Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / June 5, 1980, edition 1 / Page 1
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The News Record SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY On thm Insldm Upward Bound . . . Another year at Mars Hill (Page 6) 7?th Year No. 23 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL, N C. THURSDAY, June 5, 1980 15* Per Copy MARSHALL BUSINESSMEN interested in using local resources to help revitalize the downtown area are: (L-R) Ed Niles, who operates Roberts Pharmacy; Alfred Dirago, who runs the Rock Cafe; George Penland of Penland and Sons Department Store; Mayor Lawrence Ponder; and Buddy Buckner of Pioneer Ford. Marshall ? A Town Coming Alive? \ group of Main Street mer uit* in Marshall tia* begun -mutating plans for a tow it rejuvenation of the wntown area which would ?w people into the Main reet section on the weekends d conceivably turn the town a a steady attraction for idison Countians and pro bly out-of-town visitors. Itie idea to use local assets a fertile ground for growth s aroused the interest in a mber of Marshall area iders. Basically the ideas revolve Mind turning the French oad River into a focal point ? recreational activities, and the weekends use Back -eet and various vacant lots ? a flea market and farmer's irket. Lieorge Penland, one of the era tors of Penland and Sons ?partment store, said he is enthusiastically in favor such a plan where local sinessmen could take a nd in a revitalization effort thout applying for big leral grants and the restric ns and regulations that go th It. 'Most of what we're talking about we can do ourselves,'' PeoJand said. Alfred Dirago, operator of the Rock Cafe beside the Madison County Courthouse, said that he could see the possibilities inherent in such an effort and that it might be the springboard for more ideas on how Marshall might regain its heavy volume of commerce. Dirago said: "It would be pleasant to have a nice cool place to go fishing or picnick ing in the evening. We have so much raw natural beauty here it seems pointless to travel for recreation. I've heard stories of how Marshall's downtown used to be. I'd like to see it become a community meeting place once again, where neighbors get to visit and en joy their leisure. " Buddy Buckner, president of the downtoWn merchants group and who operates Pioneer Ford Co. on Main Street, said after several mon ths of doldrums, the group is taking new interest in any feasible plan for the town and that meetings are scheduled to begin next Monday at the Rock Cafe at lunch time for further explorations of the possibilities. "We expect to make some significant public an nouncements soon," Buckner said. The meetings at lunch on Mondays are expected to be informal and unstructured af fairs in the beginning and will not supercede the regular meetings of the merchants groups on Thursday. Most people who heard of the plan felt that the effort to revive business along Main Street would not hinder, but rather, would probably help, the merchants in the shopping area along the Marshall by pass. "It's just going to mean more business for everyone in Madison County if we can get it off the ground," one of the group said. Marshall Mayor Lawrence Ponder said that he felt the governing body of the town would do everything possible to help the move. "We've got a lot to offer in Marshall and we are now in a position to make the offer a positive one to the public. "I am trying hard to get some help from TVA and other sources for a big fireworks display here on the Fourth. That can be tied in with the things we are talking about. Nothing but good can come out of this effort. It is something new but as we make contacts we can just about be assured of assistance, Ponder said Niles, owner of Roberts Pharmacy, said it was time that such a drive got under way and that he knew of no one who would stand in the way of it. Offers of any assistance, or at least moral support, came from the Mayor of Mars Hill Bill Powell said that he knew anyone in that end of the coun ty would be eager to assist in something that would Continued on Page 6 Glove Plant Employees Take Riverside Break Rejuvenation: The River Is The Key People with an interest in the renewal of downtown Marshall are waxing en thusiastically about the possibilities of ex ploiting a major asset which has always been right in the front yard, so to speak. The river, the beautiful cool French Broad River, whose presence dominates the downtown area. Around the river ideas have begun to revolve and evolve, and if the ideas keep teeming, shortly something tangible will grow, downtowners say. Here it is ? Ashing and those things af filiated with fishing, like boating and raf ting. From that, swimming and tubing. Then, along the river banks in each direc that something can be worked out there. There are other small sandbars and islands along the immediate waterway, and these might perhaps offer small "beach" possibilities for teenager swimming and sunbathing. The bridge across the river could be worked with and perhaps revamped to make it more attractive to the eye. The smaller bridge going to the school spans a small piece of ground which would be ideal for clearing off and using as evening resting places and cookout sites. The major need in such a development would be manpower, and the merchants feel that chainsaws and bushaxes, shovels and picks, would do much of the job, and with the right community interest, those to do the labor would not be hard to find. complex, a nice barter-market could also be developed. Madison County is a natural place for a good flea market since the main depository of antiques has not been touched. It is also a land of expert swappers. Once these inexpensive ideas are placed into operation, such things as artists festivals and music-making will naturally spring up. Such is the charm and appeal of the people of Madison County that people from all over the western part of the state might come. However, these are basic ideas and Tight Budget Slashes 7 County Jobs Seven county employees have been notified that then employment will be ter minated at the end of June due to tight money considerations in the Madison County budget Apparently letters were handed to the employees when they went to pick up their paychecks in late May. Madison County commis sioner James Ledford iden tified those terminated as tax supervisor Ernest Snelson; veterans service officer Don West; safety officer Howard Ogle; and secretaries Ruth Gardner, Barbara Candler and Diane Coffey. A planner, Herbert Ponder was on a federal grant which ran out at the end of May. ! He said the terminations i were solely because of budget cutbacks. i However, the veterans ser i vice officer, Don West, said he felt that politics was involved in his removal. "I don't see why a veterans office should be in politics, if that's what's going on," West said, and cited an increase in veterans benefits in the years since he has been in the office as a- "good budgetary reason" to not terminate him. West produced documents which show that Madison County was receiving a total of $975,704 when he took office in 1974. The amount has in creased every year, according to his figures, until the total last year was <1,176,229. West did not make clear his charge of politics, since the members of the Board of Com missioners are Democrats and he Is a Democrat himself. He said he had helped in elec tions as a Democrat for 30 years and has been a registrar in the South Marshall box for the past six years. "I want the veterans and dependents and survivors to* know what has happened so they won't come in for assistance after June 30. The closest office is in Asheville and they'll have to go there.'' West said he was ter minated last fall and was told that his office was then funded by the CETA program. But the veterans raised a fuss and they put the office on the coun ty budget, he said. The chairman of the Madison Board of Commis sionrs is employed in Ten nessee and was not available for comment. DON WEST Workshop Set To Hear Legal Worries Of Aged A workshop on "Legal Problems of the Elder ly" will be held at the Marshall Day Care and Senior Center, Route 7, Long Branch Road, in Marshall on Friday, June 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics will include public benefits, protection for the disabled, and similar concerns. The workshop is open to the public and is targeted especially at persons involved in ser vices to the elderly such as Council on Aging staff, Nutrition Site Managers, Senior Center Directors, Senior Employees, Nursing Home staff, Human Service Agency staff, volunteers and Aging Ad visory Board member. It is sponsored by Land-of-Sky Regional Coun cil and Legal Aid Services of Buncombe County. The training is funded by Title IVA of the Older Americans Act. There is no charge, but pre registration is requested. The workshop is limited to 35 participants. To register contact Judy Latham, Lanchof Sky Regional Council, P.O. Box 2175, Asheville 28801 orcali (704)254-8131. Mars Hill Budget Cut, Services To Remain The tentative proposal for the Man Hill town budget will see a cut of approximately 10 per cent, according In Mayor Bill Powell
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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June 5, 1980, edition 1
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