North Carolina Newspapers

PRIZE-WINNING NEWSPAPER wt tbu TAR HEEL COAST CARTERET COUNTY NEWS-TIMES ?<* 46th YEAR, No. 98. FOUR SECTIONS TWENTY-SIX PAGES MOREHEAD CITY AND BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1956 PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS Elmer Willis Starts Sweet Potato Puree Plant, Williston nnvb ijvvno A small industry, a sweet potato puree plant, with "a practically un limited potential" began operation at Williston Wednesday. t The quoted remarks were made by Dr. Hubert Harris of the Horti culture Department, Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Auburn, Ala. He said the plant is the only one of its kind In the entire Southeast. The i.weet potato puree plant went into production after months of work on the part of its owner, Klmer Willis, a man who processes clams by the millions. Mr. Willis * also builds fine boats. Dr. Harris was at Williston Wed nesday for the start of the 'is owned plant and so was Dr. Ivan D. Jones of the Horticulture De partment of N. C. State College, Raleigh. The two professors were enthusi astic over the test runs made and were not at all discouraged that a motor burned out in the potato dis integration machine. It was being repaired Wednesday afternoon. Also here for the plant start were W. D. Hall Jr., Atlanta, Ga., and Robson Dunwody, West Chester, Pa., eastern representatives of Rietz Manufacturing Co., Santa Rosa, Cal., makers of the intricate machinery for pureeing the sweet potatoes for baby food, pies, souf fles, puddings, and other dishes in which sweet potatoes can be used. Dr. Jones and Dr. Harris, to gether with Mr. Willis, said Gerry Albright and Ed Hufman of the small industries section of the com- ' merce and industry division of the Department of Conservation and Development have been "of ma- 1 terial assistance" in helping get the puree plant into operation. Some technical problems remain to be worked out, Dr. Jones said, but added he foresaw no real dif ficulty in Mr. Willis being able "to 4 turn out a high quality sweet po tato puree." Dr. Harris agreed. The unique plant represents an investment of approximately $25, 000. Mr. Willis will work about ten people, but more will be added in anticipated expansions in the fu ture. Raw materials will be no prob lem. This is a land in which the Puerto Rico variety of sweet pota to is grown in considerable abund ance. The food processing plant also is 4 carrying out the strongly expressed hopes of Governor Hodges, William P. Saunders, director of the De partment of Conservation and De velopment, State College officials, and others for more plants to pro cess North Carolina-grown prod ucts These officials have repeatedly said too many North Carolina prod ucts are shipped outside the state to be processed and it is tragic in many instances that these same products are sent back to this state to be sold to Tar Heels. The Willis plant will, at the start, process about 400 bushels of sweet potatoes daily. Rites Conducted For Paul White The funeral service for Paul J. White, 37, who died soon after mid night Tuesday was conducted at Reidsville, his hometown, yester day. Mr. White died of carbon mon oxide poisoning. Coroner Leslie D. Springle, said he took his own life. Mr. White was found in the bread truck he drove, on N. 25th Street, Morehead City. Morehead City police officers, . Lt. Carl Bunch and Patrolman Walter Thomas went to the truck, as did Sgt. Elmer Veitch and Sgt. William L. Buckles of the Marine military police detachment. A hose had been run from the exhaust pipe of the truck into the cab. Artificial respiration and uae of the reauscitator from the Beau fort Fire Department failed ts re vive Mr. White. Dr. W. M. Brady was also called. lie made his home with his ' wife, Mrs. Frances Scott White and his three children at the MJcN Apartments, Morehead City. In terment was in Grccnview ceme tery, Reidsville. Coroner Springle said there would be no inquest. v Month is Ushered In by Heavy Frost The flrit day of Dcccmbcr came In with the heaviest frost of the winter, according to weather ob server E. Stamcy Davia. Sunday saw another frost, but since then the weather has warmed steadily, until the temperature reached 71 Tuesday and Wednesday. Maximum and minimum temper atures and wind direction for the first five days of the month follow: Mm. Mia. Wind Saturday 51 SI NW Sunday ? 33 SW Monday 61 ? SW Tuesday 71 41 S Wednesday T1 47 SSE 1 i'noio oy iw> Elmer Willis, left, discusses the new plant operation with Dr. Ivan Jones, eenter, and Dr. Hubert Harris, right. Newport's Holiday Lights Will Go on Tomorrow Newport's Christmas lights, put i up by the firemen, are scheduled i to be turned on tomorrow. At the meeting of the fire dc-j partmcnt Monday night at the | town hall, plans were made fori the community Christmas tree. Santa Claus will be at the tree, located by the depot, from 2 to 5, p.m. Monday, Dec. 24. He will have fruit, candy and toys for the youngsters. Santa's visit is sponsored each year by the firemen. During the business session Mon day night, fire department officers were elected for the coming year. They are C. A. Gould Jr., chief; Bcmrie R. Garner, tassistlht chief; George Green, captain; Fred Kcl lr: lieutenant; AfYfi KMiotf, "sec retary; and John Lilly, treasurer. On their recent light bulb sale the firemen cleared $270 and made $55 on the Carolina Partners show sponsored Friday night. Fire Commissioner Wilbur Gar ner spoke to the men, commend ing them on their work and com munity spirit. Firemen recently completed an addition to the fire station and now all three trucks arc housed in a heated building. Jaycees Plan Yuletide Charity To raise money for their annual Christmas charity program, Beau fort Jaycees will sponsor a bread sale and give away either a shot gun or vacuum cleaner this month. In charge of the Christmas activ ity arc James Steed and Thomas Eure. The bread sale has been scheduled for Wednesday night, Dec. 19. Jaycees will take loaves of bread from door to door. Per sons buying the bread are asked to be as generous as possible. Jaycccs will announce later their decision on the item to be raffled off. Tommy Potter, chairman of the Christmas dance, announces that the dance will be at 8:30 Saturday night, Dec. IS, at the Scout hut, Beaufort. Jaycees will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Scout hut. 34 Cotton Farmers Are Eligible to Vote Tuesday Thirty-four cotton farmers are eligible to vote Tuesday in the cotton quota and marketing ref erendum. B. J. May, ASC manager, says that balloting will take place at his office in the postofficc build ing at Beaufort from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The present cotton acreage allotment for Carteret is 77 acres. Cotton farmers vote annually on quotas. Tide Table TMe* at the Beaufort Bar HIGH LOW Friday, Dec. 7 11:17 a.m. 5:04 a.m. 11:47 p.m. 1:43 p.m. Saturday, Dcc. 6 1159 a m. 5:46 a.m. 6:23 p.m. Sunday, Dec. t 12:33 a.m. 6:34 a.m. 12:45 p.m. 7:06 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 1:23 a.m. 7:26 a.m. 1:34 p.m. 7:SJ p.m. Taeaday, Dec. 11 2:14 a.m. 6:27 a.ia: 2:26 p.m. 1:43 p.m. WMM' C. A. Gould Jr. . . . new fire chief Board Authorizes Sale of School The County Board of Education has authorized the sale of the present Markers Island School af ter it is vacated and the new school occupied. This action was taken at the board meeting Monday afternoon in the education office, courthouse annex, Beaufort. The board met with the county commissioners and the health board to appoint a new member of the county ABC board, E. W. Downum, Beaufort. Members were presented with complimentary tickets to Newport basketball games. H. L. Joslyn, secretary to the board, was re quested to write Coach Robert King, Newport, and thank him for the tickets. R. W. Safrit Jr., Beaufort, chair man of the board, presided. Other members present were D. Mason, Atlantic; Theodore Smith, Davis; W. B. Allen, Newport, and George R. Wallace, Morchcad City. Mr. Joslyn left Tuesday to at tend the school superintendents' conference, Durham. He will re turn today. Newport Boy Scouts who received merit badges at the Court of Honor at Marshallbcrg Sunday night were Johnny Thrower, Buddy Norris, Mclvin Fleming and Everett Clark. Rector Dedicates West End Station Wednesday Night Ceremony Follows Fi?h Fry; D. J. Hall Accept* Building for Town The Rev. E. Guthrie Brown, rec tor o( St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, dedicated the West End substation, Morehead City tire Department, following a fish fry Wednesday night. Approximately 150 persons at tended the fish fry and ate piping hot mullet and roe prepared by Morehead City's dean of cuisine, Sam Adler. Also on the menu was potato salad, slaw, cornbread, coffee and colas. Firemen esti mate they made $157. | George Stovall a member of; the fire department, was master of ceremonies for the dedication. Mr. Stovall commented that the fire station was built with funds .olicited by the firemen who do nated their labor to put the build ing up. Congratulates Chief He said the project showed what | could be done by people working together, lie congratulated Fire Chief Vernon Guthrie and termed the building one of the finest Finer Carolina projects. Mr. Stovall is manager of Carolina Power and Light Co which sponsors through out its territory the Finer Caro lina contest to promote commun ity improvement. Chief Guthrie turned over to t>. J Hall fire commissioner, the keys to 'the building. Commission er Hall accepted the building on behalf of the town and thanked the chief and his men for their work. , ... . Mr. Brown, in the dedication ad : dress, termed fire one of man s greatest blessings, but said that I it could also be a curse. Fire, he remarked, provides man with ' warmth, makes it possible for him | to cat palatable food, and enables him to producc products in a lac '"Although it can cause distress and unhappwess, he continued, God has given man the ability to protect himself from fire Man, he said, has the ability to design the fire truck which is be mg j housed at the new station He (AS the ability also to make effective fire-fighting equipment, "and God has provided stout-hearted men to be our firemen." Concludes with 1'rayer He concluded his talk with a ded icatory prayer. Town officials present, in addi tion to Commissioner Hall, wcrei Commissioners Ted Garner, Jas-| per Bell, Gibbie Sanderson, and John Lashley, town clerk. Mayor George Dill was present for a few moments but had to leave on a business call. The new station is located on Arendell Street in the 3300 block. In addition to the new truck, the department's recently - acquired tank truck is housed there. Both are painted red and white. The interior walls of the station arc painted aqua, with the living quarters finished in striated ply wood. Nolan McCabe and Daniel Willis arc the engineers on duty. With the new telephone arrange ment, a fire call, ?-414t, will ring in both the downtown station and the substation. Other calls to the downtown station should be dialed on 6-5060 and to the West End station 6-3001. Down East Lions to Meet At Sea Level Inn Monday Down East Lions will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Sea Level Inn. During the business session they will plan the Christmas party and charter night observance for Fri day night, Dec. 21, at the inn. Clerk Reports Saving to Town On Laying of Sewers Near Bridge Beaufort town clerk Dan Walker reported Monday night that the town had saved at Icaat $17,000 on installation of sewer lines in the vicinity of the new bridge. Reporting to the town board at tfee city hall. Mr. Walker said that first estimates on relaying sewer line* ran between $20,000 and $25, 000. The actual cost will probably run under $3,000. he said. Mr. Walker gave much of the credit to city engineer Gray Has scll, and Wardcll Fillingamc's street department. Suggestions Made Mr. Walker also read a request from R. Markham, division en gineer for the highway department. The highway commission, said Mr. Markham, believes it would be to the best interest of both the city and the highway commission to dead-end Moore Street next to the new bridge project. "Since the project ia some 4V4 feet above the level of Moore SU?i," Mr. Markham wrote, "we feel that It would be a dangerous intersection." The town board ex pressed an opinion that they thought a satisfactory intersection could be constructed, but expressed willingness to discuss the situation with the highway commission. Fire Commissioner Julius Dun can submitted hia resignation in the form of a letter. Since Mr Duncan did not give his reasons for the action, the board did not take the matter up, deciding to wait until the next meeting to act. Commissioner Math Chaplain suggested that an antl scratch-off ordinance be drawn up by town attorney Gene Smith. The motion was passed, and Mr. Smith will have the ordinance prepared by the next meeting. Mr. Walker reported that no revised plan had been received from the League of Municipalities on the traffic problem at the school. Commissioners William Rogr Hamilton and Chaplain reported that they are working on a taxi ordinance. Mr. Walker and Mr Fillingame reported "no progress" on the problem of townspeople using the city dump. The town attorney reported that there were insufficient funds in the estate of Edward Halton to meet town and county taxes and the board relicTed the clerk of responsibility for collection. Discussing the parking situation, the commissioners laid that the probable reasoit that parking meter collection! were below normal was that money is acarcc in the eastern part of the county. This has been a bad year for fishermen and farmers alike, they said. A parking lot behind the 400 block of Front Street was dis cussed, but no action was taken. Mayor Clifford Lewis presided. Commissioners present, in addi tion to Commissioners Chaplain and Hamilton, were Otis Mades, Gerald Hill, and James Rumlcy. !? 3 3 5- Acre Reduction Means Quarter Million Dollar Loss Merry Christmas from Mr. Lari Alexander Scorpione Lari, former resident of Beaufort now living in New York City, has sent a hand drawn Christmas greeting to THE NEWS-TIMES. The etching, above, shows the menhaden boat, Ten derheart, at dork. Mr. Lari, *ho visits here occasionally, also sent the newspaper a lovely Christmas greeting last year showing a waterfront scene he had drawn. Nathan Minor Figures in Two Cases in Court Yesterday Scallop Season Opens Monday The scallop season opened Mon day and according to Roy Eubanks, : jmc o i the schnbt beys in the ^asl'TK part of the county are missing school just to go scallop ing. Mr. Eubanks said a good scal lopcr can make $30 a day. Pay for shucking a gallon of scallops is a dollar and an oxpert shuckcr can open 12 gallons a day. A person can catch as many as 25 bushels a day. The price, Mr. Eubanks says, is running from $4 to $4.25 a gallon. The license for j taking scallops is $2.50 plus 75 ! cents per foot on the boat. Mr. Eubanks commented that j the folks can't understand why the law now requires that they must have a license to catch scal lops for just their own use. Officer Reports Two Whiskey Raids Fifty and a half gallons of boot leg whisky were seized by Mar shall Ayscue, county ABC officcr, and other authorities over the weekend in Beaufort. Found in the home of George Sparrow Friday afternoon were 38'i gallons. They were hidden in the bedroom Located Saturday under a trap door in the bedroom at the home of Nathan Minor and his wife, Queen Street, were 12 gallons. The Minors and Sparrow have been charged with possession of illegal whisky. Accompanying Officcr Ayscue on the raids were federal officers, members of the sheriff's depart ment and the Beaufort policc de partment. ? Nathan Minor has been fined $50< ami costs for selling bootleg whis ky in his home, 307 Queen St., Beaufort. Judge L. R. Morris set the fine in yesterday's session of county recorder's court. He warned Minor that if he were brought in again, it would mean two years on the roads. Beaufort Police Chief Guy Sprin gUif ied that he parked across the* js tweet from Minor's home Saturday night and watched a steady stream of customers enter and leave the house. He notified county ABC officer Marshall Ays cue, and the same night Chief Springlc, Officer Ayscue, and As sistant Chief of Police W. C. Gar ner raided the house. Th6y found two glasses which the defendant was using to serve drinks. After a search, they lo cated a trap door in the floor which was concealing 24 jars of moonshine. In a case against William Hen derson, Minor and his wife ap peared as state's witnesses. While they were away from home Sun day, they claim someone broke into their house and took Mrs. Minor's purse, which she said con tained $74. A next door neighbor, Annie Ruth Ncwkirk, testified that she saw Henderson leaving the Minor house with a black purse between 10 and 11 a.m. Henderson and his wife testi fied that they spent the day in Harlowc with a group of fisher men and their girl friends. Judge Morris continued a judgment on the case, asking the sheriff to check all the testimonies in the case. Henderson, who was picked up by deputy sheriff Bruce Edwards Wednesday night, is being held in the county jail without bond. Woodmen Elect New Officers Elections were conducted at the Woodmen of the World Camp, Morehead City, Monday night. The following officers were elect ed: Robert A. Andrews, post con sul commander; Gerald V. Phil lips. consul commandcr; James W. Bell, advisor lieutenant; Len nis O. Brinson Sr., banker; James Pittman III, escort; Jesse Kirk man, watchman; Ottia Kittrell, sentry; E. B Thompson, Earl Sells, and Earl Whitley, camp audi tors; Dr. S. W. Hatcher, camp physician; and R. L. Turnagc, fi nancial. ?ecretary. Camp 1M will observe its 50th anniversary the 20th of this month. All members and their wlvei are invited to attend an oyster roast that night at the Woodmen Hall, beginning at 7. Members of 25 or more years will be presented lapel pins. Firemen Identified The "unidentified fireman" in the picture of the Jones house (ire in Tuesdays' paper was Assistant Chief Bennie R. Garner, Newport. Assistant Chief Garner also reports that Cherry Point firemen assisted on the call to the Durwood Sander son home near Newport last week. Wins Promotion Lester W. Willis, USCG, formerly of Morchead City has been pro moted to the rank of lieutenant This rating followed successful completion by Lieutenant Willis of tests in seamanship, navigation, electronics, electricity and steam engineering. The lieutenant is commanding officer of the Agassiz, Coast Guard cutter which recently left this area for a new station at Cape May, N. J. Lieutenant Willis and his family are living at 304 Arctic Ave., North Cape May, N. J. Boats Make Good Hauls This Week Menhaden boats made trcmcn dou< catches of fish Wednesday. Almost every boat came in with the sideboards up. So many fish were caught that factories couldn't unload the boats fast enough. Five boats were still waiting yesterday morning to be unloaded at Beaufort Fisheries and four boats were still waiting to get into the Fish Meal plant. It was doubtful if all would be unloaded in time to get out yes terday to get more fish. Some of the boats that did not have capa city loads Wednesday night went out again Thursday morning, with out unloading, to fill up their holds. This week has been the firit with ideal fishing weather. The 20 per cent cut in Hue cured tobacco acreage will mean a reduction of 335 acres in this county, B. J. May, ASC manager, said yes terday. I Carteret's acreage during the past season was 1.676. The cut will reduce the acreage to 1,341 and fig uring yield at a conservative 1,500 pounds an acre, Mr. May says this will mean a reduction of production by 502.500 pounds. In dollars and cents this consti tutes a reduction of $226,125 in po tential tobacco income to Carteret farmers (figuring sale of leaf at 45 cents a pound). The ASC manager remarked that tobacco means a two million dollar income to this county annually on an average production of four mil lion pounds. Mr May added that the soil bank payment for flue-cured tobaceo acreage has been set at 18 cents a pound, but there is a clamor for higher payment. At present, Jan. 1. 1957 has been set as the date for farmers to start signing up to put their flue-cured acreage in the soil bank. Since the 20 per cent cut, total acreage in the entire flue-cured production area is 712,600. North Carolina's acreage, since the cut, is 469,285. The cutback has been necessary because of the tremendous supplies of flue-cured tobacco stacked in warehouses. Drag-Racers Give Notice of Appeal Monday Morning Abron George Ballou and Norma Dene Harper, found guilty of drag racing on Arendell Street, posted $100 bonds in Morehead City re corder's court Monday and ap pealed to superior court. ballou was fined $25 and costs since it was his third conviction of motor vehicle violations. It was Mis Harper's first offense. She was fined $15 and costs. Charlie Wickizer was found guilty of public drunkenness and sentenced to 30 days in jail. It was also found that he had violated the terms of another 30-day sen tence, so he will serve both sen tences at the same time. Three Pay $100 Three drivers were fined $100 and costs for drunken driving. They were James Redmond Tate, James Taylor, and James Roger Cummings. Cummings paid an ad ditional $25 on a no-license con viction. Adelino Pcreira, who turned from Arendell Street to 32nd Street while going above the speed limit and spun his car around, was fined $50 for speeding and careless and reckless driving. He also surrendered his license for three months. John Parker Bryant paid $25 and costs for assaulting his wife. The state did not try B. A. Jones on assaulting his wife due to lack of evidence, but he was fined costs for another count, public drunk enness. George Carlis Williams Jr. was not tried on a disturbing the peace Sec COURT, Page 2 Clerk of Court Gives Finance Report to Board Court receipt! for the month of November were reported by A. H. James, clerk of Superior Court, to the county board at its meeting Monday at the courthouse, Beau fort. The total was $1,882.37. Received from Morehead City Recorder's Court wai $1,284, Superior Court $415.25, County Recorder's court $2, lM.lt and probate and clerk'* fees amounted to $75.14. Mr. James estimated that the Frank Boyette trial during the November term cost the county approximately $2,000, and (he en tire term cost between $3,000 and $4,000. Lawyers to Provide Aid To Certified Welfare Cases In cooperation with the County Welfare Department the County Bar Association has offered legal aid to persons in need of a law yer's advice but unable to afford it. Miss Georgic Hughes, superin tendent of the County Welfare De partment, said that frequently there are situations where a hus band deserts his wife and children. A lawyer's services are necessary but the deserted wife is unable to afford it. As ? result, proper action Is not taken to make the wayward hus band support the family, and the mother and children have to be supported by welfare funda. Gene Smith, Beaufort attornrjr, president of the bar association, said that the lawyers do much work without pay but this la the first time they have made an ar rangement to help needy caaea certified by welfare officiala. Mr. Smith said that he and other attorneys believe the arrangement will be beneficial both to them and the welfare department.