Enterprise-Journal from McComb, Mississippi • Page 1

PRESS DAILY ENTERPRISE ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHED 1902 1889 CONSOLIDATED JUNE 1945 McCOMB The One Newspaper in Annual 4-H Banquet Set Friday At Southwest; Advisory Council To Fete Members Of Pike Clubs Annual banquet for 4-H Advisory Council members, leaders and officers will be held Friday night at 7:30 in the dining room at Southwest Mississippi Junior College, Summit. The program by Elmer Edwards a Miss Margaret Wilder, 4-H agents, will be presided over by Mrs. Sue Kavanay, president of the 4-H Adult Advisory Council for Pike County. Invocation will be given by Rev. O.

W. Wardlaw, member of the council, and pastor of the Presbyterian church at Magnolia. Following the supper, recognition of officers, leaders and special guests, J. E. Martin will be in charge of a program of entertainment which will feature Jack Ryan, magician of Summit.

At least 200 are expected to be Billy Dunaway Of McComb Officer In Baptist RA Congress LAUREL "Reaching BoysBuilding Mission Minded Men" will be the theme of the regional Baptist Royal Ambassador Congress for South Mississippi to be held at Second Avenue Baptist Church here Friday and Saturday, March 16-17. Up to 800 Baptist boys from every section of south Mississippi are expected here, according to Rev. Joel Ray, Jackson, state R. secretary, who will have general direction of the meeting. Officers Listed Presiding will be Louis McGraw, of Jackson, ambassador-in-chief.

Other officers to participate will include: Joe Bryant, Bogue Chitto, first Assistant; Lewis Wilson, Jackson, recorded, and Billy Dunaway, McComb, steward. Program features will include the ranking quiz messages, conference, workshops, a banquet, election of officers, and visual aids. Principal speakers will include: J. C. Ballew, Kentucky R.

A. secretary; Lt. Carroll Gartin, Laurel; Rev. F. Roque Silva, Cuba; W.

R. Roberts, Jackson, state Brotherhood secretary, and Sam Matalka, of Jordon. The Congress will begin on Friday afternoon at 2:30 and adjourn at 2:30 Saturday afternoon. Leonard Melvin, is chairman of the local arrangements! committee while Dr. Levon Moore will be host pastor.

Sponsored By Brotherhood The Congress is sponsored annually by the Brotherhood Department of the Mississippi tist Convention Board, The Royal Ambassadors are the missionary organization of the Baptist Brotherhood. The boys range in age from nine to 17. There are approximately 925 chapters in Mississippi with half of them expected to be represented at the Congres here. The Congress for north Missiswill be held March 30-31 in sippi Grenada. Last year's south MisCongress was held at sissippi Brookhaven.

WEATHER SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI Mostly fair, a little warmer today, tonight and Saturday. Gentle to moderate southerly winds today, increasing to moderate fresh southerly Saturday. High today 60-64, low tonight 44-48, high tomorrow 68-72. Sunday outlook: increasing cloudiness and cooler. Low 40-44, high 52-56.

AN ASSOCIATED Brookhaven Man One Of Victims In Boat Disaster BROOKHAVEN Barney Edward Ratcliff, 40, of Brookhaven and four Louisiana oil field workers were found dead in the wreckage of their burned oil exploration boat near the south shore line of Vermillion Bay on the coast of Louisiana. The vessel failed to return to company headquarters in Abbeville, and when officials of the company went in search of the boat and the crew, they found it burned to water's edge. Searchers continued Friday to look for the body of the fifth victim of the boat disaster. Deputy Sheriff Lenis Dronet said near-freezing temperatures Wednesday night probably caused the men to after a fire and their oil explosioexposure exploration boat forced them to dive into Vermilion Bay. Bodies Spotted An unidentified pilot taking part in the air search yesterday spotted the five bodies, all life jackets, in the water.

wearing lot landed, pulled bodies to shore and took off for help. When boats arrived, only four bodies remained. Dronet said the fifth victim, identified as Gordon Milner, 1 22, Eunice, apparently was washed back into the bay. The victims worked for the Delta Exploration Jackson, Miss. The other three were identified as Henry Frith, 20, Kaplan, the operator of the boat; Huey Durr, 20, Intracoastal City, and Raymond Polombo, 20, Abeville, La.

Ratcliff had only worked with the company about two weeks. He had been engaged in oil field rigging, however, for about six years, members of his family here said. reared in Lincoln county, he had lived most of his life in Brookhaven. Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but man Funeral home will have charge. Survivors Listed Survivors include his wife, Mrs.

Lovida Mae Lawrence Ratcliff, and three children, Melvin Edward, age 8, Janet. Mae, age 6, and Randy Barney, age 4, all of Brookhaven; two brothers, Houston Ratcliff, Bookhaven, and Columbus Ratcliff, California, two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Harmon, Houston, Mrs. Alpha Eastman, Meridian; and his mother, Mrs. Sarah Ann Ratcliff, Brookhaven.

More Persons Give To Improve Local Oxygen Tent Use More donors to the Oxygen Tent Fund have placed their contributions in the treasury, which contains money to be used in buying new tents and replacement parts, such as canopies, for those already being administered by the McComb fire department. The services of fire department personnel in using the tents in all sorts of emergency illness and disaster cases are well known to local people, all of whom are to participate in the current campaign to expand and improve their working facilities. Latest contributions handed to Mrs. Helen Howell, EnterpriseJournal accountant who is custodian of the fund, include: $50 Mrs. William Neville, Sr.

and Miss Hazel Neville. $25 Nannie Gillis Sunday School Class, First Baptist Church, $20 T. L. Hunt, Jr. $5 Gill, Becky and Jane Godbold; Mrs.

Matthew Harper, Business Women's Circle of East McComb Baptist Church, a Friend. $2 Mr. and Mrs. H. M.

Moak. $1 B. Jagers. TOP NEWS STORIES OF THE WEEK Week began with shooting tragedy affecting many persons. Plans began to form in earnest for Lighted Azalea Trail.

First public meeting of the Pike Citizens Council was held with 250 attending. Summit friends and neighbors began drive to aid tragedy-stricken Bailey family. Girl, 15, badly hurt in wreck occurring under most distressing circumstances. Dockets, released. jury lists for March circuit court term are District Choral Festival held in McComb.

The leader of the school district reorganization team in Pike County gives Rotary Club insight into problems. Annual 4-H Adult Advisory Council banquet is held. -and these stories, along with many others, appeared in your Enterprise-Journal. the World Most McCOMB, MISSISSIPPI, FRIDAY, McComb, Natchez Sextets Only Groups Rated As Superior The girls sextet of McComb High School's voice department was one of two gaining the ratof Superior as the Choral Festival of District VII, Mississippi High School Scholastic Association, was held here Thursday. More than 700 young student voices participated in the allday festival and the public concert in the auditorium last night.

Natchez High School presented the other sextet earning Superior rating. Rated 'Excellent were the sextets of Brookhaven, St. Mary and Columbia high schools, while the Centreville girls were given the rating of Good. The division of sextets was the only one which was judged and ratings given. Superior and Excellent sextets are eligible to enter the state competition that will be held in April.

On the McComb High sextet are Joyce Lewis, Nancy Barnette, Anitra Matthews, Eulaila Beecher, Marcia Cole and Sandra Kay Reeves. Miss Grace May Coleman is director of the McComb High voice department; Dallas Draper of Louisiana State University served as director, James Harris of S. U. as accompanist, and Miss Margaret Brown of Natchez as District VII chairman for the festival. BTU Mass Meeting Tuesday Will Have Robbins As Speaker Dr.

A. W. Robbins, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Franklinton, will be guest speaker at the Quarterly Pike County Training Union Associational Mass Meeting at East McComb Baptist Church, Tuesday, 13 at 7:30 p. m. Special music will be furnished by the Intermediate and.

Young People's departments of the various churches of the association. Banners will be awarded to each' department of the various churches with the best average department grade. C. C. Fenn, associational director, urges all pastors and training union directors to have a good attendance and especially urges the Intermediates and Young People of the various churches to report 30 minutes early for choir rehearsal with Charles Beecher, director.

Interested NIVOON MARCH 9, 1 Edward Bo i To Priesthooa In St. Mary Of Rev. Edward Balser, son of Mr. and Mrs. George H.

Balser of Magnolia, will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Richard O. Gerow, S.T.D., Bishop of Natchez, at St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, Saturday, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, at 9:30 a.

m. The Master of Ceremonies will be Rev. Francis Reid of Jackson. Rev. Dennis F.

McCarthy, O.M.I., will assist the newly ordained as chaplain. The minor ministers will be James Kohmetscher, O. M. Alex Kons, O. M.

James REV. EDWARD BALSER Rohr, O. M. and James Taylor, O. M.

1. A breakfast will be served to the immediate family The and the clergy by the students of his St. Mary's. First Mass Follows Fr. Balser's First Solemn High Mass will be celebrated at St.

Mary of the Pines the following day, Passion Sunday, March 18, at 10:00 a. m. Rt. Rev. Msgr.

Michael J. McCarthy, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf, Bay St. Louis, will preach. Rev. Angelo Mitri, O.

M. professor at Our Lady of the Snows Seminary, Pass Christian, will be the Archpriest. Deacon of the Mass will be the Rev. Jerry Dabria, assistant at St. Maurice's Parish, New Orleans.

Subdeacon will be the Rev. Arthur Hauth, dean of the seminarians of Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans. Minor ministers will be Rev. John McDonald and Rev. John McCausker of Notre Dame Seminary.

Altar boys of the parish will serve as acolytes of the Mass. St. Mary of the Pines Choral Club and Choir will join forces with the Aspirants to furnish the music for the ordination and First Mass ceremonies. A dinner will be served by the Students of St. Mary's immediately after the Mass 112 Members Of Negro Family Die As Fire Razes Shack In NorthFather Lives; Foul Play Hinted OXFORD, Pa.

(P) Twelve members of one family died last night in a fire that destroyed their tworoom tar-papered home in this rural southeastern Pennsylvania community. An investigator said today "it looks like it foul play but we're not certain." Deputy Coroner Ernest Schneider' of Chester County, said thorough investigation would be made in cooperation with State Police and fire officials. The victims of the blaze were identified tentatively as the wife, children and grandchildren of John Twyman, a 36-year-old truck driver and a long-time resident of of the "bottoms" section of Oxford. to Man Appears On Scene Twyman, police said, appeared at the scene of the blaze as the last of the bodies of the Negro family were being recovered from the 20x30-foot home. Patrolman Claude Swift said Twyman was shocked into mumbling incoherency but told him he had just returned from Baltimore.

Firemen were looking for Twyman's body when he appeared. Fire Marshal Robert Brown said the victims apparently asleep when the a blaze started "didn't stand a chance." Brown identified them tentatively as: Mrs. Catherine Twyman, 35, whom he said was pregnant; and these Twyman children Eleanor 20, Claudette 16, John Twyman Jr. 14, Josephine 12, Stephen 9, Dorris 7, Lewis 5, Janet 3. Joseph 8 months; and Eleanor's children Andrew 2, and Harriet 16 months.

Three Stoves In House He said the home was heated by both a coal and wood stove and by a kerosene heater. "We can only assume that one of the two heaters either exploded or became overheated and set fire to the home," he said. Herschel Twyman, John's er and neighbor, told OURNAL HEADLINES By OLIVER EMMERICH Who owns the timber lands in Mississippi? Here's the break-down. The farmers own 6,958,000 acres. The National Parks include 1,036,000.

Other federal agencies own 209,000 acres. The state and local governments own 473,000. Other private operations own 5,162,000 acres. You can study this statistical picture and find many problems involved in it. The cost of living index is going down-or at worst is not climbing at an appreciable rate.

On March 15, 1952 the cost of living index was 112.4. On the same date in 1953 it nad risen to 113.4. By March 1954 it was up to 115.00. By the same time in 1955 it had dropped to 114.3. It is estimated now to be about 114.6.

"Rex Morgan, M.D." is the name of a comic strip which appears regularly on the Enterprise Journal's page of comics. This strip is being recognized as having a beneficial influence throughout the Nation, Alcoholics write as following, "Believe me when I say that your strip has helped keep me from taking that 'first I am sure that it is helping many more of 'us' all over the country." H. Q. Jones, 806 Park Street, popular retired postal worker of McComb, has made what he calls "a miniature McComb Using veneer wood he has modeled a cigarette holder into the likeness of the old Grecian edifice which has but one replica i in the U. S.

that located in Nashville. it an unusual novelty. The columns of the de ancient building are created by dropping cigarettes into the opening left for them in the building. Said Mr. Smith, "I sold my first one to a party in Cincinnati, Ohio." Already Mr.

Smith is in inter-state busi- Charlie Cason, retired executive of the Chemical Bank of New York, was in town yesterday. He and Kenneth Toler of The Commercial Appeal, hold the distinction of being "leap year Both were born on February 29. The year doesn't matter as neither can remember when. The Mississippi Legislature enacted two separate resolutions commending Messrs Cason and Toler as being good citizens and wishing them a happy anniversary. Kenneth Toler has the Mississippi Capitol since 1927.

Charlie Cason in earlier years was chief clerk of the Tennessee legislature. Mr. Cason, who has visited nine state legislatures while in session had this to say sometime ago in an article in The Nashville Banner, "Legislators in Mississippi are usually of a higher order than in other states visited, partly because Mississippi adheres to the principle of tenure in office, resulting in experienced members." He added that he is impressed with the harmony of the present legislature, not only in actions but in singing, one feature every afternoon before meeting time being an octette of fine voices rendering religious hymns. In contrast, he recalled that the last legislature he served in Tennessee as clerk stayed in session 202 days, most of them without a quorum, that had two extra sessions immediately following of 20 days each. A feature was one member's drawing a gun on the Speaker of the House.

Years ago ex-congressman John Rankin fought for a Tombigbee River project. The idea was to develop an inland water to Northeast Mississippi. Now the Mississippi senate is on record as approving the Tombigbee Valley Authority to work with U. S. Engineers in developing the project.

Who knows but that Columbus may vet be a seaport? A recent Facts Forum public opinion polls revealed that of those asked the question, "Should students be required to read the Constitution and the Amendments" replied with All good Americans will agree. Henry Harris of West Point makes this comment, "We are glad that Governor Coleman vetoed the bill which would have limited federal investigators in Mississippi. An honest man never objects to being checked because he has nothing to hide." SSIN Community AMOISIH Be 1936 Ordained Patricks Day The Pines Rites for the relatives and friends. The same evening at 7:30 Father Balser will officiate at Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament in St. Mary's Chapel.

At St. Alphonsus 25th On Palm Sunday, March 25, Father Balser will sing a solemn High Mass in St. 5 Alphonsus Church, McComb, at 5 5 p. m. Our Lady of the Snows Seminary Choir under the direction of Rev.

James Datko, O. M. will sing the responses. Rev. John McNamara, pastor of St.

Alphonsus' Church, will give the sermon. The Deacon and Subdeacon will be Revs. Edward Coleman, O. M. and Anderw Chalkey, O.

M. I. The minor ministers will be seminarians from Our Lady of the Snows Seminary. A reception in Fr. Balser's honor is planned by the ladies of St.

Alphonsus Altar Society in Liguori Hall from 7 to 9 p. m. Everyone is invited. respectively. Father Balser is one of eight children.

Sister Mary Kathlyn, SSND, is stationed at St. Mary's of the Pines as art instructress, and of the Sister assistant, Charissia, SSND, is a primary teacher at St. Gerard's School, Baton Rouge, La. Another sister, Beverly, is married to Mr. Alfred Gent of Summit.

His four brothers, all married, John, Richard, Fred, and Austin, are residing in McComb; Marion, New York; Gretna, and Fort Hood, Texas, respectively. Attended St. Mary The newly ordained completed his elementary and high school education at St. Mary of the Pines. After his graduation in 1947, he was enrolled as a pre-medical student for two years at Loyola University, New Orleans.

In 1949, he became a seminarian for the Natchez Diocese and was sent to Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans. This September he was assigned to Our Lady of the Snows Major Seminary, Pass Christian, Miss. This seminary conducted by the Oblate Fathers is popularly called Pine Hills Seminary. In late March. Father Balser, will return to the seminary to conclude his studies before receiving his post in the Diocese of Natchez.

Rev. John Rupp New Pastor For Greenwood Church Rev. John H. Rupp of burg has unanimously been called to the pulpit of Greenwood Baptist Church of McComb, it was announced today. The new local pastor has been serving in churches in Alabama and Mississippi for the past 10 years and during that time has engaged in evangelistic programs, Bible teaching and pastorial work in churches and by radio in both states.

Also, he has conducted evangelistic meetings in many other states. Rev. Rupp will assume his ministry at Greenwood Baptist Church on Sunday, March 11. He is married and has four children -John David, Martha, and Jean, 2. The family plans to move into the field as soon as possible.

A church spokesman said the public is invited to attend the Sunday and all other services of the Greenwood congregation. 66TH YEAR--NO. 174 School Program Effective Date Held In House in attendance including council members, 4-H club leaders, officers, and special guests. McComb but: 48 hours when they were heard to say, "It is a privilege to live in this place, isn't it?" It is obvious to see from the above photographic reproduction that. Mr.

Watts was designed to move about with speed and vigor. He's a good citizen, is associated with First Baptist Church, as are the members of his family, The Enterprise-Journal was proud to be privileged to induce Mr. Watts to become a part of the staff of this newspaper and a citizen of this community. JOHN WATTS, director of the advertising department of The Journal, has been neglected by the staff of his newspaper. He joined The Enterprise-Journal in September 1955 and not until now is he being formally introduced to the people McComb.

Fortunately, he needs no introduction because already he has endeared himself to many friends and won the respect of the advertisers in general. Mr. Watts is a graduate of Mississippi State. He had a scholarship in basketball and played three years while there. He has refereed many games in Mississippi and this season was in demand as a referee in this area.

Mr. Watts was born in Louisville, but was reared in Laurel was Mrs. Watts. For several years he was associated with the Public Health Department of Mississippi. Mr.

and Mrs. Watts have two fine, growing sons. They have found their place in McComb and enjoy living here. The couple had been in New Semester Grade Policy Of School Stressed The McComb High School faculty will issue student report cards for the fourth six-weeks grade period on Monday March 12. Parents of students enrolled in McComb High School are reminded by Principal J.

D. Prince that a new policy concerning semester grades is in effect for the school year 1955-56. This policy states in effect first semester grades cannot pull up the second semester grades when the first semester grades are passing grades and the second semester grades are failing. On the other hand, any student who has failing grades the first semester may pull such grades up to a pass for the school year if the second semester grades are sufficiently high. The purpose of this policy, which has been reinstated from years past, is to maintain a high level of scholastic achievement throughout the year thus raising the general educational level of the school, Principal Prince said.

JACKSON, Miss. (P- Missi: sippi House of Representatives today declined to delay the effective date of the state's program tc equalize Negro and white schools. The action came when the House failed to raise a two-thirds majority to refer to Rules, County Affairs or Committee of the Whole a bill changing the effective date from July 1, 1957 to July 1, 1958. Rep. Lovie Gore of Oktibbeha County sought yesterday to refer the bill to the Rules Committee.

When her motion was delayed, she sought today to refer it to Committee of the Whole House of Representatives in an attempt to seek immediate passage. Govennor's Intent Unknown Had it passed, there was some doubt that Gov. J. P. Coleman would sign the bill.

He has told the press, "The state's school law will remain on the books." Rep. James Baxter of Lauderdale County, chairman of the Edu- (Continued on Page Four) More Than 50 Ask About Kratzschmar's Fishing Boat Trailer "Never have we had such an experience," said Mrs. George Kratzschmar. "That little classified ad we ran in The Enterprise-Journal kept our telephone buzzing all the time. We had more than fifty calls.

Mr. Kratzschmar had a boat trailer for sale. Said Mrs. Kratzschmar: "We sold it to the first person that call ed, Mr. McCorkle, a young man of Summit, But we had no idea so many people would want to buy our trailer.

It kept us busy explaining to more than fifty inquirers that the boat trailer had been sold to the first one who asked about it." Incidentally, there is not a more ardent fisherman in McComb than George Kratzschmar. He is never so happy as when there is a wet fish hook near him, that is, unless it is the time when something is nibbling at his wet fish hook. JOHN ness. City Hall Hearings Saturday Morning In Roberts Case he saw the adjoining structure ablaze. He said he tried to open each of its four windows and the door but was driven back by intense heat.

Guy Barnett, 24, who lives about two blocks away, said he noticed a glare in the sky but had to go to the home of a neighbor to telephone for aid. Barnett said he could hear screams. Brown said that by the time firemen got there "there wasn't a chance to save anyone or Three dogs owned by the Twymans' were out of the house. One of them ran back in and burned to death. Two hearings emerging from the Sunday midnight death by gunshot here of Bobby Joe Roberts, 20, of Brookhaven will ba held in the City Hall in McComb Saturday morning, County Atty Joe N.

Pigott said today. The first will be held before County Judge Hansford Sim mons and will concern a man slaughter charge placed againsi Jack Sarphie, McComb salesman who fired the fatal pistol bullets This hearing is scheduled to start at 9 a. m. The second will be on countr of assault and battery laic against four Pike County youths who allegedly were in a fight with Roberts and him out of the car in which five had ridput, den from a Pike-Lincoln line "joint" to Burke and Parke streets in McComb a few minute: before the unfortunate youth met his death as a suspected house breaker. The second hearing is slater to begin at 10 a.

The quartet charged with as sault and battery are listed Billy Barclay, Claude Rimes, Rob ert Rimes and Joe L. Pigott. HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS BRING FLOODS While tornadoes struck at many mid- torrential rain brought extensive flood damage to the East. Above tions of the upper rides high-and-dry on his dad's shoulders in the hip-deep rain-born flood in a youngster wanna, N. Y.

Overflowing Smokes Creek covered sidewalks, streets and stranded automobiles. (International Soundphoto.) 1.