THE MARION PROGRESS
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1948
VOL. 53—No. 5
Next Saturday Last Day
To Register For Beer Election
Registration on the election to de
termine whether or not wine and
beer shall be sold in McDowell coun
ty will continue through this week.
The election is scheduled for Au
gust 31.
Saturday, August 21, will be the
last day for voters to register.
Marion precincts number 1 and 2
report that 87 persons have register
ed during the past two weeks.
Francis Marion
Donates $1,000
To Hospital Fund
The regular meeting of the
Francis Mai'ion club was held in the
community building last Thursday
evening.
Announcement was made that $1,
000 had been raised to meet the
pledge to the Marion General Hos
pital building fund and would be
turned over to the building fund
within the next few days. The mon
ey was derived mainly from sponsor
ing the Horse Show and other pro
jects, it was stated.
Members made plans to sponsor an
attendance contest during the months
of September and October. Two
teams will be named and members
of the losing team will entertain the
winners at the close of the contest.
Tentative plans were made to
bring a pre-season college football
game to Marion in September.
Marion Wins Double
Victory Over Newton
Manager Wes Ferrell hit a home
run in each game to aid the Maraud
ers' double triumph over the league
leading Newton-Conover Twins here
Friday night in two Western Caro- j
lina league games. The Marionites
took the seven inning opener, 5 to 3,
and captured the nighteap by a 9
to 8 count.
Lawson Brown hurled his third
straight win as he let the Twins
down with eight hits in the first
game.
In the second clash, Ray Yow's
line drive off the shortstop's leg In
the eighth drove in Dick Hayward
to score the winning run for Marion.
Holler And Barnes
Hunting Kodiak Bear
Cat>o Holler and C. F. Barnes left
last Saturday for Kodiak, Alaska,
where they will hunt Kodiak bear.
They left by train for Seattle and
boarded a boat for a voyage of about
six days and nights en route to
Kodiak Island.
The Kodiak is the largest of bears.
MOBILE X-RAY
UNIT TO ARRIVE
IN SEPTEMBER
The mobile X-ray unit will "Visit
the McDowell-Burke-Caldwell Health
district some time during the month
of September it is announced this
week.
The service was made possible as
a major project of the Marion Junior
Woman's club and is being brought
into the county upon request of the
Health Department to the North
Carolina State Board of Health.
The State Board of Health will
furnish four mobile x-ray units and
technicians for the district, to take
70 mm. chest x-rays, at no cost to
those who are x-rayed.
Certain expenses must be boi'ne
locally. These include: educational
materials, clerical help and supplies,
etc. In McDowell county the money
needed from the local community is
being paid from the Christmas Seal
Sale Fund of the Marion Junior
Woman's club.
A chest x-ray shows tuberculosis
early, if it is present—before there
are any symptoms. Nothing but x
ray can show early tuberculosis. The
great advantage of finding a case of
tuberculosis early is that it can be
cured in a much shorter time than
if it had progressed and done great
damage to the lungs.
The ,x-ray machine is in a trailer.
The unit can be moved from place
to place and will stop at different
places throughout the county. The
trailer is quite large and heavy, so
it cannot be taken over small bridges
ir narrow winding roads.
County Schools
To Open Aug. 30
Principals of schools in the Mc
Dowell county system met in the
office of N. F. Steppe, county super
intendent, Monday to make plans for
school opening on August 30.
It was pointed out that the school
buildings have undergone a program
of repair and renovation and that
schools will open with no teacher
vacancies. The buildings have been
thoroughly cleaned and in several
instances new equipment has been
added.
The principals begin their work
two weeks previous to the opening
of school, Steppe said. "We are ex
pecting a very successful year."
Baseball Fan Committee
Planning H^es Ferrell Night
A group of local baseball fans
headed by a committee composed of
Wayne Suttle, W, W. Neal, Jr. and
Lee Conley are making plans for
two special baseball nights to be held
on the Marion High School Athletic
Field August 27 and September 2.
Plans are underway to designate
the game of August 27 as "Wes
Ferrell Night." The Marion Marau
ders will meet the Rutherford Coun
ty Owls of Forest City on this date
in the local ball park. Wes Ferrell,
manager of the Marion Marauders
and a former Cleveland and Yankee
baseball great, will be on the mound
for the local club on this occasion.
Ferrell made a great name for him
self in the major leagues and estab
lished several pitching records that
are still standing today.
Local baseball fans will have a
treat in store for them on this occa
sion. It is the opinion of a number
of baseball experts that Ferrell still
has plenty left in that right arm.
Observers who have seen Wes toss
a few balls during warm-ups say that
there is plenty of hop and zip on
the ball and predict that the Forest
City boys facing him on August 27
■will have plenty of trouble.
The game for September 2 has
been designated as player night. On
(Continued oil last page)
County Court
Has Heavy Docket
A number of cases were disposed
of in County Court here Tuesday.
John H. Silers entered a plea of
guilty to a charge of manufacturing
illegal whiskey and was sentenced to
six months on the Toads. Notice of
appeal was given and bond set at
$750. Nathan Black, breaking and
entering and larceny, waived pre
liminary hearing and was bound over
to the September term of Superior
Court.
Robert Carson, breaking and en
tering and larceny, hearing waived,
bound over to the September term
of Superior Court and bond was set
at $1,000. Jasper Means,Jr., no op
erator's license, plead guilty and was
sentenced i/O 30 days or $25 and
costs.
Steve Greenlee plead quilty to al
lowing auto to be operated by an
unlicensed operator and was sen
tenced to 30 days or $10 and costs.
James Twitty, charged with assault
on a female, was sentenced to three
months or $25 and costs and be of
good behavior for two years.
Herbert Dean Root plead guilty
to a charge of speeding. Judgement
. (Continued on last page)
S. J. WESTMORELAND
Democrats Name .
Westmoreland
County Chairman
The McDowell ounty Democratic
Executive committee elected S. J
Westmoreland chairman succeeding
Robert W. Proctor, resigned, at a
meeting held last Saturday.
The committee unanimously voted
to express its appreciation to the re
tiring chairman for the splendid
service he rendered the party while
chairman over a period of 16 years.
Westmoreland, the new committee
chairman, is well known throughout
the county, and has long been a
staunch party worker.
Employment Service
For Old Fort
To Be Curtailed
Services of the local offiee of the
North Carolina Employment Service
will not be seriously impaired by the
recent reduction of funds, David
Gray, manager, said this week.
However, itinerant service to
Old Fort each Tuesday morning
will be discontinued after Tues
day, August 17. In the past the
local office personnel conducted a
regular Employment office from
10 a. m. until 12 noon each Tues
day in the community building at
Old Fort, but due to recent bud
getary cuts, this service will be
discontinued.
Congress made a drastic reduction
in the amount of appropriations for
the fiscal year started July 1 of this
year, making it necessary to decrease
the personnel of the Employment
Security Commission of North Caro
lina, both in the Central and in local
Employment Security offices, Chair
man Henry E. Kendall has announc
ed.
Kendall said that due to general
conditions and lack of available
funds, 15 branch offices in the state
have been discontinued during the
past two years and itinerant service
has been restored to these points.
The offices which were closed previ
ously were located at Siler City, Kan
napolis, Roxboro, Dunn, Oxford,
Boone, Wadesboro, Carthage, Ply
mouth, Louisburg, Chapel Hill and
Tarboro.
Waynick Elected
State Chairman
Raleigh, Aug. 14.—The State
Democratic executive committee se
lected new officers at »a harmonious
two-hour meeting last night.
A large gathering, the biggest to
assemble for such a meeting since
1941, unanimously elected Capus
Waynick of High Point and Raleigh
as chairman and Mrs. D. A. Mc
Cormick of Robeson county as vice
chairman.
Party leaders made strong pleas
for unity within the ranks of the
party, urging that internal differ
ences be dropped. The crowd ap
plauded when Governor Cherry urg
ed Democrats to "close ranks just
like one great family."
FARMERS' WEEK
Farmers' Week will be held at
Clemson Agricultural College, Clem
son, S. C., August 23-27. Tours and
demonstrations are scheduled for the
three days of Farmers' Week.
Polio Case
Reported Here
Tonya Jean Ellington, of the
Dysartaville section, is a polio
patient at the Asheville Ortho
pedic Home. She was taken to
Asheville Monday and placed in
the acute ward of the Home.
S. J. Westmoreland, chairman
of the McDowell County Infan
tile Paralysis committee, was
later notified that the case had
been diagnosed as polio.
, One other case in this county
had previously reported to the
Health Department.
Motor Vehicles
Must Be Inspected
By September 1
Motor vehicles of models up tc
and including 1936, and also 1947
and 1948 models must pass the mo
tor vehicle inspection test if they
are to be operated after September
1, according- to word received by the
North Carolina patrolmen this week.
After September 1 it will be a
violation of law to operate the ve
hicles described above.
THIRD ANNUAL
COUNTY CORN TOUR
HELD LASrWEEK
The third annual McDowell Coun
ty Corn Tour last Thursday and Fri
day was attended by approximately
257 persons. It was fostered by the
N. C. Extension Service.
I. E. Burdette, vocational agricul
ture teacher of the Pleasant Gardens
school, and B. C. Nave, agriculture
teacher of Glenwood school, with
their veterans training classes and
a large number of farmers, partici
pated in the tour.
Dr. E. R. Collins, who is in charge
of the agronomy extension work in
the state, accompanied the group on
the tour and afterwards made the
statement that Clay, Macon and Mc
Dowell counties are the leading corn
producing counties in the state.
The tour was outlined and plan
ned by S. L. Homewood, county
farm agent, and Carl Whiteside, as
sistant county farm agent, who gave
the following account of the two
day trip:
"We left the court house at nine
o'clock Thursday morning and visit
ed Guy Little's, near Providence,
where we observed a hybrid variety
demonstration, and also a good field
of alfalfa. From there we went to
Oscar Morgan's in Sugar Hill sec
tion where we observed two open
pollinated varieties in comparison
with two hybrids. This is an out
standing demonstration of open poll
inated vs. hybrid corn. Mr. Morgan
has wonderful prospects for a good
year.
"From there the tour extended to
Josh Harris where we observed an
other good field of alfalfa which has
already been cut three times this
year and is almost ready for the
fourth cutting. The group also ob
served hybrid corn on the Harris
farm.
"f rom mere tne lour weiiL i,u ivcl
ly Epley's farm in the Glenwood
section. He has a wonderful piece
of ladino and orchard grass. This
was the first opportunity for some
of the group to see this crop growing
and they were high in their praise
of ladino and orchard grass and
wanted to know how they could get
the same started on their farms.
While at Epley's we also observed
Bobby Epley's 4-H club corn pro
ject which is Dixie 17, one: of the
highest yielding hybrids. Bobby has
a wonderful piece of corn.
"The next stop was at Howard
Lawing's in the Glenwood section
where they observed T-20 hybrid
corn being produced as Howard Law
ing is one of the hybrid seed grow
ers in McDowell'county. He has a
round seven acres in this variety.
"From there the tour continued
to James Goforth's to observe hy
brid corn in comparison with open
pollinated strains. The hybrid that
he is growing is N. C. T.20. The
seed for this corn was produced at
Howard Lawing's last year.
"Our next stop was at W. C. Mor
gan's where they saw another won
derful field of alfalfa which was sow
continued on last page)
i Restrictions On Gatherings
Lifted Last Monday Evening
OSCAR MORGAN
MEETS DEATH
WHILE LOGGING
Oscar Bryan Morgan, 50, widely
known farmer of the Sugar Hill sec
tion of McDowell county, was killed
at 8:30 Tuesday morning in a log
ging accident.
Three children were with him at
the time. Coroner F. J. Westmore
land said no inquest would be held.
Surviving are the widow; 11 chil
dren, Ruby Mae, Betty Lois, Kate,
Mary Lee, Willie Fay, Brenda Ann,
Eugene of the U. S. army, stationed
in Japan, Max, Wiley Hoke, Walter
Frank and Carl Byrd; the step
mother, Mrs. M. C. Morgan of Mar
ion. Route 2; two sisters, Mrs Fred
Lawing of Marion, Route 2, and
Mrs. John Wash of Edgefield, S. C.;
three brothers, Marion of Marion,
Route 4, and Fred and Broadus of
Marion, Route 2.
Westmoreland - Hawkins funeral
home is in charge of arrangements,
which are incomplete.
Marion Tax Rate
Remains at $1.50;
Budget Is Increased
The city tax rate for Marion for
the fiscal year 1948-49 will be $1.50
on the hundred dollar valuation, the
same as last year. The rate was fix
ed at the last regular meeting of the
board of aldermen.
The property valuation of the
town is listed at $4,442,801.
The budget for the year was set
at $134,320, compaied with $124,
725 for the past year.
The budget includes the following
items: Genei-al government, $18,000;
police department, $15,350; fire de
partment, $3,600; street and sewer
department, $35,000; debt service,
$35,150; cemetery, $2,GOO; water de
partment, $11,620; motor equip
ment, $10,150; capital outley, $22,
500, less capital fund on hand of
$10,000.
Presbyterian
Guest Speaker
Dr. Edward G. Lilly, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church of Charles
ton, S. C., will conduct the Sunday
morning service at the First Presby
terian church on August 22, in the
absence of the pastor, Dr. C. W.
McMurray, it is announced.
There will be no evening service.
Dr. McMurray expects to return to
his pulpit the following Sunday.
Halley's Comet will next be seen
in 1986.
I
The ban prohibiting children un
der 15 years of age from attending
public gatherings was lifted at a.
special meeting of the Board of Al
dermen held Monday evening at the
city hall.
The ordinance imposing the re
striction became effective from and
*
after July 19 and was revoked upon
the recommendation of Dr. C. N.
Sisk, district health officer, as of
Monday, August 16.
The First Methodist, First Bap
tist, First Presbyterian, St. John's
Episcopal and St. Matthew's Luth
eran Sunday Schools will open at
9:45 a. m., Sunday, August 22, for
children of all ages, according to
announcements yesterday and a full
attendance is urged.
DRAFT BOARD
FOR THIS COUNTY
HAS BEEN NAMED
Walker Blanton was named chair
man of the McDowell County Drai't
Board yesterday. Other members ap
pointed were Joseph L. Noyes and
W. C. Chambers.
Dr. J. B. Johnson, of Old Fort, was
named medical examiner and P. J.
Story was appointed as government
appeal agent.
The committee in charge of nam
ing the officers was composed of
Dysart Martin, committee chairman,
Clerk of Court; N. F. Steppe, super
intendent of county schools, and T.
W. Gowan, chairman of the McDow
ell County Board of Elections.
AAA Reports
Must Be Filed
By August 31
McDowell county farmers who are
participating in the AAA program
are requested to file a report of the
practices they are cari-ying out this
year with the local office not later
than August 31, according to an
nouncement this week.
Funds which were applied for and
for which no practices are now being
carried out, will be pooled and later
allotted for additional practices.
Any farmer who fails to file his
report between now and August 3L
will lose his entire assistance.
Potato requirements for military,
civilian and land-lease use during
the war were about 50 million bush
els greater than the average pro
duction in pre-war years.
I
Suit Brought To Restrain
Election On Beer And Wine
Radio Officials
Visit Kiwanians
Several officials from radio station
WBBO Forest City, attended the
meeting of the Marion Kiwanis club
held in the community building Tues
day evening. These radio officials
assisted the Marion Kiwanis club in
arranging a radio broadcast to be
given over radio station WBBO Fri
day afternoon. Recording apparatus
was set up and a round table dis
cussion program was recorded for
the broadcast.
Vernon Eckerd, president of the
Kiwanis club, presided and acted as
master of ceremonies for the round
table session. Appearing on the pro
gram were the following Kiwanians:
R. W. Proctor, reporting on work
of the hospital committee; Carl
Whiteside, reporting on the work of
the agriculture committee; Garfield
Beaman, reporting on work of the
Inner Club Relations committee, and
J. L. Gourley, reporting on the work
of the minstrel committee.
Several visiting Kiwanians and
other guests were present for the
meeting.
L. L. Penland, Bruce Cowan and.
Forrest Painter have brought suit
seeking to restrain the Board of
County Commissioners from holding
an election on the question of wheth
er or not beer and wine, or both,
shall be sold in this county.
The restraining order will be
heard before Judge Dan K. Moore
at Columbus on Wednesday, August
25.
LINCS PROTECT LEAD
WITH WIN OVER MARION
The Lincolnton Cardinals protect
ed their Western Carolina league*
lead with a 7 to 5 victory over Mar
ion here Tuesday night, with Pollock
pitching seven-hit ball.
Marion held a 5-1 lead until the
seventh, when Maney's homer start
ed the Lines off again, and with two
out, a freak hop taken by a grounder
allowed three runs more to knot the
count. The Cards iced the game in
the ninth, using three singles, a sac
rifice and outfield fly to score the
clinching two runs.
Ferrell homered with one on io.
the first.