Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 62, Number 255, Decatur, Adams County, 28 October 1964 — Page 1

VOL. LXII. NO 255.

■■.— ■■■mi I N.I ■ — ■ III!. ■■■!■*— »|«. ' —* t ■ ! — Jet Bomber Crashes Into * Buildings At Naval Air Facility, Nine Are Killed

Decatur Jaycees I Meet Last Night | The Decatur Jaycees held their regular general membership meeting Tuesday night, with discussion of the upcoming local and state-wide outstanding young farmer programs occupying a main portion of the meeting. Norb Selking and Lewis Van Poppel, chairmen of the project, announced that Jerry Setser, local soil conservationist, will be one of the judges for the local program, with more judges to be announced soon. The Jaycees wil pick a young farmer between the ages of 21 and 35, who resides in Adams county north of state road 124, to enter in the state-wide competition. The Berne Jaycees will select their outstanding farmer from the area south of state road 124. Have A DSA The local winner will be announced at the annual D.S.A. banquet, to be held at Villa Lanes Wednesday, January 6. Jack Ely, chairman of the annual, banquet, reported last night that he is now contacting a prominent Indiana man to speak at the affair. The DSA-OYF-bosses’ night banquet will be bigger than ever this year, according to president Wayne Roahrig. The Jaycees will not only announce the winner of the local OYF program, but will present their distinguished service award the same night. In addition, the Jaycee members are to bring their employers, or bosses, as guests for the affair. In further business last night, the group agreed to table the teen-age jury project until the first of March, due to the work that will be required to set up the state-wide OYF program here. President Roahrig said that he still has only one bidder on construction of the swimming pool, and that contractor is now looking over the plans and specifications. IB Testing Program Underway In County Mrs. W. Guy Brown executive secretary of the Adams county tuberculosis association, announced today that the annual TB testing program, sponsored by the association, is now in progress in the public and parochial schools of Adams county. Children in grades one, seven, nine and high school seniors will be tested, and if reactors are discovered, parents will be notified and requested to see their family physicians, Mrs. Brown explained. She pointed out that a reaction only means that the child has had contact with an active case of tuburculosis, and does not necessarily mean that he has the dis6&se. Validity of the tine test, which will be used, has been well established, Mrs, Brown stated. School Nurses The test will be administered by the school nurses in each school corporation in Adams county. Mrs. Gail Grabill, R. N., will have charge of the administration and follow-up in the North Adams community schools. Mrs. Linda Honaker, R. N., and Mrs. Betty Bixler, R. N., will perform the same duties in the Adams Central and South Adams school, respectively. This is one of the project sponsored by the Adams county TB association and paid for by the organization through the sale of Christmas seals. The association also conducts two x-ray sur- J veys annually for the general public and industry. An ever expanding health education program consisting of literature and films is also conducted through the schools and libraries.

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

EL CENTRO, Calif. (UPD—A Navy Day celebration turned into a fiery hell Tuesday when a low-flying jet bomber crashed in flames into several buildings at this- naval air facility. Nine persons were killed and at least 22 others injured. Six of the injuries. were , critical and nine were reported serious. The remainder were given first aid at the scene, but were not hospitalized. At least five of the most seriously hurt were flown to the San Diego Navy Hospital. The dead included the threeman crew aboard the twin-en-gined Douglas A3D Skywarrior bomber. They included Cmdr. Arthur Perkett, who piloted the plane on the first successful parachute jump here 17 years ago. Other crew members of the bomber killed were pilot Lt. Cmdr. Paul Duris of Escondido, Calif., and Aviation Machinist Mate Glen Pender. Flying Low The plane was flying low over the facility after it had dropped the 25,000th parachute jumper to land here. The parachutist was Bedford Sutherland. A Navy spokesman said the 70,000 pound plane “hit a telephone pole” and then struck three’ base bu!ldings*Hetrsftig the - post exchange, theater, barbershop and swimming pool. Smoke billowed 1,000 feet high into the clear desert aid. Observers said* the smoke was visible for more than 50 miles. Navy spokesmen said engineers today planned to survey the damaged buildings to determine the loss. The structures were World War II vintage. Also expected to begin today was an investigation into the cause of the accident. Juanito Lazo, a photographer for the El Centro Post Press, was photographing the parachute drop and described what followed: Saw Plane Coming “I saw this plane coming, in about 25 feet from the ground, pretty close to the audience. I tried to fire it (take a picture with his camera) but it didn’t shoot.” When the plane struck the pole, Lazo said, there was “a great ball of fire. It looked like an explosion. Part of it (the plane) hit the church roof and put a 10-foot diameter hole through it. The plane exploded about a block away from the church. Before it hit it threw some kind of ball of fire. Then the struck the commissary building. It was just like an inferno.” The photographer said wreckage from the plane was scattered over an area about two city blocks long. Most of the dead and injured were believed to have been inside the complex of buildings. TWO SECTIONS Garage And Tractor Destroyed By Fire Fire destroyed a garage and late model tractor at-the home of Delbert D. Mon tel,' route 2, Decatur; early this mqpiing. ' The Monroe rural fire departme n t and the Preble firemen were called to the Montel home, located about one-quarter mile south of the old Kirkland school building. The fi-emen were called a short time after 4 o’clock this morning and were at the scene for some time. The garage was destroyed as was a late-model tractor parked inside the building. Gas Tax Check Is Received By City The city of Decatur Tuesday received its quarterly distribution of state gas tax funds. The check received by the city was $12,598.55.

■ WHAT REMAINED of the front portion and frama of the 1954 model station wagon that was struck by an Erie Lackawanna train Tuesday night is pictured above. This portion of the auto was thrown some 100 fee| from the crossing.—(Photo by Mac Lean)

lady Badly Injured As Train Hits Car A Decatur lady miraciously escaped death shortly before midnight Tuesday when her automobile was struck by an Erie-Lacka-wanna railroad train at the crossing on Winchester street. Mrs. Anna M. Myers, 60-year-old resident of 409 N. Seventh St., was rushed to the local hospital a few minutes after the crash, which occurred at 10:40 p.m. She suffered a fractured pelvis, dislocated shoulder, multiple lacerations and shock in the crash, which saw her 1954 model station wagon torn to shred by the train. More x-rays were scheduled today to check for further injuries. A report from the hospital and her attending physician at noon today said that Mrs. Myers “is resting pretty good and holding her own.” She was conscious when taken to the hospital after the mishap, and was able to talk to ambulance drivers and the first persons to arrive at the scene. Hit Broadside The local lady was traveling north on Winchester street and apparently failed to see the train, as she c.ossed the tracks directly in front of the westbound 41car freight that was traveling to Huntington. The impact of the collision tore the station wagon into several Jarge pieces, and scattered them about the yard at the Erie depot. One of tae doors of the auto was found about 100 feet west of the crossing at Third street, a block west of the scene of the crash. The train was traveling at an estimated 50 miles per hour at the time of the impact. Rigat Front The auto was struck just to the rear of the right fruit section of ■tne car. The front fenders and frame of the vehicle were thrown some 100 feet into the depot yard. Other debris was scattered about the depot yaid. Mrs. Myers was also thrown from the vehicle. Carey Knittie and Jerne Patch, who reside on Winchester street near the crossing, were the first to arrive, after hearing the crash, and they found Mrs. Myers approximately 166 feet from the crossing, in the depot driveway. The top of the auto was some 75 feet from the crossing, and another door was lying directly in front of the depot, near the railroad tracks. The engine Os the train was heavily damaged about the lower portion of the front, or “cow catcher.” The engine was later hauled to Huntington by another engine. N. A. Bailey of Huntington was the train's engineer, and lit was

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

Decatur, Indiana, 46733, Wednesday, October 28, 1964.

Johnson Says Choice Clear

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UPI) • — President Johnson summed up the election campaign today as a choice between “reckless- , ne'ss or responsibility.” He said America cannot play a “wargame of bluff and bluster.” The Chief Executive made those statements in a text for a rally in Albuquerque before heading to Southern California to pry at the strength in that , • area for Republican presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater. 1 There were plans for a long motorcade in the Los Angeles area, and another prepared speech in which Johnson declared: “We are going full speech ahead. We are not going back to a past pf muddling and make-believe, mud-slinging politics and mildewed policy. Future Unlimited “We are going forward to a future of horizons unlimited.” In his speech for a rally at' Johnson bymnasium at the University of New Mexico, Johnson said: “The stakes in this election are success—and survival. “The issues are recklessness or responsibility. .. “We cannot and will not play the war-game of bluff and bluster. “The risk is too great. . . ( “We will keep the peace. i “That, most of all, is what this election is all about. And it is just that simple.” ‘ Johnson flew to Albuquerque Tuesday night after a fast—but crowded—swing through Boston and Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh, the President brought up for the first time in public the name of Walter Jenkins, his former aide who resigned after disclosure of two arrests on morals charges. The President talked of issues including education and Social Security. He said “the opposition candidate” had oposed him on both scores. f Expand Talk “While he is talking about Bobby Baker, Walter Jenkins, and Billie Sdl Estes, we want to talk about urban renewal. We are going to talk about urban renewal. We are going to talk about area redevelopment. We are going to talk about his reported that he did not see the car until the moment of impact. The red flashing lights at the crossing were working, according . to police.

vote against aid to education.” Without using Goldwater’s name, Johnson mentioned other issues including the civil rights bill and said: Enters Guilty Plea To Burglary Charge . Eddie Ray Thompson, 17-year-old resident of near Bluffton, pleaded guilty to a charge of third degree burglary in the Adams circuit court this morning. Thompson, arrested after a theft at the Treon Poultry Market the evening of October 15, was represented by local attorney Hubert R. McClenahan in entering his plea today. Judge Myles F. Parrish ordered probation officer Chris H. Muselman to prepare a presentence investigation report to be returned to the court within five days, at which time the judge will pronounce sentence. Thompson was originally arrested along with Gerald Gene Harmon, 17, of near Decatur, on charges of second degree burglary and theft, but the charge was amended to third degree burglary. Third degree burglary, although a misdeanor, carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Third Youth Harmon, and Richard Dennis Kettron, 18, of 1121 Elm St., have been arraighed in the circuit court, butCmve not entered pleas as yet. ..Harmon is represented by Lewis L. Smith, while Robert G. Smith has been appointed pauper attorney for Kettron. Thompson and Harmon were arrested around midnight on Octobre 17. City police, while on Patrol had discovered the theft of some beer and cigarettes at Treon’s, around 10 p.m. They later discovered the stolen articles under a trailer at Adams County Trailer Sales. Officer Victor Strickler waited in a nearby trailer and apprehended Hahmon and Thompson wwhen they returned to the items. Interrogation of the two the following day implicated Keetron in a previous burglary at the Franklin Service station.

Callithumpian Parade Saturday

Callithumpian parade general g chairman Ken Shannon this morn-C ing announced final plans for the — annual event which will begin — assembling at 7:30 p.m. Saturday 2 on the Monroe street city park-2 ing lot. 3 The parade will get under wayj at 8 p.m. and according to pre-*, sent reports, should include sev-i’ en floats, 13 bands and a large,” number of costumed characters.’" Perennial parade marshal Bill* I !E Jerry Setser Named « Judge By Jaycees I • •— 1 I jcS - Jerry Setser Jerry . Setser, Adams U. S. soil conservationist, was an-j nounced today as one of the ges for the Decatur Jaycees’ pro-6 gram to pick an outstanding? young farmer. S The announcement was madefj by Norb Selking and Lewis Van!! Poppel, chairmen of the projects for the Jaycees. “ The Decatur Jaycee chapter,J and other chapters throughout;; the state of Indiana, will hold 10-fi cal programs to select outstand-.',, ing young farmers. Each chap- “ ter will then send its winner to* Decatur for the state-wide contest ; to be held in February, 1965. The local Jaycees are now taking applications for the local con-', test, and anyone interested is asked to contact Selking at his home or Van Poppel at” radio station WADM. Honor Here Monday, December 11, is the final day to enter the local coptest. Setser, and four other judges to be named at a later date, will then select the top two young farmers and the winner will be announced at the Jaycees’ annual distinguished serv’ce award banquet Wednesday, January 6. The local winner will receive a handsome plaaue and be entered in the state-wide competition, to name Indiana's outstanding young farmer, which will also be held in this city, with the Decatur Jaycees hosting the program. The young man chosen as the top farmer of the state of Indiana will be entered in nationwide outstanding young farmer competition. Central Soya of Decatur is co-sponsorlng the statewide competition in Decatur. To Be Eligible To be eligible for the Decatur contest, the entrant must be between the ages of 21 and 35, and must be an actual farm operator deriving a minimum of two-thirds of his Income from farming. He need not be a Jaycee. Setser, a native of Wayne county. will be one of the judves who will select the Decatur chanter’s winner. A graduate of Purdue University, he came to Decatur last November with previous experience in soil conservation work in Ruth and Carroll counties. As soil conservationist, he has a two-fold job. He serves as technical advisor on the ACP program! sponsored by ASCS and he gives farm planning assistance to the 442 county farmers who have signed cooperation agreements with the conservation ser- • vice. Setser, his wife and three children. reside at 1228 Lewis Dnve in this city. Selking and Van Poppel said that the other judges would be announced in the very near future. INDIANA WEATHER Fair and cooler north, partly cloudy with some fog south tonight. Thursday fair and cooler central and north, partly cloudy extreme south. Low tonight in the 40s north, 45 to 52 south. High Thursday 58 to 65 north, in th 60s south. Sunset today 5:48 p.m. Sunrise Thursday 7:10 a.m. Outlook for Friday: Generally fair and a little wumer. Lows in mid 40s. Highs near 70. ■

Bowers will assemble the colorful entourage.’ Prizes will be awarded floats, bands, drum majors and costumed characters. Floats in the parade will be constructed with record titles as their themes. Prizes for the best float entry will be awarded by Midwest Record store, which is again sponsoring the float division competition. Organizations which have entered floats and the themes which they have selected ase as follows: Nazarene Pal club, “We Have An Anchor;” Girl Scout troop 357, “Running Bear;" Young Peoples Christian Endeavor group of the U. B. church, “World of Miracles;” Order of the Rainbow for Girls, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow;” Girl Scout troop 222, ‘“Toyland;” Cub Scout pack 3064, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands;” Girl Scout troop 573, "School Days.” 16 Categories In the costume character division cash prizes will be awarded in categories. The categories and prizes are as follows: tallest man, $3; best fat boy, $3; best fat girl, $3; best group of three or more, $10; best adult clown, $3; best kid clown, $3; most original adult, $3; most original boy, $3; most original girl, $3; most comically dressed pet, $3; best decorated pet-drawn top vehicle, $3; best witch, $3; best ghost, $3; best decorated top wagon or tricycle, $3; best masked couple, $6; best animal impersontation, $3. Cash prizes of SSO, $25 and sls wil be awarded to the three best bands. Shannon said that, to date, ten high school bands had been entered in the parade. They include Adams Central, Berne, Decatur, Decatur Catholic, Geneva, Hoagland, Monfnouth, Ossian, Parkway and South Wells. The two Decatur bands do not compete for prizes. Shannon said that there will probably also be three junior bands in the parade, including the junior band from the Lincoln school. The best band drum major will recevied a $5 award. Second and third place awasds of $3 and $2 will also be awarded in that category.

Election Workers Named By Parties

Both Democratic and Republican election boards are filled for Tuesday's election, according to an announcement Tuesday by county clerk George M. • Bair. This is the earliest date in some time by which election workers for both parties were turned into the clerk’s office. Following are the Democratic workers for Decatur’s 11 precincts: 1-A — Beatrice E. Melchi, inspector; Lucile A. Kallenberger, judge; Magdalene E. Butcher and Dora E. Levy, clerks; Vilena M. DeArmond, sheriff. 1-B — Eloise Hoffman, inspector; Lillian E. Knavel, judge; Dorothy L. Vanhorn and Alice J. Durbin, clerks; Mathias P. Minch, sheriff. 1-— Francile S. Mclntosh, inspector; Elizabeth M. Hersh, judge; Mary Baker and Alberta C. Colchin, clerks; Harriet Durkin, sheriff. 1-D — Martha F. Rawley, inspector; Francile Smith, judge; Alvera T. Massonnee and Sharon K. Liby, clerks; Glen D. Rambo, sheriff. 2-A — Margaret M. Braun, inspector; Elizabeth J. Boch, judge; Dorothy M. Mauller and Martha P. Gants, clerks; Joseph Herman Koors, sheriff. 2- — Fred P. Hancher, inspector; Anola E. Crist, judge; Ruth Keller and Florence A. Kauffman, clerks; Joseph F. Coffee, sheriff. 2-C — Frances I. Bohnke, inspector; Joan M. Laurent, judge; Gretchen M. Krueckeberg and Clarissa M. Garner, clerks; Arthur C. Garner, sher-

REDDY FEATHER SAYS: "TODAY'S DECATUR AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE COMMUNITY FUND . BOY SCOUTS TOTAL IS GJRt SCOUTS $18,830.14 CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOC. The Goal Is LITTLE & PONY LEAGUES $29,834 u * s - ° YOUR BR SALVATION ARMY Community Fund MENTAL HEALTH Still Need* Wf COMMUNITY CENTER $11,003.88 4RB AMERICAN RED CROSS Give The Uniled Way

EVEN CENTS

Shannon has asked that candy and -other articles not be thrown from floats and vehicles in the parade, because of the safety hazard involved. After the parade a record hop will be conducted on North Second street in front of the Chamber of Commerce office. Walt Osterman, of the Midwest Record store, will be master of ceremonies for the record show. Gifts Suggested For Mentally 111 The joy of the festive holiday season will be experienced by mental patients throughout the State of Indiana through the efforts of the citizens of Adams county and Decatur. Mrs. John Brunso, chairman of the Christmas gift project for Decatur, suggests the following gifts for men: dress and sport shirts, sweaters, pajamas, pipes, shaving cream and lotions, raincoats, bathrobes, jackets and belts. Gifts for men are usually in greater demand and residents are requested to give gifts for males first consideration. Those preferring to purchase gifts for women could select washable dresses, blouses, skirts, nylon hose, sweaters, nightgowns, pajamas, girdles and brassieres, toilet articles, billfolds and raincoats. Suggested gifts for either are stationery, playing cards, instant coffee, shoe shine kits, comb and brush sets and walking shorts. Rodger Ward, internationally known race driver and 1964 Christmas gift collection chairman of the Indiana association for mental health, said, "I'm sure the residents of Decatur won’t ,be left at the starting line and that they'll shop early for a gift for a mental patient.” Gifts may be left at collection centers throughout the county which are located at Mental Health Office, 238 N. 2nd, Gass Ready Tok Wear, The Gas Company, and Schnepf Realtor.

iff. 3-A — Charlotte A. Schafer, inspector; Richard C. Ehinger, judge; Cecile Ehinger and Jeannette J. Holthouse, clerks; Charles A. Weber, sheriff. 3-B — D. E. Foreman, inspector; Flossie Bogner, judge; Susan Kay Keller and Mildred Louise Smith, clerks; Dale Whetstone, sheriff. 3-C — Ethel Foor, inspector; Clifford Steiner, judge; Kathryn Summers and Martha Kitson, clerks; Josiah Sheets, sheriff. Decatur - Root — Phyllis J. Hut* ker, inspector; Ruth Nicodemus, judge; Roberta D. Isch and Ma* deline M. Blackburn, clerks; Howard Bryan Eley, sheriff. Republican Workers Republican workers in the Decatur precincts are: 1-A — Melvena I. Eady, judge; Marjorie Daniels and Kathryn Bonifas, clerks; Ruth P. Strickler, sheriff. 1-B — Charles Burke, judge; Donna J. Gage and Ira Bodie, clerks; Willilam Clark, Sr., sheriff. 1-C — Gabel B. Bowman, judge; Edith H. Soliday and Thelma A. Smith; Dwight-'Sheets, sheriff: 1-D — Roy C. Hook, judge; Mary Della Cochran and Jacqueline A. Ford, clerks; Forrest E. Brown, sheriff. 2-A — Mrs. Clarence Ziner, judge; Mrs. Paul Edwards and Barbara Gaunt, clerks; William Flagg, sheriff. 2-B — Mattie Fisher, judge; Fay Ahr and Phyllis Bauman, clerks; Merris S. Peterson, sheriff. 2-C — Chrystal V. Hook, judge; Frances Bor(Continued on Page Eight)