County-
News
BEN CARTER ONCE
MORE IN CUSTODY
ST. HELENS — Ben F. Cart
er, wandering charge of Colum
bia county, is back in his cell
at the county jail, where, it is
hoped, he will remain until
Judge H. K. Zimmerman has
held an important conversation
with him. Carter left the seren
ity of the county lock-up in
July, and was not heard from
until two weeks ago when noti
fication came from officers at
Huntington, Ala., that he had
been arrested there. Deputy
Sheriff Jim Callahan and State
Patrolman Phil Lowd were sent
to bring him back. They arriv-
ed with the prisoner Sunday
night.
.Carter was expected to be
arraigned on a charge of burg-
lery not in a dwelling before
Judge Nauman Wednesday. He
already has charges of forgery,
car theft and
jail
breaking
hanging over him.
MYERS INSANE
LAWYER DECLARES
ST. HELENS — Robert My
ers was “insane and mentally
defective at the time of the al
leged commission of the act for
which he was indicted.” John L.
Foote, attorney for the youth,
said recently in a plea filed.
Myers is under indictment for
the first degree slaying of Annie
Borglund and Julius Olaveson,
elderly Clatskanie people.
Although Myers has signed a
confession of the slaying he has
the privilege of pleading not
guilty to the crimes and no mat
ter what his plea, must be tried.
District Attorney Walden Dil
lard has indicated that the pros
ecution will ask for the death
penalty.
VAN VLEET FORCE
BOOSTS WAR CHEST
RAINIER — The men and
management of the Van Vleet
Lumber company of Rainier
Wednesday of last week boosted
the community’s war chest fund
to within striking distance of
its quota.
The employees of the mill
colletced $172.92 among them
selves and G. R. Van Vleet
matched that with his own check
thus adding to the war chest
$351.84,
which makes
over
$1300 now in hand on the
$1750 quota goal.
The time for the drive was
to have expired Nov. 18, but
has been extended to permit or
ganizations to meet and consid
er donating.
TEXAS CO. SEEKING
OIL LEASE HERE
ST. HELENS—Names of the
oil companies which are seek
ing to lease several thousand
acres of Columbia county owned
land in order to make test drill-
lings for gas and oil were an
nounced last week for the first
time by the court. Representa
tives of one of the concerns
talked to members of the court
for the first time last week,
but employees of the two other
companies made their requests
for the right to lease land some
weeks ago.
Negotiating now
with
the
County are the Texas company,
the Continental Oil Co. and the
Jurgen Oil Co., this last a con
cern which is better known in
California where it has confined
its operations until now that it
is in the Pacific norhtwest.
Deputies to Help
With Fann Reports
Deputy collectors will assist
farmers in filing their declara
tion of estimated income for
the calendar year of
1943,
Form 1040 ES, which must be
filed on or before December
15th, 1943. These deputy col
lectors will be found available
from December 6 to December
15 in the following neighboring
cities: St. Helens, December 9;
Rainier, December 8; Clatskanie,
December 9; Hillsboro. Decem
ber 11 to 15; Forest Grove De
cember 10: In addition to the
places shown, the same assis-
ance is also available to tax
payers at the office of the col
lector of internal revenue, cus
tom house, Portland, each day
until December 15, which is the
final day of the filing period.
Thursday, December 2, 1943
Taxpayers Urged to
Determine Filing Duties
Commissioner of internal rev
enue, Robert E. Hannegan, this
week urged all taxpayers to de
termine whether they are requir
ed to file either original or
amended “Declarations of Esti
mated Income and Victory Tax”
on or before December 15th.
Explaining that only a limited
percentage of taxpayers need
make any filing at this,time, Mr.
Hannegan suggested that every
one ascertain for himself wheth
er he is affected. By far the
largest percentage of taxpayers
have no further filings to makg
■until the annual income and Vic
tory tax return is due not later
than March 15. 1944. However,
some taxpayers who filed “dec
larations” in September have on
installment to pay December 15,
for which they will be sent bills
by their local collectors of in
ternal revenue.
In general, the filing of a dec
laration on or before December
15, will be required of the fol
lowing:
Farmers Duties Told
1. Farmers who have suffic-
Fire Destroys
Home, Takes Life
Fire destroyed the home of
Claude Tackett of Clatskanie and
former resident of Vernonia and
also claimed the life of his small
son. Michael.
The fire started about 7:00
p.m. Monday evening shortly
after the mother had put the
two small children to bed. Ap:
proximate ages of these children
were 16 months and four years.
The mother left the house for a
few minutes and two other child
ren, ages five and twelve, were
working in the barn, and on re
turning to the house noticed that
it was ablaze. The twelve-year-
old tried to make entrance to the
house by the front door but was
unable to because of the smoka
and flames. He then ran ot the
bec|room window, breaking it
with his hands and climbing in,
rescued the 16-month baby gir\
and hunted for the four-year-old
boy but failed to find him as
he had left his bed. Neighbors
arrived and also tried to make
entrance to the house but were
unable to.
The boy’s body was not found
until the next morning. The
fire was believed to have started
when a stove exploded.
Funeral services were held for
Michael Tackett Wednesday aft
ernoon at Clatskanie.
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bayes
of Vernonia are the parents of
Mrs. Claude Tackett.
Mail Seal Returns
As Planned
There may be some question
as to what to do with the re
turns from the Christmas seals
that have been mailed out.
According to Paul Gordon, the
returns should be mailed in the
original envelope which is ad
dressed to J.
B.
Wilkerson.
These envelopes will then be
forwarded to Mr. Gordon and
he will take care of the neces
sary business.
Student Body
Play Postponed
The Vernonia high school stu
dent body three one-act plays
have been postponed from De
cember 3 to December 10 due
to the six weeks examinations
and the funeral services for
Mr. Wilkerson. Also the mill
will be working overtime on
Friday, December 3, so it was
thought best to give the plays
the following Friday which will
be December 10.
..... . •
Vernonia, Columbia County, Oregon
Volume 21, Number 48
Hospitalize• ’u survey of
Death Calls
Meat Made Mr. Wilkerson
Service Men
Need Gifts
November 23
ient income to require filing and
have postponed filing under the
special provisions ef law which
permit farmers to wait as late
as December 15.
People Urged to
2. Persons who did file in
Donate
and Bring
September, but underestimated
Christmas Cheer
their tax by more than 20 per
cent and who should therefore
According to Mrs. Dorothy
file “Amended Declarations” to
Sandon, head of the local Red
avoid penalties.
3. Persons who did not file in Cross chapter, a drive is now
September because their esti on for the collection of gifts to
mated income at that time was be given to hospitalized men and
insufficient to require filing, but men in isolated units.
In a letter received from Jean -
now come within any one of the
Ostlund, chairman of the Colum
following classes:
bia County Camp and Hospital
(a) Anyone who expects to
committe,
Columbia
have during the calendar year Service
1943, more than $100 gross in county has a quota of 500 gift
come from a source outside of packages. Work has already been
wages which are subject to with started in Vernonia and several
holding, and who also expects donations have been received.
sufficient gross income to require Thos donating rre: Wilark ladies,
filing an income tax return: $5.00; Vernonia Study club, $2;
($500 for a single person, $1,200 Mother’s Service club, $5.00.
for a married couple, or $624 for Complete G'ft Boxes Wanted
an individual married person),
It has been urged that as many
(b) Any single person expecting complete gift boxes be made as
wages of more than $2,700 dur possible although if any person
ing the year.
feels that they are unable to
(c) Any married person or out-fit a complete package, a
any married couple expecting in- donation of as many individual
d’vidually or together, more than items as possible will be apprec
$3,500 from wages during the iated.
year.
The following items make a
(d) Any person who was re complete gift box: playing cards,
quired to file an income tax re 1 deck; soap, 1 bar; cigarettes,
turn for 1942 and who expects 1 package; shoe polishing cloth,
his wages in 1943 to be less than pencil, writing paper and enve
in 1942.
lopes, brown shoe laces, 40-inch,
2 pair; small pocket size book
May File Amended Declaration*
There may be some taxpayers of humor or mystery, sewing kit,
who filed declarations in Sep tooth powder or paste, tooth
tember and paid one-half of the brush, pocket comb, fruit cake
remaining tax estimate to be due or hard candy, small game, hand
but who now believe that the kerchiefs.
amount for which the collector Auto Company to Receive Boxes
will bill them in December s
The Vernonia Auto company
more than they should pay. These will receive the packages when
taxpayers may also file amended they are ready and will see that
declarations correcting their pre they are delivered to St. Helens
vious estimates and recompute before Debcember 10, which is
the amount of their installments the last possible day they can
to be paid in December. In such be received.
cases the amended declaration
The Junior Red Cross will
should be accompanied by the make a canvass to collect wran-
bill received from the collector, ping paper and ribbons. Packing
together with the remittance for boxes will also be needed.
any revised amount due on De
cember 15th.
“The December 15th filing,'"
Mr. Hannegan said, “is in real
ity a followup to the September
15th filing. Both filings were
steps in the transition to the pay-
as-you-go system of tax collec SPENDS LEAVE HERE
tion, in accordance with the cur
Calvin Davis is home for an
rent tax payment act of 1943.
indefinite period from the mer
chant marines. He arrived home
Monday for a rest before con
tinuing his duties.
According to the local ration
board, a meat survey has been
recently completed. Each mar
ket was visited twice and given
questionaires to fill out.
The purpose of these surveys
was so the local panel could clear
up any small violation. If any
market fails to comply with the
regulation, they are then report
ed to higher authorities.
There will be another survey
in the near future which will be
to the eating and drinking es
tablishments.
Vernonia Lady
Called by Death
Mrs. Jennie Sargent died at
the home’ of her daughter, Mrs.
Mary Melicker of Hillsboro, Fri
day, November 26. She was
born in Montanna January 1,
1876 and has been a resident
of Oregon for 20 years and has
lived in (Vernonia for 12 years.
She is survived by her husband,
L. H. Sargent of Vernonia, two
sons, DeLoss Hustin, Montana;
Charles Kieho, Portland; two
daughters, Mrs. Mary Melicker,
Hillsboro; Mrs. Eleanor Roach,
Portland.
Funeral services were held at
the Donaldson and Sewell Mortu
ary in Hillsboro with Rev. Clay
ton E. Beish officiating. Inter
ment was at the Fir Lawn ceme
tery in Hillsboro.
Benefit Dance
Slated Dec. 11
The Mother’s Service club is
sponsoring a benefit dance to be
given at the Legion hall on De
cember 11, with Glen Davis or
chestra providing the music. The
proceeds of this dance will go
to the Red Cross Hospitalization
service for servicemen’s wives
and families.
Those Who
Are in It
Church to Hold
Quarterly Meeting
Sunday, December 5 is com
munion Sunday at the Evangeli
cal church and in addition the
second
quarterly
conference
will be held in the afternoon at
2:00 p.m. Rev. and Mrs. Paul
P. Petticord will be present for
the day and Rev. Petticord will
bring the sermons throughout the
day.
A pot-luck dinner will be serv
ed in the social rooms of the
church at noon. At 7:30 p.m..
Mrs. Petticord, an artist with
colored chalk, will give another
one of her pictures.
BENEFIT BAZAAR PLANNED
The Deborah and Pollyanna
circles of the Evangelical church
Missionary society will hold a
benefit bazaar and cooked food
sale Tuesday afternoon on De
cember 7, starting at 1:00 p.m.
at the Vernonia Bakery. The
Pollyanna Circle will have charge
of the food sale, while the De
borahs will take charge of the
apron sale. There will also be
a fishpool.
$50 SENT
FOR CIGARETTES
The American Legion and the
Auxiliary sent the sum of $50
to the department cigarette chair
man for the purchase of cig
arettes for overseas servicemen.
They wish to thank those placing
contributions in the various col
lection boxes over the city.
RECEIVES AIR MEDAL
It was recently printed in a
Portland paper that Francis Dav
is received an air medal. Francis
is stationed in India.
SON WRITES FROM AFRICA
In a letter Mrs. Vesta Chris
tensen recently received from
he rson, Cpl. Earsel (Ernie), he
states: “Boy you shouldn’t talk
about those apples. I haven’t
seen an apple {or so long I don’t
know what they look like. There
are plenty of oranges here now.
They are just coming out. I
suppose they will be feeding us
those pretty soon. They fed us
tomatoes and grapes till I nearly
hated them.
“We are quite a bit better off
than lots of the boys. We have
big tents with floors and sides
about half way up. It isn’t bad
if you can stand the cold.
“I had my name in a book at
the Red Cross and today I saw
where I was wished good luck,
signed Fritz Hausler.”
He also mentions that cigar
ettes are scarce there. They are
only getting four packages a
week where they used to get a
earton.
REPORTED IMPROVING
PINE CAMP, N. Y.—Sgt. Wil
liam L. Walker, 24, a reconnais
sance sergeant in the Sth arm
ored division and the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Edwin E. Walker of
Vernonia, is reported in greatly
improved condition at Pine Camp
4A
station hospital where he has
been a patient since a recent
range accident in which he was
injured.
Sgt. Walker’s right leg was
amputated below the knee after
the injury which resulted from
the premature explosion of a
mortar shell. The hospital now
reports his condition as "good”.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker are at
Pine Camp visiting their son.
PARENTS
VISITED
Jim Templeton recently visit
ed his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Roy Templeton, while on leave.
He had been taking combat en
gineer training at Camp Abbott,
but after leaving here he went
to the Pitteburg Replacement
center in California.
HOME FOR THANKSGIVING
Lt. and Mrs. William Perry
Smith arrived home November
22 from Woodward, Oklahoma
army air base to spend Thanks
giving with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Perry Smith. They returned
to Oklahoma City to the Will
Rogers air base.
Lt. Smith is a grandson ot the
county commissioner,
William
Pringle.
HOME
FOR
THANKSGIVING
Hale Graves, AAMl/c, who is
now stationed at Sitka, Alaska,
waR home for Thanksgiving with
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.
T. Graves. Hale will return to
Sitka in a few days. He is in a
ferry crew that will ferry a
transport plane to the Sitka air
base.
More “Those Who Are,” page 6
Vacancy is Deeply
Felt by Friends
and Acquaintences
Judge James B. Wilkerson
died at his home here on Novem
ber 25, at the age of 74 years.
He was born in Lebanon, Tenne-
see, February 6, 1896. He came
to Oregon in 1902 and has been
a resident ever since. Judge Wil
kerson was educated in the pub
lic schools of Wilson County,
Tennessee,
Peabody
Norma!
school, Nashville, Tennessee. He
spent summer sessions at the
University of Oregon and the
University of Washington.
School Teaching Followed
Mr. Wilkerson began his life
as school teacher while »till in
Tennessee. After coming to Ore
gon he served as county school
superintendent of Columbia coun
ty and city school superintendent
of Rainier, St. Helens, Vernon
ia and Forest Grove. He was ac
tive in the school administration
for 38 years, after which he
was elected judge of Columbia
county in 1935, serving until
again he was named justice of
1941. After declining to run
again he was named justice of
peace for the City of Vernonia
and was later elected school
clerk. In addition to these posi
tions he was Past Noble Grand in
the Odd Fellows lodge, a member
of the Grange, Past Master in
the Masonic Order and a mem
ber of the Methodist church in
St. Helens.
He is survived by his widow,
Mrs, Pearl A. Wilkerson; three
son, Major Burford Wilkerson
who is with the chemical warfare
service located at Edgewood Ar
senal, Maryland; Benjamin, who
is also in the service in Cali
fornia; Robert Wilkerson; and
one daughter, Mrs. Ruff.
Son Not Prosent for Funeral
The son, Benjamin, Could not
be reached in time to attend the
funeral.
Funeral services were held
Monday in the auditorium of the
Washington grade school. The
Bush Funeral home was in charge
with Rev. W. O. Livingstone of
ficiating. Interment was made in
the I.O.O.F. cemetery at War
ren.
In the passing of Judge Wil
kerson, Vernonia and Columbia
county have sensed an irreplace
able loss in a man of wide vis
ion, keen intellect, high standards
and a person whose hand was
always extended in sympathy
and in willingness to help those
in need. His good works will
follow him, and his life will serve
as an inspiration to many.
Vernonia People
Praised for Work
In a letter received last week
by H. H. King from 'Edith Mae
Fisher, secretary of the Co
lumbia County Red Cross, she
states, "Vernonia people have
responded fine for the boys and
believe me they do enjoy the
cigarettes. Will you thank the
Vernonia people for Columbia
County Chapter, American Red
Cross of St. Helens.”
Several boxes have been plac
ed in different business places
in town for donations of cig
arettes and candy which are
given to the boys when they are
inducted into the service.
CLOSE FOR FUNERAL
The Vernonia schools were
closed Monday afternoon and
practically all places of business
closed for part of the afternoon
in respect to Judge J. B. Wilker
son for his many yean of ser
vice in Vernonia and Columbia
county.