at Black Mountain. NC 2871 1 I ★Ridgecrest Thursday, March 9. 1978, Vo) 24 No 20 MflM ““ ^__._... ~ .j 15 cents per copy CP&L reduces voltage 5 % Carolina Power & Light Co. recently began Pfcaae II of its energy conservation plan involving a 5 percent voltage reduction, urgent personal appeals to large customers to cut back on their use of electricity in non-essential areas and a renewed appeal for all customers to conserve. The company says its coal supply is approximately 40 days, with this supply declining at the rate of four days coal supply for each five operating days. While the company continues to receive some coal, it is getting only about 20 percent of the coal being burned and it has had no appreciable increase in deliveries. CP & L senior vice president E.E. Utley said today that even under the best con ditions we would not expect a significants increase in coal deliveries Intil late March if the contract betweeff the United Mine Workers awthe Bituminous Coal Operators Association is approved on schedule.’ ’ He reported that the con servation appeal issued last week has resulted in a lowering in electric usage of a sproatma4elr'«'*r- percent based on comparing similar days before and after the appeal. “Because of the continued uncertainty over future coal deliveries, the company feels it is prudent to initiate Phase II of the conservation plan at this time,’ ’ said Utley. The goal in Phase II is a 10 percent reduction in the level of electrical usage from what would normally occur during a similar weather period. Should coal supplies continue to decline to the 30 day level, the company would then request appropriate govern mental authorities to mandate conservation measures. “We appreciate the efforts of our customers in cooperating with us during these list few days,’ ’ said Utley. “However,” he said,” because the coal strike has continued longer than any strike in history, it is necessary to ask for even more conservation. We hope our customers will continue the spirit of cooperation that they have shown during the past 10 days.” The voltage reduction and the emergency appeal will continue in efffect until coal nippBee’tepiwo,’ *•< . \ * . Black Mountain Fire Black Mountain firemen responded to two firee last week. Approximately HOP damage resulted from a Are in a fuse box at the Charlie Stafford residence at 107 Holly Ave. February 27. Two trucks and 20 men responded. On March 2, a truck fire at Williamson Trucking Co. caused flSO damage. One truck and 12 men responded. 1 Fireman Steve King has been designated Fire Prevention Officer for the department. King is available for inspections of homes and businesses, as well as for public service speaking engagements. An ap pointment may be made with him by calling the fire department at 669-8074 or 669 8732, ext. 0. From pros to prime ribs by Du Ward A person who has a com plaint about the food at the Red Rocker Inn might hesitate to tell it to the former pro lineman who now manages the Black Mountain restaurant. Don't let his size fool you. he ..tot only welcomes criticism, he wants to hear it. “We’re going to experiment a little with the menu so we can find out what people like," said Tony Gibbon, who with his wife Karen opened the Inn for business March 6. “Our menu is on the limited side now as far as we' re concerned,"Gibbon said. “We don’t want to come on with a big shebang-we want people to come back. We’ re going to take it slow.” “I think what we want to do is not just cater to the tourists -they’ll be here anyway. But we want to take care of the iocai people because we’ll be open year-round,"he said. Until March 16, the restaurant will serve only lunches, which feature chicken pot pie, beef pep persteak, Welsh rarebit and sandwiches. On March 16, Gibbons said he plans to begin serving dinners with entrees of prime rib, country ham. Southern fried chicken, stuffed flounder and a vegetarian plate. His brother, Frank, will do the cooking. Gibbon came to the restaurant business, and Black Mountain, in a roun dabout way. He was drafted out of college in Ohio to play football for the New England Patriots in Boston. Because of what he called “being in the wrong place at the wrong time,”he had the opportunity to play only exhibition games for two years before quitting in frustration. From football, he went into the food brokerage business in various cities, finally ending up in the Chicago area. ‘ We just got fed up with Chicago,"he said. “I just quit my Jab and came down. Actually, we wanted to move either to the Asheville area or to Charlottesville (Va.). We never made it to Charlot tesville-we just fell in love with this area.” Although Gibbon said he and his brother had hoDes of r beginning a restaurant business since their high school days, he didn’t learn that the Bed Rocker was for sale until October-four months after' his family moved here. Since Tony and Karen bought the restaurant in January, they have been busy remodeling the kitchen and repairing the heating system. “This is where we’ve gained a lot of respect for the people of Black Mountain,’ ’ Gibbon said. “They’ve really came to our aid. That’s good to know seeing as we are neighbors now.” Gibbon said that he has other plans for the Red Rocker Inn. His sister, Dee, will operate a gift shop. The second floor, now partly used for living quarters for the family, will be partially revamped as an upstairs dining room. Gibbon said he is also toying with the idea of turning some of the guest rooms into drivate dining rooms for parties and club meetings. The rooms would each have a motif related to a country house, such as “Grandma’s Attic”and “The Parlor,"he said. Although the number of guest rooms is being reduced, the Inn will remain an inn for guests year round, Gibbon said. The new inn-keeper seemed pleased with his home. "We’re here to stay. When we moved, we told our kids when we buy a place, we’re staying. If people are any in dication, it’s super here. We’ ve had a lot of problems getting started, and the people here have really helped us outV A leafless tree forms an intricate sillouette against the sky. (Dan Ward) The way it was W ater bonds passed 45-0 In a day when passing bond issues is like pulling teeth, and voter interest is on the wane, it is refreshing to see how our now-troubled water and sewer systems got their start. The following is an excerpt from the Black Mountain minutes of April 13, 1911. “to the honorable mayor and board of aldermen of the town of Black Mountain; “We, John M. Thomas, Registrar, and J.C. Doty and T.W. Ingle, Judges, duly appointed to hold the election by the qualified voters of the Town of Black Mountain upon the question of the issuance of bonds by said town to the amount of $15,000.00 for the purpose of constructing and instilling a water-works and sewerage system for said town, do hereby make the following return ot the result of said election: “That we held the said election from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, the 11th day of April, 1911, at the store of W.C. Hall in said town; “That the number of voters registered and qualified to vote in said election is sixty two (62); “That the number of votes cast in said election FOR IMPROVEMENT BONDS is forty five («);* “That the number of votes cast in said election AGAINST IMPROVEMENT BONDS is none; “Given under our hands this 11th day of April, 1011. “John M. Thomas, Registrar. “J.C. Doty, Judge. “J.W. Ingle, Judge.” Swannanoa Fire The Swannanoa Fire Department and Rescue Squad responded to two wrecks last week. On March 2, the rescue squad responded to a three car accident on US 70 two miles east of the traffic light. Two trucks and nine firemen washed down after the wreck, while rescue squad personnel assisted in the removal of a couple from one of the vehicles. That evening, rescue squad personnel assisted at another wreck at US 70 and Buckeye Cove Road. The Swannanoa Volunteer Fire Department Board of Directors will meet Thursday, March 9, at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. Well study done by Dan Ward A report on the feasibility of putting a well near the Black Mountain Golf Course to supplement the town's water system will be given to town officials within a month, said Town Manager Made Kirk patrick. The town has hired John Neilson of Neilson Engineering to do the study, one of a handfull of recom mendations made by former Black Mountain Aid. John Mundy as a short-range solution to the insufficient water supply for Black Mountain. The advantage of placing a well and small chlorinator at the golf course, according to earlier statements by Mundy, would be to provide added pressure to low-pressure areas on the northwest side of Black Mountain. According to Kirkpatrick, water pressure within Black Mountain was boosted by 15 to 20 pounds recently with the repair of a variable speed pump at the town’s reservoir. The pump had been broken for over a year, he said. He also said that a replacement has been ordered for a 1945 model flow meter, which tells how much water is flowing out of the reservoir. It was discovered after last summer’s drought that the meter waa malfunctioning, making water need estimates difficult. Kirkpatrick said that f! ling a replacement for the meter has been difficult because the company that made it has gone out of business, and other meters are not compatible with the equipment installed at the Black Mountain reservoir. A carpenter does some work on renovgting the lower floor of the Black Mountain Clubhouse for senior citizen use. The lower floor, when completed, will be known as the Lakeview Multiservice Center for the Aged. (Dan Ward) Keever, principal, retires Ed. oote-A personal tribute to Mr. Keever by Uva Miracle appears elsewhere In this issue. Leonard Keever, principal of the Black Mountain Primary School for 22 years, retired March 1 at age 55 for medical reasons. Keever said that he had originally intended to retire in December, but was asked to stay on by outgoing Superintendent of Schools Fred Martin until Martin’s successor could pick a replacement. Jerry Green, who has served as assistant principal of Swannanoa School for three years, is new principal of Black Mountain Primary School. Keever began teaching at West Buncombe High School in 1951, and later came to Black Mountain High School as a teacher. He began duties JERRY GREEN as principal of the primary school in 1956. Keever, reflecting on the two generations of students he has overseen, praised the parents of Black Mountain for the support they gave the school-and praised the students for their enthusiasm. “I always wanted the children to see that I was their pal-not somebody who was going to punish them. I made it clear that we had certain rules they had to follow, but more than anything, I wanted school to be a fun thing for them-not a place they should fear,”Keever said. Although he has no par ticular plans for retirement, Keever said he will devote some time to borne repairs. LEONARD KEEVER

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