1 * „iih a Prestige
a Half Century. A
. ' County Not a Com
munity Paper
ESTABLISHED SEPTEMBER 19, 1878.
COUNTY POLITICAL
SITUATION CLEARS
Two of Present County Com-j
missioned Decline to Be
Candidates— R. J. Johnson
Announces The Question
Is Whether These Declina
tions Will Satisfy Sentiment
for a Change.
W'h the announcement of Mr.
p j. Johnson, chairman of the
board of county commissioners,
ihat he will be a candidate to suc
ked himself, and with the virtual
declination of Messrs. C. D. Moore
and W. T. Brooks to be candidates
to succeed themselves, the political
situation begins to take form.
" Mr. Johnson has consulted many
citizens of all parts of the county
on the question of the old board’s
retiring, and he has found the senti
ment, he says, favoring the retain
ing of one of the old commission
ers. and he was perfectly willing
to retire, the wishes of the others
seemed positive and he has decided
offer himself again to the people.
There is no question in the mind
of the editor of the Record that
the board has done as well with
tie problems confronting it as al
most any three men in the county
could have done. Yet the Record
recognizes a desire on the part of
manv citizens for a change of of
ficer?, and feels that the retirement
of two of the commissioners will
go a long way toward allaying
the existing unrest.
The next question more concerns
the candidacy of the sheriff and
register of deeds, wlu> have held
their jobs for ten years. There
is scarcely a man in the county
who finds any personal fault with
either Sheriff Blair or Register of
Deeds Poe. They have both made
most excellent- records in their po
sitions. The desire, so far as it
exists for a change in those offices,
k relates entirely to the fact of their
[long tenure. There are many who
believe that ten years is as long
as any one should hold a county
office, in view of the fact that
there are always others equally
competent to fill the positions. Yet
if Messrs. Blair and Poe desix*e to
run. there is scarcely any one so
hardv as to attempt to oust either.
Clerk of Court Hatch is on a
comparatively different basis, as he
has not served so long, but only five
years, having been appointed to
succeed Dewey Dorsett, who re
signed. and having been elected for
only one term. However, if the
sheriff and register of deeds should
express the purpose not to run
again, there is little doubt that the
demand for a elean sweep, with the
possible exception of Mr. Jyxnson
of the board of commissioners,
would grow in intensity and that
there would be candidates against
Mr. Hatch if he should declare
himself a candidate. Well, the
coroner should probably be except
ed also, as his office is not held
in the same light as that of those
who devote all their time to their
ofincial duties, and Mr. Books has
made an exceptionally efficient
coroner, being a man of unusual
judicial temperament.
<s>
negro man victim
OF AUTO ACCIDENT
<§>
Saturday night, near the Harmon
I tv,?? station, two miles below
P‘ttsloro, on highway 75, a truck
driven by a colored man ran off
p embankment. He was instantly
.. Identification was easy, as
he had his name and address in his
car. He was from Durham and
j v ’“ s v. ner of the truck. The Rec
?t u ; not been informed as to
nis name.
<S>
ANOTHER WRECK
A car driven by Webb Taylor,
-ed, ran into Mr. O. B. Mann’s
/ v Saturday evening on highway
iin d caused the injury of two
P Mann’s daughters, Miss
•f ? .h‘ 9r r ‘' n( l Miss Viola, one right
b about the face, and caused
, lv ->. colored, who was rid
j.;;.', ' : the Mann car to get 'a leg
Mb‘ n - ( Co*h cj*s were seriously
jbb' 1 r ~d ; June Taylor, who was
b - v; kh Webb, professes that he
linking, but says Webb wasn’t.
s y,b hre M>und over to court, after
* rt -' lll jail Sunday.
men injured at mine
-b" rather tardy reporting
c ; . i: -. b y of four men at the
tC" > ' J * en mine, but better late
If./ 1 , M - at all. Rocks fell upon
IbuM 7 \ w hite men, a Mr. Camp-
I y.-y'^ iTr ‘ Talmage Johnson were
I boV 'r iy hurt. Mr. Johnson got
I beh* :u broken, while Mr. Camp-
Ixy y ui Ins face and ear injured.
lousV'' 0 co!ore( l men were not ,seri
■ nurt.
iar *kelle Marston of Chi
■ testin, as £ ran ted a divorce on her
that a red headed girl
The Chatham Record
* * I
* Moncure News *i
* * !
!*********,(:*****!
I Mr. and Mrs. Evan R. Ray and
little daughter of Mt. Airy and
; Miss Pauline Ray *who is teaching
in Mt. Airy schools spent last week
end with their parents here Mr. and
Mrs. J. R. Ray.
Miss Catherine Thomas, who is
teaching at Coal Glen spent last
week-end with her pai’ents, Mr. and
Mrs. C. C. Thomas.
Miss Annie Lambeth, a student
at Greensboi'o College, spent last
week-end with her parents, Mr.
and Mrs. E. E. Lambeth.
Dr. Chas. E. Houston and wife
of Cooleemee were in town one day
last week looking over the town
in view of locating here.
Rev. T. Y. Seymour of Buie’s
Creek, filled his appointments at
the Baptist church here Sunday.
His sermons were good and enjoyed
by all.
Mrs. J. A. Mims is visiting friends
in Raleigh this week.
Prof, and Mrs. H. G. Self spent
Sunday at her parents near Siler
City.
There will be services here at
the Methodist church here next
Sunday morning and evening by
Rev. J. A. Dailey, the pastor. The
public is cordially invited.
A play entitled, “In Hot Tomale
Land,” will be given by Moncure
Glee Club in the school auditorium
next Thursday night, March 6. The
public is cordially invited. Admis
sion 20c and 30c.
The Junior Epvvorth League met
at 6:30 o’clock last Sunday eve
ning. They have twenty members
and are doing good work.
The senior Epworth League met
at 7 o’clock. The president, Miss
Camelia Stedman, presided. After
calling the meeting to order and
minutes of the last meeting read
by secretary, Mr. Lewis Burns, the
meeting was turned over to the
leader for the evening, Prof. H. G.
Self, who discussed the subject,
“The Wesley’s and Their Work.”
in an interesting way. Charles Wes
ley was the writer of songs and
his songs were sung during the
sei-vice. John W’esley was really
the founder of Methodism. The
meeting closed with the league ben
ediction. Hawk’s Chapel quartet
will sing at the league service next
Sunday evening.
Miss Annie Lasater, the daughter
of Mr. T. M. Lasater, who grad
uated from State Teachers’ College,
Boone, last week, is now at home,
with her aunt, Mrs. M. A. Moore.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. R. H.
Wicker, a son, Robert, Jr.
Mrs. Erwin Walls of Fuquay
Springs is visiting her. sister, Mrs.
R. H. Wiker this week.
We are glad to state that Mrs.
R. P. Womble who was in a wreck,
near Carroll’s filling station last
Thui’sday was not sei'iously hurt.
A truck struck her car and pushed
it against a wire fence. Mrs. Woni
ble was bruised, but is getting on
very well. We hope she will soon
be entirely well again.
$
THE McNEILL BOOK CLUB
At its regular meeting today, the
book club which has heretofore in
formally called itself, “The Book of
the Month Club” officially adopted
the name, “The McNeill Book
Club.”
Wishing to honor and to show
their appreciation of him, the club
gave a progi’am upon John Charles
McNeill. From this influence sprang
the unanimous decision to name the
organization for him.
Those present at the February
meeting expressed themselves as
having especially enjoyed the pro
gram, as each one contributing seem
ed to do so from a sense of per
sonal love for the poet and not
only because she was “on the pro
gram”.
The McNeill Book Club was or
ganized on January 23, 1928. The
membership is limited to twelve
members and any vacancies that
.may occur are filled by secret ballot
of the membership.
The charter members were: Mes
dames Mary Barbel', Geo. Brooks,
Sr., W. P. Horton, James Cordon,
Wm. Hunt, V. R. Johnson, Walter
Johnson, W. £>. Siler, Will Chapin,
D. B. Nooe, Wade Barber, D. L.
Bell.
Miss Maggie Horne and Mrs. C.
N. Shiver have been received to
fill vacancies.
Mrs. George Brooks, Sr., has
served as president, and Mrs. W.
P. Horton as secretary since the
organization of the club. Mrs. Mary
Barber and Mrs. V. R. Johnson
have been librarians.
The plan of the club is most in
formal. The members enjoy read
ing the same books and discussing
them together. They endeavor
also, through books and current
magazines to keep abreast of the
times in the fields of literature and
art. The club is not a study club
|in the well known sense of the
! name but might more appropriately
Jbe -called a stimulation club, which
i through its meetings, suggests and
guides the recreational reading of
its membership.
<s> ——
Misses Violette and Eva Cordery
of Glasgow mortored 30,000 miles
PITTSBORO, N. C., CHATHAM COUNTY, THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1930.
ATTORNEY A. C RAY VICTIM
!OF AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
O
Well Known Lawyer and Esteemed Citizen
Killed Instantly Monday Evening by Car
Driven by Russell Griffin —Coroner’s Jury
Finds Death Due to Accident.
<§> 4
BURIAL ON WEDNESDAY
<§>
Town Shocked by Suddenness
of Tragedy Two Grief-
Stricken Families Recipients
of Much Sympathy.
The people of Pittsboro received
one of the severest shocks in the
history of the town when Attorney
A. C. Ray was instantly killed
Monday evening. He was run down
while walking on the left of the
highway from the school building
by a car driven by Russell Griffin,
a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Grif
fin, and a student in the high
school. ■
There had been an oratorical
contest at the school building that
evening. The contest was held to j
determine the school’s representa- •
tive in the county contest to be |
held at Moncux'e Friday evening. I
Mr. Ray’s son Leon had just won |
the distinction of representing the;
school. Mr. Ray had been present
and five minutes befoi'e his death
was talking to Supt. Waters about
the boy’s victory. He left afoot
from the school building, and
though there is a good sidewalk,
he took the highway back to the
business part of town. Supt. Reid
Thompson whirled past him and is
said to have thought of stopping
and taking him up. Mrs. Cordon
and James passed him a minute
before the tragedy, James recogniz
ing him as they passed.
His son Rev. Archie Ray had
arrived on the school grounds from
Virginia, evidently about the time
his father left the grounds. If he
had been two or three minutes
earlier, he would have doubtless
taken his father home. But if
Destiny was on the job she suc
cessfully thwarted these possible
means of escape. Hurrying behind
the Cordon car was the fateful
vehicle of his death.
Russell Griffin had borrowed
Charlie Mills’ car to take some girl
friends home. It was a single
seated car, and he took up three
girls. They were Misses Annie
Bynum, Virginia Bean, and Eleanor
Shoemaker. It happened that Mr.
Ray had just reached one of the
darker parts of the street. The
Cordon car had already turned the
corner into Main street. The road
seemed absolutely open, no cars
in sight and no thoughts of any
one’s being walking on the street
when there was a good sidewalk.
At the fateful moment, young Grif
fin looked down to do something
to one of the instruments on the
dash board, as the car was de
scribed by Miss Shoemaker as not
running well and “spitting.” Dur
ing that bifief moment the car
slided to the left of the road and
found its victim. Miss Shoemaker
was the only one of the quartet
who saw Mr. Ray, and she, a new
comer to the town, didn’t recognize
him, even if she might have done
so otherwise. The other two girls
felt a slight jar, but seem not to
have been greatly disturbed by it.
Miss Shoemaker told the driver that
she thought he had hit a man. He
could hardly believe it, so little
had he noticed the jar.
They were by this time near the
Methodist church and the young
man stopped the car, the young
ladies got out and he backed it
to the spot of the tragedy. He
was thunder-srtuck when he found
Mr. Ray lying dead. At that mom
ent Principal Waters drove up from
the school building and Russell
stopped him and told him he had
hit Mr. Ray. Mr. Waters hurried
for a doctor and was back directly
with Dr. Chapin, but death had
been practically instantaneous.
Others had arrived. Coroner Geo,
H. Brooks was there early, living
as he does only a short distance
away. He immediately empaneled
a jury composed of Messrs. Fred
Nooe, Newton Moore, J. D. Mur
dock. Bob Farrell, Bob Goodwin
and Waiter Woody, who viewed the
body where it lay. Further in
quest was postponed till Tuesday
morning at 10 o’clock.
Mr. C. J. Griffin, undertaker,
took charge of the body, but it
was found so badly broken up that
it was taken to Sanford, where
the facilities for preparing the body
under those circumstances were
greater. The skull was broken, an.
arm broken,. a leg, and many other
bruises and abrasians were in evi
dence. Mr. Bob Farrell, one of the
jury, stated that the skull was
broken like the shell on a boiled
egg when it has been tapped on
all sides.
Mr. Waters and Dr. Chapin had
the sad task' of breaking the news
to the family. ‘'
$> —
been told the shocking news, Mrs.
Cordon arrived on the scene, having
hurried to her immediately upon
learning of the accident, and as
that good lady had just gone
through a terrible shock herself,
she was peculiarly fitted for the
: moment. Mrs. Ray clung to her
\ and told her that there was no one
else whom she would have been so
glad to see, since she knew that
she knew how to sympathize with
her in her grief. Grief reigned
in the Ray home, but the poor
young man who had unwittingly
caused the tragedy was alone at
home, himself weeping. He had not
told his parents, who wei’e in bed.
He had been advised not to tell
his mother at that time, and he
had gone to bed. Principal Waters
went over to see him and, having
; called him out from bed, advised
j him to tell his parents, that the
j burden was too heavy for him to
carry alone and that they must
’know anyhow. Mr. Waters told
the father, and Mr. Griffinfi, smit
ten as he was, insisted upon going
at once to the Ray home, where,
upon his arrival, he expressed his
grief and proffered his services.
Fortunately, as stated, the oldest
son had just arrived. He was home
from his pastorate in Virginia, hav
ing resigned to accept a cajl to a
Presbyterian church in New Or
leans. He was to visit home folk
a few days and go down to his new
work. In Baton Rouge were two
daughters, Mrs. Saville and Miss
Martha. Mr. Saville is a professor
in the University of Louisiana;
Miss Martha is with her sister and
a student in the Univex*sity. A wire
told them of the tragedy. A tele
phone call by Prof. Waters inform
ed Wy’feth, who is a teacher at Mt.
Ulla, in the western part of the
state. He knew by 10:30 o’clock
and was one the scene early Tues
day morning. Mrs. Leslie Wall,
another married daughter, was in
formed at Legenvood, this state.
The other two children are Miss
Louise at home and Leon at home,
who had just won the distinction
in the oratorical contest.
The coroner’s inquest was con
tinued Tuesday morning, and the
three young ladies and Mr. Waters
told the story practically as it is
told here. The jury took the mat
ter into consideraton and l’endered
a verdict of accidental death.
Because of the delay necessary
for the arrival of the daughters
from Baton Rouge, the funeral was
not held till Wednesday afternoon,
and as the Record is going to press
at that time, the account of the
funei’al cannot be given in this
issue.
-A splendid character was given
Russell Griffin, the unfortunate
youth, by Prof. Waters, who de
clared him to be quiet, honorable,
and as having during six school
sessions given no occasion for
discipline. The three young ladies
with him are among the most in
telligent in Pittsboro and thus
could give all the story, though
little enough in proportion to the
sizez of disaster, in a most under
standable way.
$
DEATH OF MRS. THOMAS
.
Mrs. Bettie Thomas, whose crit
ical illness was recently announced
in this paper, died last Wednesday
afternoon at the age so 67.
afternoon at the age of 76. She
was the widow of the late J. A.
Thomas, who preceded her to the
grave 12 years ago.
Mrs. Thomas was a daughter of
the late Rev. Geo. P. Moore, found
er of Trade’s Hill Baptist church,
and Mrs. Thomas was the last sur
viving charter member of that
church, now called Pleasant Hill.
To her and her husband were
born sixteen children, ten of whom
still survive and are among the
staunch of citizenry of this and
nearby counties. They are Ben
Thomas, of Henderson, S. M.
Thomas of Apex, G. N. Thomas,
D. L. Thomas, Mrs. Will Drake,
Mrs. Addie Webster, Mrs. R. L.
Sturdivant, of New Hope and Cape
' Fear townships, Mrs. J. J. Hackney
of Bynum, Mrs. Gordon Copeland
of Durham, Mrs. J. R. Copeland
of Cary.
A brother and a sister also sur
vive, namely Mr. C. D. Moore, a
member of the board of county
commissioners, and Mrs. J. J.
Hatley. The late Wayland Moore
was also a brother of hers.
The burial was at the Pleasant
Hill cemetery, Thursday, February
27. Rev. R/R. Gordon, her pastor,
conducted . the funeral service.
Many friends and relatives were
in attendance.
- - js,
George Martin of Liverpool spent
■l* pn+irp Iptrflpy flf.J,
j************* **
* *
* Brown’s Chapel News’
**********;(.,(.*,(.*
YV e were glad to have a num
ber of visitors out Sunday after
noon to hear Brother Dailey’s fine
sermon on “The Unfilled Vessel.”
Many of those who have been sick
were back, but some are still on
the sick were back, but some are
still on the sick list. Our visitors
were from Chapel Hill, week-end
visitors of the Wright girls, also
some from Pittsboro and Hickory
Mountain.
Jerome Durham and Misses Jewel
Justice, Pearl Dai*k, Allene Dark,
D. Whitaker attended the Junior-
Senior banquet at Pittsboro Satur
day evening, and report a fine time.
Miss Belle Ellis and Mrs. Wiggins
of Durham were week-end visitors
of Mrs. W. C. Henderson.
The fine weather of late has been
taken adventage of by many to sow
grass, lespedeza, oats, and to pre
pare land for spring planting.
Sheriff Blair and four of his
faithful deputies destroyed a still
and a lot of beer. No man was
caught, but it was not the fault
of the officers. If those who know
of blockading will tell it, the sheriff
will do his part. Go tell the sheriff,
and if you don’t, quit blaming him
and him deputies. If all over our
counti'y and state we would do our
duty toward the law, and I am not
speaking of the officers, there
would be little complaint of non
enforcement of the law. The man
who kicks at the laws is usually
one who does not want to abide
by them.
As to the game law, for instance,
the men who made those laws,
whether lawyers or not, did a fine
thing for the farmers, but the most
of us are too dull to know it.
Before the game laws were passed,
cars would drive up to my house
and park. The men would jump
out with their dogs and off they
would start. When halted, they
would say, “O, I did not know
you lived here.” What if we were
to act so in a store or other places
of business. We need to wake up.
Things are going on all over the
state at great cost to the people
which could be avoided if we were
not so careless as to our duty,
and were not afraid to be blamed
or criticised for a right stand.
Mr. Harris Discusses
The Tariff Evils
——
Editor of Record:
I have read with much interest
your editorials on economics; also
the splendid article from Mr. Mur
phy in last issue of The Record.
I just wanted to ask you a ques
tion which, I think you will agree,
has connection with the subject un
der discussion.
If, by international agreement,
complete elimination of tariff should
be effected, would not this furnish
the shortest and surest road to re
lief?
And this calls for another: Do
you think that a self-governing
people, if the masses really under
stood the bearing the tariff has an
their every interest, would stand
for such a pernicious policy? Para
phrasing a little, it seems that
“Tariff is a game which, were their
subjects wise, governments would
not play at.”
A news item recently told of
the calling of a conference by the
League Assembly, at Geneva, to
discuss a tariff truce, but most
countries were indifferent if not
antagonistic. Why?
In America the expenses of poli-j
tical campaigns are paid by men
and corporations who have already
fattened on the people and are
ever calling for more. With big
contributions they gain the privi
lege of dictating higher rates. This
was never more plainly demon
strated than by recent tactics in
Congress.
Mr. Hoover really wanted, it
seemed, to enact some farm relief
legislation, but the high-tariff men
couldn’t resist the temptation to
tinker with their beloved hobby.
Putting tariff on agricultral pro
ducts in this country was an in
sult to the intelligence of the
farmers. Removing tariff from nec
essities he must purchase would
have given relief worth while.
Our country doesn’t need tariff
for revenue; all countries can
maintain their governments with
out recourse to a policy that has
become a disgrace to civilization
and is constantly growing worse.
The great law of supply and de
mand must control farm products
and all other products should be
subject to the same jurisdiction.
If one part of the earth can sup
ply any necessity, natural or man
ufactured, cheaper than other parts
the common people should have
the advantage without any govern
ment-imposed barriers. If the nat
i ions could agree to slay this octo
j pus, obolish this most wicked policy
ever sponsored by a government
they would do more to promote
peace and brotherheod, than in
sinking all the warships afloat.
.T. S. Harris
Subscribers at Every
PostofSce and All R.
F. D. Routes in Great
County of Chatham.
■■ ■ ■■ J
VOLUME 52, NUMBER 22
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♦ *
* Bear Creek News *
♦ a**************
\
A. D. Coggins is having a siege
with mumps. He seems to have
suffered a relapse, but we hope
he shall soon be out again.
The Nall Land sale, near here,
was well attended, which was held
last Saturday afternoon. Rev. J.
W. Marsh, colored, bought the home
place, containing 62 acres, while
W. H. Garner bought the other
tract, which contained 35 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Smith and
Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Paterson and
families of Greensboro, were Sun
day visitors in the home of W. A.
Coggins.
S. Jackson Fields, of Cumnock,
Rt. 1, is seriously ill at his home.
We wish him an early recovery.
T. P. Beaver, of Rt. 2, is con
fined to his home with sickness,
but we hope he shall soon recover.
Miss Mamie Burke, of Burling
ton, spent the week-end with her
people on Siler City, Rt. 5, near
Meroney church.
Glenn McDaniel and his sister,
Mrs. Sid Fink, of Durham, were
Sunday visitors in the home of
Latt D. Poe.
Mrs. E. B. Straughan, of Saxa
pahaw, spent the week-end in the
home of F. C. Straughan, on
route 2.
Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Thomas and
family and B. S. Beaver and son,
J. 8., all of Durham, were week
end visitors in town.
M. F. Norwood has installed a
radio in his home.
Mrs. Latt D. Poe, who has been
on the sick list for a few days, is
improving, we are glad to state.
W. B. Beaver, of Durham, was
a Sunday visitor in the home of
his father, T. P. Beaver.
Elmer Moore has moved from his
place (the Glosson place) to I. H.
Dunlap’s place on route 2, where
A. J. Barber formerly lived.
Miss Emma Beal has moved from
her place, near what formerly was
Pedlart’s Hill, to J. S. Hart’s plaee,
on Cumnock, Rt. 1. We regret to
lose these people.
■ &
Hoover Searches for
Facts His First Year
A diagnosis of American life in
varied phases—industrial, social and
ecnomic—has characterized Herbert
Hoover’s first year in the Presi
dent’s chair
The anniversary of his inaugura
tion, March 4, finds the engineer
executive in the midst of a broad
program of governmental investiga
tion into vital forces affecting men,
women and children.
It is this fact-finding spirit that
has dominated Mr. Hoover’s first
year in the White House. With the
engineer’s propensity for analysis
before action, he has named an un
precendented number of investiga
tory commissions.
Ffteen groups, directed by spe
cialists, have been appointed to
delve into problems that touch the
farmer, the business man, the house-,
wife and the nation’s youth. No
other president ever placed such
faith in extra-constitutional investi
gation.
Negotiations leadng to the Lon
don naval conference, enactment of
a farm relief bill and persistent
scrutiny of the nation’s prohibition
dilemma perhaps were outstanding
among all events of President
Hoover’s first 12 months in office.
The law enforcement commission,
' whose activity probably aroused as
much public interest as any, saw
its reports followed by prolonged
congressional debates on the na
tion’s dry laws.
The farm board, backed by $500,-
000,000 in government funds, is
charged with rehabilitation of
American agriculture. By act of
Congress it is directly possessed
of executive duties.
Other Hoover commissions, re
flecting the president’s initiative in
commandeering experts to consider
new and negiecteu problems, deal
with matters that are expected to
be major developments of the next
sveral years.
The committee on social trends,
for instance, contemplates a most
exhaustive survey of social prob
lems. Three years will be spent of
25 major social questions. The child
welfare survey and committee on
illiteracy are expected to expedite
state and national legislation and
leform for years to come.
Long-time development of inland
waterways is outlined as work of
the intei’oceanic canal board.. The
recently-named Haiti commission
looks toward eventual withdrawal
of the United States from affairs
on that island.
The nation’s industry generally
was given impetus toward continued
constructive activity by the Presi
dent’s conferences with business
leaders shortly after the stock mar
ket crash.
A year in the white house has
seen no cessation in \r. Hoover’3
vim for activity. Seldom has .he
allowed interference with his work.
Week-end fishing trips last summer