The Roanoke Beacon ******* and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LV NUMBER 1 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 6, 1944 [ A RUSHED 1889 Town OPICS It was learned here Monday that W. Ft. Ingram, prominent Williams ton tobacconist and father of Mrs. C. C. Hardison, of Plymouth, lost his life in a hotel Are at Fayetteville, Tenn., early Saturday morning. Funeral services were held for him in Williamston yesterday afternoon. While visiting his sister, Mrs. W. B. Cox, here during the Christmas holidays, Charlie Jackson, of Nor folk, was taken to a Rocky Mount hospital for treatment for an aggra vated sinus disorder. He underwent a series of operations after being ad mitted there December 26 and was sufficiently recovered to be brought back to his sister’s home here yes terday. Mrs. Wade H. Johnson, of Plym outh, was this week appointed county chairman for the infan tile paralysis drive to be held the last week in January, according to a telegram received yesterday from R. W. Maddry, of Chapel Hill, publicity director. Dr. Ralph W. McDonald is state chairman of the campaign. Despite the handicap of an arti ficial leg. acting Clerk of Superior Court W. B. Cox managed to get around all during the snow and ice a couple of weeks ago without falling even once. Then, Monday morning, in his office at the courthouse, he got up from his desk to answer the telephone, stuck his artificial foot into a misplaced cuspidor, lost his equilibrium, dignity and good nature as he made a forced landing that shook the building. He was shaken up but not badly hurt and soon re gained his temporarily lost attributes. W. K. Taylor, jr„ grandson oi Mrs. George Barden, sr., of Plymouth, who was wounded in the Salerno battle in Italy last fall, is now at Atlanta, Ga., hospital for plastic-surgery treatment. He is 22 years old. Plymouth stores observed the first of the Wednesday half-holi days yesterday aftemon. Pur suant to a decision reached at the December meeting of the merchants association, local stores will close at noon each Wednesday for the remainder of the day. County Auditor E. J. Spruill was back at work in his office at the courthouse this week after being out for about two weeks on account of flu and pneumonia. He is still a lit tle weak, but is gaining strength ev ery day. Staff Sergeant C. G. Lehner, in spector of aircraft spotting posts in this section for the Norfolk Fighter Wing of the Army Air Forces, visited the three observation posts in Wash ington County this week. He said the Creswell and Roper posts were doing a fine work, and he believes things will be straightened out at the local post after a special meeting to be held here Friday night by William B. Daniels, jr„ the chief observer. -- Large Crowd Here For Masonic Meet -$ Although a number of grand lodge officers were unable to attend, as scheduled, the Masonic meeting held here Tuesday afternoon and night was one of the largest ever to be held with the local lodge. Grand Master James W. Payne, of Salisbury, was present; and in addition to Installing officers of Perseverance Lodge for the coming year made an address at the night sesion that was generally con sidered the high spot of the entire program. There were more than 100 Masons in attendance on the barbecue sup per, served in the community build ing at 7 o’colck by members of the Eastern Star chapter. Representa tives were here from Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Gatesvile, Wind sor, Fairfeld, Washington, Currituck, and a number of other localities, as well as visitors from the grand juris dictions of Maine, Virginia, West Virginia, and Florida. Edward L. Owens, newly installed master of the local lodge, served as master of ceremonies at the barbecue meeting; and a goodly number of the visitors were called on for brief talks. There were several district deputies present, including H. H. McLean, of Plymouth, who was instrumental in having the grand master attend the meeting here. It was generally agreed that the meeting was one of the most outstanding Masonic gath erings ever held in Plymouth. Ask Aircraft Spotters Heie To Meet Tomorrow Night Plans are now underway to com pletely reorganize the Ground Obser ver Corps in Plymouth at a meeting to be held in the courthouse here Fri day night, it was stated yesterday by the Rev. Wililam B. Daniels, jr.. chief observer. At the present time the lo cal aircraft warning post is operated only one afternoon each week, but Army Air Force officials are asking that a more permanent organization be formed, so that the post can go on continuous operation if an emer gency should arise. Mr. Daniels hopes to secure 24 vol unteers upon whom he can depend at the meeting Friday night. Sixteen persons will be designated to serve regular shifts on Wednesday after noons, which will mean only about one hour on duty each month. The other eight, four men and four women, will be used as alternates. The purpose Of the reorganization is to have sufficient volunteers avail able to man the post on a continuous basts for 48 or possibly 72 hours in case of emergency. This would give the chief observer sufficient time to recruit volunteers to keep the post in continuous operation should condi tions require it. Tax Listing Gets Off To Usual Slow Start In County This Week Tax Collector In Creswell Weekly The county tax collector, J. E. Davenport, will be at the shoe shop In Creswell every Friday for the next several weeks for the convenience of taxpayers in that section who wish to pay up and save the penalty on delinquent taxes, which becomes effective after February 1. His hours at Creswell wil be from 10 a.m. un til 4 p.m. each Friday. Mr. Davenport will have the tax books for both Scuppernons and Skinnersville Townships with him and will be prepared to issue the official receipts for all taxes paid at the office in Cres well. Improved Conlract Now Being Offered Cucumber Growers Number Changes Made in Grading Regulations For This Year C. W. Dinkins, manager of the C. C. Lang & Son pickle plant in Plym outh, announced this week that con tracts were now ready for those farm ers in this section who wish to pro duce cucumbers for pickling purposes. A number of changes have been made in grading methods and sizes that will have the effect of increasing the price paid for cucumbers, in com parison with 1943 prices. One of the principal changes is en larging the size allowed for No. 1 pickles, and another is the accept ance of green “crooks" instead of throwing them out, as was done for the past several years. No women graders will be emplc:’0c, y ’ •‘he cu cumbers will all be graded by machin ery, Mr. Dinkins said. Tire contract to be offered farmers this year is said to be the best since the plant was es tablished here. There are only three grades, as compared with five in 1943, and grades are determined entirely by diameter of cucumbers, instead of length, as formerly. The green "crooks" will be accept ed in all three grades. Grade No. 1 includes cucumbers from 5-8 to 1 1-8 inches in diameter, for which $3.50 per 100 pounds wil be paid. Grade No. 2 is cucumbers from 1 1-8 to 1 3-4 inches in diameter, for which $1.80 per 100 will be paid. Grade 3 includes all cucumbers, except yellows, of 1 3-4 inches in diameter or larger, for which 80 cents will be paid. Last year all crooks were thrown out and the No. 1 maximum size was 1- 8 inch smaller than this year’s No. 1 grade. The new No. 2 grade in cludes what was 2-A and 2-B grades last year, and the price for these cukes will average 60 cents per 100 more, as there are more 2-Bs than 2- As. All over 1 3-4 inches in di ameter are classed as No. 3, and the (See CUCUMBERS, Page 6) Roper Council Votes $75 To Plymouth Firemen for Response To Two Calls Christmas Is past, but tne Plymouth Volunteer Fire De partment last week received a couple of very nice presents. The Town of Roper councilmen, at a recent meeting, voted to appro priate $75 for the firemen here as a mark of appreciation for their promptness in answering a couple of calls for assistance dur ing recent months. Accordingly, Chief Miller War ren last week was presented two checks, one for $25 for answering a call to Davenport’s store in Roper last September, and an other for $50 for answering a call ia*i Jiiuiitu, wiicii uucc houses were burned down The local department responded quickly and helped to prevent the fires from spreading. Chief Warren said the local firemen voted to buy a $100 War Bond with the $75 contributed j by the Roper council. When the bond matures, the money will be used for equipping the fire com pany’s work shop and club room. The firemen are very grateful to the Roper city fathers for their Uberarity and thoughtfulness, and a splendid feeling of neigh borllness exists all around. Schedules Oullined For Month by Four District List Takers -® Approximately 100 Persons Have Listed Here So Far This Month Tax listing, although at a slow rate, nevertheless started off better this year than last—in Plymouth Township, at least—it was learned to day from Mrs. Hermine Ramsey and Mrs. W. M. Spruill, list takers for Plymouth Township and the Town of Plymouth, respectively. Up to the middle of the week, approximate ly 100 property owners had listed their holdings here, it is stated. No reports were available from the remainder of the county, as County Tax Supervisor E. P. Swain is still in a Norfolk hospital, where it is understood he underwent an oper ation last week. The various town ship list takers went to work Mon day of this week, however, and it is presumed the work is getting along about as rapidly as usual. All real estate, personal property and poll taxes must be listed during the month of January, with penal ties provided for those who fail to see their respective list takers dur ing that time. County Auditor E. J. Spruill this week secured the schedules of list ing dates for the various sections from the list takers. Property own ers are urged to study the schedules and to list their holding when it is most convenient. Early listing is ad vocated to lessen the possibility of delay during the last-minute rush, which always develops the last few days of the month. Following is the schedules as an nounced by the various list takers throughout the county: Plymouth Township, Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, list taker: At her office on Water Street every w'eek day during the month, from 9- a m. until 5_p.m. Lees Mill Township, Mrs. E. h/i. Chesson, list taker: At Wenona Monday, January 10: at Mackeys Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, January 19, 20, and 21: at Chesson’s store, Westover, Tuesday, January i 25: and at Roper all other days of : the month from 9 a m. to 5 p.m. Skinnersville Township, W. W. White, list taker: Each Thursday during the month at H. L. Daven port’s store i formerly Nat Rhodes’ store); Tuesdays, January 11 and 18, at E. W. Patrick's store at the foot of the sound bridge; at A. R. Pat rick's store on Highway 64 on Tues day, January 25th; and at W. W. White's store all the other days in the month. Scuppernong Township, P. B. Bel anga, list taker: Each Monday, Tues day, Friday and Saturday at Cres well; each Wednesday at Cherry; at Mount Tabor on Thursday, January 6; at New Lands on Thursday, Jan uary 20; and at Ambrose Road Thursday, January 27. ...-~vg; Rev. Perry F. Baldwin New Pastor at Philippi Church -<3> Creswell.—The Rev. Perry F. Bald win, of Rockford, 111., has accepted the pastorate of the Philippi group of churches in this section, includ ing White Chapel. Albemarle and Columbia, it was announced this week. He is expected to arrive with his family within the next 10 days to begin his work here. The Rev. Mr. Baldwin will reside in the parsonage at Creswell which was recently occupied by the Rev. Lasker B. Bennett. Services Announced by Local Methodist Pastor Rev. T. R. JENKINS, Pastor Services for Sunday, January 9, 1944: Church school, 9:45 a m.: Morn ing worship. 11 a m.; Youth Fellow ship, 8 p. m ; Evening worship, 7:30 p.m. New Register Deeds Sworn in Monday at County Board Meet Several Other Matters Be fore Commissioners at Regular Meeting -« J. Robert Campbell took the oath Df office as Washington County Reg ister of Deeds at the monthly meet ing of the county board of commis sioners Monday morning and imme diately entered upon his duties, which include that of ex officio clerk to the commissioners. The oath was administered by Assistant Clerk of the Superior Court W. B. Cox. All three of the county board mem bers, Chairman E. G. Arps, J. C. Knowles and H. W. Pritchett, were present for the meeting. The bond of the new register of deeds, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Mary Cahoon Hawkins, was approved and accepted. Mrs. Haw kins resigned at the December meet ing of the board, as she plans to move to New Bern in the near future. The clerk was instructed to write to the tax supervisor, E. P. Swain, who is in a Norfolk hospital, to as certain how soon he will be able to resume his duties in connection with the tax-listing work now underway throughout the county. W. W. Ange was appointed to sur vey a tract of land adjoining the property of E. R. Blount. A motion was passed by the com missioners to pay Z. V. Norman the sum of $1,193.82 and expenses for the balance due as attorney's fees in connection with tax suits and set tlement of claims against the Roper and Norfolk Southern Land Company lands in this county. L. L. Basnight superintendent of the county farm was instructed to prepare a detailed report concern ing the operation.- of the county farm in the year 1943 and present it at a future meeting of the board. -* EducalionSpecialisl To Hold Conference Here January 12th Lester A. Kirkendall Will Speak to Students and PTA Members On Wednesday, January 12. Les ter Kirkendall, educational special ist of the State Board of Health, will spend the day at Plymouth High School holding conferences dealing with the subjects of social relation ships and sex education. Mr. Kirk endall is well acquainted with the instruction of the subjects mention ed, having served as consultant on the committee of social hygene edu cation for the State of Oklahoma be fore coming to the North Carolina State Board of Health. The Parent-Teacher Association of Plymouth High School has made it possible for Mr. Kirkendall to be at the school for one day. These secial relationship lectures are encouraged^ by the State Boai&of Health and will be informin'', and educational. The •State Official will speak informally to small groups of representative stu dents during the day, and later speak to the entire high school at assembly Also at 3:30. Mr. Kirkendall will ad dress the faculty of the school, and representatives of local civic and re ligious organizations are urged to be present. At 8 p.m. Wednesday night the Parent-Teacher Association will hold a meeting at which time Mr. Kirkendall will give another address and all interested persons and those unable to attend in the afternoon are urged to be present. Number Apply Tuesday For New Liquor Books -® Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, registrar for whiskey ration book No. 2, said yesterday that she issued more books Tuesday, when the registration was , resumed, than she did the entire first I four weeks of the registration period in October and November. The is suance of books was halted December 1st and no registration was permitted until Tuesday of this week. Those who have not applied for their new liquor books may make ap plication at Mrs, Ramsey’s office here any Tuesday. They are advised not to forget to bring their War Ration Book No. 3. -® New Representative Here For Washington Laundry -* The Standard Cleaners & Laundry, of Washington, has employed Renn Dupree to handle their laundry pick up and delivery service here, effec tive this week. He succeeds Earl Phelps, who left yesterday after vol unteering for service in the Navy. Laundry bundles will be collected each Monday and Tuesday, it is an nounced, with deliveries to be made each Saturday. Patrons are also ad vised that all laundry bundles must be composed of at least 50 per cent flat work in order to secure the pound rate. Otherwise, the charge will be made by the piece. Council Bans Sale oi Beer and Wine Here Saturday to Monday Also Prohibits Boys From Shining Shoes on Side walks Uptown - 11 1 - Town councilmen passed on a num- 1 ber of matters at their regular meet ing last Monday night, but beer and bootblacks were the principle topics of discussion. The council adopted a state law' which will ban the sale of beer inside the city limits from Saturday night until Monday morn ing. while the swarm of colored boys who shine shoes on the streets here were prohibited from this practice in , the future. The ordinance relating to boot blacks provides that no shoes may be shined on the sidewalks in the busi ness section, and that each shoe shine stand shall pay a privilege tax of $1 per year. Colored boys who have been hanging around the streets to . shine shoes during the latter part of each week may continue their trade if they secure a stand and pay the $1 license tax, but the stand may not be placed on the sidewalks. The councilmen adopted the state law which permits municipalities to prohibit the sale of wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages between the hours of 11:30 Saturday nights and 7 a.m. Mondays. A complaint was made about the crowds which block the sidewalks in front of the theatre here prior to opening ticket sales, and the coun cil charged the police force with the duty of lining up the theatre patrons in such manner as to keep at least a passageway open. Dewey Ange and Paul Gurganus asked that cinders or some other ma terial be applied to the dirt street which intersects Wilson street the other side of the railroad crossing. Complaint was also made that trains block this same dirt street sometimes for as long as an hour. Fire Chief Miller Warren made his annual report to the council. This report showed that while the fire de partment was called out a gerater number of times, only 12 fires actual ly required the application of water or chemicals during the past year. This ■. is the smallest number to be report ed in a number of years. In addition to the above matters, routine business was disposed of and bills ordered paid by the councilmen. Price Paid for Waste Fats Is Increased by Recent OP A Ruling -'V-' Housewives Now To Get 4 Cents Pound and 2 Red Meat Points -« By Miss HELENE DLTV’ALL OPA Order RSR-14 sets as a max imum price for househald fats, 4 cents a pound to the housewife and 5 cents a pound to the merchant. A majority of the rendering firms in North Carolina have agreed to pay the mefCItafit 5-eeBtS pei'_P6lUli! thus, enabling the merchant to pay the! housewife 4 cents. In addition to this, 2 red meat points are given for every pound of waste fats turned over to the grocer. This should tremendously increase i the amount of fats collected in North Carolina, which is exactly what the Government is trying to do. The goal is a pound of waste fats a month from each housewife. Meat dealers have agreed to take the fat if it is brought in tin cans and large particles strained out of it. One wholesale meat firm is picking up the fat in Washington County and another is trying to make ar rangements to move some to their rendering plant. Housewives should not have trouble any more getting rid of their waste fats. If one grocer is unable to take it because he does not sell meats or because his dealer can not at present take it up, then an other grocer will readly take it. The drive for the collection of waste fats is on stronger than ever now. They are urgently needed. Waste Paper Waste newspaper, magazines, and corrugated boxes will again be col lected on Monday, January 17th. Further notice is expected to be given by hand bills. Tin Cans Containers for tin cans which were placed at the municipal building have not yet been filled the first time. A ton or more must be collected before they can be shipped, but housewives seem to have forgotten how urgently 1 they are needed by the Army. -- Parent-Teacher Association To Meet Next Wednesday --?> The Plymouth Parent-Teacher As sociation will hold a meeting in the school auditorium here Wednesday evening of next week. January 12. at 8 o'clock, it was announced this week by Mrs. W. V. Hays. Lester Kiken dall, education specialist from the State Department of Health, will speak on "Social Relationships and Sex Education." A good attendance is urged at this meeting. Superior Court Will Convene Monday for Term of Two Weeks LAPEL BUTTON J Men and women who have been honorably discharged from any branch of the armed serv ices since the present war be gan are now being authorized to wear the above insignia, of gold-plated plastic, it was an nounced last week by the War Department. 25 Colored Men Go Inlo Service From County J^asi Month Navy and Marines Get 3 Each: Other 19 Will Go Into Army - Final returns on the December draft call for colored men from this county shows that 25 out of the 62 who made the trip to Fort Bragg were accepted for service with the various branches of the armed for ces. Of the 25 accepted, three went to the Navy, three to the Marine Corps, and 19 to the Army. Only three of those accepted were pre Pearl Harbor fathers, one for the Navy and the other two for the Army. Tire two fathers accepted by the Army were both from Plymouth, Er nest Jones and David Rupert Swain The other father, Joe Willie Phelps, of Creswell. went to the Navy Of the non-fathers, Plymouth again furnished the larger part of those accepted, 14, the Navy getting 1. the Marine Corps 3. and the Army 10. Creswell furnished 5, the Navy getting 1 and the Army 4. Three Roper youtlis all went to the Army. The list of non-fathers accepted is as follows: From Plymouth: Leroy Mitchell, by the Nary: Alfred Roosevelt Win dorne, jr.. Charlie Rutherford Gar rett and Anthony Alphonso Jordan, by the Marines; Johnnie Asa John son, Claudius Bratts, Fred Small. McKinley Smith, James McDowell Jordan, James Bruce, Aronious Tay lor, William Thomas Moore. Alustus Louis Holley and Willie Lee. by the Army. From Creswell: John Littlejohn, jr., by the Nary; Lora Tatem, An drew Bouton, Chester Willie Baum and George Thomas Brickjjpjwg-'^ the Army. From rtuirwi'f'Jtoscoe Boston, Ra leigh Chesson, and Wilson Linwood Webb, by the Army. Draft Calls Smaller For Current Month -« The Washington County Selective Service Board has received its call for both colored' and white men to report for possible induction this month. The calls have been reduced for January, it was learned, but the board has been ordered to prepare for larger calls in February. A large proportion of both calls very likely *'ill be from the ranks of pre-Pearl Harbor fathers. The local board is now busy carry ng out the new procedure in cases pf deferred men who are registered : rere but who are working in locali ies where other boards have juris iiction over them. Files on such nen are being forwarded to appeal roards in the sections where they low live, as directed by regulations •ecently promulgated. Session Will Be ior Trial of Both Civil And Criminal Cases Judge C. Everett Thompson Of Elizabeth City. To Preside - TTh Washington County Superior Court v ; ! snvene next Monday morning at 10 o'clock fcr the regu lar January two-week term. Judge C. Everett Thompson, of Elizabeth City, is scheduled to preside over the sessions, which will be for the trial of both criminal and civil actions. The first three days of next week have been set aside for the trial of crimi nal cases, with the remainder of the term to be devoted to civil actions. Nine criminal cases are on the docket for trial beginning Monday morning, while the regular civil cal endar carries 22 cases, and the mo tion calendar has 21 more. The civil calendar is set to begin Thursday morning and continue through the following Wednesday. Six divorce cas es have been set for the first day of the civil session, and there are several more on the motion calendar, which may be railed at the pleasure of the court. The criminal docket is as follows: State vs. Mrs. N. C. Walters: reck less driving; continued from last July term: State vs. Van B Martin, breaking and entering; also continued from last term of court: State vs. Vernon Nixon, white, of Eden ton: Gregory Norman and Ray mond Everett, colored, of Mackeys: indicted by grand jury last July on charges of theft: Lloyd Chappell and Wavland White, white, of Edenton: carnal knowledge of female over 12 and under 16 years of age. They were originally charged with rn: but the grand jury found not a true bill on that count and re turned an indictment as above; Staler J. r Vick, white, of Plym outh two cases, both charging car < See SUPERIOR COURT. PageTT" Harley Johnson, Former Resident, Is Killed in Action Family in Richwood Noti fied December 24 of His Death in Italy -s> Ne'i. was received here last wt of the death in action of Private ley Johnson, former reside; Plymouth, who was killed in I; I November 21. ^•olina he was'inducted into December 16. 1942. A into the service, his fa Richwood, W. Va,. and a newspaper PuMtahed new. of Ills death waM The follow, uc article Rh that 'd here. Irlm ap y Republican, d. W. Va.. on *4 Johnson received a War Department hg that her son. Johnson had been killed to action on November 21, 1943. Harley had served overseas for the pas: sis' months, going over in May of this year. He first landed in NortbMto Africa, later being trans ferred,JfeJtaly. where he met his was inducted in peared in published Friday, "Mrs telegram' Saturday, Private. to He camps Bragg. N. er, 'Harley School. He Cherry Rivei until their December 16, 1942. t the following States, Ft. and Ruck High by the here trans 1 See KILLED IN ITALY, Page 6; Registrants Holding Farm Deferments Must File Farm Plans by Jaggary 15 All Washington County regis trants who live on farms and wish to continue to held their farm classifications are notified by the local selective service board that they must file their proposed 1944 farm plans with the board not later than January 15. The blanks on which faro plans are to be submitted to t draft board may be secured a* 1 office of the USDA War B .■« at the Agriculture Building he* The local draft boan’ also an nounces that farm operators wh have draft registrants worki (or them most submit a “master sluvt towing hi> firm plans lor ttie coming year cud the i i' .ter necessary to operate o' nr, This also may be ob d it (he office of the VSDA r Hoard, and it must be filed th ihe selective service board •n before January 15. draft hoard is preparing v>;-iv all farm classifications; unless the information out I .1 above is furnished by the '!h, registrants who live on i.irr.is are subject to reclasslft cation and possible induction in the armed forces.