North Carolina Newspapers

Population City Limits 7.206 Trading Area 1 5,000 (1945 Ration Board Figure*) Kings Mountain's RELIABLE Newspaper 14 Pages Today VOL 63 NO. 8 Established 1889 Kings Mountain, N. C., Thursday, February 19, 1953 II Sixty-Third Year PRICE FIVE CENTS Local News Bulletins * . * * \ to GRADUATE (Miss Betty Riser, daughter . of Mr, and Mrs. A. S. Klser of route 3, is one of twenty-eight students to graduate from Ap palachian State Teachers Col lege, Boone, -at the end of the winter quarter, February 27.. HOSPITALIZED Otis Falls, proprietor of City Service Station, is a patient in Kings Mountain hospital, where he is suffering with a stomach ailment. He was re ported somewhat improved Wednesday afternoon. TUESDAY FIRE ? City firemen answered a cal. to Loom Tex Mills Tuesday night at 7:30 o'clock and quickly extinguished a blaze underneath the floor of the picker room. The fire was (be lieved caused from waste ma terials In the room and no damage was reported. OU HONOR ROLL Miss Iris Patterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Patterson, ?nd Miss Shirley Sellers, dau ghter of Mrs. E. E. -Sellers, are among those named to the honor roll at Efskine College where they are members of the Junior and senior classes re spectively.. To ibe included on this list, grades of 90 or above on academic subjects or only one grade (below 90 are requir ed. SOFTBALL MEETING A meeting of the Men's Soft ball League has <been schedul ed for city hall courtroom Thursday, February 26, at 7:30 p. m, Commtestyn^ Ellis King . announced this weA. Repre sentatives of all 1952 teams and any other persons Inter ested In fielding a team are re quested to make plans now to toe present at this meeting, he * said. LITTLE THEATRE A meeting of the general membership of the Kings Mountain Little Theatre, Inc., has been scheduled for Thurs day night at 8 ofclock. Plans for presentation of the annual Battle of Kings Mountain dra ma will be furthered and com mittees for 'The Robe" will he announced, President Bruce Thorburn said. All members are urged to attend. METER RECEIPTS A total of $160.07 was collec ted from the city's parking meters Wednesday morning according to a report from the city treasurer's office. Rites Conducted For Mrs. Weir Funeral services for Mrs. Es telle Ratterree Weir, 91, resident of 219 Center street, Mooresville and former resident of Kings Mountain, were cdhdueted Satur day at 4 p. m. from Harris Funer al Home. Rev, W. L. Pressly, pastor of Boyoe Memorial A. R. p. church officiated and Interment was in Mountain Rest cemetery", ' Mrs. Weir died at her home Fri day morning at 11:45 o'clock af ter an illness of one week. She was the widow of the late W. Boyce Weir. She was a native of Rock Hill, S. C., the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Ratterree. She had lived in Mooresville for the past five years. She was a member of Boyce Memorial A, R. P. church. Surviving are a brother, S. C, Ratterree of Kings Mountain; two nephews, B. D. Ratterree of Kings Mountain and J. T. Whis nant of Washington, D. C., and two neices, Miss Mary Whlsnant and. Mrs. Rachel Newberry, both of Fayettevllle. Active pallbearers were Men zell Phtfer, Otto Ware, Bill Ful ton, George Morrow, Frknklln Ware, and Timmons Gof^Tth. Central P-TA Plans Founder's Piogiuin Central Elementary Parent Teacher Association will cele brate Founder's Day at a meeting at Central school next Wednes day afternoon at 3:30. The program will be featured by a playlet, to be presented by the eighth grade h*r*?T<oo?n ot I. B. Goforth, Jr. :?*' J Mrs. Phillip Padgett, pnwMwi. la urging a fall attendance for the meeting. x * Hamrick Thinks County's Realty Total To Double The county board of commis sioners may get final figures next Monday on real property valua tions In the county, when the com missioners meet in special ses sion. Max Hamrick, county auditor and tax supervisor, said this week that tentative figures Indi cate a total real property valua tion of about $70,000000, exclu sive of Duke Powe Company listings of $9,000,000 and the cor porate excess figures received from Raleigh of $3,500,000. This total of $82,500,000, wouTd compare with about $40,000,000 in real property now on the tax books. Added to this total would be all personal property listings, with the exception of machinery and other "fixed" personal pro perty which was Included in the real property reappraisal con ducted by Cole-Layer-Trumble Company, property appraisal specialists. The taxable value used in com puting the 1952 tax levy approxi mated $62,000,000. The commissioners may decide at their scheduled special meet ing on Monday, Mr. Hamrick said, what percentage of the ap praised value It will use for tax purposes. At the moment, com parisons are being compiled to determine what revenue would be raised at particular tax rates. As quickly as final compila tions are made and mailings handled, property owners will be advised of assigned appraisals, Mr. Hamrick said. Rites Are Held For Mrs. Walker *Z:.r V J- 1 " *"*****' Funeral rites for Mrs. Annie Kiser Walker, 82, resident of route 1, were conducted Tuesday at 4 p. m. from Central Metho dist Church. ' Rev. P. L. Shore, Jr., pastor of the church officiated and burial was in Mountain Rest cemetery. Mrs. Walker died Monday mot - ning at 9:30 a. m. at the home of a daughter, Mrs. A. G. Ever hart in the Crowders Mountain section. She had been In ill health for several years. A native of Cleveland County, she was the widow of the late James W. Walker and was a member of Central Methodist church. Surviving are three sons, Sto ney Walker of Concord, John j Walker of Hickory, and Robert Walker of Kings Mountain; and two daughters, Mrs. Ethel Helms of Jacksonville. Fla. and Mrs. A. G. Everhart of King Mountain. Active pallbearers were Ben Beam, Boyer Murray, George Bla lock, Pink Ware, Hllliard Black, and Paul Walker. HEW EMPLOYEE Walter Garrard, Durham na tive and formerly employed by a machinery dealer In Marlon, N. C, has joined Community Implement and Supply Com pany and has been assigned to the Repair Parts department. Mr. and Mrs. Garrard and four ?children live on Meadowbrook road, Hugh Logan New Police Chief Here Foimer Sheriff Assumed Duties Last Thursday Former Sheriff Hugh A. Logan, Jr., Is Kings Mountain's new po lice chief. He assumed his new duties last Thursday after the board of commissioners, in a special ses sion the previous evening had appointed him chief 'by a 3 to 1 vote. Commissioner Lloyd Davis made the motion. Commissioner G. P. Barry seconded, and Mayor Garland Still supported. Com missioner Layton. abstained and Commissioner Olland Pearson opposed. Commissioner Baxter Wright had left the meeting be fore the police chief matter was aired. The board also relieved Clar ence E. Carpenter of his tempor ary responsibility for the police department operation. Chief Logan was employed at a salary of $300 per month. He succeeds as chief S. R. (Pop) Da vidson, ending a brief period in which the department operated without a chief of police, each shift being the responsibility of the particular senior officer. The commissioners, after hear ing a report from Schools' Supt. B. N- Barnes and Trustee Fred W. Plonk, agreed to convey a small city-owned tract off Wat terson street to the schools, for the purpose of supplying a site for a colored school. The board instructed the street department to alleviate a drain age problem near the Mack Con nor home, and authorized ston ing of Crfescent Circle. In other actions, the board au thorized contracts with a Mr. McKee, of Morristown, Tenn., to repair and clean the (McGill sep tic tank for $800, to clean the Mauney tank at $450, and to clean the Ware tank at $350. Mr. McKee had told the board he could put all of them in worka ble condition. Question of the necessity for the sewage disposal plant out lay recently offered and defeat ed in a special $600,000 sewage bond election was advanced. The commissioners agreed that the cleaning Job would be a cheap investment to determine wheth er the large outlay is currently mandatory. The .board adopted a resolution by 3 to 1 vote to call a bond is sue to build a recreation plant, provided the sewage tank clean ing eliminates the need for a new disposal system,. Commis sioner C. P. Barry opposed, while Commissioners Layton, Pearson and Davis supported. The board voted unanimously to place on a pay-or-cut-off ba sis sewage service to persons outside the city limits. The board recently set up at $1.50 per mon th charge for this service. Under the new policy, the fee is paya ble with utility bills by the tenth of the month. Service is to be discontinued thereafter, if the bills are not paid; the board vo ted. Aie? Industries Re-Instituting Payroll Deduction Bond Plan Howard Rollins, Cleveland County Industrial chairman of U. S. Defense Bond sales, announced this week that Industrial firms in Kings Mountain and Number 4 Township are cooperating in a special Payroll Saving* plan drive, part of a special county wide program to boost sales of| defense bonds. Rollins, who is manager of the] Cleveland Cloth Mill in Shelby, [ was recently named county in dustrial chairman by George | Blanton, Sr., who Is general chair man for the Defense Bond pro gram in the county. Mr. Rollins said the drive ha? | two objectives: To acquaint employees with the liPliy value of the series E bond, as well as the fact that matured bonds can now earn interest for wiftdditional ten years. He said WMMtlumber of firms in Kings | Mountain and in other parts of the county are planning to re install a Payroll Savings plan or will re-emphaslze the best fea tures of the nci? bond where their employees jtti already baying through a payroll livings Urging cooperation with the de ? " 1 \ ? 1 Tense bond program, F. R. Sum mer*, president of the First Na tional Bank said, "It is of utmost Importance for all citizens to be come acquainted with the many excellent Improvements in the de fense bonds series, particularly the opportunity given to hold ma tured bonds into a new interest bearing period. Banks are coope rating in giving full information on the extension privileges of Series E bonds. The success of this nation-wide educational pro Sam becomes apparent from the ct that only 25 percent of ma tured bonds have b?n cashed." Phenlx Plant of Burlington Mills has already completed its Payroll Bond sales drive and now reports 47 percent of its employ ees enrolled in the bond talis plan. Mr. Rollins said the following local area firms are either or ganizing or reorganizing Payroll Savings plans for bond buying: Neisler Mills, Inc., Sadie Mills, Kings Mountain Manufacturing Company, Mauney Mills, Inc., and Mlnnette Mills, of Grover. Cleveland County's defense bond Quota for 1993 is *08,160. NEW CHIEF ? Hugh A. Logan, Jr., was named city police chief last week and began his new du ties on Thursday. Mr. Logan is a former sheriff of Cleveland County. Rumors List Old, New Candidates Political activity increased dur ing the past week, as two more candidates added their names to the growing list of contestants for city elective offices. Speculation on other possible candidates continued, as vacan cies still existed in the candidate list for two positions. Generally, political observers thought the races were far from "set", with more candidates expected to seek a majority of the positions. The mayor's race, though it remained a two-man affair, was expected to attract George W. Al len and H. Tom Fulton. Neither officially has said "yea" or "nay" on the question of entering the race, with Mr. Allen countering queries with the statement "there's plenty of time yet". Sen timent among political observers is about even on whether Former Mayor Fulton will again seek the office. Already announced are Glee A. Bridges, hardwareman, and Garland E. Still, the incum bent. Speculators list Incumbent James Layton and J. Pat Tignor as mo^t likely candidates for the Ward I commissionership, and think Dr. D. F. Hofd and George H. Houser two likely candidates for the Ward I school trusteeship now held by J. R. Davis. Mr. Da vis has indicated he won't seek re-election. There is some question whether the Ward 2 race, now listing War ren Reynolds and Incumbent Lloyd Davis is yet complete, but few names are being offered as potential candidates. In Ward 3, the word is that T. J. (Tommy) Ellison, former commissioner, will attempt a comeback as will Ben A. Smith, also a former com missioner. In Ward 4, Floyd Williams has indicated he will make the race at least a three-cornered affair, with Williams entering the com petition with O. T. Hayes and Harold Phillips. Ward 5 still lists a lone candi date, Sam Stallings. Most likely opposition, the guessers say, is still Incumbent B. T. Wright, Sr. Mr. Wright admits he is closer to being a candidate now than he was three weeks ago. Other possibles are W. G. Grantham and Otto Williams. The balloting will be conducted on May 5. Mrs. Brace Titorburn Declines Position Mrs. Bruce Thorbum, tendered the position of secretary of the Kings Mountain Merchants asso - ciation, has declined to accept it and the position is still open, President J. C. Bridges said Wed nesday. Mrs. John Lewis has resigned the position effective on the as sociation's obtaining a replace ment. Mrs. Thorbum had originally thought she would ?he able to ac cept the position. Mr. Bridges said he anticipated that the associa tion's board of directors would be able to fill the position In the near future. TAG SALES A total of 964 Kings Moun tain motorists have purchased 1953 city auto M cense plates according to a nq>ort from the city clerk's office. Deadline for purchaalng toga without pen alty was February 1. Recreation Body Studies BuiMil Site Proposal Members of the city's parks and recreation cortimission, meet ing at city hail last Friday at 5 p. m., discussed an offer from Burlington Mills, Inc., to transfer a site for a recreation center, pro vided $50,000 is raised toward con struction of the project. The letter, written to the city board of commissioners and dat ed January 10, 1953, stated that the offer would be withdrawn if nqt accepted within one year from date. Other stipulations of the offer included a provision that the pro perty be used as a recreation pro ject site and, if for any one-year period it was not used for that purpose, the land would revert to Burlington Mills, Inc. The offer also stipulated that the $50,000 to be raised to secure the transfer not contain any city funds, that the money be contri buted by private citizenis and busi ness and Industrial firms. Dr. P. G. Padgett, chairman, al: so told the group of two addi tional proposed sites for the pro ject, one near Bonnie Cotton Mill and another just outside the city limits on Grover road. The group agreed to look into the Burlington offer in more de tail and Chairman Padgett ap pointed G. C. Kelly, as chairman, and W. K. Mauney, Jr., and Hun ter R. Neisler td a finance com mittee to study the matter. The group voted to a^ain spon sor a Little League and an addi tional baseball league for older boys. Present at the meeting in ad dition to Dr.. Padgett were John T. Lathem, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Neis ler, J. C. Smather?, Jack White, Fred W. Plonk, Mrs. Harry Page and Jack Hullender, members of the commission, and James (Red) Loyton, city commissioner. Former Citizen Very Much Alive Charles Harrill, former Kings Mountain citizen, now of Clear water, Fla., gave another man a real suprise recently, when they met in Clearwater. Harrill, navy veteran who lost a leg after a Japanese suicide plane crashed his ship in the late days of World 'War II, had been reported to have died of his j wounds, and his shipmate, Allen Porter, had regretfully believed the "scuttlebutt". Here is the story of their meet ing by Ruth Dyckman in the Clearwater Sun: ,AFrom time to time strange ex periences are recounted for which no explanation can be offered. Al len Porter who lives at ths Fleet wood Apartments has had such an experience. "During World War II he serv ed in the Navy aboard the USS Whitehurst, DE634. His particular friend was Charles Harrill. "After serving for 20 months in the South Pacific, came the inva sion of Okinawa and they were attacked by Japanese suicide planes. They shot three of the planes down but the fourth hit the ship, sending a bomb through from side to side. This was April 11, 1945. "Harrill, a gunner in the bow of the ship, was hit by shrapnel. He was transferred to another ship with the rest of the wounded and later Porter heard that Harrill and a number of others were dead. "When Porter got out of service he returned to his hometown of Boston, then on Nov. 1, 1952 came to Florida for a month's vacation. He liked it so much that he de cided to remain and went to Tam pa to live. "Recently he was offered the Clearwater area for the Tom's Toasted Peanut Company and started working this section three weeks ago. Two weeks ago he moved into the Fleetwood Ap artments with his wife. "Last week he went to the man ager"s office to pay his rent and, as he stood there talking another man walked in. .The newcomer looked familiar to Porter but he could not bring a positive identity to mind. However, he had a strange feeling "as though see ing one from the dead" and he felt the hair rising on his head. "Porter turned to the manager and said "For a minute I thought I knew that guy but it can't be be cause he's dead." "The newcomer smiled and said: "But you do know me. I'm Charles HarriU." "After the two friends got over the shock of the reunion they went up to Harrtll's apajgnent five door* away from Porter's, only to find that both wives had already met and had become Continued on pope eight Nine Candidates Now In Race For City Posts Two more candidates entered the race for city elective offices during the past week Incumbent Lloyd E. Davis fil ed notice of candidacy for . Ward 2 commissioner, the position to which he was elected two years afo, and C. L. (Curly) Elgin, em ployee of Burlington Mills I're nix plant, filed notice of candi dacy for the Ward 3 commis sionership. Mr. Elgin opposes Commissioner Olland R. Pear son who has previously filed for re-election. Mr. Davis is being opposed for the Ward 2 post Warren E. Reynolds. Still going begging were the Ward 1 commissioner post and Ward 1 school trusteeship. Nor is there >et a contest for Ward 5 commissioner. The candidates to date: For Mayor ? Garland E. Still, | incumbent, arid Glee A. Bridges. For Ward . 2 commissioner ? Lloyd E. Davis, incumbent, and Warren E. Reynolds. For Ward 3 commissioner ? j Olland R. Pearson, incumbent, and C. L. (Curly) Elgin. For Ward 4 commissioner ? O. TV Hayes, Sr., and Harold Phil lips. For Ward 5 commissioner ? Sam Stallings. Both Mr. Davis and Mr. Elgin paid the five dollars filing fee to City Clerk Joe Hendrick. Neither made formal announcement statements, but Mr. Elgin re marked that he was Interested in "good clean government" and that "he would work for all the people, all the time, rich or poor, white or black." He also said he was interested in more public re creation. Mr. Elgin is a veteran of World War II, and a Baptist. William Bennett Rites Conducted Funeral rites for William Ar thur Bennett, 59, resident of 319 Waco road, were conducted Mon day at 4 p. m. from St. Matthews Lytheran church. Rev. W. P. Gerberding, pastor of the church, officiated and in terment was in Mountain Rest cemetery. Mr. Bennett died in Kings Mountain hospital Saturday af ternoon at 3:30 p. m. after an illness of five days. lie was a na tive of Cleveland County, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Ben nett. A veteran of World War I, Jie served with the 120th. Infantry regiment. He was a member of Otis D. Green Post 155, American Legion. ? For the past 11 years, he was agent here for the Home Security Insurance Company. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Mary Wright Bennett, a daugh ter, Mrs. Jack Mull of Kings Mountain and one grandchild. Four brothers, A. G? James and Wade Bennett of Kings Mountain, and Harvey Bennett of Charlotte, and three sisters, Mrs. John Ford and Mrs. Alice Jones of Kings Mountain, and Mrs. Carl Mayfield of Gastonia, also survive. Active pallbearers were James Bennett, Dorua Bennett, Lloyd Bennett, Burton Bennett, Ray Wright, and Hunter Allen. COMMUNICATION An Emergent Communication of Fairview Lodge No. 339 A. F. A A. M.. will be hejd Monday night, Februrary 23, at 7:30, for work in the Second Degree. Davis Seeking Re-election, Elgin Is Opposing Pearson World Prayer Day [Service On Friday CANDIDATES ? Shown above are C. L. (Curly) Elgin, left, and Lloyd E. Davis, right, who have filed for city political offices. Mr. Elgin seeks election as Ward 3 commissioner, opposing Incumbent Olland R. Pearson, while Mr. Davis seeks re election as Ward 2 commissioner. Mr. Davis is opp?ied by Warren E. Reynolds. Both paid ?.heir filing fees last weekend. Meter Cop Gives Chief Nice Welcome They all look alike to the parkin? meter cop I City Policeman Ralph (Babe) Ware, making his regular rounds last Thursday was do ing less than normal business on writing out tickets for over time violations. Ending a round near the | newly installed meters across ! from City Hall, Officer Ware j spied a red flag and dutifully | wrote out the ticket. A few minutes later. Police Chief Hugh A. Logan. Jr., who had Just been sworn into his new office, came out and found the parking ticket on his car. Chief Logan exhibits a receipt for a dollar to prove he paid the over-parking fee. Ware & Peteison Bsy Grscsry Paul Ware and W. R. Peterson arc announcing this week their purchase of Plonk's Grocery. The transaction was completed last Friday. The new owners assumed man agement of the grocery firm, ope rated here since 1899 as a part of Plonk Brothers & Company or its predecessors, at once and are operating it as Ware & Peter son Grocery. Mr. Peterso* said the firm would feature top quality meats, groceries and produce at popular prices and that the firm would provide delivery service. Mr. Peterson has been a gro cer since 1944, having previously been associated with Heavner Grocery at the intersection of Waco Road and Walker street. Mr. Ware was recently a sales man with Plonk Oil Company. LIONS MEETING William Green, managing editor of the Shelby Daily Star, will address members of the Kings Mountain Lions club Tuesday night. The club meets at 1 o'clock at Masonic Dining Hall. Ruth Appoints Committee Heads For Forthcoming Red Cross Drive Hilton Ruth. chairman of Number 4 Township's fortheom ing 1953 Red Cross fund cam paign, announced yesterday committee chairmen for the drive whkh will be conducted In March. The following .will serve as committee and division chair men: Advance gifts ? J. H. Thomson. - Industrial gifts ? Carl R Mau ney. * Buslners gifts ? Harold Cog gins. Professloital gifts ? Dr. D. F. Hord. Rural area ? Edwin Moore. Public Employees ? Mrs. Co man Falls. Negro division ? M. L. Camp hell. Schools ? Rowell Lane. Residential division ? Mrs. A mos Dean. Grover ? , >R. Burris Keeter. Outlying business ? Sam Weir. Publicity ? (Martin Harmon. "We are looking forward to a very successful campaign," Mr. Ruth said. "Committee. Chair men are enthusiastic over pros pects for the Red Cross cam paign and we are hopeful that the campaign goal will toe rea died li> the shortest possible time." Grace Church Scene Of Annual Observance Here Kings Mountain's annual com munity-wide World Day of Pray cr service will bP held Friday morning at 10 o'clock in Grace Methodist church, as Kings Moun tain citizens join with Christians in 18.000 other American commu nities and 114 nations. Purpose of the observance is t.wo fold: 1) To unite all Chris tians in a bond of prayer; 2> To make an offering for Christian missions at home and abroad. Mrs. C. S. Plonk, Jr., is pro gram chairman for the service, which is on the theme "Walk as Children of Light". Friday's observance will be the sixty-sixth annual observance of . ;11 i;rayr.'..TJse service is sponsored by the Na tion Council of Churches' Depart ment of United Church Women, and here by the Kings Mountain Council of Churchwomen of which Mrs. O. W. Myers is chair man. The 1953 services will use a service prepared by the women of Africa. The theme is taken from Epesians 5:8. Among the unusual features of the program will be a call to Worship accom panied by drums and a thanks giving "Song of the Emancipat ed", chanted to the rythmic clap ping of hands, in the custom of native Africans. Traditionally held on the first r riday of Lent, the World Day of Prayer is a twenty-four hour period set apart for a globe-en circling demonstration of Chris tian unity, through prayer and meditation, with offerings used proJects at and abroad. When i-ebruary 20 dawns on the international dateline yueen Salote and her devout sub jects in the Tonga Islands will be among the first to speak a common prayer, which will be ec hoed from continent to continent in hundreds of languages and dialects until the day draws to its close with fcskimoes in the frigid Arctlc and Samoa,,* ln thc tr?? cai southwest Pacific voicing the j final "Amen" _ Lions Broom Solo Gets Extension The .annual Hons club Broom sale for the benefit o| the blind, has been extended through thU week, J. w. Webster, sal* chairman said yesterday. Bad weather the first wMk end of the sale cut down sales and Mr. Webster said h* hop ed all Lions club salesmen would eorer their routes by Saturday night. Brooms are offered for SI -5a doonnats for HSO.