1
The Cherokee Scout
and Clay County Progress
Volume 79 - Number 30 - Murphy, North Carolina - February 13, 1969 - Second Class Postage Paid At Murphy, North Carolina
County's First United Fund Drive Passes Goal
TVA's Arrangements
To Raise Rates Are
Nearing Completion
Arrangements for putting
into effect the increase in TVA
power rates announced as
necessary last October are now
nearing completion, TVA said
today. TVA said last fall that
this rate increase would be
required because of rising
operating costs, interest rates,
and investments in air and
water quality control at its
generatng plants.
Now it is beginning
individual discussions with the
160 local distributors of TVA
power on the retail rates each
system will adopt. All changes
are expected to be in effect
within the next two months.
In discussions which have
been under way since October,
TVA and a committee
representing municipal and
cooperative distribution
systems have reached general
agreement on new wholesale
rates for TVA power sold to
these systems.
The wholesale rate increase
is expected to provide $27
million annually in additional
revenue to TVA from these
sales, which now total about
$220 million.
The effects of the increase
on local electric bills will
depend on the retail rates
adopted by each distributor.
These will continue to vary,
with each local system
applying the level of retail rates
required to continue a
financially sound operation.
No comparison of the new
and old rates paid by
consumers will be possible
until new contracts have been
completed between TVA and
individual distribution systems.
However, the average rate paid
by residential customers is
expected to be about half the
National level after the rate
increase.
The rate increase will
provide additional revenue of
about $1.5 million annually
from direct power sales to
about three dozen large
industrial users. They will also
pay additional amounts under
revised escalation provisions
that vary the customer's
electric rate annually to reflect
changes in TVA costs for fuel
and interest.
In the past these escalation
adjustments have applied
mainly to industrial,
commercial, and governmental
power bills. They will be
extended to residential bills
under the new retail rates now
being considered. They are
computed after each fiscal year
ends in June, and any changes
apply to power bills beginning
in August.
Bulldogs Lose To Wildcats
Ancirews wildcat Jackie Ledford, 23,
shoots over the head of Murphy Bulldog Mike
Hughes, 55, during Tuesday night's game at Andrews.
Andrews came out ahead by one point in the exciting
contest, winning by a score of 44-43. The Andrews
JV team also sneaked by the Bulldogs 32 to 31.
Other Bulldogs in the photograph are, far left.
.. - ^ -?
Horton, Kephart, 25, and Hughes, far right. The other
identifible Wildcat isMickey Anderson , 34.
The Bulldogs were ahead at the end of the first
quarter, but the Wildcats were ahead at halftime 23
to 21. The score was tied several times during the
remainder of the game. (Scout photo by Hugh
Carringer. )
Lack Or Land Is Delaying 40
Unit Murphy Housing Project
A lack of suitable land is
holding back Murphy's chances
of obtaining a federally
financed low-rent housing
project, it was reported to the
Murphy Town Board Monday
night.
Ben Palmer, manager of the
Murphy Housing Authority,
told the Board that several sites
suggested by the town for the
30 units remaining were found
to be unsatisfactory by the
Rural Housing Authority in
Atlanta. The major reasons for
the rejection of the sites were
that the prices demanded by
the land owners were
unreasonably high.
The RHA did approve a site
where ten units for the elderly
could be built, however. The
land needed for the 30 units
must be within the city limits
because of the restrictive costs
of furnishing water and sewage.
Palmer said.
In other business the Board,
after talking to the Lions Club
and Fair Committee,
recommended that the Murphy
Jaycees should not build a
permenant building on the
fairgrounds as they had
requested. The Board did
recommend, however, three
different places on the
fairgrounds that the Jaycees
could adopt for their use.
The Jaycees need a place to
store and repair used furniture
and appliances that they
distribute to needy families in
the county.
The payment of $250 dues
to the Western North Carolina
Regional Planning Committee
was unanimously approved by
the Board. This commission
?ffers services to the town in
community planning problems.
Cloe Moore, mayor of
Murphy, it the town's
representative on the Regional
Planning Commission.
The only business that
required lengthy! discussion
wis the motion made by Jerry
Hatchett to raise the price of
lots in the Sunaet Cemetery,
which is owned by the town.
The Board unanimously
agreed to raise the price of the
four grave lots from $75 to
(100, and for the eight grave
lota the price is now $200
instead of the previous $160.
Tbeee prices apply to residents
of Murphy, while the price to
aayoae living outaMe of the
city limits is double the above
amount.
Reasons given by the Board
of doubling the price to
non-residents is that residents
pay for upkeep of the
cemetery through paying town
taxes, while the extra amount
paid by non-residents would
make up for this expense.
Land for an additional
cemetery was discussed, and
the Board members agreed to
look around within the city
limits for some suitable land.
John Carringer was
appointed by the Board to
represent the town of Murphy
in the six-county organization
formed for the improvement of
area law enforcement. The
Board agreed to support this
new organization to the fullest
extent.
Several tax and water
releases were released by the
Board.
County Magistrates Are
Back In Business Again
Cherokee County's
incumbent magistrates are back
in business again, at least until
new ones are appointed,
according to Cherokee County
Clerk of Court Don Ramsey.
Ramsey received a
memorandum from Superior
Court Judge Thad Bryson
relaying a ruling by Attorney
General Robert Morgan that
magistrates, like elected
officials in the state, continue
to hold public office after their
term expires until someone
takes over his office.
Cherokee, Clay and Swain
Counties have been without
magistrates since the first
Monday in December, which is
the date new magistrates are
supposed to be appointed by
Judge Bryson.
Savings Bond
Sales High
Sales in Cherokee County
for December amounted to
$24,995.00 bringing the
County's Bond sales total for
the year to $319,063.00 which
is 94.6 percent of it* annual
quota or $337,120.00" said
W. L. Christy, Volunteer
Chairman of the U.S. Savings
Bonds Program in Cherokee
County.
Cumulative safe* of
$64,606,618 were up 6.9
percent over 1967 and were
the highest since 1946, ranking
N.C. ninth in the ration In
percent of annual quote
Under the present system,
the Clerk of Court of each
county nominates men or
women for the magistrate
office, and the resident
Superior Court Judge, which is
Bryson, makes appointments
from thesenominations Bryson
has failed to make an
appointment, although a total
of 16 names have been
submitted from Cherokee
County, at press time.
Magistrates have the
authority, under state law, to
post bond, set Tines and hold
preliminary hearing, among
other duties. Since December
2nd, these duties have fallen to
the Clerk of Court and his
assistants, who are not
authorized to carry out all of
the functions of the
magistrates.
The present incumbent
magistrates are Hugh Brittian
in Murphy and L.L. Love in
Andrews.
Ramsey said that he
received instructions Tuesday
from Bert Montague, director
of the administrative office of
courts, to furnish the
incumbent magistrates with the
materials needed for them to
continue their work.
Dr. Miller To Continue
Practice Next Monday
Dr. Harry Miller, who left
Murphy in 1958 after 22 year*
of practice, is coming out of
retirement to open an office in
the General Hospital on
Monday, February 17.
A native of Murphy, Dr.
Miller moved to Fayetteville,
N. C., in 1958, where he was a
ward physician in a Veterans
Administration hospital. After
retiring from this position, he
was Msociated with the
Womack Hospital at Ft Bragg,
where be wsa on the medical
services staff.
Dr. Miller has a daughter
and two grandchildren In
Syncnae, New York. Hi* wife,
Emily C. Miller, died in July
1967.
Dr. Miller said that be wlH
DR. HARRY MILLER
not make nifht or house calls
?thtdW when h? was younger.
Cherokee County 4-H Club
Elects Officers For 1969
The Cherokee County 4-H
Council elected officers for
1969 at their meeting Saturday,
February 1 at the Power Board
Building in Murphy.
President for the coming
year is Steve Thompson. Other
officers include Lynn
Loudermilk, vice-president;
Bobby Howell, secretary and
Linda Pope, reporter.
The Council also passed a
motion to run Steve Thompson
and Linda Pope for district
office. These 4-H'ers will
compete with other 4-H
members from 17 counties in
Western North Carolina. The
election of district officers will
be June 18 at the Western
Activity Day.
A report was also given on
the newly organized Junior
Leaders Club. Membership is
open to all 4-H'ers who have
completed at least two years of
4-H club work and who are 14
years of age or older.
After the meeting was
adjourned, Miss Pat Thompson,
home economics extension
agent and Mike Angell,
associate agricultural extension
agent, presented a program on
planning recreation for group
meetings. The group then
participated in several games.
During the recreation
period, the Adult Leaders
Council met. The following
officers were approved for the
1969 year: Mrs. Ruth
Dalrymple, president; Grady
Murphy, vice president and
Mrs. Maxine Early, secretary.
Army Takes 7
Seven Cherokee County
men were inducted into the
armed forces and seven more
were forwarded for physicals
this month, according to the
Selective Service office in
Murphy.
Inducted were Michael
David Sherrill, Jerry Lee
Woods, David Howard
Swanson, Larry Blaine
Huskins, Robert Victor Curtis,
Willard Junior Beaver and
Jackie Wayne Griffith.
>31, 358"
$30,000 Passed In 3rd Month
The Tint United Fund drive
in Cherokee County proved to
be a tremendous success as the
goal of $30,000 was pasaed this
week with over $1,000 to
spare
According to the United
Fund President Hobart
McKeever, the goal was
reached with donations from
67 5 different sources
throughout the county, which
includes literally thousands of
individuals. Most of the
$31,358 collected is in the
form of donation pledges, he
said, since donations were
solicited over a 12 month
period.
A break-down of the
donations shows that almost
one-half, or $14,235, of the
total amount came from the 27
industries and corporations in
the county. This amount does
not include what employees of
the industries contributed.
Magnavox Inc. of Andrews
donated $3,500, the largest
single amount given by any of
the industries in the county.
Six other industries gave over
$1,000 each.
Retail establishments
donated $5,671, with the
remaining $11,000 being given
by individuals.
Plans for the United Fund
drive began in early fall. The
drive beginning officially late
in October, which is the month
set aside as the national United
Fund month. Getting off to
such a late start attributed to
the lateness of the drive's
completion, an official stated.
Twenty-one local charitable
organizations and Carolines
United, which include* several
national and state-wide
organizations within its realm,
were included in the first
budget The local organizations
include Lions Club White Cane,
rescue squads, minor league
sports, girl and boy scouts,
youth recreation programs,
Jaycees needy projects,
American Red Cross and
several others.
Officers of the drive, which
were elected before the United
Fund was incorporated, are H.
L. McKeever, president;
Charles 0. Van Gorder, and
Joe El Khouri, vice-presidents;
James T. Gentry, secretary and
John Jordan, Treasurer.
The Board of Directors are
Giles Bryson, Bill Bnckett,
Bob Badon, Wayne Aberaathy,
Ted Susac, Horace Cannon,
Herb Sheidy, Houston
Ledford, P. B. Ferebee
Gene Farmer, Joe El
Khouri, Lonnie Hoover, Dr.
Van Gorder, Father Glockner,
Rev. Thornton Hawkins, Jack
Watson, BUI Whitaker, Mis.
Lynn Brown.
H. L. McKeever, Lee
Nichols, Frank Forsyth,
Tommy Gentry, Doug Carbon,
Dave Moody, Mrs. G. W. Cover,
Mrs. F. E. Blalock, William
Carter and James R. Sprung.
Tennessee Man Dies
Of Gunshot Wound
A 38 year-old man from
Tennessee killed himself with a
gunshot wound to the head
around 4:30 Friday afternoon,
Cherokee County Sheriff
Claude Anderson reported.
Glenn Pressley, a father of
four who lived in Tellico
Plains, Tenn., shot himself with
a .22 rifle in the presence of his
12 and 14 year-old sons.
Anderson said that one of the
boys ran to a nearby house and
called an ambulance.
According to Sheriffs
Department, Pressley had
traveled to Unaka to see his
ex- wife. While there he
reportedly told her and his
mother-in-law that he was
going to kill himself. He then
drove "down the road" with
the two boys in the car,
stopped and stepped out of the
car and shot himself.
One of the boys said that
Presriay had to wotfc with the
gun for a few minutes before
be could get it to fire.
Presley has two other
children, 16 and 18 year-old
girls.
Union Vote
To Be Feb. 27
Employees of American
Thread will vote February 27
to determine whether or not
they will join the Textile
Workers Union of America, a
plant official confirmed
Wednesday.
The election was origionalty
scheduled for December 12 but
was postponed when unfair
labor practice charges were
brought against the company.
According to plant officials,
the National Labor Relatione
Board dismissed the charges
and set the new date for the
election.
National FFA Week Focuses
Importance Of Agriculture
Vocational agriculture
students in Murphy High
School will join Future
Farmers of American members
throughout the nation in
activities to focus attention on
the importance of agriculture
during National FFA WEEK,
February 15-22.
"FFA. . an opportunity for
youth" is this year's FFA
WEEK theme. The message that
these young agriculturists are
trying to impart to the nation
is simple. They seek to inform
the public of the importance
they place upon the vast
opportunities in American
agriculture. FFA members find
excitement in their role as
young partners in developing a
more properous agriculture
that will better serve a growing
America and an increasingly
complex world.
"Before an FFA member
can conquer the battle of
starvation halfway around the
globe or even increase
profitability of farming or
ranching, he must tint conquer
himself," aid Mr. Roberts,
vocational agriculture teacher
and FFA advisor. "There is an
urgent calling for FFA
members to grasp the
opportunities available in
agriculture."
Tag And
Balloon Day
Friday and Saturday have
been set aside by the Heart
Fund drive workers as Tag Day
and Balloon Day in Murphy.
Credit Assoc.
Meets Tonight
The Merchant's Credit
Association will hold a meeting
at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night at
the Chamber office. All
directors are asked to be
present
Milestones In The History Of Cherokee County
BY MRS. LOUISE A. BAY LESS
(Editor's note: This is the
fourth article in a series of six
on the history of Cherokee
County as written by Mrs.
Louise A. Bay less of Murphy)
Mrs. Callie Hall - Brand New
Stock of fall and winter Hats
and Millinery Goods and
Notions.
C. B. HIII-Fumiture, Rugs
and Coffins ? Oak Beds - If you
want cheap Oafc Beds, we have
them, but if you want Poplar,
see the other fellow. Excursion
Rates to the BEE HIVE
STORE ? N. C. Christopher
will buy chickens, eggs,
cross-ties and all kinds of
produce. Cherokee Lumber
Company - The Sweetness of
low price never equals the
bitterness of Poor Quality.
Western North Carolina Fair
Great Attraction at Riverside
Park-4th Annual Session, Oct.
1st - Round trip Excursion
Rates Via Southern
Railway-Educational Exhibits
& Demonstrations. A. G.
Deweese- We Deal in
Vaiuea-Alao some Hats I want
you to have. We can Trade ?
Anything in General
Merchandise. Southern Bell
Telephone Company - Farmers
Line Department Keener
Monument Company ? J.S.
Keener, Manager - Call or write
if you need a Monument.
The Supreme Court of
North Carolina has declared
that the Carolina-Tennessee
Power Co. has the superior and
prior rights down the
Hiawaasee River and this was
affirmed by the Supreme Court
of the United States.
-1915- A cordial invitation -
You are respectively invited to
spend the summer in Murphy,
N. C. pisturesque Town is
situated in the Western part of
WNC at the terminus of the L
6 N and Southern Railway
System. Murphy throws open
wide her doors to the summer
visitors for the year 1915. And
in evidence of that some
progressive citizens have
offered fifty lots free (half acre
each) to those who will build a
little summer bungalow, cheap
If you prefer, on pretty hill
tops in rail view of Um town.
There are no strings to this
proportion, but an absolute
free gift. We want you in our
midst to spend your summer
v?ction*. Well graded. Carriage
and automobile drives,
macadam roads north, south
and east and west from the
Town. In fact, all roads lead to
Murphy, like Rome; It is built
on a hill and aU roads lead to
and from this point. So many
pretty nearby scenic walks, and
wild ntountain views,
"sunpainted c lifts" and
minature waterfalls. Fishing
fine, like a paradise of an
Angler; bring your Kodak and
fishing rod. Then are only a
few towns in the world that
please you at first sift Murphy
la just such a cone; so reatful,
cool and inviting during the
summer months. You an
especially requested by the
Board of Trad* to spend your
vacation where nature has done
so much to please and satisfy.
If I didn't live here I'd move to
Murphy. Signed, Secretary of
the Board of Trade. (Today we
may add beautiful Lake
Hiawaaase and Lake CMtaga
and Nottiey).
Oct 2 ? Wort is reported to
iwaiji >V-' a ' * - ill VyikiWnVfi ' tJiiS
be progressing satisfactorily on
the dam site of the Hiawassee
River Power Company below
Murphy. The drilling has been
completed. The work will five
employment to hundreds of
men. There seems to be no
question as to the financial
backing behind this concer.
Business locals ? We're
Shooting at You ? The Test of
good Service in Furniture Is in
the Number of Buyers. Fain
and Wei bom Funiture, Coffins
& Caskets.
Fifteen young ran (mo
Cherokee and eleven from Clay
County left on the early train
for Camp Jaeksoo, South
Carolina.
-1917- April 6, The United
States entered World War I on
the ride of the Aflta, after
Prerident Woodrow Wlboo
declared war before a Joint
Marion of Confaa.
Mb. Nina L. Axley (lta. F.
W. Hubbeil) volunteered m a
member of the Red Croat
Group formed boa Baeory
Unherlty in Atlanta and terved