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i?~ The Wayne syille Mountaineer |
(^ a Published Twice-A-Week In The County Seat of Haywood County At T he Eastern Entrance Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park D ?
71st YEAR NO. 24 20 PAGES Associated Press " WAYNESVILLE, N. C., THURSDAY AFTERNOON, MARCH 22, 1956 $3.50 In Advance In Haywood and Jackson Counties
Bethel Man
Killed Early
Today When
Car Crashes
(Other picture on Page ()
Sherrlll Plemmons, 41, of the
Edwards Cove road n West Pi
geon, became Haywood County's
first 1956 traffic fatality when his
new car plunged into a rock cliff
at the intersection of Highways
110 and 276 shortly after midnight
Wee nesday.
Plemmons was found in his car
at 12:45 by Roy Caldwell of the
Lak< Logan road and five com
panions, who took him to the Hay
wood County Hospital. He died a
few minutes after his arrival at
the hospital.
Cpl. Pritchard H. Smith of the
State Highway Patrol said that
Plemmons was returning from
Canton in his 1956 Chevrolet and
apparently entered the intersec
tion at a high rate of speed. The
vehicle ran almost straight across
Highway 276 and struck the cliff
on the south side of the road, fin
ally coming to rest on its wheels
on the Lovejoy Road, according to
the corporal. When found, the car
was turned back toward Canton,
he added.
Cpl. Smith said that tire skid
marks were discovered at the site
of the wreck and that the right
turn-signal was blinking when
Plemmons was found, but he was
never able to actually start his'
right turn.
Parts of the wrecked car were
found within a radius of 60 feet
of where the vehicle finally stop
ped, the officer said.
Adding an ironic note to the
scene, he added, was a driving
manual found lying on the high
way which bore the printed mes
sage on its cover: N"How Did It
Happen? Could It Have Been Pre
vented? Drive Safely and Save a
Life."
Cpl. Smith said that the car was
(See Bethel Man?Page I)
56 Scouts
Get Awards
At Ceremony
Fifty-six Boy Scouts were pre
sented insignia of rank and merit
badges at the monthly Pigeon
River District court of honor Mon
day night.
The awards made included:
Tenderfoot?William B. Hawk
ins of Troop 7, Canton; Charles
B. Border of Troop S, Hazel wood:
David C. Nix of Troop 12, Bethel,
and Ronald E. Bailey, James W.
Trantham, David C. Crisp, Robert
W. Sparks, all of Troop 16, Can
ton.
Second Class?Charles Barton of
Troop 16.
First Class ? David Coman of
Troop 1 and Lawrence Clark of
Troop 16.
Merit Badges?William Stamey,
Stephen A. Cox, J. B. Hill III,
(See Boy Scouts?Page 8)
Troutmans Recovering
From Wreck Injuries
Mrs. Ted Troutman, daughter of
Cecil A. Mauney of Hazelwood,
and the late Mrs. Mauney, is still
convalescing at the Louise Obici
Memorial Hospital in Suffolk.
Virginia. Mrs. Troutman received
fractures of both legs, severe head
injuries, cuts and lacerations, in
an automobile wreck on February
25, in which accident her mother
was fatally injured.
Mr. Troutman and their four
year old son, Teddy, were also in
jured in this wreck but have been
discharged from the hospital and
are now recuperating at their resi
dence at 103 Roxdale Road, Hamp
ton, Virginia.
Mr. Troutman is the son of Mr.
Frank Troutman of Hazelwood.
I
The
I
Weather j
Mostly cloudy and warmer with
a chance of occasional rain in the
afternoon.
Official Waynesville Tempera
ture as reported by the State Test
Farm:
Date Max. Min. Pr.
March 19 41 23 .04
March 20 38 17 01
March 21 53 14
? * ? Li _ i
SHERKILL PLEMMONS of West Pigeon met
death in this 1956 model car last night at mid
night when the vehicle plunged into a rock cliff
|_
at the intersection of Highways 110 and 276. He
was en route from Canton to his home on the
Edwards Cove road. (Mountaineer Photo).
Highway Beautification I
Meeting Set Early In April
Waynesville Soil Judging
Team Takes Top Honors i
'56 High School
Graduates To Be
lust About Equal
According to present figures,
there will be 237 girls from Hay
wood's six high school graduat
ing this spring, and 230 boys.
The figure can change be
tween now and the list of May,
school officials said, in that
"final exams could make a dif
ference."
The six high schools are:
YVaynesville, Clyde, Canton,
Bethel, Fines Creek, Crabtrefc
Iron Duff.
Chief Arrington
Ends 30 Years
Of Naval Service
WiHiam J. Arrington. Chief
Boatswain's Mate, USN, Waynes
vllle, now on the retired list, has
received a letter of congratulations
upon completion of 30 years of
service to his country.
The letter was signed by Vice
Admiral J. L. Hplloway, Jr., chief
of the Navy's Bureau of Navy Per
sonnel. It was forwarded to the re
tired petty officer by Rear Ad
miral H. H. McLean, commandant
of the Sixth Naval District, with
headquarters in Charleston, S. C.
Chief Arrinton completed thirty
years of service, which includes
both active duty and Fleet Reserve
tiipe.
(See Picture Pace 1, Sec. 2)
The' Waynesville FFA soil judg
ing team took top honors in the
district contest in Bryson City
Tuesday. The team of three scored
382 points of a possible 540.
The Waynesville team was one of
eight teams in the Balsam Federa
tion taking part ilf the contest
Tuesday. Fines Creek with 369
points was second and Sylva came
in third with 367 points.
John Evans, of Fines Creek, was
the high individual scorer in the
district meet.
John Nesbitt, vocational teacher
here, said the local team will enter
the state contest in Asheboro,
April 7.
Mr. Nesbitt said he plars to take
the 3-man team, plus the two alter
nates to the state contest. This is
the first year of the program, and
much interest is being shown in
the work.
Three soil specialists have been
coaching the five teams in the
county ? at Waynesville, Bethel,
Crabtree-Iron Duff, Fines Creek
and Clyde. Those assisting the vo
cational instructors were Boy Beck,
soil conservation specialist, Jack
King, soil scientist, and Carlyle
Davis, soil conservation aid.
Members of the Waynesville
team included: Tom Franklin, a
sophomore, who scored 126 points;
Eugene Christopher, freshman,
scoring 128 points; Douglas Chris
topher, senior, scoring 128 points;
with alternates, Jack Farmer, sen
ior, scoring 122 points, and Eugene
Frady, freshman, scoring 108
points.
There are 11 items to be checked
in scoring each soil sample, with
special emphasis put on the capaci
ty of each sample of soil.
Leatherwood Favors Aid To
Schools 'Without Strings'
Lawrence B. Leatherwood, sup
erintendent of county schools, told
the Central School PTA Tuesday
night that he favors federal as
sistance to state schools "if the
funds can be obtained as grants-in
aid without strings attached."
He added that he would be op
posed to federal aid, nowever. if it
meant control of public schools
by the U. S. government.
At the PTA meeting, Mr. Lfath
erwood discussed federal aid aud
its relation to the schools, and
outlined some of the major needs
of the Haywood County school sys
tem
He said some of the chief needs
are additional classroom space at
Bethel and Waynesville high
schools, and pointed out that a
state survey panel two years ago
recommended that the present
auditorium at ViTTHS be made into
i
classrooms and a new auditorium
be built at the school
He said further that the agricul
tural shops at Bethel, Crafotree
Iron Duff, and Fines Creek need
repairs, and that most buildings
in the county system need some
minor repairs
A particular need at some
schools, he said, is for more paved
walkways and covered shelters
where children can board school
buses without getting out in the
rain
He said that such shelters would
be economical to build and men
tioned one at the Clyde Erwlft
High School in Buncombe County
which is 200 feet long and accom
modates a number of buses at one
time.
Glenn W Brown gave the de
votional at the meeting. PTA presi
dent Harry Whisenhunt presided
\
A cooperative program for the
beautification of Haywood County
roadsides will be discusad at a
meeting of Soil Conservation Dis
trict supervisors and State High
way Department officials at the
courthouse the first week in April.
Setting of the exact date of the
meeting is pen/Tng notification by
the highway ^fhcifcts as to when
they can be Jlere.
Expected to represent the State
Highway Department are F. H.
Brant of Baleigh, landscape en*
gineer; D. R. MeMichaei of Win
ston-Salem (title not given), and
H. A. Coggins of Sylva, 14th Dis
trict landscape supervisor.
The meeting will deal with a re
quest by the Haywood Soil District
supervisors that the Highway De
partment furnish planting stock to
be used for seeding of highway
roadbanks.
The Soil District would, in turn,
handle distribution of the planting
material and arrange for commun
ity participation in a program of
roadside beautification.
Roy R. Beck, soil conservation
specialist for Haywood County,
pointed out that seeding roadbanks
would reduce erosion which is fill
ing up streams and lakes, and also
would considerably improve the ap
pearance of the highways?which
is especially important in a tour
ist area.
Mr. Beck recently estimated that
from 15 to 25 per cent of the silt
going into Lake Junaluska and Wal-1
(See Beautification?Page 8)
I County-Wide Safety Program To Be
Set Up By Committee Monday Night
Much Interest
Being Shown In
Youths' Proposals
A group of Haywood officers,
school authorities, CDP represent
atives. ministers, and civic leaders
will meet Monday night, 7:30, to
formulate a county-wide highway
safety program, it was announced
this morning by C. T. McCuiston,
chairman of the Chamber of Com
merce sponsoring committee.
McCuiston this morning said "the
proposals of the young people as
presentel Monday in The Moun
taineer is one of the most refresh
ing things that has yet come be
fore this community.
""While I dp not know the iden
tity of the young folk who worked
out this program, I have urged that
they attend Monday's meeting and
discuss the details and mechanics
of the program with the county
wide committee.
"Since I am chairman, it is not
up to me to say just what the pro
gram of the county-wide group
shall be, but it appears that right
now, the program will be built
around the proposals of the young
folk. I feel they have something
solid, and a workable program all
the way through."
Some of the leaders who helped
formulate the proposals for the
young people have indicated they
will attend and gladly help in work
ing out a county-wide plan.
McCuiston said that every per
son he had contacted to attend
Monday's meeting was enthusiastic,
and promised to attend.
Lt. H. C. Johnson, Asheville, will
attend, and assist in the program.
A mass meeting was called some
15 days ago to discuss highway
safety, and some 600 citizens at
tended. Since that time, a number
of civic plubs have discussed the
program, and last Monday, a group
of young people of Waynesville
high presented some ideas of a
safety program to The Mountain
eer. The proposed program has
brought much favorable comments
from people in all walks of life.
Several officers said it was the
best thing that has happened thus
far in the safety campaign.
McCuiston said presidents of
student bodies of the county would
also attend the meeting Monday
night.
Arnold Robinson, president of
the W.N.C. Safety Council, will at
tend, and present plans for form
ing a Haywood County Safety
Council, ii was announced by Mc
Cuiston.
t
Hewin Morris Is
Smith's Manager
Hewin Morris is now manager
of Smith's Drug Store.
Mr. Morris came here over four
years ago, ahd succeeds R. L. Mc
Kittriok as manager of the firm.
No changes in policy or person
nel will be made, according to
Morris.
Strawberry School Slated;
Plants To Arrive Thursday
A meeting on the production of t
strawberries in Haywood County
will be held at the courthouse at i
10 am. next Thursday in conjunc
tion with the distribution of #0,000 \
strawberry plants ordered by i
lounty residents from a Chatta- j
riooga nursery.
County Agent Virgil L. Hollo- 1
way, extension horticulture spec- '
ialist. said that Henry Covington,
extension horticulture specialist, t
will be here to discuss the latest 1
research on strawberry produc- |
tion, including transplanting, fer- t
ilizalion, and cultivation.
The meeting is expected to last
ibout one hour
Mr. Holloway said that a truck
vil leave here Wednesday morn
ng for the Chattanooga nursery
ind return here Wednesday night,
rhe plants will be distributed at
:he county agent's office all day
rhursday, he added.
Mr. Holloway explained that
he growing of strawberries has
>een recommended as a new enter
>rise to increase Haywood Coun
y's farm income.
Whiskey 4Planted' In
Several Out-Buildings
Sheriff Fred Y. Campbell mid today a well-known bootlegger
is having a hard time keeping stock these days.
The man dares not keep liquor on his premises, and instead,
places it under bushes, under nearby ont houses, in ditches, cul
verts, and in shrubbery.
Tuesday night Chief Deputy Gene Howell while looking
around the area, pulled a gallon and a half from under a chicken
housr.
Last night Sheriff Campbell went back to the same vicinity
and found two gallons under a smoke house.
It was all white liquor, in quart Jars.
The man has lost about 12 gallons in the same manner, offi
cers mid.
OLD MAN WINTER left his calling card in tMs
woods on the south shore of Lake Junaluska just
one day before the arrival of sprinr. The snow
fall. which begun Sunday night, ranged front a
light covering in some portions of the count., to
five Inches at Max Patch. Since this snow, tem
peratures have been low, but the weather is ex
pected to start moderatinc today,
(Mountaineer Photo!.
Three Posts In County To
Be Filled In May Primary
Harry Kent
Dies At 40
Of Heart Attack
Thomas Harry Kent, formerly of
Waynesville, died unexpectedly
Wednesday night about 10.30
o'clock at his home, 1316 Miller
Street, Winston-Salem. According
to report* received here, he was
stricken with a heart attack wnile
watching television and died with
in a few minutes. He was 40 years
old.
Kent, who went to work with
Southern Bell Telephone and Tele
graph Co., at the age of 20. left
Waynesville In February, 1956 af
(See Harry Kent?Page 8)
The approaching primary came
into the spotlight more todajr, fol
lowing the announcement of Rep. <
Jerry Rogers that he would not
seek re-election for the Haywood 1
seat in the General Assembly.
Following Rogers' announcement
came the usual flood of rumors of
prospective candidates for the ,
post.
Some of the rumors were ana
lyzed as "feelers" for would-be
candidates, while other names were
put into the political whirlpool by
friends for their favorite candi
dates.
As of noon, no formal announce
ments had been made for the post.
Along with the discussions about
the race for the Legislature, there
was more than usual speculation
over two places to be filled on the
county board of education.
There are two districts whose
representation expires this term,
and will be up for election on a
county-wide vote. The nominees
will be confirmed by the 1997 Leg
islature, and will take office prob
ably about May of next year.
The term of Jarvis R. Caldwell,
representing the Crabtree-lron
Duff area expires this term, as
does Hugh McCracken, of Clyde.
McCracken is serving the unex
pired terra of the late Tom Leath
erwood.
Both terms will be for four years.
Caldwell recently moved to
Aliens Creek, which means he will
not be a candidate for re-election.
He is now serving as chairman of
the board, and is spending con
siderable time getting the last of
(See Election?Page J>
Thickety CDP To Organize
Volunteer Fire Department
<
At a meeting Monday night at
the Oak Grove Baptist Church,
members of the Thickety CDP
voted to organise a volunteer tire
department and set up a central
fire alarm system In the com
munity.
In order to establish a fire de
partment. buy equipment, and con
struct a fire house, two committees
were appointed Monday night: a
ways and means committee, and a
nominating committee to arrange
for the election ot a 12-member
board of directors.
On the ways and means com
nitte are Dock Connon, chairman;
Vfrs. Lloyd Parham, and H. E.
Wright, Jr. The nominating com
nlttee includes Earl Cabe, chair
nan; Troy Ford, and Lloyd Par
lam. Sr.
The Thickety CDP will have a
special meeting next Monday night
n elect a 12-member board of
iirectors for the volunteer fire
iepartment.
When the subject of rural fire
protection was first brought up,
members of the Thickety CDP dis
cussed a proposal to eaeourage all
residents of the community to pur- |
(See Thickety?Page 8)
* I
Plans For
Two Projects
About Ready
Plans are nearing completion
(or the new board of education
building, which will be construct
ed on the lot at the rear of the
Courthouse.
Lawrence Leatherwood, county
superintendent of education, said
he had been assured that the plans
for the building would be ready
by April 1,
Plans are to have 6,000 square
feet of storage space, plus offices
for the county education staff in
the new building. The project will
be p'aid for from funds received
for the old Central Elementary
School, it was said.
Leatherwood said plans for the
expansion of the Cruso school
were nearing completion, and
should be ready within a short
time. The project has already been
approved by the state, and is esti
mated it will cost between $35,000
and $40,000. The Improvements
will include a cafeteria, kitchen
and new heating system.
Dr. and Mrs. Frank Hendricks
have returned from Atlanta where
Dr. Hendricks attended the Thom
as P. Hinman Mid-Winter Dental
Clinic.
Highway
Record For
1956
In Haywood
(TO DATE)
Killed 1
UtU ? t)
Injured.... 25
<1?55 ? 11)
Accidents... 52
a$u ? s$)
Loss... $18,024
(1955 ? $11,634)
(This information tavM
frwn nwA at Stat. High
way Patrol.)