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Newspaper
Ruston Leader
Location
Ruston, Louisiana, United States of America
Date
Dec 26, 1957
Page
4
The Drainage Commission outlines plans to acquire flowage rights and complete lake construction. A 14 700 acre lake with 1600 square mile drainage area, 100 mile shoreline, and depths up to 37 feet is slated for fall work, with timber removal by landowners and no taxes while the lake exists. Funds from the last meeting, including one dollar appropriations, support progress before fall 1958 completion.
Louisiana property assessments climbed by 211 million dollars in 1957 the largest annual dollar increase on record though inflation adjusted terms show only an 11 percent rise since 1929 PAR warns current valuations raise questions on assessment effectiveness and fairness urging exploration of more realistic methods PAR notes Louisiana relies heavily on property taxes and many exemptions distort revenue with wide parish variations in actual cash value and no statewide equalization effort
Baskets were distributed to needy families on Christmas Eve in Lincoln parish. J T Mabry Ruston Fire Chief says the department used a truck loaned by the Health Department to deliver in town while the sheriff’s department distributed baskets outside the city. Local civic and professional groups funded and assembled the aid at the Fire Station with cooperation from city offices.
Ruston units of the National Guard celebrate their 11th annual roll call on December 27 at Ted's Cafe. Battery F of the 204 CA AA, 153 strong, was inducted January 6, 1941, and sent to Camp Hulen Texas January 12 for a year of dive duty training. The 1947 gathering at Ruston aims to honor veterans, with Thomas Lewis and Hunter Lewis arranging for about sixty attendees.
Slaveside rites were conducted at Fellowship Cemetery for Cobb Jr. two day old son of Mrs Harvey Cobb of Rugby. The Rev D O Foster attended. Services were under Kilpatrick Funeral Home. The infant died at 11 45 Tuesday at a local clinic. Survived by parents and grandparents Mr and Mrs Ey Cobb of Dubach and Mr and Mrs Ly Northcutt.
Funeral services for Mrs. Walter Rt. Shepherd of Arcadia were at the First Baptist Church of Arcadia Sunday at 2 30 pm with Dr. Claude Caldwell and Dr. E D Giddens officiating. She died Friday at 1150 pm after a brief illness. She was a longtime Arcadia school teacher. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery under direction of Conger Funeral Home. Survivors include son David Shepherd Ruston daughter Mrs W L Simpson Shreveport sisters Mrs L C Golden Downsville and Mrs Lloyd Mercer West Monroe brother D F Johnson West Monroe and two grandchildren.
Miss May Thomas, 85, died in a local hospital Friday after a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held Sunday at the Darby Chapel with Rev Jolly B Harper of Trinity Methodist Church officiating. Burial was in the Fordyce, Arkansas cemetery. She had lived in Ruston with a niece, Mrs. Russell, and was born in Cleveland County, Arkansas. she is survived by a number of nephews and nieces.
Veterans in the Shreveport region will receive annual income questionnaires from the Veterans Administration. Fred Zappolo, acting VA manager in Shreveport, said forms will be mailed by December 27 and must be returned within 30 days to avoid suspension of pension payments. The data cover 1957 income and projected 1958 income. limits are $1400 without dependents or $2700 with dependents for nonservice connected pensions. Compensation recipients are excluded from mailing.
Mrs. B. H. Alexander, 80, longtime Ruston resident, died Friday at 8 45 after a long illness. She lived at 7431 St Bonner Ruston. Funeral services were held Saturday at 3 pm in Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel with Rev A H Johnson officiating. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery Ruston. Survivors include her husband P H Alexander six daughters Mrs B W Anderson Mrs David Lane Mrs Jessie Smith Mrs Pauline French Mrs Esther McGuire all of Ruston and Mrs C D Davis Gibsland 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Ruston Baptists George Avery Lee and Joel C Murphy contributed articles to the upcoming Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists from Broadman Press Nashville. Lee wrote on Encampments and Murphy on Allen Pinkney Durham and John Rodden Edwards. The two volume work, four years in progress, includes 4348 articles and 92 pages of pictures with 675 biographies. It will be published January 20 1958 by the Southern Baptist Convention Historical Commission.
James R. Biggar Jr was elected high priest of Palestine Chapter 37 Royal Arch Masons in annual officer elections held here. Other new officers include Bryant king Davis scribe Heard treasurer Huey secretary Taylor Masonic Benevolent Board member Garrison royal arch captain Cato master of 3rd veil Moore installed by Moore on election night.
Ruston Star Lodge 73 F.A.M. held its annual election and installation of officers. Elected officers include Clyde Ken Oliver as worshipful master J C Jordan senior warden L A Bratten junior warden E J Jordan secretary Shelile O Hall treasurer James Bonner assistant secretary. Appointed officers include Rev H B McDonald chaplain George Jackson senior deacon Emmitt Sims junior deacon TW Brages junior steward Clifton Bradshaw Tyler.
Curt Siegelin of the Department of Commerce reports 1957 investments in Louisiana industries totaled $239.26 million, with chemical and petroleum plants receiving $174.72 million and 1,938 new jobs. The St Francisville Paper Co project and a nickel cobalt refinery in Plaquemines parish boosted metals output, while paper and glass and other sectors added thousands of jobs. East Baton Rouge led chemical expansion. Plaquemines in metals. Washington in paper. Orleans in textiles. East Carroll in boat manufacturing.
Martha Ann Wilson of 509 Gilman Street died at Ruston Hospital at 11:30 a.m. yesterday after being run over by a car owned by Joe Richards of 120 Larson Street. Richards, a Negro grocery store owner, is in custody as authorities investigate the unusual death. Richards told police the two had argued and that she entered his car and was struck when he drove away. The incident occurred on a Ton Street near Christman. Civil authorities and the funeral home arranged arrangements as the investigation continues.
John A. Cox announces winners in the Exterigion Service contest in Louisiana. Edward M. Verger of Mound leads the in shell large Peligin group with others from Mansfield Cypress and Marksville. Small shelling pecan group winners include H N Pippen Sondheimer Ivy Zerangue Junior W Brous and W H Parker. Prizes range from 25 to 50 dollars with a sweepstakes prize of 3500 if the pecan proves worthy after five years of trial. Judges include A O Albem O W Harris W 2 Kimbrough and LSU Extension staff with John A Cox and Donald Ho Spurlock.
Mary Roy, age 7 of 209 Bernard St, won first prize $5 in the third annual Christmas color ing contest. Kaye Salmon, age 11 of Simsboro, won second prize $3, and Audrey Lee Chumley, age 7 of 126 Calvin St, won third prize. Local merchants Dodds Shoes and others sponsored. Louisiana parishes showed increased industrial development in 1957 with half of 64 parishes sharing $239,259,513 in manufacturing expansion. Curt Slegelin announced parish by parish breakdown. 32 parishes shared. A separate note from Harvard biologists warns large-scale fire ant spray in the South could harm wildlife or trigger new pests. Reports of damage from fire ant invasions were noted in several states.
The regular meeting elected J. E. Mitchum president A. B. La rance Hilly vice president Blake Larance Hilly secretary I E Delany Hilly treasurer. Seer Chester Taylor Horticulturist North Louisillat isperiment Sta- Hom Calhoun Louisiana noted 385 hours at 45 degrees or below to date, with 361 hours a year earlier, as dormancy guidelines for peaches vary by variety. Dr Dale Newsom of LSU Entomology discussed insect problems and control, favoring higher oil concentrations for effectiveness, while warning about potential parathon dust risks and proposing Dieldrin treatments only with caution.
Veterans Administration and the Post Office Department announce that VA benefit checks may be forwarded on or after January 1, 1958, to recipients who file regular change of address notices. The rule bans forwarding to deceased recipients and to certain remarried widows. The notice urges all beneficiaries to report address changes to VA to keep records current. The report also notes the growing number of working women, now about one million annually, comprising about a third of the employed force.
Miss Virebila Crowley and Miss Virginia Carton from Ruston with Rev. Bill Stokes will attend the Missouri Quadrennia Conference in Lawrence Kansas. More than 3,000 church members are expected. a special conference guide outlines the theme Our God Our Faith Our Hope and delegates will participate in leadership discussions and sessions at Centenary College in Shreveport.
Area servicemen are noted in various assignments during the holidays. Promoted Dee, 1, USN, photographed in ship duties. Melntire, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alps, is serving with Light Phila squadron GL at Marana Naval Air Station San Diego. Travis B. Melton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melton of 1151 Maryland Ave Russell, completed four weeks of combat training at Camp Pendleton California. Roy D. Walker, signalman third class USN, returned to Long Beach aboard USS Ponchatoula after duty with the Seventh Fleet in the Far East, with visits to Hong Kong Tokyo Yokohama Nagasaki. Timothy L. Moore, seaman USN, returned to Long Beach aboard USS Cushing after duty with Pacific Fleets in the Far East, with visits to Kaohsiung Formosa Tong Kong Olon Gap[e] Luzon and Yokosuka.
Dr Alma Locke Cooke, 70, a medical missionary who recently retired after decades of service in the Orient, has resumed work in Portuguese West Africa in the same capacity.
Lincoln Parish Savings Bonds Chairman Jones reports November figures for Sériey Bonds in Louisiana show $2,982,380.15 in sales and $848,580.87 in savings, compared with $3,422,000 in November last year and $18,827,250.80 for the first 11 months. Cash value and bond totals surpassed $414.5 billion, a record high, with November totals reaching $41,506 million in Louisiana.
William T. Golden of Ruston received the first Oakland Cluster to the Communitarian Ribbon at a Dobin Air Force Base ceremony in Marietta Georgia. He served as Personnel Sergeant Major from October 18 1955 to May 31 1957 earning a meritorious service citation for leadership and responsibility.
A Lincoln Parish singing convention is scheduled for Sunday December 29 at Clay Methodist Church starting at 2 45 pm. Church officials invite everyone to attend.
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