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VOL. LXIX? NO. 18
FRANKLIN, N. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1954
TWELVE PAGES
HIGHWAY 64
SURFACING
UNDERWAY
Foreman Says Link
Should Be Ready To
Travel In 2 Weeks
Paring of the eight-mile link
of US 64 from Gneiss to
Bridal Veil Falls started yes
terday (Wednesday) afternoon
and the highway should be
ready for travel in about two
weeks, according to George
Byrd, State Highway Depart
ment foreman.
The extensive repair proj
ect on the heavily-traveled
highway was started in mkT
February.
Highway crews ripped up
the old surfacing and leveled
the road-bed in preparation
for the new surface.
Since the project started,
motorists have been detouring
to Highlands over US 23 and
NC IOC.
FIEIDDAY
SCT FRIDAY
Elementary Schools
To Compete In Tests
Of Rotary Event
Students of the county's eight
elementary schools will converge
tomorrow (Friday) on Franklin
High School for the annual
Rotary - sponsored Elementary
Field Day.
This year's event includes two
new features. In addition to
athletic events for both boys
and girls, the program lists ac
ademic tests, which will count
heavily in scoring the winning
schools. Also, the Rotary Club
plans to present trophies to
the winner and runnerup.
The field day will open at 9
in the morning with academic
tests, and athletic events are
scheduled to get under way at
noon.
Rotarian Clayton Ramsey and
Coach Dick Stott will be in
charge.
In announcing plans for the
annual event, Mr. Ramsey said
the tests will cover science,
geography, history, mathemat
ics, reading, spelling, language,
and literature. Participants will
be the best student from each
school in each of the chosen
subjects.
Field events will be held on
the athletic field. Each student
is eligible to participate in two
field events and one academic
test, Mr. Ramsey explained.
At the end of the day, the
school with the highest number
of points earned by individual
students will be adjudged win
ner.
Lunch will be served in the
school cafeteria.
bake sale planned
The Franklin Junior Woman's
Club will hold a bake sale Fri
day morning at the Carolina
Pharmacy, it has been an
nounced.
Band Concert
Set Sunday
At Theatre
The first In a series of con
certs by the Franklin Band will
be presented Sunday afternoon
at 4 o'clock at Macon Theatre.
A tea for concert-goers and
members of the band will be
given following the concert at
the Franklin High cafeteria. It
is being arranged by friends of
the band.
In announcing the hour and
a half program, Director S. F.
Beck complimented his band
members far their determina
tion to give the concert despite
the crippling loss of Instru
ments in the recent high school
fire. Most of the students are
using borrowed instruments, he
said.
Sunday's concert, which will
include classical, semi-classical
and some popular music, will
mark the first official appear
ance of the band since the fire
and also will be the first of
several concerts planned this
year under the sponsorship of
the Franklin Band Boosters
Club.
A county-wide membership
drive to raise funds for hiring
an assistant band director and
putting the present band back
on its feet is now being pushed
by the Boosters.
No admission will be charged
to Sunday's concert.
Former Gov. Scott
On His Campaign ]
"My program is to keep on
working for the average man,
woman, boy, and girl in North
Carolina", former Gov. W. Kerr
Scott declared here Wednesday
night of last week.
Mr. Scott, in Franklin for an
over-night stop on his whirl
wind tou*<of the western sec
tion of the state, spoke briefly
to a group of men at the court
PATTON IS MANAGER
Following W. Kerr Scott's ad
dress here Wednesday night "of
last week, Scott supporters met
and named Erwin Patton to
manage the former governor's
campaign here for the U. S.
Senate.
house on his campaign for
nomination to the U. S. Senate
in the May 29 Democratic pri
mary.
Commenting that his critics
branded him "stubborn and
bull-headed" during his stint as
governor, Mr. Scott said he re
sented this, explaining that he
traveled thousands of miles over
the state on business "concern
ing the average people."
"I'm familiar with your prob
lems here", the former govern
or declared, "because I've visit
ed with you before . . . several
times in the past 31 years."
Mentioning his visit here in
1952 for the dedication of Ma
con's new schools, he remarked:
"The problems of one county
are very much like those of an
other and it is impossible to get
the job done unless the people
want it done."
Mr. Scott said some in the
state were critizing the road
..... _....
? Stuff Photo by J. P. Brady
Mrs. Harry Corbin and Edwin T. Williams give a final briefing to Franklin
students planning to vi^it Washington, D. C., next week. A group from High
lands leaves tomorrow (Friday) for the nation's capital.
66 Macon Students Ready
To Visit Nations Capital
The nation's capital is going
to be amply stocked with Ma
con County this next week, as
66 students from Franklin and
Highlands roll into the historic
city for a week of sightseeing
and educational tours.
Twenty-four Highlands High
juniors and seniors and their
chaperones will lead off the
Macon parade to Washington,
D. C., tomorrow (Friday) and
the Franklin High delegation ?
speaks Here
For Senator
? Franklin Press I'iiotu
Mr. , Scott
bond program during his ad
ministration, and he added
smiling, "But you know, I
haven't heard of anyone who
wanted his (road) plowed up."
He also said he favored the
completion of the Pigeon River
highway, a project he described
as a valuable asset to this area.
"There's gold in these hills,"
Mr. Scott declared, in the form
of natural resources, principally
minerals and forest land.
"You just need the govern
ment to work with you In de
velopment."
The former governor was in
troduced by John Queen, Wayn
esville lawyer.
Franklin High Annual
Dedicated To Korean War Veterans
?stmft r*0f by J. P. MrtSy
Advisor Williams and Editor Sorrells examine
the new Laurel Leaf, Franklin High yearbook.
The 1954 Laurel Leaf, Frank- !
lin High yearbook, is dedicated
to veterans of the Korean War.
Three-hundred fifty copies of
the 88-page yearbook arrived
Friday from Winston-Salem,
where they were printed, and
by now are probably pretty well
saturated with signatures.
"One of the best annuals I
have ever seen", was Principal
Ralph L. Smith's comment,
"and the staff really deserves
a heaping helping of praise."
And naturally, the annual
sponsor, Edwin T. Williams, and
the staff are more than pleased
with their 1954 "brainchild".
Miss Carlene Sorrells, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Sor
rells, is the yearbook editor. Her
staff is composed of Miss Bar
bara Crews, assistant editor,
Miss Bobbie Burch, business
manager, Max Henderson, ad
vertising manager, Miss Betty
Howard, Junior editor, Miss
Carol Stockton, Sophomore ed
itor, Miss Betty Hurst, Fresh
man editor, Miss Mildred Chil
ders, copy editor, Miss Mary
Evelyn Cabe, snapshot editor,
and Bobby Blddle, circulation
! manager.
42 students and three chaper
ones ? starts the memorable trip
Tuesday.
With W. C. Newton and Mrs.
Carl Zoellner as chaperones, the
Highlands students will make
the trip in the school activities
bus. They are Jane Anderson,
Jan Burnette, Jo Ann Cabe,
Raymond Cleveland, Junior
Crowe, Jo Ann Hicks, Sue Hop
per, Bobby Houston, Herbert
James, Geraldine James, Mavis
McCall, Mary Jo Newton, Emily
Potts, Martha Reese, Faye Rus
sell, Milford Russell, La Verne
Reed, Mary Summer, Berta Lee
Talley, Don Vinson, Mary Ann
Edwards, Lorraine Vinson, Kath
leen Rogers, and Lester Carver.
The return trip will be made
May 8.
A chartered bus will carry
the large Franklin delegation ?
Annette Dalrymple, Luetta
Browning, Jeana Sue Cunning
ham, Barbara Edwards, Lela Jo
Oailey, Joe Patton, Perry Cabe,
Joyce Shook, Bill Zickgraf,
Raymond Ledford, Jerry Sutton,
Richard Gibson, Carlene Sor
.rells, Bobbie Burch, Max Mor
gan, Dan Angel, Marilyn Hig
don. Bill Dinnes, Kenneth Guf
fey, Marilyn Henson, Nancy Mc
Collum, Joe Bingham, Charles
Baldwin, Billy Harper, Betty
Jeanne Henson, Colbert Hen
son, Holland McSwain, Marilyn
Hogsed, Bobby Biddle, Tommy
Cole, Sarah Corbin, Sam Holl
and, G. D. Buchanan, Naomi
Elliott, Max Holland, Marianne
Johnston, Adolph Conley, Rich
ard Dryman, Norma Jean Welch,
James Tallent, Roger Seay, and
Margaret Sorrells.
Principal Ralph L. Smith and
teachers, Mrs. Harry C. Corbin
and Edwin T. Williams, will ac
company the students, who will
return home May 9.
H.H.SGRADS
TO HEAR DE AN
Harrill Announced
As Commencement
Speaker On May 27
Dean W. B. Harrill, of West
ern Carolina College, Cullowhee,
will be the principal speaker at
the Highlands High School com
mencement exercises May 27,
Principal F. N. Shearouse an
nounced this week.
The Rev. Jack Davidson, of
Pendleton, S. C? will deliver the
baccalaureate sermon to the 13
graduating seniors on May 22
at the Highlands Methodist
Church.
Hours for both commence- 1
ment features will be announc
ed later, along with the names ?
of the graduates, the principal
said.
Honor students of the class '
are Miss Sue Hopper, valedic- !
torian, and Miss Geraldine j
James, salutatorian. Class mas- '
cots are Douglas Crisp, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Willard Crisp, and
Margaret Anne Rogers, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Rogers. ]
'?"wo Pastor Meetings
Planned Monday A. M.
Meetings of the Macon Bap- '
tist Pastors' Conference and the !
Macon Ministerial Association
are both scheduled Monday at !
the First Baptist Church, Frank
lin.
The Baptist pastors' session is i
planned at 10 a. m., while the !
association meeting will begin
at 11. The association member
ship Is composed of all Protes
tant ministers In the county.
BALL LEAGUE
IS FORMED
Group Names Hauser
Commissioner; Teams
Asked To Sign Up
A summer softball league was
formed in Franklin Monday
night under the sponsorship of
the American Legion.
Meeting at Franklin High
School, representatives of sever
al local civic organizations out
lined /a tentative league pro
gram and elected Jaxnes Hauser
commissioner.
At the present time, the new
commissioner said more than
six organizations plan to enter
teams in the league.
Proceeds of league games are
earmarked for the Boy Scouts
and the high school athletic
association.
Representatives present at the
meeting included Mr. Hauser,
Boy Scouts; Robert Pearl, Jay
cees; Zeb Meadows, V.F.W.;
Herman Teems, Zickgraf Hard
wood Company, Clayton Ram
sey, Rotary Club: Dan Angel,
athletic association; Coach R.
A. Byrd and Dick Stott, Lions
Club; and the Rev. Bryan
Hatchett, independent team.
Boy Scouts have been given
permission to run a concession
at the games.
Organizations or individuals
wanting to enter a team in the
league may contact Mr. Hauser
at Reeves Hardware, Franklin.
Further details of the pro
gram will be announced later.
Rural Program
Studied By Men
Of Monroe, Ga.
Macon's progressive rural
community development pro
gram is drawing out-of-the
state interest.
Wednesday of last week, five
leading citizens from Mobroe,
Ga., toured the county to vjtiew
first-hand the results of the
program and returned home
"impressed by the things they
saw", according to Assistant
County Agent T. H. Fagg.
The men learned of the high
ly-successful program under
way here through County Agent
S. W. Mendenhall, who mailed
a number of copies of the spe
cial rural community edition
SEE NO. 3, PAGE 6
Registration Books
Will Open Saturday
Last Bloodmobile ;
Visit Here Today J
The American Red Cross
Bloodmobile will pay its last
official visit here today
, (Thursday) under the govern
ment's "blood for defense" 1
program.
Sponsored by the local V. !
F. W. post, the mobile unit
from the Asheville Regional
Blood Center will set np shop
at the Franklin Presbyterian
Church from 1 to 6 p. m.
The county's quota will be
125 pints of blood ? all ear
marked for defense purposes.
V. F. W. Commander C.
Jack Rag an said yesterday
A.R.C. officials had informed
him today's visit will be the
last here for the Bloodmobile
under the present defense
agreement, which ends the
last of May.
Members of the V. F. W.
Auxiliary will serve refresh
ments to donors while the
unit is in operation.
HIGHSCHOOL
IN WINNERS
Franklin Is Second '
In Literary Event
Of Area Field Day
Franklin High School won
second place in the Literary
feature of the annual W.N.C.
High School Field Day at West
ern Carolina College in Cullo
whee Friday.
The local high school stu
dents entered all Literary events
and some classes of the Home
Economics feature, according to
school officials.
(Canton High School swept
the field, winning three of the
four first places ? Literary,
Home Economics, and Exhibits.
First place in Art went to
Cherokee High.)
Franklin students winning
first places in Literary events
included Adolph Conley, Book
keeping; Norman Smith, Cur
rent Affairs; Miss Margaret
Crawford, Declamation (original
speech i ; Herbert McKelvey,
I Physics; Miss Virginia Swan
son, Stenography; and Miss
! Norma Jean Welch, Spanish
Reading.
I Second places in the feature
i went to Miss Barbara Edwards,
Civics; Holland McSwain, Jr.,
English-Mechanics; Thad Dow
dle. Essay Contest; Miss Birdie
Lee Bingham, French; Tommy
Gnuse, World History; Miss
Dale Edwards, Latin; and Bill
Dinnes, Mathematics Survey
! for Seniors. Those winning third
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 6
BROOKSHIKK Hl'RT
J. H. Brookshire, of Cartooge
chaye, was injured yesterday
(Wednesday) morning near his
home when the tractor he was
operating overturned and pin
ned him. He was rushed by
ambulance to a Sylva hospital.
The extent of his injuries was
not known at press time.
Registration books in the
:ounty's 12 precincts will be
>pen for the next three Sat
urdays (May 1, 8, and 15) lor
:he May 29 Democratic primary.
Hours will be 9 a. m. to sun
set.
Challenge day will be May 22,
;he Saturday preceding the pri
mary election.
Following is a schedule ot
registration and polling loca
tions:
Millshoal : community build
ing.
Ellijay: school house.
Sugarfork: community build
ing.
Highlands: old school build
ing.
Flats: Roper mill building.
Smithbridge: school house.
Cartoogechaye: community
building.
Nantahala No. l: Mrs. O. C.
Hall building.
Nantahala No. 2: school
house.
Burningtown: old school build
ing.
Cowee: school house.
Franklin: courthouse:
Policeman
'Satisfied'
After Trip
A trip to Raleigh to talk with
S. B. I. Director James Powell
has convinced Policeman W
Homer Cochran that the recent
suicide of a Pittsboro mechanic
solved the booby-trap slaying
of his son more than two years
ago in Mount Airy.
On his return last Thursday,
the police officer said "there is
no doubt left in my mind now"
that the case is not solved.
William Homer Cochran, Jr
died December 31. 1951, after a
bomb explosion ripped his pick
up truck when he stepped on
the starter. Although the S.B.I,
kept hammering at a solution
to the murder of the young
agricultural teacher, little prog
ress was made until a bombing
attempt was made April 8 on
young Cochran's widow in Eden
ton. George Henry Smith, 38, a
neighbor of the young widow's
parents in Pittsboro. shot him
self the following day.
Even though the S.B.I, mark
ed the Cochran case "closed"
Mr. Cochran still was "not sat
isfied" that Smith was the man
who killed his son.
However, his trip to Raleigh
SEE NO. 1. PAGE 6
Elaine Goes In
As Lodge Head
Ted Blaine, of Franklin, last
Thursday night was installed as
governor of the local Moose
Lodge, succeeding J. Paul Vin
son.
Others elected to serve with
Mr. Blaine for 1954-55 are Crag
? D?ckery' junior governor,
Lake V. Shope. secretary, Frank
Shope, treasurer, the Rev R L
Poindexter, Prelate, and C. *T
Bryson, three-year trustee.
Weaver Shope was the instal
ling officer.
Patrolman On Motorized Still Raid
a routine cnecK or an auto
mobile by Highway Patrolman
A A. Lewis late Friday morn
ing brought home the bacon.
The bacon? A 25-gallon still
and three Georgia men hauling
It.
About 11:30 on NC 106, the
patrolman stopped an old model
-Qupe and to his surprise found
le had executed a "motorized"
still raid. The dismantled dis
tilling unit was in the back of
the coupe.
Even before the patrolman
reached Franklin with his catch,
the word was going around that
Lewis is co:ii:nj; in with three
men and a still."
The three were identified as
Willard Creed Shook. 22, Vel!
Chap'^el. 13. and Darnce James
Shook, 28, all of Clayton, Oa?
Rt 2 At a preliminary hearing
Saturday morning before Jus
tice of the Peace Sam J. Mur
ray, they were bound over to
Superior Court under $300
bonds, charged with transport
ing a distilling unit.
Incidentally, the still was a
little "motorized" Itself ? the
condenser was a truck radiator.
? Staff Photo by /. P. Brady
Highway Patrolman Lewis looks over the unusual
truck radiator condenser of a still he brought in
from his motorized still raid.