BRARY
?ELI VERY
NIC
________
RECORD
trig The People Of Madison CfijvnfySfow 1 90 1
Thursday, October 9, 1984
25c
Standing Room Only
At Second Forum
By ROBERT KOENIG
More than 250 residents crammed into the Little Theatre of
Madison H.S. to hear local candidates discuss the issues Mon
day night at the second Candidates' Forum conducted by the
Madison County League of Women Voters. Interested voters
stood to hear the candidates explain their positions on issues
ranging from law enforcement and tax collection to water and
ambulances.
Democrat and Republican candidates for sheriff, county
commission, tax collector, clerk oc courts and school board
took part in the forum. All invited local candidates took part in
the forum except Republican Clarence Cutshall, who is
reported to be recovering from a recent heart attack. Cutshall
also missed last week's forum in Beech Glen due to illness.
While both Republican and Democratic candidates agreed
that improved water srevices were needed in order to attract
industrial development, the candidates suggested several dif
ferent solutions to county water problems.
Democrat John Hensley suggested that the new county com
missioners meet with the mayors of Marshall, Mars Hill and
Hot Springs to discuss the town's problems. Hensley's running
mate, Bobby Capps of Mars Hill, told voters, "We have a lot of
water we're not taking advantage of... We have the French
Broad River and watersheds in these mountains. I think there
would be federal money available if we went after it."
Democrat Reese Steen suggested that a county-wide water
service is needed to attract industry.
Republican candidate Bob Phillips also suggested that a
county-wide water system be considered if the Ivy River dam
project Mars Hill, Weaverville and Marshall are studying
should prove unfeasible.
All five county commission candidates agreed that educa
tion must be one of the county's top priorities in the years
ahead. Republican Clarence Faulkner said the county must
attract new industry in order to build the tax base. He told the
audience. "We need a larger tax base in order to fund all our
programs 1 think taxes are as high as Madison County can
stand."
Bob Phillips warned that "Without quality education, we're
not going to get the economic development that we need."
Bobby Capps also listed education as one of his top three
priorities, but also said, "We've got to make the ambulance
service, the Dept. of Social Services and the other services
work correctly."
For the second time in eight days, all five county commis
sion candidates endorsed a proposal to hire a county manager
to oversee government operations on a day-to-day basis.
The Republicans and Democrats were also in agreement
regarding the Madison County Planning Board. Steen, a
former member of the Mars Hill Planning Board, told the au
dience, "Careful planning is the key to any development pro
: U ? - . - T ~
Marshall Aldermen Meet Oct 13
The Marshall Board of Aldermen will hold the regular mon
thly meeting on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall. The
meeting is open to the general public.
Madison Athletic Boosters To Meet
The Madison High Athletic Boosters will meet on Oct. 13 at
7:30 p.m. in the student activity room at the high school to
determine if the boosters will continue to operate as a support
organization for the athletic programs at Madison H.S.. If
members wish to continue, officers for the 1966-87 school year
will be elected.
All persons interested in supporting high school athletics in
Madison County are urged to attend.
riciL
, -? -
Republicans Plan Supper
mtr?
The Madison County Republican Party will hold a covered
dish supper on Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. at Jewel Church's farm in the
Sleepy Valley Community. The dinner is open to the public and
Republican candidates (or local offices are expected to attend.
To reach the Church farm, follow U.S. 25-70 to Sleepy Valley
just before the Antioch Cemetery and follow the signs.
Legion Auxiliary To Meet
The American Le#on Ladie Auxiliary will hold i ilar
>n Oct 14 at 7 p.m in th< Legion Hal) on
All in em ben and prospective
gram. The county would be wel off to follow their recommen
dations."
Saying that he had never heard of the Planning Board befofe
last week, Clarence Faulkner declined to comment.
There was also agreement concerning open meetings of
county government. Referring to a pledge made last week by
District I school board candidate Joseph Godwin, Bobby
Capps said he would not vote to go into executive session
"unless the law required us to." Reese Steen also said he
would avoid closed sessions except to discuss personnel deci
sions and real estate acquisitions.
Bob Phillips told the audience that he had taken part in an
executive session with the current commissioners early in
their present term. Describing himself as "a lamb in a wolves'
den," Phillips said he discussed concerns with the commis
sioners during their closed session, but that no action was ever
taken during open session.
The county's emergency medical service also drew com
ments from the candidates. John Hensley suggested that the
new commissioners would need to look into the service's
operations. Reese Steen suggested upgrading EMT salaries
when they complete increased training and improve their
skills.
Capps got a laugh when he told the audience, "Being in the
funeral business, I know something about ambulances."
Capps went on to say, "I want thise ambulances to have
whatever they need to save lives. I want people who are train
ed to save lives."
Saying that "The Madison County EMS leaves something to
be desired," Bob Phillips blamed "a lack of supervision" for
the condition of county ambulances.
Former Marshall Mayor Betty Wild and Democrat Harold
iVallin again debated tax collections. Mrs. Wild reminded
voters that uncollected taxes currently total "over half a
nillion dollars" while Wallin countered that his 92.4 percent
Election rate was better than the 85 percent cnlected before
le IpOk Office. ConU: Psr?V v . \>j t * s
4-H Week Begins
MADISON COUNTY 4-H'ers RELEASED GREEN
BALLOONS to mark the start of National 4-H Week. More
stories and pictures appear on Page 6.
UP IT GOES.. .After six months of restoration work, cupola to
Madison County Court House was returned to the roof on
Saturday, completing the current restoration project.
Candidates Discuss
Arts, Music, Buses
By KOBKKT KOKNH.
i Arts and music education in the
schools was one of the chief topics
discussed by local school board can
didates during Monday night's Can
didates Forum at Madison High
School.
The Republican challengers and
Democratic incumbents for the three
District (1 seats fielded questions
from the capacity audience during
the two-hour session.
Madison County elementary
schools currently do not offer arts
and music instruction. The first ques
tion from the audience asked the can
didates ifthey thought such education
was important.
Republican Jim Baker pointed out
that the new Basic Education Plan
for North Carolina schools will soon
require arts and music education on
all grade levels. Baker said. "I don't
think you can leave out something as
important as music and arts,'' and
called for the inclusion of arts in
struction before the 1991 deadline for
implementing the plan.
Incumbents Bobby Ponder and Ed
Gentry said they supported arts
education, but said that the state dies
not currently fund arts and music in
structors Ponder said, "Madison
County is a poor county Madison
County doesn't pay for a single
teacher. We're trying to get the state
to fund a position. If they do. we'll
advertise it immediately."
Ed Gentry, while admitting that
"We are short on the arts,'' added
that "The present board of education
is very concerned about teaching arts
and teaching music. I don't think the
state will pay for music and art
teachers. Up until now. we haven't
had the funds to add teachers on our
own."
Republican Mike Jenkins said. "1
think we need to address ourselves to
this issue in the future."
There was disagreement concern
ing the county's dropout rate among
the candidates. School board chair
man Bobby Ponder defended the
county's rate, syaing that Madison
County's 9.5 percent dropout rate
compared favorably with the dropout
rate in neighboring WNC counties
where the rate is between 10 and 13
percent
Challenger Jim Baker said that _
even 9.5 percent was too high, poin
ting out that current rates mean that
some82 current Madison H.S
students will fail to graduate.
Democrat Floyd Wallin and Kd
Gentry sounded similar themes
Wallin said, ' ' I think the parents need
to take more interest in the schools'
while Gentry suggested that many
factors affected dropout rates Gen
try said parents need to stress the im
portance of education to their
children in the heme
Mike Jenkins said, "We need to
work together lo keep our children in
school." Jenkins' running mate. Jim
my Dean Hensley. said education
must be encouraged in the home
Hensley said education was not
stressed in his home and that tww
brothers drooped out of school in the
eighth grade.
As expected, the physical condition
of county school buildings was a topic
for debate Jim Baker said the county
was approaching a crossroads and
(Continued Page 7)
Mars Hill Tables Zoning
By WILLIAM LEE
The Mart HU1 Board of Alder men
held off once again on any passage of,
the proposed sign and zoning or
dinances in its meeting Monday
v in. Oct 6. J*
Town manager Darhyl Boone
received a letter earlier Monday
its demand for removal of billboards
along a primary highway. Federal
law requires towns that wish to ban
billboards must
from the owner.
to amarUze all non -conforming sign:
With gradual payments over a period
of time.
adhgtihe board to add ft
tfc requirements far
removai o The
Robert Phillips. Jack Phillips.
Jeanne Hoffman, Bill Zink, FYed
William*, and J F Robinson
The letter raised si* poinU of
disagreement with the sign or
dinance. the first two being obj?c
iions to the current restrictions oti
height and size of ground sigi.s The
merchants felt a 25 fOQthei#it limits
lion was too restrictive .inr<
allc^ wees sh" ltd vary depending on
u~"~ if ic situation j
low sign tends to
operated by FYed Williams. The mer
chants Mid that although several
members on tile zoning board believ
Inn sign would tx accep
tabh it is in fact 100 *q (eet larger
than allowed by Uv ordinance
The merehanl also naisaft o&Jec
" ?he >w?V proposed han on
and not:
:ls felt