VOL. 28.
SELMA,' N. C, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1945.
NUMBER 1.
Fire Destroys Several
Homes In M Wear Selma
Two three-room houses near The
Southern Cotton Oil Compnay here
and occupied by colored people were
totally destroyed by fire just before
the Christmas holidays. Two other
dwellings were badly damaged. The
houses belonged to Frances Greene,
of Smithfield.
Tha six-room residence s of ' Paul
Woodard on Highway 301, two miles
north ol Selma, was totally destroyed
by firo Thursday afternoon Dec. 21,
' at 2 o'clock, together with several
outbuildings, 85 barrels of corn and
' farm implements. Mr. Woodard's loss
ig estimated at $1,500. The house and
outbuildings belonged to S. V. Pitts,
oi Charlotte, whoso loss is estimated
at $2,500. Mrs. Woodard was in thi
kitchen of the homo baking a Christ
mas cako when sho discovered the
firo in the loft of ono of the rear
rooms. Thn household and kitchen
furniture was destroyed. Paul Eason,
fl neighbor, was badly burned about
: tha face when ho rushed into the
burning building after Mrs. Woodard.
whe had gone into the house to re
rnovn some article. Mrs, Woodard was
uninjured. - ; '
Mr. J. V. Pitts of Charlotte, who
' lost a 5-room . dwelling .house, barn
and grain, and a pack house, several
: : days ago. spent several days h6re4his
ween, . (Jiangs , .muy, fy-. vvnu,,
,. puse was occupied by Paul Woodard,
yvno tost uracucaiiv ail ni nousenum
. furniture and around 35 barrels of
com. He and family are1 now-residing
on a farm near the old home place.
Mr. Pitts says there was no insurance
on the burned buildings. He estimates
his- loss at $5,000.00.
About' 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon
, the Selma Fire Department was call
ed to the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. M.
Rose who lived just on the southern
outskirts of Selma near the grade
crossing where a dirt road connects
Highway 301 with the Smithfield
Goldsboro highway. The fire had made
so much headway when the fire de
: partment arrived that It was impossi
ble to save the house and it? contents.
Mr. and Mrs. Rose were away from
home at the time and the house was
locked, but neighbors who first saw
smoke coming through the tin roof of
the house said the fire apparently
started in the attic, and it is believed
there may have been a crack in the
chimney as the result of that historic
explosion at Gurkin's Tavern some
3 years ago. .
The building belonged to Mr. W. G.
Ricks, father of Mrs. Rose, which
was a total loss together with all its
. contents.
Mrs. Rose was in The Johnstonian
Sun office Wednesday afternoon and
told us that everything they had was
burned except the clothes they were
wearing at the time. They are now
without a home or anywhere to go
.. but will find lodging with their kin
dred and friends until they can make
other arrangements.
The loss is estimated to be around
$5,000, with no insurance on either
the house or its contents.
( Since. the above .was put in type
l i ill i.1 c T..
IbHll UIU V UliU L 1UII 111 J , V i.-
Dail and family, occupied three rooms
; oi tne kicks nouse.- xar. uan, it win
. be remembered, lost his home in the
explosion near Gurkin's Tavern about
, three years ago.)
J. C. Avery Puts On
Good Kiwanis Program
Acting as Program Chairman for
the Selma Kiwanis club on Thursday
night, December 21, J. C. Avery did a
fine job,''.1" ..-
Several local girls did the Scotch
dance for : the club, accompanied at
the piano by Miss Naomi Wood, Ki
wanis sponsor.
Julius Williamson, superintendent
at the Johnston County Convict camp
near Selma, ' brought' with him two
boys who are under his supervision
These boys brought their musical in
struments with them and gave several
numbers that delighted club mem
bers very much.
But one of the most outstanding
and enjoyable features of the program
was the singing of two or three num
bers by the Rev. and Mrs. J. Wade
Baker of the local Baptist church.
Smithfield Tobacconist
Outlines Plans For 1945
G. Willie Lee, Sales Supervisor
For the Smithfield Tobacco
Board of Trade. Gives Farm
ers A Few Pointers for Their
1945 Goal.
Wilbur D. Perkins
Injured On Highway
Mr.- Wilbur D. Perkins of Selma,
who holds a. position with learn-M.
T?icrVit fMpnnnrw nt Sftlmn. 1 in' . tlu
TeJ JohnBtofr-"County "HwaV-suftaTfig
from injuries sustained early Wednes
day night near Batten's Filling Sta
tion on Highway 801 between Selma
and Micro when he turned the truck
over which he was driving in an at
tempt to avoid being hit by a large
truck loaded with hogs headed north,
He was taken to the hospital where
it was found that he had two or more
broken ribs, a badly swollen nose and
a black eye caused by, the accident.
We learned from the hospital to
day (Thursday) that he was resting
as well as could be expected and that
the doctors were administering a
sulphur drug to ward off pneumonia.
The truck he was driving was bad;
ly damaged in the accident.
Miss Sallie Kirby
Breaks Arm In Fall
- 1 i r i
ipi. jonnnie loiones
.Back From Pacific Area
Cpl. Johnnie Cblones, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Tom Colones of Selma, ar
rived a few days ago, after spending
more than a year in the South
Pacific. He was with the Fourth
Marine Corps, and saw action on the
Marshall Islands, on Saipan and
Tinian Islands. CpL Colones entered
service on October 26, 1942.' He is a
graduate of Selma High School, and
' later attended the University, . of
North Carolina prior to entering the
armed forces.
Miss Sallie Kirby, who makes her
home with Mrs. W. T. Kirby on
Green Street here, had the misfort
une to slip down and DreaK ner arm
a few days before Christmas when
she stepped on a potato peeling at
her home here. She is getting along
very nicely, although it will be some
time before the bandage can be re
moved. -
To add to the discomfort of this
home, Mrs. Kirby, who spent several
weeks in Johnston County Hospital
for treatment last fall, is still unable
to carry on the duties of the house
hold, but we are triad that "everv
cloud has a silver lining," for had it
not been for the aid of Melvin Wat
kins, a nephew of the Kirbys, of Bal
timore, Md., who happened to be on
a prolonged visit in the home at the
time, matters would have proven
even more discomfortable, for Mel
vin certainly has done a good part
by his kindred during these days.
Johnston Boys Among
Our Fighting Men
Doys irom this com-
making names for
By G. WILLIE LEE
As we enter the New Year we, as
farmers, begin to think of preparing
for a new crop. We as tobacco grow
ers, first think of fixing plant beds,
of how many yards to sow, where can
we nnd a good place to prepare a
plant bed away from grass and weeds,
what kind of fertilizer and how much
to use, and what variety of seed to,
plant. All these things are very im
portant in starting a good tobacco
crop. Good plant bed location proper
ly prepared, right kind of fertilizer.
the right variety of tobacco seed
adapted to the locality in which grown
and a variety that has been tried m
the community in which tobacco is to
be grown are important factors. !
All of these things demand our best
in planning and putting in operation
for the best tobacco crop, .:; seasons
permitting. Too, there is plenty -' of
work involved, with less farm help
means that if we grow another crop
of tobacco we will have to work hard
er, longer hours and good . planning.
If you are not sure of the variety of
tobacco or the best fertiliser to use
ask your neighbor who. has made
success at growing tobacco, or call on
your County Agent , who, is always
Among the
munwy who are
themselves are:
. 5, Sgt. James E. Evans of Benson,
Rt.'; 2, member of the 13th Field
Artillery Brigade in France; Sgt.
Robert G. Ward of Kenly; and 1st
Sgtr Benjamin H. Martirt of Route 2,
rrftfeeton.
Among . the . 630th, . Field Artillery
Battalion in France is S. Sgt. Richard
Woodard of Selma, Rt. 1,
Among the Johnston County boys in
the 397th Infantry Regiment fighting
on the U. S, 7th Army front in
Eastern France is Pfc Braxton E,
Bailey, 110 N. Sellars St., in Selma.
AWWm'g the, 3rd Field Artillery Ob
servation , Batalhon, with the 6lh
Arniy Group in France, Infantrymen
wno ,'are crawling on then bellies
through the ; brush and mud at ad
vanced outposts of the front with the
doughboy's equipment are S.- Sgt.
Andrew J. Wiggs of Selma, Rt. 2, and
M. Sgt. John D. Pearce of Micro.
Tfce only person reported : from
North Carolina as being among the
group giving the world-wide Christ-
masjvChoir broadcast from the 312th
Station Hospital In England, com
posed of '.officers nurses. Red Cross
worHers,. and enlisted men from 16
Sta'es .serving at thi U. S; Army
St ion hospital in, England was, Cpl.
fiber crols; our boys fn service must
be fed and clothed, and when we worn
harder and more hours we will have
done little compared with what our
sons are doing on the battle fronts of
the world. They are looking to we
farmers who are left here free, to
supply their every need that comes
from the farm. We did it in 1944, and
with the help of God we will do it in
1945.
Selma Boy Is Member
Of Wildcat Division
of Mrs. Ren S.' Shirlev of Selma: is
with thi 27th Armored Field Artillery
BattalHon, 1st Armored Division and
that the outfit has fired 300.000
rounds of munitions at th enemy.
Membern of this Bottalion hold an im-
t posing number of decorations six
j Distinguished Servici Crosses, four
Croix do Guerre Medals, an Order of
the Red Star, eight Legion of Merit
Medals. 36 Silver Stars. 27 Bronie
Stars. 875 Purple Hearts and 93 in
dividual citations. .
Selma Elivanis Club
Installs Ueu Officers
Selma Couple In
Army Of Uncle Sam
Sgt. George L. Marlow. son of Mrs.
Ellen K. Marlow of Selma. is a mem
ber of the 81st "Wildcat" Infantry
Division, and has been awarded the
Combat Infantryman Badge. The
Combat Infantryman Badge is award
ed for exemplary conduct and skill in
action against the enemy.
The Wildcat Division recently in
vaded the Southern Islands of the
Japanese-held Palau group, 500 miles
east of the Philippines.
Tho Director of Distribution in
WFA said recently to the national
canners that the present food inven
tory is less than 500 million dollars,
about half of one year ago.
Selma Boy Commended
By Maj. General Walker
Fort Benning, Ga. S Sgt. James
L. Gurkin, of Selma, N. C, has been
personally commended by Maj. Gen.
Fred L. Walker, Commandant of The
Infantry School, for his participation
in the "Here's Your Infantry" show
which was staged by personnel of the
Third and Fourth Infantry regiments
during the Sixth War Loan Drive.
Eight demonstration units toured the
nation under sponsorship of the Army
Ground Forces and the War Finance
Division of the Treasury Department
in an effort to spur the sale of War
Bonds. -
Durham, Dec. 27. The Parrish
family of Selma believes in husband
ana-wiie cooperation in war service.
Both are in the Army and it is Pri
vate First Class Joseph D. Parrish
and WAC Private First Class Doro
thy V. Parrish in their respective or
ganizations. .
PfC, Dorothy V. Parrish is station
ed at Fort Bliss, Texas, where she id
a clerk typist in the War . Depart
ment Personnel. Center.
The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jo
seph E. Price of Selma, she attended
high school1 at Smithfield, worked in
Selma factory, and later attended
business school in Durham.
She left -business school to enter
the Army sat Durham on July 25,
1944., She took her basic training at
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and then was
assigned to Camp Maxey, Texas; and
from that station she was transferred
to Fort Bliss late in October of 1944.
The fact that her husband had been
overseas tot about one and a naif
years .was one of the reasons why she
decided to-nter" te- Woman's' Corps.
VU. JevTi UWiJiflt no- t ,
ttom'i&rvktt- in' Nortjf -Africi and. It
aly and is at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. -
While her husband is a soldier, the
Selma girl chooses to wear a uniform.
But when he is a civilian again, she
plans to doff the trim khaki of the
WAC and leave her war duties to
plan meals and run a house for him.
On last Thursday evening it w&t
the pleasure of the local Kiwanis club
to have with them H. N. McKethan of
FayetteviHe, Lieutenant' Governor of
the Fourth Division of the Carolina!
Kiwanis District, who visited the Sel
ma club and installed the new' officers
for 1945, as follows r ' ;
, M. L, Standi, president; John Q. A.
Jeffreys, vice-president; Wilbur D.
Perkins, secretary-treasurer, succeed
ing M. R. Wall, resigned; and the fol
lowing board of directors: " -
Paul McMillan, Norvel Smith. B. C.
Du-Bose, Roy Smith, and Dr. Rj M.
Blackman. . -
Lt Governor McKethan was intro
duced by Past Lt,' Governor J. Dur
ward Creech of Smithfield. ' '
President Standi, who was elected
vice-president for 1944, became presi- :
President Rudolnh A. 'Howelr'whn re
signed early last fall to enter the :
Avmsatfi aiaMrSAa TJttk GammTI aSms "
ed president of the club for 1MB in V
The new officers will take up their
official duties for 1945 this, week: '
An important matter of business to
come before the club this week will be '
w seienion oi me most wseini nt :
ia:en of the elub to the co- " - ' i
pnd aw-" 1 '- "
New Assistant County
Agent Is Named
(J. W. Tarlton of Marshville in
Union county, assumed the duties of
assistant county farm agent in John
ston Monday, January 1. Mr. Tarlton
succeeds Charlie Clark who resigned
his position here to become farm
agent in Onslow county.
Mr. Tarlton has spent 28 months
in the U. S. Navy, having enlisted
shortly after his graduation from
State College in 1942. He served 22
months overseas, but on Dec. 13 he
received a medical discharge. When
he left the Navy he had attained the
rank of electrician mate, second class.
Between the. time of his graduation
from college and his entrance into
the Navy, he was employed as agri
cultural teacher at Wall burg in
Davidson county.
TEEN FORTY-FIVE
Local School Teacher
Suffers Broken Rib
A Correction
In the report of the American Le
gion Auxiliary's part in collecting
packages to be distributed to the sick
and wounded service men as publish-
'tion the splendict work done by Mrs.
Raleigh Griffin who worked with the
other members in collecting these
packages.
Her many friends were sorry to
learn that Miss Elizabeth Whitaker,
member of the local school faculty,
had the misfortune to'fall down the
stairs at her home near Littleton and
break I a rib while spending her
Christmas vacation at home. Miss
Whitaker did not let her injuries keep
her from school, however, and is bark
on the job tfiis week, despite the dis
comforts she is undergoing.
Selma f.Ian Gets News
That Son Is Missing
VLt. and Mrs. m'. B. Lane of Selma.
received news Tuesday that their son,
George W. Lane, of the U. S. Navy,
was missing somewhere in the
Pacific. Mr. Lane told the editor of
this paper Wednesday that he had no
details and was still hoping that he
would get better news soon.
new
fearTsTmusLiomake
nrrrwrntioa
j, new op
Buy War Bends Today!
what vou will of it It opens up to you
and perhaps new sorrows.
ses vision. 1945 comeTfcn--&eJiicrhest the
icrhtiest. ticfe mat hasever come flowina into our port of
here, are those who will look mournfully into the face of the New
Year. There are those wrw will say thaHhe world is still in the
midst of a terryino; dream. But theyarethe unfortunates
without vision.
in our own hearts, each of us knows that the workT could and
should be a better place in which fc lhre. We know that war has
no place in a good worlcbBut we knowtoo( that tyranny, injustice
ancThatred always lead tovar. It is partof our job to see that
those forces of evil are foreverssamped out.
America is a mighty nation, andAmerica is no more than a mul
tiplicaon of our owri community. Each of us must have the vision
to Hve'understandmgljr with our neighbors. We must not only be
neighbors, we must be'good neighbors. Then the insidious forces
which lead to violence have no soil in which to grow. They are as
seed cast upon the rook.
Our own community is proud of its past achievements. The past
three years have taught us that we can do what we will in our own
minds. The job we have done in the past gives us the courage and
fortitude to face the future unafraid. We know that no problem is
without a solution.
So it is with a spirit oi genuine hope, a feeling of humility and a
prayer o! thanks that this newspaper wishes each ox you
A VEHY HAPPY NEW YEAR! :
the community during 194S. - '
Miss Mar ' Ann Boyd.: student at
Limestone College, Gaffney, S. C,
sang three popular numbers, accom
panied at the piano by her sister, Mrs.
I. Q. Anthony, of Gaffney, - which
were greatly enjoyed. Miss Boyd and
Mrs. Anthony are daughters of Mr.
and Mrs. Charles H. Boyd. who . re
cently moved to our town. Mr. Boyd
is superintendent .of, the Eastern
Manufacturing Company of Selma.
A. T. Moore, a member of the
FayetteviUe club, accompanied Lt,
Governor McKethan and was a special
guest of the club.
Selma Boy Steps Up
Output For the War
An Air Service Command Depot In
England. When new battle tactics
dictate last-minute changes in com
bat airplanes Sgt. Wade M. Johns of
Selma, N. C. steps up his record
shattering output.
Bomb racks for fighter planes, ar
mor plate for bombers, parts for
propaganda bombs these are only a
few of the high-priority projects he
and his fellow soldier-technicians help
build in the metal manufacturing sec
tion of this Air Service Command
modification depot.
He and his buddies were recently
commended by their commanding gen
eral for their high speed production
which helped spur the aerial offen
sive against Western Europe.
He is the son Mrs. J. D. Johns of
Selma, N. C. .
Before he joined the army in Nov.
1942 he was employed as a Ship-
fitter by the Norfolk Navy Yard,
Portsmouth, Va.
Smithfield Man Found
Dead In His Bedroom
Funeral services were hold at the
graveside in Riverside cemetery-, in
Smithfield Wednesday afternoon of
last week for Ed J. Sasser, 67, an
employe of the Farmers tobacco
warehouse, who was found dead in
his room at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Victor Ogburn in Smithfield Tuesday
evening of last week about eight
o'clock. '
The rites were conduct by the
Rev. R H. Houston of the smithfield
Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Ogburn and children
were away from home for Christmas .
and discovered Mr. Sasser was dead
upon their return to their home. Mr.
Sasser had not been seen since
Saturday afternoon and it is thought
he suffered a heart attack.
Mr. Sasser was a son of the late
John W. and Patience Sasser of Boon
Hill township. He had lived in Smith
field for the past 25 years. His wife
died several years ago. He is survived,
by sixteen nieces and nephews.