Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / April 7, 1982, edition 1 / Page 1
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p ' it-W3 Record SERVING THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY 81st Year No. 14 PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL, N.C. WEDNESDAY, Aorll 7, 1982 15c Per Copy ^ ? 11 ? " m Block Grants : Keep It Simp J4^ 85 lest The consensus of the 600-plus western North Carolina administrators, government officials and others at the block grant hearing at Tuscola High School near Waynes ville Thursday night was: keep the state red tape to a minimum in dol ing out the federal block grant money and keep the competition among local agencies and govern ment fair. The hearing, conducted by seven of Gov. Jim Hunt's cabinet members, was the last of six held across the state to get public ideas on how federal block grant money should be spent. TTie participants at Tuscola were joined by others at Appalachian State University in Boone by a special slow scan television hookup. A still immage of the speaker appeared on a large televi sion screen every 35 seconds while the voice was transmitted instantly. Nine block grants, which have or soon will replace federal funding for a variety of programs, were the topics of discussion at the hearing. While the public's message of "keep it simple, and honest" was conveyed to the cabinet members, local program administrators also call ed for future or continued funding for specific pro grams. But, Dr. Sarah Morrow, secretary of the state Department of Human Resources, pointed out that while few federal programs would be eliminated most would experience an average of 25 percent reduction in federal funds. Many of the cuts have already taken effect, she said. Programs dealing with maternal and child health care were cut nearly 35 percent when a block grant replaced traditional federal funding last June. The block grants are designed to give state of ficials greater flexibility to fund local programs, but concern over red tape at the state level was voiced by several speakers at the hearing. Some participants expressed concern about the block grants being used as "political footballs." After attending the hearing, Madison County Board of Commissioners Chairman James Led ford indicated Friday night that the county will not suffer any undue hardships with the block grant system. "I don't see where we're going to have any problems," Ledford said. FOREST FIRE ? Tony Webb and BiUy Dill ingham of the N.C. Forest Service remained on duty Sunday to keep watch for rekindled blazes at the forest fire which damaged some 120 acres in the Sleepy Valley Community west of Hot Springs. Youth Rescued From Fall A 14-year-old boy was rescued by Hot Springs emergency medical techni cians and members of the Hot Spring Volunteer Fire Depart ment Sunday after he fell some 75 feet down a cliff while on a Ashing trip with his fami ly Gary Lloyd, of Fletcher, fell down the rock cliff after wandering off from his family while they were fishing in the French Broad River near a railroad trestle approximate ly one and a half miles south of Hot Springs, according to Joe Griffey of the Hot Springs Police Department. ( Continued on Page 3) Ramsey Praises Schools , Criticizes Local Press By BEVERLY BRUCE Intcra Writer "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," was the central theme of Liston Ramsey's address Saturday night at the annual banquet for the Madison Coun ty chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). Speaking at the banquet held at Madison High School, N.C. House Speaker Ramsey complimented the Madison County educational system and said be felt the system had received "unjust and unwar ranted criticism" from the local press. According to Ramsey, the life of a child is a family af fair. "Hie schools cant do it all," he said, bringing a round of applause from the local teachers. As for the 1982-83 fiscal year budget for North Carolina schools, Ramsey said, "We'll have to cut the coat to fit the doth." Ramsey said public con fidence (in the schools) is im portant and that everyone should stand together to back education. "I'm sold on educa tion," he said. Other speakers at the dinner included Dr. Bobby Jean Rice, schools supervisor, who gave an undate on the progress of accreditation of Madison High. Rice also commented on the improved grade scores of the high school competency tests and the overall im provements at the elementary level. Superintendent Robert L. Edwards presented a cer tificate of appreciation to Mrs. Hettie Rice, a retired teacher from the Walnut area, for her "outstanding service to the Madison County educational system." Beverly Hough, teacher at Mars Hill Elementary School, was recognized as Madison County Teacher of the Year for 1961-82. The TOY award was presented by Nancy Allen, Madison County Terry Sanford Award winner, from Marshall Elementary School. Members of the Madison County Board of Education Liston Ramsey and the county commissioners were recognized by Rozella Ramsey, president of the local NCAE chapter. The Madison High pep band provided entertainment em phasizing the banquet theme, "Spring Is Popping Out All Over." Wild Fire Damages 120 Acres In Sleepy Valley Community By NICHOLAS HANCOCK Editor A forest fire which swept over 120 acres of wooded mountainside in the Sleepy Valley Community west of Hot Springs Saturday was brought under control late Sunday afternoon after some 50 firefighters fought the blaze for nearly 30 hours, according to David Brown of the N.C. Forest Service. The fire, which was mainly confined to underbrush and the ground, swept through the Plum Tree Hollow housing development pushed by 50-60 mph gusts of wind. It was the largest of several weekend fires reported in Western North jCarotoa.M rewd-hlgb wind? ana (fry conditions contributed to numerous fires which damaged thousands of acres across North Carolina. State and U.S. Forest Service firefighters were joined by the Hot Spr ings and Marshall volunteer fire departments in battling the blaze which began early Saturday morning. Brown credited the additional help of the Mar Statewide Burning Ban Still In Effect shall department with preventing the fire from damaging one house in the development. At noon Sunday, Brown said most of the blaze had been extinguished, but an nouncing the fire as under control would be made later in the afternoon. Officials issued a statewide ban on all burning at.C a.m. Sunday morning, and Brown said the ban would not be lifted until after a "good, drenching rain." - ? n ..nte i i ? ? Dvovm MH^r vWr 30 nrniguters re mained at the site Sunday afternoon to prevent any new fires from breaking out. Tony Webb, state service forester stationed in Madison County, said ther firefighters were fortunate that several roads had been cut in the housing development allowing access to the blazes. "But the roads didn't act as firebreaks because the winds jumped the fire across the roads in several places," he said. No one was hurt and no personal pro perty was damaged, according to Brown. Brown said the cause of the fire had not been determined Sunday, but "some people have rumored that it was started by someone burning trash." High g us ting winds fanned the fire out of control and prevented an N.C. Fores| Service plane from dropping more man two loads tt chemicals on the blaze. By 9 a.m. Saturday, some 40 firefighters were digging trenches and raking with fire rakes to contain the blaze. ? The forest service said another fire was reported in the county Sunday. A half-acre of timber was reported burn ing in the Beech den community. Mars Hill Library Dedicated The Mars Hill Community Library was dedicated Satur day as Marion Johnson, chief North Carlina library consul tant, said the people of Mars Hill have demonstrated "a commitment to improve com munity education and cultural life." Speaking to the 75 people at tending the dedication ceremony Saturday morning, Mrs. Johnson congratulated the Mars Hill community for carrying out the building pro ject and challenged the com munity and library system "to use your dollars to build the book collection." The dedication of the new $200,000 building was the culmination of seven years work by the Mars Hill C^m-, m unity Development Council, the Madison County library Board of Trustees and various local agencies and citizens. Numerous officials attended the ceremony including Mars Hill Mayor Bill Powell, County Commission Chairman James Ledford, N.C. House Speaker Liston Ramsey, U.S. Con gressman Bill Hendon, and Wayne McDevitt, director of the governor's Western Office in Ashe vi lie Dr. Evelyn Underwood, chairman of the Mars Hill Library Committee, recogniz ed the many individuals who were instrumental in con tributing to the completion of the library, and gave special recogniation to Mrs. Peggy Dotterer for "starting it all." Mrs. Dotterer is credited with spearheading the county library system in 1965. The new facility, containing some 3,500 square feet of floor space, was designed by ar Johnson chitects Wayne Roberts of Mars Hill and J. Bertram King of Asheville. Commissioners Hear EMS Improvements, Appoint Council By NICHOLA8 HANCOCK Editor With Emergency Medical Services Week (April IS - May 1) jut around the corner, tbe Madison County Board of Commissioners beard a let of EMS talk (TOm county EMS Director Mildred Weet and appointed an EMS advisory council at Friday night's com mis West introduced Mike Morgan, Region B EMS representative, who ex plained to the commiaaioners tbe new ambulance call rdpoit (A .) forms to Morgan, information filled out on the ACRs will be sent to RaMgi and returned to the county on computer readouts monthly, and will assiat in the EMS billing proceas and will give detailed documentation in caae of law suits filed against the service. The North Carolina Office of Emergency Medicine provides the forms and the computerized service at no cost to tl ' county, Morgan said. Morgan also told the commissioners that Asheville Biltmore Teehn.cal Col iegp would set up a continuing educs participation in the program. The com missioners went on record to agree to urge all EMS personnel to attend the six-month training schedule. EMS per sonnel would attend the classes three or four hours one night a month. In other ambulance service related business, the commissioners appointed a county EMS advisory council, subject to the acceptance of those appointed. Appointed to the council were Ed Mor ton, director of the county health department; David Caldwell, county finance officer; Carol E. Anderson, Hot ne Fox. Mars H1U f; Larry West, athletic trainer, Madison High; Dr. Chipper Jones, Hot Springs Health Pro gram; Lloyd Moore, county emergency preparedness coordinator; Jack) Davie, Marshall Are chief; and VoncM The commissioners also approved the naming of Doris Ward Conner and Toby Sprinkle as volunteer substitutes for tbe county EMS. to other business, the commis rew.1i po&.v Hot econ pict>'. Jipra uid th? county has been allocating $790 annually to the department, and that he would like to aee an increase of $1,300 for the coming fiscal year, making the i total cornty allocation IMSO. Commission Chairman James Led ford tokl the cotnmiesioners he "highly recommends" increasing the allot meat, but pointed out that they would have to look at the new budget before making a final decision as to the
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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April 7, 1982, edition 1
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