North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * * and Washington County News ******* ffctoiy mmO STATES DEFENSE BONDS * 8T AMPS VOLUME LIV—NUMBER 17 Plymouth, vVashingto 1 County, North Carolina, Thursday, April 29, 1943 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics Sheriff B. Ray Cohoon, Paul Liver man. and Chief of Police Poston, of Columbia, were witnesses in a case in the county recorder's court here Tuesday afternoon. W. D. Moore, manager of the PSA Scuppemong Farm Project in the Lake Phelps region of this county, was a visitor here Tuesday. A tour of the project and a fish fry was held at the farms yesterday afternoon Rnd last night, and a large number of invited guests were present. The Department of Conservation and Development recently authoriz ed extension of the shad and herring commercial fishing season. An exten sion of 15 days was granted for tak ing shad, from. April 25 to May 10, while 10 additional days were allow ed for herring fishing, from May 10 to 20. State law requires all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies each year. Chief of Police P. W. Brown announced this week that dogs will be vaccinated any af ternoon if brought to the police station here. A charge of 75 cents is made at the time the vaccination is given, but this amount is deducted from dog taxes. W. S. 'Bill) Davenport, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edison Davenport, of Plymouth and Mackeys, was recent ly promoted to radio technician, first class, in the Navy. Mr. Davenport is now serving on a ship in the Atlan tic war zone. J. C. Tarkenton. of Pleasant Grove, was a business visitor in town Tues day afternoon. As chairman of the Republican executive committee of Washington County, he urges every one to listen to a debate on the ques tion of a fourth term for any Presi dent, which will be heard on the •'Town Meeting of the Air” radio program Thursday night. Luther W. Gurkin, owner of Albe marle Beach, said this week that he was getting ready for the coming summer season at this popular re sort, located only a few miles from Plymouth on Albemarle Sound. Ex tensive re'pairs and painting will be completed before the beach is for mally opened, probably about the last of May. Beginning next Monday. May 3. the ABC stores in Plymouth and Creswell will close each afternoon at 6 o'clock, instead of 7 as at present. The change was made in order to enable clerks to complete their check ups of daily sales before going home at 7 o'clock. WAAC Recruiting Unit Here 3 Days Arriving in Plymouth this morning, a smartly dressed and equipped re cruiting unit will be at the post of fice here for the remainder of the week to interest local women in pos sible service with the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. The unit is headed by Lieut. Olga B. Taylor, who was here on a similar mission about two weeks ago ,and she is accompanied by the following auxiliaries: Eudora B. Stauffer, of Athens. Ohio, driver; Elvira Jaramillo, of Los Angles, 'Calif.; and Claire Johans, of St. Paul, Minn., recruiters. . This is a return trip for all mem bers of the unit except Auxiliary Stauffer, and they said this morning they were looking forward to meet ing friends made previously and to talking with more of the citizens of Plymouth. Lieutenant Taylor said the central location of the post office should permit anyone interested in securing information about the WAAC to reach them today, tomor row and Saturday momign, while they are there. The unit has been invited to attend the Lions Club din ner meeting tonight. Qualifications for enrollment in the WAAC are as follows: Applicants must be 21 years of age or over, be a citizeri of the United States, have two years of high school education or its equivalent, pass the Army mental alertness test and physical exami nation, submit proof of birth, have no financial dependents, and no children under 14 years of age unless a court order can be furnished show ing proof of another person’s cus tody of the child. Only Two Contests in Town Election Tuesday; One Candidate Withdraws There was only one new de velopment in the loeal political situation during the past week; Councilman Edward S. Blount withdrawing from the race in the second ward and leaving the field clear for James W. Norman and W. A. Roebuck, the two re maining candidates in that ward. Mr. Blount decided to withdraw for personal reasons, he said yes terday. Mr. Blount's withdrawal leaves only two contests to be decided in the municipal election next Tuesday. Mayor B. G. Camp bell is opposed for reelection by Councilman A. J. Riddle; while there are three candidates for the two places in the first ward, J. Roy Manning, incumbent, A. Lloyd Owens and Henry E. Har rison. Mr. Riddle is giving up his place on the council from the First ward in order to make the race for mayor. In the third ward, E. E. Harrell and Raymond Leggett are un opposed ; as is now the case in the second ward, where Messers. Norman and Roebuck are the only candidates at this time. Upwards of 200 new voters have registered in the three wards for the election next Tues day, and a comparatively large vote is indicated. All the can didates with opposition are work ing to get out the voters, al though interest right now is not as high as indicated when there was prospect of contests in at least two of the three wards. New Health Officer Is Expected to Begin Work Here May 1st | BREAKS RECORD i. — — Pvt. Howard Ange. of a cav alry regiment stationed at Fort Jackson, S. C., formerly of Ro per and the son of Mrs. N. S. Harrington, broke a world’s rec ord April 3rd in putting a .30 calibre machine gun into action. It was put in action, changed gunners three times and taken out of action in 19 seconds. Private Ange entered the Army last January. -He is 20 years old. B. B. Spencer Died Last Sunday After Illness of Two Years -@ Funeral Held Monday for Former Postmaster At Roper B. B. Spencer, prominent farmer and former postmaster at Roper, died at a Washington hospital Sunday af ternoon following a period of de clining health that lasted for up wards of two years. Seventy-three years old, Mr. Spencer was a native of and had lived all of his life in Roper, where he was a leading figure in all phases of community life. He served as postmaster of Roper for 13 years and was very active in the Zion Chapel Christian church, of which he was an elder and super intendent of the Sunday school for a considerable period of time. He was a member of the church for over 50 years. He was also prominent in county Republican party activities practically all of his life. (See B. B. SPENCER, Page 4) Those Who Want Pressure Cookers Can Gel Certificates If They Find Cookers A great many Washington County farm women have been interested in securing a pressure cooker this season, according to a spokesman for the county farm rationing committee, and it was announced this week- that certi ficates for the purchase of such cookers will be granted to all those who have an opportunity to buy them. It was stated that the Depart ment of Agriculture does not control the distribution of pres sure cookers. Manufacturers may distribute them through their usual dealers in accordance with their usual distribution practices. However, because war needs for the materials used in the construction of pressure cookers do not meet demands, only a limited number will be available. The issuance of purchase cer tificates by the county farm ra tioning committee is dependent upon the ability of those apply ing to locate pressure cookers from their dealers who will fill their orders. Each applicant is required to notify the com mute, in writing, if he or she can obtain the pressure cooker; and when such notice is filed, purchase certificate will be is sued. The manufacturer of pressure cookers began about April 1, it was stated, and it will be Sep tember before all authorized will be made. Those who want them are urged to get in touch with their dealers and purchase cer tificates will be issued if the dealer says he can made deliv ery. Dr. Jas. J. Crowley Elected at Meet of Board Last Friday -<g> Succeeds Dr. S. V. Lewis, Whose Resignation Is Effective Tomorrow Dr. James J. Crowley, of Burns ville, was approved for the position of district health officer at a joint meeting of the county comissioners and the county board of health held here last Friday. Dr. Crowley’s elec tion is contingent upon his accept ance by the other two counties in this district. Tyrrell and Hyde, and it is understood that favorable ac tion has already been taken by Tyr rell, with Hyde expected to follow. Dr. Crowley was here to attend the meeting held last week, and it is un derstood he made a very favorable impression on all those with whom he came in contact. He will succeed Dr. S. V. Lewis, whose resignation as head of the district health work be comes effective April 30, and Dr. Crowley is expected to be here the latter part of the week to take up the work immediately. Dr. Lewis has been health officer for this district since 1937, when the i See HEALTH WORK, Page 4) --S> John T. Liverman Died Last Week at Home in Conway -$> Former Resident of County; Was Father of E. H. Liverman John Thomas Liverman, former resident of Washington County, died last Thursday morning at his home in Conway after an ilness from a heart and kidney ailment lasting about two weeks. Mr. Liverman was a native of Tyrrell County but lived in the Creswell section for many years before moving to Conway about 10 years ago. He was 73 years of age last January. Tire son of the late Enos and Rox anna Liverman, he was born in January of 1870 in Tyrrell County, moving to the Creswell section of Washington County shortly thereaf ter. For many years he was a farm er, but for the last 10 or 12 years has been with the State Highway Com mission, and his w'ork in that capa city carried him to various parts of the state. Mr. Liverman was married twice. His first wife was the former Miss Mary Jane Craddock, who preced ed him to the grave about 25 years ago. In 1933 he was married to Miss Ferona Martin, who survives him. Mr. Liverman was a member of the Plymouth Christian church and was very active in church work all his life wherever he happened to be, and he was highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen at the various places he lived. The funeral was held in Scupper nong Christian church, this county, last Friday. The Rev. L. B. Bennett, of Creswell, was in charge of the last rites, assisted by the Rev. B. E. Tay lor, of Plymouth, and the Rev. Zeph Deshields, of Pantego. Interment followed in the church yard there. Pall-bearers were E. H. Liverman, Luther Liverman, Joe Liverman, Dewey Phelps Luther Hand, and Benton Liverman. Besides his widow, Mr. Liverman is survived by three brothers. E H. Liverman. of Plymouth; Luther Liv erman, of Creswell: and Joe Liver man, of Edenton ;and two daugh ters, Mrs. Eva Koonce of Roper; and Mrs. Ozella Hand, of Norfolk. He also leaves a number of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Wanlon Vandalism At School Here Is Proving Expensive Number Windows Broken, Gym Doors Wrecked Last Week-End Each year about this time there seems to be an increased disregard for and destruction of public school property in Plymouth, it was learn ed in a conversation with county and local school officials this week. Wanton and deliberate breaking of window panes in the high school buildings is costing the taxpayers heavily, it is pointed out, and so far local authorities have been unable to halt it. The local school principal said that some of the windows are broken out at this time during school hours by boys and girls playing ball on the over-crowded school grounds, but this is not a problem, as such in stances are reported and the panes replaced by those who broke them. Mr. Trotman, the principal, said that Monday morning of this week, while making his regular inspection, he found 12 panes of glass broken that were not broken Saturday at noon, when a check was made. That it was wanton destruction was shown by,the fact that rocks and cinders were found in the classrooms where the panes were broken. Other school officials say that the gymnasium, which was erected by WPA funds on the school grounds, has been all but demolished. It was found impossible to keep window panes in this building, so county au thorities had all the windows board ed and all doors except one. barred from the inside. Yet doors at the back of the building have been torn off and broken up on several occas sions, and the light bulbs put in by the county and local school boards have been broken out by rocks. The doors were repaired only last week, and during the week-end they were again broken open. Such acts of pure vandalism should arouse the indignation of the com munity to the point that measures would be taken to put an end to such wanton destruction and utter waste of the taxpayers' money. The school officials care for the buildings dur ing the school day. and something should be done after school hours to protect public property. -® Local Laundry To Cease Operations After This Week -® Labor Shortage Cited as Reason; Lilley to Serve Town by Truck After operating for just about one year, the Plymouth Steam Laundry win close at the end of the current week, J. B. Willoughby, the owner, announced yesterday. Mr. Willough by said that the difficulty of obtain ing labor was forcing him to close the place here. He has several pros pective purchasers for the plant, but all of them plan to remove the equipment to another town, and there is little likelihood that it will be reopened for business here, he said. However, arrangements for local patrons to receive laundry service were completed yesterday by J. Eason Lilley, of Lilley’s Laundry in Wil liamston. Mr. Lilley said that he would inauguarate a weekly call-for and-delivery service in Plymouth next week His truck will canvass the town every Tuesday morning to pickup laundry- and return it eveiy Friday morning. In addition, he has made arrangements for Smith Bro thers. local dry cleaners, to serve as a sub-station for his laundry-. Laun dry may be left at Smith Brothers and picked up there by those who may not be at home when the laun dry truck calls Tuesdays and Fri days. Instructions to call for laun dry may also be telephoned to the local sub-station. Mr. Willoughby opened the Plym outh Laundry around May 1st last year, with a completely new plant. The shortage of labor has made it almost impossible for him to keep going in recent months, he said yes terday; and as he had several chances to dispose of his equipment, he has decided to take up one of the offers. The laundry here has rendered a splendid service, and many local peo ple will regret to learn that it is be ing closed 1,065 Library Books in Circulation Last Month -® There were 1.065 library books cir culated in Plymouth during March by the county library Of the total. 699 were adult fiction. 71 adult non fiction. 44 juvenile non-fiction. 'Chicken Every Sunday,” by Rose mary Taylor, and ‘ Dress Rehearsal,” by Quentin Reynolds, are new books recently added. Miss Elizabeth Carroll, district li brarian. sent off an order for $100 worth of new books for the library this week, including books for both adults and juveniles. County Has Already Gone "Over Top" With Record-Breaking Sales ot Bonds With today and tomorrow re maining before the end of the second war loan campaign, Washington County has already gone “over the top" in raising its quota. On the basis of in complete figures tabulated here this morning the county has al ready sold at least S153.291.75 worth of bonds and treasury certificates of various kinds, against a quota of S134.900. Incidentally, corrected figures on the county quota were receiv ed this week. The original quota was given as $134,900: then it was changed to $138,900; and this week it was stated that the correct quota was $134,900. The figures on sales cited above rep resent the issue price of bonds and certificates. and H. E. Beam, county chairman of war bond sales, said this morning that the maturity value would be some where around $170,000. Although the county quota has been raised, efforts are continu ing to make the overscription as much as possible. It was an nounced from Washington this week that the original goal of 13 billion dollars during the drive had been increased to 14 billions. Mr. Beam expects total sales of bands in this county to reach $175,000. issue price, or $200,000 maturity value, before the drive ends Friday. The $153,291.75 total above in cludes sales in Roper and Cres well up to last Saturday night. Violations of Price Ceiling Regulations Reported To Board No Formal Charges Filed, Bui Check by OPA Expected Soon Ceiling Prices Which May Be Charged by Poultry Producers Outlined According to Carl L. Bailey, chair man of the price-ceiling panel of the local war price and rationing board, investigations are in prospect very soon or reportedly wholesale viola tions of price-ceiling regulations in Washington County, as well as in other sections of this state. For the most part, the alleged violations in the county are mostly charged against producers and small dealers rather than against the retail stores, al though all phases of compliance will be checked when OPA investigators come into this section. Prosecution of violators has already been started in a number of counties in the cen tral part of the state, according to reports. One oi the matters that is bringing attention to bear on price-ceiling vi olations is runaway poultry prices. In this section only last week, reports were heard of consumers being charged up to 45 cents per pound for chickens. These prices were the subject that brought about a special meeting of the price ceiling panel here last Friday night, and since then producers of poultry, as well as re tailers, have been warned not to ex ceed the price ceilings allowed by regulations recently announced by the OPA. Under these regulations, a sched ule of definite price ceilings is fixed for various grades of poultry, when sold by the producer. Retailers are not allowed to charge more than their highest prices in the period from September 26 to October 2. 1942. According to the local board, the person in this section who raises chickens cannot charge dealers more than 28 cents per pound for broilers under 3 pounds; 29'/a cents for fry ers over 3 pounds; 24 cents for old hens under 4 pounds; or 27 cents for hens over 4 pounds. These prices iSee PRICE CEILINGS. Page 4) Rev. J. H. Johnson Resigns as Pastor of Baptist Church Here -$> Accepts Call To Memorial Church in Durham; To Leave Last of May -® The Rev. J. M. Johnson, pastor of Ludford Memorial Baptist church in Plymouth, last Sunday announced his resignation to accept the pastorate of the Memorial Baptist Church in Durham. His resignation was an nounced at the Easter morning serv ice and is to become effective after the fourth Sunday in May. Mr. Johnson came to Plymouth from Momeyer nearly two years ago. in October. 1941. and the local church has made considerable prog-! ress in the intervening time under; his direction. He has been in the active ministry since graduating, from Wake Forest College in 1938 Both he and Mrs. Johnson and their two children have made many friends during their stay in Plym outh who sincerely regret their de cision to leave. However, it is recog nized that he has been called to a larger field and the best wishes of his entire congregation will go with him and his family. The church to which he has been called in Durham is a comparatively new organization, with a wide field of usefulness among young people especially, and it is felt that they have made a splendid choice in call ing Mr Johnson to serve them. Must File Menus Before Saturday AJ1 restaurants, cafes, board ing houses, soda fountains and like places in Washington Coun ty which serve meals or foun tain drinks must file a list of their ceiling prices with the local war price and rationing board not later than Saturday. May 1, Mrs. J. K. Reid, secretary to the board, stated yesterday. The complete list of prices or menus must be filed, showing prices prevailing during the week of April 4-10. Mrs. Reid said that a printed list was preferable if the establishment had them, but those who do not may make up the list themselves. Up to yesterday, only two out of an estimated 50 such places in the county had filed their menus with the board. Farmers Will Make Their Own Reports On '3-A' Compliance Individuals Placed on Hon or In Move To Save Travel, Manpower In an effort to reduce travel and use of manpower, farmers of Wash ington County this year will report their own compliance with provisions of the 1943 AAA program, it was an nounced today by W. D Phelps, chairman of the County AAA Com mittee. "Under this plan, which may be called an honor system, we hope to save money, travel, tires, gasoline and the time of persons who otherwise probably would be engaged in agri cultural production,” Chairman Phelps said This pain Is being put into effect over the entire nation this year, and we in Washington County certainly can meet up to standards of farmers in any other county.” Under this program he said, each farmer will measure his acreage and will report it to his County AAA of fice on forms to be provided by the office. Farmers also will report acre ages of crops growm for soil-building puiposes and for which there is a payment made under the AAA pro gram . Marketing quotas will be in effect this year only on cotton and tobacco, Mr. Phelps said, but war crops, such as peanuts, soybeans for beans, and sweet potatoes for market must be measured and reported for the purpose of determining if goals were met. Commercial truck crops 'See COMPLIANCE, Page 4> E. L. Owens Resigns As Recorder Judge After Court Tuesday May Mean Abandonment of County Court for Dura tion of War Washington County Recorder’s court, already much battered and badgered around by the fortunes of war. yesterday received what well may be its death blow, for the dura tion, at least. Acting Recorder Ed ward L. Owens tendered his resig nation verbally to the chairman of the county board of commissioners. E. G. Arps: and. as things now stand, there will be no recorder's court next week, or in succeeding weeks, unless some changes not now in sight are effected. The whole situation can well be blamed on Hitler and Hirohito, To begin with, the solicitor of the court. W. Blount Rodman, volunteered for the Army a few months after Pearl Harbor and was granted leave of absence "for the duration’’ by the county commisioners. Sidney A, Ward was appointed acting solicitor, and shortly thereafter he. too, went off to the wars. The court operated for sometime without the services of a regular so licitor. and then the judge. W. Ronald Gaylord, became the next to volun teer. and he likewise received leave of absence for the duration. Edward L. Owens was named acting judge, and the court continued to operate without the services of a regular so licitor. Either Carl L. Bailey or W L. Whitley has been serving in that capacity when a case was contested, the one not employed by the con testing defendant usually serving as solicitor. This system rocked along very well until Tuesday of this -week. when one astute defendant employed both the attorneys who had been alter nating as solicitor. This left Mr. Owens to be both judge and solicitor in a case contested by two attorneys. He refused to try the case under these conditions and continued it. Yesterday he declared lie could not go on under existing conditions and tendered his verbal resignation to Mr. Arps, as chairman of the board of commissioners, effective imme diately At the present time, the salary of both judge and solicitor of the coun ty court is $60 per month each. Since the court is usually in session one day a week, this is equivalent to $15 per day, which county authorities have always reckoned to be a fair rate. However, none of the local at torneys is willing to serve as either judge or solicitor at this figure, al though it is understood two of them have agreed to consider accepting for $80 per month. Thus the matter stands at this time The county commissioners will hold their regular monthly meeting (Ser^OUJaW^COURT^PagTT Many Now Eligible For Grade I Tires -• All Washington County motorists who have allowed mileages of 241 or more miles per month will be eligi ble to apply for Grade I tires after May 1, it was announced this morn ing by the local war price and ration ing boar. Heretofore only those who were permitted to drive more than 540 miles per month were eligible for the top grade tires. It is also announced that manu facture of Grade n tires has been halted, and all county motorists who have certificates calling for the pur chase of such tires may use them to l buy Grade I tires after May 1. In the future, applicants for tires who are allowed gasoline to drive 241 miles or more per month are eligible for grade 1 tires or grade m tires, at the option of the applicant. Beginning May 1, dealers are au thorized to sell either grade 1 or grade m tires on a grade I or grade n certificate: on a grade III certi ficate. only a grade III tire may be sold. All County Schools Close Tomorrow; Total ol 97 in 1943 Gradnating Classes Friday is the last day of the 1942-43 school term in Wash ington County, for both white and colored children. Com mencement exercises have been in propress at some of the schools for more than a week, with finals at all of them, ex cept Roper, to be completed by Friday night. The graduation exercises at the Roper school will be held next Monday night. May 3. at 8 o’clock. A total of 97 boys and girls will be graduated from the six high schools, 68 white and 29 colored. Plymouth High School has the largest senior class, with 25; while Creswell and Roper follow closely with 22 and 21. respec tively. In the colored schools. Plymouth leads with 13: Creswell has 9 and Roper 7 to round out the list. All the graduates are completing 12 years of work in the public school system There is a difference in the graduation prospect this year from those in the past. Many of the young men who receive their diplomas expect to enter the armed services within a very short time, while the young girls plan to take up some form of war work. Of course a few of the latter will go to college and fin ishing schools, but by far the greater majority are looking for ward to business courses or Im mediate work at essential occu pations. Very few of the boys have made any plans for college, as lowering the draft age limit to 18 just about precludes ant j possibility of being able to finish | a course.