North Carolina Newspapers

News NKWS-Sl^sSioi^'l. :2 is dedicated iTo~cbvl&ting in?" News and to the promotion of progress for all of the people in Sparta and Alle ghany county. I STAKTA NEEDS MOW . . . an industrial plant, a. mo dern hotel, a feudal posi l >e building and a civic club. Let's go after them! AND STAR-TIMES—(CONSOLIDATED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1941)—ALL. EGHANY COUNTY’S ONLY NEWSPAPER, $1.00 a Year in Alleghany County $1.50 a Year Out of County SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA VOLUME 54, NO. 21 February Quota Tire Rationing Is Given Board One Less Passenger Tire And Tube Allotted In Coun ty Next Month FIVE TIRES SOLD The February quota of tires to be allotted in Alleghany countv has been given the local rationing board, and one less passenger tire and tube than in January will be sold here. The quota for next month is four passenger tires, three passen ger tubes, 17 truck tires and 30 trucks tubes. The tires alloted for the third week of January by the board were: R. C. Gentry, passenger, to maintain /mail service; Johnnie Hamm, two truck, Rex Mitchell, truck, and D. C. Truitt, truck, for transportation of farm products. The local board is to be reg istered soon for the duration of the tire shortage, but what action will be taken was not known this week as the present three mem bers have said they are only serv ing temporarily until another board can be named. The mem bers are C. R. Roe, C. C. Cast evens, and Duke Bledsoe. The board serves without re muneration or compensation, and regulations call for members who are not dealers in tires. The coun ty defense council names the three members of the board, and Floyd Crouse is chairman of de fense in this county. F. D. R. Birthday Dance Saturday Infantile Paralysis Is Cause For Events And “March Of Dimes” The “President’s Birthday Dance” will be this Saturday night in the Sparta high gym nasium beginning at 8:30, and all proceeds will be turned pver to the Infantile Paralysis foundation, according to Mrs. Alton Thomp son, chairman of the committee for the celebration o f the Presi dent’s diamond jubilee birthday. President Roosevelt is 60 years old this Friday and as has been the ■custom of recent years, is allow ing his birthday to be the occa sion to raise funds with which to fight poliomyelitis. The local campaign hopes to Taise $160 from a benefit basket ball game between Spar'a and Fries, Va* here this Thursday night, the dance Saturday, and contributions to the March of Dimes in the Wishing Well con tainers that have been placed in public places. An amplifying system will be v used in the gymnasium for the President’s Dance, and music will be by Clifton Evans. Script has been announced as 50 cents for men, with no charge for la dies. Collection Is Slowed But Be Made In Week The collection of scrap metal was slowed in Alleghany during the past week due to lack of trucks to transport the scrap here, but County Agent R. E. Black said it would be gathered im mediately. All types of articles were taken to the places of collection in the county, Mr. Black said, includ ing scrap metal, papers and rags. These articles will be sold to some dealer, Mr. Black said, and the money turned over to the Red Cross. Beginning In This Issue Tragedy of X A Thrilling Mystery —By— ELLERY QUEEN Don’t BUss It! Group Talks Of Defense Needs The Alleghany USDA defense board recently met in Sparta with Bryan Collins, of Boone, assistant soil conserva tion specialist now working in cooperation with the TV A and the North Carolina extension service, to discuss plans for the collection of scrap metal and importance of farm machinery i repair. Shown in front of the Community building after the meeting are: (front row, 1. to r.) C. G. Collins, chairman of the beard; R. E. Black, county agent; Bryan Collins, of Boone; and W. O. Hooper, local soil conservationist. In back is R. H Crouse, dairy specialist, and Robert Fleetwood, FSA supervisor. (Staff Photo) AEF’S Now In Action Japs Losses Great; Singapore In Danger Record Icicle Seen In Sparta A record icicle (or Sparta was seen last week when the city water tank overflowed. The overflow froze and made an icicle from top to bottom of the tank. Inside the tank was 18-inches of iee. Belk’s To Give Defense Stamps Annual January Clearance Sale Will Open On Fri day morning Belk’s will cooperate with Na tional Defense in two ways when this store opens its annual Jan uary clearance sale, on Friday morning, Manager Bill Sprinkle explained. “On the opening day we will give away a defense stamp to the first fifty customers who make purchases at our store, and our sale will enable everydne to save money to buy defense stamps and bonds,” he said. Manager Sprinkle pointed out that many items were being offer on sale during this big ev ent at much less than the price at which the store could replace them. “This is an ideal time to buy merchandise to use right now and next winter too, and through out the store are to be found hundreds of values,” he declared. Miss Long Will Do Work Among Blind In County Speeial instruction to all blind persons in this county will be giv en by Miss Hazel Long, of Lenoir, district case worker of the State Commission for Blind, who will spend at least a day and a half in the county each month, start ing in February, Mrs. Inez Wall, of Granite Falls, field supervisor for the Commission, announced yesterday. Miss Long plans to be in Alle ghany every Friday after the first Sunday. While in the county, she will work under the direction of the welfare department. Other counties in her territory include As he, Watauga, Wilkes, Caldwell, Alexander, Burke and Lincoln. Her district headquarters are in Lenoir. "Miss Long will do case work and give home instruction to the blind," Mrs. Wall stated. "This in struction includes reading, typing, sewing, home economics and so on.” Several years ago Mias Long lost (Continued on Page Four) President Hints That 8 Or 10 American Expeditonary Forces Now In Action The highlight news of the war for the past week came from President Roosevelt who an nounced that there were now eight or ten American expedi tionary forces in various parts of the world, but their exact loca tions were not revealed. The Japanese, utterly defeated in Macassar strait in their major thrust at the heart of the Dutch archipelago where they lost 28 ships and 13 warplanes in three days, and thus thrown seriously off balance in all the South Paci fic, struck with renewed force and disturbing progress down the Malayan peninsula. In this westward comer of a great rectangular Allied ocean front that was standing firm in every other vital position, the in vader is pressing the British back at right, left, and center, and in western Malaya stands within a short distance of Singapore. Moreover, and although at heavy cost—for British bombers hit a cruiser and scored 12 hits on transports — enemy reinforce ments had been landed on the east coast behind the fighting lines. It became increasingly clear that Singapore’s peril was great er than ever before and that the Allied world must squarely confront the possibility—although not probability—of its fall. (Continued on Page Four) Rainfall To Be Recorded Here A daily rainfall report is now being kept for Alleghany county by W. O. Hooper, of Sparta, who is keeping the statistics for the government weather bureau. The rainfall here Tuesday night was .55 inches. Red Cross War Relief Fund Is Still Growing Quota Oversubscribed In County; Reports Con tinue Coming TOTAL IS $805 The war relief fund had reach ed $805.08 in Alleghany county yesterday and all reports were still not in, according to Chapter Chairman R. L. Berry. Alton Thompson, treasurer of the county Red Cross chapter, an nounced the drive had gone over Alleghany’s assigned quota by $55.08. Contributors to the fund not previously named included: $3—L. K. Boyer. $2—Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Wagon er, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Thompson, James Wagoner, Earl Vernon, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Andrews. $1—W. W. Warden, Mrs. W. W. Warden, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Bry ant, Mrs. Belle Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. Everette Osborne, Boyd Pruit, J. W. Cox, V. B. Mabe, J. A. Miller, Mrs. Verna Wagoner, Edd Miller, W. C. Woodruff, Mrs. G. W. Hoppers, Bob Taylor, Bailey Wagoner, S. S. Landreth, Blanche Pugh, Mrs. Mae Hoppers, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Roberts, Mrs. Betty Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Wade Cook and Derral, J. H. Miller, Mrs. Jane Sanders, Gypsy Stallings, M. H. Baker, Mrs. V. W. Blevins, W. H. Handy, Mrs. Ray Hampton, R. H. Joines, Mrs. Juanita Davis. Mrs. R. D. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. 'Hobart Shumake, Paul Evans, Lester Irwin, Mr. and Mrs. Wade Goodman, Wilburn Good man, E. A. Porter, Dr. J. L. Doughton, Earl Delp, Curtis Blackburn, ~ Blackburn, Robert Gai Mrs. Carrie (Continued oft Page Four) Sparta-Low Gap Play Close Tilt —'"3* Two Overtime Periods Nec essary; Sparta Wins By 30-26 A thrill-packed basketball game with a story-book finish delight ed local fans here Tuesday night when Sparta defeated a favored Low Gap five, 30 to 26, after two overtime periods. Previously undefeated in Yad kin conference play, Low Gap came here with ten straight wins. Sparta is now close behind them with nine victories and one de feat. Both teams did everything right but for awhile it seemed the vis itors had the edge. They led 11-6 at half time, and continued to hold the lead until the closing minutes of the game. The regular game time ended with the score board reading 21-21. After a whirling overtime per iod, the score was still even-Step hen at 25-25. Hie Sparta boys spurted in the second overtime period, with Berry, Osborne and Thompson forging the Spartans to the four-point margin. Smith, Sparta’s rangy center, fouled out just before the end of the last overtime. Thompson was high-point man for the evening, getting nine points but Berry was close be hind with four field goals. The Sparta girls lost to the Low Gap sextet by a 22-10 score. This game also started out as a close tilt, and Sparta was leading at the half, but Sparta guards Cau dill and Cox fouled out in the second half. (Summaries of the games will be found on page eight.) Crouse Will Succeed Rich As Ashe County Farm Agent WEST JEFFERSON. JAN 29 —C. J. Rich will resign a* Ashe county farm agent on February 15 and Roy H. Crouse has been appointed to succeed him, it was learned this week. No official announcement con cerning this important change has been made by either the State Extension Service or the Ashe county board of commissioners, but is is understood that two weeks ago Jack Lynn, of Waynes ville, district farm agent, noti fied Mr. Rich that his services would terminate on February 15. A few days ago the state depart ment selected Mr. Crouse, former Yancey county farm agent and the present dairy specialist in this district, to fill the vacancy. Who will succed Mr. Crouse has not been determined. Mr. Rich has served as Ashe farm agent since the summer of 1936. He came here from Bun combe county where he taught vocational agriculture for sever al years.' It is understood that the change is being made in order to speed up tills important work in Ashe county and to increase efficiency of operation. The farm agent de partments operate under the di rection of the State Extension Service. If there are other rea (Continued on Page Four) County Gets Reynolds $240 Cheek A check for $240 from Mayor R. J. Reynolds, of Winston Salem, is shown being turned over to the Alleghany county commissioners to apply to the home demonstration fund. The county has allotted no funds for the home demonstration work, hut the money is being privately subscribed and must necessarily pass through the county government, Commis sioners seated are (left to right) Johnny- Gamble, Chairman Victor Phipps, and J. MacD. Wagoner, and turning over the check to them is Mrs. A. O Joines, of Sparta, one of the work ers in the drive for home demonstration funds and to whom Mr. Reynolds sent the check. Mayor R. J. Reynolds Sends Check Of $240 To County For Agent Winston-Salem Mayor Says' Interested In Type Of Activity Half of the funds needed to be raised in this county for the oper ation of home demonstra tion work has been given by Mayor Richard J. Reynolds, of Winston Salem, who recently sent a check of $240 here tp be turned over to the home demonstration fund. Alleghany county needed $480 until the end of the fiscal year as the local part of fundi needed to obtain a home agent, With the State also setting aside funds. When the county had no money to set aside for this work, a few local women decided to solicit for the $480, and Mayor Reynolds said he would give half of this amount if county citizens gave the remainder. When Mrs. A. O. Joines of Sparta first told Mayor Reynolds of plans to get home demonstra tion work in Alleghany county, which was one of three counties in the state without it, Mr. Rey nolds replied; “Favorably im pressed with good work tying done by the home demonstration agents throughout the state, I am eager to do at least something {toward making this service ava ilable for your county." He (Continued on Page Four) Six Will Go To Defense School County Boys Accepted For NYA Centers In Two State Cities Applications of. six Alleghany county boys have been accepted for defense training at NYA cen ters in Charlotte and Asheville, and one girl left this week for a resident center, according to Mau de S. Miller, NYA interviewer of this district. Miss Cathleen Smith, of Roar ing Gap, was the girl who went to Sardis this week for training in practical nuTsing. Boys accepted for defense training are Billie Burton Settle, <of fSpafcta; Woodrow Wilson Baldwin, of Scottville; Jessie Mac Combs, of Sparta; Half red Warren Jones, of Sdottville; Bland Edison Nucholls, of Scott ville, and Vilace Ham, of White head. Mrs. Miller said there are other vacancies at present in sheet met al and auto mechanics. Quotable Quotation “I enjoyed that more than $fae Rom Bowl game,”-4>r. C. Low Gap game Tuesday. “LAURELS” —TO— Rev. Berry The Red Cress chapter in Alleghany county really put their war relief fund quota over the top when the $750 was oversubscribed. The chair man of the local chapter, Rev. R. L. Berry, worked hard to put the drive across, and for this accomplishment, “Lau- ' rels of the Week.” Books Will Be Sent Army Men Collection Begins In County Of Fiction, Techni cal Books. The Victory Book campaign is underway in Aflleghany county for the collection of books to be sent to the men in the armed service. Fiction and technical books are wanted, and will be sent out from the Alleghany county library, which is located in the Com munity building in Sparta. The books can be brought to the lib rary here, to local collection points, or given to the bookmobile when it travels through the coun ty. Local collection points are at Smithey’s, Hardin’s or The Al leghany News office. Donators are not bein&. asked to give books that are oiValue to them, but only if the volume has been read and is not used for reference. People who send books to the Victory Book campaign are asked to put their name and ad dress in each volume in order that the men in service may know the folks who sent the book to them. The list of books contributed, and the contributor, will also be given in this newspaper. Saturday Last Day Get Stamps Automobile owners have until this Saturday to purchase tax stamps at their local post office, as the “auto use tax” goes into effect February 1st. The Sparta post office had re ceived 200 of these stamps, and there was only one left yesterday morning, according to acting postmaster Sam Brown. He said others had beat ordered. Higgins Going Yancey County As Asst. Age* Res:rms As V-'-ntiornl Teach er I>re- W:,l Leave Feh. 15th NO ANNOUNCEMENT Harold H. Higgins has resigned the position of vocational agricul ture teacher in the Sparta schools to accept the position of assistant farm agent of Yancey county and will report to work in Burnsville about February 15. Officials of the local schools did not announce this week who would take the position vacated by Mr. Higgins. Yancey county has had no as sistant agent since December 1 when V. J. Goodman, assistant at that time, was named agent up. on the resignation of R. Hi Crouse from the position. Mr. Crouse came here to be dairy specialist of Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties, and this week an nounced his resignation to become county agent of Ashe. Mr. Higgins has worked in close cooperation with the county agent’s office while here. He help ed extensively in the organization of the Alleghany wool and lamb pool that has meant much to the farmers of this area. Also, he was secretary-treasurer of the Alle ghany fair association. Reared on a farm in Grayson county, Virginia, Mr. Higgins is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic institute, and had been vocation al teacher here since graduation. Reing-Sturdivant Burial Ass’*1-** Another Good Yr. Annual Report Is Announced. Total Membership Is Now 52,370. The Reins-Stjirdiv#jot Mutual Burial Asao«a*wi&, ' wh'lc-ti is the largest in the state and one of the largest in the nation, now has a membership of 52,370, according to the annual report published elsewhere in this issue. The association’s home office is in North Wilkesboro and branch es are operated at Sparta, West Jefferson, Boone and Lenoir. It operates as a mutual organ ization under the laws of North Carolina. During the past year membership showed an increase of 4,840 and the cash balance on hand account increased a good deal despite the fact that one of the regular quarterly assessments was omitted during the year. The cash balance now is $48,468.61. Deaths benefits during the year were paid to 279 members who died, or a total of $26,850. Oyer $46,000 are invested in ~ - Government bonds and bujll^pg t,. and loan stock, thus creating % good reserve. The association had a good year, it is reported. W. K. Sturdivant is secretary treasurer of the association. Reid Sturdivant is in charge in West Jefferson and Dewey Sturdivant at Sparta. NO WORD FEDERAL TAX I - No word has been received here of when the lister of Federal t$x es, which must be filed by March 15, will be in Sparta. Inquiries have been made of when he is coming, but the time will be announced in this news paper.