Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 60, Number 182, Decatur, Adams County, 3 August 1962 — Page 1

VOL, LX NO. 182.

Judge Issues ilnjunction To Prohibit New School Districts v."'' 'st-'- ‘ ‘ " ’’ ' ' ** ' . k «>*' — — ... — — —- - Xi. . ' : 2

Commissioners’ Budget Is Lower

The Adams county commissioners’ budget for 1963, which will be submitted to the Adams county council Sept, 4 and 5 for approval or disapproval, is approximately SIO,OOO lower than in 1962. The budget for 1963 requests $91,700, considerably lower than in 1962 when $102,780 was requested and $102,680 was allowed. The main reason for the decrease in the new budget is that SIO,OOO was requested last year for bridge repair of bridges. ' Another reduction was made in expenses for inmates at the Wayne. The 1962 budget requisitioned $15,000 for expenses, while the new budget asks only SIO,OOO. Trustee Salaries Another lesser reduction is noted in t h e salaries of t h e township trustees, of which the county pays 25 per cent. The reduction is due to a change in classification in five townships. The clasifications are made by the state board of accounts, and five townships, Hartford, Monroe, Preble, St. Mary's and Wabash, have been reduced in their classifications, which • reduces income of the townships. A new item in the commissioners’ budget requests >2,238 for the * (he Adams county water and soil conservation department for of-

'■£<l NEW ADDITION to St. Luke’s United Church of Christ at Honduras, as it will appear when completed, is pictured above from plans drawn by Andrew Schrock and engineered by Walter Gilliom. Actually, the new addition will be on the opposite side of the church, since the engraving was made in reverse to darken the lines which are light on the blue print. Groundbreaking for the church will be at 3 p.m. Sunday. The addition will be approximately 24 feet wide and 48 feet long. It will cost approximately $25,000. There are 150 members in the congregation, and about one-fourth of the amount was raised last Sunday in a single collection.

St Luke's Church To Build Addition

Ground breaking ceremonies for the new addition to the St. Luke’s United Church of Christ at- Honduras, will be held at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the church. The addition will provide more Sunday school rooms and other necessary facilities for the congregation. Approximate cost of the addition will be $25,000. The ground breaking service will be conducted by Reuben Bibler, student pastor who is now serving the congregation. Speakers will include three former members of the church, who are now ministers. Dr. Meredith Sprunger, the Rev. Boyd Stepler and the Rev. Wm. Bertsch, Jr. Others taking part in the cere-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

» fice equipment, a secretary’s ' salary, and other expenses. 1 Milt Spence, head of the local / office, had requested the commisioners include this in their 5 budget for 1963 for some time, j which they agreed to do. Zoning Expenses • Also included in the budget, al- • though not a new item, is $5,000 1 for the Metropolitan Planners for ’ county zoning expenses. When the county first entered s into a contract with Metropolitan 5 for the purposes of re-zoning the county, it was agreed that $3,000 I would be paid the first year, and > $5,000 each of the next two years. The $5,000 included in the 1963 budget will be the final payment I for re-zoning purposes. > INDIANA WEATHER i Partly cloudy and warm* with scattered thundershow- ■ era likely tonight. Saturday partly cloudy, chance of a few showers, turning cooler in afternoon. Low tonight 62 to 67. High Saturday in the 80s. Sunset today 7:56 p. m. Sunrise Saturday 5:46 a. m. Outlook for Sunday: Partly cloud with soattered showars 1 likely. Lows 57 to 67. Highs • in the 80s.

monies will be the building committee chairman, the* architect and building contractor, and the president of the congregation. Founded In 1857 The church ,was founded one-half mile north of Honduras, in Kirkland township, in 1857, by the Rev. Peter Vita of the Salem Magley church. Previously, the congregation had been served by both Lutheran and Reformed ministers from Vera Cruz and Magley. The church remained in that location until 1939, when the congregation, under the leadership of the Rev. H. H. Meckstroth, bought the present building from the Christian Union conference. The building

IDog Control fund Is Included In Budget The Adams county commissioners have requested S3OO in their 1963 budget for dog control, which if allowed, will be used for those purposes, although it will not be enough to set up a dog pound, hire a dog catcher, etc. The city of Decatu£nas included SI,OOO in its 1963 budget under the same item-“dog control.” Mayor Donald F. Gage said this morning that the city has made no plans for anything in the way of “dog control” as yet, although the money is requested in the budget. If the requisition of SI,OOO is allowed, the city will use the money in some form of dog control. The commissioners have included the S3OO item in their budget for such possiblilities as paying tfqes for using the city’s dog pound, if one is established by the city. With this money, the county could pay a fee for putting stray dogs in a pound-if the city establishes one. The commissioners had talked with Mayer Gage several times on the matter, and they and the mayor are attempting to work something out on the situation. 50 More Guardsmen Return From France A-2C Keith T. Griffiths, of Decatur route, 2, is among 50 more Indiana Air Guardsman scheduled to return today to Bear Field from 10 months of duty in France.

was raised for a basement addition and it was renovated. A few years ago, the young peoples class, under the leadership of Arthur Moeshberger, decided to start a building fund. The church consistory recognized the efforts of this class and chose the following committee leaders Curtis Nussbaum, planning; Gorman Erhart, finance; Ivan Heare, chairman, and Oscar Brown, co-chairman, of all committees of the entire program. Andrew Schrock, of Decatur, was hired to design the new addition, and after conferring with the planning committee, the plans Were accepted and then approved by a licensed engineer. A special congregational meeting was held July 22, and it was decided to have a special offering to start construction as soon as possible. This offering was received July 29, and approximately on efourth the required sum was reg ceived in cash, with additional pledges.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

» ' -■ - ■■■ m i 11. mi hi Decatur, Indiana, Friday J August 3 ,1962.

Extended Area Service Asked > By Citizens The Citizens Telephone company plans to ask for extended area service for free and easy calling between Monroe and Berne before the end of this year, Charles D. Ehinger, president of the company announced today. ' Ehinger explained that Decatur and Pleasant Mills will have “EAS" by August 15, if tests started Wednesday on the new lines i are completed by then. Fewer Busy Signals While Decatur presently has free telephone services with Pleasant Mills are very neighboring rural areas there are very few lines, and when dialing a 7-7 number busy signals are frequently encountered. “The EAS system, making use of equipment freed by the new trunk line through the county, will mean that only four times in 1,000 calls would you get a busy signal because of machinery tie-ups. Os course, if someone uses the line you are calling continously, the best equipment in the world won’t help that, he added. The four in 1,000 ratio is exactly the same as on intra-city calls. Service To Monroe Monroe presently has EAS service with Decatur, but must pay i toll charges with Berne. Because ► of the nurhber of family, schoSP and business ties between the Berne and Monroe exchange, the EAS service has been needed. The EAS service does not extend to Decatur-Berne calls, however, which will be placed through the long distance operator. Also, Citizens Telephone company has made an offer, which has been accepted, by the New Corydon exchange, just across the county line in Jay county, This company is a mutual, and their Portland attorneys are presently exploring the necessary arrangements to complete the sale. Preble Pending An application for EAS service between Decatur and Preble, and Monroe is now pending before the Indiana public service commission. Also, the company has applied for permission to combine the AdamsWells Telephone company, formerly Tocsin, with the Preble exchange. Preble will continue to have EAS with Decatur, Monroe and Tocsin, while Tocsin would have EAS with Preble, and Bluffton. Permission is also being asked to convert these systems to dial telephones. Direct Distance The Citizens Telephone company, in its newly enlarged Decatur office, has plenty of space to install direct distance dialing equipment just as soon as this can be done without meaning a rate increase. The company is making a continuing study of this, and it will not be feasible until after Fort Wayne converts to a seven-digit system, as other systems can ruin the equipment. The Nappanee exf has already been converted to DDD, and actually Decatur and ?.T e^^ actically have since “? ey an °P erator Who then if 016 party knows th® number being called. IJKCATITR TEMPERATURES Local weather data for the 94 12 OU nn^ r,od end A nB "m. odav T "°“ n ‘6 12 midnigth .54 ? p ’ m - <2 2 a.m 50 2 P- m 73 3 a.m. 42 op m 70 7 am. 50 , 60 9 a.m. fi? J? m 56 10 a.m. 69 11 p m 53 11 a.m 78 , f or the 24 hour period endJ* 1 ' ‘ oday ' ” Inches. feet * Mary 8 r,ver was at 0.80 Delay Appointment Os New Trustee The county commissioners decided to postpone the appointment of a new Blue Creek township trustee until the first order of business Monday, county auditor Edward F. Jaberg said this noon. The commissioners will check on a likely appointment during the weekend.

rK ■ ■ Bn f 1B At K (NEW PASTOR — Hie Rev. Robert Crabtree, above, will assume the pastorate of the Assembly of God church Sunday, succeeding the .Rec. Allan Van Winkle; who resigned to continue his studies. The new pastor is a graduate of Central Bible Institute, Springfield, Mo. and also attended Indiana University extension in Fort Wayne. He has been pastor of the Assembly of God church at Hicksville, 0., for the past three years. Rev. Crabtree, his wife and two-year-old son, are making their home at 1203 Master drive. Many More Blood Donors Are Needed For the first time in more than of 125 pints of blood Monday when the bloodmobile arrives, Mrs. Ferris Bower, Red Cross blood chairman, warned today. With the GE employes and thenfamilies gone on vacation, with the 4-H fair in Monroe taking up many people’s time, very few were home. Only 73 people have been scheduled so far, with just today left. This is about 110 short of the number necessary to yield 125 pints. At least 20 more O negative, 20 O positive, 15 A negative, 15 A positive, 10 B negative, 10 B positive, 5 AB negative and five AB positive are still needed, Mrs. Bower explained. The bloodmobile will be at the Decatur Community Center from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday. Anyone who desires to be scheduled should call the Red Cross office, 3-3106, at once. Those who find that they are able to come in Monday, and are not scheduled, are asked to come in anyway as walkins. Rate Hike Proposed In Preble Township A 49-cent rate increase .including increases for general, school, and tuition purposes, will be requested by Preble township trustee Robert Kolter in the August 30 meeting of the township advisor board to approve the 1963 rate. Kolter is asking for a general fund increase from $4,543 to $5,913, primarily for an item, “repair and maintenance,” which adds $3,000 to the budget. Fire protection was lowered from $1,450 to $1,250 and books, stationery? printing, and advertising was raised from $370 to $520. Township expenses were up from $715 to $930. Last year’s expenditures from the township fund were reckoned at $4,485, and 1963 is figured at $7,550. Also, $2,000 was added to tuition, raising this item to $35,000. Capital outlay was increased from S2OO to $2,000 in the special school fund, while instruction was cut from $575 to $525, and maintenance from $2,650 to $2,100. Auxiliary activities was added at $150; coordinate activities was continued at $8,743, operation, which was $255, was dropped; fixed charges remained S3OO, for a total of $13,868, compared with $12,723 for this year. The township poor relief fund was carried at the same amount $3,400, with SIOO for personal services, $2,500 for medical, hospital and burial, $750 for other direct relief, and SSO for joint expenses contributions. Hie $52,575 total compared with $46,949 this year, $42,392 in 1961, $43,957 in 1960, and $38,209 in 1959.

School Boards Meet Monday To Decide On Action To Be Taken

Judge Victor Simmons today issued an injunction prohibiting formation of a North and South Adams school district, on the grounds that the Indiana supreme court has ruled that the school reorganization act must be strictly construed, and under that act the Adams county school reorganization committee had a life of just two years, which expired Oct. 17, 1961, and therefore had no authority to present the plan voted on. Adams Central Unaffected The ruling only directly affects the North and South Community Schools. The Adams Central Community Schools board was not a party to the suit. In effect the judge left things standing just as they now are — with several areas outside of school boundaries, and with no money to transfer pupils. Judge Simmons expressed his regret at the difficulties which would be faced in Adams county, however, he felt that he could not rule otherwise in view of the Johnson county case wherein the supreme court stated that the statute (acts of 1959 as amended in the Acts of ? 1961) ”must be Strictly followed.” Meet Monday The school boards of Adams county are arranging a meeting Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the court house to discuss the entire affair. The Adams county reorganization committee submitted its plan late, on Dec. 13; Judge Simmons held that Oct. 17 was the deadline. Previously, Judge Myles F. Pari Blue Creek Budget Is Slightly Higher The Blue Creek township budget proposed for 1963 is slightly higher than the current 1962 township budget, but there will be no tuition or special school levy in the township rate because the township is in the Adams Central school district this year. Last year’s rate of 19 cents raised $3,033, while the amount proposed for this year is $3,056 just $23 more. The rate will not be known until the assessed valuation, not yet completed, is placed on the books. However, it is estimated that net taxable property will be $1,442,140, compared with $1,596 - 400. If the assessed valuation is that low, then it would take a 22-cent rate to raise the budget request. If the valuation is higher, a lower tax rate will result. In 1961 the township fund needed $3,075 from taxation; $3,180 in 1960 $2,855 in 1959, and $3,628 in 1958. About SI,OOO is carried as an operating balance by the fund. The trustee’s salary will be $1,423, with S2OO for books and stationery, printing, and advertising reduced from $250; S4OO for care of cemeteries, and SBOO for fire protection up'from $650 this year. Other civil township expenses were reduced from S7OO to $645. The total township fund was $3,468, comparedi with $3,423 a year ago. Poor relief was figured at SI,OOO same as this year, with SIOO for personal service, S6OO for direct relief and S3OO for other relief. Local Lady's Father Is Taken By Death .. Funeral services were held Thursday in Dayton for Fred Smilack, 85, father of Mrs. Mary Gutowitz, of Decatur. A retired sera p metal dealer from Dunkirk in Jay county, Mr. Smilack died Tuesday about 11:15 p.m. in the Ball hospital, Muncie, after a short illness. A native of Russia, he had lived in Dunkirk many years. include two sons, Simon of Muncie, and Jay, of Dayton; Mrs. Gutowitz, a daughter; four grandchildren and eight-grand-children; one sister, Mrs. Mary Kaplin, Miami, Fla.

rish had held that even if this act were illegal, the fact that the state committee had approved the plan and resubmitted it to the county meant that the county was acually voting on the state plan. Judge Simmons’ ruling reverses this decision. Three Suggestions Judge Simmons, after explaining his decision, which had been generally anticipated, gave the following unofficial advice: 1. Adams Central Community schools is likewise bound by t h e law, even if it is in effect already. 2. The state reorgonization committee can rule immediately, and resubmitt the same or a different plan to the voters. 3. The state legislature, at its next session, should clarify this point by statute. Severin H. Schurger, attorney for the defendants, said that he felt that Judge Simmons was very fair,

| Grand Champ Steer I I Nets $ l 3O Pound |

(Other fair news on pare 2) The First Bank of Berne outbid the First State Bank of Decatur for Ed Bentz’s grand champion steer, paying $1.30 a pound for the 995 pound animal, a total of $1,241.50. This was the highest price paid in a number of years; last year Tom Schnepf got 90 cents a pound for his 1,065 pound animal; in 1960, Sandra Strickler got the same, and in 1959, the price of $1.06 per pound was paid for the grand champion. The second-place animal went to the First State Bank at 70 cents a pound for the 1,040-pound animal owned by John Carroll, a total of $728. This was well above the 50 cents a pound paid last year to John Landis. A total of 37 animals were sold, weighing 34,300 pounds, for a total of $12,565.75.* Last year the 37 animals brought $11,634.65, and the year before that, 24 animals sold for a total of $8,233.15. The average weight of the beef steers this year was 927 pounds; the average price, 36.43 cents a pound, and the average price per animal, $339.62. Last year the steers averaged 921 pounds. 32.89 cents a pound, and $302.92 per animal. In 1960, the 24 animals averaged 35.36 cents a pound. Other beef sales were; Bank of Geneva purchased Bill Hawbaker’s 1,065 pound animal for $532.50 at 50c per pound; Eli Stucky, Geneva, purchased Marvin Kirchofer’s 965 pound animal for $386, at 40c a pound; Phil Bentz’s 1,040 pound steer was bought by Adams County S-op of Monroe for $416 at 40c r pound; Jim Bobkout’s 1,065 pound animal purchased by the Bluffton Agricultural Amonia Service for $330.15 at 31c a pound; Art Lengerich, route 1, Monroe, bought a 915 pound steer owned by Jr. Lantz for $265.35, at 29c per pound; Betty Neuenschwander’s 880 pound steer sold to First Bank;' of Berne for $225.20 at 29c a pound. Other purchases were, listing owner, purchaser, price, weight : and price per pound: Chales Bentz, Greenbelt Fertili- j zeros Bryant, $290, 1,000 lbs., 29c per pound; Maybeth Schnepf, First State Bank of Decatur, $324, 900 lbs, at 29c per pound; Patti Isch, I First State Bank of Decatur, $352.80, 980 lbs. at 36 cents a pound; Ste ve Neuenschwander, First Bank of Berne, $265.50, 885 lbs, at 30c per pound: Sue Bentz, John Myers for Reppert Auction School $303.05, 1.04 S lbs, at 29c per pound; Beth Bookout, Burk Elevator of Decatur, $303, 1,010 lbs, at 30c a pound; Steve Neuenschwander, Berne Master Mix Feed store, $271.50, 905 lbs, at 30c a pound; Mathew Carroll, Reppert School of

SEVEN CENTS

and had given a correct decision under the law as he interpreted it. Decatur Group Acts Meanwhile, a group from Decatur has already submitted its proposals for changes to the state board, which would distribute board members according to the assessed valuation, population, and number of students. The state board can also change the provisions for appointing school board members, and provide for election of school board members, running from prescribed districts, but elected over the entire school district. It could also attach the entire district, or any part of it, to the Allen county system the Adams Central system, or the northern district in Wells county. Whatever plan is proposed by the state, the voters in the proposed district will again get to vote.

Auctioneering, $265.50, 885 lbs, at 30c per pound; Sue and Scott Schnepf, First State Bank, $316.20, 1,020 lbs, at 31c per pound; John Bookout, Eli Graber Insurance, $301.50, 1,020 lbs. at 31c a pound. Other beef sales were: Bob Kirshofer, Noah Habegger of Berne Foodtown, $294.50, 950 lbs, at 31c a pound; Linda Hawbaker, Geneva Milling, $313.25, 895 lbs. at 35c per pound; Jim LeFever, Adams County Democratic Party, $284.20, 980 lbs, at 29c a pound; Babara Hawbaker, Bank of Geneva, $341.70, 1,005 lbs. at 34c a pound; Greg Schnepf, Gerber Super Market, $271.15, 935 lbs. at 29c a pound; Jerry Alber son, Eli Stucky of Geneva, $271.50, 905 lbs, at 30c a pound John Lantz, Peterson Grain Co., $313.60, 980 lbs. at 32c a pound; Jim Bookout, James Jackson Construction Co., of Bluffton, $284.80, 890 lbs, at 32c per pound; Cynthia Carroll, Schmidt Packing Co., $273, 910 lbs. at 30c per pound; Donald Adams, Adams County Co-op of Berne, $308.45, 995 lbs. at 31c per pound; Carl Meyers, Republican Central Committee, $287.10, 870 lbs. at 33c per pound; Susan Zeigler, Foodbank of Geneva, $260.70, 790 lbs. at 33c a pound; Junior Lantz, Zurcher Mobil Service, $250.50, 835 lbs. at 30c per pound: Kenneth Van Emon, Bixler Insurance of Geneva, $306. 900 lbs, at 34c a pound; John Lantz, First State Bank, $271.25, 875-lbs. at 31c per pound; Patti Isch, Bluffton Agricultural Amonia Service, $331.80, 790 lbs. at 42c per pound; Rex Kuhn, Berne Locker, $243.25, 695 Greenbelt Fertilizer of Bryant, lbs. at 35c a pound; Susan Zeigler, $246.60, for 685 lbs, at 36c per pound. Lamb Sale David Fields received $25:65 for his 95-pound grand champion 4-H lamb at the sale Thursday night, today. The grand champion animal brought 27 cejpts a pound, and was purchased by the First State Bank of Decatur. Robert Fields got 25 cents a pound for his 95-pound reserve champion animal, for a total of $23.75. Stucky's Gas and Appliance of Geneva, bought the animal. Last Year’s Sale Last year Robert had the grand champion, and got 60 cents a pound for an 85-pound champ, purchased by a Reppert’s auction school student. In 1960 the top animal brought 31 cents a pound. This year the 14 sheep averaged 90 pounds each, and 24.8 cents a pound, for average of $22.10 an animal. The 14 weighed 1,260, and (Continued on Page Six;