Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 62, Number 305, Decatur, Adams County, 28 December 1964 — Page 1

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

VOL. LXII. NO. 305. Decatur, Indiana, 46733, Monday, December 28,1964.

President Johnson Sees Hope For Harmony And Progress

JOHNSON CITY, Tex. (UPD ■ — President Johnson sees improved hope for harmony and progress in the nation and the world in 1965. He is devoting this week to domestic and foreign policy decisions aimed at fostering that hope. The President’s views and intentions were made known by Texas White House sources. There also was a Washington report that Johnson to imprint his own stamp on the administration he . inherited from the late John F. Kennedy, plans a shakeup of almost all sub-cabinet postis next year. Tnese could range into the dozens. Johnson’s immediate program for his second week of a working holiday at his LBJ ranch was to complete work on his “Great Society” budget and legislative proposals. He also will be selecting 15 to 20 new ambassadors and setting up a timetable for 1965 White House visits from an average of two foreign leaders a month. On the home front, the President’s planning includes a request to Congress for the biggest educational program in history. It also includes a sharp increase in the $784 million anti-poverty program begun this week, and other measures to get his projected “Great Society” off the ground. College Students Finishing Church RIPLEY, Miss. (UPD—White college students hoped today to complete the roof of a ' Negro church burned last Oc’ober after it was used for a civil rights meeting. The group of students and three professors from Oberlin College in Ohio worked against a fast * approaching deadline. They need to complete the An- ' tioch Baptist Church by Thursday when they are due to return to the Oberlin campus. The students call themselves “Carpenters for Christmas” because they gave up their holiday vacations to help rebuild the rural church. They arrived here Dec. 20 and immediately went to work wi'h local Negroes and their volunteers. The work on the roof began Sunday as the new structure began taking shape.

Five Scouts Receive Eagle Award Sunday Night

a. • ■ -iH ’ i A -‘HI 1 '" : S'' !? wHHK t. > HaKiMy* NEW EAGLE SCOUTS, from left to right. Bob Miller, George A. Foos, Dan Braun, Dave Braun, and Roger Geimer are congratulated by Oral Smith, Anthony Wayne council executive, and their scoutmaster, Medford Smith, an Eagle scout himself from troop 62, and scoutmaster of troop M. • - •=—- * — (Photo by MacLeani ;■■■■ .., , . .. . /*. ~ „ --- p-' ' ' ■'■ '"' ■ ' .... ■••■..

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

. On the world scene, he considers Soviet-American relations less hostile or crisis-ridden than in years. And he believes the Western Alliance also is in better shape and heading toward still , better days. There still are fierce problems in Viet Nam and the Congo, but Johnson is not disillusioned, and he has confidence in U. S. policies and officials. According to associates, the President forsees a year in which there will be less partisanship or name-calling among Democrats and Republicans. He intends to pursue that goal by going reasonably slow in proposing news pro-

LBJ Orders Discrimination Stopped

JOHNSON CITY, Tex. (UPD — President Johnson wants the armed forces to wipe out every vestige” ofracial discrimination in National Guard units at home and in housing and public places used by American troop,s abroad. , ■ He issued such instructions to the Pentagon on the basis of a „ presidential committee’s report

Braun Baby To Represent March Os Dimes Drive

Stuart Anthony Braun, seven-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Braun of route 5, Decaur has been selected as the Adams county March of Dimes baby for the National Foundation’s 1965 fund drive in this county. The Braun baby, who was born May 26, 1964 with an open spine, has undergone two delicate correctional operations to enclose the spine and to drain water from his brain. A drain tube was permanently located under the skin on the baby’s head to keep the water from accumulating. Both operations were financed by the National Foundation. The Foundation, originally known as the March of Dimes, waged a long and ultimately successful battle to eradicate polio —a goal which was realized with the

grams or buildups of present ones. Carrying that mood beyond America’s borders, he is described as favoring a conciliatory approach by which the United States will not throw its weight around, but will show respect to leaders of any lands, large or small. Johnson, since arriving at his ranch eight days ago for the Christmas season, hal enjoyed a lack of distractions while working there with eight cabinet members and other officials on the budget he will send to Congress in the latter part of January. He would like to stay at the ranch until the

calling for “immediate and, if > necessary, drastic action” by U. S. commanders abroad to as- • sure equal rights for Negro ; servicemen. t That “drastic” action included placing “off limits” signs on restuarants, taverns, bars, or > housing projects near American i base overseas if discrimination t against Negroes could not be

creation of the Salk vaccine. The Foundation has now turned its

B _ ' ' f.A

Stuart Anthony Braun

SEVEN CENTS

end of this week, but his plans are uncertain. Budget Unsettled Budget matters still to be settled by the President were reported to include foreign aid, federal housekeeping items handled Administration, and the poverty program. He also was working on coordination of education programs, which with various research projects account for sls billion, in spending a year. He wants to tie together education matters that are scattered now through many government departments and agencies and to obtain a vast in-

curbed through discussions with local authorities or military police methods. It was emphasized in the report by the President's Committee on Equal Opportunity in t h e ramed forces that encouraging strides had been made but that many problems remain to be solved. One of the biggest problems

resources to the problem of birth defects. t b 0 Much of the money collected by the county chap’er in the coming drive will be used for treating county children who have suffered birth defects. Some of the funds will go to the national organization to be used for research to discover ways of eliminating or successfuully treating birth defects. The Braun baby will probably undergo more operations in the future as doctors believe that there has been nerve damage to „the kidney and bladder and to the legs. The baby is now wearing special corrective shoes. The baby was born at Adams county memorial hospital. Both of the correctional operations were performed at Fort Wayne Lutheran hospital.

A total of 19 Boy Scouts were advanced in rank Sunday evening by a court of honor for troop 64, sponsored by the St. Mary’s Catholic church, including five boys advanced to the rank of Eagle Scout. Oral Smith, executive of the Anthony Wayne council, and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Simeon Schmitt presented the Eagle awards to Darnel Braun, and David Braun, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Carl A. Braun, Roger Geimer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Geimer, Robert Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Miller, and George A. Foos, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Foos. Life awards were presented bv institutional representative Carl A. Braun to James Miller, George Gordon, and Jerry Miller. Star awards were presented by assistant scoutmaster James Roop to Robert Martin, Jeff Niblick, Thomas Schurger. Stephen Gage and 'Diomas Schurger were presented with first class scout awards by Bill Mowery. Second class Scout awards went to Michael Miller, Edward Reed, Stenhen H»i»nan, James Brazil. Jr., Dennis Braun, and Norbert Hess. Jr. Joe Schultz made the oresentations. Troon 64 was founded in 1959, and these are the first Eagles as well as the largest group of Eagles in any troop in the county.

Profile Os A Disaster: California's Holiday Flood

By PETER J. HAYES United Press International SAN FRANCISCO (UPD -On the Sunday before Christmas, district forecaster Ray Crooks of the U.S. Weather Bureau here noticed ominous features

crease in the federal role in education. On this as on other "Great Society” ideas Johnson does not expect to achieve everything in a few. months or necessarily in a few years, associates emphasized: His intention remains one of unhurried beginnings that will provide a basis for greater gains later. This program will be embraced in the State of the Union message Johnson will deliver to a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. EST on Jan. 4. It will be carried on nationwide radio and television.

is desegregation of National Guard units at home. In most southern states, voluntary desegregation remains a token affair but the report suggested withholding federal funds for Guard units “if reasonable efforts” fail. Such action is permitted under the 1964 civil rights law. The President’s letter accompanying a copy of the report to Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara said, “recent progress is securing intregation of National Guard units ts encouraging. “And I urge,” Johnson added “that every effort be made to continue this movement toward a*"National Guard in every state in which there will be no barriers against participation based on race, color or creed.” Bloodmobile To Be In City Monday The bloodmobile unit will be in Decatur next week, Mrs. Ferris Bower, chairman of the local Red Cross’ blood program, announced this morning. The unit will be in Decatur one week from today, Monday, January 4. It will be stationed at the Youth and Community Center between the hours of It a. m. and 5 p. m., according to Mrs. Bower. Stephenson Riles Are Held Today Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. today at the Baird-Free-man Funeral home, Portland, for Maude Iliff Stephenson, 79, a native of Adams county, who died early Saturday morning at the Jay County hospital following a long illness. She was born Feb, 28, 1885 in Adams county, the daughter of the Rev. Mortimer F. and Sylvia Myers Iliff. She was married to Robert R. Stephenson in 1919, and he died in 1923. She taught in the Jay county schools for more than 40 years. She was a member of the Methodist church. Surviving are a daughter. Miss Martha Stephenson, Cleveland, 0., and a brother, Fred M. Iliff. Bryant. BULLETIN Word was received this noon of the death at 10:30 a. in. this morning of Clement Holthouse, about 85, of Tulsa, Okla., a native of Decatur, after an extended illness. The son of Anthony and Margaret Shane Holthouse, he was a brother of the late Roman J. Holthouse, and has many relatives living in Decatur. Mr. HoHhousc left Decatur at the ago of 18 and accompanied hk family to Jonesboro, Ark., where he was engaged in the timber business, and later in the shoe r*nair business. He moved to Tulsa, Okla . a number of years ago after the death his wt'e, the former Anna Ruffing, of Delphi, Ind.

of the developing weather pattern. At 12 noon he issued warnings of whole gales up to 60 knots on the north coast. Five hundred miles to the north in Scio, Ore., rain pelted the house of Julio Ramo, 47, where he lived with his wife and nine children. The house near the rising Santiam River. In Rio Dell, Calif., Mrs. Charlotte Cowart and Mrs. Marie Edith Shrull were in the ninth month of their pregnancies. ,/,At San Mateo, Calif., Coast Guard helicopter pilot Lt. Donald L. Prince, 30, father of two, relaxed on off-duty hours. On that Sunday evening, only forecaster Crooks was directly involved with the weather. But within 48 hours the lives of all of them — and thousands more —would be drastically affected by the West's worst floods since the Christmas, 1955, disaster that killed 64 and caused S2OO million damage in California alone. Recalls 1955 Disaster “The situation on Sunday, Dec. 21, bore some resemblance to 1955,” Crooks said. “A large high pressure area in the North Pacific had depressed stormbearing (air) currents to lowerthan - normal latitudes. Warm air flowing up toward the Northern California and Oregon coast picked up more and more moisture from the tropics. As it flowed over the topography, this air lifted and the moisture condensed, depositing moisture mostly on the west and south slopes. In this kind of situation you get heavy rains.’,’What was especially unusual was the fact that the storm center anchored itself in one spot off the coast for four or five days. AU last week howling gales raked the Far West and warm rains melted the snowpack and saturated the ground, causing runoff that turned creeks into torrents and sent rivers spilUng over banks and levees. Damage S2OO Million Total damage in California# Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada was estimated at more than S2OO million. Scores of bridges and great sections of highway were washed out. Railroad cars were sent spinning downstream. Giant redwood logs smashed houses to kindling. But the flood story always came back to people—how they lived and how they died. At least 40 persons were killed; an estimated 17,000 families were left homeless. “We had this little house near the Baptist Church in Scio,” Julio Ramo said. “The water Mahala Schindler Passes Away Sunday Mrs. Mahala Schindler, 71, of 660 Indiana St., Berne, died of a heart attack at 2:30 p. m. Sunday in Adams county memorial hospital. She had been ill for about three months. A daughter of Peter and Sarah Steiner Bieberstein, she was born Jan. 21, 1891 in French township. She was married Sept. 23, 1922 in Berne to Henry Schindler, who survives. A member of the Trinity El IB church, she was a former school teacher and was active in church affairs. A sister, Mrs. Lillie Stuckey of Monroe, survives. A brother and a sister preceded her in death. The body is at the Yager funeral home in Berne, where friends may call after 7 p. m. this evening. Funeral services wiU be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kenneth W. Overmeyer officiating. Burial will be in the MRE cemetery. Chamber Os Commerce Elects Directors Five persons have been elected tp the board of directors of the local Chamber of Cqmmerce. according to an announcement today by executive secretary W. Guy Brown. Bill Zoss was selected to the re ail division’s board, while Dr. John E. Doan and attorney Louis L. Smith, professional members, and Robert Cook and Victor Porter were named to the industrial board. Members of the election board, Alfred Beavers, Morris Begun and Ralph Habegger, tabula f ed the balloting conducted among members of the Decatur Chamber. The board of directors of the Chamber will meet January 4 to elect officers tor the coming year. . '

started creeping at us from both sides Tuesday morning. By 10 a.m. it was ankle deep in the house. We got the kids and took them to the chufch which was on higher ground. Ten I went back to te house. But when I got there the water was over my knees and rising fast. I just grabbed the kids’ birth certificates and ran.” Ramo lost everything he owned, but he plans to stay in Scio anti find a job. "rm not going back to that house though," he said. "“It was too damp for the kids.” Communities Cut Off Dozens of communities were cut off by rising flood waters. But life went on for two women living in the dairying community of Rio Dell near the mouth of the Eel River in Northern California’s redwood empire. A bridge across the rampaging Eel collapsed two minutes after Dr. Robert Treadwell sped across it en route’to the home of Mrs. Charlotte Cowart where she gave birth to a boy. At Eureka, Calif„ helicopter pilot Lester Pierce, 57, picked up Mrs. Marie Edith Shrull in a Rio Dell school yard and carried her to a Eureka hospital. Less than an hour later she too gave birth to a boy. Pierce had the only helicopter in California’s Humboldt County last Monday when the Eel began to overflow. Then outside help began to pour in—and one of the first to arrive was Lt. Donald L. Prince and two crewmen who helped him man a Coast Guard turbo-jet helicopter. Prince's helicopter blades hardly stopped spinning- that Tuesday as the crew lifted stranded ranch - dwellers to safety under rain-swept, darkening skies. The copter, carrying a Ferndale rancher as a spotter, picked up two women and an infant late Tuesday on what was to be the last mefey flight of the day. The ’copter crashed north of Eureka, killing all aboard. Four days later another resrue helicopter — one of 20 Marine copters from the carrier Bennington — crashed in the same part of the state, killing four. Steinhoff Rises To Be Tomorrow Funeral services will be in Fort Wayne Tuesday for Friedrich (Fritz) Steinhoff. 66-year-old former Decatur resident who died Saturday at St. Joseph's hospital in that city. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Peace Lutheran church, Rev. Hartwig Schwehn officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery. Friends may call at the Chalfant-Perry-Klaehn- funeral home after 7 p.m. today until' noon Tuesday when the body will be taken- to the church. Mr Steinhoff died at 2:50 p.m. Saturday after being a patient at Sf. Joseph’s for six days. A native of Hanover Province. Germany, he came to the United States and resided in this city until 1942, at which time he moved to Fort Wayne. He was employed the past 15* years at Strataflo Products, Inc., in Fort Waynf. and worked at the Mutschler Packing Co. while residing in Decatur. A veteran of World War 11, Mr. Steinhoff was a member of the Peace Lutheran church, and preferred memorials are contributions to the church building fund. Surviving include his wife, Winoma Everett, and a sister, Mrs. Karl Bertram, of Ohlen Rode, Germany.

I HOLIDAY DEATH TOLL I M California led the nation A late slack-off kept tfie ■ H wth (Ml traffic deaths, fol- Christmas holiday traffic toll ■ Ml lowed hy Texas 37. Michigan below estimates and early H H 34. New York 34, Pennsyl- fears. ■ H vania 31, Illinois 29, and H B Ohio 25. A United Press Interna- ■ S Alaska. Hawaii. Idaho and tional count showed 587 traf- ■ K Washington had no accident- He deaths during the holiday. ■ ■ al deaths of any kind. The breakdown of all acci- n H The National Safety Conn- dental deaths: K ■ cil had predicted between ■ ■I 550 and 650 traffic fatalities Traffic 58i fl| W during the 72 hour counting . ._ S ■ period from 6p. m., Christ- *, ,rw ■ S mas Eve to midnight Sunday planes 18 ■ H local time. The record for a ■ H three-day Christmas week- Miscellaneous 67 ■ H end was set in 1955 when ■ ■ 609 died. Total 719 K

Learn To Improvise If there was one thing flood victims learned to do, it was to improvise. The Jack Rocha family had taken refuge in a barn near Ferndale and everyone had climbed into a hayloft. ‘'Then nine-month-old Jack Jr. served notice he was hungry. The family found a plastic bottle, a fellow refugee, dairyman Howard Larsen, milked one of the cows that was in the barn and the baby was fed. Man was ready for nature’s turbulence in at least one spot —Yuba City, Calif. In 1955 a dike gave way and a 10-fqot wall of water from the floodswollen Feather River surged into the city in the middle of the night. Thirty-eight persons died. Since then, the state began building the 395-foot Oroville Dam upstream from Yuba City. A number of residents left last week as the river climbed, but most went on with Christmas shopping while eyeing the strengthened levees. Jacob Koons Dies Sunday Jacob Durwood Koons, 61, of Berne, died Sunday morning in Jay county hospital after a lengthy illness. Surviving are his wife,- Jennie Mae; two sons, Norman of Decatur and Nolan'of Linn Grove; a sifter, Mrs. Paul Wellington of Battle Creek, Michigan; and seven grandchildren. A past master of the Geneva Masonic lodge, he came to Geneva in 1938 and was employed at the Dunbar furniture company in Berne. He was a member of the Geneva Methadist church. The body is at the Hardyand Hardy funeral home 'ltr—Geneva, where friends may call after 1, p.m. today. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Geneva Methodist church, with burial with Masonic rites in the West Lawn cemetery. First County WWII Volunteer Dies Joseph C. Hower, 44, of 719 Patterson St., Decatur,. Adams county’s first volunteer in World War 11, died suddenly at 11:35 a. m. Sunday in Adams county memorial hospital. A son of Carl and Ada Hakes Hower, he was born Feb. 14, 1919 in Decatur. He was married on Dec. 14, 1944 to Virginia Helblig, who survives. At the time of his death he was employed as driver for the Decatur Cab company. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the Bluffton Moose lodge. Surviving are ten children, all of whom reside at home. They are Loretta, Connie, Joseph, Karen, Roselyn, Lora, Patti, Terry, Brycella and Brice. Also surviving are three brothers, Ben, Dale and John, all of Decatur; and five sisters, Mrs. Bob Johnson of Decatur; Mrs. Irene Klinetole of Decatur; Mrs. Joe LaTurner of Decatur; Mrs. Bob Mendez of Decatur, and Mrs. Blas Mendez of Decatur. The body is at the WintereggLinn funeral home in . Decatur, where friends may call\after 7 p. m. this evening. Services will be held at the funeral home at 2 p. m. Wednesday, with the Rev. M. H. Nolin officiating. Burial will be in the Decatur cemetery, where military graveside rites will be held.