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SERVING THE PEOPLE OF
Madison County Library */81
Marshall, MC 29753
80th Year No. 37 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSH
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Results Of Budget Cuts
Four Social Service
Workers Lose Jobs
By NICHOLAS HANCOCK
Editor
Facing a federal cutback of an
estimated 154,874 in Department of
Social Services Title XX money for the
year, the Madison County Commis
sioners voted Friday night to approve a
recommendation from DSS director
Anita Davie to eliminate four job posi
tions in the department to contend with
the cutback and keep the DSS budget in
line with available monies.
Two human resources aides, Mary
Jane Pressley and Barbara Payne,
were among those fired, along with
social workers Kenny Anderson and
Marion Wallin. Payne's job classifica
tion was that of eligibility specialist,
and Pressley classification was
bomemaker.
DSS Director Anita Davie said the fir
ing action was the result of President
Reagan's "far reaching budget cuts,"
and the "only way DSS can deal with
that is to go to a reduction in force."
She said the elimination of the posi
tions was approved by the Social Ser
vice board. The layoffs are effective
Oct. 1.
The money saved by the layoffs
represents the salaries and fringe
benefits of the four employees dismiss
ed by the commissioners. Davie said
the Title XX cuts save the county some
$14,000 in local money plus some $6,000
in local funds not allocated for raises. A
remaining $5,924 will be taken from
Medicaid cost, she said.
In other action Friday evening, the
commissioners:
? Approved the appointment of Loyd
Moore as volunteer coordinator of the
county Emergency Management Pro
gram.
? Approved the changing of the name
of Univac, the cable TV franchise serv
ing the Shut In community, to Mountain
Community Cable, Inc.
? Adopted a plan to submit to the
N.C. Department of Transportation for
a Title 18 grant of $267,255 to be used in
the county public transportation pro
gram. The grant would be used by the
following agencies or services: Depart
ment of Social Services, $34,492; Hot
Springs Health Program, $14,265;
Unaka Center, $7,420; Mars Hill Handi
School, $16,547; Child Development
Program, $59,659; and Nutrition Pro
gram, $41,010.
? Adopted a motion to appoint Bon
Eller of Mars Hill to replace Dr. Earl
Leininger and Jerry Plemmons of Mar
shall to replace Clyde Hagan on the
County Planning Board.
? Approved a motion to ask county
attorney Larry Leake to draw up a deed
to allow the West Madison Volunteer
Fire Department to use property at the
Spring Creek Elementary School "as
long as it's in use for fire department
purposes."
Ester Franks Resigns
Ester Pranks, Aging Coordinator for Madison
County senior citizens, resigned her position as of
August 31, according to county commissioners.
Ms. Franks, of Mars Hill, had worked as ag
ing coordinator for the county for the past 16 mon
ths. In a telephone interview last week she said
Lighthouse
Endangered
?' . 1. - V- ... 1 ? -
SEAS ONCE half a mile from Cape Hatteras
Lighthouse on the North Carolina coast are
today less than 100 feet from its foundations,
prompting Governor James Hunt and U.S.
Senator Jesse Helms to call a meeting in
Raleigh, Sept. 8 to organize a drive for funds
to save the famous landmark. It is believed
that a successful volunteer drive to raise as
much as $1 million will demonstrate to Con
gress that North Carolinians want the
historic structure thai is the tallest
she resigned from the position for "personal
reasons."
"It's a small county and sometimes
somebody's philosophy just does?'! agree with
somebody else's," she said. "But 1 love both the
aging and Day Care programs. I think they are
the two best programs going in the county, '"she
added.
Prior to being aging coordinator, Ms. Franks
worked in the transportation program for the
elderly here, and in Michigan she worked as a
medical assistant for physicians and in hospitals.
County commissioners said they have not
found a replacement for Franks as yet, but they
are accepting applications for the position.
'Riverfest' Climaxes
FB River Week
I
County residents will have a
week of "Get Your Feet Wet"
fun and events during the four
county French Broad River
Week celebration Sept. U-19,
according to Helen Rudisill,
this year's county chairman
for the event.
The special week will end
with an all-day "Riverfest"
Saturday, Sept. 19 on Blan
nahassett Island in Marshall.
The "Riverfest" will begin at
10a.m. with a flea market and
rides for children in Mr. Bill's
hot air balloon.
"We know that children love
Mr. Bill and we're hoping for a
big, big flea market. We hope
that everyone will come with
something to sell. That should
be a fun time," Mrs. Rudisill
said.
"There will be concession
stands with hot dogs, ham
burgers, hot and cold drinks
and plenty of other food
available, she continued.
From noon to I p.m. a soft
ball game will pit a team of
womenagainst a male squad,
Smokey the Bear and Wood
sy Owl, the U.S. Forest Ser
i>j? Lftnjwu ?? f i -i a i v\nir? mill
v . t u . vrvmuw f ? < i
arrive about l p.m to spend
the rest of the afternoon, she
said.
There will be pony rides for
children.
A country and western band
will play river themes (hiring
the afternoon and the Mar
shall Hillbilly doggers will
perform.
There will be river float
rides during the day. "And
you can bet we're hoping for
rain. The river is getting
awfully low for rafting," she
?aid.
Boy Scouts will (Jirect traf- 1
fic, the chairman said.
Some other activities of the '
week in Madison include two
river cleanups, an essay con
teat about the river, photo con
teats featuring shots of the
river, a poster contest, a pic
nic for children and a picnic
for senior citizens.
A special film about the
river will be shown several
times during the week.
"We're going to have a busy
week," Mrs. Rudtsill Mid. a
large number of persons are
expected to share ir. the fun.
she said, "especially for the
ITi ii -?!-,? ??
luvcnwi
r, di'Jl ?4
The Town of Marshall will hold a public
I hearing Sept. 17 at Town Hall on Main
Street at l:3Qp.m to discuss the HUD Pro
ject Bud et Amendment concerning the use
of the REA warehouse on Rollins Road for
economic tevelopment instead of recree
Hon.
\
Photo by N Hancock
QUIET MONDAY ? Main Street in Marshall
was the scene of little automotive or
pedestrian traffic at 9 a.m. Monday as
businesses and government offices observed
Labor Day.
Slightly Lower Than Last Year
School Enrollment Down
By NICHOLAS HANCOCK
Editor
Enrollment on the JOth day
of school in Madison County
was slightly lower than last
year, according to figures
released Thursday by the
board of education.
County-wide enrollment for
1981-82 was 2,945 pupils on the
official 10th reporting day
compared to 2,990 pupils at the
end of the first 10 days in
1980-81, said Dr. Bobby Jean
Rice, supervisor of schools.
Figures showed a loss of 45
students this year.
County grade-by-grade
enrollment figures indicate
that the smallest class is the
first grade with 194 pupils and
the largest class is ninth grade
with 288 pupils. Figures show
significant decreases in
enrollment in the first, fourth,
sixth and eighth grades, and
increases in enrollment in the
third, fifth and ninth grades.
Enrollment figures by
schools show Spring Creek
having the fewest elementary
students with 100 and Mars
Hill having the most at 851
students. Madison High School
figures show an enrollment of
912 students (grades 9-12) for
this year as compared to 885
students for 1960-81.
The figures indicate losses
at all elementary schools, ex
cept at Marshall, with the
greatest loss, 9.9 percent, or 11
students, at Spring Creek
Marshall figures show an ir
creasi' of two students
Madison High figures sho>
the greatest increase in th
number of students with 27.
"Our enrollment is not doini
what Buncombe County is dc
ing. We're getting a lot o
students back in the county, s<
that's making a difference,
Dr. Rice said.
The tenth and eleventl
grades are known for dropou
rates because students turn li
at these levels, but locally, ac
cording to Dr. Rice, "We'v<
really decreased our dropou
rate in the last five or si>
years. She attirbutes the
decrease in dropouts to "let
ting the kids come to the high
school in the eighth grade
counseling with them anc
helping them select theii
classes. Then we try to work
directly with each student
when they get there," she
said.
Dr. Rice said she didn't
think the overall drop ir
enrollment was very signifi
cant considering a gerneal
trend in decreased school
population across the state
and nation.
The figures released Thurs
day were actual membership
figures and not the average
daily membership figures that
are used to determine state
Grade
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
U
12
Cuunty School Enrollment
By Grades arid Schools
1980-XI 19KI-H2 Change
194 197 +3
228
239
210
242
224
246
238
275
254
225
210
195
194
232
236
205
249
216
247
243
288
216
209
197
-34
-7
+26
-37
+25
-30
+9
-32
+34
-9
-1
+2
?o of Change
+ 1.5
-15.9
-2.9
+ 12.3
-15.2
+ 11.1
-12.1
+3.7
-11.6
+ 13.3
-4
-0.4
+ 1
School
Spring Creek
Walnut
Hot Springs
Laurel
Marshall
Mars Hill
insn-Ki
111
154
189
232
534
885
ISHIK2 Change
Madison High 885
100
143
187
216
536
851
912
-11
-11
-2
-16
+2
-34
+27
% of Change
-9.9
-7.1
-1
-6.8
+0.3
-3.8
+3
teacher allotments.
To determine the average
daily membership,, the
number of students attending
over a period of time is
averaged. SUite officials will
use (he average daily
membership of the best three
consecutive months out of the
first four months of the school
year to determine teacher
allotments.
Mars Hill Town Board Pays
Couple For Chlorine Damage
The Mars Hill Board of Aldermen were con
fronted by a cOuple of local residents Monday
night complaining that their gardens was being
destroyed by chlorine leaking from a town-owned
pipe.
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Adams told aldermen
their 1,600 square foot garden at their home on
Route 3, Mars Hill has incurred considerable
damage from the leak.
The aldermen acknowledged the chlorine leak
did indeed occur and took immediate action to
the
Ru\U ,
Sunshine QPJjP
Rink Mrs. Bishop requested permission to place
a mobile home on her business property.
? Agreed unanimously that plans for a
on-site sewerage system were not practical
sacked further discussion of the matter
?Agreed to look into the
emergency warning syster for
storage house locat d
from town cm Murray