Stories featured

in the Suffolk News-Herald on this date 68 years ago:

Franklin drinkers want local liquor store

Thirsty Franklin citizens, tired of traveling 20 miles to Suffolk’s ABC store to obtain legal spirits, will carry their fight for a Franklin liquor store before the town council tonight. The movement to obtain a permit was created two weeks ago when ABC store advocates presented council with a petition signed by 219 citizens supporting the store. Anti-store residents countered with a petition signed by 229 people. All commissioners are expected to attend tonight’s session and both sides are prepared to fire a verbal barrage at the town fathers.

Suffolk firefighters dispatched south to Ahoskie

Suffolk’s fire department sent a truck to Ahoskie yesterday to help battle a fire in the business area which destroyed two buildings. Chief James Bangley took Engine One, managed by assistant chief John King, at 4:45 a.m. yesterday morning. Arriving in the North Carolina town, they found that the local volunteer firemen and a company from Elizabeth City had the fire under control. Suffolk’s equipment was used to prevent further spread of the blaze and clearing up danger sports. They returned home at 10:30 a.m.

Editorial

Teachers and salary policy

Members of Suffolk’s city council are too practical and sensible to feel any resentment against the teaching staff for having broached the subject of a salary increase. One of th excuses for the original reduction was that living costs had fallen so it was only natural that teachers could live on less. Evidently, it was entirely forgotten that Virginia school teachers are salaried below a laborer’s wage. Living costs have almost doubled, teachers are justified in using that argument for better pay.

A wicked and unjust system has grown up in Virginia as well as in other states governing the pay of teachers. School boards, arbitrarily fix the salary scale. These bodies are not always composed of liberal-minded or even just persons. As a rule, they are favored for the place because they are known to be conservative and conservatives among the moneybags who control things are those who will do nothing to raise taxes.

The News-Herald has long since reached the conclusion that teachers, like others who toil for a living, must organize and cooperate. They should require all candidates for office to state frankly their attitude toward the public school system as an institution as well as toward those who make its continuance possible.

We warn them that unless they become vocal either in awakening through an aroused conscience a healthy public sentiment for support of free public schools or politically the members of the profession will continue to be paid a hod carriers’ wage.

Meeting of the Associated Country Women of the World

During the week of May 31 to June 6, 1936, the farm women of the civilized world will turn their thoughts to Washington where they Third Trienniel Conference of the Associated Country Women of the World will be in progress.

The following members from the Nansemond County Home Demonstration Clubs expect to attend: Mrs. Rosser Bradshaw, Miss Frances Harrell, Mrs. C.W. Rountree, Miss Bruce Hodson, Mrs. David Howell, Mrs. Holmes Copeland, Mrs. Chris Eley, Mrs. T.E. Edwards, Mrs. Fred Wilson, Mrs. D.C. Rountree, Mrs. Henry Brothers, Mrs. F.F. Brinkley and Mrs. J.T. Williams Sr.

Aces keep shooting through the competition

The Suffolk Aces moved their record to 10-0 over the weekend, defeating the South Norfolk Athletic Club 7-3 and the Newport News Trojans 14-5. The local squad batted out 21 hits in its win over NN, holding their opponents to six (though the Aces did commit five errors). The Norfolk game was closer, although Suffolk pushed across a pair of runs in the first and never trailed. The Aces smashed 12 hits and made just one error in the contest.

– Compiled by Jason Norman