Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / Aug. 28, 1980, edition 1 / Page 1
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The News record SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY -On thm Insldm For An Early Look At The 1 980 Patriots See Our Special Section Wh Year No. 35 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL. N.C. THURSDAY, August 28, 1980 15* Per Copy BROAD LEAVES are the mark of successful burley growing on William Shel ton's farm on Big Pine Creek. This specimen was in the crop growing in bottom land along the creek. (Photo by N. Hancock) Even With. Drought Burley Crop OK Portions of Madison County have been hit hard by weeks of drought, but the county's largest money maker, bur ley tobacco, may survive to reach 80 percent of a "normal crop" according to Wiley DuVall and Bill Zink of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conserva tion Service office located in Marshall. The burley tobacco situation is "better than last year, even with the drought," said DuVall during a recent inter view. "We had less blue mold this year, and that has made a lot of difference, he said In addition, the recent rain fall in the county will benefit the tobacco that has not already been cut because of the long period of dry weather. Several farmers have reported the plants remaining in the fields are beginning to revive and are "looking much better." There is about a month left in the growing season for burley in Madison Burley tobacco accounts for about GO percent of the farm ing industry in the county, and with the growers reaching 100 percent of a "normal" crop of five million pounds the county stands to make over $7 million in farm income annually. These figures are based on an average price support rate of $1.40 per pound. Zink explained that the government price support in creases "about seven to nine percent each year," and the average support rate is 145.9 cents per pound for the I960 crop a figure which is up 9.4 percent over last year. However, if 80 percent or less of the burley crop is worth harvesting, the county will see an income of only five to six million dollars in tobacco revenue for this season. DuVall, who has travelled most of the county during this growing season, said the south and eastern portions of the county have suffered the most from the dry weather. "The area from Marshall to Mars Hill and down to the county line has been the driest," he said. But farmers who have been able to irrigate their fields have not been hurt too severely by the lack of rainfall in that area. Ttle drought has not been as widespread as some had thought in the county, and some predictions of a crop disaster have been unfounded, according to the ASCS agents To the north in the Laurel sec tion. and west along Spring Creek, the burley crops seem to be fairing well. DuVall pointed out growers on Big Pine were also having notable success with this year's crop. A visit to William Shelton's farm on Big Pine revealed broad, healthy leaves growing on the bottom land next to the creek Where the moisture has been plentiful, there have been some cases of extensive blue mold damage as in the case of one farmer who is hop ing to get 2,300 pounds of tobacco from four acres of land this year. Ordinarily, one acre of land should yield 2,300 pounds, according to Zink "There are just so many variables that can make or break a farmer." Zink said. "A season that's too dry or too wet. Fungus or other plant diseases It s all a gamble." "Some people talk about Las Vegas as being the gambl ing capital of the world, but they haven't taken a good look at the average farmer." he said SHERIFF E.Y. PONDER disposes of 1,500 marijuana plants on the island in Marshall. The il legal weed was confiscated earlier during this month, but had to be stored and dried before it would burn properly. (Photo by N. Hancock) Absentee Ballots Available Beginning Sept. 5. Madisor; County residents who qualify to vole in the General Election to be held on Nov. 4, 1980, but who will be out of the county or those who are unable to go to the polls because n! physical disabilities may request an absentee ballot by coming to the Board of Elections" office in the Ramsey Building on Main Street or by having a near relative apply for them at the board's office. If a voter cannot get to the office and does not have a near relative to apply for him. the voter may send a written re quest to the board at P.O. Box 142, Marshall, N C. 28753 An application will be mailed for the voter to complete. After the application is returned to the Board s office the ballots will then be mailed to the voter. The deadline for issuance of absentee applications is Oct. 29. The deadline for receiving absentee ballots is 5 p.m. on Nov. 3. The Board will begin meeting Sept 5, at 10 a m to consider applications and will meet each Friday at that time during the month of September PROGRESS CONTINUES on the press box at the Madison High School stadium, and on the work to fUl, regrade and sew the bank above the rock wall behind the press box. Target date for completion of the rock veneer press box is September 10. _ . ^ I JL x- vy School Board Met In Closed Session The Madison County Board of Education met Sunday night at 7:30 in the school superinten dent's office in what was termed a worklanning session by members of the board. School board attorney, Larry Leake explain ed at the beginning of the meeting that he had some matters to discuss with the board which would fall into the attorney-client relationship category, and recommended that the board hold the meetings as an executive session. Board members indicated that they an ticipated taking no .action on any matters presented by attorney Leake. Board chairman Bobby Ponder said no business other than that business presented by Leake would be under consideration for discus sion. Town Board Meeting Changed -A Note On Football Effort Needs Support, Encouragement The 1980 football season is upon us, and the Madison High School Patriots and the ninth grade Freshman Patriots are all geared up to kick off the season this Fri day evening and on Sept. 4 respectively. It's a time of year most of us look forward to; crisp cool nights, the excitement and anticipation of the pending game, trumpets blaring and drums a-thumping as the band marches out onto the field at half-time. Thoughts of "we're the best," "We can do it," and "we can be number one" creep into the minds of players and spectators alike as they enter stadiums at schools everywhere. The big moment arrives, the game is on, and after four quarters of sweat and bruises and yelling encouragements it comes to an end for that night. Some walk away with shouts of laughter and joy; others walk away carrying disappointment and dicouragement. So it goes. That's all part of this game called football. But there are other elements involved which lead up to the Fri day night clashes, and which go undetected by the average fan or observer. And, these are the events and efforts which make the gridiron battles and the half time entertainments possible. They often go unnoticed and little rewarded by those of us who sit in the bleachers and demand vic tory or pout at defeat Specifically, these elements are practice and work put in by the team players, the band, the cheerleaders, the coaches, direc tors and sponsors here at Madison High. Every member of the Patiots team endured the dust and heat of preseason practice. The quarterbacks threw hundreds of passes, the receivers ran miles to be in the right spot. All of them went through the school of trial and error and the college of aches and pains on their way to the opening game. And the band played on. And on, and on, and on, until the notes began to blend and sound like the music on the sheet before them. And, they marched. Time and time again until footsteps became synchronized and everybody was where they were supposed to be at the end of it all. These are the things which make the game what it is. These are things we as spectators, parents and friends should en courage and support during foot ball season. When a game victory is with us, it's easy to be a "backer of the Patriots But when the loss is ours, or a season shows more defeats than wins, we tend to forget that these young people are still working. Still trying to perfect their skills out there on that field. We should be proud of. and sup port, their efforts. A winning score is gravev. By G. Nicholas Hancock The Ex>irof(*s I Noie Book. Band Expects Good Year "I am looking forward to work ing with the Madison High School Band this year, especially the inarching unit," Bill Stell, direc tor, stated in an interview last Stell, who founded the con solidated high school's band in 1W4 with the first marching members of the band. Steil is also thrilled at the members of the flag corps which number nine students at the present Judy Buckner is Captain and Com mander is Vicky Kidd. The popular director explained that the flag corps is "a vital part of the band. " "The practices of the flat corps to just as rigid and demanding as that of the in Stell pointed out that 24 Stell expects to have an excellent year Stell, who has directed the band for six years, is a tM9 graduate of Newberry College in South Carolina, fie earned his Master's Degree from Western Carolina University in 1073. and is a member of the 246th South Carolina Amy National Guard Hand One of the
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