J. H. Hinm [left] and Bobby Choplin sell ticket for one of 7S0 quarts of stew
purchased Saturday as a fund-raising dinner was staged at Aycock School by tbe
Cokesbury Fire Department. Making the purchase is Jimmy Franklin [right].
Among supporters of the newly formed Cokesbnry Fire
Department on hand Saturday to help In the sale of stew
were [left to right] J. H. Hamm, Bobby J. Choplin,
Sanford Faucette, Mike Choplin, Tony Faucette, Charles
Floyd, Mike Coghill, Johnny Newhonse, Thurston Allen,
Eddie Jackson, Howard Short, Erwln Spain, Richard
Roger* aid Melvln D. Abbott. Many other reaidenti of
the community took part in the promotion and sale of
stew, which was the first major fund-raising project of
the young fire company.
[Staff Photos by Don Stith]
Fire Department Feeds
On Community Support
Getting a plate ready to go are [left to right] Mrs.
Thomas Dlllard, Mrs. Mike Choplin and Mrs. Charles
Floyd.
Eddie Jackson washes wooden paddle used to stir
hundreds of quarts of brunswlck stew served to area
residents Saturday.
Mrs. Jimmy Franklin and daughter enjoy stew plate
offered by Cokesbnry Fire Department.
Mrs. George Fleming [left] and Mri. Bobby ChopUa
help prepare plates served Saturday afternoon to
supporters of the new Coke«bury Fire Department.
Troublesome
Fire Ants In
South To Stay
As if the news hasn't been
gloomy enough of late, the
government's $150 million
campaign to wipe out fire
ants now is being called the
"Vietnam of entomology."
In a domestic version of
peace with honor, residents
of areas infested with the
ants are being advised to
live and let live. In other
words, the imported insects
aren't about to roll over and
play dead.
The ants, named for their
fiery sting, come in two
species, both mean, the
National Geographic Society
says.
Infest Nine States
Solenopsis richteri, a
black ant, probably came to
Mobile, Alabama, in late
1918 aboard a ship from
South America. Its cousin,
Solenopsis invicta, a red
ant. presumably arrived the
same way and was first
reported in that state in the
early 1930s.
Establishing a beachhead,
the invaders proceeded to
march. The black ant has
entrenched itself in a small
area of Mississippi and
Alabama.
The red fire ant has
spread through those two
states, as well as Louisiana,
Georgia, and Florida, a
large part of Texas and
Sooth Carolina, and the
southern portion of Arkansas
and North Carolina.
Unchecked by natural
enemies in their adopted
land, the ant colonies
multiplied until today from
five to ten billion fire ants
occupy more than 150
million acres in nine
southern states—often the
best farmland.
Ant hills almost two feet
high dot fields, pastures,
parks, and playgrounds,
wherever the land is cleared
tad warm. The mounds
damage farm machinery
and interfere with plowing.
Until mechanised equipment
became widespread,
•one fields were untended
became* workers were
afriid to venture near the
(Ceotiaaed on page II)