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An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1 888.
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VOL. LVII, NO. 14
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1945
$t.50 A YEAR? 5c A COPY
SAFE BLOWN AT
HUNT'S STORE
MONEY IS TAKEN
Depradators Prize Bar From
Window to Enter ifuilding of
Department Store; Most of
Money Had Been Taken to
Bank; No Goods Missing
Hunt's Department Store was en
tered Sunday night, the office safe
blown with explosive, an undisclos
?d amount of money taken, and the
robbers effected their get-away
?without detection. Mr. Guy Hunt,
owner of the store, did not know of
the robbery until he opened the
store at the usual time Monday
morning.
Investigation revealed that the
building was entered by prizing the
iron bars from a window at the
back of the store, on the second floor
level. The safe was blown open,
pillows having been used to deaden
the noise of the explosion. A rack
of women's coats was found to have
been overturned, but so far as Mr.
Hunt could tell no merchandise was
missing. Some silver money was
dropped as the marauders made
ineir way through the window.
Crime detection agencies were
immediately contacted and every
precaution taken to preserve any
fingerprints which might have been
left about the place. Pending the
arrival of these agents, visitors to
the store were barred from the im
mediate locality of the robbery.
RECORD RAINFALL
CITED FOR SEPT.
WtttMt September In History of
Bureau at College; 12.58
Inches Fell
With a rainfall of 12.58 inches,
September was the wettest compara
ble period in the records of the
weather bureau at Appalachian Col
lege, says Julian Yoder, who keeps
a day-by-day record of the whims
of the elements.
Mr. Yoder further reveals that
the dryest September on record was
sprinkled with .38 inches of rainfall,
and that the total rainfall for this
year so far has been 52.72 inches.
I>eer Hunt Dates For
Nearby Areas Given |
Hunting of male deer on the Mt.
Mitchell Wildlife Management area
wilt be permitted on November 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and on the Daniel
Boone Wildlife Management area
November 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17,
it i? announced by C. N. Mease, chief
refuge supervisor, of Marion.
hunting fees are $2.50 per day.
Applicants should make remittance
to Mr. Mease with a* standard appli
cation form which he will supply,
for the asking.
William M. May Expires
Thursday; Rites Friday
William M. May, 68 years old,
died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. Sterling Smith, of Perkinsville,
on last Thursday. Funeral was held
at Trade, Tenn., on Friday, Rev. E.
F. Troutman being in charge.
He is survived by the widow and
the following sons and daughters:
Mrs. W. L. S tans berry, Vilas; Chas.
May, Lenoir; Mrs. Sterling Smith,
Boone; James H. Horton, Glade
Springs, Va.; Rankin May, Cleve
land, Ohio.
County Singing To
Be Held On Sunday
Attention is again called to the
?county singing convention which
-will be held at the Tabernacle in
Boone next Sunday, starting a\ 10:30
-o'clock.
Mr. S. C. Eggers, chairman of the
association which sponsors the sing
ing, is particularly anxious that this
year each church in the county be
represented with a choir or quartet,
or some other vocalist.
Teachers' Meeting Is
Postponed to No^, 17
The county-wide teachers meeting
which had been called for Friday
afternoon, Oct. 5, has been postpon
ed until the regular meeting on
November 17, the announcement
having been made by Gratis B.
Williams, president of the (county
unit of the N. C. Education Associa
tion, Tuesday afternoon.
October 7 to IS ia Fire Preven
tion Week. About 5 percent of
farm fire* are preventable.
Aids Injured Pilot
Lieut. Jean Hartley, navy nurse,
a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred
B. Hartley, of Blowing Rock, who
U credited by Lieut. George Boer
ner, of St. Paul. Minn., with hav
ing aided materially in returning
him to health, after a crash ex
perienced while a marine pilot in
the Pacific area. Lieut. Boerner
was taken to a navy hospital in
Pearl Harbor, and later was aid
ed by Lieut. Hartley at a Jackson
ville. Fla., hospital establishment.
Lieut. Boerner suffered amnesia,
with memory practically gone and
with almost a complete lapse of
perception. Lieut Hartley, due to
interest in the case and her fine
training, restored her patient. He
spent some time at Mayview
Manor this summer, and called on
Lieut. Hartley's parents to pay his
respects. He's in fine shape, and
being an athlete, expects to return
to football this season.
PERRY TO BE NEW
CLERK OF COURT;
SUCCEEDS SOUTH
Cove Creek Man is Recommen
ded for Position Made Avail
able as a Result of Resignation
of Veteran Court Official
Mr. John Perry, of Sherwood, has
been recommended for the position
of clerk of the superior court by the
Democratic executive committee, to
succeed Austin E. South, resigned,
and the recommendation will likely
receive early approval by Judge
Wilson Warlick, the resident judge.
Mr. South had announced a few
days ago his resignation, after 19
years in office, the actual retire
ment date being set at November 1.
Mr. Perry, a son of the late Prof.
W. Y. Perry, is well qualified by
both character and experience for
the position with which he is be
ing honored. He is thoroughly com
petent, and it is expected that his
administration of affairs will be of
the very highest order. He is ad
mirably fitted to carry on the duties
of the office in the same fine man
ner as did Mr. South.
Congress Gives Road
Program Green Light
Washington, Oct. 2 ? An immedi
ate start on a three-year, $3,000,000,
000 federal-state highway construc
tion program got an okay from con
gress today.
It came when the senate without
debate and in two minutes adopted
a house-approved resolution saying
there is no reason to hold up any
longer a program approved last De
cember as a postwar employment
cushion.
The program is the first big post
war public works project to get a
go-ahead.
Worked out in detail 10 months
ago, it provides for a federal outlay
of $500,000,000 a year for the next
three years to match, dollar-for-dol
lar, state expenditures on highways.
The $500,000,000 of aid to states is
divided into this manner:
$225,000,000 for primary federal aid
highways; i
$150,000,000 for secondary and feed
er roads.
$125,000,000 for highways in urban
areas.
Ration Calendar
MEATS AND FATS: Red Stamps
A1 through El, now valid, expire
Oct. SI; F1 through Kl, now valid,
expire Nov. 30; LI through Ql, now
valid, expire Dec. 3'; R1 through VI,
now valid, expire Jan. 31.
SUGAR: Sugar Stamp No. 38,
now valid, expires Dec. 31.
SHOES: Airplane Stamp# Nos. 1,
2, 3 and 4, now good.
MERCHANTS ASK
IMPROVEMENTS
OF CITY COUNCIL
Meeting of Retailers Held to
Discuss What is Termed "Law
aless Condition Which Exists in
the Town of Boone"; Resolu
tions Passed
At a special meeting of the Boone
Merchants Association held Mon
day, at the instance of W. W. Ches
ter, president, resolutions w e r|e
adopted, as a result of what was al
leged at the meeting to be "the law
less condition which exists in the
town of Boone."
The text of the instrument, given
the Democrat, follows:
"It was pointed out that the time
has come when some change must
be made, and that our town officials
must show some action.
"The merchants are often called
the back-bone of the town when it
comes to taxation and donations and
feel that in return they should have
some protection for their property as
well as a decent town in which their
families live. It was also brought
out in the discussion that the town
officials had been approached on
several occasions in regard to cer
tain undesirable conditions which
exist as: immorality in cars, on the
streets at night, and especially on
Saturday nights; frequent robberies;
disorderly conduct, public drunken
ness, profanity, improper parking of
cars, violation of parking signs,
double parking, parking too near in
tersections, conditions of streets, con
dition of sidewalks, opening up of
back alleyways so that trucks can
unload in back of stores rather than
front; sanitary conditions, especially
back of stores. Remove garbage
cans from main street; enforce town
ordinance in regard to merchants
burning and throwing garbage and
trash out of the back door.
"By unanimous vote, the board of
directors of the Merchants Associa
tion went on record as adopting the
following resolutions r Be - it re
solved:
"1. That the town board secure
competent day and night policemen
immediately and that the said offi
cials carry out orders and perform
all duties pertaining to the safety
and protection of the town, proper
ty and people. That night police
men be furnished a night clock and
make a complete check of the town
every hour, check every door once
and see that there is a light in each
business house. The day policeman's
duties should be to tag all cars for
improper parking, and other viola
tions, to take care of drunks, to keep
order, and eliminate immoral con
duct on the streets.
"2. The town board shall begin a
street improvement program at
once. Repair all broken down streets
and thus save the taxpayers the ex
pense of rebuilding new streets. Im
prove alleyways. Appoint zoning
and planning board. Appoint build
ing committee.
"3. That the town of Boone be
made a clean town from a sanitary
standpoint. Clean up back alleys
and streets, remove unsightly shacks
and rubbish. See that stores are not
allowed to throw trash out the back
doors. Encourage beautifying back
lots, especially back of stores."
Big 5 Council Meet
Ends in Deadlock
London, Oct. 2 ? The five-power
conference of foreign ministers, aft
er three weeks of discussing Euro
pean peace settlements, ended to
night in apparent failure.
The ministers of the United States,
Russia, Great Britain, France and
China concluded their first peace
talks in a deadlock over procedure
which authoritative circles said
would have to be resolved by Presi
dent Truman, Premier Stalin and
Prime Minister Attlee.
Group Votes to Slash
12,000,000 From Taxes
Washington, Oct. 2 ? The house
ways and means committee voted to
day to remove 12,000,000 low income
persons from' the income tax rolls
in 1946 and to cut the total indi
vidual income tax burden almost
half a billion dollars deeper than
the administration recommended.
A CORRECTION
Mr. Dale Vannoy, of Boone, wish
es it to be stated that he was not
fined for breaking, entering and lar
ceny in Superior court as was pub
lished last week, but did pay a fine
on a charge of receiving stolen prop
erty. The correction is gladly made.
Roosevelt's Maryland Retreat
Photo shows the Catootin recreational demonstration area lodge
where the late President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
went to rest and talk things over after their conference at the White
House. The secret was well guarded from the public.
LARNA BINGHAM
TAKEN BY DEATH
Boone Man Had Been 111 for More
Than Five Yean; Rites
Thursday
Larna L. Bingham, 51 years old,
popular Boone citizen and a mem
ber of one of the county's pioneer
families, ? died Tuesday morning at
2:30. He had been ill for more than
five years.
Funeral services will be conducted
from the Methodist Church at 2
o'clock today (Thursday). Dr. E. K.
McLarty will be in charge of the
rites and interment will be in the
community cemetery. The body
will lie in state in the church audi
torium for one hour prior to the
rites.
Surviving is the widow, the for
mer Miss Cora Jones, and one son, i
Eugene, of the army, Amarillo, Tex.
Another son, Lieut. Hal Bingham,
lost his life when the Fourth Marine
division, of which he was a mem
ber, stormed the Saipan beaches.
There are two brothers, D. B. Bing
ham, of Boone, and Howard S. Bing
ham, of Tacoma, Wash. The father
and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L.
Bingham, also survive.
Larna Lee Bingham was born and
reared in Watauga county, and pri
or to his illness had held an im
portant position in the Boone post
office. He was a veteran of World
War I, and received injuries Nov.
10, 1918, in the Argonne engage
ment.
In his physically active years, Mr.
Bingham took a keen interest in re
ligious affairs, and had been a mem
ber of the Methodist Church since
childhood. He had been on the
board of stewards of the Boone
church for a number of years, which
position he held at the time of his
death. He was held in the highest
regard in this area, where he was
known for his cheery disposition, his
ready wit, and his qualities of high
character.
ALBERT REED GREENE
IS CLAIMED BY DEATH
Funeral service was held Mon
day at Old Fields church, near Idle
wild, for Albert Heed Greene, age
22, resident of the Stony Fork com
munity, who died Saturday. Rev.
Levi Greene conducted the rites.
Mr. Greene is survived by his
wife; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ar
nie Greene; four brothers and three
sisters.
Mrs. Linda Ward, 39,
Dies at Home Here
Mrs. Linda Ward, 39 years old,
wife of Amos Ward of Boone, died
at her home here on Sept. 26, and
funeral services were conducted at
Matney by Rev. Mr. Aller, inter
ment being in that community.
Mrs. Ward is survived by the hus
band and a number of children.
STATE GASOLINE TAX
COLLECTOR UP 40 PERCENT
Raleigh, Oct. 2 ? With funds from
the gasoline tax showing a 40 per
cent increase over the same month
last year, revenues collected by the
state's general fund and highway
departments totalled $7,608,040 dur
ing September, Revenue Commis
sioner Edwin Gill announced today.
V-MAIL TO BHD OCT. 31
Microfilm transmission of V-mail,
by which some 1,600,000,000 letters
were speeded to and from the arm
ed forces around the world, will
ceaso October II, it is announced.
South Africa is finding Jobs for
returning aenricemen.
SUPPORT ASKED
FOR WAR FUND
Campaign to Raise Funds for En
tertainment of Troop* and
Other Purposes Started
The National War Fund campaign
got under way in the county Mon
day, and solicitors are beginning
their work of gathering contribu
tions for the last campaign of this
kind to "be conducted.
H. M. Hamilton, Jr., chairman of
the local campaign, is very anxious
that the county's goal of $4,600 be
subscribed as quickly as possible,
and asks that all contribute gener
ously and promptly, explaining that
the occupation forces and others of
our soldiery still are desperately in
need of the entertainment and oth
er services made possible by this
fund, and that the need among the
people of the war-ravaged countries
this winter will be greater than ever
before.
The war is not over yet for many
millions of our troops and for count
less civilians over the world. These
people need our aid. The only way
they may receive it is through the
agency of the National War Fund.
Give and give generously, when the
solicitor calls.
PRESIDENT OPENS WAR FUND
DRIVE WITH BROADCAST
President Truman opened the 1945
National War Fund campaign Tues
day night with an appeal for gen
erous contributions to help war
fund agencies "finish the job they
were set up to do."
"War service has not ended," said
the President in a broadcast from
the White House. "I don't need to
tell that to anyone whose son is still
serving with the occupation forces
or with the service troops in this
country. For them the war is still
going on."
He said the drive is for three
causes ? for continued "friendly serv
ices" for those still having a job to
do in the armed forces, for health
and welfare services for people at
home, and for relief for war stricken
persons in liberated areas.
E. F. SHERWOOD NOMINATED
FOR VILAS POSMASTER
Among the nominations for post
master which have recently been
made and sent to the senate by the
President, is the name of Edmond
F. Sherwood, of Vilas.
Promoted
Sgl. James W. Vines, sod of Mr.
and Mrs. Roby Vines, of Sugar
Grove. who ha* recently been pro
moted to his present frank from
that of print* first rill IfL
Vines, who ha* spent 91 month*
In overseas service, ia now la the
Philippines.
OVER SIXTEEN
HUNDRED LOCAL
MENGOTOWAR
Figures Reveal That Watauga
County Has 127 Casualties; 28
Men Make the Supreme Sac
rifice in Present War
Watauga county men went to the
past war in large numbers as have
their forefathers for generations
when the bugle sounded for the
global qpnflict, for figures just made
public reveal that 1,618 sons of this
county went forth under their coun
try's flag to meet and aid in de
stroying the might of the foe.
Of these men who answered the
call of the nation, 1,237 entered the
armed services under the selective
service system, it is revealed, while
as nearly as can be computed, there
were '18 enlisted men.
Twenty-eight Watauga men laid
down their lire* In the defease of
their country, IS were reported as
missing in action, continue the
grim figures, while 78 were woun
ded. There were eight prisoners
of war.
Since Watauga county has a popu
lation of only 18,048, her record of
service is particularly outstanding,
and would doubtless be even more
so if the record of her men who
have enlisted could be accurately
computed.
EIGHT MEN SENT
TO AN ARMY POST
Latest List of Those Donning Uni
forms is Given Out By
Draft Board
Eight more Watauga county men
have been sent to an induction post
of the army for service under the
terms of the selective service law,
the local service board states.
The names of those making up
the current induction list follows:
Fred Henry Greene
Dillard Lee Watson
Earl Eugene Miller
Edwin Vaughn Watson
Carson Lee Brown
Arthur Earl Ward
John Henry Oliver
Arville Lee Lowe
John Linville Greene
Surplus Cabbage May
Be Sold to Government
A number of farmers have been
having difficulty in marketing cab
bage that have passed the green
stage, therefore, arrangements have
been worked out so that farmers in
the county car. sell cabbage to the
government on the support price,
says H. M. Hamilton, Jr., county
agent. This price is $1.10 per hun
dred pounds of cabbage, bagged and
loaded in the car at West Jefferson.
The farmer has to buy the bags
and pay .01 per bag for inspection,
it is said.
Cars are available for anyone who
wants to load cabbage now. It takes
600 bags to load a car. Anyone in
terested in loading cabbage at the
above prices should contact the of
fice of the county agent at once.
Granville Norris Dies
At Boone Home, Age 85
Granville Norris, age 85 years,
prominent resident of Boone Route
1, died at the home on Sept. 28, and
the remains were interred on Sept.
30, at Laurel Springs cemetery. Rev.
R. C. Eggers and Rev. Arlie Moretz
were in charge of the rites.
The survivors include the widow,
Pansy Greene Norris, and the fol
lowing sons and daughters: Vir
ginia Norris, Fess Norris, Hazel Nor
ris, Kelly Norris, Jos^h Norris, Eu
gene Norris, Clay Noiris, Mrs. Rosa
Stanbury, Mrs. Nellie Miller, Mrs.
Sarah Brackett and Mrs. Martha
Taylor.
1,600 Tons of Sugar
Found in Java Ports
Washington, Oct. 2 ? Secretary of
Agriculture Anderson disclosed to
night that 1,600,000 tons of sugar
have been discovered in the porta of
Java since the Japs surrendered.
Obviously pleased over the discov
ery, Anderson told newsmen at a
conference that this sugar should
very greatly shorten the period of
rationing in thta country. Hereto
fore, it has been expected that con
sumer rationing might be neceattry
through 1946,