North Carolina Newspapers

I ' r > The Cherokee mm Scout tnd ctay Ounty Pnyrm Vol urn* 77- Number 38 *M+r. Nor* Corolt.o April 13, 1967 12 P^, 11,1, W-fc I County Forest Fires Blamed On Arsonists Traffic Ordinances Dominate Meeting The Murphy Town Board roted Monday night to draw up irdinances that will enable the ?olice department to strictly ufarc* the flow of traffic in he town. In December, police Comm ssioner Wally Williams inst -ucted die police to halt the ?ractice of making U-turns ind crossing the street to park >n the opposite side. It was earned, however, that exist ing laws were not applicable. The Board directed the Town Attorney, Herman Ed ards, to draw up ordinances at forbid parking in no-park zones designated by signs,en force the requirement to stop at all stop signs, forbid turn ing across a street to park an the opposite side, and for bid U-turns in the business district. These ordinances are ex ited to be adopted at the next Soard meeting and the police artment will begin to en force them upon adoption. U-turns will be specifically forbidden on Valley River kvenue from the Methodist hurch to the square, onTen s St. from Margaret Stu pio to the square on Hiwassee St. from below the post office M Sycamore St. to the Bquare and on all of Peach tree St. The Board voted to make Central St. from Peach tree St. to Valley River Ave. a two way street, eliminating its previous status as a one-way street east. In the same ord inance, effective immediately that portion of Central St. will be considered a no-parking zone. Parking is also banned on Central St. between Peachtree and Church Sts. except on Sunday and no parking will be allowed on Church St. from Hiwassee St. to Central St. This is also effective imm ediately. The Board appointed five members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This group will hear appeals and requests in connection with the zoning or dinance that was adopted last month. John Jordan was named ch airman of the board and was appointed for a three year term. Joe Fowler was also appointed for three years. Tommy King and Jim Hughes were named for two years and Marvin Hampton received a one-year appointment. Future appointments will be for three-year terms. The initial appointments were made for varying periods in order to establish staggered expiration dates. Mountain Spirit Sparks Lady Senator From Murphy Sen. Brumby A fighting Mary Faye Bru oby came out swinging last rede. The usually mild-mannered ady senator from the moun ain country of North Carolina eft no doubt where she stands m the current issues before he North Carolina Legisla ture. I do not ask whether a onstituent is a Democrat or Republican; I only ask the iroblem and how I can help" he emphasized. She adds, "I m proud to be a housewife, mother, a businesswoman, nd a State Legislator. I am ioc a woman senator but rather senator who happens to be woman." Senator Brumby represents he sprawling mountain ountry of Western North Car ilina embracing Cherokee, 3ay, Graham, Macon, Swain, ijachaon, and Transylvania eunties. With prideinher olee she says, "This is the t senatorial district in lorth Carolina represented by nly one senator." On such issues as an ABC tore for Brevard, she says acting the people vote on an ssue is democracy at its best. Although against the use of lcobol in principle, she intro uced a bill by request which rould grant the City of Bre ard die right to vote on be issue. She fought hard main the Sd per bottle tax n whiskey and stands solidly the efforts to have this devoted solely to the for alcoholic rehabl- f BT On the omnibus bill, she a misunderstanding pre ln Transylvania By checking with back home, ahf took bull by the horns and By Bill Rotchford quickly cleared up what seemed to be erupting into a controversy. On the issue of "brown bagging," she stood firm In her opposition to any biU which would impose whiskey upon dry counties. "It's just not fair to impose the will of the Legislature upon people who have not expressed them selves at the polls," she said. She, along with many others, was successful in having the Senate bill toned down by the House to the point where her position has been verified. An ardent supporter of more help for mentally retarded people in North Carolina, she has been most instrumental In instilling a deeper sense of responsibility to these un fortunate people among her fellow legislators. She is a member of the State Coun cil on Mental Retardation in North Carolina. She was quick to support the efforts of the Wright School in Durham for emotionally disturbed chil dren. "Whatever I can do for the mentally retarded pro gram. I shall do," she recreated. On the local mountain country level for her.four big interests are: better roads, more airports, greater indus trial development and better schools. "Realiziig better ed ucational opportunity is the answer to many of our prob lems, " she said. In recent days Senator Bru mby Introduced a bill railing for a $50,000 appropriation for Brevard Music Center. She co-introduced a bill to create the North Carolina Arts Coun clL She co-signed a bill for continuing contracts for tea chers and one for the extension of time for princi pals and supervisors. She also introduced a bill which will help improve State libraries. As a member of the Gov ernor's Committee onBeautl fication she expects to have bills shortly to augment this program. A mother of three and a grancknother of six, she says her hobbies are politics, gov ernment, fishing, gardeniqg, ?nd, of course, her family. A graduate of Western Carolina College, she maintains her in terest in this great institution. Actually she started out many years ago at Agnes ScottCol lege, but marriage came alow f nd.0^U'born. In 1953, with one tfcughter in coUqge and the other in high school, she again pursued a college education. "My hus band demanded that 1 graduate from college, and I obliged him by graduating cum laude in 1962 with him, my two daughters,my young son, a son-in-law, and two grand children by my side." "In 1949 my husband bought his brother's textile mill in Murphy: and thus, we switched from toy manufacturing to tex tiles. 1 also own a textile mill where we manufacture children's tee shins. He calls me the boss: but when it comes to the mills,his judgment pre vails." A Presbyterian, Senator Brumby has been active th rough the years as a Sunday School teacher and a past pre sident of the women of die church. "The church is mighty important to me; and regard less of all else, I shall remain close to It." She points proudly to the fact that in the United States today there are only 21 Democrat women senators in state legis latures. A solid Democrat, she, nevertheless, maintains a staunch political philosophy which says, "Service to my fellowman is the greatest work of life." A firm believer in states rights she quickly adds, "Ma jority rule Is the backbone of our society. I accept die ma jority verdict gracefully." As a woman in politics, she says the trend today indicates that women may and do have two careers?they can rear chil dren and serve people without one conflicting with the other. She has served one previous term in the House and Is now servlig her first term in the State Senate. IXiring this session of the Legislature, she is Chairman of die Senate Lib rary Committee, Vice-chair man of the Committees on Highway Safety and Retir ment and Employment Sec urity. She also serves on Appropriations: Conservation and Development; Higher Education; Interstate and Federal Relations; Journal; Enrolling, and Printing; Men tal Health: Public Roads; State Government and Wild life. In conclusion, she sums up her stewardship in office by saying: "Some might say J am pioneering in politics; frankly, 1 am trying to serve my mountain folk and all the citizens of Nor* Carolina. THE MURPHY FIRST METHODIST CHURCH held ground breaking ceremonies for the Chris tian Education Building Sunday morning. The congregation assembled in the outline of the new building as Bishop Earl G. Hunt, Jr. and the pastor. Rev. Thornton Hawkins, led the services. Fire Destroys Teacher's Home The home of Mrs. Kate Evans, about eight miles west of Murphy on old US 64, was destroyed by fire early Fri day morning. The Murphy Volunteer Fire Department fought the blaze which broke out about 1:30a.m. U.S. Forest Service crews protected surrounding woods. Mrs. Evans, a Murphy kindergarten teacher, her son and a grandchild were not injured. Who Serves As Our Brother's Keeper? By Dave Bruce Saturday afternoon, an unfortunate couple from Ohio passed through Murphy and the reception they received from mem bers of a profession that is supposed to be devoted to com passion toward one's fellow man does not leave a good im pression of our community. It is certain, however, that this couple will long remember the kindness of a group of ord inary citizens. The couple was hitch hiking to Georgia, where the man's brother was to have both of his feet amputated on Monday morning. The woman was pregnant. They were sunburned, penniless, and had not eaten since the day before. They asked a local businessman if they could use his telephone. They made three calls to local ministers asking for help in getting food. One of the ministers called was not at home and the other two turned them down. On the final call, the man pleaded with the minister to feed only his wife. The answer was no. The businessman had a customer in his establishment and was not aware of the situation at first. He heard a part of the final conversation and asked the man what the tremble was. He gave them money to go to a nearby eating place. A Negro visitor also gave the couple money. When the operator of the eating place found out the situation she refunded the money they paid for their food with and gave them another donation. The local bus station was called to determine when the next bus would be through and the couple was taken to wait on the bus. They left Murphy with enough money to buy bus tickets to their destination and food enroute. The ordinary citizens who came in contact with this un fortunate couple did not hesitate to do what is decent and what is right. We hope that the two ministers who were called somehow faced their congregations with a clear conscience on Sun day morning. Maybe they even offered sermons on being our brother's keeperll Andrews Man Supervises Hawaiian Railroad Job Tom R. Hay of Andrews has returned to his regular posi tion in Jasper, Ala., after ser ving as job superintendent in die dismantling of the last railroad in Hawaii. During his stay in the Island state, be was on loan to Mid west Steel Corp. of Charles ton, W. Va. Kahului Railroad Co. made its final run last May and Hay's crews dismantled the rolling stock, track and bridges of the line. One of the roughest parts of the job was dynamiting of two steel bridges at Maliko and Haiku. His crews also dismantled two high trestles. One, at Kuiaha, was 235 feet high and was believed to be die highest of its kind in the United States. Hay is employed by Gadsen Iron and Steel Co. at Gadsen, Ala. His wife resides in And rews. MRS. MARIE MARTIN (center) is the most recent wtmer of Clifton Precision's Zero De fects Award. The Award is nude monthly for the best employee suggestion on how to reduce defects and Improve quality. Mrs. Martin is receiving a portable radio from stator line fore man Bobby Shields (right). Looking on are Robert Gold, the Zero Defects administrator (left)t Richard McNabb, January winner: and Mrs. Sue Morris, December wtmer. General Rain Needed To End Danger Period Several hundred acres of forests In Cherokee County have been destroyed In a ser ies of fires that are blamed on arsonists in the past week. The fire-bugs have taken advantage of an extremely dry situation in the woodlands. The situation has been critical since the first part of March and several days recently have been considered "condition five" days which is the max imum danger period estab lished by the U.S. Forest Ser vice and the North Carolina Forest Service. County Forest Ranger Har old Hatchett says he is inves tigating 16 fires that were del iberately set. "I know they were deliberately set," he told The Scout. Over 100 acres burned in these fires. These fires have occured in the Shoal Creek, Pack Mountain, Peachtree and Culberson areas. "Most of these fires are being set from a vehicle", Harchett said. He pointed out that "people in these communities can help by giving me any information they have." He said local res FHA Housing Loan Funds Available Applications for insured housing loans are now being accepted from families in all Income groups, Robert O. Bruce, County Supervisor for Cherokee and Graham, and Phillip J. Howell, County Sup ervisor for Clay County, of the Farmers Home Adminis tration said today. Until recently funds were only available for families with low and moderate in comes. The Supervisors said home financing for families of ab ove-moderate income can be resumed by the agency under a new allocation of lending auth ority granted by President Johnson. A Presidential or der March 17 authorized the agency to insure $25 million more in housing loans to fam ilies of the upper income group between now and June 30. Action on new applications from persons in the above moderate income group had been at a virtual standstill since October 1966. The agency had taken all applica tions it could meet under the previous $25 million alio Higdon Completes Breeder's Training Rodney Higdon of Andrews has completed the American Breeder's Servicetrainingfor artiflcal insemination of both dairy and beef cattle and is of fering this service in Ch erokee County in connection with the County Agent's off ice. He received a week's train ing at Orangeburg, S.C. Information on the service can be obtained from Higdon at 321-4903 or from the County Agent's office at the Court house. cation of loan authority for the current fiscal year. There has been no interrup tion of the rural housing loan program for low and mod erate income families, which has an allocation of $300 mil lion for fiscal 1967. Applications from families in all groups are being accep ted at the Farmers Home Administration Office in the Courthouse in Murphy; and in the Agriculture Building in Hayesville. The County Supervisors re ported that insured housing loans in the counties to date this fiscal year have totaled $316,950 for low and moder ate . and $14,150 for above moderate borrowers in Cherokee and Graham counties; and $193,370 for low and moderate in Clay County. The Farmers Home Admin istration, a part of the Depart ment of Agriculture is the U.S. government agency for insur ing homeownership loans both for farm and non-farm families in rural area, in cluding towns of not more than 5,500 population. "The service is available to rural people who are unable to obtain conventional home financing from private lenders on terms they can reasonably be expected to re pay or insured loans through other agencies in the housing field", Bruce and Howell said. "We are authorized to serve above-moderate in come families in financing homes that are not more ela borate than the prevailing local standard for modern homes." All rural FHA housing loans may run for a maximum of 33 years, and may cover the cost of a minimum adeauate home site as well as home con struction. Current interest rates are 5^> for borrowers in the low and moderate in come groups, and 8% interest plus one-half of a percent mortgage insurance charge for those in the above-moder ate income group. Farmers Home Adminis tration insured loan funds are provided by banks and other private lenders and Investors, with the government's insur ance endorsement guarantee ing their repayment. Democrats Name Andrews Slate Andrews Democrats nomin ated their slate of candidates for the May election Tuesday. Veteran Mayor Percy B. Ferebee was tnopposed and received 231 votes. John Christy led the ticket for the Town Board of Alder men with 254 votes. John Rax ter received 177 votes. In cumbents Paul D. Parker and W.C. Gray received 161 and 152 votes, respectively. The other canmoates on the ticket were incumbent Mark Elliot, Claude Angel, Sam Ward and H.C. Howser. idents should note any strange cars and write down the type of car or license plate number if possible. The State Forest Service has been on duty 24 hours a day, and "we've been run to death" during the past sev eral days, Hatchett said. He pointed out that the state has only three employees to protect 176,000 acres in Cherokee County. Marvin Lovin of Turtletowa forester for Hiawassee Land Co., has helped "consider ably", Hatchett said. Burning permits in the county are cancelled and the permits will remain cancelled until there is a general rain. The four one-hunidreth -of an inch of rain received Mondayis insignificant. It was the first rain since March 29. The U.S. Forest Service of fice in Murphy has also battled several fires in thepast week. John Waddell said six fires fought by the U.S. Forest Ser vice burned over 200 acres. About 45 men have been on stand-by during the past week. The largest fire occured last Wednesday in the Bea verdam section. About 120 acres were destroyed. Two planes based at McGhee Tyson Airport were called in to make bombing runs on this and succeeding fires. The planes bomb the fires with re tardants. Fifty acres were destroyed in a fire on Shuler Creek, 10 acres on Long Ridge and 30 acres near Appalachia Dam. The local crews assisted Tennessee fire fighters in an other blaze between Appa lachia Dam and Farner which destroyed at least 10 acres and helped Tennessee crews fight another fire at the head of Tellico River Waddell said the Beaverdatty Shuler Creek and Appalachia fires appeared to be deliber ately set. There are six towers that have vision of forest lands in Cherokee County. These in clude towers in Georgia and Tennessee. All of the towers are connected by radio. Thirteen fires destroyed about 130 acres in the Cher okee National Forest in east Tennessee over the weekend, according to a spokesman at Cleveland. Several other fires were fought in the Ocoee Gorge area between Ducktown and Ocoee along US 64 last week. Sheriff Offers Fire Reward Sheriff Claude Anderson is offering a $200 reward for in formation leading to the ar rest and conviction of per son or persons responsible for a fire that destroyed prop erty owned by him over the weekend. Anderson said a barn and garage on the Dickey Road near Culberson was des troyed either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Brevard ABC Bill Offered RALEIGH?Sen. Mary Faye Brumby of Murphy introduced a bill last week to permit vot ers in Brevard to decide if they want an ABC store. She said she did this at the re quest of Transylvania County and Brevard officials. Rep. Charles H. Taylor of Brevard refused to introduce legislation until town officials made some changes in die pro posed distribution of revenues if a liquor store is approved. Both legislators are on re cord in apposition to liquor legislation. Sen. Brumby said her pos ition against liquor is "pretty strong 1 but she pointed out, "we have been petitioned by the people of Brevard for the opportunity to decide for themselves on a liquor store" and "1 believe in majority rule even when I am against the issue." Shop In Murphy Until Nine On Friday Night