WATAUGA DEMOCRAT
An Independent Weekly Newspaper ? Established in the Year 1 888.
-.VII, NO. 34 BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1946
WATCH the LABEL
SLJruM??KdwU1Ta "S2?2?FS
5 CENTS A COPY
WATAUGA, AVERY
CITIZENS URGE
LINVILLE ROAD
Chamber of Commerce Meeting
Thursday is Well Attended;
Citizens of Two Counties
Agree to Bend Their Efforts to
Secure New Highway
About one hundred citizens of
Watauga and Avery counties were in
attendance at a meeting of the
Boone Chamber of Commerce held
last Thursday evening, and called
by President H.~W. Wilcox for the
expressed purpose of considering the
construction of a new highway from
Boone to Linville. Perhaps 25 citi
zens of Avery county and the terri
tory along the proposed route were
present to urge the construction of
the 18-mile thoroughfare from Boone
to the Avery county resort town.
John Frank Hampton of Linville,
was spokesman for the Avery dele
gation, and pojnted out that the dis
tance from Linville to Boone was
about 18 miles, while by way
of Blowing Rock the distance is 31
miles. If one should go by Banner
Elk and Valle Crucis, he said, the
distance would be 37 miles.
Mr. Hampton stated that the right
of way for the five miles in Avery
county had already been secured,
aid said the tenth district highway
commissioner had already given his
approval of the route. It was stated
that the highway is important to
both Watauga and Avery counties,
due to the commercial advantages of
reaching Boone as the logical shop
ping and marketing center of the
area, and because of the great scenic
beauty of the region which the pro
posed highway would traverse. Mr.
* Hampton believes that the new
route could follow the line of the
abandoned Linville River Railway
for a large part of the distance and
opined that a saving of about 50 per
cent of the grading cost could be ef
fected.
rThe proposed road would connect
with modern highways to Marion
and other points south, and to John
ion City, Term., to the west.
Mr. J. L. Hartley, anther Linville
citizen, stated that Boone, with its
tobacco, bean and cabbage markets,
and yiUi its modern shopping dis
trict, is the logical commercial cen
ter for the entire area, and referred
to the superior educational advant
ages provided by Appalachian Col
lege, which could be brought closer
to the people of the adjoining coun
ty. He pointed out that when the
Blue Ridge Parkway is completed,
that section of the route from Lin
ville to Blowing Rock cannot be
uaed commercially, and that farmers
in his area having produce for the
Blowing Rock and Boone markets
will have to go by way of Banner
Elk and Valle Crucis, which route
ia definitely not one of commercial
possibilities.
Awmrj Official Sp*aki
Lee Sturgill, chairman of the board
of commissioners of Avery county,
said his board had endorsed the con
struction of the proposed highway.
H. O. Aldndge, of the Watauga
board of commissioners, said the lo
cal beard had passed a resolution
'? endorsing the Avery-Watauga high
f way.
By unanimous vote the meeting
endorsed this highway as the num
ber one recommendation for imme
diate construction, placing it ahead
of the three-lane highway to Win
ston-Salem, which had been strongly
endorsed by the local Chamber of
Commerce in a meeting with Win
ston-Salem citizens at a Chamber of
Commerce meeting held here Nov
15
Others endorsing the Linville road
were W. H. Gragg, who classed the
project as a farm-to-market road;
John Fox, of Watauga township,
who stated that mail and school
buses were unable to negotiate some
two miles of road in his section, and
Dr. B. B. Dougherty, Appalachian
College president, who taught one
of his first schools in the Shulls
section, and who has been in the
lead for the construction of better
roads in the mountain section
throughout the years. Others speak
ing were W. R. Winkler, chairman
of the Democratic executive commit
tee; former Senator H. Grady Farth
ing; W. D. Farthing, Representative
S. C. Eggers, C. C. Cooke for the
American Legion; W. W. Chester for
the Boone Merchants Association,
and G. K. Moose, for the Lions Club.
E. Ford King, of the local high
way office, stated that Watauga
county was one of the few not forced
to ckwc schools because of the bad
roads this winter, and said that the
pending program for the coming
summer will greatly improve Wat
auga's road system.
A committee was appointed by
? Chairman Wilcox to meet with Com
( Continued on page eight)
To Appear Here
MISS SARI BIRO
FAMOUS ARTIST
COMES TO COLLEGE
Native of Hungary to Be on Appa
lachian Campus for Two- day
Period; Concert Friday
Miss Sari Biro, a distinguished
artist, comes to Appalachian State
College Friday, Feb. 22 under the
sponsorship of the Association of
Amencan Colleges. Miss Biro, a dis
tinguished pianist, is a native of
Hungary and was trained in Eu
rope. Before the war put a stop
to cultural activities, Miss Biro per
formed in all the important Euro
pean capitals and musical centers
Since coming to the United States
her appearances have been of equal
importance: An annual recital in
Town Hall; a coast-to-coast concert
tour; guest soloist with the symph
ony orchestras of Philadelphia, Cin
cinnati, Kansas City, New Orleans,
Denver and New Haven; numerous
as Boloiat guest
artitt with outstanding orchestras of
radio.
The critics have recorded her per
formances with such remarks as
One of the best women pianists of
we day" (New York Times); "Miss
Biro established herself as definite
ly belonging in the front group of
contemporary pianists, male or fe
male" (New York World-Telegram).
Miss Biro will be on the campus
two days, Feb. 22 and 23, as a guest
of the music department. She will
discuss "Music as a Career and Pro
fessional Attitude" with the stu
dents.
Her formal concert will be Friday
evening at 8 o'clock in the college
auditorium.
Ray Brendell Home
I? Damaged by Fire
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray
Brendell was damaged to an unde
termined extent Monday by fire,
which caught presumably from a
flue. The fire department respon
ded promptly and the blaze was
brought under control before any
very great damage was done. Lack
of water handicapped the fire de
partment, but the blaze was ex
tinguished by chemicals.
Mr. and Mrs. Brendell take occa
sion to thank the members of the
fire department for their prompt ac
tion in saving their home from
more serious damage.
Meeting of American
Legion Next Friday
A regular meeting of Watauga
Post, American Legion, will be held
at the Legion hut Friday evening.
Feb. 22. All Legionnaires and ex
servicemen are urgently requested
to be present.
A representative of the Carolina
Mortgage and Housing Corporation
of Hickory will be present to-discuss
how to borrow money for the pur
chase of farms and business prop
erty under the terms of the GI bill
of rights.
Refreshments will be served prior
to the meeting.
Draft Board to Be
Closed Next Friday
The Selective Service Board
states that its officc will be closed
on February 22, a national holiday,
and that since the office is never
open on Saturday? no business can
be transacted until next MBnday.
Employment Office to
Be Open Next Friday
Next Friday, Feb. 22, is a national
holiday, but it is announced that the
U.S. Employment office here will be
open for the filing of continued
claims.
SUMMER SCHOOL
HAS CASH BALANCE
Summer School Endowment Fund
at Appalachian Administered by
Trustees; Some Contributors
The auditor's report for the Appa
lachian State Teachers College sum
mer school endowment fund shows
a balance of $597.78 carried forward
from 1943, with a total balance to
date of $23,085.95. This fund is held,
invested and administered by the
board of trustees, only the income ?
interest and dividends ? cai. be used
for current expenses of the summer
school. The income for the past
year available for the 1946 summer
school amounts to $1,424.35.
Some of the larger contributors to
the endowment fund are: Northwest
ern Bank, Appalachian Book Store,
N. B. Smithey (Smithey's stores),
Appalachian Amusement Company,
Mountain Burley Tobacco Company,
Queen City Coach Company, Mr. and
Mrs. J. L. Quails, B. B. Dougherty,
Boone Lions Club, Boone Chamber
of Commerce, Belk-White Company,
Dr. C. H. Mock, H. Grady Farthing,
W. W. Mast, Daniel Boone Hotel,
Caldwell Cotton Mills, Hudson
Manufacturing Company, Moore Cot
ton Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Frank M.
Payne, C. H. Martin and others.
64 NEWSTUDENTS
AT APPALACfflAN
Total of 640 Are Now Registered at
Local Collage; Many Sol
diers Enroll
Sixty-four new students have reg
istered for the spring term at Appa
lachian College, according to H. R.
Eggers, registrar, who states that the
total enrollment is now 640. Oth
ers are expected to register during
the week.
Included in the registration at Ap
palachian are 88 former servicemen,
it is stated, 22 of whom are married
and 66 single.
Lions Club to Stage
Annual Benefit Show!
The Boone Lions Club, at its
regular meeting Tuesday evening,
enjoyed a program of stunts and
light entertainment, under the di
rection of Howard Co'trell Lions
tailtwister.
At a meeting of the board of di
rectors following the meeting, a
committee for arranging the annual
Lions show was named by President
Robert C. Busteed. The committee
is composed of Cratis D. Williams,
chairman; W. A. Abrams, D. J.
Whitener, A_ R. Smith and Howard
Cottrell.
Resolutions strongly favoring the
construction of the Linville-to
Boone highway were adopted, copies
of which will be sent to various
groups interested in the project
Guests present at the meeting
were Edgar Brown, William Rich
ardson, Dr. C. A. Parker of Nor
wood, and B. B. Broome of North
Wilkesboro.
P.-T.A. Will Observe
Founders Day Monday
The Boone Parent-Teacher Asso
ciation will observe "Founders Day"
Monday night, Feb. 25, at 7:30 in
the high school library. The pro
gram follows:
Scripture and prayer by Rev. E.
F. Troutman.
Hymn: "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
"The Biography of the ty/o Na
tional Founders," by Mrs E. F.
Warman.
"Biographical Sketches of Local
Founders," by Mrs. W. G. Hartzog.
"Realizing the Hopes of the Foun
ders," Rev. J. K. Parker.
Rev. E. F. Troutman, leader.
Heavy Supply of Burls
At Local Pipe Factory
Mr. David P. Lavietes, president
of the D. & P. Pipe Works, states
that purchases of burls have been
unusually heavy for the past few
weeks, and that he now has about
two thousand tons of the raw prod
uct at his factory here, or practic
ally a year's supply.
Mr. Lavietes says business is
good, and that his plants here and
at Sparta are working to capacity
to fill orders for blocks and finish
ed smoking pipes.
SEAMAN DEXTER ROMINCM
EN ROUTE TO THE STATES
Pearl Harbor ? Doxter I. Rom in -
ger, seaman first class, son of Will
Rominger, of Reese, is one of many
navy veterans returning to the
states aboard the USS Neshoba, an
attack transport of the "Magic Car
pet" fleet. This ship left Guam
Feb. 3, and is scheduled to arrive in
San Francisco Feb. 16
t
Glee Club Officers
Pictured aboT* an officer* of the Appalachian High School Bop'
Glee Club. From left to right: W. B. York, president; Fred Council!,
?ice-president; David Edmisten. student director; and Marrin CaMf.
secretary- treasurer.
Joins Theatre Staff
J. W. BEACH
J. W. Beach, popular local man
who received hi* discharge from the
U. S. army last September after
four and a quarter years of active
duty, bas accepted a position with
the Statesville Theatre Corporation
and &stgned the duties of assistant
manager, at the Appalachian Thea
tre here Monday.
Mr. Beach entered the service in
June, 1941, taking his basic train
ing at Camp Wheeler, Ga.; from
there he went to Fort Benning, Ga.,
where he joined the Fourth Division
and in succeeding months was sta
tioned at Camp Gordon, Ga., Fort
Dix, N. J., Camp Gordon Johnson,
Fla., and Camp Kilmer, N. J. In
January, 1044, he went overseas and
trained with the Fourth Division
for four months in southern England.
On D-day he landed on Utah Beech,
proceeding up the coast to Cher
bourg.
After Cherbourg was taken the
division awaited the arrival of Gen.
Patton, who was to take over com
mand. Three thousand allied planes
bombed a forward position to
which the division was to advance,
and in this advance Beach was
wounded by enemy artillery* He
spent three months in a hospital in
Norwich, England, then returned to
full duty with his division in Ger
many where he remained until V-E
day. When the Fourth Division was
returned to the U. S. for re-deploy
ment Mr. Beach, with enough points
to his credit for army discharge, re
mained in Munich for three months
waiting for plane passage to the
states. In early September he land
ed at Miami, Fla., was sent to Fort
Bragg, and received his discharge
Sept. 15, 1945, after two years duty
overseas.
Among his decorations are the
Bronze Star, five battle stars and the
Purple Heart.
Mr. Beach gained muth experi
ence in theatre operation when dur
ing his high school years he was
employed at the Pastime Theatre
here. During his senior year of
high school he was elected president
of both the senior class and the stu
dent council and was prominent in
many school activities. Following
his graduation from high school he
held a position at the Carolina Phar
macy and remained there until he
entered the service. He is making
his home with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Beach, q
PRESIDENT NAMES MAX
GARDNER TO TREASURY POST
Washington, Feb. 19 ? President
Truman today nominated O. Max
Gordner, native of Shelby, N. C.,
and former Tar Heel governor, to be
undersecretary of the treasury, suc
ceeding Daniel W. Bell, who resign
ed last year to take a Washington
bank job.
Gardner's name will be sent to the
senate for confirmation at its ses
sion Thursday.
Boy?' Glee Club
Reorganized ; New
Officers Elected
The Boys' Glee Club of Appalach
ian high school was recently reor
ganized, at which time the following
officers were elected: Student di
rector, David Edmisten; president,
W. B. York; vice-president, Fred
Councill; secretary-treasurer, Mar
vin Casey.
At present the club is working on
selections to be used at various
high school programs. Plans arc
also being formulated for a special
spring concert to be given early in
May.
Members of the club are: Gordon
Hartzog, Donald Warmin, Cecil Car
ter, Grady Moretz, Ned Lyons, Tom
my Hodges, Arlis Hodges, David Ed
misten, W. B. York, Pete Story,
Lawrence Phillips, Charles Lyons,
Robert Teague, Gene Craven, Gur
ney Carlton, Carey Moretz, Harry
Brendell, Fred Councill, Junior
Cooke, Marvin Casey, Roecoe Brown,
Henry Cooke, Donald McCracken,
Teddy Barnett, Jimmy Harrison,
Durwood Stallings, Coy Bolick, Hal
Vannoy, James Beshears and Mack
Elrod.
Mr. O. M. Hartsell is director of
the club.
Memorial to War
Vets Being Planned
By American Legion
Plans are under way by the Wat
auga Post of the American Legion
for the construction of a memorial
to the men who participated in the
two world wars, and Edwin Dough
erty, chairman of the memorial com
mittee, asks that those having sug
gestions as to what form this me
morial shall take, communicate with
the commander, H. S. Steel man.
A meeting is to be held at the
Legion hut Friday at 7:30, and those
who are interested in the proposed
memorial are asked to gather with
the Legionnaires at that time for a
further discussion of the project.
Appalachian Matmen
Defeat Auburn Here
In one of the most interesting
wrestling meets held at the college
gym, the Appalachian grapplers de
feated Auburn Saturday night The
Plainesmen from Alabama defeated
Appalachian earlier in the season at
Auburn. The much-improved wrest
lers of Coach Red Watkins won six
of the eight matches.
The feature match was between
Robinson of Appalachian and Wolf
of /fuburn, Robinson scoring a fall
in 1:50 of the second period.
Summary:
121-lb. class ? Martinez (Auburn)
fall over Edmisten (App.) second pe
riod.
128-lb Class ? Abernethy, decision
over Knorch (Auburn). \
136-lb. class? Robinson, fall sec
ond period over Wolf (Auburn).
145? Day, fall, second period over
Woodham (Auburn)
165-lb. class ? Capt Reese, decision
over Bryant (Auburn).
175-lb. class ? Villec (App.) drew
with Jernigan (Auburn).
Heavyweight ? Pate (Auburn)
won on forfeit over Harris (App).
Total Score: Appalachian 22%;
Auburn 11%.
Collector To Aid
State Tax Payers
Mr. F. L. German, deputy collec
tor with the State Department of
Revenue, will be in the office of the
clerk of the superior court in Boone
on March 4-5, for the purpose of as
sisting the taxpayers in filing their
statf income tax returns.
State tax returns must be filed
by March 15, by any unmarried per
son having an Income of $1,000 or
more during the year 1945, and any
married man having an income of
$2,000 or more during the same pe
RED CROSS DRIVE
TO GET UNDER
WAY ON MONDAY
Meeting of Workers to Be HaU
Tonight; Plans Are to Be Per
fected Lor Campaign Which
is Expected to Raise Quota of
$5,150.00
for**thr>^^ fund-raising campaign
for the American Red Cross AviU
(Thursday) at 7 o'clock at the Boone
u- m cafcte?a. when plans
and ^ PCrfeCted for campaign.
^ . .?CCeSSary materials sup
plied to the workers.
The quota which has been assign -
^^Sh.yearJS $5'150' which wVcS
siderable reduction from last year
however, it is pointed out that U
will be necessary for each person in
Watauga county to be given the op
portunity to contribute if the county
is to reach the quota. So far Wat
Mk^ fnrg?ne t0i ?Ver *** "mount
asked for in each Red Cross cam
paign, and it is the purpose of the
thfsan Mr ?n 10 maintain record
Clyde R. Greene and Harry M.
Hamilton, co-chJdrmen, have an
nounced the following organization
lor the current campaign:
Town of Boon*
iJ . ?*%.' chairman, business dia
UTct; Northwestern Bank, Alfred
Adams; Hosiery Mill, S. E. Cline; D.
? d' J54Pf Works' Richard Olsen; A
T- Welch; Math?
son building, Dr. Matheson; Belk
White Co., W. W. Chester; Watauga
Hospital Mrs. Nora Warman; Hunt's
Dept. Store, Guy Hunt; Carolina
Pharmacy, Dr. Mock; Courthouse.
Paul Coffey; County building. Mis.
A. E. Hamby, Jr.; Appalachian Col
lege, Starr Stacy, Mrs. A. Antona
kos, John Wellborn, Mr*. R. W. Wat
SAM'n^yer,; Etanlel
Hotel, C. A. Price; State highway
department, E. F. King; Dr. Perry
building, ^. F M. Stubbs; Postof
nce, J Edgar Brown; Colvard Oil
r?M Georgia Ayers; Trailway
Laundry, A. E South; Super Clean
.' D- Bhoemake; Smithey's
store, Owen Wilson; City hall, Mr?.
Ruby Ellis; Wilcox Drug Co. C. C.
wiTv"'11'1'" Motor Co., Paul
Walsh; Boone DrUg Co., Dr. Moose;
Mr. Flick; Carolina
u mL Hollar; Boone Trail Cafe,
^WUUams; Watauga Hotel,, ,Mn
tj ^f8JJRuf'SeU Hodges and Mrs. M.
K. Maddux, chairmen of Boone resi
dential section; Mrs. Chappel Wilson,
Mrs. J. E. Clay, Mrs. Mack Luttreil
Mrs- G. D. Bamett, Mrs. Floyd
Hagaman, Mrs. J. H. Councill, Mr,
Rex Geer Mrs. Paul Coffey, Mrx
W. G. Hartzog, Mrs. Wade E
Brown, Mrs. Guy Hunt, Mrs. Hale
Vance, Mrs R. E. Kelley and Mr.
G. H. Winkler, workers.
Schools
S. F. Horton, chairman; Appalach
ian high school, Mrs. Ruby Daniels
8 u , S: Qulncy: Boone elementary
school, Donald C. Thompson and
Miss Annie Kittrell; Howard's Creek
Maggie E. Moretz; Rutherwood, Mrs.
China R. Lavender; Rich Mountain.
Mrs. Blanche B. Payne; Bamboo.
Miss Pearl Corwles; Green Valley,
Miss Lola Mae Rowe; Winebarger.
Mrs. Nell C Greene; Riverview,
Mrs. Clara C. Ritchie; Deep Gap,
Mrs. Pearl P. Dow Ling; Stony Fork,
Mrs Grace E. Greene; Mt. Paron, I.
J. Bingham; Elk, Mrs. Elizabeth H
Irwin; Lower Elk, Mrs. Ethel P
Triplett; Blowing Rock high school^
Mrs Beatrice C. Winkler; Blowing
Rock elementary, Mrs. D. J. White
ner; Penley. Mrs. Orville Greer;
Bradshaw, W. L. Trivette; Cook.
Mrs Ruth Hollars; Valla Crucis
Mrs. Pansy K. ^aylor; Grandfather
Miss Floy Cannon; Cool Springs,
Mrs. Thelma C. Ward; Cove Creak
high school, Mrs. Mattie R Wilson;
Cove Creek elementary, Miss Annie
Mae Sherwood; Romlnger, George
Harmon; Presnell, Mrs. Ruth W
Presnell; Kellerville, Mrs. Ella Fat
Phillips; Windy Gap. Henry Haga
man; Bethel, Grady E. Taster and
Miss Kathryn Sherwood; Mabel,
Mrs. Reka W. Shoemake; Potter
town, Mrs. Pearl H. Greene; Wat
auga Colored. Bertha M. Neal.
Rural Soctions
. _ M. Hamilton, chairman, and
Mrs. A. E. Hamby, Jr., associate
chairman. Following are captains
for their respective sections:
Lower Meat Camp, D. C. Coffay,
Upper Meat Camp, Mrs. Wade Clraa
son; New River, Mrs. a J. Barnes
and Lloyd Moretz; Bald Mountain.
W. S. Miller; Valle Crucis, W. W
S?^rh t Moort': Mabel, W.
Cre*k. Ned
Glenn and Henry Hagaman; Shaw
neehaw, W. C. &nith; Deep Gap, H.
E. Greene and Miller- Elk
(Continued on page eight)