You are now reading —
LINCOLN COUNTY’S
LEADING NEWSPAPER
and
ADVERTISING MEDIUM
VOL. 48, NO. 94
« Hal Area Churches Plan
Mnnual Christmas Programs
Christmas Pageant
Tuesday Night At
Zion Meth. Church
Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Houser and
the Youth Department of the Sun
day school will again have charge
of the annual Christmas program
at Zion Methodist Church in the
county.
Miss Joan Reep will play the role
of Mary and Dean Reep the part
of Joseph in the pageant, support
ed by the usual shepherds and wise
men.
The program will be Tuesday
night. December 20. at 7:30 o'clock.
Rev. R. W. Blanchard. Sr., is
pastor of the Zion church, and
Loy Reep, Superintendent of Sun
day school.
The Christmas sermon will be
preached Sunday, December 25, by
the pastor at 10 a.m. His subject
will be, "A Changeless Day In A
Changing World.”
Emanuel Reformed
Christmas Programs
Emanuel Evangelical and Re
formed Sunday School will have
its annual Christmas Program and
Farty at the church on Wednes
day at 7:30 o’clock. The program
will be a festival of carols. “Sing
for Joy” by Elizabeth Yost. It will
consist of carols sung by senior
end junior choirs, interpretation
of carols, tableau, and special
music by the children of the Sun
day School. Special gifts will be
given for the needy.
This program of joyous music,
scripture and prayer' will be foll
owed by the Sunday School
Christmas Party in the social hall.
Here there will be good fellowship
and the giving of gifts.
On Sunday. December 25.
Emanuel Church will celebrate the
Festival of the Nativity will a
special Christmas message by the
pastor and special Christmas
'sic by the choir will be a part
he Lord’s Day service at IT.OO
•ck. Help to make Christmas a
• ist-centered day by attending
..urch and worshipping your God.
You are always welcome at Eman
uel Church, and a special invita
tion is extended to you at this
Christmas season.
Christmas Play Dec. 25
Southside Baptist Church
A Christmas play, entitled
‘Scarlet Ribbon” will be present
ed at the Southside Baptist
Church on Sunday night, Decem
ber 25. at 7 o’clock in the church
auditorium.
Rev. W. L. Pitts, pastor, and the
congregation of the Southside
Baptist church extend a cordial
invitation to the public to attend.
* * •
Candlelight Service At
Daniels Evangelical
And Reformed Church
Daniels Evangelical and Re
formed Church will have a service
of Christmas Carols and Candles
Saturday, night at 11:00, Decem
ber 24th. The public is cordially
invited to attend this service.
A
| ( |
T 1 Jf
FIRST '56 LINCOLN AUTO TAG ... Pretty Shirley Wilson
of The Lincoln Times staff holds the first auto license which will
be sold when the tags go on sale here at Guy E. Cline. Roddy Cline
agency manager, on January 3. The tag which Shirley displays
in front of one of Cline’s shiny, new Buick models shows the new
number system which will be used in the state for the first time next
year Times staff photo-Frazier.
The Lincoln Times
Published Every Monday and Thursday Devoted to the Progress of Lincolnton and Lincoln County.
Christmas Cantata At
Pleasant Grove Church
A cantata entitled “The Last
Carol,” will be presented at the
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church
Thursday, December 22, at 7:30
p.m.
The public is cordially invited
to attend this service.
Christmas Program At
Leonard's Fork Church
Leonard’s Fork Baptist Church
will present its Christmas pro
gram, “The Songs of Christ
mas,” Friday night, December 23,
at 7:30 o’clock.
The public is invited.
Friendly Chapel
Church Christmas
Program Dec. 23
Friendly Chapel Baptist Church
will present a Christmas program,
Friday night. December 23, 1955.
beginning at 7:30.
The children of the church, un
der the direction of Mrs. Floyd
Beaver, will present their program
first.. Following this the young
people, under the direction of Mrs.
Tyson Lawing. are Mrs. Davis Lee
Turbyfill will present a drama en
titled ”A Sign Unto You.” Char
acters are:
Caleb i the keeper of the inn,
Bobby Shull: Rebecca his wife,
Jean Shull: Mira their daught
er, Barbara Warlick: Martha—a
maid servant, Shirley Lawing:
Aunt Sarah, Vetra Mathis; Joed,
the steward of the inn. James Car
penter; Joseph, Rhyne Henley;
Mary, Sylvia Reel: Shepherds,
Janette Carpenter; Larry Carpen
ter; Eugene Henley; Group of
Bethlehem Children, Gail Mathis;
Donna Carpenter; Brenda Carpen-’
ter; Rickie Lawing: Gary Alexan
der: Gerald Henley.
The pastor Rev. Floyd Beaver
gives everyone a cordially invita
tion to attend.
Lincoln Savings
Bonds Sales In
Nov. $25,056.25
A new peacetime sales record in
U.S. Savings Bonds is being set
this year in North Carolina.
With November sales of $4,346,-
939.75. which is 10 per cent ahead
of the same month of last year,
<ales in the State have now passed
the $50,000,000 mark. Total State
sales for the year are $7,174,609.50
or 19 per cent ahead of 1954.
Twenty-seven counties in North
Carolina have already exceeded
their sales quota for this year.
Lincoln County sales for November
are $25,056.25 and for the year
$205,631.25, according to G. Harold
Myrick. Savings Bonds Chairman
for Lincoln County, who released
this report as prepared by the
Savings Bonds Sales Director's
office in Greensboro.
Nationwide November sales were
three per cent above those of last
November. The accumulated na
tional sales for the first eleven
months of this year are 11 per cent
higher than for the same months 1
(Continued on page 7) >
mmmmmmmm MMai.
'•. 1 i nil
WHERE SEALS CASH GOES... The Distriet their chests X-rayed. No fee is charged for this
( Calawba-Lincoln-Alexander I mobile X-ray unit service as the cost is defrayed by the sale of
of the District Tuberculosis is seen above at one of Christmas seals. The mobile unit will be in Lin
its stops with a group of people lined up to get eolnton Saturday, Dec. 24.
Rites Conducted
For W. A. Potts
Walker Andrew Potts. 66. prom
inent farmer of Lincolnton, Route
3, Macedonia Baptist church sec
tion. died in a Maiden clinic Fri
day morning about 10:30 o'clock.
Mr. Potts is reported to have
been taken suddenly ill at his
home Wednesday morning and
was rushed by car to Maiden clin
ic, where he died soon after ad
mittance. Death was attributed to
a heart attack.
Funeral services were held Sun
day at 2:30 p.m. in Mecedonia
Baptist Church, of which Mr.
Potts had long been an active
worker, with the Rev. Jack Mace,
pastor, officiating, assisted by Rev.
L. A. McClure, Rev. Roy Williams
and Rev. A. A. Walker. Burial
was in the church cemetery.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Eva
I.ee Potts; three daughters, Mrs.
Thurman Smith. Mrs. Arnold Bal
lard and Mrs. Elma Lockman of
Lincolnton, Route 3; four sons,
Gaither and Reid Potts of Lin
colnton: Route 1, Lee and Elliott
Potts of the home, five grand
children; two sisters, Mrs. W. M.
Lawing of Lincolnton, Route 6,
Mrs. J. T. Lawing of Lincolnton,
Route o.
Drum’s Funeral Home of Lin
colnton was in charge of arrange
ments.
High School
Fetes City And
County Employees
Approximately 100 city, county,
state and federal employees school
board members, and staff mem
bers of the local newspapers were
feted at a turkey dinner Friday at
the school cafeteria by the Lin
colnton high school officials.
This is an annua! event of the
school just prior to the Christmas
holidays, and was thorougly en
joyed and appreciated by the
“free” eating guests. Super
intendent S. Ray Lowder and
Prinpipal Jack Kiser acted as tht
genial hosts to the gathering, and
also lent assistance as “table
waiters.” Mrs. C. E. Kiger and her
splendid crew of cooks were com
plimented on the fine meal.
Invited guests at the dinner in
cluded member of the city board of
alderman, fire department, police
department, sheriff's department,
court house and agency personnel,
health and welfare departments,
city and county school boards,
state highway division, other city
and county departments, and the
press.
New Car Tags
Go On Sale
January 3rd
Motorists are reminded that the
new 1956 automobile licenses go on
sale here in Lincolnton on Jan
uary 3rd at Guy F. Cline. Roddy
Cline license agency manager.
Mr. Cline states that the hours
cn which the local office will be
< m
open for license sales will be 9
a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday.
The license plates next year will
be the same width but will be
slightly higher. Instead of the
customary six numbers, a com
bination of numbers and letters
will be used.
There will be only one plate
with orange background and
black letters.
The numbers for automobiles
to be issued here will be: From
CA 1001 to CA 9998, and CB 1
to CB 1500.
L-rrzrT:
News Articles, Ads
Omitted Today's Issue
Due (o the heavy run of pre-
Christmas advertisements and
news articles for today's Times, I
space was not available to pub- j
lish them all. Look for them in ;
Thursday's edition.
LINCQLNTON, N. C.. MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1955
Local Stores
To Be Closed
Monday, Dec. 26
Member stores of the Lincom
ton Merchants Associaton will be
closed on Monday, December 26,
as a Christmas holiday, it was an
nounced today by Mrs. Polly Cris
son, association secretary.
A half holiday in the afternoon
will also be observed by local
stores next Wednesday, December
28.
Monday, January 2, will be ob
served by local stores as a holiday.
This week, the week before
BUT, SHOTS GO BEGGING ...
Local Doctors, Health Dept.
Have Polio Vaccine Supplies
Have you protected your child
against polio? Many have, but ap
parently there are hundreds, of
others who haven't.
SUPPLIES ADEQUATE
The supplies of the Salk anti- |
polio vaccine in Lincoln county I
have been adequate, but it is not
being used by those eligible to re
ceive it, to the “extent that it is
available,” it has been pointed out.
The distribution set-up on the j
vaccine may not be clear in the 1
minds of the public, as to priority i
groups, the fee charged, etc. As a <
result, health authorities are con- ]
cerned over the indifference of i
some parents toward immunizing <
their children against the 1956 i
polio season. ]
SMOOTH LOCAL PROGRAM
Here in Lincoln county, the polio ; (
immunization program for the |
public has been going along more 1
smoothly than in some other coun
ties, Dr. John Fitzgerald, president
pf the Lincoln County Medical So- :
hety. reported that Lincoln county 1
as a whole is doing fairly well in j
the polio inoculation program.!
'The mothers have been interested 1
in the program from the begin-!
ping,” he said, “and there are few
days that pass without children i :
being brought in for polio shots.” 1
He estimated that well over 1.000 1
in all age groups have been given j '•
immunization shots since the vac- 1 1
tine was first distributed for com- *
mercial use last summer. Local 1
doctors have a standard fee of $3 ;'
for administering the shot.
Lincolnton physicians have rc- !
ceived adequate supplies of the
vaccine, and the county health I:
department. The physicians who \
direct their practice toward chil- 1 1
COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT SINCE 19 31 .
"Professor"
Work With
By SMACK PROCTOR
He's a friendly, familiar per
sonality to Lincoln county's popu
lace. young and old. He's respect
fully addressed by many of his ac
quaintances as “Professor" Joe: by
others. as "Mr. Joe.”
47 YEARS AS SCHOOL MAN
This would he robust, easy
going Joseph Robert Nixon,
present Superintendent of the
Lincoln County Schools, who has
spent 47 of his 65 years in school
work, as a teacher, principal,
superintendent, counselor and
advisor. And. he says he has
loved every minute, every hour
and every day of his work in
the field of education. He adds
simply. “I went into teaching
and school work as a profession.
My greatest joy has been work
ing with the people and young
sters of our schools.”
Forty-seven years in one pro
fession can be considered a long
time, but the years have been
short and rewarding ones to “Pro
fessor Joe. He first saw to it that
he was well trained for his pro-
Christmas, local stores will be
: open ail day on Wednesday for the
convenience of shoppers.
On normal schedules, the local
stores close on Wednesday after
noon but at the Yule shopping
season will remain open all day
the two Wednesdays before
Christmas. Some of the local
grocery stores are observing 8 p.m.
closing schedules during the last
of the week.
dren are generally swamped with
demands for shots. However, in
contrast, there has been luke
warm response to the free health
department program aimed at
j immunizing children whose par
j ents are unable to pay for inocu
lations.
SAFE, EFFECTIVE
It has been pointed out that the
vaccine allocated in North Caro
lina is distributed on the basis of
70 per cent through commercial |
channels for use by private phy
sicians and 30 per cent through j
local health departments. Under
the government approved program !
on the vaccine, it was the intent
of Congress that the vaccine would
be available, free, to parents who
are unable to pay for it for their
children.
This free program is available
at the health departments to
youngsters one to 15 years old.
This vaccine, allocated to the
health departments, is not in
the hands of physicians. Physi
cians have their own supply
which they buy and assess the S 3
inoculation fee.
The Salk vaccine has proved
safe and effective in Lincoln coun
ty, with no polio cases reposted at
all this season. Over 1,600 first and
second graders of the county re
ceived free shots of the vaccine at
the clinics last Spring. So. there is
no reason for fear concerning the
vaccine.
Physicians point out that the be
ginning of neSt year’s polio sea
son is only about five months off. j
and now is the time for the Salk
vaccine to be used to give protec- j
tion against polio next summer. !
Joe R. Nixon Enjoys His
People And The Youngsters
session. and the satisfaction has
come in the results. He started
young as an educator of the state's
youngsters, getting his first teach
ing experience while he. himself,
was still a college student.
During his 25 years as Superin
tendent of his home county (Lin
coln) schools, he has seen many
changes; new schools, expansions,
improved and enlarged facilities:
enrollment climb to the present
4500 pupils, 145 teachers, in the
20 schools of the county system:
the fleet of school buses that
transport the students to all areas
of the county, more than doubled
during the 25 years. Ten cafe
terias have been built: three new
gymnasiums, and other improve
ments made.
If thrre is one particular thing
“Professor" Joe is most proud of
during his 25 years as head of
the Lincoln schools, it is the
fart that 15 white and II Negro
schools have been consolidated
within that period. Also, voca
tional agriculture, home eco
nomies and commercial eourses
Lincoln Natir ial
Bank Elects Three
Assistant Cashiers
Chief Sigmon
Gives Warning
On Firecrackers
Police Chief Sigmon today is-!
sued a warning on the exploding
of firecrackers within the Lin
colnton city limits. County offi-1
cers, likewise, issued a similar j
warning.
Chief Sigmon pointed out that
there is a law in North Carolina
that prohibits the manufacture, |
sale or use of firecrackers. “Our
men intend to enforce that law,”
he said, "especially at this Christ- |
mas season of the year when fire- ,
crackers are usually put into use.”
Prompt arrests will be made
against violators of the firecrack
er law, he said, and reminded
that during the recent Hhlloween
night celebration, eleven warrants i
were issued against persons found !
| with firecrackers in their posses- I
sion.
"Firecrackers arc not only :
against the law," the chief \
added, "they are dangerous to i
life and limb." Many instances
ran be cited of serious burns ;
and injuries to people, often :
small, innocent children, as
the result of exploding fire- j
crackers.
Leonhardt Rites
Held Thursday
Final rites were held Thursday
r.t 3 p.m. in Bess's Chapel Metho
dist church in Lincoln county for
J. Frank Leonhardt, 66, with Rev.
Johnson, pastor officiating, as
sisted by Rev, Cooke. Burial was in
the church cemetery.
Mir. Leonhardt, farmer of the I
North Brook section, and Home- j
stead, Fia., died in the Presbyter-!
ian hospital in Charlotte last j
Thuesday.
He had been in declining j
health and came home from Flor- |
ida recently for a check-up with :
his doctor, and entererd the hospi- !
tal about ten days before his;
death. J;
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. An- j ]
nie Ledford Leonhardt; his J.
mother. Mrs. Lizzy Leonhardt I ’
Gates of Cherryville; four daught- j;
ers. four sons, 11 grandchildren, 1
and three great-grandchildren. ! ]
THIRTEEN STRAIGHT BIRTHS . . .
Baby Doll' Girls Arriving
In Droves At Local Hospital
For the last decade or so, girls
have far outnumbered men
which makes it sort of rough on
the husband-hunters. “Baby dolls”
are coming, in numbers, females
all. at a local hospital.
And if trends at the Gordon i
Crowell Memorial Hospital are any j
indication, it doesn't look like
there's much hope of the situation ;
becoming any better.
Since last Monday, there were
thirteen girls born straight
setting what is believed to be a '
new record at the local hospital.
Then one hoy put in an appear- j
anec. breaking the record at
thirteen. But since then three
have been added to Union, North j
Brook and Rock Springs: com
mercial eourses added at New
jj 'wifi
Jil Jk . jbg w
jj
- - V'
PROF. JOE NIXON
The Lincoln National Bank, at the monthly meeting
of the Board of Directors last week, elected three assistant
cashiers Debro Peeler, Mrs. Cecelia Carpentei and Mar
shall S. Ramseur, Jr.
f
NCDCD DIRECTOR . . . Wil
liam P. Saunders labovel, re
: tired textile executive of South
; ern Pines, is the new director of
the North Carolina Department
of Conservation and Develop
ment. He succeeds Ben E. Doug
; las, resigned. Mr. Saunders is
j a native of Gaston county.
Schools Close
For Holidays
j Christmas holidays began at
i five Lincolnton city schools and
eight schools in the county sys
tem on Friday at 3 p.m. and con
tinue until January 2, 1956. Other
county schools close Wednesday
of this week.
City schools closing Friday for
the holidays were Lincolnton high
school, Lincolnton grammar, Park
Elementary, South Aspen Street
primary, O a k 1 a w n elementary.
County schools closing Friday
were Crouse. Love Memorial.
Laboratory, Long Shoals, Asbury,
Iron Station, Hickory Grove and
Mt. Vernon.
The following county schools
will close Wednesday afternoon.
I December 1. at 3 o’clock for the (
j holidays and re-open Monday, j
j January 2: Rock Springs. Triangle, j
| Union. Howards Creek, North !
| Brook Nos. 1, 2 and 3; Newbold. j
| New Elbethel, Tuckers Grove and j
I Rock ill.
more girls land no boys) have
been born.
The total since Monday now
stands at 16 girls and one boy.
Four of the girls went home this
morning, leaving one little boy to
be overwhelmed by eleven girls.
'Dr. Sam Wilson was the attend
ing physician at all the births. But
before you girls start blaming him
for increasing the competition,
there is one thing you should
know.
He doesn't have anything to do
with determining whether they'll
be a boy or a girl. He just delivers
them.
bold.
SCHOOLS CONSOLIDATED
The consolidation of the white
schools included the following:
Zion, Ridge Academy, Bethel.
Daniels. Elm Grove, Oak Grove,
with Union: Buffalo, Shrum.
Macedonia. Salem. Mt. Zion,
Greenwood, with Asbury; South
side with Laboratory: Piney Grove
with Oak Grove: Machpelah with
Rock Springs. Negro schools con
solidated were: Flint Hill. Pine
hurst. Southview, Edwards Grove
with Mitchell: Costner's Grove.
Georgetown. Poplar Springs with
Newbold (a new high school com
pleted and occupied several years
ago): Brevard's. Denver. Liberty
Hill, with Tucker's Grove; Ebcn
ezer with Rock Hill.
"Mr. Joe.” modest man that he
is. refuses to lake credit for the
growth, expansions, improvements
made under his superintendency.
He says: “I think that should go
to the school boards, the com
mittees. and the cooperative pa
trons, teachers and pupils of each
(Continued on page 4)
ALMOST EVERYONE in
LINCOLNTON and
LINCOLN COUNTY reads
THIS NEWSPAPER
pi CENTS
Single Copv
J. Everett Henley, executive
president of the Lincoln National
Bank, made the announcement
today.
The three newly elected as
sistant cashiers serve as tellers
in the bank.
MR. PEELER
Mr. Peeler has been with the
bank since last September. He is a
brother of the late George Peeler
| of Lincolnton. Prior to coming to
' the Lincoln National Bank. Mr.
I Peeler was connected with the
I Union Trust Co. in Fallston, and
j has served in an educational ca
! pacity With the Veterans Adminis
j tration. He attended Belwood high
I school, Cleveland county. High
Point college, and is a World War
II veteran.
MRS. CARPENTER
j Mrs. Carpenter is the wife of
Grier Carpenter of Route 1, Dallas.
She has been with the local bank
since shortly after its organiza
tion. Mrs. Carpenter is a graduate
of Union High School, and in being
elected assistant cashier of the
Lincoln National Bank is reported
to be the first woman to ever hold
an officer position in any of the
two local banks.
MR. RAMSEUR
Mr. Ramseur, Lincolnton native,
has been with the Lincoln National
Bank for three years. He is a
graduate of the Lincolnton high
school and served in the Navy
during World War 11.
J. E. Kale. Sr., is the president
of Lincoln National Bank.
Lock Your Car,
Protect Gifts,
Says Police Chief
J Police Chief Ben Sigmon has is
| sued his annual reminder to
' Christmas shoppers about leaving
I their packages in unlocked cars,
j The police are especially alert
; for thieves during the Christmas
shopping «->»!. h” f tv- ’— .
i ited in numbers and can’t to ftl
all places at the same time. So,
they must have the cooperation
j of the public if the thievery acts at
i the Yule season are kept at a
! minimum.
Chief Sigmon said: “It takes no
j time at all to lock a car door, and
| the act may save a great deal of
| money and disappointment. If you
| put packages in your car and
| plan to return to the stores for
| additional purchases, please as
i sure the safe keeping of your gifts
j by locking the car door.”
Injured Clark Girl
Taken To Charlotte
Frances Clark, 10-year-old Lin
coln county girl who was seriously
injured in an auto-truck accident
Dec, 10. was taken from the Cro
well Hospital by Drum Funeral
| ambulance Friday to the Memorial
| hospital in Charlotte.
| The little girl is reported to have
regained consciouness. but her
condition is still regarded as ser
ious. Doctors are now said to be
more hopeful of her recovery. Her
i father, Tom Clark, also injured in
| the wreck, remains at the local
| hospital.
Driver License Office
To Close For Holidays
Christmas holiday closings
j "ill affect all driver licensing sta
| lions throughout the state, ac
i cording to an announcement from
Raleigh by Col. James Smith, rom
j mander of the State Highway Pa
trol.
! Smith said that all licensing
! branches of the highway patrol
j have been authorized to suspend
operations Friday, December 23
and Monday. December 26. Ra
j leigh headquarters of the licens
ing division will observe identical
| closings, the patrol commander
! said.
i All units will re-open for busi
| ness Tuesday, December 27, he
j concluded.
| The driver’s license office in
Lincolnton is located on the base
ment flooi of the county court
house, R. G. Thomas examiner.
Schedule For Dist. X-ray
Mobile Unit This Week
V
Saturday, December 24, Health
Department building. Lincoln
ton. Large film 9:00-10:00;
small film 10:00-12:00.
Merry Christmas and A Happy
New Year.