North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon ******* and Washington County News ******* VOLUME LV—NUMBER 2 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, January 13, 1944 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics The next collection of waste paper In Plymouth will take place next Monday morning, January 17, when the town trash trucks will canvass the town to pick up all bundles. Townspepole are asked to make sepa rate bundles of old newspapers, ma gazines and cartons and place them in front of their houses in time for the trucks to pick them up early Monday. Mrs. T. L. Bray announced yester day that the local chapter of the UDC will meet at her home Friday af ternoon, January 21, instead of on Friday. January 14, as originally stated. It was annouoed this week by the state Office of Price Admin istration that new maximum re tail price of ungraded country eggs is 50 cents per dozen for this section. The maximum whole sale price is 43.2 cents per dozen. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Chesson, sr., of Roper, last week received a tele gram announcing the birth of a son, James III, to Lt. (j.g.) and Mrs. James A. Cheson, Jr., on Tuesday, January 4, in Jacksonville, Fla. Lieu tenant Chesson is a Naval aviator and has been stationed in Florida for some time. The telegram from him contained the information that his wife "and baby fine. Father surv ing” Herbert M. Kleckhefer, secretary and treasurer of the Kleckhefer Con tainer Co., of Delair, N. J.; T. W. Earle, manager of the wood and land department; and D. B. Kuhe, resi dent manager, of the North Carolina Pulp Company, went to Conway, S. C., on a hunting trip last week-end. Draft registrants who wish to retain their farm classifications are reminded that they have only two days left in which to get their 1944 farm plans signed and filed with the draft board here. Saturday, January IS, is the last day for filing them. Blanks may be obtained at the office of the USDA War Board In the agri cultural building. Dr. A1 Shaw and L. I. Case, of the animal husbandry department of State College, Raleigh, were in the county yesterday. They nominated several bulls from E. F. Still's herd of pure-bred Herefords for the Ala bama Black Belt Hertford Bull sale to be held in the spring. North Caro lina breeders will send three carloads of cattle to this sale. Local service men who have been visiting relatives and friends here during the past week include Cor poral Tom Gardner, of a military po lice detachment at Fort Jackson. S. C.; Private William E. Waters, of Camp Shanks, N. Y.; and George W. Harrison, jr., second-class electric ian's mate, of Norfolk, Va. -« George Barden Now Has Interest in Firm -(8) Announcement was made this week that George T. Barden had bought an Interest In the firm of House Chev rolet Company, local Chevrolet deal ers, effective January 1. Mr. Bar den has been bookkeeper and parts manager of the firm since January, 1939; and It was stated that he would continue In this capacity, as well as assume more responsible duties with the firm. Mr. Barden has hundreds of friends throughout the county who will learn with interest that he has become fi nancially interested in the firm by which he has been employed for the past five years. He is regarded as a most promising young business man, and his friends wish him every suc cess in his new connection with the automobile agencv here. Dance for Visiting Service Men Each Saturday Night A dance was held in the American Legion Hall here last Saturday night for the service men who happened to be in this vicinity at the time. The dance was sponsored by about 20 lo cal girls. A goodly number of service men was present. Soft drinks and cookies were served by the girls. It is planned to hold similar dances each Saturday night in the Legion hall beginning at 8 o’clock and all servicemen are cordially invited to attend. Chaperones will be school teachers and other interested towns people. Section Has Second Heavy Snow Last Saturday; Highway Traffic Blocked This section had its second big snowfall of the season last Saturday. Although a few flakes fell intermittently all day. it did not really begin to snow un til after 4 o’clock. Then In less than an hour the ground was completaly covered, and by nightfall it had reached a depth or three or four inches. Later it began sleeting, and as the tem perature continued to drop, ev erything was completely covered by an icy blanket. Some damage was reported to trees, which gave way beneath their heavy coating; and most of the telephone circuits from here to Williamston were out for a time due to the wires break ing from the weight of ice. Bus traffic was suspended until Mon day, except from here to Wil liamston; and none of the whfte schools were open Monday, as the school trucks were unable to make their trips. Temperatures continued below freezing through Sunday, but some of the snow melted Mon day, and by Tuesday traffic was resumed, although at a slow pace, as the roads were still slip pery. A warm sun yesterday brought conditions just about back to normal, but dirt roads throughout the section are said to be very muddy and treacher ous. Method of Inducting Registrants Changed By New Regulations BUYS INTEREST i — ■t I j George T. Barden purchased an interest in the House Chevro let Company here January 1, it was learned this week. Mr. Bar den has been bookkeeper and parts manager for the firm since January 1, 1939. To Name Chairman Couniy ABC Board At Meeting Tonight Members of Three County Boards Will Elect Suc cessor To Campbell -<s> A meeting will be held tonight at the courthouse to elect a chairman for the Washington County ABC board to succeed J. R. Campbell, who is resigning due to the fact that he was appointed by the county board recently to fill out the unexpired term of Mrs. Mary Cahoon Hawkins as register of deeds. The meeting was called by H. H. McLean, county superintendent of public instruction. Election of ABC board members is made by a special group, composed of members of the county board of commissioners, coun ty board of education, and county board of health. The three boards are composed of the following: E. G. Arps. P. M. Arps, B. G. Campbell, Dr. W. H. Johnson, Dr. A. Papineau, and H. H. McLean, of Plymouth: J. C. Knowles and L. E. Hassell, of Roper; H. W. Pritchett and P. B. Bclanga. of Creswell. It is understood that there will be upwards of a half dozen candidates for the post, including one or two members of the boards which com pose the above group. The complete list of candidates has not been made public, and there is little advance “dope” that indicates who has the inside track for the vacant post. Hogs Cannot Be Butchered tor Own Use Point-Free Unless Owned 60 Days A statement was issued yester day by the local rationing board relative to persons who buy live hogs to be butchered for their own use. OPA regulations require that hogs be owned at least 60 days before they can be butch ered for the owners’ use without ration points being surrendered for such meat. In the event the owners do not actually feed and care for the swine themselves, they are required to exercise supervision by visiting the place such hogs are kept at least twice each week. For information of farmers who have fresh pork for sale, fol lowing Is the table of points to be required per pound for the various kinds of meat: Fresh pork sausage, 4 points; smoked pork sausage, 4 points: tender loin, 7 points; hams, whole or sliced, 5 points; spareribs, 1 point; and lard, 2 points per pound. It is also announced that spare stamp No. 2 in ration book No. 4 is now good for 5 points in the purchase of fresh pork or all pork sausage. Anyone who wishes further In formation relative to butchering hogs, either for his own use or for sale, Is Invited to oall at the of fice of the rationing board in the courthouse here. Defermenls for Men 18 to 21 Years Old Practically Banned —.<&> - “Screening” Examinations To Be Eliminated After February 1th -« Recent directives received by the Washington County Selective Serv ice Board will have far-reaching ef fects in the methods of deferring registrants and processing selectees called into service from the county after February 1. One of the effects is practically eliminating occupa tional deferment for men between the ages of 18 and 21, while another is the change in method of examin ing and inducting men into the serv ice. Under the regulations, it will just about impossible for any man. father or non-father, between the ages of 18 and 21, to secure an oc cupational deferment that will keep him out of the armed forces if he is physically fit. It is understood that those engaged in farm work are not affected by the new orders, although it was explained at the office of the board here that nothing whatever was said about men holding 2-C or 3-C clasiflcations. About the only exceptions so far as occupational deferment for 18 to 21 years olds is concerned are men in the U. S. merchant marine or Army Transportation Corps. The regula tions governing deferments for school or college students in this age group are said to be practically prohibitive. However, those who now hold defer ments are not likely to have their cases reviewed until their present de ferments expire, it is stated. Procedure for induction of selec tees will be changed after February 1. After that date the ''screening” examination by a local physician will be done away with, and men in class 1-A will be called to go to the induc tion center at Fort Bragg for their pre-induction examination. Those who pass will have at least 21 days before they are called back into the service, whether they go into the Army, Navy or Marines. It is hoped that a reserve pool of men acceptable by the various branches of the service can be built up to allow selectees 45 days between the time of examination and induc tion. However, it will require a con siderable period of time to get this pool built up; and those who pass the physical examination in the near fu ture may reasonably expect to be called back to begin training in 21 days, it was stated. Those who pass the physical ex amination will designate their pref erence as to branch of service, and be classified accordingly for the Ar my, Navy or Marine Corps. Separate calls will be received by the local board for each branch. Calls will be received for so many men for the Army, so many for the Navy, and so many for the Marine Corps. Then those who have been examined and passed will be called up for induction into the branch of service for which they were classified. Not all details of the new plan have been cleared up yet, it was stated here this week, but they are sub stantially as outlined above. ..-... Roper Parents-Teachers To Meet Next Tuesday -* Roper.—The regular meeting of the Roper Parent-Teachers Association will be held in the school auditorium next Tuesday evening, January 18, at 8 o’clock, It was announced this week by Miss Lois M Thompson, publicity chairman. Mrs. Alice Futrelle, vice president of the state parent-teacher associa tion, will be the principal speaker at the meeting, and all patrons of tha Roper school are urged to attend. 2 Members Local School Commillee Re; igned Recently Cite Lack of Cooperation by County Board Over Long Period as Reason It wa6 teamed this week that two of the three members of the Plym outh local school comittee resigned recently, and that their resignations had been accepted by P. M. Arps, chairman of the county board of edu cation. The two members who re signed are P B. Bateman, chairman, and C. E. Ayers, both of Plymouth; leaving James L. Rea, of Wenona, as the only member of the local com mittee at this time. In their letters of resignation, it is understood that both men disclaimed any personal antagonism to members of the county board, although they cited lack of cooperation between the county and local authorities as their reason for resigning. They stated that no single incident brought about their decision to resign, but that in a number of instances dur ing the past year or more decisions were made by the county board about matters affecting the local schools in which they felt they should have been consulted. There seems to be some difference of opinion as to matters over which the local committee has jurisdiction. Its members considered they exer cised authority over the school plant; while a county school official says the duties of a local board are con fined almost exclusively to the elec tion of teachers, upon recommenda tion of the principals. It was ’earned that the differences between the two groups were brought to a head during the Christmas holi day period at the school. Due to re pairs being made to the heating sys tem in the high school building, the local committee recommended that the schools here reopen on January 3rd. However, county officials rush ed the repair work and insisted upon the schoc-ls reopening December 29th. as originally announced. This was done, and the two comitteemen re signed shortly afterwards. So far. no action has been taken | to fill Um two positions made vacant by th -Jprignations. ! —-® Tax Listing Faster Than Last Year Tax listing, while still slow, is pro ceeding at a more rapid pace than last year in Plymouth Township, it was learned this morning from Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, tax lister for this township. It is evident that there will be a last-minute rush as usual, and all property owners are urged to list as soon as posible to avoid having to wait later on in the month. Mrs. Ramsey said that more farm ers had listed so far this month than in the same period last year. How ever, there are a great many tax payers who live right here in town who have not listed. They are re quested to list as early in the week as possible, in order to keep Fridays and Saturday open for people who get to town only once each week. The listers have not been run over with work so far, but they manage to keep fairly busy. Mrs. Ramsey also issues whiskey ration book No. 2 In her office here each Tuesday, and she said this fact had caused a great many people to list who otherwise might have put it off until later. Each applicant for a liquor book is re minded about listing his taxes, and a great many of them are “killing two birds with one stone” by listing their property and securing their whiskey books at the same time. Grand Jury Report Filed With Superior Court Here Tuesday Most of County Property Is Said To Be in Good Condition -<8> The Washington County grand jury, named at the opening of su perior court here Monday morning, completed its work and was discharg ed for the term Tuesday afteronoon. In its report to the grand jury states that it passed on all bills and pre sentments brought to its attention, and in addition made a personal ex amination of the jail, county home, offices of the courthouse, agriculture building, prison camp and all schools in the county, both white and colored As a general rule, most of the county owned and operated proper ties were found to be in good condi tion, although suggestions were made for improvements and repairs in some instances. Excerpts from the report, filed with the clerk Tuesday after noon, are as follows: “Jail is clean and well kept. We wish to commend the keeper for its splendid condition. Offices of court house were found to be in satisfac fS*e GRAND JURY, Page •> Criminal Docket Is Cleared Tuesday in Superior Court Here — - Recessed Until This Morn ing, When Trial of Civil Cases Was Begun Despite a half-day delay Monday the Washigton County Superior court made rapid progress once it got un derway, and the criminal docket was cleared by 3 o'clock Tuesday after noon. when the court recessed until Thursday morning. The delay Mon day was caused by the absence of Solicitor Donnell Gilliam, of Tarboro, who was unable to get here until the afternoon, on account of the icy con dition of the roads between here and Tarboro, where he lives. Judge C. Everett Thompson, of Elizabeth City, is presiding. He was on hand and had the court called to order on time Monday. The grand jury was organized and charged shortly afterwards, following which the court marked time until after noon, when the solicitor arrived Nine cases were on the docket for trial, but only four were tried. The others were continued for various causes. Following is a resume of the proceedings up to this morning, when work was begun on the civil calen dar: The case against Mrs. N. C. Wal ters. charged with reckless driving, was continued for the state. The case against Van B. Martin, for breaking and entering, was con tinued by consent. Continuance was also granted in the case against Vernon Nixon white, of Edenton; Gregory Norman and Raymond Everett, colored, of Mack eys. charged with larceny, due to in ability to locate Nixon. The first case actually tried was that against Lloyd Chappell and Wayland White, young white men of the Hertford section. They were originally charged with rape, but the grand jury at the July term of su perior court returned a true bill charging them with carnal knowledge of a girl under 16 years of age. In the trial this week, the State ac cepted a plea of guilty to assault up on a female: and the young men were sentenced to 18 months on the roads, suspended upon payment of the court costs and $200 each to the father of the complaining witness for her use. As a further judgment, they were put on probation for a period of three years. The grand jury at the last July term of court made a presentment against J. D. Vick, white farmer of near Plymouth, charging him in two cases with carnal knowledge of fe male over 12 and under 16 years of age. At the court this week, the grand jury was unable to act upon the presentment, due to absence of both the state's principal witnesses. Herman Lee Wilkins, colored, of Mackeys, was found guilty of steal ing a pocketbook. He was fined $50 and costs and ordered to pay $45 to A. L. Watson, the complaining wit ness. Henry Patrick, colored, of the Pea Ridge section, charged with assault with a deadly weapon on A. R. Pat rick, sr., white, changed his plea to guilty after trial was begun and was fined $150 and costs. Willie Lee Credle. colored, of Plym outh, charged with assault with a deadly weapon, pleaded guilty to sim ple assault and was fined $50 and costs. -$ Stores Here Not to Close Wednesdays Plymouth merchants decided at a special meeting of the merchants as sociation Monday afternoon not to begin observance of the Wednesday half-holidays until April. Members of the association voted early in De cember to begin closing Wednesday afternoons the first Monday in Janu ary, but considerable opposition to the idea developed last week, when some of the stores closed and some others did not. Therefore, a special meeting was called Monday of this week to straighten the matter out. Following a lively discussion, it was voted almost unanimously to begin the weekly half-holidays the first Wednesday afternoon in April. There was some talk of the several grocery stores closing anyway, as they did last fall, but it was finally decided that all stores would remain open all day Wednesdays, until April, at least -® Services Announced for Local Christian Church REV. F. B. QUICK. Pastor Sunday School, 9:45 am.; H. H. Allen, superintendent Morning worship, 11 o'clock; ser mon subject, "The Supreme Task of the Church.” Junior society meeting. 6 p.m.; Mrs. Rudolph Beasley, superinten dent. Young people’s society meeting. 6 p.m.; Mrs. Henry Hardison, leader. Evening worship. 7:30 p.m ; ser mon subject. “The Certainty of the Gospel.” The pastor will conduct services at Chapel Hill. 2 .30 p.m., Sunday. County Has Quota of $228,000 in Fourth War Loan Campaign GETS PROMOTION Paul E. Phelps, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Phelps, of the Holy Neck section, was recently pro moted from private to the grade of sergeant in a Ranger battalion as a result of his conduct while in action in Sicily. Husband of Mrs. Ruby Phelps, of Plymouth, he entered the service December 16, 1942, and remained in this country only about four months before going overseas. Used-Truck Buyers Advised To Check With Office of OUT -9 Truck Operations in Nation Virtually Frozen by Recent Order -<a> The Raleigh District Office of De fense Transportation yesterday re iterated its warning that all persins contemplating the purchase of us ?d trucks should check in advance wLh ODT before buying such equlpmert. Hundreds of persons who hai e bought used vehicles without check - i ing in advance with ODT have later found they were ineligible for Cer tificates of War Necessity and gaso • I line allotments without which the ve • j hides cannot be operated, the ODT | District Office said. Under a recent order, the OD7 District Office pointed out, truck ope. rations throughout the nation were virtually frozen and gasoline will no be allotted for the operation of newl acquired vehicles except in except • 1 ional circumstances. The freeze or • : der aplies to vehicles acquired for th > ! extension of an old route and 11 i trucks purchased for opening a new ! business. Newly acquired vehicles will be a. i lotted gasoline only when it is shown ; that the proposed service—either new or the extension of an old operation— its “absolutely essential to the war ; effort or to the maintenance of neces i sary civilian economy.” “Quite frankly.” Harvey R. Rose man, ODT District Manager in Ra leigh. declared, "it is the opinion of this office that very fewr of the appli cations made so far to this office meets this requirement "In view of the absolute nature of the order, we are thus forced to de cline such applications, even though it oftens means financial hardship for the aplicant. who may have in vested money in a business for which motor vehicles are essential and whose use he is denied " Mr. Roseman urged that all per sans considering the purchase of new vehicles first file a reqeust with the ODT for permission to inaugurate or extend truck service. Such requests will be considered without delay and j the aplicant given a quick ruling as , to whether he is eligible to operate new or additional vehicles. Begins Next Week; Couniy Chairman Not Yet Appointed Quota Is Somewhat Smaller Than in Third War Loan Drive Last Fall The Fourth Wav Loan Drive will begin in Washington County, as well as throughout the nation, next Tues day. January 18. and continue throughout the remainder of Janu ary and February. The county has been assigned an overall quota of $228,000. including $106,500 in series "E" bonds, according to H. E. Beam chairman of the War Finance Com mittee. The quota for the drive beginning next week is slightly smaller than it was for the third War Loan cam paign conducted last fall, when the goal was $262,000. The County fell down nearly $50,000 in that cam paign. a total of $205,131.50 worth of bonds having been sold then. Sales of "E" bonds during the Third War Loan amounted to $105,056. which is just $1,444 short of the "E1' bond quota for the drive beginning next week. Mr. Beam said this morning that lie had been unable to secure anyone to serve as chairman of the new bond drive in the county: and no plans have been developed as yet for can vassing the county. However some thing must be done very quickly If the county is to meet its obligations in this respect. The chairman said he had approached at least 25 men In the county and asked them to assume leadership of the drive, but all of them declined because they were so busy. In assigning the quota of $228,000 to Washington County, State Chair man C T. Linebach, of Winston Salem said that the county sold $86, 024 worth of bonds in January and February of last year, when no spe cial drive was on. and he said the county should not have too much dif ficulty in reaching its goal during the Fourth War Loan if the campaign was properly organized and a real ef fort put forth. Infantile Paralysis Drive To Begin in County Next Week Mrs. Wade H. Johnson Is Chairman; $308 Quota Assigned The annual campaign to raise funds for the National Infantile Paralysis Foundation will get under way in the county by the latter part of next week, it was learned yester day Mrs. Wade H. Johnson, of Plymouth, has been appointed chair man of the county drive, but she said yesterday no definite plans had been made yet, although she expects to be able to announce them by the lat ter part of next week. The county has been assigned a quota of $308 this year, which is about $100 more than it was last year Mrs. Johnson indicated that the “March of Dimes" drive will be handled through the schools of the county, but said that no material had been received so far. Local chairmen for each town and community will be appointed as soon as possible, and the drive is expected to be launched by the latter part of next week, with the campaia tW*-‘i continue through the remaindS of the month The county made a very poor showing: last year, but it is hoped county people will lend their whole-hearted support this year and put it across, for it is a very worthy cause Anyone who would like to make a contribution is urged to get in touch with Mrs. Johnson immedi ately Starting This Week, Post Oiiice Closes Every Saturday Atternoon at 1 o'Clock Postmaster .T. Corbett Swain announced Monday that begin, ning Saturday of this week. January 15. the Plymouth post office would close at 1 p.m. each Saturday afternoon until further notice. The regular dispatches will be made and mail will be put into lock boxes as usual, but all the windows will close at 1 p.m., and there will be no af ternoon deliveries by the city car riers. It is explained that this action is taken to reduce the operating expense of the local office. Since employees must be paid time and a half for all hours worked in ex ees of 40 per week, the resulting saving wil lbe considerable with little resulting inconvenience to patrons. The half-day closing has been customary in the past at the of fice here, although they were discontinued during the period of the Christmas rush. Mr. Swain said that observance of the half holidays might be changed from Saturdays to Wednesdays next spring, when local stores begin closing at noon on that day, although he was not sure at this time. Practically all other post offices close one after noon each week.