Smokey Bear

Almost every school child has heard about Smokey Bear. The life story of Smokey is amazing. In 1950 a badly burned bear cub was rescued from a fire in Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. He was found by a firefighter clinging to a charred tree limb. Forest Rangers and doctors treated his burns and when he was well he was sent to a new home in the zoo in Rock Park at Washington, D. C. He was made a symbol to help protect the nation's forests from fire. Smokey's picture was put on fire prevention signs which were posted all over the country. He's been on radio, in movies, and on TV; he's even "made" the comic books.

Congress has patented the Smokey Bear trademark, and more than 50 companies make Smokey items for sale. Royalties from these sales operate the Smokey Junior Forest Ranger program. Three million children are Junior Rangers. Membership is open to any boy or girl who promises to help Smokey. Each new member receives a membership card and other literature on request to "Smokey Bear Headquarters" U. S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C.

Smokey is helping you and us do a good job of protecting the Monongahela National Forest from fire. In 1960 only 15 man-caused fires burned only 93 acres. Smokey is now a 400 or 500 pound bear; he receives 1,000 "fan" letters and cards each day.

Storm
We have had about all kinds of weather the past week. The river has been high three times, the last time following a torrential rain Saturday about noon. During this storm lightning struck the 132,000 volt power lines between Glen Falls and Buckhannon, cutting off power for an hour. The emergency plan in Marlinton was put into use.

Then came the wind, with snow Saturday night; a real blizzard, with roads blocked by drifts. Route 219 was closed near George Edgar's at Hillsboro until 10 a.m. Sunday with drifts higher than trucks.

The real trouble came from the wind. Bob Viers, telescope operator at the Radio Observatory at Green Bank, was working Saturday night and kept watch on the velocity of the wind. The highest was between 70 and 75 miles per hour. No damage there.

Elsewhere over the county things were really blown about. Trees were broken off and uprooted, buildings blown over and roofs ripped off. The biggest damage seem to have been sustained by Clark Baxter at Onoto, whose barn blew down, killing 51 sheep, a cow and calf and injuring two cows that had to be killed. Walter Beverage lost a barn on Back Mountain and J. P. Varner, lower on the mountain, had the roof and rafters torn from his barn while nearby a washtub leaning against the well was not disturbed.

The Telephone Company had about 150 poles down but its biggest trouble was from trees falling across the lines.

About 3 a.m. Sunday morning the top of a pole at the corner of Dick Anderson's house in Marlinton was broken off, upsetting and pushing over five other poles on the main 22,000 volt line coming from Webster Springs to Marlinton. Crews from Elkins and Franklin joined the Marlinton crew to repair the damage. The local plant and power from the Green Bank line carried the area until Monday when the wires at Marlinton were tied back into the system.

ALPINE THEATRE
"Hound Dog Man"
Carol Lynley ~ Stuart Whitman
"The Man Who Understood Women"
Leslie Caron ~ Henry Fonda
"The Greatest Show on Earth"

DEATHS
Lon Rose, age 65, of Hillsboro
Okey Starcher, age 66, of Dunmore

BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ryder, of Dunmore, a son
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Winters Hefner, of Mill Point, a daughter named Nancy Lorraine