COUNTY r
is the air-conditioned section of
North Carolina whose altitude
ranges from 3,000 to 5,500 feet
abovd sea level. Twenty-five miles
of the PARKWAY run through
the county.
VOLUME X, NO. 4
Ashe Experiencing Most Severe Winter In Several Years
Elkland Won 2nd
Place In Annual -
ASTC Contest
Boone Captured First Place.
Fleetwood, Jefferson and
Lansing Won Honors.
- *
MANY TAKE PART
Five of Ashe county’s nine high
schools took part in the annual
Language and Forensic tourna
ment, on Monday, sponsored by
A. S. T. C. for the high schools
of Ashe, Avery and Watauga
counties When Boone won first
place with the greatest number
of points, and Elkland came out
second.
Competitive tests in both Eng
lish and French were carried out
among the boys and girls of the
high schools, as well as speaking
and interpretive reading.
The winners from the Ashe
county high schools were as fol
lows: first place, competetive
English, eighth grade, boys, Cecil
Fletcher, Fleetwood; second
place, ninth grade English, girls,
Byrl May, Lansing; first place,
tenth grade English, girls, Kath
leen Ragan, Elkland; second
place, tenth grade English, boys,
Thomas S. Johnston, Jefferson;
first place, eleventh grade Eng
lish, Carrie Lookabill, Elkland;
second place, eleventh grade
English, boys, C. J. Rich Jr., Jef
ferson.
In the French competetive con
test Elkland won first place
among all of the schools; second
place, first year French, boys,
John Winkler, Elkland; first
place, second year French, boys,
Guy Marsh, Jefferson.
Second place in declamation
contest was Won by J. D. Miller,
Elkland. In the extemporaneous
speaking, first place went to
Richard Lemly, Fleetwood.
High schools from Ashe county
which participated in the con
tests were Fleetwood, Elkland,
Jefferson, West Jefferson and
Lansing. Weather conditions and
the fact that some of the other
schools had been closed part of
the time since Christmas, pre
vented them from taking part in
the events.
Last year Elkland won first
place in the tournament. Kath
leen Ragan, Carrie Lookabill, J.
D. Miller of Elkand were among
the winners last year as well as
this year. Boone high school
came out second last year.
Mass Meeting In
Jefferson Tues.
Was Postponed
The mass meeting of Jeffersons
citizens, scheduled to be held on
Tuesday afternoon to consider
possible plans for getting a WPA
water and sewerage project for
the town, was postponed because
of bad weather and the inability
of Warren H. Booker, director of
division of sanitation of the State
Board of Health, to come to Jef
ferson.
Tentative plans for the pro
posed project were discussed by
several leading citizens, but no
definite announcement has been
made.
KEE FINED SSO FOR
VIOLATING GAME LAW
At a hearing before Squire
Rose, Tuesday, Iran Kee, of
Charlotte was found guilty of
buying and selling game birds
and was fined SSO and the
cost. The case against Ned
Maxwell, also of Charlotte
was dismissed for lack of evi
dence.
Kee and Maxwell were ar
rested several days ago by
Harvey Goodman, Ashe coun
ty game warden and George
Royal, special game warden,
of Roaring Gap, after chasing
them for some distance. The
men, when caught were found
to have around 100 quail and
grouse as well as a great many
rabbits on a truck which they
were taking to Charlotte to
dispose of.
It, was reported that Kee
who has hauled produce from
this section for some time, had
been suspected of buying and
uniting game birds, before he
was caught
lie ■ Molanfc IJo st
$1.50 a Year Out of County
Famous Mountain Covered With Snow
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Since two days before Christmas, Ashe county’s famous
Negro Mountain has been covered with ice and snow. One
of the most beautiful views ever seen from West Jefferson
is the sun’s rays glistening on ice-covered Negro. (Photo by
Staff Photographer.)
Congressman Doughton May
Agree To S t a y In Harness
Masons Install
New Officers
T. B. Grayson is New Master.
Dinner Held at Tucker
• Hotel Tues. Night.
Following a dinner held at the
Tucker Hotel, on Tuesday even
ing, the local chapter of the or
der of Masons held the annual in
stallation of officers, at an im
pressive meeting at the lodge
hall.
Ira T. Johnston, past master of
the local lodge, was in charge of
the installation services. The fol
lowing were inducted into office:
T. B. Grayson, master; Coleman
Payne, senior warden; Gwyn
Gambill, Jr., warden; Ed D. Barr,
treasurer; W. B. Austin, secre
tary; Ira T. Johnston, senior dea
con; Dean McMillan, Jr. deacon.
Captain George Doggett acted as
marshall during the installation
service.
The attendance was unusually
good Mr. Johnston said, consid
ering the weather. The Helton
lodge had planned to hold a joint
meeting and installation service
with the local lodge, but due to
weather conditions, Was unable
to attend.
Healing Springs
Lunch Room Gets
2nd. Place Rank
Ashe county has the honor of
having what supervisors regard
as being the second best WPA
school lunch room in North Car
olina.
According to information ob
tained from Mrs. Alice Baker,
county supervisor, the Healing
Springs high school lunch room
enjoys this distinction.
“11118 lunch room has all of the
equipment required by WPA, al
so a large, spacious dining room
with a seating capacity of 80,
canned goods and so on,”' she
said. “As soon as our hot water
unit is installed, we hope it will
be placed on the top round.”
Second President’s Ball Will
Held Here On February 3rd.
The campaign against infantile
paralysis in Ashe county was
opened Saturday night with
1940’s first President’s Ball, to
be held in this section, and an
announcement was made that the
second ball would be held here
Saturday night, Feb. 3.
The proceeds of both of these
events as well as the “March of
Dimes” campaign now underway,
will be used to fight infantile
paralysis. Small containers for
dimes are now being placed in
stores and other public places to
enable everyone to contribute to
this cause. Bruce Dent, chairman
of the drive here, said it would
be carried into the schools and
churches.
Congregations throughout Ashe
WEST JEFFERSON, N. C. THURSDAY, JAN. 25, 1940
Followers in District, State
Put Great Pressure on
Him to Run Again.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.—The
people of North Carolina in gen
eral, and those of the ninth con
gressional district in particular,
are highly resolved not to take
no for an answer. On two occa
sions of late Rep. R. L. Doughton
hc.s gently and considerately, but
firmly, served notice of a pur
pose to retire from public life at
the end of his present term, hav
ing .labored in the congressional
vineyard for 30 years.
Now it appears that Mr. Dough
ton may be obliged, by the pres
sure of events, to reconsider and
agree to serve another term. The
dean of the North Carolina dele
gation is paying the penalty of
greatness, for all those concerned
think that since he holds the
chairmanship of the ways and
means committee and rates high
with the administration the state
can ill afford to lose him and the
vantage point from which he is
permitted to serve. Letters and
telegrams telling how the peo
ple feel about these things con
tinue to arrive at Mr. Doughton’s
office, and it is understood that
a delegation is to come here the
latter part of the week to enter
a direct plea.
The following telegram signed
by Democratic chairmen of Ca
barrus, Rowan, Stanly, Iredell,
Alexander, Ashe and Alleghany
counties was received by Mr.
Doughton today:
“Your friends in the ninth dis
trict appreciate the great service
you have rendered and would be
reluctant to insist on an addi
tional term of office for you if
conditions were not so unusual
as to create situations which ap
pear to us of sufficient impor
tance that we insist that you re
consider your announcement and
immediately declare yourself wil
ling to serve for another term.
You can be of much greater as
sistance to the district than any
one we could secure at this time,
and the termination of your many
years of service, with turmoil
which would be left in the dis
trict, would be a great loss to
(Continued on Page Eight)
county are expecting to join with
others of the nation in observing
Jan. 28th. as “Infantile Paralysis
Church Sunday,” it was announced
by Bruce Dent, county chairman
of the Committee for the Celebra
tion of the President’s Birthday.
Prayers will be offered on that
date, two days before the birth
day of President Roosevelt, foh
those afflicted with the dread di
sease, and clergymen of all de
nominations will appeal for sup
port in the “Fight Infantile Pa
ralysis” campaign now in pro
gress.
The idea of setting aside a cer
tain Sunday upon which to call
attention to the campaign origi
nated last year and met with
(Continued on Page Eight)
Record Number
Now Working On
WPA In County
Over 1000 Men at Work. Near
ly 900 On 19 County
Road Projects.
Over 1000 men are now work
ing on 22 different WPA projects
in Ashe county and more are be
ing added every week.
This is the largest number
employed on WPA at one time in
this county. Nearly 900 are at
work on 19 county road projects,
B. W. Jones, supervisor, states,
and over 100 Work on the Gras
sy Creek school building, the hos
pital and the West Jefferson sew
erage projects.
The WPA payroll in Ashe is
now running around $28,000 per
month.
During the past six weeks, Mr.
Jones estimates that over 200 men
have been added to WPA rolls.
67 were given assignments last
Saturday. In addition to these,
several hundred applications are
pending at the welfare office
and in the WPA district office
at North Wilkesboro.
In spite of severe winter wea
ther, work on the road projects
has been continued without much
interruption this year, while the
other three projects have had to
close down right much of the
time.
Splendid progress is being
made on both the Grassy Creek
school and the hospital build
ings.
Aged Alleghany
Citizen Passes
Oldest Postmaster in County
Died Sat.. Funeral Ser
vice Held Monday.
By G. GLENN NICHOL*? ?
Staff Correspondent
SPARTA, Jan. 23. William
Henry Weaver, age 86, 6 months
and 9 days, died at his home at
Peden last Saturday after a
few days’ illness.
He was widely known as a mer
chant, justice of the peace and
postmaster. He had served the
people of his community as a
public servant for many years
and had a host of friends and re
latives to mourn his passing.
He was always ready to help in
all public enterprises in his sec
tion.
He was married to Sarah Jane
Edwards on October 22, 1884. He
made a profession of faith in
1874, and although he never
united with any church, his life
was one of service to the church
and his fellowmen at any and all
times when his help needed.
He is survived by his wife, one
brother,* James Weaver of Piney
Creek; one sister, Mrs. Rebecca
Caudill, of Broadus, Montana and
the following children; John
Weaver, Sprig, W. Va.; Robert
Weaver, Scottville; Nathan Wea
ver, Edgarton, W. Va.; George
Weaver, Peden; Mrs. Rose Mc-
Millan, Crumpler; Allie Weaver,
Peden and Mrs. Smith Evans,
Sparta.
The funeral was conducted
from Rocky Ridge church Mon
day morning by Rev. R. L. Ber
ry, assisted by Revs. Sturgill and
Caldwell and interment was in
the family cemetery.
The pall bearers were post
masters, W. B. Reeves, White
head; itush Thompson, Glade Val
ley; G. Glenn Nichols, Sparta;
and Fred Weaver, Everett Miller
and Marshall Wingler.
The flower girls were: Nell
Weaver, Hazel Nellie Van Dyke,
Virginia Anne Weaver, Cora
Weaver, Jean Warden and Edna
Rae Smith.
JOHN SEVERT WAS
BURIED ON SUNDAY
John Severt, of Damascus, Va.,
died at his home there Friday
morning following a heart attack.
Funeral service was held Sunday
afternoon at Southerland and
burial followed in a nearby cem
etery.
The deceased who was a na
tice of Ashe county, moved away
from here a number of years ago.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Severt of Jefferson and a bro
ther of Mrs. R. L. Speaks. Mrs.
Mary Harris, and Joe Severt, all
of Jefferson; Jim Severt of West
Jefferson.
SI.OO a Year in Ashe County
Winter Snorts Are Ponular In Ashe
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Skiing, riding on sleds and toboggans are rapidly becoming
popular sports in Ashe county. Plans are being made to or
ganize a ski club here. Shown above are a group who were
skiing and sleigh riding on the slopes of T. C. Bowie’s farm
near Fred Colvard’s, which is the rendezvous for local sports’
activity. Reading from left to right are Bill Garvey, Raymond
Francis,. Charlie Bailey, Dean McMillan, Mrs. Charlie Bailey
and their two children, and Mr. Francis’ son. (Photo by Staff
Photographer.)
Directors And Officers Os
Bldg. And Loan Association
Re-Elected At Annual Meet
OUT FOR CONGRESS
kJ? W Jis
I El ■
Walter H. Woodson, Sr., of Sal
isbury, announced his candidacy
for Congress from the ninth dis
trict following Representative R.
L. Doughton’s announcement that
he would not seek re-election.
Others are expected to announce
if Congressman Bob does not
change his mind.
Farm Officials
In Ashe Today
A number of officials of the ex
tension service at State College
and state AAA representatives
are in the county today, conduct
ing an all-day educational meet
ing with members of the county
and community committeemen.
The meeting is being held at
the courthouse and plans are be
ing worked out for the farm pro
gram in Ashe this year.
Included in the officials expec
ted to be in the county today are:
R. W. Graber, extension forester;
F. R. Farnham, dairy specialist;
H. R. Niswonger, horticulturist;
E. C. Blair, agronomist; J. F. In
low, AAA district officer; Mr. Ca
they, state AAA representative
and F. S. Sloan, district agent.
Glenn Maxwell, Alleghany
Negro, Executed Last Friday
Glenn Maxwell, 40-year-old
Alleghany county negro who was
put to death by the state of North
Carolina, Friday, was the first
from that county to pay the sup
reme penalty to the state.
Maxwell who Was twice con
victed of first degree murder, for
fatally shooting Charlie Shep
herd, in cold blood, was sen
tenced on May 3, by Judge J. H.
Clement, to be put to death July
7. An appeal to the Supreme
court delayed the execution. At
a hearing in December the deci
sion was upheld, and Jan. 19 was
set for the execution.
Maxwell was first tried May,
1938 and sentenced to* die on
June 17, 1938. The case was ap-
Association Shows Good Pro
fit During Ist Year. Oth
ers Urged To Join.
The directors and officers of
the Ashe Building and Loan As
sociation were re-elected Monday
night at an annual meeting of the
stockholders held here in the
community building.
The financial statement showed
that the Association has enjoyed
successful and profitable opera
tion during its first year.
Undivided profits in the
amount of $142.14 were shown,
which were regarded as being
“very good” for the initial year.
Receipts from installment
stock totalled $7,208.00, paid up
stock $500.00, interest $213.75,
fines $10.65 entrance fees $324.-
00, loan fees $37.50, insurance for
shareholders $20,78, or a total of
$8,314.68.
Disbursements were as follows:
mortgage loans, $6,800.00; stock
loans, S2O; salaries, $200; adver
tising $20.60; supplies, $144.35;
taxes, $50.80; bonds for officers,
sl6 and general expense, $1.32,
leaving $1,061.61 in the bank.
The re-elected directors are: J.
L. Segraves, J. Gwyn Gambill,
Glenn B. Graybeal, Jack Rhodes,
W. B. Tribble, Roy R. Badger,
Don Francis, Dr. J. K. Hunter,
J. B. Hensley and Ed M Ander
son.
The officers are J. L. Segraves,
president; Gwyn Gambill, vice
president; Glenn Graybeal, sec
retary and treasurer and Mrs.
Rex Morton, assistant secretary
and treasurer.
“I consider it a great honor to
be president of this Association
and I appreciate it greatly,” Mr.
Segraves stated in his opening re
marks.
He explained the purpose of
the Association and asserted that
he Was pleased with the first
year’s operations.
He praised the Building and
Loan as being an excellent insti
tution for systematic saving. “Mo
ney does talk; it gives the man
(Continued on Page Eight)
pealed to the supreme court and
a new trial Was ordered on the
ground that Judge Donald Phil
lips errored in his charge to the
jury when he declared that “the
defendant could not be found ‘not
guilty’ ”.
Practically the same evidence
was presented at both trials,
which showed that Maxwell, a
negro who previously had a good
character, shot and killed Shep
herd, a well known filling sta
tion operator, on April 14, While
he was working in his mother’s
garden.
Due to the interest in the case,
a capacity crowd was present for
both trials.
(Continued on Page Eight)
BELIEVE-IT-OR-NOT
The Skyland Post is the only
paper in Ncfrth Carolina having
an audited circulation of over
three times the total population
of the town in which it is pub
lished.
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
Schools Closed
And All Activity
Greatly Hampered
6-Inch Snow Fell This Week.
Thermometer Dropped to
1 Above Last Sat.
RELIEF FORECAST
Schools are closed, highway
traffic is hampered, farm work
and business activity are practi
cally at a standstill as a result of
the heaviest and worst snowfall
of the season.
This big blast of winter, fea
turing a heavy snowfall driven
by high winds and dropping tem
perature has not been confined
to Ashe county and the moun
tain sections, but has covered
practically all of the states and
nation, extending fan down into
the state of Florida.
A blanket of snow, ranging in
depth from 3 to 10 inches, cov
ered almost every section of
North Carolina Tuesday and
yesterday. The far west re
ported snow as deep as 18 inches
and in Atlanta, Ga., an all-time
record was broken when 9 1-2
inches fell.
Last night the weather forecast
held some signs of relief and
this week end the temperature is
expected to rise after dropping to
a low level.
The snow storms here Tuesday
and yesterday were the nearest
approach to a blizzard that has
been experienced in this section
in many years.
The snowfall was from five to
six inches and a high wind yes
terday made walking or riding
difficult.
Most of the schools in the coun
ty closed yesterday until Mon
day, or at least until weather
conditions improve.
Under the direction of Captain
George Doggett, highway forces
have been working day and night
in the county, cleaning snow off
of the roads.
The mountain peaks and val
leys in Ashe county have been
covered with snow since Decem
ber 23 and it is reported that the
thermometer has not risen
above 40 during January.
The mercury dropped to an of
ficial reading of 1 degree above
zero last Saturday morning, the
lowest it has been in the Jeffer
sons in a number of years.
Rivers and other streams in
the county are frozen over and
much skating is being done on
them.
It is reported that the ground
is frozen to a depth of 12 to 15
inches.
The demand for car chains and
coal here has been heavy and in
spite of severe weather condi
tions, only a few minor wrecks
have been reported.
Miss Ruth Tugman’s car was
badly damaged Tuesday when
she ran into the back of a truck
which stopped a short distance in
front of her on the highway be
tween the Jeffersons. No one was
injured.
Mail service has been greatly
hampered.
ATTEND SHORT COURSE
H. D. Quessenberry, assistant
Ashe county farm agent, Mr. and
Mrs. Tom Graybeal, of Clifton
and Lawton Woodie attended the
poultry short course held at Le
noir Tuesday. Ashe won second
place in the attendance contest.
TWIN 1
MEAL IS A . ;
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