jif jjj\ |, sjNwifl j ! jis&ii i pul |ij jy|j| ■
m
ML teJm® burn s vi ice
V0L.35, N 0.14
<«* »-
Jonathan Biggerstaff
Youth Dies
In Accident
A tragic accident took the
life of Jonathan Hayes Bigger
staff, 16-year-old son of Mr.
and Mrs. Jack Biggerstaff of
Church Street, Burnsville, on
Friday night at 8:30 p. m.
The Burnsville youth was
killed and two other Yancey
County youths injured slightly
when their car ran off a rural
paved toad in Buncombe Coun
ty and hit a rock, according
to the state Highway Patrol.
Trover M. A. Eitel iden
tified *he other occupants of
the car as Albert Glenn Wil
liams, 16, of Burnsville Rt,6,
the driver; and Cleve Pearcy,
16, also of Burnsville Rt. 6.
Eitel quoted Williams as
saying he was driving about 45
miles per hour on Holcombe
Branch Road, and, being un
familiar with the road, lost
control on a curve.
The car ran off the road,
hit a large rock, spun and
went backward down a bank,
(Cont'd on page 2)
★
'4 Leader ’
By Ernie Howard
This story was written only
in the way the students at East
Yancey and myself could see
in the eyes of Jonny Biggerstaff.
Jonny had that certain "ne
ver say die" sparkle you could
see in him. He was always
ready to volunteer when there
was work to be done.
Jonny was a leader among
men; in the classroom, on the
basketball court, and in his
church.
Mr. and Mrs. Biggerstaff
can be proud of Jonny. He al
ways wanted the better for
everyone, never thinking of
himself.
Jonny may be dead in body,
but he lives in spirit. May he
rest in peace.
School Board Appoints Bennett;
Postpones Decision On Wilson
With more than fifty inter
ested citizens waiting in sus
pense outside the school super
intendent's office, the four
members of the Yancey County
met in private session Monday
morning and made two im
portant decisions, and post
poned taking action on a third
crucial matter.
They appointed Mark Ben
nett to fill the vacancy on the
board created by the recent
resignation of Chairman L E.
Clevenger.
They elected Albert Ed
wards to serve as chairman of
the board.
They postponed taking ac
tion regarding the renewal of
Superintendent Landrum Wil
son's contract.
Following the announce
ment of these decisions, all
reported as reached unanimous
ly, Bennett said he would
decide later, after consulta -
tion with the board, whether
or not he will accept. He said
he had not been following the
plans and programs under con
sideration by the board, and
would like to review them be
fore making his decision.
Town Board
To Run Again
All three members of the
Town Board of Burnsville an
nounce their decision to seek
re-election for another two
year term of office in the elec
tion of town officials to be
held on May 4th.
The town board consists of
a mayor and two commission
ers. Mayor James Anglin is
now serving his second term in
office; Commissioner P.C.Co
letta has served continuou sly
on the board for ten years;Bob
Helmle, now serving his se
cond term as commissioner,
previously was mayor for three
terms.
In announcing their deci -
sion to seek re-election, the
board has stated they would
run on their record, which has
been to furnish the town a
non-political, business like,
efficient administration,mak
ing improvements to the extent
permitted by the town's finan
cial capability.
An important consideration
(Cont'd on page 2)
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1971
Bennett had been recom -
mended for the vacancy by the
county Democratic Executive
Committee. Petitions had
been circulated, signed by near
ly 500 citizens, recommendirg
the appointment of Dr. Wamp
ler, William Hess, or Carroll
Angel to fill the vacancy.
Both Drivers Killed As Trucks Collide
And Burn On Highway Near Burnsville
Drivers of a State Highway
Commission truck and aU.S.
mail vehicle burned to death
Monday afternoon in a colli -
sion about two miles west of
Burnsville on Highway 19E.
Gene Thomas, 3^of Creen
Mountain, was the driver of
the state truck which was lead
ed with gravel. Homer Wayne
Buckner, 19, of Weaverville
Route 2 was driving the mail
truck, according to State
I • f- "W;
'.fk j|
Both Trucks Crushed And Seared By Flames
Volunteers Remove Bodies After Fiery Collision
If Bennett accepts the posi
tion he will serve the ore year
remaining of Clevenger's tarn
In 1972 Yancey County is sche
duled to ho Id its first direct
election in recent years of
members of the school board.
Before the board went into
executive session, Superinten-
Highway Patrolman, A. T.
Canipe.
Canipe said the mail ve
hicle apparently crossed the
center line and the state truck
swerved onto the shoulder of
the road in an attempt to
avoid a collision but was hit
in the left side. Both vehicles
then overturned down a bank.
He said the gas tank on the
state truck evidently exploded
on impact and spewed burning
dent Landrum Wilsonsaid that
he was interested in having
his contract renewed,and re
viewed the accomplishments
to date of his two year term,
which ends June 30 of this
year.
The school board, in other
(Cont'd on page 2)
gas over the cabs of both of
the trucks. The mail truck
was not loaded at the time of
the accident.
Gene Thomas was of the
Lower Jacks Creek section of
Yancey County. A life long
resident here, he was a 1951
graduate of Clearmont High
School and had been employ
ed by the North Carolina High
way Department for the past 6
years.
Surviving are the wife, Beu
la Briggs Thomas; one son,
Michael Gene Thomas of the
home; the mother, Mrs. Dock
Cooper of Green Mountain Rt.
2; two half sisters,Mrs. Raleigh
Pittman of Burnsville Rt. 3 and
Miss Judy Cooper of Green
Mountain Rt. 2 and a half bro
ther, Dock Cooper, Jr.,Green
Mountain Route 2.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in
the South Bend Free Will Bap
tist Church of which be was a
member and choir director..
The Revs. Charlie Miller, Ca
sie Thomas and Francis Rad
ford officiated and burial was
in the Fairview Cemetery.
10<