Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / March 25, 1943, edition 1 / Page 1
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The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* For Victory... Buy UNITED STATES DEFENSE BONDS * STAMPS VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 12 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, March 25, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1889 ,1 Town opics Plans arfe under consideration by the county library committee to ex tend the facilities of the public li brary to the Wenona. section, it was stated last week. Plymouth, Mack eys, Roper and Creswell are already being served, and interest in reading is growing steadily. February cir culation of books in the library to talled 1,065. Bulletins concerning the planting and cultivation of gar dens are now available at the library Warnie Gurkin, who entered active service with the Army Air Corps a few weeks ago, is now stationed at Nashville, Tenn., it was learned from his father, L. W. Gurkin, Monday. The young flying cadet expects to be transferred soon to a field in Florida, where he will begin actual training to become a pilot. Teachers of the county met at the Roper High School last Fri day afternoon to hear Mrs. Julia Weatherington, of the State De partment of Education discuss the 12-year program in the schools of North Carolina. W. T. Freeman is offering, without cost, one-acre garden plots to the first 20 persons to apply to him, he said this week. The land is located about 4 or 5 miles from Plymouth, and he says he is Willing to donate use of it this year in futherance of the Victory Garden program. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Scherr, who have been operating Scherr’s Depart ment Store here for about four years, are planning to sell out their stock and go out of business. They are launching a going-out-of-business sale tomorrow, and plan to close the store as soon as the stock is disposed of. County and town tax collectors are reminding tax payers that the pen alty on unpaid 1942 taxes goes up another 1 per cent after April 1. Tax es paid by Thursday of next week will have only 2 per cent added. After then, the penalty is 3 per cent. Captain S. E. Nestor, of the Army Air Corps, formerly purchasing agent for the North Carolina Pulp Com pany here, is now stationed at Pat terson Field, near Dayton, Ohio, it was learned yesterday from his son, Stuart Nestor, who is leaving tomor row with the group of county selec tees for Fort Bragg. Captain and Mrs. Nestor and two daughters are living at New Carlisle, Ohio. County Agent W. V. Hays; J. R. Manning, president, and L. E. Has sell, secretary of the county Farm Bureau, left this morning to attend a meeting of the State Farm Bureau Federation officers in Raleigh. They will return tomorrow night. The Farm Bureau is planning to wage a strenuous fight for favorable farm legislation at the present session of Congress. George Edw. Allen Dies at Home Here George Edward Allen, 67 years old, died at his home here last Friday morning as the result of a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Allen had been in de clining health for about two years and had been confined to his bed for several days before the end came. Son of the late Gabriel and Sallie Twiddy Allen, he was bom in Mar tin County August 16, 1875. He came to Plymouth from the Dardens section about 40 years ago and has lived here since that time. He was never married. Funeral services were held from the late home Sunday aftemon at 3 p. m., by the Rev. B. E. Taylor, pas tor of the local Christian church, and interment was made in t - • Bate man cemetery about 4 mUes from Plymouth on the Washington High way. Mr. Allen is survived by three sis ters, Mrs. Ella Bateman and Mrs. Frank Bratten, of Plymouth; and Mrs. J. T. Jefferson, of Bath. He also leaves several nephews and nieces. -$ Services Each Tuesday at Roper Episcopal Church -<g> Services will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Roper, each Tues day evening in Lent. The services will be conducted by the Rev. Wil liam B. Daniels, Jr., and will begin at 8 P. M. Victory Garden Program in This County Put Over in Big Way by Point Rationing The Victory Garden movement is gaining momentum rapidly through out Washington County, a casual survey this week reveals. Backed by practically all civic, social and re ligious organizations, it is regarded as virtually certain that there will be more gardens this year than ever before in the history of the county. Seed dealers, without exception, say they already have sold more seed this year than ever before; and, as a rule, their business is just begin ning at this time. It was feared that the labor shortage might make it difficult for people in towns to get their gardens plowed, and a clearing house to take care of this problem was set up at the office of the county agent here. However, it was said this week that no difficulty had been ex perienced along this line. Several colored people have been making a regular business out of plowing gar dens, and they have done all right, too. Giving due credit to promotion of gardening by schools, civic clubs, churches, merchants associations, newspapers, social clubs, county agents, and all the others, the one thing that has done most to put the movement over was the canned-goods rationing program. When the point schedules were announced, garden seed sales started climbing and have never been headed. Blessed with a climate and soils that will grow just about every kind^ of field and garden crop, this sec tion has taken to gardening as a duck takes to water. Practically ev eryone has a yen to show what he can do with a hoe, and the point rationing business provided the ne cessary impetus to get him started. Some of the early enthusiasm may melt down under the influence of the hot June and July sun, but it will be a matter of pride with most garden ers to see the job through. Whatever else may be said about the OPA. in the matter of timing it hit the jackpot in this section; and if the Scriptural pronouncement, “As ye sow, so shall ye reap” holds good, there's going to be a heck of a lot of reaping in Washington County this year. All Farmers Must File Statements Soon With Office of Draft Board Herring Fishing Season Starling The annual spring run of her ring up Roanoke River is start ing, although very few have been taken at this point so far. Fisher men using drift nets are picking up a few, and the price is the highest reported here in years. Various prices were quoted yes terday, one man was offering them at 3 for 25 cents, another 4 for 25cents, while a third want ed 15 cents a pound for them. Shad, caught in the sound, were quoted at 25 cents a pound, It is understood that the seine will be put in the river at the James ville fishery next week. The two big fisheries on the river just above here closed down about four years ago after hav ing been in continuous operation for upwards of 100 years. 33 Registrants Now Scheduled To Go To Fort Bragg Friday -<s> List Has Lost Three and Gained One Since Pub lished Last Week Since the list of men called to re port Friday morning for possible in duction was published last week, the local draft board has made several changes. Two of those named have been granted temporary postpone ments of induction, one other has been transferred to another board, while the board gained one when a volunteer showed up with a request to leave with the contingent this week. As a result, the list of 35 published last week suffered a net loss of 2, and only 33 are supposed to report in the morning for the trip to Fort Bragg. The original call on the Washing ton County board was for 55 men, but the board was unable to get that many men ready in time to leave to morrow. Another group, of 35 white men, is scheduled to leave here Mon day, April 12. Changes made since last week in the list leaving tomorrow are as fol lows: Charles Rowe Gaither, Cres well, was granted a postponement to permit him to finish the current school term; Arthur Randolph Spru ill, of Roper, granted temporary post ponement; Edsel Grayson Bames, Creswel, was transferred to the Ports mouth, Va., board; and Junior Lee Jackson, of Plymouth, volunteered to go with the group this week. County War Board and Draft Board Gel Together on Farm Deferments Claims of farm workers for draft deferment in the future will be decided by the county war board and the selective service board working in conjuction with each other, it was decided at a joint meeting of the two boards held here last Friday night. Heretofore, the classification and deferment of all registrants has rested solely in the discretion of members of the draft board. Details of the method for han dling farm draft determent were discussed by the two boards. It was announced that the war unit base will continue to be used a* a yardshick in determining whether or not a registrant should be deferred. Those who are responsible for the produc tion of 14 war units will be re commended for classification in 2-C or 3-C, which means that they will be deferred, while those with less than 14 units are likely to be placed in A-l, subject to immediate induction, it was stat ed. In the future, when a regis trant claims farming as his oc cupation, his case will be refer red to the county war board, which will make an investigation and then recommend to the draft board whether or not he should be deferred. It Is expected that the two boards will agree on the recommendation, but In the event the war board is overruled, then that board has the right to take the case to the district appeal board. Includes Those Who Have Children and Between 38 and 45 -® Statements Must Be Accur ate; Will Be Checked Against Farm Plans -<s, Washington County farmers who are in the draft age, between 18 and 45, are requested to file farm state ments, verified by the county AAA committee, together with farm serial number, with the local selective serv ice board immediately, according to a statement made this week by Mrs. Eliza Daniels, secretary to the board. It was said that both those who have children or other dependents and those who have none should file the statements. Many farmers have already filed such statements, Mrs. Daniels said, but there are many others who have not, especially those between 38 and 45, since they have not been subject to call up to this time. The farm statements should be complete, showing all farm activities planned for the current year. In cluded should be number of acres in farm, number acres cleared, acreage to each kind of crop, number and kind of livestock, poultry, etc. This information should be submitted to the county AAA committee for veri ficatio, and the farm serial number should be shown. It was stated that farm statements submitted to the selective service board will be checked with AAA farm plans signed in the office of the county agent. Those who have not signed farm plans are warned to do so immediately, as one is checked against the other in determining the classification of registrants subject to the selective service laws. Beginning April 1, the cases of all registrants in class 3-A below the age of 38 will be reopened for pos sible reclassification. After that date dependency has been ruled no longer a basis for deferment, and farmers along with all others, are subject to reclassification in 1-A un less they have their farm statements filed with the board. Then, beginning May 1, the cases of all registrants between the ages of 38 and 45 are to be studied for pos sible reclassification, and here again farmers who have not filed their farm statements are subject to be put in a class which may result in their immediate call for induction. -$ Expect Surprise Blackout Here in Next Few Days -s "One hundred per cent” is the way Chief Air Raid Warden P. W. Brown described the test blackout last Fri day night. Not a single case of non compliance with the regulations was reported, and civilian defense offi cials were well pleased with the man ner in which the test was carried out. Warning is now given that an un announced blackout will be called in this section sometime between now and next Thursday, April 1. No ad vance notice will be given, and peo ple are reqeusted to be prepared at all times to comply with regulations governing the blackouts. Roper Young Man Gets Promotion To Sergeant Albert T. Tarkington, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Tarkington. of Roper, has recently been promoted from cor poral to the grade of sergeant, ac cording to an announcement by the authorities at the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command at Eglin Field, Fla. Sergeant Tarkington has been in the Army since July 23, 1941. Tire tremendous increase in Army personnel has created a great op portunity for men who can prove themselves capable of holding the ranks of non-commissioned officers. TO BE HOME SOON Sergeant Augustus R. Patrick, jr., wounded in the foot and knee in African fighting, is im proving and expects to be home on a visit soon, according to a letter received from him by his parents this week. Parents Get Letter From Son Wounded In African Fighting -® Sgt. A. R. Patrick, Jr., Im proving and Expects To Be Home Soon -® Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Patrick, sr., of Roper, R. P. D., were greatly relieved this week to receive a letter from their son, Sergeant Augustus R. Patrick, jr., who was wounded in ac tion on January 31 in the Middle East or North African war zone. The letter stated that he was improving rapidly and that he would soon be returning to the United States for a visit home. In his letter, dated March 10 at a general hospital in North Africa, Sergeant Patrick stated that he was wounded in the foot and knee. He said that his knee wound was com pletely healed and that his foot would be well soon. He did not state how the injuries were received. Tire sergeant was a gunner on a bomber and has seen considerable action since he has been in the Mid dle East. Early this year he receiv ed a medal from Brigadier General Timberlake in recognition of “me ritorious achievement while partici pating in aerial flight, having parti cipated in 100 hours of operational flight against the enemy.’’ He has been in the service nearly three years. His parents think it possible he was wounded and his plane shot down at the same time, as in his letter he mentions two friends who have been serving with him, '’Cliff” and "Street,” as “believed alive but pris oners of war.” Mr. and Mrs. Patrick were notified by the War Department several weeks ago that their son had been wound ed in action, but they had been un able to learn the nature of his wounds or how serious they were un til his letter was received this week. The American Red Cross had been attempting to get in touch with him for the anxious parents, but had not been successful. -« Fuel-Oil Users Advised To Save ‘Identity Stub' Oil-rationed householders were cautioned yesterday by T. S. John son, State OPA director, to preserve the “identity stub" of their heating ration, as it will be required when next winter’s rations are used. The “stub” is the remaining part of-the coupon sheet after all the in dividual coupons have been removed. It contains the code number of the individual's ration, the date of issu ance and expiration, the amount of the ration, and similar information. Local boards will require the consum er to present the stub when 1943-44 rations are distributed. Tire present plan is to issue the new rations during the early part of the summer Over $300 in Fines Levied on Violators In Court This Week Recorder Hits Jackpot by Convicting 11 Defend ants Tuesday Town, county and state law en forcement officers had a hectic week end, and Sunday morning Sheriff J. K. Reid’s jail had more inmates than it has had in a long, long time. Fights, drunkness and violations of the motor vehicle laws were respon sible for the increased population of the jail and a big docket in record er's court at the regular session Tues day. Eleven defendants were tried by Recorder Edward L. Owens at the court session, two of them on two counts, and not a single one escaped unscathed. Several jail sentences were meter out, and a total of $320 in fines, besides court costs and a $20 doctor’s bill, was assessed against the law violators. Despite the large number of cases, only about two hours were required to dispose of the docket at the Tuesday session. Pro ceedings in the court were as fol lows: James Thomas Hassell, colored, of Creswell; operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license and with out a 1943 license tab; $80 and costs. This was Hathaway’s second offense on the charge of driving without an operator’s permit and accounts for the large fine assessed against him. Mitchell Boston, colored, of Mar tin County, was fined $10 and costs for operating a car with improper brakes. James Bell, colored, of Plymouth, answered to two charges af assault with a deadly weapon and was given six months on the county farm on each count, the sentences to run con secutively. The sentence was later suspended upon payment of a fine of $100 and costs. Wilbur Sexton, white, of Roper, was convicted on two counts of pub lic drunkness and being a nuisance, drawing a fine of $10 and the costs in the first case and $20 and costs in the second case. In addition he is to pay an additional $15 fine If his ABC rationing book is not surrendered to the court by Saturday of this week. Nathan Barnes, white, of Roper, was relieved of his ABC book an.:- $15 and the costs for being publicly drunk. Sam Moore, colored, of Plymouth, was given 6 months on the county farm for forcible trespass and as sault. Willie Taylor, colored, of Plymouth, also charged with forcible trespass and assault, was sentenced to 6 months on the roads, suspended upon the payment of $35 and costs and showing good behavior for one year. Lexington Gibbs, colored, Plym outh; assault with a deadly weapon: sentenced to six months on the roads, susbended upon payment of $30 and costs and a $20 doctor’s bill. Douglas Phelps, white, of Creswell, was fined $10 and costs for operating a car with improper brakes and with out the 1943 license tab. Albert Ash was fined $5 and costs for operating an auto with improper brakes. Local Colored Man Victory Gardening On Wholesale Scale Plans To Supply Himself And Members of Club From 2-Acre Plot -* Charlie Agnew, colored employee of the North Carolina Pulp Company here, is planning to go into Victory Gardening on a wholesale scale this year. In fact, Charlie not only figures on supplying his own needs for green vegetables during the coming months, but also to help out a number of less idustrious fellow workmen and at the same time make a few extra dollars for himself. Charlie took advantage of the pulp mill’s offer to provide garden space for employees by requesting and securing permission to use two acres of land at the village near here. Formerly a farmer himself, Agnew then hired a tractor and had the land put in first-class condition for planting. Next he formed a garden club among fellow employees. For $2 a week members of the club are entitled to gather all the vegetables they need during the summer months. Mem bership is limited, and Agnew’s wife will keep check to see that each member gets his fair share of vege tables to eat, although there will be none for cnaning purposes. So far, there are about 30 members of the club, it is stated. Agnew’ will continue hh work at the pulp mill, while work on the gar den will be done by himself after working hours, with the assistance of his wife. If the same amount of ingenuity, initiative and organizational ability was shown by national officers in Washington, the rationing and man power problems would be only a bresee. Red Cross Campaign Is Nearing Close With Quota Oversubscribed Stores Continue To Open at Mine At a special meeting; of the merchants association held Tues day afternoon, local storekeepers decided to continue opening their stores at 9 o’clock each morning after the Wednesday half holi days are begun in April. At one time merchants had talked about returning to the 8 o'clock open ing hour when they started the half holidays, but they voted against this in the meeting Tues day. The first half holiday will be observed on Wednesday, April 7. The association also voted Tuesday to make a $25 contri bution to the Red Cross War Fund Drive. Agriculture Council Discusses Shortage Of Labor on Farms - 1 <$> Corrective Steps Are Being Planned To Relieve Conditions The shortage of farm labor was discussed at some length by members of the county agricultural workers' council in a meeting here Tuesday night. While no definite program for relieving present conditions was decided several corrective steps were suggested, and it is likely that a more specific program will be evolveld and put into operation within the near future. The council also discussed the meat rationing program, which will be instituted throughout the nation next week, and the members will take the lead in seeing that it is ex plained tb' ughout ’ll fr Tiling sec tions. Machinery rationing likewise claimed the attention of the group. The discussion centered around farm machinery needs and recommenda tions for the current year. Consider ations was given the expected change in methods of farming in this sec tion, particularly as it refers to the need of more machinery to take the place of farm labor drafted into the armed forces. Shortage of labor will necessarily increase the amount of work to be done bT‘ each individual farmer, which in turn means that additional machinery will be requir ed. The agricultural workers’ council is composed of the vocational agricul tural teachers in the county, C. H. Floyd at Roper and A. H. Tucker at Creswell; the county agent, W. V. Hays; W. W. Bowen and Mrs. Mc Millan, of the Farm Security Ad ministration; Miss Ursula Bateman, superintendent of the county wel fare department; J. L. Rea, assistant director in charge of the Blackland Experiment Station at Wenona; S. F. Darden, county forest wrarden; and W. D. Moore, community manager of the Scuppernong Farms project. Bond Quota for Month Very Nearly Doubled -« Bond sales in Plymouth have reached a total of $35,725 for the month of March up to today, ac cording to H. E. Beam, county chairman. The bank here has sold $21,725 worth of bonds, while post offices sales amounted to $14,000. The county quota for the month was | $21,234. No reports have been received from Roper and Creswell, but it is believed total sales will be about double the quota for the month when all re turns are in. Over $3,000 in Sighi To Dale, Chairman Stales; Quota $?,700 Reports Are Still Not Com plete, And Drive Being Continued —■—® Washington County is well over its quota of $2,700 in the Red Cross War Fund Drive, and total collections are expected to pass the $3,000 mark when all reports are in. John W. Dar den, chairman of the county chapter, said this morning. Mrs. T. W. Earle, chairman of the War Fund Drive for all parts of the county except Creswell, said yester day afternoon that $2,533.87 had al ready been collected by canvassers working under her direction. Her report is not yet complete, as more than $100 in pledges made by work men at the pulp mill remain to be collected, and several individual can vassers have some additional calls to make. Mis. Sidney Smithson, chairman of the drive for the Creswell unit, has not yet reported, but it is understood that their quota of $450 will be raised. In a telephone conversation with Mr. Darden yesterday, she stated that more than enough had been collect ed to finish out the county quota of $2,700 and that the drive was being continued there through next week. So far, every subdivision of the county has more than raised its quo ta or indicated that it would. In Plymouth and Roper, it was difficult to get an exact division of the white and colored contributions, since many colored workmen turned in their do nations through the plants where they are employed. It is known, how ever, that the colored quotas of $200 each for Plymouth and Roper were surpassed, as were the quotas for white and colored schools and white people in Plymouth and Roper. Mrs. Earle said that the Red Cross booth in P ont o' file community building here would again be in ope ration Saturday, and those who have been missed in the general canvass are requested to make their contri bution there. Last Saturday about $15 or $20 was collected at the booth. Canvassers have been somewhat handicapped by a shortage of official receipt blanks and other materials, but it could not be helped, regional headquarters of the Red Cross wrote that it was unable to supply the de mand. ---* Roper Ruritans Meet Next Week By WADE HARDISON. Reporter Roper.—The Roper Ruritan Club will hold its regular meeting Thurs day night. April 1, at the Roper High School. Plans are being made for a good program, as there will be six new members initiated in the organi zation at this meeteing, namely, E. M. Chesson. S. A. Holton, Roy Has sell, Russell Chesson. J. C. Knowles and P. C. Tarkington. Barton Swain is program committee chairman, and everybody is expecting a good meet ing. A committee is now ready to begin landscaping the school grounds, which we feel will add much beauty to the school and our community. Wade Hardison, zone governor of district E. E. Tom Norman. Barton Swain, Henry Everett and Mack 'Shot' Marrow are planning to meet with the Cclerain club April 6 to dis cuss club objectives for the year. The writer feels that Ruritans are now needed as never before, and with 26 memberes now, compared with 15 last year at this same time, we can really get down and do some real work for the benefit of our govern ment and community. Farmers Who Delivered Oil Peanuts To Government May Receive Bonus There are some rumors going: the rounds, although they cannot be substantiated, that farmers who last year delivered excess peanuts to the government crop storing agency for crushing into oil are due to receive a cash bo nus over the 3'j cents paid on delivery. The Peanut Growers’ Cooperative handled the “oil" peanuts for the government, and it is known that they have made some sales in recent weeks at prices considerably above that paid to the growers. No one could be found who would speculate on the amount of any bonus which might be paid to farmers who delivered the excess peanuts. However, it is said that after the cooperative sells all of the peanuts it has on hand, expenses will be deducted, and the remainder pro-rated among farmers who delivered ex cess peanuts to the organization. The amount on hand is not known, but the cooperative bought in some 13,000 tons from last year’s plantings. An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 bags of “oil" peanuts were de livered to the government by county farmers. If the cooper ative is able to sell most of the peanuts it now has on hand to cleaners, the bonus may amount to 2 or 3 cents a pound. On the other hand, if most of the re maining peanuts are sold to mills for crushing into oil, the bonus will be decreased accordingly, since oil peanuts do not bring nearly as high prices as those used in the edible trade. t
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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March 25, 1943, edition 1
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