The Florala News from Florala, Alabama • 1

J. J. J. J. J.

J. J. J. J. J.

LAKE JACKSON WEST FLORIDA On Beautiful The Gateway To A FLORAL A florala News of Archives PUBLISHED WEEKLY ON THURSDAY Department 1-1-46 and History FIFTY- -SECOND YEAR SERVING SOUTH CENTRAL ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA FIFTY-SECOND YEAR, NO. 42 FLORALA, COVINGTON COUNTY, JANUARY 15, 1953 SUBSCRIPTION: $2.50 the year State's First REA Dial Phone System In Operation Here Hill Praises Florala In Pioneering New Era In Phone Service The people of this area were told Saturday afternoon by Sen. Lister Hill that they may consider themselves pioneers in laying the groundwork for Alabama's first REA dial telephone system. The Senator spoke to a huge audience in the auditorium of the Florala City School where public ceremonies marked the conversion of the old-fashioned hand cranked phones to the dial system by The Florala Telephone Company, the first company in the nation to receive a loan under the Hill-sponsored program. "This is a historic day in Flor-, ala; we are here to celebrate dream come true," Hill said of the event.

"You, the people of Florala, have done the pioneering. You have broken the ground and it is because of your efforts, sacrifices and vision that we can celebrate inaugural day," he told his listeners. Hill also paid special tribute to the Vaughn family, which begar Florala's telephone system in 1904. He stated that the company's new system was built to take care of the growing needs of the area and would be able to provide telephone service to all its franchise ritory. "This celebration marks the ginning of a new day of modern, dependable telephone service for Covington County, and i is a lenge to all rural Alabama and the whole nation," Hill said.

He added: "The Rural Telephone Program has just passed its third and is barely out of its swaddling clothes. Already its effect on rural life has been deeply felt. Already seven more rural telephone loans been approved in Alabama 1 to bring new or improved service to almost 11,000 of our people in Kalb, Chilton, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Monroe, Conecuh, Baldwin, Madison, Marshall, Jackson, Montgomery and Crenshaw Counties. In addition, sixteen other loan applications are on file to serve almost 20,000 more Alabama farm families, churches, schools, stores and rural businesses of every kind." A spokesman for REA 'Admin(istrator Claude Wickard, J.

B. Haley, revealed a high interest in the sented project president in Lloyd Washington. G. He. Vaughn, preson of the founder, William H.

Vaughn, with a "Certificate of Quality Service." P. M. Schuchart, representative of the Florida Railroad Commis-1 sion, which is cooperating in providing service in the Florida area, spoke briefly in behalf of the project. Among other guests introduced by 'Attorney Ewell N. Clark, the master of ceremonies, were Senator Lawrence Andrews of Union Springs, who Is legal advisor for the League of Municipalities, and their representative at the event; Postmaster Roy Nolen of Montgomery; Mr.

Rittenhouse, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Ohme, representatives of the Alabama Public Service Commission; as well as president L. G. Vaughn and his mother, Mrs.

Nora V. Lawrence; Mayor H. G. McDaniel and man. A.

H. Lurie. The company's directors are: Dr. A. G.

Williams, E. P. Rodwell, E. N. Clark, C.

B. Zorn and Mrs. Nora V. Lawrence. Hill was introduced by Representative Tully A.

The actual switchover to dial service was made at 9 p.m. Saturday. Most of the phones over the area are in service but due to the great task in making the changeover, it will be a few days yet before, full and complete service is resumed under the new system. Mr. and Mrs.

Sam Jackson attended the funeral of his uncle, Mr. Alto Casey, in Slocomb, Sunday afternoon. Among the Rotarians attending the State session of Clubs in Montgomery Monday and Tuesday were: A. H. Lurie, C.

A. Moon, Ferril Burgess, C. J. Sullivan, Curtis Cannon, Henry Williamson, and Dr. C.

N. Matthews. LAUREL HILL BANS SALE OF LIQUOR ON SUNDAY The Laurel Council at its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night passed an ordinance closing all places of business selling intoxicating liquor from 12 -night Saturday until 7 a.m. the following Monday. All members of the Council were present and voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance, which was immediately approved and signed by the Mayor.

The ordinance went into effect immediately. Joe Breck Gantt To Be Named Second Lt. Upon Graduation Joe B. Gantt, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Tom Gantt, has been selected for appointment as a second Lt. in the Regular Army, Infantry, upon graduation from the Universality of Alabama, at the end of this school year. He is one of 663 Distinguished Military Students listed by Secretary of Frank Paco, for such appointments. The list includes top students in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps at 123 colleges and universities in the United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Selection was aimed on merit according to branch procurement quotas from a list of all Distinguished Military Students who applied for appointments in the regular Army.

He was chosen because of outstanding qualities of leadership, high moral character, definite aptitude for military service and high academic standing. His appointment will be effective June 15. Noted Editor-Columnist, Larklin Cleveland, 80, Succumbs At Hospital Larklin Cleveland, 80, "Uncle widely know retired news paper editor and columnist of DeFuniak Springs, died at the Veterans Hospital in Montgomery Friday night. He had been in ill health for some time. Cleveland wrote a column, "Uncle Cleve which was published, in a number of West Florida newspapers up until.

a few months ago: He was editor- owner, of the DeFuniak Springs, Herald for. many years. Airman Eugene Wright Returned From Tour Of Korean, Combat Area SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9 (FHTNC) Air Group Seven is scheduled to arrive here today. aboard the attack aircraft carrier? USS Bon Homme Richard, after a tour of duty in the Korean combat area.

Among the airmen is Eugene L. Wright, aviation structural chanic first class, USN, son jot Harry D. Wright of Florala, and husband of the former Miss Margaret C. Nuding of 4285 Orchard Philadelphia, Penn. Air Group Seven is normally based at Quonset Point, R.

I. The 27,000 ton carrier -has completed her second Korean cruise, the highlights of which were the strikes on North Korea's electric power plants and the UN's massive July 11 raid on Pyongyang. Governor Persons Breaks Ground For Eight-Story 1 State Office Building MONTGOMERY, Ala. Ground has been broken on the new eight-story state office building here. Gov.

Gordon Persons turned over the first spadeful of earth ch the construction job which must be completed in 600 days, at a bid of $2,682,812. The Ray M. Lee Atlanta, will erect the Building, which will house various departments and agencies now, Jocated away from the main Capitol, building. The new building, financed a $3,250,000 bond issue, will set across Dexter Avenue from the State Highway Department Building, and will follow i it in ural style. Board member Kermit George attended the monthly meeting of the Covington County Board of Revetitte in Monday, (Group Plans City's I Annual Camellia Show During Jan.

Garden Club Sponsors Predict Greatest Display In Years Plans are being completed for Florala's Camellia Show, which will be held on either January 28th, 29th or 30th, the day decided on to be announced next week. The show will be held at the Lake Jackson Club House and will be open from 2 o'clock until 9 o'clock in the evening. The show is sponsored each year by the Florala Garden Club. Camellia growers predict that the show will have more blooms than ever before as the cold weather has come in such a way this year as to harden the buds and intensify the color of the blooms. The weather conditions for the next 20 days indicate that the show will be held one of the days planned.

The camellia bushes around Florala are well filled with healthy buds. Extensive preparations are well under way for the show and hundreds of visitors are expected to enjoy the event. Many wonderful camellia blooms of rare and exquisite varieties are expected to be' shown as well as many of the ordinary blooms. Persons are urged to enter their blooms regardless of how ordinary they may be. Mrs.

B. C. Cox is overall chairman of the Camellia Show. The show will be open to the public on the day and date decided on from two o'clock until nine in the evening. Entries may be registered' for the show between eight and eleven-thirty in the morning of the day for the showing in the afternoon.

Classifications are to be as follows: CLASSIFICATIONS SECTION Camellia ment. Class I A Camellia arrangementUsing, any one variety. Camellias only. B- One color camellia arrangement. Other flower accessories may be used with the camellia in this arrangement.

SECTION I CLASS FOR ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENTS Class One A. Line Arrangements. B. Mass Arrangements. Class Two A.

Dried material accessories arrangement B. Berried branches with without foliage accessories arrangement. Fruit accessories NOTE: Camellia must be used somewhere in each of the above arrangements. Class, Three Miniature arrangements. SECTION MI COMPOSITIONS Arrangements using candles, figures -and any other accessories.

SECTION IV Marine Arrangements. SECTION Individual table arrangements. Any type table. Any accessories may be used. SECTION VI INDIVIDUAL SPECIMEN Camellia Blooms of any variety, 1 any, color.

Men are urged to also participate in the show. Professional growers will be furnished space for their blooms. They will not be eligible for specimen competition, but professional growers are qualified to compete in the camellia arrangement contests. Children are also urged to enter their flowers and arrangements. Members of the Garden Club are stressing the fact that everyone is urged to enter their camellia blooms regardless of kind.

An ordinary camellia bloom can be a specimen bloom and should be entered byrin the show. The' committee emphasized the fact that everyone entering blooms or arrangements should notify the receivers at the club house when they enter in the. show or else label their arrangements as to the classification: they are attempting to make. In that way there will be no mistake in where an arrangement was made to be placed. Methodist Committee Plans For Spring Evangelistic Program The membership and evangelism committee of the First Methodist Church held a business conference at the church Sunday afternoon.

The committee is composed of the pastor, Rev. H. P. Childs, chairman; W. O.

Owen, Sunday School superintendent; Mrs. E. C. Palmer, H. J.

Evans, Mrs. M. P. Carter, Mrs. T.

A. Goodwin, Miss Mary Fish, MYF attendance chairman and Mrs. J. L. Willette.

The purpose of the conference was to formulate plans and set forth objectives for an evangelistic program planned to be held in the Spring, which all Methodist churches all, participate in simultaneously. Sunday, January 25, was designated by the committee as "church loyalty day." Members who have been lax in their attendance at church activities are now being urged to attend the church school and worship services. A formal welcome will be extended absentee members and visitors on the designated day, January 25. Along with the back-to-church program, the committee, under the supervision of the pastor, extends an invitation to everyone to worship with them. Young people who are not attending worship service land Sunday School elsewhere, will also receive a cordial welcome.

Jack C. Dixon, 26, Fatally Injured In Auto Accident Veteran Succumbs Late Monday Night In Montgomery Hospital Tragedy struck in the home of i Mrs. Gracie Caylor Dixon during Saturday night when her son, Jack Dixon, age 28. was fatally injured in an auto accident on the FloralaDeFuniak Springs highway. Dixon, who lived with his mother in the Children's Home Community, apparently lost control of his truck at a point south of Paxton while returning from DeFuniak Springs.

He had been visiting friends at DeFuniak and was returning home when the truck left the highway and struck a telephone pole. Dixon, a veteran, was rushed to the Veterans Hospital at Montgomery after receiving medical attention at a local hospital. He died at 10:55 o'clock Monday night! without regaining consciousness. Following his discharge from the service, he held a position at Eglin Field until recently, when 1 he i made plans to engage in farming. The victim's father, the late Frank Dixon, preceded him in 1 death August 27, 1936.

A brother, Frank Dixon, was killed overseas January 30, 1944, while in service during World War I. Funeral plans will be announced upon the arrival of a brother, Caylor Dixon, who is with the U. S. Navy. The Rev.

H. B. Shep-! herd will conduct the which will be held from the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. L.

J. Thompson, Retired School Head, Celebrates Eightieth Birthday Mr. L. J. Thompson, retired school teacher and beloved citizen, celebrated his 80th birthday Tuesday, Jan.

13. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson reside in an apartment at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Paul O'Neal and Dr.

O'Neal on 7th Avenue North. Mr. Thompson has been in ill health for a year or more, and remains indoors most of the He is a former teacher at the Florala High School and 1 has a wide circle of friends. He yet has a brilliant mind and is a writer of note. He has contributed a number of articles for publication in The Florala News in recent years.

The Florala News joins his many friends in extending best wishes upon his 80th birthday. Miss Bell Martin has returned to her home in Opp after serving as night operator for years in the local telephone exchange. Miss Martin made many friends in Florala, who regret to her leave. Citizens Take Part In Discussion Of High School Needs Rotary-Sponsored Meeting Better Acquaints Citizens Of School Activities A near perfect attendance of the members of the Rotary Club together with invited guests County Superintendent of Education H. L.

Taylor tell of the needs of the school, finances taxation at a meeting and banquet Friday evening in the High School Cafeteria. Mr. Taylor compared the high school with other schools of the county and state, and brought out the fact that the school is rated among the best, the fact being demonstrated by the students themselves in high achievement tests and their successful participation in various oratorical contests. Rotarian C. B.

Zorn, chairman of the high school board, acted as chairman of the forum on "High School Needs." The purpose of the meeting was another Rotarysponsored event to better acquaint the citizens of the area on the activities and needs of the community. It was an outgrowth of discussion which began at the previous week's meeting of the Rotary Club on school activities in the area. Mr. J. E.

Scarborough, principal of the High School welcomed the guests and gave a complete picture of the work being done in the school and some of the pressing needs such as furniture, science equipment, visual aid equipment, outdoor gym and improved and additional grounds. He conducted the group on a tour of the building which is now undergoing repairs. Mr. H. L.

Nipper, superintendent of the Florala City Schools gave a report of the progress of the proposed school band. He discussed at length such questions as finances, band director, who will play in the band, uniforms, instruments, etc. He and Mr. Taylor are now receiving applications from band directors and as soon as additional funds are made available to add to the funds already in the band fund, the actual organization will get underway. Mayor H.

G. McDaniel stated that the present condition of the city treasury would not permit large scale assistance to the schools at this time, but is hopeful that some method may be worked out soon. City finance chairman Herman Lurie expressed the city's desire to cooperate with the schools and invited suggestions on ways and means to provide additional assistance. Rotary president C. N.

summed up the program with the suggestion that citizens of the area take a greater interest in school activities and be ready to fered cooperate that if will a afford movement is ofmore cial assistance. He also praised Mrs. W. P. Matthews and Mrs.

W. W. Kinsaul, operators of the cafeteria, for the splendid service they are rendering the school and for the delicious meal served the group. Three Persons Die In Elba Crash ELBA, Jan. 10.

Three people were killed and two injured here late this afternoon when their cars crashed head-on. The Highway Patrol listed the dead as Louise N. Kelly, 24, Willie Ray Kelly, 10, and Marvin D. Smith, 22, all of Elba. The injured were Castor G.

Kelly, 32, and Billy Ray Kelly, 6, also of Elba. The Patrol said Billy Ray was in critical condition. Smith apparently lost control of the car he was driving and swerved into the left lane in front of the car driven by Castor Kelly. The Patrol said Smith was driving at a high rate of speed the crash occurred. Friends of Mr.

Sam Green are glad to know that he has returned from an Opp hospital and is recovering nicely. Friends of Mr. J. E. Hendley regret to learn of his continued illness at his home.

MINISTER AND WIFE VICTIMS OF CRASH ON HIGHWAY NINETY Described as one of the most tragic highway accidents to occur in this area in some time was the car-truck crash that claimed the lives of Rev. and Mrs. Leroy F. Edwards on highway 90 near DeFuniak Springs at an early mornTing hour Thursday of last week. The accident occurred when the Edwards car, traveling east, ran under an oil transport truck, shearoff the top of the Edwards car and mutilating the bodies of both Rev.

and Mrs. Edwards. The couple's daughters, Janet, age 11, and Judy, 9, 1 riding on the rear seat were only slightly injured. Another child, a son, was visiting relatives and was not with the parents. Rev.

Edwards was a minister from Dade City, Fla. and a former resident of the Chapel Hill munity. The family was returning home after visiting relatives in this area. Rev. Edwards was in the office of The Florala News the day previous and placed an nouncement in the News in regards to his Sunday morning broadcasts.

V.F.W. Members Will Participate In Special District Meeting Officers and members of the Alaflora Post 6618, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will participate in the special District meeting which will evening, be held 7:30 in o'clock. Andalusia National Director of Post Activities Fred J. Twyman, post department commander of Kansas, will address the group in coordinating plans for the observance of National V. F.

W. Week January 25 through by 31. He will be accompanlied Department officers during his two week's tour of Alabama posts. Korean veterans are particularly urged to participate in the meetings. P-TA To Sponsor "Fun Night" At City School CafeteriaThe Florala City School P.TA will meet Tuesday night, Jan.

20, in the school cafeteria at 7:30. All parents, teachers and school children are urged to attend. Children should be accompanied by a parent. The various program will be in the form of a party, with Mrs. Jewell Powell and Mrs.

Ernest Cannon in charge of the games. A short business session will be held, after which refreshments will be served. James M. Dauphin, 90, Pioneer Citizen Of Area, Passes At Coffee Springs James M. Dauphin, 90, a resident of Geneva county died Sunday night at the home of his son, A.

Dauphin in Coffee Springs. Mr. Dauphin resided in the Hacoda community for many years, where he was a charter member of the Hacoda Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Geneva County Masonic Conference. Funeral serives were held Tuesday afternoon at Chapel Hill church with Elder Collins officiating.

Burial was in the church cemetery. Masonic rites were rendered at the graveside with the Hacoda lodge in charge. He is survived by two daughters, Miss Allie Dauphin and Mrs. Beatrice Knowles, both of Tampa, Florida; four sons, A. Dauphin of Coffee Springs; James M.

Dauphin, of Monroeville, V. M. Dauphin, and W. A. phin, both of Jacksonville, 121 grandchildren and 22 greatgrandchildren.

Sgt. Harry T. Spears Recent Graduate Of A.T.S. In Mannheim, Germany MANNHEIM, Germany Sgt. Harley T.

Spears, whose wife, Alene, lives at 1508 W. Florala, is a recent graduate of the Army Transportation School in Mannheim, Germany. He completed a five-week leader-ship course designed to develop his abilities as a non-comissioned officer in the transportation branch. Sergeant Spears, a crane-shovel operator in the 868th Engineer Aviation Battalion, entered the Army in June 1951. Church, Schools Are Burglarized Here During Week-End Intruder Takes Time Out To Cook And Eat In School Cafeteria A number of places in the community were burglarized last weekend, which included the First Baptist Church, Florala High School and the Paxton High School.

At Paxton the burglar or burglars were bold enough to cook and eat in the school cafeteria, and indications are that they spent the night there. Only a small amount of loose change was taken from the Baptist Church, but the office in general was more or less disturbed by the intruder in his apparent search for money. The Florala High School suffered damage to the piano in the auditorium, the rooms and office ransacked and the burglar had the audacity to put match stems in the milk bottles in the refrigerator of the cafeteria. The Paxton School suffered no less at the hands of the burglar, every room showing signs of his presence. State and County Officers have been cooperating with local police in the investigation but as the News goes to press they have made no arrests.

However, it is reported they are following up strong leads which should result in the apprehension of the guilty party or parties. It is believed by some that the pilfering was that of an expert, probably the same person or persons who entered a number' of places in the area previously, while others are of the opinion it was the work of amateurs. Coach Hodges' Team To Play Rawls High Here Thursday Night Coach Hodges announces a basketball game for tonight, (Thursday, January 15th) at the armory. The game will get underway at 7 o'clock, playing the Rawls High School. Games will be played by the A and teams of Florala and Rawls.

Coach Hodges urges everyone to attend the basketball games and support the local team. The basketball association is badly in need of funds and fans attending games will thus greatly aid the team. Junior Class To Present Western Comedy At 8 P. M. Friday, Jan.

16 The Junior class of the Florala High School will present a western comedy, "Wanted, A at 8 p.m. Friday, January 16, in the auditorium of the school. The characters include a great cast of tall, dashing and handsome cowboys and pretty cowgirls. The event promises to be one of the best plays the school has produced in recent years. Mrs.

Loree Watson, 67, Stella Route Citizen, Passed Away Tuesday Mrs. Loree Watson, age 67, died in a Walton County, Florida hospital Tuesday night at 7:50 o'clock, She resided on Stella Route. Funeral services were held this afternoon, (Thursday, Jan. 15th) at the Mt. Gilead Church near Hartford, at 2:30 o'clock.

Survivors are the husband, J. D. Watson, Stella Route, one brother, Willie Hawthorn, Jay, two sisters, Mrs. Mollie Hawthorn, Pensacola, and Mrs. Josie Warren, Geneva, Ala.

Evans Funeral Home in charge. Azalea Trail Festival Will Open February MOBILE, Ala. Mobile's Azalea Trail Festival will open Feb. 1, with the usual thousands of visitors slated to crowd the city's winding historical streets as they view some 30 miles of brilliant blossoms. Azalea Trail President Jack Sprinkle said the camellia show and exhibit will be held Feb.

1 to get the celebration underway. The festival will continue until March 25, with Miss Neva Jane Langley, Miss America of 1953, being crowned as queen of the Am alea Trail, March 1,.