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RFD CROSS WAR FUND
ALLEGHANY COUNTY’S ONLY NEWSPAPER.
VOLUME 55. NO. 29
$1.50 a Year In Alleghany County
SPARTA, NORTH CAROLINA
$2.00 a Year Out of County
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1944
. Election Board
To Meet April 8;
Edwards Chmn.
No Local Candidates Have
Filed Yet; Republicans
Plan Meeting
L. E. Edwards, chairman of the
Alleghany county board of elec
! tions, announced that a meeting
j. of the board had been called for
Saturday, April 8, to appoint the
registrars and the judges. The
two other members of the board
are Elmer Edwards and S. S.
Landreth.
It was also announced tnat tne
Republicans will hold an organ
ization meeting on Friday night,
April 14, when Monroe Adams, of
Statesville, Republican candidate
for congress for this district, will
be present. It was pointed out
that the Republicans are expected
to have a full ticket for the general
I election this fall.
| With the primary election less
than two months off, there is still
little or no general interest mani
fested in politices in Alleghany
county with the possible exception
of the governors’ race and in this
Dr. Ralph McDonald and Major
Gregg Cherry, have some ardent
supporters.
Personal problems, increased
pressure of duty and home front
war activities rather than politics
seem to be dominating the think
ing and interest of the public.
The primary election date is
Saturday, May 27, and all candi
dates for local offices must file
by April 15.
(Continued on Page Four)
Cherry Plans For
Game, Fish Com.
MX -a. • ■ '*•*: -
Cites Importance Of Protec
tion And Conservation Of
Native Wildlife
West Jefferson — (Special) —
The importance gf the develop
ment of North Carolina’s natural
resources in game and fish was
emphasized here last Thursday
night by R. Gregg Cherry, Demo
cratic candidate for governor
when he spoke before the Rotary
club and a number of invited
guests.
The speaker, who was introduc
. ed by Ira T. Johnston, president of
the club, described Ashe county^
as a natural paradise for hunters
and fishermen and described the
possibilities of the state as a whole
in this field.
He explained briefly the finan
cial structure of the state, the va
rious services rendered and the
importance of being prepared to
assist and locate young men and
women who are now in service,
at the end of the war.
In closing Mr. Cherry stated a
definite policy which he wished
to follow in regard to the pro
tection and development of na
tural resources. He said, “In or
der to more effectively propogate,
develop and protect the great na
tural resources of the State in
game and fish, I am in favor of
creating a Commission separate
and apart from the Department
of Conservation and Development,
which commission would be
charged with the duty of looking
after and protecting these natural
(Continued On Page Four)
Favors Plan For
Game And Fish
Mayor R. F. Crouse, who was a
guest of the Jeffersons Rotary
club last Thursday night, when
R. Gregg Cherry, Democratic can
didate for governor spoke to the
group, said that h? was much en
thused over Mr. Cherry’s state
ment concerning the appointment
of a special game and fish com
munion. •' ’
In commenting on this, Mr.
Crouse-told a News reporter this
eek, ’Wg'is is the first time that
e have had an opportunity to
lie foundation for real prog
the propagation and pro
of fish and game in tha
pointed out that, the an*
at by Cherry.was of vi
to every person who
t or fish.
Americans Aid Reds;
17 Japanese Ships
Are Sunk In Pacific
Artillery Sees Heavy Fighting
On The Italian Front This
Week
Fighting continues from air
and land on all fighting fronts
with the Allied forces showing
some gains.
The Red army announced yes
terday that it had captured the
greater part of surrounded Tarno
pol in former Poland and smashed
to within two miles of the last rail
escape route for perhaps 200,000
Germans and Rumanians now
virtually pinned against the Black
sea near Odessa.
American Flying Fortresses and
Liberators for the first time
bombed the Rumanian capital of
Bucharest yesterday, flying to
within 200 miles of the Russo
German front to strike the third
allied blow in 24 hours at Hit
ler’s Balkan communications.
The American airmen flew 600
miles from bases in Southern It
aly to carry out this attack sup
porting the Red army troops in
vading Rumania from the north
east.
At least 17 Japanese ships—
and probably many more—were
sunk by a powerful American car
rier force making a three-way
strike close to the Philippines and
by Submarines patrolling even
deeper in enemy waters, the na
vy announced yesterday.
Secretary of the Navy Knox
disclosed that the naval task force
which began raiding the Palau
islands, only 530 miles from the
Philippines, last week, also hit
Yap and Woleai islands in a three
day attack in the Eastern Caro
lines.
(Continued on Page Four)
Curl Moxley Is
Injured In Wreck
Sparta Man Is Seriously Hurt
Tuesday When Tractor
Overturns
Curt Moxley, 34, local resident,
was seriously injured Tuesday af
ternoon at 6 o’clock, when the
tractor on which he was riding,
overturned in front of the Claude
Moxley residence near Richard
son's Shop.
Moxley was carried to the El
kin hospital, where he remains
seriously ill. Knocked uncon
scious by a blow on the head, he
had not regained consciousness
when he arrived at the hospital.
Officers who investigated the
accident report that the combina
tion truck and tractor, constructed
for the purpose of sawing wood,
left the road, turned over two
times and stopped in an upright
position.
Moxley’s twelve-year-old son,
who was riding with him, was
thrown clear of the Wreck and
was not seriously hurt.
Officers reported that Moxley
evidently lost control of the ve
hicle, since despite the show flur
ries, the road was not slick.
DIES IN SERVICE
Walter Woodrow Blevins,
who died in service in New
Caledonia, on November 22,
1943, will be honored at a
memorial service to be held at
the Sparta Baptist church on
Easter Sunday.
Doughton Again
Named On County
Welfare Board
Other Members Of The Board
Are J. A. Higgins And
S. C. Richardson
H6n. R. A. Doughton, at Sparta,
has recently been re-apointed to
serve another two years on the
Alleghany County Welfare Board,
the re-appointment to be effec
tive April 1, 1944.
Mr. Doughton is the appointee
of the State Board of Charities
and Public Welfare. He has ably
and efficiently served as chair
man of the county welfare board
since July, 1937, when the public
assistance program began opera
tion in North Carolina. The two
other members of the board are
J. A. Higgins and S. C. Richard
son, both of Sparta.
The county welfare board meets
monthly with the superintendent
of public welfare and advises
with him in regard to problems
pertaining to his office. The su
perintendent of public welfare is
the executive officer of the board
and acts as secretary. Swanson
Edwards is the superintendent.
Winter Weather
Felt In County
Alleghany, along with many
other sections felt real winter
weather, Tuesday and yesterday,
and yesterday and snow fell in
flurries and the temperature
dropped to arttund 16 degrees
above zero.
Many people described this as
the “pre-Easter cold spell" and
predicts it winter’s final fling.
133 Alleghany County Men
Placed In I-A By Local Board
The local board announced
classifications of 160 men for mili
tary service this week vyhen 133
were placed in I-A and 9 were
placed in 4-F.
The classification list is as fol
lows:
I-A: Jerome C. Carrico, Russell
G. Moxley, Clayton I. Fender,
Herbert C. Hawthorne, Leroy D.
Baugus, Elgin R. Choate, Rhea N.
Harris, Eugene A. Edwards, Dil
lon C. Lowe, Frank Hines, Bower
F. Hoppers, William H. Gibson,
Edwin J. McKnight, James A.
Reeves, Sam L. Porter.
John T. Upchurch, Larry W.
Brooks, JAhn R. Andrews, Win
frey H. Osborne, James F. Halsey,
Martin E. Serberm, Robert G.
Halsey, Vilace L. Hamm, Tam S.
Gambill, Clay F. Crouse, Jones K.
Andrews Clive L. Edwards, Rich- j
ard H. Edwards, James W. Shaw,
Odis V. Brooks, James G. McCann.
John B. Richardson, Odell C.
Jones, Woodrow H. Estep, Osco
R. Church, Cameron Musgrove,
Odell C. Smith, Fred T. Hudson,
Robert R. Allen, James E. Billings,
Robert B. Whitely, Andrew M.
Jennings, Floyd H. Reeves, Early
B. Eldridge, Clint E. Benge, Kel
ly N. Sturgill, Otis M. Brinegar,
Vance Caudill, Wiley P. Maxwell,
Jr., Ray Andrews, Jim L. Osborne,
David R. Gilliam, Jr., Ray M. An
derson, Kenneth 0. Bedsaul.
Boyd Caudill, Jessie M. Osborne,
Ralph J. McMeans, Orville H. Ly
ons, Clate W. Davis, Eugene J.
Poole, Wade J. Boone, Van F.
Miller, Jr., Lewis J. Hash, John
T. Hamm, Russell P. Brown, Dean
M. Joines.
(Continued on Page 4}
Announce Parkway
Will Be Opened
To Public Apr. 15
Policy Explained; Planning
Further Development At
Close Of War
Sam B. Weems, acting superin
tendent of the Blue Ridge Park
way, has announced that the com
pleted sections of the Blue Ridge
Parkway will be opened for pub
lic use on April 15. Present in
tentions of the National Parkway
open until October Park Service
are to keep the 15.
Beginning at Shenandoah Na
tional Park, the first continuous
completed section extends to TJ.
S. highway No. 60 at Buena Vista,
Va. The next section that will be
opened to traffic is from the
James River to the Peaks of Ot
ter, in Virginia. From the latter
to Adney Gap, south of Roanoke
work on the parkway has not
been finished but from Adney Gap
to Deep Gap in North Carolina.
The parkway is paved for about
130 miles. From Deep Gap to
Blowing Rock, traffic will use the
state highways and then can con
tinue on the parkway for a long
distance to a point near Mt. Mit
chell.
Restrictions will continue about
the same as in 1943, with the na
tional speed limit of 35 miles
an hour in effect. Officials will
not encourage any use of the
parkway that will conflict with
the conservation of motor fuels.
When construction of the few
(Continued on Page Four)
Local Stores
Will Be Closed
Easter Monday
Wednesday Afternoon Closing
Started This Week, For
Summer Season
All business houses in Sparta
will be closed on Easter Monday,
as was previously announced by
the merchant’s committee of the
Sparta Chamber of Commerce at
their last meeting.
Most of the county offices, as
well as the Sparta post office, will
also be closed, it was pointed out.
The Northwestern Bank will al
so observe the holiday.
The schools of the county, how
ever, will remain open, it "was ex
plained, in order that they may
complete the nine months’ work
and close as early in the spring
as possible..
The new Sparta Bus Terminal
will, of course, remain open on
Monday.
The ten rural mail carriers in
the county will observe the holi
day so there will be no mail de
livery on the rural routes.
The Sparta stores started this
week closing on Wednesday af
ternoons and will continue
throughout the summer. The post
office will close at 4 o’clock on
Wednesday afternoons, it was an
nounced.
Checking Ol Tires
Will End April 20
OPA Makes Announcement;
Motorists Should Keep
Former Records
Washington — Compulsory tire
inspections—a war-born nuisance
and expense—was thrown over
board , Tuesday by the Office of
Price Administration.
OPA Chief Chester Bowles an
nounced that the periodic inspec
tions for motorists will be dis
continued after April 20 since they
have fulfilled their purpose—“to
make motorists conscious of-the
extreme need for tire conservation
care.”
Inspections were stated in De
cember, 1942, under the so-called
“mileage” rationing program
aimed primarily at conserving
rubber. They now are regarded
as a periodic annoyance to mot
orists; and an unnescessary ex
pense. Inspection stations have
charged 25 cents each time they
check the serial numbers and 50
its and up if it was necessary
(Continued on Page Four)
my
Winchell And Dies After Air Addresses
Walter Winchell, New York columnist, left, and Rep.
Martin Dies (D.) of Texas, chairman of a committee on un
American activities, meet following their controversial ad
dresses to a nationwide radio audience.
Easter Is Expected To Be
Quietly Observed In County;
Snecial Services Planned
Changes Made In
Strict Rules For
Drafting Farmers
Local Draft Boards Are Given
Full Authority By General
Hershey
Washington — Maj. Gen. Lewis
B. Hershey, Selective Service
director, this week returned to
the nation’s local draft boards
full authority over agricultural
deferments.
. In a telegram to State Selective
Service directors, Hershey in
structed local boards to abolish
the ‘war unit” (productivity) de
ferment standard and to abide by
the 4-point Tydings amendment to
the Selective Service Act.
The provisions of the Tydings
amendment provide that agricul
tural workers will be deferred if
(1) they are necessary to the agri
cultural occupation or endeavor,
if (2) they are regularly engaged
in agricultural work; if (3) the
occupation is essential to the war
effort, and if (4) registrants can
not be replaced.
Senator Richard B. Russell (D
Ga.), announced on Wednesday
that Hershey had promised to
take such action.
Selective Service told local
boards, in applying Tydings
amendment yardsticks, to “bear
ment and received by the local
board before the registrant’s ac
tual induction.
Metts said North Carolina would
(Continued on Page 4)
ANDREWS IS CAUGHT
ON LIQUOR CHARGE
Ellis Andrews, of the Hare
community, was arrested and
turned over to the Galax authori
ties Saturday by town marshal
Glenn Richardson.
Andrews, sought by the Vir
ginia officer on charges of trans
porting and selling bootleg li
quor, had escaped them earlier in
the week at Galax.
Memorial Service For Alle
ghany Man Who Died In
Service
With snow flurries, high winds
and lpw temperatures holding
sway in the mountains, the weath
er for the week end !s unpredic
table, but Easter is expected to
be quietly observed here with
special services planned for the
churches in the morning.
While there has been a shortage
of candy Easter eggs, there is a
... ■$£;
Walter Woodrow Blevins will be
held at th,e First Baptist church at
11:00 o’clock, with the pastor,
Rev. Richard L. West, in charge.
The Baptist choir, under the di
rection of Mrs. O. K. Richardson,
will furnish special music for the
service. The numbers include,
“He Lives on High” and “I Know
That My Redeemer Liveth”:
A special Easter service will
also be held at the Presbyterian
church at 11:00 o’clock. The pas
tor, Rev. R. L. Berry, will bring
a brief message on “The Power of
the Resurrection”.
Special feature of the service
(Continued on Page Four)
Floyd Choate, 68,
Buried On Sunday
Funeral service for Floyd
Choate, 68, colored, of Street, Md.,
was held Sunday at Laurel Glen
Baptist church, with Rev. George
Gentry and Rev. Lee Choate, of
ficiating. Interment followed in
the church cemetery.
Mr. Choate left Alleghany coun
ty about fourteen years ago, mak
ing his home since that time in
Maryland.
Surviving are his widow and
seven children. Several neices
and nephews in Alleghany county
also survive. He was the brother
of the late Emmett Choate, of
Glade Valley.
Method Of Voting By Men In
Service Explained By Officials
Raleigh—A statement to service
men and women and their famil
ies about absentee registration and
voting in the Primary and Gener
al Elections, is as follows:
To the men and women in the
armed forces of the United States
there is granted by the State of
North Carolina the special op
portunity and right to register and
vote in die 1944 Primary and Gen
eral Elections although absent
from their home county. This
right is granted to no other per
son in a primary.
The conditions which must be
met in order for a soldier’s vote
to be cast are set forth below:
Basie Personal Qualifications
The person desiring absentee
registration and vote must meet
the following basic qualifications:
He or she
...
(a) Must be absent from his or
her home county.
(b) Must be serving in the mil
itary, naval, auxiliary, merchant
marine or other armed forces of
the United States.
(c) Must be 21 years old or will
become 21 years old by the date
of tiie General Election on No
vember 7, 1944.
(d) Must have been a resident
of the State of North Carolina for
one year and of the voting pre
cinct for 4 months preceding the
General Election of November 7,
1944 (temporary service does not
interupt voting residence).
(e) Must be able to read and
write any section of the State
Constitution.
Around $200. To
Be Raised Yet;
Events Planned
Chairman Hooper Announces
Drive Extended Through
Saturday Night
According to reports late yes
terday afternoon, the Alleghany
Red Cross fund has reached $3,
200.00. This leaves $200.00 yet to
be contributed before the quota
of $3,400.00 is reached.
Chairman W. O. Hooper again
pointed out that the drive had
been extended through Saturday
night and stated that he felt sure
that the quota would be reached
by that date. “I want to urge that
a final canvass be made this week
end and that every solicitor turn
in a report as soon as possible,”
he said.
A square dance will be held at
the Sparta gymnasium on Satur
day night for the benefit of the
fund, it was announced. A record
crowd is expected to attend this
dance, which will be the final
program sponsored for the drive.
A special effort is being made,
Chairman Hooper pointed out, to
reach and exceed the quota by
Saturday night, when the drive
officially ends.
The basketball game at Sparta
high school last Thursday netted
$26.76 for the fund, while the pro
ceeds from the Stratford box sup
per amounted to $101.20, it was
announced. The Sparta Woman’s
club gave a contribution of $25.00
and proceeds from the entertain
ment held at Piney Creek school,
Saturday night, amounted to
around $350.00.
A list of contributions not pre
(Continued on Page 4)
wmm
Metts Announces Those
Have Not Been Examined
Recently Must Report
Raleigh — General J. Van B.
Metts, State director of Selective
Service, said Tuesday, all men
under 26 years of age who had not
been examined within the past
90 days would be ordered to re
port for pre-induction physical
examination. *
Metts said directives from Na
tional Selective Service headquar
ters at present indicated occupa
tional to vital war activities con
nected with the following: Land
ing craft, tires and tubes, high
tenacity rayon for war products,
aircraft, airborne radar, rockets,
submarines, transportation, and
possible a few others.
The general said he believed
“few young men would be granted
agricultural deferments, in view
of the need for young men in the
armed forces," and that a “regis
trant could hardly be found es
sential unless his over-all produc
tion contributed more to the war
effort than his service in the
armed forces.”
A registrant may be granted oc
cupational deferment, Metts said,
if a form 42-A special is approved
by the State director having juris
diction over the place of employ
(Continued on Page Four)
Martin Andrews
Dies At Baywood
Funeral service for Martin A.
Andrews, 77, who died at his home
at Baywood, Va., March 26, fol
lowing a severe stroke, was held
at the home on March 28, with
Eld. J. D. Vass and Eld. Edd Doug
las officiating. Interment follow
ed in the family cemetery.
Mr. Andrews, a prominent citi
zen of that community, was mar
ried to the former Miss Jane
Richardson, daughter of the late
Mr. and Mrs. Eli Richardson.
Surviving are his widow, two
sons, Kemper, of Baywood and
Kyle, of Barberton, Ohio and two
daughters, Mrs. Ola Higgins; of
Baywood and Miss Vera Andrews
of the home.
Also surviving is his
ter, Mrs. Phoebe Rector,