Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / Nov. 14, 1985, edition 1 / Page 1
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CgdtVlF MADISON COUNTY LIBRARY |lj|r GENERAL DELIVERY MARSHALL Vol. 85 No. 46 " **ADISON COUNTY SINCE 1901 r 14, 1985 Community Calendar Lions Cagers Open Saturday The Mars Hill Lions basketball team opens their 1965-86 campaign Saturday night against the Guilford College Quakers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday night's season opener is Poster Night at Chambers Gym. Lions Host Gardner Webb The Mars Hill Lions host Gardner Webb College Saturday in SAC-8 action at Meares Stadium. The 1:30 p.m. contest is the Lions' final regular season home game. Optimists Begin Pecan Sale The Madison Central Optimists Club's annual pecan sale begins this week. Proceeds frorfl the sale will benefit the club's Christmas Cheer program. Pecans will be available from club members and at the First Union Bank and The News Record office on Main Street and at Mary's Restaurant on the Mar shall Bypass. The club is also now taking applications from parents of children needing Christmas Cheer assistance. Applications are available from Bryce Hall at First Union Bank or at The News Record office. Marshall VFD Bluegrass Show The Marshall Volunteer Fire Dept. will sponsor a bluegrass show on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in te auditorium of the Marshall Elementary School. Proceeds from the show will benefit the fire company's programs. Christmas Pageant Meets Members of the Marshall Christmas Pageant will meet on Nov. 25 at 7 pm. in Town Hall. Anyone interested in par ticipating in this year's pageant is invited to attend. Mars Hill School Repairs Approved The Madison County Board of Education approved a number of substitute teachers and repairs to Mars Hill Elementary School during last week's meeting in Marshall. The board approved a bid of $27,408 submitted by the W.H. Arthur Roof ing Co. for repairs to the stone building at Mars Hill School. The estimate covers only the installation of a new roof at the school. Additional repairs as may be needed to the structure's wooden frame are not in cluded in the bid. No date has been set for the start of construction. The board also approved $2,272 to purchase blinds for use at Madison H.S. The board members were informed of the decision made by the county commissioners on Nov. 4 to give the school system an additional $20,000 for use in the schools' band and athletic programs. The school board took no action on the new funds, but ordered Madison H.S. principal David Wyatt to obtain estimates for replacing the worn bleachers on the visitors' side of O.E. Roberts Stadium. Wyatt came before the board to ask architect Bert King to inspect the seats on the home side of the field for damage. The board also voted to set the fee charged for the use of school activity buses at the state average cost. Fee will be charged to schools using ac tivity buses for school-related trips. School superintendent Robert L. Edwards informed the board that Madison Manor Nursing Center has cancelled a contract with the school board to provide physical therapy to students. Madison H.S. principal David Wyatt announced that 28 students will travel to England in March, 1966. Wyatt also said that the Future Farmers Talent Group will represent North Carolina at the national FFA talent conference in Kansas City. Mo. In personnel matters, the board ap proved Faye Ramsey as a substitute teacher for Marshall Elementary. Marshall Primary and Walnut Schools. Cindy Stanton was named as a substitute teacher at Marshall Primary School and Teresa Roberson was named as a substitute bus driver at the school. Donna Deal Parker was -Cunt iniM'ri mi Pagr (t 350 Hear INuclear Dump Site Plans By ROBERT KOENIG An estimated 350 Madison County residents crammed into the Madison High School cafeteria Monday night to hear details of the Department of Energy's project to locate a nuclear waste storage site. Madison County is included among some 230 locations currently under consideration as a nuclear waste depository site. The meeting, co-sponsored by the Madison County Planning Board and the newly-formed Nuclear Waste Education Committee, attracted residents from all corners of the county, including Mars Hill mayor elect Owen Tilson and Marshall Mayor Betty J. Wild. Planning board chairman Jerry Plemmons introduc ed the guest speakers. Western Carolina University professors SteVen Yercovitch and Joe Beck. Yercovitch, a WCU geology in structor. explained that the search for a permanent nuclear waste storage site was begun with the passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. The act authorized the federal Department of Energy to locate two sites for the permanent storage of nuclear waste materials. A site for the first storage facility has been located in the western U.S. Yercovitch told the audience that Texas, Nevada and Washington were under consideration. A second storage site, probably located in the eastern U.S.. will be identified by 1991 The search for a second depository site was beg^n earlier this yeWr&K* covitch said, the LX)fc. the agencjt responsible for identifying fhe stte. selected some 230 areas in 17 eastern states from Maine to Alabama, for in clusion in the study. The mountains which cover much of Madison County were - included in the DOE's preliminary list of 230 possible loca tions. Yercovitch said that Madison Coun ty and other areas in Western North Carolina were selected for inclusion in the study because of the crystalline rock of which the mountains are com posed. Crystalline rock is believed suitable for nuclear waste storage because of its physical properties, the geology professor said. Crystalline rock is capable of withstanding tremendous heat such as that given off by deteriorating nuclear materials. It is also believed to be stable and has a low degree of permeability, necessary to protect water supplies from contamination. While not disputing the properties of crystalline rock. Yercovitch said that the composition of WNC rock for mations may be unsuitable for nuclear waste storage. Lack of adequate information on the mountains of Western North Carolina is a problem the DOE study will face. Yercovitch told the au dience. "Of the 6,000 square miles that compose the Blue Ridge Moun tains. only half the surface area has been geologically mapped in detail. We know even less about the subsur face of Western North Carolina and almost nothing has been done." Yercovitch said that scientists believe that the mountains of WNC were once located further east, in the Piedmont region. Pressures created when the North Anerican and African , continents collided forced the moun tains westward to tbetfpresent loca tion. Cracks in the earth, called "faults", are located in WNC near Brevard and Hot Springs. The faults account for the area's earthquake ac tivity. Yercovitch cited earthquake activity in WNC as another reason why the area is unsuitable for nuclear waste storage. Calling WNC a "moderately active area" for earthquakes. Yercovitch said that, although WNC has a history of small quakes, they ocur frequently enough to cause concern. Yercovitch asked the audience. "Could the con tainers withstand these quakes?" The plan mandated by the Nuclear Policy Act of 1982 calls for the DOE to eliminate all but 15-20 of the 230 possi ble locations by the end of this year. The remaining 15-20 sites will then be subjected to detailed geologic study in 1986. The geologic study will enable DOE to further reduce the list of potential sites to between three and five loca tions. from which the final location will be chosen. Yercovitch closed his remarks by telling the audience that WNC's loca tion along the eastern continental divide also makes it an unsuitable location for a nuclear waste storage site. He said, "If waste entered into the fractures in the rock formations, we could contaminate not only the Atlantic Ocean, but the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico as well." Joe Beck, the director of the en viornmental health department at WCU. addressed the meeting follow ing Yercovitch. Beck told the au dience, "I'm not a wild-eyed enviorn mentalist..., or anti-nuclear, or in favor of a weak national defense. I'm for the responsible management of nuclear materials.';' Beck said that a nuclear waste storage facility located in WNC could have a devastating effect on the area's air quality. Radioactive gases emitted during transport or in the case of an accident could become trap by the frequent temperature TONY GARLAND. 18, rushed for more than 100 yards in Mars Hill's 45-7 win over Lenoir-Rhyne College Saturday afternoon at Meares Stadium. Five Lions scored touchdowns in tfie win. inversions common to WNC. "We see this in the early mornings in the fall when chimney smoke hangs down on us We can put up with wood smoke. but I don't think we want radioactive materials around us," Beck said. Beck also cited increased background radiation dangers caus ed in transferring materials and by workers bringing home materials in their clothing. Beck also cited the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) reputation as a cause for concern. He told the audience that the NRC. formerly known as the Atomic Energy Commission, has made numerous mistakes in its history. some with potentially dangerous con sequences. Plans for the sort of nuclear waste the proposed facility would accept have also been changed. Beck said, to include nuclear waste generated by the Department of Defense. The inclusion of military wastes. Beck said, would eliminate public oversight of the facility because of national security interests. Beck told the audience, "It's clear to scientists that this area is inap propriate. We have cracks and faults, and we know so little about the underground water supply that it's ludicrous." Beck advised the 350 Madison Countians to contact their representatives in Congress and Raleigh and ask them to take a stand on the proposed waste site. ' Beck closed by saying, "Request or derpand that they take a position. I think the scientific evidence suggests they should be against. But at least get them to take a position." Political pressure was also stressed by the final speaker, Janet Hoyle of the Blue Ridge Enviornmenta! (Continued on Page 5) Unemployment Declines Statewide Unemployment in North Carolina continued to decline during October, dropping to 4.4 percent of the state's workforce, the lowest level recorded in 1985. Joblessness declined by three-tenths of a percent from the previous month. Among the 1 1 most-populous states, only Massachusetts, at 3.8 percent, has a lower unemployment rate. The U.S. Dept. of Labor figures in dicate that unemployment increased by 8,000 workers during the month, while the number of working North Carolinians increased by 34.000. Na tionally. the Dept. of Labor estimates that 7.1 percent of the American workforce remained unemployed during the month. Unemployment figures for Madison County will be released early next week. Reese Lasher Weaverville's New Mayor Takes Office Tonight By ROBERT KOENIG Last Tuesday's election upset in Weaverviile left political observers wondering who Reese Lasher is. how did he win and what does he plan to do once installed in office. Weaverville's next mayor attempted to answer these and other questions during an interview with The News Record last Thursday the 33-year old mayor-elect will assume office this evening In ceremonies at Town Hall. He met with this reporter at Town Hall bet ween his appointments with town employees. Although his victory over eight t*qp councilman Marshall J. election. The mayor-elect said, "1 told people, 'Whether you elect me or not. Weaverville is going to change.' I've lived here most of my life, and I felt that the people were ready for a change in leadership." Lasher said he decided to enter the race before learning who is opponent would be. Lasher credited hard work and a door-to-door campaign for producing the victory. Early in the campaign. Lasher explained his positions in a letter sent to all Weaverville voters. This was followed up by personal calls and election-eve telephone ap peals made by his supporters. "We worked hard." Lasher said of the ef fort "And I Bttk Weaverville was either not spending enough on public projects or charging too much in property taxes. Lasher pledged to clean Lake Louise, create a recreation park for Weaverville residents and introduce voting machines in municipal elec tion*. He reiterated his campaign pledges during our interview. "I"m a certified CPA." the mayor elect said. "I'll not go out and spend money jusl to spend it. It will be in vestigated. I think If we put the money back ? here ' i? loi gs and do things for the people, our return will be greater than if it's left with the banks " Lasher indicated that cleaning Lake Louiae and fixing the fommun. to create committees of residents to address issues relating to Are and police protection, long-range plann ing. water and sewer service, parks and recreation and community ser vices. Each committee will have five to 10 Weaverviie residents The committee*, Lasher hopes, will enable the town government to res pond better to residents' complaints and problems. "1 want to open up government to the community," he said. "I want thtir participation." During the interview, we were join ed by Buster West, who con gratulated Lasher on his victory and pledged his support. "1 still love Weaverville," Weat said Til do whatever I can to help." The new mayor -elect saNb, "I have always had a ( cumbents Glenn Brank and L.A. Weaver. Harold E. Payne, a first term incumbent not aligned with Lather, also narrowly won re election The new mayor also said that Weaverville needs a. recreation center, presuambly in the Lake Louise area. The new administration Will take a look at a lease arrange ment the town has had for several years with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Associatoin for use of the community center. The association currently leases the town's center for 91 per year. downtown business di ."TV. A "The downtown area's needs have to be investigated as well. I think that it will take some time, but that when in vestors see the changes Weaverville will be a very area for them." One ?f six children, Weaverville's new mayor is the son of Henry and Margaret Lasher. A native of upstate New York. Lasher is ? 1971 graduate of North Buncombe M.S.. where he :apUined th. m, | i way |
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