?
Dr.. .VERY
WREHALL .* ?C
20753
? NEWS RECORD
r/G THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY SINCE 1901
Thursday, June 12, 1986
Women Democrats To Meet
The Madison County Democratic Women's Club will hold a
meeting on June 17, at the Western Steer Steak House in Mars
Hill, to disucss new business matters and elect new officers.
The meal will be dutch style beginning at 6 p.m. with the
meeting to begin at 6:30 p.m. A meeting room has been reserv
ed. For more information call 649-3211 or 649-3241.
Roberts Family Plans Reunion
All decendents and kin of Bob and Nancy Massey Roberts
are invited to a family reunion at the Beech Community
Center, Reems Creek, near Weaverville on Saturday, June 21,
from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The family is looking forward to a wonderful time. Please
come and bring food, and join in the fellowship and fun,
Alcoholics Anonymous Group Meets
The Mars Hill Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every
Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Mars Hill Methodist Church.
Anyone with an alcoholic problem may attend. There are no
fees or dues. For more information call Doug at 689-2941.
Laurel FVD Holds Flea Market
The Laurel VFD will hold a flea market on June 21 beginn
ing at 8 a.m. at the Fire Hall on Hwy 212. Everyone is invited.
Future Of Mars Hill's
Water Supply In Doubt
The Mars Hill Board of Aldermen
have been left In a state of uncertain
ty as to the costs of repairing its
spillway at its watershed, or even if
the itatr Deportment at Natural
Resources and Community Develop
ment will even accept such repair.
Because of that uncertainty, the
board had to pass up the possibility of
a water supply improvement grant
through the Appalachian Regional
Commission. In a special meeting
called by town manager Darhyl
Boone last Saturday, the board was
forced to let a June 13 application
date go by because application would
commit the town to accepting and
matching the ARC funds.
The grant would force the town to
come up with $200,000 for the water
supply improvements. Even with
$75,000 from county resources, Boone
told the board that the town could not
expect to have such funds available in
the near future. The town, with its
construction of its sewer system, is
close to its state regulated limits for
bond monies.
"Even if federal funds were
available," siad Augusta Jenkins.
"we'd still have to replace lines and
repair spillway."
Mars Hill is hoping, through a study
provided by the engineering firm of
MASpBj&BaatHQtt convrnce theDNK
to ailo\f them to repair the spillway.
There is a strong possibility that the
DNR may rejecljthe study's deter
minations and require Mars Hill to
completely rebuild its reservoir.
The town has also been informed
that environmental legislation cur
rently before Congress may soon re
quire all surface water supplies to
have filtering plants installed If
passed such a filtering plant would
cost between one million to two
million dollars, according to Boone.
Such prohibitive costs had the
board giving more serious attention
to alternatives such as the joint water
project being studied by Weaverville
and Woodfin for the Big Ivy River.
Boone also told the board that studies
indicate good aquifers are located in
the California Creek area and the
town might want to consider a well
system in the future.
-Continued on Page H
$131.000 Spent
School Board Attempts
To Cut Surplus Funds
By WILLIAM LEE
Concerned that the county commis
sion may appropriate any surplus
funds from this to include in next
year's budget, the Madison County
Board of Education went on a small
spending spree, allocating a total of
$131,295 in repairs and replacement
of desks and equipment.
Topping their shopping list was the
replacement of student and teacher
desks at six of the county's elemen
tary schools. Allowing for a dis
counted ten percent, as purchased
through state contracts, the total bill
came to $89,800 for desks at Mars
Hill, Laurel, Spring Creek, Walnut.
Marshall, and Hot Springs. Mars Hill
proved the most expensive single
school to outfit with new desks, re
quiring 486 desks at a cost of $36,400
School Superintendent Robert Ed
wards, in making the recommenda
tion to the board, told them that most
of the desks were over twenty years
old, and marked and carved up over
the years. He produced a list of need
ed improvements or repairs provided
by each of the school principals over
the last four months.
"Each one, with the exception of
the two new schools (Madison High
and Marshall Primary) have ex
pressed the need for new furniture,"
Edwards said. "As long as we're be
ing forced to spend our money, we
might as well remedy this problem
first."
The school board also approved the
spending of $25,596 to repair and
replace the atrium windows along the
Madison High School library. The
estimate, submitted by Britt and
Tilson Company, also included id:
stalling two airlock doors to the
afrfum "The doors and window
frames will b? rtiaHfe of bronze Bifitt
and Tilson also made an estimate for
$300 less if done in aluminum, which
the board declined as a less sturdy
material for the job, according to
Gerald Young.
The board also approved $2,935 for
paving of the parking lot at Marshall
Primary. Mars Hill Elementary had
two repair jobs approved. After three
months of deliberation and study it
was determined that the light fixtures
donated from the courthouse were not
sufficient for the six upstairs rooms
at the school, and Ron Martin's bid of
$5,570 to replace the lights and swit
ches was approved. The board also
allocated the expenditure of $3,694 to
Smith Flooring and Tile to replace
the tiling in the girl's bathroom.
The school board also approved the
purchase of two, used 15-passenger
vans for $3,700. The school surplus
vans are a 1981 Dodge for $2,000, and
a 1977 Dodge for $1,700.
In compliance with an ordinance
passed by the town of Marshall, the
board also gave the go ahead for the
construction of grease traps at
Madison High and Marshall Elemen
tary. The board also anticipated
another grease trap for the Mars Hill
School once hookup to the new sewer
treatment plant is completed.
The traps are designed to hold the
grease and other food particles from
the cafeteria drains so they do not
enter the sewer system. Construction
of the first trap at Madison High has
alreeady begun. Although no exact
funds were allocated, Franklin
Anderson estimated the three traps
would cost approximately $15,000.
The board of education expressed a
desire to work out a compromise with
the county commissioners about
future administrative offices for the
school board. Although the commis
sioners extended their eviction from
their current courthouse offices until
July 1, the board asked for another 30
days to find a new location. They in
structed Supt. Edwards and school
board attorney Larry Leake lo ap
proach the commissioners in order to
reach an amiable solution.
"We have only three alternatives at
our disposal," Edwards said. "There
are no rental properties available in
the Marshall area, so we must either
buy an existing building, or find a site
to build upon, or move upstairs here
in the courthouse."
"If this was known a year in ad
vance, we could have made plans for
an administration building and sub
mitted our budget to include it," Ed
wards added. "As submitted our cur
rent budget had no allocation for even
rent, which it seems we may now
need."
Asked what form of compromise he,
hoped to work oaf? iRWIley Larry"
Leake said they would first have to
discuss readjusting die budget accor
dingly and determine where a central
administrative office will be located.
"What the board of education is try
ing to work out is a solution that is
satisfactory to everyone," Leake
said.
Leake, who serves as legal counsel
to both the school board and the coun
ty commissioners, added that the
commissioners were not obligated to
provide monies for office rental,
beyond allocated adequate funds for
the general school budget. For the
past 40 years the county commission
had provided office space rather than
adding appropriate operating costs to
the school budget.
In other business, the board of
education heard from Leigh Dudasik
and Cassie Pavone of the Rape Crisis
Center. The Rape Crisis Center had
first approached the board about
Josef And Betsy Vandermeer ?
teaching classes to children on self
protection, rape and abuse preven
tion, in April but were turned down.
The two representatives from the
Rape Crisis Center demonstrated to
the board the intent of their classes
and the materials covered.
"Our purpose is to involve the
children with these concerns, but
without raising their fears." said
Leigh Dudasik, outreach coordinator
for the Madison County Rape Crisis
Center "We instead attempt to
gradually explore the types of situa
tions where a child is most
vulnerable "
"It is of the upmost importance to
us that we not raise fears in the
children," added Cassie Pavone of
the Buncombe County Rape Crisis
Center. "We don't talk of sexual
assault in early years. We talk in
stead of rules children need to learn
to follow in dealing with strangers."
?Continued on Pa hp hi
MARSHALL PRIMARY holds kindergarten graduation. Chil
dren from three kindergarten classes participated in gradu
ation ceremonies June 5. The program consisted of song and
dance performed by the children.
HVmrshall Turns Pool
Over To Committee
The board of aldermen of the town
of Marshall spent most of this past
Monday's meeting batting back and
forth the possibilities of opening the
Marshall pool and recreation center.
They ultimately determined that the
costs of liability insurance had
become to high for them to take on
the responsibility.
The board spent two hours of its
meeting listening to citizens offer
suggestions for opening the pool
before arriving at the solution that, if
the pool is to open, it will have to be
operated by an independent commit
tee willing to pay the operating costs.
A proposal had been made by Tom
and Angie Simpson to select a
volunteer director and board to
oversee a Marshall Recreation
Center, yet would have the town re
taining all liability.
"The cost of liability has
skyrocketed," said Ed Niles. "If we
could get liability for the pool, we'd
be all for it."
Niles went on to say that Marshall
has checked with a couple of in
surance companies and very few
want to provide such coverage. "Only
one offered to cover the pool, at a cost
of (1,200 for three months."
Simpson told the board that he
didn't see how an individual could
operate at a profit with liability in
surance. Faye Reid reminded him
that any individual or group that uses
town property is responsible for pro
viding their own liability, pointing out
-Contimird on Pagr 10
V
Sharing Their Blessing With Children In Need
I
By WILLIAM LEE
"How many people do you know who would take in seven
kids, including handicapped and biracial, and treat them like
their own?" one neighbor replied when asked about Josef and
Betsy Vandermeer of Weaverville.
Indeed, how many would? But the Vandermeers have taken
in 27 children over the past 18 years, enough to raise three
generations of children and watch them grpw into adulthood.
"Most people their age are at that stage of life where they
feel they have earned some time off," said Father John Solari,
pastor of St. Eugene's Catholic Church in Asheville where
Josef Vandermeer also serves as deacon. "Tfce Vandermeer's
feel their time of service to the Lord is increasing."
"I think they see this as a particular miniMfy from the Lord
that he and his wife are able to fulfill," Solaif added.
?
"We've never been ones who believe you can just preach the
gospel, you have to live it," said Josef Vandermeer. "We had
three kids of our own, believed we had a warm, loving home,
so my wife and I decided we wanted to share that with another
child who was not so fortunate." , 3 ,
Josef and Betsy Vandermeer decided to see what children
were in the most need of the supportive environment they
vished to provide Their research show them that it was the
physically and mentally handicapped and biracial children
that needed homes the most . .
"We're not flagwavers, we didn't mean to be," said Josef
Vandermeer. "We just wanted to provide a good home and
help those kids who needed help."
An art teacher at the University of North Carolina in
Asheville, Josef Vandermeer's generosity and self-sacrifice is
not limited to adopting and raising children. He also is a
volunteer counsellor for the Mountain Area Hospice, visiting
with terminally-ill cancer patients and their families.
' 'The hospice group tries to help the terminally-ill to die with
dignity," explained Father Solari. "Through their counselling
they hope to help these people meet death with a more serene
and peaceful outlook in their home environment."
Vandermeer, an ordained minister, also works for the
Asheville-Buncombe Christian Ministry, an inter-,
denominational assistance organization that counsels and
ministers to prisoners at Craggy Prison and the Asheville City
Jail.
As deacon at St. Eugene's, Vandermeer serves as a spiritual
minister for widowed, divorced or separated people at
Asheville Catholic Family Services.
All this has earned Josef Vandermeer the 1906 Jefferson
Award for public service. Established in 1972 by Samuel S.
Beard, the award honors those demonstrating the highest
ideals and achievement in public service.
Nor has the Vandermeer s dedication to family vs
shown through the love they exte jtotl lec Udren. go unnotic
ed rwo years ago Josef and Betsy Vane rmeer visited the
Reagan's in tH&phite "
I
need roots and wings. The family is rudimentary to the child's
development, but it gives them independence so they can go on
their own."
Overcoming the scars left behind, however, is never an easy
task, especially when dealing with children who have been
physically or sexually abused, abandoned by their parents, or
lived in unsuitable homes where parents were alcoholics or
drug abusers. Everyone of these children have made their
way to the Vandermeer's home, along with the handicapped,
burn victims, and those with birth defects or mentally defi
cient.
^They do test you, especially in the beginning," Josef
Vandermeer explained. "We had a 14-year old who really
didn't believe genuine love could exist. She had never ex
perienced that."
"She probably thought we were fake and two months down
the line it would all fall apart. It takes a lot of tone to over
come the barriers. "
For some children coming out of foster care love is only
shown in terms of material gifts. Abuse or
parents was often followed by gifts given
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