June bride,
graduation
specials inside!
■■ Thursday .June 9. 1977, Vol. 33, No. 35
★ Black Mountain ★ Swannanoa * Montreal * Ridgecrest
Han charged
for arson in
Swannanoa
A Swannanoa man has been
larged with arson in con
ation with a (ire set at the
vannanoa Free Will Baptist
lurch on June 4, according to
Sheriffs police investigator.
ie fire caused *50 damage.
Phil Ray Crisp, 39, whose
st known address was in
■vannanoa, was arrested by
uncombe County Sheriff’s
olice. A police spokesman
id no official connection has
been made between Crisp and
other cases of arson around
Swannanoa.
Sheriff’s police are also
investigating a fire set June 5
on the back porch of the Elmer
McDevitt residence on Old US
70 in Swannanoa. Crisp could
not have been involved in that
fire, a police spokesman said.
The Swannanoa fire
department extinguished both
of those fires.
Man charged
in holdup
I-nneth Eugene Glenn, 22,
Hack Mountain has been
rged with the armed
tery of an undetermined
>unt of drugs from
[wood Manor Nursing
le in Black Mountain on
I ».
spokesman for the nursing
ne said that in addition to
drugs, whose loss is being
mated by PSA Pharmacy
wannanoa. the robber took
“2 or 3” cartons of cigarettes
and some hypodermic
syringes.
A Sheriff’s Police
spokesman said that although
drugs were confiscated at
Glenn’s home at the time of
his a crest, none of the stolen
drugs were found there.
The robber, gaining entry to
the nursing home on May 26
through a cut window screen,
forced a nurse at gunpoint to
open the drua cabinet
Black Mountain
Fire Department
The Black Mountain Fire
epartment was called on two
res last week and was called
it for a lost person search.
On June 3, one truck and 11
ten took part in a controlled
timing on Walker Cove Rd.
In June 6, 14 men and one
truck put out a tractor-trailer
fire on US 70 west. Minor
damage was reported.
A lost girl turned up in
Montreat before 12 men called
out on a search got in the
woods on June 6.
There were no fires during
the previous week.
rleet the hoard
Crisp « conservative
by Dan Ward
Edward E. Crisp is a fiscal
onservative.
That helps, when one is tcvn
■ommissioner for Montreal, a
own taxing only 10 per cent of
Iho property within its limits.
"Justice Marshall said, ‘The
power to t*x is the power to
destroy.1 I feel that all the
taxpayers should take a very
keen interest in all levels of
government,” he said.
A foe of revenue sharing,
which he calls “debt sharing,”
i'.’1!1’"'; i" ri<! i xamiii
- - ...... . .<ww - ->
Graduate candidates from Owen High School took part in Baccalareate
Services June 5 at Montreat-Anders on Collegei auditorium. (Charlie Taylor)
Owen graduates 201
Town tractor disappears,
was it sold or given?
by Dan Ward
It was learned by the Black
Mountain News last week that
a tractor purchased by the
Town of Black Mountain in
1974 for $1000 is now in the
possession of Gene Erwin,
newly appointed supervisor
for the Crime Control and
Public Safety Administration
office in Asheville.
Erwin, when contacted by
the News, said he paid “11 or
12 hundred dollars” for the
tractor, and that he had a
cancelled check for the pur
chase. No record of the tractor
having been sold could be
found in town files.
Erwin told the News he
would find the check or give
the News access to his
banking files at the Wachovia
branch he patronizes.
Tuesday, he had not produced
the check and denied per
mission to see his bank
records. He said he would find
the cancelled check after
press time.
Town records contain a
letter from Erwin, undated,
that reads “Dick, This is a
copy of letter that you send in.
Needs to be on town let
terhead. Talked with Mr. Tom
Crook, who is second in charge
(of Department of Tran
sportation Equipment
Department in Asheville) and
he said to send the letter on to
Mr. Brandon then call him in
about 3 days and tell him you
and he had already looked at
piece of equipment and by that
time he should have a price on
same. Mr. Brandon will send
letter on to Raleigh if the price
Police arrest two
for jewelry robbery
At 8 p.m. on June 7, 201
Owen seniors received
diplomas in Anderson
Auditorium at Montreat
Anderson College.
The graduation address was
given by David Turbyfill
Dyer, secretary of the student
council.
Debra Ann Stafford gave the
valedictory address, having
received the highest academic
achievement among the class
of ’77.
Janice Lednum Price
played the prelude,
processional and recessional
on the piano. They were
“Nocturne No. 5” by Field,
“Pomp and Circumstance” by
Elgar, and the “Recessional
March from Athalia” by
Mendelssohn.
“Goodbye”by Sanford'
Brown was sung by the senior
ensemble.
John Anson Daniels led the
invocation, and John Dexter
Collins introduced the
Crisp said too much of the
commissioners’ time is taken
up catering to the federal
beauocrats to obtain money
for town improvements.
"Our problem is filling out
papers for the beauocrats. It’s
a burden on small
municipalities," he said.
Crisp said improvements in
Montreat must take place on a
small scale and at a slow pace
because of the lack of a tax
base. The town records are
now kept at the home of the
town tax officer, and no plans
for a city office or building are
in sight.
Crisp said the town has
managed to increase the
number of street lights,
established garbage pickup
services and “patch the
patches in the roads," since it
was incorporated in 1967.
He said he sees a need to
keep the citizens informed on
what is happening in their
town. The annual cottage
owner meetings have been the
best means of doing this so
far, he said. In addition, Susan
Neville, the town’s tax officer,
has tried to keep non
resident cottage owners up
dated on town affairs, Crisp
said.
In addition to his work for
the town, Crisp is executive
officer for Blue Ridge
Broadcasting, Treasurer for
Black Mountain Savings and
Loan and a semi-retired
public accountant. He has
lived in Montreal since 1962.
speakers.
Charles A. Lytle, Owen
principal, and Olen A. Sisk,
assistant principal, presented
the diplomas to Owen’s class
of ’77.
The entire class sang "Alma
Mater”, led by Laura Renee’
Hipps at the close of the^
ceremony.
A Baccalaureate Service for
the class was held June 5 at
the auditorium. Bac
calaureate Addresses were
given by John Allen Crawford
and Claire O’Connell Skid
more. Dennis Kevin Edwards
introduced them. Ms. Price
and the Senior Ensemble also
performed at the Bac
calaureate Service.
Theresa Jean Smith gave
recognition to honor students,
Terry Wayre Young,
recognized scholarship
winners, Tony Richardo Scott
noted the Beta On nembers
and Dennis Kevin rldwards
gave tribute to paients and
friends.
Two Black Mountain men
have been charged with
breaking and entering and
larceny of jewelry from
Carolina Jewelry in Black
Mountain May 26.
Walter F. Tipton *nd
CP&L rates to drop
For the second month in a
row, there will be a sub
stantial drop in the “approved
fuel charge” on bills received
during June by retail
customers of Carolina Power
& Light Co. in North Carolina.
The “approved fuel charge”
is the portion of the bill which
reflects fluctuations in the
cost of fuels required to
generate electricity.
Clarence H. Quinn were
charged. Tipton was arrested
May 26, Quinn on June 1.
Quinn was out on bond from
another breaking and entering
charge at the time of the
ribbery.
A warrant was served on'
Cecil Green of Black Mountain
for communicating a threat
June 4. A Black Mountain
Police spokesman refused to
release further information on
the threat or explain why he
would not reaease it.
The Police conducted li
investigations this past week.
They issued three citations for
speeding, one for running red
light, one for public
drunkeness. They arrested
three for DUI.
They assisted the Sheriff's
Dolice in one instance and lent
assistance to five motorists.
They answered seven
civil disturbances and three
Jomestic disturbances.
Accidents recorded were at:
State St. and Dougherty St.,
$1150 property damage, no
injuries; Lakey St. and a
driveway, $150 property
damage, no injuries; Ingles
parking lot, $300 property
damage, no injuries; W. State
St. and Dougherty St., $350
property damage, no injuries;
Craigmont, $1100 property
damage, no injuries.
is O.K. Gene Erwin”
Attached to the note was a
draft of a letter to L.S.
Brandon of the Department of
Transportation offering $1000
for a 1966 Ford 4000 tractor,
equipment number 826-0008.
On September 19, 1974, C.D.
Lindsay, who was town
manager of Black Mountain at
that time, sent a retyped
version of Erwin’s sample
letter to Brandon. Town
records for October include a
purchase order for the tractor,
with sickle mower for $1000,
and a copy of a check signed
by Lindsay and then-mayor
Richard (Dick) Stone for $1000
for tractor number 826-0008.
Under explanation of
payment, the check reads
“streets.”
Brandon, when contacted by
the News, confirmed that the
tractor was bought by the city
and picked up by Fire Chief
Mack Kirkpatrick. Kirk
patrick acknowledged that he
picked up the tractor in
Asheville under the directive
of Lindsay. He said he was
told that it would be used to
mow the golf course grass.
Neither Lindsay or Stone
could be reached for com
ment.*
Erwin told the News that he
has bought surplus equipment
from the Department of
Transportation in the past, but
did not specify whether it was
done through town govern
ments.
Erwin was an agent for the
Alcohol Beverage Control
Board at the time the town
purchased the tractor.
Neigh horhood
Watch, supper
a success
An estimated 250 persons
turned out for a ham supper
held by the Swannanoa Fire
Department to introduce the
Neighborhood Watch program
to the community. Emma
Crawford of the Ladies’
Auxiliary said the program
was reported as being very
well accepted and that the
supper was a huge success.
“Quite a few” of the watch
signs have been purchased
already, she said.
The Neighborhood Watch
program is simply an
agreement between neighbors
to watch each other’s property
for susp icious activity in an
effort to thwart crime. The
fire department will sell a $1
sign to stick on the mailbox of
any who wish to take part in
the program. Signs may be
purchased from any Swan
nanoa fireman.
The Fire Department
elected new officers for the
upcoming year. They are
Thomas Hixon. chief; Ken
Crawford, assistant chief;
Dwight Barnhill, major and
training officer; David
Trexler, fire cpatain; David
Strickland, fire lieutenant ;
Leon Rice, traffic captain;
Doyce Settle, traffic
lieutenant; Jim Adams
assistant chief of rescue ; Max
Coffey, rescue captain; David
Bartlett, rescue lieutenannt;
Glenn Hoibert,secretary; Don
Lee, treasurer; David
Trexler, chaplain; and Paul
Adkins, supply sergeant.
Don Lee has been chosen
fireman of the month. He lives
on Hawthorne Dr. in
Grovemont with his wife,
Karen. He is co-owner of Blue
Ridge Electronics and has
been with the departm ent for
about a year.
Last year, according to the
yearly report, the Swannanoa
Fire Department fought 66
fires, engaged in 12 rescues,
and performed 67 drills ac
counting for a total of 4,088
man-hours.
Land of Sky
hearing June 22
Land of Sky Regional
Council will hold a public
hearing June 22 at 2 p.m. at
the council's conference room
at 25 Heritage Dr , Asheville
The 1977-78 budget will«be
discussed. A copy of the
proposed budget is available
for .nspection at the Council
office from 8 a m to S p.m.
daily.
Ms. Young shows youth on 99th
by Dan Ward
“Like the little boy said, I'm
99 going on 100,” Charlotte
Young said with a deadpan
expression betrayed by
lighted eyes.
June 11 she is having an
autograph party on what also
happens to be her 99th bir
thday.
“Heretofore I’ve never
given a hoot about birthdays.
I’m going to make good use of
this one, though, to promote
my book,” she said, referring
to Thunder In Winter, her
third book of poetry.
About her poetry, Ms.
Young said,“I take the
freedom of all forms and life
itself. Inspirations are thick as
birds in the sky. I just coddle
them into form.”
Ms. Young's party, which
will include “sweet things to
eat and drink,” will be held
from 3:30 -5:30 in the lobby of
the Monte Vista Hotel in Black
Mountain, where she resides.
“I’m inviting all poetry
lovers who love poetry enough
to read my book,"she said.
She said she hopes to have a
good supply of the first
editions available for
autograph copies.
Ms. Young does not appear
nearly as commercial as she
sounds. Sitting in the peaceful
lobby of the hotel, she would
stop talking when a favorite
poem was aroused by some
reminder thrown out in her
youthful dialogue.
Leaning back and closing
her eyes, she would pause...
Catching a rhythm within
her-a rhythm inherited from
the pulse of the mountains
she would chant out the lines
of one of her poems, poems
she says reflect the speech of
mountain folks.
One of those poems was Fool
Flowers, a tongue-in-cheek
comentary on God’s han
diwork.
“ ‘ Fool flowers.
Biggest fool flowers I ever
seed,
Them there Chrysan
themums,'
Jim, the hired man said.
‘Like as if there’s any need
Bloomin' just ’fore white frost
comes
And kills ’em dead.
Beatenest blossoms I ever
seen,
Them there Chrysan
themums. ’”
Her people, the mountain
people, are her favorite in
spirations.
“They tell me their dreams,
their hope and wonders-and
sometimes it’s
pure poetry,’'she said. “I find
that poetry is innate with most
of my neighbors from up in the
coves and hollers.”
Ms Young is from the
mountains and, as she says, is
a part of the mountains.
Originally from Hominy
Valley, now known as Canton,
she spent most of her life
teaching Latin and German
all over the country before
returning to Asheville, and
now Black Mountain, to live.
She had already published
her earlier two books, Heart
Has Reason, Speak To Us Of
Love, before she quit teaching
at age 85. The choice to quit
teaching was hers, having
decided to "leave the job of
blotting out ignorance to
someone else" and devote
more time to her poetry.
But Ms Young can’t seem to
talk about the past for very
long. She doesn’t fill time with
sagely advice or pleasant
memories. Her total existence
seems to be in the here and
now-her book, her upcoming
musical drama, a book
prose she wants to have
written in time for her 100th
birthday.
“I’ve found a lot to live
for,“she said. “While I’m the
last leaf on a tree of six, I’ve
never pitied myself for being
alone, I have a lot of friends. I
also have the friendship of our
Heavenly Father. I feel as
blessed as a person could be. ”
“I enjoy life,” she con
cluded.