news-record.com

75 years ago
From Greensboro Daily News, Feb. 28-March 6, 1935:

A meteor may have plunged to earth near Wentworth, with a roar and a flash of light awakening Rockingham residents about 3 o’clock Sunday morning. While the meteor has not been found, pieces from it have been, with Mrs. J.M. Sharp of near Reidsville reporting she had a small piece that looks like a clump of metal.

The meteor apparently broke up as it neared the earth, with pieces hitting a road, a tree and one or two other spots. Several people have pieces from the meteor.

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The Reidsville tobacco market, which finally closed for the season March 2, had a highly satisfactory season, both from a poundage standpoint and from prices paid.

The market sold 10,250,000 pounds, with the tobacco bringing nearly $1,750,000 and averaging $16.95 per hundredweight.

The average was nearly 7 cents a pound more than was paid last year and was just 5 cents short of the parity price promised by the federal government.

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Clarence Stone of Stoneville announced he will seek a nomination for a state senate seat in the Democratic primary in June. He is president of the Rockingham County Young Democrats.

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Stoneville and vicinity were visited over the weekend by one of the worst snow, sleet and wind storms in years. Telephone poles were snapped but fortunately power lines were not disrupted.

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The Stoneville Consolidated School reopened after being closed for a week because of a measles epidemic.

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More than a score of divorces were granted by Judge Felix Alley, who is presiding over the regular February civil term of Rockingham County Superior Court at Wentworth.

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“With Naked Foot” by Emily Mann, $3.

50 years ago
From Greensboro Daily News, Feb. 28-March 6, 1960:

The opening of Morehead Memorial Hospital in Leaksville-Spray could come as soon as April 15 or 20, says Bill Moser, administrator of Tri-City Hospital.

This, of course, depends on a number of variables, but prime contractors hope to be out of the new hospital by this weekend and, if that happens, the general contractor expects to complete his work by March 20.

Then the work of setting up equipment could start, making the April opening possible, Moser said.

When the new hospital opens, 75 of the potential 108 beds will be available.

Estimated cost of construction, equipment and provision for the hospital to be included in the Meadow Greens Sanitary District will amount to $1,686,000, according to Richard R. Roberts, treasurer.

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A U.S. F-100 Super Sabre jet crashed into the bay after takeoff from the air base on Kyushu Island but the pilot, Capt. Thomas G. Hopkins, 28, of 746 Crescent Drive, Reidsville, bailed out safely.

Capt. Hopkins, assistant operations officer of the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, ejected after a fire broke out in the cockpit.

He was rescued by an Air Force helicopter.

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Mrs. Allen H. Gwyn, wife of Superior Court Judge Gwyn, is in Annie Penn Memorial Hospital after an accident on Barnes Street Extension in front of Turner’s Dairy Farm that occurred when her car collided with a truck driven by Arthur Francis Price, 52, of Burlington. Mrs. Gwyn suffered a mild concussion while Price had bruises and a cut on the back of the head. No charges were filed.

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Rockingham County had a number of traffic accidents and closed its schools for two days following a snowstorm that left several inches of the white stuff on the ground.

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Ernie Reynolds of Reidsville High was chosen by conference coaches for the All-Western 3-A Team while teammate Jim Taylor and Morehead High’s Danny Hall made the second team. Reidsville finished the season 15-7.

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“Human Heredity” by Ashley Montagu, $5.

25 years ago
From Greensboro News & Record, Feb. 28-March 6, 1985:

Improvements costing $562,000 are being planned at Shiloh Airport.

The plans for the 10-year-old airport include a wider runway, more hangar space and buying of an 18-acre parcel of land nearby to improve visibility for pilots.

The airport now has a 5,200-foot long and 75-foot wide runway. The width of the runway is to be expanded to 100 feet.

Causey Aviation, which has a contract with the county to provide maintenance and other services, now has eight hangars at the airport that are rented monthly and the company plans to build eight more.

The authority expects to buy 18 acres at the north end of the airport to remove several obstacles, including an abandoned dwelling and several tall trees.

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Stoneville could get the funding it needs for water system improvements if legislation introduced by state Rep. Robert McAllister is approved by the General Assembly. McAllister has submitted a bill seeking $225,000 for Stoneville’s water system.

The proposed work includes fixing leaky water lines and putting in a new water tank.

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Serious crime in Eden was down 4 percent last year but less serious crime such as vandalism, possession of stolen property and drunk and disorderly behavior jumped by more than 20 percent. While the number of crimes reported to police rose overall by 10 percent over 1983, such crimes as break-ins, forgery, assault and the like declined from 787 cases to 755 cases last year.

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A jumper at the buzzer went in for Burlington Cummings and allowed the Cavaliers to defeat Reidsville 49-47 and claim a berth in the District IV 3-A basketball tournament final. Reidsville, which finished its season at 24-4, got 16 points from Tony Bolden and 11 points from David Stubblefield.

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It was a tough night for Madison-Mayodan High, with both its boys and girls teams losing first-round games in the District VI 3-A basketball tournament at Hibriten. The boys fell to Wilkes Central boys 69-66 and the girls lost to Hibriten 50-38.

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“The Words of Harry S. Truman,” $9.95

10 years ago
From Greensboro News & Record, Feb. 28-March 6, 2000:

Jack Webster announced his resignation as Madison town attorney after more than 30 years in the post.

“I’ve decided it’s time for a change,” said Webster. “I’ve done it for 33 wonderful years.”

He said he had considered resigning earlier and decided to go ahead and quit now because of changes in his law practice.

Mayor Ken Hawkins said he was surprised by Webster’s resignation and noted the town has no immediate plans to fill the post.

He expects the board to consider the vacancy at a planning retreat this weekend.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had to look for one,” he noted.

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Recent snow and ice storms damaged a roof on the Reidsville’s Fire Department building on South Scales Street. It will cost the city about $30,000 to replace it.

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Reidsville, Eden and Madison will get more than $40,000 in federal and state aid for January snowstorms that dumped more than a foot of snow on some parts of the county. Reidsville was hardest hit by storms and will get the most money, $23,000.

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Chinqua-Penn Plantation is set to open, but the popular tourist attraction is dependent on the state for money to continue operating. While it will open and operate on funds left over from last year, Chinqua-Penn is counting on $450,000 from the state and hopes to get final word on that by June or July.

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Marcus Hampton, son of Linda and Marcus Hampton of Eden, received the President’s Choice Award for exhibiting outstanding service to the Boys & Girls Club of Emporia, Va., near St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va., where he is a student. In 1992, Hampton received an award for his achievement in the Youth Employment Program for Rockingham County. He is a graduate of Morehead High School.