Cherokee County's Best Buy' and C/dt/ County Progress kl I .7 1Q/ / SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID Volume 76 Number 34 Murphy, North Corolino Marcn \f ,170b 12 Pages This Week AT MURPHY NORTH CAHOLINA Jaycees Re-Schedule Basketball The Murphy Jaycee spon sored benefit basketball game scheduled for last Friday has been re-scheduled for tonight (Thursday). The Jaycees will play the High School Faculty in the first game at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Gym followed by The Independents vs TheTex ana Five. AO proceeds from the bene fit basketbaU game will go to ward the purchase of a me chanical rebounder. This piece of equipment sharpens the reflexes of players and is highly regarded by coaches throughout the country. Murphy HighCoachJim Mc Combs expressed a desirefor this piece of equipment sev eral months ago but found there was no money in the athletic fund to make the pur chase. The Jaycees heard about the rebounder through inter ested basketball fans and de cided to raise money for its purchase. Jaycee James Hughes is chairman of the project and expects a large crowd to at tend. Tickets for the game may be purchased at the gym. GOP Convention Set For Tonight The Town of Murphy Repub lican Parly will hold its con vention in the Cherokee Coun ty Courthouse tonight (Thurs day) at 7:30 p.m. Purpose of the convention will be to nominate a candi date for Mayor and six can didates for the Town Board of Commissioners to run on the Republican ticket in the Town of Murphy elections to be held on Tuesday, May 3. Democratic Women To Sponsor Supper The Democratic women will sponsor a supper Satuday night March 26th. Tickets are now on sale at the Cherokee Cafe and tickets will be available at the door. The women will start ser ving at 7:00 p.m. at the Elem ent tary School Lunchroom. Tickets are priced at I1.2J each. Racing With Red By: Red Schuyler Cale Yarborough, South Carolina's contribution to Stock car racing, almost broke his role as bridesmaid Sunday in Rockingham. Once again, for the third time, Cale was runner-up for the big money, and two times consecutively on a track that has staged only two races. The hard luck that has "do gged" Banjo Mathews down through the years seems to have rubbed off on Yarboro ugh. "Banjo" being the car owner and builder of the car bearing number 27, is now retired from racing as a driver. As well as I can re member, Banjo, never has appeared in the winners circle of any race that 1 have witne ssed and I've been to quite a few. Sooner or later hard luck is going to get tired of riding Yarborough's back and when it does, Yarborough is going to make a lot of fans forget about their present idol. For a driver to have driven as hard and lead as many laps as Yarborough did Sunday, it seems like a shame that he didn't win. But as dri vers and race fans will tell you, it's the man leading the last lap and gets the check ered flag that gets most of the "long green stuff." 1 remember one race in Bristol that Lorenzen only led one lap and that was the last lap. As I recall it was in the 3rd Annual "Volunteer 500 " in 1963. In that one, Richard Petty led most of the race, then blew his engine on next to the last lap. With Freddy a close second, and Petty coasting as far as he could on his blown engine, Lorenzen over took him in the final lap and won the race. After five hours and 500 laps and 500 miles of racing in the 1st annual "Peach Blossom 500" Sunday, only 13 cars were still running when Goldsmith took the checkered flag. Forty-four started but.thirty one fell by the wayside as the day wore on. Only three of these cars were factory backed. These were Gold - smith in a Plymouth, Yarbo rough in a Ford and Pearson in a Dodge Charger. It was a great day for some of the fellows that you never heard about who run as ind ependents. Bobby Allison who is in his first year as a Grand National Driver was third and picked up $4,250. Harold Smith of Dayton, Ohio, was fourth and John Sears, a local boy was fifth. In the last of the race, it would have been in teresting to see how they would have come out hadIsaccs,De rringer, Paschal, Lorenzen, Ned Jarrett, Marvin Paunch, Curtis Turner, Tiny Lund, Dick Hutcherson and Sam Mc Quagg been running at the end. It was "dog eat dog" for the first 36 laps. Goldsmith, the pole sitter, took the lead on the first lap with Pearson on his bumper followed closely by Isaccs, Turner, Hutcher son, PanchandYarborough.At the end of 20 laps it was Gold smith leading, Pearson and Is accs swapped positions as did Hutcherson and Turner. Panch and Yarborough were still sixth and seventh. At the end of 39 laps Isaccs took the lead from Goldsmith. Pear son, Hutcherson and Turner were 5th and 6th and Leroy Yarbrough starting in thel8th position had now moved up to 7th place. At the end of 40laps Turner was leading, Yarborough was second, Yarbrough was third and Dug Cooper was fourth. On the 37th lap, Bub Str ickler spun out and before the smoke settled, Isaccs and Hutcherson were involved. "Hutch" continued to racebut Isaccs car was totaled. The caution flag flew for eight laps and during this time the leaders made pit stops. At the end of 50 laps Yarbrough was the leader with Paschal se cond and Pearson third. Goldsmith was now running in seventh place. At the end of lap 58, Paschal took the lead and held it for,31 laps when Sam McQuagg took over Continued on Bock Pogo The flimsy house in the Texana section was consumed within minutes after a fire broke out, and neighbors were unable to yet into the place. I'hoto was taken before firemen arrived on the scene. Sitter Leaves, Child Burns To Death; Three Escape Flaming House In Texana A two-year-old girl, one of four small children left at home while their mother went to a hospital to visit a fifth, burned to death Wednesday afternoon, March J. The victim was Wanda Y vette Jackson. With her in the house, but escaping tne tlaines, were three brothers, one an infant and the others 4 and 5 years old. Coroner J. C. 1 own son was told that the o-year old carried the infant out while the other ran to safety. The coroner said an adult with whom an arrangement had been made to stay with the children while the mother went to the hospital apparently did not carry out the bargain. The flimsy house in theTe xana section was consumed within minute- after a fire broke out, and neighbors were unable to get into the place. lhe dead child was the daughter of Jackie and Ella Blackwell Jack; on. Her bod) was found under a bed. Graveside services were held Ihursday, the followinj day, at 2:00 p.m. 'Bear Creek junction', New Tourist Attraction, To Open Near Topton June 1 A new tourist attraction named 'Bear Creek Junction' located near Topton is sched uled to begin operations by J une 1. The new travel objective is designed and produced to give the highest possible pleasure and entertainment to the visi tor in the region, real genu ine things to do, see, and en joy. It will feature two big projects of nationwide in terest, each able to stand on its own characteristics as a rare wholesome, stimulating point of interest. To be built is an authemc railroad terminal spreading over torty acres of scenic forest terrain. Special among its outstanding fea'ures will bc a real genuine railroad mus eum, one of such historical distinction no traveler can af ford to pass it by. This mus eum will have authenic, valu able displays of railroad equipage, including locomot ives and other units of rolling stock, things reminding the old-timer of the long ago,en lightening to the younger gen eration. Chief among the fun-making agents at this newest develop ment will be a real, genuine steam train, providing the visitor a round-trip, nine mile excursion across one oi the most scenic areas of the Great Smoky Mountains, a close-to-hand view of high mountains and deep valleys which, until now, have lain hidden from the average pass er-by. The railroad museum ana the old-fashioned steam tram will revolve in activity around an old-time) depot, with its loading platform, built along side a single-track, standard guage line laid almost half a-century ago by the Graham County Railroad Company, Inc. This short-line railroad has provided, since 1925; in dustrial transportation for the lumber industries of Western North Carolina, for the com munity at large, operating be tween the county seat of Rob binsville on U. S. Highway 129 and the little town of Iopton, 12 miles distant on U. S. Highway 19, where it connects with the Southern Railroad. This industrial ser vice will continue as usual, but this year a special line of sight-seeing cars will share the rails, and come June first a big, bright-lettered sign over the new depot down the track will dub the metropolis of beautiful Nantahala National Forest as "Bear Creek Junc tion." The chief charm of the Gra ham County Railroad Company throughout the years has been a pair of Shay-type, 70-ton, steam locomotives called "side-winders," sonamedfor their unusual design and con struction, an amazing inven tion (the first true Shays were rolled off the ine in 1880) equipping a steam engine with almost unlimited power and strength, at the cost of speed. Their service to the lumber industries of Western North Carolina, and the region it self, has been mainly the re gular transfer of cargo over 12 miles of 60-lbs. rails be tween Robbinsville and the narrow junction carved out of the mountainside at Topton, a spot scarcely large enough to allow for a wye or turntable. Here, the old Shay awaits the arrival of the Southern's han dsome modern Diesel, swaps orders with the Southern's engineer, delivers her goods and promptly reverses herself ) nose her way back home. She may be transferring uch things as great carloads f lumber ranging in size and (eight from chips and wood 'ulp to the biggest, heaviest ogs fresh out of the forest, ank cars empty or filled with is so products, box cars lacked solidly with merch indise front the James Lee Jarpet and Rug Company at Jobbinsville. She may be tak ng back home large shipments :q tally important to the bus iness firms in the area, or small packages essential to the comfort and happiness of people living no farther away than the local Post Office, or something intended to be dro pped off at the house- by the ; ide of the road. Upon occasion, uia aiae wiruier Number 1925",named for the year of her purchase by the Graham County Rail road Company, and her sister companion, "Number 1326", named for the year of her or iginal purchase by the Alum inum Company of America,re purchased by the railroad in 1940 have supplied individually or by teamwork means of solv ing the most difficult logging problems facing the world of forestry, the job of bringing out of the deep forest speci mens of hardwood lying felled and ready for market, yet, on the ground, too big, heavy and unwieldy even to be moved. Sidewinders" assignedtothe job have gone into the almost impenetrable wilderness co untry on rails laid tempor arily, and have accomplished through their unchallengeable strength and steam power what appeared to be the impossible. But thiscoming June, this pair of faithful old Shays will assume a new role. They will take precedence in a new type of performance, assigned now exclusively to a new, easier, more glamorous role, that of transporting bright-colored, sight-seeing cars filled and alive with gay, happy,laughing ticket-holders, an unpredict able human cargo which they have never obliged before. Before or following the steam train ride, visitors will linger leisurely in the railroad museum, charmed by this real, genuine exhibition of ra ilroad equipage, memorabilia marking the hey-day of rail roading in this country, relics dating far back in history, housed in six or eight large railroad cars. The intrinsic value of this museum will be greatly augmented by an as - emblage of old - fashioned steam locomotives. Pullman cars, sleeping coaches, din ers, displayed on stationary rails outside. Responsible for this feature lending great dignify and Infl uence to the new travel ob jective in the Great Smoky Mountains in John B. Veach third in line of four generat ions engaged in extensive lum ber interests, first in Ne? In Mayor's Race Moore Defeats Williams By 2 Votes As Democrats Elect Their Candidates Over 200 Town of Murphy Democrats made their choice Tuesday night of the men they wish to represent them on the Democratic Party ticket in the forthcoming May 3rd generai election. Two candidates, Cloe Moore and Wallace P. Will iams, were nominated tor Mayor, resulting in what many old-timers said, "was the closest race we've seen at a Democratic convention in many years." The final talley in the Mayor's race showed Moore coming oui on top by the very slim margin 01 two vote-, The voting went 114 votes for Moore, and 112 for Williams. After the decision of who would represent the Demo cratic Party as a Mayor-cand idate, the tloor was opened for nomination for members of the six Town Commissioners. Those nominated were: Wallace P. Williams, Francis Bourne, Jr.; W. T. (Bud) Brown; Kenneth Godfrey; W.A. (Dub) Singleton; Jerry Hat chett; John Carringer; Ben E. Warner, Jr., and Roberi P. (Pete) Akin. Here is how the voting went: Williams led the ticket with 146 vote ; Brown, 143;Bourne, 132; Hatchelt and Godfrey,124; and Singleton, 112. Williams and Brown were ork and Pennsylvania, ;ince 924-25 throughout Western ^orth Carolina. Mr. Veach is iresident of theHardwood Co rporation of America. Mr. Veach is in the pro :f^s of acq:i.,ng photos of railroading and lumber op erations to be reproduced and lisplayed m the museum. The Citizens Bank and I rust Company isofferingprizesfor pictures brought to its bank in Andrews, Sylva, Murphy,Hay esville and Robbinsville. Prizes as follows: 1st place, $10.00, 2nd place $7.50, 3rd place $5.00 The pictures will be on dis play in each of the banks for two weeks beginning today and prizes will be awarded o Marrh 31. All photos will be carefully displayed in the hanks, then reproduced for the museum ar.d returned to the owners undamaged. Newly Elected Town Of Murphy Democratic Candidates ELECTED AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION to represent their party in the forthcoming May 3rd general election are: (L-R) Jerry Hatchett, Francis Bourne, Jr., as Councilmeri; Cloe Moore, for Mayor; and Wallace P. Williams, W. T. Brown, W. A. Singleton and Kenneth Godfrey for Councilmen. tiic two newly elected mem bers. Both Mayor-candidates re marked that during the count ing o! the vote that they knew it was going to be close. Moore, who has served on the Town Board of Commis sioners for the past seven teen years, said, "There are so many things that need to he done that at the present no particular project has priority over the other." when asked about future plans if elected Mayor of Murphy. Williams, who was parti cipating in his first politi cal venture stated that he had been beaten by the best man in Murphy, and that he knew it was going to be a hard race. "1 am happy with the out come of the Mayor's race," Williams said, "and very pleased to have been select ed as a candidate for election ;o the Town Board of Commi ssioners. I will do every thing in my power to help make Murphy a better place to live and work." In other orders of business at Tuesday night's convention, Herman Edwards was elected Chairman of the Democratic Party, Mrs. Edward Reynolds was re-elected as Vice chairman, and Juanita Weaver was elected Secretary. Burley Vote May Cost Clay And Cherokee Counties $40,000 lhe failure of the acreage poundage control system to gam grower approval in last Thursday's referendum can mean an income loss to Clay and Cherokee burley growers ranging upwards to nearly $40, 000 in the 1066 crop year. The defeat of the program will cost growers in the two counties about 20 acres of their allot ments this year. The program failed to draw wo thirds ol the votes cast in he hurley belt which will mean hat all hurley allotments not :overed by the minimum growers provision will be cut 15 per cent for the current crop year. It is feared that in the future the minimum growers pro vision may be lowered to allow across-the-board acreage cuts. While 74% of Clay and Cher okee County farmers voted in favor of the program, the nat ional percentage was only 58%. There was only one state Tennessee - which voted against acreage-poundage but its vote was big enough to make the difference. The biggest bur ley tobacco tate-Kentucky- went 73 per ent in favor of the program, orth Carolina favored the rogram by 69 per cent. As the acreage-poundage rogram was developed, it ave North Carolina more than ts share of the national quota nd was clearly to the advan age of local farmers. The fact that the new pro ;ram was complicated and lifficult to understand partly iccounted for its defeat. ASCS officials do not know vhen another referendum will )e called. However, if yields ?er acre continue to increase and supply continues to exceed demand then another acreage reduction may be in order again next year. Lions To Celebrate 40th Anniversary Tuesday The Murphy Lions Club will elebrate 40 years of dedicat d service, Tuesday, March 2 with a dinner meeting at the Murphy Elementary School ocial activities will begin at :30 p.m. and dinner at 7:00 .m. Claude M. Devorss, inime liate past president of Lions nternational will give the nain address. Also attending are John L. Jack) Stickley, pastpresident -ions International: Doctor M. lenderson Rourk, Lions In ernational Director; Norman rrueblood, State Secretary rreasurer; Lawrence C. Sto