Sell Your Tobacco
? V
on the Boone Market
An independent Weekly Neumpaper ? Ettablithed in the Year Eighteen Eighty-Eight
BOONE, WATAUGA COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, JANUARY S, ltS<|?
?Staff Photos by Joe Minor !
LEONARD LA FOND JO ANN SEVERSON ?
Milwaukee Pair, Accused
Of Slaying, In Jail Here
By JOE C. MINOR
"I sure would like to be home
in Milwaukee."
That's about all Jo Anne Sever
son, 18, and Leonard La Fond,
20, would aay last week in Wa
tauga County jail, * after being
brought here on first degree mur
der warrants by Sheriff Ernest M.
Hodges and his deputies.
Warrants against the Wisconsin
pair allege that they killed Dr.
Lewis A. Finn, 72, Chicago chem
ist, near Blowing Rock on July 28.
They have been in federal custody
since their arrest a several months
ago. La ~ Fond in New Mexico,
and Miss Severson in Texas. They
were arrested by FBI agents for
transporting a stolen car ? belong
ing to Dr. Finn? in interstate com
merce.
After their arrests, according to
reports at the time, the two di
rected FBI agents to Dr. Finn's
body. The body was found in
Mammoth Cave National Park, Ky.
It was wrapped in an Army blan
ket and concealed under canvas.
The area in which the body was
found was overgrown with vines,
indicating it had been in the park
for several weeks. ,
Positive identification of the
body was made by Dr. Max
Korkosh, Chicago dentist, 'and Rich
ard Finn, a brother, of Denver.
The couple were reported to
have said they had disposed Of
Dr. Finn's remains at the place
they named. Dr. Finn had been
missing since late in July when
he left the horn; of a brother at
West Palm Beach, Fla., to visit
another brother at Yuma, Afiz.
La Fond would make no state
ment concerning his confinement.
Miss Severson said she would like
to talk but was afraid to until
she obtained a lawyer. Each
one was reading a book when
visited Friday. Miss Severson said
she had made a "lot of friends"
since being locked up ? "more than
I had before."
Lacking jurisdiction tne death
the federal government agreed to
releate ttje pair to the itate for
prosecution. State ipurder war
rants against La Fond and Miss
Severson were issued October 12.
Since being returned to North Car
olina, La Fond has been in For
syth County Jail in Winston-Salem,
and Miss Severson has been in
Stanley County Jail at Albemarle.
The federal authorities have de
tainers on the pair 09 the stolen
car charges. .
In September Ray J. Abbatic
chio, Jr . special agent in charge
of the Charlotte FBI office, said
' an "extensive investigation" show
ed the killing occurred in Wa
tauga County, but he did not dis
close what evidence indicated this.
Federal agents at San Antonio,
Texas, refused to confirm reports
by tenants of the rooming house
where the girl stayed that the
agents found a "frog sticker" knife
it her suitcase lining when she
was picked up.
Tenants were reported to have
said one agent handed a knife to
another, saying, "Take good care
of that, that may b* the weapon
we're searching for."
La Fond, it was reported, ad
mitted when he was arretted at
TTuth-or-Ctasequeaces, N. M.. on
I August 16, that he had sold Dr.
Flaa's oaf at El Pas*, Tex., on
I 1
August S. Dr. Finn's papers and
identification cards were found in
La Fond's possession.
La Fond said he found the car
abandoned along a road "some
where in Kentucky." When au
thorities found the car at El Paso
it still contained all Dr. Finn's
fishing tackie and photographic
equipment except a camera and a
bedroll.
James* C. Farthing of Lenoir,
solicitor of the 16th District, is
expected to seek to obtain murder
indictments \ against the pair at
the January 23 term of Watauga
Superior Court.
It also is expected, tf true bills
are obtained, that La Fond and
Miss Severson will go on trial dur
ing that term of Superior Court.
March of Dimes Drive
i
Started in Watauga
The annual March of Dimes
campaign, designed to raise addi
tional fund* for the care of those
stricken with polio, got ander way
in WataugQ county Tuesday.
Messrs Hugh Hagaman and
Stacey C. Eggers are co-chairmen
of the campaign this year and state
that an organization is being set
up designed to raise the county's
share of the toeeded money at the
earliest poasible date.
A i* pointed out that despite the
effectiveness of the Salk vaccine,
the problem of caring for and
ministering to those already strick
en is still will us. A number of
Watauga county people have been
afflicted, and are still to be mini
stered to. So complete cooperation
of the people is being urged.
Many activities are being plan
ned for the campaign period, de
tails of jrhich will be announced
shortly.
First Baby Born
The first ^baby of the New Year
to be born' at Watauga Hospital
was Tuesday morning at 12:37.
The parents of the little girl are
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Vines of Sugar
Grove. Hoipital attendants don't
know whether or not there were
other babies boAi earlier in the
' county.
Burley Sales Resumed
With $58.52 Average ?
The Boone burley tobacco mar
ket resumed sales following the
holidays Tuesday, January 3, and
told 129,000 pounds for an aver
age price of $98.32 per hundred.
Total sales through Tuesday were
2,247,996 pounds, for which $1,
296,177.06 was paid to growers
for a season's average of $97.67.
Burley is maintaining the high
price level which prevailed at
Boone during the last two weeks
before the Christmas recess, and
no appreciable decline is foreseen
by local warehousemen in the brief
selling time remaining.
It has been announced that the
drawing for the free 1996 G.M.C.
truck for which ticket* have been
issued throughout the season by
K. C. Coleman and associates, will
be held next Wednesday, January
11, at 12:30 p. m. at Mountain Bur
ley Warehouse No. 1. If the hold
er of the winning ticket is not
present at the drawing, the num
ber will be publicized, and ample
time will be given the' winner to
claim the prize.
Tickets will continue to be given
until the date of the drawing, it
was announced.
T.B. Seal Sale
Short In County
Receipts of the Watauga County
Christmas Seal sale standi at 91,
828.78, Recording to Miss Helen
Ufldardown, sale chairman.
This total falls 1171.39 short of
the drive goal, Hiss Underdown
said.
She added that it is hoped con
tributions will continue through
January and that the quota may
still be reached.
Health Group
Maps Plans For
Future Program
Ail executive committee meet
ing of the Watauga Health Coun
cil was held Monday night, Dec
ember 9 at the health department
office, Dr. Jack Martin, president,
presiding.
Present as a consultant was Miss
Grace Daniel, director of the sec
tion of health education of the
North Carolina State Board of
Health.
It was decided to call a meeting
on Tuesday, January 17 at 7:30 p.
m. in the Grand Jury room of the
courthouse, to be attended by a
representative of each community
in the county. At that time specific
plans will be made to undertake a
continuing program which will be
the result of a study of recognized
health needs. Making use of the
resources available to meet those
needs, followed by plans as to
how best to use them.
The health council will work
closely with the community better
ment association in those com
munitiesj so far organized, and in
others through local groups ^n the
neighborhoods.
It Is hoped that each commun
ity will be well represented at this
important meeting.
Health education consultation is
available from both the State
Board of Health and from the
State Medical Society to make this
program a vital factor in more
healthful living in Watauga coun
ty.
Burley Growers O.K.
Quotas in Balloting
Ninety-nine and eight-tenthi per
cent of the voters taking part' in
the Burley referendum in Watauga
county December 20, cait their bal
lot* in favor of quotas for the next
three year*/ it i* announced by
County ASC chairman B. W.
Farthing.
Of the 1207 ballot* ca?t in the
referendum, 1204 were marked for
quota* and 3 against.
The tally in tHe various com
munities is as follows:
Bald Mountain and Meat Camp:
for 97, against none.
Beaver Dam: for 226, against
none.
Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge, Elk,
Stony Fork and New Rivfer: for 46,
against none.
Brushy Fork: for 171, against
none.
Cove Crack: for 360, against 1.
Laurel Creek: for 134, against 2.
North Fork: for S3, againit none.
Shawneehaw: for 29, againit
none.
'Watauga: for 88, against none.
Scout Meeting
Is Postponed
The January meeting of the Boy ,
Scout diftrict Committee and round j
table hai been postponed from Its
refular time to Monday night, ,
January 9, according to an an- 1
nouncement by Dr. J. T. C. Wright,
district chairman. The postpone- j
ment was made necessary by com
plications in the schedule of Joe
Davenport, field executive. 1
The meeting will be held at the j
Parkway School, and will be the
first scout meeting to be held out- |
side Boone. Other meetings later
will be held at the headquarters
of other scout troops throughout I
the county.
JEWELRY STORE LOOT
RETURNED WITH GREETING
Montreal, Jan. I, ? Somebody ;
looted a Montreal jewelry store's '
outdoor showcase Christmas Day.
Now all the loot? a silver bowl,
wine glasses and several Silver
brooches ? has been returned.
Eric Ohman, owner of the store,
said there was a note with the
(tuff, reading Happy New Year."
?
~ ^ s\?? srar.r x? 1 21 as- ? >
?. - ?? ? - isrrrr.'s.:
by Paul A. ' ''^j#,!^^' C'?"^ V?l
ALFRED B. BOYLES
Charlotte Man Will
Head Horn Publicity
Alfred B. Boyles of Charlotte
haa been appointed director of
public relations for 'Horn in the
West, Boone's outdoor drama,
which ia again to be presented by
the Carolina Playmaken June 30
through September 3. ?
Mr. Boylea, who haa been close
ly identified with the theatrical
world moat of hia life, started his
career at the age of fourteen aa a
vetriloquist. While serving with
the army in India during the laat
world war he waa selected by Mel
vin Douglas, stage and screen star,
to head the first unit of GI enter
tainers sent to the front lines to
help build he morale of the foldi
ers.
In the fall of IMA Mr. Boylea
joined the Veterans' Hoapital Pro
grama, a Protestant church or
ganization organized to provide
entertainment for the patients of
veterana' hospitals. In addition to
heading the national publicity and
Arrested For
Felling Trees
Myrl G. Brooks, Parkway Forest
Service Ranger tells the Democrat
that Robert Bradshaw of Blowing
Rock was arrested on a charge of
cutting Christmas trees on Park
Service property.
Taken before Commissioner
Ralph Davis in North Wllkesboro
he was fined $80, Mr. Brooks aaya.
The Ranger asks for the coopera
tion of the people in the preserva
tion of Government property in
this area, for the pleasure of the
people here and of the large num
ber of viaitors to the area.
promotion for the organization, he
waa treasurer and later vice- pres
ident. When the program! (or
hospitalized veterans waa charted
in 1964, Boyles was elected Presi
dent aitd National Chairman.
Associated with him In bringing
cheer to the wounded -end ill in
the veterans hoepitals, have been
many well-known stars, including
the well-known McGuire slaters, of
the Godfrey tv show.
Mr. Boyles ia a native of West
Virginia, having graduated from
Morris Harvey College in Charles
ton, W. Va. He did his graduate
work at the Duke University Divi
nity School.
He is married to the former.
Mary Eva Sipe of Charleston, West
Virginia. They have one son. Ran
dy. They will establish their home
in Boone.
Mrs. Hodges Is
Taken By Death
Mrs.. Grace Geneva Hodges, 56,
of Boone. Route 2, died at home
Sunday, January 1. ,
Graveside services were held at
3:30 p. m? January 3, at the Mount
lawn Memorial Park in Boone, con
ducted by the Rev. E. F. Trout
man, and the Rev. J. K. Parker,
Jr.
She is survived by the husband,
Finley P. Hodges; two sons, Rob
ert D. Hodges, Hendersonville, and
Charles Hodges, Boone; tjiree
daughters, Mrs. Howard Wilfong,
Charlotte, Mrs. W. M. Dixon,
Boone, and Mrs. Burkett Younce,
Orlando, Fla.; and five brothers,
one sister, and nine grandchildren.
Dr. Hodges New Head
Of Historical Group
Dr. J. E. Hodges, Maiden vet
erinarian and a former Watauga
county resident, was signally hon
ored when on December 2 at the
annua] meeting In Raleigh, he was
unanimously elected president of
the North Carolina Society of
County and Local Historians.
This society la one of the cul
tural organizations of the state aad
has for its purpose the collecting
and recording of the local hiatory
of the varioua regions of the state
Its membership consists of. mem
bers of the facility of the Univer
sity of North Carolina, Duke Uni
versity and Wake Forest Collage
and other educational institutions
of North Carolina, members of the
Depart meat of Archives fend Hi*
tory, N. C. writers, hiatory teach
ers and others interested in local
state hiatory.
One of the important features of
the society's work is the conduct
ing of tour* of countiei conU'n'nf
places of historical imporuncc,
such ai old colonial homes, kite* of
historical events, etc.
It awards rotating trophies for
the best books and articles on N.
C. history, and certificates of merit
for the best and most outstanding
newspaper articles on local his
tory.
The state has been divided into
ten districts with a district vice
president in each district to assist
in the work of the organisation.
Mr Clarence Griffin, president
of the Western N. C. Historical
Association of Forest City, is dist
rict vice-president of the territory
which embraces Watauga county.
Dr Hodges succeeds Dr. William
S. Powell of the University of N
C-, at Chapel Hill .who has served
as president of the society for the
put two yean. Wv ""
. Ti
-
New Officers To
Be Installed;
Other Features
The annual meeting of the Cham
ber of Commerce will be held at
the Demonstration School on
Thunday evening at 6:30. The
program will include tome ipecial
music, tome group tinging led by
Milton Greer, the address by Dr.
William Plemmons, and installa
tion of new officert and board by
'Watt Gragg.
A turkey dinner will be terved
by Mrs. Ralph Tugman and her
associates at 6:30 followed by the
program.
The meeting is not limited to
the members of the Chamber of
Commerce and all persons interest
ed in the growth of Boone are urg- ?
ed to attend. Tfckets may be se
cured from Leo Pritchett at the
college, Wayne Richardson at
Boone Durg Company, Richard
Kelley at Reins-Sturdivant, Louis
Smith at his office, G. C. Greene,
Jr., at Greene Buick, Paul Coffey
at the Parkway Hardware, or at
the Chamber of Commerce office.
Reservations may be made by call
ing AH 4-3646.
it u Ladies' Night, and already
60 reservationi have been nude
by the Rotary Club, 32 reserva
tions have been made by the IRC,
in addition to the members of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The Program
Following is the program for the
gathering:
Invocation, the Rev. E. H. Low
man.
Call to order, Stanley A. Harris.
Introduction of guest ? Rotary
: members and wives by L. H. Smith;
IRC guests, Fred Gragg or Rich
ard Morehouser; Lions club and
wives, Dr. Lee Reynolds; guest*
from college, Leo Pritchett.
Special music, Nicholas Erne<
ton.
Report of president, Stanley A.
Harris.
Reading, William C. Ross.
Introduction of speaker, L. H.
Smith.
Speaker, Dr. William Plemmons,
president Appalachian State Teach
ers College.
Report of nominating committee
and election ft officers, Willis W.
Chester.
Induction Of new officers and
board. Watt Gragg.
Benediction, the Rev. Edwin
Troutman.
Shepherd To
Continue As ASC
Office Manager
Mr. M. L. Shepherd wan re-elect
ed office manager at the meeting
of the ASC committee held Friday,
December 30.
After giving careful coniidera
tion to each application received
"with regard to experience, skilled
background, and responsibility re
quired of an office mangaer" the
decision wai made to keep Mr.
Shepherd in the post he has held
for many years.
The Committee, it is stated, ia
anxious to work with all farmers
in carrying out a better ASC pro- >
gram in Watauga county in tho-1
coping year.
Chas. Vannoy
Funeral Held
Charlie Enoch Vannoy, 78, died
Friday, December 30, at his home
in the Bamboo community.
Funeral service* were held at 2
p. m. Saturday, December 31. at
the Mount Vernon Baptist Church,
conducted by the Rev. Barney Oliv
er and the Rev. Will Cook, and
burial was in the Vannoy ceme
tery.
He ia survived by his widow,
Mrs. Edwinni* Vannoy; seven bro
thers, James, of Columbus. Mon
tana, Tell, o i Lake Stevens, Wash ,
Urry, of Snoh^to^ Wash . Letcfc