The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-12-29

ford County:
Through familiarity with veter-
ans benefits, railroad retirement
and close supervision of cases, some
clients have been shifted from well
fare to other benefits and some able
bodied persons have been culled
from the rolls and made to earn
their own livelihood. Davis when he
first came to Hartford did much of
the investigating work himself.
Later an extra clerk and an extra
caseworker were added to the staff.
Davis thinks an adequate staff pays
for itself in getting ineligibles off
rolls.
At the same time the grants Of
those considered deserving have
been increased almost SO per cent.
There are now 305 drawing aver
age old age assistance grants of
$36.97 per month as compared to
1884 in 1851 getting $40 month.
There are now 165 families with
731 persons) drawing an average
lper family grant of $50.17 for aid
to dependent children as compared
to go families and $35 per family
in 1851. The grant per child COM
pares $12.84 and Sc.
The aid to permanent and total
! ly disabled came in as a new pro-
gram in June, 1861, with an initial
load of % and average grant of
$26.61 this has risen to Ill with
average grant of $42.46.
| The aid to the blind program
has constantly served 1888 per-
sons with the average grant of $780,
55 comparing to $36 on first pay
ment in 1858.
| Regular vocational and blind re-
Mobilization programs and new
medical care program of removing
cataracts have enabled many other
wise eligible recipients of grants to
, go back to work.
| The lien law has not helped re-
duce case loads, Davis feels, but
may have prevented some from APP
! plying for grants.
The total county welfare depart
ment budget, including federal and
state participation, runs around
$500, 900 year. The staff of a
director, three case workers, a
child welfare worker and two clerks
| is paid about $4,000 a year. Grants
for November totaled $26,989.
The county's part in the budget
has increased in 10 years from $751;
900 to $35, 900.
Since coming to Hereford Coun-
ty, Davis has been active in the Ro-
tary Club, first of Ahoskie and then
Murfreesboro; has served as COM
mander and adjutant of the county
and commander of the Fourth Dis
trict Legion Posts and spurred the
organization of Legion baseball for
the youth of the area with the 1854
team winning the State Legion
play-offs. He was president of the
Puritan Club in Winton two years
and has served on the official
boards of the Methodist churches,
first at Winton and later at Muir
freesboro.
He served by appointment OF the
county commissioners on the coun-
| ty library board and the Albemarle
Regional Library Board Chairman
of each for six years) and assisted
the State Library Board to set up
the Albemarle Regional Library
bookmobile project in BERTHE, Gates
and Hartford counties.
His smile that is often followed
by jolly laughter and twinkle OF
his eye have been trademarks OF
friendship and love for all around
him.
Miss Margaret Newbern, child
welfare worker, under Davis for the
past IL years has been appointed
director to succeed Davis. Davis
.old the county commissioners he
thought they were getting a good
director, one competent and devoted
to the cause. "You couldn't have
found a better director"
Incidentally, Miss Newbern's
courin, Miss Inez Benthall, who was
reared in Ahoskie, has been named
acting director Of the Halifax well