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The News record
SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY
80th Year No. 9
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL, N.C. THURSDAY, February 26, 1981
15c Per Copy
Library Committee's
Work Pays Off
By SCOTT FITZGERALD
MARS HILL? Residents of
this community have every
reason to be grateful to the
concerned citizens who make
up the Mars Hill Library Com
mittee. Members of the com
mittee have worked diligently
since 1976 trying to raise
money for the construction of
a pew town library facility.
The work was not done in vain
because plans for the new
facility have been completed
and bidding for construction
should begin next month.
Wayne Roberts, a Mars Hill
architect with the J. Bertram
King Company, said the new
$150,000 brick and wood
building will be located on
Cherry Street near the
municipal parking lot.
Roberts said the 3,300 square
foot facility will be able to seat
approximately 40 to 50 people,
and have the capacity to
shelve approximately 17,000
books. The adult section of the
library will house nearly
15,000 volumes in stacks, and
the children's section will con
tain nearly 2,000 volumes.
Plans for the structure show
a modern design appearance
featuring a slanted roof which
will incorporate partial solar
heating for energy efficiency.
Construction work on the new
library is scheduled to begin in
mid April.
Dr. Evelyn Underwood,
chairman of the Mars Hill
Library Committee said
recently that the initial work
to build a new library began in
1976 when the committee was
formed Members include
Miss Ruth Howell, Mrs.
Elizabeth Crocco, and com
mittee finance chairman Ruth
Anderson. Mrs. Anderson said
fund raising effors began in
1977. The committee's goal
was to raise money through
fundraisers, grants from state
and federal sources, and
grants from foundations, com
panies and private in
dividuals.
The committee raised over
$50,000 locally through flea
markets and other sales. With
that as a base, the committee
began applying for grant
monies. The Appalachian
Regional Commission granted
the library $77,000, while other
funds were secured from the
McClure Foundation and the
Z. Smith Reynolds Founda
tion. Dr. Underwood said
State Representative Liston
Ramsey helped the committee
obtain $17,500 in two grants,
one from a legislative library
project and one from the
Department of Natural
Resources and Community
Artist's Drawing Of The East Elevation Of Mars Hill Library
Development.
All that remains before bid
ding can begin is approval of
the blueprints and plans by the
State Library Board. Dr.
Underwood said she expects
the letter of approval to arrive
this week.
Even though the library
committee currently has
$155,000 secured for construc
ting and partially equipping
the facility, the work of the
committee is not finished. Its
next goal is to maintain and in
sure that the library has the
needed support of the com
munity.
"We have put every dollar
we can into the building, but
now we want to organize a
Friends of the Library
association to maintain the
constant support this library
- needs,'' Dr. Underwood said.
She said furnishings will
have to be bought, and fun
draising efforts in the future
will be put toward that pur
pose.
Dr. Underwood pointed out
that a town library fills a com
munity need in a different way
from a school library. She ad
ded that the committee has
been most pleased with the
support and cooperation from
the Mars Hill Town Council
and the people in the com
munity .
Town Requests
Leak Information
The Town of Marshall needs to know
about leaks in its water system, according
to Eloise Riddle, town clerk.
"Many leaks have been reported and
corrected, but there are probably more that
haven't been reported," she said.
Mrs. Riddle said it would be of great
assistance to the town water department
and possibly reduce the electrical bill for
pumping water lost through broken lines if
anyone knowing of a broken line would
report it to the town by calling 649-3031.
The leaks are caused by the age of ex
tension lines and some of the main lines in
the town's water system.
Probable Cause
Found : Parking
Lot Stabbing
In a hearing conducted by District
Court Judge Alexander Lyerly on Feb. 13,
probable cause was found in the fatal stabb
ing of a Marshall youth, and Kenny Smith,
23, of Mars Hill was bound over to Superior
Court on charges of murder in the Feb. 4 in
cident.
Charles Sexton Jr., 17, died after an
altercation occurred between him and
Smith in a parking lot outside the Marshall
city limits on the Highway 25-70 bypass.
An investigation by the Madison County
Sheriff's Department revealed that Sexton
and three companions had pulled into the
parking lot beside Smith's car. After an ex
change of words between Sexton and Smith,
a fight began between the two ami Sexton
was fatally wounded in the chest, according
to Sheriff E.Y. Ponder.
Thursday, a spokesman for the sheriff's
department said that Smith remained
released from custody on a secured $10,000
bond.
According to Clerk of Court James
Cody, it is expected that Smith will appear
before a grand Jury in Superior Court at
Marshall on April 27.
W. Madison VFD Off To Good Start
By KEVIN MORLEY
On Jan. 11, 1981 there were
two house fires in the Spring
Creek area of Madison Coun
ty. One was in Meadow Fork
and the other in Bluff. One
house was saved and one was
destroyed. On Feb. 17, 1981
some 100 people came to the
Spring Creek School to talk
about thfc formation of a
volunteer fire department for
the western Madison region.
Before they left they con
tributed over $800. and 27 men
had signed up to act as
volunteer firefighters. People
were concerned about the lack
of fire protection for their
homes and woodlands and ex
cited about the prospect of for
ming their own department.
Spring Creek principal
Larry Plemmons opened up
what proved to be a well
organized meeting by describ
ing its' purpose; "to get infor
mation... to see if it is possi
ble... and to find out how much
it will cost.
An hour later the informa
tion was in, the possibility of
doing it seemed assured, and
the cost seemed quite affor
dable. 1
The meeting was turned
over to Stan McElroy who, ac
cording to Plemmons. had
done most of the work to pull
the meeting together."
McElroy spoke about how the
fires in January had driven
home the point to several peo
ple that Spring Creek needed a
volunteer fire department.
Since then McElroy started
asking questions and the
results of his inquiries Were
brought together for the
meeting.
The first Of several guest
speakers, Tom Krv of the
North Carolina Forest Ser
vice, was introduced by
McElroy. Fry commented on
the "fine turnout of com
munity people and proceeded
to describe the assistance that
could be given to them by the
state forest service. He called
NEW TRAFFIC LIGHTS have
been installed at the intersection
of Main and Upper Bridge Streets
in Marshall. The lighta, purchas
bBB;
Photo by N Hancock
ed by the town, Were put up to pre
vent traffic accidents at the in
tersection.
volunteer fire departments a
"valuable asset to the state
and said that "millions of
dollars' were saved statewide
each year through the forest
fire fighting efforts of local
volunteers.
Fry stated that in apprecia
tion for the work of rural fire
departments the state would
help any way we can" in get
ting the department on its
feet. For starters he said a
brush truck,'" a four wheel
drive and three-quarter ton
vehicle, would be donated to
the department as well as
other pieces of equipment.
Funds were limited so he
downplayed the idea of much
financial assistance.
It will take a year to get the
truck... but we'll work on it"
stated the forest ranger as he
concluded his talk.
McElroy next introduced
Jerry Vehaun, Civil
Preparedness Director for
Buncombe County, who, along
with two fire chiefs from Bun
combe County, made the long
drive to Spring Creek to pro
vide answers and offer
assistance to the fledgling
organization. He spoke about
training, equipment and legal
requirements for the forma
tion and operation of a
volunteer fire department.
"It won't cost a lot of money
to get started'' he stated and
he noted that a fire depart
ment would benefit the com
munity by lowering fire in
surance rates as well as pro
tecting life and property.
First, though, the organiza
tion would have to gain non
profit tax status as well as
receiving a charter from the
state. He thought those things
could be accomplished in 60 to
90 days. ( Later in the meeting
McElroy announced that the
legal work would be done by
an attorney at no co6l to the
community). Once the legal
requirements were met,
Vehaun said, the organization
would be eligible for funding
of different types from several
sources, grants as well as low
interest loans.
II takes 19 people to
charter a fire department; a
chief, assistant chief, captain,
and lieutenant and 15 fire
men Training would be pro
vided free of charge by the
slate Department of In
surance "Well work with
you, Vehaun said, we'll
come out here as many times
as is necessary. He pledged lo
provide information about
training and any extra equip
men! (hat could be donated by
the Buncombe County fire
departments.
Vehaun then introduced
Vernon Dover of the West
Buncombe volunteer fire
department who said the key
to the fire department was
good training and coopera
I ion, dedicated people. Dover
gave an entertaining talk on
the pitfalls of firefighting but
advised the group not to get
discouraged early on
It lakes time to learn the
ropes.
He informed the gathering
that quick training would be
available for new depart
ments. and that each fire man
should have 36 hours of cer
tified training. He extended an
offer of assistance to Spring
Creek from West Buncombe
and said that members of his
department would be glad to
come over anytime to lend a
hand.
"We'll be glad to help. He
reckoned that the community
would have "no trouble what
soever getting rolling because
he saw that "the community is
really interested."
Ron Owenby of the Broad
River Volunteer Fire Depart
ment was instrumental in br
inging that organization into
being. He spoke of his ex
periences in starting a
volunteer organization and
turning "nothing into
something." He said a prime
ingredient was "a lot of people
wilhng to work." As Jerry
Vehaun had mentioned
earlier. Owenby stated that
local fundraising was the best
method for acquiring needed
money and that his depart
ment had raised $16.0(10 during
the first year to build their fire
station.
"The credit goes to the
ladies auxiliary' Owenby
said, "it 's the backbone of the
department ...it's raised
$10,000 to $12,000 every yea: ."
A question from the au
dience about the ladies aux
iliary brought forth the infor
mation that it is a separate
organization with its own by
laws but is covered by the
same insurance as the fire
department . That insurance
provides coverage for injury
sustained while traveling to or
working at a fire. Owenby con
cluded his presentation with
an offer of assistance and sup
port from his department.
5 During a question and
answer period someone asked
for an estimate of cost for get
ting the minimum fire depart
ment operational. The three
visitors from Buncombe Coun
ty talked among themselves
momentarily and Jerry
Vehaun replied to the question
by saying it would be hard to
say but that $5,000 was a
reasonable figure if
everything had to be purchas
ed. He noted that with dona
tions of vehicles and equip
ment the cost should be much
lower.
Larry Plemmons said that
he thought that if a building
was going to be planned to
hold the fire department it
"should also be large enough
to house a rescue squad." His
suggestion was endorsed by a
loud burst of applause
A theme that ran in and out
throughout the meeting was
that not only did the people
want a fire department but
that they also were very con
cerned about having emergen
cy medical service
capabilities
Stan McElroy returned to
the podium to ask the
assembled community
(Continued on Page 2)
State Could Owe $50 Million
RALEIGH - North
Carolina could owe the federal
government $50 million
because of lax control over the
federally-funded, state ad
ministered Comprehensive
Employment and Training
Act Jobs program, state
Auditor Edward Renfrow
says.
In a letter to a legislative
committee, Renfrow said the
state Departneat of
Resources and Community
Development could have
proper spending while ad
ministering contracts to local
governments and private
organizations.
"NRCD has shown an un
justifiable amount of will
ingness to contract with
organisations or individuals
who have demonstrated poor
a counting ability or poor pro
| low income and unemployed
persons to hold higher-akilled
jobs are administered by the
state but paid for under
CETA.
Renfrew told legislators
the U.S. Department af
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