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PRICE
10 Cents
71st Year ? No. 7
Franklin, N. C., Thursday, February 16, 1956
Twelve Pages
Nantahala Woman
Freed In Shooting
Bureau Okays
Road Project
District Highway Engineer C
W. Lee yesterday (Wednesday:
said the U- S. Bureau of Pub'
lie Roads has approved the five
mile project from Flesty Brand
to Nantahala School and thai
the state Is now working oz
plans.
A state-federal allocation o
$250,000 has been set up for thi
job, he said.
When completed, this short
project will afford a pavw
highway through the Nantahali
section from US 64 in thii
county to US 19 near the Ma
con-Swain county line. It is thi
final link between two recen
highway projects in the area.
Mr. Lee said It probably wll
be early summer before thi
state Is ready to release thi
project plans and he said 1
would be difficult at this timi
to estimate when actual con
structlon will get under way.
Machinery For
Highway Job
Is Arriving
Machinery for erecting struc
tures (bridges and culverts;
along the new project of Ut
23-441 south to the Georgia lini
was scheduled to be unloads
from a railroad flat car yester
day (Wednesday) in the Otti
vicinity, according to Residen
Engineer S. T. Usry.
Clearing of right-of-wa;
along the project is proceeding
he reported.
He said the contractor, W. E
Graham and Sons, does no
plan to begin grading opera
tions until structures axi
enough advanced- to offer m
interference. This will probabl;
be about May 1, he estimated.
Power Company
Changing Lines
Power lines and poles are now
being moved from the right-of
way of the new link of 23-441
from Franklin to thp Georgia
state line.
Mac Whitaker, superintended
of transmission and distributior
for Nantahala Power and Lighl
Company, said the job shoulc
be finished within the next 1(
days.
The company is making everj
effort to minimize the incon
venience to customers in the
area, he said, and is keeping
lines "hot" as much as pos
sible.
When practical, work in the
morning will be done from 9 tc
11 and in the afternoon froir
1 to 4 o'clock, Mr. Whitakei
said. An effort will be made tc
ke?p power on between 11 and
1 daily, he added.
The change-over, which start
ed Wednesday of last week, in
volves moving 59 poles and re
stringing about five miles ol
wire, the superintendent ex
plained.
Three miles of the line is
12.000 volt line and the rest is
4.100 volt.
Teacher Honor
Goes To Smith
A Macon County student
Wiley H. Smith, has been nam
ed "Mr. Student Teacher" at
Western Carolina College.
Mr. Smith, who lives on Route
4. just recently was named tc
"Who's Who in American Col
leges and Universities" as one
of W. C. C.'s outstanding stu
dents.
Navigation Session
By Civil Air Group
A training session of the
Franklin squadron of Civil Air
Patrol is set for tonight
(Thursday i at the high school.
Navigation is to be taken up,
according to the training offic
er. 1st Lt. Frank Plyler Mem
bers are asked to bring a pro
tractor and ruler.
The session will begin promptly
at 7:30, he said.
Wood Under $2,099
Bond In Jail Here;
Hearing Is Held
A Nantahala woman Tuesday
afternoon was cleared of shoot
ing a friend of the family In
a Sunday afternoon struggle In
front of her husband's store.
At a preliminary hearing be
fore Justices of the Peace Sam
J. Murray and J. H. Long, Mrs.
Dorothy Passmore? on crutches
reportedly because of Injuries
received in the fracas ? had
the warrant charging her with
assault with a deadly weapon
withdrawn after events leading
up to the shooting were re
hashed.
But the man she shot with a
.38 pistol, James Theodore
Wood, is being held under $2,000
bond In the county jail on three
counts.
Wood was only slightly In
jured by the bullet, which of
' fleers report ricocheted off a
rib on his left side.
Arrested At Hoapitad
He was arrested at the An
drews hospital the night of the
shooting and was returned here
on a warrant charging drunk
en driving, which was drawn by
officers on information and
belief after witnesses reported
the Injured man drove his
automobile away from the
scene.
Wood also Is charged with as
sault In Sunday's incident and
with assault with intent to
commit rape. This latter war
rant was drawn by Mrs. Pass
more this week and, according
to Justice of the Peace Mur
ray, charges the alleged assault
took place July 15, 1955.
At Tuesday's hearing, Wood
waived all three charges to the
April term of Superior Court.
What Happened
Testimony offered by Mrs.
Passjnore and her husband,
Sam, gave this version of what
led to the shooting about 5:30:
Wood had been to the Pass
more store, which has living
quarters in the rear, several
times during the day. Mr. Pass
more said he "seemed to be
pretty drunk" in the afternoon
and started "picking at" Mrs.
Passmore's sister, Frances
Heath, who was visiting them.
Wood was using "vulgar langu
age" and he asked him to stop.
He and Wood went outside and
Wood decided to go back and
apologize. However, he again
started using profane language
and invited Mr. Passmore to
step outside and "talk this
over". Once outside. Mr. Pass
more testified that he was
knocked to the ground three
times by Wood. Hearing what
was taking place outside, Mrs.
Passmore said she got her hus
band's .38 pistol and went out
"to help my husband." When
she approached Wood, who was
standing over her husband, he
turned and asked her if she
"wanted some to?" Mrs. Pass
more said Wood grabbed her
and ripped her dress off. In the
scuffle she shot him. Mr Pass
more said the injured man said,
"Sam, she shot me." and got in
his automobile and drove off.
Soon after, Mrs. Passmore said
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 12
Utilities Commission Man
Heads Off Bus Change Here
An Investigator for the N. C.
Utilities Commission has head
ed off a proposed schedule
change by Queen City Coaches
which would have dropped
Franklin's morning bus to Ashe
ville.
District Inspector D. D. Dav
is, of Webster, yesterday (Wed
nesday) said in a telephone in
terview he has recommended to
the commission that the sched
ule remain as it is now.
Had the proposed change
gone through (effective date
was Feb. 15), it would have
been impossible to ride the bus
to Asheville and return in the
same day. The company pro
posed to eliminate the 7:20 a.
m. bus, the most used of the
three going to Asheville dally.
This is the bus which arrives
each evening from Asheville at
6:30 and stays over night, leav
ing at 7:20 the next morning.
The other two busses out of
Franklin east are at 1:10 p. m.
and 10:15 p. m. If the 7:20 had
been eliminated, customers go
ing to Asheville would have
had to stay overnight, and re
turn here at 10:05 a. m. or 1:15
p. m.
Mr. Davis said all stations
have been notified to disregard
the proposed change.
Concerning the schedule
change, he said the state com
mission had written him to in
vestigate and see if it was prac
tical. A visit by Mr. Davis here
Wednesday of last week turned
up mounting protests, by in
dividuals and The Franklin
Press, which had a front page
editorial already in type oppos
ing the change. The editorial
was "pulled" at the last min
ute when Mr. Davis notified
the newspaper that he was in
vestigating the matter and that
the change would not be made
until a public hearing was held.
The investigator said yester
day he felt his recommenda
tion that the change not be
made would meet with the ap
proval of the commission.
He said, also, be had heard
the bus company is planning to
improve service here by the
first of the month with a new
schedule between Asheville and
Knoxville.
Roy Isley Takes Assistant
Agent Position In County
Roy W. Isley, a native of Car
ter County, Tenn., has joined
the staff of the Farm and Home
Development Program In this
county as an assistant agent.
He succeeds Robert P. McNeill,
who resigned to accept an agri
cultural post in Mitchell County
in December.
A graduate of the University
of Tennessee, College of Agri
culture, Mr. Isley has been serv
ing since last July as the as
sistant T. V. A. agent for Ma
con, Jackson. Swain, Graham,
Cherokee, and Clay counties.
For six months prior to that he
was assistant farm agent of
Swain County.
He also has been vocational
agriculture and veterans' teach
er in Anderson County. Tenn.,
and served with the experiment
station at the University of
Tennessee.
Mr. Isley is a veteran of
World War II and was recalled
to active duty during the Ko
rean War.
He is married and has a small
- ? Pren stuff Photo
Mr. Isley
daughter. He plans to move his
family here at an early date.
Newspaper And Jaycees Plan
Essay Contest For Students
What opportunities are there
in Macon County for its young
people?
At one time, many people felt
there were almost no opportun
ities here for youth. Was tjiat
true?
And if it was true at one
time, is it still true?
Are there fewer economic op
portunities here than else
where, keeping in mind that in
a city, where there are many
jobs there also are many per
sons wanting those jobs?
What about other opportun
ities ? social, religious, etc?
If there are opportunities
here, what are they?
High school students through
out Macon County this week
111! II II II III ? I HI I KW
were invited to discuss these
and similar questions.
Three prizes are offered for
the best essays on the subject,
"Macon County ? My Home,
My Future":
First prize, a gold medal and
$25 in cash.
Second prize, a $25 U. S. bond.
Third prize, $10 in cash.
The project is sponsored jointly
by The Franklin Press and the
Franklin Jaycees.
The three winning entries
will be published in The Press,
and as many others as seem
deserving of publication.
The newspaper and the Jay
cees explained that it long has
been a habit here to "low rate"
s-r- vn - PAGE 12
? ? mammm t;wmm ?< >
AN ESTIMATED 300 Cubs, Boy Scouts, and Explorers and their parents and leaders in the
Smoky Mountain District met Friday ni|(ht for a district-wide covered dish supper in the Frank
lin Hj*h cafeteria. Leaders present included (L to K) Ben Edwards, of East l.aport, Ned Hawk, of
Sylva, an Explorer advisor, and Bill Garrison, of Franklin. Svlva Explorers had charge of the pro
err.m.
Store Profits And Benefits
Raise $44,802.03 For Schools
PRAYER DAY
SERVICE SET
Franklin Will Join
Rest Of World With
Rite Friday Night
Franklin's annual observance
of "World Day of Prayer" will
be held at the Methodist
church tomorrow (Friday) eve
ning at 7:30.
As a reminder of the religious
significance of the day, the
church chimes will play at
noon.
The Rev. S. B. Moss, Metho
dist pastor, and the Rev. J.
Bryan Hatchett, Presbyterian
pastor, have charge of the eve
ning prayer service.
The purpose of this interna
tional project is to unite Chris
tians in a bond of prayer and
to share in an offering for
Christian missions both here
and abroad.
Van Raalte
Gives Revised
Work Set-Up
Van Raalte has announced a
work schedule change at Its
Franklin plant, which has been
saddled with unexplained cut
backs in recent weeks.
A 30 per cent work increase
in 60-gauge is now in effect,
but 51 -gauge work is still on an
every-other-week basis.
An estimated 70 persons in
60-gauge are now working four
day weeks, every week. Until the
new schedule, they had worked
every other week.
About 70 persons in 51
gauge are working 40 hours
every other week.
No explanation has been of
fered for the cutbacks at the
plant.
Tag Onslaught
Hits Office
With sales already running
ahead of last year, the Frank
lin branch office of Carolina
Motor Club was braced yester
day (Wednesday) for the final
onslaught of motorists hurrying
to squeeze under the wire of
the midnight automobile license
deadline.
A long line had formed by
noon and with two, and some
times three, handing out tags,
it seemed to be growing longer.
Through Tuesday afternoon,
the C. M. C.' office had sold
nearly 300 more than last year
for the same period: 4.973 as
against 4,142. Verlon Swafford,
manager, attributed the in
crease to the opening of the
US 23-441 link into Jackson
?County. With the highway open,
more from that area are buy- :
ing tags here, he explained.
A breakdown of the total
gives these sales ? automobiles,
3,199: motorcycle. 7: truck. 1,- ;
517: farm truck, 147; trailers,
103.
ARE ON \V KOI, I.
Misses Jacqueline Clark and i
Frances Alexander made the "A"
honor roll at Franklin High for
the last grading perlori. Through ]
an error at the high school they
were listed as being on tin AB" ;
honor roll . i
Tourney Play
Is Under Way ,
The sport spotlight shines ]
this week on Smoky Mountain 1
Conference tournament basket
ball play in Highlands and '
Robblnsville as 15 high schools 1
eye the championships.
Boys' play got under way yes
terday (Wednesday) In the i
Highlands High gymnasium. '
The Robblnsville gym today la 1
echoing beginning play in the
girls' tournament. Franklin's \
lassies will meet Murphy at 2 i
o'clock; Highlands plays Rob
binsvllle at 6:30; and Nanta- 1
hala takes on Cullowhee at 8. i
The winners of the opening
games will meet Saturday. The
semi-finals are set for Wed
nesday and the finals for Fri
day night.
Boys' play is scheduled for to
morrow (Friday), with the
semi-finals next Thursday, and '
the finals Saturday. In play
yesterday. Franklin met An
drews, Highlands took on Hay
esvllle, and Nantahala clashed
with Olenvllle. No scores were
available at presstlme.
Up to the semi-finals, ad- .
mission is 50 cents for students
and 75 for adults. Prices for 1
the semi-finals and finals will
advance to 75 cents and $1.
Vote Board
Renominated ?
The Democratic Executive :
Committee here has recom- ,
mended the present party elec- '
tions board for reappointment. '
On the elections board are J.
Lee Barnard, chairman, Fred S.
Moore, and Walter Bryson, al
ternate.
In session Wednesday of last j
week, the executive committee
nominated these men again.
Their appointments must be '
confirmed, however, by the
state elections board, according 1
to the executive committee J
chairman. Frank I. Murray.
Plans for a general party '
rally also came on the com- <
mittee's agenda, the chaiiynan !
reported, and details are to be '
announced later.
Heart Drive <
To Be Staged l
A one-day campaign is plan
ned this year for the Heart c
Fund, according to Bob Car- (
penter and Neil Finger, co- 1
chairman of the drive. 5
Donations are to be received v
on "Heart Sunday", February s
26, at which time volunteer
workers will canvass the coun- c
tv door-to-door, the chairmen e
explained.
Campaign kits are now being xi
distributed to the schools and i
heart-shaped coin collectors are s
bring placed in business estab
lishments. J
Norman B Smith has been ]
appointed chairman of the cam
paign in the schools.
CIRCLES ARE INVITED
Members of afternoon circles ci
>f Macon County Presbyterian t
?hurdles ar? invited to attend
;i Presbyterian meeting in Ashe- s
ville March 6. Miss Alice Slagle. 0
local chairman, has been noti- r
ied. The meeting will be held t
it the First Church in Asheville t
it 6 p. m. 6
Little League Ball League
Organized In Franklin Area
Little League Baseball was
organized here Tuesday night
with the aid of Jack Justice,
state Little League director.
Meeting at the Nantahala
Power and Light Company
building. interested citizens
elected this slate of officers to
pave the way for league play
this summer:
Bob Carpenter, president;
Howard Barnwell, vice-presi
rient; Don Graham, secretary;
and Fred Vaughn, treasurer.
Two concerns ? Nantahala
Power and Macon County Sup
ply ? already have committed
themselves as sponsors of two
of the four teams in the local
league, according to Mr Car
penter. Several others have in- \
cheated they are interested in 1
sponsorship, he said. f
Each team will have 15 play- S
ers. League play will bo confin- ?
ed to Franklin and the sur- J
rounding area 1
Mr. Justice, of Canton, ex
plained the Little League pro
gram. which, is a national proj
ect. He particutarlly stressed \
the idea of emphasizing build- 1
ing of character among the F
team members rather than S
winning games Winning is im- S
portant. he said, but is not a A
"have to". 1
Figure* Compiled By
McSwain Cover School
Year 1953-54 Account
School-operated stores and
school and P. T. A. benefits
:hanneled a gross of $44,802.03
into the school system during
1953-54, according to figures
:ompiled by Supt. Holland Mc
Swain.
This money, he said, "came
right out of the pockets of par
ents" and had no connection
with the school system's budg
eted expenditures.
Schools used this "extra"
money to purchase non-budget
ed Items ranging from sweep
ing compound to Venetian
blinds and stage curtains, he
explained.
The superintendent Is now
compiling "non-budgeted" fig
ures of this nature for a three
year period at the request of a
P. T. A. -backed committee
studying how to make the
school system financially inde
pendent of assistance from
school store profits and bene
fits. It Is the aim of this com
mittee to completely separate
the system from outside financ
ing.
Mr. McSwain this week said
he will have a complete survey
ready by next week.
He emphasized that the >44,
502 03 gross for 1953-54 did not
Include regular student and
athletic fees.
Franklin Leads
Franklin School (high school
ind elementary i leads the 10
in the system for the year in
raising $17,903.55 through out
side aids. Operation of the
school store and sale of bottled
drinks brought in $16,708.62.
Benefits and other fund-raising
schemes came to $1,194.93.
Cullasaja led the elementary
schools with $4,226.91 ? $3,237.
D9 with its store.
Amounts raised by the others
ire as follows:
Cartoogechaye, $1,974.37;, Co
wee, $2,877.76; East Franklin,
53,168.94; Highlands (high
school and elementary i, $3,572.
f3: Iotla, $2,472.83. Nantahala
high school and elementary >,
S3, 156.29; Otto, $2,575.48; and
Jnion, $2,873.17.
Figures were not available for
Chapel School.
Groundhog Says
Spring s Coming
"Spring is just around the
orner," is the word from Brer
Sroundhog, who failed to see
lis shadow Tuesday < 14th ?
fountain Groundhog Day >
vhen checking his weather
heet.
It was cloudy when he popped
iut of his hole, but cleared lat
?r in the day.
Warming temperatures this
reek 'seemed to support the ani
ual's prediction for an early
pring.
inow Falls Sunday,
Jut Spring's Tryin'
A light snow fell over parts
if the county Sunday night,
ut at intervals there was evi
ence that Spring was trying
o get a foot in the door
Low temperatures mellowed
omewhat from the bitterness
t the recent cold snap They
anged from the mid-20's to
he 40's High readings during
he days were in the 50's and
O's.
The Weather
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FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
61 24
10
65 36
59 46
55 42 .51
52 25
55 25 .15
61 25 trace
COWEETA
Temperatures
Hhjh Low Rain
8 59 26 .17
64
55
57
50
54
61
38
29
44
26
23
27
1.23
.10
.04