WILL YOU NEGLECT IT?
Millions Need Polio Vaccine
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ABOVE; Charmie Haynes' atom dis
play was second-place winner in eighth-
grade division at Arlington Junior High
School Science Fair April 26. At left is
Miss Helen Brown, Arlington eighth-
grade teacher. Charmie is granddaugh
ter of Mrs. Charles Boyd of Spinning.
RIGHT: Johnny Fowler's exhibit of
solar system took first place in ninth-
grade category. With him is ninth-
grade science teacher, Mrs. T. B. Ipock
Jr., wife of industrial relations man
ager at Firestone. Student's mother is
Mrs. J. D. Fowler of Twisting (syn
thetics).
Arlington
Science Fair
Winners
Five years ago, medical
scientists at Ann Arbor,
Mich, made public that the
great field trial of 1954 had
clearly shown Salk vaccine
to be ‘‘safe, effective, and
potent”; that it would pre
vent paralytic polio.
Findings were announced on
a date carefully chosen — the
10th anniversary of the death of
Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose
dedication brought mankind far
along the road toward liberation
from the dreaded disease of par
alytic polio.
Salk vaccine was licensed for
general use, and at first it look
ed as if the general public had
accepted this miracle which had
come to wipe out human suffer
ing and anxiety.
But people are negligent. The
U.S. Public Health Service re
ports that 540 Americans died of
polio in 1959, as against 225 in
1958, and 221 in 1957.
Hills Are Calling
—From page 1
pitching tents and camping in
the timber.
During winters and every year
as spring arrives, the Mechan
ical department readies the
camp for the season by making
routine repairs, checking and
replacing life-saving equipment,
and replenishing fire - fighting
materials and first-aid supplies.
In recent years, major repairs
have been made on the prop
erty. Last spring, siding on the
main dining room building was
replaced with masonry blocks.
In addition to routine mainte
nance this season, all rowboats
have been re-caulked, repaired
and re-painted. A retaining wall
of masonry is planned for the
lower side of the dining hall.
At Camp Firestone you can
enjoy fishing, boating, swim
ming, water skiing, hiking on
nature trails, and other recrea-
Using a ladder around the
house? Apply this formula for
safety: Place the foot (bottom
end) of a ladder as far out from
the building as one-fourth the
length of the ladder itself. The
Institute for Safer Living says
this precaution will prevent
many accidents.
In mid-April, President Eisen
hower urged Americans to a
concern for the impending
danger of polio again this sea
son. He warned: “Not enough
Americans have had the full
course of injections needed for
the maximum protection against
polio, afforded by Salk vaccine.”
Millions Still Need It
Today, more than 90 million
still should be vaccinated, es
pecially children under five
years of age. The “disease
year” for polio began April 1.
If your luck is still holding out,
it is not too late to get protec
tion for yourself and for your
family.
Adding to the seriousness of
the threat of the disease is this
fact from the Gaston County
chapter of the National Founda
tion, in cooperation with the
Gaston County Health Depart
ment:
The number of cases through
out the nation is higher this
year than at the same time last
year, with a larger percentage
of paralytic cases. And North
Carolina is leading this list.
Go without delay to your fam
ily physician or to your county
health department, to get the
vaccine for yourself and mem
bers of your family.
tion — such as horseshoe-pitch
ing. For children, there are
swings, seesaws, and a protected
wading area on the lake. The
Bridgewater retreat is ten miles
from Marion, and an ideal place
from which to begin any num
ber of interesting tours in a
four-state mountain empire.
As in years past, applications
for use of facilities at Camp
Firestone are made at the In
dustrial Relations office. A per
son or a party makes only one
reservation at a time, but after
the visit is made, you may file
another application.
If you make a reservation and
then find you can't go at the
scheduled time, you would be
thoughtful to let the IR office
know in advance—if possible.
Since there is usually a wail
ing list, your thoughtfulness
could make it possible for some
one else to have your place at
the camp—for a delightful trip
to the hills.
Park Opening Set
Firestone Park, one of more
than a dozen public recreation
facilities operated in Gastonia
during summers, is set to begin
this season’s 10-week schedule
in early June.
The company - owned play
ground in front of the plant is
“loaned” each summer for op
eration by the Gastonia Park
and Recreation Commission. It
THE HILLS BEYOND
H. D. Tompkins, a vice presi
dent of the Firestone Company,
died unexpectedly in Boston,
Mass., while visiting his daugh
ter there. A 41-year veteran
with Firestone, Mr. Tompkins
joined the company as a gen
eral line salesman and became
vice president in charge of trade
sales in 1941. He remained in
that position until 1957, then
continued as a vice president.
Born in Ontario, Canada in
1893, Mr. Tompkins served in
various sales capacities of the
Company, including manager of
truck tire sales for the Seattle,
Wash., district and manager of
truck tire sales for the West
Coast division. He later served
as sales manager for the parent
company in Akron and was
elected vice president in charge
of trade sales in 1941.
serves children of the Firestone
plant area.
A swimming-wading pool is
for children through 12 years of
age. Other facilities include
horseshoe pits, swings, seesaws,
chinning bars, and ping pong
equipment.
The City Recreation Depart
ment furnishes supervisory per
sonnel during hours of play
ground operation. The hours: 8
A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday-Friday;
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Silver Shoals Baptist Church
at Cornelia, Ga. is final resting
place for Fred Westmoreland,
who died in a Charlotte hospital
April 2. A Firestone Textiles
employee of more than 14 years’
service, Mr. Westmoreland last
worked in the Carding depart
ment. He lived at 319 North
Boyd street.
Surviving are three sons, Her
man and Patrick Junior West
moreland of Gastonia, and John
Henry Westmoreland of Clear-
mont, Ga.; a daughter, Mrs.
Hazel W. Champion of Gastonia;
three brothers, Roscoe of Gas
tonia, Boyd and James West
moreland of Lula, Ga.; four
sisters, Mrs. Callie Carpenter
and Mrs. Lula Pritchett of Lula,
Ga., Mrs. Bonnie Mealor and
Mrs. Dorothy Mealor, both of
Madison, Ga.
E. F. Tanner, 48, was buried
in Powell cemetery, Florence,
S. C., April 17. Mr. Tanner, who
lived at 2209 West Sixth avenue
in Gastonia, is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Annie Lyerly Tanner
of Twisting (synthetics); two
sons, Charles U., of Twisting
(synthetics), and E. F. Tanner of
the home; stepson, William
Springs of Florence, S. C.;
4-H Club Honors
Firestone Man
H. D. Millhouse, manager of
truck and farm tire advertising
for Firestone, was one of nine
men and women to be honored
at the 30th National 4-H Confer
ence April 23-29 in Washington.
Mr. Millhouse, who lives in
Akron, Ohio, was named a
“Partner in 4-H” and received
a citation from True D. Morse,
undersecretary of agriculture.
“Partner in 4-H” awards,
based on services to agriculture
and to 4-H progress, are present
ed each year to outstanding in
dividuals in business and indus
try for their work in the 4-H
program.
Mr. Millhouse, with Firestone
since 1937, has been engaged in
4-H work for 17 years. He is a
director of the 4-H Soil and
Conservation Program, a Fire
stone undertaking. This year he
is a leader in developing the
Auto Care and Safety Program
for 4-H, another company spon
sored project.
He also represents the com
pany in the National Student
Traffic Safety Program, in
which high school students the
nation over are being organized
to promote safe driving among
teen-age motorists.
brothers, J. P. and E. L. Tanner
of Gastonia; sisters, Mrs. J. J.
Bullard of Georgetown, S. C.,
Miss Lessie Tanner and Mrs.
J. H. Lane of Gastonia, Mrs.
Brooks Poston of Florence, and
Mrs. Murray Harold of Heming
way, S. C.
MAY. 1960 PAGE 5
Is Your Home A Death Trap?
The songwriter said it was “home sweet home.”
Somebody else said a man’s house is his castle.
But too often a man’s house is the scene of ac
cidental tragedy for his family and himself.
The National Safety Council estimated that
27,000 persons were killed in home accidents in
the most recent year for which figures are avail
able. And 4,000,000 men, women and children
were injured at home that same year.
Why is someone at home injured every eight
seconds; and why does an accidental home death
occur every 19 minutes?
Carelessness is the usual reason.
Put into practice these guiding suggestions and
you’ll be on the way toward avoiding needless
death, injury and property loss in your home:
1. Electrical circuits — don’t overload. More
than two cords plugged into one outlet, and you
have a fire threat. Keep cords in good condition
—not kinked or frayed. Never hold the cord to
yank out plugs. A short circuit will mean fire.
2. Keep stairs properly lighted and clear.
Toys or other objects on stairs and steps mean
trouble aplenty.
3. Clean house and outbuildings of papers,
paints, kerosene or other flammable materials.
At Firestone: May Is
Off-Job Safety Month
Furnace or heater near a wall? Insulate it.
4. Discard broken glass, razor blades, bottles,
tin cans and other sharp waste. Dispose of it in
closed containers.
5. Keep medicines, insecticides and other
poisons in a locked container—or at least out
of reach of children. Apply this also to matches,
kitchen knives and tools.
6. Close oven doors and turn pot handles so
children won’t snatch them—or so you won’t
accidentally knock them yourself. Children need
to stay clear of stoves at all times.
"WHEN YOU smoke in bed, the ashes that fall
on the floor may be your own," someone has
joked. But the truth is there. So, never smoke
in bed, because you may be sleepier than you
think.
• Don’t allow children in storerooms or attics.
Never enter a darkened storage area without
some, kind of light. Keep on hand an emergency
light, one that is always in working order.
• Touch a radio or other electrical appliance
while in the bathtub or shower, and you’ll never
live to tell of your experience. Always disconnect
your electric iron when you have to answer the
telephone or doorbell.
North State: Land Of The Dogwood
The North Carolina General Assembly of 1941
adopted the dogwood as the official State Flower, re
placing the goldenrod. Dogwood grows in abundance
from coast to mountains of the Old North State—its
bright blossoms each Spring a symbol of immortality,
peace and faith.
Of civic organizations dedicated to preservation of
the state Flower, outstanding is the North Carolina
Dogwood Blossom Festival Inc. In addition to its
objective of promoting the propagation and preserva
tion of the dogwood blossom, the non-profit organiza
tion encourages wider use of the dogwood tree about
homes, highways and streets. It also aims at incorpo
rating the annual NC Dogwood Blossom Festival in
Haywood County with “See North Carolina” travel
emphasis month each May.