North Carolina Newspapers

W CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES 40th YEAR. NO. 98. THREE SECTIONS TWENTY PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1951 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS I Beaufort Police Officers Hurt in Wednesday Crash Escaped Prisoner .Steals, Wrecks Tickup Truck Highway Patrolman Brown Apprehends James G. Rodman Monday Night S James G. Rodman, escapee from Newport prison camp, is back at the camp today after he'P'n* l.? harvest some corn, stealing a pick up truck and wrapping it around \ power pole, thereby causing a power outtage downeast for three quarters of an hour Monday night. Rodman walked away from a road gang working near highway 101 Monday. He then helped har vest some corn on the Henderson Oodette farm near Beaufort, but *hile Godette and another man ?ere away in a car, Rodman took Oodette's 1950 pickup truck loaded ?With corn and headed east. At the junction of highway 70 ?nd the Merrimon road he ran into ? power pole, jumped out of the Uuck and ran, according to wit nesses The crash caused the lights to go out from 7:15 P ">- '"J1 | power was flowing again at 8 p.m I according to George Stovall of Tide ?Water Power co. Patrolman H. G. Woolard inves gated the wreck while Patrolman H. Brown drove along highway 1 101 and between Core Creek and I the Mill creek road he spotted a I colored man walking. The Pac inian picked him up and he ad Imitted that he had escaped from (the road gang but denied knowing ??bout the truck. ? Rodman has been charged with ?escaping from the custody of the (/State Highway and Public Works ?tommission, careless and reckless ??riving, driving without a license, Bind larceny of a pickup truck_ ?Damage to the truck is estimated Bat $800. B The defendant's home address is ?trenton route 1. He was serving a ?xlx months' term for assault [Two Residents J p Atlantic Hurt I Mrs. Glennie F. Willis and Miss ?Lois Carolyn Rose, 16, of Atlantic, ?were injured at 6:25 p.m. Tues Iflay night, when the car in which Ittiey were riding overturned near ifcleve Gillikin's store, Bettie. B Miss Rose, who sustained a Hbroken collar bone, was released ?from Morehad City hospital Wed nesday, and Mrs. Willis was treat led there for lacerations of the nose Ead discharged. W The car was being driven by 17 ?tear-old Julian Willis, son of Mrs. ?Willis. According to Patrolman R. Hit. Brown who investigated, the ?car. a 1951 model, skidded as it was Bounding a curve. The group of Eix occupants was proceeding to Klorehead City where the four girls Eve re to play basketball. I The car went into a ditch and ?turned over on its top. Occupants Bn addition to the driver and in jured were Frances G. Fulcher and Kelores B. Willis. Patrolman Brown could not identify the Fourth girl. ? Mrs. Willis and Miss Rose were ?aken to the hospital by Deputy ?Sheriff Marshall Ayscue. The pa Krolman said cause of the accident Hvas slick tires. H.K. Simmons, TB Patient of Newport, Helps to Fight ' The W hite Plague ' seals iPnr0rOle Sale of Chrlstmas ?eals in Carteret county, Mrs. G man h!y' Sa'C camPa'8n chair man, has interviewed three tuber culosis patients. The first of these, his story"1""-0"5 Newport ?ells A few days ago I was asked this Si?;ld 1 help f.Kht't" ?nrf i t J was complimented as ihp at Mrs Spivey k?w anvthfj mC' lhi" 1 would d? anything on earth possible to fight this disease. Because you see this disease has kept me in bed now for almost five long years. "I must say this though for the people of Carteret county, that I ofn?.he h'S, "'Ul5' the garden sPot of the whole world, and since I Xe 1 am ?>*<> so. very glad that it could happen here where everyone is my friend. You frfpn/h r " some,hing about friendship for one really learns through years of sickness. My son and my son-in-law have begTn Wh d since'my illness began. When grass grows high in my fields and when my fields have needed planting or cultivating, my! neighbors have coine with their ho"' m.u.le!>; Plow, and have made It possible for them to carry on 1 have known the time when there were as many as twenty neighbors I my field at one time they have come from as far away as the forks r' p?*P?rt-. De<?P Cr0l'k and Cher ??a ? ; Klvmt! ,hcir 'abor. ff L ,k ,?ut of my w,"dow at the fields, J always thank God that 7ti?V tlere Carlt-?'t coun y The churches in my community am sure are God s own, because u ?w 'hat His love shines from -he hearts of their members. I have been remembered so many ^ durin,! my s'Ckness. , t,hat they always stand rea y to "c,p a neighbor in need. This foes not only apply (0 me, but to everyone jn the community My hunter friends still remem ber my love for this sport and drop by after a good hunt, bring me |ame and tell me about their In ymS? Ik**' i! C,l> ?oJ'OW al lcast lav m lh.0Ugh.U' 'hc joys of their day. My hair has been cut regular ly by Kit Norris, ply radio has been kept i? repair by Kred Ke? am) repairs were kept up on mv truck, until it wore out. by Moses See SIMMONS, Page 2 Allied Thief Still at Large The police department of More i Jead Cl,y reported today that James Allen, New Bern Negro in volved in a series of shop lifting 1 robberies last Friday in both More head City and Beaufort, is still at I large. San-lw a"??rd cohorts, Rudolph Saunders, 17, John Shepard, 16, hMrf 28' are in M?re head City jail awaiting trial Mon day in recorder's court. the?rf/iCh7 "crbcrt Gr.ffin said there has been no arrest made as yet in the recent theft of $210 from the Morehead Motor Parts co I fin?"? Stl" wa,"'nR ,or reports on finger prints taken from the cash register," the officer said Another robbery occurred Wed ihr ,niK,lt whon someone stole L?h?i c*ro?e "ms from the 1947 model Ford owned by C. E. Hent schel of Camp Glenn, police said An investigation is underway. H. K. Simmons, Newport, bed ridden with tuberculosis, appeals for support of the county Christmas Seal sale. March * of Dimes Official Lists Committees, Sets Drive Dates Mrs. Roma Noe, Beaufort, chair-< man of the 1952 March of Dimes campaign, today announced the dates of the drive, Jan. 2 through Jan. 31, and also named commit tees. The campaign is being sponsor ed by the Carteret Business and Professional Women's club of which Mrs. Noe is first vice-presi dent. Serving on committees are members of the Business and Pro fessional Women's club. Members of the schools committee and com munity chairmen throughout the county will be named next week. "The drive for 1952 will con tinue four instead of two weeks," Mrs. Noe explained, "because in flation has hit hard. The cost of restorative treatment for a polio patient has increased considerably as well as the cost for immediate treatment when a patient is strick en. Although , on a local level we have not been plagued with polio, we have drawn heavily, when it was necessary, on state and na tional funds. And I believe," she continued, "that each one of us wants to do his share in building up those funds so that if ever wo need them we won't be ashamed to ask." In charge of special gifts and corporate and business gifts is A. H. James, Morehead City, chairman of the county chapter, National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Chairman of the campaign in Morehead City is Mrs. John Alford and in Beaufort Mrs. Walter Las ker. Miss Ruth Peeling is publi city director. Other committees are as follows: March of Dimes cards, Mrs. Bonnie Davant. Miss Catherine Gaskill, Mrs. Violet Howard; coin collec tors, Mrs. Bessie Henderson. Mrs. Wiley Taylor, jr.; Mothers March on Polio, Mrs. Ottis Jefferson, Mrs. D. F. Merrill, Mrs. Bianda McLo hon, Mrs. Julia Tenney. Special events, Mrs. Gannon Tal-. bert, Mrs. Retha King; radie,, Mrs. Eva Johnson, Mrs. Taylor; motion picture, Mrs. Alford. Miss Peeling; clubs and organizations. Miss Bet ty Joyner and Miss Lil Morris; speakers, Mrs. Rebecca Smith; and sports, Ray Cummins. Members of all committees will meet Friday night, # Dec. 28. Railway Express Rates Rise . Railway express rates went up Wednesday. ? Railway Express Agency's North Carolina cuatomers now pay from three cents to ten cents per ship ment more for shipments handled between points within the state. The State Utilities commission aays the new rates will match rates recently approved by the Inter state Commerce commission. The three-cent increase will ap ply to shipments of food and drink. The ten-cent increase will affect illl other commodities. ' Railway Express Agency, inc., originally asked a total of 57 cents more per shipment It was allowed 20 cents more pending final re view of its requests. ^ Increase Limited The Interstate Commerce com nyssion limited the increase finally to a total of 30 cents per shipment on general business and 22.5 cents per shipment for food and drink. The utilities commission said in Its order that it had examined the (Railway Express petition carefully despite the fact that no protests were raised by the company's cus omers and "regardless of the fact iut the interstate rates had been iooely investigated by the Inter state Commerce commissi#? . . Railway Express told the utilities commission that its handling costs for the 12 months ending last June 30 totaled $981,440.77 in North Car olina. It said its intrastate reve nues for the some period totaled $831,861.24 ? or approximately $150,000 less than it spent. $170(06A Boost The new rates will boost the agency's North Carolina income by approximately $170,000 a year. The commission said this amount, add ed to present income, would pro Tide Table Tides at Beaufort Bar HIGH LOW Friday, Dec. 7 3:18 a.m. 3:37 p.m. 9:40 a.m. 9:52 p.m. Saturday, Dec. ? 4:18 a.m. 4:33 p.m. 10:43 a.m. 10:44 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 5:13 a.m. 5:25 p.m. 11:38 a.m. 11:32 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10 6:02 a.m. 6:15 pjn. 12:28 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11 8:47 a.m. 8:58 p.m. 12:17 a.m. 1:13 p.m. duce total revenues of $1,001,628 .52 a year. The express agency, a stock cor poration. is owned by the nation's railroads. Its profits and losses are shared by the railroads according to a formula based on the amounts of express the various roads hand led in 1937. Approximately 20 North Carolina railroads participate in Railway Ex press agency's operations and pro vide cars and train facilities for its North Carolina shipments. If the express agency's income is raised to the estimated $1,001,628, the commission said, these roads would receive approximately $20,187 to cover their express service costs. Freight Increase The North Carolina railroads al ready have petitioned the commis sion for at least one other increase ?a six per cent increase in intra state freight charges. Yesterday they went before the commission to ask for another ? a 10 per cent increase in passenger fares. If the passenger fare increase is granted, the cost of riding by train jetwsen North Carolina points will m raised from 2.5 cents a mile to L75 cents a mile. Pullman fares, however, must re- i See EXPRESS, Page 2 Sheriff Cracks < Down on Sellers Of Pistol Caps Sheriff C. G. Holland stated yes terday that two salesmen of illegal caps for toy pistols are expected to be apprehended within the next few days on charges of selling the caps in this county. Ten cartons of caps, each con taining 60 boxes, have already been confiscated, and are in possession of the sheriff. These were found at Newport. The distributors have been telling store owners that the caps may legally be sold. Sheriff Holland said that the in vestigation of illegal fireworks sale is being carried on by his office. Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ayscue and the State Bureau of Investiga tion. The sheriff issued a warning to all store owners stating that after next week if any caps are found in stores, the owner will be prose cuted. If however, the owner calls the sheriff's office within the com ing week and reports that he has the caps, someone from the sheriff's office will pick them up. The store owner will not be arrest ed but he may be requested to ap pear as a state's witness. Tenants to Get g Rental Statement Thursday, Nov. 29, was the last day of the 45-day period since Oct. 15, 1951, that was provided for the registration by landlords of all ren tal units in the Carteret county defense rental area, John Blair Mason, associate area rent director, said today. "Tenants' copies of the registra tions are being malied to the ten ants so that they may be fully ad vised of the contents of the regis tration statements applicable to the housing accomodations that they occupy," Mason said. There should be a registration statement filed by the landlord for every rental unit in the area and each tenant in the area should get a copy of that registration. In the event that any tenant doesn't re ceive .a copy of the registration statement of the accommodations occupied by him, he is urged and expected to make inquiry at the area rent office regarding his copy within t?n days from Nov. 30, 1951, | no later than Monday, Mason de clared. Pelletier Girl to Answer Charges in Court Dec. 18 Betty Ann llardison, 17, Pellc- i tier, has been charged with driv- < ing while intoxicated and without t a driver's license as the result of I an accident at 7:45 p.m. Thursday on highway 24 two miles east of i Swansboro. ; W. E. Pickard of the State High- t way patrol reported that the girl 1 was proceeding west in a 1950 I model car owned by Luther Paul Jones. Pelletier, when she ran off 1 the road and struck a tree. i Damage to the car was estimated t at *50. The case has been sched- I uled for trial Tuesday, Dec. 18, in t recorder's court, Beaufort t 4 Bogue Children Attend School j At Morehead City County Education Board Re ceives Audit for 1950 1951 Fiscal Year Colored children from the one room school at Bogue are now at tending the W. S. King school. Morehead City. The change was made Wednesday following ap proval of the county board of edu cation in monthly session Monday afternoon at the court house an nex. H. L. Joslyn, superintendent of schools, reported that all school buses were okayed during their re cent inspection. He also gave a summary of the status of the edu cation system in the county at present. The board was informed that a $700 bid had been entered for the Cedar Island school property and $275 for the Otway school proper ty. The two were put up for sale Monday noon. Audit Presented According to the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1951, which was presented to the board, land, buildings and equipment owned by the county education sys tem are valued at $1,818,050. At the end of the fiscal year the school operating fund had just about reached rock-bottom with $23.76. The board of education is in debt to the tune of $286,284 (bonds), in terest in default totals $14,279.12, making a total bonded debt of $300,563.12. Loans payable to the state are as follows: state literary loan $40,495.50 and special build ing fund $81,969.04. State Fays Half Million Paid by the state for operation of county schools last year was more than half a million dollars, $520, 998.12, distributed as follows: teachers salaries $484,990.97, voca tional education $12,563.26, vet trailing program ffl *68.34 iuiu h room program $j 1,810.46, and to textbook clerk $465.09. Received from county courts in fines and forfeitures was $11, 444.25, ad valorem tax $26,056.35, poll tax $3.2 17.50, dog tax $732. See SCHOOL, Page 2 PTA Members Will View Art Work < An exhibit of prize-winning school art, grades 1-6. will be shown Monday night at Morehead City school in conjunction with the monthly Parent-Teacher meeting. Approximately 05 paintings and drawings, done by children from all over the state, will be on dis play. The art work won prizes in the 1950-51 contest sponsored by the Greater University of North Caro lina to foster interest in art. Work by pupils of Morehead City school will be entered in this year's con test. Monday night's exhibit is being shown under the auspices of the literary and art department of the Morehead City Woman's club. The literary and art department last year sponsored an art contest in the school and is working with the school in increasing opportunities for children to express themselves through art. Supervising tomorrow night's ex hibit are Mrs. George McNeill, Mrs. Rosalie Dowdy, Mrs. Robert Taylor, all of the literary and art rlcpartment, and Mrs. Robert Wil- 1 liams. a member of the Morehead 1 City faculty. A program by Mrs. Byrd Wade's fifth grade will also be presented at the PTA meeting following a brief business session. The meet ing begins at 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Morehead City Firemen Answer Three Alarms Morehead City fire department < inswered three alarms this week, i \t .1 p.m. Monday an indoors lothes line caught fire at 2201 I \rcndell st. The line was strung ( >vcr the space heater and clothes I hat were hanging on it ignited, t Damage was slight. ' A fire occurred at 11:20 Tuesday ! norninc at 1103 Evans at. due to I i faulty chimney. Here again t here was no serious damage. The t lomc is owned by Kenneth Wag- I ler, Morehead' City, and is rented, t Smoke pouring out of air vents cd to an alarm at 4 p.m. Tuesday I n the 3100 block of Evans St., in he home formerly occupied by Ro- t and Barbour. There was no blaie I ind firemen returned to the sta- t ton. ( Truck Hits Police Car; Garner , Finer Remain in Hospital j Police Chief Carlton Garner and Officer Bertie Clyde Piner of Beaufort are recovering today in Moreheud City hospital from injuries received at 1 : 1 0 Wednesday after noon when a truck collided with the police car at the inter section of Broad and Pollock St. The chief is suffering from a contusion of the right knee and sprained back and Finer sus tained lacerations about the face, contusions and bruises of the body. I)r. John Way, attending physician, said yesterday their conditions are very satisfactory. The officers were going to a fire when the accident occurred, pro ceeding north on Pollock st., when the truck, owned by the Interna tional Fulpwood co., going east on Broad, smacked into them, accord ing to J. W. Sykes, state highway patrolman who investigated. The log truck, which was empty at the time, was driven by Charles Raymond Courtney, colored, of Merrimon. With him were two other men. All escaped injury. Car Demolished The police car is demolished and damage to the truck was estimated at $200. Chief Garner, who was driving, was thrown out, uncon scious, and Piner's head shattered the windshield. The chief was taken to Morehead City hospital by Hiram Kerr of Enfield, former member of the Beaufort police force, and Robert Mades. Finer was taken to the hospital in the Adair ambulance. Courtney said that he was un able to hear the police siren on the car because of the fire alarm's booming, but others contend the alarm was not blowing at the time of the accident. Investigation Continues No charges have been made, pending further investigation. Among witnesses to the accident i arc C. L. and Leland Peterson and Dan Walker, town clerk. The fire to which the officers were going occurred at the Louis Fenderson home where a stove overheated. The alarm was sent in from box 36, Queen and Pine st. Furniture in the home was damaged and firemen would have returned to ^he station in about 20 minute.*^*. 1 ? : kppeJJ on the wiy back t^p.>ur wter on the police car which was smoking. Engineer Elmond Rhue said the battery had shorted, and a hole was knocked in the gas tank, cre ating a potentially hazardous con dition unless precautions were taken. The former police wagon, now used by the street department, has been pressed into service as a po lice car. Capt. Charlie Thomas, who started work as an additional policeman, due to the holiday rush, is on duty and also Officer Max well Wade. Band Association Plans for Future Projects for the future were out lined Wednesday night at the meeting of the Morehead City Band association in the school audi torium. Officers were elected and reports were heard on funds raised during the past three years. The association plans in the fu ture to remodel the music room, build music cabinets, purchase uni forms for the drum majorettes and keep up with current band ex penses such as transportation. In the past three years $3,400 worth of instruments have been purchased and $3,500 spent for uni forms. New officers of the organization are James B. Willis, president. Dr. D. J. Eure, vice-president; G. T. Windell, secretary; I. E. Pittman, treasurer; Ethan S. Davis, publici ty chairman, and members of the board of directors are as follows: Bruce Goodwin, retiring president, Mrs. J. Dewey Willis, Mrs. J. W. Jackson, Mrs. Cecil J. Nelson, il. L. Joslyn, Earl Freeman and Grady Rich. The association was entertained by the band under the direction Df Ralph Wade who announced that the annual winter concert will take place in January. Each person who contributes $1 ar more to the band becomes a member of the band association. Received this week from Fred Roberts, chairman of the Raleigh Christmas parade, was a letter ihanking the band for appearing in he parade Nov. 26. Roberts said. 'Your band made a very good ihowing and we were proud to lave it in the parade. We hope hat we can invite you again some ime in the future and that we will lave the pleasure of your participa ion and cooperation." Director Visits Port Col. George Gillette, executive lirector of the North Carolina >orts authority, spent several days hi* week *t the Morehead City ?ort. # . County Little Symphony Campaign Continues The Little Symphony drive has been extended beyond the Wednesday deadline and reports on the number of memberships sold should be made tomorrow to Mrs. Dick Parker who will be at Eastern Kulane, Front St., Beau fort. Sponsoring the Little Sym phony membership drive are the Junior Woman's elubs of Beau fort and Morehead City. The symphony will appear at Beau fort school in the spring. Per sons wishing to subscribe to membership should contact Mrs. Parker tomorrow. Town to Maintain Road by Post / Office at Newport Commissioners Discuss Homes Project; Pay $125 Toward Firemen's Dues At the request of Leon A. Mann, postmaster, the town of Newport has agreed to maintain the road by the post office. The road is used ex tensively by passenger buses and the public in general, as well as by the highway post office, according to Henry Ed wards, Newport rural mail carrier, who presented a let ter from the postmaster to the town board Tuesday night. .lp re?t<1 ia tb?* Newport vet* erans' howLfwc^-fVct <>mimkslon er Orrwft/Mtnn smd that he was becoming increasingly annoyed by members of the housing associa tion telling him that the town of Newport has not done anything to help the veterans get their houses built. Attorney Comments Attorney George Ball remarked, "The town of Newport has done everything it said it would do and more." He also reported that the veterans have contacted a contrac tor who said he would put in the streets on credit and that the FHA has been contacted in regard tc giving veterans a loan on water works and septic tanks. Commissioner Ormsby Mann re called that the town had lent the veterans $470 for maps, surveys, and engineers' fees. "I'm getting tired of people coming and telling me what we haven't done," he add cd. The town is still seeking a con tractor to erect the water tank Commissioners Ormsby and Karly Mann declared they would like tc see the tank go up, if only to pre serve it. Mayor C. A. Gould, jr., reported See NEWPORT, Page 2 Pelletier Boy * Survives Accident John Fountain Jones, 9. of Pel letier. is recovering in Morchead City hospital from injuries received Monday. Nov. 26. in an automobile accident on the fitclla road. Also injured was Alton Kay Brown, 16. of 'Pelletier. The driver of the r, Lloyd Allen Jones, 18, brother of the 9-year-old, escaped without injury but is being charged with driving without an operator's li cense. According to State Highway Pa trolman J. W. Sykes. who investi gated the accident, the driver, in a 1930 model A Ford, was proceed ing south along the road when he said another car. driven by Dr. James P. Corbett of Swansboro came toward him. The Corbett car, Jones told the patrolman, was in the middle of :he road and to avoid hitting it, , lones pulled to the right and the :ar turned over, throwing the 9 ,'ear old out. ? Dr. Corbett stopped and stated | hat the boy should be rushed to , he hospital and then he took . trow n to his office at Swansboro . vhere he treated him for lacera- | ions of the face and head. The i ford was demolished. < The Jones lad suffered a frac ured skull and had lacerations of < he face. The driver will be given i i hearing in Tuesday's session of i ecorder's court, Beauiort ( Officers Take IS Cases of Whiskey From Motorist Greenville Man Faces Series Of Charges; Patrolmen Make Arresl After Chase Sixteen cases of non-tax paid whiskey have been turned over to the sheriff and a Greenville man faces numerous charges as the re sult of a lickety-split ehase Wed nesday afternoon on highway 101. Charged with speed in exeess of 90 miles an hour, possessing and transporting non-tax paid whiskey, careless and reckless driving, and hit and run is .Jeston Henson Gruirkins, 25. white employee of the city of Greenville who was re leased from the county jail yes terday under $500 bond. Gruirkins was being chased by Lt. T. B. Brown and Sgt. V. L. Spruill of the State Highway pa trol who spotted him with a load of whiskey in a 1951 automobile at Harlowe. Gruirkins lit out for Beaufort at better than 90 miles an hour with the patrolmen on his tail. But eight miles north of Beaufort at the intersection of the Ball road and highway 101 he sideswipcd a truck owned by George and Ray mond Ball of Newport RFD. The one and a halt ton truck, a 1951 model, was being driven by Zachaich Hodge of North Harlowe. The accident occurred when Hodge, who was also headed toward Beau fort. attempted to turn left as Gruirkins was passing him. Gruirkins sailed on but one quarter of a mile further on the road, the hood of his car flew up, the car ran in a ditch, and Gruir kins jumped out. He started to run but the highway patrolmen took after him and took him in custody. Patrolman Contacted Lt. Brown and Sgt. Spruill radio ed for Patrolman J. W. Sykes to ! head Gruirkin? off Mine he reach ed Beaufort, but the wftiskey trans porter had his difficulties before Patrolman Sykes could carry out his orders. Patrolman Sykes took Gruirkins to jail and Patrolman R. H. Brown made the report on the accident. Gruirkins car is owned by James I). Mathis of Greenville. Further investigation is underway on whether Mathis is involved in the whiskey transportation. Damage to the car was estimated at $300 and to the truck $50. Firemen Re-Elect Grady Bell Chief Grady Bell was re-elected fire ?hief Monday night at the monthly neeting of the Morehead City fire iepartment. Chief Bell was seri >usly injured early this year in a "ire truck accident and while he vas recovering EldoA Nelson ;erved as chief. Nelson was elect ?d assistant chief for the coming /ear. Other officers arc James Grif in, captain; John Parker, lieuten ant; Vincent Lawrence, secretary; ind Earl Freeman, treasurer. In addition to electing officers the fire department agreed to spend $200 to decorate the fire sta tion for the Christmas holidays, the department will distribute boxes of groceries to needy fami lies, and the fire truck will park sometime during the holidays, in the downtown business district with Santa Claus aboard to hand out fruit to the youngsters. The time and place of this event will be announced later. During the business session Chief Bell's suggestion that the fire department purchase a Bible and open each meeting with prayer was approved. Love oi Nature Causes Anlo Accident Sunday To avoid hitting a (ox. Robert Earl King. USMC. Cherry Point, in a 1947 model coupe turned upside down several times at 2:43 a.m. Sunday morning on highway 24 eleven miles west of Morehead City in the Gales Creek section. King told Highway Patrolman J. W. Sykes that he was proceeding (long the road at 50 miles in hour when a fox jumped out of the woods and ran across the road. He aid he couldn't bear hitting it ?o lie cut to the left, ran off the road, urned turtle several times, and ?amc out without a scratch. The car was demolished. No :harges hive been preferred igainst King, but Patrolman Sykes s stiil looking for the fox for quea ioning.