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THE ENTERPRISE
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UMTEB STATU WAR
BONDS-STAMPS
VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 99 Williamiton, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, December /.?, 1912. ESTABLISHED 1899
Well-known County
Farmer Dies in Local
Hospital Saturday
Funeral Services Are Held for
Lester Peel at Home
Monday Afternoon
Funeral services were held at the
home in Cross Roads Township yes
terday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock for
Lester Reel, well-known county far
mer, who died in the local hospital
last Saturday evening at 8 o'clock.
Elders B. S. Cowin and A. B. Ayers
conducted the last rites.
The son of Mr. Henry D. Peel and
the late Ida Harris Peel, he was born
in Cross Roads Township 45 years
ago, the 27th of last October. He
was an only child and never mar
ried, choosing to hold tight the ties
that made for a happy family unit.
Following the death of Mrs. Peel
fourteen years ago, the ties between
father and son were strengthened,
the two while experiencing a lonely
life, lived for and enjoyed greatly
the company of each other. In their
mutual relationship, they found con
tentment in their work on the farm,
and the son enjoyed the friendship
of others. Few men possess a finer
character and the requisites of a
good, substantial ^ind dependable
citizen than he did. While he never
affiliated wth any church, regular
worship hours found him in attend
ance upon some service, and he con
tributed willingly and freely of his
time and means for the advancement
of worthy causes.
During an extremely hot day the
early part of last June, he discover
ed while serving as a substitute mail
carrier that his eyesight was failing.
He immediately had an examination
and a few days later he underwent
a major operation in a Durham hos
pital. His condition was much im
proved and he returned home about
three weeks following the operation
and was getting along very well un
til the latter part of October when
he suffered a relapse. Returning to
the Durham institution, he under
went an examination and was advis
ed that nothing could be done for
him. He returned home and after
spending a few days with his father
in their home, he entered the local
hospital a little over seven weeks
ago. During his stay in the hospital
here he was a good patient, thought
ful of others and appreciative of
their company.
Burial was in the family plot in
the Williamston cemetery following
the services at the home yesterday
afternoon.
The high esteem in which he was
held was attested by the large at
tendance upon the last rites yester
day afternoon.
Large Crowd Sees
Christmas Pageant
An appreciative audience, over
flowing the high school auditorium,
witnessed the annual presentation of
the Christmas Pageant here last Sun
day evening. Drawing the cast from
nearly every grade in the school,
Miss Kathryn Mewbom, director, j
and her assistants offered a well
balanced program with the main
scenes centering around a little
child on Christmas eve and the na
tivity itself. Well-trained voices,
forming several choirs, sang Christ
mas carols of many lands, the se
lections blending perfectly into the
impressive presentation. The scenes
were well timed and reflected much
planning, and the stage effects and
arrangements added much to the
program.
Misses Grace Talton and Kather
ine Bradley at the two pianos ren
dered the accompaniment for the
carols. Others cooperating with Miss
Mewbom in the presentation in
cluded:
Misses Baker and Reynolds and
Mrs. Manning, the large window;
Miss Whitley and Mrs. Forrest,
programs;
Misses Britt, Jenkins, Vail, Flem
ing and Crisp, costumes;
Miss Edith Bradley, Mrs. Bunting
and D .N. Hix, stage;
Training and direction of students,
Misses Leach, Duke, White, Elliott
and Mrs. Eagles.
This year's presentation was the
third of the annual pageants pre
sented by the music groups of the
local schools.
The several churches suspended
their evening services for the pro
gram which was regarded as one of
the best in the series staged during
the past several years.
Most List-Takers
Named In County
Eight of the ten county tax list
takers have been named or renam
ed, Tax Supervisor C. D. Carstar
phen said yesterday. Appointments
in the two remaining districts, Wil
liams and Jamesville, are pending.
It is fairly certain now that the list
takers in eight townships will re
turn to their posts.
Meeting here next Mofiday, the
list-takers will go over plans for the
coming tax year and establish as
nearly as possible basic values for
personal properties. Ho revaluation
of real property will be made for the
1MI tax year.
Ask Homes for British Service
Men Here During Christmas
On the high seas for more than
two years, doing much heavy fight
ing during that time, a number of
British service men are facing an
enforced stay in over-crowded Nor-1
folk during the holiday season. In
a direct appeal, frankly stated, a
voluntary committee in Norfolk is
seeking homes for possibly forty of
these men in Williamston during the
period from December 23 to Janu
ary 4th. Twenty-eight men will be
available from December 23 to the
28th, one from the 23rd to the 30th,
seven from the 21st to the 28th and
fourteen from December 30 to Jan
uary 4th.
Homes have been opened to the
men in Norfolk and throughout a
greater part of Virginia, and in some
few instances Britishers have been
entertained in eastern Carolina
homes, but so far few have been re
ceived into homes in this immed
iate area for any length of time.
"A voluntary committee, of which
I am a member," writes Julia Davis,
of Norfolk, to Mrs. Louie P Martin
here, "is frankly begging hospital
ity for the men. They have been
away from highland for two years,
and have been in heavy fighting most
Of the time. Until we began sending
them to different homes in Virginia
for their leave, they had not even
been in a home in all that time.
These men?boys, most of them ?
had been under a terrible nervous
strain, and showed it, and their trips
to the country did wonders for those
that were able to go." The entertain
ment committee member wrote on
at length, interestingly telling how
much the young men are appreciat
ing their visits into private homes
after staying around the docks.
It is earnestly believed that the
committee will not find it necessary
to "beg" hospitality for those boys
in Williamston and other homes in
the county. Any one interesting in
enriching his own holiday season and
that of one or more of the young
men is asked to contact Mrs. Martin
in Williamston immediately. Ar
rangements must be completed at
once, it was stated.
READY
__________________________
Between 1,500 and Z.000 fuel
oil rations for central heating
plants and space heaters and a
few other uaes auch as curing
barns and brooders will be ready
for distribution beginning to
morrow morning from the office
of the rationing board in the
county agricultural building in
Williamaton.
Preliminary reports on the
fuel oil rationing program point
to a marked shift to wood- and
coal-burning stoves. The allot
ments are considerably below
the actual needs stated in the ap
plications. It is indeed apparent
that designated temperatures
cannot be maintained in many
rases with the allotments.
Mrs. W. C. Whitley
Passes At Home in
County 011 Sunday
Funeral Services for Respect
etl Griffins Township Cit
izen Held Yesterday
Mrs Mary Hardison Whitley, high
ly esteemed citizen of the Farm Life
community in Griffins Township,
died at her home there Sunday
morning at 8:50 o'clock, following an
illness of four months' duration.
Suffering a stroke last August, Mrs.
Whitley experienced gradually fail
ing health since that time. Nearly
two weeks ago her condition became
much worse and the end was ex
pected.
The daughter of the late Seth R.
and Louisa Griffin Hardison, Mrs.
Whtiley was born in the Farm Life
community 73 years ago the fifth
of last July. Spending her entire life
there, she lived a beautiful life,
sharing the joys and sorrows of her
neighbors and other friends, and
finding time always to minister un
to the needs of others. Fifty-five
years ago last February she was
married to William C. Whitley, the
event opening a new period in her
life that was marked for its untiring
devotion and helpfulness. A good
woman, she was a thoughtful wife
and mother. More than half a cen
tury ago she joined the Primitive
Baptist Church at Smithwicks Creek
remaining faithful in its service and
to its creeds until the end.
Besides her husband, she leaves
four children, three daughters, Mrs.
S. C. Griffin, of Williamston; Mrs.
Herbert L. Manning, and Mrs. N. S.
Roberson, and a son, A. Tommie
Whitley, all of the home commun
ity. She also leaves one sister. Mrs.
J. J. Roberson, of R.F.D. 1, James
ville; and four brothers, Luther Har
dison, of Williamston; Sam Hardi
son, of Raleigh; Henry Hardison, of
Tarboro, and John A. Hardison, of
the community.
Funeral services were conducted
at the home yesterday afternoon at
2:30 o'clock by Elder P. E. Getsinger,
and interment was in the Hardison
Cemetery, not far from the home.
Oak City Has Part
In War Bond Sales
Without fan-fare or a lot of hulla
baloo, Oak City people went earn
estly about their bond-buying busi
ness last month to record sales in
the sum of $4,223, according to a re
port submitted by Mrs. Nat John
son to Mrs. Paul D. Roberson, chair
man of Women's War Week in Mar
tin County.
It has been pointed out that the
people of that section are numbered
among those who are buying stamps
and bonds regularly. Their pur
chases are, as a usual thing, reflect
ed in those reported by the banks
either in Williamston or Roberson
ville.
The town of Oak City just recent
ly rounded up its surplus cash or at
least a part of it, and invested it in
a |1,000 in bonds.
Judge R. D. Dixon
In Timely Charge
To the Grand Jury
Aitkw If All Are Hoiicttt in
Their Dealing with Ra
tioning RegulatiouM
After reviewing their duties and
instructing them to investigate con
ditions and make necessary recom
mendatons for a better Martin
Couhty, Judge Richard D. Dixon, of
Edenton, presiding over the regular
term of the superior court, offered
much timely thought about ration
ing in his address to the grandjury
men here yesterday morning.
Judge Dixon said:
"Just a year ago the Japs unloos
ed their sneak attack upon our nav
al base of Pearl Harbor, while their
representatives were at the same mo
ment in Washington talking peace.
Immediately we became involved in
a world-wide war, stretching our
battle lines completely around the
world and requiring untold thous
ands of tons of tanks and planes and
guns and military supplies of every
kind to follow these battle lines. Be
sides we have fafeen called upon to
furnish other rfntold thousands of
tons of every conceivable kind of
war supplies and food and clothing
to our allies. The drain upon the re
sources of this great country has be
come much larger than it was upon
us in World War I, as much as we
furnished in those fateful days of
1017-1918.
"To keep those boys in that bomb
i er 25,000 feet above the earth; to
keep those gobs fully clothed and
fed out there in that icy North At
lantic Patrol; to keep those Marines
on Guadalcanal fully supplied, not
only to protect them from the Japs,
but also from the deadly diseases of
those jungles; to protect our brave
troops on the arid sands of the Afri
can desert we here safely at home
are called upon to deny ourselves a
few of the accustomed luxuries of
the American way of living. I like
to think that we here in North Car
olina, as well as all over this nation,
willingly, cheerfully and gladly are
doing without in order that no serv
ice man be imperied or be in want
of the things he needs to fight this
war for us; I believe that most of us
are cooperating 100 per cent with the
Government in obeying these regu
lations. But still we arc hearing some
tales of "fudging" on the part of
some; you remember how we as
boys treated the fellow who "fudg
ed" in a game of marbles; how he
was held in contempt and was run
(Continued on page six)
Kerosene Coupons
Are Distributed
No official reports are to be had as
yet, but it is estimated that 80 per
cent of the kerosene ration coupons
were distributed to consumers in
this county last Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning. In the local
schools the ration will run possibly
in excess of that percentage, Prin
cipal D. N. Hix estimating that hard
ly more than 250 or 300 of the ap
proximately 2,000 ration units were
placed in the hands of the applicants.
All of the coupons left undistribut
ed were not returned to the ration
ing board immediately and some of
those who did not call for them at
the schools were unable to get them
here yesterday. The coupons will be
ready at the main office shortly.
There was little trouble in regis
tering 5,000 persons for liquor, but
when it comes to necessities, the ap
plicants just don't seem to under
stand the plan for rationing.
There is some talk of a second
registration of certain kerosene us
ers, but the plans have not been an
nounced. _ _J
As the coupons found their way
into the hands of the owners, re
tailers its ted that they were hav
ing little or no trouble in collecting
the tickets promised weeks ago in
exchange for oil
War As It Relates
To Home Front Is
Reviewed for Week
United Nations' Production
Is Now Twice That of
The Axis Powers
The United Nations, it is estimat
ed now are producing twice as much
combat armament as the Axis, and
by the end of next year it is expect
ed that the United States, alone, will
produce almost as great a volume of
fighting weapons as all the rest of
the world combined. In order to at
tain that vast output of war goods,
civilian goods and services must be
cut to a bare minimum. Not more
than 75 billion dollars worth of
goods and services will be available
in 1943, to all the people of this coun
try.
But at the same time our total na
tional income has steadily been ris
ing, until it has reached a level of
about 115 billion dollars a year, even
with taxes taken out. Which means
that for every $1.15 that we have to
spend, there will be only about 75
cents worth of goods or services to
spend it on.
Part of our 40 billion dollar sur
plus buying power will be drained
off by additional taxes, while vol
untary restrictions in buying and
voluntary savings also will help
check the rise in living costs caused
by competition to buy scarce goods.
If, however, we want to make our
stocks of scarce goods go as far as
possible?and we do?if we want to
make sure they're evenly distribut
ed, then we must rely on rationing.
We must rely on both the coupon
rationing with which we are now
familiar, and the new system of
"point" rationing which will start
after the first of the year.
Point-Rationing Is Needed
The present coupon "unit system"
is well adapted' to rationing such
products as sugar and coffee, which
can be divided up on a simple per
capita basis, but it cannot well be
used for rationing diversified food
stuffs, since tastes vary quite as
much as do supplies, and not all per
sons want the same items in their
daily diet. By giving a higher point
value to scarce commodities und
lower points to those that are plenti
ful, the consumer having a total
number of points to "spend" for a
particular group of products during
a given ration period is free to
"pay out" more of his points for
scarce items, or to consume larger
amounts of law-point, abundant
foods that may be substituted for
the scarce ones.
Whatever the details of the meas
ures used in controlling prices, it is
inevitable that everyone concerned
with handling merchandise, from
raw materials to finished products,
must keep records and engage in
bookkeeping to an extent that would
not be necessary under peacetime
conditions. For price control, to be
effective, must be based on accur
ate figures. Since last April, when
the General Maximum Price Regula
tion went into effect,, retail stores
(Continued on page three)
Big Cotton Vote
Is Cast In County
Rallying behind a planned pro
gram for agriculture, Martin County
farmers turned out in far greater
numbers than was expected last Sat
uday to cast an overwhelming vote
for cotton quotas for another season.
The opposition scored only two votes
in the entire county, while the pro
ponents piled up a vote twice as
large as was expected. The official
count was 1,180 for quotas and 2
against.
The official vote by precincts:
Townships For Against
Jamesville 22 0
Bear Grass 33 0
?Williamston 288 1
Cross Roads 118 0
Robersonville 313 0
Hamilton 159 0
Goose Nest 247 1
1180 2
*?Represents vote cast by farm
ers in Williams, Griffins, Poplar
Point and Williamston Townships at
the agricultural building.
The State gave the program a big
majority, but a complete report from
the cotton belt, as a whole, has not
yet been officially announced.
ROUND-UP
Local and county officers
worked over time rounding up
the drunks last week-end. A new
record In numbers was estab
lished during the period when
eighteen persons were arrested
and jailed, seventeen for alleged
drunkenness and one for alleged
drunken driving. According to
liquor rationing rules and regu
lations, the eighteen upon con
viction, will lose their liquor ra
tion books.
Four out of tjie eighteen ar
rested and jailed were white,
and two of them were mean
drunk. Jailer Roy Peel stating
that they wrecked part of the
water works system In the jail.
Hie ages of those Jailed ranged
from 24 to <2 years.
Rule Out Deferments
For Draft Registrants
Board H as Limited
Lee-way In Making
r
Classifications Now
Firi>l 18- aiitl 19-Year-OI?ls
?\r?' Classified l?y Board
111 Rih-oiiI IVIertiiifg
4!
With deferments virtually rul
out and with provisions assured for
most dependents, the draft board
has comparatively little authority
now in determining classifications
for dratt registrants, according to
a report coming from the board
chairman, R. H. Goodmon, following
a meeting of the group here last Fri
day night.
Many claims for deferments or
lower classifications have been vir
tually ruled out, and it is apparent
under new draft law regulations that
few farmers in Martin County or
in this entire section can qualify for
2-C or 3-C classifications. A single
man with a dependent under ordi
nary circumstances can well antici
pate a 1-A rating now. In those
cases provisions have been made
for dependents The farmer, claiming
defeiment on the grounds that he
is producing essential foods, must
show that he is doing next to the
impossible. In very few cases can a
farmer under the agricultural set
up in this part of the country qual
ify under the new regulations lie
must show first that he has more
than a subsistence farm, that he is
producing essential crops in almost
impossible amounts. Briefly stated,
lower classifications are virtually
closed to farmers in this county and
section. However, it may be possible
for farmers to claim deferments af
ter they have actually planted their
crops.
At its recent meeting, the draft
board, working until after midnight,
established the first classification .
for 18- and 19-year-olds. Not a sin j
gle deferment was granted, and none
could be granted. Classifications'
were established in every single case
placed before the board except one,
and in that case classification is
pending.
Earlier in the week when the board j
worked under tentative regulations,
several registrants were classified
in the "C" group. The later regula
tions made it necessary to change
those classifications and the men
are now in 3-B. There is little dif
ference in the ratings. A registrant
in 3-C is virtually certain he'll nev
er be called for active military duty
while the 3-B registrant is subject
to call only after all the A groups
are exhausted.
After a careful study of the facts
at hand, the board last week placed
twelve of the remaining 28 cases
coming out of the first registrations
in 1-A. One lone man was placed in
a "C" classification, and he is a far
mer in Chowan County who is the
sole worker on a farm meeting the
agricultural deferment require- !
ments. In some cases where the reg
istrants asked lower classifications, I
the farms are producing more than
the required food and feed crops
necessary to support the claim, but
when broken down, the production
schedule did not measure up to the ^
hew requirements.
The following classifications were
announced in the old registration |
groups:
Claude I^Roy Nelsop, Jr., w, RFD |
1, Oak City, 3 A
Archie Edwin Harrison, w, RFI) 1,
Jamesville, 3 A
James Roy Manning, w, Oak City,
2-B
Willard Josh Hux, w, RFD 1, Oak j
(Continued on page six)
1 .
Robert S. Hodges
Passes In County
Robert S. Hodges, well-known
character and favorably known as
"Skeeter," died in the county home
near here last Saturday morning at
9:30 o'clock following an illness of
several years' duration. He had been
a patient sufferer of cancer for about
four years, but despite his condition
he seemed to get much out of life
until a short time before the end.
He underwent an operation on his
throat several years ago, and breath
ed through a tube in his throat.
Ready to accept life as he found
it, Mr. Hodges seldom complained
He was a friend to everyone.
The son of the late James R. and
Martha Jabe Lilley Hodges, he was
born in Griffins Township on Sep
tember 7, 1885. He never married
and lived in several communities in
the county, spending much of his
time in Bear Grass until a few years
ago when his health failed and he
entered the home. He farmed and
handled odd jobs, spending many of
his latter days filing saws at Which
task he was an expert.
Funeral services were conducted
Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock by
Elder B. S. Cowin, interment follow
ing in the Bowen cemetery, near
Williamston. t
He ia survived by one brother and
? sister.
PENNIES
Wiping out many luxuries and
eliminating a few of the "essen
tials," searcity is now surround
ing the lowly penny. Announc
ing an acute shortage. State
Commissioner of Banks Gurney
P. Ilood this week called on the
local hanks to gather up 100,000
of the coppers and make them
available to the Federal Reserve
'"NBank as soon as possible.
To meet the demand and con
tinue an ample number in circu
lation in this area. Bankers D.
V. Clayton and Herman Bowen
are calling upon everyone to
turn in surplus pennies. Open
up the house savings banks and
empty the stockings and little
boxes of pennies and place threm
in circulation. There is also a
great demand for nickels.
Nazis Rush Troops
From El Agheila To
The Tunisian Front
Vllifft Make Tilling (.aiuo in
Nch (.uiiieu witU (laplnre
Of Ituae at llima
Withdrawing from El Agheila
without offering a pitched fight and
apparently making ready to desert
Tripoli without a struggle, German
forces today are rushing toward Tu
nisia where a hig fight is now be
lieved imminent. The retreat of the
j Afrika Korps is not a peaceful one
for General Rommel's men, late re
ports stating that the German move
merit is undergoing one of the worst j
beatings 111 history from the air. It is
apparent that the army, its size un
disclosed, will be greatly weakened
hold in Tunisia.
While .Rommel, announced to be
in Hizerte now, brings in his men
from Libya, fighting on a large scale
is already underway in northern
Tunisia. Reports on the battles there
are quite meager, offering little de
tailed information as to the trend of
tin- fight.
Axis air activity was totally inef
fective in preventing air attacks on
the fleeing Germans.
Approximately 300 Allied planes
including 100 American-manned
| aircraft were reported smashing the
enemy's columns along the coastal
i road on the Gulf of Sirte.
Not a single Axis plane was sight
ed in that area Sunday.
The Ninth U. S. Air Force head
quarters announcement bore out this
lack of Axis aerial activity. Only
j once did enemy fighters close with
American pilots in an attempt to
stop the Allied onslaught, the com
munique said. That was when two
Messorschmitt 109's were shot down
and several others damaged against
the loss of one American fighter.
First Lieut. John T. Gilbertson, of
Denver, and Second Lieut. Thomas
T. Williams, of Memphis, each were
credited with confirmed victories in
the African sky push.
The American airmen scored many j
direct hits on Axis motor transport, j
the announcement said. Their fight
er craft have been equipped with |
bomb racks in the munner of Brit- j
ain's dual purpose "Hurrybombers",
an adaptation from Hurricane fight-1
or craft.
The cryptic battle reports gave no |
hint of the actual extent of the
Eighth Army advance or details of
the fighting. The Berlin radio said
Rommel had "withdrawn his forces
from the El Agheila position further
westward" but official German and
Italian communiques mentioned only
patrol activity and lively artillery
exchanges.
Behind the Rommel retreat and |
the fighting in Tunisia is a terrible
struggle to get supplies to the fight- I
ing fronts. In this Germany holds |
the advantage, but the Allies are
operating on a more extensive scale, I
and all indications point to major |
developments in that area.
In the Pacific area little activity I
has been reported on Guadalcanal,
(Continued on page six)
County Furnishing
Number Of Pilots!
No official count is available, but
it is known that at least eight Martin
County young men are now full
fledged pilots in the Army Air
Corps, and that a good crop is In the
making both for the Army and Na
vy.
| Two more youths, Hugh Fagan
Jordan and Wiley E. Dunn, Jr., just
received their wings last week-end.
| Jordan, aon of Mr. and Mgp. Frank
| Jordan, of Dardens, was graduated
| at Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga , last
Friday Dunn, son of Mr. and Ifn.
W. E Dunn, of Williamston, was
graduated during the week-end at
Brooks Field, Texas. Young Jordan
| is returning to West Point to com
plete his studies and graduate from
I the academy next month.
Court Ends Regular
One ^ eek Term in a
Single Dav Monday
Little Interest Shown in the
Sedition ami Small Crowds
Heard Proceedings
Opening a one-week term of the
Martin County Superior Court here
yesterday morning, Judge R. D.
Dixon, of Edenton, worked until well
into the evening clearing the crimi
nal docket. The long hours made it
possible to discharge the jury for
the term and declare the term vir
tually at an end. A few civil mat
ters are before the tribunal today,
but the average person visiting the
courthouse by chance would never
know the court is still holding forth.
Little interest has been shown in
the session, and small crowds were
present for the proceedings. The
grand jury finished its work and left
by late afternoon.
Proceedings:
Several cases, repeated time and
again on the docket for nearly two
years, were cleared when the court
nol prossed them with liberty to re
call them at any time. Among those
that were removed from the docket
in that way are the following: Roose
velt Fagan, larceny and receiving;
Henry Ellison, drunken driving; Har
ry Davis, aiding and abetting in
forgery and false pretense.
Charged with larceny and receiv
ing, Jasper Peterson was released
when the court directed a verdict
of not guilty.
S. T. Hunter, charged with forg
ery, was. sentenced to the roads for
nine months.
Charged with breaking and enter
ing, Walter Chamblee pleaded guil
ty of attempting to break into a
home, and was sentenced to the
roads for two years.
Charged with drunken and reck
less driving. Turner Hines and Clin
ton Smith pleaded not guilty, and
entered a plea of nolo 'contendre as
to,hit-and-run driving. Each defend
ant was sentenced to the roads for
| a term of two years, the court sus
j pending the sentence upon the pay
ment of $410 hospital bills. The
amount is to be paid at the rate of
$20 each week.
Charged with aiding and abetting
I larceny, Chester Terry failed to ap
pear when called and his $75 bond
was forfeited.
(Continued on page six)
?
Big Crowd Present
For Defense Meet
The importance of civilian defense
on the home front was stressed in a
public meeting held in the Bear
Grass school auditorium last Friday
evening when arm bands were pre
sented to faithful post observers and
defense leaders, including represen
tatives from the Army addressed the
gathering.
The meeting was opened with a
prayer by Elder A. B. Ayers. Senator
Hugh Horton made a short talk in
which he impressed on those present
the intense need for civilian defense.
Then followed a series of pictures
showing how the ground defense sys
tem works. Following the pictures,
Corporal Levinsky, of Norfolk, fur
ther explained the system and com
mended the people of Bear Grass
community upon their splendid work
and cooperation. He said that Mar
tin County as a whole was one of
the best counties in this work. Then
Mr. T. O. Hickman, chief observer
for this post, called the observers
who had earned arm bands. J. Paul
Simpson, district civilian director,
assisted by Sergeant Prevouti, of
Norfolk, presented arm bands and
pins to those of this community who
had served 25 hours or more at the
observation post and were still serv
ing. Approximately 30 people were
given these bands and pins. Mr. T.
O. Hickman then thanked these peo
ple and urged others to volunteer
their services. A collection was taken
up to finish paying for the new ob
servation post which has recently
been erected and the necessary
equipment, also the siren and the
shed which holds the fire equipment.
The meeting closed with the audience
singing "America."
The names of the observers who
had served as many as 25 hours and
are serving on an average of eight
hours a month and Who were award
ed arm bands are as follows: Mrs.
T. O Hickman, Ralph Mobley, Hay
wood Rogers, Rossell Rogers, John
Ashley Hardison, A. B. Ayers, Noah
Rogerson, Leslie Terry, Irvin Ter
ry, Mrs. Irvin Terry, LeRoy Harri
Coffee Retailers To
Submit Inventories
On or before December 31, coffee
retailers and wholesalers in this
county are to prepare and submit a
complete inventory of their coffee
stocks. Inventory forms are avail
able at the county rationing board
office in the agricultural building.
The early preparation ofIhe Inven
tory reports will relieve a last-min
ute rush both for the dealer and the
rationing board.
The inventory list, while a bit long
?It covers about two
very complicated.