North Carolina Newspapers

TOO MANY CALLS “Please take that Classified Ad out,” the lady said. “The house is rented and we are having too many telephone calls.” So. we took it out. POR RENT— munitiy. Call Ployd Douohtli THE Northampton County TIMES-NEWS ★ ★ ★ ★ THE ROANOKE-CHOWAN TIMES A Combination of Established 1892 it ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NEWS — Established 1926 Vol. LXXIV. No. 42 Rich Square and Jackson, N. C., Thursday, October 21, 1965 Only $25,000 Available For New Roads Wreck Demolishes Stolen Auto; ^ _ . m. • n ■■ Brings Federal Agents To Jackson Northsiuptoil CoUllty Bosrd ChsirillSIl CsllS Secondary Road Situation 'Rude Shock’ JACKSON - Five men are in right hand side, and turning the the custody of the FBI and two vehicle over several times, others, all Negroes, are being Claboine and his passengers, detained in the countyjallfollow- Llewell Griggs and her husband, ing a wreck near here Monday Willie Arthur Griggs, Anna Buf- morning, in whicha l966Chevro- let with a retail value of approx imately $4400, was a total loss. The FBI entered the case after it wasdeterminodbyStateTroop- er Bob Corey and Deputy Sheriff Grover C, Parker, who investi gated the wreck, that the vehicle had been stolen from an automo bile agency in Norfolk, Va. David Claboine was drivingthe brand new Chevrolet that had an actual mileage registering of only 279 miles. Driving at an exces sive rate of speed he lost con trol on a curve three miles south of here, ran off on the left side of the highway, skidded ap proximately 200 feet back across the highway - hit a ditch on the faloe, Bernard Smith and Jimmy Smith, were picked up at the wreck scene byafriend, John Ed die Johnson, who was driving a white 1964 Chevrolet station wag on, withJImmyRoblnsonandLevi Coleman as passengers. Earlier the l966Chevroletwlth its passengers had been to Sea board and on the wayback to Jack- son had passed the 1964 Chevro let and sideswiped it, continuing on its way. The 1964 Chevrolet, following the 1966 model, was the first ve hicle to reach the wreck scene, and Johnson picked up Claiboine and his passengers and drove them to a nearby farm house where they told officers they STOLEN ’66 DEMOLISHED—This new 1966 Chevrolet, with an actual mileage of 279 miles, was completely demolished in a wreck near Jackson Monday morning. The driver, David Clai boine, Negro, and five passengers received only minor injuries. FBI agents entered the investigation after local officers discov ered the auto was stolen from a Norfolk, Va., automobile agency. “washed up” and were returning to the wreck scene when Troop er Corey, called to the scene, ov ertook the 1964 Chevrolet, trav eling at 70 miles per hour. Trooper Corey carried Cla boine and his passengers to a lo cal physician’s office for treat ment of minor injuries, Llewell Griggs was admitted to Roanoke Rapids Hospital for treatment of cuts and bruises and released on Tuesday. Both drivers were jailed when officers discovered they did not possess operator licenses or ve hicle ownership cards, and fur ther check by radio determined that the two vehicles were stolen from L & M Motor Co., in Nor folk, Va, When contacted the owner of the company told offi cers that a third vehicle report ed stolen was located earlier on Monday in Norfolk. In addition to the automobiles, the motor com pany owner had reported to Nor folk police the following missing articles: $4,000 in checks and cash from the office safe; over $400 worth of mechanic’s tools, $50 worth of anti-freeze, an un determined number of tires, floor mats, and other auto accessories. Officers Corey and Parker dis covered a fully loaded sawed-off shotgun in the 1964 Chevrolet and 10 gallons of anti-freeze in the trunk of the wrecked vehicle. Johnson is being detained in the county jail on charges of operat ing a vehicle without an opera tor’s license, speeding 70 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Claboine is being held in the jail on charges of driving without a driver’s license, reckless driv ing and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. In custody of the FBI at Raleigh are: Levi Coleman, Jimmy Smith, Bernard Smith,WillieAr- thur Griggs, and Jimmy Robin son. The two women passengers, Anna Buffaloe and Llewell Griggs were released by the officers. By JAMES WALLACE Executive Editor JACKSON - After allotting funds to complete the high school road and the OcconeecheeSwamp road projects that were started last year, theNorthamptonCoun ty Board of Commissioners found that they had only $25,004,45 to use for new secondary road proj ects for the current fiscal year of 1965-66. The board acted at a meeting with new district commissioner, Don Matthews, and First Division highway officials at a special meeting on Wednesday, October 20, at the courthouse which was called for the purpose of assign ing priorities to new projects under the secondary road pro gram. An official of the Northampton County Voters Movement, Jes sie Castelow of Rich Square, who had attended the meeting to pre sent the request of Negroes af filiated with the civil rights group, left the meeting with a commitment to use all of the re- malnlng funds for the Nebo Church Road. Since it takes $30,- 000 to grade, drain and surface each mile of road, this was not enough for even this project and it was decided to grade, drain and stabilize as much of the road as the funds will cover. Division Engineer D. W. Pat rick explained the 1965-66 allot ment as follows: the new county allotment — $84,190 with a carry over from last year’s Incom- pleted projects of $20,259.38, for a total of$104,449.38. After hold ing out a 10 per cent emergency fund there would be $94,004.45 for use this year. Patrick stated that they would need $30,000 to complete the widening and Improvements to the high school road and $39,- 000 to complete work started on the Occoneechee Road from Bar- rows Mill to Mud Castle, This would leave only $25,000 for new projects. Chairman J. Guy Revelle told Patrick and Matthews that this information came “as a rude shock for we had a commitment from the former highway com mission chairman and district commissioner that the entire cost of the high school road im provement project was to come from a special state fund.” Rev elle continued, “I wish I had that promise in writing” and he in structed County Attorney Grant to send a letter to the state high way commission and toMatthews asking that they check state rec ords for some verification of the commitment, Matthews told the board that he had checked with the commis sion since he took office this year and that he was cerlaln that there were no “special funds available” to carry out the prom ises of the former commission and that he had no knowledge of the commitment. Revelle told the officials, “As far as I am concerned the divi sion office might just as well be in Norfolk considering that we have been kept in the dark over the past several years. I don’t see why the state just doesn’t take over the running of the sec- he would carry out any of the necessary to cancel projects If ondary road system anyway.” projects that they allotted money right of way conflicts held up a Patrick assured the boaird tbst to and inlorm them when It was (See ROADS. Page S) a Roanoke-Chowan Peanut Crop Attracts Australian Visitors RICH SQUARE - The peanut crop in the Roanoke-Chowan area brought three Australian peanut specialists to North Carolina Friday and to Rich Square on Tuesday. During lunch at the Rich Square Hotel the three men discussed their trip to this coun try with “Your Home News paper,’’ comparing peanut pro duction in Australia with that in Northampton County. Oscar Higgins, general man ager, Stan Haines, plant engi neer, and Noel Kefford, grower and director, Australian Peanut Marketing Board, Kingaroy, Queensland, arrived inSanFran- cisco last Thursday night and flew from there to Raleigh on Friday. Renting a car, they drove from Raleigh to Rocky Mount for conference with Joe Sugg, executive secretary, N. C. Pea nut Growers Association, who furnished them an itinerary of major peanut producing areas of the state. Previous correspondence be tween the Australian Peanut Marketing Board and North Ca rolina peanut officials figured in the selection of the Roanoke- Chowan area for field and plant surveys. The three peanut specialists will spend a month in this coun try visiting peanut producers in Jackson Folks Fair Winners RALEIGH - Three Jackson residents won honors at theN, C. State Fair last week. W. P. Morris of Jackson won second place and a cash award in the beef cattle herdmen’s con test. Richard McDowell won fourth place in the Hereford steer com petition and Rodger McDowell placed second and sixth in the beef carcass classes. Oivekie JOKE’S ON WHO? “Look here,” said the boss to the clerk, “What does this mean? Someone just phoned and said you were sick and wouldn’t be in the office today.” The clerk thought for a mo ment and then burst out laughing, “Ha! Ha! The joke’s on him. He wasn’t supposed to call in until next week.” the Roanoke-Chowan, Virginia, farms in Texas and Southern Oklahoma, observing operations at drying plants in Georgia, and a day In Washington, D. C., for conferences with USDA officials. Primary purpose of their visit is to observe peanut crops and plants and agricultural machin ery. Asked to compare peanut quality in their homeland with what they have observed in this area, Higgins said it was too early to give an accurate com parison, but early surveys have indicated that peanuts here are superior to those produced in Australia, but added that he and his associates agree that Aus tralian producers could give American farmers some point ers. First NCHS Homecoming This Week CONWAY - High spirits and bustling activity at Northampton High is a sign of something spe cial at the high school. The “something special” is the first homecoming celebration at the two year old consolidated school. Going all out for the first big event, a two day schedule of events has been planned to boost the Rams for their battle with the Scots of Scotland Neck on F riday. Sounding the gun to begin the full calendar of activities will be a Powder Puff football contest between the Ramettes and the Scotties at 8 p.m. Thursday night to be followed by a bonfire and pep rally on the south campus, Friday night’s activities wiu begin with a barbecue supper, 5:30 - 7:30, sponsored by the Boosters Club. Proceeds will be used to reduce indebtedness on athletic field lights and football equipment purchased last year. Game time is 8 p.m. with crowning of “Miss NCHS” plan ned during halftime. After the game, a dance until midnight will be held in the school gymnasium with music by the “Chancellors.” Sponsored by the Girls Monogram Club, the dance is open only to NCHS students, their dates, 1965 NCHS graduates and their dates. Designated dress is school clothes and socks. Ad mission of 50 cents per person will be charged to cover ex penses. The general manager describ ed Australian soil for peanut production as a deep rich red volcanic soil, vastly different from the sandy soil of the Roa noke-Chowan area. Major vari eties produced in Australia are Virginia and Spanish, Australia, according to the specialists, exports few peanuts as supply meets domestic demand with infrequent surplus; how ever, they explained, peanuts have been exported to the United Kingdom during those few sea sons when a surplus did exist. Import of peanuts to supplement home production is low, Higgins said, but American stock was im ported last year because of lim ited harvest resulting from ex tremely dry growing season. During the next month Higgins, Haines and Kefford will study peanut crops, mechanized equip ment for production and har vest and processing plants to de termine improvements in farm ing methods and technical ad vances that could increase pea nut production In Australia. Unescorted in their travels, the three men are recording their studies on film for viewing by other peanut Interests in Aus tralia upon their return. C Of C Gets Down To Business WOODLAND - The first meet ing of the recentlyformedNorth- ampton Chamber of Commerce has been termed by President Charles E. Myers as “a very sue JeC-.lai’’meeting. The club’s officers and direc tors with the county commission ers as invited guests met at a dinner meeting at the Quaker House on Tuesday night at 7p,m. The Chamber went on record as endorsing the state road bondis- They set the second Wednesday night of each month as regular meeting date, A by-laws committee for the organization was appointed. Serving on the committee are: Floyd Price, John Heller and Myers. E. B. Grant, county at torney, will serve the committee as consulting attorney. The organization expects to derive their first money from each town in the county. Amounts donated by towns will be match ed by the county. Annual membership fees were set at: retail, business and pro fessional, $25; wholesale, manu facturers, and Industrial, $50; individuals, $5, ROAD FUNDS ALLOCATED — The Northamp ton County Comm.ssioners go over the 1965-66 secondary system priorities with the First Di vision highway officials and district road com missioner Don Matthews at a special meeting on Wednesday. Twenty five thousand dollars was allotted to improvements to the Nebo Church Road after the year’s allotment was used up in completing last year’s projects. County Commissioners Approve Roanoke Rapids Hospital Study ROANOKE RAPIDS - The Northampton County Board of ' “County Commissitners ^proVed the appointment of Horace Guth rie to represent the county on a three man study committee that will Investigate the feasibility of forming a hospital district to In clude some of Northampton’s townships to finance a moderni zation program of the Roanoke Rapids Hospital. The move was approved at a joint meeting of the board with the board of Halifax County on Wednesday afternoon, October 20, at the Fairfax Restaurant. Other members of the com mittee will be Commissioner Frank Neal of Roanoke Rapids and the chairman of the hospital board. The hospital board Is consid ering the need to raise $1,500,- 000 by taxes to underwrite the expansion and modernization program. Initial discussion cen tered around the possibility of in cluding Gaston, Pleasant Hill, Seaboard, Occoneecheeandjack- son townships in a special tax district that would be legally con- ’ siltutSd'to’sUpport 3. SpsCiaTRo^' pltal tax rate. The committee Is to study the matter and report back to the individual boards of commission ers when they are ready with reco!nmendatioi\s. Chairman J. Sim Revelle i the study and also what act.# . the Halifax commissioners wou.d take as well as what areas of Halifax County would be included In the district. Patrol Car Is Wrecked In Chase With Stolen Car GASTON — The second stolen vehicle wreck with a highwaypa- trol car in as many months oc curred near here Saturday after noon when a pair of youths made an effort to evade the long arm of the law. While the two vehicles did run together, damage was listed as minor to the patrol car. Theoth- er car, a 1961 Bulck stolen from Raleigh early Saturday morning, according to the highway patrol, came to rest In a gulley. A 15 - year - old Spartanburg youth has been arrested, accord- V. A BEVY OF BEAUTIES—These loveiy girls are contestants for the ’’Miss NCHS” 1966 title. One will be crowned fairest of all Friday night during halftime of the NCHS homecoming game. Seated from left are Doris Ann Ricks, senior, to be escorted by Judson Revelle; Tapp Vaughan, junior, escort Wayne Woodard; Lynn Brown, senior, escort Eddie Blowe. Standing from left are Joanne Warren, freshman, escort R. A. Powell; Linda White hurst, sophomore, escort Wallace Martin; Donna Ricks, junior, escort Steve Joyner; Elizabeth Lewis, freshman, escort Benjie McKellar; Beth Daniel, sophomore, esc-ort Linwood Woodard Tapp Vaughan holds a picture of Carol Harrington, ’’Miss NCHS” 1965, who will crown the new title holder Friday night. Northampton Road Bonds Endorsements JACKSON - The people of Northampton County have proved their awareness of road needs by endorsing the $300 million State Road Bond issue. Among endorsements already received by R. L. “Scoopy” Grant, county chairman, Gover nor’s Committee for Better Roads, are towns of Gaston, Garysburg, Seaboard, Jackson, Severn, Conway, Milwaukee, Woodland, Lasker and Rich Square, Jackson, Gaston andSea- board Lions Clubs, Conway Wom an’s Club, Woodland Men’s Club, Jackson Business Improvement Association, Northampton County Chamber of Commerce, Lasker Home Demonstration Club, exec utive council of Jackson Elemen tary PTA. Other clubs and organizations Interested in endorsing better roads for North Carolina are urged to send endorsements to Grant immediately. Passage of the road bond issue will not require a tax increase as bonds will be retired with con tinuation of the one cent per gal lon gasoline tax now being ap plied to the Scott $200 million road bonds to be retired In 1966. Without the road bonds, only 50 per cent of needed road improve ments can be made, whereby with passage of the Issue 77 per cent can be completed. These percentages have been released by the committee for better roads. ing; to State Trooper B. E. Ed wards, and charged with larceny of an automobile, reckless driv ing and assault with a deadly weapon, to wit; an automobile. Another companion youth was being sought through upper Northampton County late Satur day by the highway patrol, county sheriff’s officers and members of the Odom Prison Farm blood hound squad. Trooper Edwards caught the youth driving the car after he jumped from the vehicle as it veered off Interstate 95 just south of the N.C, 48 overpass. The youth gave his name as Gene Reese, 15, of Spartanburg, S. C. However, Edwards reported “this may not be true. He didn’t have a driver’s license or any thing that would identify him on his person when I arrested him,” the officer said. Officers from several agencies were combing the area late Sat urday for the missing youth, at that time not Identified. Reese would not give the name of his companion, according to reports. The episode was the second time In less than two months a stolen car was Involved in a chase on Interstate 95, resulting In a wreck. Recently a Navy man lost his life while riding in a stolen car during a high-speed chase with law officers In Northampton County. Saturday’s particular incident started in the area when the youth drove away from a service station near Halifax on U.S. 301 without first paying for gasoline ordered. An “all points” lookout was ordered and Trooper Edwards had stationed himself at the in tersection of N.C. 46 and Inter state 95, some distance south of where the two cars ran to gether. As the car passed his station, Edwards gave chase with speeds , reaching as high as 85 mph. As he pulled alongside the stolen vehicle south of the N.C, 48 over pass, the Buick struck Edwards’ patrol car. The Bulck then pulled to the edge of the super highway, and as the car was still moving, the youths jumped from the vehicle and let It crash Into the gulley. Damage was estimated to ^ several hundred dollars to the Bulck and approximately $100 to ' Edwards’ patrol car.