May 17-23, 1948

Leaksville Mayor John Smith has named a 14-man commission to study complaints of residents of District 2 that they are not fairly represented on the town Board of Commissioners, and they're not getting the benefits to which they are entitled. 

The appointment of the commission came on the heels of a town board meeting at which 200 residents of District 2 registered strong complaints about the way they have been treated since being annexed into Leaksville two years ago. 

District 2 is composed of the Highlands, Boulevard and Oakland Heights sections. The complaining residents note that District 2 has only two members on the board to represent more than 2,000 residents while District 1 has three members representing fewer people. 

They also want bonds issued for water, sewer and street improvements. 

Martha Wall, 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Wall of Route 2, Madison, has been taken to the Greensboro Polio Center after becoming ill with what her physician said appears to be polio. ... J.B. Balsley Jr., executive of a Reidsville wholesale grocery company, has been named chairman of the 1948 Salvation Army Funds campaign, which has a goal of $5,500. ... Dr. Samuel Renshaw of the psychology department at Ohio State University spoke on "Training People to See" at a meeting of the Carolina Council of Fieldcrest Mills in Leaksville. ... The 13-room home of Reuben King at 307 Maple Ave. in Reidsville was damaged by an early morning fire. Mrs. King was rescued from the roof of the house by firemen. Mr. King is an executive with American Tobacco Co. 

Several Rockingham County high schools held their commencements this week. The schools and number of graduates: Ruffin, 25; Bethany, 26; Stoneville, 37. Madison, Mayodan and Wentworth will be later this month. ... Bill Rankin, rising senior at Wentworth High School, was named winner of the boys' declamation contest among Rockingham County high schools and Edna Earle Cox, a rising junior at Ruffin, was named winner of the recitation contest for girls. ... Miss Della Hawkins, a former school teacher and now a secretary at Fieldcrest Mills, was named winner of the Smith Cup, highest honor given at the annual Rockingham County Fine Arts Festival. Miss Hawkins' winning entry was a short story. 

Graduation gift idea: Parker "51" pen and pencil set, $17.50. 

For the man: Men's woolen slacks, $2.98. 

For the fisherman: Automatic fly reel, $3.98.