The Legislature?What It Did
By RfcP. ERNEST ME88ER
The 1977 session of the
General Aaaembty has ended,
and during the next few weeks,
there will be much speculation
as to what it did. Some people
will be pleased with the ac
compUahments, while others
will be downright unhappy.
The budget for the biennium
will be slightly more than t>
billion
State employees received a
6 5 per cent pay increase and
increased benefits.
The prison system has
enough money for a major
construction program.
Court procedures have been
speedup
The ERA wu killed and
liquor-by-the-drink legislation
has been deferred until next
year.
A capital punishment bill
was passed as were a number
of anti-pornography bills.
Consideration of the Land
Management Bill has been
postponed for two years.
The Senate has deferred
until 1978 consideration of a
House-passed bill to require
corporations to pay income tax
quarterly instead of annually.
Passage of the bill would have
brought in 991 million which
was to be used for capital
construction by the hospitals,
iiuivawi; uiu uic (ji ismi
systems
Hie big, controversial bill to
revise wildlife laws was
studied and argued during the
entire session. The bill was
never acted upon and will not
some up again for two years.
A new Committee on Aging
was created by Speaker Carl
Stewart. Hie committee
: rested a division for aging in
the Department of Human
Resources.
An improved homestead act
was passed. Persons over 65,
yt disabled persons, with an
income of less than 96,000 will
receive a 97,500 property tax
exemption. Local lunch rooms
ana ouier scnuui ikuiucs may
now be used by senior citizens'
groups.
Senior citizens are exempt
from paying tuition at the
university and community
colleges.
There will be a continuing
commission to study the
problems of the aging
A nursing home patients' bill
of rights was passed.
Forty million dollars was cut
from the Medicaid program.
A bill to curb the powers of
the insurance commissioner
was enacted.
A recess resolution
scheduled a 1978 session of the
General Assembly to begin at
noon may ao, J""1 "w m?
second primary, if there is om.
The resolution stipule tee
that consideration will be
limited to budget and tax
matters and to bills that have
already passed one House but
have not been killed by the
other House.
Some of the items for con
sideration next year, in ad
dition to the budget, are liquor
by-the-drink, the windfall
corporation tax collection, a
litter bill, and a number of
other matters we won't know
about until the debris of this
session has been cleaned up.
See you next year.
Mrs. Brigman Gets
2nd Welfare Term
Mrs. Knox Brigman has been reappointed by
the Madison County Board of Commissioners to a
second, three-year term on the Department of
Social Service Board. The board of com
missioners wishes to thank Ms. Brigman for
accepting this appointment and for her continued
interest in the welfare of the people of Madison
County.
Jackie Ball of Route 5, Marshall, was ap
pointed by the N. C. Department of Social Ser
vices for a three-year term on the Board of Social
Service Department.
E"-. V ?
Softball, Baseball Schedules
YOUTH GIRLS SOFTBALL
Age8-U
Greater Ivy 3-0
Laurel 1-1
Marshall 1-2
Mar^Iill 0-2
Games scheduled up to July 16.
July 11
Laurel at Greater Ivy (6:30
p.m.); Mars Hill at Marshall
Islanders (6:30p.m.).
July 16
Marhsall Islanders at Laurel
(12 noon); Greater Ivy at Mars
Hill (10p.m.).
Age 12-14
Marshall Trojans 4-1
Walnut 3-2
Laurel ?? 3-2
Mars Hill 2-2
Ebbs Chapel 2-3
Marshall Islanders 0-4
Hot Springs (scrimmage)
Games scheduled up to July 16.
July 11
Marshall Trojans at Laurel
(6:30 p.m.); Mars Hill at
Marshall Islanders (8:30
p.m.).
July 14
Hot Springs at Laurel (6:30
p.m.).
July 16
Marshall Islanders at
Marshall Trojans (10 a.m.);
Walnut at Mars Hill (12 noon).
LITTLE LEAGUE
BASEBALL
Age 8-10
No standings-record
Hot Springs 0-3
Laurel 2-3
Marshall Cubs "A" 4-2
Marshall Cubs "B" 4-1
Mars Hill White Sox 5-1
Mars Hill Tigtis 0-3
Mars Hill Orioles 1-3
Mars Hill Hornets 3-3
Games scheduled up to July 16.
July 11
Laurel at Hot Springs (6:30
p.m.); Mars Hill Tigers at
Mars Hill White Sox (6:30
p.m.).
July 12
Marshall Cubs "B" at Mars
Hill Orioles (6:30p.m.).
July 14
Mars Hill Hornets at Hot
Springs (6:30p.m.).
July 16
Marshall Cubs "A" at Hot "
Springs (10 a.m.); Marshall
Cubs "B" at Laurel (10a.m.);
Mars Hill Orioles at Mars Hill
White Sox (10 a.m.); Mars Hill
Hornets at Mars Hill Tigers (12
noon).
Age 11-12
Mars Hill Lions 3-0
Marshall 2-2
Mars Hill Giants 2-2
Walnut 1-3
Laurel 0-1
Hot Springs (scrimmage)
Games scheduled up to July 16
July 12
Hot Springs at Marshall
(8:30 p.m.); Mars Hill Lions at
Laurel (6:30 p.m.); Walnut at
Mars Hill Giants (6:30 p.m.).
July 15
Mars Hill Giants at Hot
Springs (6:30p.m.); Laure)at
Walnut (6:90 p.m.); Marshall
at Mars Hill Lions (6:90 p.m.).
WOMEN'S ADULT
SOFTBALL LEAGUE
National Division
Bernard's Warehouse 12-0
Greater Ivy 11-3
Tri-County Concrete 3-11
Laurel 2-11
American Division
Blue Ridge Shoe 7-5
Tucker Barker 7-5
Deringer Mfg. 7-6
Burger Doodle 2-10
Games scheduled through July
16.
July 12
Bernard's Warehouse at
Greater Ivy (6:30 p.m.);
?? is - .i T-V
Burger uoocue ni i^cruiger
Mfg. (Walnut, 6:30 p.m.);
Tucker Barker at Blue Ridge
Shoe (Hot Spring, 6:30 p.m.).
July 13
Laurel at Tri-County Con
crete (Mars Hill,6:30p.m.).
ADULT MEN'S
SOFTBALLLEAGUE
National Division
Houston Bros. AMC 6-2
Trojans 6-2
N. C. Farm Bureau 3-3
Blue Ridge Shoe 3-3
Hot Dogs 3-3
Micros witch 00
American Division
Burger Doodle 5-1
DeringerMfg. 5-3
The Hasbeens 3-5
Ivy Steak and Fish
House 1-3
Marshall New Auto
Dealers 1-5
Games scheduled up to July 16.
July 13
Burger Doodle vs. Blue
Ridge Shoe (6:30 p.m.);
Burger Doodle vs. N. C. Farm
Bureau (7:30 p.m.); Ivy Steak
and Fish House vs. Blue Ridge
Shoe (8:30 p.m.); Ivy Steak
and Fish House vs. N. C. Farm
Bureua (9:30p.m.)
July 14
Hot Dogs vs. Microscwitch
(6:30 p.m.); Trojans vs. Hot
Dogs (7:30 p.m.); Houston
Bros, AMC vs. Microswitch
(8:30 p.m.); Trojans vs.
Houston Bros. AMC (9:30
p.m.).
FIRE LOSSES
SLIGHTLY DOWN
NEW YORK (AP) - For the
first time in five years, losses
due to fire in the United States
showed a slight decrease, ac
cording to the Insurance Infor
mation Institute.
The estimated fire loss for
1976 totaled $3.56 million, down
less than one per cent from
1975. The figure is still substan
tially greater than the 1974 fire
loss.
The estimate, made by an in
surance statistical, advisory
and rating organization, is
based on individual insurance
company reports and allows for
additional losses not covered by
insurance.
E... 9
| Forest Service To Hire
Gv. ' !*< ?? ' .
Older Citizens At Hot Springs
New congressional ap
propriations have led to an
expansion of the U. S. Forest
Service's Older American
Program at Hot Springs.
Increased funding has made
possible the hiring of 15 more
men or women over the age of
55. At present, 8 men ranging
in age from 56 to 86, are em
ployed 3 days per week for
$2.30 per hour. This rate does
not affect Social Security or
retirement benefits already
being earned by the em
ployees.
Duties include maintenance
of recreation areas, roads and
trails, carpentry work, sign
repair, equipment main
tenance and tree planting.
"We realize there are some
limitations to individual's
capabilities," said a Forest
Service representative, "so we
try to match individuals to jobs
as much as possible and still
provide interesting,
challenging work for the
people."
One position for which ap
plicants are needed is as an
assistant to the district clerk.
Applicants will have to be over
55 with a good background in
typing, bookkeeping and filing,
a friendly outgoing per
sonality, and a love of people.
Information about this position
can be obtained from the office
in Hot Springs. Interviews will
be scheduled for the week of
July 18 through 22, and
selections will be made the
following week.
Other people interested in
working can start im
mediately after being certified
by the Employment Security
Commission in Asheville, and
passing a physical exam at the
clinic in Hot Springs, which is
paid for by the Forest Service.
Table Tennis
Tournament
Starts July 16
The second annual Madison
County table tennis tour
nament will be held at the
Walnut Recreational Center on
Saturday, July 16, beginning at
lpjn.
Champions will be crowned
for both singles and doubles
winners.
The competition will include
both male and female div
isions. Age brackets are 14 and
younger, 16-17, and 18 and
older.
"Ribbons, medals, etc., will
be awarded each champion,"
Ricky McDevitt, tournament
chairman, stated.
Contact your local
recreation center for details,
registration, etc. on July 11
and 12, McDevitt said.
Table Tennis
Tournament
At Marshall
The Marshall Recreation
Center will be the site of a table
tennis tournament for all in
terested persons during the
week of July 11-15. There will
be three divisions of play, 14
and under, 15-17, and over 18
years of age. There will be both
men's and women's divisions,
both singles and doubles
competition. Sign up at
Marshall Recreation Center
July 11 and 12. Play will start
July 13 on a single elimination
basis.
The winner of all the
championships will compete
against the winners of all the
other recreation centers
champions in the Madison
County Championship at
Walnut School on July 16.
: DISTRICT 4-H WINNERS ? Randy Pitts,
Route 1, Candler, and Peggy Rice, Route 4,
Marshal], (shown third and fourth from left)
won the 14-county Western District 4-H
automotive skill driving contest recently.
They received engraved trophies and
sponsorship to attend N. C. 4-H Congress July
25-29 in Raleigh where they will compete for
state honors. The awards are sponsored by
the N. C. Motor Carriers Association. The
winners are shown with judges (left ro right)
Dan Wilson, Burnsville; Hansel Barlow,
Wilkesboro; Pitts; Miss Rice; Henry Revell
Jr., Greensboro; and Trooper A. T.
Morrison, Burnsville. Barlow, safety
director for Holly Farms, represented the
motor carriers and presented one trophy.
Revell, 4-H specialist with the N. C.
Agricultural Extension Service, made the
other presentation. The contest was held
June 22 at Mountain Heritage High School,
Burnsville.
WAGON TRAIN ? One of the
wagon trains parading through
Marshall is shown entering Main
Street from Upper Bridge Street
Monday.
COLOR BEARER ? One of the
color bearers opening the Monday
night rodeo performance on the
island.
CROWDED ISLAND ? The above
scene is typical of the crowded
condition of vehicles on the island
here during the Fourth of July
celebrations on Sunday night, and
Monday afternoon and night, ate
thousands of persons enjoyed
singing and instrumental music,
the rodeo and fireworks display
Monday night. The events were
sponsored by the Marshall Fire
Department. One of the highlights
of the celebration was the arrival
of several wagon trains which
"camped out" on the island.
(Photo by Jim Story)
Wildlife Food Plots Maintained
Personnel of the Game
Division of the N. C. Wildlife
Resources Commission have
recently completed spring
maintenance of wildlife food
plots on the western portion of
the Pisgah Game Land. This
game land is contained in the
Pisgah Ranger District of the
Pisgah National Forest. Food
plots on the district number 116
and contain a total of 149 acres
of plantings and natural
vegetation. They were
established throught he
cooperation of the Wildlife
Commission and the U. S.
Helmet History
Helmets of leather,
bronze, brass, iron, or steel
were worn by fighting men
from the earliest times un
til the introduction of gun
powder in the 17th century
brought an end to armored
combat. Yet, it was fire
arms that caused helmets to
be reintroduced in World
War I.
Forest Service.
The primary purposes of the
food plots are to furnish food
for deer and feeding areas for
young turkeys. Deer feed on
the vegetation and turkey
poults feed on the abundant
insect life found there. Many
other animal species also
benefit from the food plots in
the same ways.
Maintenance includes
mowing with a rotary mower,
cutting back encroaching
vegetation at the edges, and
removing rocks and debris.
Mowing prevents the invasion
of undesirable vegetation and
stimulates the growth of
tender, young vegetation
preferred by deer and other
plant eating animals.
Each food plot is designated
by signs as Wildlife Habitat
Improvement. The shield of
the U. S. Forest Service is also
displayed to show their
cooperation and their
ownership of the land.
Camping in designated food
plots is prohibited. It damages
vegetation and makes the plot
v
undesirable to wildlife.
Camping debris such as
firewood and rocks for
fireplaces make mowing
difficult and dangerous to
i
personnel using the rotary
mowers. It is therefore
requested that the public
refrain from using these food
plots for camping purposes.
The News-Record
NON?PARTISAN IN POLITICS
JAMES I. STORY, Editor
Published Weekly
By Madison County Publishing Co. Inc.
BOX 367
MARSHALL. N.C. 28753
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