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<*n5 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 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.