Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / May 12, 1988, edition 1 / Page 1
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pPMADISON * COUNTV LIBRARY GENERAL DELIVERY MARSHALL 00039 NC 28793 The NEWS RECORD Serving Madison And Buncombe Counties Vol. 88 No. 19 Thursday, May 12, 1988 25c WNC Leaders Intensify 1-26 Efforts Study: Interstate Would Provide Jobs By BILL STUDENC Editor Upgrading U.S. 23 north of Mars Hill to interstate standards would mean up to 170 new jobs and higher wages for workers in Madison County. That's one of the conclusions of a report on the economic and safety benefits of a new interstate highway through Madison County. Richard Stiles, regional economist for WNC Tomorrow, presented the report recently to the 1-26 Corridor Association, a group interested in seeing In terstate 26 extended from Asheville through Madison County to the Tennessee state line. The state of Trttnessee is cur rently at work on Improvements to a 15-mile stretch of U.S. 23 from Erwin, Tenn., to the state line at Sams Gap, with work to be com pleted in 1992. There are no plans for immediate improvements on the North Carolina side of the line, although the N.C. Department of Transportation is planning to begin acquisition of land for right of way for a four-lane highway in 1995. The 1-28 Corridor Association is calling for DOT to move up its timetable on widening U.S. 23, and to upgrade planned improvements to interstate standards. Associa tion members plan to flock en masse to a DOT meeting Tuesday in Asheville to make that point (see related story). Part of their ammunition will be the economic report from Stiles. An interstate highway through Madison County would help boost the county's economy. Stiles said in his report to the 1-26 Corridor Association. 'Madison County is currently ranked as one of the 20 most economically distressed counties in North Carolina. Not only does the job market afford limited op portunities, but those employed receive only 75 percent of the average statewide wage," Stiles said. "Upgrading U.S. 23 to interstate standards would mean more jobs -Continued on Page 9 Marshall Pool To Open By IIASSIE PONDER Starr Writer Children in the Marshall area can get their swimming suits but of the at tic. Contrary to rumors circulating throughout town, the Marshall swim ming pool will be open for business as usual this summer. To prove that fact, the Marshall Board of Aldermen agreed Monday night to hire Polly Caldwell to run the pool this year. The board also agreed to patch and repaint the pool. Once the repairs are made the pool will be opening - pro bably around the second week in June. Caldwell, who supervised the operation of the Marshall swimming pool last year, will be responsible for -Continued on Page 12 w Group To Pack DOT Highway Meeting From Staff Reports A Western North Carolina organization trying to convince state officials to build an in terstate highway through Madison County plans to send hundreds of supporters to Tuesday's meeting of the state Board of Transporta tion in Asheville. The 1-26 Corridor Association, at a recent meeting, agreed to have as many people as possible at the transportation board's meeting next week to show support for ef forts to move up the timetable on the proposed interstate. Currently, the transportation board's Transportation Improve ment Plan (TIP) only calls for the widening of U.S. 23 north of Mars Hill to four lanes, with right-of way acquisition to begin in 1995. But members of the 1-26 Cor ridor Association, a group of WNC government, industry and business leaders, say they want that project moved up on the TIP schedule. The group is also hoping that the road will not be just a four-lane highway, but a continuation of In terstate 26, which currently ends in Asheville. Because it is the Board of Transportation's responsibility to set the priority for highway pro jects in North Carolina, the association is hoping to convince board members to move the pro posed improvements to U.S. 23 higher on the TIP schedule. Board of transporation members will be conducting a review of the TIP plan at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College The 1-26 Corridor Association is also circulating petitions to collect signatures from Western North Carolina residents supporting the project. Other strategies include the distribution of booklets, brochures and buttons prior to Tuesday's TIP meeting. Association members have said that an interstate highway through Madison County would -Continued on Page 9 Former Weaverville Councilwotnan Kathy Young is one of five applicants seeking a vacant seat on the council. Town officials BILL STUDENC PHOTO interviewed the candidates this week and may decide as early as Monday which appl icant will get the job. BILL STUDENC PHOTO Photographer Marty Harris pauses on a bridge over the French Broad River during a recent visit. i '? - i Picture This ... Photographer Searches NC For Modern-Day Mayberry By HASSIE PONDEK staff Writer Marty Harrow, Jtamsutesviiie it does . And he's spending the ? ? the fictii al TV town & Harris is waft** ftcroes North arolina ir earth of quain own id to ptotofrapi a book U*-' wiH b< reatyared riosMy pAkjtuna >l out-of-the-way 0a<t Carolina. Harris worked for five yean for the Statesville Journal. Ever since he was a teenager, he wanted to write a book wasn't turning ed. I th? decided that walking would ?tter, Council Seat Up For Grabs In Weaverville Bv BILL STUDENf - -M-MV 7 ? ' V- f ? ' m^f Editor The Wepverville Town Council in terviewed five applicants Monday night to fill a vacancy created by the March resignation of Councilwoman Ann Williams Williams resigned after serving on the council for only three months, citing "personal reasons." Her resignation came during the height of controversy surrounding the satellite annexation of Reems Creek Golf Club Remaining council members agreed to allow any interested Weaverville resident to apply for the position on the town council. During that sign-up period, which ended April It, five residents appliecWor the seat on the council. Candidates vying for the vacant position are former Council woman Kathleen Young, who lost in her bid for re-election in November; Robert Dreibelbeis, chairman of the Weaver ville Board of Adjustments; John Dodd, a salesman living in Weaver - ville; Robert Neiger, retired from the U.S. Air Force and now employed at the VA Hospital in Oteen; and. Colin L. Hudson, a former employee of the Buncombe County Tax Office and current employee at RCV Turf and Tractor. Those applicants were put on the "hot seat" Monday night, as the -Continued on Page 12 Hot Springs Delayd Promotional Plans From Starr Reports The Hot Springs Board of Aldermen postponed a decision Monday on a proposed contract with a retired marketing expert who has offered to help promote the town for the sum of $1 a year. The board wants town attorney Larry Leake to look over the propos ed contract with Jim Oliver, a retired promotions and marketing expert from Hendersonville, before it is ap proved. "They decided they wanted Larry Leake to look at it before they make any decision," said Hot Springs Mayor Kenny Ramsey. The board's main concern with the contract is expense, Ramsey said. Although the contract with Oliver would only cost the town $1 a year, aldermen are concerned that promo tional efforts could result in other ex penses, he said. Ramsey said he is disappointed that the board did not approve the contract, and is hoping that Leake will give the contract his stamp of ap Ramsey, 285 Graduates Receive Degrees At MHC Special to The News Record Degrees were awarded to 285 students Sunday afternoon ~ and an honorary degree presented to N.C. House Speaker Litton B. Ramsey ? at Mars Hill College's commencement services. AS Mars Hill College President Dr. Fred B. Bentley presented the degrees as the Baptist school brought; its ISM academic yew to a close. ,, A colorful part of the ceremonies was the presentation of an honorary degree to Ramsay "No one has done more for the) pie of Western North Carolina Bentiey urged the graduates to set aside a few moments during the rest or the day to "dedicate yourself to God's calling to utilize your talents, knowledge and skills to serve others^ making this a better world for all of Dr. J. Wesley Grayson** Laguna Hills, Calif , was recognized during the ceremonies. Me is Mars Hill Col lege's most generous benefactor, fun ding scholarships that currently more than 100 students each i Earlier In the day, Dr Leon Smith, "at of the N.C Baptist State proval. "To me, this is one of those things that you might get offered every 50 years. I wish they would have gone ahead and passed on it without dragg ing it out, but the new board members want to make sure that everything is up to par," Ramsey said. "They are afraid there will be a lot of expenses, but the contract plainly says that everything would have to be approved by the town board, even the purchase of a pencil," he said. "He's not authorized to make any pur chases unless it's approved by the town board." Oliver learned of the town of Hot Springs and its efforts to attract in dustry and tourism after meeting at the Asheville Mali a former resident of the town. He then offered his services to Hot Springs for 91 ? year. Ramsey said he hopes to call a special meeting or poll the town board members by telephone on the proposed contract after Leake has an opportunity to review it.
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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May 12, 1988, edition 1
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