Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / Feb. 4, 1988, edition 1 / Page 1
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NEWS RECORD Serving Mac/ison And Northern Buncombe Counties Thursday, February 4, 1988 Madison and North Buncombe's high school varsity basketball teams are In the middle of their K?.om. See Page 7 Father Dave Hinchen of Hot Springs writes o? his recent trip to Nicaragua. See Page 5 AsheviUe Mayor Louis Bissetie, left, and Dr. Otis Duck of Mars Hill announce the forma tion of a regional group that will lobby for BILL STUDENC PHOTu the creation of an interstate highway on the route of U.S. 23 through Madison County. Regional Group Calls For 1-26 Extension Bv BILl. STiinirMr Editor ASHEVILLE ? Representatives from ail over Western North Carolina have joined forces in a regional effort to convince state and federal highway officials to convert U.S. 23 into an in terstate highway. The newly formed Interstate 26 Corridor Association held a press conference Tuesday to announce strategies to lobby for improvements to U.S. 23 north of Mars Hill. "This association is being formed to expedite improvements to U.S. 23 from Mars Hill to the Tennessee line, which would significantly upgrade the route from Asheville to Johnson City (Tenn.)," said Asheville Mayor Louis Bissette, co-chairman of the association. "We don't believe there is another project we know about in Western North Carolina that could have the ; economic impact on the region that the 1-26/1-181 corridor would have," i said Dr. H.F. Robinson, chancellor | 'There will be a tremendous impact, we feel, in Madison County from tourism increase once the highway is complete.' Dr. H.F. Robinson 1-26 Association Co-chairman emeritus of Western Carolina Univer sity and association co-chairman. The N.C. Board of Transportation, in its Transportation Improvement Program announced last year, push ed the upgrading of U.S. 23 higher on its list of road projects planned for the next decade. But the plan only calls for the beginning of planning in 1993 and right-of-way acquisition in 1995. The state currently has no money allocated for the right-of-way acquisition. The 1-26 Corridor Association says that's not soon enough. Tennessee is proceeding with plans to widen a 15-mile two-lane section of U.S. 23 from Erwin to the North Carolina line. When that work is completed by 1992, a four-lane, interstate-quality highway will end at Madison County, association members said. "It is important that North Carolina get on the ball and complete a span of U miles from Mars Hill to the Tennessee line at approximately the same time Tennessee completes their section from Erwin to the North Carolina line," said association vice chairman Dr. Otis Duck of Mars Hill. Duck called the new organization "the coalition to bridge the gap - Sams Gap, that is." "The problem is we'll have a four lane interstate ending there at the -Continued on back page Efforts To Save Bridge Fail; Park Still Possible oy DILiL 9I UUEii>t and YVETTE WESSEL bdiwru to save the old Kedmon bridge near Marshall have failed, as contractors working for the N.C. Department of Transportation removed most of the bridge last week. But Frank Roberts, a member of Madison County's Historical Struc tures Committee, is still working to create a county riverfront park at the site of the bridge. Roberts, a Marshall real estate agent, attempted to beat the clock last week, seeking a judicial order that would have halted the demolition of the bridge. Roberts also filed a legal complaint seeking to prevent the demolition of the bridge. But Superior Court Judge C. Walter Allen refused last Wednesday to grant a temporary restraining order. Roberts had hoped that th* hriflgy, built in 191C could serve as the cor nerstone of a proposed park at Red mon. Although the bridge is all but gone (only two spans remain), he is still working to obtain approval of a park at the site. Roberts spoke Monday night to the Madison County Board of Commis sioners about plans for the park. His proposal calls for the creation of an observation deck/fishing pier with the remaining spans of the bridge, a park area with picnic tables and grills, and ample parking space. The park will provide access to the French Broad River for canoers and rafters. He called the stretch of river one of . the safest sections in which canoes ' and inner tubes can be launched. Schools Consider Policy On AIDS By BILL 8TUDENC . Editor The Madison County Board of Education is considering the adoption of a policy regulating students and school employees with com municable diseases -- including AIDS. Joan Casteiloe, Madison County schools' health education coor dinator, presented the school board Monday night with a proposed AIDS policy based on the policy in effect in the Aahcville City School system. A student in the Asheville system was diagnosed last year as having an Consolidation Not Discussed tion of Madison County schools is the educational topic foremost on minds of most county AIDS-related disease, and that stu dent has continued to attend school without incident, Castelloe said. And the reason is that Asheville school of ficials already had a policy in place, she said. Although AIDS does not currently seem to be a problem in Madison County, nationwide statistics indicate that it may only be a matter of time. "I would like for this draft to be passed as quickly as possible," Castelloe said. "At the rapid rate that AIDS is spreading, it is projected that by 1991, AIDS will be the fourth leading cause of death. It will have surpassed automobile accidents." An estimated 2.5 million people may be infected with the AIDS virus, and some SO, 000 people have been diagnosed as suffering from AIDS -? Aquired Immune Deficiency Syn drome. "It's Just a matter of time before we have to deal with someone who does have the AIDS vims," Castelloe said. , jRwBkv?' ^3 He also said displays are planned that wouM WgfaMght the historical significance of the river, the railroad and the old Asheville-Buncombe I Turnpike used to drive livestock (rom '^tammane tp tilwviU*. Roberts asked commissioners Mon day for $5, 000-110, 000 in "temporary funds" from the county's treasury for thf}jar)t project- ; A The funds would be paid back later from the General Assembly, Roberts Capps Hospitalized After Meeting Robert Capps, chairman of the Madison County Board of Com missioners, was hospitalized early Tuesday morning after complain ing of chest pains. Capps was taken to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville shortly after the completion of a lengthy meeting of the commis sioners Monday night. > Capps will remain in the ' hospital for tests for a couple of days. He is apparently in no danger because of the pains. "I came in last night to let them check me out to see if I had a heart attack," Capps said from his hospital room Tuesday night. "I think a little high blood pressure caused some discomfort." Capps said he has had trouble with high blood pressure for some time. During Monday night's board meeting, the commissioners ad journed into executive session for nearly three hours of discussion on the firing and rehiring of four employees of the Mars Hill unit of the Madison County Emergency Medical Service. Capps said he does not believe discussions during the meeting played a role in his causing his chest pains. Mid. House Speaker Liiton B. Ramsey has agreed to request during the summer "abort session" the $15,000 in initial start-up coat of the park and 17,000 needed annually for security and other costs, he said. But commissioners said they could not commit county funds without a written promise from the legislature. "Appropriating money in anticipa tion of money puts us in a bind," said Commissioner Reese Steen. Robert Capps, chairman of the commissioners, told Roberts that he had not heard anyone express sup port for the park. But Roberts showed commis sioners petitions containing the names of 250 signatures of residents in support of the project. -Contlnaed on Page 8 Harold Wallin ...seeking 10th term 3 Candidates File As Deadline Passes Prom Staff Reports Races for county and state office have heated up in the past week as three candidates added their names to the list of contenders seeking elec tion in November. C.N. Willis of Mars Hill waited until an hour before Monday's noon filing deadline to throw his name into ring as a Republican candidate for one of two state senate seats representing the 28th Senatorial District. Madison County's incumbent tax collector, Democrat Harold Wallin, made it official last Wednesday, fil ing for re-election. Angle Roberts Simpson, in her first bid for elected office, filed Thursday as the Republican Party's candidate for Madison County register of deeds. Simpson will run against Democratic incumbent Jena Lee Buckner, who is seeking her her fourth term as register of deeds. Buckner filed for re-election on Jan. 4 , the opening day of filing. "I was raised to believe in doing all you can do to improve things. I feel one way to do that is to run for office," said Simpson, granddaughter of Dr. Jim Hutching, who served one term in the state senate. -Coatinaed on Page S Angle Simpson ?register of deeds candidate Developer: Inspections Have Been 'Lax' By EMMA LOU WAMBLES A Mars Hill rati estate developer has asked town oCOdala to take steps to ensure that new buildings in Mars Hill are being properly inspected. Bob Phillips of Phil-Co Realty told the Mars Hill Board of Aldermen at its Monday meeting thai he It aware of buildings valued at **>,<? or more that oould net meet minimum state That, wi for minimum state building codes en forced in our county," he Mid. "I think the people of the county have been gypped by lax enforcement of minimum state building codes." The board took no action on dismissing the currant Arms or selec ting new ones. Mars Hill Mayor Joseph Godwin exprwed Ms dismay at thecc di! y * centrally locate, building
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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Feb. 4, 1988, edition 1
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