Black !ioui.t?iii Library
105 If. I'cufherty^STyre^t.
Black Mountain, i.C. 28711
New we!) tested;reservoir tevei down
The news is both good and bad
concerning water in Biadt Mountain.
On the one hand, the Town could face
a critical water shortage in a matter of
weeks. On the other hand, the new weil
at the goif course, after a 24-hour test,
has surpassed the wildest dreams even
of A! White, water department head,
who had confidence in it from the
beginning.
The new well is being tied into the
town water system with six-inch pipes
instead of the two-inch pipes originally
planned because of the excellent rate of
flow. During the 24-hour test, 236
gallons of water per minute were
pumped. The recovery rate (the amount
of time necessary for the well to refill
after pumping) is "extraordinary,"
according to Town Manager Ernest
Hudgins.
"It's the best thing that's happened
to Biach Mountain since the railroad
came through, " Ai White toid the Town
Board Monday. The weil is the best the
town has, according to Hudgins and
White.
Hudgins expects a report bach from
the N.C. Department of Health on the
quality of the water in about 10 days. If
the water is pure, the pump already in
place will be started and the well will
immediately be connected to the town's
water system. If the vater is not pure,
Hudgins said, it will still be useful--it
will be used to water he golf course.
On the minus sid* of the water
situation, the lower la,.c at Dunsmore
Cove went dry Monday night. And, as
of Monday, the upper iake was down
about a foot, Hudgins said.
"W e re ail right right now " Hudgins
said, "but if we don't stop bsing water
at the same rate we're using now, by
August or September we're looking at a
critical, an extremely critical, water
shortage."
Mayor Tom Sobol said that the
weather of the next few weeks and when
and if the new well is connected to the
water system wili determine whether or
not the town experiences a water
shortage this summer.
Budget a!iotted
Recreation
program cut
Town Council passed a 1981-82
budget, based on a 78 cent per $100
property tax, at a called meeting
Monday morning.
The budget includes a 28 cent
across-the-board raise for all town
employees, a six-month schedule for the
Recreation Department and a contin
gency fund of $10,000.
The Board voted separately on whe
ther or not the position of director for
the Lakeview Senior Citizens Center
should be funded for four or six hours
per day.
When rebuilding of the club house in
1976 was partially funded by a federal
grant through the Council on Aging, the
town agreed to provide a full time
director for the center for a period of 10
years. The Division on Aging in Raleigh
has been asked by Mayor Tom Sobol to
define "full time director" in writing.
A motion was made by Alderman
Slagle and seconded by Alderman
Brandon which would reduce the posi
tion to four hours from the current six.
Aldermen Begley and Tyson voted
against the proposal and the tie was
broken by Mayor Sobol, defeating the
resolution 3-2. Alderman Stafford was
not present.
Mr. Tyson stated, "If we can get a
ruling to reduce it (the number of hours
required for a director), I want to amend
it (to four hours per day). I want to save
money, but I don't want to cripple the
program." Depending on the advice of
the Division on Aging, the board may
rescind their decision.
Mrs. Brandon and Mrs. Slagle agreed
that the center could be covered by
unpaid volunteers for four hours a day
and supervised by a director for the
other four hours the center is open.
In the new budget, the fire depart
ment will receive $8,523 for fall-out gear
and breathing apparatus.
The police department will receive an
$83,041 increase, nearly double the
amount budgeted for the department
last year. The department has increased
from five to seven officers and two
vehicles have been added. Another
reason for the increased budget is the
increase in cost of maintenance for the
vehicles.
In a summary of the new budget,
Town Manager Ernest Hudgins stated,
"The seven percent increase in the tax
rate will not cover any emergency or
unbudgeted expenses that may arise
during the fiscal year 1981-82, and will
only serve to continue services offered
in past years."
Hudgins said the major items which
forced the raise in taxes are increased
cost of utilities and automotive supplies,
plus the administrative costs involved in
hiring a new town manager at an
increased salary.
In other action. Town Council passed
budget amendments unanimously and,
in appreciation for the services of
Ernest Hudgins as town manager, the
Board voted to award him a lifetime
membership in the Black Mountain Golf
Course.
Havea safe--and
fega!— ho!<day
North Carolina is a state that bans ail
fireworks, including sparklers, but
many families drive to neighboring
states to purchase what they hope will
be Fourth of July fun. But, besides
being illegal, fireworks can maim and
Ml.
-It was May, 1976, in a New Jersey
high school. A prankster had tossed an
illegal fireworks device into a glass
cabinet in a corridor. Seconds later, two
teenage girls passed within three feet of
the cabinet as the device exploded. One
girl died when glass cut her jugular
vein.
-Having fun was the reason two boys
gave for setting off a firecracker in a
tree stump in Walnut Creek, Calif., in
June, 1979. When firemen finally put
their hoses away, two persons had been
hospitalized and three homes gutted;
damage was set at $330,000.
-In the aftermath of new year's
celebrations in January, 1980, some
children on the island of Kauai, Hawii,
gathered pieces of firecrackers and put
them in a small glass bottle. One lighted
the powder. A three-year old girl died
and six companions were hospitalized
for injuries from the explosion.
Bystanders are often innocent victims
of explosions. Last July 4, an 18-year
old Bremen, Indiana, man died from a
fireworks accident, a four-year old East
St. Louis, 111., boy was killed when a
roman candle misfired in a home
fireworks celebration, and on the prece
ding day, a Montana man died when a
mortar shell exploded.
Many thousands of fireworks displays
on Independence Day are uneventful
except for the festive holiday spirit that
results from the "bombs bursting in
air." Cities, towns and villages across
the nation stage the displays because
residents are less likely to set off their
own fireworks after having their fill of
the public celebration.
In spite of this, untold Americans risk
life and limb every year in an effort to
create their own explosive devices. On
July 3, 1979, three persons died when
homemade fireworks exploded in the
basement of a West Philadelphia, Pa.,
home; three explosions ripped through
the structure. A few days later, a
16-year old Texas youth died when his
homemade firecracker exploded.
If you have a yen for fireworks this
Fourth, take the family to the display at
Lake Julian or Rec. Park in Asheville.
Not only will the family be safe, but it is
a misdemeanor to have or explode
fireworks and if you are caught you
could face up to a (500 fine, six months
in jail, or both.
!nside...
Reporter Bi!) Studenc
captures theM...
Sunday in the Park
on page 9.
Chief Stagte honored as first
Law Officer of the Year
The Swannanoa Valley Optimist Ciub
presented a plaque to Blade Mountain
Chief of Police Crait E. Slagle last
Tuesday, honoring him as Law Officer
of the Year.
The presentation was made by Opti
mist President Bill Burgin in the Rotary
Room of Highland Farms Retirement
Community.
The plaque was a part of the annual
Optimist-sponsored "Respect for the
Law Week." The special week usually
consists of banners and speeches on
topics dealing with respect for the law,
but this year the club decided to do
something a little different, Burgin
explained.
"This is the first award," he said. "It
will become a yearly thing."
"This is in recognition of his years of
serviccand especially for his excellent
work with area youth. He takes a lot of
his own time out to talk to kids and set
them on the right path," Burgin said.
"He's gained quite a deal of respect
from the youth," he added.
Chief Slagle said, "1 don't know why
they chose me. All law enforcement
officers I know deserve an award of
their own. But, of course, I do
appreciate the award. "
Chie/ S!ag!e accepts the /irst annua! Law Of
ficer o/ the Year Award.
Hottifietd and Jeter first
in go)f tournament
by Bill Studenc Jr.
About 80 golfers competed in the
Member Guest Golf Tournament held at
the Black Mountain Goif Course !ast
weekend. W inners in the championship
flight were Truman Hollifield and Harry
Jeter (126). Second place was taken by
J.C. Hyatt and J.C. Hyatt Jr. (129).
Third place was won by Jerry Ballard
and Art Clayton (131).
Placing in the first flight were: first,
second, Woody Weaver and George
Ledford (135); and third, John Simpson
and Danny Willis (136).
Second flight winners were: first, Jim
Hollifield and Charlie Daniels (137);
second, Curt Brooks and Carroll Hud
gins (139); and third, Ken Fnzsell and
Fred Boren (140).
Placing in the third flight were: first,
Jim Gaddy and Sharkey Madrazo (141);
Tom Blizard and Jack Dobson (133);
second, Chick Henderson and Waiiace
Edge (146); and third, Jeff Richardson
and Frankie Ross (146).
Winners in the fourth flight were:
first, Cad Bartiett and Lee Thompson
(150); second, Kim Martin and Mike
Reece (154); and third, Ernest Hudgins
and Leroy Posey (155).
The ladies putting contest was won by
Brenda Henson. Placing second was
Kay Waiker.
Champs; Truman HoHi/iefd and Harry Jeter.
Before the presentation, Detective
Jim Doian spoke on the rights of the
accused. Dolan has worked in New
York, Florida and Los Angeles.
The plaque presented was made by
Optimist Club member Norman Dough
erty.
Scots band,
parade to
high!ight4th
cetebration
Montreat's annual Fourth of July
parade will begin in Montreat Saturday
at 11 a m. Everyone is invited to
participate in the parade-tn a car, on a
homemade float, on foot, in a little red
wagon, on rollerskates. The parade will
end with a flag raising ceremony at
Anderson Auditorium
Field events begin at 2:30 p.m on the
Anderson Field and include greased
pole climbing, carnival booths, para
chute games, gave painting, crafts, folk
dancing, pie-eating contest, watermel
on eating contest, and many more
activities.
The Old Timers Softball Game will
begin at 4:30 p.m and the Lake Susan
swim is scheduled for 5 p.m
A Scottish band, The Chimney Rock
Highlanders, directed by Joe Bailey and
sponsored by the Montreat Scottish
Society, will play throughout the after
noon.
The day's activities will finish with a
square dance at 8 p.m on Montreat's
tennis courts with the Stoney Creek
Boys providing music.
Everyone is invited to attend the
festivities.
Weather
review
June 23-high 85, low 61 degrees; .17
indies predpitation.
June 24-high 89, iow 61 degrees.
June 25-high 89, low 60 degrees.
June 26-high 80, low 62 degrees.
June 27-high 76, low 56 degrees.
June 28--high 78, low 56 degrees.
June 29-high 80, low 50 degrees.
Weather information courtesy of
W FGW Radio, Black Mountain.