Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 90, Decatur, Adams County, 16 April 1963 — Page 1

VOL LXI NO. 90.

To Close Hartford High, Junior High

Testifies To Signal Pickup

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (UPI) — An admiral testified today a searching submarine picked up electronic signals two days after the submarine Thresher sank but that the signals did not come from men aboard the Thresher. Rear Adm. Lawson P. (Red) Ramage, who helped ditect search operations for the Thresher, testified before a Navy court of inquiry into the disaster which cost 129 lives in Atlantic waters 1% miles deep. Ramage, deputy commander of the Submarine Force, Atlantio Fleet, said the submarine Seawolf picked up the electronic emission but “none of the signals could be equated with anything that could have originated with personnel” aboard the Thresher. He said the signals could have been “buoyant noise sources from a submerged submarine under pressure.” He did not elaborate. Petition Filed To Clean, Repair Ditch A petition for cleaning and repairing of the P. B. Dykeman ditch in Union and Root townships was submitted to the Adams county commissioners in their regular meeting Monday. The ditch petition was signed by a total of seven residents in the area of the Dykeman ditch. An offer for purchase of an elevator was forwarded to the commissioners, but they, turned down the offer. The elevator is in a building at Auburn and would cost $35,000 if the commissioners had it brought to this county, or $55,000 if the owners bring it. The commissioners, who have plans already underway for an elevator, decided this used elevator would not be practical for use here. The annual fire insurance report of the Leland Smith Insurance Agency was submitted, showing a gross commission of $361.48, of which $271.20 will be distributed at SIB.OB to each of 15 insurance companies in the county. The report also showed a premium for the year totaling $1,446.73. The Smith company handles the county’s fire and extended coverage insurance. A letter was received from the Marathon Oil Co., explaining that the price of diesel fuel has gone down one-quarter of a cent, now at a price of 10% cents a gallon to the county. The commissioners, county surveyor Herman Moellering and attorney Lewis I*. Smith are attending an inter-state ditch hearing in Qelina. today. .... The hearing is on a ditch which runs from Van Wert county into St. Mary’s township, on the property of Dr. John Carroll.

Know Your Carrier

11 P' ’

Gerald Durkin Rural Route No. 6 The dean of the rural letter carriers working out of the Decatur post office is Gerald Durkin, who will begin his 22nd year of rural " carrying on October 20 of this year. A native of Decatur and a graduate of St. Joseph college, Rensselear, Durkin has been employed at the local post office a total of 25 years in all, spending all but the first three years as a rural carrier. Durkin’s rural route takes him each day along U. S. 33, passing to residents of that aiea, as he

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

He said the Seawolf dived to investigate but found nothing. Vice Adm. Bernard L. Austin, president of the inquiry board, asked Ramage if he saw “any commercial ships hovering around —snooping” While Ramage directed operations from the bridge of the destroyer USS Blandy. Ramage, one of four living submarine commanders holding the Congressional Medal of Honor, said, “One strange ship was seen while I was out there. It was a Norwegian trawler.” Ramage identified it as the Juviel, hull number M 1025, flying the Norwegian flag. While the naval court ashore investigated the sinking, a task force of destroyers and research vessels tried to find the hull of the Thresher 220 miles east of Cape Cod. The submarine sank Wednesday in the worst submarine disaster in history. Ramage said there was a “small probability” the Norwegian vessel and the unidentified craft reported by Lt Cmdr. Stanley Hecker on April 10 was the same one reported to him two days later on April 12. Hecker, 36, Brooklyn, N.Y., testified that the ship he had seen from the Thresher’s escort vessel Skylark originally was thought to be the fin of a submarine. Closing on the object they saw then that it was a fishing craft of “dirty color.’’ Hecker said identifying numbers of the vessel could not be ascertained because the Skylark was at a distance of 6,000 yards. Ramage said the men aboard the Skylark had such “utter confidence” in the Thresher and its commander. John W. Harvey, they did not fire off an immediate message to the chain of command when they received garbled transmissions from the Thresher. In a conversation he had with Lt. James D. Watson, Ramage testified, Watson did indicate to him that he had heard such things as the sounds of blowing and breaking up over the underwater telephone just prior to the disappearance of the Thresher. Watson also was aboard the Skylark. INDIANA WEATHER Partly cloudy and cooler tonirht and Wednesday, with showers and scattered thundershowers south and central. Low tonight in the 40s north, 47 to 65 south. High Wednesday 57 to 62 north, 64 to 72 south. Sunset today 7:24 p.m. Sunrise Wednesday 6:09 a.m. Outlook for Thursday: Partly cloudy north, . considerable cloudiness south with chance of showers. No important temperature changes. Ix>ws in the 40s. Highs in the 60s.

passes up to the edge of Willshire. Ke also delivers mail along High street and in the Homestead. His route covers 64 miles each day, with 325 families listed on the route, and a total of 313 stops. Durkin is a member of the Decatur Knights of Columbus and has two other important duties other than his daily rural mail route. He serves as the county first aid director for the Adams county chapter of the American Red Cross and as the president of the Adams county Historical society. He and his wife, Velma, reside at 616 Mercer Ave. in Decatur, and the Durkins have two sons, Patrick and Dan.

County Spelling Bee Scheduled Friday The annual Adams county spelling bee, with 11 contestants, will be held Friday at the Monmouth school gymnasium, according to an announcement today by G. W. Vizard, superintendent of Adams county schools. The contest will begin at 7:30 p. m. Friday, with representatives of 11 schools from the county entered. Deane T. Dorwin, guidance director of Decatur high school, will be pronouncer for the contest, and three judges have been named. Judges are Myles F. Parrish, Adams circuit court judge; Mrs. Laura Bosse, city clerk-treasurer; and Nelson Doty, accountant for General Telephone. The 11 contestants are the winners of contests at their various schools, from a starting field of some 950 students. The spelling bee is open to anyone not beyond the eighth grade and not 16 years of age on or before June 12 of this year. Journal Sponsor The Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne newspaper, sponsors the annual contest, and area finals will be held at Fort Wayne North Side high school May 11. The winner of the Friday affair at Monmouth will represent Adams county in the area finals in May. The winner of the area finals will represent this area in the national contest in Washington, D. C., June 10-15. Entrants Friday Contestants in the Friday contest are: Debby Joan Neuenschwander, 11, sixth grade student at Geneva, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellie Neuenschwander of route 1, Berne. Cynthia Fuelling, 13, eighth grade student at St. Peter Lutheran school, daughter of Mrs. Ida Fuelling, route 1, Hoagland. Ronald Reinking, 13. eighth grade student at St. Paul Lutheran, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Reinking, Jr., route 1, Decatur. Charles Noah Joray, 13, eighth grader at Hartford Center, x>f route 1, Geneva. Constance Gerber, 12, seventh grade at St. Joseph in Decatur, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde L. Gerber, 115 N. Fourth St. Joy Meyer, 13, eighth grader at St. John’s Lutheran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Meyer, Hoagland. • Dianne Fuhrman, 13, eighth grader at Zion Friedheim, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Fuhrman, route 1, Decatur. Jane Friedt, 11, sixth grade student at Decatur Zion Lutheran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Friedt of Decatur. Hans Lehr, 13, Emmanuel Lutheran student, son of Mrs. Katie Lehr, route 5, Decatur. Branda Crozier, eighth grade student at Monmouth, and a resident of route 5, Decatur. Betty Foreman, a student at the Jefferson grade school, and a resident of route 2, Berne.

Pre-School Roundup Here Next Tuesday The pre-school roundup for children living north of Monroe street, in Stratton Place add. : tion, and in Unicm township, will be held at the Northwest elementary school Tuesday morning, April 23, from 8 to 9 a.m. Children who will be five years old on or before Sept. 15 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten this fall. Each child will be given free examinations by local physicians and should have a robe or large towel to wear for the examination. _ The person responsible for the child at the roundup should bring birth certificate, also' have information available as to the diseases the child has had, and the year and number of shots given for immunization against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio and smallpox. Parents bringing their children are asked to use the front entrance to the school. Children who missed the roundup at the Southeast school may enrojl at the Northwest roundup, “If you are unable to attend either round up, notify the principal of your sclioul district so they van plan on their enrollment for the coming school year,” school officials stated.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, Tuesday, April 16, 1963.

Transfer All Students To Berne, Geneva Schools

Hartford township taxpayers attending a meeting at the Hartford Center school Monday evening, voted, by a large majority, to transfer students to Geneva and Berne schools. The vote was 101 to 25, favoring the transferring of high and junior high pupils in the Hartford Center school to either Berne or Geneva. Students will be gjven their choice of attending either Geneva or Berne for the 1963-64 school year. Those attending the meeting seemed quite happy, according to reports, that the transfer of the students was approved.

Western U.S. Is Raked By Heavy Storms By United Press International Moisture-dealing storms raked the western United States today, spawning fresh tornado threats in Nebraska and lowa, piling up snow in the Northwest and adding to the heaviest rain to hit the Hawaiian islands in years. Thundershowers accompanied by 30 to 40 mile an hour winds slapped the northern and central plains, and showers fell from the Dakotas to Texas. Tornado swooped down on a rural area north of Kearney, Neb., Monday night and destroyed farm buildings. Winds were measured at 72 miles an hour. Dust Reduces Visibility The winds kicked up clouds of i dust so thick that automobiles ■ near' Alamogordo, N.M., had to use headlights at mid-day Monday. The dust storms cut visibility to a half mile near Goodland, Kan., Monday. Forty-mile an hour winds fanned a timber fire out of control near Princeton, 111., and sent it roaring through farm buildings and nearby fields. One inch of fresh snow was on the ground at West Yellowstone, Mont., today. Up to 12 inches of snow fell in the Oregon Cascades Monday. US. 40 in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains was closed by snow and heavy wind Monday. The State Highway Patrol said .visibility was “nearly ..impossk ble.” Damage In Millions Two persons were presumed dead, scores of families were homeless and damage was estimated at millions of dollars in the torrential spring rains in Hawaii. The weatherman could predict no letup in the heavy rains until late today. In one rural area of Honolulu, 18 inches of rain fell in eight hoursDecatur Temperature Local weather data for the 24 hour period ending at 11 a.m. today. 12 noon 59 12 midnight .. 42 1 p.m. *59 1 a.m 40 2 p.m 58 2 a.m 39 3 p.m -59 3 a.m 38 4 p.m s*B 4 a.m 38 5 p.m 57 5 a.m 40 6 p.m. 56 6 a.m: 42 7 p.m 56 7 a.m 42 8 p.m 48 8 a.m 42 9 p.m46 0 a.m 43 10 p.m 45 10 a.m 43 11 p.m 43 11 a.m 44 Rain Total for the 24 hour period ending at 7 a.m. today, .0 inches. The St. Mary’s river was at 1.83 feet-.-One Os Worthman Twin Girls Dies Rhonda Teres Worthman, infant twin daughter of Calvin and Lorraine Elgin-Worthman, of Decatur route 4, died at 10:50 p. m. Monday at the Adams county memorial hospital, where the twins were born Sunday evening. Surviving are the parents; the twin sister, Rena Tyann; one brother, Scott; and the grandparents, Mrs. Ernest Worthman of Richburg, S. C., and Mr. and Mrs. Claude Elgin of Cumberland, Va. Graveside services, conducted by the Zwick funeral home, will be held at 4 p m. today at the Salem United Church of Christ cemetery, the Rev. H. E. Settlage officiating.

Second Meeting This was the second meeting held on the proposed transfer, with the first held three weeks ago. Reports of the first meeting also favored the transfer of students. The Hartford Center will be kept for use as a grade school, as is the Jefferson school in this county. The action is similar to that taken several years ago by Jefferson township taxpayers, who voted at that time to transfer students to Geneva and Berne but retain the school for grade school use. < Teachers Affected How many teachers affected by

Three-Way Tax Plan Rejected

BULLETIN INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — I - The Indiana Senate today passed a tax - revenue plan calli Ing for a one - third increase , of the gross ’ncome tax and a 2 percent corporate net income tax by a vote of 27-20. The proposal now goes to the Hoose. INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) — The Indiana Senate defeated 25-22 today a bipartisan three-pronged tax program aimed at raising S2BB million in additional revenue in the next two years. The package proposed by Sens. Marshall F. Kizer, D-Plymouth, and John Ruckelshaus, R-Indian-apolis, was rejected despite the fact tt>e senators were willing by “a 27-18 roll call vote to pave the . way for such an amendment to I be offered by reconsidering their action of Monday. On Monday, the Senate approved on second reading an amendment calling for a 2 per cent corporate net income tax and a one-third increase in the gross income tax rate. The bill was scheduled to come up for a final Senate showdown today. But instead, Ruckelshaus and Kizer circulated a new compromise calling for a 2 per cent s4les tax, a 3 per cent adjusted gross income tax and a 2 per cent corporate net income tax. The plan was offered as an amedment after the “action of Monday was reconsidered. There was debate on the issue, during which Ruckelshaus said he believed it was “a compromise from all segments, all facets, both political parties and both houses.” “It assures the schools, mental health and the others of sufficient revenue,” Ruckelshaus said. “It is not a stop-gap program. It is a long-range program- You might call it a common-law marriage.” Ruckelshaus admitted, however, ; that the plan is “clearly unconstitutional.” He did not explain how it would work as a revenue measure if tested in the courts and ruled unconstitutional. Sen. A. Morris Hall, R-Marion, who supported Ruckelshaus, contended the tax package given preliminary approval Monday was “not an effective compromise.” “We’ll be back in two years facing the same problem,” Hall said. The final showdown on the two-

Players ’ Fathers, Baseball Enthusiasts Invited Thursday

The fathers of the more than 300 Decatur boys who have signified interest in the Wildcat League are among those invited to the kickoff meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Decatur Community center, Carl A. Braun, Wildcat commissioner for Decatur, announced this morning. Also, all of die coaches of the Decatur Little League and Pony League for last year have also been invited, and the Optimist Club will have them as their special guests, Braun explained. The Wildcat Association actively encourages the other leagues, because of the expense in training in-

the transfer approval is not known as yet, as Hartford township trustee Wayne Dubach could not be reached for comment. Hartford Center is one of two high schools in Adams county with less than 100 students enrolled. The other such school. Pleasant Mills, was voted to be closed recently by the Adams Central board, which has jurisdiction over Pleasant Mills. It is rumored that residents of the Pleasant Mills area are opposed to the closing of the school, but no legal action has as yet been taken, although petitions opposing the schoool closing have been circulated. ,

part tax program to raise about $lB5 to $l9O million in new revenue was delayed while the Ruckel-shaus-Kizer plan was studied in caucus. Fate of the plan which won liminary approval in the closely divided Senate Monday remained doubtful, but there was enough optimism that somewhat of a mystery was created by a new bipartisan package served up this morning by Sens. John Ruckelshaus, R.lndianapolis, and Marshall Kizer, D-Plymouth. Adams Central Pupil To Attend Program Steve Schlickman, a senior at Adams Central high school and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dorphus Schlickman, route 2, Decatur, has been selected as the Adams county representative to attend the law day program at Indianapolis May 1, it was announced, this morning by Richard J. Sullivan, president of the Adams county bar association. The selection was made by a committee consisting of Sullivan, Robert Smith, secretary of the bar association here, and Judge Myles F. Parrish, judge of the Adams circuit court. The state bar association has established an interesting and informative program which will provide an opportunity for various high school students from throughout the state of Indiana to witness an oral argument before the supreme court of Indiana. Loren Wanner, a member of the junior class of Hartford Center high school, was chosen as alternate for the affair. Students were nomniated by the principals of Adams county schools, and submitted to the committee who made the selections. Schlickman will make the trip to Indianapolis with Judge G. Remy Bierly of Decatur, former judge of the Indiana appellate court, who will serve as representative of the local bar assosiation. Any expenses incurred by the student will be paid for by the Adams county bar association.

volved in the Wildcat program, which chooses its teams and boys after the other leagues. The Little and Pony Leagues must be a success, and choose the very best athletes and team players, so that the Wildcat League can train adequately those who want to play in every game. Parents Interested Parents have shown great interest in the Wildcat League, especially those parents whose children are not natural athletes, or who are young and small, or who 'have personality problems. These are the boys that the pro-

Physician To Leave City, New One Here TWWj >

Dr. John B. Terveer

Dr. John B. Terveer, physician and surgeon in Decatur for the past 15 years, today announced that he will quit the practice of medicine in this city next Tuesday, April 23, and will enter into a partnership with a phyisician in Pomona, Calif., May 1. At the same time, announcement was made that Dr. John E. Doan, also a native of Decatur, will take over Dr. Terveer’s office and equipment on South Second street early in July. Dr. Terveer is a lifelong resident of Decatur, a son of Mrs. Frances Terveer and the late Bernard Terveer. He graduated from the Decatur Catholic high school and from St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, with a bachelor of science degree. He received his M. D. degree from Marquette University in 1946, and began the practice of medicine in Decatur in March of 1948. Two Years In Korea The physician spent two years, from 1951 to 1953, with the Army Medical Corps in Korea, and then returned to his practice in this city. Dr. Terveer and his wife, the former Doris Derichs, have four children, Mary Beth, Julia Ann, Catherine Sue and John. The doctor will leave for California next week, but the family will not move until after the close of the school year. The Terveer home on West Monroe street has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McDonald of route 3. Dr. Terveer has joined partnership with Dr. Charles E. Basham, 109 East Willow St., Pomona, Calif. Dr Basham received his A. B. degree from Wichita University and his M..D. degree at Kansas University. Dr. Terveer was honored by fellow members of the Adams county medical society at a dinner meeting recently, when he was presented with a plaque by his fellow physicians for his 15 years of service to the community. Doan Here In July Dr. John E. Doan is also a native of Decatur and well known in this city.. He is a son of Mrs. Doris Doan and the late John M, Doan, . former mayor of Decatur and a partner in the Gillig & Doan funeral home. He graduated from Decatur high school in 1950, and then spent 18 months with the United States Marine Corps in Korea. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1957, and from the Uni-

fessional Wildcat League staff will be able to help adjust, both to baseball and to living, Braun pointed out. Wildcat League players will buy their own T-shirts and caps, but no player will be turned down because he doesn’t have the money; he will be given a chance to earn the money working for the athletic director of the league. May Come Late Anyone who cannot attend the dinner at 6:30 p.m. is invited to come at 7:30 p.m. for the meeting and movie on the Wildcat League.

SEVEN CENTS

Dr. John E. Doan

versify of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1961. Dr. Doan served his internship in 1961 and 1962 with the Youngstown Hospital Association, Youngstown, 0., and will complete a year’s residency in the Halifax hospital in Daytona, Fla., this summer. He plans to open his office here, now occupied by Dr. Terveer, early in July. Dr. Doan and his wife, the former Barbara Strickler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Strickler of this city, have three children. Fred Zurcher Dies After Brief Illness , Fred F. Zurcher, 77, of Berne, died shortly before noon Monday at the Adams county memorial hospital following a short illness. He was employed by the Gottschalk Supply Co. for a number of years and formerly was a farmer. Mr. Zurcher, a lifelong resident of the Berne community, was a member of the Winchester U. B. church, northwest of Berne. Surviving are his wife, the former Martha Valentine; two sons, the Rev. Reuben Zurcher of Zanesville, and Carl Zurcher of Huntington; a daughter, Mrs. Howard Bluhm of Berne route 1; eight grandchildren; two great-grand-children; three brothers. John of Berne, and Chris and William Zurcher, both of Monroe township, and four sisters, Mrs. John Sold ner and Mrs. Homer Steiner of Monroe township, Mrs. Melvin Johnson of Decatur, and Mrs. Mary Bracht of Fort Wayne. Services will be held at 1:30 p. m. Thursday at the Winchester U. B. church, the Rev. Carey Knittie officiating. Burial will be in the MRE cemetery at Berne. Friends may call at the Yager funeral home after 7:30 p. m. today. Meeting Scheduled For Cast Cancelled The meeting tonight for members of the cast of “The Music Man” has been cancelled. Gene Ziner, president of the Decatur Jaycees said today, while making the announcement that there will be no presentation of the show in Van Wert.

Chairs will be set up for the purpose, Braun promised. Donald F. Gage will be master of ceremonies for the dinner, representing the city as a whole, and all of the men’s service clubs will be represented at the head table, as well as toe city superintendent, of schools. Decatur will have the second Wildcat League to actually “play ball,” although several others are organized, or in the process, including Gibson City, Hl., and several leagues in Puerto Rico. The first league was in Fort Wayne, where more than 4,000 took part last summer.