North Carolina Newspapers

T'OWlft I opics I Dr. A. L. Whitehurst, of Plym outh, plans to attend a meeting oi the alumni of Lincoln Chiroprac tic College, Indianapolis, Ind., at Dunn Sunday. The meeting is be ing held for the benefit of all grad uates of the school residing in East ern Carolina, it was said. Dr Whitehurst will leave Plymouth early Sunday and expects to return home that night. Eight Plymouth young men, members of the naval reserve, are expected to refern home Saturday (.■ of this week from Bainbridge, Md., where they are completing a two week training period. They left here. Sunday, June 12, for Bain bridge. In the group are W. H. Peele, jr., Phil Ange, Billy Waters, Billy Browning, Jimmy Sitterson, Bruce Smith, Charles Spruill and Hilton Reason. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh B. Pierce, sr., of Plymouth, have been notified that their son Hugh "‘Junior” Pierce made the honor roll at N. C. State College, Raleigh, for the spring semester. Notification came from Dean R. J. Preston of the School of Forestry who noted that the young man made it “with high honors.” Young Pierce, a star ath lete at Plymouth High School and later at State, is now in the third week of a 10-week period in forest ry camp at Forest Hill, Durham. Pierce is studying forestry at the college. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Collins, of Plymouth, were vacationing at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., last Saturday when they were noti fied of the serious illness of Mrs. Collins’ mother, Mrs. Elizabeth H. £ Williams, of Rougemont. They in terrupted their stay at the West Virginia resort to be with Mrs. Williams who is a patient at a Dur ham hospital. Mr. Collins returned to Plymouth while his wife re mained in Durham to be near her mother. A special award for excellence in English composition was pre sented to Jesse Lloyd Horton, son of Mrs. J. L. Horton of Plymouth, at Virginia Episcopal School com mencement exercises in Lynch burg, Viriginia, recently. Young Horton has returned to his home here after completing his year’s work, during which time he was oo'ttte school’s honor roll most of the time. -$ Services Sunday For Mrs. Hassell b & § Last rites for Mrs. Minnie Alex ander Hassell, 77, of near Roper, were held from Holly Neck Church of Christ Sunday at 3 p. m. Offi ciating minister was Richard Gar diner, assisted by Reese Turner. Burial was in the church cemetery. Mrs. Hassell, widow of the late Charlie F. Hassell, died Friday fol lowing an illness of 2 weqks. She had been in declining health for the past 3 years. Mrs. Hassell was born in Wash ington County December 22, 1877, daughter of the late Z. P. and Nancy Alexander, and spent her entire life here. She was for many years a faithful member of Holly Neck Church. Surviving are 3 daughters, Mrs. Monroe Sawyer and Mrs. Lester Askew, both of Plymouth, and Mrs. John Sawyer, of Roper; 3 sons, Corbitt Hassell and McCoy Hassell, both of Roper, and Sylvester Has sell, of Plymouth; 12 grandchil dren and 1 great grandchild; and 2 sisters, Mrs. Calup Ambrose, of Plymouth, and Mrs. Anna Deshield, of Norfolk, Va. -<$> Harden Funeral Held Y eslerday -»■ — Funeral services for E. W. ‘Dock’ Harden, 81, of near Jamesville, were conducted from the home Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock by the Rev. W. S. Davenport, of Plymouth, assisted by the Rev. W. B. Harrington, of Martin County. Interment followed in Ware’s Chapel Methodist Church Ceme tery, Dardens. Mr. Harden died Sunday at his home. He had been in declining health for 2 years but remained active until the end. He was a na tive of Bertie County, born Feb ruary 7, 1874, son of the late Hardy and Agnes Harden of that county. He came to Martin County from Bertie in 1910 and had made his home in the former county since that time, engaging in farming. Mr. Harden was married June 6, 1899, to Miss Poanna Smithwick, of Bertie County, who survives. He was a member of Lawrence Bap tist Church in Bertie County. He leaves, besides his widow, 4 daughters, Mrs. Herman Riddick and Mrs. Robert Waters, both of Jamesville, and Mrs. Claudius Mc Gowan and Mrs. Charles Gurkin, both of Plymouth; 5 sons, James Harden and Robert Harden, both of the home, Dallas Harden and Bill Harden, both of Plymouth, and Grady C. Sprat, of Batesville, Miss.; 14 grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. The Roanoke Beacon ****** and Washington County News ****** A home newspaper dedicated to the service of Washington County and its 13,000 people. ijj VOLUME LXVI—NUMBER 25 Plymouth, Washington County, North Carolina, Thursday, June 23, 1955 : ',"j== "" !^^== 1 - ■ 1 — 1 ■' - . ‘ ; ESTABLISHED 1889 Immunization Schedule for County - —i— —•— The Washington County pre school immunization schedule for 1955 was announced this week by officials at the health department here. Typhoid, smallpox, whooping cough and diphtheria vaccinations will be given free. Patrons are requested to bring their children to the place most convenient and are urged to be on time. In addition to the places listed on the schedule, vaccinations will be available Tuesday and Thurs day afternoons of each week at the health department, located in the old county home building, from 1 to 4:30 p. m. The schedule: Wednesday, June 29 and July 6—9 to 9:45 a. m., Dick Chesson store, W’estover: 10 to 10:30, Will Davenport store, Mackeys; 10:35 to 11, T. W. Tarkenton store, Plea sant Grove, 11:15 to 12 noon, Roper Community House; 1:30 to 2 p. m., Johnson Spruill store, Newland Road; 2:15 to 2.45, Nunes Esso Sta tion, Creswell; 3 to 3:30, Scupper nong Christian Church; 3:45 to 4:15, Brownie Goodman store at “Y.” Thursday, June 30, and July 7— 9:30 to 10 a. m., Wiley Radcliff store, Wenona; 10:30 to 11, Free Will Baptist Church, Long Ridge Road. Presbyterian Church Is Used for First Time I Bloodmobile Is i I Short oi Quota I The Red Cross bloodmoblU failed to get its quota on the regular quarterly visit to Plym outh Wednesday of this week, according to figures released by blood bank leaders at the close of the donor period late that afternoon. Quota for the visit was 125 pints. A total of 82 pints was obtain ed, it was said. Total number responding was 98, two of which were too young. The other 14 were rejects. A full account will be published next week. Folding Seats For Local Gym Doc Newton, of Raleigh, with a bid of $3,608, was low bidder to furnish 6 sections of folding bleachers to be used in the gym nasium at Plymouth High School, according to information release,' Ux, offinn of thp POllTltV SPhnol superintendent. The bid was just $1 under that of a Berlin, Wisconsin, firm. Bids were submitted by 4 firms. It has been requested that the bleachers be installed by Septem ber 1 of this year, County Superin tendent R. F. Lowry said. By using folding type bleachers rather than the permanent type now in the gymnasium more floor space will be available for recrea tional and other activities, it was explained. Resigns Teacher Post at Creswell -♦ George R. Wilson, in a recent letter to R. B. Cobb, principal at Creswell High School, submitted his resignation as teacher of agri culture at the school. The resigna tion, effective July 15, has been accepted reluctantly and negotia tions arc now in progress to fill the vacancy and others in the county school system. Other vacancies include 2 in the Plymouth School and 3 in the Roper School, all in the elementary department. There are at present no vacancies in the colored schools of the county, according to R. F. Lowry, county school superintend ent. Mr. Wilson recently completed three school years as teacher of vocational agriculture at the Cres wcll school. He stated that after careful consideration he has decid e-lTo leave the teaching field SALE OF COUNTY HOME PROPERTY COMPLETED HERE LAST WEEK Arrangements were completed last week by the Washington County commissioners to sell the old county home property, located on Washington Street here, to Jack L. Horner. Originally built to house indigent of the county, the property was abandoned for that purpose back in the thirties and since then has been used at various times as an apartment house, temporary school and to provide quarters for the district health department. The health department is still using the right wing and, yndertermsof the sale, will continue to do so, rent free, until the first of the year. A new building f°r‘^e health de partment is to be constructed at the left of the property pictured above and should be ready for occu pancy by that time. Sale price of the building and grounds was announced as $15,000.—Staff photo. Morning worsnip service is Held at New Brick Church Building by Plymouth Presbyterians Plymouth Presbyterians, who have been holding regular services each Sunday morning in the audi torium of the county agriculture building here, held the morning worship service at their new church on East Main Street last Sunday, with the new pastor, the Rev. Rob ert L. Combs in charge. It was the first service held in the new church building which after this week will be completed with the exception ol installation of heating and of tile flooring and, of course, landscap ing the grounds. The Plymouth Presbyterian con gregation was organized Sundaj night, October 11, 1953, becoming the 52nd congregation in the A1 bcmarle Presbytery. For some months prior to that time a group here had been hold ing services with the assistance ol student ministers from Union The ological Seminary, Richmond, Va Meetings were held at first at th( Legion Hall and later at the agri culture building. Officers originally installed wer< J. J. Gilbert, elder, and J. L. Rej and J. A. Murray, deacons. Dr Harold J. Dudley, ol Kaieign, gen eral secretary of the North Care lina Synod, preached the sermon and the installing commission wa made up of Dr. J. W. Hassell, exe cutive secretary of the Albemarli Presbytery, chairman; the Rev. L W. Topping, minister of the Firs Church, Greenville; the Rev. E. L Willingham, of Greenville; Eldc F. L. Fussell, of Williamston; am E. W. Harvey, jr., of Greenville. Work was started shortly befori organization of the congregatioi on a handsome brick structure t< contain several classrooms, a vesti bule and main auditorium. It wa: decided to use the pay-as-you-g( SetTcHURCH, Page 10~~ | Warns Sepiic j Tank Owners ... . Delbert D. Allen, sanitarian for the Washington-Tyrrell Dis trict Health Department, issued a warning this week for the pub lic to beware of persons claiming to represent the health depart ment and seeking work cleaning out septic tanks. "We have no such equipment for this purpose and advise you to contact us before negotiating a contract or entering into an agreement with anyone to have your septic tank cleaned,” Mr. Allen stated. Wheat Vote Set For Saturday at ASC Office Here Office in Agriculture Build ing Only Polling Place in County for Referendum On Marketing Quotas Saturday of this week Washing ton County wheat growers will vote for or against marketing quotas for the 1956 crop, according to Miss Miriam Ausbon, office man ager of the county ASC office here. The ASC office, located in the agriculture building on Adams Street next to the county court house, will be the sole polling place in the county and it will be open from 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. If a two-thirds affirmative vote is cast in the referendum Saturday support for the 1956 wheat crop will probably be between 75 and 82 per cent of parity. If more than one third cast a negative vote the support for 1956 wheat will drop to 50 per cent of parity. In any event, support will be available in the commercial wheat areas only to those farmers who stay within their farm’s wheat acreage allot ment. Another point which wheat growers should keep in mind, it was said, is that if the vote is favorable, marketing quotas will 1 be in effect and those who exceed \ the farm acreage allotment will be ’ subject to a marketing penalty of 45 per cent of parity on their ex cess wheat. If the vote is unfavor able, marketing quotas wUl not be in effect and there will be no pen alty on excess wheat. However, acreage allotments will be in ef fect for price support purposes even if marketing quotas are dis I approved. Only those growers who will , have more than 15 acres of wheat on any one farm in 1956 will be eligible to vote. -♦ New Patrolman lo Roper in August —— Among 15 new State Highway Fatrol members recently given as signments is one who will be stat ioned in this county. He is McRay Bland, of Greenville, who will be stationed at Roper. The men will begin 6 weeks of training at Chapel Hill July 1 and so Patrolman Bland is expected to begin work in the county about the middle of August. He will fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of J. E. Morton at Roper early this year. The last legislature authorized the patrol strength to be raised from 531 men to 556 men, with 25 more to be added July 1 of next year. There were some 25 or more vacancies in the patrol prior to ad dition of the 15 recruits last week. Rose Out Under $2,000 Bond in Fatal Shooting ♦ Probable Cause Found in Preliminary Hearing This Week; Murder Trial Slat ed lor July Court Term Portly, bespectacled Sam Rose, 65-year-old Negro, is out under $2, OOO bond to await trial at the July term of Washington County Su perior Court on a murder charge. Probable cause was found at a preliminary hearing held Tuesday before Judge W. Ronald Gaylord. Testimony was offered that Rose had admitted shooting Alford Spruill, young colored man, Satur day, June 11. Spruill died almost instantly from a bullet wound near the heart which he received in a place of business on Fifth Street owned by John Hall and operated by Rose. From testimony at the hearing it became clear that self-defense will be pleaded by Rose at the trial next month. A U. S. Army .45 au tomatic said to be the murder weapon and an ax, reportedly car ried into the place of business by Spruill, were exhibited. Five persons took the stand dur ing the hearing. Officer Paul Bas night, who took Rose into custody, told of answering a summons to H511’s place and of finding Spruill’s body lying on the floor, face up. and with the head near a counter gate. Rose was standing behind the counter with the gun in his hand, the officer related. Rose told him that Spruill came in the place curs ing and accused Rose of cursing SceliHOOT?NGrPage~10 -® Installation Set At Vets Building -♦ Officers to serve the 1955-56 year with James E. Jethro Post of the American Legion and the ladies’ auxiliary will be installed in a joint c- emony Frida night of this weak Dr. A. L. Whitehurst will serve as installing officer. The group will assemble at 7 p. m. for a supper to be prepared and served by members of the auxiliary of Bosie Bateman Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Follow ing the supper the annual instal lation service will take place. Officers of the Auxiliary to be installed include Mrs. Lyman Ma yo, president; Mrs. W. H. Thomas, vice president; Mrs. Ronald Waters, secretary; Mrs. James F. Porter, treasurer; Mrs. W .W. White, his torian; Mrs. W. C. Jones, chaplain; Mrs. O. Q. Lassiter and Mrs. Dallas Waters, sergeants-at-arms. Legion officers will be installed as follows: James F. Porter, commander; Hubert M. Ange, first vice com mander; Benton Tetterton, second vice commander; Jesse B. McNair, adjutant; Dallas G. Waters, chap lain; J. H. Swindell, sergeant-at arms; and W. Ronald Gaylord, serv ice officer. -® Agent Surveys Cotton Fields A survey was made this week by County Agent W. H. Pruden to de termine whether or not any boll weevils had emerged from winter quarters. Two fields were examin ed, the Vance Respass farm near Holly Neck, and L. R. Gladson’s farm near Skinnersville. Gladson owns the farm previously owned by H. R. Davenport. No weevil infestations were found on Vance Respass’ farm, however, two adult weevils per 100 plants were found on Gladson’s farm. Standard recommendations are that cotton should be poisoned for boll weevil when as many as three weevils per 100 plants are found or when as much as 10 per cent of the squares are found punc tured. Standard instructions for cotton include: 20 per cent toxaphene; 3 per cent BHC plus 5 per cent DDT; 2Vz per cent Dieldrin plus 5 per cent DDT; 2V2 Peptachlor plus 5 per cent DDT. Proper amounts of these dusts or sprays will be given on the container. Where weevil in festation has reached the point making it necessary to poison three applications of dust or spray should be applied at seven day intervals. If infestation increases to more than 10 per cent, the spray sched ule should be at five day intervals until infestation has been reduced lower than the 10 per cent level. “Boll weevils cost the farmers of North Carolina last year millions of dollars and a good dusting or spraying program is a wise invest ment in that the returns are high per dollar spent for insecticide and labor in putting them on,” Mr. Pruden said. I GOOD PROGRESS ON NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH /m HERE | , -j ' -— , Roofing supports were swung into place last week over the ban quet hall of the new Christian church building now under construction here. The contractor, Robert L. Tetterton, says splendid progress is being made, and he expects to have the entire structure “closed in” before the end of the year. Of brick and block construction, the new church and its accompanying buildings are located in the 300 block of East Main Street and extend all the day through the block to Third Street.—Staff photo. 4-H Club Members Will Attend Camp Applications Already Re ceived From 24 Club Members for One-Week Stay at Camp At least 24 4-H Club members from this county will attend camp at Manteo next week. A list released by the county agent’s office yesterday showed that number of applications al ready in. Late applications will be accepted at the office, it was said. The list includes 10 from Plym outh, 7 from Roper, 6 from Cres well and 1 from Mackeys, and is as follows: Plymouth — Rodney Simpson, Charles Walker, jr., Robert Dicker son, Alice Culbretf), Ed Womble, Mary Alice Simpson, Not man Man ning, Michael Miadle, Sandy Wil Turn; ; ’Soper — Emily Mud’, Brenda Jean Spruill, Eli Spruill, Mary Helen Tarkenton, Rita Styons, GU bert Sawyer and Marvin Sawyer; Crcswell — Kay Morris, Fay Morris, Diane Johnson, Wayne Davis, Ruth Patrick and Jency M. Mason; Mackeys—Bobby Chessoi . All club members who ha ve their project record books up to ('ate are eligible to attend the 4-H Camp, it was said. The group is scheduled to leave the agriculture building at Plymouth at 11:30 a. m. next Monday, arriving at Roper High School at 12 noon to pick up Roper members. Leaving Roper ai 12:15 p. m. and arriving at Creswell at 12:45 p. m., a 15 minute stop will be made to pick up Creswell 4 H’ers. Leaving Cieswell at p. m. the group will reach Sand; Point ferry at 1:45 p. m. The si hedule will be closely followed, it was said . Cost per member for th< entire week, including board anc room, transportation, handicraft mater ial, pageant ticket and insurance is $15. Those making the trip are re minded to bring along bathing suit, See 4-II MEMBERS, Page 10 July Call For 23 Registrants Next pre-induction call for Se lective Service Board No. 95 here is for 23 registrants on Thursday, July 14, Mrs. Lorraine Hunter, board clerk, reports. No induction call has been received for July, Mrs. Hunter added. The clerk urges that all regis trants notify the board promptly of any change of address. A good many have failed to do so in the past, it was pointed out, resulting in tlieir failing to get their mail and in subsequently being listed as delinquent, Cuk? Re,tiipts Moderate Here The Plymouth Produce Auctior Market opened Monday for its second season with a moderate amount of cucumbers being reciv ed from growers in four counties of this section. Prices ranged uf to $1.25, about the top price re ported by several markets in the state. Heaviest offerings of the firsl three days came Tuesday, it was said. Market Manager W. T. Free man was also serving as auctioneer Mr. Freeman said Thursday ol this week was expected to see fair ly heavy offerings of cukes. The market expects to begin receiving peppers next Monday and on Wed nesday green tomatoes will be re ceivcd. Growers are urged to note that Wednesday is the only day oi the week on which tomatoes will be handled at the local market. Only two growers from this coun ty have brought in cukes thus far Mr. Freeman stated. He said the county crop is late Offerings have come from grow ers in Pitt, Tyrrell, Beaufort and Washington Counties, it was said Former Pettigrew Park Ranger Gives His Version of Dismissal In June of last year Ranger T. F. Davenport of Pettigrew State Park retired after many years of service and was replaced by Paul E. Ban nerman who came to the county from Carolina Beach. Bannerman had been with the Division of State Parks since March 1953 and before coming to Washington Coun ty had served as park ranger at Morrow Mountain State Park, near Albemarle. After about 10 months of serv ice as park ranger at Pettigrew State Park, Bannerman was “sum marily dismissed” by Governor Hodges. At a press conference last Friday the governor cited the case of a “fire warden” who spotted a blaze at night just as he was get ting ready for bed. The governor said the man went to bed without first reporting the fire and was therefore dismissed. Last week Bannerman identified himself to a reporter for the Ra leigh News and Observer as the man dismissed by Governor Hod ges. In an article which appeared in the Observer of June 16 Ban nerman got across his side of the story. During his stay in the county Paul Bannerman made many friends. He and his family are high ly regarded in the Creswell section by those who came to know them. Creswell citizens generally felt that the ranger had been given a “raw; deal” and were ready to petition for Bannerman’s reinstatement but were restrained by him, the erst while ranger fearing that such act ion might affect State Conservation and Development Board and For estry Division* personnel. The fire in question reportedly originated near the shores of Lake Phelps and is believed by officials to have been of incendiary origin. It spread into a huge conflagra tion, burning over hundreds and hundreds of acres of timberland in Washington, Tyrrell and Hyde Counties. Here is what the News and Ob server printed last Thursday, giv ing Bannerman’s side of the story: A State parks ranger who lost his job because of a forest fire reported yesterday that he was the “fire warden” fired by Governor Hodges. Paul E. Bannerman of Cary, Rt. 1, 34-year-old State College gradu ate and family man, said he had read what the Governor had to say and wanted to tell his side of the story. The Governor made his remarks last Friday at a press conference He was talking about political ap pointments and forest fires, and he cited the case of a fire warden who spotted a blaze at night just as he was getting ready to go to bed. The Governor said the fire warden went to bed without reporting the fire and was dismissed as a conse quence. The fire occurred last April across Lake Phelps from Pettigrew State Park. Bannerman, the ranger in charge of the park, was let go April 27. He now lives near Raleigh with his wife and two children. He says he hopes soon to open a nur sery business west of Raleigh on US 70. Navy Veteran Bannerman, an alumnus of Bur gaw High School, finished State College in 1947 with a degree in horticulture. He entered State Col lege in 1940 but interrupted his studies to serve three years in tne Navy, two of them as a Navy of ficer. He was called back by the Navy in 1950, served an additional two years, and finally went to work for the State parks service, a division of the Department of Conservation and Development, March 1, 1953. At the time of his dismissal, Bannerman had been in charge of the Pettigrew State Park about 10 months. "There have been fires burning See Version of Ranger, Page 5 Tax Rate Same; Valuation Shows Large Increase Budge! Estimate Places Val uation of County Property At $11 Million for 1955 56 Fiscal Year The Washington County tax rate for the 1955-56 fiscal year which begins July 1 will again be $1-70 on each $100 property valuation, according to recent action of the board of county commissioners. The rate has been unchanged dur ing the past ten years. Total property valuation in the county is estimated at $11,000,000 in the new budget estimate, up $500,000 from the preceding one. The hike is believed accounted for largely by the recent revaluation and greater "personal property list ings and perhaps to some extent by improvements to real estate and by new construction. Total budget requirements for the new fiscal year are less by $3,154.66, being listed at $268, 226.90 as compared with $271,381 .56 for the current fiscal year. The bulk of the difference is account ed for in a reduction of the debt service fund in the new estimate of $2,030, from $68,821.88 to $66, 791.88. Not all of the budget re quirement is to be raised by prop erty taxes as revenue from sources other than the tax levy amounts to an estimated $118,646.90, a de crease of $9,934.66 from the $128, 581.56 listed in the preceding esti mate. The figure includes funds derived from legal whiskey sales at the two county retail outlets, state beer and wine taxes, fines and forfeitures, intangible taxes levied by the state, matching funds from state and federal govern ments, back taxes, etc., and leaves $149,580 to be raised by tax levy, plus $37,420 in estimated uncol lectible taxes and discounts. This latter figures is identical with that of the last previous estimate. A breakdown of the tax rate by funds shows that the rate will re main the same for eight items, while an increase is noted in one and decreases in two. Comparisons of the bv iget and tax rates for the two years follows: General county fund, $73,007.10 this year, $71,390.80 last year, tax rate 10 cents, unchanged; poor fund, $19,983.54 this year, $18,444 last year, tax rate 15 cents, un changed ;health fund, $10,723.94 this year, $10,167.94 last year, tax rate 10 cents, unchanged; farm and home demonstration work, $7,465 .94 this year, $7,525.94 last year, tax rate seven and a half cents, unchanged; fire protection, $5,390 this year, $5,210 last year, tax rate five and a half cents, unchanged; old age assistance, $6,840 this year, $6,000 last year, tax rate three and a half cents, unchanged; aid to de pendent children, $1,816.50 this year, $1,764 last year, tax rate one cent, reduced from two cents; aid to P. T. D. fund, $3,127 this year, $3,000 last year, tax rate two and a half cents, reduced from three and a half cents; current school ex pense, $65,181 this year, $64,746 last year, tax rate 36 cents, un changed; school capital outlay, $7, 900 this year, $7,589 last year, tax rate nine cents, unchanged; debt service fund, $66,791.88 this year, $68,821.88 last year, tax rate 70 cents, raised from 60 cents.