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EARLY COUNTY, GA. GARDEN SPOT OF GOD’S COUNTRY VOLUME LXXXIII ^ NO. 20 Success to All Who Pay Their Honest Debts—“Be Sure You Are Right, Then Go Ahead.” WAR, RATIONING NEWS DOMINATED DURING FIRST YEAR OF CONFLICT During the past year Americans became more news conscious than they had been since the Nazis in vaded Poland. But as 1942 progressed, the war news for American people became more encouraging than during the first three months of the year. Bataan and Corrigedor fell to the enemy, but Tokyo was bombed by U. S. airmen—all this happening within the month between the first weeks in April and May. The Rus sians held off the Nazis during the year, and put up a heroice defense at Stalingrad. Almost eight months to- the day after Yank troops landed in Australia, French North Africa Was invaded by American troops under the command of Lieut. Gen. Dwight D. (“Ike”) Eisenhower. On the first anniversary of the Pearl Harbor disaster, the people were told that the destruction there Was far greater than first revealed. Even the Japanese did not fully real ize the enormous success of their treacherous attack. Domestic, non-military life for Americans during the year was more and more tied up with the nation’s all-out, smash-the-enemy effort. Rationing of sugar, coffee; volun tary rationing of meat; rising living costs; scarcity of materials; increas ed taxes announced to begin in 1943; and finally, gasoline rationing through A, B and C permits, to save tire rubber made up the high spots of civilian life. The “thriller” story of the year was the landing of -the 8 saboteurs on the Long Island and Florida coasts and their apprehension and final ex ecution of six. Sports, too, despite the anxiety and worry of the people did their part in helping Americans over the “rough days.” West Virginia won the national invitation basketball tournment, de feating Western Kentucky state at Madison Square Garden. Shut Out won the 68th Kentucky Derby. Na tional League All-lStars were defeat- There Will Soon Be Another W-E-A-V-E-R’S Watch this space for an important announcement at an early date concerning the opening of a new WEAVER’S DRY GOODS DEPARTMENT. Plans are now under way to bring you this new store as quickly as posible. The good people of Blakely, Early County and this trading area have helped to make WEAVER’S more than a mere store. It is a Blakely institution of which we are proud. We pledge ourselves to bring you a bigger and better WEAVER’S just as soon as a suitable location can be obtained and shipments of merchandise can begin to roll into Blakely. We want to express our sincere appreciation, not only for your valued patronage during the 18 years we have been in business, but also for the many kind expressions of thoughtfulness during our disaster. The entire personnel of WEAVER’S wish you a very, very Happy New Year for 1943. T. K. Weaver & Co. “Blakely’s Only Complete Store” C. E. BOYETT, Owner BLAKELY, GA. €ftrlg Counts JMettig BLAKELY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1942. CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD MEETING NEXT TUESDAY The City Council will hold its first meeting of the new year next Tuesday, at which time S. G. Mad dox, elected last August, will suc ceed R. C. Singletary as Mayor. There will be no change in the personnel of the Council, L. B. Fryer and C. R. Barksdale having been re-elected last August for another two year term. Other members of Council are C. E. Boyett and Oscar Whitchard, whose terms do not ex pire until the end of 1943. Mr. Singletary retires as Mayor after having served a two-year term. Prior to his election as Mayor he served many years as Councilman, probably longer than any other one citizen in Blakely’s history. Mr. Maddox also has served as Councilman for several terms and is thus familiar with the city’s prob lems. 0 Both these gentlemen are public spirited to a fine degree and have given much of their time and talents to Blakely’s welfare and develop ment. Mr. Singletary has given the city a progressive administration and it is safe to say that Mi*. Maddox will likewise chart the city’s course along progressive lines. The chief item of business to come before the new admipistration is the election of city officials to serve for the year 1943. These include; City Clerk and Treasurer, Superin tendent of the Water, Light, lee and Cold Storage Plant, Manager Cold Storage Plant, three Police Officers and Sexton of the City Cemetery. 1943 EMERGENCY CROP LOANS ARE NOW AVAILABLE Emergency crops loans are now available to farmers in Early county, and applications for these loans are now being received at the County Agent’s office by Theo White, typist, L. E, Black, field supervisor, of the Emergency Crop and Feed Loan sec tion of the Farm Credit Administra tion. This early opening of the loan program in Early county is part of a plan recently announced by the Farm Credit Administration, where by emergency crop loans are being made available to assist farmers to comply with the program advocated by the Extension Service, Agricul tural Adjustment Administration, and County War Boards, which urges the planting of fall cover crops, soil building and soil conserving crops to reduce the effects of the anticipated shortage of fertilizer for the 1943 crop year > These loans will be made as in the past to farmers whose cash require ments are relatively small and who are unable to obtain from other sources including production credit associations loans in amounts suffi cient to meet their needs. As in former years, the loans will be made to meet the applicant’s necessary cash needs in preparing for and producing his 1943 crops. Mr. Black pointed out that eligible farmers desiring to do so might ap ply now for loans to take care of their crop production needs for the entire 1943 seaosn. Loans may in clude immediate advances to the borrower to meet his cash require ments this fall, such as, for the planting of cover crops, soil building or soil conserving crops. Mr. Black also said that the balance of the approved amount of the loan will be disbursed when the borrower needs it to finance his spring crops. Inter est at the rate of 4 per cent will be charged only during the period the borrower actually has the use of the funds. Farmers who obtain loans for the production of cash crops are required to give as security a first lien on the crops financed. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO MEET TUESDAY The County Commissioners will meet in regular monthly session next Tuesday. It being the first meeting of the new year, the Commissioners, among other business, will elect county officials for 1943. ed, 3-1, by the American League team. The Cardinals, in four straight wins, won the World Series from the Yankees. The Cards were named the outstanding team of the year by the sports writers. Disasters took their yearly toll. The worst fire of the year happened in Boston, when 500 died in a night club fire. Colorado’s worst mine disaster in 25 years snatched 35 miners’ lives, Carole Lombard, screen actress, and 20 others were killed when their transport plane crashed near Las Vegas, Nev. Tor nadoes through southern and central states killed hundreds and destroyed millions of dollars worth of proper ty. A “tube” wreck in New Jersey, and flash floods in Pennsylvania, western New York brought more death and destruction. Well-known Americans such as actor Otis Skinner, 83; sports an nouncer, Graham McNamee, 53; Wil bur Glenn Voliva, religious leader, 72; Dr. Frederick Stock, symphony orchestra leader, 69; and Edna May Oliver, movie actress, 59, were just a few of the prominent Americans who died during the year. EDGAR KELLY AMONG RESCUED AS SHIP IS SUNK IN BATTLE AREA Ensign Edgar Kelly is reported to be one of the survivors of a torpe doed ship. Young Kelly, a son of Mr. S. E. Kelly of Blakely, is in the Navy, and it is presumed he was somewhere in the Pacific when his ship was torpedoed. No details are available except that Ensign Kelly advised his father of his safety. Ed gar has two brothers also in the service, Ensign William Kelly, of the Navy, and Lieut. Frank Kelly, of the Army. SPECIAL MEETING EASTERN STAR TONIGHT— Blakely Chapter No. 282 Order of the Eastern Star will hold a special meeting tonight (Thursday) at which the degrees will be conferred. LOCAL ELECTRIC RATES ARE BELOW THE AVERAGE The majority of users of electric ity in Blakely pay a cheaper rate than users in neighboring southwest Georgia cities, Mayor R. C. Single tary and A. R. Killebrew, superin tendent of the water and light de partment pointed out this week. Mr. Singletary and Mr. Killebrew made this statement in reply to complainants who claim that the rate is not commensurate with those in cities supplied directly by the 'Geor gia Power Company lines. The City of Blakely purchases electricity di rectly from the Georgia Power Com pany and retails it to local users. Resident users in Blakely pay ten cents cheaper per kilowatt hour up to- 40 kilowatt hours than do the users in Cuthbert, Baiabridge and Quit man, it was pointed out. However, when the KW hours pass 40 and on up to 500 KWH those cities have a little cheaper rate, but since there are more users in Balkely who use up to 40 KWH than there are who use above this amount, this rate is beneficial to more users than if the city charged according to the Geor gia Power Company rates. The same thing applies to com mercial users, who use from 150 to 6000 KWH. In Blakely, when a customer uses 6000 KWH he pays $120. In Bainbridge the user would be charged $183, Cuthbert $165, and Quitman $140. Bainbridge and Cuth bert are supplied directly by the Georgia Power Company lines, while Quitman operates its own plant. All of these figures were taken from a bulletin furnished by the Federal Power Commission, Wash ington, D. C., Mr. Killebrew said. FIVE LYNCHINGS OCCUR IN U. S. DURING 1942 Records compiled in the depart ment of records and research of Tus kegee Institute, Tuskegee, Ala., give the following figures for lynchings in the United States in 1942; Five persons were lynched during the year, one more than in 1941, the same number as for 1940, and 2 more than in 1939. One of the persons lynched was dragged through the streets behind an automobile and the body burned. Another body was dragged through the streets behind a speeding auto mobile to the edge of town and hanged from a cotton gin winch. In one case, the person was taken from the jail and hanged. There were IS reports of instances in which officers of the law pre vented lynchings. In 13 instances, persons were removed or guards aug mented or other precautions taken. In one case, a lynching was restrained by wives of the would-be lynchers. In another case, the sheriff dissuaded the mob. A total number of 17 per sons—4 white men and 13 Negro men—were thus saved from the hands of mobs. All persons lynched weje Negroes. The offenses charged were: At tempted criminal assault, 1; suspect ed attempted rape, 3; received life sentence when jury failed to agree upon the punishment on a murder charge, 1. The states in which lynchings oc curred and the number in each state are as follows: Missisippi, 3; Missouri, 1; Texas, 1. ANNUAL MEETING OF BETHEL W. M. U. TO BE HELD HERE ON JAN. 7 Miss Wilma Bucy, field worker of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Miss Frances Turner, Young Peo ple’s Leader of Georgia Woman's Missionary Union, will be among the visiting speakers when the Woman’s Missionary Union of Bethel Associa tion convenes in annual session on January 7, 1943. The meeting is to be held with the Blakely Baptist Church. Mrs. L. C. Clark, superintendent, will preside over the morning session and Mrs. Clarence Cheney, young people’s leader, will preside in the afternoon. Featuring the work will be reports of the work done during the year, with demonstrations by young peo ple of the Blakely church. The hostess church will serve lunch and it is hoped a large representa- all the tion will be present from churches at the opening hour, 10:30 a. m., EWT. The meeting will be held in the Woman’s Club building, since the church is not yet ready for use, it is announced. SUNDAY FIRE DESTROYS LARGE STORE OF T K. WEAVER & COMPANY All that is left of the large T. K. Weaver & Company store here are the bare walls and the charred wreckage of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, the result of a fire which broke out at noon Sun day and swept the huge building from rear to front entrance and kept four fire companies busy for more than two hours battling the blaze which for a time threatened to destroy the entire east side Bain bridge street block. Of an undetermined origin, the blaze apparently started in the up stairs bargain annex of the Weaver store. Fanned by a brisk southeast wind, the fire spread rapidly and soon the whole dry goods department was a roaring inferno and flames were leaping almost across the street and theatefiing the buildings there. A call from Mayor R. C. Singletary summoned the fire departments from Bainbridge, Dothan and Cuthbert, and with the help of these depart ments the fire was prevented from spreading to the adjacent stores and destroying them. So threaten ing was the fire that the owners of Godwin’s Barber Shop, the Blakely Shoe Shop, Smitty’s Grill, Western Union Telegraph Company, Foremost Auto Store, and Alto Warrick’s Ga rage began moving their merchan dise and equipment from the build ings. The Bainbridge fire depart ment was the first to arrive, and with the speedy and efficient work of these firemen the blaze was soon brought under control and prevent ed from destroying the other stores. Charles E. Boyett, owner of the Weaver Company, estimated his loss at near one hundred thousand dol lars. Mr. Boyett was out of the city when the fire occurred, having gone to- Albany to send his daughter off to visit a friend before school re opened. A policeman at the Albany terminal station notified him of the fire and he sped back to Blakely to see the store which he had founded 18 years ago- and which had become one of the largest mercantile estab lishments ever in this city, employ ing a score of workers, going up in smoke and the merchandise becoming a scorched and water-soaked wreck age. Not a thing whs salvaged from this store except a small amount of cash which had been left in the cash registers. All else was a total loss. The grocery department of the Weaver store was not damaged ex tensively. Badly smoked and with some goods lost, this section of the store, after a few repairs, is expect ed to reopen within a few days. The loss would have soared much higher except for the fact that only a few weeks ago the company had New Year’s Wish I ♦ ! May the New Year bring you added joys, happi ness and prosperity, is i our sincere wish : : FIRST STATE BANK i i BLAKELY, GEORGIA \ Member Maximum of the Insurance Federal of Deposit $5,000.00 Insurance for each Corporation. depositor ♦ PULL FOR BLAKELY —OR— PULL OUT < i $1.50 A YEAR moved its wholesale grocery depart ment in a new location to the rear of the burned building. Meanwhile Mr, Boyett has opened temporary headquarters in the Lib erty street wing of the old wholesale grocery department and is making plans to rebuild and re-open a new Weaver store. Sundays’ fire was one of the most destructive in Blakely’s history. BAKER COUNTIAN KILLED HERE CHRISTMAS DAY WHEN STRUCK BY CAB Charlie Jordan, 74-year-old native of Baker county, was killed instantly here Christmas night when he was struck by a taxicab on Bain bridge street about 10:30 o’clock. Mi*. Jordan, who is an uncle of Fred Jordan of this city, with whom he was spending the holidays, is said to have stepped directly in the path of the oncoming vehicle, investigat ing officers said in terming the trag edy unavoidable. The cab was operated by Marvin Belisle, according to Georgia high way patrolmen, who investigated the accident, but made no arrests. The funeral of Mr. Jordan, who was a brother to Mr. J. W. Jordan of Blakely and Mr. Frank Jordan, of Leary, was held Sunday afternoon at Macedonia church, with the Rev. J. M. Barnes officiating. Interment was in Macedonia cemetery, with Minter, Fellows & Forrester in charge of arrangements, and Hoke Jordan, Fred Jordan, Jack Jordan, Albert Jordan, Paul Jordan and Clif ford Jordan serving as pall-bearers. 18-20 REGISTRANTS MUST MAKE REQUEST FOR “ DEFERMENT IN WRITING Alex Carswell, clerk of the local selective service board, today re leased the following letter from state selective service headquarters in re gard to deferment of high school stu “1. Since a number of high schools divide their academic year into two periods; namely, the Fall Period, which ends with the Christmas holi days, and the Spring Period, which begins on the first Monday in Janu ary of each year, Local Boards are authorized to postpone the induction of registrants between the ages of 18 and 20 who are enrolled after January 1, 1943, provided said regis trants shall make their requests in writing for such postponement pur suant to the provisions of paragraph No. 3 of Local Board Release No. 163 dated Novemebr 16, 1942. “2. This headquarters has been called upon to define the phrase ‘last half of academic year’ by several Local Boards. In order that some degree of uniformity may be obtain ed throughout the state the "last half of academic year’ should be that period of a high school year com mencing after January 1 , 1943.”