Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 61, Number 290, Decatur, Adams County, 10 December 1963 — Page 8

PAGE EIGHT

Costello Retiring As Postal Employe ' a j SXaiaMMjel&S > jK* s XJ®'’ * Jl j l ’- ■■ -■ ;3g c » : yr st eK* y ~. RETIRING— Long-time Decatur postal employe Pat Costello retires this month after 39 years of postal service. • He started work for the post office delivering packages in 1924.—'Photo by Mac Lean)

By Mike Thoele “I’ve seen two generations of people come in and out the post office doors and I've seen the price cf a letter go from two cents to five cents.” These are some of the memories garnered by Pat Costello, Decatur postal service veteran who will retire next month. Costello, a 62-year-old window clerk at the Decatur post office, entered the postal service in 1924, at the age of 23. Before that time he had worked -for the Standard Oil company in Decatur and in Fort Wayne, and for the old Central Sugar company. A graduate of St. Joseph’s grade school and Decatur high school Costello has many memories which he gathered during hi s nearly four decades of work in the post office. “When I first started all mail came on the train,” he reminisces, "and there were no star routes. My first job was delivering packages. I carried them on a pushcart which I pushed through the downtown area. For longer deliveries I'd use a car.” He can also recall that when he first started working the cost of sending a first class letter was only two cents. Then it climbed to three, four and, finally, five certs., “Wartime was the most hectic,” he remembers. “There were lots

ft*., - A PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT A Fairway Gift Certificate of Any Amount for those who appreciate the finer things in life. They'll all enjoy a meal of incomparable pleasure and satisfaction. FAIRWAY RESTAURANT Hiways 27 - 33 - 224 Decatur, Indiana

I • I ttsfp te cious&^ th " 2 .. DESERT 1 h jwb - star sEi En.aß.ni.nl Ring o Brld.i Circlet S2O 00 Rmgt enlarged *° >> ' OWd * DIAMONDRINGS 1 Beloved by brides for over 100 years Bower Jewelry Store , A«»n»odr»<j Artcarved

,of packages to serving overseas, but there were also special restrictions on size and weight. Packages were limited to five pounds.” In his early postal service days Pat worked in the old Decatur post office, located at the present Decatur Hatchery site. Harry Fritz inget was postmaster when he began and since then he has served under six other postmasters. His formal postal title is “window clerk.” He formerly worked at the stamp and parcel post window, but he is winding up his postal days at the money order and postal savings window. In past years he has also served as civil service information secretary. Costello's retirement becomes official on December 31. He plans to do “a lot of loafing” and a little traveling. Personnel Changes CosteTo’s retirement is coincidental with a number of other personnel changes at the post office. Ralph Parrish, 521 S. Thirteenth street, has been hired .as a substitute clerk and carrier. Parrish is a native of the Decatur area and a graduate of Adams Central high (School. He and his wife, Jocelyn, have one child, Peggy "Sue. age two months. Chet Lorn nberger, 1239 Master Drive, hr,.-, been promoted from substitute to regular carrier/ A veteran and a graduate of Monroe high school, he has lived in Decatur for four years and has worked two and one-half yeaA for the post office department. He and his wife, Carol, have two children, Lisa Jo, and Tracy 2. Jay Martin, route 6, Decatur, a 16-year iwstal-employe, has been promoted from mail carrier to rural carrier. .A*veteran, he has been with the post office department since 1947. Vestal “Stan"# Kling, 201 Park Place, has been hired as a substitute carrier. A native of Bremen, he has lived in Decatur since 1917. A veteran of World War 11, he was formerly employed by the Harris Manufacturing company of Fort Wayne. He and his wife, Edith, have one child. Ronnie, 13. Jesse Serna. 728 N. Twelfth street, has been promoted from custodian to substitute carrier. A disabled veteran, he has lived in

■ /ffl iil dfl ; ■ / 1 V --? J j| PROMOTED— These five Decatur post office employes have recently received promotions and job changes. Left to right, Jay Martin, Chet Longenberger, Jesse Serna, Vestal “Stan” Kling and Ralph Parrish.—'Photo by Mac Lean)

WELSH 'Continued from Page One) would be ready for release next “It will be a full, complete report,” he said.' Anderson said “I am shocked that the grand jury or anyone else could find me negligent with respect to my duties of this office.” He said the testimony he gave to the jury "substantiated by records” showed that the coliseum was inspected by the fire marshal's office in June and that 14 representatives of his office were on 18-hour duty during the annual state fair earlier in the year. He said inspections of “all buildings in addition to the coliseum” were made during the fair? “At no time during these inspections was there any evidence of liquefied gas inside any of the public buildings,” Anderson said. He said regulations governing use and handling of LP gas have been in effect since” 6 * 1947 in Indiana “and every field inspector- with my office is aware of the seriousness of improper use of this type of gas.” The remaining three persons indicted were all officials of Discount Gas Corp., which sup-, plied the gas tanks to the coliseum. They came in voluntarily and were released on bond on charges of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of 2-21 years in jail on conviction . _ ■ .J— . Edward J. Franger, Elkhart, who heard about his indictment through news media, was indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter and posted $7,000 bond. Fred J. Helms, Indianapolis, was charged with two counts and posted $7,000 bond. Richard Ensign of Brownsburg, posted $3,500 bond for one count and was released. Special Report In a special report accompanying the indictments the jury followed the findings of investigators in a long probe of the disaster and concluded if the tanks had not been in the building in the first place, the blast could not have occurred. “This was entirely in the hands of local and state interests whose responsibility it was to safeguard against possible injury. “We believe no single person, standing alone, would have been sc foolish as to set up five 100pound cylinders of highly volatile and extremely sensitive propane beneath the seats pf the many patrons who would necessarily sit above the peril without ever having a chance of the Decatur area since 1947 and is serg ant-at-arms of the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. He and h's wife, Eulogia, have six children, Angie, 15, Jesse, 13. Daniel. 12, Martha, 10, John 8. and Dianna, 6. > Homer L. Miller, route 3, Decatur, has been hired as post office custodian. A veteran, he formerly worked as custodian at Adams county memorial hospital.

K makes sense t 6 . "Package” :®f.... your home insurance Our Homeowners Policy allows you to combine your fire, theft arid personal liability coverages into one broad, economical policy with these important advantages: substantial savings.;. pacifttged convenience e.. tailored protection. ’ * ■ , / ‘ - .. 7 r f Leland Smith Insurance Agency, INC. Monroe and / --- - - ( Phone 3-3111 First Sts. \ggjF/ . * i 1 ■ , , '';

THE DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT. DECATUR, INDIANA

knowing what extreme hazard had been placed beneath them, and thus when such a thing is done by several persons it becomes even more incomprehensible and inconceivable.” “No one,” the report said, “seemed filling to carefully inspect the premises and protect the safety and welfare of the some 3,000,000 people who have entered the building during the past 10 years.” The jury said “as many as 50 cylinders and heaters” were in operation simultaneously “during the spring of this year in another buildjng and many of the offices” of the state fairgrounds. Fair Board Implicated “The fair board knew these heaters were being used inside the coliseum building. It was no secret. . . The heaters are clearly labeled ‘for. outside use with propane!” “There was only one way those people could have been saved and that was never to have taken the cylinders into the building in the first place, as the fire marshal’s regulations require. “The inescapable conclusion from this investigation is that the fire marshal has not carried out the mandatory provisions of the law which outlines his duties. Had he done so, for example, by actually inspecting the coliseum building carefully in the- light of his own regulations, he would have long ago alerted the patrons and the management to the violations involved in the use of liquid petroleum, gas. But this he dj,d not do,” the report- said. The report was highly critical of Anderson and his office, saying he is not grained and his office is understaffed. “The fire marshal has indicated that the legislature gave him exactly what he asked for in 1963 in regard to his budget. The failure, thus, must fall upon the fire marshal himself if there exists low salaries and short help. Patronage Blamed “It becomes more apparent, with this background, as to why no careful inspection was made of the coliseum building. The fire marshal was considered ‘patronage’ and he acted the part. Had it been otherwise, a detailed and minute inspection would have been made of the coliseum building before Oct. 31,” the report said. “The chief of the Indianapolis Eire Department was remiss in his dut/." The jurors made the statement in view of the fact revealed in hearings that Phillips “has never detailed any inspector to these premises... there can be but one conclusion that is that had the law been followed, the tanks would have been removed, on sight, before Oct. 31.” The report was critical of a lack of a clear-cut responsibility between the Indiana State Fair Board and the Indianapolis Coliseum Corp., which leased the building for entertainment purposes from the board. It criticized persons connected with the Discount Gas Corp., from which the tanks were purchased, as “impelled by the profit from the sale without any

regard for the safety of persons who may come near the area.” The jurors also asked for an overhaul of the permit system presently used in connection with heating and gas installations. “The systems of permits now in use is archaic and useless. It deludes both the permitee and the public who observe it into feeling they are safe, whereas the fact is now that a secretary has performed a mere perfunctory mailing task ... and no one derives benefit..the report said. The report also praised the governmental and volunteer agencies and medical personnel who responded to the call for aid that tragic Halloween night. Brief Freedom Brings Man Prison Sentence SOUTH BEND, Ind. (UPI) — Benny Stevenson, 42, South Bend, was sentenced Monday to a 1-5 year term for 15 minutes of freedom after a St. Joseph County jailbreak last month. St. Joseph Superior Court Judge E. Spencer Walton Imposed the penalty on Stevenson’s Dec. 2 plea of guilty. Stevenson was the only one of six men involved in an escape attempt who actually got away.

I Christmas Gifts For Men ! *»i» l »i*9ia»*>Si»3i*si>**********>**««ww«w<ww«<<««KW«««<«w««<K<www««««K S? | SUGGESTIONS I »i*»;»i>.>i»i»i*>i>3>»»i***>*******w<«WKKW«<WK««wwKKW<KKW«KWWKKKKKKW<K<«WKK<K Sr ft TOOL BOXES Portable Drill Press g FLARING sj| QE g *4 H P. BENCH S ft stand Convert | g TOOL g GRINDER SAA QP S? X CARPENTER BOX >4" Drill — g <<<<K<<<<K x-’.wkh y A W j 2 SIZE 8" X 9%" SAW ft \ ! TURF * 8 WWWW<<<<<<<W<<<W M *3 „ 22" V<<<<<<<<<K<<<<<<<<<H<<W TU Ot $A g & ft 3 * i/« nII < MH ' CUTTER —At J 5 MILLERS FALLS 3? J<<<<<<<<<<<K<<<<<<K<<<<l > /< Drill *o*7s r ««<««<««« g7" SAW jS gs ft ALL STEEL TOOL BOX Fur/ SAW HORSE g S g BRACKETS *I.BO 5 MILLERS FALLS g ft W ;,8 Dn» IQ-75 *%»• P - S Afi.OO © jft 'KKK’€KK«««KKK««<«< 1 "• Kam I <<KKWW<<<<<<<K y ROUTER : _' 2? A MECHANIC BOX wwwwwwwwwwhwc ai ”^2^ ERS 5 wwwwwwwwkwwk Sj &R" v Q"" 22" MOA ! ! i/« n n „ 8 A LL S MILLERS FALLS W Wbeßo 2 rl ALL PRICES. g i/„ drill $W W RHE n “ i 100' EVANS S s W £<«« W<<<KK<<K<<<K« W» «KKKK<KKKKKK«««K«KW TADe KKKKK<KKKKKKKK<KKK<KK< ©tf ft o «v I > £ ‘ *E.95 £ millers falls S MECHANIC BOX < CHALLENGE . $ flftA g 4" DRILL SAA PA B g 18" x 10" x 13 " 2*40 * HAND SAW ’ * 9V <K<<<KK<<<<<<<<S | W S [«<<<<<<<<<«<«««««> : <<<<<<<<<<<WW<<<<<<<<W ! tape LUFKIN Sa j miSrsValls*** 4 '*’***'''’ B g FRAMING SQUARE J MILLERS FALLS .60 :.«««««<<« 5 SABRE 3 ALUMINUM 11 HAND SAW 2 SEETiJ 6* ? SAW 1 5 ™> ING >i.62[ss < sx™r ,w<<<<<<w j 1S?OF I WOOD CH SM AVA ! HANDSAWS $ S*77 * fi 5" * * <<<<<W<W<<<<<<<<WW<H SAW Sfl CO * 'SwjXASTER < * lt ' eW ' < ** lt '' X CW<K<K<<<<<<WW<<<<<« £ HACK SAWS from — > 0*5 V g 20 « J|G $Wa AP © « IRWIN WOOD BIT SET QOc to Aft W<<W<W<<<WW * SAW SZ e "3 © S WOOD CASE sfl QEQ 7 RAM 7 £ <<<««<<<<<<««««„ g 52 >® e^ W SAW OC J SHOP MASTER 2? S KK<WWW<WHWWW<<W ___J&/*^^g 4 " ft? 2 STANLEY SA M,LIERS FA LLS No. 74C Wwwhw®k<wc J JOINTER ___. 5/* 9 5 © 9 HAND DRILL 5 MIT« BOX »4t O.gft hldm EIK ™ C | »«*«««««««««,. S « tIST SB6 00 ... ©»•»» «®« I SHOP MASTER RADIAL ARM | g 24" LEVEL $A OAs<<<<<<WWW<<<<<<<<WW MER __ g PRESS * 94*95 g MILLERS-FALLS 5 STANLEY MITRE $A PAL <<<<W<<<<<<<<W 8 «w<w<i«K<ww«<«w S g K<<<W<W<<<<<<<<<<WW g BOX No 816 RAM 7 g shop MASTER W I mVers-Vaus ’5 ,0 ° I ««’«««””««’«««««•«« I law* 8 ".,.. *73.95 | § C-^KHWWWWWWWWMW' f STANLEY METAL ; R AM * W aT 5 ««*««<««<*««, g S 48" LEVEL sflA AA J CUTTING '$ A AA SAN- sfl Est 5 COME OUT AND © g MILLERS-FALLS At* * MITRE BOX OER lQ ( J v j x LOOK AROUND. S g <<<<<<<<W<WWW<W<<WW<W<<W<WW<<<W<<<<<W<<WW<<<<<W<<WW<<W<<<<KW<<KW<<W< g! I Adams Builders Supply, Inc. I | 309 S. 13th. St. OPEN 7AM to SPM PHONE 3 - 3104 I WUBKWWWWneKiCWWWWCWWHWWCKWKWWiSWK!®

SOUTH BEND \ (Continued from Ptfge One) 111 years ago when the brothers Studebaker came to this simple agreement: "I, Pete Studebaker, agree to sell all the wagons 'my brother Clem can make;” Booming Business Actually, the Studebaker boys had been making wagons in South Bend for 11 years before the 1863 agreement was signed. In the Civil War, and as the West was opened, Pete sold all the wagons Clem could make. And in 1902 the Studebakers had a new-fangled electric car on the road and in 1904 the latest thing— a “gas buggy.’’ Studebaker was a proud name on the roads through the first decades of the automotive age. The South Bend company boasted of craftsmanship —of how South Bend father handed down his knowledge to South Bend son. In large part it was true. But at the end, this week, that meant that a great many of the men of Studebaker were past their prime as far as the labor market is concerned. Men of 50 or older are of the stuff of which craftsmen are made, and there are many of them at Studebaker. But it is tough for them to line up at the employment office. Polaris Missile Is Tested Successfully CAPE KENNEDY (UPD— The Navy successfully tested its new longer range Polaris missile Monday night and now is looking ahead to an even newer version with a mightier punch. The Polaris “A-3” shot into the darkness trailing a brilliant column of smoke and flame from a land pad. Its nose cone streaked through the atmosphere about 1,500 miles away in the Atlantic. Die 2,880-mile range rocket designed to be fired from submerged nuclear submarines is expected to become combat ready next August. . Although at least a dozen more test flights of the “A-3’’ are planned, the Navy is studying plans for an advanced model of the Polaris called the “B-3”. It would have the same range as the “A-3“ but would carry a bigger payload. The slim Polaris missiles now can deliver nuclear tips equal to about 1 million tons of TNT. Payload estimates for the proposed “B-3” rockets were not available.

If* ■ j ■ ■ I S') I (2I’l "' JI IH\ 67 II / 1 ■ iiM. Ul; ~ 1 lb w I | ■ </ ■ fT » Th* PALATINE • L 2735 Smart contemporary styled console in grained Walnut ' color, grained Blond Walnut color, grained Mahogany color, or grained Blond Oak color, Peak Picture Control, Automatic “Fringe-Lock” Circuitry, Super Target AS LOW AS < *279 W.T. • AMERICA’S #1 SELLING TV YOUR BEST TV BUY UHRICK BROS. DISCOUNT FURNITURE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1963