Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 67, Decatur, Adams County, 20 March 1963 — Page 1

VOL LXI. NO. 67.

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Salaries For City Officials Unchanged

The city council held its second March meeting Tuesday night in city hall, a lengthy session which saw a number of matters come before the council. The council adopted an ordinance fixing the annual salaries of all elected officers, payable out of the general fund, for the next four years. The salaries were identical ■ to those set up by the previous administration, $5,500 for the mayor, $4,500 for the clerk-treasurer, SI,BOO for the city court judge and S6OO for each councilman. According to law, salaries must be set up by an administration for a new administration that is to be elected that year, as is the case this year. City engineer Ralph E. Roop submitted proposed plans for a new sewer in the alley west of 13th St., between Adams and Madison streets. The sewer was estimated at 300 feet in length and $1,772 in cost. It would service six lots with a cost of an estimated $295 per lot. - Revisions Made Three property owners in that area had petitioned for a new sewer at the previous council meeting, as the old one is not servicing properly. AU three attended last night’s meeting and looked over the plans, and wanted certain revisions, which the council authorized Roop to make. A group of property owners along Madison street, between 11th and 13th streets, also attended the meeting, and submitted a petition for a new sewer in that area, asking complete reconstruction. Roop explained, that sewer construction is being planned in that area, with a new sewer to run down 11th street. A lateral can be taken down Madison, to relieve the problem there, the city engineer explained Hie matter was referred to the council’s sewer committee for immediate action. Light Petition A petition for new street lights on Madison, Third and Court streets, around the Adams county court house, was submitted to the council. The petition was signed by businessmen in the area and the Adams county commissioners. After some discussion, the petition was referred to the light committee, headed by councilman Lawrence Kohne. The council gave approval to a contract with the parking meter company that has agreed to install new heads on all of the city’s parking meters, at a cost of $39.95 per meter. The cost of replacing the old heads, which are approximately 15 years old, will be paid $1 per meter per month by the city, according to the contract. AUey Repair Ralph J. Roop, a resident of 339 N. Tenth St.,, sat in on the meeting, and requested the council authorize some repairs on an alley between 19th and 11th streets, and Nuttman Ave. and Jackson St. He

at|work! 20 Words—3 consecutive days, $2. See page 5.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

I said the alley is in very poor shape i and is at its worst this time of I the year. Street commissioner Adolph Kolter said that his department is planning to stone and grade the alley this summer. The local resident also lodged a complaint with the council concerning an accumulation of papers in that area, which the wind Is blowing from a local drive-in restaurant. Roop explained that cups, napkins, sales slips, and other such articles were constantly blowing around in that area. Mayor Donald F. Gage said that he has already talked to city health officer Ray Lehman, who is planning to contact the drive-in management about some solution to the problem. The council discussed a proposal made by Bing Gallogly and Larry Imel to rid the city of its garbage and dump problem, which is increasing each year. The two have offered to purchase some rural land and use the city’s garbage as land fill, and also to allow junk to be dumped on the land. Both men had contacted Mayor Gage about the proposal, which would ease the problem of garbage going through the sewage disposal plant, and causing expensive repairs there. The city dump is also expected to be “full” within the next couple of years, and will more than likely have to be moved to another site. Prepare Figures After discussing the matter, the council requested city auditor Ed Kauffman to prepare some figures as to how much repairs at the sewage plant and operation of the dump were costing the city, to compare with the offer made by Gallogly and Imel. , A proposal from Cal Yost, owner of Yost Construction Co., was read to the council. Yost is going to donate a tract of land along the St. Mary’s river, behind Parkview Drive, to the city for use as a park area, if the city will accept the land. After a short discussion, the council referred the matter to the park committee for further study. Give Approval The council gave its approval to the addition of James Cowens to the list of the city’s volunteer firemen and a S3OO raise to Robert August, Youth Center director. Cedric Fisher, local fire chief, requested that Cowens be added to the roll of volunteers to replace Neil Hesher, who has retired due to business. The raise for August was included in the plans when he was appointed six months ago to replace Richard Linn. The raise of S3OO was to be given after the first six months. In a letter from Elizabeth Zerkel, secretary of the recreation board, it was explained that the board is “pleased with the efficient way August has run the Center.”

Lenten Meditation (By Rev. Dolar Ritchey, pastor, Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren) Matthew 12:27—“F0r by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Words, the means of our communication with one another. They can be so meaningless but they can also be very meaningful. It was through the speaking of words that Jesus told of His mission in the world. He told of the love of God the Father, how to live joyously and victoriously. He told us how we could be in fellowship with Him by being in the right relationship with our fellowman. His words were so helpful and comforting. "You are my friends,” He said, "if you do what I command you.” “I will not leave you comfortless/’ It was through words that He told of His suffering and death. He told of His resurrection. Jesus did not use idle words but each word spoken by Him was meaningful. What a joy to read and meditate on what He had to say to us. Now we use woftts too. Are we as careful as we should be about whet we say? Do our words help bring comfort and cheer to others? Do they tell others of Christ’s love for us? Let us watch our every word that it might glorify Christ our Lord.

Harold B. Miller Is Council Candidate Harold B. MBler J Harold B. Miller, 821 W Monroe, salesman for Emge Packing Co., announced this morning that he will be a candidate for city council from the third district, subject to the decision of the voters in the Democratic primary May 7. Miller, a native of Adams county, is the son of Mrs. Fern Miller, of New Corydon, and the late Jerry Miller, formerly of Jefferson township. A graduate of Jeferson township high school, he moved to Decatur in 1950. He was a four-year letterman in basketball and for many years held the sin-gle-game record of 36 points a game. Miller formerly was employed at Decatur Casting Co., from 1945 to 1953. He was hired by Schmitt’s Meats as a' meat cutter that year, and later he worked at Goodin’s IGA Market. He now sells Adams, Jay, Wells, Mercer, and Van Wert counties for Emge. Miller is seeking election in the district where Lawrence Kohne is now city councilman. Kohne, now completing his second term, has not yet decided if he will run for a third term. He has also been mentioned prominently for mayor. Miller is married to the former Mary Lou Hofstetter, of Geneva, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hofstetter. They have seven children: Sheryl, 12; Linda, 10; Janet, 9; Debbie, 8; Harold Scott, 6; Mike, 2; and Jeff, 8 months. The older five children attend Northwest school. The Millers are members of the Zion United Church of Christ in Decatur. Miller is a member of the Jefferson club, and Mrs. Miller is vice-precinct committeeman in 2-B precinct. Ex-Portland Mayor Is Taken By Death PORTLAND, Ind. (UPD—Luther Hammitt, who was mayor of Portland for 13 years, died Tuesday in Jay County Hospital.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, March 20,1963.

Fort Wayne Youth Sentenced To Farm John J. Rahrer, Jr., 18-year-old Fort Wayne resident, was sentenced to a six-months term at the Indiana penal farm in the Adams circuit court Tuesday afternoon by Judge Myles F. Parrish. Rahrer, who had pleaded guilty to charges of second degree burglary in the same court last week, was taken to the penal farm this morning by the Adams county sheriff's department. The youth was arrested Feb. 28 in Fort Wayne along with two other Fort Wayne youths, less than two days after the trio had burglarized the Linn Grove Hardware store the morning of Feb. 27. Over SSOO in merchandise was taken in the Linn Grove robbery. The other two, James W. Wheeler, 20, and Paul Barmy, 17, have entered pleas of not guilty and a trial, without jury, has been set for next week. Second degree actually carries a sentence of 2 to 5 years in the state reformatory, but Judge Parrish explained that under the youthful offender’s statue that, “anyone under the age of 21, who has not been convicted of a previous felony, may be sentenced a maximum of one year. Evidence had been submitted showing that Rahrer had not previously been convicted of a felony. Tbe three youths had admitted to a series of burg’aries in the surrounding area, Adams, Wells, Allen and Jay counties, and in Ohio. Rahrer drove the car the night the Linn Grove store was robbed. INDIANA WEATHER Mostly cloudy, windy and chilly tonight. Snow flurries ending tonight. Low tonight in the 20s north, 35 to 45 south. High. Thursday, in. the. 40s north, 45 to 53 south. Sunset today 6:57 p.m. Sunrise Thursday 6:47 a.m. Outlook for Friday: Partly cloudy and warmer. Lows in the 20s except low 30b south. Highs in the 50s. BULLETIN DETROIT (UPD —The deaths of two suburban Detroit women from a rare type ' of food poisoning today prompted the A&P food chain to withdraw from retail sale in all of its 4,400 stores its own brand of tuna fish. Two Grosse Isle neighbors who ate the fish as a snack Thursday night died from botulism E—a kind of food poisoning found in fish. A&P headquarters in New York issued a statement at noon today in which it said the canned tuna would be taken off the shelves “pending the outcome of tests that will require 3 to 7 days for completion.”

Violent Storm Hits Indiana

By United Press International Violent storms swept across Indiana late Tuesday, taking a toll of three lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Two women were killed near Salem when a storm cellar in which they took refuge as a storm approached collapsed and buried them under tons of earth and concrete. Ironically, the house they fled suffered only broken windows. An Indianapolis 6-year-old girl drowned when she stepped into a storm sewer ditch carrying torrents of water from a thunderstorm. The wind lashed hardest at areas near Portland, Connersville, Salem, Jasper and Columbus. Some residents reported seeing funnel clouds and hearing roaring winds with tornado characteristics. But weathermen were unable to confirm that any of the storm damage was caused by twisters, although they said conditions were “certainly ripe” for such storms and it was likely some of them were small tornadoes. The storm caused the most damage in Randolph County around Portland near the IndianaOhio state line, and Jasper in Dubois County northeast of Evansville. 2 Seek Shelter! Die Mrs. Theresa Morgan, <52, and Mrs. Opel Collier, 63, were in Mrs. Morgan’s home about four miles southwest of Salem when they saw an ominous storm approaching. They fled to an old storm cellar in the yard. Neighbors later noticed the cellar had collapsed and the bodies of the women were found. Friends said Mrs. Collier had a fear of tornadoes since one destroyed her home at Campbells-

New Police Station, Remodeling City Hall Approved By Council

Warns Parents On School Attendance “Spring fever” seems to have ’ smitten some of the students at 1 the Decatur and county schools, and several groups have been ' caught playing hookey, Mrs. Mildred Foley, attendance officer, ■ warned all parents today. Parents Must Report “If your child is sick," Mrs. Fo--1 ley warned, "parents are asked to call the school and report the sickness. Otherwise, the child will be considered delinquent. “This means that the student is in danger of being expelled. If the child is over 16, expulsion can be permanent. If under 16, the children will be taken directly to juvenile court, where Judge Myles F. Parrish has ordered immediate attention to the case,” Mrs. Foley warned. Parente Responsible “Parents are directly responsible, legally and morally, for the whereabouts of their children. Children under 16 are required by law to be in school. It is very difficult to get a permanent job if you have not graduated from high school,” Mrs. Foley explained, “but delinquent children cannot be permitted to attend school when they feel like it. “Any child can be picked up at any time during school hours by the attendance officer, and be tak- '■ en immediately before the judge of the juvenile court,” Mrs. Foley continued. “In the past, Judge Parrish has held the parents strictly accountable for the actions and attitudes of the children,” she said. Immediate Action “Schools will keep the attendance officer informed of any violations of the attendance rules, and immediate action will be taken,” Mrs. Foley continued. “Efght periods, and other punishments have proved ineffective in curing ‘spring fever,’ so more stringent steps are being taken to return order to the school systems," she concluded.

burg in 1957. At Indianapolis, Donna Jo Ensinger was the drowning victim. Residents living near Crete in southeastern Randolph County reported seeing a funnel-shaped cloud that dipped and ripped a path three miles long through the countryside. The storm was punctuated by lightning and hail with torrents of rain adding to the burdens of swollen rivers and creeks. Randolph County authorities estimated the damage to four farm homes at $125,000 to $150,000. On one of the farms, Mrs. Roy Cox said she missed injury by seeking shelter in her basement. Jasper was hit by a 60-miles-an-hour wind, leaving at least two buildings destroyed, unroofing others and disrupting telephone service. Authorities said the Jasper Car Poll Service and a warehouse used by a plumbing and heating company were destroyed. Witnesses said the warehouse was flattened and debris scattered in the street. A possible tornado touched down at Bucktown, a hamlet southwest of Linton. It hurled a small shed on the James Jackson farm about 300 feet . through the air and dumped it atop a car. At Columbus, the official weather observer reported to his Indianapolis headquarters that there was considerable damage from hailstones, wme of them the size of golf balls. He said six windows in his own home were broken. The storm moved across the state at nearly 70 mph. In Indianapolis, more than half inch of rain fell in 16 minutes and winds of 48 mph were recorded.

To Build New Police Station At Plant Site Dreams of a new city police station now appear to be a reality! The Decatur city council, in its Tuesday night meeting, “got the ball rolling” on several projects, includihg the construction of a new station for the city police, to replace the out-moded station now in use. The council authorized city attorney Robert S. Anderson to draw up a resolution /or the transfer of $90,000 from the water improvement fund to the general fund, and the money will be taken from the latter for construction of a new station, in addition to four other projects. Anderson said this morning that he will have the resolution for the .ransfer of the funds drawn up in time for the council to act upon it at the next meeting, Tuesday, April 2. Use of Money The $90,000 to be transferred to. the general fund will be used for the folowing: $35,000 for construction of a new police station and renovation of the city hall building; $29,000 for remodeling the old steam plant into a headquarters and garage for the city street department; $20,000 for further steps being planned by the light committee in its new street light program; and $6,000 for repair of the roof at the Youth and Community Center. Once the funds are transferred into the general fund, they may be designated for the above named purposes. A hearing will be held at a future council meeting, giving anyone a change to remonstrate against these expenditures. The council, at the next meeting, is expected to approve a contract between the city and Jerold Lobsiger, local architectural designer, for plans and specifications for the construction of the new station and renovation of the city hall. Steam Plant Location The councilmen, Mayor Donald F. Gage and city attorney Anderson have been discussing location of a new police station for some time, and have now reached the decision to locate a new building on the lot where the old steam plant is now located. The new station will be erected on the northeast corner of the lot, according to latest reports. The $90,000 has been in the water improvement fund for some time, and was not actually “earmarked” for any specific purpose. The council, the mayor and city attorney, decided on the steam plant lot, because it is already owned by the city and would save the cost of purchasing any new land on which to build the police station. The Portland city council has voted to purchase land in that city at a price of $41,000 on which to build a new city hall. That costs does not even include razing of a building on the land to be purchased. The council’s light committee, headed by councilman Lawrence Kohne, is planning to have more of the new street lights erected in the city, for which the $20,000 will be used. Kohne’s committee has several petitions for more of the new lights, including one received at the Tuesday night meeting requesting lights around the courthouse. New Lights cheaper It was brought out at the meeting (Continued On Page Three) Decatur Temperature „ Local weather data for the 24 hour period ending at 11 a.m. today. 12 noon 44 12 midnight .. 38 1 p.m. 4*6 1 a m 38 2 p.m 50 2 a.m 38 3 p.m 52 3 am 36 4 p.m 55 4 g.m 36 :> p.m. 56 5 a m 36 6 p.m 52 6 a.m 36 7 p.m ‘SO 7 a m 36 8 p.m 46 8 a.m. 38 9 p.m 44 9 a.m 39 10 p.m 42 19 a.m 40 11 p.m 40 11 a.m 40 Precipitation Total for the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today .38 inches. The St. Mary’s river was at 10.33 feet.

Million Dollar Fire Loss At Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (UPD - Fire fanned by a strong wind swept down a long row of business buildings in the heart of Terre Haute today, with a loss estimated by insurance adjusters as $lO to sl2 million. Forrest Sherer, who said his agency insured much of the destroyed and damaged area along the city’s main street, said the loss to a jewelry store alone was above $1 million and water damage to a big department store spared from the flames totaled at least another $1 millicm. The blaze roared out of control for hours before it was stopped at the wall of the city's largest department store. Deputy state fire marshal Bernard Sweeney said the fire was blocked by a fire wall which saved the Meis Department Store from destruction, although firemen chopped holes in the roof and poured water in the store to keep the heat of the fire against the wall from touching off flames. The fire virtually halted business in a wide section of the downtown area. Plans to use dynamite blasts to jolt the fire into submission were abandoned when traditional efforts by firemen began to pay off. The three-alarm blaze forced guests to flee a hotel and sent flaming fragments of debris soaring to rooftops blocks away. At 8 a.m. EST, hours after the fire was discovered, Fire Chief Norman Fessler said firemen were standing by with sticks of dynamite to use as a last resort if the blaze broke through a wall into the Meis Department Store, a major shopping area threatened with destruction. The blaze was believed to have broken out in the Campus Bowl, a snack shop on Sixth St. just around the corner from Wabash Ave., the main street over which transcontinental U.S. 40 is routed. Six were destroyed. Brisk winds whipped the flames into an inferno and sent them roaring through adjacent buildings over the bulk of a block-long area, and chunks of fiery debris soared as far as two blocks away and fell on roofs of other downtown buildings. An undetermined number of guests in the Deming, one of the city’s two biggest hotels, were evacuated across the alley from the Campus Bowl but firemen kept the flames from spreading there. Hours after the fire started in

Ernst W. Bultemeier Dies At Fort Wayne Ernst W. Bultemeier, 78, a native of Adams county, died Tuesday at his home, 728 Nuttman Ave., Fort Wayne. He had resided in Fort Wayne 42 years, retiring 14 years ago from the General Electric Co. with 30 years of service. Mr. Bultemeier was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, its Men’s club, and the GE Quarter Century club. Surviving are his wife, Minnie; two sons, Herbert Bultemeier of Elkhart, and Robert Bultemeier of Fort Wayne; three daughters, Mrs. Gustave (Velma) Kruse and Mrs. Joe (Marcella) Stephenson, both of Fort Wayne, and Mrs. Lew (Hilda) Sher of Independence, Mo.; five brothers, Martin Bultemeier of Ossian, Walter and Edwin Bultemeier, both of Hoagland, Ted Bultemeier of Decatur, and George Bultemeier of Preble; two sisters, « Mrs. Edna Selking of Hoagland, and Mis. Lena Neff of New Haven; 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3 p. m. Thursday at the D. O. McComb & Sons funeral home, the Rev. Edwin A. Nerger officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of the services.

SEVEN CENTS

the early morning hours, attention of the city's firefighters was diverted to the Terre Haute Trib-une-Star building one and one-half blocks away where wind had whipped fragments of flaming debris. The city’s two daily newspapers, one morning and one afternoon, are published there. The heat from the flames was so intense it cracked display windows in three stores across the street from the burning structures —the Root Department Store, the Montgomery-Ward store and the Jupiter Discount Store. The flames ravaged the Hillman Jewelers, Smith-Alsop Paint Store, Vanity Shoe Store, Jack and Jill children’s clothing shop, Readmore Bookstore, and Nobil Shoe Store. Hie Meis Department Store, a major merchandising center, was threatened by the flames. Several firemen were overcome by smoke and were taken to hospitals but authorities said there were no reports of serious injuries. Authorities said unofficially the loss would amount to more than $1 million. AU available firemen were called to duty to help control the flames, and the nearby city of Brazil sent firemen and policemen to help. Firemen also recruited township volunteer units from the surrounding Vigo County area. 16 Persons Killed In Crash In Italy CUNEO, Italy (UPD — Saudi Arabian King Saud’s private jetliner crashed into snow-covered Crazy Mountain near the French border at dawn today, apparently killing the 16 persons on board. Saud himself was not on the plane. Italian and French Alpine trpops, guides and police fought their way up the mountainside toward the wreckage, but there was no word of possible survivors. “There are not likely to be any survivors,” an Italian National Police spokesman said. Saud, who had been undergoing treatment for a stomach ailment at Lausanne, flew in the same plane from Geneva to Nice Tues, day for convalescence and a vacation on the Riviera. He had sent the year-old fourengine, British-built Comet IV airliner, which he bought for $4.2 million and outfitted in lavish style, back to Geneva to pick up members of his suite and baggage. It was on the way back from Geneva to Nice with seven passengers and a crew of nine when it crashed. Andre Leyvraz, chief of police in Geneva, discounted any possi-.. bility of sabotage. “There is no suspicion of foul play and it seems there is no need for any police inquiry here,” he said. The weather seemed to blame, since police said the a i ref aft rammed into the mountain at the 9,100 foot level in a raging snowstorm. The plane crashed in a rugged area of northwest Italy. The crash site is named Matto Mountain, which means Crazy mountain. Down its side runs the Rio Freddo (Cold River) through Gorgia Cagna (Bitch’s Gorge). Saud, whose tastes run to the splendor of the Arabian nights, made his first flight in the plane from the Italian airfield at Pisa last June when it was delivered. He was taking a cure at Monte Catini spa near Pisa at the time. The aircraft, powered by four rolls royce jet engines, was furnished with a special plush sitting room for the king. This contained a throne, a large blue, sofa and thick red carpets. It also had a royal bedroom and padded armchairs for members of his suite. TWO SECTIONS