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Town manager resigns;
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Town manager Ernest Hudgins gave
his resignation to the Town Board iast
week, but agreed at a caiied meeting
Monday morning to stay on until July 3.
Hudgins, who has been town
manager since February, 19M, said in
a written statement that his reasons for
resigning are personal and "involve no
personalities."
The Town Board is considering
delaying the hiring of a new town
manager until after November
elections. "As far as a replacement is
concerned," explained Mayor Tom
Sobol, "it's the wrong time, when it
could be only temporary. "
Hudgins said he regrets leaving the
town employees he has worked closely
with. "I have thoroughly enjoyed
serving the people (of Black Mountain);
they're why I came back, " said the
former Black Mountain police chief.
Hudgins said his family was con
cerned for his health if he continued on
as town manager. He said he plans first
to work on his house and Mien on the
farm of a relative. "I have business and
other interests which have been totally
neglected for the almost 16 months I
have been here because of the require
ments of this position," his statement
reads.
Members of the board expressed
regret that Hudgins had resigned.
Aiderman Margaret Siagie said the
resignation was "accepted with much
regret."
Aiderman Ruth Brandon said, "I just
can't find words to express my regret at
his resignation. I think he has iiteraiiy
worked himseif to death, many times
working 16 to 18 hours a day." She also
said, "He has saved the town an untoid
amount of money."
Hudgins said he feit confident that
Midge Biakesiee, town accountant, and
Suzanne Turner, assistant to the city
manager, could carry out the admin
istrative aspects of his job until
November, with the assistance of the
mayor and board.
Birth expectations
survey scheduted
How many children do married
women expect to have within the next
five years? Will they average the same
number as in the recent past? Answers
to these questions will help indicate the
future growth and composition of the
nation's population, data vital to plan
ners both in government and private
business.
Joseph Harris, acting director of the
Bureau's Regional Office in Charlotte,
announced that information on birth
I expectations of American women will be
collected during the week of June 15-19,
from a sample of households in this
area. The questions are in addition to
those usually asked in the monthly
: survey on employment and unemploy
ment conducted nationwide by the
Bureau for the U S. Department of
Labor.
Households in this area are part of
the sample of 71,000 across the country
scientifically selected to represent a
cross section of all U.S. households.
Information supplied by individuals
participating in the survey is kept
strictly confidential by law and the
results are used only to compile
statistical totals.
Interviewers who will visit house
holds in this area are: Dorothy M.
Leeder, Swannanoa and Maiy L Patter
son, Clyde.
Hamburg
destination
for exchange
Hamburg, West Germany, was
announced as the destination of the
1981 Friendship Force exchange at an
announcement party Saturday. About
250 Western North Carolinians, several
from the Valley, will stay with families
in Hamburg October 10-23, while
citizens of Hamburg will stay in homes
here during the same dates.
The announcement was made Satur
day by a representative from Hamburg,
Fritz Bauer, on his first visit to the
North Carolina mountains.
Hamburg, Bauer said, is the largest
city in West Germany, with 1.6 million
people. He also said that it was colder
than Asheville and that the ambas
sadors could expect temperatures in the
40s in October.
Host families and some ambassadors
are still needed for the exchange. For
more information or to apply, call the
Friendship Force office at 255-8021.
Bo!t of lightning
ends semester at
grammar schoo!
Students at the Black Mountain
Grammar School started summer
vacation eariy when lightning struck a
30-foot bride chimney atop the school
last Tuesday night.
Little League games were being
played in the field behind the grammar
school and at the nearby primary school
when the lightning hit about 8:15 p.m.
George Venturella was looking in the
direction of the chimney and described
what he saw.
"It looked like a flashbulb (went off)
right above the chimney," he said. "A
gray line went down the chimney, then
the bricks started flying. It all
happened so fast. "
Some of the bricks fell through the
roof of the school. Other debris fell into
the parking lot behind the school,
causing extensive damage to a car
owned by David Cox.
Although some at the ball game felt
minor electrical shocks, no one was
injured. A man mowing the lawn at the
school also received a shock.
People at the primary school ball
game saw the lightning strike and a
"big noise" was reported by people all
over town.
The Black Mountain Fire Department
went to the scene, but no fire broke out.
The cracked chimney remained a
potential danger to students and school
was dosed Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday of last week. Plans are being
made for the chimney to be dismantled
and replaced during summer vacation.
Grammar school students received
their report cards and retrieved belong
ings in the school gymnasium Tuesday.
Town Counci!
Mew privitege tax tees set
A new privilege tax ordinance was
passed at Monday's Town Council
meeting after the ordinance passed by
Council in May was rescinded.
The new ordinance sets a minimum
tax for all businesses located in Black
Mountain at $10. Those taxed for over
$10 last year will pay 10 percent more
this year, except those already paying
the maximum set by state statute.
Town Manager Ernest Hudgins said
it would save the town extra postage if
those who have already received bills
would come to the Town Hall to learn
their new rate and pay without receiving
an additional bill through the mail.
Lake view Center
Lee Sta/ford, hie mom and coaches Dan Pierce and Keith White; /irst ExceMor Award.
Stafford wins 1st Exce!sior Award
Lee Stafford was named the first
recipient of the annual Excelsior Award
at Black Mountain Middie School
Monday. The award is given to the
athlete who best exemplifies the virtues
of desire, effort and sportsmanship,
selected by the coaches.
A trophy, which will remain in the
school display case, and a plaque were
donated for the new award by C and R
Realty Company.
Coaches Keith White and Dan Pierce
said Lee has participated in both
softball and basketball, displaying the
qualities for which he received the
award. "In addition," White said, "his
leadership on the field and in the
classroom have further qualified him for
this award. "
Lee is the son of Mr and Mrs.
Anthony Stafford of Black Mountain.
Lee was to have received the award in
front of the entire student body iast
Friday at an awards assembly, but
students have not been allowed to enter
the school since lightning struck the
chimney.
In other business before Town
Council, Mayor Tom Sobol read a letter
received from Elizabeth Harper, chair
person of the Laheview Advisory
Council. The letter ashed Town Council
to continue to fund the senior citizen
center there.
Members of the Senior Citizen's
Center aiso spoke in support of the
center. Mrs. Hattie Simmons said her
life and that of her blind husband had
been greatly enhanced by the activities
at the center, and that she appreciated
the income for the four hours a week she
is paid to work there.
"We love the center and we love our
director," said Mrs. Simmons. Laine
Calloway is director of the program.
Town Council members expressed
support for the program.
Revitalization
Kathy Wacaster, Community
Development administrator, reported
findings of her study on revitalization of
downtown Black Mountain. She com
pared revitalization to a wheel. "The
idea is not to create a new one," she
said, "but to reactivate one that's
slowed down."
The Board instructed Wacaster to
return in July with a resolution of intent
to support the program and further
information about funding.
Senator's office
Larry Notestine announced to the
board that Senator John East will open a
"western office" in Asheville located in
the main post office downtown. The
senator's address there is P.O. Box
2779, Asheville, 28802. The telephone
number is 254-3099.
Meetings
A revenue sharing hearing will be
held at Town Hall June 22 at 8 a m.
Citizens are welcome to come and voice
an opinion on how $22,000 in revenue
sharing funds should be allocated,
Mayor Sobol said.
The next budget woritshop will be
held at 6 p.m. Monday, June 22.
Mationat HoMerin' Contest
h!gh!!ghts M.C. events for June
There will be a lot of hollerin' in
North Carolina in June as contestants
from far and wide gather in Spivey's
Comer for the National Hollerin' Con
test on June 19 and 20.
There will be another special gather
ing in June too as the people who built
and operated the Tweetsie Railroad will
be honored at the Tweetsie Railroad
theme park in Blowing Rock on June 27.
June also marks the opening of many
of North Carolina's outdoor dramas
including "The Lost Colony" in Manteo
on June 12; "Unto These Hills" at
Cherokee on June 15; and "Horn in the
West " at Boone June 19. "The
Immortal Showboat," the story of the
U.S.S. North Carolina, begins June 5 in
Wilmington.
June is also a time of flowers with the
Rhododendron Festival at Bakersville
June 17-20. And there will be music in
the air as the Eastern Music Festival
begins in Greensboro June 30, and the
Brevard Music Festival opens June 26
in Brevard. The annual "Singing on the
Mountain" will be staged June 28 on
Grandfather Mountain at Linville.
Pirates will invade Beaufort June 27
recalling an earlier era when "Black
beard" roamed the waters along the
North Carolina coast.
There will be plenty of festivals
across the f tate, such as the "Great
River Race" on the Dan River in Eden
on June 20, Summer Festival in
Washington June 12-22, and the Ameri
Weather
revtew
June 2-high SO, low 63 degrees; .19
inches precipitation.
June 3-high 78, low 62 degrees; .1
inches precipitation.
June 4-high SO, iow 60 degrees; .47
inches precipitation.
June 5-high 84, iow not recorded; .12
indies precipitation.
June 6-high SO, iow 55 degrees; .7
indies predpitation.
June 7-high SO, iow 64 degrees; .13
inches precipitation.
June 8-high S3, iow 57 degrees; .02
inches predpitation.
In the past month, 7.84 inches of
rain has been recorded, bringing the
totai precipitation for 1981 to 18.67
inches.
Weather information courtesy of
WFGW Radio, Biadt Mountain.
can Dance Festival begins in Durham
June 13 and continues through July 25.
Foiiowing draining and
repairs iast weeh, the Biach
Mountain pooi is open again -
jfust in time /or the end o/
schooi. Lauri Ventureiia puts
up the umbreita over the
ii/eguard stand. Photo by Biii
Studenc Jr.