Newspapers / Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.) / Sept. 15, 1955, edition 1 / Page 1
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s$ ; An Independent Weekly Newt paper ? Established in the Year Eighteen Eighty-Eight MUZ-i ''IMUwbBi ? ? -Tj ^ ^ i ,, BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1S55 r *i ? ? For 67 Year* The Democrat ha* Mrved Boou and Wa tauga County. With tta intenae coverage in the local ihopptng area, tt'? tka kail adver tiling medium available. VOLUME LX VIII? NO. 11 : Sept. 10 Sept. 11 !? PAGES ? TWO SECTIONS John W. Hodges, Sr., Prominent Wataugan, Claimed By Death Mr John W. Hodges, Sr., pro minent business and civic leader, died Monday evening at the home of Mr. and Mr* Ruaaell D. Hod get, where he had been living since May. Mr. Hodgea, who waa 89 years old, had been serioualy ill since undergoing surgery in June. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p. m. Wednesday at the First Baptiat Church in Boone. Officiat ing will be Dr. J. C. Canipe of Hendersonville, former Boone pas la;, and the Rev. E. F. Troutman. Burial will be in the city ceme tery. Surviviors include three sons, Russell D. Hodges, John W. Hod ges, Jr. of Boone, Grant Hod ges of Oca la, Florida, one daugh ter, Mrs. Kay Boatwright of Rich mond, Virginia, nine grandchild ren and four great-grandchildren. Another son, Fred Hodges, pre ceded him in death six years ago, and his wife, the former Miss Mat tie Hopkins, died eighteen years ago. Mr. Hodges, a native of Straw berry Plains, Tennessee, had liv ed most of his life in Watauga County. He was a member of the Baptist Church in which he served as deacon for many years. Until his retirement he waa active in the merchantile business at Ruth erwood, Gap Creek and Boone, was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and always took part in the civic and religious activities of the city and county. Mr. Hodges was elected by the Republican party as Register of Deeds in 1894 and 1806, to the Board of County Commissioners, of which he was chairman, in 1000 and 1902, as sheriff in 1904 and 1906, and to the House of Re presentatives in 1912. He was ap pointed b y the Boone commis sioners to serve out the unexpir ed term of Mr. W. R. Gragg as Mayor of Boone in 1929. Prior to his illness Mr. Hodges had lived with Mr. and Mrs. John W. Hodges, Jr. for several year*. A new state egg law requires that eggs sold in cartons be label ed as to grade and size of eggs. JOHN W. HODGES, SR. Teen- Aged Boys Held For Thefts A hearing was let (or Tuesday afternoon (or two teen-aged boyi who have confesed to a series of robberies in the eastern section of Boone last week, said Sheri(( Hodgea. Entered during a three-day spree o( larceny and vandalism were: The Appalachian High School basement, where a number of (ootball shoes, T-shirts, other sup plies, and money were missing. The Sky-Vu drive-in theatre, where a small amount of money was taken. Two parked cars on Howard Street, which yielded three guns and a quanity of canned goods. Goodnight Brothers Product Company where they took change from the cash drawer. Brown & Graham Motor Com pany, which coatributed $33.00 in cash and the keys to the Coca Cola machine. West of the loot has been recov ered, Mid Sheriff Hodgei. who withheld the names of the boys, who are minors, pending dispo tition of the Case. Boone, Blowing Rock T o Get Powell Bill Funds Raleigh. ? The State Highway Commission will distribute $9, 711,817.71 in cash aid to 3M in corporated, active, eligible and qualified municipalities lor im provements on non-highway stys tem streets, Highway Chairman A. H. Graham announced this week. Both Boone and Blowing Rock in Watauga County are due to get a share of this money. Boone will get $12,337,04, according to figures released by Graham, and Blowing Rock will get $10,617.63. He said this was the largest amount ever distributed since the Powell Bill Act was passed in 1991, when a total of $4,543 .096 20 was divided among 386 towns. In 1952, a total of $4,948,842.20 was shared by 388 towns. In 1993, a mtal of $9,244,203.40 was divided among 394 towns. Last year, $9, 391,717.41 was shared by 396 mu nicipalities. This year's allocation brings the total five-year alloca tion of Powell Bill funds to $29, 839,677.02. Graham pointed to the increased gasoline revenue which upped the Powell Bill figure this yaar. The fund comes from a He per gallon of the total or gross 6c gasoline tax (less refunds) during fiscal 1994-99 .when the gross State gaso line tax totalled $68,994,600.40. Checks will be mailed to the par ticipating towns in mid-September. 1 Half of the total allocation is divided among all qualified muni- : cipalities on the 'basis of popula tion. The per capita rate is $1.88 this year. The other half of the total allo cation is divided among all the qualified municipalities on the ba sis of relative mileage of non-state system or local streets which com ply with the act The mileage rate ' this year is $472.69 per mile. As of July 1. 1999. the 396 par ticipating towns had 6,041.94 miles of non-highway system street*. The* total population, according to the 1990 census was 1,922 .22$. Allocations were figured to the penny by the Highway Commis sion's Division of Statistics and Planning, headed by Jame* 8. Burch. Graham said, "Allocations may be made only to legally incorforat ed cities and towns which are ac tive and eligible and whose offi cials have qualified the municipal ity by submitting certified state ments and maps prior to the lim iting date, the third Monday in July. "Many legally incorporated towns are non-active and do not perform those municipal functions necessary to qualify under the law. A few active incorporated towns were not eligible due to some tech nicality. There are also many pop ulous communities which have never chosen to incorporate and function as municipalities." Payments will range this year from $390 for Falkland in Pitt county to $416,618 for Charlotte. Boone's allocation was based on the following statistics: 1900 census count of 2,973? $6,570.11; mileage increment based on 14.30 certified non-system miles ? $6,798.93; total ?$12,337.04. Blowing Rock's allo cation was 1090 census, 661 ? $1, 240.20; certified non-system miles, 19.84 ? $9,377.4$; total? $10,617.63. Friday, September 30 has decided upon for the annus palachian High School Homecom Ing Festivities will begin with a parade at 3:30 with floats by many of the classes. At 6:30 a bonfire pep rally will be held and the Homecoming game with Elkin will follow. Sat urday night ? semi-formal dance will be held in the high school gym. This dance is held in honor of graduates of A. H. S. All former Appalachian students are urged to attend the game and the dance held in their honor. Fuerth, Germany. ? A German company has announced develop ment of a television camera only .2 inches long and 2.6 inches wide, described as "the world's smallest TV earners." It is expected to be particularly useful in factory pro duction control, and .in explora tion of 1*?** depths. jjJ High School Homecoming September 30 mm Silverstone Man Dies In Car Wreck Conley Fletcher, 72, of the Sil verstone section, wis killed in an automobile accident near Trade, Tann., at about 6 p. m. Monday His brother, Dawson Fletcher, driver of the car, reported that another ear forced him off the road and his car rolled down an embankment, turning over, said Sheriff Ernest Hodges. Dawson Fletcher and his wife, Mrs. Ella Fletcher, who was a passenger in the car, were serious ly injured and are patients in the Watauga Hospital. Funeral services for Conley Fletcher were scheduled to be held at 2 p. m. Wednesday, Sept ember 14, at the Henson's Chapel Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. E. 0. Gore, with burial in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. He is survived by a son, James Fletcher of Sugar Grove; three brothers, Troy Fletcher of Reese, Dawson Fletcher of Zionville, and Lee Fletcher of Elizabethton, Tenn.; three sisters, Mrs. Aut Tester of Zionville, Mrs. Roscoe Perry of Zionville, and Mrs. Smith Reese of Greenville, Tenn.; and six grandchildren. ' Episcopals Call Rev. Mr. McDuffie The Reverend John McDuffie, a North Carolinian, has accepted work as Priest-in<harge of the Episcopal Churches of Boone, Blowing Rock and Beaver Creek. Mr. McDuffie is a graduate of Christ School, Arden; The Univers ity of North Carolina, and the Vir ginia Theological Seminary, from which he holds a B. D. degree. During world war two he served in the Calvary Division in the Philli pines. Since then he has completed three years of Missionary service in the Episcopal Missionary Dis trict of the Panama Canal Zone. While thre he was in charge of St. Peters Church, La Boca and St. Simons Church, Gamboa for two years. During his third year he served as assistant at the Cathed ral of St. Luke, Ancron. He will live in the Rectory at Blowing Rock. In addition to his three missions, he will also serve as Chaplain to the Episcopal stu dents at Appalachian State Teach ers College. The Reverend Thomas C. Seitz who has served the Episcopal Churches at Boone, Blowing Rock and Beaver Creek for the past six years has accepted a call to Hunt ington West Virginia. Sherwood Man Dies At Age 78 Newton Spencer Fletcher, 78, died at his home at Sherwood on September 8. Funeral services were held on September 10 at 2:00 p.m. in the Henson's Chapel Methodist Church, with the Rev. Long, Rev. E. O. Gore and the Rev. Maurice Cooper in charge of the rites. Bur sal was in the church eemetery. The survivors are the widow, Mrs. Margaret Fletcher, three sons, Lester of Coatesville, Pa., Mace of Boone, Ralph of Zionville, two daughters, Doris and Riila of Sher wood. There are also two sisters, Mrs. Will Moody and Mrs. Lee Mast of Sugar Grove. Win. Frank Ray, Deep Gap, Dies Wililam Frank Ray of Route 1, Deep Gap died at his home on September 8. He was 70 years old. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p. m. on September 0 in the Laurel Springs Baptist Church, and bur ial was in the church cemetery. The Rev. Raymond Hendrix and the Rev. Ed Blackburn officiated. Survivors include the widpw, Mrs. Vettie Ray, the following sons and daughters, Mrs. Micael Capaldo of New Orleans, La., Mrs. Clinnard Watson of Lenoir, Mia* Opal Ray of Drexel, Shirley, Sylvia, Judy and Jeauiie of the hone, W. P. Ray. Jr of Deep Gap, Bill of Saa Bruno, Calif., his father, C. A. Ray of Deep Gap, four sisters { and two brothers. Horn Finances Receive Boost For Continuance Thli meeting will <}ecide whe ther we will continue our forward movement or go backward." These were the wordi which prefaced a plea Monday night at Boone Trail Restaurant for community support of "Horn in the West" by Watt H. Gragg, local Savings awl Loan Association secretary. Mr. Gragg, who explained to ap proximately 75 persons he had no official capacity in the production of the drama, said that unless a minimum of >18,000 was subscribed to through notes immediately by local citizens and those interested in the "Horn" the board of direc tors of Southern Appalachian His torical Asaociation will be con fronted with the posalbility of dis continuing the production which has played to 170,000 people since it started. He explained that the area could ill-afford to lose the benefita de rived from the show. According to figures cited by him, more than $2,900,000 has been realized in the economy of this area since the show first started; Watauga county has had a half-million dollars of advertising it would not have had except for the "Horn"; eight or nine motels have been built in the area in the past four years; more filling stations are in evidence; and all are doing better business than ever before. Mr. Gragg told the gathering that in past year the directors had signed notes before the production was made each year equalling *90,000 so the play could be staged. This year it was felt that the peo ple who stood to benefit most by the play continuing, should back it. The money asked for at the meeting, if raised, will be used for advertising the drama and oth er financial needs which arise in connjction with promotion work of the play. According to Mr. Gragg the year for the drama was ended with no money, but all debts were paid. A budget of *82,000 had been set up at tKe beginning of the year, and total receipts from all sources (including gste and program ad vertising) smounted to around (Continued on page two.) Veteran Aide In Boone Sept. 16 There will be a representative from the North Carolina Veterans Commission on Friday, Sept. 16th, to assist veterans in any of their insurance problems, also any oth er assistance in any of the veter ans entitlements. Veterans wishing to see Mr. Winchester should be at at the office of Lionel Ward, Veterans Service Officer, between the hours of 8:00 a. m. and 12:00 noon. Walter Johnson Speaks To C. Of C. On Bond Program The Boone Chamber of Com merce wu told Tuesday that Wa tauga County la "dragging its feet" in purchaaei of United States Sav ings Bonds. Walter Johnson of Sparta and Raleigh, chairman of the North Carolina Savings Bonds Division, addressing the regular monthly meeting of the civic body, said the savings bonds program has been assigned definite objectives by a national non-partisan committee, which can be outlined as follows: 1. Re-creating habit of practi cing thrift by individuals. 2. Helping to manage the nat ional debt, 26 per cent of which is in savings bonds. The goal is 40 per cent, he said. 3. Helping to ward off the en croachment of Communism, by making "haves" out of "havenots." 4. Building up a reservoir of savings that will insure continued prosperity. The program, said the speaker, is simply "selling shares in America.'" "We are doing the same job as during the war," he declared, "without flag waving." He urged that every person "ac cept your share of the responsi bility, and join in the effort to make America strong. Collapse comes from within, not without, and defense begins with a sound economy." Johnson was the Republican Can didate for Congress from this dis trict in 1932. Other guests were W. Guy An gell, newly-appointed superinten dent of Watauga County Schools, and Ross Patton of Coronet mag azine, who is in the county getting data and taking pictures for an educational feature to be publish ed by the nationally circulated magazine. President Stanley A. Harriss ap pointed a nominating committee to name candidates for the varioua offices in the chamber for the com ing year, to be presented at the October meeting. The committee is composed of W. W. Chester, chairman; Glenn R. Andrews, Paul A. Coffey, snd Fred Church. Eight European nations have protested to Washington over the recent increase in bicycle import duties. Alexander Slates Tour Of Watauga Hugh Alexander, Member of Congress from the 9th district, an nounced this week he plana to be in Watauga county during the day* of September 10 and 20. In his announcement of a tenta tive itinerary through Watauga, he says, "It ia my sincere desire to be of every service possible to the people of the Niath Congressional District and in an effort to make it easy for any of the people in Watauga county to contact me about any matter in which they may be interested, I have worked out this schedule." ? The schedule: Monday, Sept. IS. ? Lentz Service Station, Blowing Rock, 8 a. m. to 8:30; Harbin's Store, Shulls Mills. 04:18; Church's Store. Foacoe, 0:30 0:49; V. C. Co. Store. Valle Crucis, 10:18-10:30; Harmon a Store. Mat new, 10:48-11; Mast's Store, Valle Crucis. 11:18-11:30; Vilas Service Station, Vilas, 11:45-13 o'clock; Brown's Restaurant (lunch), 12:18 p. m.-l; Sherwood k Glean Store. Cove Creek, 1:18-1:30; V. D. Ward Store, Watauga River Road, 1:48-2; Perry Store. Beaver Dam, 2:45-3; Hagaman's Store, Beaver Dam, 3:184:30; Dean Reaee Store, Reece. 4-4:18; Tom Moody Store, Cove Creek. 4 455:00; J. B. Mast Store, Mabel, 3:484; Wilsons Store, Silverttooe, 0:304:45, Boone. 7:30. Tuesday ? Charlie Triplett Store, Perkinsville, I a. m. to 8:18; Meat Camp Service Station. West Jeff eraon Road, 0:304:45. Winebarger Store. Meat Camp, 04-18; Cook'* Store, Todd, 10-1015, A. 0. Miller Store, Deep Gap, 11-1:13; John Wel born Store, Stony Fork, ll:i5-12 noon; Boone (lunch), 12:30 p. m.-l:30; Fred Brown Grocery, Bamboo, 1:45 2; Simmons' Store, Elk, 2:45-3; Rutherwood Service Station, Ruth erwood, River'i Printing Office, Boone, 4:30. llr. Alexander stated he plans to visit the county later, but wanted the people of this section to have this opportunity to contact him if they desire. G. R. Andrews Gets Area Post G. R. Andrews of Andrews Chev rolet, Inc. in Boone has been ap pointed area chairman for Wata uga County, according to Charles G. Conn, Jr., of Raleigh, president of the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, who made the appointment As area chairman for Watauga county Mr. Andrews will be the liaaon between the state and na tional dealers associations and local dealers. Me will also direct the two associations' annual mem bership campaign to be held in early October. In announcing the appointment President Conn stated, "I am hap py to have such a capable and out standing mans aa Mr. Andrews in thly Important position. I fed cer tain he will ds a splendid job keeping dealers and the public abrest of matters of interest is the retail automobile industry." Tommy Owtley receivea congratulations from Father Franeii Murphy after receiving the Catholic Religious Award for Scouta foUowing Mais at the Church of the Epiphany, Blowing Rock, recently ? Staff photo. Enrollment Records Fall As ASTC Opens By EARLEEN G. PITCHRETT Appalachian State Teacheri Col lege opened her door* again thii week to the largest student body that had ever entered. Rglstration will continue through Friday, September 16, and students must be in class on Saturday, the 17th, to receive credit for the fall quar ter's work. Freshmen cam* in on the 0th, for a week of orientation, testing, and campus fellowship. 840 of them have registered, over a hund red more than were registered for the whole of last year. In addition, the largest number of transfer students ever to a fr tend have come to Appalachian from other colleges. Host of the junior colleges in North Carolina, and a few from surrounding states, are represented by its gra duates who have come to Appala chian for completion of their work. The total enrollment now stands at 1601. In addition to students who have not been able to regist er until this week, there will be added to this total at least a hund red studenta who will register Saturday for on-campus graduate work during the fall quarter. The total enrollment for the fall quar ter is expected to go well over 1700, breaking all previous re cords. r iiuuiues on i lie campus arc taxed to the limit. Classrooms not intended (or Urge classes have been pressed into service by the addition of chairs to take care of the overflow. The faculty, who have met the increased enroll ment with a very fine cooperative and helpful attitude, are carrying maximum classroom loads. Although larger numbers have enrolled than ever before, the col lege administration feels that It was one of the smoothest registra tions ever held at the college. Dr. J. D. Rankin, recently resigned as interim president of the institu tion, who helped the present ad ministration with registration, stated that he felt it waa one of the best registrations ever held, and that class and pupil loads were more evenly distributed than they had been in sometime. Dr. William H. Plemmons, and Dr. D. J. Whitener, who recently took over the reins of the institu tion as president and dean, respec tively, were on hand for registra tion, available for conferences, to help straighten emergency pro blems. snd to smooth the way for any who ran into difficulty. In addition to the new members added to the faculty for the year as previously announced, there are several additions. They in clude Dr. W. F. Hoffmann of StatesviUe, to the history depart ment; W. W. Powell, recently of Duke University, to the depart meat of English; Mrs. Rena Hoov er to the department lot history, Mrs. Sybil L. Winkler and Mrs. Bnreaucratic methods and peas ant stubborn ess have brought So viet agriculture to a crisis, ? sur vey indicated. Carolyn Baker to the department of physical education. Graduate aasistanu added to the teaching staff include Robert El lis in the department of music; Harry Welch and John Pyecha in the department of physical educa tion; Alden Halsey and Clive Hall man to the department of history; and Julian Carr to the department of English. MINISTER SUCCUMBS? Rev. N. M. Greene, well-known Watauga County Baptist minister, who died recently. Savings Prevail In All Lines, Price Ranges It'i trite but true that "all roads lead to Boone" Thurwlay, Friday, and Saturday of thia week, as Boone stores stage their first Dol lar Days sales event in several years. It is understood from the Mer chant* Association, sponsor of the promotion, that other stores throughout the county are also participating, making it a county wide, three-day savings jamboree. Merchants have been preparing for several weeks for the event, making special purchases and marking down many items in their regular stocks, so that shoppers are assured of bargains galore this week end wherever the red and yellow "Dollar Days" signs are displayed. In s letter sent out to all mem bers of the Boone and Watauga County Merchants Association, It was urged that all participating stores offer real dollar-saving specials, "not Just regular mer chandise that is currently priced one dollar," and a check of the advertising shows that this re- , quest is being complied with. The bargains, however, are not being confined to dollar items, but include real savings in all price ranges. Stanley A Harris, manager of the association, has summed it up thus: "Your dollar hasn't had it so good in years 1" The Merchants Association com mittee which planned the event is headed by John B. Robinson, chairman; 0. K. Richardson, Mrs. Jack Gragg. J. V. Caudlll, and W. W. Chester. ? ' ' " '' Blowing Rock C Of C Meets Sat. The annual fall meeting of the members of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce will be held at the high school auditorium Saturday, September 17, at 7:30 o'clock. All members, their wives and friends are urged to attend this meeting. Preceding the meeting, the an nual dinner will be served in the gymnasium at 6 to 7:30 at $1 per plate. The PTA will also serve dinner to the general public at the same time but tables will be reserved for the Chamber of Commerce. Invitations are being sent to the mayors and civic leaders of some twenty nearby towns and com munities to be the guests of the loeal Chamber for both the dinner and the meeting to follow. Murder Suspects Are Being Returned To N. C. Leonard La Fond, 20, of Milwau kee, agreed Friday to waive a hear ing on his return to North Caro lina to face federal charge* of in terstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. Both La Fond and Joe Ann Sev erson, 18, of Milwaukee, have been questioned about the death of a Chicago chemist, whose blankets wrapped body was found Sept. 1 in Mammoth Cave Park in Kentucky. The FBI at Charlotte, said infor mation it had obtained indicated that the chemiat, Lewis A Finn, 72, died in Watauga County, near Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The manner of death was not des cribed. Sheriff Ernest Bodges said Tuesday that he has received M notification of the return of the couple to North Carolina, and that m warranto in the death of the Chicago chemist have been laaaed. He added that District Solicitor Ja met Farthing, of Lenoir, will Issue a statement as soon aa there are any further developments. Miss Severson last Tuesday waived a hearing on her return to North Carolina. Miss Severson. held la San Antonio, Tex., was found to have helped trade off Finn's car while La Food was carrying identification belonging to the dead man. Both gave state ments which led to the finding of Finn's body. Finn had been mixing since he left West Palm Beach, Fla., July 20 to visit a brother in Yuma, Arii. In a statement, the FBI said that the body was found "in the vicinity of the area named by La Fond and Miss Severson as the place where they disposed" of Finn's body. When arrested at Truth or Con sequences, N. M? on Aug. 20, La Fond was driving ? 1M8 Pontiac, which had been traded for Finn's 1964 Chevrolet at El Paso, Tex., Aug. 8. James B. Powell, director of the North Carolina Bureau of Investi gation, reported he received a bul letin from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation quoting La Fond as saying he found a car belonging to Finn in Atlanta on July 33 or 24. La Fond was quoted in the Georgia circular as saying Miss Severson was with him yihen the car was found and that they separated in Las Cruces after a fight. Ham Supper At Blowing Rock W'i .; There will be a haai supper at Blowing Rock High School in the
Watauga Democrat (Boone, N.C.)
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Sept. 15, 1955, edition 1
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