THE YANCEY JOURNAL VOL. 4, NO. 17 Kraus To Perform With NC Orchestra The North Carolina Sym phony has announced that Mme. Lili Kraus will play with the orchestra in Durham, High Point, and Asheville in December 1975. The Ashe ville performance will be December 11th. Reached at her home in Celo last night, Mme. Kraus expressed joy at playing with the orchestra of the state. She admires the energetic travel program of the Symphony and its ability to play in many towns and small communities. Mme. Kraus is keenly interested in the Little Sym phony’s visit to Mitchell and Yancey Counties this spring. She is a donor for the May 13th concert to be given in the First Baptist Church in EY Drama Club Stages Production BY MATTHEW HARRIS A heart-warming blend of nostalgia, comedy, and tra gedy will come to East Yancey’s stage with the production of Look Home ward, Angel. The play, currently scheduled for May 15-16, is being produced by the East Yancey Dramatics Club under the directorship of Elizabeth Westall, and sports a cast of seventeen, involving a monumental energy output. Based on a book by a native North Carolinian, the late Thomas Wolfe of Ashe ville, the play depicts the struggles and conflicts of the Gant family. The action centers on the conflicts between the driving, compul sive influences and attitudes of Eliza Gant, the desire of her two sons to be free, and her drunkard husband’s de sire to be quit of his entire situation. Autobiographical in na ture, the play paints the members of the family in an understanding light, giving us to understand the goals and dreams of them all. As these, people pursue their dreams they run into each other, for not only do their paths cross, they meet headlong. Out of these conflicts rises an under standing of people and life that is only evident to us as the audience. The players themselves stumble in heart break and sorrow to the close, when Eugene the youngest son, as he leaves home forever, cries out in fear and anguish: "I want to find the world. Where is the world?” Under the skillful gui dance of Mrs. Westall, who has taught drama in this county for eight years and has directed productions of The Diary of Ann Frank, The Crucible, Arsenic and Old Lace, and The Curious Sav age, the characters are beginning to take shape from the raw material of the actors. As more and more of the characterization becomes con crete, it is evident that this production promises to pro vide an enjoyable evening for everyone, for, despite youth, the actors display a Very high degree of compe tence. The public performances are scheduled for May fif teenth and sixteenth at East Yancey High School; admis sion will be $1.50 for adults and SI.OO for students and children. You will enjoy the performance. Burnsville at 8:15 p.m. Expressing the hope that she would be able to attend the concert, she said, ‘‘lt pleases me enormously that we are developing opportunities for our young people to play instruments and to listen to music. I have heard enthusi astic comments about the band concert that occurred here last week, and I hope that my contribution wfH, enable some of these students to attend the May 13 concert.” Mme. Kraus expressed hope that others would join her in being patrons for the coming concert to insure the success of the North Carolina Symphony’s first visit here in thirty years. A contribution of $lO makes one a donor. Because the program soon goes to press, donors are urged to send checks (payable to the North Carolina Sym phony) or to call Music in the Mountains, Burnsville, at 675-4060 or 675-4659 before May 1. Since tickets for the concert must be sold by May Ist, it is also urged that interested persons buy them now through local clubs or at the Yancey County Country Store. Electric Co. To Bill Monthly Superior Court Judge Harry C. Martin last Friday dismissed a ruling by the N.C. State Board of Dental Exam iners in May of 1974 which revoked the license of Dr. J. G. Braswell, a Spruce Pine dentist. -Dr. Braswell, accused of improper conduct in dealing with five of his female patients has maintained his plea of innocence to the charges brought by the dental board. Judge Martin said the state law under which the dental board administered disciplinary proceedings against Braswell is unconsti tutional. An attorney for the state dental board, Thomas M. Starnes of Morganton, said Friday that he will recom mend the board appeal Judge Martin’s decision to the N.C. Court of Appeals. Spruce Pine Dentist Wins Appeal Commencing with the bills rendered on April 1, 1975, all consumers served by French Broad Electric Membership Corporation will be placed on monthly billing. For many years, the rural residential consumers (Farm and Home) of French Broad EMC have been billed bi monthly. Members will continue to receive meter reading cards bi-monthly as in the past. On the interim month, an estima ted bill will be rendered and an adjustment made on the bill when a true reading is received the following month. Notice The Yancey County Coun cil will meet Monday, April 28th at 7:30 p.m. in room 3 of the courthouse. Everyone is urged to attend. BURNSVILLE, N.C. 28714 ,■ > ; i IP' H|» - Renowned Pianist, Mme. Lili Kraus Swingers Finish Square Dance Course Seventeen couples recent ly graduated after a 20-week course in Western Square Dancing. The graduation dance was held in the East Yancey gym on March 28th with numerous guests, dan cers and spectators in atten dance. During the evening each couple was recognized, given a diploma and Mt. Mitchell Swingers’ badge, and welcomed into club membership. The new members of the local square dance club are: Remelle and Ardell Sink, Ora Lee and C.C. Canipe, Virginia and J.C. Styles, Billy Jean and Phillip Styles, Mary Vance and Phillip Banks, Ginny and Bill Banks, Dallas Miller and Ann Agle, Hen- Sales And Use Tax Collections The report of local one percent sales and use tax collections by county were reported recently for the month of March, 1975. This report, issued monthly by J. Howard Coble, Secretary, NX. Dept, of Revenue, shows Yancey County collections in the amount of $13,646.59 for this period. For the same period, Mitchell County col lected just over $17,000 and Madison County collections amounted to $12,613.31.' The amount of collections for Avery County was reported at $1fr456.13. ■■ • ■’V W 4,. V , . V » BBB m r BO * i BBBi B bub ■ f a™ n| i „ \ M *&i i jihvh mar i h m _ji »MSLMm ■B. * *jBB Bl fig BV ■ J A Ay k Vffi I \ r*L Members Os East Yancey Track Team rietta and Ken Hilliard, Becky and Charles Gillespie, Myra and Charlie Hensley, Marjy and Charles Gibbs, Jessie and Ralph Young, Wanda and Bob Proffitt, Raylene and Buster Stanley, Kaye and Roger Hemphill, The Bob Rhine harts and Mary and Carlyle Bledsoe. At the present time, the Club caller, Jerry Biggerstaff of Marion is conducting workshop classes at the Catholic Church, Burnsville for all club members. The remaining sessions are sche duled for April 28 and May 5. A May Day Dance “under the stars” is planned for Thursday evening, May Ist, at the Banks Family Square Shopping Center, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission will be $2.00 per couple for partici pating dancers, spectators are welcomed without charge. A refreshment booth will be sponsored by local troop 502, Boy Scouts of America. Nolan Hess is serving as President of the Mt. Mitchell Swingers. Other officers ser ving with him are Dan Wilson, Vice President; Bar bara McFee, Secretary; and Roy Ray, Treasurer. Variety Show Set Micaville Elementary School will have a Variety Show on Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is wel come to attend. Admission for adults is SI and children 25c. i * . Vi '• >.‘W • Post Office Expansion Eyed ■ Citizens Oppose Moving Site BY CAROLYN YUZIUK Nearly 500 Burnsville citi zens signed a petition which was circulated last weekend by two local women, asking that the Burnsville Post Office not be moved from its present location on the town square. The news that such a move was even being contemplated came as a surprise to many people, as discussions con cerning the post office facility in Burnsville have not been widely aired. Burnsville Post Office, according to reports received from present and former employees, is seriously in adequate for the volume of mail it handles as it now stands. Plans for remodeling and expansion have been under consideration for more than two years. More recent ly, however, moving the post office out to the Highway 19E Bypass, possibly to a shop ping center, has been given consideration, and this sug gestion has caused wide spread consternation among townspeople. “If the post office is moved away from the town square, which is the heart of Burnsville, the town will have lost a vital community service which it needs to keep its life and vigor,” said one man who East Yancey Track Team Wins Field Events In Area Meet Last Thursday, April 17, East Yancey’s Track Team traveled to Mars Hill College field for a meet with Harris High, Bowman High, Cane River, North Buncombe and Madison County High School. East Yancey’s team ac cumulated 108 points during the meet while finishing first in eight events. The other team finishing closest to East Yancey was North Buncombe with 54‘/a points. First place men for EY in field events were Danny Bledsoe, winning the high jump with a jump of 5 ft. 11 inches, Jimmy Hughes in the triple jump with a jump of 39 ft. 6 inches, and Tim Parker in the broadjump with a distance of 20 ft. 7 inches. East Yancey men also won the 100 yard dash with a time of 10.5 by Ronnie Wyatt, Milton Higgins in the 880 with a time of 2:13.1, and Jeff Bailey in the mile run with a time of 4:57.4. East Yancey’s 880 relay team consisting of first leg by Jeff Harding, second leg by Ronnie Wyatt, third leg by Jimmy Hughes and fourth leg by Tim Parker, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1975 signed the petition but asked not to be named. Most of the people who voiced their opposition to the idea of moving the post office pointed out the fact that the “heart of Burnsville” which has the square as its focal point, should and does con tain nearly every public facility necessary to the town and county, and these ser vices should be kept separate from commercial enterprises. The county courthouse, cham ber of commerce, post office, county library (in progress), a bank, newspaper and church all encircle the square in Burnsville, county seat of Yancey. Ironically, the idea of moving the post office, which at present is only a thought, comes at time when every effort is being made to keep the center of town a vital and beautiful place for conducting town and county affairs. The old derelict courthouse will soon be an object of pride to Yancey Countians as its renovation nears completion, the Yancey County Library will shortly be moved into the remodeled old Northwestern Bank Building, and the town square beautification project, undertaken by the chamber of commerce, will soon delight the eyes of Yancey Countians won first place with a time of 1:37.0. The mile relay team aisc placed first followed by Madison County High School jiien,- East Yancey’s time was 3:44.0. The mile relay team consists of first leg, Danny Bledsoe; second leg, Jeff Bailey; third leg, Darrell Huskins and fourth leg, Jimmy Hughes. The following men scored the total number of points given: Jeff Bailey-9 points, Danny Bledsoe-14 points, Jeff Harding-5 points, Milton Higgins-9 points, Jimmy Hughes-16 points, Darrell Huskins-7 points, Tim Parker —I4V4 points, Paul Robinson -3 points, Tony Tipton-1 point, Ray Troxell-2 points, Gary Winters-3 points, Ricky Woody-3 points and Ronnie Wyatt-14‘/i points. The accompanying picture shows East Yancey’s Track Team with the exception of Gary Winters, Eddie Burns, Milton Higgins, Jr. Burke, Darrell Woody, and Ricky Thomas. Also Jimmy Hughes who is pictured individually with this article was chosen as EY track man of the week for Hearings Continue On Power Rate Increase The wholesale power rate increase that was initiated by Carolina Power & Light Company on the electric membership corporations of North Carolina is now being heard before the Federal Power Commission in Wash ington D.C. Administrative Law Judge William Jensen of the Federal Power Commission has been assigned this case under Docket No. e-8884. At this time testimonies are being given in relationship to Phase I of the hearing. Phase 2 of the hearing is scheduled to ■ V • CM when the project is finished. “Parking is a disaster at the present location,” was most often heard from Burns ville citizens who were for moving the post office. “Why not build an entirely new facility in a location more aceessible~By' car? ’ ’ “There’s plenty of space for parking where there are now vacant lots around the post office,” is the reply from petitioners. “If money can be made available to build a new facility, certainly it can be used to better advantage in planning the complete over haul of the present post office, including remodeling, expan sion, and the provision for plenty of paved parking space.” As the situation now stands, the one undeniable fact is that the Burnsville Post Office needs to be completely updated to keep pace with progress, and for postal employees to be able to handle the mail with greater efficiency. Important steps are being taken in this direction, and every citizen should be informed of deci sions that are being made and aware of the effect these decisions may have on their town and county. his high score of 16 points and a very outstanding perfor mance. East Yancey’s team will travel again to Tryon High School on Tuesday, April 22 for a 6-way meet, and again I Jimmy Hughes on Thursday, April 24 to NCSD at Morganton. These will be the last 2 regular season track meets before the conference meet to be held at West Henderson on May Ist. commence on May 19, 1975. However, the attorneys re presenting the electric mem bership corporations have petitioned that Phase 2 commence immediately upon the completion of Phase 1 in an effort to expedite the completion of Jthe hearing as an effort to hopefully receive relief in behalf of the Cooperatives’ consumers who are served in North Carolina and Tennessee that were affected by the rate increase initiated by Carolina Power & Light Company. ■ < - •' ■ ■|| »■ 10 c ■ . * k S JVV Mr. Jung-huei Chen Extension Has Visitor From China Many Yancey County peo ple are meeting a new face at Agricultural Extension activi ties. He is Mr. Jung-huei Chen, Chief of the Agricul tural Extension, from The Republic of China (Taiwan). Mr. Chen is visiting research institutes, state and county Agricultural Extension offices and farms in different parts of the U.S. to observe extension activities relating to the production of food crops, fruits, flowers, livestock, home economics and 4-H. Yancey is the fifth and last county in North Carolina to host Mr. Chen. He has already visited Texas, will continue to Arkansas, Michi gan, Wisconsin and Hawaii. Mr. Chen is a pleasant and personable person who is making many friends during his seven day visit to Yancey. Easter Seal Sponsors Gospel Sing The Easter Seal Campaign is sponsoring a Gospel Sing at the Moore Auditorium at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C. on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2:00 p.m. There will be no admission charge and there will be a free will offering taken for crippled children. Singing groups who are donating their time for this worthy cause are The Inter preters, Asheville; The Seek ers, Hendersonville; The Singing Challengers, Green ville, S.C.; Gospel Belles, Green Mountain, NX.; Alex ander Youth Choir, Alexan der, N.'C.; The Primitive Quartet, Candler; Rebel’s Creek Quartet, Bakersville; and The Living Faith Quartet (all ladies) of Candler, N.C. The Mars Hill College is donating the use of the auditorium for this program. The public is urged to attend this worthy cause. Clifford E. Bailey is in charge of arrangements and Ed Ball will be Master of Ceremonies. Hi A. Ti **«*,,* (Wy C&UNTTOJ Store — m , 6 /© o