THE YANCEY JOURNAL
VOL . 5, NO. 14
Hundreds Attend Meeting
Citizens Veto Park
BY JODY HIGGINS
Over 500 people crowded
into the South Toe Commun
ity Building and others stood
outside in the rain. They all
came to the March 25 meeting
hoping to learn more about
the proposal to turn Mt.
Mitchell State Park and
thousands of adjacent acres
into a National Park.
Most of those present
wanted to know if their land
would be taken and what
would happen to our tranquil
community if Burnsville be
came the gateway to a
National Park.
Charles Willis, a Yancey
resident, began looking into
the proposed National Park
several weeks ago and began
a one-man drive to find ways
to stop the project. The
enthusiastic crowd echoed
Willis’ sentiments about the
Park and voted him to serve
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Youth Jamboree Planned
'} . /
The Yancey County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Youth Jamboree Saturday
afternoon and evening, May 7, at Mountain Heritage High School. Applications for entry will be
made available to all school children in Yancey County. One of the objectives of the Youth
Jamboree is to preserve a part of our musical heritage. The songs and dances performed should, |
for the most part, represent the musical tradition of die mountain area. A limited number of
modern ballads or folk songs will be allowed, but there will be no electric Instruments or “Pop”
music represented.
The purpose of the program is to provide a stage for some of our talented younger citizens and
to have fun. There will be a number of trophies presented to outstanding performers, but the
emphasis will be on entertainment, not competition.
The Chamber of Commerce hopes to provide an eq|oyable event for the entire family. All
students interested in applying should contact teachers in their respective schools. For more
information call Jerry Newton [682-7413] in the chamber office. Pictured above, South Toe
Elementary students perform at a recent talent exhibition at that school.
Local Ticket Agency Set
For Asheville Civic Center
The Yancey County Coun
try Store has been designated
as the Asheville Civic Center
Ticket Agency for the Yancey
County area.
Seating charts are avail
able for each event so patrons
can select the seats they
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as chairman of a committee to
stop the park. Martin Shuford
was elected treasurer and
Thelma Loftis, secretary.
Willis introduced Otis
Wilson, a Forest Service
employee, who explained the
current status of the park and
answered questions about the
project.
According to their infor
mation, $52,000 has been
granted by Congress to the
Department of Interior to
make a “Feasibility and
Stability Report” which will
determine if this area is
suitable for a National Park.
The study will begin this
summer. According to Wil
son, the lay of the land, the
water sheds and other fea
tures make this area a prime
spot for a National Park.
“We cannot stop the
study,” Willis told the crowd,
“but we can stop the park.”
desire.
Having the Ticket Agency
in Burnsville will be a great
convenience, as reservations
can be picked up here, saving
a trip to Asheville.
General Admission tickets
are also available.
BURNSVILLE, N.C. 28714
He urged each resident of
Yancey to write letters to
Congressman Lamar Gudger,
Senator Jesse Helms, Senator
Robert Morgan, and Governor
James Hunt, informing them
that the people of this area do
not want a National Park.
A letter from former
Senator Sam Ervin was read
which advised people of the
importance of letting their
representatives in Washing
ton know how they feel about
the parks because Congress
will decide this issue after the
Feasibility and Stability Study
is made-not the people of this
area.
To those concerned that
the boundaries of a National
Park would take their land,
Wilson explained that the
boundaries will be set after
the study is made and it is
decided that this area is
suitable for a Park. The area
To cover phone calls for
reservations and other expen
ses an official fee of SI.OO is
charged for 1 ticket for for a
group of any size purchased at
one time from the Agency. 25
cents extra for general admis- i
sion tickets.
to be studied by a six-man
team for the Department of
Interior includes over 200,000
acres in Yancey, Buncombe
and McDowell Counties. A
map outlining the study area
is available from the Forest
Service for 50 cents.
In answer to questions
about how the use of this land
would change as far as the
public is concerned, Wilson
said that in a National Park no
timber cutting, wood gather
ing, hunting, berry picking, or
root and galax gathering
would be permitted. There
would be limited recreation
such as hiking, with advance
permits.
What would become of
privately owned land and
homes in the proposed area if
the study is completed,
boundaries are set, and it is
[Cont’d on page 9]
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Early in March each class at East Yancey Middle School chose a class
representative, by bsllot, to compete for the title of Miss East Yancey Middle
School. A total of thirteen 6th, 7th, and Bth grade girls were nominated by
their classmates for this honor, and they practiced hard for the big day. On
Thursday, March 31, at a school assembly program, they were Judged for
talent, poise and beauty committee of Judges. The winner and
twiriinfl.' Talents displftyfMi by otbcf contcstimts were plunft, guitar, dogging.
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Citizens Gather To Discuss National Park Study Photo by Jody ® Mtas
Gudger To Hear People
A -4. rri ~m yr • ~_...... w
. Congressman Lamar Gud
ger announced today that
during the Easter recess
period, April 7 through April
18, and in addition to other
meetings scheduled, he will
participate in three “Town
Meetings”. He said, “These
tovCirmeetings are a new idea
for Western North Carolina
but promise to do a lot to
bring us closer together.”
The three town meetings
already announced are sche
duled for Andrews on Thurs
day, April 14, 1977 at 7:30
p.m. at the Andrews Com
munity Center; in Rutherford
ton on Friday, April 15, 1977
at 7:30 p.m. at the Rutherford
County Courthouse; and in
Burnsville on Saturday, April
16, 1977, at 8:30 p.m. in the
Mountain Heritage High
School Auditorium.
Each meeting will be
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1977
announced by post cards
mailed out to all residents of
the town and surrounding
community which will give the
time and place of meeting and
provide some information
concerning the program.
At each meeting the
Congressman will give a 15 or
20 minute report on activities
in Washington and will
answer questions. The great
er part of the program,
however, will involve the
Congressman listening and
the people of the District
speaking and the real purpose
of the meetings will be to let
the Congressman and local
leaders learn from their
constituents their views on
matters of national and local
concern.
At some of the meetings
there will be an agenda listing
topics for discussion such as
a local public works project,
the Mt. Mitchell National
Park or even reducing the
European Boar population in
the National Park, and it is
expected that some of the
meetings will be transcribed
so that comments from the
people can be recorded and
used later in Washington
when these comments relate
to legislation or departmental
matters there.
Mr. Tom Mallonee, Dis
trict Assistant to Congress
man Gudger, is working with
local officials in preparing for
these town meetings. Persons
desiring to make sure that
particular topics are de
veloped, or wanting to be
certain of an opportunity to
speak, are encouraged to
contact him at 1204 North
western Bank Building, Ashe
ville, North Carolina.
singing, and reciting. Pictured left to right we the contestant, in their formal
shown here. Any picture may be purchased at $4 [8 x 16] or $2 |5 x 7j. Call
682-6241 if interested or call The Vaneev Jnnraai pi, , v i u .
*" mi s*«J « lIaFMJ By JfJC IVSOBOy
15 e
W:ien interviewed in
Asheville about the town
meeting idea, Congressman
Gudger stated, “It it general
ly known that in the New
England States Toiin Meet
ings have served for a
hundred years to develop
public participation in go
vernment and to keep the
local officials aware of the
public’s interests in the towns
in which these meetings are
held.
“1 have talked to some of
my colleagues in Washington
about these meetings and
they have convinced me that
these meetings can be useful
here in providing a means
whereby I can learn the
principal concerns of the
people of the 11th Con
gressional District.
“Furthermore, I stated
[Cont’d on page 9]