THE YANCEY JOURNAL VOL. 4 4VO. 44 Educators Praise Mountain Heritage Mountain Heritage High School was selected by the Division of School Planning, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as the site for its conference on school construction on October 19, 1976. Approximately sixty five people attended the afternoon and evening ses sions. Representatives at tended from a number of school units in Western North Carolina, as well as colleges and universities from the area. Approximately half of the group consisted of archi tects and engineers from the Charlotte, Hickory and Ashe ville area. The afternoon session was limited to a tour of the school facility and a discussion on every conservation in both old and new buildings. The evening session was devoted to general construction prob lems in new school building projects. The discussions were led by eleven members of the Division of School Planning Dr. J.L. Pierce, Director of the Division of School Plan ning, told a group of students that they wfere in the best school in North Carolina. Later he remarked to the conference participants that this was probably one of the most sophisticated school buildings in the United States. Two Weekend Accidents Cause Injuries On Yancey Highways On Saturday, October 30 at 3:20 p.m, on U.S. 19E approximately 3 miles out of Burnsville a two-car accident injured the drivers of both cars. Sgt. D.W. Reavis investigated. Roy Duncan, 67, of route 1, Burnsville was driving a ’67 Buick. Kathryn Pittman, 22, of Route 1, Burnsville, was in a ’65 Dodge. According to the accident report, Duncan was pulling onto the roadway from a parked position. The Pittman M a! JU^^^UKSL m ' : r%-=.4'j»;" 'r_ f , *joFjr * T X- ife «> j •'jri •* F taL.7» ' ml^M\ JhLiJ' A Harvest Festival At Head Start The Head Start-Home Start program* of Yancey County celebrated their Harvest Festival on the 26th of October, 1976 at the Head Start Center In Burnsville. Parents, children, and staff came in full cos time for Halloween. A door prize was given for the lucky number and most original costume. For the children there was apple bobbing, fishing, and pinning the tall on the black cut. Upstairs in the Home Start Center was a display of children and adult arts and crafts. There wasa fabulous fortune telling booth and tasty refreshments furnished by parents and staff. Traditional Halloween treats were given to the children. u & i 5 nnpn || WL~ IfW *v Crane With Demolition Ball Knocks Down Wall ~w? W -• .. ■ * i -A 4 4 i v 'MmSsk k ■■ mi. ’ \ H Jfc I - - - “'.Ti' - - Old Yancey Landmark Presented A Safety Hazard vehicle was traveling north on U.S. 19E as vehicle No. 1 entered the highway. Vehicle No. 1 was struck in the left quarter and skidded across a parking lot and down an embankment. Vehicle No. 2 skidded across the lot, struck a trash dumpster and stop ped. Damage to the Buick was estimated at $600; damage to the Dodge was estimated at $350. Duncan was taken to Yancey Hospital and Ms. Pittman was taken to Me BURNSVILLE, N.C. 28714 morial Mission Hospital in Asheville. Another two-vehicle acci dent occurred 7*/j miles out of town near the Madison County Line on Saturday, October 30, at 6:00 p.m. This accident left two injured according to Patrolman C.D. Thomas who investigated. Linda Ann Flynn, age 16, of Route 2, Nebo, N.C. was driving a 1974 Ford. She was backing from the roadway at the time she was struck by Clifford Metcalf, age 23, of Route 3, Burnsville, who was driving a 1970 Volkswagpn. Metcalf was traveling east and rounded a sharp curve" when he struck vehicle No. 1. Vehicle No. 1 came to rest at the point of impact, while the second car came to rest on the south side of the road headed east. Passengers in the two cars included Betty Jew Flynn, 18, also of Nebo, in the Ford and in the Volkswagon two passengers: Debbie Metcalf, 19 and Jerminy, age 2. Linda and Jerminy were the only ones injured in the accident and they were taken to Yancey Hospital. Neither was injured seriously. Damage to the Ford was estimated at $200; damage to the Volkswagon was estima ted at S3OO. Farm Bureau Meeting The Yancey County Farm Bureau will hold its snaual meeting in the courtroom of the Yancey County court house on Monday, No vember 8, at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of the NATIONAL FARM-CITY WEEK, NOV. I S FARM AND CITY PARTNERS IN PROGRESS A DECLAMATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE ""* ——— '""■ End Os Landmark: Dam Demolished BY RAY DORSETT Soil Conservationist If you have been along Cane River lately you may have noticed that the old Cane Rjver Dam is being demolish ed. Through combined efforts of the Yancey Soil and Water Conservation District, the Department of Natural and Economic Resources, and owner Cy Jordan it is being removed. Taking out the dam will strip away the hazard of possible flood damage to the area below in case it should break. The dam was built in the Carnival Reslated This Week The loaves and fishes carnival to raise funds for a meals-on-wheels program for Yancey County’s senior citi zens has been rescheduled for Saturday, November 6, be ginning with a parade at 1 p.m. An auction will be held beginning at 2 p.m. in the Northwestern Bank parking lot on the square. Other activities include the crowning of a Senior Citizen King and Queen, wagon and pony rides, cake walks, jail and dunking chair, carnival booths and a fish fry sponsored by Troxell’s Trout Farm. Members of the Health Department wilKlje giving Swine flu shosf in the courthouse. Items are needed for the auction and donors are urged to call the Senior Citizen Hot Line 682-6011 with informa tion concerning items that can be auctioned. All proceeds wil go to match a federal grant for use in setting up the meals-on-wheels program. Rummage Sale Set There will be a Rummage Sale on Saturday, November 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Spruce Pine on Upper Street next to Lakeview 'Nursery. This sale is being spon sored by Spruce Pine Chapter No. 27, Order of the Eastern Star. All proceeds from the sale will be used to help support the many charitable projects of the Chapter. In addition, Claxton Fruit cakes are now available and will be on sale by the Chapter at this time. meeting will be to discuss loose leaf to bacco and other com modities. All farmers, dairymen and Farm Bureau members are urged to attend. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976 early 1900’s of wood and concrete. In the 1920’s it was enlarged and reinforced with steel. The lake it ponded covered over 100 acres of land. The purpose of the dam was to generate power. In the 1930's the dam was purchas ed by French Broad Electric for power generation. About 1955 French Broad Electric sold out their equip ment and stopped generating power. The reasoning behind this was that power could be bought about as cheaply as it could be produced. Before this time it was noticed that there was a leak developing below the dam structure. LEAK ENLARGES As time went by the leak began to enlarge. This was noticed by the lowering of the water level of the lake. In 1958 the possibility of buying the lake for a recreational area was originated. The Men’s Club of Burnsville pursued the idea. They had a team of engineers and economists to make a study and determine its feasibility. Their findings were not encouraging. They stated in their reports that there were several disadvan tages. Their major concerns were that the lake was narrow and the shorelines steep. These factors would discour age motor boat activities and limit approachment to the water. They also pointed out that various landowners own ed strips of the shoreline; thus, acquisition of the property surrounding the lake would be difficult. Poor access to the entire lake was also noted. Due to the steep topography encompassing the lake road building would be difficult and costly. With these results ideas for recrea tion development were drop ped. After these studies the dam and lake were put up for sale. It was offered for sale to any nonprofit organization who would establish it for recreation for only one dollar. Even at this price there were no takers. Around 1970 the idea was again aroused fqr development into a recreation facility. This time the idea was stopped before the study New Fashion Spot In Town DON-ALDEN’S Is the newest name on the Burnsville fashion scene as Don Whitson and Alden Edwards, who recently bought the Anglin & Westell Store on the Burnsville town square are getting In a good supply of top brand names in men’s, Indies’ and children’s wear. According to Don and Alden, they will soon carry an entire Junior line also. Dorothy Harris .««< n,,,, Westell will still be st the store to help customers make their selections. Don whTl ves o„ ill Creek and attends Riverside Church, has two children: Jeff, In grade 7 at Cane River uiljb School; and Chris, in grade 1 at Burnsville Elementary. Alden Edwards married to tli Dianna Miller, lives on Phipps Creek and attends Riverside Church elan tu. vj ,u. daughter, Tracy, who la 2‘/i years old. Edward, have one went into great depth. The dam was beginning to develop cracks and concrete on the buttresses of the structure were flaking off. Restoration of the dam was noted to be costly. „ FLOOD SCARE Due to the weakening of the structure and the leak under the dam the lake was drained and three holes were blasted in the bottom to take care of the river flow. This worked adequately until 1973. In the spring of that year there was a large rain. Debris plugged at least one hole. The lake filled and water began running over the top of the dam. Fear developed that the structure could possibly break so people were evacuated from homes below. As a concerned group of individuals the Yancey Soil and Water District supervis ors contacted the Department of Natural and Economic Resources in Raleigh. They advised them of the problem and asked for an investigation of the structure. Correspon dence continued and through continuing efforts of the supervisors-an engineer final ly made an investigation of the dam in the spring of 1976. He concluded the dam might possibly break. This would result in considerable proper ty damage as well as possibly some deaths along the river below. END OF A LANDMARK Cy Jordan, the present owner, was contacted and asked to remove the struc ture. He readily agreed to remove the dam. Pursuit of a team of explosive experts began. One could not be found. Since the dam had to be removed a crane operator with a demolition ball was hired. The expense of the removal is being levied by the owner. Presently the dam is being knocked down. With its removal an old landmark of Yancey County will be de stroyed, but with it will also go a tremendous safety hazard which could have cost considerable damage and possible loss of lives. —<'—»« 15 c ■ Notice S ■ Because of our print- ■ ■ ing deadline of 5 o’clock ■ [ p.m. Tuesday, we can- J • not publish unofficial ! I election returns as was g ■ our previous custom. In | ■ next week’s edition of ■ I The Journal we will list ! official election returns S « in Yancey County by ■ | Precinct. | Bluegrass Festival There will be a Bluegrass Festival held at Bald Creek Elementary on November 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The festival is the school’s annual fund-raising project. It will feature banjo pickers, fid dlers, doggers and other mountain talents from folks known throughout Western North Carolina. All of these talented musicians and doggers are donating their services to aid the school. Bald Creek invites you to attend this evening of Mountain Music for mountain folks. Country Music Show There will be a Country Music Show at the South Toe Community Center on No vember 6 at 8 o’clock. The program will be presented by Mike Loftis and the Southern Country. There will be good country music, dancing and cake walks. Proceeds will go to the Community Center to buy much needed equipment. PTA Bake Sale On Saturday East Yancey Middle School PTA is having a Bake Sale this Saturday, November 6, at both shopping centers and Burnsville square. All profits will be used to pay for dictionaries for the students. Thanksgiving Holiday Set Schools will be closed for Thanksgiving Holidays on November 25 and 26. Schools will close for Christmas Holidays at noon on Wednes day, December 22, and will reopen on Monday, January 3, 1977. St.