Second ctass postage patd at Btack Mountain. NC 287I1 Thursday. December 7. 1978, Vo! 25. No. 7 Serving— ^ Black Mountain itr Swannanoa * Montreat ^ Ridgecrest 15cents per copy Moraf et%Mcafton ^peaA^er ^ay^ by Dan Ward The president of Mars Hill College toid a relatively small audience at the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet at Assembly Inn December 4 that education now must focus on confronting moral issues and provide a liberal arts background to meet changing social pat terns. Fred Bentley, 43-year-old president of the Baptist college, told a crowd of less than 100 that technological growth has created new moral debates, such as "test tube'' birth and artificial life sup ports, and has contributed to phenomena such as the break up of the family unit, homosexuality, and multiple career changes. To combat and adapt to trends, he said, colleges need to stress studies in the iiberai arts to provide a broader educationai background, and to give students a philosophic base to try to deai with new morai questions. He added that society in general needs to work toward maintaining family unity - the root of most moral decisions. "In small towns such as Black Mountain you have the advantage of remaining somewhat close-knit, with the family unit still very im portant," Bentley said. "We should all try to keep that unity." Bentley's address followed short speeches by outgoing president Bob Dickey and incoming president Carl Bartlett. Dickey praised the chamber for innovative thinking - particularly in regard to Sourwood Days festivities - during the iast year. He also iauded Chamber Manager Ed Weber for being responsive to the needs of the community. Bartiett, in a short speech, said he wouid like to see the Chamber and community work more cioseiy for the good of the VaHey. Included in the program was an award of appreciation to Ed Miracle, who has served as treasurer for the organization for a number of years. The award, written by Weber and read by Dickey, jested that Miracie did a fine job of doctoring the books for the IRS. Miracie declined re election to the post for the upcoming year. Blessings and the benediction were given by the Rev. Edgar Farrell. George Pickering introduced Bentiey. Biach Mountain Fire Chie/ Gary Bartiett and Captain Steve King check out a new FMC pumper at McMurry Chevroiet. The pumper repiaces a 1952 mode! truck the town wiii seii. fDan Ward) Senior Citizen party set The Fifth Annual Christmas Party for senior citizens wiii he held at Highland Farms Retirement Community on December 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 5 pm. AH Swannanoa Valley retsdents over 55 years old are Mvited to attend. This year's Program features Harry Bryant and Louise Barnhill. Attendance at this affair has been over 200 persons for the past several years, according to Elizabeth Harper, chair person. It is anticipated that state, regional and local officials as well as representives of the media will be in attendance. Serving with Mrs. Harper on the committee for the Senior Citizens Christmas Party are Mark Cooper, Jim Buckner. Inez Daugherty. Louise Hamby. Irene Stephenson, Lois Nix, Sandra Buchanan, Zeima Weeks, and John Ferguson. At a iuncheon meeting on December I, committee members made final preparations for this years event and elected officers for 1979. The elected officers are Louise Hamby, chairman; Lois Nix, vice-chairman; and Irene Stephenson, program coordinator. 30 years ag^ Coach Car! Myers' un disputed champions in the American Legion basketball season for 1947 arranged to have the WNC finals played in Black Mountain for the 1948 season. The fact that the loqal post had completed remodeling of what was Probably the best Legion Hall in the state helped to bring the tournament here A representative of the Asheville Industrial Promotion Council told the Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce that waiting for inquiries was not the way to get industry in Black Moun tain. The representative spoke at the chamber's 25th anniversary banquet He said Sorry In the article on page one of tsst week's News concerning settlement negotiations between the town of Biack Mountain and Mr. and Mrs. McMahan, we mistakenly gave the cost of the modular home built by the McMahans *s )17,000. That home actually cost $20,741. Installing footers, sewer tines, porches and reiandscaping, aiong with the cost % removing the destroyed house, made up the difference between that figure and f38,H6 totai cost. We regret any misinterpretation the incorrect figure may have caused. he saw no reason why industry would be mcompatabie with tourism. The teacher and pupils at Black Mountain's Black pre school offered thanks to "our many white friends of Black Mountain for the lovely Christmas surprise given by Santa Claus Saturday to our colored children ' Santa, besides visiting the preschool, rode a trailer down State Street, handing out free gifts and candy. An earlier plan by the Junior Chamber of Commerce to have Santa visit the stores was cancelled for safety reasons Boyd Meat Ball'' Owenby and Earl "Eight Ball' ' Gil! were called back for an encore tan dance by a full house at the (cont. on pag^ s < 4 Fred Bent!ey addresses the Swannanoa Vaiiey Chamber o/ Commerce. Incoming President Cari Bartiett is to the ie/t o/ the podium, /ormer President Dr. Bob Dichey to the right. fDan Ward) Tree lighting Saturday A short, but festive tree iightin ceremony has been set for the Biach Mountain Clubhouse at Lake Tomahawk for 7 P.M. Saturday, December 9. The ceremony, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and organized by Jack Cievenger and Margaret Siagie, will begin with an official lighting, probably by Mayor Tom Soboi. Included in festivities will be a visit by Santa Ciaus, who wiii give candy to children and hear their Christmas requests, and Christmas music on the piano. Mrs. Siagie said the event wiii replace the annual Christmas parade for the Swannanoa VaUey. Although planning has been done by the Chamber of Commerce, she said the tree-lighting is a community affair. "It* s not just Chamber people-we encourage com munity involvement, "she said. Because the event will be on a Saturday evening, the program wm ue aepi sina i so that "people can just stop by for a moment on their way to other engagements,' ' Mrs. Slagle said. Two trees, rather than the former one, have been placed on the lake this year. Chamber Manager Ed Weber said he hopes to arrange for three floating trees next year. New hearing for HUD grant December If The Black Mountain Town Board has set December 7 at 7 p.m. as the time for the first of two puMic hearings on what project the town should propose for use of a Depart ment of Housing and Urban Deveiopment Community Development grant. The meeting will be held at Town Hail. The purpose of the grant would be to make im provements for lower income neighborhoods or to provide facilities for the elderly or handicapped. An earlier set of hearings in Black Mountain resuited in a proposai to install 10-inch water mains and fire hydrants in the Cragmont Community. Funding for that project was rejected earlier this year. However, a representative of the Land-of-Shy Regional Council has stated that the town stands a better chance now of getting a grant for the project, should citizen input suggest that the water lines are still the priority project for the town. JFtrewteM /turf &y /wynes Four Black Mountain firemen were overcome by noxious gas when they were inspecting a fauity iighting fixture at the De-tox unit at WNC Hospital November 28. The four were taken to Memorial Mission Hospital, and were released shortly after. Two trucks and 22 men responded to the report of fumes. No damage was reported. Two trucks and 19 men responded when an alarm at the Ingles warehouse malfunctioned November 29. Damage estimated at $5000 resulted from a fire in the kitchen of the Tommy Stepp residence at 917 Rhododen dron Ave. November 30. Two trucks and 17 men responded. The county ambulance service made two emergency, 17 routine and one unneeded run last week One year tw o/ytce, agree f/taf f/iey dfisagree by Dan Ward If there is one item the present Biach Mountain Town Board members are unanamous on, it is that ail have rareiy been unanamous in action during the first year they've been in office However, most agreed that the division and confiicts could have been worse. The five aldermen-Mihe Begley, John Kluttz, Jim Norton, A.F. Tyson, and Ruth Brandon- and Mayor Tom Sobol were ashed to reflect on the first of two years for the present board. All responded except Tyson, who said he would submit only an unedited printed statment That statement is printed as a letter to the editor on page two. "Working relations could be better, but it hasn't been all that difficult, either,'' was a sentiment among board members as expressed by Begiey. Mrs. Brandon, who often found herseif at odds with the rest, or most of the board, saw the devision as "both good and bad." "ft's good if the decisions are truly being made in dividually because it shows independence on the part of the alderman malting that decision, ft's bad if it leaves the public feeling that the board is divided for purely political reasons " While Sobol said he would prefer to see an end to what he termed "nit-picking"on issues, he was philosophical on division on the board. "ft's been rough at times, but that's because we have people with strong characters There's a lot Mrs. Brandon and I don't agree on, but that's what democracy is ail about,' Soboi said Norton said devisivenes! has held progress back. "You get boggbd down in th< political end of it. I something needs to be done you don't need to debate it al that much,"he said. All except Kluttz said the) have noticed a change for ths better in terms of rapport wit! citizens. Kluttz said he has only heard a handfull ol persons comment on board business, one way or the other Begley and Sobol both said that comments from citizens have been good. "One of the things I've been most pleased with is the support we've gotten from the community,' ' Begley said. Most of those comments, he said, came in the wake of the firing of former Town ' Manager Jon Creighton, the resignation of Goif Pro Ross t Tayior, and current set tlement proceedings with the J.E. McMahans. "There seems to be less disenchantment. 1 don't think it's apathy - it's optimism, "he added. Sobol, on the other hand, said most favorable com ments he's heard stem from "putting the right person in the right job.' ' He said a reduction in complaints to Town Manager Mack Kirk patrick indicates that citizens are getting the town services they need without problems. Mrs. Brandon said the change she sees is an in creased activism on the part of citizens. "They seem more con cerned with their town government than ever before. They are demanding, and rightfully so, that board members be heid accountable.' ' She added that she has been humbled by expressions of gratitude she has received during the past year. Begley, Sobol and Kluttz gave averting a water crisis as the most significant achievement of the board during the last year. Kluttz noted that in spite of the worst drought in a quarter of a century, the town managed to get by with buying only a small amount of water from Asheville - primarily because of a new well drilled on short notice at the golf course. "1 was really happy about that," Kluttz said. Norton said he was happiest about gains made for recreation, including repairs 1 t to the golf clubhouse, repairs to the pooi, and obtaining a Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Grant. He also praised capita! and personnel gains for the police department #nd fire department, although he said he was opposed to grants - - such as for the PIN ter minal and dispatchers - that require the town to pay an increasing share of the cost. For all their past disagreements and con troversial decisions, board members in general appeared to play down controversy and adversity in reflecting on the year. Optimism, at least for die record, seems to be the current emotion for the town board. As expressed by Kluttz, "I think it's getting better all the time. As we get a little more experience, we' 11 do even better." Tom Sobot MtheBegtey !(utti Brandon J«hn Ktuttz Jtm Norton A.F. Tyson

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