Second class postage paid
at Black Mountain, NC 2#7JJ
Thursday. May M, M8!, Vohune M, Number M
Mem her of the NCPA
Mrs. Chris Lance helps this pretend doctor tie his suit. Mrs. Betb
Links ton aiso accompanied the Montreat Morning Schooi on their fieid trip
io the Heaith Adventure last Friday. Story on page two.
Along Broad R/ver
Angry taxpayers
protest hikes
by Southwood Smith
"Along Broad River" is a new
addition to the coverage of the Black
Mountain News. Broad River resident
Southwood Smith will be reporting news
from the area. Anyone with items of
community interest is encouraged to
contact Southwood Smith at 669-6104.
The Broad River Community Center
was packed recently with alarmed
taxpayers, many with 1982 property tax
evaluations higher than the 310 percent
average hike claimed by the Buncombe
County Tax Department.
Ron Wensby, Ron Tosto, Pete Craig
and R.L McGrayer were elected to
represent the group, to be called the
Broad River United Taxpayers, in a
fight to bring the tax increases in line
with public services.
The group also will look for answers
to questions concerning the make-up of
the tax board, bids for the revaluation
contract and recent regulation changes
that no longer require appraisers to visit
the property.
Residents not satisfied with their tax
bills were urged to make an appoint
ment with Associated Surveys, Inc. at
258-3625. Further appeals will be taken
before the Board of Equilization and
Review.
The appointed representatives, along
with those from other Buncombe Coun
ty groups, met at Reynolds and elected
Ron Owensby and Ron Tosto to co-chair
one of the four committees to meet with
state and county tax department heads
and commissioners Monday, May 10 in
Asheville.
Variety Supper
If you like good home cooking at low
prices, come to the Broad River
Community Center, 10 miles south of
Black Mountain on Highway 9, Satur
day, May 15 from 5-7 p.m. The Ladies'
Auxiliary will present its locally famous
variety supper to benefit the Broad
River Volunteer Fire and Rescue De
partments.
News office to close
]Firi(f(E!)f ajff(?rfroofi
Beginning this Friday, May 14, the office of the Black Mountain News will close on
Fridays at 1 p.m. The office is located on Sutton Ave. across from the Old Depot.
Deadlines will remain the same, with news due by 5 p.m. Mondays and advertising
by noon Tuesday. News cannot be accepted after the 5 p.m deadline unless
arrangements have been made ahead of time with the editor.
Black Mountain Middle School cast lines up for the Pnal scene of "Host
to a Ghost," to be presented Friday at the school Standing In for the ghost
(center) Is Derek Hamby, about to be struck by Myra Brockmeler.
Town fo fake on frash coMecffon
by BiH Anthony
The Town of Black Mountain is going
to collect its own garbage and trash,
according to a decision made by the
Board of Aldermen Monday night.
Improved "quality of life" was the
frequently expressed theme of the
Board's monthly meeting. In rapid
order the aldermen made the garbage
collection decision, and appointed two
commissions with clearly defined and
wide-ranging authority concerning the
town's appearance and its recreation
programs.
Town Manager A1 Richardson re
ported the lowest bid received for
sanitaticnserviceslwas for $90,600, from
the present collector. Richardson esti
mated the town, itself, could subcon
tract the labor for$33,000. With another
Savmgsand !oans campatgn
to Save American dream'
by Cynthia Reinner
North Carolina savings and loan
associations have organized a letter
writing campaign which they hope will
help the stagnant housing industry in
North Carolina to get back on its feet.
Advertisements headed "Save the
American Dream" carry letters to
Congressman Bill Hendon, Speaker of
the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill,
Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker
and President Ronald Reagan. The
letters, to be signed and sent to the
officials by newspaper readers, ask
the leaders to do something "to assure
the perpetuation of home ownership."
The letter-writing campaign began
April 21 and will conclude on June 14,
Flag Day.
According to local savings and loan
Executive Vice President W endell Beg
ley, the campaign was begun by the
North Carolina State Savings and Loan
League at a Raleigh meeting for
managers. They are asking the officials,
Begley said, "not how they can help the
savings and loan industry but how they
can get the budget in control and help
industry. It's to get their attention.
There doesn't seem to be anybody in
Washington paying attention to this."
Homes have become increasingly less
affordable in this area. Begley said he
has not make a home loan to anyone
under 40 this year.
In Buncombe County, sales of single
family dwellings in the first four months
of 1982 dropped 25 percent compared to
Middle school
to present ploy,
'Host to Ghost'
The Tom Curtain Players of Black
Mountain Middle School will present
"Host to a Ghost," a three act play, on
Friday, May 14. Two performances are
scheduled. The play will be presented at
1 p.m. to the student body and visitors.
There will be a second performance the
same evening at 7:30 p.m. for the public
at no cost. Both performances will be
held in the school auditorium.
"Host to a Ghost" by La Roma
Esbach Greth is a mystery comedy. The
setting is the Roberts' living room. The
celebration of the town centennial
draws a ghost to the Roberts' house.
This is the first year and the second
production of the Black Mountain
middle School drama dub. Drama
students have been working on this play
since January.
The cast indudes Julie Woodcock,
Stephen Roberts, Micki Self, Sarah
Steam, Martin Culbreth, Amy Ellison,
David Clegg, Ted Muncey, Myra Brock
meir, William Loftin, Jennifer Saylor
and Bobby Daugherty.
Faculty sponsors for the Tom Curtain
Hayers are Keith White and Elizabeth
, Norman.
the same time in 1981, according to the
Buncombe County Legal Reporter.
Permits for new single family dwell
ings through April dropped 43 percent
in Buncombe County.
Begley dted national statistics for
prices of single family residences as
$35,000 in 1974 and $70,000 in 1981.
Median income in 1974 was $13,000,
increasing only to $20,000 in 1981.
Begley said the group has no specific
solution in mind. "The whole idea
behind this is to get their attention,
which we haven't been able to do, so we
can sit down and come up with some
specifics," he said.
The huge budget deficit is the
ultimate cause of high interest rates,
which have crippled the building indus
try, Begley said.
Banks compete with the government
for investment money as the govern
ment must keep increasing interest
rates on treasury bonds to keep up with
the budget deficit.
Owen students attend
press conference
Owen students Lisa Crowe, Ashly
Smith, Kevin Siagie, David Sheior and
Scott Emery were among those to
attend a press conference with Gover
nor James Hunt held last week at the
Hall Fletcher Middle School in Ashe
ville.
Several Buncombe County Schools
were represented by students who had
submitted questions beforehand.
A demonstration press conference
was conducted by Rick Gunter.
The meeting was arranged through
the Great Smokies Council International
Open house
at radio
station
Blue Ridge Broadcasting Corporation
will hold their 20th anniversary celebra
tion at an open house, Saturday and
Sunday, May 15-16, from 9 a.m. each
day.
Radio Stations WFGW and WM1T
FM studios are located on Highway 70
west of Black Mountain, N.C. The
public is invited to attend.
Blue Ridge Broadcasting was incor
porated in 1962 under the direction of
Dr. Billy Graham. Both stations are the
result of Dr. Graham's desire to have a
continuing Christian witness in his own
part of the country.
WFGW is a 50,000 watt station
broadcasting at 1010 on the AM dial.
WMIT-FM transmitters are on Cling
man's Peak at Mt. Mitchell giving the
station tremendous coverage at 106.9 on
the FM dial.
Reading Association (G.S.C.I.R.A.).
Ashiy Smith's and Kevin Siagie's
questions were selected on the basis of
their phrasing and content to be asked
of Gov. Hunt.
Smith asked the governor, "How will
recent budget cuts in education affect
the college rates for in-state res
idents?"
Slagle's question was, "Since some
of the recent cuts have been directed
toward the student loan program, what
are your plans for helping the student
who wants to go to college but who
needs financial aid?"
Governor Hunt was presented with
the Literacy Award for the G.S.C.I.R. A.
by Dorothy Crissman, president.
A reception followed.
Weather
revtew
May 4--high 78, low 37 degrees.
May 5-high 78, iow 42 degrees.
May 6--high 80, iow 44 degrees.
May 7--high 75, iow 46 degrees.
May 8--high 74, iow 51 degrees; .34
inches rain.
May 9--high 72, iow 40 degrees.
May 10-high 79, iow 37 degrees.
(33,000 the town would enter Into a
lease-purchase contract on a new truck
and finance other costs, such as vehicle
maintenance, gas, repair of an older,
back-up truck, insurance, etc. From the
aldermen's discussion, it appears the
town will subcontract the labor from
Ann Hamilton.
Present was John Hamilton, who sold
his collection business to Asheville
based Hyder Waste Containers, Inc.,
now collecting in Black Mountain.
Hamilton declared, "I'm not here to
undermine him (Hyder). But I want my
wife and myself to have an ' equal
opportunity" to obtain the subcontract.
Richardson said the agreement, to go
into effect July 1, would continue the
once-weekly pickup in residential areas
and two or more commercial district
pickups weekly. Alderman Steve King
commented town officials were getting
some 10 complaints daily on garbage
collection service. Mayor Tom Sobol
said the new arrangement would save
the town $24,000 annually and, "We'll
have better service."
Forestry Commission
An ordinance acknowledging that
trees "are both an economic and
aesthetic asset" to the town and calling
for their protection and increased
planting, established the Urban Fores
try Commission. It will be responsible
"for promoting trees and tree care
throughout the municipality and for
developing a city tree plan."
The ordinance was inspired by corres
pondence from the state's Department
of Natural Resources and Community
Development. Its Division of Forest
Resources offers without charge a
"planned and supervised program for
long-range management of street, park
and other public trees."
Named to the commission to take
advantage of the state's technical
assistance were Harold Patton, Tom
Nesbitt, Carol Tyson, Susan Garland
representing the Economic Develop
ment Committee, and Bill Anthony,
chairman.
Recreation Commission
The Recreation Commission "shall
have complete supervision of the facili
ties and activities provided and conduct
ed on or in connection with the parks,
playgrounds, athletic fields and recre
ation centers," excepting the golf
course.
Nine members were named to this
commission: Dennis Roland, Kelce
Lytle, George Venturella, Carol Wil
liams, Becky Stafford, Ed Torrence,
Ronnie Armstrong, Hois Affolter and
Tom Culbreth. They will name their
chairman.
Other Business
In other business, Mayor Soboi noted
the state this year expects to disburse
$46 million in community deveiopment
programs, with $750,000 the maximum
possible to any one community. Black
Mountain plans to apply for a grant.
Considerable discussion developed
on the failure of some residents to pay
their water bills when moving, and what
to do about it. Last year the town lost
"in excess of" $1,800 in unpaid water
bills.
Some favored placing a lien on a
house if the departing owner is in
arrears, and requiring landlords to meet
unpaid bills by previous tenants. Some
felt this was unfair to the landlords.
The final decision was to increase the
present deposit from $10 to $20 and also
to require that any outstanding water
bill be paid before the water is again
turned on.
License fees for doing business in the
town will remain at last year's schedule
when they were raised, other than for a
flat $20 for contractors rather than a fee
based on number of employees, as
previously charged. There will be a five
percent late penalty. Gus Manis is the
town's new zoning administrator.
Planning Board Chairman Travis
Childs reported that board hopes to
provide aldermen with recommenda
tions for a new zoning ordinance in
June, "aftera long and hard struggle."