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VOL, LXI, NO. 35.
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1949.
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FIVE CENTS A COPY
KING STREET
/BY
ROB RIVERS
WATAUGA COUNTY is to
have centennial celebration, and
quite a few ideas are being ad
vanced to make the event a uni
que one . . . Down at Winston
Salem, where a century of pro
gress is to be noted, the men
folks have laid away the razor
for the remainder, of the year,
but the idea doesn't seem to be
making progress here . . . only a
couple of sets of chin whiskers
have been noted ... A few specks
of frost in the hair perhaps
- doesn't look too bad . . . but we
just couldnV quite stand be
coming a "greybeard" . . . might
even be taken for a "rugged in
dividualist" . . . rainy weather of
past week gives way to sunshiAe
on Sunday as residents take to
highways, or saunter about
streets or home premises . . .
Easter flowers blooming, golden
bells putting forth their dainty
blossoms, and lilacs leafing . . .
toads sally forth, and angle
worms near the surface, seen in
profusion as warm rain soaks
them from their shallow habitats.
? ? ?
BIDS BEING ASKED for
onr walkway and steps up to
lh? postofflce . . . The old onss,
ntnr good, growing won* . . ?
Postmaster also seeking to
have nrric* are* behind the
building extended a d Is taw of
fifteen feet . . . This is parti
cularly needed skice the high
way postofflce arrived . . . The
long vehicle has to be backed
to the loading deck from the
main street, with one man
"flagging" for the driver . . .
like spotting a box car in a
railroad yard . . . Strangers al
ways admire postoffice build -
Us native stone walls, and
pleeslng contours . . . roof bare
ly beginning to take on the
green sheen . . . that distinctive
and beautiful shade which
comae only on old copper.
? ? ?
Dr. DOUGHERTY drops by
and talks of the building program
at Appalachian which is just now
being activated . . . contracts to
talling three hundred thousand
have just been let, and the
multi-million dollar appropria
tion will be spent as rapidly as
practical . . . Advance in build
ing costs delayed program for
two years . . . Supplementary
appropriation seems likely to be
passed . . . Otherwise size of
buildings would have to be par
ed to get by with original
grant ... If a depression is to
cbfhe. the building program at
Appalachian will keep its full
effects away from this com
munity for perhaps several years
. . Like all big institutions, or
individuals who grow great, the
college comes in for off-the-cuff
cricticism at times by those who
have never quite realized that
the only reason Boone is a pro
gressive growing little city . . .
the only reason why it is dif
ferent from the usual one-horse
county seat town, is that Appala
chian College was established
here . . . it's the blood stream of
the community.
? ? ?
WATAUGA COUNTY will
return to full prohibition status
next Tuesday ? . . Most of the
folks the cause of tem
perance will be furthered by
this action ... A small minority
believe it won't ... At any rate
the ""H ??"* fermented bever
^ee, which have been dished
up in the county since 1933.
are going to be counted in the
Hst of legal contraband ... As
b the case of partisan elec
tions. personal opinion is that
?very qualified voter should
go to the polls . . . No one, in
this last strong citadel of
democracy should ever lose a
chance lo mark a ballot ...
rote as you will . . . but vote
. . . it's a privilege, and a de
? of good dllsenship.
? ? ?
LADY talking at meeting of a
woman's club, after the session
had settled down to informalities
Took occasion to speak in
hi#? terms of her husband, which
many would maintain, makes
news . . . This guy, it seems, was
the stuff, he was just about a
standard of perfection, it was re
j la ted. and the lady just felt plumb
fortunate in selecting a mate of
such outstanding qualifications
... He was just most too good to
be true . . .
? * ?
"I NEVER HAVE TO WOR
RY about my husband." the
clubwoman la reported as say
teg . . . -He doesn't drink to
My amount, brings in the bacon
with dispatch and regularity,
hslpe around the house after
work- hours, and knows well
(Continued on page 4)
NEW TRAVELING LIBRARY
. - .Ay ' ? ?? . i ;
The new Bookmobile, which ha* iMD put in service by the Wa
tauga County Library, and which is scheduled to bring standard
library service to all sections of the county. Regular bookmobile
stops were announced this week.
3-County Basketball
Tourney To Be Held
NEW DIRECTOR
Dr. Lawrence Owsley of Ope Ilka .
Ala., who recently became sur
geon and medical director at the
Watauga hospital. Dr. Owsley
and family have established resi
dence in the Conn house in Dan
el Boone Park.
Hospital Fund
Report Is Made!
The hospital expansion fund
has reached the sum of $18.
884.97, according to Clyde R.
Greene, chairman, who expresses
appreciation to those- solicitors!
who have made their reports and!
isked that others complete their'
canvasses quickly and submit re-j
ports.
Mr. Greene states that $19,000
>vorth of equipment has been
lurchased, most of it delivered,
and that the kitchen is to be re
equipped under the supervision
of the State Board of Health.
Following is the status of thel
und by townships:
Bald Mountain $ 119.00
Beaver Dam 517.10
Blue Ridge ' 427.43
Boone 14,377.64
Brushy Fork 319.85
Cove Creek 1,083.55
Elk 228.00
Laurel Creek 100.00
Meat Camp 303.50
Meat Camp 2 17.00
New River 192.00
Shawneehaw 135.00
Stony Fork 10.00
Watauga 1,055.00
Total $18,884.97
Senate Expected To
Kill Auto Inspections
Raleigh. ? The State motor ve
hicle inspection program, in its
present form at least, is now rap
idly moving toward its last days.
This is the consensus of mem
bers of the Legislature who saw
the House neatly lay the axe to
this 13-months-old aggravation
'ast Friday morning. ?
While those who have played
leading roles in the fight on the
inspection lane admit privately
that, theoretically, it is a good
law, the feeling in Raleigh and
throughout the State seems to be
that the millions of dollars it is
costing motorists and the incon
venience and misunderstandings
which have arisen from its en
forcement have largely negated
any benefits it was intended to
effect.
As the bill putting the inspec
tion law to death moves over to
the State Senate there will be
further debate. However, the
members of this body, like their
brothers in the House, know their
constituents are determined that
the inspection program must be
brought to an end. *
Three Counties To Participate
In Annual Sports Event,
Starting March 2.
The Annual Tri-County High
School Basketball Tournament
will get under way in the college
gymnasium Wednesday, March 2
and continue through Saturday,
March 5.
Three counties will participate
in the tournament with the boys ,
from West Jefferson and Healing
Springs seeded from Ashe coun
ty, Cove Creek from the Wa
tauga-Avery county area, and
Boone High from the Boone area.
In the girls division, the Vir
ginia-Carolina and West Jeffer
son girls share the top Ashe
county spot. Cranberry from the
Watauga-Avery division, and
Wilkesboro are seeded.
The Wilkesboro High School
boys and girls are replacing the
Avery county representative
from Newland.
The tournament, under the
direction of R. W. "Red" Wat
kins, has received notification of
entrance from thirty-two teams.
West Jefferson, Healing Springs,
Jefferson. Riverview, Lansing,
Nathans Creek, Virginia "Caro
lina, Todd, Fleetwood, Boone,
Cove Creek, Blowing Rock,
Bethel, Cranberry. Crossnore,
and Wilkesboro High boys and
girls will participate in the four
day session.
Government Class
Sees State Capital
The State government class of
Appalachian State Teachers col
lege, taught by Dr. D. J. White
ner. was in Raleigh this past
week, for the purpose of visiting
various state agencies and ob
serving governmental procedures
at first hand.
They attended a hearing be
fore the Appropriations Commit
tee, a session of the General As
sembly, visited the office of Dr.
Amos Abrams, associate editor of
the NCEA Journal, the state pri
son, the state library, and the
state museum. The trip home in
cluded to tour of inspection of
Duke University.
In addition to Dr. Whitener,
those making the trip were
Julian Rogers, Clarkton; Bryce I.
Gordon, Winston-Salem; Wil
lian C. Parrish, Summerfield;
Eloise Marlowe, Marion; Daniel
C. Rowe, Nebo; Keith Wilson,
Davidson; Lemuel McMahan and
Charles D. Owens, Forest City;
Clarence Martin, Mt. Airy; Edith
Maine, Boone; Carlton Swift, [
Sugar Grove; John Tugman,
North Wilkesboro; James Bran
don, Yadkinvillei J. C. Lamm,
Bailey; and Coleman Hanson,
Lancaster, S. C.
Music Students To
Enter Local Contest
Music student* from Appala
chian and Cove Creek High
Schools will participate in an eli
mination contest to be held in
the college auditorium, Saturday,
February 28, beginning at nine
o'clock. Winners in each event
will represent their respective
schools in the district division of
the State Music contest to be
held in Winston-Salem, March
23 and 24.
Mr. Oliver Cook, director of
music at Harding High School,
Charlotte, will be the adjudica
tor.
The choral work is under the
direction of Mrs. Elsie Erneston
and the piano students have beeh
trained by Mrs. Esther Boone
and Mrs. R. L. Tate. Mr. O. M.
Hartsell is general chairman for
the contest.
LOCAL DAIRY
BUSINESS IS
SUBJECT CITY
CIVIC GROUP
Officials of Coble Dairies Dis
cuss Possibilities of Milk
Industry at Boone Rotary
Club; Number of Local A
Grade Daries Increases.
The Boone Rotary Club had as
guest last Friday night, Mr. Gay
lord Hancock and Mr. Paul Naive
of Coble Dairy Inc. ten or
twelve farmers who operate
Krade A Daries ? and aavaral
business men. Mr. Hancock is
production manager for Coble
Dairies Inc. and was the main
speaker on the program. He gave
a history of Coble Dairies and
brought out the fact that the co
operation of farmers had brought
about the growth of such a plant.
He emphasized the necessity of
more Grade A Daries in the
county. There is certainly a need
for the production of more milk
products since there is approvi
mately 75,000 lbe. still being
shipped into the state yearly. He
indicated that Grade A Daries
were worthwhile for the farmers
who have land to develop for
grazing, growing of hay crops,
ensilage and grain. He also
stressed the need of silos in con
nection with the operation of
dairies. Farmers that can pro
duce feed and milk from 8 to 12
cows could have a sizeable in
come.
Mr. Hancock highly recom
mended the use of the artificial
insemination program in the
county by farmers for the pur
pose or raising calves by the best
sires in the nation. The breeding
program certainly has a control
ling factor in production. The
county needs more good calves
from the dairy type cow and
farmers should learn methods of
feeding and care of young heifer
calves by good sires. It is the
hope of Cobles, county agricul
(Continued on page 8)
Collegians To Have
Four-Day Holiday
Students of Appalachian State
Teachers college wil have a four
day holiday between quarters, be
ginning February 25 and ending
March 1. Final examinations for
the winter quarter will be held
February 23 to 25. ending at noon
Friday.
Registration for the spring
quarter is scheduled for Tues
day, March 1, with classes begin
ning the next day at 8:20 a. m.
Applications for degrees to be
conferred at the spring com
mencement must be filed by Ap
ril 5. Mid-term examinations
for spring quarter will be held
April 7 to 9. and comprehensive
examination reports are due;
April 20. Final examinations for
seniors will be held in the week
ending May 14, and for other stu
dents May 18 and 19. Com
mencement exercises are to be
held on Friday. May 20, at 10:30
a. m.
March 5 Last Payday
For State Legislators
Raleigh. ? Those members of
the General Assembly who have
been receiving their pay at the
end of each day's session Will
find themselves off the State
payroll a week from Saturday.
North Carolina legislators are
paid $600 for the term, as pro
vided by the State Constiution.
However, many of them are being
orced this year to take advant
age of an enabling act which
permits any member who wishes
to draw $10.00 at the end of the
day's work. The Legislature will
end its 60 days on March 5. Thus,
technically, the solons will re
ceive no pay after that date. The
Constitution provides that mem
bers of the Legislature will re
ceive the $600 and whether they
stay in session for two days or
two years makes not the slightest
difference.
Some of the members, and this
is particularly true in the Sen
ate, wait until adjournment of
the session before receiving their
pay.
School Drawings To
Be Shown at Library
Freehand drawings by students
of Rich Mountain school will be
on display at the County Library
this week. The pencil and cray
on drawings are by students from
the 1st to the 7th grade, and were
lent for exhibition by Mrs. China
Lavender, teacher.
DEATH YACHT SOLD
After 14 months as an attraction on the amuwrninl pier at Long
Beech. California, tha yacht, "Mary E." on which wealthy Mr. and
Mr*. W altar E. Overall wara killed in a mysterious explosion in
1947 at Newport Baach. was auctioned off for $500 recently, the
bid reportedly going to a Los Angelas attorney who plana to lead
the yachl to New York for exhibition at Coney Island The Orer
ells' daughter, Beulah Louise, and her fiance, George Solium, were
charged with murder after the fatal explosion, but were acquitted
after a dramatic trial.
Appalachian Hi Gets
National Publicity
IT'S A "LARK"
ThU is a "Lark" in flight ? > ssc
ret rocket -powered guided missile
unveiled recently by lb* United
Stales nary at the naval air
missile ta#t center. Point Mugu.
'Jalif. Although shown in artist's
sketch, no details of performance
or construction have been di
vulged. This and other guided
missiles like it were developed
for the navy by the Fairchild En
gine and Airplane corporation's
pilotless plane division. Farming -
dale. Long Island. N. Y.
Bookmobile Stops
Are Arranged
The Watauga county library
bookmobile schedule for the next
two weeks has been announced
as follows, weather and roads
permitting:
Wednesday, Feb. 23: Meat
Camp, Ellison's Store, 10:00 a.
m.; Winebarger school, 10:30 a.
m.; Howard's Creek school, 11:30
a. m.; Bamboo school, 1:00 p. m.;
Bamboo, home of Mrs. Irene
Northern, 3:00 p. m.
Thursday, Feb. 24: Ruther
wood school, 9:30 a. m.; Stony
Fork School, 10:30 a. m.; Mt.
Paron school or home of Mrs.
Zerah Greene, 11:30 a. m.; Deep
Gap school, 1:00 p. m.; Deep Gap,
home of Mrs. Stewart, 3:00 p. m.
Wednesday, March 2: Blowing
Rock School, 9:30 a. m.
Thursday. March 3: Windy
Gap, Home of Mrs. Eula Trivett,
10:00 a. m. Windy Gap school,
10:30 a. m.; Rominger, home of
Shelby Rominger, 12:30 p. m.;
Rominger school, 1:00 p. m.; Vic
tor Ward's store, 2:30 p. m.;
Willow Valley, home of Mr*.
Fred Greene, 3:30 p. m.
People who live near any of
the bookmobile stopa are invited
to come to choose books to read.
The service is free. Books are
for a period of one month, or un
lent to any citizen of the county
til the next trip of the bookmo
bile to their community. Any
books in the county collection
may be requested and reserved
for a borrower.
P.-T. A. Meeting Is
To Be Held Monday
The Parent-Teachers Associa
tion will meet Monday February
28, at the High School
The anniversary of the P.-T. A
will be observed with short talks
and special music.
Clearing House Journal Uses
Article by Principal Wey on
Local Methods.
In an article written by Mr.
Herbert Wey, the local high
school again received national 1
recognition.
This article, written on the '
subject "Democratic School Ad- '
ministration", was published in
the February issue of the Clear
ing House Journal. The article
discussed the faculty-student
committee method of democratic
school administration, and point
ed out the importance .of the
necessity of offering " pupils a
democratic environment to live
in while in high school.
This is one of approximately
thirty articles that have been
written and published by the
faculty of Appalachian High
school in the past ten years.
Most of these articles are descrip
tions of the educational program
of the local high school. Addi
tional articles are now in the
process of being written.
Many of these articles, includ
(Continued on page eight)
Statesville Is Named
Warlick Headquarters
Statesville. ? Federal Judge
Wilson Warlick said this week
he planned to make Statesville
his official headquarters.
Warlick, a resident of Newton,
was sworn in last Monday as
Western North Carolina District
Federal judge to succeed Judge
E. Yates Webb of Shelby, who
had retired. ,
Judge Webb had made his
headquarters in Shelby.
Warlick said he has sent a
recommendation to the U. S. Jus
tice Department in Washington
for approval of this city for his
official office.
He added he would continue
to live in Newton, however.
U. S. Marshal Charles R. Price
of Asheville, said he would as
sign a full-time deputy marshal
here immediately.
Problems Confronting
Merchants of State
Raleigh. ? Enormous and burd
ensome taxes rate as the major
problem confronting North Car
olina retailers during 1949, ac
cording to a survey just complet
ed by the State Merchants Asso
ciation.
The second major obstacle, in
the opinion of representative
merchants in every section of the
State, is the problem of "main
taining balanced inventories, and
this was follqpred by the diffi
culties attending credits and col
lections.
The survey, which was con
ducted among hundreds of store
owners and executives selected
to represent a cross section of
alert thought and opinion, indi
cated that other major problems
are: increased operating expen
ses, securing and keeping exper
ienced, efficient and courteous
store help, obtaining wanted mer
chandise at prices customers are
willing to pay, cut-price com
titlon, customer expectation
lower prices, and uncertain b>
ness connections.
WINE AMD BEER
VOTING NEXT
TUESDAY TO BE
IN FAVOR DRYS
First Prohibition Vote in
County, Since 1933 Finds
Opinion in Favor of Taking
Legal Status Away froan
Wine, Beer; Rallies Being
Held.
Watauga county voters will go
to the polls next Tuesday, March
1, in their first expression on the
legalized sale of alcoholic bev
erages, since the question of the
repeal of the eighteenth amend
ment was submitted to them six
teen years ago.
Monday's vote has to do with
the question of whether or not
the sale of wine and beer will
continue to be legal in the coun
ty, and the general consensus Is
that the county will vote for pro
hibition by a top heavy majority
of something near three to one
? some say even more.
The prohibition movement is
being conducted largely through
the leadership of the ministers of
the county, and there has been
considerable activity. A dry
rally is to be held Sunday at the
Boone Baptist church, when Dr.
[. G. Greer and Hon. Odus Mull
will appear, and indications are
that there will be a reasonably
heavy vote. Those who oppose
the legal ban on wine and beer,
are, so far as is known, unorg
anized, and many it is said, will
not even go to the polls.
The election will be held in
the various precincts of the coun
ty under the laws governing
general elections, except there is
no provision for voting absentee
ballots. The registration books
lave been open for three Satur
days to register new voters, and
thoee who have participated in
eneral county elections do not
ave to re-register.
Four propositions will be in
cluded in the ballot:
For the legal sale of beer.
Against the legal sale of beer.
For the legal sale of wine.
Against the legal sale of wine.
New Social Security
Plan li Introduced
By Rep. Doughton
Washington. ? President Tru
man's program for a vast broad
ening of social security benefits,
bringing additional millions of
persona under the system and in
creasing the payments and taxes,
was unfolded on Capitol Hill this
week.
The legislation would bring an
additional 20,000,000 Americans
into the old-age and survivors
insurance system, making a total
of 50,000,000 under this Hup.
The retirement age for .. u*nen
workers would be reduced from
65 to 60.
The maximum insurance ben
efit would be boosted from $85
to $150 a month and in addition
the bill would provide direct Fed
eral aid for all needy persons.
Rate Would Go Up
It would also raise the old
age insurance tax rate from the
present one per cent to 1.5 per
cent on the first $3,000 of an em
ploye's paycheck and the employ
er's payroll next July 1. Under
the present law, the increase is
not due to begin until January 1,
1950.
The rate would jump to two
per cent against the first $4,800
of an employee's pay and em
ployer's payroll next January 1.
The Administration's proposals
were embodied in two bills cov
ering more than 100 pages. The
measures were introduced by
Chairman Doughton (D-NC) of
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee.
Chamber Commerce
Postpones Meeting
Due to other important gath
erings.* the Chamber of Com
merce meeting announced for
Thursday night February 24, has
been postponed until Thursday
night March S.
Mr. Stanley A. Harris, secre
tary of the organisation, asks
that there be a full attendance at
the meeting. Mr. J. C. Baskar
ville of Lenoir, has bat asked
to speak on this occasion.
??? . .? .. 1
Chicago ? Faking a "fafat,"
Irvine Kapper, 49. who waa be
ing held up by three gunwan.
fell to the floor and a customer
screamed, "Call a doctor." Tlf
holdup men fled, taking $173
from his cash register, but MSIaf
to get $1,800 in the safe.