Dog ordinance to be enforced
by Cynthia Rekner
Within two days, two Biadt Mountain
youngsters received painfu! bites from
dogs that had not had rabies shots
Fortunately for the children, both dogs
were located, quarantined and found to
be healthy so neither child had to
receive rabies injections.
One child was bit on the left cheek
and neck by a dog that was tied. The
boy's father shot the dog but did not kill
it. The other child was bitten on the
finger.
Because of these and other incidents,
the police and dog warden are cracking
down on pet ordinances They took one
man to court recently for failing to
restrain a female dog in heat and for
having mom than three pets per
househoid. The dog owner pleaded
guilty and was fined.
Dogs are required to wear city tags,
which cost (3-5, and rabies tags. "If I
pick up the dog without them,'' said
Black Mountain dog warden, Mark
Norton, Tm going to take him to
town." He takes them to the Buncombe
County Animal Shelter in Asheville,
where it costs the owner $18-20 to get
the dog back.
Dogs have also been a problem at the
primary school, biting at children on the
playground.
Some citizens have been taking dog
control into their own hands, shooting
strays and trespassers, Norton said.
"It's bad that people shoot them," he
said, "but owners ought to show more
responsibility to the dog. " Last week
another dog was shot on Swannanoa
Avenue. The animal had to be put to
sleep.
Norton said there is also the problem
of people abandoning animals on the
roadside, forcing them to become strays
and exposing them to the danger of
traffic.
"I'll come and get any dog," Norton
said He takes them to the Buncombe
County Animal Shelter where they have
a good chance of finding a new home.
"Most are adopted," he said, "more
than used to be."
Norton picked up one stray pup on
Blue Ridge Road a month ago that he
could not bear to take to Asheville.
Instead he took her home and named
her Sheba.
If you have a pet you can't keep, call
Mark Norton at City Hall or the Police
Department. Dog licenses and a copy of
the ordinance governing pets are avail
able at City Hall. Rabies shots are
available at animal clinics for about $8 .
HMCK
P!ans for Lake Tomahawk to inctude
recreation, beautification, cuitura) events
Town recreation director, Alice
Schweitzer, was directed by Town
Council to set up a permanent Lake
Tomahawk committee several weeks
ago.
It was suggested that we try to
improve recreation facilities and activi
ties around the lake and involve as
many of the community in this project
as possible," she explained.
She met recently with representatives
from service dubs and churches to
determine what kind of programs would
be popular with the community. Out of
those meetings have grown the follow
ing ideas:
Recreation activities
The committee will ask organizations
to bring their activities to the park at the
lake. Churches will be invited to hold
picnics there.
The Swann an oa Valley Optimists will
co-sponsor a dance for teenagers this
summer in the dub house.
The Old Depot will give outdoor art
lessons there. A canoe clinic sponsored
by Buncombe County Parks and Recre
ation will be held on the lake.
Kid's "fun days" will be held with
activities for primary and pre-school
children to indude story hours, and with
races to be held for older children.
Cultural events
The first Sunday in the Park will be
John Weaver worked fast week to c!ean ap a bank behind the
new /tower beds at Lake Tomahawk.
held June 28. On a shady platform
under the trees, music from country to
popular will be played. Families will be
asked to bring a picnic and enjoy the
lake and the music.
Tentative plans have been made to
have a jazz band from Owem High
School perform at the end of May and
the Montford Park Players in July.
"We're not anticipating spending
any money on cultural events," Mrs.
Schweitzer said. "We'll pass the hat at
Posta! emp!oyees rece!ve awards
Four Black Mountain Post Office
employees received the new award the
federal government is giving for service
of 25 and 35 years Tuesday. Each
received a silver tie tack and a letter of
commendation from Black Mountain
Postmaster Keith Nelon, which stated,
"The good reputation the Black Moun
tain Post Office enjoys is built on the
loyal service of persons such as you. "
Everett Stephenson has accumulated
32 years of federal service. All his post
office work has been done in Black
Mountain.
His brother, Bill O. Stephenson, has
worked most of his 28 years at the Black
Mountain Post Office also.
Glenn Snider has 27 years of federal
service, 20 years in the military and the
last seven at the Black Mountain Post
Office.
J.W. Blankenship has served 25
years in the military and at the Black
Mountain Post Office.
The four men have worked for the
federal government for a total of 112
years, Postmaster Nelon said.
Poetmaeter Keith Neion o/ the Biach Mountain Poet O/fice gave awarde to poet o//ice empioyees /or
eervice. Receiving a eiiver tie tach were (ie/t to right) Everett Stepheneon, Biii O. Stepheneon, J.W.
Bianhenehip and Gienn Snider.
t ' '
the end of the performance." Any area
groups who would like to perform may
call Mrs. Schweitzer, 669-8610.
Beautification and safety
Except for planting flowers, most
plans for improving the area physically
are long-range, Mrs. Schweitzer said.
"We are looking at the possibility of
playground equipment, benches, picnic
tables and barbecue pits," she said.
Other suggestions have included
improving the jogging path with a
footbridge, possibly to be built by the
Jaycees, and improvement of bird
watching sites. A cardiovascular trail
with exercise stations is another
possibility.
Mrs. Schweitzer will submit the
names of 15 to 20 possible Lake
Tomahawk committee members to
Town Council for their approval at the
June Town Council meeting.
Aidermen
continue to
pare budget
Town Council took another look at the
1981-82 budget in a workshop Saturday
morning and attempted to pare down
expenses in order to avoid a 38 percent
tax increase this year. A 10 percent tax
increase is being considered now.
Total revenue for the 1981-82 year is
projected at about $890,000. Included
in that figure is the projected revenue
from the as-yet unsigned contract with
Buncombe County for an Blast Bun
combe Fire District.
The major expense increases from
last year's budget are in funds allotted
for gasoline and utilities. Next year's
budget also includes a seven percent
cost of living raise for town employees.
Although the budget will not be final
until it is voted on at a Town Council
meeting, some cuts being considered
include elimination of one police dis
patcher and not rehiring to fill one
vacancy in the fire department.
The most serious cuts will probably
come in the recreation program and the
Lakeview senior citizen's program
budgets when aldermen meet again for
a budget workshop Tuesday at 7 JO
am.
Weather
review
May 12-high 62, low 44 degrees.
May 13-high 76, low 39 degrees.
May 14-high 75, low 43 degrees.
May 15-high 57, low 48 degrees;
.43 inches precipitation.
May 16-high 68, low 43 degrees.
May 17-high 65, low 50; .02 inches
precipitation.
May 18-high 78, low 51 degrees;
.08 inches precipitation.
Weather coartesy of WFGW Radio
"How could anyone throw her out?" Marh Norton, B!ach
Mountain dog warden, puzzled. Sheba was adopted by the
Nortons when Marh /ound her on Highway 9 where she had
been abandoned.
i<
East Buncombe Fire District
Town Counci t
votes to sign
At press time, the Black Mountain
Town Council voted unanimously to
sign a contract with Buncombe County
for fire protection in an East Buncombe
Fire District, providing $43,000 revenue
for the Town. Boundaries for the district
were set by the commissioners last
year.
Town Board action followed a meet
ing by the Buncombe County Commis
sioners Tuesday afternoon where com
missioners passed a resolution to sign
the contract if it was signed by Black
Mountain.
County attorney Floyd Brock advised
commissioners that there is no provision
in the iaw for boundaries to be moved
and an area taken from one fire district
and given to another. A district may be
consolidated or aboiished, he said.
In a called meeting last Thursday
morning, Black Mountain Town Council
voted to request the Buncombe County
Board to levy a seven cent tax in the
East Buncombe Fire District, regardless
of where the boundary lines were.
Fire damages home
on West View Aye.
A major house fire caused extensive
damage in the Richardson house on
West View Avenue iast Wednesday,
May 13.
The biaze, of unknown origin, gutted
a downstairs bedroom and bathroom
and toweled through the walls to the
second story of the house where a
hallway and bathroom were burned.
The entire house received smoke
damage.
The fire is under investigation by the
Black Mountain Police Department and
the State Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Jim Banks was at home when the
fire occurred.
The fire department received the call
at 4:06 p.m. and fought the blaze for
two hours and 41 minutes. Twenty-two
men, two engines and two ancillary
trucks were used.
An unofficial estimate of damage to
the house and contents exceeds
$30,000.
Photo by Dennis Harris