THE MARION PROGRESS
£
A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF MARION AND McDOWELL COUNTY
ESTABLISHED 1896 MARION, N. C.f THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1949 VOLUME 53—No 46
WBRM Dedicated
In Ceremony Sunday
The Wonderful Blue Ridge Moun
tains radio station of Marion was
formally dedicated in a ceremony
at the Marion Central School last
"Sunday.
Governor Kerr Scott extended a
liearty welcome to the new station
"and dicussed the Better Schools and
Roads program in a 30 minute talk.
He was introduced by E. P. Damer
«n. Judge J. Will Pless, Jr., presid
ed and introduced speakers, includ
ing: Will Erwin, representative of
the radio station; Mayor J. W.
Streetman, Jr., of Marion; H. F.
Beam*representing public education;
S. R. Cross, industries; Rev. M. O.
Owens, churches; IVJrs. Richard
Cook, civic clubs, Community Coun
cil; V. T. Eckerd, businesses; S. L.
Homewood, agriculture. Other
guests of honor recognized were:
Mayor Ashby Robinson, Old Fort;
Mayor Baker, Spruce Pine; W. P.
Elliott, chairman Better Roads and
Schools, Inc.; C. A. Workman, chair
man of the Board of County Com
missioners.
ROTARIANS VOTE
TO HEP PURCHASE
BAND UNIFORMS
The Rotary club at its meeting
last Friday named the following
committee to work with other Mar
ion civic clubs in raising funds to
purchase uniforms for the Marion
High School Band:
Marshall Dark, James McCall, Da
vid Gray, Dr. Lloyd Miller and Al
bert Hewitt.
Plans were made to observe Fath
er and" Son or T>aughter Tiigftt with
a. banquet in the community build
'fContinued on last page)
John Mills Hensley
Dies At Home;
Funeral Today
John Mills Hensley, 79, promi
nent farmer of route 1, Marion,
died at the residence at 6:35 Tues
day evening after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be conducted
at Harmony Grove Baptist church
11 o'clock Thursday morning by
the pastor Rev. Dewey Hodge as
sisted by Rev. Paul C. Stokes pastor
of the Clinchfield Baptist church.
Burial will be in the church ceme
tery.
He is survived by one son and
three daughters: Mrs. Harvey Holli
field, Mrs. J. E. Ward and Charles
Hensley of route 1, Marion, and
Mrs. George Hawkins of Clinchfield.
14 grandchildren and 2 great-grand
children. Also one sister Mrs. W.
W. Huskins of Pleasant Gardens.
Funeral Rites
For Mrs. Greenlee
Held Saturday
Mrs. Cate Hemphill Greenlee, 78,
of the Greenlee section of McDowell
county, died at her home Friday af
ter an illness of several years.
Funeral services were held at 3:30
p. m. Saturday in the Siloam Pres
byterian church with the Rev. Har
lan Gruven and Dr. Carl W. Mc
Murray officiating. Burial was in
the Old Siloam cemetery.
Mrs. Greenlee was born in Mur
ray county, Georgia. She caYne to
McDowell county soon after she
was married to the late William H.
Greenlee.
She was active in civic and church
affairs in her community and was
an officer in the Greenlee Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolu
tion. During World War II she put
in 900 hours of knitting under aus
pices of the Red Cross, setting a
record for McDowell county.
Surviving are four daughters,
Miss Mary Greenlee of Mooresville;
(Continued on last page)
TWO STABBED
LAST THURSDAY;
blair Arrested
Penny Blair was arrested Friday j
afternoon and is being1 in the
county jail in connection with the
stabbing of Minnie Edgerton and
Sonny Shade, both colored, which J
occurred last Thursday evening.
Sheriff C. M. Pool said he was
informed that Blair inflicted the
injuries, wounding Minnie Edgerton
with cuts below her eye snd across
her hip. She was treated at the Ma
rion General Hospital and released
the same evening.
The knife entered Shade's chest
puncturing his lung, Pool said. Ac
cording to a report from the Hos
pital yesterday morning, his con
dition was "improved."
No hearing has been held.
Webb Dismissed
From Hospital
Gary Webb, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Webb, who was injured with
blows from a ball bat Sunday, May
'26, was dismissed from the Marion
General Hospital Tuesday after
noon.
MARION HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT, JUNE 5-6
Boys' State
Delegate Chosen
Willard Huskins will attend Boys'
State at Chapel Hill June 10-19 un
der sponsorship of the Marion Mer
chants association. The purpose of
"the course is to acquaint the boys
-with the democratic form of govern
ment through county, state and lo
«al governments.
MARAUDER SCHEDULE
Tonight—Newton in Marion.
Friday night, Hendersonville
in Marion.
Saturday night, Marlon at
Hendersonville.
Monday night, Marlon at Ru
therfordton.
Tuesday night, R. C. Owls in
Marion.
Wednesday night, Marion at
Lenoir.
Thursday night, June 9, Lenoir
in Marion.
Commencement exercises of the
Marion High School will begin with
the Baccalaureate sermon to be de
livered at eight o'clock, Sunday ev
ening, June 5, by Rev. C. C. Cross,
pastor of the East Marion Baptist
church. Final exercises will be held
Monday evening, June 6. Tuesday,
the eighth grade will observe Ach
ievement Day. Reading certificate, j
perfect attendance certificates and
awards will be presented.
GRADUATION EXERCISES
The Graduation Exercises are
planned at the present as follows:
Processional, March from "Aida",
Senior Class.
Introduction, Rev. E. K. McLarty.
OUR AMERICA
Master of Ceremonies, Dean Mor
gan.
America, Our Heritage.
"Liberty", Dean Gouge.
"Unity", Jacqueline Smith.
"Democracy", Barbara Atkins. ■
"Security", Barbara Walker.
Hallelujah Chorus from "The
Messiah/ by Handel, Glee Club.
Introduction of Valdictory Ad
(Continued on last page)
DR. J. F. JONAS
FUNERAL SERVICES
FOR DR. J. F. JONAS
HELD LAST SUNDAY
.Dr. J. F. Jonas, 76, oldest prac
ticing physician in Marion, died at
his home here Saturday morning
about 6:30 o'clock following a brief
illness.
Funeral services were held Sun
day at 4 o'clock in First Methodist
Church with the pastor, the Rev. Ja
mes B. McLarty, officiating, assist
ed by the Rev. P. W. Tucker and the
Rev John Hall, Jr. Burial was in Oak
Grove cemetery.
Dr. Jonas had completed a half
century of medical practice this
month. About 10 years ago, it was
calculated that he had -delivered
more babies, than any other physi
cian in North Carolina. At the time
of his death he had officiated at
more than 8,000 births.
These births had included as many
as 23 in one family.
delegate to Meeting
Dr. Jonas h«ld membership in
many organizations. Two weeks ago
he was delegate from the McDowell
Medical Society to the North Caro
lina Medical Society's 150th anni
versary meeting at Pinehurst.
On Wednesday, Dr. Jonas was
(Continued on last page)
QUARTERLY MEET
OF MERCHANTS
SET FOR TONIGHT
The Quarterly meeting of the Ma
rion Merchants association will be
held at 7:30 p. m., Thursday, June
2, in the community building. The
newly elected Board of Directors
will be installed and will meet after
the regular session to elect a presi
dent and vice president.
Other matters which may be pre
sented will be given consideration.
An annual financial report will
be submitted.
Mrs. Guy Lonon
Incoming President
Of County Council
Mrs. Guy Lonon was advanced
from vice president to president of
the County Council of Home Dem
onstration clubs at a meeting held
last Friday in the office of Miss
Jean Steele, county agent.
Mrs. Marion Wilkerson was ad
vanced from secretary to vice pre
sident, and Mrs. W. W. Porter was
elected secretary.
Mrs. J. H. L. Miller, member of
the State Executive board of Home
Demonstration work, and Mrs. Guy
Lonon, incoming president, were
elected delegates to Farm and Home
Week to be held in Raleigh August
8-11. •
Mrs. Lula P. Austin gave a cake
baking demonstration and also dem
onstrated the method of baking an
oven dinner.
Pinnacle Methodist
Homecoming Day
To Be Observed
Annual Memorial and Home
coming will be observed at Pin
nacle Methodist church, Sunday,
June 5, Mrs. John S. Crawley an
nounced this week.
The service will continue through
continued or last page)
STATE WILL VOTE SATURDAY
ON PROPOSED BOND ISSUES
BARTLETT CHILD
FATALLY BURNED
LAST SUNDAY
Elizabeth N. Bartlett, seven-year
old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gar
land Bartlett of the Providence sec
tion was fatally burned Sunday and
died a few hours later at the Ma
rion General Hospital.
She and another child were said
to have been playing with matches
j at the other child's home when Eli
zabeth's clothes caught fire. She was
| taken to the Marion Hospital about
11 p. m. and died about 7:30 p. m.
j S. J. Westmoreland, county cor
i oner, said no inquest will be neces
sary.
I Funeral services were held Mon
, day afternoon at Zion Hill Baptist
j church and burial was in Clear
Creek cemetery. Rev. Carson Brit
, ton and Rev. M. 0. Owens officiat
, ed.
j Besides her parents she is surviv
: ed by two sisters, Mary Leona and
Daisy Louise, two brothers, Ray and
i Charles, all of Marion, and her
grandfather, T. H. Bartlett of Drex
el.
WEST MARION PTA
HAS INSTALLATION
AT FINAL MEETING
Officers of the West Marion Par
ent-Teacher association were in
stalled at the final meeting of the
year held Monday night in the
school auditorium. The officers are:
Miss Elizabeth Conley, president;
Mrs. P. A. Fox, vice president; Mrs.
W. P. Elliott, Jr., secretary, and
Mrs. Robert Green, treasurer.
Approximately 150 persons at
tended the meeting. They were
greeted at the door by Mrs. W. C.
Mclver and Mrs. Fate Morgan who
directed them to the receiving line
composed of: Matt MacBrayer, W.
P. Elliott, Sr., H. F. Beam, C. C.
Elledge, Mrs. P. A. Fox, Miss Eliza
beth Conley, Mrs. W. P. Elliott, Sr.,
Mrs. H. F. Beam, Mrs. Bruce Cam
eron, Mrs. Robert Green, Mrs. Frank
Mode and Mrs. W. P. Elliott, Jr.
After refreshments had been
served the group adjourned to the
auditorium for the business meeting
and program.
The program opened with the
singing of "America" and an open
ing prayer was led by Rev. R. C.
Frazier. Mrs. W. C. Burgin, report
ing for the Nominating committee,
said Mrs. R. C. Frazier had declin
(Continued on last page)
MARION PTA
MAKES PLANS
FOR COMING YEAR ,
The Executive Board of the Ma
rion Parent-Teacher association met
Tuesday morning with H. F. Beam,
principal of Marion City Schools,
and C. C. Elledge, principal Marion
Central, to outline plans for the
coming year.
The incoming officers are: Mrs.
S. W. Blanton, president; Mrs. Eu
gene Cross, Jr., vice president; Mrs.
John Setzer, secretary, and Mrs.
Wayne Suttle, treasurer.
Committee chairmen are: Mrs. J.
N. Morris, chairman elementary
grade mothers and attendance; Mrs.
E. P. Dameron and Mrs. G. W. Gil
es, co-chairmen for the program;
Mrs. R. R. Cook and Mrs. W. Ray
Smith, Jr., ways and means chair
men.
Mrs. M. W. Gordon, Jr., publicity;
Mrs. S. R. Cross, hospitality; Mrs. C.
C. Bolch, membership and maga
zines; Mrs. Eugene Cross, high
school activities; Airs* A. S. Brad
ford, chairman high school grade
mothers.
ELECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED
ON PLANS OF GENERAL ELECTION
THEATRE ANNOUNCES
CHANGE IN SCHEDULE
The Marion Theatre has
announced a change in
schedule.
Mondays through Fridays
the night shows will begin
at 7:10 and 9:00. There will
be afternoon matinees be
ginning at 2 o'clock all five
days, and in addition there
will be shows beginning at
12 noon on Mondays, Wed
nesdays and Thursdays.
Saturday shows will be
gin at 12 noon and every two
hours thereafter.
SUPERIOR COURT
TO BE CONVENED
HERE NEXT MONDAY
The June term of McDowell
County Superior Court will be con
vened here Monday, June 13, for
the trial of criminal and civil cases.
Judge Z. V. Nettles will preside.
Jurors have been drawn as fol
lows:
FIRST WEEK
Roy A. Neal, J. B. Holcombe,
Parks Hunter, Howard N. Wise, R.
J. Morris, W. .Boyce Wright, Mis.
Harlovve Noblitt, Alvin Rader, Theo
dore McEntire, J. B. Walls, W. E.
Poteat, John W. Setzer, Alvin L.
Hawkins, Jack Gibbs, V. E. Price,
' (Continued on last page)
Bids Received
On McDowell
Road Projects
Raleigh, May 31—The State High
way Commission today received
low bids totalling $1,311,048.87 on
11 new projects. The work will in
clude 66 miles of roadway in 12
counties.
The bids were $188,951.12 below
commission estimates. There were
a total of 135 bids—an average of
about 12 per project.
Projects and the low bids includ
(Continued on last page)
Raleigh, May 30. — Political ob
servers today predicted a compara
tively light vote for Saturday's bond
issue balloting.
On Saturday, Tar Heels will de
cide on the question of issuing $200
million in bonds to improve rural
roads and on $25 million in bonds
to aid counties in building schools.
A one cent increase in the gasolihe
tax hinges on approval of the road
bonds.
As the time for voting drew near,
Governor Scott continued his drive
to win support for the bond issues.
Friday, the Governor plans to fly
back to Raleigh for a statewide
radio broadcast at 7:30 p. m., clos
ing the school and road campaign.
On Saturday, he will go home to>
Haw River to vote.
SEE LIGHT VOTE
Political observers predicted that
the vote Saturday would range be
tween 250,000 and 350,000. This
compares with a total of 791,309
votes cast in the general election
last fall.
The State Board of Eelections,
however, was taking no chances on
a shortage of ballots developing at
any of the state's 1959 precincts.
It reported that nearly 1,800,000
(Continued on last page)
Two Men Arrested
By Local Police
On B And £ Charges
Levi Blnnkeriship and Charles
Beddingfield were arrested last
Wednesday night on breaking and
entering charges, Chief of Police
D. W. Smith said.
Smith said they broke into Model
Dry Cleaners on East Court and
took checks and cash amounting to
$21.95 and one army shirt. They
broke into Ballew Mtor company, did
considerable damage to the cash reg
ister, but nothing was reported miss
ing. Entering Phillips Motor com
pany, they sawed the hinges off the
safe, but could not open the door.
They were discovered by night police
while attempting to steal a car from
McKeitham Motor company.
Blankenship is being held in the
county jail until the June term of
Superior Court convenes. Bedding
field, a juvenile, was turned over
to the County-Welfare Department.
Bonds were set at $750 each.
EAST MARION SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT FRIDAY
Commencement exercises will be
held at East Marion School Friday,
June 3.
* The following program will be
presented:
Professional.
Chorus—Finlandia, Class.
Salutatory, Barbara Fisher.
Class Picture, Sammy Mills.
Statistics^ Helen Taylor and Jan
elle Randolph.
Piano Solo—Sonatinia, by Kohler,
Jewel Finley.
Class Creed, Eunice Jackson, Bil
ly Sparks, Betty Buchanan, Jimmy
Hensley, Bob Hall, Franklin Helms,
Jimmy Ruth Burnette.
Class Motto, "Act Well Your
Part", Betty Jo Pyatt, Shirley Brun
er, Shirley Noles, Edith Browne,
Mitzi Davis, Zelda Anderson, Mary
Buff, Ailene Davis.
A Tribute to Teachers, Ray Huff
man.
Choruses—Ciribirin and About
Katy, Class.
Piano Solo—Fifth Nocturne, by
Leybach, Barbara Fisher.
Gifts, Janet Moody and Jewel
Fisher.
Prophecy, Katherine Long and
(Continued on last page;
Poppy Day Sales
Totaled $417.
Prizes Awarded
A final tally from Poppy Day
last Saturday revealed $417.41 real
ized from the sales. The observance
was under sponsorship of the Ame
rican Legion Auxiliary with Mrs.
Sam Proctor as chairman.
Minnie Jane Bowman won a cash
(Continued on last page)
LEAGUE STANDINGS
CLUB W L Pet
Newton 21__7__750
Lenoir 20_10__667
Lincolnton 19 11__633
R. C. Owls 15 15__500
Marion 13 16._448
Morganton 13_18-_419
Hendersonville 13-18.-419
Shelby _7 22-,241