September 28-October 4, 1947

Rockingham County escaped severe damage from flooding this week despite a torrential storm that dumped six inches in 12 hours. 

The hardest hit may have been the county's farmers, who already have endured a tough summer of hail storms and black shank in their tobacco crops. Farm Agent J. Ed Foil said some corn and lespedeza hay were washed away and land was badly eroded in spots. Bursting dams also destroyed some fish ponds. 

Foil estimated overall crop losses at $10,000. 

Some homeowners in low lying lands had to abandon their homes and, in Reidsville, Southern Railway's train schedule was disrupted. Steam-powered trains had to plow through more than mile of water covering tracks from Haw River Bridge to Benaja and Southern's diesel-drawn trains were stopped completely. 

A Madison Junior Chamber of Commerce is being organized under the sponsorship of the Reidsville Jaycees. Madison has more than 20 young men ready to establish a chapter, according to Durham E. Carnes, a leader in the movement. 

Thirteen Rockingham County 4-H boys and girls took part in a poultry show and sale in the Agricultural Building in Reidsville. Each brought 12 selected birds from among 100 certified New Hampshire Red baby chicks that he or she began growing in February when the 4-H project began. 

The Rev. and Mrs. Thomas E. Fountain and four small daughters are home in Leaksville on a 10-month furlough from missionary work in Mexico where they were sponsored by King Memorial Baptist Church of Leaksville. 

The Leaksville Rose Garden met at the home of Mrs. Dewey Mabes and made plans for the coming year. 

William Farmer Wilson, assistant county agent, has been elected president of the Reidsville Kiwanis Club, succeeding Robert D. Johnson. ... The 21st annual meeting of the Piedmont District of the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs was held at Leaksville Methodist Church, with the Martha Taylor Davison Music Club of Leaksville as host chapter. ... Marylon McCollum died of a shotgun blast fired through a window from outside his well-known road house, "the House of Blue Lights" on Highway 29 two miles north of Reidsville. Thomas Stevens, 25, of Ruffin Rt. 2 was charged with murder. ... Mrs. Martha G. Patterson, 34, of Leaksville was killed when the car in which she was riding was struck by an oncoming car being pursued by police. Elvric McDaniel of West Fork, Va., was charged with manslaughter and speeding and Mrs. Patterson's husband, Marvin Patterson, was charged with driving under the influence, Deputy Sheriff Carl Axsom reported. 

Playing this week at Leaksville's Grand Theatre: "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" with Barbara Stanwyk and Humphrey Bogart; "Deep Valley" with Ida Lupino; "Buckaroo from Powder River" with Charles Starrett; "Shut My Big Mouth" with Joe E. Brown. 

On the radio Tuesday: Fred Waring music, 9:30 p.m., NBC. 

Car battery: Western Auto has the Wizard Deluxe battery for $10.65.