BwSmAKK EVERY
fay day
WAR
DAT
not smm—sAw mlum
*■————————— —<
VOLUME 15, NO. 17
Public Not To
Register For
Canning Sugar
Must Write To Local OPA
Office For Applications
And Return Same
Because of the difficulties in
transportation as well as handling
facilities, instead of holding pub
lic registrations in the county as
in the past, all of those wishing
to apply for canning sugar are
asked to write to the West Jeffer
son OPA office for an application.
. When they receive the appli
cation this must be properly fil
led out and returned to the OPA
office, it was explained. It was
also explained, that in writing for
an application, the person must
include a self-addressed, stamped
envelope.
L. P. Colvard', chairman of the
rationing board, stressed the im
portance of filling out all appli
cations correctly. “These must
be completed before canning sugar
will be alloted,” he said.
“The application for home can
ning sugar must be filled by an
adult member of the family for
all the other members in the fam
ily and must be accompanied by
| spare stamp Number Thirteen
(13) in War Ration Book Four
and all questions in the applica
tion form must be answered and
the form signed. In the event
that spare stamp thirteen in the
consumer’s ration book has been
lost or destroyed it is necessary
that application on Form R-315
be filed with the local rationing
board before replacement will be
made. \
“There is a drastic change in
the regulations this year as com
pared to 1944,” Mr. Colvard said.
“Last year, any one could get su
gar who presented their ration
book, and the boards had no au
thority to deny any one what they
applied for. This year we must
> get along with less than that is
sued last .That is to be
complished by alloting 20 pounds
per person instead of 25 for last
year, and in a family of more than
eight, not that much; and the ra
tion boards have full authority
now to deny any or all of the al
lotment that may be applied for
by any person,” he explained.
| Some of the new regulations for
this year are as follows: all non
residents, students, tourists, tran
sient workers, etc., should apply
to their home boards through
their regular family units; all ap
plications in the county must be
examined by some member of the
board and approved by such mem
(Continued on Page 4)
Clothes Are Now
Being Collected
May Be Brought Into West
Jefferson Through Next
Wednesday
Dr. J. K. Hunter, chairman of
the clothes collection drive for
people of the war-torn areas, said
J| yesterday that the response, so
far, had been unusually good.
Yesterday the collection com
mittee picked up clothing from
the various assembly points
throughout the county. It was
explained, however, that all
clothes brought into West Jeffer
son, through next Wednesday
could be included in the collection
from the county. It was pointed
out, that transportation would not
be available for going out into
the county after them again. The
collection point in West Jefferson
is Parker’s store.
“In addition to clothing, bed
ding is also needed. Blankets,
sheets and quilts will be greatly
appreciated,” Dr. Hunter said.
J. L. Arnold, 76,
Buried Yesterday
r
James Larkin Arnold, 76, of
A Sly, who died on Sunday, April
■22, was buried yesterday morn
ing at the Rich Hill cemetery. The
funeral service was held at 11:00
o’clock with Elder Charles Hall
and the Rev. Tom Farmer in
'•harge.
Mr. Arnold, who was well
known throughout the county, is
survived by his wife and the fol
lowing children: Charlie, Lizzie,
and Lula Arnold; Mrs. Dewey Ro
ten, Mrs. Estella Hartsoe, Beach
er and Leonard Arnold; Mrs.
George Walker and Mrs. Maggie
Lewis.
tte DlaniJ Host
$2.00 a Year in Ashe County WEST JEFFERSON, N. C„ THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1945
Russian Armies Join
In Berlin; Half Os
Capitol Is In Flames
ROTARY PRESIDENT
, tow
Sharpe S. Shoemaker, new
ly elected president of the
Jeffersons Rotary Club.
Officers Named
By Rotary Club
For Coming Year
Sharpe S. Shoemaker Is Presi
dent; Directors Are Also ,
Chosen
Sharpe S. Shoemaker, promin
ent young business man was
named president of the Jeffersons
Rotary club at a meeting of the
■ newly elected directors last Thurs
day everting.
Mr. Shoemaker, long active in
civic affairs here has successfully
served as campaign chairman of
the Red Cross War Fund Drive
for the past several years. He is
manager of Belk’s Department
Store.
Serving with Mr. Shoemaker
will be Thomas H. Sears, vice
president; B. A. Meeks, secretary
and treasurer.
The directors chosen were: J. L.
Segraves, L. B. Tyson, Roy H.
Crouse, Thomas Sears, Sharpe S.
Shoemaker and W. W. Terry.
Gale B. McMillan, the outgoing
president, is automatically a mem
ber of the board of directors. The
new officers will begin their term
of office, July 1, the opening of
the new Rotary year.
Greer Is Awarded
A Purple Heart
The Purple Heart decoration
has been awarded posthumously
to Pfc. Ford Edsil Greer, who was
killed in action in France on Ju
ly 30, 1944, for bravery in action.
The award was made to Pfc.
Greer’s mother, Mrs. Ethel Greer,
of Husk.
Pfc. Greer was in service for
fifteen months and overseas one
month. He is ■ survived by his
mother, four brothers and three
sisters.
Feeling Os “G. I. Joe” Over
Roosevelt’s Death Described
Aviation Cadet Thomas S.
Johnston, who is in the Army Air
Corps in Texas, expressed some
thing of the feeling of “G. I. Joe”
with reference to the death of
President Roosevelt, in a letter
to his parents in Jefferson, a part
of which is as follows:
The news of President Roose
velt’s death was indeed hard to
take! Truman made, I believe,
a very fine speech today at noon,
and maybe he can follow through
on everything; but I would have
felt much safer in the hands of
the “Squire of Hyde Park.”
Our parade in his honor Sunday
was most impressive and the
Chaplain’s prayer brought tears
to my eyes for the first time in
quite some time. Ido not believe,
however, that there was a dry
eye on the field when he finished.
The radio programs on Thursday
and Friday, and through Sunday,
were very fine; and I imagine
Yanks Have Captured Vital
Position On Okinawa
Island
Two powerful Russian armies
joined forces inside Berlin yester
day and seized fully half the area
of the burning city which the
Germans said now was “practi
cally surrounded” and entirely
cut off from outside aid.
A Moscow communique an
nounced the junction of the first
Ukrainian and first White Russian
armies in a single phase of co
ordinated drives which captured
the Schlesischer (Silesian) rail
way station and all the districts
north and east of it, within a mile
of the center of the city at Unter
Den Linden.
Whirling down on Hitler’s Ba
varian mountain retreat, three
mighty allied armies curved the
tips of a giant pincers within 25
miles of Austria’s borders yester
day.
| In the far north, the British
'opened the final assault on Ger
many’s second port of Bremen,
and along the Elbe river valley
the Russians drew ever closer to
(Continued on Page 4)
Much Interest
In Spelling Bee
Held Last Night
More Than 100 Students Took
Part In County-Wide
Event
More than 100 children from
the schools throughout the coun
ty took part in the annual spelling
contest held at the courthouse
last night under the sponsorship
of the American Legion.
Students from all the grades
beginning with the fourth and
running through the high school
entered into this lively contest.
A. B. Hurt, superintendent of
schools, was in charge of arrange
ments and Ira T. Johnston was
chairman of presentation.
Winners of both the high school
and grade contest will be an
nounced next week.
They will be eligible to parti
cipate in a region contest with the
possibility of entering state and
national events of this kind.
“I am glad to see so much in
terest in spelling. I still think it
is very essential,” one school prin
cipal said in discussing the suc
cessful event.
George May, 83,
Buried Saturday
Funeral service was held on
Saturday at the home for George
May, 83, of Clifton, who died at
his home on Thursday, April 19.
Elder Dewey Roten conducted the
service and burial followed at the
family cemetery.
The deceased, a native of this
county, is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Jane May and two children,
Mrs. John May, of Clifton, and
Robert May, of Martinsville, Va.
from the point of becoming im
mortal that this is the best thing
that could have happened to
Roosevelt. His loss is certainly
mourned by the entire world! I
think the best program I heard
was Saturday morning over San
Antonio Station WOAI. It prac
tically duplicated all that has
ever been said about Lincoln and
was closed by a wonderful reci
tation of Whitman’s poem, “Cap
tain, My Captain,” while the or
chestra played, “The Battle Hymn
of the Republic” in the back
ground. I once heard a speech by
Senator Pepper, of Florida, in
which he referred to President
Roosevelt as “the greatest man
who has trod the earth since Je
sus Christ walked the paths of
Bethlehem,” —and this I firmly
believe! We shall sorely miss his
guiding hanu and wonderful and
inspiring voice.
(Continued on Page Four)
Jefferson Will
Enter Debating
Contest In Boone
Representing ’County In An
nual Event Sponsored By
The University Os N. C.
Ashe county will be represent
ed in the annual triangular debate
by the Jefferson high School in
a district contest in Boone today.
Winners in this event will go to
Chapel Hill for further contests.
Representing the school in the
debate are Colleen Little, Wil
liam B. Austin, Jr., Mary Gordon
Austin and Ruth Dixon, with
Walter Bare and Opal Koontz as
alternates.
The debaters coached by Mrs.
Gertrude Vaught debated before
the Rotary club last week, where
they were well received.
Much interest has been shown
in debating at Jefferson, this
year. Preliminary try-outs were
held before the finalists were
chosen.
Guernsey Sale
Is Planned For
County, June 9
Promotional Sale Os Purebred
Cattle Is Expected To At
tract Many
Roy H. Crouse, county agent,
announced this week that Satur
day, June 9, had been definitely
set as the date for the breeders’
promotional sale of purebred
Guernsey cattle, here.
Mr. Crouse said that he expect
ed that around 20 prize heifers
would be offered in the sale and
that more details of this would
be announced later.
The first sale of this kind was
held in the county last fall and
because of the interest shown and
the benefits derived from plac
ing a number of purebred animals
in the county it was decided to
1 hold another this spring, Mr.
| Crouse said.
PEAK VALLEY B. T. U.
WILL GIVE PROGRAM
The Peak Valley B. T. U. will
present a program at the Elk
Knob Baptist church at Tamarack
|on Sunday night, May 6, at 7:30
o’clock, it was announced this
week.
The exercise will be conducted
by the president, Mr. J. E. Tyree
and Mrs. Stella Sluder, group
leader.
i
Revival Opens
At W. J. Church
The Rev. S. O. Sigworth, of
Grampian, Pa., began a series of
revival services at the West Jef
ferson Baptist church, last night.
The services will continue each
evening, at 8:00 o’clock, through
Sunday, May 13. Special music
will be presented at each service
under the direction of Mrs. E. W.
Powers.
“The Rev. Mr. Sigworth comes
here as a full gospel preacher and
will have an inspiring message
for both young and old,” it was
announced.
The public is cordially invited
to attend the services.
BAPTIST SERVICES
ARE ANNOUNCED
Rev. Auther Ashley, of Smeth
port, will preach at Peak Valley
Baptist church Sunday morning,
April 29, 1945, at eleven o’clock
war time, and at Three Fork Bap
tist church Sunday night at 8:30
War time. Everyone is invited to
come and hear Mr. Ashley.
A revival meeting, conducted
by Rev. S. S. Graybeal at Three
Fork Baptist church, closed re
cently. There were 19 professions
and 9 additions to the church by
experience and baptism. A large
crowd attended the baptismal
service held at the river near
Ashland, Sunday evening, follow
ing the close of the revival.
Miss Virginia Dare Teague, the
Associational Missionary for the
Ashe Missionary Baptist Associa
tion, will begin a series of lessons
in Sunday School Training Course
Work at Three Forks Baptist
church Monday night, May 7,
1945. The course will meet at
8:30 each night for five successive
nights. The Sunday School of
ficers and teachers are urged to
attend.*
Ashe Men Are War Casualties
to
Quayle Barlow, left, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Barlow, of
Trade, was wounded in action, in the Philippines, recently,
according to information received by his parents. Pfc. James
M. Howell, right, son of Mrs. S. N. Howell, of Husk, is a pris
oner of war in Germany, according to a card received from
him recently. Pfc. Howell was previously reported missing.
West Jefferson District
Surpasses Quota In War
Bond Contest For Schools
Charles McNeill
Passed Away In
Boone Yesterday
Death Followed Serious Illness
From Heart Ailment; Was
51 Years Os Age
Charles S. McNeill, 51, well
known local business man, died
early yesterday morning in the
Watauga Hospital in Boone,
Where he had been suffering from
a heart ailment.
Plans for the funeral were in
complete yesterday afternoon,
members of the family stated,
pending the arrival of a daughter,
from Mexico City. It was ex
plained that services would prob
ably be held, however, some time
Friday at the West Jefferson
Baptist church.
Mr. McNeill, a veteran of World
War I, was for many years active
in the American Legion and other
fraternal and civic organizations.
He was engaged in job printing
business here for many years and
up until a few months before his
death was clerk at the local draft
board.
He was a native of this county
and was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Peter Rufus McNeill.
He is survived by his wife and
(Continued on Page 4)
John McGuire Is
Made A Captain
John H. McGuire, son of Mrs.
E. E. McGuire, and the late Mr.
McGuire, of Todd, has been pro
moted to rank of Captain, accord
ing to information received here.
Captain McGuire is now sta
tioned somewhere in the Central
Pacific. He is with the Third Ma
rine Division, and participated in
the battle of Iwo Jima.
Post Gets National Award
For Community Service
This paper was awarded second
place among all of the weekly
papers of the United States for
community service by the Nation
al Editorial Association at a meet
ing of officials held in Chicago
last week. Publisher Ed M. An
derson was present and received
the award.
The award was given to the Post
in recognition of services ren
dered in conducting the fight
against infantile paralysis last
summer, during the epidemic
which swept this section of the
state, and for the promotion and
correlation of wartime effort and
education.
The papers were judged by
leading publishers throughout the
country, previous to the meeting
in Chicago.
Since the announcement of the
award, this paper has received
many expressions of congratula
tions. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ander
son said they wanted to thank
$2.56 a Year Out of County PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
All Schools Urged To Double
Efforts In 7th War Loan
Contest Now On
According to reports received
here, West Jefferson high school
is the first to exceed the quota in I
the contest being held this month
in connection with the Seventh
War Loan Drive.
This school district had an as
signed E bond quota of $25,000.00
and reports yesterday showed that
the total of $26,524.25 had been
reached in the sale of bonds. Os
this amount $23,449.25 w'as rais
ed in the central school and the
remainder by other schools in the
district. Mrs. James Barlow is
chairman of the drive for the
school. It is interesting to note
that the quota was made and sur
passed in record time, as the con
test continues through this month.
Jefferson high school is also
probably near its assigned quota
of $14,000.00 as reports received
from them on Tuesday showed
$12,000.00. Other schools are
asked to send in their reports.
In speaking of the work the
(Continued on Page Four)
Sgt. Parker Is
Now At Home
An Ashe county youth is home,
after a long journey, by air and
land. He landed in Miami, Fla.,
last week and then began his
overland travel to his native
home.
He was home ... or a long way
nearer home . . . after 30 months
in India with the Medical Corps.
The happy warrior, who last
week was clearing Air Transport
Command’s Miami Army Air
Field after an ATC flight from In
dia was T-5 Ben F Parker, 27,
Parker, where his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. M. F. Parker, reside. He
arrived here after some “land
travel” and said it seemed good
to get back.
everyone for their good wishes
and pointed out that it was
through the splendid cooperation
and support of the people that
they were able to serve the com
munity.
BROTHERS MEET AFTER
23 MONTHS SEPARATION
Sgt. Julian F. Ragan and Cpl.
James B. Ragan, sons of Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Ragan, of Todd, re
cently met somewhere in the
Philippine Islands, after being
separated for the past 23 months.
They spent some time together
then and have been able to meet
again since that time.
Mr. and Mrs. Ragan also have
two other sons in service. They
are Sgt. Vernon S. Ragan, now on
Okinawa Island, in the Pacific,
and S.-Sgt. Link Ragan, who is
stationed at Camp Van Dorn,
Miss., after recently returning
from two years overseas duty.
OVEBTHETOP
yußv FOR VICTORY ;
united states war
BONDS-STAMPS
Francis Men Get
Sentences Os 10
To 12 Years Here
f t
Jury Brings In Verdict Os
Second Degree Murder Af
ter Long Deliberation
The spring term of superior
court for the trial of criminal
cases in Ashe county came to a
close last Thursday, when De
witt Francis and his son, Ira, be
ing tried in connection with the
death of Dent Baldwin, were
given sentences of from 10 to
12 years by Judge Felix Alley,
after the jury brought in a ver
dict of second degree murder.
This case, which got underway
on Tuesday, occupied the spot
light during the remainder es
the term of court. The verdict
of the jury, which was a surprise'
to some, was brought in after de
liberating around four hours.
Baldwin met his death in De
cember, 1943, as a result of a blow
on the head following an alter
cation with Mr. Francis and bis
son over tobacco, which they
were getting ready to market.
The case was previously tried
before Judge Hoyle Sink, when
a mistrial was declared.
Other cases tried on the final
day of court included that of
“Whispering” Miller and Carl
Hardin, each charged with the
violation of the prohibition act.
Both of these defendants were
fined SSOO and the costs.
Some other minor cases were
disposed of during the last day
of court and a number of others
were continued.
Baptist Leaders
Meet Saturday
Pastors’ Conference Will Be
Held At The West Jeffer
son Church
The Rev. R. C. Ashley, secretary
of the Preachers and Pastors Con
ference of the Ashe County Bap
tist Association, has announced
that the conference would be held
at the West Jefferson Baptist
church on Saturday, April 28, be
-1 ginning at 10:30 o’clock and con
tinuing for an afternoon session.
The program will open with the
devotional reading by the Rev.
I Frank Tucker and the Rev. G. C.
Burkett and the Rev. W. E. Den
|ny discussing the theme “The
Need Os An Old Time Revival,”
which will be followed by a round
table discussion. Miss Virginia
Dare Teague will discuss the
work of the church after which
the meeting will adjourn for
lunch.
During the afternoon the de
votional service will be led by
the Rev. H. M. Winkler and the
Revs. Cartie Eggers and Herman
Gentry will speak on the sub
ject, “Rededication.” This will
be followed by’ discussion and a
financial report by the secretary.
The Rev. W. E. Denny is mod
erator of the conference.
Cancer Control
Drive Underway
The drive to raise funds for the
control of cancer is now under
i way in the county and is meeting
with good response.
A partial canvass of the business
houses has already been made in
West Jefferson by Miss Ruth Tug
man, drive chairman, and Mrs.
Ed M. Anderson and the schools
are also cooperating in the drive,
which will continue throughout
this month.
Contributions may be mailed in
to Miss Tugman or to this paper.
DR. SUMMEY DIES
Dr. Summey, well known drug
gist, of Dallas, N. C., died sudden
ly at his home there this week and
will be buried today.
He was the grandfather of Bret
Taylor Summey and had often
visited him at the home of Dr. Ed
gar Jones.
Dr. and Mrs. Jones are planning
to attend the funeral at Dallas.
BRIARHOPPERS COMING
TO JEFFERSON, FRIDAY
The Jefferson high school is
sponsoring a personal appearance
of the Briarhoppers, a group of
radio entertainers from WBT in
Charlotte. The program will be
given at the courthouse, Friday
night, April 27.