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WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year J 888.
VOL. LVm, NO. BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1945 #
$1.50 A YEAR ? 5c A COPY
WATCH
on
SINGLE ATOMIC
BOMB WIPES OUT
NIPPONESE CITY
Japs Struck by Awsome Secret
Weapon of United States; New
Bomb Has Explosive Power
of Old Bombs 2,000 Super
forts Would Carry
Guam, Aug. 7 ? There is reason to
believe tonight that the Japanese
city of Hiroshima, hit by a single
American atomic bomb, no longer
exists.
This is despite the fact that men
who participated in the actual use
of the new weapon, could give no
estimate of damage other than that
it "must have been extensive."
But they did relate that the lone
bomb struck squarely in the center
of the industrial-military city of
343,000 on Southern Honshu in the
Japanese mainland Aug. 6 (Pacific
time) with a flash and concussion
that brought an exclamation, of "My
God" from a battle-hardened Super
fortress crew 10 miles away.
Mor* B-29s Ready
Tor following up on other enemy
targets, there are more B-29s ready
to carry more of the same awsome
bombs. This was announced here
by Gen. Carl S. Spaatz, commander
of the U. S. army strategic air force.
Crewmen who carried the awful
new bomb wnich is declared to have
an explosive power the equivalent
of bombs that 2,000 Superfortresses
would have had to carry previously
although they were far away, felt
the concussion like a close explosion
of anti-aircraft fire.
Col. Paul W. Tibbets, Jr.. of Mi
ami, Fla., who piloted the Super
fortress and navy Capt. William S.
Parsons, of Santa Fe, N. M., navy
ordnance expert, described the ex
plosions as "tremendous and awe
inspiring.'
"It was 0915 (9:15 a.m.) when we
dropped our bomb and we turned
the plane broadside to get the best
view," said Capt. Parson. "Then
we made as much distance from the
ball of fire as we could.
Visual Impact al 10 Milas
"We were at least ten miles away
and there was a visual impact even
though every man wore colored
glasses for protection. We had
i braced ourselves when the bomb was
gone for the shock and Tibbets said
'Close flak' and it was just like that
? a close burst of ftiti-aircraft fire.
"The crew said, 'My God!' and
couldn't believe what had happened.
"A mountain of smoke was going
up in a mushroom with the stem
coming down. At the top was white
smoke but up to 1,000 feet from the
ground there was swirling, boiling
dust. Soon afterward small fires
sprang up on the edge of town but
the town was entirely obscured. We
stayed around two or three min
utes and by that time the smoke
had risen to 40,000 feet. As we
watched the top of the white cloud
broke off and another soon formed."
Details of the bombing were dis
closed at a press conference attend
ed by Gen. Carl Spaatz, who termed
the new bomb the "most revolution
ary development in the history of
the world."
828 Attend Summer
Summer School Here
With the second summer school
term registration at Appalachian
"College closed, 828 students are en
rolled, it ha* been announced.
The students come from 67 coun
ties in North Carolina, and 13 other
states. States with largest enroll
ment include Florida with 150, Geor
gia with 55, and South Carolina with
, "212.
According to college training and
present college work, they are di
vided into the following groups:
Those holding bachelor's degrees,
382; those also having master de
grees, 46. There are 104 enrolled in
the graduate school and 460 have no
degrees
The number of women unrolled is
'764 and the number of men 64. A
total of 168 colleges and universities
are represented in the group.
The fall term at Appalachian will
start on September 4, Dean Rankin
state* O
Church Missionaries
From Africa to Speak
On Sunday night, Aug. 12, at 8 p.
) m.. Dr. and Mrs. Barden, returned
missionaries to Africa, will speak at
Grace Lutheran Church. The pro
gram is sponsored by the Women's
Missionary Society of the church.
All are invited to attend the serv
ice.
World'. Tallest Hit I
A Tie w of the Empire Stale
building. New York City, looking
approximately northeast, with an
arrow pointing to where It was
rammed by an army B-25 bomb
ing plane. The plane exploded
on impact, starting flrea resulting
in 14 casualties and heary prop
erty loss.
COUNTY TAX RATE
REMAINS AT $1.25
Budget Estimate Approved by
Board of Commissioners is
Published Today
The 1945-46 budget estimate ap
proved by the board of cqunty com
missioners, and which is published
today in compliance with the law,
provides that the tax rate for 1946
will remain at the present level of
$1.25 on the hundred dollar valua
tion, based on an eight million dol
lar valuation.
The budget is based on receipts
from all sources of $199,300, which
it is anticipated will be expended
for the following purposes: General
fund, $36,090; health and welfare,
$15,950; debt service, $48,300; school
fund, $59,900; social security, $35,
060.
The anticipated yield from the ad
valorem tax is $90,000, while poll
taxes, tax penalties, court costs, li
censes, state and federal grants,
state intangible taxes, fines and
miscellaneous receipts will account
for the balance of the budget.
The statement published today by
Paul A. Coffey, county accountant,
gives detailed figures concerning the
appropriations made for the conduct
of the county's business as well as
the source of the funds.
PFC. PAUL SWT
KILLED IN FRANCE
Beech Creek Man Lost Life Last
July According to Wori Re
?sired oy Family
Pfc. Paul T. Swift, of Beech Ceerk,
was killed in action in France on
July 19, 1945, his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. W. B. Swift, have been ad
vised by the bffice of the Adjutant
General of the army. The official
message said:
"The official casualty report states
that your son died on July 19, 1945,
in Charters, France, as a result of a
fractured skull. I sincerely regret
that this message must carry so
much sorrow into your home. My
deepest sympathy is extended to
you in your bereavement."
Pfc. Swift entered the army June
26, 1944, and had been serving over
seas since November.
A brother, Pfc. Willis D. Swift, is
now serving in Germany. The broth
ers had a fourteen-day furlough at
the same time, but' were unable to
see each other after going overseas.
Tuckweller Nkwr Farm
Agent in Ashe County
L. E. Tuckweller, for two and one
half years assistant county farm
agent in Watauga, has resigned his
position to become county agent in
Ashe, and has entered upon his new
duties. County Agent Harry Hamil
ton states that a successor to Mr.
Tuckweller has not been procured.
Mr. Tuckweller, a native of West
Virginia, came to Watauga from
Clay county in February, 1J43, and
has since been prominently identi
fied with the agricultural life of the
county. His principal work was
with the local demonstration farm
ers, but he did his share of all the
work coming under the farm agent's
office. Mr. Tuckweller was popu
lar here, and there are many re
grets that he found it advisable to
enter an enlarged field of service.
LEST OF COUNTY
TEACHERS GIVEN
M#p^Th*n Vacancies
Exist on Teaching Staff of
Schools at This Tim* '
Superintendent S. F. Horton has
released the following list of teach
ers who have boen employed to
teach in the county school system
during the 1945-46 term. It is ex
plained that there are 17 vacancies
at this time. 11 of which are in ^
Boone schools.
m<"?? -
m District No. 1
Appalachian High*
Herbert W. Wey, principal; Ruby
A. Daniel, Martha Grey Marv F
d'w"". "?Sld c- Cm,
w. w!S:M*rj'E
Boone Elementary
C Thnrnn Hovv?|'i principal; Donald
H D?? ?? Ray Mo?dy. Marion
M?? rJ^J E"a A n^he-ni. Clyde
Mae Goodman,, Beulah Campbell
Ennis Roland Davis, Sallie P Car
ElJ" M- Ccm.Ul, Annli C
Kittrell, Elizabeth Lord.
Ru^rd L?re6k' Mag?le E Moretz.
wrtherwo0** ? Chioe T. Story.
Rich Mountain, Blanche B. Payne
Bamboo? Pearl J. Cowles, Helen
? Trexler, Lucy H. Storie.
District No. 2
Green Valley, Arlie E. Moretz
Norrijf8}' Mae R?We' Mattie s
Norris, Louisa L. Miller.
Riverview ? Ola M. Greer
District No. 3
rMt.'fai'ss
h'm hDoS&. d?"""
Castle, D. L. Bingham.
Stony Fork, Marie Hamrick.
Mt. Paron, I. J Bingham.
VSS? E"" C C?"'.
Lower Elk, Ethel P. Triplett
District No 4
Blowing Rock High. Saxah B.
Oaither, principal; Susie B. Cole
Imogen? B. Barden, Beatrice C. Win
G Bn^ng v?fk Elementary. Billie
CaH^ ' Veima M C??reU, Alice
Cade^ Bewe S Crawford. Mrs. D.
J- Whitener, Billie G. Cooke
Bradshaw, W. L. Trivette.
Cook, Aimed ia Bingham
District No. 4
yalle CnJcis? Dessa T. Edmisten,
principal; Ernie C. Triplett^Mary B
GJenn Ola T. Thompson. ^ a
T^Pbee' Cle? WaJker- Pansy K.
aylor Sarah B. Horton, Maxie G.
Mmisten.
P.nH?l'atrher' F1?y Cannon, Mrs.
Pearle R. Luttrell.
District No. 6
Cove Creek High, W. Paul Bing
ham principal; Cynthia Stiles. Jen
nie Love, Virginia Dare Strother
Winnie T. Stokes, Phoebe E. Wake-'
field, Grace B. Mast, Elsie F. Mor
gan^ Mattie H. Wilson, Sam W. Os
borne, Ernest Hillard, Mrs. Sam W
SST'sp..^
??BlM1che St?kes, Gladys M.
? *ha?' *nna Sherwood, Dora
Sl^f B" Benson, Ruth E.
B MasT*^ ?Phelia Bingham, Ruth
Rominger, George Harmon.
Presnell? Ruth W. Prwnell.
Kellerville, Ella Fae Phillips,
Windy Gap, Henry Hagaman
District No. 7
RiSlrif'w0' E' Te,ter- Principal;
AT i16"80"-, Berbert Farthing,
AUie R. Perry, Cleo Walker Kathryn
Sherwood, Leota N. Swift, Wilamet
ta R. Norris, Alice Bingham
District No. t
? *1 Puncan, principal; Mrs. J. T.
' Ruth D. Roland Sue Wil
Ma,t> Maude William?.
Reka W. Shoemake, Kate H. Ellison
T>ZT^ Vera B Church
Pearle H. Greene.
Watauga Colored - Bertha M.
Loi? L. Clement.
249.284 AMERICANS HAVE DIED
III WAR; CASUALTIES MOUNT
Wash ft? ton, Aug. 3 ? Almost a
quarter million American soldiers
and sailors have died in the war ?
a total of 294 264.
Army figures announced yester
day by Secretary of War Stimson
si 197,676 dead. The latest
navy court of its killed is 51,219 for
the navy.
Total casualties from all causes
for both services are 1,060,727, or
1,885 more than the 1058,942 an
nounced earlier.
Army wounded are 570,766, miss
ing 34,754 and prisoners of war
117,741. Navy wounded are 72,
855, missing 11,611 and prisoners 3,
/ Local Man Survives Ship Sinking
Carl S. Law is. seaman first class, right, of Boon*, is pictured with
? shipmata Coast Guardsman Norm and D. Saiglar, of Tampa. Fla..
soon after tha two war* rescued from a coast guard-manned tanker,
which had capsized in an advanced Pacific combat son*. Both had
previously served in the Caribbean area. Seaman Lewis is a son of
Mr. Charles L. Lewis, of Sherwood, and a brother of Mrs. Rob Rivers,
of Boone. Relatives have been advised that he landed in San Fran
cisco last Saturday, and expefts to be home within a short time.
BUS DRIVERS TO
BE 'GIVEN TESTS
ft*pr***atativ* of Stat* Highway Di
vision to Qualify Drivers of
Sclyol Bum*
Mr. E. Y. Simpson, of the State
Highway Divfeion, will be in Boone
Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 20-21, at
9:30 a. m., to give examinations to
any new bus drivers or substitute
driers that should be certified be
fore the opening of school, says
County Superintendent S. F. Horton.
All prospective drivers are notified
to be in Boone on one of these
dates.
On Friday, Aug. 24, at 10 a. m.,
the Boone, Valle Crucis and Blow
ing Rock buses will be delivered to
drivers from the Cove Creek gym
nasium, it is stated by Mr. Horton.
The Bethel and Cove Creek buses
will be delivered at 1 p. m. from the
Bethel gymnasium. All Blowing
Rock and Boone drivers are to meet
Mr. Harrison at the county garage
at 9:30 a. m., and be carried to Cove
Creek. Cove Creek drivers are to
meet Mr. Harrison at 12 m. and be
carried to Bethel, Mr. Horton con
cluded.
Red Cross Knitters
Are Urgently Needed
Mrs. W. M. Burwell, Red Cross
chapter knitting chairman, is very
anxious to secure at once a group
of volunteer knitters to aid in mak
ing 133 v-neck army sweaters. Of
the quota only 38 garments have
been made, it is said.
Mrs. Burwell insists that the ladies
of the county call at the Red Cross
rooms at their earliest opportunity,
and get the wool, so that the sweat
ers may be completed promptly.
Ration Guide
Pfoctcstd Foods *
T2, U2, V2, W2, X2, now valid,
expire July 31; Y2, Z2, Al, Bl, CI.
now valid, expire August SI; D1
through HI, now valid, expire Sept.
30; J1 through N 1, expire Oct. 31.
PI through Tl, now valid, expire
November 30.
Meal and Fats 0
K2 through P2, now valid, expire
July 31; Q2 through U2, now valid,
expire Aug. 31; V2 through Z2, now
valid, expire Sept. 30; Al through
El, now valid, expire October 31;
F1 through K 1, now valid, expire
November 30.
SuoMi
Sugar (tamp 3<Wfcxpire* Aug SI.
Airplane stamp* No*. 1, 2, 3 and 4,
now valid.
Gnolln*
A-16 coupons valid through Sept.
21. Each car owner must write his
license number and state on each gas I
coupon as soon as it is issued to
him. Mileage rationing record must
be presented when applying for all
passenger car gasoline rations.
PRESIDENT <HETTJRWg
Newport News, Vs., Aug 7 ? The
U.S.S. Augusts, bearing President
Truman and his party returning
from the Big Three conference at
Potsdam, docked at Hampton Roads
port of embarkation here, today.
The President and his party left
immediately by special train for
Washington.
WAR MEMORIAL
BEING PLANNED
American Legion Takes Laad In
Seeking to Establish Memo
rial to Veterans
A special meeting of Watauga Post
American Legion will be held at the
Legion hut Friday evenin gat 8:30,
for the purpose of initiating plans
for the construction of a war memo
rial, honoring those who served
their country from this county in
both world wars, it is announced by
Commander H. S. Steelman.
Mr. Steelman asks that the Lions
Club, Chamber of Commerce, Mer
chants Association, ministers of the
county, members of women's clubs
and any other organization interest
ed be present for the meeting.
Ways and means of establishing
the war memorial will be discussed
and committees are to be named
looking to the raising of money to
forward the enterprise.
SCHOOL MEETING
TO BE HELD HERE
Othar Announcement! Concerning
School Opening Mada Br
Supt. Horton
An administrative conference for
teacher* of the county ia to be held
in the auditorium of Appalachian
high school Wednesday, Aug. 15, at
9:30 a. m., it is stated by County
Superintendent S. F. Horton.
Dr. J. Henry Highsmith and Miss
Hattie S. Parrott of the division of
instructional service, will direct the
conference. Mr. Horton asks that
all principals of the county schools
meet with him at 1:30 p. m., for #
round-table discussion of plans for
the school year.
School Calendar
All schools are to open on Mon
day, Aug. 27, says Mr. Horton, and
those desiring Thanksgiving or Eas
ter holidays will make up the time
lost by teaching on Saturdays.
All schools will close for the
Christmas holidays Friday, Dec. 21,
and reopen for the spring term Mon
day, Dec. 31. This calendar will
bring the schools to a close on May
10.
All classified principals will re
port for work on Aug. 13, two weeks
in advance of the refful?r opening of
school. Their duties end Friday,
May 24.
Janitors are to report for duty one
week prior to the opening of school
and complete the year's work one
week after the close of school.
Paul Winkler Enters
Insurance Office Here
^ Mr. J. Paul Winkler, who has re
cently resided at Newport News,
Vs., has purchased an interest in
the Watauga Insurance Agency here,
and is now in the office to render a
more complete service to the patrons
of the concern.
Mr. Winkler was advised to
change climate as a result of in
juries sustained while working at
the Newport News Shipbuilding Co.,
where he was employed for three
years. Prior to this time he was
employed for 13 years by the Mor
ganton Hosiery Mills, Morgan ton.
STOCK, BURLEY
?GROWERS ASKED
TO ATTEND MEET
Watauga County Farm Bureau
Arranges Meeting for Grow
ers of Livestock and Burley
Tobacco in This Area, on Tues
day Night, Aug. 14
Mr. L. B. Mann, of the livestock
division of the Farm Credit Admin
istration, and Mr. Charles D. Lewis,
director of the east central region
of the AAA, will appear at a meet
ing sponsored by the Watauga Farm
Bureau at the courthouse on Tues
day night, Aug. 14, at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Mann will discuss the?situa
tion facing the producers of live
stock while Mr. Lewis will speak on
burley tobacco.
The meeting has been arranged
not only for the farmers of Watauga,
but for those of adjoining counties.
In fact, all the farmers in the north
western section of the state are in
vited to attend.
Mr. H. M. Hamilton, the county
agent, is contacting other agents in
adjoining counties with information
as to this meetin^g
Lion* Club Committees
Make Reports Tuesday
The Boone Lions Club held its
regular meeting Tuesday evening
with an unusually good attendance.
Program for the evening was in
charge of the program committee, A.
R. Smith chairman. The following
chairmen reported briefly on the
plans for their committees for the
year: Attendance, Joe Crawford,
constitution and by-laws, T. M.
Greer; convention committee, J. C.
Cline; finance, Ralph W. House; ed
ucation, C. H. Mock; publicity,
Cratis Williams; military affairs,
Lionel Ward; boys' and girls' work,
L. H. Stout; citizenship and patriot
ism, Clyde R. Greene; civic improve
ment., Gordon H. Winkler; commu
nity betterment, Barnard Dougherty,
health and welfare, R. K. Bingham;
sight conservation and blind work,
G. K. Moose; Lions education, J. C.
Canipe, safety, J as. H. Winkler,
membership, W. M. Matheson; pro
gram, A. R. Smith.
Lion Smith distributed a program
fthedule for meetings during the
next year. Each committee will
have charge of at least one program.
Four ladies' nights are scheduled.
Guests present at the meeting
were: Dr. L. R. Johnson, ex-tau
twister and present vice-president
of the East Orange, N. J., Lioni
Club; Ray Manship, tail-twister of
the North Wilkesboro club; Dr. Roy
W, Morrison, of the University of
North Carolina; Richard A. Holman,
Buckner, Pa., Ray Estes, Wilming
ton; H. B. Caudlll, North Wilkes
boro; Rev. R. C. Gresham, D. D.,
Moultrie, Ga., and Lion Garrett
Anglin, Forest City.
At a meeting of the board of di
rectors after the dinner meeting was
adjourned, sponsorship of a drive for
collecting kitchen fats in Watauga
county in order to assist in the war
effort was accepted. A committee
composed of Frank Payne, chair
man, and Harry Hamilton and Grady
Moretz was appointed. The com
mittee plans to work through milk
deliverymen in the county. _
grocers will give two red points and
up to four cents a pound for the
waste fat, it was explained.
? i ii ? i 1 ' '? r
Grandfather Home Day
Offering Total* $6,325
m ?
Banner Elk? At the 27th consecu
tive annual Grandfather Home Day
held at Rumple Memorial Presby
terian Church in Blowing Rock on
Sunday, the offering amounted to
$6,325.03. The service is held each
year for the benefit of the Grand
father Home for children at Banner
Elk.
Featured on the program were
Mist Anna Kaskas, contralto ?f
Metropolitan Opera Company; Wil
liam Ha in, American tenor, and Stu
art Rose, well known New York pi
anist. - ...
Rev. Walter K. Keys, pastor of the
church, gave a devotional on The
God of Music." David Ovens, of
Charlotte and Blowing Rock, told
the story of Grandfather Home for
children, making special note of the
| fact that 50 boys who have been
reared in the home are now in the
service of their country.
This offering, given by the resi
dents and summer visitors of Blow
ing Rock anAgrintty, means much
in the annuaTTOhpet of the J*?"*;
According to Mr. Ovens K Is hoped
that the total of $7,500 will be ic>ch
ed before all contributiw* ??