Net raid
CIRCULATION
Last Week
2946 .
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JHaconian
Into the woman's keep
ing is committed the
destinies of the genera
tions to come after us.
?Theodore Roosevelt.
72nd Year ? No. 23
Franklin, N. C, Thursday, June 6, 1957
Price 10 Cents
Fourteen Pages
County Commissioners Increase Taxes 10 Cents For Schools
They've Got Something To Crow About
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? Pr*aa Htaft Pban
THE CHILDREN of the Harve Bryants in East Franklin really have something to crow
?>ut, They've got a pet crow named "Jim", who is about two and a half weeks old and
tame as a kitten. That's Edward Bryant, 9, appeasing "Jim's" lusty appetite wit,h some
-ground meat. "Jim" has his wings clipped to keep him from flying ? not away, but up on
the roof w.here he is unable to get down without same help.
Town Instituting Civil
Suit For Zoning Violation
The Town of Franklin is now
preparing a law suit against
an alleged violator of the
town's zoning ordinance.
In session Monday night, al
dermen authorized the town at
torney, R. S. Jones, and the
building inspector, A. C. Ty
singer, to institute a civil action
against Lee Tippett for operat
ing a rock crusher in a resi
dential area in violation of
zoning regulations. Mr. Tippett's
business is on Harrison Avenue,
near the town limits.
Mr. Jones said the town's
next step will be to have ,a
restraining order served on Mr.
Tippett to stop the operation
of the crusher.
Re-hire Employes
In other actions, toiyn offi
cials re-hired Water Supt. Her
man Childers, Fire Chief Ty
singer, who also serves as build
ing inspector,* the town at
torney, Mr. Jones, and the pres
ent members of the police de
partment, Chief C. D. Baird
and officers Nelson Ledford and
Homer Cochran. The town em
ployes are hired on a month
to-month basis. Town Clerk C.
O. Ramsey was re-hired at a
meeting week before last. A.
successor to Dr. H. T. Horsley,
who has asked to be relieved
of his duties as town doctor
because of his health, was not
named.
To Pay Bill
Aldermen voted to pay the
electric bill at the proposed
city park on West Main Street.
Lighting fixtures will be install
ed by Nantahala Power and
Light Company. Vance Rucker,
an official of the Northwest
Franklin Neighborhood Club,
which is promoting the park
project, presented the request
for town assistance on the
-electric bilL
Complaints Aired
Some complaints were aired
at the meeting by residents.
Frank B. Duncan, owner of The
Franklin, asked the town to
Waggin' His
Tail Behind . . .
This Is one of the dog
gone-dest tales!
A dog belonging to Mr. and
Mrs. Gordon Gibson, of Onlla
saja, disappeared last Jane 16.
Neither "hide nor hair" was
seen of him nntil last Thurs
day when he came ambling
back home ? Just about a year
late for supper.
take steps to correct .a street
light problem. He said the light
in front of his motel shines
in the windows and disturbs
sleepers. A committee composed
of A. G. Cagle, J. Frank Martin,
and H. H. Gnuse, Jr., was
named by Mayor W. C. Burrell
to investigate the complaint.
James (Jim) Hauser, Who
lives just off Harrison Avenue,
lodged a complaint about speed
ing in the area.
Aldermen amplified the
speeding problem in discussing
complaints from other sections
of town.
Policemen were told to take
the necessary steps to clajnp
down on speeders.
'Drag Race'
Is Reported
An illegal "drag race" was
held one night recently in the
straight stretch on US 64 near
Slagle's Dairy, according to
Highway Patrolman H. T> Fer
guson.
The officer this week said he
knows the identity of the two
drivers involved, but doesn't
have enough evidence to indict
them. He has been unable to
obtain statements from anyone
in the small crowd on hand to
watch the race, he explained.
Patrolman Ferguson said the
race was the first one to his
knowledge to be "organized" in
this county. The idea was
hatched in town, he declared,
and the crowd then drove into
the country to hold it.
Two late model automobiles
were used, he said.
AUTO CRASH
CLAIMS LIVES
OF MACONIANS
Mother And Child
Are Victims Of
Mishap In Georgia
Off to Florida by automobile
with his family at midnight
Sunday, a South Skeenah man
met disa?t3r at daybreak Mon
day. '
Two are dead.
Just after daylight, Porter 1
Thomas, driver of the car, ap
parently fell asleep at the
wheel near Madison, Ga., and
rammed a bridge abutment.
His' wife, Mrs. Ethel Mae Mof
fitt Thomas, 40, died in the
wreck.
Their daughter, Carole Eliza
beth Thomas, about three years
old, died 'Monday at 5 a. m. in
St. Mary's hospital, Athens, Ga.,
where all the occupants of the
car were admitted for treat
ment.
Critically injured were Mr.
Thomas, 43, and a daughter,
Kate, 6. Other Thomas chil
dren hospitalized were Ray, 10,
SEE NO. 2, PAGE 10
No Closing
Of Highway
During Job
US 23-441 from Franklin to
Dillsboro will stay open during
proposed paving operations, ac
cording to Resident Engineer
S. T. Usry.
However, motorists traveling
the section may experience
some short delays, he said.
The two-lane section will be
surfaced, one lane at a time,
the engineer explained, to per
mit traffic to continue using it.
While a date has not been
officially set, Mr. Usry said the
paving project probably will get
under way some time this
month.
Bids for the job were ap
proved last Thursday in Ra
leigh by the State Highway
Commission.
A $244,305.50 bid submitted by
Midstate Contractors, of Hick
ory, was low for the US 23-441
job, it also includes paving a
section of US 23-19-A from the
west city limit of Sylva east
to Scott's Creek bridge.
The engineer said 7.24 miles
of the project is in this coun
ty, from Franklin to Cowee Gap
at the Macon-Jackson county
line.
Teachers Honor Departing Superintendent And Wife
Teachers honored Supt. and Mrs. Holland Mc
Swain with a reception Friday night at East
Franklin School. Tl\c McSwains are leaving the
last of this month for Murphy, where Mr. McSwain
will be superintendent of the city school system.
? Pnm Staff Photo
Chatting with the McSwains is (rif*ht) W. G.
Crawford, the new president of the local unit of
the N. C. Education Association. Mr. McSwain was
presented a two-suiter suitcase, and Mrs. McSwain,
silver candlesticks. '
Tax Rate $1.50 Per Hundred Valuation;
County Agent's Staff Gets Pay Increase
Sweatman
Dies At 81
Was One Of First
Forest Service
Employes Here
Daniel Monroe Sweatman,
who was one of the first work
ers employed in the county by
the U. . S. Forest Service, died
in a Morganton hospital Thurs
day of last week. He was 81.
Mr. Sweatman had been ill
for three weeks.
He made his home in the
Dills Creek section of the Car
toogeohaye community, but was
a native of Jackson County. He
was born Nov. 29, 1875, son of
David and Mrs. Elizabeth Dills
Sweatman. On Oct. 30, 1899, he
married Miss Josie Johnson, of
Macon County, who survives.
Mr. Sweatman went to work
for the forest service during
World War I and remained
until the latter '20's. He was a
farmer most of his life.
Funeral services were held
Saturday at 11 a- m. at Car
toogechaye Baptist Church,
with the Rev. Andrew Cloer,
pastor, officiating, assisted by
the Rev. George Cloer and the
Rev. R. J. Goldston.' Pallbear
ers were Lyman Sweatman, W.
R. Waldroop, Jess Shope, Will
iam Barnard, Gilmer Setser,
and Slier Slagle.
Surviving, in addition to his
wife, are two sons, Brodle, of
Franklin, Route 1, and Wiley, of
Concrete, Wash.; two daughters,
Mrs. Fred Butterworth. of Mine
Run, Va., and Mrs. George E.
Anderson, of Route 1; a brother,
Sam, of Route 3; a sister, Mrs.
John Hall, of Franklin; seven
grandchildren; and three great
grandchildren.
Flame Azalea
Is Arriving
"The most beautiful stand
of flame azalea in Eastern
America" is starting to bloom
in the lower elevations near
YVayah Bald.
It is not expected to reach
its peak on the Bald itself
until mid-June or later, ac
cording to Wayah District
Ranger W. L. Nothstein.
For many years, Wayah's
colorful display of azalea and
mountain laurel has attract
ed thousands of visitors to
the area.
The hoard of county commissioners raised the tax
rate from $1.40 to ?1.?0 at its meeting Monday.
It specified the l'l-cent increase levy is to go to the
schools.
The commissioners also voted a 5 per cent pay
raise for the county's agricultural employes.
Schools Supt. -elect H. Bueck appeared before the
* * *
Bueck Requests
15 Cents More;
Gets Only 10
Supt. -elect H. Bueck got two
thirds of his- requested increase
for maintenance and operation
of Macon County schools next
year.
In his budget request, he
asked for a 15-cent tax Increase.
The Macon Board of County
Commissioners granted him 10
cents by upping the county
wide tax rate to $1.50.
In presenting his budget re
quest to the board of education,
prior to taking it across the
courthouse hall to the meeting
of the commissioners, Mr.
Bueck described it as "no lux
ury operation", but a minimum
for operating the schools dur
ing the school year 1957-58.
Had he been granted the re
quested 15 cents, it would have
raised the school system's share
OPENING DATES SET
August 28 has been tenta
tively set the opening date
for schools in Districts 1
Franklin and the surround
ing territory) and 2 (Nanta
liala). Highlands (District 3)
will open September 3.
of the tax levy to 53 cents and
would have brought in a total
of approximately $84,618, ac
cording to the budget request.
About 876,000
The granted 10 cents ? giving
the schools a total of 48 cents
of the tax levy? will bring in
approximately $76,000.
In 1956-57 tschool year just
ended i, a 38-cent levy for the
schools produced between $40.
000 and $45,000, according to
Supt. Holland McSwain.
Mr. Bueck says he will use
the extra money for mainten
ance of the schools and opera
tional expenses.
Nearly Doubled
In his request for 15 cents he
SEE NO. 4, PAGE 10
4? H Dress
Review Set
Macon's 4-H girls are pre
paring to hold their annual
dress review Tuesday afternoon
at Bast Franklin School.
More than 110 already have
registered lor the show, accord
ing to Mrs. Mabel Swan, as
sistant home agent in charge.
It will begin at 1:30.
The review will feature five
groups: aprons, night clothes,
play clothes, school clothes, and
best clothes.
Judges will be Mrs. Doris
Stephens, home economics
teacher of Rabun County (Oa.)
High School, Mrs. Sarah Selv
ert, home agent in Rabun
County, and Miss Eule Penland,
of Franklin, a former home
economics teacher.
An exhibit of doll clothes
made by 4-H members also will
be featured.
Decorations for the review are
being handled by members of
the Clark's Chapel club. Carson
and Cullasaja clubs are In
charge of refreshments and rec
reation, and Cartoogechaye
members will take care of regis
tration
Hospital Wing
Dedication
Is Postponed
After being scheduled for this
month, dedication of the new
$280,000 out-patient clinic1 wing
of Angel Hospital has been post
poned.
Some construction delays are
responsible for the postpone
ment, according to Dr. Edgar
Angel, medical director.
The dedication probably will
be held In September. However,
the hospital expects to be using
the new addition before then,
he said.
commissioners earlier in the day
and asked that the schools get
15 cents more. He suggested
taxes be raised 10 cents, and
that the other 5 cents come
from lowering the general
fund's portion of the $1.50 levy
from $1.02 to 97 cents.
Mr. Bueck told the commiss
ioners that more money is
needed for maintenance of
schools and for operational ex
penses. On the former he
poted:
"These buildings are occupied
by the most destructive force
this side of the atomic bomb?
the children of our indulgent
American parents."
Roane Moves
Commissioner John W. Roane
moved that the tax rate be set
at '$1.50. Commissioner Wiley
Brown questioned whether this
would give the superintendent
enough for the schools.
Chairman W. E. (Gene) Bald
win said more money was Ex
pected this year from intangi
ble taxes and that the county's
debt service fund would be five
cents lower than last year. Be
tween these, Mr. Baldwin said,
the schools should be able to get
whatever they need later in the
year.
Commissioner Brown then
seconded Mr. Roane's motion.
Raises Granted
County Agent T. H. Fagg pre
sented a request to the com
missioners for a 10 per cent
raise for his staff of eight
whose salaries are [raid in part
by the county. The commission
ers voted a 5 per cent raise
for Mr. Fagg and his staff*
effective July 1.
Total cost to the county will
be $400 a year, since the 5
per cent applies only to the
part the cotfnty pays.
A bill Is before the General
Assembly to give state workers
a raise, and, should it pass,
county agricultural workers will
receive additional pay hikes on
that portion of their salaries
paid' by the state.
Approve Bills
The commissioners approved
payment of the final bills on
the new jail addition and re
roofing the jail itself. The two
jobs cost about $2,200.
They approved the jailor's
monthly bill, which was $99.50
for May.
County Attorney R. S. Jones
was instructed to call Western
Carolina Telephone Company
about its 1954 unpaid county |
taxes. The taxes amount to
$1,438.72 on a Franklin town
ship evaluation of $102,766.
They had not been paid because
there was1 a question about the
evaluation, originally set down
for $132,000. The State Utilities
Commission lowered the figure
by some $30,000 and that is
what the telephone company
will pay on.
Mr. Jones reported to the
commissioners that "the com
pany will try to get a check
on the way in the next day or
two".
The Weather
The Week'i temperatures and rainfall Mow
are recorded In Franklin by Man son Stilea,
U. S. weather observer; in Highlands by
Tudor N. Hail and W. a Newton. TV A
observers; and at the Coweta Ifydrologic
Laboratory. Readings are for the 24-hour
period ending at S a.m. of the day listed.
FRANKLIN
Wed.,
May 29 74
Thursday 73
Friday 77
Saturday 80
Sunday ' 82
?Monday 82
Tuesday 83
Wednesday
HIGHLANDS
Wed., May 29 68
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wed., May 29
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
62
68
72
72
75
73
COWETA
71
68
76
79
78
81
81
53
57
50
53
60
59
63
63
52
52
46
49
50
57
61
60
52
56
48
51
56
57
60
63
.00
.21
.00
.00
.28
.00
.00
2.06
.60
.50
trace
trace
.00
.22
.21
4.88
.00
.07
.00
.00
.08
.00
trace
m