Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / June 29, 1983, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The record SERVING THE i-uw. *c TY SINCE 1901 i\, . " ;? .-?? ? -'1 ... . ? j.jr L _ ' . _ ? ^ PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE COUNTY SEAT AT MARSHALL, N.C. VWfc_ ESDAY, June n. iwj 15* Po Criticizes News Media Helms Praises School Teachers By ROBERT KOENIG Senator Jesse Helms brought his as yet unofficial campaign for re-election to Asheville Saturday night where he addressed a fund raising dinner at Erwin High School. Helms held a brief, informal news conference with reporters before addressing the crowd of 900 supporters who had paid $S each to dine on a dinner of fried chicken and barbeque. The senator told reporters that education, and the federal government's role in educa tion, will be a critical issue in next years election. Referring to Gov. Jim Hunt, Helms said, "Every governor that's come down the pike and every can didate for governor in this state has sworn on the sacred altar of education to give us better schools. I maintain that they haven't done a thing about the prime cause of our school's troubles, interference by the federal government and federal judges. "I think the teachers are getting a bum rap in the criticism they are getting because for many a teacher, in North Carolina and elsewhere, it's just about all she or he can do to maintain order in the classroom. I believe that a lot of the dif ficulty with what we call public education has been the result of forced busing and other types of interference in the educational process by federal judges and bureaucrats who want to use the schools for social engineering purposes instead of educational purposes." Helms cited his family's first-hand knowledge of the educational system, telling reporters, "I speak with some degree of knowledge because one of my daughters is a school teacher. I have a number of relatives who are teachers. They are dedicated people, but they are operating under almost impossible cir cumstances. The schools and churches use to form the backbone of our communities. It's time to return to that. I think we had better go back and see what is causing the distress in our schools. We had better return responsibility for the educational process back to the states. Let the states have the taxing capability and so forth. Free money from Washington is never free and we're beginn ing to realize that. You know, federal aid to education is a fairly recent phenomenon. I can remember very well when we didn't have any so-called federal aid to education and the schools all over this state were top-flight. Now, you have Continued on Page 3 County Workers Facing Layoffs By ROBERT KOENIG The Madison County Board of Commissioners will trim the county's payroll in order to lower the property tax rate, The News Record learned on Monday. Commission chairman James Ledford, contacted by telephone Monday afternoon, confirmed rumors that the county will lay off some employees in order to meet budget requests for the up coming fiscal year. Ledford said that about 15 positions will be eliminated from the county payroll with most of the cuts coming from the Department of Social Ser vices, day care and the Madison County Health Department. On Monday, Led ford told The News Record, "We're cutting the budget back, and we'll be eliminating some positions in social ser vices, day care and the health department. We'll cut somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 jobs. In budget session in the past week, we've cut more than $400,000 from the county budget. We should be able to get back down to a tax rate of 85 cents on $100." At their regular monthly meeting on June 3, the com missioners approved a 20 cent increase in the property tax rate to 95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Ledford said he expected the tax in crease to be rolled back at the next regular meeting of the commissioners, scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the county courthouse. Fur ther action on the elimination of jobs will also be taken at the meeting. Ledford said those employees who will be dismissed are being notified by mail. He said the commissioners have agreed on a 1625,000 budget for the county board of education next year. The com missioners have approved giv ing the school board $575,000 in operating expense funds and $50,000 for capital im provements. The chairman reported that he signed a let ter to that effect Monday while in the board of education of fices in Marshall. The commissioners will give their final approval to the 1983-84 budget at Friday night's meeting. In other tax-related mat ters, county tax collector Harold Wallin reported Fri day that tax collections are in creasing. He estimated that his office has collected more than 90 percent of the assessed taxes for the current year. When the commissioners voted to increase taxes earlier in the month, tax collections were running at 88 percent. Ledford also promised ac tion on delinquent taxpayers. He told The News Record in Monday's interview, "We're working on it as fast as we can. I guarantee you'll see some action in the next few months." Anita Davies, head of the county Department of Social Services, confirmed Monday that there will be several posi tions eliminated in her depart ment. She said, "The commis sioners have asked us to look at our departments and deter mine where cuts can be made." She said that she has not yet been notified as to how many jobs will be eliminated. Davies estimated that DSS would lose three or four posi tions in the cutback. Cuts will also be made in the day care program which DSS will assume control of on July I. Fireworks , Parades , Singings And Rodeo Mark July 4 There will be a wide variety of entertainment available throughout Madison County this weekend as communities mark the Independence Day holiday. Mars Hill and Hot Springs will hold jamborees beginning on Saturday, July 2. In Mars Hill, Lay's Discount Mart, In gles and the Madison Central Optimists Club will sponsor a jamboree at the Ingles' Shopp ing Center. The stores will be giving away free prizes. There will be an open air gospel sing ing featuring The Happy Hearts, the Spiritualites, The Landmark, Harvest Time and Harmonettes singers. There will be refreshments available and the Optimists Club will sponsor a dunking booth. In Hot Springs, the Lion's Club will hold their annual Ju ly 4 celebration on July 2. The Lions have a traditional celebration planned, including a greased pole climb, hay rides, games and a fish fry. The celebration will be con cluded with a fireworks display scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Marshall will kickoff the celebrations with a donkey baseball game Sunday night on the island in Marshall. The following day, the annual July 4 rodeo will entertain at two shows at 2 and 7 p.m. The rodeo and fireworks display is sponsored by the Marshall Volunteer Fire Department. The Marshall Wagon Train takes to the road this weekend for a trip across Heck's Creek and Big Laurel to the county line by way of East Pork. County residents wishing for relief from the heat can enjoy the Marshall swimming pool throughout the weekend. The Mars Hill Lions Club will host the annual July 4 celebration at the elementary school football stadium begin ning at 4 p.m. Barbeque chicken dinners, bluegrass music, games and a fireworks display will highlight the day's activities. Beech Prepares For 99th July 4th Celebration By ELIZABETH SQUIRE A street dance and fireworks will commenorate the Fourth of July in Weaver ville this year. Weaverville and nearby Beech Community have co-ordinated their celebrations so that the parade is in Beech and the fireworks are in Weaverville and those who want both can go from one community to the other. The earliest celebrating is in Beech where the flag will be raised at 9:15 a.m. and a parade complete with little king and queen contestants, floats, the North Buncombe Area Band and the North Bun combe Color Guard and .Drill Team, will begin at 10 a.m. There will be a patriotic pro gram with Morris I. (Mac) McGough, executive vice president of the Western North Carolina Development Corporation, as featured speaker at 11. Activities ? < some with prises ? continue all day , with the famous Beech ? being-a-basket July 4 picnic beginning at noon. Other events include a turkey calling contest, a bowhunter's target shoot, games and greased watermelon and a gospel sing at 7 p.m. This is the 99th consecutive July 4th celebration at Beech. Later in the day, in Weaver ville, the block in front of the Town Hall will have been clos ed to traffic. (Back streets will carry the load.) Beginning at 7:30 p.m., a blue-grass band will make music while celebrants dance in the street The Men's Club will be spon soring the festivities and the good cooks in the Man's Club Auxiliary will provide cakes for the winners of the cakewalks. As soon as it's dark, at about 9:30 p.m., the fireworks will begin. Except for concessions, to keep the hungry supplied with hot dogs, for example, there'll be no charge for any of the events in either Weaverville or Beech. FBEMC Manager Criticizes Nuclear Power Ad Campaign Editor '? Not*.- French Broad Eke trie MtmbertMp Corporation general manager Chart? Totty. writing In hit monthly newsletter column tent to Co op mmben, toot issue mMh the point ratted by o nuclear power television advertise ?J -J . ? rtifn |? fl, . ? - n ii.n,ci 1 vnny Ifl srvv roller wrote; if He further state* that to generate the same quantity of energy with coal costa approx imately <2.00 and he toeaea two $1 dollar bills down on the Then he says that to i quantity of of approximately correct for the FUEL COSTS ONLY! It does not take into account the following: I a nwlaar generating plant's construction costs are far, far greater than the cost of a coal plant or oil-fired plant 1 The costs to operate and Nuclear Regulatory Commis sion (NEC) has made, and is still making, sweeping changes in designs, construc tion, and safety requirements concerning nuclear power plants. These changes force the plan(s out of service for ex tended periods of time at hor rendous expense to the rate payer Coal and Oil-fired Mars Hill Board Approves Town Budget The Mars Hill Board of Aldermen approved a town budget for the 1963-84 fiscal year Mon day night. The total budget of $385,750 includes revenues from all sources. Water arid sewer fees will generate an estimated $88,050 which will be used to maintain and operate the present system. The General Fund budget of $297,700 lists revenues from all other sources, including pro perty taxes, state and federal grants, Powell Bill street repair funds and the local option sales tax. Budget estimates approved at the Monday night meeting showed that the town expects to take in $129,500 in property taxes based on the present tax rate of 70 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Other large portions of the town's budget are made up of Powell Bill fundi ($30,000), Local Option sales tax ($29,000), revenue shar ing ($28,000) and a utilities franchise tax ($37,300). Expenditures approved by the board of alderman as part of the town budget are as In other matters discussed Monday night, Mars Hill Mayor Bill Powell told the aldermen that a letter urging all Mars Hill voters to sup port the Aug. 6 referendum on a proposed sewer bond referendum will be sent out with this month's water bills. Town manager Darhyl Boone discussed the town's payroll system with the board. After be ing told that some change would be necessary in order to comply with new Social Security regulations, the board approved paying town employees on the first and fifteenth days of the month. Bowie and the board members also discuss ed mileage being put on the town's squad car. The board approved a reduction in the number of vehicular patrols in order to economize. The board agreed that an increase in downtown foot patrols would accompany the reduction in mileage. Mayor Powell will discuss possible savings with Chief H.J. Cutshall. The board took no action in connection with the flea market operated by Jerry Pate on Loaf Brandt Rd. The i from the town's : The meeting *?
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 29, 1983, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75