Thursday, November 2, 1956
FIELD NOTES
One day last week a crazy red fox turned up at the old Jim Gibson place on Old Field Fork, of Elk. It showed no fear of man whatsoever. In fact it appeared ready to bite anyone and anything. It was soon put out of its misery.
W.C. Eagle, who works in the mines on Sharp Knob, found a didapper (pied-bill grebe) on the Marlinton bride early one foggy morning last week. It had evidentally flown against the bridge and injured itself. The little traveler was carefully put into the water, in the hope it would soon be able to continue its flight to the South.
Another sign of winter was the presence of wild geese around in these parts last week. A flight of 27 flew over Marlinton. These geese were headed north. In the Knapps Creek Valley there were larger flights reported. Some of these geese lit down in the fields.
A number of wild ducks—black mallards—were noticed feeding in the Greenbrier below Marlinton Bridge. These may have been hatched and raised locally. The books say the black mallard is the one wild duck which has never been tamed.
Killed A Bear
A 250 pound black bear which had slaughtered some 14 sheepfor Back Creek farmers was treed by dogs Tuesday morning and killed by Howard Carroll.
Hunters from Stonewall, including Leo and Bobbie McCray, Gilmer Ervine, Byron and Gilbert Petsenbarger, Charles Hogshead and Roy Snyder, were on hand with 13 dogs which brought the beast to tree after a half hour chase. Fred Gumm, of Vanderpool, was also on the scene with his hounds.
The bear was killed on the Jim Wade property and those losing sheep besides, Wade were Howard Carroll, Guilford Townsend and Lawrence Blagg—Highland Recorder.
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Big Prices
From the Pocahontas items, we note that the largest drove of lambs ever seen on the streets of Marlinton was brought here this morning to be shipped to Baltimore and Philadelphia. The drove contained 1170 head and made five carloads. They were purchased by Wade Polling of Barbour County from the Frost community and western Highland. The average for the lot is 78 pounds.
Mr. Polling, also an extensive cattle buyer, purchased 20 head of polled angus steers from Edgar Beard which averaged 1480 pounds. The price was 5¢ per pound, the highest paid in this country for years. They were shipped to Baltimore–From 50 Years Ago column of the Highland Recorder.
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Our Boys and Girls in Service
Berlin S. Galford, son of Kent R. Galford, of Green Bank, recently was promoted to specialist third class at Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he is assigned to The Southeastern Signal School.
Seaman E-T and Mrs. Bruce A. Nelson, of Huntington, spent last week here with her aunt, Miss Anne Richardson and other relatives.
Clarence Murray, of Mill Point, is among the 11 men taking basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He recently joined the United States Army at the local Recruiting Station in Beckley.
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Green Bank Observatory
Washington, October 30—After speaking with officials of the National Science Foundation today, Congressman Harley O. Staggers announced the Foundation is negotiating with Associated Universities, Inc., for the contract to construct the Radio Astronomy Facility near Green Bank in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
“Although no actual contract has yet been signed, it is contemplated that Associated Universities, Inc., will have the management of this scientific ‘window of the Universe’ project,” said Mr. Staggers.
The Second District Congressman was instrumental in seeing that $3,500,000 was “earmarked” for this special project by the Appropriation Committee of Congress. He has worked very closely with the National Science Foundation and Associated Universities, Inc., on the Observatory, which has been in the planning and developing stage for the past two years.
From the very beginning, Mr. Staggers has urged that West Virginia be selected as the site for the Radio Telescope. The Green Bank site was selected over 29 other sites after extensive study was made by Associated Universities, Inc., for the National Science Foundation, over areas in the eastern part of the United States, as it fulfills the majority of reequirements for an ideal site for this highly sensitive project.
“This important project will bring to West Virginia some of the leading scientists, not only of the United States, but of the world,” continued Congressman Staggers. “The radio astronomy facility will be instrumental in furthering radio astronomy research and training radio astronomers in our nation. We must keep a constant drive in effort to catch up with and go ahead of the rest of the world in this important phase of science.”
The Foundation’s telescopes proposed to be built in Pocahontas County will range from 140 feet in diameter and larger, and the over-all cost of the project will run into several millions.
Congressman Staggers has received many inquiries from citizens, living in the Green Bank area, as to whether or not they should plant crops this fall on their farms which may be acquired as part of the site for the Observatory. He has been informed by officials that farmers may plant crops, provided the crops can be harvested within one year after the land is actually acquired by the Foundation.
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DEATHS
Hattie Hamilton Wooddell, age 70, of Clover Lick.
Doshie Frances Landis, age 41.
Massie C. Gatewood, age 78, of Frametown, Braxton County.
Alvin Reeves Gay, age 92, of Edray.
Alice Collins Stokes, age 71, of Durbin.
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BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde James Mullens, of Marlinton, on Monday, October 22, 1956, a son, named Scott Marshall.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Woodrow Keatley, of Buckeye, on Wednesday, October 24, 1956, a son.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Merle Lee Bennett, of Cass, on Wednesday, October 24, 1956, a son, named Gary Burton.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Verlin Lucas Kelly, of Dunmore, on Friday, October 25, 1956, a daughter.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Junior Leffel, of Marlinton, on Saturday, October 27, 1957, a son.
- - -ALPINE THEATRE
“The Black Sleep”
Bela Lugosi ~ Basil Rathbone
“Gog The Killer”
Herbert Marshall
“Dawn At Soccoro”
Rory Calhoun
“Fingerman”
Frank Lovejoy
“The Bold And The Brave”
Mickey Rooney ~ Wendell Corey
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