First game photos!! ★Ridgecrest Thursday. September 7. 1978. Vol 24. No. 46 SB p ^ I Ww***^****. Fire district compromise still in discussion by Daa Ward Representatives of the Black Mountain and Swan nanoa Fire Departments came away from a workshop on 8 common boundary with differing versions of what was accomplished August 29. Although Swannanoa Fire Department Directors Grady Rooell and Barbara Settle were joined by Black Mountain Aid. Ruth Brandon in the consensus that a compromise has almost been reached in the long-standing boundary dispute. Black Mountain Fire Chief Gary Bartlett said he has not been swayed from an earlier belief that Blade Mountain should maintain its present service area. Rocsell, Settle and Brandon agreed that a tentative boundary of Tom Brown Road and Groveatone Road be established between the two districts, pending one or more meetings where represen tatives will study firefighting capabilities and insurance costs. As part of that compromise, they said that both districts would request an assessment of seven cents per $1000 to eliminate fears that protection costs would be higher in one district than in another. According to Bartlett, he told persons at the meeting that Black Mountain Fire Department could provide protection to the contested area at a rate of five cents per $1000. That amount is approximately double the amomt presently paid by industry and residents in that " " y ' , . * v‘ ' 3 arrested for drugs i t -Am* •*• « ~,j . ■hwk^ ; »«■ u- .<A- * Three local youths, in cluding a 14-year-old, have been charged by Black Mow tain Police with drug related crimes carrying a total poaaible penalty of 21 years in Jail. Richard Reeves, 17, and Thomas Parker, 17, both of Black Mountain, were each charged with breaking and entering, larceny, possession of barbituates, and manufacturing marijuana after they were apprehended in a stake-out by police of a boose that had been closed op by the owners. In addition, Reeves was charged with possession of PCP, and Parker was charged with possession of codeine. Apprehended with the two was a 14-year-old Swannanoa boy, who was charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit larceny, possession of marijuana, possession of codeine, felonious possession of bar bituates, and manufacturing marijuana. Black Mountain Dot. Don Ramsey with drugs and xx* on witchcraft confiscated after a stake-out. (Dan Ward) * Police Marched the house on Rhododendron Avenue, owned by William and Nancy Styles, when an anonymous caller said the house had been broken into. The Styles live out of town and had boarded the house up. Police found that persona had been apparently living in the house. They found some drugs, containers of growing marijuana plants on the roof, and same marijuana hanging to dry in the house. The three youths were arrested during a stake-out of (he house by Det Don Ramsey, Officers Randy Halford and Myron Fineberg, and Auxiliary Officer Jerry Fuller. Ramsey also arrested Stove Hensley, 17, of Black Mom tain in connection with the burglary of the Bill Studenc residence last month. Police reported $13B and two lighters were taken in that brealdn. Hensley has been charged with breaking and entering and larceny. Police received 228 calls, investigated one accident, and issued four citations last Police reported that in formation and signs are now available at the police station for the Neighborhood Watch Program. Det Ramsey noted Oat 30 bicycles have been stolen since spring with few recovered. He advised that bike owners cfaalh their bikes, record serial nvabars, and mark their bikes with an engraver available at the police station. The engraver is also available, without charge, to mark any other pessaastons brought in, he said. Our Valley Native woods by B01 Peafeud Tbe chestnut tree was a lulor specie* In the northern hardwood forests of the median to high elevations in *e Valley. This species has been almost entirely eliminated by the chestnut blight (a fungus disease). It wss reported by that SO to 99 parent of the ebaatnut trees in Buncombe County were infected by 1929. At the present tone, only occaatonal sprouts , usually iniet icu, dui someurncs up 10 39 feet high, may be en countered. Hickory la one of the toughest, hardest, heaviait and strongest of woods and is and far baseball bats, u shafts far golf clubs and in several agricultural im plements. Of the maples, the sugar maple Is the most valuable. Since it is hard, often beautifully grained and figured, maple wood is one of the boat woods for furniture, (continued on page 10) area through donations, Bartlett said. Also, Bartlett said he is not in favor of establishing the boundary at Tom Brown Road. “It’s not up to us to decide die thing — it’s up to the county commissioners. Really, I think it’s up to the people to decide, and they’ve already spoken, "referring to a public hearing at Owen High School in June where com ments by industry and residential representatives was heavily in favor of service by Black Mountain Fire Department The Buncombe County Commissioners after that hearing instructed the two departments to try to work out a compromise within six months. The compromise would presumably have to ha reached between Bartlett and the Swannanoa Fire Depart ment Board of Directors. Bartlett’s objections were apparently unknown to others at the meeting. According to Mrs. Settle, representatives had hoped to finalise the compromise at the next meeting, at Swannanoa Fire Station September 12, or at another following it “At the next meeting, we’re hoping to work on the maps to determine which fire department could give the taxpayers toe best rate possible, "she said. Maps and figures are being compiled by Martin Nesbitt, attorney for Swannanoa Fire Department Under the compromise that apparently has not been agreed on, Swannanoa would cover same areas previously serviced by Black Mountain, including toe Singer-Kearfott plant, Excello, and the Juvenile Evaluation Center. At the seven centasseasment, Black Mountain would gain $14,000 per year from the ares outside the town limits on the northwest side, while Swannanoa would receive $7,000. Bartlett said the town receives approximately $6,000 from that area in donations now, and would get $10,000 under a service contract assessing five cents per $1000. Rooell and Brandon said that an effort has been made to keep discussions low-key so that factual data could be presented to the persons in volved, to prevent a half informed, emotional backlash. Rooell said he is also interested in getting all Black Mountain residents involved in the discussions, not Just persons living outside the limits on the west side. One piece of misinformation voiced, according to Mrs. Settle, was a comment made by industrial representatives that insurance coots will go up for those shifted to the Swannanoa district She said that the insurance com mission has informed the department that those buildings having internal sprinkler systems would not be affected by the insurance rating of the district they are in. Swannanoa has a lower rating, 9 AA, than than Black Mountain, at 7AA — primarily because it does not have fire hydrants, street lights, and full-time firemen. Six points Brad LeVine dances a victory jig after scoring against Enka. (Dan Ward, graphics by Taylor) Drink vote set here for September 12 Mixed drink opponents have stepped up what has been considered by many to be a low-key debate with ad vertising and door-to-door canvasing. One said he was expecting a heavy last-minute appeal from those in favor of mixed drinks in Black Mountain. An Anti-liquor coalition, in the meantime, has dropped a plan_to call another referendum to abolish the ABC store in order to con centrate on defeating liquor by-the-drink and to attract more persons who drink, but are opposed to the current law allowing mixed beverages. '4 Black Mountain residents will have the opportunity to decide whether or not to allow mixed drinks to be served in town in a special referendum to be held September 12. To be decided by voters in Black Mountain Precincts 2 and 3 that day will be only one question — for or against “the sale of mixed beverages in social establishments and restaurants’ ’ within the Black Mountain city limits. The polls will be open from 6:30 am. to 7:30 pan. for voting Tuesday. Residents of Precinct 2 will vote at the Primary School, and residents of Precinct 3 will vote at Lak» Tomahawk Clubhouse. Black Mountain fire Black Mountain firemen made four runs last week. On August 28, one engine and 15 men responded to a report of a ruptured gas line at Owenby Trailer Park. No fire responded from the leak. One engine and 12 men responded to a false alarm caused by a malfunction at the WNC Hospital on August 31. On September 2, a car owned by Chris King was totally destroyed by fire on Mockingbird Road. One engine and 15 men responded. A smoke detector malfunctioned at the Ballard residence on Dougherty Street the morning of September 3. One engine and 16 men responded. Nutrition ?..garden ing is fun by Dan Ward The Buncombe County Extension Service may not have considered the fun factor to be so important when they helped participants of the Expanded Nutrition Program put in gardens this year. After its first year of operation, the TV A supported program has shown to be so effective that Extension workers want to expand it to include tillers for par ticipating families to share. Jeanette Boesen, of Black Mountain, and her three daughters are one family that not only eats well now, but has fun doing it “We planted a little of everything,"Ms. Boesen said. “We tried planting some of those pear-shaped Sacramento tomatoes. You get five tomatoes on every branch — they are coming up all over the place,’’she said with a child-like glee and hint of pride. “We’ve already had about 260 cucumbers.” The Extension Service, Ms. Boesen explained, gives $35 to qualified families to buy whatever seeds, plants, fer tilizer and pesticides they need to plant a garden. Although workers for the Expanded Nutrition Program offer advice on what to plant and how, the only requirement made of participants is that they allow a soil sample to be taken and that they add whatever nutrients are called for. “We’re mainly interested in building up the soil and seeing that they get some good out of it,’ ’ said Mickey Me Elrath. who is a case worker for the Expanded Nutrition Program What makes the beautiful Boesen garden a special success story is the fact that the three children — Denise, 13, Krissy, 10, and Diane, 5 — did most of the work on it for over a month, when Ms. Boesen had a broken leg. “They not only kept the garden going, they kept the house going,’ ' Mrs. Boesen said. The children also kept a log of how many of each vegetable was harvested. A neighbor has also helped keep the garden up, and has added an extra measure of fun by planting rows of the same vegetables next to theirs to see which grow best. Ms. Boesen said that although her children have always liked vegetables, raising their own has made eating more fun. The variety of vegetables in the garden has also changed their eating habits, she said. Ms. McElrath said the program has had a more profound effect of the diets of other families. “We encourage participants to raise other things — to try something new. Some are even growing peanuts for the first time. I think it has really awakened a lot of people to gardening,’’she sale. Beyond the seed money given members of the nutrition program , most of the ser vices the Extension office gives families like the Boesens is the same as is available to everyone else. Ms. McElrath said anybody may obtain a free soil analyds by sending a soil sample to NC State Univenity Ex tension Service in Raleigh. She added that the Buncombe County Extension Service has free pamphlets on all aspects of gardening for those who call, and offers free advice on particular problems people have with their crops. “We’re really pleased with this program, and just hope the TV A considers us next year,” Ms. HcElrath said. Denise, Diane andKrissy in their garden. (Dan Ward)

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