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3060
Average for February 196*
l&tablan^jg JHaconiatt
ON THE INSIDE
Staff correspondents of THE
PRESS keep the Inside pages
of this newspaper alive with
news about your friends and
neighbors Read the inside
pages from top to bottom and
you'll know Macon County.
75th Year ? No. 11
Franklin, N. C., Thursday, March 17, 1960
Price 10 Cents
Twelve Pages
AilWPpt
Vx*e<'
FRITCHARD SMITH, former
highway patrolman here, has been
promoted to sergeant under the
reorganization of the State High
way Patrol to include a new Troop
C. His duty station remains the
same, Waynesville.
THE 4IST family from Curacao,
West Indies, to visit Wayah Val
ley since 1948 has been enjoying
the snow. Mr. and Mrs. H. Went
and two children are at Wayah
Valley Ranch. Mr. Went is an
official of the Dutch Shell Oil
Company. This was the first snow
they'd seen since visiting in Hol
land several years ago.
ED HEALV braving the zero
cold of Cowee Bald in a sports
jacket and low shoes is about like
Admiral Byrd going to the Pole
in his underwear.
VEllLON SWAFFORD says he'll
have a whole truck load of chains ?
ready just as soon as the roads
are cleared and they can get
through from Baltimore. Oh well,
he can sell em next year!
CARLTON W. Elkins, program
director of radio station WMSJ in
Sylva, has resigned to enter the
ministry as minister of the Church
of Christ in Bryson City. Local
listeners wish "pops" good luck
AFTER A few days of grace be
cause of the snow and ice, park
ing tickets started pepping up
again in town. A lot of folks were
so used to free-loading they for
got Ho put money in the meters.
THE WEATHER sure has been
rough on asphalt pavement a
round here. Some ho'.es are de
veloping in the stieets that will
soon be able to accommodate
small heifers and foreig.i autos.
FILLING STATIONS are adding
a good bit of water to the run-off
of melting snow. Most operators :
keep hoses going during the day '
to clear muc from the station
aprons.
HOW MANY of you optimi;tu i
motorists had your car washed
Monday and then shuddered ^hat .
night when the snow started pour- ,
ing out of the sky again? Keep ?
trying, spring has to arrive before ]
long.
IT IS HARD to decide which is
more trying to the soul, snow or 1
the mud that comes later.
HAD ONE of those drips from
an awning drop down your coat
collar? Chilly, ain't it?
GETS CONTRACT
A local firm, W. A. Hays Block
Company, has been awarded a
$32,200 contract for water and
sewer improvements in Salisbury,
it has been announced.
WITHOUT CARRINGER -
Symphony Concerts
Slated Saturday
After being snowed out
Wednesday of last week, the
North Carolina Little Symphony
has rescheduled an appearance
for this coming Saturday,
March 19.
However, the orchestra will be
without tenor soloist Walter Car
ringer, who has returned to New
Yo k City to meet prior com
mitments, according to Mrs. H.
Rueck, president of the local
chapter of the N. C. Symphony
Society.
A children's concert is set for
10:30 a.m. and (he adult concert
will be at 8 p.m. Both will be
held in the Franklin High gym
nasium.
Last week's snow storm forced
the orchestra to postpone a
number of concerts in Western
North Carolina.
PLESS TO PRESIDE ?
Superior Court Jurymen
Drawn For April Term
Jurymen to serve during the (
April term of Superior Court in 1
Macon County have been drawn. 1
The two-week mixed term is
scheduled to open April 18 with
J. Will Pless, of Marion,' resident
judge of the 29th Judicial District,
presiding.
Tapped for duty the first week
are the first 36 drawn. They are
Lawrence Long, of Franklin; Oran
Ray, Route 3; Doyle Dalrymple,
Route 1 ; Albert Ramsey, Route 3 :
C. E. Brogden, Route 4; Claude
Roper, Route 4; Walter Hopkins,
Route 2; Ray Henry, Route 2;
Robert W. Rice, Highlands; Paul 1
Ashe, Route 3; W. T. Jenkins,
Franklin; Claude Allen, Route 3; ;
Carl Carpenter, Route 1; Fred
Henson, Otto; John W. Teague,
Route 2; Furman Arvey, Route 4;
H. M. Pitts, Dillard, Ga., Route
1; George T. Stiles, Route 2;
4-H Clubbers
Will Try Again
Quitting just isn't in the vo
cabulary of Macon 4-H clubbers.
After two postponements be
cause of the weather, they're still
determined to hold their annual
talent show and have rescheduled
It ' for March 25, same time (3|
?m.>, same place (East Franklin
School).
First slated for the 4th, the
show was postponed because of
snow and was reset for the 11th.
Weather forced another postpone
ment, but the more than 100 per
formers are determined that "the
show must go on", weather per
mitting, of course.
Dr. Kahn 'Goes Navy'
For Reserve Duty
Dr. J. W. Kahn, a U.S. Air Force
reservist, has "gone Navy" for his
annual two-week tour of active
duty.
He left Saturday for duty at
the U.S. Navy Medical School at
Bethtsda, Md? and expects to be
jack in Franklin on March 29.
Seorge Bryson, Route 5; Johr
2ogan, Franklin, Cecil Parke
Route 1; Ralph Justice, Route 2
Harold Speed, Route 4;. Jirr
Thompson, Route 4; Clay Comp
ton, R;ute 2; Edward Sheffield,
Route 4; Paul Holbrooks, Route
4: Carl Crisp, Route 5; Charlie
Bowers, Route 5; Earl Cabe, Route
1; George R. Pattillo, Route 4;
Dan Reynolds, Route 1 ; Charles 1
W. Cabe, Route 2; Frank Mar
tin, Franklin; John Smith, Route
4; and Ervin Dowdle, Route 2.
Picked for service the second
week are Frank Dills. Route 5;
Fred Slagle. Route 1 : Verlon Swaf
ford, Route 3; Kcll Lecford, Route
5; Carson Gibson, Route 4; Cecil
Brown, Dillard, Ga? Route 1;
Lewis Vanhook, Route 2; George
W. Ray, Route 2: Grover Arvey,
Route 4; Steve McConneU, Route
5; J. D. Dowdle, Route 2; Fred
Fox, Route 5; Fred Bryson, Jr ,
Route 5; M. W. Beck, Route 1
John B. Snyder, Jr., Route 4,
Cecil Holland. Route 5; Llcyd Wal
droop, P.oi'te 1; and Lawtoi.
Keener, Highlands.
Grand jurymen will be picker
from the first week jurors on the
opening day, of court.
FAMILY GOING TO TURKEY
Mrs. Edward Bowers and her children, Virginia, 12, and
Charles, 2, are leaving Friday for a trip by airplane to Adana,
Turkey, to Join S/Sgt. Bowers, who is stationed with the U. S.
Air Force there. They will fly from Greenville, S. C., by com
mercial airliner to McGuire Air Force Base, N. J., where they will
board a military plane for the flight to Turkey. They will be
overseas two years. (Staff Photo)
TO MAKE UP TIME -
^atu day Classes
i
School Supt. H. Bueck this we-k
announced a schedule of Saturday
Masses in District 1 and an ex
tension of the school term ta
make up cays lost this winter b
jaus. of the writhe .
He previou 1- had announced
ha', Easter hnl ays ?two day:
Friday and oaciy' will be ui ?
celled ar.d used for make-up
classes. .
Supt. Bueck said the regular
term will be extended five <Says,
to May 31.
Saturday classes will be held
March 19, April 2, 9, and 23, and
May 7 and 14 in District 1.
Highlands will observe a six-day
schedule until schools close, the
superintendent said, to make up
last time. Nantahala probably will
do the same, he said, although
he >;ac not heard from that
school.
? Businessmen Are Optimistic ?
Weather Hurts Business In Franklin
In a spot check of how the
wintry weather has affected the
economic scene in Franklin, most
merchants estimate that business
is oft from 25 to 50 per cent, but
nearly all voice optimism for a
sharp upswing as soon as the
weather breaks.
One immediate effect" of the
snows was the clamor for tire
chains all over town. Filling sta
tions and other places selling
chains sold out quickly at first,
but kept getting a few new sets
from suppliers; these didn't col
lect any dust, however.
New sets are arriving from
wholesalers every day at various
. ru . ? salts
ot.
i:)' it
'.si ? a . ; .eJ-.itely
oii Mo a of t'uo week
? ' c.. the sa.. ?o.i. brightly be
? '.'"p-opT who lWt off the
j'lii n loads n;. going to have
t bl3 traveling them when this
; w thaws and turns to mud."
Another man said, "Not only the
dirt roacs, even the gravel ones
a:e bad now, but they're really
going to be a mess when this ail
thaws."
Fuel dealers reported that heat
ng fuel sold at a fast clip dur
ing the snowy period, but a prob
lem- arose as? to? how to get to
many people's houses.
One dealer said, "My trucks
wore out chains about as fast as
we could put 'em on."
A Standstill
Motels and cafes reported that
business Was at a virtual stand
still as far as tourists and
travelers were concerned.
One motel operator told "We
are usually two thirds full every
night by this time of year. The
weather reports which go all over
the eastern seabo- rt telling about
the heavy snows here in the
Smoky Mountains have kept any
one from trying to come Uirougfi
"This route 441 is usually crowd
ed with people going and coming
from Florida, but they are stay
ing clear of these mountains as
long as the bad snow reports keep >
up.
"Most years, many vacationers
are returning from Florida by '
now and we keep many of them, |
but I guess it's just too bad for
them to come back north this .
year."
A restaurant manager said, "We j
SEE NO. 1. PAOE 12
OF FRANKLIN CHAMBER -
State Official To Speak
At Membership Banquet
Baseball
Leagues
Call Meet
A joint organizational meeting
for the '60 season of the Little
League and Babe Ruth baseball
;roups has been called for Tues
day night at 7:30 at East Franklin
School. I
Some extensive planning Is on
lap, according to officials of both
baseball leagues, including the
election of officers. ?
Fred Vaughn is president of
Little League, while Melvin iPcte)
Penland heads Babe Ruth.
All persons interested in the
continuation of the summer base
ball program for boys are urged
to attend the session and help
with the planning.
Financing
Company
Organized
A new business. Macon Discount
Company, has been organized In
Franklin for the purpose of
financing automobiles, furniture,
and appliances.
Its office is in the same build
ing with Wayah Insurance
Agency, next to Macon Theatre,
and Morgan Shatley, secretary. Is
in charge.
In addition to Mr. Shatley,
members of the board of directors
are W. C. Burrell, Woodrow Dow
dle, Clyde Dcwns, Henry W. Cabe,
J. C. Crisp, Verlon Swafford. and
Erwin Patton.
Mr. Mauney
Late News
and
Briefs
SLIDES THREATEN
Landslides, triggered by thawing
snow and existing problems of
land shifting in some of the dirt
fills, threaten to rip out portions 1
of US 23-441 between Franklin
and Cowce Gap at the Macon
Jackson county line.
Highway officials yesterday
(Wednesday) were keeping a con
stant watch on the danger areas
WINS GUANT
Miss Judy Blaine, Franklin High
student and daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Doyle W. Blaine, yeste;day
? Wednesday' was announced a;
a winner of a $2.!)00 ALCOA
scholarship.
She was one of several child rei
of Nantahala Power and Light
Company employes to apply to
a grant.
P.-T. A. Meeting
Postponed Until
Ready Comes Here
Franklin P.-T A. has postponed |
Its March meeting until March
28 when Dr. I E Ready, chairman
of the statewide curriculum study,
will be here to tell" what his com
mittee is doing.
Mrs. H. Bueck program chat j
man, has extended an invitation \
to all P.-T A.'s in the county to at- !
tend.
A question-answer session I
planned for Dr. Re.ir'y
An official of the N.C. Depart
ment of Conservation and De
velopment, Richard P. Mauney.
will be the guest speaker here
tomorrow (Friday) night at the
annual membership banquet of
the Franklin Chamber of Com
merce.
Slated for 7 o'clock in the
cafeteria at Franklin High, the
occasion will mark the 20th an
nnd the new president, W. W.
Reeves, will outline a chamber
program for 1960.
Murphy Native
Mr. Mauney, who is a native
of Murphy and an attorney, is
encaged in industrial promotion
work for the state as a develop
ment engineer with the Depart
nual meeting of the organization
ment of Conservation and De
velopment. He will be introduced
by Macon School Supt. H. Bueck,
who is president of the W.N.C.
Associated Communities, an or
ganization devoted to promoting
the western portion of the state.
While in Franklin. Mr. Mauney
and his mother. Mrs. Kate
Mauney, of Hayesville, will be the
guests of School Supt. and Mrs.
H. Bueck.
A welcome and review of past
activities will be presented by J.
C. Jacobs, last year's chamber
president, and guests will be In
troduced by B L. McGlamery,
director.
it i H
Budget Approval
T. Y. Angell, vice-president, will
present a '60 operating budget to
the membership for approval. It
I
The Weather
Wed.. 9th
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Uuncay
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
FRANKLIN
37
49
41
35
43
48
41
no record
Wed. 9th
Thuisday
l'Vlday ?
Saturday
?Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
21
17
28
.07
.67
.12
24 trace
10 .00
.00
.05
.63
10
30
33
COWETA
41
31
_ _43
35
35
45
47
38
20.
15
27
23
.45
.20
22 trace
11 .00
.00
.11
.92
12
30
32
HIGHLANDS
High
Wed., Eth
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesc ay
Wednesday
26
42
39
38
48
40
33
I/OW Rain
14
22
21
20
4
8 I
27
26
Macon Digs Out From Under Heavy Blanket Of Snow, Snow, And More Snow - Now Must Fight Thaw And Mud
ii? iiimii? imimirnri ----- - - -h--- ?mm, ia ? ? ?- iTTT "^Tl" "Ti Hi ill ' i jm -m - ft 11 ~
EVERYONE IS THINKING about the weather. And for a Rood s
rmson. The weather is the only thing that has been active for
the past several days. Since Wednesday of last week, Macon s
County has dug out from under a snow that ranged from about in
night inches in Franklin to a couple of feet or more in the r
higher derations; went through a quick melting session Thurs
day: braved another small snow storm early Friday; shivered J
and shook and perspired, alternately, over the week end as the c
mercury jockeyed for a level; resigned themselves to about an- I
other inch or so of snow Monday night; aiwf then breathed a
sigh of relief whan rain started falling late Tuesday night. All I
are In agreement on one point; This has been the durndest I
pell of weather in many, many years.
In the photograph above, at left, Jimmy Shuford measures
even inches of snow on top of an automobile in Franklin about
toon. The snow storm abated shortly before 2 , o'clock, leaving
nore than eight inches in town.
Wednesday's storm, coupled with afternoon closing, found
Kain Street in Franklin resembling a ghost town. Only a few
?in were in sight and the street was covered under a heavy
ila .Ket of snow.
Traveling, was practically at a standstill during the heavy snow,
>ut a few ingenious people, like yomng Charles Clouse fat right),
ounrf ways to get about. Charles, who works for THE PRESS
on press day, used a small garden tractor pulling a trailer with '
seats to get to work. It took him more than an hour to travel
from his home in the Watauga section to town. He later used <
the tractor to plow snow from the sidewalks In the business i
area.
By mid-afterneon, snow plows and road scrapers had the
highways open, but rural roads could only he traveled with
chains.
Warming temperatures Thursday, under clear, sunny skies,
saw a fast melting rate and run-off. This turned most rural
roads into muddy bogs almost as difficult to travel as they were
a hen piled high with snow.
True to forecasts, .more snow came in the early morning hours
of Friday. Koads were treacherous with ice and most vehicles
moved with chains.
Monday night, snow started falling again about 8:30, but
stopped before midnight. About an inch or so> fell.
Yesterday (Wednesday) the weather forecast was for rain,
turning to snow in the mountains of North Carolina.
"I hope the groundhog is neck-deep in water with a mouth
ful1 of snow," declared a disgruntled Maconian. "It would serve
him right!"