An Independent Weekly Neteepaper—Established in the. Year Eighteen Eighty-Eight
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNT*, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1*7 ill
TWELVE PAGES—TWO SECTIONS
100 To Face Trial
At January Court
Judge Zeb V. Nettles, of Ashe
vtUe, will preside over the Janu
ary term of Watauga Super Court
when It convenes In Boone Janu
ary 21. One murder case, one case
of manslaughter, and a robbery
trial head the Ust of about 100
cases scheduled to come before
him.
One family accounts for eleven
cases of violation of prohibition
law, with four persons involved.
The murder case charges Wil
liam O. Wyatt of Ashe County with
the death of Clemon Triplett.
Trtplett died from gunshot wounds
allegedly inflicted by Wyatt last
year.
Wayne Vannoy, Boone, RFD,
will stand trail for the automobile
accident death of Phil Shull of
Sugar Grove. The accident oc
curred on highway 431, near the
Wilkes County line.
Ten cases of driving drunk will
come before Judge Nettles, about
SO persons will be tried tor speed
ing, with the balance of the doc
ket made up of miscellaneous
charges.
Jurors for the term will be:
From Bald Mountain township—
Don Lewis, Arthur C. Winebarger.
Beaver Dam—John Wood, Spen
cer May.
Blowing Rock—Max R. Moody,
Ralph Shore, Charles Bolick.
Blue Ridge—Virgil Day, G. J.
Keller, Jr., Ernest Shore.
Boone—Roy R. Blanton, Chester
Smith, James Poster, James Be-'
shears, John Hollar.
Brushy Fork—Lewis Wilson,
Lonnie Henson, John R. Horton.
Cove Creek—Raymond Isaacs,
Dana Green, Charlie Wilson.
Elk—Turner Miller, James
Last Rites Held
For Gary Cox
Gary R. Cox, former Boone busi
nessman, died Thursday in •
Spruce Pine hospital, following an
extended illness. Funeral services
were held in the Spruce Pine Meth
odist Church Sunday, where he was
a member, by the Rev. Robert Ear
ly and the Rev. R. M. Cassidy.
Burial followed in Boone at the
Mount Lawn Memorial Park, where
a brief service was conducted by
Mr. Early and the Rev. E. H. Low
man of the Boone Methodist
Church.
Survivors include his wife, the
former Miss Evelyn White, and
three sisters and three brothers.
Mr. Cox was connected with the
Blue Ridge Music Co., for several
years in Boone, later being In the
laundry business, and before mov
ing to Spruce Pine, he operated
a service station on the Blowing
Rock Road in Boone. At the time
of his death he was owner and op
erator of the Spruce Pine News
Center.
Miss Anderson
Is Improving
Weft Jefferson, Dec. 27—The
condition of Billie Anderson,
daughter of Mr. and Mr*. Ed M.
Anderson, who was seriously in
jured in an accident on Sunday
night, is satisfactorily improving.
Miaa Anderson is a patient in
the Wilkes General hospital but
is not allowed any visitors and
won't far several days, hospital
officials stated
Mill Anderson underwent sur
gery shortly after being taken to
the hospital Sunday night follow
ing the accident on the Elkin high
way.
Hayes
Laurel Creak—Ernest Rominger,
Ira Presnell.
Meat Camp—Walton Norris,
Roby Winebarger, Wade H. Moretz.
New River—Will Cook, Earl
Hartley, Howard Brookshire, P. W.
Palmer, Thomai I. Holloway.
North Fork—WU1 Wallace, Will
Potter.
Sbawneehaw—Floyd Hicki, D.
S. Oliver, Basil Tester.
Stony Fork—Stuart Hamby,
Claude Bodenhammer. Thomas G.
Miller, Noah Church, Luther Mor
etz.
WaUuga—Cius Aldridge, Marl
Aldridge, Fred McLean, Troy Rup
ard, Worth Davis.
ii .
Tax Listing
Dates Set
Tax listing start* in Watauga,
county.this week, and a slate of
listakers to assist in making out
the lists for county taxpayers has
been appointed by County Tax
Supervisor lvey Wilson.
A complete schedule of the
times when these listakers will ap
pear at the various townships in
the county has been worked out
and an advertisement in the
Democrat todly gives the detailed
information.
Every property owner is re
quired to list his property for
taxes and all male persons, in the
poll tax age group, are required to
list whether or not they own any
sort of property.
Those required to list are advis
ed to scan the list of appointments
and meet the tax listers at the
most convenient points.
Tax listing during the current
month is urged fey Mr. Wilson, so
that citizens may avoid the penal
ties prescribed by law for late list
ing.
ACP Sign Up
Soon To Start
The ipring sign up period for
practices under the IBS? Agricul
tural Conservation Program will
begin January 10 and continue
through January 28, it was an
nounced today by Dwight Cable,
Chairman of the County ASC Com
mittee.
The bask purpose of the pro
gram is to aid in achieving neces
sary conservation Of our soil and
water resources. The future pro
sperity of this nation necessitates
the protection and maintenance of
our land and water resources.
Conservation of these resources is
urgent and it pays.
Every fanner in the eounty is
being mailed a letter announcing
this sign up period. On this letter
is also a list of the practices for
which the fanner may apply for
assistance in cost-sharing. It is
suggested that these practices be
studied carefully and the farmer
decide just what one or two prac
tices most needed for the farm
will be requested.
This program is for all farmers,
and those fanners who, for seme
reason or another, have failed to
take advantage of the aid offered
in carrying out the needed con
servation job on their farms
should call at the ASC office for
further information.
The National Education Associa
tion reported teacher shortages
hadT deprived 840,000 children of
normal full-time Schooling.
Workers Appointed
' For March Of Dimes
Mr. Had ley WiUon and Mr.
W. W Littleton, co-chairm.n of
the 1SS7 campaign In Watauga
county, announced they had ap
pointed the following worker! in
the local effort:
W W. Littleton, treasurer; Mr*.
Palmer Blair, chairman Mother'.
March; Mr*. BUI William., chair
man Blowing Rock dlvirion; Joe
liaird. chairman college division;
and Guy Angell. chntrman lehool
dlytoloo. *
Mr*. Wilson stated that "wallers"
were being sent out in the county
: X ■ 8
this week to help the appeal for
fouads (or the figflt against polio.
Cttiaens receiving them are asked
to fill them out upon receipt and
return them to March •( Dimes
headquarters "to help aid the
thousanda of victims of polio for
whom the vaccine came too late."
Mrs. Wilaon and Mrs Littleton
state that this reminder is for those
"who might receive the letter and
put It aside for a 'few dan,' and
then forget about it It only takes
a few M-ornds to fill s duller and
rrtur" *•" ItJT, ■ v
The publisher and staff of the Watauga Democrat extend warm
greetings and sincere good wishes for the New Year.
Blowing Rock Voters To Pass On
Proposal For City Swimming Pool
By WALTER K. KEYS
(Special to the Democrat)
Blowing Rock, December 31.—
The voters of Blowing Rock will
go to the polli January 22, to pass
upon the issuance of bonds suffici
ent for the building of a commun
ity swimming pool. ,
There are now two swimming
pools in Blowing Rock—one at
Mayview Manor, the other at the
Country Club. Neither of these
pool* arc available to the general,
public.
For many years those who have
the best interests of this tourist
town at heart have realized that
the need for a public swimming
pool is very great. This need is
greatly emphasized by the fact
that the economy of Blowing Rock
is almost 100% based on the tour
ist business. Within the past two
or three years the town of Blow
ing Rock hss lost thousands of dol
lars in trade because of the fact
that there are no swimming facili
ties provided.
Last year, one of the town's
long-time summer residents, al
ways a great boaster for Blowing
Rock, told this writer that he was
selling his Blowing Rock summer
home, because their children, now
growing up, were not content to
spend the summer at a place
where they could not engage in
water sports. Dozen* of families,
looking for a place to spend a
week or two, or a month, pass on
through this town' because of the
almost unbelievable situation, to
them, that there is no swimming.
The average family, spending
the summer in a resort area, will
spend at least *1000. The vacation
ing family will «p«nd at lust t300
per week. To lone many such
families, as is done each summer,
represents a greater annual loss in
income to the people of the town
than the total cost of the swim
ming pool.
The wisest investment ever
made by the Town of Blowing
Rock was in the acquiring of the
Coffey property in the heart of
the town for a recreation park.
Many of us remember how long it
took to accomplish this end. Now
this Playground Park, the envy
of every other resort area in the
mountains of western North Caro
lina, needs only I swimming-pool
to make it complete. Remember
ing the long and arduous efforts
of the then Mayor, Mr. Joe Wink
ler and the Town Commissioners
of that day, to carry the bond is
sue which enabled the town to
buy the recreation center area,
the people of Blowing Rock will
certainly vote the bonds for this
further development of this pro
perty.
Others who gave lavishly of
their time and effort to secure the
original purchase of this play
ground area, no longer with us in
the flesh—Mr. O. C. Robbins, Sr.,
Mr. Charles G. Beck, Mr. Orrin
Stone—but surely in spirit they
are looking to us to continue the
great work in which they were so
deeply interested.
200 Local Business
Men In Credit-Book
Each January business concern!
in all parta of the United States
receive from Dun it Bradstreet
request! for their annual financial
statement. Thii year the number
of requests going out nation-wide
will approximate three million,
with over 200 going to Watauga
County businessmen.
The growth and the industrial
development of Watauga County
is reflected in statistics just re
leaaed by the credit Reporting
firm. Thomas it. Kane, manager
at Knoxville, which covers this
area, says that this year there will
be more requests for financial
statements made of business con
cern! in Watauga County than
usual.
The Watauga County section of
the current issue of Dun k Brad
street Reference Book contains
listings of 212 local names com
prising manufacturer!, wholesal
ers and retailers. It does not in
clude some of the service and
"professional" businesses such as
barber and beauty shops, real es
tate and stock brokers. Thus the
figures for businesses in Watauga
County would actually be higher
than the 212 quoted above.
During 199?, Dun * Brads treet
estimates they will be required to
make about 100 changes in the list
ings of 'business enterprises in
Watauga County. These changes
'will result from adding the names
of new businesses, and deleting
the names of {hose who have dis
continued; as well as accounting
for changes in ownership, trade
names and credit ratings.
Watauga County with 212 names
in the current issue of Dun k
Bradstreet's Reference Book,
shows an increase of S percent in
comparison with the names listed
in 1996
Abner A. Greer
Taken By Death
Abner A. Greer, 84. of Route 1,
Vil««, died Saturday December
29 at Blowing Rock Hospital,
where he had been a patient for
It days. •
Funeral services were held Mon
day at 2 o'clock at Willowdale
Baptist Church by Rev. Maurice
Cooper. Rev. E. 0. Gore and Rev.
C. O. Vance and interment waa
in the cemetery there.
Mr. Greer, a retired mail car
rier, ia survived by the widow,
three aona and three daughters:
Abner Greer, Jr., Viiaa; E. R.
Greer, West Grove, Pa.; F. B.
Greer, Chapel Hill: Mrs Mataie
Barton, Kenneth Square, Pa.; Miaa
Corinne Greer, Johnson City,
Tenn.; Miaa Bobbie Greer, Dan
ville, Va. There are ten grand
children. I
ACCIDENTS
Accidents now rank first as fhe
cause of death in persons between
the ages of one and thirty-five
years. They are fourth as the
cauae of deaths in all age (roups.
Accidents in IMS killed (8,000
persons, 38.000 of whom were kill
ed ia automobiles.
A pretty reminder (or Tar Heel motorist* that It's almoat time tor new
license plate* k Warner Bros, aetrea* Vlrglata Mayo The state"* new
yellow-on black *97 tags went on sale Wednesday, January 2, and reual
be displayed after February IS.
Sow! Si ' 3:''tiY$lrow{Ttr«
■W<
Quiet Holiday;
No Crashes,
Cuh register! ring * merry
Christmas tun* for Boone merch
ants, as holiday shoppers thronged
the streets and stores in an un
precendented wave of gift buying.
Although figures were not avail
able, moat local stores reported
substantial gains in all gift cate
gories over lMS's record dollar
volume. The most conservative
estimates pegged it as being "at
least as good as last year."
An unusually warm December
caused sales to lag during the first
two or three weeks of the normal
Christmas shopping season, with
a major portion of the gift buying
being done in the final week.
The weather finally got into the
Yule spirit with falling tempera
tures on Chriatmas Eve, and a
light snow fell early Christmas
morning, making it at least a
"semi-white" Chriatmas.
No Traffic Deaths
Watauga County did not contri
bute to the record total of more
than 700 traffic fatalities in the
nation during the four-day holi
day week end. Sheriff Ernest Hod
ges' office reported that there
were no serious accidents in the
county, and no injuries. There
were four arreats for public
druifkenne^s, one for driving
drunk, and two for shooting fire
crackers.
Boone Police Chief Glenn Rich
ardson reported an even quiter
week end, with no arrests being
made by hie department.
Arrests
Rufus Brown
Rites Are Held
Mr. ,Rufus James Brown, 03,
pioneeV resident and retired farm
er of the Rich Mountain neighbor
hood of Meat Camp township, died
at his home Thursday, after an
illness of seven months.
Funeral services were held Fri
day at the Rich Mountain Baptist
Church. Rev. W. C. Payne and
Rev. Arnt Greer were in charge
of the rites and burial was In
the church cemetery.
A son of the late Jesse Brown,
Mr. Brown was born and spent
his entire life in Watauga county.
He had engaged in farming
throughout his life.
Surviving are five sons and two
daughters: Frank Brown, Vilas;
John Brown, Knoxville; Joe Brown,
Lenoir; George Brown, Clyde
Brown, Zionville; Mrs. Ruth Phil
lips and Miss Eliza Brown, Meat
Camp township.
Father Of Mrs.
Troutman Dies
Lemuel Noeker Brown, N, pro
minent resident of Troutman, and
father of Mra. E. E. Troutman of
Boone, died at hi* home laat Wed
nesday. He had been ill for a year.
Mr. Brown had been active in
church, industrial and community
activities, had been a member of
the Iredell board of commission
ers. and had been connected with
many business enterprises. He had
served as elder In the New Perth
ARP Church for 90 year*.
Funeral services were held
Thursday at S p. m. at New Perth
ARP Church. Rev. W. C. Lauder
dale and Rev. Olin G. Bwicegood
officiated. Burial was in the fam
ily plot In Saint Michael's ceme
tery.
Mr. Brown Is survived by three
sons. Herman, Sam and Ben
Brown of Troutman; a daughter.
Mrs. Edwin V. Troutman of
Boone, eleven grandchildren and
nine greatgrandchildren.
CASH DIVIDENDS
The Commerce Department re
ports that cash dividend payments
by corporations arc running more
than a billion dollars higher than
ill ISO* C oncerns issuing public
reports paid out about M,728.000,
000 in the first ten months of this
year compared with IT.722.000,
000 in the corresponding period a
year ago.
FIRE FIGHTERS —R D. Hodge*, Jr., left. Bill Crawford, and Pete
Everett hunt down the last embers of a fire which destroyed a barn'
belonging to Ben Watson, retired post office worker, on Howard street,
last Thursday. Mr. Watson said the barn which had feed, farming
tools, and household articles stored in it, was a total loss. It was built
of white pine and burned in a matter of about a half hour. The flame
and smoke could be seen for several blocks.
Bold Burglars Make
Front Door Entrance
Parkway Company, Inc., hard
ware atore in Boone, suffered a
loss of over $200.00 Monday night
as a result of a robbery, according
to Paul A. Coffey, owner.
The store waa entered through
a broken door glaaa on the front
of the atore, after it had been
knocked out by the intruder or
burglars.
Mr. Coffey discovered Um break
in Tuesday morning when he op
ened the store, and a check on
what was taken revealed two .22
piatols missing, a 20-guage shot
gun, a .22 target rifle, and a
"handwarmcr." Muddy tracka were
found on, the floor near the door,
possibly thoae of the peraon or
persona taking the merchandise.
A fire screen, which Mr. Coffey
kept at the entrance of two count
era, had been moved and broken
glaaa was scattered over the floor.
Other than thia nothing eiae ap
peared to have been bothered.
This if the. second time In two
years the establishment has been
entered for the purpose of stealing
merchandise. Sheriff E. II. Hodges
and the Boone police department
were investigating the robbery,
and the sheriff stated that a State
Bureau of Investigation man had
been called in on the caae.
Penick Home
Burglarized
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wil
liam E. Penick on Oak Street was
entered Monday night while the
couple was visiting a neighbor.
Mrs. Penick's pocketbook contain
ing a small amount of cash, and
clothing valued at about 1200 were
taken, said Police Chief Glena
Richardson. The missing clothing
included Mrs. Penick's wedding
gown, he said.
Sales Are Resumed
In Burley Houses
Sale* were returned Wednesday
morning, January 2, on the Boone
burley tobacco market following a
recess since December 21 for tbe
Chriatmaa holidayi.
The market sold more than JH
million pounds of burley before
Chriatmaa for an average of >6198
per hundred, highest in the his
tory of tbe market Last year's
pre-holiday volume was also top
ped by approximately a half-mil
lion pounds.
"Prices are expected to remain
high, and growers will be assured
of a satisfactory sale by bringing
the balance of their crop to
Boone," said Jot L. Coleman,
manager of the local market.
The market will continue to op
erate on a schedule of five days a
week, with the closing date to be .
announced later. Approximately
two more weeks are expected to
be sufficient to dispoae of the re^
mainder of the bur ley crop in thia
area.
THE CAPITOL
Preparatory t o inauguration
ceremonies the latter part of Janu
ary, the Capitol has been washed
and painted. Congress appropriate
ed 1215,000 for the necessary ac
counterments to the Capitol and
its grounds for the second in
auguration of President Eisenhow
er. This include* a special roofed
platform with wooden Grechian
columns and 13,700 seats in front.
Work on the inauguration stand
and seats began in September.
Winners Yule Contest
Are Chosen At Rock
By DR. WALTER KEYS
Blowing Rock. N. C„ Dec 31.—
Winners In the Christmas Home
Decor*lion* Contest in Blowing
Hock were as follows: Beit Indoor
Outdoor—First, Mrs. James Storie;
second. Mrs. Norman Pitta; third,
Mrs. Edgar Young.
Best Outdoor—First, Mrs. Nor
man Pitts; second, Mrs. Edgar
Young; third, Mr*. 8 p e a c • r
Best Indoor—First. Mrs. BiUy
Young; third. Mrs. Spencer Greene.
Holick; second. Mr|. John Keller;
third. Mrs. Charles Martin.
Best boms made-First, Mrs
Spencer Greene; second, Mrs Uge
Reed; third, Mr*. Jesac Burns. M
Many of the homes in Blowing
Rock not entered in the contest
were beautifully decorated. The
MM. : t .-*•&
huge Chriitma* tree on the Play,
ground Park attracted state-fide
attention.
All the aervicea in the church
of Blowing Rock were wonderfully
impressive The ChrtatMa trees
were laviihly decorated, and there
were gifts for all.
Many white Chrlatm** gifts were
taken to the hospital and to var
ious families in the community A
special girt te one of Blowing
Hock's moHt rcspccted citizens, wl
has been aick for a
amounted to more
New Year's service*
served in all I
Sunday At the
Presbyterian Church.
will preadk on the
"Where there is