Med is on County Library
Marshall, N . C 28753
VOLUME 71
County's Welfare
Some counties will receive
more state funds for the next
fiscal year while others will
receive less in a move to better
equalize the local tax burden to
support the public assistance
programs and the local ad
ministration of all social ser
vices programs.
The State Board of Social
Services, at its meeting on
"The Kingdom of Madison:
Some Aspects of a Southern
Mountain Region," is the title of
a book about Madison County's
history and folkways, to be
published this fall by the
University of North Carolina
Press. It is the work of Manly
Wade Wellman of Chapel Hill,
author of more than fifty books,
mostly of Southern history and
fiction, and is based on nearly a
quarter of a century of study of
Madison County's highly in
dividual past.
"I've been gathering and
organizing material for this
book for many years," said
Wellman in discussing the
project. "Madison County is
perhaps the least known and
. jest appreciated county in
I 'yVV it
"'"s "Tp- '
PICTURED above is the Marshall Lions Club 8-10 year old team. The team
finished the season in third place in the YMCA West League. Pictured left to
right front row are: John Goforth. Jeff Metcalf. Allan Stines, Mark Freeman,
Jeff Johnson, Bobby Frisby. Second Roa: Mickey Massey. David Massey.
Keith Flynn. Barry Chandley. Tobie Sprinkle. Standing: Ricky McDevitt.
coach. Not pictured: Holden Nix, David Nix. Edwin Brigman. Luther Roberts,
Steve Davis, and Mark Wilde.
PICTURED ABOVE it the March. II Lioni Club 11-12 year old YMCA West
league champions. The trophy la front it currently being displayed la the
window of Roberts Pharmacy. Pictured are left to right front row: Michael
Cody, Bobby Chandler, Todd McCormick, Randy Norton, Kenny Ray, Second
row: Ricky McDevitt; Coach, Burnette Moore, Paul Boone, Joey Plemmons,
and Scotty ProfTitU Not pictured: Gary Griffia. . - -
March 8, adopted a new formula
for distribution of the
$4,660,000 appropriated by this
past session of the General
Assembly for this purpose for
fiscal year 1972-73.
Under the new public
assistance equalizing for
mula, 63 counties will receive
funds and all 100 counties will
Book About Madison
County To Be
Published This Fall
North Carolina, My book won't
be one of apology Madison
County's people don't need me
to apologize for them. Among
them are some of my closest
friends, people I admire and
want to let others read about
with admiration.
"There'll be no effort to hush
up slurs on Madison County,
often made by those who aren't
qualified to judge. This work
will notice the old, ugly name of
'Bloody Madison' and study the
reasons it was given and
whether the reasons are good
ones. It won't ignore the
charges about blockase
whiskey, or spiteful remarks
about poverty and ignorance.
No reason to ignore such things
if they've been said.
V
c-.
receive a share of the aid to
county administration
equalizing funds.
Based on the new formula, 45
counties will receive more
combined state equalizing fund
while the other 55 will receive
less, however, the set amount of
funds to be distributed in fiscal
year 1972-73 are higher than will
"But main effort is to do
justice to the strong qualities of
pride, courage and self respect
in Madison County, the vigorous
frontier tradition of a people
that literally carved its homes
out of the mountains and sur
vived a host of obstacles and
dangers and triumphed over
them. In particular, the work
will study the precious treasure
of folk music in Madison
County, and some of those who
have kept it alive.
"Madison County has
produced sons and daughters
who have been deservedly
famous throughout the world
and who have spoken on equal
terms with kings."
MEWS
MARSHALL. N.
Funds Slashed $17,865
be distributed this fiscal year
($4,660,000 compared to
$4,130,134).
The old formula was based on
four factors: the average public
assistance money payments per
capita, the number of public
assistance recipients per 100
population, the sales and use
tax per capita, and the adjusted
individual income per capita.
The new formula, which will
apply basically to both public
assistance and administration
funds, is based on a ratio bet
ween the county's cost for the
program and the appraised
value of property at 100 percent
of valuation.
Clifton M. Craig, Com
missioner of Social Service,
believes the new formula is
much simpler than the old and
that it will be a more equitable
system. He stated that it brings
a closer relationship between
the counties' costs and their
ability to pay and will better
equalize the growing local tax
burden in support of these
programs.
Estimated total statewide
expenditures for the current
1971-72 fiscal year for public
Cattlemen
To Vote
On April 5
On April, 5, North Carolina
Cattlemen will be asked to vote
in a referendum. The purpose of
this referendum is to decide
whether you wish to continue
the promotional efforts of the
cattle industry in N. C. through
the efforts of the N. C. Cat
tlemen's Association. The
Association has been charged
with the responsibility of
promoting the production,
marketing, and consumption of
beef and beef products in N. C.
consumer education.,
Promotion can increase con
sumption in N. C, which, in
turn, will increase the returns
we receive from our livestock
when sold.
You will be voting on the
question: Are you for or against
a continued assessment of 10
cents per head on all cattle sold
for slaughter, as well as all
other cattle sold during the next
six years! This is a very small
contribution and each of us will
be "helping ourselves by
helping others to more helpings
of BEEF."
Wanda Gosnell
Galifianakis
County Mgr.
Congressman Nick
Galifianakis today named
Wanda Gosnell as manager of
his his U. S. Senate campaign ki
Madison County.
A lifetime resident of Mar
shall , Miss Gosnell is employed
by the Asheville office of the
North Carolina Department of
Veterans Affairs. She has been
extremely active in Young
Democrats Club affairs, having
served as president of the
Buncombe County chapter and
vice-president of the statewide
organization. In 1968 she was
named on eof the ten most
outstanding Young Democrats
Club members in North
Carolina. She will be coor
dinating her efforts in behalf of
Galifianakis with state cam
paign manager Russell Walker
of Ashe bo ro.
After the announcement, Miss
Gosnell said she had decided to
work for Galifianakis, a can
didate for the Democratic
nomination for U. & Senator hi
the May I Democratic primary,
because, "the needs of the stats,
particularly those of Western
North . Carolina, call for
repreientatloB v which is
responsive to the needs of the
people rather than to the dic
tates of political expediency.
Nick is a reliable leader who
has specific solutions ' for
specific problems." -
C. THURSDAY. MARCH
assistance payments are $131.8
million, and this is estimated to
increase to $146.1 million for
1972-73.
Total county estimated ex
penditures for administration of
all social services programs for
1971-72 are $25.4 million and it is
estimated this will increase to
$28 million for 1972-73.
Commissioner Craig stated
that these increases in costs are
being caused by a continuing
increase in both the number of
public assistance recipients and
Lunsford Honored
On 90th Birthday
Basom Lamar Lunsford, the
Minstrel of the Appalachians,
celebrated his 90th birthday
Tuesday, and in honor of his
birthday two colleges and a host
of his friends will bring out their
banjos and dancing shoes and
celebrate.
Festivities began Sunday at 8
p. m. at the University of North
Carolina at Asheville where his
friends cut a king-sized birth
day cake in Lipinsky Student
Center, and then moved into the
auditorium for an evening of
singing and dancing. The only
thing necessary for admission
was to say, "I'm a friend of
Bascom's."
Tuesday from 2 to 4 p. m. the
Memorial Library Staff of Mars
Hill College honored Lunsford
in the college's Utility lounge.
Lunsford's birthday coincides
with the completion of the
cataloging of his. gift collection
to the library. All of his in
struments and recordings and'
the songs he has collected
through the years are in the
Mars Hill College collection.
Looking back over those 90
years, Lunsford said, "The key
to whatever success I have had
has been in realizing the value
of the fine tradition in mountain
people."
Wistfully, he added, "I've
spent the night in more cabins
between Harpers Ferry, West
Virginia, and Iron Mountain,
Alabama, than anybody and I
know.
Though he has been a man of
many callings lawyer,
teacher, editor, lecturer, far
mer, gcvernment agent, banjo
picker and ballad singer
Bascom Lamar Lunsford's
great success has been in the
collecting and preserving of
Appalachian folk music.
Highlights of his career in
clude giving a "com
mand performance" for the
king and queen of England in
the White House, recording
more than 600 folk songs from
memory for the Columbia
University Library and Library
of Congress, organizing and
conducting a number of folk
festivals in which he stressed
authenticity, and lecturing and
performing on college cam
puses from coast to coast.
Bascom performs no more,
but he loves to listen to others
Election Officials Are
Appointed For County
The Madison County Board of
Elections met on March IS, in
the Board office. Pursuant to
GS 163-41, this meeting was for
the purpose of appointing
registrars and judges lor the ten
(10) precincts of Madison
County.
All Board members were
present and the meeting was
called to order at U :30 a.m. by
(be Chairman. Others present
were Joe L. Morgan, Ted
McKlnney, Walter HarrelL
Howard Tim, W. M. Roberts,
Max WQson, and Harold Payne. ,
- After general discussion, the
bDowing election officials were
appointed.:' ..
Marshall Ed Gentry,
Registrar, Gonley Goforth,
glSs asaaMlMaaaj
23. 1972
the average monthly payments
which they are receiving. The
caseload in the aid to the
families with dependent
children program has been
increasing drastically since the
latter part of 1969. Fiscal year
1967-68 had 106,727 persons
receiving assistance in this
category with an average
monthly payment of $25,45 per
person. In January of this year,
there were 167,049 with an
average monthly payment of
$32.37 per person.
pick and sing. "I try to sing a
little sometimes," he said, "but
my picking is over on account of
my fingers. Time is the success
of folk music and I can't get the
timing anymore. I will say this
about myself though: I picked a
banjo as well as a banjo has
ever been puck. That's a word I
made up."
A twinkle in his eye turned
into a tear and rolled down his
cheek as he looked back over
the years.
"When I was five years old,"
he said, "I got the feel of putting
myself over and I haven't got
over it yet. Used to be with song,
now I have to do it with words."
Words have always meant a
lot to Bascom Lamar Lunsford.
The proper words, applied in
the right places, he said, are
mighty powerful.
I am known as the Minstrel of
the Appalachians and the
Squire of South Turkey Creek,"
he said, "and there's a good
ring to those words. I used them
for all they were worth in
promoting the Mountain Dance
and Folk Festival in the
Asheville City Auditorium
because for me it was a
business, and for years it was
the only business I had, and the
proper use of words or ex
pressions can go a long way in
running a business right.
That's the reason I always
started the folk festival 'along
about sundown.' Certain ex
pressions like that stick in a
person's memory and become
strong. I always used that
principle of folk tradition in my
work."
Lunsford recalled the time he
changed some of the words to
Judge Felix Alley's famous
ballad, "Kidder Cole,"
recorded it, and sang it from
stages all over the country.
"Hall Johnson was always an
outspoken fellow," Lunsford
said. "He bumped into Judge
Alley one day and said, 'Felix,
you may never amount to much
as a judge, but this damn
Lunsford is gonna make you
famous.' I always liked that
story."
Bascom was asked if he would
look back across the years and
name the best musicians he'd
played with. "No," he said.
"That's something I don't want
Democratic Judge; W. T.
McKinney, Jr., Repbulican
Judge.
Sandy Mush-Mrs. Blanch
Walker, Registrar; Burnett
Zack Reeves, Democratic
Judge; Marshall Duckett,
Republican Judge.
Laurel-Floyd WalUn,
Registrar; Mrs. June Plem
moos. Democratic Judge; G. M,
Cubfcaw, Republican Judge
Mars Hill Rtl Sprinkle,
Registrar; Richard (Dick)
Anderson, Democratic Judge;
Carl Cody, Republican Judge.
Grapertoe-Aubara WyattV
Registrar; Mrs. tactile
Sprtakle, Democratic Judge;
' Harold Payne, Republican
1 Judge, '
mm
The State Board of Social
Services, aware of the in
creasing financial burden on the
counties with their limited tax
revenue, has for the past four
sessions of the General
Assembly requested additional
state funds for aid to county
administration of social ser
vices programs. Each session
has denied these increases.
Madison County will receive
$53,300 for 1972-73, as compared
to $71,165 in 1971-72 which is a
decrease of $17,865.
to say They all have their good
points and bad. But musicians
are more jealous of one another
than preachers or doctors.
"Here's the idea I always
worked on . when you've got to
put on a show, you've got to
count on dependability a lot.
One fellow might be better than
another but you might not be
able to count on him "not be able
to count on him 'cause he might
be out here drunk or something,
so it isn't always the best
musician who makes the music.
I always worked on this motto:
make few promises, and what
you make, keep."
Bascom Lamar Lunsford had
a stroke seven years ago which
slowed him considerably from
physical activities, but his
memory is still accurate, and
his advice Is sought by all folk
musicians.
"I give advice," he said,
'"and I give it to them
straight." And right there this
preference for instruments
came out. "Folks ask me
where they can find a
dulcimer," he said, "and I say
get a nice one and hang it on the
wall where you can look at it,
then take down your banjo and
make some music."
His toes began to tap again,
and he looked out across the
street toward the barbeque
house, then his gaze sought the
center of the room, and he
began to sing softly:
"I sang a song into the air It
came to earth I knew not
where But long years after,
from beginning to end I found
the song in the heart of a
friend..."
Cantata To Be
Presented
Sunday Night
An Easter Cantata will be
presented at the Marshall
Baptist Church Sunday night
beginning at 7 o'clock. The
cantata is under the direction of
Dennis Wilson, minister of
music. Charles Huey will be at
the Hammond organ.
There will be a fellowship
hour immediately following the
cantata.
The public is invited.
Beech Glen J. Bruce
Phillips, Registrar; Jimmy
Carter, Democratic Judge; Don
HalL Republican Judge.
Walnut-Glen wood Wallin,
Registrar; Wayne Adams,
Democratic Judge; Charles
Eatmon, Republican Judge, ;
Hot Springs John Ray
Gardin, Registrar; Fred Moore,'
Democratic Judge; : Curtis
Roberts, Republican Judge.
Ebbs Chapel Porter Wallin ,
Registrar; Mrs. Betty WbJtt,
Democratic Judge; Clarence
Cody, Republican Judge.
Spring Creek-Joe Justice,
Registrar; Hardy VUlett,
Democratic Judge; Frank
Hlpps, Republican Judge.
W n i. m wiumlu li ' m y y 3
'
" .,?-
M?Sr I
"sua "
BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD, the Minstrel of the
Appalachians, was 90 years of age this past
Tuesday. The above picture, taken a few years ago,
shows him with his favorite banjo.
Dangerous mail
items are banned
Sales promotions and contests
that ask people to mail items
which would cause injury to U.
S. Postal Workers are now
banned by law.
The Postal Service says that
in the past sales promotion
techniques frequently resulted
in the mailing of envelopes that
contained "under-packages"
metal and plastic articles.
Those articles such as
bottlecaps, jars, tops, can lids
and metal package opening
strips can injure postal em
ployees as well as damage mail
processing equipment.
A Postal Service official told a
Congressional hearing that such
articles were actually being
projected with considerable
force by high speed mail sorting
machines. Employees were also
subject to injury when they
1
1
mum 4
MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL'S Fntnre Farmers of
America Land Judging team placed first fai the
district contest held last Friday afternoon at North
Buncombe High School. They will represent the
Buncombe-Madison County district at the meet ia
W ilmington on April t for the state title. Members of
the team pictured above, are James Kent, n !y
. Fowler. David Ramsey, and Kenneth Pvober ts. fl ?y
are coached by Jack C. Cole, advisor of fief!. " 11
chapter of the FT A. Clyde A. En in II f ' 1
team won second place and North Funcc: V! - '
third lathe contest. Others entering were ?" '
i Charles D. Owen, A. C. Reynct's a - 1 T. C. I
" son. The district winner receive d V 1 f r r ;
. E state FFA camp and a plaie I r V t '
i contest has been 1 f sr K '
Power and L! t ( --ft
Bankers Ac ' i. . 1
T. Howard !' h f ' I : ; '.
NUMBER 11
reached into collection boxes to
pamntM mail thnt rvmtjilrtpH
snarn meiai ooiecis.
The United States Criminal
Code has long barred from the
mails any article that may kill
or injure persons, or damage
mail property. The new law
strenthens this bar by adding a
section that reads:
' ' Any advertising,
promotional, or sales matter
which solicits or induces the
mailing of anything declared
nonmailable by this section is
likewise nonmailable unless
such matter contains wrapping
or packaging instructions which
are in accord with regulations
promulated by the Postal
Service."
The law prescribes a fine of
up to $1,000 and imprisonment
for up to one year for each
violation.
m4 aHe