io The Cherokee Scout i0t
Pa9?? and Clay County Progress p*r Copy
Volume 79 ? Number I - Murphy, North Carolina - July 25, 1968 - Second Class Postage Paid At Murphy, North Carol
ina
90 Cases To Be Tried
In Criminal Court
Two charges of murder and
four of arson heads the list of
90 cases to be brought before
the Cherokee County Superior
Court that begins July 29.
The criminal cases will be
before the honorable J. W.
Jackson, presiding judge.
A breakdown of the
calendar shows a wide range of
cases will be tried, ranging
from murder to litterbugging.
The more serious -ol't'ense -
include six charges of assault
with a deadly weapon, one
charge of assault on a female
and one charge of incest.
Other cases are nine
breaking, entering and larceny,
seven drunk and disorderly,
eight forgeries, one possession
I of non-tax paid liquor and the
' selling of liquor, one injury to
personal property and three
larcenies. Of the 24 charges of
public drunkeness, one man
was charged seven times and
I another 12 times.
Driving violations include
[driving in excess of 100 mph,
(seven charges of driving while
lintoxicated and several charges
lof driving while licenses were
(revoked and excessive speed.
One person is charged with
resisting arrest, another on a
fugative charge and three for
non-support.
Forty n'ne jurors iave been
called from the County for this
term of court. From Murphy
are Mrs. John Q. Hembree,
Mrs. J. H. Duncan, William E.
McConald, Cyrus White,
Edward C. Wood, Joseph M.
Phillips, Arnold Guthrie,
Quenton V. Lovingood and
James R. Whitener.
Arnold Stiles, Carl Falls, Jr.
E. L. Vickery , James B. Evans
Efruim P. Crisp, Kenneth
McClure and Bertha M
Loudermilk.
William McClure, Ethel
Young, Frank Kephart, ' Ben
Beavers, Judith Davis Gentry
Duncan, Linda Erwin, Boyd
Davis, Nell White, May
Thomas, and Lee Clifford.
Andrews residents are
Haskell Gibby, Eugene D.
Payne, Kenneth Allen, Lowell
E. Hardin, Earl Ellis, Harley
Head, Jr., Daniel Dills, Donald
Crawford, Frank W. Swan,
Garland Luther and Kate
Palmer.
From Marble are James
Local 4 ? H'ers Attend
Club Week In Raleigh
I A delegation of six 4? H
L-Club members and Assistant
I Agricultural Extension Agent
[Wendell Hedden are
1 representing Cherokee County
at State 4? H Club Week in
Raleigh this week.
The Cherokee County
delegates are among some
1,250 club members and
leaders participating in the
annual four-day program which
began Monday on the North
Carolina State University
campus.
The program consists of
recreation, attending classes,
competition, election of state
officers and a lot of fellowship.
"Four-H Club Week offers
an excellent opportunity for
personal growth and
development." comments Dr.
T. C. Blalock. state 4? H club
leader. "It is an event that club
members look forward to each
year with great anticipation,"
he added.
During the week state
winners are determined in the
dewcnstratio.i programs and
various judging activities.
Among the events in which
Cherokee County 4? H'ers are
participating are entomology,
with Steve Thompson as
district winner competing, and
poultry barbecue, with Jacky
Pope as district winner,
participating.
Members of the Cherokee
County delegation attending
are: Linda Pope, Debra Keener,
Sandy Ledford, Debbie
Clayton, Steve Thompson and
Jacky Pope.
WNC Day Set To See
Bristol Play Atlanta
The annual Western North
Carolina day at the Atlanta
Braves Stadium will be
celebrated again this year to
watch Dave Bristol's Cincinnati
Reds play the Atlanta Braves at
2:05 PM. All tickets will be
field level, directly behind the
Cincinnati Reds' dugout. The
price will be $3.50 per person.
Tickets will be sold through
John Carringer and Pete
McKeon of Murphy, Sam
Hartman of Andrews and Tom
Day of Hayesville. No cash
refunds will be made on any
ticket sold. However, if the
game is rained out, you will
have a rain check for any
succeeding regular game during
the season at the Atlanta
Stadium.
Those who wish to travel by
bus, the price will be $6.00 and
bus tickets will be available at
the bus station in Murphy.
Several groups from Western
North Carolina, along with the
Smoky Mountain Shrine Club,
will be in attendance.
Three hundred tickets are
now on hand, and more are
promised if needed.
Bettis Ray Brooks, Edgar
Deitz, Claude H. Crisp, and
Martin West. The remaining
prospective jurors are James E.
Anderson from Culberson,
Faris W. Fowler and Alice
Cook from Brasstown.
Bond Sales
Ahead
Savings Bond and Freedom
Share sales in Cherokee County
totaled $23,201 for May,
according to Bland W. Worley,
State Volunteer Chairman. For
the first five months of this
year the combined sales
amounted to $149,081, which
is 44.2 percent of the county's
annual goal for 1968.
Sales of Savings Bonds and
Freedom Shares in North
Carolina totaled $5,072,710 in
May. These are the highest
sales on record for May and
represent an increase over May
a year ago of more than four
p^-cent.
Cumulative sales for the
first five months of this year
amounted to $27,697,678, an
increase of over five percent
above the same period a year
ago.
In the first five months of
this year North Carolina has
achieved over 40 percent of its
1968 goal of $68,800,000.
Post Office
A n n ounce
Change
The Postmasters from the
Murphy and Hayesville Post
Offices announced early this
week that their office hours
will change Saturday in
compliance with the federal
spending cutback.
Joe Ray, Murphy
Postmaster, said that the
window service will be from
8:30 to 10:30 Saturday
morning. Until now the
window hours have been from
8 :3 0 to 12:30. A
memorandum from the district
office in Atlanta said that there
would be a maximum time
limit of two hours for Saturday
window services.
The notice also stated that
there is to be no cash
transactions made during this
time. General delivery mail is
the only service offered.
At Hayesville the Post
Office window will not be
open at all on Saturday.
Posmaster Quinton Moore said
that rural and city pick-ups will
continue, however.
Other postal services that
are expected to be curtailed
include cutting delivery days
eventually to four per week. At
the present time these changes {
are not definite
New Lion* Club Officers installed July
9th are, left to right, P. N. Hensley, Lion
Tamer; Edd Harshaw, Vice-President;
Jimmy Howse, Secretary; Max
Blakemore, President; and Tommy
Gentry, Vice-President. Back row,
Robert Bruce, Charlie Hughes, Dave
Woody and W. A. Hoover, Directors;
Robert Crumpler, Tail Twister. Douglas
Carlson, Treasurer is not pictured.
Before .
and After
The top picture was made at the first
of May near the Hiwassee Campground
on Lake Hiwassee. The waler level was
lar below where it usually it! at this Jinie
of year. The bottom picture, made
Tuesday, was also made on Lake
Hiwassee. During the entire summer the
water leyel did not rise much above the
pictured levels.
Contract AwardedOn
18 Hole Golf Course
The Contract has been
awarded on the 18 hole golf
course to be built near
Murphy; John T. Gill,
Chairman of the KuraJ Renewal
Development Authority
announced recently. Wells and
West Construction Company of
Murphy was the apparent low
bidder on the project.
Funds for the $150,000 golf
couse was provided for by the
Farmers Home Administration
and obtained by the Rural
Renewal Authority.
Bids for the contract were
opened July 9th, but all three
bids were over the amount
allocated for the project. The
bidders agreed to negotiate
with the Authority.
In order to get the price of
the course down to the
available funds the originial
plans were slightly altered. The
only changes necessary,
according to Gill, was to dig
out the ponds in the course
instead of building dams.
Gill said that although the
Authority has passed oil the
Contract, it still had to be
approved by Raleigh. As soon
as Raleigh office makes it
official, construction can
begin.
Wells and West's contract
stated that completion time
would be approximately one
calendar year.
The golf course will include |
fairways, driving ranges, greens,
tees, cart trails, bridges, and
irrigation systems. The course
is part of a recreation complex
to be completed later and is
located on the old John
Mulkey farm south of Murphy.
'Gemboree' To Begin In
Franklin Today
The 1968 Macon County
Gemboree gets underway at 10
a.m. Thursday, July 25.
This year, the Gemboree
will have exhibits from all over
the world as well as exhibits of
native stones found locally.
Also on this year's program
for the "rock-hounds"
attending the Gemboree will be
field trips. Lectures and swap
shops.
The exhibits are located in
the Franklin High School
gymnasium. About 8-10
thousand persons are expected
for the three day event that is
hailed by critics as one of the
best shows of this type of the
country.
The Gemboree is sponsored
by the Franklin Chamber of
Commerce. Franklin has long
been recognized as a gathering
place for "rock hounds."
Franklin is also noted for it's
many ruby mines that dot the
countryside.
Lions Install Officers
The Murphy Lions Club j
installed officers for the
coming year at their regular
dinner meeting July 9th.
District Governor John
Ramsey swore in each elected
member to their new office. He
congratulated the Murphy Club
on its activities and as being
the best working club west of
Asheville.
Lion Edd Harshaw was cited
for his outstanding service in
Lionism. Governor Ramsey set
the goal for the Lion's work
with the blind as one eye will
per Lion in Western North
Carolina.
Last year the Murphy Club
made a total of 129 trips to
visit the blind or near-blind in
Cherokee County. They paid
for seven eye operations, gave
161 eye examinations and
purchased 127 pairs of glasses
for those who could not buy
them.
A new projector and screen
was added to the equipment in
the Eye Clinic which the Lion's
Club owns. The Murphy Club
gave $513 to the North
Carolina Association for the
Blind as their White Cane
donation to carry on work
with the blind on the state
level.
s 2 5 5 Left In
Fire Truck Goal
The Clay County Rescue
Squad has announced that just
S255.75 is remaining in their
drive to equip their fire truck.
When the goal of $3,000 is
reached equipment will be
purchased making the truck
available for use.
Donors this week are
Wiltard Lovin, Employees of
Hayesvllle Manufacturing
Company, Lois A. Bell, Doyle
Coker, Loftin Cherry, Jerry
Anderson. Clarence Shook and
Horace Wlmpey.
4-S q u a r e
The 4 Square Board of
Directors training session will
be held at the Andrews
Community Center this
Saturday at 9 a.m. All
members are urged to attend.
Any member not having
transportation contact the 4
Square Office.
Summer
Enrichment
Another popular course is
Physical Education under the
supervision of Mr. Bob
Hendrix. All pupils enrolled in
the Summer program
participate in Softball, tennis,
basketball, volley ball and
badminton. The students are
divided into teams and
compete on that basis.
Mrs. Edna Whitley, school
libraian, has conducted daily
story hours for the primary
grades. All other grades have
regular library periods and have
access to all library materials.
I
Lakes Low- 5 Inches
Less Rain This Year
By Bill Gray
A wide strip of mud
encircles the clear water of
Chatuge-Elmo's Boat Dock is
almost high and dry on Lake
Hiwassee.
This was the picture many
vacationers saw this past
weekend on the local lakes.
The lakes are down, far below
the usual mid-summer levels.
And for the most part they are
st'jjldropping fast.
This has been the dilemma
all summer of those people
who depend on a full lake to
attract tourists and to those
who frequent the lakes for
enjoyment. In May the area
TVA lakes,, Chatuge, Hiwassee
and iNottpJy were well below
the expected Spring nil. By
June the lakes had risen an
additional two or three feet,
not anywhere near the high
levels usually reached.
Many people have asked in
the past several week why
previous levels were not
reached and held this year.
Among those were Tommy
Gentry, Race Chairman for the
Jaycee Water Festival, who
wrote TVA in Knoxville
inquiring about the anticipated
lake level at the time of the
Jaycee Race.
The reply sent to Mr. Pentrv
from Alfred J. Cooper, Chief
of the River Control Branch,
was typical of the responses
received by the Scout from
other TVA officials: the lakes
are low because of a decrease
in the average rainfall in ih^
TVA valley. The lake was 12
feet below the gates at the tiArc
of the boat race.
However, additional
information was given in a
letter from Mr. Coopbr to
Kenneth Godfrey, member of
the Town Board. To quote Mr.
Cooper, "In our letter to you
dated July 29, 1966, we
pointed out it was expected
that Hiwassee Reservoir levels
would be lower than had been
experienced in past years as a
result of trying to achieve a
better balance of lake levels in
Chatuge, NoMelv', and
Hiwassee.
The rainfall last summer
was unusually heavy, so this
expected normal effect did not
materialize in Hiwassee,
producing very high levels all
summer. Rainfall in June this
year was much below normal
in this area, and it has been
necessary to draw water from
all three Hiwassee projects to
aid in supplying the powerload.
For example, in June,
Chatuge was drawn 2 feet,
Nottely 5 feet, and Hiwassee 4
feet. As of today Chatuge is 10
feet below full pool, Nottely
22 feet below, and Hiwassee 13
| feet below. AH three lakes are
lower than they were in the
last two years.
Again we must point out
that it is quite possible that the
lower levels in Hiwassee will
necessitate some adjustments
in facilities. Mr. Walter Arrants
is now Manager of Properties
of the Central District Office
located at Athens, Tennessee,
and he shall be glad to advise
you on plans needed to adjust
facilities." This letter was
dated July 3rd.
TVA's atteniDt to keep
more water in Nottely is the
basis for their expectino lower
levels than in the past. Nottely,
which is located near
Blairsville, Georgia, has in the
past been almost a river rather
than a lake.
The attention drawn to
Nottley was the result of the
formation of the Upper
Hiwassee Watershed
Development. This
organization was formed
several years ago by people in
Clay and Cherokee Counties in
The Ridge Runner Says:
Dear Mr. Editor:
Recently when Scott
Harvey, Republican
Candidate for the United
States Senate from this
district, spoke to the GOP
convention here, . he
promised to work diligently
for better schools, better
roads, and to make this
county more safe and secure
for our families.
Mr. Harvey is not alone
in his desires. Each political
year, every candidate
platforms for better schools
and better roads. That's all
well and good but 1 can't
think of a single person who
would be against schools
and roads.
Mr. Harvey also pointed
out that Western North
Carolina needs full time
employment to raise the per
capita income which is
among the lowest in the
nation. It's true that the
need is great but how do we
go about it?
With four months of
campaigning ahead before
election, I think the
candidates have ample time
to be more realistic in their
approach to the voters.
I for one would like to
hear how they plan to
achieve their goals not just
what they desire and need.
You know, there is a
possibility that ears will go
deaf to the same old routine
year after year.
Yours truly,
' Ridge Runner
District Sof tba 1 1
Tournament Begins
The 1968 version of the Far
West District Slow Pitch
Softball Tournament gets
underway Friday at the j
Robbinsville High School field.
Kicking off the action will be
the local Dirty Reds who will
go against a strong Na? Bers
Drive-In Team from Bryson
City. This game will be the first
of four scheduled for Friday
Night. Perhaps the best game
of the evening will match
Texaco of Andrews against
Texanna of Murphy at 7:30
p.m.
Two local teams tangle in
the first of five games Saturday
night as the Triplets take on
the Blue Boars in a 5:30 game.
The hometown Orange Owls
also get into action Saturday at
9:00 as they go against Rimco
Manufacturing of Murphy.
Several top tournament
favorites also see action
Saturday as last years
rannervup, Sealtest, featuring
All-Star pitcher Ernest Reed,
and All-Star First Baseman,
Jerry Posted, takes on high
flying Clifton Precision of
Murphy at 7:45 In an earlier
Saturday game top rated Levi
Strauss of Murphy meets
Hayesville's number one team.
Bell Cretk, at6:30.
Last years champs,Jim's
Laundry, of Bryson City take
the Held on Wednesday Night
as they meet the winner of a
Fridays game between the
Andrews Independents and
Coble Dairy of Murphy at
8:45. The champs will once
again feature last years most
valuable player, Lionel Brooks
and several All-Stars including
Pitcher, Burgin Edwards and
Third Baseman, Snake Norton.
The Contractors, local
league leaden and losers of
only three game* this year
make their first appearance on
Wednesday at 7:30 when they
meet the winner of theDirty
Reds and Na-Bers game. All
Star Outfielder, Roger Webster
and returning serviceman, Mike
Sneed, will lead the
Contractor! who certainly
must rank at a tournament
favorite.
District Commissioner, John
Manual, reports that a mbii of
twenty-one teams have entered
the tournament and based
upon their inasnnsl records
si most anyone could win and
represent the district In tke
state tournament at Msb
beginning on August 15th.
North Carolina and Union,
Towns, and Fannin Counties in
Georgia. Their main interest is
the development of the area in
relation to the streams and
lakes.
But as can quickly be seen
by Mr. Cooper's letter, their
efforts to raise the level of
Nottelv have not been to
successful. From the most
recent U. S. Weather Bureau
reports Hiwassee is 18 feet
below being full, Chatuge is 13
feet down, and Nottley is over
24 feet below their gates.
Nantahala and Fontana are
down 20 and 9 feet
respectivally.
A call by the Scout to Mr.
Paul Evans, a TVA official in
Knoxville, confirmed the fact
that the lakes are lower now
than in the past two years.
And, according to TVA in
Knoxville, there is no special
reason for the low levels, such
as work being done on a dam,
other than rainfall. Mr. Evans
said that the rainfall for the
valley was five inches below
normal for the first six months
of this year.
T ? TU A
L4Di oatuiuay auuic i ?n
officials met with other
community development
leaders in Hayesville and this
problem was discussed. It was
brought out again that the
TV A lake system was built for
flood control and to produce
electric power. The
recreational value of the lakes
is purely a by-product and
secondary to the original
purpose. By law, TVA is
required to utilize the flood
control aspect before othei
things are considered.
Several people have
speculated that the situation
last summer influenced the
present levels. Last year it
rained 21 days in July, which
filled Lake Hiwassee. If there
had been a flooding condition,
the full lakes would have been
of little value.
It was suggested that TVA
was expecting this again this
year, and pulled the lakes
early. The rains did not
materialize, leaving the lakes
unusually low. This, of course,
is speculation.
An interesting note is that
the TVA could drain Chatuge
almost dry and still not fill
Hiwassee. Although Hiwassee is
not tremendously larger in
surface area than Chatuge,
Hiwassee holds approximately
2'A to 3 times as much water as
Chatuge. This is a help and
hinders nee to Chatuge in that
although it fills'quicker during
rains, it also goes down faster
when pulled. Chatuge is one of
the shallowest lakes in the
TVA chain. When it is pulled
two or three feet vertically M>ere
is a lot of mud around the
shore because of the gently
sloping banks.
From the information from
TVA it looks as though the
high lake levels will no longer
be enjoyed during summer
months except when
exceptionally rainy season
occur. As for a remedy, there
seems to be none. As Mr.
Cooper said, adjustments to
recreational facilities will have
to be made.
Medical,
FoodGrant
Aooroved
Four Square n bL~
Action of
that It hat bean
$4,600 to
Emergency
Services Program foe
Graham and Swain
The