Pacesetter Event well attended

PACESETTER EVENT WELL ATTENDED

Marble, NC.  Dignitaries from as far away as Marion and family representatives from Ft. Pierce, FL to McDowell County, NC gathered at Pacesetters Adventure Center on Fairview Road this past Thursday to dedicate Pacesetters newest facility: the Baumgarten-Sugg-Ferebee Building.

Dr. Stephen Lane, Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools, delivered the keynote address and spoke to those assembled about public education and the challenges facing North Carolina schools, teachers, and administrators.  Dr. Lane stated that should the current proposed budget pass, public education in NC will retreat from years of positive achievements.  He urged those attending to contact their elected officials and support continuation of the 1 cent sales tax that has been in place for the past year.  Keeping this tax in place would reduce our state’s deficit by over 1 billion dollars and make drastic cuts unnecessary.  Dr. Lane also revealed that Cherokee County schools are role models for other systems and that the schools have consistently achieved beyond state goals.

Prior to Dr. Lane’s address, Tom Graham, Principal of Hiwassee Dam High School, shared stories about Dr. William Sugg, former Principal of Murphy High School, who was tragically killed in a car wreck near Andrews in 2008.  Graham pointed out that one of the first tasks Dr. Sugg assigned him when he began his administrative internship was changing the combination codes on the lockers at MHS.  All 650 of them.  He went on to note that Dr. Sugg helped him realize that when dealing with student discipline issues, things were not always what they appeared to be and that students often had other issues influencing their actions.  The Sugg Family was instrumental in initiating construction of the Baumgarten-Sugg-Ferebee Building through a generous donation.  Judy Sugg, Dr. Sugg’s widow, is a special education teacher in McDowell County.  She was accompanied by her good friend Donna Adams of Andrews at the dedication.

Pacesetters’ Executive Director Gil Hargett talked about the Ferebee Endowment and how the Endowment had contributed to a number of construction projects at the Center.  Janet Stiles represented the Endowment at the dedication.  Hargett also welcomed Carol Baumgarten of Ft. Pierce, FL and her son, Randy Baumgarten, owner/operator of Baumgarten Cement in Hayesville.  Randy and his crew poured the footers and walls of the new building housing bathrooms and showers at his expense.  Randy elected to honor his late father, Richard, in the naming of the building.

Dr. Robert Hearn, Pacesetters’ Director of Development, outlined Pacesetters future projects for those gathered and noted that the one key item missing from Pacesetters Adventure Center playbook was a food preparation facility.  With the completion of the bathroom facility and the huts erected by Lowe’s of Murphy for students to stay overnight, Dr. Hearn observed that the organization is prepared to take the next step.  He encouraged those attending to consider making a specific contribution to Pacesetters so it can become a reality.

Other dignitaries attending included Dr. Ira Trollinger, Superintendent of McDowell County Schools; Dr. Mike Murray, McDowell County Associate Superintendent; Principal Boyd Shields of Murphy High School; Linda Sandidge, Branch Manager of Macon Bank’s Murphy offices; Dr. Karen Borchers, Executive Director of the United Way of Cherokee and Clay County; Maria Hass, Assistant Cherokee County Manager, and Bruce Black, owner/operator of Southern Boundary Surveying.

Pacesetter Board members attending included Matt Rogers, Chairman; Lester Greene, Secretary/Treasurer; and Directors Ronnie Blythe, Annie Breedlove, and Steve Hindsman.  Staff members assisting in the dedication were Pacesetters Adventure Leader Scott Pearson and Cherokee/Clay/Graham County Coordinator Andy Ward.

For more information about Pacesetters, please visit the organization’s website at westerncarolinapacesetters.org or contact them (828) 389-0747.

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Cut Lines:

Carol Baumgarten and Judy Sugg pose prior to cutting the ribbon dedicating the Baumgarten-Sugg-Ferebee Building at Pacesetters Adventure Center on April the 28^th.  This new facility, housing bathrooms and showers, will greatly enhance student visits to the Center.

Tom Graham, Hiwassee Dam High School Principal, shared personal recollections about Dr. Sugg at the Dedication.  Pictured left to right are Dr. Robert Hearn, Tom Graham (standing), Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Stephen Lane, and Hayesville High Principal Matt Rogers.