Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Oct. 8, 1940, edition 1 / Page 1
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Watch The Label On Your Paper, A* It Carrie* The Data Your Subscription Expire*. THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will find Our Col umn* A Latchkey To Over 1,(00 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME Vi lli NUMBER 81 W illiamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday , October 8, 1944). ESTABLISHED 1899 County Authorities Delay Action On Tax Revaluation Advertising of Delinquent Tax Accounts Definitely Scheduled ?? Discussing the problem centering around {air assessments (or county taxation, the board of county com missioners in regular session here yesterday welcomed the opportun ity to delay action until the first Monday in December when the new ly elected authorities will be forced to handle the duty. It was quite evi dent from the discussion heard at the meeting that a revaluation of all real and personal properties will be ordered. Reports state that the board members readily admitted there were inequalities, and they earnestly dis cussed plans for ironing out those in equalities. At least one of the mem bers suggested that an expert be called in from another section of the State to handle the task. It was point ed out that a stranger would have no friends or favorites, that the same medicine would be "spooned out" to all alike. At the same time it was pointed out that a stranger, even an expert, would have no concrete idea of values in this county. The discus sion ended, the authorities agreed that they were no nearer a solution than they were when they started. The advertising of the delinquent county tax list was definitely sched uled for Friday of this week when no petition was received urging delay In accordance with the law. the properties upon which taxes have not been paid for the tax year 1939 will be advertised for four weeks and offered for sale by the sheriff on the first Monday in No vember. Agreeing to clear the thirty acres of land surrounding the highway pa trol radio station and adjoining the county home, J. Frank Weaver was leased the property for five years. William Edwin Moore, of James ville Township ,and George Lilley, of Griffins Township, were exempt ed from the payment of poll taxes on account of physical disabilities. Mmga Rogers for taxes levied against two mules listed both in his name and in the name of the W. H Rogers estate. The board asked that the Johnson bridge on the old Hamilton Road near the Davenport farm be enlarg ed to care for waters running off the Rufus Chance farm. Carrying the names of 42 automo bile and truck owners, a petition was presented the board urging that a WPA project be launched for the widening of the Manning Road in Griffins and Jamesville Townships from Jack Corey's to the George Martin place on the Jamesviire Washington Highway. Jurymen were drawn for the special term of Martin County Su perior court convening next month. County Young Men Enter CCC Camps Fourteen young Martin County men entered the Civilian Conserva tion Corps last week. For the first timethe number of white applicants did not equal the quota allotted the county. The names of the white youths en tering the service are, Joseph Har dison, Earl James, Thelbert Whit ley, William Beach. William Clark, Cecil Pierce, Woodrow Wynne and Lestqr White. The names of the col ored boys: George Moore, Zeb Gay nor, Dave Purvis, John Lyons, Jos eph Hood and Sam Hooper. Commissioners Order Sale of Delinquent CityTax Accounts Williamston's commissioners, lim iting action to the ordering of the sale of delinquent tax accounts and establishing a $100 license for the sale of fireworks, spent most ol their regular meeting last evenin| receiving. Appearing before the board a; members of a Woman's Club com mittee, Mrs. E S. Peel and Mrs. Joel Muse asked that they consider zon ing the town for future building, .in cluding limitations for locating fill ing stations and regulations for res idential building. The request was placed in the hopper of unfinished business for consideration at some future meeting. The committee al so asked the commissioners to tackle the rest room problem and make some provision for remedying a bad situation. The problem was carried over as unfinished business. Asked about the cemetery project, the commissioners stated that it is hard ly likely that the proposed improve ment and enlargement project will be launched before the spring. Plana for improving the badly neglected spot will be placed before a meet ing of the club tomorrow at the di rection of the board. TTie town assured a special school committee, composed of Messrs. R. L. Coburn, C. B. Clark and D. N. Hix that some aid will be advanced for helping finance a band in the high school. Pussibly as much as $100 will be turned over to the school out of the town treasury. The town tax delinquent list will be advertised next week at the di rection of the board for sale the sec ond week in November A special meeting will likely be called the latter part of this week for a study of the budget. The tax rate, which is almost certain to re main unchanged, will be announced following a study of the budget. Suggest Members For County's Draft Board TAX COLLECTIONS It was virtually certain at noon today that the delinquent tax list for the tax period or 1939 will not be as large as It was a year ago, the collector stating that $38,00* had been poured into the county coffers during the past few days. The amount reduced the unpaid to tal to a new low figure, the sheriff explained. After setting a record collec tion of more than $7,000 in a single day last week, the offi cer stated that collections have ranged up to $3,000 during re cent days. Victim Of Hunger Died Early Today Nora Rice, aged colored woman, died at her home on Broad Street here at 8 o'clock this morning, the victim of hunger and cancer. Allegedly denied food by her hus band .the woman at one time weigh ed hardly fifty pounds and was re ferred to as a walking skeleton. Her husband. Wheeler Rice, was finally called to account for the alleged mistreatment of his wife and he is now serving a two-year sentence on the roads following the airing of the case charging him with cruelty to a human being. The case attracted much attention at that time. Her husband removed, the woman gained weight rapidly but she nev er fully regained her strength. The enforced hunger period of long weeks was partially responsible for her death, doctors declare. However, cancer was given as the immediate cause of her death. It was reported that Rice was starving his wife to death so he could get the house and lot for himself. Unofficial reports state that the aged woman willed the property to her relatives. No chil dren were born to the union. Nora Rice, according to records in the welfare office here, was born in Pitt County on October 1, 1865. She had lived in this county much of her life. Arrangements for the funeral were not completed immed iately. Special Committee Makes Selections In Meeting Today R. II. GcmmIiiioii, Dr. J<w Waril and Jim* H. Ayern Get ReeoiiuiiendatioiiH Machinery for administering the draft law in this county was tenta tively set up today when a special committee, composed of Clerk of Court L. B. Wynne, Election Board Chairman Sylvester Peel and Sup erintendent of Schools J. C. Man ning recommended R. H. Goodmon, Dr. Jesse Ward and Joe H. Ayers for places on the draft board. The" recommendations are being for warded to Raleigh for consideration at the hands of Governor Hoey who holds the power of appointment. The recommendations of the special com mittee are virtually assured the gov ernor's approval, and final appoint ment is expected within the next few days A member of the special commit tee, commenting on the work of the group, stated that while there was some hestitancy in accepting the posts, the reaction to the call to service was very encouraging. Takj ing a large Itst of names of persons considered eligible for the posts, the committee last Saturday was assur ed that two would serve, a third one could not be reached. While several explained that they were not in a position to handle the work, they would serve if no one else would ac cept. When confronted with the tenta tive assignments, every one of the group said that they would willing ly surrender the job to anyone else, but that since thousands of young men were being called to the serv ice they felt it their duty to accept the call tendered them. In addition to the draft board it self, the special committee recom mended Attorney Wheeler Martin for the post of appeal agent, and Dr. J. S. Rhodes as examining physician Mr. Martin served as appeal agent during the 1917-18 draft. The membership of the draft board is fairly evenly distributed over the county. Dr. Jesse Ward, who lives in Robersonville, is widely known over the county. Mr. J. H. Ayers, Oak City man, is a Legionnaire who has a wide acquaintance in the up per part of the county. Mr R. H. Goodmon, former service man, lives in Williamston and he is also well (Continued on page four) Farmers Make Change In A. A. A. Committee Martin Elected To Head Committee As 1941 Chairman Roy T. Griffin, Williamston Man, la New Member of County Committee With hardly ten per cent of their number participating, Martin Coun ty farmen altered the personnel to some extent on their AAA farm com mittees and effected a re-distribution of the county committee personnel in a aeries of farm elections last week. The climax in the balloting was reached Saturday morning when the duly elected delegates met in the county agricultural building and named C. C. (Frosty) Martin, of Jamesville, chairman; J. F. Crisp, of Oak City, vice chairman, and Roy T. Griffin, of Williaroston, regular member. W. L. Ausbon, of Cross Roads, was elected first alternate, and W. M. Harrison, a regular mem ber on the old board, was elected second alternate. Expressing no dissatisfaction against the old board members and (Continued oo page four) | ROAD CONTRACT News of the letting of a con tract for repairing and improv ing the Roanoke River fill dam aged by flood waters last Aug ust is being anxiously awaited here. The State Highway and Public Works Commission Is scheduled to received bids on the project in Raleigh tomorrow. Unconfirmed reports state that the contract price will possibly exceed ItMMt, that the com pletion of the project is doe within nine months. Peanut Stabilisation Officer Filet Repor, At the annual meeting of the Nortl Carolina Peanut Stabilisation Coop erative directors in Eden ton las Friday, the president, R. C. Holland filed an enlightening report on th organization's activities during th past year. Mr. Holland stated ths one thing was apparent in the opera tkm of the association and that wa the accomplishments of the purpos for which it was created. Fanner W. Robert Everett attend ed the meeting from this county. Education Board In Regular Meet Meeting in regular aeaaion here yeaterday the Martin County Board of Education attentatively listened to progress reports as they came from the schools and from building proj ects advanced in connection with the school program. Despite congested harvesting con ditions on the farms while the schools were in session, attendance figures for the first months were equally as large as they were for the corre sponding period a year ago, the board members were assured. Building reports were submitted for the projects at Parmele, Oak City and Williamston. The Parmele colored school will possibly hold its commencement in the new building next spring. Approval for the con struction of a 52 by 80 foot vocation al building in Oak City by the WPA office in Washington .11 expected shortly ConstructRJIT work is prog sing on a manual arts building for the Williamston school. The lads are doing the work under the super vision of their teacher. Masai*. J. D. Woolard, Leslie Har diaon, George C. Griffin and J. W. Eubank* were present for the meet ing. Member H. C Norman was ab sent on account of illness. Serious Trouble Now Anticipated In The Far East Royal Air Force I* Steadily Gaining Parity With Nazi Airmen ? - The scheduled closing of the. Bur? ma Road, main route for the deliv ery of supplies into China, is expect ed to aggravate the unrest in the Far Cast, and today American subjects ire being directed to leave that area. "While no serious trouble is expected immediately, the step was [considered as a safeguard to the ives of the Americans," an official -eport stated today Japan is de manding more air ports in Indo china. and the demands have been refused. Some observers are of the jpimon that the next outbreak of the world struggle will be centered in [he Far East. Japan has warned th&t the closing of the Burma route will constitute an act of war. Speaking before Parliament to lay. Prime Minister Churchill re ported on the state of the British Empire. He pointed out the growing confidence and declared that the Royal Air Force was gaining stead ily over the Nazi airmen. He refer red to the extensive and damaging air raid over Berlin last night. More than 100 bombs were dropped in the leart of Berlin during a raid last-1 ing nearly five hours. Giant power houses where wrecked along with a number of other military object ives. Fifty bombers were over Lon- i ion today, and more historic build ings were wrecked there. Explaining that Hitler and Musso lini had decided to push for a 100 per cent destruction of Britain at their Brenner Pass conference last week, Prime Minister Churchill told the Parliament that it would require the German air force ten years to destroy one-half the houses in Lon don if they make no greater progress in the future than they had made in recent months. The British legder also stated that the inclusion of Japan in the Rome Berlin axis was directed as much against Russia as against the United States. Apparently some progress is being made to patch up differences between Russia and England and be tween Russia and the United States with some observers believing a line-up between Russia, China and England is possible. Churchill also stated that Germany bad more than a million men wait ing for a possible invasion of Brit ain, that there was still some dan ger of an invasion threat. German and Italian troops have marched into Rumania The move by Hitler there is taken to mehn that Germany is running low on gasoline and that the Axis powers are not certain of Russian attitude. Coming simultaneously with the reports of increased tension in the Far East were announcements that defense contracts were being let in this country on the basis of speed and early deliveries rather than on wage and hour law compliance. Teacher Added To High School Here The Williamston school board in session last Friday evening, employ ed Jack Butler, a Duke University graduate, to teach mathematics and social science in the local high school and to serve as band director. After discussing crowded conditions in the elementary and high school, board members finally adopted a course designed to relieve the high school situation to some extent and at the same time provide a faculty mem ber who can train and direct a school band. The employment of the teacher was made possible by the participation of the State Depart ment of Vocational Education in the cost of the manual arts department recently established in the local high school. It is planned that the new teach er will relieve the heavy load in mathematics, permitting the offer ing of general science for girls, and making possible the introduction of a public speaking and dramatic course in the school curriculum. Mr. Butler holds a North Carolina teacher's certificate in social science and mathematics and is also a quali fied band instructor. His experience in bands and orchestras covers sev eral years. As an undergraduate al Duke, he was student director, li brarian, and quartermaster of the band, and authorities there highly Plans are underway to raise fundi to launch a band project as aoon at possible after Mr Butler begins hii classroom duties. Several organize tiona have pledged their support U the development of a band, and it ij hoped that local students will havi an active playing organization thi year. Present at the meeting were B. L Coburn, chairman; C. B. Clark am Ray Goodmon. Rev. M. L. Ambrose To Preach At Christian Chape A revival will start at Christia. Chapel, Cross Roads, Monday nigh October 14th. Rev. M L. Ambroa will conduct the services. TTie pub lie is invited. Prices On Williamston Market Continue To Swing Upward As Sales Near Four Million Pounds Respected Citizen Died In Hospital Saturday Evening Funeral Services Held For Mrs. W. G. Keel Near Oak City Monday Mrs. Melissa Worsley Keel, high ly respected Oak City woman, died in a Rocky Mount hospital Saturday I evening about 8:30 o'clock following a long period of declining health | Her condition becoming suddenly ; worse last Wednesday, Mrs. Keel was j immediately removed from her home I in Oak City to the hospital where j she underwent an operation about | three years ago Since her first op eration she had experienced ill health, but was able to be up most of the time until recently. The daughter of the late Nathan and Sarah Long Worsley, she was born near Oak City 57 years ago She lived there all her life and was j held in high esteem by all who knew her. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church at Conoho for a long number of years, remain ing faithful in its service until the end. About ten years ago she was mar ried to Mr. W. G. Keel, who survives her. No children were born to the union, but in addition to her hus band, she leaves two stepsons, Les ter Keel, of Oak City, and Howard Keel, of Edgecombe County, and a brother, Mr. N W Worsley, of Oak City, and three sisters, Mrs. J H Wiggins, of Pinetops, and Mrs. D L. Johnson and Mrs. Effie Chesson, both of Oak City Funeral services were conducted day afternoon at 2 30 o'clock by her pastor, Elder W E. Grimes. Inter ment was in the churchyard. Mrs. Keel, thoughtful of others and whose life was marked by its fine Christian ideals, was the third member of her immediate family to die since last April, a brother and a sister preceding her to the grave just a few months ago. Gives Figures On Gli 11 re h Attendance By REV. S. J. STARNES Pastor, Methodist Church The weather was ideal last Sun day, but the attendance at the var ious churches did not come up to expectations. Sunday schools fared a little better than preaching serv ices, as a whole, while some Sunday schools were considerably "of". Only three of the churches have an eve ning young peoples meeting, and these combined showed an attend ance of 5(1. In the Sunday school 463 Were iv ported, while the morning preach ing services drew only 389 and the evening services 288 Williamston people would do well to ponder the attendance figures from week to week, that all may see just how the community is ne glecting its greatest asset. No com munity can build in the finest way where the influence of the church is underestimated and neglected, just as no individual can build u good character where the principles of religion are ignored. The attendance figures follow: Church B.S. y.p. A.M. PM Baptist 72 ii 100 35 Christian HO 14 137 35 Episcopal 35 14 Methodist 51 25 67 43 Holiness 125 115 175 Totals 389 50 463 288 Church Attendance Ministers' Problem The Ministerial Association of Wil liamston held its regular monthly meeting Monday morning at the Baptist Church. All the ministers of the town were present. The chiel topic discussed was church attend ance Many people have commented during the last few weeks about tht small congregations in the town With a white population of over 2. 000 people, the total church attend ance usually does not amount t( over 300 to 350 people a Sunday This means further that only abou 600 or 700 different people attenc during the course of each month This estimate is very high. In ordci to remedy this situation steps weri proposed to set up an organizatioi composed of three members fron each church. This group will meet on Fcida; night at 7:30 at the Christiai Church. It is hoped that somethini can be worked out which will rem edy this very grave situation in ou community. * Rpgistratitm To Bp SiiftjutrtPil By Drastic Penalty While there is no expressed wish to theaten its subjects, the Government of the United States has already warned that it means business in calling for the registration of young men in the 21-35 age group. No direct notice directing the young men to register is being Issued. But a general call has gone out and the man in the specified age group who fails to register on Wednesday. October 16, will be subjected to a five-year prison sentence or a $10,000 fine or both. Adequate provisions have been made for handling the registra tion. a report from the draft au thorities stating that those who are sick will send relatives to the registration places. Those young men away from home will be registered and their cards re turned to their home county draft boards. Those men in jail or other institutions will be reg istered upon their release. Any young man in the age group who fails to register on Wed nesday of next week will be able to register direct with the coun ty draft hoard provided he has an acceptable excuse. If the ex cuse is not considered valid, the young man will be subjected to court action and subsequent penalties. Thousands Attended Tdmrtdt The* annual session of the Kehukee Primitive Baptist Association met with the church at Bear Grass, Mar tin County, October 5, t> and 7th. The weather was ideal for the meeting and it was well attended, many com ing from great distances to be pres ent. Sunday, it was estimated there were three thousand people in at tendance. The sermons rang true to form and were?thoroughly enjoyed by the large concourse of people during the three days of the meeting. The people of Martin County know how to take care of these ga therings, and the three thousand people present on Sunday were am ply accommodated at the tables on the grounds, where delicious food of almost every description was served in the true old Baptist style, which is hard to excel. There were many visiting elders, many of whom preached interesting sermons from tin- pulpit erected un der the towering pine trees on the grounds. The spirit of harmony and brotherly love prevailed on every side as it always does when old Bap lists get together. The church membership and friends throughout the community taxed their kitchens to capacity in successfully preparing for the throngs at the picnic Sunday. The highway patrol rendered ex cellent service and no accident oc curred to mar the occasion Boom Is Rejwrted Hero During Past Few Selling Days Highest Average of Seanon Is (!liulke<l 1 p at S21.89 Here Yealerdav Tobacco prices, showing added strength during the latter part of last week, continued upward yes terday when the highest average of the season was officially entered in the records at $21 89 Farmers were mure than pleased with their sales, some receiving averages ranging be tween 35 and 40 cents % a pound. To bacco sold as high as half dollar a pound, bringing to nnnd the fond memories of prices two decades ago. Coupled with the price increase which was reported for nearly all grades and type, was an improved quality leaf The offerings last Fri day and yesterday included better quality tobaccos than on any prev ious days. Competition was unusual ly keen and nearly all grades were m greater demand than they were just a week ui two ago The nonde script or extremely sorry grades held to about the same low price lev els. The sale yesterday was described to be the most successful of the sea son Just a few hundred pounds short of 200,001). the entire sale aver aged $21.89. exceeding by a few points the record of last Friday Total sales on the market to date stand at 3,984,306 pounds, the aver age being $17.88 The market up until today had paid out $712,755 65. No prediction as vt?> the goal the market will reach this season has been offered, but with the market gaining momentum from day to day. it is now apparent that the pound age record this year will compare favorably with the record figures of 1939, the crop reduction being con sidered. Quite .i large number of farmers have completed the mar keting of their crop, hut there are fairly large quantities of the leaf still in the producers' hands. Marketing activities have been slightly delayed in this immediate section during the past week or ten days on account of peanut harvest ing and cotton picking. However, this week will see the last of the pi-a mil?crop stacked,?and tobacco sales are certain to show .-substantial gains during the immediate future. Funeral Held For Accident Victim runerai si'i vin's win- lunuumru yesterday afternoon at the late home in Robei sonville Township for Ely Albert Koberson, victim of an auto mobile accident at Spring Green Church last Friday evening. Inter inent was in the Bunting Cemetery ~rn~Knhcrsun villi* Township, -not f?r~ from the home. About 52 years old, Mr. Koberson was the son of Outlartd and Betsy Ann Gurgunus Koberson In early manhood, he married Miss Maggie Bland, who survives with 11 children, Varina, Henry, Cecil, Silva, Velma, Garland, Clarise, Clayton, Linton and Dorothy He was a member of the Free Will Baptist Church at Bear Grass. E. A. Roberson Loses Life In Car Accident L NO ARRESTS Strange as It may seem, the eounty Jail received no custom ers last week-end after officer*, including county and town and special, had made ready for a rushing business. Jailer Roy Peel held his watch with the keys ready until late that night. Twelve o'clock came and went and the first ripple on the crime front had not rippled. Officers' eyelids started hanging heavy, and one by one the watches of the night were deserted, peace and quiet descending upon thr village more sparingly than us ual. Forty-Tiro l-one Driver*' Lirenne* In Aiheboro September was( a bad month for drunken drivers in Handolph Coun ty, a report from the superior court in Asheboro stating that 42 drivers lost their licenses to operate motor vehicles during the term. All of them were charged with drunken driving, and one of the number was also charged with hit-and-run driv ing John % Bland, Jr. Is Badly Injured In Friday Ni^ht Wreck ?> I'Jiird I,if?- Cluimi-il On Coun ty llighwuyi* So Far Dur ing Current Year Kly Albert Roberson, Martin Coun ty farmer, was kitted instantly and John Thomas Bland, Jr., a grand son of Reuben Bland, was badly in jured in an automobile accident at Spring Green Church in Hamilton Township early last Friday evening. Roberson, suffering a skull fracture, a broken neck and possibly other in juries, died instantly. Thrown out of his old 1932 model car, Roberson landed several feet from the high way ,a puddle of blood forming around his head before his body could be moved to an undertaking establishment. Bland suffered a bad cut on his face, a badly bruised cheat and possible rib fractures. If no complications result from the injury. Bland, about It years old. is ea pected to recover, according to a re port coming from the Brown Cam (Continued on page four)
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Oct. 8, 1940, edition 1
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