North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* For Victory.,. Buy UNITED STATES DEFENSE BONDS * STAMPS VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 4 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 28, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics New Rilling permanent wave and drying machines have been installed recently at the Virginia Dare Beau ty Salon here, and all the old ma chines have been overhauled and put in first-class condition, it was an nounced by the owner, Miss Virginia Cahoon, this week. Technical Sergeant W. Ronald Gaylord and Mrs. Gaylord arrived in Plymouth Tuesday night from Las Vegas, N. Mex., where Sergeant Gay lord has been stationed. He is leav ing the k *er part of this week for a new post .. t West Palm Beach, Fla., while Mrs. Gaylord will remain in Plymouth. Mr. Gaylord received his promotion to technical sergeant about t o weeks ago. W. L. Whitley, chairman of the Washington County ration ing board, said yesterday that in the future any person who al lowed his tire certificate to lapse would be refused a renewal of it. These certificates must be used within 30 days after they are issued. When kept longer than 30 days, it means that the coun ty quota is reduced by that much, as renewal must be made against the current month’s quo ta, and the unused portion of any quota cannot be carried over. Lieutenant William Hays, son of County Agent and Mrs. W. V. Hays, was a visitor here yesterday. Lieuten ant Hays is stationed at Wilming ton, Del., with the Army Air Forces Air Transport Command. It is announced that any regis trants who may wish to go before the draft board to request deferment, change of classification, or for any other purpose, must make arrange ments in advance and be assigned a definite tifne to apear. They may ap ply for this by mail or in person to the clerk of the board, Mrs. Eliza Daniel, and they will be notified when to appear for hearing. Chairman W. L, Whitley, of the mning board, said yesterday that a^.M.cations for four or more new tires for automobiles would not be given consideration in the future. Mr. Whitley said the board had ruled that it was not possible for all four tires on any one car to wear out at the same time, and therefore it would reject such applications forth with. The secretary to the board is now empowered to grant requests for retreads, but applications for new tires must be considered by the whole board. -^ Nr> Violations ot Ban On Pleasure Driving Reported in County -® Board Is Advised That No Relief Is in Sight for Gasoline Users At the office of the Washington County War Price and Rationing Board this week, it was stated that no immediate relief for the gasoline and fuel-oil shortage was in sight for residents of the East Coast States. In fact, a letter from regional head quarters of the Office of Price Ad ministration states that every auto movile driver must effect a reduction in the amount of his driving by us ing his car only when absolutely ne cessary. It goes on to advise local boards that it is better to issue too little gasoline than too much, and the local authorities are advised to answer "no” in most cases when queries are addressed to them about the pleasure driving ban. So far, no violations of the pleas ure driving regulations have been cited to the Washington County Board, although numerous summons have been issued in surrounding counties. Twenty alleged violators were given a hearing before the Mar tin County board last Monday night, and several had their gasoline ra tions suspended from 30 to 60 days. State officials were on hand and warned the violators that a second offense would mean cancellation of all gasoline rations for the duration of the war. Similar action is being taken in other countries, and it is evident that the regulations are to be strictly enforced until the situa tion is eased somewhat. (See RATION BOARD, Page 6) Good Books Wanted tor Men in Armed Service; Contributions Are Requested According to an announce ment by Mrs. W. H. Smith, chairman of the Victory Book Campaign in Washington Coun ty, only five books have been re ceived although the drive has been in progress nearly a week. The purpose of the Victory Book Campaign is to furnish high grade literature to the men in the armed forces. .Men in small outposts far removed from libra ry facilities need the help to mo rol which the reading of good books can give. Patriotic citizens of Washing ton county are urged to search their bookshelves at home for books that would be enjoyed by the men in service and bring the books to the Norman Furniture Store. From there they will be sent to the headquarters at Ra leigh and then directly to the men in service. Remember, “any book you really want to keep is a good one trf give.” Old magazines, text books, reference books, and cheap dime novels are not want ed. Good westerns, mysteries and popular novels will be great ly appreciated. GETS DECORATION | 1 Augustus R. (“Boots”) Patrick, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Pat rick, of near Roper, last week re ceived the Army Air Medal for “meritorious achievement while in aerial flight.” He is stationed “somewhere in the Middle East.” Newkirk Reelected Head Local Union Bv Pulp Workers —:—$ Other Officers and Trustees Named at Election Held Recently —-<$ Officers for the coming year were elected recently and installed Mon day night by Local No. 356, Interna tional Brotherhod of Pulp. Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers. J. H. New kirk was reelected president to head the organization for the year, and James E. Mizelle was reelected sec retary. New officers were elected for the various other posts as follows: W. D. Walker, vict president, suc ceeding A. R. Modlin; J. D. Cruick shank, treasurer, succeeding W. D. Walker; Luke A. Daniels, guard, succeeding H. D. Peele; and Franc'S J. Holh, H. D. Peele and Bonnie W. Cobum, trustees, succeeding A. C. Blount, L. M. Mooney, and A. R. Modlin. The officers were elected to serve until January 1, next year. Due to unavoidable conditions, the election of officers this year was delayed for about three weeks. The local union, composed of work men at the plant of the North Caro lina Pulp Company here, has had a most successful year, according to the officers. Improved working con ditions have been secured by nego tiation, and the membership has showm an increase of about 20 per cent in the 12-month period. Tire Pulp and Sulphite Workers local now has about 400 members, making it the largest of the five local unions here. A subsidiary. Local No. 356-A, composed of colored workmen at the plant of the North Carolina Pulp Company, is now conducting its se lection, and officers for the current year will be announced soon, it was stated. Fertilizer Will Be Available This Year For Cucumbers for Pickling Purposes The local Department of Agri culture War Board has been no tified that fertilizer will be al lowed for the production of cu cumbers grown for pickling pur poses. The earlier proposed re duction in acreage of cucumbers does not apply to cucumbers for pickling process purposes. Such acreage will be subject only to lo oal facilities for harvesting, trans porting and processing the crop, it is said. Food Production Order No. 5 reads: “On and after January 18, 1943, no fertilizer manufacturer, dealer or agent shall deliver any fertilizer containing chemical ni trogen for use on melon or cu cumber crops, except where grown specifically for seed pro duction, or, In the case of cu cumbers, where grown for pro cessing; and no person, Indud ing fertilizer manufacturers, dealers or agents, shall use any chemical fertilizer containing chemical nitrogen for any pur pose restricted by this para graph.” Cucumbers grown for pickling are included in Group “B” crops, and fertilizers containing chem ical nitrogen are restricted for such use to the rate of applica tion used for this purpose in eith er 1941 or 1942. The grade used is to be the grade which the or der specifies may be substituted for the grade used in 1941 and 1942. The War Board makes it clear that no cucumbers or melon growers can use fertilizer except where they can show such crops are produced for pickling pur pose* or for seed production. Plan To Have Plane Spoiling Post Here Finished Next Week Air Force Officer To Hold Meet Thursday If Post Is Completed Work is going forward rapidly on the aircraft observation post here, although bad weather put a halt to operations yesterday. The tower its elf has been erected, the stairway built, and the standing timbers put up for the house. About all that re mains is the installation of doors and windows, weatherboarding, roof ing, and finishing. Contractor Bob ers L. Tetterton estimated that the entire job would require about 10 working days. P. W. Brown, district air raid war den, said today that tentative plans had been made to have a meeting of all volunteer observers and other in terested persons at the courthouse here Thursday night of next week at 8 o’clock. Lieutenant R. E. Man chee and a group of soldiers from Norfolk will attend, and a motion pic ture showing the operation of the aircraft warning service will be shown. This meeting is contingent upon the post here being completed at that time, Mr. Brown said: and should it not be completed then, the meeting will very likely be postponed. Ted Blount, chief observer, has se cured about 100 volunteers to man the post, and a schedule will be work ed out for beginning operation of the post within another week. More vol unteers are sought, and Mr. Blount hopes to secure 200 to 300, if pos sible. Having a large number will distribute the work so that it will not be burdensome to anyone. Those who wish to help are requested to give their names to Mr. Blount. If arrangements are completed and the post is ready to be put into ope ration next week, Mr. Brown urges every volunteer to attend the meet ing at the courthouse here Thursday, February 4th. The public is also cordially invited. County Bond Sales At New High Total January will be one oi tne Desc months yet for War Bond sales in Washington County, incomplete re ports tabulated here this week indi cate. With a county quota of $25, 410 for the month, more than $70,000 worth of series E bonds have already been sold at the post office and bank here. To be added to this amount are bonds sold in Creswell and Roper, according to H. E. Beam, county chairman of war bond sales. In actual figures, the bank up to yesterday had sold $57,400 worth of bonds, while sales at the post office stood right at $15,000. for a total of $72,400 for the month. In addition to these bonds, the bank here had sold $20,000 worth of series P bonds and $200 worth of series G. Although these latter two classes of bonds are not credited against the county’s quota, the maturity value of all U. S. securities sold here so far during the month stands at $92,600. When bond sales at Creswell and Roper and stamp sales are figured in, more than $100,000 will be rep resented. Stamp sales at the local post office alone are said to be run ning around $2,000 weekly, Postmas ter John W. Darden said yesterday. -® Few Peanuts Germinate Better Than 40 Per Cent Many peanut farmers of the coun ty are sending sample lots of their seed peanuts to the testing labora tory at Raleigh to determine the per centage of germination. Out of 200 lots tested, a state college official said that only one showed better than 40 per cent germination, according to County Agent W. V. Hays. The extremely wet season late last year is believed to have seriously damaged peanuts for seed purposes, and it is recommended that sample lots be tested for germination before planting, especially where the grow ers plan to use peanuts they produced themselves. It may be necessary to secure seed peanuts produced in other sections in order to secure a stand this year, according to some men who have had much experience with this product. Steps Being Taken To Enforce Ceiling Prices in County Regulations Explained To Many Retailers at Meet In Williamston -® Carl L. Bailey, W. T. Freeman and J. E Westray, members of the price ceiling panel of the local War Price and Rationing Board, headed a del egation of some 20 or 25 merchants, garagemen, and other local business men who attended the price-ceiling meeting held in the courthouse at Williamston last Friday night. Dis trict and state representative of the OPA price ceiling division were on hand to explain the regulations to the 300 Martin and Washington County retailers present. In general, the news outlined by the specialists was bad. While the price-ceiling plan permits most re tailers to make a living, any great amount of profits are definitely out for the duration, it was declared, and if a business man feels he cannot make a living under the new regula tions it was stated that he might just as well close his doors now, because there was little apparent relief in sight for individual hardship cases. The foundation for the price con trol structure is based on prices pre vailing in March, 1942, although in many cases current prices may be based on current costs plus a speci fied percentage of profit, it was ex plained. The procedure for arriving at ceiling prices other than those pre vailing in March of last year, is some what complicated for the various ar ticles on which increases have been permitted, but information about them may be obtained from mem bers of the local price ceiling panel. The price-ceiling panel here is ar ranging files and preparing to enter upon enforcement work very shortly, Carl L. Bailey, chairman, said yes terday. A complete file will be car ried on each retailer or other busi ness affected by price ceilings in this county, and it will require some time to get the records set up. March price lists, covering every retail item, should have been posted and filed in the office of the county war price and rationing board sev eral months ago; and in those cases where none have been filed OPA of ficials at the Williamston meeting urged the merchants to “get theh houses in order at once.” “If these price lists are not filed immediately they will be demanded, and violation of the regulations is certain to be check,” it was stated. According to the OPA representative, there are numerous investigators, and once the merchants learn what they are sup posed to do and fail to comply with the regulations, they can expect the worst. Tire retailers and others were di rected to appeal to the price ceiling board in the county when they were not sure about anything connected with the program. If the answers cannot be had there, they will be fur nished by district or state offices. 35 County Men To Leave for Army on Friday Next Week 16 From Plymouth; 8 From Creswell; 7 From Roper; 2 From Wenona Before the January quota of white men called from this county by the Army had hardly left town Tuesday, the local selective service board was busy getting out notices to 35 more men, who are scheduled to report at 9 o’clock Friday morning of next week, February 5, to go to Fort Bragg for the final physical and mental tests to determine their fitness to serve with the armed forces. In the contingent leaving next week, Plymouth is called on to furn ish 16 men; Creswell is second with 8; Roper third with 7; Wenona, 2; Mackeys 1; and one man is now liv ing in Newport News. Following :s the complete list to leave February 5: From Plymouth: Dallas Roland (See DRAFT LIST, Page 6) Must Keep Draft Card on Person All men in North Carolina be tween the ages of 18 and 45 who have been subject to Selective Service registration for as long as six months and who do not have classification cards are advised to get in touch with their local boards at once. eGneral J. Van B. Metts, State director of Selective Service yes terday pointed out that after February 1 any man in this age group who does not have in his personal possession his classifi cation card (form 57), as well as his certificate of registration, is liable to fine or imprisonment, or both, Metts pointed out. Registrants in the 45-to-65 year-old group are not affected by the order. County-Wide Sign-Up by Farmers of War Goals Set tor Friday and Saturday Friday and Saturday of this week, January 29 and 30, have been set for a county-wme sign up by farmers of their war pro duction plans for the year 1943. it was announced yesterday by the office of County Agent YV. V. Hays. All farmers of the coun ty are urged to meet their res pective community committee men at one of three designated places for the sign-up. Committeemen will be at the following places to assist in sign ing up the farmers: Scuppernong Township, at VV. I). Phelps' store in CresweU; Lees Mill Township, at Barton Swain's store in Roper; and Plymouth Township, at the agricultural building in Plymouth. It is stated that possible de ferments of farmers and farm workers by the selective service board will be based on the in formation contained in the farm plans. The number of acres of various crops will be shown, as well as the necessary units for deferment. Must List Property for Taxation by Saturday No Extension Time For Listing Will Be Granted This Year <s> Work Probably Two-Thirds Completed in County as Whole So Far -<S> With tax listing throughout Wash ington County scheduled to end Saturday of this week, there are still many hundreds of property own ers who have not listed. Tax Super visor Ed. F. Swain, of Creswell, said here Wednesday. The county com missioners have announced that no extension of time will be granted for late listers, which means that many are going to be subject to penalties for failure to list during the month of January. Supervisor Swain said yesterday that Scuppernong Township was still well out in front in the percent age of tax listers who had put their property on the books up to that time. Mr. Belanga. the list taker for that section, estimated that 75 per cent or more had listed, while 60 per cent is the best answer given by the other three townships. It is possible that the percentages of those listing may be larger than generally thought by the list takers, since many men have gone into vari ous branches of the military sendee and are not here to list. Mr. Swain said that it was difficult to estimate just how many there were in this class, but the number may be con siderable. As many of those who have gone into the Army only listed poll taxes, their absence will repre sent a net loss of several hundred dollars in tax revenue. Mrs. Hermine Ramsey is list taker for Plymouth Township, and she is in her office from 9 to 5 every day, including Saturdays. Other list takers are : E. M. Chesson, for Lees Mill Township; W. W. White, Skin nersville; and P. B. Belanga, Scup pernong. Mrs. M. W. Spruill is also at Mrs. Ramsey's office here for the purpose of listing the property of residents of the town of Plymouth. - . a County Man Gets Army Decoration -$ Announcement- was made in Cairo, Egype, last week that Eergeant Au gustus R. Patrick son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Parker, of near Roper, was one of 458 flying officers and men who were awarded decorations recently by Brigadier General Pat rick Timberlake, chief of the Ameri can Bomber Command in the Middel East. Sergeant Patrick is 21 years of age. Better known as ‘‘Boots" Patrick, he is a graduate of the Creswell High School and has been in the Army Air Service since July, 1940. Sergeant Patrick received the Army Air Medal “ in recognition of merit orious achievement while participat ing in aerial flight—he having par ticipated in 100 hours of operational flight against the enemy.” He was one of 14 officer and men of the Ninth Air Force who received the Air Medal from General Timberlake. -® Sergeant Leslie B. Spruill Lauded in General Orders Master Sergeant Leslie B. Spruill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan W. Spruill, of near Roper, recently re ceived special commendation in a general order issued by his command ing officer for the work he is doing with the Army "somewhere in West Africa.” Sergeant Spruill recently sent a copy of the commendation in a let ter to his parents. In it he is com mended “For being most active in the establishment of efficient disburs ing offices under the most trying circumstances at this and other West African stations;" also "For volun teering repeatedly for work other than his regularly assigned duties without thought of recompense." The citation states that a copy is to be sent to the Adjutant General and that it will also be entered in the sergeant’s permanent record. Tax Penalties To Apply February 1 Chief of Police P. W. Brown, who also doubles as tax collec tor for the Town of Plymouth, said today that January was the best month he had ever had for the collection of taxes. Up today, the Chief said he had col lected about 89,000 this month. With a penalty of 1 per cent on all unpaid 1942 taxes becom ing effective next Monday, the police chief expects possibly an other thousand or so dollars. Taxpayers are reminded that they can save 1 per cent on then taxes by paying before the Mon day deadline. The same schedule of penal ties also applies to unpaid 1942 county taxes after February 1. Mrs. 0. D. Hatfield Died Last Friday at Home in Creswell Funeral Is Held Sunday for Wife of Well-JCnown Merchant Creswell.—Mrs. Annie Lillian Hat field, wife of O. D. Hatfield, promi nent Creswell merchant, died last Friday afternoon about 3:30 at her home here after an illness of about one month. Pneumonia was assigned as the cause of her death. The daughter of the late Sheriff William J. and Mrs. Malissa Jane Starr. Mrs. Hatfield was bom in Creswell on June 14, 1890, making her nearly 53 years of age at the time of her death. On December 12, 1909, she was married to O. D. Hat field, son of Wilson T. and Anna Jane Hatfield. A member of the Creswell Metho dist church, Mrs. Hatfield was very active in its work, and she was widely known as a good neighbor, as well as a devoted wife and mother. Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. T W. Tar kenton, of Columbia: and Mrs. J. H. Reynolds, of Creswell; one son, Wil liam T. Hatfield, of Creswell; and two brothers. H. M. Strr. of Cres well, and W. J. Strr, of Newport News. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Creswell Sun day afternoon at 3:30, with the Rev. Mr. Clegg, district superintendent, of Elizabeth City, in charge, assisted by the Rev. Mr. McDonald, pastor, and the Rev. L. B. Bennett. Interment followed at St. David’s cemetery. There was a large crowd in atten dance at the last rites, and the floral offerings was very profuse, attesting the esteem in which Mrs. Hatfield was held in the community. Repre sentatives of al the Creswell church choirs sang several special selections during the services at the church and cemetery. Pall-bearers were W. D. Peele, C. N Davenport. jr„ A. C. Harris. Clyde Smithson, H. R. Stillman and E. S. Woodley. Over Half of Group Which Lefi Tuesday Accepted by Army -@ 25 To Return To Fort Bragg Next Wednesday; 18 Rejected -« Over half of the 49 men who left the county Tuesday for Fort Bragg were accepted for service in the Army, it was learned last night, when most of them returned. The exact number accepted and rejected is un known, as several were held over for further examination, but at least 25 were accepted and at least 18 reject ed. with the status of the other 6 men in doubt at this time. The 25 who were accepted returned for their 7-day furlough, and they have orders to report back in Plym outh next Wednesday morning, when they will return to Fort Bragg to be gin active service. At least one other man was accepted and decided not to take the furlough, while several were held over for further examination. The 25 men definitely accepted are: Samuel Arthur Boutwell, Delbert Le roy Bateman. Robert Winton Bowen. James Henry Styons. William Leon Dunbar. Daniel Ray Jones, jr.. Edgar Samuel Stillman, Cyril Caswell Spruill, Austin Albert Jett, Robert Costello Wills. Clifford Eugene Fry mier, Howard Mitchell Ange, Erwin Brantley Oliver. William Joseph Sty ons, William David Styons, Preston | Woodley Sexton. Burgess Wood Gai ther, jr.. Dewey Mahew Spruill, Thomas Aydlett Patrick, Norman Justice Seldonridge, Burnie Emsley Furlough, Webb Jones, jr., Mahlon Satterthwaite Moore. James Harry Skidmore, Archie James Nash. The 18 men known to have been rejected are: Erie Wilbur Spruill, Al ston Lee Bodwell, George Terence Barden. Ctetless Elwood Spruill, Syl vester Ernest Williams, Joseph War ren Arps, Warren Rankin Ambrose. Louis Wieland Zeigler. Ashley John son Woodley. Parris Jack Frymier, Nathan Edward Allen, William Doug las Gurkin. James Henderson Clifton. John Edward Davis, Robert Edward Manning, Jake Benjamin Paul. Leon Wilson Clifton, and Charles Donovan Bratten, jr. The status of the following men is uncertain: some of them were held over and at least one was accepted but did not take the furlough: James Asa Rodgers, Simon Roderick Roe buck, Haywood Leroy Spruill. Elmer Henry Harris, James Edward Arrant and Henry Edward Clark. ■-3> Bill Darden Is Promoted For Conduct Under Fire -<$ Announcement was made Tuesday by the Navy Department that Wil liam Robert Darden, formerly of Plymouth, was one of 16 men who were given promotions for meritor ious conduct aboard an Allied ves sel “entering an African port under heavy fire.” His wife, Mrs. Melba Ruth Gurkin Darden of Brinkley Avenue, said today that Mr. Darden has been promoted to fireman first class. It is presumed that the action in which he won his promo tion took place during the initial landing of Allied troops in French West Africa early in November. Mr. Darden is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. T Darden, also of Plymouth. He enlisted in the Navy last April and received his “boot”’ training in Norfolk. He then went to New York, where he remained for two months before going to Scotland. After six weeks in the latter place he was sent to North Africa. -$ E. B. Spence, 75, Dies At Home Near Creswell Creswell.—E. B. Spencer, 75, died at his home near here Friday after noon at 3:30 o’clock after being taken seriously ill on Thursday afternoon. A native of Hyde County Mr. Spen cer had lived in Washington County for the last 30 years where he was an active farmer up until his death. Surviving are: thre daughter, Mrs. Irene Felts, Mrs. Mary Eipps and Miss Margaret Spencer of Washing ton, D. C.; three sons, Jones Spen cer and Jack Spencer of Creswell and Private Hubbard Spencer of Fort Bragg. Four New Members To Be Initiated at Meeting of Roper Ruritans Next Week The Roper Ruitan Club will hold its next meeting Thursday of next week, February 4, at 8 p. m., it was announced by of ficers this week. A large at tendance is expected, and four new members will be received into the club at that time. The new members are: Mack Mar row. R. A. Dorsey, E. E. Lyle and Jasper Swain. At the following regular meet ing of the club. March 4, at lease five more new members are to be initiated, as follows: E. M. Cheson, Russell Chesson, Roy Hassell, J. C. Knowles and S. A. Holton. The club is hoping to have 50 members by spring. Wade Hardison and Henry Ev erett recently returned after at tending the Ruritan national eonvention in Richmond, Va. They slated that the Roper club was recognized there as one of the leadihg Ruritan organiza tions for its size town. Gover nor Colgate YV. Darden, of \Tir ginia, was one of the principal speakers at the Richmond meet- 1 ing, and he was very complimen tary in his remarks about the type of work being done by the Ruritan organization. Anyone in the Roper section who is interested in becoming a member of the club there is in vited to get in touch with a member and attend a meeting. An excellent dinner and an in teresting meeting is assured.