VOLUME 59, NO. 36
32.00 a Year in Alleghany Cdnnty
SPARTA. NORTH CAROLINA TUESDAY, PEC. 23, 1947
$2.56 a Year Out of G
Township Quotas
For VFW Building
Fund Announced
X
Needy People To
Be Remembered
This Christmas
lions Club Is Distributing A
Large Number Of
Special Packages
Most all of the packages for
the needy families of Alleghany
have been distributed and others
will be distributed today, it was
learnde yesterday. Christmas
gift packages are made available
through the Sparta lions club.
Families Wno receive packages
are chosen after recommendations
through the county welfare de
partment.
Gift boxes have also been made
up for those in the county who
receive State Blind benefits. Al
though it is impossible to remem
ber all needy families, it was
pointed out that the most worthy
cases have been sent gifts.
Named on the committee to
prepare the gift boxes were Kem
Wagoner, Homer Edwards, Bob
Allison, Bill Sprinkle, Albert
Richardson, Joe Dougaton and
R. J. Randolph.
In addition to the Lions club,
there are several church groups
and individuals who are also re
membering some shut-ins, as well
as needy families.
Many College
Students Here
Spending Christmas Holidays
With Parents And
Friends In County
number of Alleghany county
parents and Meads. Moot of tarn
colleges in North Carolina will
remain dosed until January 9.
Home from the Woman’s col
lage are Imogens Choate, Eve
bra Brown. Johns!* GambiH, Bet
ty Joe Gentry, Jane Bledsoe and
Mary Ruth Miller and home from
the University of North Carolina
are H. R. Reed, Billy Carol Choate
and Pat Burgiss.
Among the students from Ap
palachian State Teachers College
are Lucille Mitchell, George Roe,
Naomi Douglas, Norma Fender,
Evelyn Mitchell, Reba Edwards,
Wanda Truitt, Tommie Sue Mox
ley, Dennis Franklin, Dorothy
Sue McGrady, Earl Davis and
Willard Moxley.
Other* are Martha Jean Nor
man, Mars Hill; Helen Walker,
Meredith; Ellen Hardin, Greens
boro College, Mabelline Richard
son, Radford; Harold Absher and
Roy Fender, Draughon’a Business
College.
Mrs. J. R. Richardson and
daughter. Miss Una Lee Richard
son, left Friday for Maryland,
to attend Mrs. Richardson’s sis
ter’s' wedding and visit her par
ent*, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Moxley.
Careful Holiday
Driving Is Urged
Raleigh — Colonel. L C.
Quota Of $6,000 Is Needed;
Distributed Among
Townships
In order to raise the $6,000.00
necessary for the completion of
the VFW building, the total has
been broken down and distributed
among foe various townships,
W. Carl Irwin, county chairman,
announced yesterday.
Quotas as announced by the
chairman for the townships are
Gap Civil, $2,000; Glade Creek,
$1,000; Piney Creek, $800; Pra
ther’s Creek, $700; Cherry Lane,
$600; Cranberry, $500 and White
head, $400.
It was pointed out by Mr. Ir
win that he hoped all township
committeemen would complete
their selection of township chair
men and workers at once in order
that the drive can get underway
not later than January 1.
There are some people in var
ious communities who are more
able and will give more generos
ly to the drive and it is suggested
that they be contacted before
other citizens are asked for do
nations. Gifts pf- $100, $75, $50
and $25 are being asked for, as
well as smaller contributions.
Anyone destring to contribute
to the all-important drive may
do so through any member of
a township committee or by mail
ing checks to Gene R. Irwin,
quartermaster of the YFW, or
Cecil J. Murray, commander.
"Children Can Aid
In Giving To Needy
Should Be Told The Advan
tage Of living In
America
By STAFF WRITER
i^feSf1SMhom»Tre1\»riS
with ill the Yuletide trimming*,
agfar with the spirit of giving.
Our children are on holiday,
with not a care in the world.
holy pick ap the newspaper or
turn on the radio and they learn
that thousands—indeed millions
—of people in other lands are
cold, hungry, miserable right
now. Some are huddled in chilly
homes; others are crowded into
bleak camps for displaced per
sons. All are having a meagre
holiday indeed.
We think of diem, and wish
we could help. When our boys
and girls ask questions about
them, we feel ashamed that such
things can happen in our tithe.
What can we do?
Well, we can do several
things. Parents and children can
give and give agtin to church,
(Continued on page 8)
Stores To Close
New Year’s Day
Members of the merchant’s
committee announced «hat Sn*»*a
stores would be closed on New
Year’s Day.
The attention of the public
is called to this in order that they
may do necessary shopping next
Wednesday or wait until Friday,
January 2.
Sincere Christmas Greetings To Everyone . . • Everywhere!
Alleghany county citizens are
reminded again this week that
tax listing for 1948 will get un
derway in the county next Thurs
day, January 1. Listers have been
announced and listing will begin
in Glade Creek, January
*n Glade Creek, January 1, in
£a» Civil, Cranberry, Whitehead
and Cherry Lane an January 9
Tax Listing To
Begin In County
Next Thursday
Full Schedule Of Places And
Time Of Listing Publish
ed This Week
January
and In Piney Creek on January
■ ' -
Ernest £. Edwards, tax su
pervisor, stated that in order to
•void penalties, taxpayers should
list on days advertised. A fail
tire to list taxes will subject tax
payers to a double tax.
listers for the townships are
Arthur Gambill, Gap Civil; C.
G. Mitchell, Prather’s Creek;
Blake Ha mutton. Piney Creek;
W. E- Hoppers, Whitehead; Mrs.
T. S. Moxley, Cranberry. The
Cherry Lane lister has not been
announced.
The cooperation of all property
owners is asked by the listen.
Scottville H. D.
Club Meets Tues.
The Scottville H. D. Club met
last Tuesday at the home of Mrs.
E. B. Shepherd with 15 members
present Mrs. Shepherd, assisted
by Mrs. George Shepherd, enter
tained the club in an all-day af
fair, serving a delicious Christ
mas dinner.
Miss Ella Mae Crosby had
charge of the games and contests,
which were enjoyed by everyone.
Cookie cutters were awarded as
contest prizes to Mrs. E. B. Shep
herd and Mrs. George Shepherd.
After the program the ladies ex
changed Christmas gifts.
The next meeting of the club is
to be with Mrs. W. H. Perkins.
U. S. Santa Visits Paris As
/Friendship Train’ Arrives
Paris — An American Santa
Claus made an early visit to Paris
last week.
The "Friendship Train,” loaded
with food that will make Christ*
mas a little merrier for hungry
children and adults, stopped here
as it rolled across France, dis
tributing parcels voluntarily giv
en by American citizens.
Thirty seven cars, crammed
with flour, sugar, canned goods
and other precious foods, pulled
into Saint Lazre station from Le
Havre to be greeted by strains
of the “Star Spangled Banner?
and tre welcome shouts of a lar
ge crowd.
The huge reception in the Paris
station, led by the famous Be*
on their way to eighfc or 10 lec
tion* of France where American
aid to France organizations de
cided the need was greatest
The shipment was only a frac
tion of the 2,000,000 tons of food
which came across the Atlantic
aboard the "Friend Ship”—the
re-christened "American Leader.”
The food was collected during
the six-week trek of “Friendship
Trains” across the United States
to New York City. •
United States Ambassador to
France Jefferson Caffrey and Col
umnist Drew Pearson, who ori
ginated the idea of the food col
lection, met the train here, ac
companied by many French of
ficials^ Xaey participated in cere
Christmas Is
Being Observed
With Services
Churches Commemorating
Birth Of Christ With
Many Observances
Alleghany county churches of
all denominations joined the re
mainder of the world in celebra
ting Christmas by presenting
plays, pageants and delivering
fitting Christmas sermons.
A service was held at the Spar
ta Baptist Sunday mos%
log at elevetfTdfelock, when the
"Song at the Nativity” was the
theme at the service. At the eve
ning screias, a special program
was “The Other Wise Men.”
Kev. F. G. Walker, pastor of the
church, was in charge of the pro
gram.
“CheirtMas Blessing,” a story
| and colored movie slides- were
shown at the Maple Shade Me
thodist church on Sunday night.
The same slides were also shown
at the Piney Creek MeCrodist
church Monday night. The slides
and illustration* were given by
Rev. W. H. Yokeley.
A service was also held Sun
day night at the Osborne Mem
orial Baptist church with Rev.
E. V. Barton, pastor in charge.
Sparta Now Has
Caution Light
Sparta now has a caution light,
which was erected yesterday be
tween the intersection of tJ. S.
Highways 18 and 221 at the cor
ner near the Northwestern Bank.
There ^as long been the need
of a traffic signal there and it
was purchased by the town same
time ago. However, it could not
be erected without first getting
permission from the State High
way Commission- The permission
was granted and tie town officials
now have the traffic light in op
eration.
NEWS TO BE CLOSED
THUBS., FRIDAY, SAT.
The office at the Alleghany
News will he eleeed Thursday,
Friday and Saturday in ehuee
Record Christmas Business
Reported By Stores; Santa
Expected To Be Generous
Tobacco Conjing
In For Opening
Sales, On Jan. 5
Expect To Sell Another Mil
lion Pounds Before
approximately hit the million
pound mark with an average of
around forty cents before they1
sales dosed for the holidays is
now receiving tobacco for the
opening sales on January S.
Officials of the warehouse sta
ted Cast the house would be open
throughout the holidays, every
day except Christmas, to receive
tobacco.
Officials also said they were
pleased with the response of the
farmers as well as the service
they had been able to render
them.
The market here at West Jef
ferson, which was one of the two
established in the Burley belt tills
year has made an exceptional
record since it was opened, agri
(Continued on page 8)
Students Make
ASTC Honor Roll
The list of students at Appal
achian State Teachers college,
who made the honor roll for the
first quarter of the current year,
has just been released from the
office of H. R. Eggers, registrar.
Honor roil rating is equivalent to
a grade of B or above.
Among the 143 students on the
honor roll were Earl Davis, of
Sparta; and Dorothy Sue Mc
Grady, of Sparta.
The
The Season Ends \ V
ri-fhato Warehouse, which
Uncle Sam Breaks Records
For Incoming And Out
going Mail
After setting a record for vol
ume of Christmas
Sparta stores are
business,
for
ter,
radios, electrical appliances and
many other items, that were
once hard to get, have been sold
in volume this year. According
to the sales of candy, every sweet
tooth should be satisfied. Mer
chants pointed out that this was
the first Christmas the supply
of this had been plentiful for
many years, and evidently every
one wanted something sweet.
Cakes should also be plentiful,
considering the amount of in
gredients sold.
Judging from the amount of
merchandise sold, Santa should
be very generous. Uncle Sam has
also helped him out Tne mails
have been far heavier than ever
before, postal employees report
The increase in mails has neces
sitated two trips daily during the
rush period from North Wilkes
boro. This is the first time in his
tory that this has been necessary.
Merchants have reported all
time high sales of Christmas
cards- and the post office report!
more of these than ever before.
*1 did not know there were sc
many cards,” o^e postal em
ployee said, “Surely everyom
Should be well greeted,” h<
added.
AlleghanyTurkeys Bring
Record Price On Xmas Marl
Alleghany farmers, who sold
turkeys on the Christmas market
this year, received more than
during the Thanksgiving season
• and the prices, which ranged
I from forty to forty-tree cents per
I pound are believed to have been
, a record high paid for these top
flight holiday turkeys since
World War L
While juices were much higher
than usual, the turkey crop was
Baltimore and Philadelphia.
An official of Smithey’s Store
one of the larger buyers In thii
section said that he purchased
around 8,000 for the Christmai
market
Sparta Ball Teams
Divide Honors
Hie Sparta high school basket
ball teams again split honors cm
the local court last Friday night
when the home town girls were
victorious and the Miller’* Creek
boys. ^ .■>
The girls won a decisive 37
13 victory over the
Quiet Christmas
Expected To Be
Observed Here
Stores And Bank To Be Clos
ed For Two Days; Offices
Closed Until Monday
Alleghany is expected to
observe a merry Christmas on
Thursday, with the cessation ot
business and the reunion of many
family groups. And according to
the amount of gifts purchased,
this Yuletide should be a gener
ous one.
The section has enjoyed unu
sually beautiful winter weather
and unless the weather man has
a sudden change of heart, Christ
mas is expected to be a typical
fair and clear winter day. Those
wanting a white Christmas will
probably be disappointed unless
there is a last-minute change,
weather experts declare.
Retail stores, as well as the
Northwestern bank will be clos
ed chi Christmas day as well as
the day after, but will be open
as usual on Saturday.
All county offices will close
Coristmas day and remain closed
until Saturday morning. Offices
closed will include the sheriffs,
register of deeds,’ and the clerk
of the court.
The AAA office will be closed
Christmas day until Monday
morning.
Schools are closed for the en
tire week and will re-open again
on Monday, December 29, Miss
Clyde Fields, superintendent of
scjools announced.
The Auto Sales Company will
be closed Thursday through Sat
• urday.
Merry Christmas
Gets Hotel Room
Surprised Clerk Gives A
Christmas Greeting
— A young man
> the hotelclerk last
The- man steod looking at the
clerk.
“Is there something I can do
for pou?” the puzzled clerk ask
ed.
“Merry Christmas,” the man
repeated and gave the clerk an
inquisitive look.
Vernon Weldy, the clerk, said
the situation was getting oat of
Viand when the man explained
that he wanted a bridal suite, re
served a week before. Said he:
"My name is Charles Merry
(Continued oa page 8)
Senator Proposes
Replies By Santa
. Washington — A plan where
by each child writing to Santa
Claus would receive a personal
reply was outlined last week by
Senator Langer (R- ND.)
The plan, if adopted, would
go into effect tor Christmas, 1948.
Langer said in a statement that
die will discuss with the PWlt Of
fice Department after the first
of the year, a plan for
legislation which will ]
deportment to send
addressed to "Santa
the post office at Santa
Ind.
He proposes to have a special
"Santa Claus” signature authori
zed. Employees at ths Santa
Claus, Ind., office would null a
card bearing it to every boy and
girl who site down and writes a
letter to the old yuletide
Alleghany Jail
Is Now Empty