The Maycomb Voice
The best voice of the South
Dust Storms Ruins Millions
As the years pass the dust storms are becoming more harsh creating difficult times for those who live in Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and nearby states area.
Last week on Tuesday another storm hit Texas creating over more than 50 acres of land ruined and more than 20 acres of cropland were damaged during the horrendous dust storm. Extreme amounts of topsoil were blown off barren fields and carried in storm clouds for hundreds of miles. It now has been estimated that over 100 million acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the winds.
Three million people are leaving their farms on the Great Plains due to the drought and half a million are migrating to other states to try to dodge the dust storms. Although the numbers are not known, hundreds maybe even thousands of Plain inhabitants died from dust pneumonia, dirt getting clogged in the air pathway of the lungs. The dust in these storms has been shown to contain pollutants and toxins, such as salt, sulfur, heavy metals, pesticides and carbon monoxide. It has been estimated that more than a hundred have died due to some cause of the dust storms and many more are experiencing health conditions. The dense smog of the dust can cause suffocation, of animals, plants and even humans.
The storms are impacting the air, soil, and water creating crops to become very unhealthy and sparse. Sand and dust are picked up during dust storms sweeping away valuable topsoil that is desperately needed for agriculture. Without healthy soil, young plants are not able to survive in in the dry environment causing a significant decrease in sellable crops. The storms not only cause the destruction of crops but erosion that takes place is another concern. Eventually the area affect by the storm can become nearly a desert. The dust storms are having a tremendous impact on the people, environment, and crops.
Lifebuoy Soap
Don't let body odor get you down, cut the rug with no worries and use Lifebuoy Soap!
Campbell's Soup
Try Campbell's new tomato soup! Buy some at your local market for 25 cents for four cans. What a deal!
Trial Shocks Town
The Bob Ewell and Tom Robinson case is one of the biggest cases to ever reach the beloved town of Maycomb. It is not the first time a black man’s word is against a white man’s, but it is the first time the black man’s word was the arguable truth. Many may disagree; the jury disagreed with that statement as Tom Robinson was deemed guilty. But, any human with a conscience could see that Tom Robinson did not do what he was convicted of. To those who were not there to see the trial, it may have seemed like a fair outcome, with Tom being a black man. But, to anyone that was there, it was plain to see that Tom Robinson was innocent, and Bob Ewell was as guilty as can be.
Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson’s lawyer, was a brave by defending this man. He did not have much of a choice because he was appointed to defend him, but he did have a choice to do his job well against the testimony of a white man. He has been ridiculed around town, but he still defended this black man against the white man. For those that know Atticus Finch know that he is a just man and this trial goes to show that his fairness is for all men, black or white. The evidence he brought up in the courtroom showed an undeniable probability that Bob Ewell was responsible for the damage to his daughter, Mayella’s bruises. First of all, Tom Robinson’s left arm is crippled, and the wounds on Mayella showed that they were from a left-handed person. Atticus proved that Bob is left handed; nearly proving that Mayella’s father was the one to beat her. It may seem wrong to defend a black man, but Atticus Finch sees the truth in the matter. It is wrong to defend the guilty man, which is not Tom Robinson. No matter the verdict, it is plain to see that Bob Ewell is the guilty one. The ridicule toward Atticus Finch should stop. He should be treated with respect because of his fairness and courage. He has started a spark in this small town of Maycomb, a spark of hope for those who are victims of prejudice.
Calpurnia's Famous Oven-Fried Chicken
This recipe is a family favorite! Not even your sassy Aunt Alexandra can resist it. The recipe is not hard, but make sure you give yourself the day before for preparation. This particular recipe serves a family of six. You will be sure to be sending the children to bed with full bellies. Here is what you will need:
2 chickens, cut in 8 serving pieces
1 quart buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil
The day before the feast, cut the two whole chickens into 8 pieces. Put them in one large bowl. Pour the buttermilk in the bowl. Leave this to sit in the refrigerator overnight.
The next day, give yourself about an hour to make the chicken. The first thing you should do is preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour, salt, and pepper in one large bowl. Take the chicken out of the buttermilk and coat each piece thoroughly through the dry mixture. Pour the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot until it reaches about one inch.
Working in batches, place several pieces in the oil, but try not to overcrowd them. Let the pieces fry for about three minutes, until they look a light golden brown. Take the pieces out of the oil and set them on a metal baking rack set on a sheet pan. After all the pieces are finished, put the pan in the oven. Bake the chicken for 30 to 40 minutes. Make sure you check it; the inside should not be pink inside.
Now that your tasty fried chicken is finished, all that is left to do is enjoy it! Serve hot, with tasty side dishes like mashed potatoes or watermelon. This is a dish that everyone will love!
In Memory of Mrs. Dubose
Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose passed away on June 18, 1934 at her home while trying to overcome her morphine addiction. Dear Mrs. Dubose was born on January 8, 1898 in Maycomb, Alabama where she grew up and spent her entire life. She loved the town of Maycomb since that was where her years alive were spent. Mrs. Dubose married Mr. Jim Dubose on August 14, 1918 which he unfortunately did not survive to the day of the death of his beloved. Everyone knows that he would have been very proud of his courageous wife, fighting till the day that she passed. She was a courageous woman fighting her sickness till her death. In her healthy days she adored gardening and won Maycombs gardening contest 3 years in a row, but once her husband passed away she gave up her passion of gardening. Once she was infected by her awful sickness she became stuck at her house, where her maid Jessie would tend her. Mrs. Dubose had often spoke of how spectacular her maid was. Mrs. Dubose enjoyed sitting on her porch watching her flowers grow. She was a woman that believed all young children should be respectful to the elderly and she believed that is was necessary for the young to appreciate her. She was always an active member of the Maycomb’s church when she was healthy and her husband, Jim, was alive. Although she was so tiny and frail, she gave us all such courage and hope and reminded us of the preciousness of life. All donations may be sent to Maycombs Town Church.
Italy Victorious! Will the Great Bambino Stay for 1 More Year?
It has been quite a summer of Sports in the US and all around the world. Italy had the great opportunity of hosting the 1934 World Cup. It was a joyous occasion when Italy came up victorious in their home country as they defeated Czechoslovakia in the final. The Italians are a strong knit group who deserved the win the cup in front of all of their fans at home.
News coming out of France reports that Antonin Magne had just won the Tour de France, cycling’s largest competition. In an event with so many possibilities it really is an honor to call yourself a winner and now Antonin Magne knows exactly how that feels.
With the baseball season coming to an end one question remains… will Babe Ruth return for one more season? The answer is yes! Babe Ruth has decided to play one more season of professional baseball. Babe Ruth has been playing professionally for 21 seasons since he entered the league in 1914. He started his career as a member of the Boston Red Sox and played for them until 1920 when he was traded to the New York Yankees. It is rumored that for his last season he will be returning to Boston to finish his career as he started it, being a Red Sock!
In local news a shooting competition is going to be held in Maycomb next week. Many citizens are pulling for Atticus to win. He is said to have the best shot in Maycomb. But rumor has it that Atticus is just now teaching his son Jem to shoot a rifle; he might be another shooter to watch out for!
Hitler Comes to Power
Late last night in Germany Adolf Hitler declared himself Ultimate Ruler of Germany. This has caused a reason to concern all around Europe. Hitler is in control of the Nazi party, whose political views can know to be a bit questionable. After the struggle that Germany has been in since World War One it is imperative that someone lead Germany to become a prominent and safe country. Time will tell if Adolf Hitler is indeed the man the Germany can stand behind. Concerns are being raised in Russia as their leader Joseph Stalin seems unstable. Citizens are concerned that his ruthless attitude has potential to be lethal. In China, Mao Tse-Tung has brought the idea of Communism for China.
I other news two ruthless outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed by FBI and fired upon. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were killed. These two criminals were malicious robbers who were very good at cleaning up their tracks and refused to be captured. It took many years of robberies and killings to put these criminals to rest.
There is something strange stirring up the waters in Scotland. A group of men and women in a small Scottish town claim they had seen a monster lurking in the waters. It is questionable what they have seen or even if they had seen anything at all. We will have to wait and see if this “Loch Ness Monster” will become something to be worried about.
The Great Depression has been going on for a while in the US and things are not looking too much better. With the depression as well as a drought throughout Middle America life is being devastated day by day. Not only America has been ravished by the great depression, many countries all over the world (mostly in Europe) have been experiencing economic difficulties. A lot of these countries depend on trade with America to maintain a stable economy. In a few countries in South America such as Brazil and Bolivia a dictatorship has risen because of the circumstances of the Great Depression. It this problem is not resolved in the near future there could be a potentially worldwide disaster.
"Mad Dog" Problem in Maycomb
Mildred Collins
108 Main Street
September 22nd, 1934
Dear Editor:
It has been brought to my attention by my children that there have been mad dogs roaming Maycomb that could potentially bring danger to our citizens; especially the children. Luckily my neighbor is good with a gun and can quickly put a stop to the dogs, but I still feel uneasy about sending my children off to their daily play. I know that majority of the neighboring kids are outside from dawn to dusk and it would break my heart for one of them to be harmed by one of these rabid dogs.
With the frequent sightings of the dogs, I believe it is a serious situation to not only me and my children, but the surrounding town folk. It concerns me that so many people are exposed to the danger of the beasts. The city council should put into consideration to take action to wean off the population of the wild dogs in the area. I suggest that a group of gun-savvy men take a hunting trip next weekend and put their skills to use on the dogs.
Although the termination of the dogs may be inhumane, it would leave worried parents, such as myself, at ease to let their children play. I’m sure many people would agree that the safety of our children is far more important than a savage dog. The killing off of the dogs would put them out of their misery from the unknown disease that they obviously suffer from.
For those who are unaware, there have been three sightings of the dogs. One was coming down my road last week and was shot. My son spotted a pack of three entering the Willow Tree Woods, giving us a hunch that this is their habitat. My husband spotted one rummaging the junk yard on his way to work in the early morning. I hope to inform much of the community about these mad dogs and prevent any harm that they could potentially inflict on families.
A concerned Maycomb citizen,
Mildred Collins