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The Cherokee Scout i0<
, and Clay County Progress p c r c ? p y
Volume 79 - Number 48 - Murphy, North Carolina, 28906 ? Second Class Postage Paid At Murphy, North Carolina -THURSDAY? JUNE 19, 1969
I
Tri-County Shows Rapid
Growth In Four Years
During the past four yean,
more than 4000 citizens
residing in the Tri-County are*
have received some type of
training offered by Trt-County
Technical Institute.
In the first year of
operation, 1965-66, there were
?ight extension classes, all of
them meeting two nights per
week at Murphy High School.
These courses included: typing,
shorthand, bookkeeping, and
adult basic education, with a
total enrollment of
approximately 170 students.
Adults from Cherokee, Clay,
Green Beret
Trooper Missing
The search continues for
Staff Sergeant John P. Soychak
who was reported missing
during a training mission on
Nantahala Lake late Sunday
night.
Staff Sergeant Soychak, 27,
was with "C" Company, 6th
Special Forces Group from
Fort Bragg, N. C. which is in
the area on field training
maneuvers during the month of
June.
The sergeant was reported
missing after the boat which he
and two companions occupied
struck a floating log and
overturned about 11:20 p.m.
Sunday.
The aluminum "ttfety"
boat owned by Dr. C. O. Van
Corder was being used on a
routine training mission during
the small boat training phase of
Field Training Exercise in the
Nantahala National Forest. It
was being used to accompany a
number of rubber rafts across
the lake when the accident
occured.
According to reports, the
two companions of Soychak
managed to get safely to shore
but the life preserver worn by
Soychak failed to function
properly and he started
swimming toward land. After
getting to within, ten feet of
shore he apparently panicked
and went under.
Those present immediately
dived for him but were unable
to find him in the dark,
according to members of the
"Green Beret".
Members of the Andrews,
Murphy, Franklin, and Wayah
Rescue Squads are asristing
Army Scuba Teams in the
search for Soychak's body,
with divers being sent down
into areas where the water is
over 200 feet deep
Soychak, a native of
Pennsylvania, was making his
home on base at Fort Bragg
before being sent on this
training maneuver. He hat
served a period of time in
Vietnam and had returned
home only a few months prior
to this assignment. According
to reports, he was previously
with the Signal Corps, and had
been with the Special Forces
Group only a short time.
Monitoring
Course To Be
Held At Sylva
A Radiological Monitoring
Training Course will be offered
for key personnel in the rix
Western Counties of Jackson,
Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay
and Cherokee. The course is
scheduled to begin Monday,
June 23rd, at the Robbinsville
Rescue Squad building with
Mr. R. G. Robinson
Instructing. The comprehensive
16 hour course will be
completed in four meetings
from 6:30 to 10:30, Monday
through Thursday.
Certificates will be issued
upon completion of this
program.
Members of Fir*
Departments, Rescue Squads,
Civil Defense Personnel, Law
Enforcement Agencies and
many other service personnel
operate at the mercy of "hick"
without trained monitors.
Mr. George Maddrey, State
Civil Defense Director has
given whole hearted support
tor this training prefMtt.
Than It no coat for this
Graham, and the NanUhala
area of Macon County were
enrolled in these classes.
Full-time curriculum
courses began in the summer of
1966 with two training
programs: masonry and
carpentry. These classes met
five days per week for twelve
months and were held at
Tri -County Technical Institute.
The total enrollment was 21.
Enrollment and the number
of curriculum training
programs continued to increase
through 1966-67; 1967-68 and
the present year 1968-69. We
now have six full-time training
programs with a total
enrollment of 79. All of the
classes are meeting at
Tri-County Tech, five days
each week, for at least one year
or longer.
During this same time from
July 1, 1968 through June
1969, we have had a total of
139 classes in extension. These
classes have been meeting one
to two nights each week for
short periods of time from 30
to 150 hours.
Meetings are held in various
school and community
buildings located in Hayesville,
Robbinsville, Andrews, Marble,
Hiwassee Dam, Martins Creek,
Unaka, Peach tree, Murphy,
White Church, Mountain View,
Stecoah, Shooting Creek,
Snowbird Community, Elf,
Fontana, Ogden, and other
communities. The total
enrollment in these extension
dasaes has been 1909.
According to officials at
Tri-County, requests for new
training and educational
programs are coming into the
office almost daily. These
include full-time curriculum
programs as well as extension
courses. They said that any
new full-time curriculum
programs can be offered at the
Inctitute, it will be necessary to
have additional ground space
and buildings. The present
buildings are now being used to
maximum capacity. Parking
space is also at a premium.
The present site, former
State Prison Camp, was
purchased by Cherokee County
from the State of North
Carolina in 1965. The original
dte included four buildings.
Since that time three buildings
have been constructed in an
effort to provide training
porgrams that the people were
demanding.
The fact that all these
buildings, including the three
new ones, are not adequate to
meet the needs is a definite
indication of the unusually
rapid growth in enrollment and
training programs during the
short period of time
Tri-County Technical Institute
has been in operation.
Summer Classes For
Retarded Children To
Begin On June 30
"Camp Butler", a program
for mentally retarded children
will be held this summer at the
Murphy Elementary School.
The project is financed by the
Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, Title VI.
Children from Graham, Clay,
and Cherokee county will
attend.
Chil<ken will start classes on
Monday, June 30. Closing date
will be August 1. School buses
wDI transport children from
surrounding counties to
Murphy. Classes start at 9
o'clock each morning and last
until 1:30 each afternoon,
Monday through Friday.
Lunch will be served daily free
of charge, to all children who
attend.
The school hopes that more
children will attend classes this
summer, because, the day
camp offers much to children
who rfiara the same problems.
Teachers an asked to report
for pre-planning on June 25,
28, 27. Teachers participating
In the project are: Bill Hughes,
camp director; Bob Hendrix,
phy. ed Instructor; Mrs. Agnes
Price, classroom Instructor;
Mrs. Kathleen Davidson, musk
teacher; libs. Mary Morrow,
riMNM Instructor Asriattna
the tochers will be two
teachen aides, and one social
woHmt to Hi appointed later.
Three North Carolina State Forest
Rangers are shown working on the
Forest Ranger work center at
Peach tree. The Rangers are doing their
own construction work because of lack
of funds. The building will consist of
three offices and a workshop. A 1500
foot air-strip will be located directly
behind the building.
State Forest Rangers
Building Work Center
North Carolina State Forest
Rangers from Cherokee, Clay
and Graham Counties are in
the process of constructing a
work center headquarters in
the Peachtree section of
Cherokee County.
The work center will consist
of three offices, and a fully
equipped workshop, where the
Rangers will be able to do their
own welding, grinding of tools
and repairing of equipment.
The center will have a 98 foot
tower for communication
Seperate Accidents
Injures Four Persons
Three persons were injured
in a freak accident Saturday at
approximately 5:30 p.m. when
they fell from a truck loaded
with hay.
According to witness, the
truck was traveling. East from
Murphy on Highway 64 when
the load of hay shifted
Six Communities
Compete In Program
A total of 98 organized
communities in 16 counties
and the Cherokee Indian
Reservation are participating in
the 1969 Western North
Carolina Community
Development Program,
according to an announcement
by Monris L. McGough,
executive vice-president of the
Asheville Agricultural
Development Council and
William Parton of Drexel, area
chairman of the program.
Entry deadline was May IS.
Six communities in
Cherokee county are among
the entrants this year. These
are Happy Top, Marble,
Peachtree, Texan na, Tomotla
and Unaka.
throwing the youths to the
pavement.
Paul Smith, 25, is in an
Atlanta hospital suffering from
a broken jaw, and serious face
abrasions. Steve Wells, 16,
suffered a fractured thumb and
bruises.
Johnny Palmer, 13, is in the
Providence Hospital suffering
from a fractured arms and
serious face abrasions.
City Policeman Tommy
Palmer, a witness of the
accident, said that it was lucky
that no one was killed.
In another accident
reported, Clyde Willis Reid, 31,
of Rt. 4, Murphy was injured
in a motercycle-automobile
collision, Monday morning at
approximately 7:55 a.m.
According to policeman,
Roy Almond, Kenneth James
Teague of Rt. 1, Murphy was
attempting a left turn at the
square in Murphy in the
direction of Peachtree when
Reid, approaching the red light
from the west, struck the
automobile.
Reid was taken to the
Providence in Murphy suffering
facial and head injuries. He is
reported in good condition.
Teague was charged with
failure to yield-right-of-way.
Commissioner Election
Bill Is Put To Rest
THe ghosts of a bitter
partisan battle over the method
of electing commissioners in
Cherokee County were
resurrected Tuesday ? just
long enough to give the
controversy a decent burial.
The two bills with which
Democrats and Republicans
conducted warfare for weeks
were resting peacefully side by
side in the House Local
Government Committee until
Tuesday.
Such had been their fate
since a truce was declared some
time ago when a
"compromise" measure to
elect three commissioners from
realigned districts was enacted
by the General Assembly.
Neither of the major
participants in the now-dead
controversy ? Democratic
Rep. Ernest B. Messer of
Canton and republican Sen.
Herman H. (Bull) Wert of
Murphy ? were present for the
last rite*.
Mesaer and West, now
friendly to the extent they can
ioke about partisan politics
with each other, were busy
with other matters. Both want
to see Gov. Bob Scott's
cigarette tax become law.
Reps. Liston B. Ramsey of
Marshall, chairman of House
Local Government Committee,
was attempting to clear his box
in preparation for adjournment
of the General Assembly.
Ramsey hauled out the
conflicting Cherokee County
bill, informed the committee
that the introducers had
requested indefinite
postponement of their
measures in view of settlement
of the controversy with
legislation introduced by Rep.
William Bradley of Hayesville.
But ''indefinite
postponement" doesn't wind
up the committee's work and
Ramsey called for a motion to
ct the Cherokee matter to
rest.
Without commotion, the
committee ? composed of
Democrats and Republicans ?
voted unfavorable reports for
both bills
purposes within the three
county area. A 1500 foot
air-strip at the center will
provide landing for the North
Carolina Forest Service plane
which is stationed in Asheville.
The offices will be used by
Rangers from Cherokee and
Clay Counties. Graham County
will have use of the workshop.
Ranger Headquarters in the
past have been located at
Ranger Harold Hatchett's
home in Murphy on the
Andrews Highway.
Seven Rangers and their
assistants from Cbr okee, Clay
and Graham counties are
constructing the building
themselves because of the lack
of funds. According to
Cherokee County Ranger
Harold Hatchett they only had
$10,000 to apply to the
material and construction of
the building after purchasing
the property for the site from
the North Carolina Highway
Commission. Hatchett said he
had been working for this for
the past 20 years. He said the
people were not as concerned
as they should be about
protecting their forest, "they
spend pennies to protect our
forest while millions are being
spent to encourage tourists to
come to this area and view our
beautiful mountains".
Ranger Hatchett said he
hoped to have a fire plow and a
hauling unit by the beginning
of the fire season, which begins
around the first of October and
lasts until the end of May.
"With the additional equipment
and facilities we should be
better equipped to do a more
efficient job than we have been
able to do in the past1'
Hatchett said. He said that
additional funds were
desperately needed to carry
out their planned program and
that the North Carolina Forest
OCI ? IVC Iiccucu auuiuuiwi
personnel to fight the Southern
Pine Bettle. "The Pine Bettle
could deal ? fatal blow to the
pine timber in Western North
Carolina which would cost the
people millions of dollars if
they are not exterminated."
Special Forces
Group Aid In
Search For Boy
The 6th Special Forces
Group from Fort Bragg, N. C.
who are presently stationed in
our area are assisting in the
search for the 7-year-old boy
lost in the Great Smoky
Mountain National Park.
Mr. Mike Meyers, Resource
Management Officer for the
park, requested the aid from
the group's Commanding
Officer, Lieutenant Colonel H.
D. Kinney who immediately
dispatched an initial party of
approximately 40
highly-trained "Green Berate"
to aid in the tearch.
In addition to this and other
rescue workers, two Army
UH-1 helicopters and one
communication van has been
dispatched to the scene near
Cade* Cove in the park, |?st
across the Tennessee state line,
near Gatllnburg.
Driving Under The Influence
Heads Court Docket Again
The Cherokee County
District Court met in regular
session Monday, June 16, with
the Honorable Robert
Leatherwood, III presiding.
Of the 98 cases before the
court, driving under the
influence topped the list with
public drunkeness second and
q>eeding third.
Proceeding* before the two
day court were:
State-vs-WiUard Crawford,
charged with assault with
deadly weapon, case
continued.
State-vs-Cari Harry Hie key,
charged with Breaking,
entering and larceny, case
continued.
State-vs-Wayne Dockery,
charge, Breaking, entering, and
larceny, case continued.
State-vs-Delbert Wayne
Hie key, charge, breaking,
entering and larceny, case
continued.
State-vs-Carl Dockery,
charge, breaking, entering and
larceny, case continued.
State-wJ. R. Chambers,
charge, driving under the
influence, case continued.
State-vs-Lawrence Loran
Lyles, charge Driving under the
influence, and concealed
weapon, case continued.
State-vs-Oscar McClure,
charge Public Drunkness, plea
not guilty, sentenced 30 days
to 6 months. Appealed to
Superior Cour.
State-vs-Allen Wise, charge,
possession stolen goods, plea
nol pros with leave.
State-vs-Gariand William
Piercy, charge driving under
the influence, plea not guilty,
found guilty, fined $100 and
cost and surrender drivers
license.
state- vs-ueraia uan wnitt,
charge, speeding 70 in a 55
miles zone. Continued until
next session.
S t a t e ? v s - John Dee
McDonald, charge driving
under the influence and
possession , continued.
State-vs-Billy Ralph
Owenby, charge driving under
the influence, called and failed
judgement absolute on cash
bond. Defendent, resident of
Ga. Nol Pros with leave.
State-vs-Brenda Sue Price,
charge, driving under the
influence, fined $125.00 and
cost.
State-vs- Howard Vincent
Jones, charge, exceeding safe
speed, pay cost ^
State-vs-Andrew Green,
charge Fail to stop for
accident, Nol pros.
State-vs- Anthony William
Hunter, Forest Park, Ga.,
charge speed excess 120;
reckless driving; fail to stop.
Called and failed judgement
absolute on cash bond nol pros
with leave.
State-vs-Ray Reagan, Pigion
Forge, Tenn, charge, Driving
under the influence, called and
failed and judgement absolute
on cash bond. Nol pros with
leave.
State- vs-Ronald Burt
Mclnturff, charge driving under
the influence, and revoked
license, continued until next
session.
State-vs-Thomas B. Smith,
Tennessee., charge Speeding 79
in a 55 mile zone, continued
until next session.
State-vs-Leonard Clontz,
charge, threaten state witness,
continued until next session.
State-vs-Mrs. Henry Dotson,
charge disorderly conduct,
continued until next session.
State-vs-Joseph Bryant,
charge reckless driving, called
and tailed and judgement
absolute on cash bond, nol
pros with leave.
State-vs-J. V. Palmer,
charge, public drunk ness,
sentenced 30 days to 6 months
appealed to Superior Court.
State-vs- Albert Walden
Hatchett, charge, driving under
the Influence, 2nd, case
continued.
State-vs-Robert Lee
Berrong, charge speeding 75 in
a 55 mile zone, found guilty
and court cost, <25.00 fine and
surrender license.
State vs-Kenneth James,
charge public drunkness,
sentenced 30 days to 6 months
and appealed to Superior
Court
State-vs-Paiil Hidden,
chaff* pttMlc dm n knees, fined
10.00 and coat
State-vs- Herbert Michael
Hogan, charge driving while
license revoked, continued
until next session.
State-vs-Tut McArthur
Westmoreland, Chatsworth,
Ga., charge, driving under the
influence, called and failed
judgement absolute on cash
bond, nol pros with leave.
State-vs-Randall Barton,
charge, resist arrest, sentenced
90 days suspended 9 months
fined $25.00 and court cost.
State-vs-Randall Barton,
charge public drunkness, fined
$10.00 and cost.
State-vs-Dallas Wilcox,
charge hit and run, continued.
State-vs- Daniel Wade O'Dell,
charge fail to give audible
signal, plea not guilty, pay
court cost and repair own
damages.
State-vs-Thomas Marshall
Jacobs, charge, fail to see if
movement could be made in
safety, plead not guilty, found
guilty, pay court cost and
repair own damages.
State-vs-John Kyle Mason,
Jr., charge, no insurance, no
inspection, improper
registration. Pay Cost for
registration, and charge of no
insurance, nol pros.
State-vs- Celeste Martin Rast,
charge fail to decrease speed to
avoid accident, continued until
next session.
State-vs-Gene Allen
Hatchett, charge, speeding 75
in 55 mile zone, driving under
the influence. Guilty, pay cost
plus $125.00 surrender license,
second charge 90 days,
suspended for 9 months, fined
$25.00
State-vs-Hugh Thomas
Penland, charge driving under
the influence, continued until
next session.
Hugh Thomas Penland,
charge driving under the
influence, continued until next
session.
State-vs- William Mitchell
Hughes, charge, speeding 75 in
55 mile zone, called and failed
and judgement absolute on
cash bond, nol pros with leave.
State-vs-Wayne Ladd, charge
driving under the influence
case dismissed.
State-vs-William Francis
Stalcup, charge driving under
the influence, continued until
July 22.
State-vs- Vernon Waldroup,
charge driving on wrong side of
road, pay cost.
State-vs- Varnell Rufus
Waldroup, Robbinsville, charge
feeding 70 in 55 mile zone
driving under the influence.'
Fined $125.00 and cost and
surrender license, speeding
hcarg fined $15.00.
State-vs-Tom Nelson Craig
charge speeding 70 in 55 mile
zone, , guilty, $125.00 fine and
surrender application for
duplicate license, driving under
the influence , pay $15.00 fine.
State-vs- Clifton Ray
McCray, charge speeding 68 in
55 mile zone; license revoked,
pay $15.00 , case continuted.
State-vs- Williard Taylor,
charge, Trespass, Prayer for
judgement continued for 18
months on conditions that he
pay cost and not trespass on
lands of prosecuting witness.
State-vs-Ruth Painter,
Public druckness, Sentence not
less than 30 days or more than
6 months to be assigned to
custody of Commissioner of
Correction Womans Division
and appealed to Superior
Court.
State-vs-Homer Amos Long,
Tellico Plains, Tenn, charge
driving under the influence
called and failed and
judgement absolute on cash
bond, nol pros with leave.
James Clifford Rogers,
charge, exceeding safe speed,
plea not guilty, guilty verdict!
fined $50.00 and cost pay
repair bill of prosecuting
witness automobile.
State-vs-James Ronny
Killian, charge speeding 78 in
55 mile zone. Fined $30.00
and cost surrender license
State- vs-Roy J. Stanley,
charge driving under the
influence, fined $100.00 and
coat and surrender license
StatewT. C. Beams,
charge public dnickneaa, plea
fuHty, found in contempt of
court sentenced 20 days.
State vs-Frank Palmer,
c **' damage to personal
Property, sentenced 9 moaUu
?yxted two years, pay coat
and make restitution
State-vs- James (Peg) Palmer,
charge public drunkness,
sentenced 30 days to 6 mo.
appealed to superior court.
State-vs-Lee Ellen Pearson,
charge, public drunkness, plea
guilty, fined $10.00 and cost.
State-vs-Hayden Johnson,
charge public drunkness. cost
$25.00 and court cost.
State-vs-Hoyt Rowland,
charge public drunkness, guilty,
court cost, $50.00 fine, 30 day
to 6 months suspended for 12
months.
State-vs-Robert Estip,
charge driving under the
influence, continued until next
session.
State-vs-John Lee Colvard,
charge driving under the
influence, case continued.
State-vs-Jack Dean Dockery,
charge, driving under the
influence, continued until next
session.
State-vs-Bobby Joe Nelson,
charge, speeding 73 in a 55
mile zone, called and failed and
judgement absolute on cash
bond, nol pros with leave.
State-ts- Walter Drury Tyree,
charge speeding 73 in 55 mile
zone, called and failed and
judgement absolute on cash
bond nol pros with leave.
State-vs-H. G. Curtis,
charge, worthless check, case
continued.
State-vs-Frank Palmer,
charge drunk and disorderly,
plea not guilty, sentenced 20
days suspended on condition
that he pay fine of $25.00 and
cost.
S t ate- vs-W i llard U.
Southard, charge driving on
wrong side of road, called and
failed.
State-vs-Elmo Boyd Riddle,
charge reckless driving, fined
$25 00 and cost.
State-vs-Melvin Bruce
Carver, charge speeding 90 in
55 mile zone, fined $100.00
and cost and surrender license.
State-vs-Ray McClure,
charge with public drunkness,
called and failed and
judgement absolute on cash
bond, capias to issue and
double the bond.
State-vs-Kenneth James,
charge with public drunkness,
sentenced to 30 days to 6
months. Appealed to Superior
Court.
State-vs-Roy James Stanley,
charge N.O.L.; No. Reg. No
Ins.; No Insp. prayer for
judgement, continued on
payment of cost.
State- vs-Michael Vasques,
charge N.O.L.; follow too
close, he is to pay cost of
repair bill for two automobiles,
court cost and $25.00.
State-vs-Jerry George
Leming, charge, transporting
beer, plea not guilty, verdict
guilty, fined $25.00 and cost.
State-vs-Albert McClure,
charge public drunkness, called
and failed.
State-vs-Climpson Moss,
charge. Driving with license
revoked, fined $200.00 and
cost.
State-vs-Paul Charles Crisp,
charge speeding 65 in 55 mile
zone. $10.00 fine, reckless
driving, $50.00 and cost.
State-vs-Gary Virgil
McClure, charge reckless
driving, fined $25.00 and cost.
State-vs- Richard Carter,
charge injury to personal
property, case dismissed.
State-vs-Marilyn Anita
Postell, A&A, driving under the
influence, called and failed.
State-vs-Pat Jones, charge
assault, pleas not guilty, found
not guilty.
State-vs-Ralph Roberson,
Obstruct Officer, plead not
guilty, verdict not quilty.
State-vs- Marie McKinney,
charge, resist, plea not guilty,
verdict guilty, sentenced 30
days suspended 6 months fined
$50.00 and cost and ordered to
keep the peace.
State-vs- Leslie McKinney,
charge, resist, plea not guilty,
verdict guilty, sentenced 30
days suspended 6 months,
fined $50.00 and court cost.
State-vs-Billy McKinney,
assault on female, plea not
guilty verdict guilty, fined
$50.00 and cost and keep the
peace.
State-vs-Oscar McClure,
charge public drunkness, plea
not guilty, sentenced 30 days
to 6 months and appealed to
Superior Court.
State- vs- Vaughn Grant,
public drunkness, pay cost of
court.
State-vs-Ernest Byers.
charge public drunkness,
$50.00 and cost.
State-vs-Paul Hedden,
charge public drunkenss,
$10.00 and cost.
State-vs-Edgar Nichols,
public drunkness, fined $10.00
and cost.
State-vs-James Palmer,
charge public drunkness,
sentenced 30 days to 6 months
appealed to Superior Court.
State-vs-Oscar McClure,
charge public drunkness, plea
not guilty, sentenced 30 days
to 6 months appealed to
Superior Court.
State-vs-Oscar McClure,
charge public drunkness, plea
not guilty sentenced 30 days to
6 months. Appealed to
Superior Court.
State-vs-Oscar McClure,
charge public drunkness,
previous sentence placed into
effect
The next session of District
Court will be July 7-8.
RONALD HALL
ROBERT DODD
Two Duke Divinity Students
To Minister In Campgrounds
Two Divinity Students from
Duke University will be
working in our area during the
summer months. They will be
working in two of our local
campgrounds providing
worship services for campers.
Ronald Hall, a senior at
Duke Divinity School will be
involved In a camp ministry at
the Jackrabbit Mountain
Campground in HaywHIe. He
will be holding services each
Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at the
campground. He la Hvtng hi
> HayecviUe and will have
responsibilities in various local
Methodiet Churches.
Robert Dodd, a middier at
Duke Divinity School, it
working on a summer
internship in our area also. He
will be conducting a ministry
at the Hangiag Dog
Campground, where be will be
visiting various cam pd tat aod
holding wocahip taitleat for