MADISON COUNTY LIBRARY GENERAL DELIVERY MARSHALL NC Vol. 86 No. 41 +*r i. im?P*ge ^' Fv?> VS RECORD 'eople Of Madison County Since 1901 || Thursday, October 2, 1986 25c 150 Attend Candidates' Forum ' " ' " ? B ' X Commission Candidates Agree On County Manager Proposal I By ROBERT KOEN1G More than 150 voters attended an historic candidates meeting Monday night in Beech Glen. The meeting, sponsored by the Madison County League of Women Voters, allowed voters to question local candidates for county offices. Candidates for the county commission, District I school board, sheriff, tax collector and clerk of court were invited to address the meeting. All the candidates except Clarence Cut shall, a Republican candidate for the county commission, at tended Monday's meeting. Cutshall was reportedly ill and unable to attend. Voters attending the forum were asked to submit written questions to the candidates on 3x5 index cards. Moderator Bruce Phillips posed the questions to the candidates. Most questions were addressed to the county commission and school board candidates. Before answering the questions, the candidates were given one minute to introduce themselves and outline their posi tions. Although the county commission candidates offered differ ing views on many issues, all six were in agreement that coun ty commission meetings should be held during evening hours. Republican Bob Phillips of Mars Hill said, "Without some par ticipation from the citizens, I don't see how it will be possible for three men to run county government." Phillips also called for conducting a series of county meetings in communities out side of Marshall to get residents' input. The Republican and Democrat county commission can didates also agree on the need to hire a full-time county manager to oversee operation of local government. Democrat Bobby Capps of Mars Hill told the audience, "I don't think three county commissioners can do the job and the other jobs we have to do." Of the six candidates, only one, Bob Phillips, is retired. Republican Clarence Faulkner also endorsed the county manager system, saying the manager should also serve as an industrial recruiter. Attracting industry to Madison County was a theme both Republicans and Democrats sounded frequently during the Monday night meeting. Clarence Faulkner said, ''Industry is the number one priority. I'm not for sure what the county can do, but whatever is allowed by state law, we should do it." Bobby Capps linked industry with new school construction, saying, "Whatever it takes, we're going to have to do it. We need to work in every direction to get industry in here and the -Continued on Page 10) Community Calendar Monday Is Registration Deadline Monday, October 6 is the final day for Madison County residents to register to vote in the November 4 general elec tion. The Madison County Board of Elections office on Main Street in Marshall will be open on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Mon day, Oct. 6 to register county residents. Teenagers who will be 18 years old by November 4 are eligible to register for the elec tion. For more information, contact the Madison County Board of Elections at 649-3731. Candidates Forum Monday Night The Madison County League of Women Voters will sponsor a second Candidates' Forum on Monday, October 6 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre of Madison H.S. A Community Calendar an nouncement in last week's edition incorrectly reported that the meeting would be held on Oct. 5 The News Record regrets f hie orrAf uug vi i vi . Clarke Campaigns Hot Springs James McClure Clarke will be at the Lippard House on Walnut St. in Hot Springs on Oct. 6 from 9:30 until 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend. Hendon, Broyhill Attend Barbeque Rep. Bill Hendon and Sen. Jim Broyhill will be honored dur ing a family barbeque hosted by Gov. Jim Martin on Oct. 4 in the Asheville Civic Center from 6 until 8:30 p.m. Admission to THE CANDIDATES MET at Beech Glen Community Center on Monday night. Ques tions were asked of all candidates present running for school board, county commission, sheriff's office, tax collector and clerk of court. Over 150 citizens attended the two hour meeting, sponsored by the Madison County League of Women Voters. School Enrollment Declines By WILLIAM LEE Once again school enrollment in Madison County has declined, accor ding to the ten-day enrollment figures released by the State Department of Education. According to the new figures, Madison County has a total enroll ment of 2,754 students, down from the end of last year when enrollment was 2,849. The ten-day figures are of im portance because an increase enroll ment could have gained teachers for Madison County. Teacher allotments are based on state estimates from last year, and adjusted by actual at tendance at the beginning of the year. Bobby Jean Rice, general super visor for Madison County schools, says her own reports for the first full month show that attendance has since gone up to 2,778, but as yet have not been reflected in the state's com*^ 'r&rityrtk/ ; *" "Usually after Labor Day our at tendance goes up," said Dr. Rice. 'That trend, plus the new basic education program, probably means we will hold to the same level of teacher allotment." According to Dr. Rice, the best three of the first four state atten dance reports are used to adjust teacher allotments. t "It's part of a trend that has plagued our schools for a number of years," said Superintendent Robert L. Edwards. "We educate them, but they are forced to go elsewhere to find the jobs." "We're going to keep losing students until we have jobs in this county to keep the people here," add ed school board chairman Bobby Ponder. "We are losing our youth." "I certainly don't claim to have all the answers," Ponder continued. "All I know is that unless we can draw in dustry to this county, our attendance .figures are going to continue this downward spiral." A.''.? Ponder said the closing of Melville Shoe factory in Hot Spring* two years ago drastically cut into enrollment at Hot Springs Elementary School. The school has been further decimated by layoffs at Banner House , Hot Spr ings' other large employer. At the other end of the county, Mars Hill's two industries. Micro-Switch and Shadowline. have both had large layoffs over the past few years. "We're willing to do anything to help," said Ponder. "We've given room to A-B Tech for vocational training programs that would give our people the skills industry is look ing for when considering location. We haven't seen the results of their or our efforts as yet." "It is our duty as educators to give our students the knowledge and skills that they need in the world today," said Edwards "The shame of it is that they have to go elsewhere to find the jobs that pay for that education they got here." Current enrollment figure*, by scbpoia. are as follows: Madison High. K2I ; Mars IIHI 770: Marshall School. 307 ; Marshall Primary 221; l.aurel School, 193; Walnut School. 173; Hot Springs. IRS; and Spring Creek School 100. Evening Meeting Endorsed ? ot'SIS* ' By WILLIAM LEE At the Beech Glen "Meet The Can didates" meeting Monday night the four school board candidates seeking election from District I were in agree ment on many of the issues raised by the audience The four were in agreement when it came to hiring the best tenders available, getting more parents in volved in the schools, keeping well informed of education trends and the needs of Madison County schools, and the possibility of holding school board meetings at night. All four, for example, said they would be in favor of a bond referen dum to raise money for new schools if the people of Madison County wanted it Democratic incumbent Gerald Young said the extra half-cent sales tax to be set aside for capital outlay funds should go far in assisting the school board in renovating the