Drive Safely j
1 on May |
Save A Life j
VOLUME 18, NO. 39
$2.50 a Year in Ashe County
WEST JEFFERSON. N. C.
ASHE COUNTY IS ...
Leading Livestock and Uair'
County in North Carolina
Population: 22,664
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 1947
$3.00 a Year Out of County
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDA\
* 1LLEPHONE HEARING SET FOR OCTOBER 2
* * * * ★ ★ ★★★ ★★★
Large Number Of County Teachers Join NCEA
Yelton Heard Rv
Group Yesterday
O u Retirement
Unusually Good Attendant!
At First County Wide
Meeting Of Year
A large percentage of Ash<
county teachers joined the loca
and State units of the North Caro
lina Education Association at the
first countv-vvide teachers' meet
ing of the current school year
yesterday afternoon, when Nathar
Yelton. executive secretary of the
N. C retirement fund for teach
ers was present and discussed the
system.
Mrs. Gertrude Vaught, presi
dent of the Ashe county unit of
the NCEA presided and told of
Tome of the many services ren
dered by the organization. She
asked Herbert Graybeal. mem
bership chairman to explain the
details of becoming a member, to
the group Principals distributed
membership cards and in addition
to uniting with the local and State
units, several joined the national
association.
Committees were named for
the annual dinner meeting. And
it was announced by Mrs. Vaught
that there would be a meeting of
the advisory committee, next
Wednesday afternoon at three
o'clock in Supt. Hurt's office for
the purpose of working out other
plans for the year.
A. B. Hurt, superintendent of
-nU.. 1 - : — —1..- .1 XT»il_ tf t
ton to the group. The speaker
explained many details and ad
vantages of the retirement sys
tem. “Our retirement system is
-ou.sd and it as good as any in
the whole country,” he declaim
He explained that teachers
i rht voluntarily become retired
' . the age of CO.
Charlie Spencer, of the health
division of the N. C. Department
ot education, was present and
spoke, a.- did Miss Elizabeth Bar
rett. of the guidance program.
Supt, Hurt explained some of
the details of the changes in the
payroll system and his apprecia
tion of the large number present.
M s. Ed M. Anderson, editor
of The Skyland Post, praised the
teachers for th ir fine work and
(Continued on page 8)
Kites Held For
Grover \\ eaver
Man Meets Death When He
Jumps From Moving Truck
Near Mill Creek
Funeral service for Grover
Weaver, 46, was held Thursday
morning at the Whitetop Baptist
church. Officiating was Rev. Ed
Hart and burial was in the Bald
win cemetery.
I1 Weaver came to his death, last
Tu.sday morning when he jump
ed from the truck in which he
was riding when he discovered
the brakes on the vehicle had
given way. The accident occur
rni-t near Mill Creek. Weaver.
a? he jumped from the truck, hit
the bank on the side of the road
and fell backwards under the
moving vehicle. He died instantly
of chest injuries. The truck driver
brought the truck to a standstill
a few feet away, by running into
a soft embankment.
In addition to his wife, he is
survived by three children, Paul
ine, Wanda and Kenneth, all of
the’ home. Also surviving are his
mother. Mrs. Maggie Weaver, one
sister, Mrs. Stella Phillips and six
brothers, Gilliam, Gaither, Glenn,
Donald, Bryan and Boyd Weaver.
Trout Streams
Are Now Closed
L All fisherman are reminded this
week that all trout streams in
the county are now closed, Ro
land Koontz, district protector,
stated yesterday.
Special attention is called to
Buffalo creek, which has never
been closed from the mouth
the creek on up. Streams were
officially closed on August 31.
U. S. Congressmen Now In Europe
One of (he many congressional committees now tour
ing Europe on fact-finding missions, is this committee
headed by Repr. Christian Herter, Massachusetts. This
committee is touring on a fact-finding in connection with
the Marshall plan.
Several Highways In County
Improved; Expect To Open
Glendale Springs Road Soon
Choate, S eagle
Trial May End
This A f ter no on
Sparta Doctor On Stand One
Hour And Forty Minutes
Denies Charges
< .By Staff Writer
Dobson—The trial of Cl nee
W. Seagh ■ Chailotte Ta
1 bor City, and that of Dr B. O.
Choate, \yell-known Sparta doc
: tor, on charges of manslaughter
and abortion in connection with
the death of Mrs. Annie Mae
Anderson, of Charlotte, in an El
kin hotel August 23. 194G, is ex
pected to go to tlte jury today.
Choate, who was on the witness
stand one hour and forty minutes
yesterday, denied the charges. He
stated that he had no part in per
forming the abortion, which ear
1 lier witnesses testified as the
I cause of the death of Mrs. Ander
I son. He stated that he was not
! in Sparta at the time it was al
leged to have taken place and that
i both Seagle and the victim were
unknown to his prior to Satur
day before her death on Sunday.
He stated that Seagle had brought
her by his office and introduced
tier as his wife and asked fur some
(Continued on page 8)
AUDIT OF TOWN
MAY BE INSPECTED
Tiie audit for the 1946-47 fiscal
year is now available for inspect
ion at the town hall, Ralph Camp
bell. town clerk, stated this week.
Anyone desiring to inspect it r/.y
do so.
The budget for the new year
and the balance sheet will be
| published at a nearly date.
West Jefferson - Smetliport.
Beaver Creek and Shatley
Springs Roads Surfaced
Work is going forward on the
Glendale Springs highway, which
has been under construction
throughout the summer and ac-1
cording to information learned
yesterday, this is expected to be
open for travel soon. The surface
from the riw bridge to the top
of the hill near Ed Jenkins’ home
has been treated preparatory to
applying asphalt.
The Shatley Springs road as
well as a section of the Beaver
Creek road from Oak Lodge to
the t sidence of P T. McNeill,
has been surfaced.
The new section of the War-;
rensville highw:.\ from West Jef
ferson to Smethport is another
link that has be. n completed this
summer as well as the surfacing
of the highway from Greystone
service station to Jefferson Ave
nue. at the First National bank.
A number of other roads of the
county have been scraped,
widened and ditch lines improved,
in older to facilitate drainage.
Drop D Noted
On Some Foods
In several places throughout
the nation prospects that the
housewife's shrunken dollar
might grow a little larger
brightened this week as the
wholesale price decline of meat,
butter and eggs •— major items!
in the high cost of eating— carri-1
cd over into its second week.
Livestock prices generally held
about steady on the nation’s prin
cipal markets, after nearly a
week - long decline, but grains,
principally wheat, pushed higher
(Continued on Page Five)
Gordon Gray Is Named As
j
Assistant Secretary Of Army
Washington — Gordon Gray,
j 38-year-old publisher of The
Winston-Salem Journal and Sen
tinel, who volunteered as an
army private in May, 1942, will
be sworn in today as Assistant
Secretary of the Army.
The oath of office will be ad
ministered by his new boss and
fellow North Carolinian, Ken
neth C. Royall, of Goldsboro,
Secretary of the Army, in Roy
all’s Pentagon Building office.
Gray’s appointment—on rec
ommendation of Secretary Roy
all—was announced by a presi
dential aide at the White House
Tuesday. Immediately after he is
sworn in today. Gray will take
over his new charge of relations
between the army and other Gov
ernment departments and agen
cies.
[ In a statement issued after the
announcement, Mr. Gray said that
he was very deeply honored at
the appointment and grateful
“for the opportunity to serve our
country in these difficult times.”
“It seems to_ me that of para
mount significance is this addi
tional recognition of the State
of North Carolina,” he said.
The Journal and Sentinel pub
lisher said that it was planned
, to designate W. K. Hoyt as act
1 ing publisher for the Piedmont
Publishing Company, with Mr.
Hoyt to fc| ultimately responsible
for all operations of the newspa
pers and radio station WSJS. De
partment heads will remain un
changed. he said.
Mr. Gray said he did not know.
i whether it would be necessary i
for him to resign from the State
1 Advisory Budget Commission and
, (Continued on Page 5)
Frost And Low
Temperature In
Aslie I II is Week
First Taste Of Fall VVeathei
M a k e s C « n n t y
Shiver, Monday
ran came in with a rusn non
thin week on the heels of a cold
wind on Monday night and the
thermometer dropped as low as
34 degrees in several sections ol
the county. Some frost was alsr
reported ip several places This
was slight, however, and little
damage done, since high winds
and cloudy weather prevailed
most of the night.
Those in close touch with the
weather pointed out this date
was not uncommonly early for
frost in this section, but that it
was unusual this year since until
the past few days, this section
has experienced unusually hot
weather.
The temperature remained cool
Tuesday and yesterday cold rain
added to the chilling atmosphere.
Stoves, furnaces, blankets, coats
and other protection against cool
weather were rushed into service.
Most of the schools as well as
other public buildings found some
heat necessary.
JOINS W. J. FACULTY
Professor Paul Miller, win
has joined the teaching staf
of the West Jefferson high
school. Previous to (he past
war. Mr. Miller was connected
with the county schools for
several years.
Auxiliaries To
Meet Here S ri.
The North Wilkesboio group
conference of the Woman's Aux
iliary of the Presbyti ian church
will meet at the West Jefferson
Presbyterian church Friday, it
was announced this week. Wo
men representing Sparta. North
Wilkesboro. .1 fferson. Glendale,
Lansing and the West Jefferson
fields are expected to be present.
Miss Frances Hesser, missionary
to Brazil, will be the sp' aker and
Mrs. Elliot. Presbyterial presi
dent. of Winston-Salem, will also
speak. Mrs. C. Don Coffey, of
North Wilkesboro, group chair
man. will preside.
Registration will begin at 9:30
o’clock and the program will get
underway at 10:00 o’clock. Ladies
are asked to bring lunch. Coffee
will be served in the basement
of the church.
Stores Open On
Wednesday P. M.
After being closed on Wed
nesday afternoons throughout
the summer months. West Jef
ferson stores will remain open
all day Wednesday, beginning
next week. Attention of the
public is called to this in order
that shopping may be planned
accordingly.
The Wednesday noon closing
started early in the summer,
when public announcement
was made of this.
New Church At Glendale Springs
The new Presbyterian church at Glendale Springs,
where the pastor. Rev. John W. Luke and Mrs. Luke
were recently honored at a celebration marking their
20th anniversary in the work in this section.
County Committeemen Work
On 1948 Fanil Plans; Need
Performance Iteports Now
Orders Should Be Received
Now For Fall Delivery
Of Limestone
j Ashe county PMA. (successor
to AAA), committeemen a:e in
Ashevilh today, meeting with
those of 22 other county an.I State
i officials t < i
program ui t n
1948, J. W 0 A
of the commits i i
are H. H. P.
iard.
It wt : nted out b; i
'of the committee that when ail
I material furnished by the AAA
I office has been applied and all
i other practic s carried out fnr
! mers are asked to make then
performance opi •: t in th AAA
i office. It is t:i iv; .0 y ihs! the- e
: reports be made as soon as pos
I sible. in ordei that any allot,ranee
up for a farm, winch will not
.* used, mat 1". transferred to
other farms.
It was . Iso announced that
producers who wish to place an
order for limestone to be deliver
ed this fall should do so at once.
(Continued on page 4)
Land Salr \Hs
So 100 I lerr l ues.
The Lee Barnett property and
the property owned by Mrs. Tom
i Doggett sold for a total of $8,
400, Earl Grayheal. agent for
Cumbow Land company, reported
following the sale on Tuesday.
Tin Barnett property, totaling
j 50 lots, sold for $4700 and the
Doggett propeity also containing
50 lots for $8700.
Some of the buyers included
Russell Ban, Kaye Tucker. Rufus
Colvard and Wade Vannoy.
Main Vll<*n<!<*<!
Sale Of Krcalrr
(!al\o lursihn
Prices Good On Heller Oracle
Calves: Main Hovers
Are Present
A total o|' 1 (in an1 ms Is w ora .-old
in tlie fifth annual t'ci d-.-i caIf
sale last wank with entrie- from
Aslm, Alleghany ami Wat alien
counties. Have -. w e o: ent
from many section- of tin- -ta'e
and prices w re considered veto
good on bettor salvos, Coun
ty Agent H. D. It nl.ie -a i
Thosi ■ buy in : ,i in - ge i unlior
ol calve.- molii i t- - 1'- . -
on Farm, Ca innia County
Agent of Guilt - a county and the
County Agent - ! Pitt county.
The majority of calves dispos
ed of were from Ashe county,
while Alloghan also had a num
ber as did W itauga.
The total ales were not mail
aide in time : publication How
ever, County Agent Quossenberry
reported that choice steer calves
averaged $2IW>5 per hundred
weight: good steer calves aver
aged $21.84 per hundred weight
and choice an 1 good steer calves
averaged $22.4ii
H lHil Tl ( KI K IS IN
STATIiSVIl.I.I HOSPITAL
Judge II C. Tucker, vyho has
li on ill for 1he past several days,
entered the Davis Hospital, at
Statesville, voHerday for treat
ment and observtition
The many friend.-, of "Judgi **
Pucker will regret t learn of ais
illness and wish for him a ,-peedy
recovery.
West Jefferson And Helton
\ ie f or Top Plaee In Series
West Jefferson and Helton now
battle for a place in the series,
each having won the same num
ber of games. Interest has mount
ed in the last stages of the sea
son as plans are made for the
play-off.
Saturday, West Jefferson de
feated the Laurel Springs team
10-9 and on Sunday, before a
crovjd estimated at over a thous
and people, shut out Helton 9-0.
On Monday, Lansing, the champ
ions of the first half of the sche
dule of the league, won a 10-6
victory over West Jefferson.
The managers of the West Jef
ferson and Helton teams met last
night to decide whether or not
three games or one would be play
ed to determine which team
would be eligible to play Lansin|
in the series. The results of the
meeting were not available in
I time for publication.
Davis To Speak
To Rotary (Hill)
Robert Davis, principal of West
Jefferson high school, will speak
to the Rotarians at the regular
meeting tonight at seven o'clock
at the community building. Her
man Haire will be in charge of
the program.
Rev. Cecil Callis, pastor of the
Jefferson Presbyterian church,
was guest speaker at the meeting
last Thursday. He was introduc
ed to the club by Langdon Scott,
who was in charge of the pro
gram.
Also present at the meeting was
Don Richardson, of Charlotte,
former honorary member of the
dub, who spoke briefly to the
group. i
Groups Expected
io Be Present To
Protest Service
Hearing WiU lie Held Before
tit ill ties Commission In
Raleigh Next Thurs.
Following a request for increase
in local telephone rates In the
Central Telephone Company in
Ashe and Alleghany counties" tin
N. C. Utilities Commission has
ordered a petition set down te
public hearing at the mretiri" e
the body next Thursday, Octobe;
2:30 P- m-, in the offices in
Raleigh. As this is a public hear
ing, representatives from West
elfersen, Jefferson and Sparta,
as well as other citizens are plan
ning to attend and express then
views on the matter of increase
>i„ u i as sei vice, it was pointed,
out this week.
The Central Telephone Com
pany te asking in the petition for
tne authority to establish the foi
f°r business service
n West Jetlerson, individual hne
5>,‘' ' four-party line, $2.25 bus -
ness extension, $0.75 furaJ muit;
ime, $2,50. For residence
service, individual line $t> 25
four-party line, $1.50; residence
extension. $0.65; rural multi
party line, $1.75.
A full notice of the telephone
company is published in a legal
advertisement elsewhere in th; =
paper.
(\\ omen (,o
l o District Meet
"‘ s| Jetlerson Club Wins At
dame Prize; -United Fur
IVai-e Is Theme
I: a;: the A !>C county ar.t V.. •
■I ' -' on Woman's elio. u.
well i,presented at the , strict
mr a: held m lx,.: th \ lira-.:
boro, last Thursday, v. the
At -' J. itt son club WOl1. at
tondanc, pi /,■ T; , c-lub’ ahe.
had the distinction i b ng the
only .,ni in the o ; ... i e, i <mg
a birthday gilt from every mem
ber to be sent to children in tor
i'. ctionul institutions,
Mr. Dean McMillan, past presi
dent of the Ashe county club,
■ the repo; > from that organu
z;,tion. Otheis m her group at
tending we e Mis Millard Gray,
heal. Mr.- J. \v Gambill, Mrs.
John Wilkins, Mrs, Harvey Pay
ne and Mrs. C. II Eller.
Mrs. J. A. Reeves, president
gave the repo t from the West
Jelferson club Among those from
this group attending were Mr.
P. G. Wright. Mrs. Gale McMillan.
Mrs C D. \ al. Mrs Bruce Por
ter .md Mi Ed M. Anderson,
first Vice I is ! lent of the N C
Feu ration of Women’s clubs.
At the meeting in Norm
Wilkesi'uru. M;s. J. A. Guptor.
President of the N. C' Federation
discu.-.-cd her theme, "United For
Peact and told what women
could and should do toward this
end. Mrs Edwin P, Brown, sec
ond vice-president and director
of districts, outlined many et the
aims and objects of the letter,
ation for the year.
DIREC TORS OK VV J
MERCHANTS TO MEET
Sharpe S. Shoemaker, newly
elected director of the West Jef
ferson Merchant's Association has
announced a meeting of the di
rectors to be held at Rhodes Fur*
niture Company, next Monday
night at 7:30.
A.K.d. To Sponsor
Program On Sat,
Smokey Graves and his Blue
Star Boys, heard daily over ra
dio station WSJS, will be fea
tured on the stage at the court
house in Jefferson on Saturday at
eight o'clock, it was announced
here this week.
This program is being .sponsor
ed by the American Confederation
of Enlisted Men of tnts county.
A small admission will
charge/, it was pointed out.