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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1946)
) V'b Stata Historical Socle, The Frontier VOLUME LXVI O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1946 NUMBER 1 I ■ - - — -» - — ————- i .. . _- _ UNSEASONAL COLD INFLICTS DAMAGE Below-Freezing Weather a Blow to Farmers and Ranchers MERCURY GOES TO 23 An unscasonal cold wave mov ing in from the northwest struck this region early Saturday and inflicted considerable damage on all classes of crops and vegeta- j tion. The mercury dropped to 23 degrees here—the lowest official reading for the day in the north half of Nebraska. The cold wave w>as accompan ied by rain, snow, sldet and wind. Leaves on trees and on tender garden vegetation turned black, and they Were frequently cover ed with ice. “Everything suffered a set back,” commented Holt County Agent A. Neal Dawes. Alfalfa was severely damaged and numerous instances were re ported where farmers were obliged ito mow their alfalfa im mediately. Blue grass suffered, but it was not headed-out gen erally, and some of it may be ex pected to recover. The greatest permanent dam age was inflicted on gardens and young trees, particularly iash, lo cust, maple and mulberry. Dawes suggested that many trees were Weakened by the freeze, and, therefore, would be more suscep tible to insects and diseases. Unofficial 20 on Niobrara The 23-degree mark was reached before 7 a. m. Saturday, according to Wealther Observer Elmer R. Bowen. THe state wea ther bureau relaijnqd the report of an unofficial 20-degree reading Saturday on the Niobrara river in eastern Boyd county. The ground here was white with snow by 8 a. m. Saturday, but the snow melted quickly, and and the mercury climbed to 43 by midday. The region was held in the grip of the cold wave throughout /the weekend. A. E. Anderson, State-Federal Agricultural Statistician, sum marized the affect on Nebraska’s wheat by saying that the freeze “'did some damage,” but added, “I wouldn’t be too pessimistic.” The week’s summary: Hi Lo Moist. May 9_ 72 47 T May 10_ 64 30 .20 Mjay 11 43 23 .04 May 12_ 62 28 Miay 13 73 41 May 14_ 75 55 May 15_ 65 35 May 16_ 62 40 Exercises to Mark Close of St. Mary’s Elementary School ’T'he term-end exercises for the elementary school of St. Mary’s Academy will be held Tuesday at 8pm in the school auditorium. Each grade will present a num ber. The program: “Skip to My Loo” and “Five Little Drums,” action songs, by kindergarten and grade one; “Wynken, Flynken and Nod,” “Lullab- e ard Goodnight” and “Little Hans,” songs, by grades two and three; “Call of the Sea,” and “My Fiddle,” vocal selections, by grade four; “The Hornpipe Dance,” by grades five and six; boys’ octette, by boys of grades seven and eight; girls orchestra, vocal by girls of grades seven and eight; “Viennese Refrain,” a French horn solo, by Kathryn Golden; “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,” instrumental duet, by Patty White and Patricia Brennan; “Mexicali Rose,” clar inet solo, by Mary Musil; “Burial of the Books,” a skit, by grade eight; awarding of honors; “Dear Old School,” by grade eight. Holt County ARC Drive Goes ‘Over the Top’ ■ Holt county’s annual American Red Cross fund-raising campaign, which began April 1st and ended Friday night, exceeded its quota again this year, netting $5,700.79, according to R. H. Shriner, coun ty ARC chairman. In reporting to state ARC headquarters, Shri ner completed his third year as the head of the Holt county chapter. The Holt drive, originally in tended to close on April 31st, was arbitrarily extended ten days. The collections by communities follow: O’Neill, $1,986.09; Atkin son, $998.14; Stuart, $903.42; Chambers, $498.84; Page, $362.00; Ewing, $325.00; Emmet, $320.00. I Methodist Flock Varnishes the Pews Twenty-five men and women parishioners of the j^Iethodist | church here gathered Tuesday! evening for a two-hour session in | the pews — with varnish and brushes. The varnishing bee was pre-! ceeded by a covered dish supper. I Rev. Ll<?yd W. Mullis, church pastor, guarantees that the varn ish will be dry by 11 a.m., Sun day. TRAINING ATTRACTS VETS Forty-four business firms have been approved in Holt and Boyd counties for on-the-job training for ex-service personnel, accord ing to Allen B. Connell, manager of the sub-office of the U. S. Em ployment Service here. These firms have provided openings for 83 veterans. - Employers interested in this program may contact Connell in the Holt county courthouse an nex. 37 TO GRADUATE AT OlILL HIGH Baccalaureate to Be Held Sunday; Commencement Next Thursday Thirty-seven seniors will be graduated from O’Neill high school at commencement exercis es in the school auditorium at 8 p.m., Thursday, May 23rd, it has been announced by Supt. Ira George. They are: Kenneth Berglund, Marie Boel ter, Joan Brady, Joann Burgess, Donna Clements, Delta Cole, Lois Cole, Wayne Harmon, Gordon Hi att, Marvin Holsclaw, Edwina Jones, Max Kipple, Imogene Lan man, Glenna Lee McClellan, Marjorie McElhaney. Jennie Beth Mellor, Naydene Murray, Iren Nekolite, Ardis Newman, Bonnie Noble, Fred Os enbaugh, Donald Persons, Eugene Porter, Polly Rickly, Luella Rohe, Shirley Schaffer, Leah June Schultz, Ilene Searles, Helen Shaw, Deraid Smith, Helen Soj ka, Wiley Vogt, Alvin Vorce, La Vone Walters, LeRoy Wert, Betty Wyant, and Mrs. F. A. Schultz. The presentation of scholarships will be made by Principal F. E. Saindon, and Dr. L. A. Burgess, president of the board of educa tion, will present the diplomas. Peterson to Speak Val Peterson, Elgin publisher, will deliver the commencement address, entitled, “What Is Educa tion?” The motto for the class of 1946 is “Esse Quod Videris”; the flow er is the red rose; and the colors are blue and white. Other events on the program include: Processional “Tannhau ser,” (Bach), by the O’Neill high school band; invocation, by Rev. Melvin Grosenbach, pastor of Holiness Chapel; saxophone solo, selected, by Donna Clements; presentation of eighth grade di plomas, by Prof Marvin Miller, eighth grade teacher; trombone solo, selected by Marjorie McEl hanoy; presentation of the class, by Principal Saindon; benediction by J. M. Cummings, pastor of the Assembly of God church; reces sional, “Tannhauser,” by the band. Sermon by Rev. Mullis At the bacalaureate services to bo held at 8 p.m., Sunday in the school auditorium, Rev. Lloyd W. Mullis, pastor of the Methodist church, will deliver the sermon entitled “Why Is Prayer a Seri ous Thing.” The program includes: Proces sional, “Pomp and Circumstance,” (Elgar), by Miss Esther Kinnier and Mrs. Elizabeth Harbottle; in vocation, by Rev. Kenneth W. Scott, pastor of the First Presby terian church; girls’ choir, “Sanc tus,” (Gaunod); Scripture reading Daniel VI, 1-10, by Rev. Scott, vocal solo, selected, by Deraid Smith; girls’ choir, “Beautiful Savior”; benediction, by Rev. Scott, recessional, “Pomp and Cir cumstance,” by Miss Kinnier and Mrs. Harbottle. Nebraska Cattlemen to Omaha June 13-15 The Nebraska Stock Growers’ Association, the official repre sentative of the state’s range cat tle industry, will meet in Omaha June 13-15. Last year’s conven tion was held in O’Neill and was described by officials as one of the most successful meetings on record. Dewey Schaffer of O’Neill is a member of the association’s executive committee. I Exit: The Old . . Enter: The New Dennis H. Cronin, editor and legislator ... he guided The Frontier for more than a half-century. Editor Cronin’s ‘Goodbye’ To The Frontier readers wherever they may be located: Goodbye. / It is with deep regret that I pen the above words. For 55 years I have been engaged in the newspaper business in this city; 54 with The Frontier. Part of this time was spent with a partner, but for the past 50 years, lacking a few months, I was alone as editor and owner. How well I have performed my duty, you—the readers— know, and it is not for me to say. But I will say that at all times I tried to be fair in news dealings and never knowingly injured anyone through the columns of The Frontier. During these years I have made many friends and some enemies, for it is impossible to be in this business without making enemies, when you publicize the shortcomings of delinquent officials or of citizens who try to take the short road to wealth by crooked transactions that finally get into the courts. Saddness in Reporting We have enjoyed our newspaper career in the empire of Holt, where we have lived most of our life. We have chron icled in the columns of The Frontier the births of many of our present leading citizens as well as the marriages of their par ents, many of whom we knew long before their marriages. One of the saddest things in the life of a newspaperman is that of recording the passing from this earthly sphere of many of the closest friends and chums of his youth. It has been our sad duty during the past eight years to record the passing of nearly all of a group of young men with whom I traveled as a young man 50 and 60 years ago. This makes us^ealize that time takes its toll. Advancing years and a shortage of competent help forced us to get out of the business. Had competent help been available we would have ended our life in the harness. That being impos sible, we sold out, and on Monday morning turned over the of fice to Carroll W. (“Cal”) Stewart, a young man just out of the service, and a Nebraska boy who was born and grew to man hood in Cedar county, Nebraska. Mr. Stewart is young and has the ability and the energy to make The Frontier one of the out standing newspapers in the state of Nebraska. Prior to the war, he was manager of The Cedar County News, rated as one of the best country newspapers in the state, and the record he made for himself there is convincing proof to me that he will give the people of Holt county a real live newspaper—one that will be a distinct credit to the city, county and state. We hope that all friends of The Frontier in the city and county will give him the same loyal support that you have given me in the years that have gone. Will 'Haunt' The Office As to the future I know not. I have been here so long that I am aware of the fact that I will be like a duck out of water for some time to come. You can’t break off the habits of a life time in hours or days, and for sometime to come I will probably be haunting The Frontier office, hoping that I won’t be a pest. In conclusion, I desire to express my sincere appreciation to the people of Holt county for their confidence in me and mine i during the past years, both politically and in business. I expect to continue to make my home in O’Neill and will be seeing you as the days roll by. You, my friends and enemies (if I have any), have my best wishes for a long life, full of prosperity and happiness, for you certainly deserve it, for no county in any state of the Union has a finer, more intelligent or loveable class of people. May God bless you all. DENNIS H. CRONIN. Rail ‘Business As Usual’ Here Despite Strikers While John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers were partially paralyzing the Na tion’s railroads with their cur rent coal strike, the railroads serving O’Neill carried on ‘‘bus iness as usual.” The “save coal” order from the Office of Defense Transpor tation didn’t apply to the Northwestern, because virtual ly all locomotives on the line are oil-burners. “We may have been indirect ly affected," reported North western Agent R. M. Sauers, “because some of our connect ing service out of Omaha east ward was reduced. All trains through O’Neill were operating on their normal schedules.” Meanwhile, the Burlington officials didn’t find it necessary to curtail the erstwhile coal burning freight train on the Sioux City-O’Neill branch, al though Burlington was obliged to take trains off other lines in the state. Burlington operates out of O’Neill on a thrice weekly schedule. Both Sauers and Burlington Agent H. A. Yocum reported that the ‘on-again-off-again’ na tional shipping embargo over the weekend hardly had time to noticeably affect shipping. GOLF TOURNEY HEREJUNE16-18 O’Neill Country Club to Revive Prewar Sport Event The O’Neill Country Club will revive its popular prewer golf tournament, which was tradition ally one of the highlights of the summer in social and sport cir cles. The tourney dates are June 16-18. Plans for the event were made at the annual meeting of the stockholders Friday night, when Dr. L. A. Burgess was elected president; E. M. Gallagher, trea surer, and F. N. Cronin, secretary. Other plans include a new roof for the club house and new t fences. It was decided to increase the dues for stockholders and as- j sociate members to $20 per year each. There would be no increase in the dues of out-of-town mem-! bers. The officials have pointed out that all citizens of O’Neill are in vited to join the club, which is a center of entertainment during the summer months. Increased activity over wartime seasons is expected this year. Ladies’ bridge parties and Sunday night dinners will again be featured. Carrol W. Stewart ... he is new to O'Neill. DENNIS H. CRONIN SELLS FRONTIER Editor and Owner for 55 Years Will Retire from Public Life (See Editorial on Page 4) Dennis H. Cronin, 76, editor and owner of The Frontier since August 13, 1896, announced this week the sale of the newspaper to Carroll W. Stewart, 28, of Hartington. Mr. Cronin, who is also a state senator, will retire from active public life. Mr. Cronin entered the news paper field in 1891 as a coeditor of The Item, which was one of four newspapers operating in O’ Neill at that time. The following year he became a part-owner of The Frontier and in 1896 he pur chased its complete ownership. Under Editor Cronin’s guidance the paper was one of the first in northeast and northcentral Ne braska to emerge from the era of typesetting by hand. A type-set ting machine was installed on January 8, 1914. The Frontier developed into one of the most widely- circulated countyseat weekly newspapers in this sec tion. Throughout the more than half a century in which he edited The SAUNDERS TO HOSPITAL , Romaine Saunders, 74, who whites “Small Doles’’ in The Frontier, entered an Omaha hospital Wednesday where he submitted to an operation in volving the removal of his left eye. This week’s “Small Doses,” written from Lincoln, may be found on page 4. Frontier, Mr. Cronin participated actively in politics. He was a Re publican member of the state House of Ri pre'sentalives for four t( ms, and he served in the state Senate for two terms. For nearly 11 years he held the post of Uni ted States marshal for Nebraska. He is currently completing a term as state senator from the 28th Unicameral legislative district, which comprises Holt, Boyd, Keya Paha and Rock counties. Frontier Begins 66th Year The sale of The Frontier marks the end of its 65th year, the new owner beginning Volume 66, Number 1. Mr. Cronin will continue to re side at his home here with his wife. He is the father of four sons and four daughters. They are: Julius D. Cronin, Francis N. Cronin, and Richard Cron in, all of O’Neill; Clinton E. Cron- j in, of Grand Island; Mrs. P. B. Hardy, of O’Neill; Miss Geraldine Cronin, of San Francisco, Calif.; and Miss Marjorie Cronin, of Santa Barbara, Calif. Stewart, who has been recently released from the Army Air Forces, was a member of The Cedar County News staff be tween 1938 and 1942, serving for a time as managing editor. He spent 40 months in the European theater. His wife, the former Margaret (“Peggy ”) O’Mara, fcerved 18 months in Europe with the American Red Cross. They re turned to the United States in December, 1945, and were mar riied at Millburn, N. J., Mrs. Stewart’s hometown, where she is now teaching. She will come to j O’Neill in June. HERE FROM CHICAGO W. J. Froelich returned to Chi cago Sunday after a visit with his family here. Heart Attack Is Fatal to Mrs. George Bowen; Burial At Chambers A heart attack Thursday night proved fatal to Mrs. George Bow-' en, 61, who died at her home 11 miles east of O’Neill. Mrs. Bowen had been in failing health in re- j cent years. Funeral services were conduct ed at 2 p. m. Monday at the Methodist church in O’Neill, with Rev. Lloyd W. Mullis, church pastor, officiating. Interment was in the Chambers cemetery. Pall bearers were Clayton Mesner, Ted McElhaney, Ned Allendorfer, Ben Peters, Art Frahm and A1 Fretton. Mrs. Bowen, formerly Laura A. Meyer, was born in Hinckley, 111., on November 9, 1885, the second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Meyer. When a young girl she moved to Nebraska with her parents, settlyig near Exeter and later moving to the O’Neill vicinity. On October 19, 1904, she was married to George Bowen. Their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. Reared Orphans In 1934 Mr. and Mrs. Bowen took Max and Maxine Bowen, orphaned twins, into their home and reared them. The twins’ father was a brother of Mr. Bow en. In 1942 Max entered the serv ice and was killed in France on November 18, 1944. Maxine, who is now Mrs. Charles Dusek, re sides in Omaha. Besides the widower and Mrs. Dusek, other survivors include five sisters, Mrs. Minnie Ross, of Hebron; Mrs. Marie Guse, of Bel videre; Mrs. Augusta Oleson, of Hinckley; Mrs. Elsie Oleson, of Big Rock, 111.; Mrs. Anna Wise, of Akron, O.; and three brothers, Edward Meyer, of Hubbell; Wil liam Meyer, of Norfolk, and Henry Meyer, of Hinckley. Two brothers preceeded her in death. Among relatives and friends from a distance attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Leonard, of Elgin; O. A. Bowen, of St. Paul, Minn.; J. A. Kindle sparker, of Akron, O.; Mrs. Char les Dusek, of Omaha; and Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Freeman, of Ne ligh. 12 Seniors Graduate at Page High School PAGE Twelve seniors, Inez J. Albright, Clara Mae Canaday, Betty L. Don, Shirley J. Finch, Lois M. Fink, Elwin E. Haynes, Glen Pochop, Donald J. Prill, Robert J. Stevens, D. M. Stuart, Terry L. Taylor and Della M. Zellars, were graduated from Page High school trt commence ment exercises Monday night. Eight graduates of the eighth grade received diplomas at the same ceremony. They were Ster ling Albrecht, Dale L. Braddock, Elizabeth Jean Christon, Ernest E. Graves, Lee Neubauer, Shirley Ann Sorensen, Carol Jean Stev ens and Joan Margaret Terrill. Val Peterson, Elgin publisher, gave the commencement address. Baccalaureate services were conducted Sunday evening with Rev. Feodor C. Kattner, Metho dist church pastor, delivering the sermon, entitled, “This Is God’s World." Academy Singers to Broadcast Friday The girls’ glee club, a boys’ qu.rtettc, and a girls’ trio rep resenting St. Mary’s Academy will be heard on radio station WJAG, Norfolk, at 4 p. m. Fri day. A 30-minute program is planned. GO TO EASTERN STAR MEET Three O’Neill ladies were in attendance at the opening session of meetings of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Omaha Tuesday night. They were Mrs. R. H. Shriner, worthy matron of the O’Neill OES chap ter, Mrs. John Osenbaugh, and Mrs. Seth Noble. The meetings, attended by lodge representatives from 12 states, close tonight (Thursday). TWO YOUTHS ENLIST Two O’Neill youths, Verdel S. Green, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Green, and Wayne R. Clark, 17, have enlisted recently in the U. S. Army. Clark enlist ed for three years in the air corps. DRIVERS' EXAMS SATURDAY A state highway patrolman will be at the Holt county courthouse here Saturday to conduct drivers’ examinations between 1 and 4 p.m. DELEGATION TO BASIN MEETING 9-County Niobrara River Development Group Is Formed GEN. PICK SPEAKS A delegation from the O’Neill Chamber of Commerce, headed by Mayor Frank J. Dishner and President C. E. Lundgren, partic ipated in the organizational meet ing of the Niobrara River Basin Development Association at Ains worth Monday. The meeting, held in the Ainsworth city auditorium, was attended by 150 leader-dele gates from 45 cities and towns, representing seven Nebraska and two South Dakota counties. The purpose of the newly formed association is to promote coordinated development of flood control, irrigation, hydroelectric power, soil conservation, and wildlife and recreation benefits. Included in the O’Neill dele gation were Julius D. Cronin, James Rooney, Tony Asimus, Robert Armbru^ter, Dr. L. A. Carter, Leo P. Moore, C. J. Gatz, Lloyd Collins, H. L. Limdberg, Neal Dawes, Lorenz Bredemeier, Harry Ressel, and James Cor— kle. * Hear Governors Highlight of the session was a talk by Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Pick, the Missouri river division engin eer. He discussed the long-range plans and possibilities for devel oping the Missouri river under the Pick-Sloan plan. The Nio brara, one of the Missouri’s most important tributaries, could be harnessed along similar lines, he explained. Other speakers includ ed Gov. Dwight Griswold of Ne braska and Gov. M. Q. Sharpe of South Dakota, both of whom were enthusiastic over Niobrara devel opment. Gen. Pick and the two governors shared the opinion that considerable time and concentrat ed effort would be required to j get action. John Forsyth, of Niobrara, was I temporary chairman of the Ains worth gathering. He told the del | egates that there are 800,000 ir rigable acres in the 400-mile-long Niobrara basin, according to pre liminary surveys conducted sev eral years ago by the Nebraska Department of Roads and Irriga tion. Forsyth pointed out that the Verdigre creek, a tributary of the Niobrara, has been charged with $40,000,000 worth of flood dam age during the past 40 years. Army Engineers at Work Most of the discussion was con fined to generalities, and nothing specific was brought out regard ing the extent of the development ! that may take place in Holt or | any other county. U. S. Army engineers ate now conducting further surveys and these are at 1 tracting attention of the Bureau of Reclamation. Dr. R. R. Brady, of Ainsworth, was elected president of the As sociation; Joe Leedom, of Gordon, 1 vice-president, and Paul Sehnei ' der, of Ainsworth, secretary-trea surer. An executive committee was established with three represent atives from each county. The ; committeemen from Holt and ad joining counties follow: Holt— Tony Asirnus, O’Neill, chairman; Ed Matousek, Atkinson; Lyle ierks, O’Neill. Keya Paha—H. G. Thorley, Springview, chair man; K. Duane Cook, Burton; Ross Williams. Rock—John Jam | eson, Bassett, chairman; D. H. Haller, Bassett; Amos Hart, Bas sett. Knox—G. LLhberger, Ver digre, chairman; John Forsyth, Niobrara; David Johnson, Wal jiut. Murray Mellor Is Judging Champion Murray Mellor, O’Neill youth, grabbed first place with a perfect score of 500 in a 4-H club judging contest at Valentine in connec tion with Feeders’ day activity there. Gloria Hambeck, of Spen cer, placed second with 467 points. Over 150 feeders from the Sandhills’ region witnessed the judging and studied feeder tests. 4 MORE DISCHARGES Four more discharges of Holt county service personnel have been reported during the week ending May 9th by the Selective Service office here. They are: Emil J. Prochop, of Page; Nor man J. Snyer, of O’Neill; William E. Sorensen, of Page; and Vern on J. Thielke, of Stuart.