North Carolina Newspapers

m CITY North Wilkesboro has a trading radius of 50 miles, fd&ing 1*0,000 people to Northwestern Carolina. THE JOURNAL-PATRIOT Wilkes district Boy and Girl Scouts organization have a program worthy of your atThe Journal-Patriot Has Blazed the Trail of Progress In the "State of Wilkes" For Over 43 Years tentIon »upp°rt Vol. 44, No. 7 Published Mondays and Thursdays NORTH WILKESBORO, N. C„ Monday, May 9, 1949 Make North Wilkesboro Your Shopping Center Pleasant Home Baptist Completes New Building One of the largest and most modern rural church buildings in northwestern North Carolina is the new church building reerected by Pleasant Home Baptist church, which is lqcated eight miles northwest of this city and near highway 16. The new brick church building has an auditorium which will seat 500, (but of more significance is the fact that the building contains 12 Sunday school rooms, adequate for every department of a standard church school. The Pleasant Home church building program was carried out under leadership of the pastor,! Rev. W. S. Luck, who recently resigned to become pastor of a church near Greensboro. In 194 5 Rev. Mr. Luck came to North Wilkesboro as pastor of Hinshaw Street Baptist church and was, pastor of that church between five and six years. During his pastorate Hinshaw Street church was remodeled, brick veneered and greatly improved with construction of 12 Sunday school rooms. The building committee worked untiringly on the project. At Pleasant Home church Monroe Faw was chairman of the building committee and other members were Clate Bumgarner. Howard McNeill and John Whittington. Mr. Whittington also was purchasing agent, foreman and supervisor of construction. The following statement of appreciation of Rev. Mr. Luck's services at Pleasant Home was issued: "We as a church are greatly indebted to him for the good that he has helped to bring about in our community. There has been a great number of additional members to our church. The Sunday school has had a large increase in attendance. Our record attendance of two hundred was reached during his pastorleader and organizer, and a great REV. W. S. IAJCK inspiration to us. We greatly loved our pastor and regret to see htm ti» Tlftt God's speed in his new church.'' Huggins Speaks Here Friday Noon North Wilkesboro Kiwanis club held a very interesting meeting Fr**y noon at Hotel Wilkes. Program Chairman Rev. Watt Cooper introduced M. A. Huggins, Executive Secretary of the Baptist State Convention, who brought a fine talk and thought to the Club on the subject, "Fellowship."' He said "Fellowship is jriare than the giving of gifts; it ps the sharing of ourselves and [what we have with others. Too fatten we have tried the sharing method when he should have been sharing. The Story of the fjood Samaritan, said he, is a •classic example. He said we Lhould .never share our hates, [envyings, jealousies, etc. and we ■ ought to share our faith, our [Tiopes, and all our new insights for better things. In so doing we shall have fellowship here and hereafter." Prior to the program President W. H. McElwee made a brief report of the division 3 meeting held in Lexington Thursday night. Seven North Wilkesboro members attended. * j Committees for thfe Horse Show and Wilkes Agricultural Fair, which are annually sponsored by the clu-b, were appointed. Guests were as follows: L. M. Nelson, Jr., with L. M. Nelson, Rev. J. E. Pearson with Dr. John T. Wayland, Dr. P. C. Stringfield wiht Dr. J. H. McNeill, Paul Ferguson with R. R. Church, Mrs. A. C. Chamberlain with Dr. A. C. Chamberlain, Joe Edwards with J. B. Carter, Phil Mitchell with J. R. Flnley. —V- o — Wednesday Stage Show At Drive-In Little Dock Wheeler, the OkUSyia Funmaker, will present his Troupe in person on the stage at the North Wilkesboro Drive-In theatre Wednesday night. Village Barn Dance, featuring Lulu Belle and Scotty, will be the screen attraction. r O —i Daring the first three months of 1949, churches contributed a total of $3,345,589.73 to the Southern Baptist Convention's national and worldwide program of missions, education, and benevolence. Wilkes County Coon Hunters Form Club Lonnie Combs was elected! president of the Wilkes Coon I Hunters club in organization meeting held at the courthouse Friday night. Other officers elected were: Vaughn Church, vice president; Arlie Foster, secretary-treasurer; T. C. McNeil, assistant secretary. Meetings will be held the first Friday night in each month at the county courthouse. Radford Will Play Here On Wednesday Instead Of Tuesday Attention of baseball fans is called to a change in the Blue Ridge schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10 and 11. North WilkesTx>no will play at Radford Tuesday instead of Wednesday, as the schedule shows. Radford will play in North Wilkes bo ro Wednesday, May 11, instead of Tuesday, May 10. o Meadows Infant Rites Held Friday Funeral service was held Friday afternoon at Greenwood cemetery in this city for Mable Farline Meadows, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Meadows, of Pores Knob.' The child was born at the Wilkes hospital Thursday morning and died within a short time. Surviving are the father and mother, one brother and sister, Bobby and Sarah Elizabeth Meadows, of Pores Knob. Funeral service was conducted by Rev. John Wells, pastor of Walnut Grove Baptist church, and Dr. John T. Wayland, pastor of the First Baptist church here. o Tom Jernette May Lose Eye Result Of Accident Saturday Tom Jenrette, manager of the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, received serious injury to his right eye Saturday afternoon while working at his home. A hammer which he was using left the handle and broke his glasses, the glass cutting his eye so severely that it is believed that sight In that eye will be lost. Mr. Jenrette is a patient at the Wilkes hospital. Operetta Friday At Local School The North Wilkesboro Elementary School will present the operetta, "The Cobbler of Fairyland," Friday night at 7:30 in the auditorium. The plot is a charming makebelieve story about good and bad fairies, elves and cobblers who all take part in a birthday party which the fault-finding queen and her hen-pecked husband give in honor of their daughter. It has been under the direction of Miss Judy and Mrs. Harris with the help of various committees. A small admission of 15c and 25c is being charged. This money will be used for the school library and the purchase of rhythm band equipment for next year. The main characters in the cast are: Queen Monarchia (the royal tyrant), Diane Rousseau; King Martin and Meek (her henpecked husband), Bobby Fincannon; Princess Delmarie (daughter of the royal pair), Catherine Jenrette; Percival (the court page), Reggie Moore; Lady Lucinda (Mistress of the robes), Biddie Powell; Rosaline (First lady in waiting), Ann. Weaver Starr; Head Painter (Chief of painter elves), Jerry Venable; Second Painter (his assistant), Gary Bottomley; Head Cook (of the royal kitchen); Mary Ann Brame; Second Cook (her assistant) Carol Bare; Fairy Cobbler (shoemaker to royalty and court) Cy Brame; Christobel (2nd lady in waiting); Carol Bare; Machiavelli (the cat—the brains of fairyland), Bernie Farthing; First Elf (who serves the cobbler), Maurice E<lledge; Second Elf (also in cobbler's service), Tommy Frazier; Vengefuletta (the uninvited bad fairy), Norma Sue Gester; Witch (who gets her spells mixed), Betty Jo Powell; Lord Mayor (a guest at the party), Jimmy Swofford; First Guest, Carolyn Wells; First Fairy, Betty Jean Helms^ Second Fairy, Lelia Cooper; Third Fairy, Cindy Farthing; Fourth Fairy, Gail Woodward; Fifth Fairy, Sylvia Abernethy. These and the 88 in the chorus make 112 children taking part in the operetta. , CL|NIC THURSDAY May clinic for crippled will be held. Thursday morning, May 12, at the Wilkes hospital. Robert F. Absher Lightning Victim Saturday Night Resident Shepherd's Cross! Roads Community Instantly Killed Funeral service for Robert F. ^ Absher, 25, who was killed byj lightning Saturday evening in the Shepherd's Cross Roads community north of Roaring River, will be held Tuesday, two p. m„ at Mt. Pisgah church near Dockery. Mr. Absher was visiting in the home of a neighbor, Marshall Harris, when he was killed. He was seated with four other people in a room of the Harris home when lightning hit the house. His armr was resting on a sewing machine. Lightning wrecked the radio, burst the floor and did other minor damage. Mr. Absher was instantly killed, Wilkes Coroner I. M. Myers, who investigated the death, said. Mr. Absher's death occured about seven p. m. during the "second electric storm of the day. Earlier in the day lightning struck a fence in front of the Harris home. Surviving Mr. Ahsher are his wife, Mrs. Arbutus Billings Absher; two children, Brenda Jt* and Linda Sue Absher; his parents, R. S. and Lola Absher, and the following brothers and sisters: Dock, Levi and Houston Absher, Mrs. Lura p. Billings, Jessie, Glenna, Mary and Betty -Jane Absher. Funeral service will be conducted by Rev. L. E. Sparks and Rev. Charlie Richardson. o Forsyth County Centennial 12th Mayor R. T. McNiel of North Wilkesboro today received an invitation from Maydr George D. Lentz of Winston-Salem and Roy W. Craft, chairman of the For-j sy$h Coujity Bqqxd ot JDaprais-r sfohera, inviting all of tW citizens of North Wilkesboro and Wilkes County to attend the Forsyth County Centennial Celebration. Thursday, May 12, is the big day in Winston-Salem for on that date Forsyth County, of which] Winston-Salem fs the county seat, will - celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding. ■■ - n V. F. W. To Meet Here On Thursday The regular meeting of Blue Ridge Mountain Post, 1142, Veterans of Foreign Wars will be held on Thursday, May 12th at the Post Headquarters. All members are urged to attend this meeting. Definite action will be taken on the new building. For this reason Commander Ralph Williams is very desirous of having a good representation at this meeting. Reports will be read on the result of the Carnival which should be of interest to each member. Come on out, fellows, and let's show our support of our new officers and let's get a new building started.—Reported. North Wilkesboro High School Band At Lions Meeting Ladies Night Planned For May 20; Pete Ivey To Be The Speaker North Wilkesboro high school band, under direction of Miss Eva Bingham, rendered a very delightful program Friday evening at the meeting of the North Wilkesboro Lions club at Hotel Wilkes. The band, which had rendered enjoyable programs before the club on several occasions during the past few years, showed great improvement and the numbers rendered during the program were enthusiastically received. Jack S"wofford and Rufus Church were in charge of the program. The club had two distinguished guests, Roy Beck, district deputy governor, and A1 Fields, of Hickory, zone chairman. Mr. Fields spoke ibriefly and oom| mended-the club here for its fine record. Plana were discussed for Ladies Night to be held May 20. The banquet will be held at Hotel Wilkes and Pete Irey, Winston-Salem columnist and humorist, will be the speaker. Legion To Hold A Special Meeting Wilkesboro Legion Post No. 125 will hold a special meeting at the Legion Hut on Wednesday, May 11th. All members are urged to attend this meeting. A motion picture with sound will be shown that should be of interest to all members. Comrade L. M. Nelson, District Commander of the 26th District will present a picture entitled "New Jersey Journey." This picture, furnished by Esso Standard Oil Company should be of real interest to all who are present at this meeting. The Nominating Committee of the post will present a slate of officers and election of officers for the coming year will be elected. , Delegates to the State Convention to be held in Raleigh will be appointed at this meeting by the new Commander. Because of the importance of this meeting Commander Bill Thomas urges all members to be present if at all possible. o Scout Camporee May 21 And 22 In Finley Park Deadline For Entry Blanks Will Be On Wednesday May Eleventh The District Camporee of the Boy Soouts wiUjbe held May 21 and 22 in Finley Park. The location in Finley Park is being changed. This year it will be held on the hill beyond Palmer Horton's. The water will not come directly from the city main as in the past but will be supplied from "Lister" bags as used by the army. The attention of all Scoutmasters is called to the fact that the deadline for entry blanks is Wednesday, May 11. Each Scout participating in tion'' which must be signed by a registered physician. This should be done by his family doctor or the doctor connected with his Troop or the public health officer in Wilkesboro. If no other arrangements are made, call Dr. G. T. Mitchell, Chairman of the District Health and Safety committee. Entry blanks and physical examination blanks have been sent to all unit leaders. Extra ones may be obtained from Gordon i Finley or Robert Gibbs at the Duke Power Company. Last year nearly a hundreScouts took part in this annual event and they are looking forward to an even more interesting time this year. Pageant May 12 At Wilkesboro 1 A pageant, "United Nations," will be given in the gymnasium of Wilkesboro high school Thursday evening, May 12, at 8 o'clock. There will be no admission and the public is invited. This pageant is part of the elementary commencement and *25 boys and girls of the first eight grades will take part. Lacy Huffman and William A. Groce, Jr., won in the contest to be Miss America and Uncle Sam. Anne Lowe and Charles Marlowe as runners-up will do the crowning. Besides Boy Scouts there will be children representing U. S., Hawaii, Ireland, Netherlands, China, Brazil, Mexico and England. The grammar glee club of sixty 'boys and girls will sing as well as children from thd lower grades. There will be patriotic and folk songs, games, and dances of the various countries. The third grade Rhythm Band of forty-five children will play several selections. The sixth grade representing England will take part simultaneously in three May Pole dances. A bull-fight will add excitement to the Mexican scene. Brazil Is represented by pupils of the seventh grade in a conga line and a samba jitterbug. The general committee is composed of Mrs. C. T. Doughtoxr, chairman, Mrs. James Bean, and Mrs. Yale Miller. o Twenty-five college students will represent the Southern Baptist Convention in Europe as "summer missionaries" during their school vacation period. Other groups of students will do mission work In Hawaii, Alaska, j and the San Andres Islands.. , Status Of the City Court Is Uncertain Attorney General Says Bill May Be Anjnyalid One The question of validity of the recent legislative ect changing the set-up of the North Wilkesboro city court is attracting much interest here. An act of the recent legislature provided that in lieu of the mayor acting as judge that the city commissioners appoint a judge,* who cannot hold any elective office, and who will be paid a salary instead of fees. J. Allie (Hayes, secretary of the Wilkes Bar Association, asked the office of attorney general for a ruling on the new law. In a letter to Attorney Hayes, Ralph Moody, assistant attorney general, stated that the attorney general's office did not follow a practice of giving opinions on the constitutionality of laws, but did in personal advisory remarks comment on the act and expressed doubt of its validity. The letter stated that the legislature by local or special act does not have power to establish a court inferior to the superior court, and such establishment of an inferior court can be done only under state-wide act of the legislature. The comments indicated that the attorney general considers the city court bill as passed by the legislature a measure which abolished the mayor's court and set up a new court. The act as passed in the legislature provides that the city commissioners appoint a judge and solicitor of the court on June 7. It has been held by the supreme eoart-rtfeat-the legislature by local or special act can abolish an inferior court, in which case lawyers point out that the! act passed this year in effect abolishes the mayor's court and sets up a different court which may or may not be declared invalid. The opinion has been expressed unofficially by legal authorities that North Wilkesboro would have no court if the new court is held to be unconstitutional. Following are excerpts from the letter of the assistant attorney general to Attorney Hayes relative to his unofficial opinion on the "matter under discussion: "This office has always made it a practice, at least ever since I have been in the office, not to give official opinions on the con stitutionality of acts of 'the General Assembly. As you already know, the constitutionality of an act is a question for the courts; and' anything we might say would only be suggestive or advisory. The special Court of the Town of North Wllkesboro is constituted and annexed to the office of Mayor under the charter provisions. You have now passed an act which attempts to completely divorce this Court from the office of Mayor and substitute an individual who will be selected and appointed by the Town Commissioners. As a personal opinion on this matter, I have very grave doubts as to the validity of the Act. I think that this is an act "relating to the establishment of courts inferior to the Superior Court.' It seems to me that what you have actually done or tried to do by this Act is create a new court and simply reenact or borrow the provisions relating to the jurisdiction of the Mayor's Court. To my mind, this is an entirely different court, and I am extremely doubtful as to the validity of this new court. This opinion, as I have heretofore stated, is only personal and advisory; and, no doubt, some defendant will very early test the validity of this new set-up." u Rat Campaign To Begin May 24th The rat eradication campaign to be carried out by North Wilkesboro and Wllkesboro in cooperation with the health department will begin on May 24, E. R. Spruill, county sanitarian, said today. All residents are asked to be ■9repsfed-.to jMake- sgre that no garbage will be accessible, to rats during the campaign. o Wiles Jewelry Sale Is Going Full Blast Wiles Jewelry selling-'out sale opened Thursday morning with large crowds flocking to the store where a line had formed before opening time. This sale is continuing in full blast with * drastic reductions throughout the store in order to sell out the stock of merchandise as soon as possible. The jewelry offered in this sale, which Includes the entire stock, has much of nationally advertised brands which are offered a real savings. o SUPPORT THE V. M C. A. FERGUSON-BENNETT TO FEATURE BOXING CARD SATURDAY NIGHT » Paul "Country" Ferguson, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Ferguson, Star Route, Wilkesboro, will come home May 14th, to fight tall, tough, hard hitting Sonny Bennett, of Mt. Airy, in 10round main bout of a boxing card at Wilkesboro high school gymnasium. Ferguson is a former Southern Welterweight champ. The sports event starts at 8:00 p. m. Ferguson played left guard on Wilkesboro high school team 1932, 1933, 1934 and graduated from Wilkesboro high school in Spring of 1935. /Ferguson won 126 pound boxing championships at C. M. T. Camp at Fort Bragg in summer of 1935. He was a member of 1935-36 King College boxing team—won Golden Gloves and A. A/ U. boxing championship In 1935-36. Ferguson turned pro in 1937. He won the Southern Welterweight Championship in 1939. Me won the Southern Welterweight Championship in 1941. iHe was physical director in the Coast Guard from 1942 to '45. Ferguson was once 8 th ranking welterweight of the world, and has fought many of the outstanding Welterweights of the world. Ferguson beat such outstanding -fighters as Jack Larimore, Jean Jones, Eddie Phillips, Phil Norman, Norman Rub•bioa, Bob Riley, Ted Bass, Jimmy Sullivan, Norman Mett, Early Hamilton, Wade Allison, Pat Gallman, Young Corbett IV, Slugger McCoy, Bulldog Mallory, Charlie Rands, Babs Hunt, Frank Shea, Tony Amarosa, Tony Prezlosa, Jack Steel, Bob Watts, Johnny Wilson. Ferguson fought two draws with Chuck Taylor, > and Taylor gave Welterweight Champion Ray Robinson a tough fight. Ferguson fought in Madison Square Garden eight times. Ferguson retired in 1946 because of a broken hand, and then he gave up the southern welterweight championship. He made a comeback in 1948 and won 1*8 straight fights, and has fought once in 1949. He knocked out Battling Jackson in four rounds. Ferguson was boxing coach of Greensboro 7. M. C. A and coach of Coast Guard boxing team in 1944. Ferguson is now tournament director of the Piedmont Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament in Greensboro, N. C. Ferguson's opponent will be Sonny Bennett, 158 pounds, of Mt. Airy. iBennett has had 75 fights, won 70, last 2, and 3 draws. He has never been knocked out. Bennett is a tall rangy, tough, hard punching fighter. He has fought many of the outstanding fighters of the south. Many think Bennett is the best young fighter of the south. Ferguson will depend on ring craft and experience to win. Bennett .will depend on speed, height, reach, and youth to win. Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will be sponsored by the Wllkesbofo Business and Professional Men'* Club for benefit of the Wilkesboro high school band.