77th Year, No. 46
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT
Uadlaon County Library Q
Marshall, M.C. 28753
On thm Insldm ? ? ?
ORD
INCORRECT DATE
CDP prepares
for annual awards
lge2
/ |
Correct Date 1,0 \Z<Zfrin? f 3c 3 /^9 ?
1 5* Per Copy
Superior Court Clerk Honored With Retirement Party
By JIM STORY
"This is worth all the worries and
responsibilities I've had in the past years as
clerk of superior court,,' Judson Edwards
said at the retirement party held in the
courtroom on Wednesday afternoon of last
week. "I surely do appreciate this (party)
as it came as a complete surprise," he
stated.
The retirement party he was speaking
of was spearheaded by his staff composed of
Irma Sprinkle, Thula Norton and Peggy
Sawyer, as well as other courthouse per
sonnel and friends.
Long before 2 p.m., when the party was
scheduled to start, people started assem
bling in the courtroom so as to keep it a
surprise to the honoree. On the dot of 2 p.m.,
Judson was escorted to the courtroom and
when he entered the door he was speechless
as he saw more than 50 friends and mem
bers of his family in the audience. Beside
Judson was Clarice, his wife, who sat with
him at a beautifully decorated table bearing
cookies, nuts, punch, and a huge
McDevitt
Named
To Panel
Gov. Jim Hunt has named
R. Wayne McDevitt of Mar
shall to the 206 Area wide
Planning Advisory Com
mittee.
McDevitt is the Western
field office manager of the
Department of Natural
Resources and Community
Development.
The committee was created
by the Land-of-Sky Regional
Council in Asheville to provide
policy guidance for the
regional water quality
management program being
developed by the council in
accordance with section 206 of
the federal Water Pollution
Control Act The advisory
committee will advise the
council and direct the im
plementation of the 208 water
quality management plan.
McDevitt is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Oscar McDevitt of
Marshall.
JUDSON EDWARDS, Madison
County Clerk of Superior Court, is
shown behind a huge checker
board cake at a surprise
retirement party held in the
courtroom here on Wednesday of
last week. The clock, on the table,
was presented Edwards by
courthouse personnel and friends.
(Photo by Jim Story)
? ? P". -.^7V y?|-- -/
Hot Springs Hearing
On Community Needs
WAYNE McDEVTTT
The Town of Hot Springs
will conduct a public hearing
Dec. 6 at the Hot Springs Town
Hall beginning at 8 p.m. for
the purposes of citizens
recommendations and ideas
concerning community needs
for the purposes of this federal
program and the preparation
of an application for Com
munity Development funds
from the Department of
Housing and Urban
Development.
The primary objective of
Community Development
funds is the development of
viable communities by
providing decent housing and
a suitable living environment
and expanding economic
opportunities principally for
persons of low and moderate
income. This objective is to be
achieved through the
elimination of slums and
blight and detrimental living
conditions, conservation and
expansion of housing and
housing opportunities, in
creased public services,
improved use of land, in
creased neighborhood
diversity, and preservation of
property with special values.
The ellgibile Community
Development activities for
which funding can be received
includes: acquisition of
blighted, undeveloped real
property needed for public
purposes, public facilities and
improvements including
water and sewer systems,
housing rehabilitation, in
dustrial and commercial
facilities for economic
development, and planning
administrative costs con
cerned with Community
Development projects
Elementary
Schools Study
Problems
Several schools in Madteon
County ere taking pert in a
nationwide program of the
American LutfK Association
to prevent small
from choking on or
breathing in foreign objects
year as the result of
" said Ger
program
?f WNC
area
Hill and Hot Spring!. Robert
I , superintendent of
County Schools, is
L II ?? ??? MB ? Jhl 1 1* a
nonorarv cnairman 01 me
activity offend to all schoob
in the county. Mrs. Leonard
Baker and Mrs. James Story,
members of the board of WNC .
Lung Association, are in
charge of distributing the kits
A ? aC. AiikAAla
to the participating m n?x>i?.
KindergartM and first
SUPERI1
n embers of th Walnut K and firs
morning Madison
nil.
*
taking part is a nationwide
program sponsor*! tocaUy by tba
WNC LODg AMfHfetio?, On ?*
treme left b I
and first
checkerboard cake, which was appropriate
since Judson's main hobby is playing and
winning checker games. Also present were
Judson's daughter and husband, Mr. and
Mrs. G.E. Briggs Jr. ; his grandson, Jimmy
Briggs; his brother and sister-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Clay Edwards; his niece
and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. S.L. Nix.
At the table were Zeno H. Ponder and
W.T. (Bill) Moore, Democratic leaders.
The informal and spontaneous
"program" was started by Ponder who, as
usual, told several jokes and praised Ed
wards for his service to the county in years
past.
W.T. Moore, of Spring Creek,
sometimes referred to as "Mr. Democrat of
Madison County" then told of his
association with Edwards and emphasized
the qualities which have made Edwards
such a fine and devoted clerk of court. He
also praised other Democratic officeholders
and especially commended the staff in the
clerk's office for "outstanding efficiency."
"We hate to see Judson retiring but we
have a fine successor in Jim Cody as the
new clerk of court," Moore said.
Superior Court Judge, Ronald Howell,
was also asked to make a few remarks.
Howell spoke of his association with Ed
wards as clerk, stating that he had enjoyed
knowing Edwards for the past eight years
and praised Edwards's stewardship and the
fine records he had made as clerk. He also
complimented the staff in the clerk's office.
Not only did Democrats commend
Edwards, but Clyde M. Roberts, District
Attorney, and attorney and former judge
Bruce Briggs, both Republicans, also
praised Edwards and his staff for excellent
performance and cooperation.
After further remarks of com
mendation to Edwards and his staff, Zeno
Ponder then presented Edwards a
retirement gift ? a Hamilton clock ? from
members of his staff, the courthouse per
sonnel, and other friends.
Following this, the crowd mingled
together, extending best wishes to Edwards
as they enjoyed the refreshments and
fellowship.
"Words cannot express my ap
preciation Judson said, "so I'll just say
thanks for all this."
3 County Projects
Three project* .that would
benefit Madison County
residents have been included
on the first priority list for the
FY 1979 investment package
submitted recently to the
Appalachian Regional
Commission by the state of
North Carolina.
The submission of the in
vestment package Is a
preliminary step in the ap
proval process for individual
projects. The package is now
undergoing ARC review and
then must receive approval by
the full commission.
Mrs. Virginia H. Anderson,
chairman of the Madison
County Board of Com
missioners, has been informed
by Gov. Jim Hunt that
projects on the first priority
list were: 1. Assistance for
construction of a rural health
clinic in Laurel. 2. The child
development program
( maintaining the same level of
AREC participation region
wide as in 1998) 3. The
Appalachian housing program
which will provide planning
loans, technical assistance
and site related grants to
eligible applicants. The
housing program will be
administered by the Depar
tment of Natural Resources
and Community Develop
ment.
The Appalachian program
is a unique partnership bet
ween the federal government
and states of the region. The
Appalachian Regional
Commission is composed o I
the 13 governors and a federal
representative appointed by
the president. Former North
Carolina Gov. Robert W Scott
is the current federal co
chairman. The goal of the
commission is to build a
strong economic base for the .
region through investments in
human services, community
facilities, housing and high
ways.
Commenting on the funding
package Mrs. Anderson
stated, "I am pleased with the
favorable consideration given
to Madison County projects by
the state government. These
programs and others being
developed will provide much
needed help for our people."
Miss Mary Jane Preaaley
FHA Crowns 'Snow Queen'
ViSStZ
tbe FHA dance at
High School on Nov It.
Participating in tha crowning
*??
ceremony wert i/avta a van,
principal of Ifarttonn High
and Ski the Surf, dtoc jockey
for WISE radio station to
tb? FHA CWl at
la alio a
of the Marshall 4-H Club
Mary Jane was the coach of
the 8-lJ-year-oW firli la the
Marshall summer raemaUon