clock, will Include
the election of a new chairman
and the appointment of dele
gates to the congressional and
state conventions.
Purvey Feels
Out 'Merchants
The reactivated Franklin
Merchants Association has com
pleted a survey to feel out the
business habits of its members,
according to Mrs. Lasca E. Hors
ley. Chamber of Commerce sec
retary.
Following are the results:
ill All merchants will close
at 12 noon on Wednesdays from
January through November.
(2) All will observe holidays
and will close Monday should
a holiday fall on Sunday.
Want To Get Married?
? Staff Photo by /. P. Brady
- Macon's proximity to a quirk-marriage state (South Caro
lina) rotw it of its share of brides. In 1953, only 48 marriage
licenses were issued by the register of deeds. But, in case any
one (or two) would like to take a chance on Macon, Mrs. Mary
Etta Keener (s.bore), secretary to the register of deeds, is ready
to fill oat a license.
A host of extension service
officials from N. C. State Col
lege in Raleigh will converge
on Macon County .Monday
morning as a a three-day
"Farmers' School" opens at the
Agricultural Building.
More than 20 men? all spe
cialists in various agricultural
lines ? will cover subjects rang
ing from fertilizer to farm
management during the three
days, according to Assistant
County Agent T. H. Fagg.
Farm families attending the
school face a heavy, but highly
informative, agenda. Classes will
run from 9 a. m. to 4 p. jn.
daily, with an hour for lunch.
Monday's schedule lists such
topics as fertilizer, economics
of fertilizer, weed control, and
agricultural engineering. Spe
cialists discussing the subjects
will include Dr. E. R. Collins,
M. S. Williams, W. G. West
moreland, R. M. Ritchie, and
H. M. Ellis.
Tobacco, farm management,
animal husbandry, forage crops,
and forage crop diseases will be
taken up Tuesday by Harold
Nau, Rov Bennett, Dorris Brown,
A. V. Allen, J. K. Butler, Jr.,
Sam Dobson, and J. C. Wells.
Wednesday, the subjects of
poultry, poultry marketing, hor
ticulture and commercial vege
table production, garden and
small fruit production, disease
and insect control, irrigation of
gardens and vegetables, and
fruit and vegetable marketing
will be covered. C. F. Parrish.
W. O. Andrews, C W. Williams,
John Harris, H M. Covington.
H. E. Scott, A. A. Banadyga, T.
T. Hatton, and George Abshire.
are listed as speakers.
The whole idea of the school,
Mr. Fagg explained, is to pass
on to farm families the latest
information available on the
various subjects.
Unproved methods of produc- t
tion, better management, more
efficient marketing, and the
latest controls for insects and
diseases are essential to the
farmer since the margin be
tween production and sales has
decreased in recent months, the
assistant agent added
"Never before have we been
able to secure the services of
so many highly qualified per
sons to help you continue the
rapid progress yc are making
in both farm ani. home. This
school is a 'must' for every
farmer."
Need Tax Help?
State Man Here
Needing help with state in
come tax? ^
A representative of they N. C.
Department of Revenue arrived
here yesterday (Wednesday"
and will be here through today
at the county courthouse to
give assistance to taxpayers in
1 filing state returns.
This representative also plans
. to return here March 9 for a
' final round before the dead
| lin the 15th
L WILLIAMS
HEADS MACON
N.C.E.A. UNIT
Shearouse, Angel
Also Elected To
Offices At Meet
Edwin T. Williams, teacher at
Franklin High School, la the
new president of the Macon
unit of the North Carolina Ed
ucation Association for the year
1954-55.
Mr. Williams, who succeeds
Otto Principal E. O. Crawford,
was elected to the post at a
brief meeting of the local unit
Mr. Williams
last Thursday afternoon at East
Franklin School following a
county-wide teacher meeting.
Highlands Principal F. N.
Shearouse was elected vice
president and Jack Angel,
Franklin High teacher, went in
to the secretary post.
At the teacher meeting. Dr. '
Arnold Hoffman, of Raleigh,
head of the state music depart- [
ment, was guest speaker. He j
emphasized the importance of
music in school recreation pro- ;
grams and suggested the con- :
tinued advancement of rhyth
mic activities.
Dr. Hoffman and Miss Doris
Kimel, state music supervisor,
were here last week assisting ,
Miss Alice Weaver, county mus
ic supervisor, with the music
program in the county schools.
Miss Kimel met with teach
ers. at each school and also ad
dressed a special meeting of
home demonstration club wom
en Friday morning at the Agri
cultural Building.
WATER LINE
WORK STARTS
Project Will Give
Residents Better
Water Pressure
Replacement of 1.700 feet of j
water line on Franklin's Harri
son Avenue to provide better
water pressure to customers in !
the area was started Tuesday j
afternoon.
City workmen are ripping out
the old four-inch line from the
storage tanks to the intersec
tion of Green and Harrison
and installing a larger eight
inch line.
The project was authorized
by the board of aldermen sever
al months ago after water users
living in the shadow of the
storage tanks complained of low
pressure.
The ditching contract was i
awarded to Phillips and Ward.
Band Boosters Plan
Meeting Tonight To
A fund-raising campaign will
be outlined tonight (Thursday >
by the Franklin Band Boosters ,
Club at the high school, It has J
been announced
The meeting is set for 7 30
o'clock and all representatives |
are urged to turn out.
3tto F.T.A. Marking
'Founder's Day' Tonight
"Founder's Day" will be ob- '
served tonight ( Thursday i by i
the Otto P. T A at its regular j
monthly meeting at the school
at 7:30 o'clock, It has been an
nounced.
Scout Fund
Drive Kicked
Off Monday
The annual Boy Scout fund
raising campaign was kicked off
here Monday morning by adult
Scouters who hope to raise $1,
300 to further the movement In
Macon County.
Campaign plans were mapped
Sunday afternoon at a special
meeting at the Franklin Meth
odist Church.
H. H. Gnuse, Jr., fund chair
man for the county, explained
Monday that the assigned quota
for the county is $1,000, but it
is hoped that an additional
$300 will be raised for the serv
ices of a summer worker In the
county. If the extra amount Is
raised, Mr. Gnuse said, the
Scouters plan to hire Eagle
Scout Ben Edwards to promote
and assist with scout work in
the county.
Last year's quota for Macon
was $700, but increased inter
est In the county makes it nec
essary to raise more money this
year, the chairman explained.
New troops have been formed
at Carson Chapel and Cartooge
chaye and the Highlands troop
and the Franklin Cub Pack
have been reactivated In recent
months.
"This means that we have al
most twice as many Scouts this
year as last", Mr. Gnuse point
ed out, "and it's important that
we provide the money to stimu
late growth in the movement."
The Smoky Mountain District
quota also is higher this year
($2,600 ? because a full-time
field worker for the western
area has been hired, he added.
Those assisting with the local
campaign include R. R. Gaines,
R. E. McKelvey, W. D. Simpson,
the Rev. C. E. Murray, B. B.
Scott, E. G. Crawford, John Bul
gin, H. A. Wilhide, Edd Whitak
er, B. L. McGlamery, Bob Pearl,
Paul West, and Hunter Callo
way.
Other men are now being
contacted to help with the
campaign, he said.
Persons not contacted for do
nations may leave them with
Mr. Calloway at the Nantahala
Power and Light Company of
fice in Franklin.
Barnard Nominated
For Elections Post
Post Offices
Being Closed
The small Cullasaja and El
[i jay Post Offices in this
county axe to be closed Feb
ruary 28 by the U. S. Post
Office Department and a new
rural route formed to serve
patrons in the two areas, it
was learned this week.
Cullasaja Star Route also
will be discontinued, accord
ing to local post office offi
cials. (
The new rural carrier route
will be Route 5, Franklin.
The two 4th class offices
probably are among the old
est small offices in the coun
j ty. Just how old they are
isn't known, but oldtimers re
port "they were here long be-J
fore I was."
Sunday, Mrs. C. T. Bryson
will mark 32 years as post
master of the Cullasaja office,
which is housed at Brvson's
Store on the Franklin -High
lands highway <U,S 64).
Grady Henry is postmaster
at Ellijay.
The two offices will join a
string of others that have
bowed to the more efficient
rural carrier system, among
them being Tellico. Stiles.
Etna, lotla, and Leatherman.
4-H CHORAL
UNIT FORMED
The Macon County 4-H choral
group, under the direction of
Mrs. Jessie Lee Cabe and Mrs.
Roy F. Cunningham, was or
ganized Saturday.
The group elected the follow
ing officers for the coming
year: Barbara Waldroop, presi
dent; Patsy Cabe, vice-presi
dent; June Cabe. secretary;
Konda Teague, reporter.
SEE NO. 4. PAGE 12
Workers Now Planning For Opening
Of Red Cross Fund Drive March 1
Volunteer workers this week
started laying the foundation
for the county-wide kickoff of
the 1954 American Red Cross
fund drive on March 1.
With the endorsement of
Walter Taylor, president of the
county rural community coun
cil, this year's rural campaign
will be conducted by the 21
communities entered in the rur
al development contest.
Campaigns in the county's
two towns?Franklin and High
lands ? will be handled by vol
unteer workers, according to
Mrs. Elizabeth McCollum, A R C.
chapter secretary.
Macon's quota has been set
at $3,000, Mrs. McCollum said,
and a larger percentage of the
amount will remain in the
county, county this year. In
1953, she explained, 39.2 per
cent of the quota was earmark
ed for use locally, but this year
47.1 per cent will stay in the
county. The balance of funds
raised goes to the national or
ganization.
W R. Potts will be in charge
of the Highlands campaign
and Franklin's will be conduct
ed under the leadership of take
V Shope.
Letters were mailed 'this week
to presidents of the 21 com
munities, the secretary said,
and volunteer workers are now
mapping campaign strategy to
push the county over the top
?of its quota.
Tellico Man Draws No Line
?Stmtf fkt I* ?> J. P. Brad
Frank Rogers, of the Tellico Community, doesn't draw a
line between his work and his hobby. For him it's woodworking
right down the line. Mr. Rogers works for a. wood turning out
fit in Bryson City and at the end of the day he returns home
and ? you guessed it ? continues working with wood. Above he
is pictured turning out a hand-made lamp. The finished bowl on
the table and the ash tray at the side are also products of his
handiwork. And his hobby has Its merits too. He's sold a number
of articles ?.nd is always ready to build things on special order.
Raby Announces
He Will Be Running
For Legislature
In special session Monday '
night at the courthouse, the
county executive committee
picked Lee Barnard, of Frank
lin, to head the three-maa
county elections board.
Fred S. Moore, of Frankll*.
Route 1, and Walter Bryson, of
Highlands, were selected as
members.
The committees recommen
dations have been forwarded ta
Raleigh for approval by the
State Board of Elections and
an answer from this body is ex
pected some time early in
March.
The special meeting of the
county committee was called
last week when Siler Slagle re
signed as chairman of the local
board.
Meanwhile, candidates for the
Democratic primary in May are
! unable to file and are marking
time until Mr. Barnard's ap
I pointment is approved.
Unofficially, several are now
in local races, including Sher
j iff J. Harry Thomas, Register
of Deeds, Lake V. Shope, and
Jack Ra'gan, Franklin mortician
! for county coroner.
J. M. (Jim> Raby is the first
, of several rumored candidates
( to announce plans to run for
1 the House of Representatives
from this county. In a letter to
The Press. Mr. Raby said he
will be a candidate.
No one has yet indicated
plans for entering the Clerk of
Superior Court. Surveyor, Com
missioners. or Board of Educa
tion races.
Another man jumped into the
20th Judicial District solicitor
race this week. Gene \Alley,
Waynesville attorney and son
of Judge Felix E. Alley, ha*
filed. Solicitor Thad D Brysoa,
Jr., of Bryson City, filed last
week and Grover D. Davis,
Waynesville attorney and a for
mer solicitor, announced sever
al weeks ago.
Two men have filed for stat?
senator for the 33rd Senatorial
i District, who will come from.
Clay County this year. H. M.
Moore, who served in the Gen
eral Assembly as Clay represen
i tative from 1947 to 1951, was
the first to file for the post.
At the present, he is opposed
by Tom J. Herbert, of Hayes
ville.
SCHOOL VOTES
UNDER WAY
Students Will Take
Over Governments
Here Next Friday
Hot elections are being waged
in Macon schools this Week as
students prepare to take over
county and town governments
for a day next Friday
This experiment in govern
ment is designed to acquaint
students with politics and pub
lic service and is being spon
sored by thv Franklin Jaycee.5
For several weeks now. party
organization and electioneering
has been going on in all schools.
Posts in Franklin and High
lands will be filled by students
from the high schools in the
two towns. Elementary schools
are electing student county
commissioners, and other coun
ty officers a.re being filled by
Nantahala School, which has
held its election. Joan Solesbee
was elected by Nantahala stu
dents to a county commissioner
post, Mitchel Grant as Sheriff,
Juanita Passmore as Clerk of
Court, and J. D Owenby as
Register of Deeds.
G A Jones. Jr., chairman of
the Jaycee project, said offic
ers of the other school will be
announced next week as soon
as elections end
The Weather
The week's temperatures and rtinfu't. u
recorded iti Franklin by Man son Stil??.
t*. S. weather observer, and at the Coweeta
1 1 vdrftlogic l.aborafnrv:
COWthfA
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wednesday 71 25
Thursday 53 37
Friday 46 17 .11
Saturday 48 18
Sunday 64 25
Monday 88 11 ....
Tuesday ;.... 64 46