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71st Year ? No. 20
Franklin, N. C., Thursday, May 17, 1956
Twelve Pages
JESS SHOPE
GETS MACON
PARTY POST
Succeeds Murray
As Chairman Of
Democratic Group
In convention Saturday, coun
ty Democrats elected Jess Shope,
Cartoogechaye farmer, chair
man of the MaCon County
Democratic Executive Commit
tee.
The new chairman succeeds
Frank I. Murray, of Franklin.
Miss Lassie Kelly, of Frank
lin, was reelected vice-chair
man.
Several were designated as
delegates to the state conven
tion Saturday in Raleigh for the
county's quota of 25. Among
those planning to attend are
Judge George B. Patton, Miss
Kelly, John Long, Mr. Shope,
James M. (Jim) Raby, Clyde
West, Lake V. Shope, and J.
Harry Thomas.
Late News
and
Briefs
BOOKS HAVE CLOSED
Registration books for the
May 26 Democratic primary
closed Saturday in the 12 pre
cincts.
This coming Saturday (19th)
Is challenge day for the elec
tion.
? * ?
CLOSING TUESDAY
All county schools, with the
exception of Highlands, will
close Tuesday (22nd), accord
ing to Supt. Holland McSwain.
Highlands plans to close the
29th.
* * *
F. F. A. BANQUET HELD
More than 150 F. F. A. boys
and their fathers and guests
were on hand Tuesday night at
the vocational agricultural
building at Franklin High for
the annual father-son banquet.
Barbecue for the meal was
prepared by the boys.
At a program following the
meal, several events were stag
" ed, including a demonstration
by the chapter parliamentary
procedure team and a sheep
shearing contest.
COMMISSIONERS HERE
Members of the State Board
of Water Commissioners paid a
brief half-hour visit to Coweeta
Hydrologlcal Laboratory here
Monday as a step In surveying
the water problems of the state.
Jake Kovner, of the Cowee
staff, met with the commission
ers at Tapoca Lodge in Graham
County for a round-table dis
cussion earlier in the day. John
M. Archer, Jr., of Franklin, was
among those sitting in on this
discussion.
? * ?
SCOUTERS MEETING
Scouters of the Smoky Moun
tain Boy Scout District plan to
meet tomorrow (Friday) night
at 7 o'clock at Clark's Restau
rant between Franklin and
Dillsboro.
? * ?
HEADS AREA GROUP
Dr. G. R. McSween, of Frank
lin, is the new president of the
W. N. C. Chiropractors Society.
He was elected at the society's
annual meeting Monday night
in Asheville.
? * *
GET COLLEGE OFFICES
Two Franklin girls have been
named to offices of the Wom
an's House Government at
Western Carolina College.
Miss Julia Moody Is president
of the organization and MLss
Shirley Cloer is secretary-treas
urer.
? * *
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING
Neighborhood 3 (area be
tween lotla and US 64 west)
plans a covered dish supper
Saturday at 7:30 at Slagle Me
morial Building to set projects,
according to Sam Gibson, pro
gram chairman.
? ? ?
MORF. THAN 50 GOING
More than 50 from this coun
ty are expected to attend the
Brotherhood convention of Reg
ion 10 at the First Baptist
Church .May 25 in Murphy, ac
cording to W. K. Hooker, of
Franklin, president of the reg
ional organization.
Burlington Employe Drowns
Saturday In Tennessee Lake
A Burlington Industries em
ploye here drowned Saturday In
a freak boating mishap on
Watts Bar Lake near Harrlman,
Tenn.
The body of Ralph Strunk, 40,
head fixer on the third shift at
the Franklin plant, still had
not been recovered Tuesday.
Mr. Strunk and his family
were visiting relatives. He came
from the Harrlman hosiery
plant in January. The Strunks
lived in East Franklin.
According to reports received
here, Mr. Strunk and a com
panion were trying out his new
outboard motor on the lake.
While in a left turn, the boat
suddenly shifted directions and
pitched the two men into the
water. The boat continued to
circle on the lake for about an
hour before running aground.
Picked up by a boat, the pas
senger said the last time he saw
Mr. Strunk he was trying to
reach the circling boat after ex
plaining he was a poor swimmer
and could not make it to the
shore.
A veteran of World War II In
the Army Air Corps, Mr. Strunk
had been with Burlington at
Intervals since 1937.
He is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Sue Strunk, and three
children.
Lenoir Pastor To Preach
At Revival Series Here
Pastor of the First Methodist
Church in Lenoir, the Rev. Her
man F. Duncan, will be the
guest preacher for the annual
interdenominational revival se
ries next month at the Friend
ship Tabernacle in Franklin.
The popular series, which
draws hundreds nightly, is set
for June 17-22, according to
the Rev. S. B. Moss, local Meth
odist pastor, who is in charge
of arrangements this year un
der a rotation agreement among
the town churches.
A member of the W. N. C.
Methodist Conference since
1925, Mr. Duncan has served a
number of pastorates, Including
Horseshoe, Asheboro, and Con
cord. He also has served for six
years as superintendent of the
Greensboro district.
In announcing the acceptance
of the guest preacher, Mr. Moss
said additional plans for the
series are now being made and
will be announced later.
Mayor And Justice To Open
Little League Season Here
A toss of a ball from the
stands by the mayor of Frank
lin to a district official on the
mound for a pitch across home
plate are actions set up to of
ficially sound "play ball" in
Little League Baseball here
next week.
From his reserved seat in the
stands of the newly-built I4ttle
League field behind East Frank
lin School on Saturday, May 26,
Mayor W. C. Burrell will flip the
official baseball to Jack Justice,
of Canton, who will be waiting
on the mound. Then, as district
director of Little League, Mr.
Justice will fire a curve across
home plate and then retire to
the stands for the afternoon's
opening day double-header be
tween two of the four teams.
Plans For Day
Meanwhile, committees ap
pointed by the league-sponsor
ing American Legion are com
pleting plans for the opening,
SEE NO. 1, PAGE 12
Brown Is Two-Time Winner
Of Teen- Age Driver Event
Kenneth Brown, Franklin
High senior, for the second year
has won the "Teen- Age Road
e-o" here.
Staged Wednesday of last
week in Franklin, the driving
competition for teen-agers at
tracted 27 boys and girls. How
ever, 17 were eliminated
through written examinations
and only the top 10 competed
in actual driving tests.
Kenneth, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Wiley Brown, was local winner
last year and placed 10th in
state competition. Members of
the sponsoring Jaycees feel his
being a two-time winner will
greatly Increase his chances of
placing among the top In the
state finals In Greenville June
2-3. His expenses will be cover
ed by the Jaycees.
Second place was awarded to
Hugh Blaine. In the girls' com
petition, Miss Nancy Cable plac
ed first. Under the present set
up, girls do not enter the state
contest.
All three winners received
prizes donated by merchants.
Automobiles used in the driving
tests were loaned by the motor
companies.
Others in the driving compe
tition were Frank Nolen, Jud
son Hall, Frank Conley, Buddy
McClure, and Morris Jones, and
Misses Rachel Brown and Becky
Monteith.
Written tests for the "Teen
Age Road-e-o" were supervised
by Edwin T. Williams and Clay
ton Ramsey, driver training
teachers at Franklin High.
Driving tests were conducted
over a regulation course set up
on West Main Street.
Bud Taylor was chairman of
the project for the Jaycees and
Bob Moore served as co-chalr
man.
FINGER IS
ELECTED TO
JAYCEE JOB
Local Man Wins Post
As National Director
In Convention Election
C. Banks Finger, immediate
past president of the Franklin
Jaycees, this week-end was
elected a national director of
the U. 8. Junior Chamber of
Commerce.
Election of state, national,
and International officers from
North Carolina featured the an
nual convention of Jaycees in
Charlotte Thursday, Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday.
Mr. Finger and J. P. Brady,
outgoing state vice-president,
represented the Franklin club.
A local attorney and former
Jaycee state vice-president, Mr.
Finger's campaign In seeking
election centered on providing
better schools and teacher sal
aries in the state. The school
situation in the state has now
been adopted by the Jaycees as
a major project.
You Don't Have
To Dodge 'Elm
Don't dodge those new "No
U-Turn" signs in the middle of
Franklin's Main Street.
They're made of rubber and
can't be damaged when run over.
But, if you ignore their warn
ing, you'd better dodge the town
police. When the special signs
were ordered by the board of
aldermen, the officers were told
to enforce the traffic order to
relieve congestion downtown.
The signs have been installed
in front of Burrell Motor Com
pany and Conley Motor Com
pany, both favarites with U-turn
ing motorists because of service
station aprons in front.
Lions Broom Sale
Brings In $181
Opening their annual broom
sale Monday night, Franklin
Lions raised $181 under the
chairmanship of Lake V. Shope.
The sale Is still continuing.
Money raised through the
sale of the brooms, which are
made by blind workers, is ear
marked for the club's work with
the blind in this county.
Riverview Church
Sets Decoration
The Riverview Methodist Church
will hold its annual dinner and
decoration Sunday, May 26. The
church is located on the Bryson
City road (Franklin, Route 3).
The public is invited.
LADIES' NIGHT SET
The Methodist Men's Club
will observe "Ladles' Night" at
its meeting Tuesday evening,
May 22, at 7 o'clock at Cowee
School. The ladles of the Snow
Hill Methodist Church will serve
the dinner.
WINNERS OF the annual "Teen-Ape R?td-e-o", Miss Nancy Cable and Kenneth Brown
(center), are shown receiving their awards from Bob 'Moore (left) and Bud Taylor, co-chairman
of the event.
Franklin High Is Graduating |
109 At Exercises Monday l
One-hundred nine Franklin
High seniors are to be gradu
ated Monday afternoon at 3
o'clock at commencement ex
ercises In the high school gym
nasium.
The seniors will hear the Rev.
A. Rufus Morgan, Episcopal
minister, deliver the baccalau
reate sermon Sunday afternoon
at 3 o'clock. This also Is set for
the gymnasium. Dr. Morgan will
be assisted on the program by
the Rev. J. Bryan Hatchett, the
EXERCISES HELD
Nantahata High School
graduated 20 last (Wednes
day) night with L. B. Nichols,
of Andrews, delivering the
commencement address. The
class baccalaureate sermon
was delivered Sunday evening
by the Rev. Gordon Scruggs,
of Murphy. Miss Shelby Nel
son and Miss Wanda Sue
Gregory, were valedictorian
and salutatorian, respectively.
Macon's third high school,
Highlands, plans exercises on
June 1.
Rev. S. B. Moss, and the Rev.
M. W. Chapman. Music will be
under the direction of Mrs.
Henry W. Cabe and Mrs. Mar
garet Flanagan.
To Give Diplomas
Supt. Holland McSwain will
present diplomas to the gradu
ating seniors at Monday's com
mencement.
Miss Doris Teague will give
the valedictory address. A co
valedictorian, Tommy Gnuse,
will speak on "Progressive Era
at Franklin High School". The
salutatory address will be de
livered by Norman B. Smith.
To Make Awards
Principal Harry C. Corbin will
make the following awards:
Activities, Tommy Gnuse; Ag
riculture, John Tippett; Athlet
ics, Crawford Moore; Band, ;
Paulette Ward; Basketball,
Crawford Moore; Citizenship,
Monroe McClure ; Commercial,
Marvel Brendle; Dramatics, Bill
Mendenhall; Dramatics, Han
nah Gillespie; English, Doris
Teague; Football, Morris Jones; <
Home Economics, Laura Belle :
Long; Language, Beverly Stock- ]
ton; Mathematics, Tommy <
Gnuse; President, Mark Dow- <
die; Salutatorian, Norman
Smith; Science, Tommy Gnuse; <
Social Science, Norman Smith; i
Student Council, Bob Teague; 1
Valedictorian, Tommy Gnuse; :
Valedictorian, Doris Teague;
and Journalism, Tommy Gnuse.
Several numbers will be sung
by the newly-formed high
school chorus, under the direc
tion of Mrs. J. A. Flanagan.
I Honor Students
Listed as honor students
imong the graduates are Wil
iur Cabe, Nancy Cable, Hannah
lillespie, Monroe McClure, Mar
jorie Moody, Crawford Moore,
Jerry Norton, Ruth Snyder,
Beverly Stockton, and Emma
Watson.
Class mascots are Gall Prof
fitt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Wayne Profitt, and Mac Brog
den, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Brogden.
Mrs. Cabe and Mrs. Flanagan
also are in charge of music for
the commencement.
Junior marshals, chosen for
scholastic standing, who will as
sist at commencement are Paul
ine Angel, Launa Baker, Mil
dred Burch, Patricia Cloer,
Mysa Crawford, Patricia Little
ton, Hazel McCall, Ruth Norton,
Jean Phillips, Joan Thomas, and
Jim Tysinger.
Franklin F. F. A. Members
Win In District Contests
Members of the Franklin
chapter of Future Farmers of
America extended their long
winning streak Saturday in dis
trict competition.
In livestock judging competi
tion, the local team copped
first place, while the dairy
team tied for first with Mur
phy. Second place also went to
Franklin in the parliamentary
procedure event.
?Contests between chapters
from W. N. C. featured the an
nual area rally In Asheville.
Clark Sheffield, Bruce Hous
ton, and Joe Taylor made up
the top place livestock team. On
the dairy judging team were
Buddy McClure, Mark Dowdle,
and Bill McCall.
Wayne Proffitt, vocational ag
ricultural teacher at Franklin
High is advisor for both teams.
Winning awards is nothing
new to the local chapter. Last
year it was the top one in the
state.
Legion Auxiliary Selects
Delegates To Girls' State
Two rising seniors at Frank
lin High School have been se
lected to represent Macon Coun
ty at the annual Girl's State
in June.
They are Misses Ruth Norton
and Edith Christy, who were
selected by a high school faculty
and American Legion Auxiliary
committee. The auxiliary is
their sponsor.
Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.
B. Norton,/ of Franklin, Route
2, Ruth has a scholastic stand
ing of "A" for her three years
in high school and is corre
sponding secretary of the Beta,
Club for 1956-57. She also is
historian of the Future Teach
ers Club, a junior marshal, and
an active worker in M. Y. P. of
the Asbury Methodist Church.
Edith, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. T. H. Christy, for three
years has maintained a "B"
scholastic average. She is vice
president of the Beta Club, is
a member of the Language
Club, is active in the M. Y. F.
of the Franklin church, and is
president of the senior Girl
Scouts.
Mrs. E. G. Crawford is chair
man of the Girl's State commit
tee for the local auxiliary. '
The event will be held on the
campus of Woman's College,
University of North Carolina, j
Greensboro.
Presbyterian Pastor Takes
Call To Church In Georgia
The Rev. J. Bryan Hatchett,
pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church here for the past three
years, has accepted a call to a
church in the Athens (Ga.)
Presbytery.
At a congregational meeting
Sunday, he revealed plans for
taking the pastorate of the
First Presbyterian Church In
Commerce. He and his family
will leave the last of the month.
A pulpit committee will be
appointed by the church to find
a new pastor.
Boys Injured In Bicycle
Wreck With Car Released
Two Cartoogechaye boys in
jured Sunday in a bicycle-car
collision have been released
from Angel Hospital.
Wiley Anderson, 17, driver of
the bicycle, and Walter Lewis,
also 17. who was "riding dou
ble", struck a car operated by
Robert Webb, Jr., at the inter
section of Dills Creek and Pop
lar Cove roads. Mr. Webb, of
Route 1, was not held follow
ing an investigation by Sheriff
J. Harry Thomas.
The boys are reported as say
ing the brakes failed on the bi
rycle. It hit the right front of
the Webb car, causing $50 dam
age.
Wiley, who received cuts and ,
bruises, was released from the j
hospital Monday. Walter got a j
slight concussion. He was re- ?
leased yesterday (Wednesday!. '
HIGHWAY
BARRICADES
ARE DOWN
Traffic Again Flows
Across Cowee Gap As
Crews Push Repairs
Detour barricades and signs
:ame down Saturday on US
23-441 between Franklin and
Dlllsboro and east-west traffic
once again is streaming across
Cowee Gap.
Closed May 1 for repairs
caused by a landslide near the
?ap, the damaged section has
been relocated by highway
maintenance forces and the
roadbed gravelled, but not pav
ed. About 200 yards of the
highway dropped Into the val
ley when the earth moved under
a large fill in late April.
Resident Highway Engineer S.
T. Usry this week said the re
paired section will be allowed
to "settle" before being paved.
Work Is Moving
Meanwhile, preliminary work
on the new US 23-441 project
from Franklin south to the
Georgia state line is moving
along, the engineer reported.
About 30 per cent of the
structure work (culverts
bridges) is now out of the way
and about 35 per cent of the
house moving, Mr. Usry explain
ed. The house moving calls for
either razing or removing 15
units from the highway right
of-way. Ten structures ? one
bridge and nine culverts ? are
listed along the 12.46-mile
project.
?When grading gets under way
later in the year, it will entail
moving about 800,000 yards of
dirt, according to the engineer.
Editorial Query
Explained . . .
In this issue of The Press
appear :
la) An editorial I A Question
For Three! , calling on the can
didates for representatives to
state, before the Democratic pri
mary May 26, whether they will
or not appoint to the county
board of education those nom
inated in the primary.
(b) Political advertisements
in which two of the candidates
state their position on that
issue.
As a matter of keeping the
record straight, it should be
said that the editorial was
written, set in type, and printed
without prior knowledge that
any candidate would even pub
lish an advertisement. Futher
more, the two ads were prepared
by the candidates without prior
knowledge that the editorial had
been written.
In keeping with its custom of
many years, to publish no politi
cal advertising In the last issue
before an election, next week's
issue will contain no such ads.
The news columns of next week's
paper, though, will be open to
any or all of the candidates for
representative to answer the
question the editorial asks. The
deadline for such statements is
Tuesday noon.
Music Program
Mrs. Margaret Cooper and Mrs.
Bryan Hatchett will be hostesses
to the Franklin Music Study Club
next Thursday. May 24, at 8'clock
p. m? at the home of the former.
Mrs. Grover Schafer. program
leader for May. will present a pro
gram on Russian music.
The Weather
The week's temperatures and rainfall, as
Incorded in Franklin by Maneon Stiles,
U. S. Weather observer; in Highlands by
Tudor N. Hall and W. C. Newton. TV A
observer; aVul at the Coweta Hydrologric
Laboratory.
FRANKLIN
Temperatures
High Low Rain
Wed.. May 9 69 40 _
Thursday 85 39 ?
Friday 85 48 ?
Saturday 87 48 ?
Sunday 89 49 ?
Monday 90 59 ?
Tuesday 85 56 ?
HIGHLANDS
Thurs.. May 10 74 39 _
Friday 77 42 _
Saturday 79 53 _
Monday 83 59 ? .
Tuesday 78 54 trace
Wednesday 49 ?
COWEETA
Wed.. May 9 67 40 _
Thursday 82 38 _
Friday 83 44 ? .
Saturday 86 48
Sunday 87 49
Monday 88 56
Tuesday 83 55 trace
Wednesday ? 54 _