North Carolina Newspapers

The Roanoke Beacon * * * * * * ¥ and Washington County News ******* Paper must be used to keep naval shelij unmarred for accuracy in firing at our enemies . . . And waste f>aper reserves are the owest of any vital war material! SAVE WASTE PAPER VOLUME LV—NUMBER 18 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 4, 1944 ESTABLISHED 1889 Town opics i.............. ... It was learned this week that W. J. Highsmith, jr„ former sanitarian with the district health department here, has been promoted from en sign to lieutenant fjunior grade) in the Naval Reserve. Lieutenant Highsmith is stationed at Columbus. Ohio, and Mrs. Highsmith is living there with him. E. E. Harrell, owner of the Plym outh Furniture Company and former councilman from the second ward, has completed his basic training in the Navy at Camp Peary, Va., and is now at home on a brief furlough with his family. He will be here un til May 14th. Mr. Harrell entered the service about six weeks ago. Phil Ayers, who went into the Navy at the same time and trained at Camp Peary, also is spending a furlough with relatives here. Farmer W. T. Freeman, of Plymouth and Roper, is among the first in the county to begin transplanting tobacco. He start ed Monday and expected to com plete the work by yesterday. A number of other tobacco grow ers began transplanting later in the week. Blue mold was report ed in a number of seed beds for the first time this week. Aviation Student William J. Jack son, son of Mrs. Lula Jackson, of Plymouth, completed a course at the Basic Training Center in Greensboro last week and has been sent to But ler University in Indianapolis, Ind., for further training to become a pi lot, bombardier, or navigator in the Army Air Forces. He went into the service from Linden. N. J., in Febru ary. Pvt. Zeb Vance Norman, ,ir., came home Monday after completing his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. He will be here for about 10 days before leaving for Camp Breck inridge, Ky.. where he will receive cadre instruction at an Infantry school. The local American Legion Post received $475 as its share of the profits from the festival held at the old Brinkley ball park last week, according to P. W. Brown, finance officer. Attendance was very good, considering the wea ther. Maurice Smith, formerly proprietor of Smith Brothers cleaning estab lishment here, entered the Marine Hospital at Norfolk last week-end to be treated for sinus trouble. His illness is not considered seriou^, and it is expected that he will be out in a few days. He has been in the small-boat service of the Army Transport Corps since early this year. Staff Sergeant Benjamin F. Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Jackson, of Roper, is under stood to be a prisoner of war in Germany, it was reported here this morning. Sergeant Jackson, gunner on a heavy bomber, was reported on March 16th to have been missing in action over Ger many since February 24th. Chief Machinist’s Mate Lyman Mayo, of Norfolk, spent the week-end here with his father, W. J. Mayo, and other relatives and friends. Chief Mayo was recently promoted to his present grade from machinist’s mate first class after about two years' serv ice in the Navy. Sergeant Tom Brown and Corporal J. K. Clay, of the State Highway j. a trol, stationed at New Bern, were here Tuesday to attend recorder’s court. Sergeant Brown formerly was stationed in Plymouth for several years. They were here in connec tion with the case of two Negroes re cently arrested by Sergeant Brown for complicity in the recent robbery of the ABC store at Creswell. -®_ Nutrition Program To Be Sponsored by V. E. P. Co. — —-» A patriotic educational program stressing health, nutrition and con servation, will be sponsored by th< Virginia Electric & Power Companj at the American Legion Hut in Wil liamston Wednesday of next week The public is invited and ladies art especially urged to attend. Attractive prizes will awarded among them two $25 War Bonds one given by the V. E. & P. Companj and the other by the Williamstor Peanut Company. A special invi tation is extended to Washingtor County people to attend. Fire Siren To Signal Start of Invasion When Allied invasion of con tinental Europe is flashed over the radio and wires, everyone w'ithin hearing of the Plymouth fire siren will know about it, ac cording to an announcement this - morning by Mayor B. G. Camp bell, Chief of Police P. W. Brown, and Fire Chief Miller Warren. Mayor Campbell said that he had istructed the police and fire departments here to sound the city's fire siren for five minutes the minute word is received that the second front has been opened in western Europe. -This ap> plies even if it is 3 o'clock in the morning, it was announced. The news will be signaled by a steady blast on the fire siren continuing for five minutes. The signal is almost the same as that usually sounded here for test blockouts. except that the blast will be more than twice as long, it is pointed out. Chief Brown said that no test blockout is scheduled in the immediate future, and there is no likelihood of the signal being minunder stood. “I think that when the invas ion comes, every citizen in this section should know about it. and we re going to do all that we pos sibly can to inform them.” Chief Brown stated. Mayor Campbell said he under stood that all local ministers are planning to open fheir churches for prayer imediatel.v after the invasion is announced. When the siren is soun’ed signaling the beginning of the world’s mightiest military operation, lo cal people are urged to repair to the churches of th *r choice and join in prayers foi ve success of the invasion. Former Principal of Creswell School Dies In Airplane Accident DIES IN ACCIDENT ~j Albert Terrell Brooks, principal of the Creswell schools for five years before he entered the Army in 1942, was killed in an airplane accident in England on April 22, according to a War Department telegram received by members of his family last Friday. Mrs. Letha Jones Clifton Dies Friday After Long Illness -$ Funeral Service Held From Methodist Church Here Sunday Afternoon After a lingering illness of five months, Mrs. Letha Jones Clifton, wife of William Clifton, of Plym outh, died in a Washintgon hospital last Friday night at 9 p.m. Only 24 years of age, she was universally popular, and her patient and un complaining manner during the long period of her painful illness won her many close friends among local peo ple who were grieved at her passing. Daughter of the late Luther Jones and Hester MorL Jones, of Burgaw Mrs. Clifton was born on May 6, 1919, in Jacksonville, N. C. She had lived in Plymouth for about six years, fol lowing her marriage to William Clif ton here on July 8, 1938. Besides her husband, she is sur vived by one daughter, little Miss Judy Clifton, 3 years of age; a bro ther, Ernest Jones, of Burgaw; and three sisters, Mrs. R. P. Teachy, of Wilmington: Mrs. J. E. Justice, of Burgaw; and Mrs. E. W. Greer, of Jacksonville. Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church here last Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock by the Rev. T. R. Jenkins, pastor, assisted i by the Rev. A. Lincoln Fulk, of Washington, and the Rev. E. B. Quick, pastor of the local Christian church, Interment was made in the Windley cemetery. Pall-bearers were: Messrs. Carlyle Hall, Lawrence Swain, Ben Gander son, David Brown, Henry Gray Mi zelle, and Gilmer Ayers. Democrats Name Committees in Four Oi Five Precincts in County Recently The names of all Democratic precinct committeemen were se cured last Saturday at the county convention, except for Wenona, where no precinct meeting waa held on April 22, so far as can be learned here. Following is the list for all precincts except We nona: Plymouth: E. G. Arps, chair man; H. H. Allen, secretary; W. B. Cox, W. R. Gaylord, and J. R. Campbell. Lees Mill: W. E. Knowles, chairman; J. C. Knowles, E. M. Chesson. R. C. Peacock and Mrs. E. M. Chesson. SkinnersviUe: Walter W. White, chairman; C. T. White, secre tary; H. L. Davenport, Mrs. W. W. White and J. B. White. Scuppernong: C. N. Davenport, jr., chairman; T. D. Woodley, secretary ; Edward Patrick, H. A. Norman and W. T. Alexander. Since no meeting was held at Wenona, according to reports re received here, it is presumed that the committeemen elected two years ago will continue to func tion. Only three were elected at that time, as follows; Jesse Vaugh. chairman; H. J. Furbee, saoratary; and W. E. Alien. Chester Brooks Was Stationed in Britain With Army at Time -§, Fifteenth Man From This County Reported Dead Or Missing in War -:•> Sergeant Albert Terrel (Chester) Brooks, principal of the Creswell High School for more than five years be fore he entered the Army in October 1942, was killed in England on Satur day, April 22, the War Department advised his family Friday of last week. The War Department message of his death gave no details other than he died "as the result of injuries received in an aircraft accident.” Sergeant Brooks, the fifteenth man from Washington County to be re ported killed or missing in line of duty since the war began, was prin cipal of the Creswell school for five terms, beginning in 1937, and had started on his sixth year there when he entered the service in October, 1942. In addition to serving as prin cipal, he taught French and was athletic director. Before going to Creswell in 1937, he taught English and French and was director of ath letics at Fuquay Springs for six years. His wife, the former Miss Celia Goss, now lives in Fuquay Springs with her father. Surviving also are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Brooks, of Greensboro, a brother, Robert, who is in the Army, and two sisters. He was a graduate of Wake Forest College and had just completed his work and received his M.A. degree there the summer before he went in to the Army. While a student at Wake Forest he served as college sports publicity director and during his summer vacations worked with the News and Observer in Raleigh. The Creswell school flag was flown at half staff in his honor Tuesday of this week. Citizens of Creswell and students at the school there are al ready planning to have a flitting me morial secured and placed in the school in honor of Sergeant Brooks. During nis stay in cresweil, Mr. Brooks was very active in all civic af fairs and a loyal member of the Methodist church. Popular with stu dents and faculty, as well as patrons, he was essentially a school man first, giving of his time and efforts un sparingly for betterment of the in stitution. H. H. McLean, county superintendent of public instruction, and a close personal friend of Serg eant Brooks, said Monday that he regarded him as one of the most loyal and cooperative principals he had ever been associated with during his long years in school work. .- -<a> - ■■ Robt. W. Lewis New Registrar at Roper Robert W. Lewis, of Roper, will serve as registrar for the Lees Mill voting precinct instead of J. E. Phelps, it was stated this morning by Walter W. White, chairman of the county board of elections. Mr. Phelps informed the chairman last week-end that he would not be able to serve, and Mr. Lewis was appointed in his stead. The chairman of the board of elec tions also stated that about 75 ab sentee primary ballots had been mailed out to date to members of the armed forces from this county whc have applied for them. Applications are still being received, and the bal lots are being mailed as rapidly as . they are requested. The official and sample state bal lots for the primary on May 27 have been received, Mr. White said this morning. County ballots will be printed within the next week in pre paration for the primary. Although there are two contests ' among Republicans for places on the state ballot, one for state treasure] : and the other for lieutenant governor | very little interest in the primary l being shown by Republicans Pre-School Clinics To Be Held Friday Ai Hampton School -® For Rural Children at 9:30 A. M.; Town and Village Children at 1:30 P.M. -® Two pre-school clinics for children who will enter school for the first time next fall will be held in the Hampton School Building here to morrow (Friday), it was announced the first of this week by R. B. Trot man, principal of the local schools. The first clinic will begin at 9:30 a.m., and is for the children from rural communities; while the second clinic begins at 1:30 p.m., and is for children from the town, Little Rich wood and country club villages. Parents with children who will be come 6 years of age on or before Oc tober 1, 1944. are urged to bring them to the clinic. The children will be examined for physical defects that may be remedied before school opens next fall, as well as given the vacci nations required by law before they can enter school. ine puDiic neaun nurse irom me district health department and local physicians will conduct the clinics, assisted by members of the local par ent-teacher association. It was origi nally decided to have only one clin ic, but due to the large number of children expected to enter school here next fall, it was cisieimined that two clinics would be necessary. Those from rural sections are urged to be here at 9:30 a.m., while those from the town and villages nearby should come at 1:30 p.m. Routine Meeting of County Board Held Here Last Monday --» Order Foreclosure Sale of Three Tracts of Land; Other Matters -® A number of routine matters were disposed of Monday at the regular meeting of the County Board of Com misisoners, which was attended by all three members of the board, E. G. Arps, chairman; J. N. Knowles and Harry W. Pritchett. A resolution was passed to sell three tracts of land owned by the county through foreclosure of tax liens to Hugh Dudley for $750 cash. The land is known as tracts Nos. 19, 20 and 21. Arthur Phelps was allowed $3.10 each for three sheep which he claim ed had been killed by dogs running at large in the county. The board petitioned the State Public Works and Highway Com mission to take over maintenance of a road leading from Highway No. 32, between the Edgar Bateman and Kenneth Hopkins farms, and running eastwardly to the Dismal Road through the McNair, Owens, Sidney Allen and Styons farms. Reports of work during the past month received and approved from i the county home agent, Mrs. Frances M. Darden, and farm agent, W. V. Hays. The following were appointed to compile the 1944 tax books; Mrs. George Harrison, Mrs. Mattie Swain, Misses Ida Ruth Knowles and Mere dith Johnston. £■••••••— —... j Rationing Guide i For Coming Week .............. Meats, Fats—Red Stamps A8 through Q8, good indefinitely. Processed Foods—Blue stamps A8 through Q8, good indefinitely. Sugar—Sugar stamps 30 and 31, each good for five pounds in definitely. Sugar stamp 40, good for five pounds of canning sugar through February, next year. Gasoline—In 17 East Coast States, A-9 coupon, good through May 8. A-10 coupon becomes good May 9 and remains good through August 8. Fuel Oil—Periods 4 and 5 cou pons. good through August 31. Shoes—Airplane stamps 1 and 2, good indefinitely. Dr. Croley Leaves After One Year in Health Work Here Goes To Boothton, Ala., to Enter Private Practice; No Successor Yet -« Dr. J. J. Crowley, head of the dis trict health department, with head quarters in Plymouth, resigned his work in that capacity last week and left immediately to take up private practice in Boothton. Ala. At the present time the health department's office here is under the management of Mrs. R. H. Windley, formerly of Burgaw, public health nurse who ar rived last week to enter upon her du ties here. According to E. G. Arps, chairman of the county board of commission ers, employment of a new health of ficer to succeed Dr. Croley is up to the State Bard of Health, which, it is understood, is trying to secure someone to take over the work here. Dr. Croley had been here just about a year, coming here early in May last year from Burnsville, in the western part of the state. W. B. Gaylord, sanitary inspector, resigned aboot two months ago to go into the Army, and the district de partment has been operating under the handicap of a shortage of help for some time. Dr. Claudius McGowan, county physician, is helping out for the time j being, holding a veneral disease clin ic Tuesday of each week and a clin ic for babies and mothers on the first Monday of each month. It is an nounced that the work of the depart ment temporarily will be carried on as fas as possible by the present staff in the department, under the direc tion of Mrs. Windley. and with the voluntary assistance of various local physicians. The district department serves the counties of Tyrrell and Hyde In addi tion to Washington. Dr. Chaplin, of Columbia, is helping out with the work in Tyrrell; and Dr. Swindell, at Swan Quarter, is looking after the work in Hyde County until a new health officer can be secured. History of Library Is Reviewed By Member of Board -« Is Growing in Favor With People of County; Urge Cooperation By MBS. J. R. CAMPBELL Two years ago -the -Washington County Public Library qualified for state aid and at that time a county library board was elected and ap proved by the county commissioners. This board consists of Mrs. C. E. Ayers and Mrs. J. Robert Campbell, of Plymouth; Mrs. Clyde Smithson, of Creswell; Mrs. Edison Davenport, of Mackeys; and Mrs. W. A. Blount, of Roper. This board was reappoint ed in March, 1944. Book stations have been establish ed at Creswell, Mackeys and Roper with the respective board members in charge. Mrs. LeFever is in charge of the station at Wenona which has been more recently established. Mrs. Frances Darden, Washington County Home Agent, takes the books from the library back and forth to the various stations on her way to 'Continued on Page Four) ——$ Senior Class Honor SludenlsAnnounced The names of honor students in the 1944 graduating class at Plym outh High School were announced this morning by Principal R. B. Trot man. The valedictorian, salutator ian, and winner of the annual award as best all-round high school senior all had within one-half point of the same scholarship average for their four years in high school, a remark able record, Mr. Trotman said. Harry McLean, with a four-year average of 95.56, was announced as the class valedictorian; and Dick Harrison will be salutatorian, with a four-year scholarship average of 95.48. The annual award as best all around high school senior, based on citizenship, scholarship, leadership and character, will go to Fannie Lou Winslow, who had a four-year aver age of 95.06. She will receive a me dal at the commencement exercises. -$ One-Cent Sale This Week At Womble’s Drug Store -® ! Womble’s Drug Store is staging the j famous Rexall One-Cent Sale Thurs 1 day, Friday and Saturday of thif : week. An annual event for store.1 handling Rexall products, it is th< first time such a sale has been helc here in a good many years. Undei j the plan, patrons may buy a numb'” j of the Rexall products for the usua price and get another for only oni cent additional. Scores of items ari listed in the one-cent sale here thi I week. Democrats o£ County Perfect Organization For Next Two Years KILLED IN ACTION [ PtV. Hubert VV. Ange. son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charlie MV. Ange, of near Plymouth, was killed in action somewhere in Italy recently, the War Depart ment advised his sister, Mrs. Isa bel Mason, of Tarboro. on April 22. Pfc. Ange was a lifelong resident of the county before en tering the Army in May, 1942. Two Pedestrians Injured When Hit By Car Saturday -$ Annie Mae Mobley Suffers Broken Leg; Driver in Court Tuesday -® Miss Annie Mae Mobley suffered a broken leg and her sister, Miss Louise ; Mobley, was bruised last Saturday j night shortly after 8 o'clock when they were struck by an automobile ' driven by Herman Dawson Hartleib, white, of Norfolk. The accident oc curred near the store of Outten and Tetterton on Highway 32 a few hun HvaH varris hpvnnri t.hp rnnnfv hnmp The young women were walking on the sholuder of the highway when they were struck. Mr. Hartleib said his car swerved off the highway just ■, as it reached the two girls. He was, arrested by Sheriff J. K. Reid and Policeman Paul Basnight, charged with drunken driving and assault with an automobile. In recorder’s court Tuesday. Mr. Hartleib was fined $200 and the court costs and ordered to pay a $50 doctor's bill, af- ! ter pleading guilty to the charges. Both of the young women were said to be getting along all right this week. They were brought here to the office of Dr. Bray and given first-aid treat ment shortly after the accident oc curred. They are the daughters of Mrs. Sam Mobley, who lives on the Owens farm a few miles from Plym ooth. -• Registration Books Opened in County -a . . Registration books opened in each of the county’s five voting precincts in the county last Saturday and will remain open through Saturday of next week. Voters who have not pre viously registered and voted in this county are required to register dur ing this time in order to vote in the primary May 27 and the general elec tion next November. No reports were available this morning as to how the registration is proceeding, except in Plymouth precinct. Mrs. Hermine Ramsey, registrar here, said that up to yester day about 20 persons had registered, an unusually large number in com parison with other years. Most of the newcomers registered as Demo crats. Harmony in Party Stressed at Meeting Here Last Saturday National. State, and County Administrations Given Endorsement -— Possibly 20 to 25 Democrats ga thered at the courthouse here Satur day morning for the bi-ennial coun ty convention. Resolutions were passed endorsing the national, state and county Democratic administra tions, and an open invitation was ex tended to all party members to at tend the state Democratic conven tion being held in Raleigh today. Four of the five precincts in the county were represented, Wenona be ing the only one to fail to answer present. Chairman of the precinct committees—who comprise member ship of the county executive commit tee—took time out during the con vention to retire and reelect E. G. Arps ,of Plymouth, chairman of the county executive committee. The convention was called to order by Mr. Arps, as chairman of the county executive committee, and W. Ronald Gaylord was appointed tem porary chairman of the convention, with W. H. Booker delegated to serve as secretary. Dispensing with for malities, it was announced that four precincts. Plymouth, Lees Mill, Skin nersville and Scuppernong, were rep resented and the convention got down to business in short order. A letter was read from Monroe Redden, chairman of the state ex ecutive committee, urging a full at tendance of delegates and alternates at the state convention. By unani mous vote, the convention named no delegates but invited all Democrats who desired to attend the state meet ing to do so, with full power to vote j the strength of the’ county on all ; questions to arise there. The county ihas 11 votes in the state convention. Aiso by unanimous vote, the con vention went on record as endorsing the Democratic administrations of national, state and county affairs. A special committee was appointed to draw formal resolutions endorsing the war activities of the State Demo cratic administartion to be forward ed to Governor J. M. Broughton im mediately. John W Darden. W. R. Hampton and Z. V. Norman were named on the committee. After tlie business was transacted, a number of well-known county Democrats took the floor to make brief addresses favoring party har mony and an end to factionalism in the party in this county. John W. Darden led off, followed in order by Edward L. Owens, W. H. Peele, Ben A. Sumner, Z V. Norman, W. R. Hampton, A S. Holmes, of Creswell, Carl L. Bailey, H. H. Allen, and L. E. Hassell, sr., of Roper. In the meantime members of the county executive committee had re tired to elect a chairman, and the convention adjourned immediately af ter they returned and announced re election of E. G. Arps to the post for the ensuing two years. Scout Court of Honor Here Friday Night -» The general public is invited and all Boy Scouts and their parents are | urged to attend the Court of Honor to be held in the courthouse here :Friday night ai 8 p.m At this time, !four or five members of the local troop will be advanced in rank at a eerrmony sponsored by the district Boy Scout organization. It is understood that there are three or four boys to be advanced from tenderfoot to second-class rank, and one is to be advanced from sec ond to first class. A board of review to examine the candidates for ad 1 vancement was held two weeks ago. I Town Board Provides for Upkeep of j | Local School Grounds During Summer | At the monthly meeting of the Plymouth City Council last Mon day night, a new member was sworn in and appropriations made for upkeep of the local school grounds during the sum mer months and the county li brary fund. All members were present except G. R. Lcgf»ett, of the third ward. Mayor B. G. Campbell presided. Other than routine matters, the following business was dis posed of: J. S. Brinkley was sworn in to full out the unexpired term of W. A. Roebuck, who resigned several months ago to move to 1 Bethel, The council appropriated $100. at the request of the local par ent-teacher association, for the upkeep and maintenance of the high-school grounds during the summer. The grounds have been improved recently by grading, planting and rearrangement of shrubbery. The council also made an ap propriation of $360 lor the Washington County Library Fund for the coming fiscal year. Several members of the library committee appeared before the board and requested the increase of appropriation from S240 to $360.