* T. own opics A total of 176 first and second graders at Roper and Creswell received their second shots of Salk polio vaccine Friday of last week and Monday of this week, the county health department re ports. There were 63 students at Creswell White School and 50 at Roper White innoculated, while among the colored students there were 48 at Roper and 15 at Cres well. Many of the students who received first shots were not present for the second in the series, it was said. Plymouth stu dents are due to get their second shots as soon as more vaccine is available. Fire Chief I. Miller Warren and Fireman Bud Lovic are attending a fireman’s training school in Charlotte this week. The two men left here Monday for Charlotte and are expected to return to Plymouth the latter part of the week. Two Plymouth young men were among the 286 graduates of East Carolina College, Greenville, to receive degrees at the annual commencement exercises Monday. They were Leon Gray Sexton, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Sex ton, and David Tayloe Read, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Tayloe Read. Sexton received a B. S. de gree. The A. B. degree for Read, who completed his college work at the end of the fall semester and is now on duty with the U S. Air Force, was accepted by his mother. The Roper High School Class of 1930 will hold a reunion at the school Friday of this week at 6:30 p. m., it has 'been announced. There are 24 members of the class and indications are that with persons of their immediate fami lies some 40 or more will attend. Mrs. W. V. Gaylord* Roper High School faculty member, is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. W. Blount Rodman, of Plymouth, was recently named Washington County alumnae committee chairman for the $2, 200,000 Salem Academy and Col lege Progress Fund, it was an nounced this week by Mrs. Thom as Wilson, of Raleigh, national alumnae chairman. The fund is being raised for the maintenance and growth of the Winston-Salem institution, which was founded in 1772 and has operated continuous ly for 183 years. Willie Hedgepeth, young North Carolina Pulp Company employee is reported to be “recuperating nicely” at the Washington Coun ty Hospital here. Mr. Hedgepeth suffered a light heart attack at his home Tuesday morning of this week at 3:30 o’clock. Doctors Al ban Papineau and E. W. Furgur son are attending him. Members of the Plymouth High School graduating class of 1930 are making plans to hold a re union at the schpol Saturday, ■June 18, it was learned this week. A banquet session will be held at the school lunchroom. Plans are being directed by Mrs. W. J. High smith, of Hamilton, it was said. Rites on Tuesday For Henry Snell Funeral services were held from Sound Side Baptist Church Tues day at 3 p. m. fro Henry Snell, 54, of near Roper. Officiating was ► the Rev. E. R. Meekins, and in terment was in the church ceme tery. Mr. Snell died at 2 p. m. Mon day at the Washington County Hospital here. He was a native of Tyrrell County and had lived in Washington County for a period of only about six years, coming here from Tyrrell. He was a member of Sound Side Church. Mr. Snell was born April 12, 1901, the son of the late Frank and Ellen Rhodes Snell. He leaves his widow, Emma Snell; a daughter, Shirley Ann Snell, of the home; and one sis ter, Mrs. Emma Harrell, of near 1 Columbia. The Roanoke Beacon *★★★★★ and Washington County News ****** A home newspaper dedicated ill to the service of Washington jji County and its 13,000 people. I l i VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 21 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, May 26, 1955 ESTABLISHED 1889 NEW OFFICERS OF PLYMOUTH POST VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS _ ill i—Bi|l| ill —— Officers for the new fiscal year were installed last Friday night following a dinner meeting of the Bosie Bateman Post, No. 4023, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The new officials, along with the installing officers, are pictured above as follows, left to right: Chester Askew, post advocate; Ralph Hunter, chaplain; William M. Booth, junior vice commander; Carl Roberson, commander’s aide; Clifford Frymier, senior vice commander; Bill McCombs, trustee; Walter Swain, commander; Nor man White, trustee; Melvin Boyd, retiring commander; Dr. C. McGowan, post surgeon; Phillip Liverman, quartermaster; and W. J. Weaver, past commander and installing officer, also a trustee. Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. New Health Center For County Planned Observed After Fall From Bike Sylvester Smith, 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, of 119 W. Main Street, Plymouth, was admitted to Washington County Hospital shortly after 2 p. m. Wednes day and kept overnight for ob servation. The boy reportedly fell from a bicycle and struck his head on a tree root while playing in the yard of the C. G. Dail residence on Monroe Street at about 1:45 p. m., according to Mrs. Dail. Dr. Claudius McGowan, who ex amined the boy, stated that blood pressure and heart action were normal and that the youth might have suffered an epilep tic fit. No Records Set At Sale of Lambs Here on Monday Number of Animals Offered Falls Short of Expecta tions With Receipts Below Those of Last Year The total fell a bit under ex pectations but 989 animals offer ed at the lamb pool in Plymouth Monday of this week (brought growers from several counties a total of $13,991.01, according to figures released by the county agent's office here. Top prices brought at the sale was $24.50 per hundredweight for choice Iambs. Prices ranged as low as $1 for common rams. Bulk of the offerings graded choice and good, there being 281 in the form er category and 237 in the latter. Next came those animals grading medium, 202; culls, 146; and com mon, 123. Prices were somewhat lower than they were at last year’s two sales here, top lambs at that time bringing $26.75. It was believed that with only one sale to be held here this year as compared with See LAMB SALE, Pag7~8 Auxiliary To Sponsor Poppy Day Saturday Plans have been completed for the sale of memorial poppies here Saturday of this week, spokesmen for the sponsoring American Legion Auxiliary of the James E. Jethro post have announced. The town will be divided into territories and the little red flow ers which are made by veterans working in hospitals and conva lescent workrooms throughout the country will be offered to the public by members of the local Cub Scout pack. The sale will be conducted throughout the day, it was said. Poppy 6ay is a nationwide me morial to America’s war dead, rendered -by wearing a veteran made replica of the Flanders Field poppy of World War I fame. Contributions on Poppy Day are the principal financial sup port for the Auxiliary's rehabili tation and child welfare activi ties. The poppies to be offered for sale here Saturday were made by veterans at Fayetteville, Oteen and Swannanoa. No set price is charged for the poppies, and all contributions will be cheerfully received, it was stated. A strong response by the pub lic is urged because the number of veterans and children of vet erans is steadily increasing, it has been pointed out. Chairman Frank L. Brink ley Empowered To Aci for County in Matters of a Preliminary Nature Frank L. Brinkley, of Plym outh, chairman of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, has been empowered to sign for the county all documents and agreements with the North Caro lina Medical Care Commission to select the architect and transact such other business as may re quire attention regarding the con struction of a health center in the county. Action was taken by the com missioners at a special meeting Wednesday night of last week when Brinkley was unanimously designated to act in such matters in the county’s behalf. At its regular meeting March 7 of this year the county board of commissioners was urged by Dr. C. C. Applewhite, of Raleigh, director of the Division of Local Health, to file an application for federal and state aid to erect a county health center here. To secure federal aid the serv ices of an architect to draw plans for the building are required and so the first step was taken by the commissioners Wednesday night. Actually, no application for federal and state aid has been filed as yet and it is not even definitely known that the county will get a health center. However, 100-foot frontage ait the old coun ty home property will be reserv ed for a site when that property is offered for sale at public auc tion Wednesday of next week. If the application, when made, is acted upon favorably and the county goes ahead with plans for the center, a building with 2,000 square feet of floor space will 1 be erected, it was said. Dr. Apple white was of the opinion that a ^ building of this size would be 1 adequate to serve the needs of 1 Washington County and the state ‘ Medical Care commission would ■ approve such a center, it was 1 'pointed out. I Minimum cost of such a struct ure would be $29,000, with a max imum cost of $33,350. At the mini mum figure the federal share would be $14,500, the state share $7,656 and the county share $6,844. The commissioners have been told that the maximum county share should not exceed $7,870. This would also cover expense of fix tures. It has been emphasized to the board that the present health de partment located in the old coun ty home (building is inadequate in every respect. According to Dr. Applewhite, sooner or later all the counties that have not already done so will erect health centers. It appears that funds for the purpose will be used1 up by the end of the current fiscal year and the commissioners have been urged to file application before June 30. Legion Post Meeting Set for Friday Here The regular meeting of the James E. Jethro Post of the Amer ican Legion will be held at the veterans building here Friday night of this week, it is an nounced. Important matters will be dis cussed, it was stated, and all members are urged to attend. c Closing Programs At Roper School Start on Friday Class Night Exercises Fri day, Followed by Annual Sermon Sunday and Grad uation Exercise Monday The commencement program at Roper High School gets under way Friday night of this week with 'the annual Senior Clast; Night exercises. It will include a Fairy Wand processional by the juniors and seniors, Scene I—the Campus, Scene II—the Ball, and the Wedding. Tableau. Scene I lists Ella, Ramona Barnes; Alma Mater, Shirk;. Everett; Salutatorian, Barba** Spruill; Opportunists, Juanita Hassell, Ida Overton, Avner Saw yer, jr., Ken Spruill, Annette Nicholson and William Comer, jr. Scene II: The Prince of Tomor row, Thomas Mitchell Barrington, III; Seniorella, Ramona Barnes; president’s address, “The Land of Tomorrow,” Rosa Trueblood; Cin ders—historian, Mary Lu Daven-1 port; Ashes—photographer, Wil-1 ham Lyttleton Comer, jr,; Fairy Godmother, talent scout; The dance, seniors; the Wand—giftor ian, Sabra Phelps; Class poem, “Magic Sandals,” Mary Jeanne Phelps; Class mascots, Linda Tess and Tex Barnes; A Fairy Tale Class Prophet, Syble Lorraine Gurganus; Class song, seniors; re sponse, juniors; The Clock Strikes Twelve — testator, Neta iMae Spruill; The Mantle, valedictor- ; ian, Margaret Ann Mizelle; , The Wedding Tableau: Heralds, Avner Nickson Sawyer, jr., j and Kenneth Leland Spruill; ] Class sponsor, Mrs. L. E. Hassell, ] jr.; Accompanist, Mrs. Ray T. , Hopkins. The program for the com mencement sermon Sunday at 11 a. m. follows: Processional. Open song, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” congregation; Invo cation, the Rev. W. S. Davenport, minister Jamesville charge; songs, “Invocation” and “We Thank Thee” by Junior Glee Club; ser mon, the Rev. William F. Am brose, minister of Pleasant Hill Christian Church, Gaaburg, Va.; chorus, “Hear Us, Father, As We See PROGRAM, Page 8 -<$> Landing Strip Is Planned at Roper An airplane landing strip is in process of construction at Roper, it was learned this week from Miss Pat Tucker, an official of the Dwight Corporation there. The strip, which will utilize a portion of the old Norfolk Southern Rail road right of way just back of the Roper building, has already been cleared and is ready for grading as soon as the weather is favor able, she said. After the strip is graded and leveled a grass surface is plan ned. Di ight Corporation officials had hoped to have the field ready for temporary use this week, but heavy rains over the week-end blocked further work. Curtis Turner, of Roanoke, Va., vice president in charge of sales for the Roper Milling Company, was expected to fly his private plane in the first landing until the rains set in. Turner owns a four-place Piper Tri-Pacer which he plans to use in surveying and cruising company property in this section. ] Over Three Inch Rainfall Slarfing Sunday Big Boost Besi "Season" of Year in Three - Day Precipitation Totaling 3.01 Inches Help Relieve Crop Conditions Crop prospects were really looking up” in the county and section this week as a total preci pitation of 3.01 inches brought smiles to the faces of farmers and gardeners alike. Even smoldering underground fires from the recent large forest fires in the section were finally drenched and put out by Sunday's downpour which according to fig ures at the weather station at Tide Water Test Farm between Plymouth and Roper totaled 1.87 inches. Figures at the station showed precipitation on Monday amount ed to .33 of an inch and on Tues day .81 of an inch. It was the best “season” of the calendar year. Temperatures, which reached a high reading of 89 degrees on Sat urday, fell somewhat following the Sunday downpour but -by Tuesday the thermometer bad again climbed to 89 degrees. Low reading Saturday was recorded at the station as 55 degrees, low reading Sunday was 60 and high reading 83; Monday’s high and low readings were 84 and 66 de grees, and Tuesday’s low was 67 degrees. There was no argument among farmers but what the rain’ was worth millions and as a result it is believed that the last of the tobacco transplanting was pro ceeding Monday. With favorable weather for the next few days it is believed that practically all of the crops will be planted in this section. The serious crop conditions, which had been aggravated by a combination of dry weather, cut ting winds and abnormally low temperatures, were greatly re lieved by the sizeable rains. With the coming of warm nights, it is believed that the crops will now be able to show r^al progre.-s. Strict Standards To Be Maintained In Acreage Check Series of Training Meeiings Being Held; All Reporters Musi Pass Test in Office And Field To Qualify Strict standards will be main tained in the crop acreage report ing work in the county, ASC Of fice Manager Miriam Ausbon de clared this week. Actual performance work, or acreage checking, will begin May 30 and must be completed by the end of June. A series of three training meet ings for reporters, clerks, com puters and spot checkers has been held here and a fourth meeting will be scheduled before perform ance work begins, Miss Ausbon said. Reporters will be required to pass an examination in the of fice on procedure and in the field in measuring acreage in order to qualify for the work. Operators are urged to be on the farm when reporters visit it in order that they may assist the reporter in making an accurate check of acreages planted to the crops under allotment quota con trol. Aerial photographs will be used to determine acreage and with well-trained reporters and the latest instruments for determin ing areas on the photographs, a high degree of accuracy shpuld be maintained, it was said. Farmers dissatsified with the report of acreage may request re measurement, however. The esti mated cost of such remeasure ment must be deposited with the county ASC office before a 7-day deadline from the time of receiv ing first notice of acreage expires. “We feel that our reporters this year are going to give us the best performance job possible. We also feel that our farmers will make the performance job the best by cooperating with the reporter.” Miss Aus/bon declared. Church Ladies Sponsor Sale of Blankets Here -♦— The ladies of the First Christ ian Church of Plymouth are spon soring a blanket sale with pro ceeds to go to the church build ing fund, it was announced this week. The ladies are offering good quality blankets for $10, it was said. Wholesale cost is $8, giving them a profit of $2 per blanket. Elect Teachers, Set Dates For Another School Year j MARSHALLS FOR PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL FINALS Selected from the junior class on the basis of scholastic achievement during- the year, commencement marshalls for Plym outh High School are pictured above. They are, left to right, Beulah Cratch, chief; Jessie Harrison, Marguerite Latham, Emily Waters, Jolene Ilollowell and Mable Hardison.—Polaroid 1-Minute staff photo. School Here To Start Finals Friday Night Class Nighi Exercises First; Followed by Sermon Sun day and Graduation Pro gram Tuesday Night -* Commencement programs were announced complete this week by Principal J. S. Fleming for Plym outh High School. The exercises get underway Friday night of this week with the annual Senior Class Night exercises, followed by the commencement sermon Sun day and graduation exercises Tuesday night. All programs will be presented in thQ school audi toflrns and; Complete County Cancer Campaip The annual Cancer fund drive in Washington County has been successfully completed under the chairmanship of Mrs. Ed Craft, it was announced this week. Although there are several vol unteer workers who have not turned in their final reports, the fund total stood1 Tuesday of this week at $1,371.69, according to H. E. Newland, publicity chair man’. This is regarded as an out standing effort and Mrs. Craft wishes to thank all workers and every individual who cooperated to make the annual campaign a success. The fund helps to support the activities of the American Cancer Society in research and education on a dread disease and killer. It is requested that all workers who have not submitted their final reports do so not later than Monday of next week. Finals for Creswell School Start Friday Commencement exercises at Creswell High School open Friday night with presentation by the seniors of “The Senior Merry-Go Round,” at 8 o’clock in the school auditorium. This is the annual Senior Class Night program and will be participated in by the en tire class. The second- in the series of finals events will take place Sun day at 8 p. m. when the annual commencement sermon is preach ed by the Rev. Kelly Ingram, pas tor of the First Methodist Church of Elizabeth City. The graduation program has been announced by Principal R. B. Cobb for Tuesday night at 8 o'clock. The annual address will be delivered by Dr. J. K. Long, head of the department of educa tion at Eaist Carolina College, Greenville. Diplomas will be pre sented to the 25 graduates by Roy F. Lowry, of Plymouth, sup erintended of Washington Coun ty Schools. The salutatory address will be given by Loretta Snell, while the valedictory will be given by Geraldine Davenport.