The Frontier * ^ __^ VOLUME LXVI. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1946. ~ NUMBER 3. Personal Property Valuations Drop Assessors Find Fewer Cattle Than a Year Ago PARTIAL RETURNS A preliminary survey of per sonal property assessing, which is currently in progress in Holt county, reveals a sharp drop in valuations. Out of 25 townships where the assessing has been completed, 17 show de clines ranging from a few hun dred to 43 thousand dollars. There is little likelihood that the returns yet to be filed by 19 precincts will erase the deficit, and when the assessing has been completed there will be a notable overall drop in valuations on the tangible property in the county. However, because the county s cash reserves are in good condi tion, including 250 thousand dol lars in government bonds belong ing to the county and its subdi visions, it is probable that only a slight tax increase on personal property will be necessary when the county supervisors consider the new tax levies for county general expenses. Cattle Decrease County Assessor L. G. Gilles pie points out that “roughly three-fourths of the drop is at tributable to a decrease in the number of cattle. Some town ships,” he says, “are showing 900 fewer cattle than a year ago.” With slightly more than one / half of the precinct returns filed in the courthouse here, most of the reports to be received are from townships where there are cities and towns included. Among those not yet com pleted are Grattan Township and O’Neill City, Atkinson Township and Atkinson Town, Stuart Township and Stuart Village, Ewing Township and Ewing Vil lage, Inman Township and Inman Village, Verdigre Township and Page Village, Scott Township, and Green Valley Township. The smallest decrease in cattle in a single township tnus far is : v\J\J ncttu. Caille Valuations the Same Cattle are being valued on the same scale as in 1945: calves, 6 months-old, $10; 6-to-18-months, $35; 18-to-13-months, $45. Milk cows, $75. Stock cattle, $60. Bulls, $100. Another factor in the overall decline is brought about by re duced valuations on automobiles, tractors, combines, haybalers, refrigerators, and other similar items. These are being devalu ated nearly one-third from last year’s figure, a normal proced ure, but, with most of these items scarce, there is no means of com pensating in that category for the lossi of tax revenue. There is virtually no change in the assessed valuations of real estate, except in case where im provments have been removed or added, and where equalization between tracts is considered ne cessary. The tax levy for the county general fund has been lowered steadily during the past fou, years, dropping from 3.00 mills on the dollar in 1942 to 1.80 in 1945. The total value of tangible property in the county last year, including automobiles and other ‘special schedule’ items, was $8, 720.000. While most precincts are show ing declines in personal property valuations, at least two town ships have produced marked in creases. Holt Creek increased 204 thousand dollars over the 1945 figure, and Fairview upped its valuation more than 40 thous and dollars. The comparisons in valuations between 1945 and 1946 in the re ports of 25 assessors follow: Township. 1946 1945 Rock Falls _$141,345 $162,935 Shields _ 172,150 162,590 Sheridan __— 242,010 268,805 Deloit _ 170,385 210,960 Chambers Vill. „ 60,300 41,050 Fairview _ 426,560 385,880 Josie _ 42,280 81,380 Antelope _ 49,460 55,225 Chambers Twp. 313,685 356,495 Saratoga _ 127,395 127,930 Shamrock _ 102,115 120,240 Cleveland _ 189,680 210,500 Paddock . 206,140 170,395 Dustin _ 183,885 143,415 Pleasantview .... 107,140 101,350 Iowa 86,710 93,290 Golden .. 130,770 159,875 Coleman _ 99,520 100,620 Holt Creek_ 413,795 208,530 Emmet Twp. _ 186,590 168,825 Willowdale __ 145.860 168,280 Francis _ 227,810 239,165 Emmet Vill._ 3,715 3,350 Steel Creek _ 114,690 154,690 Sand Creek_ 200,165 217,320 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Rickley departed Wednesday to spend Memorial day at Fullerton. Cochairmen for Golf Tourney Announced M. J. Golden and A. J. Jaszko wiak.have been named cochair men for the golf tournament to | be held her June 16-18 under the sponsorship of the Country club, according to Dr. L. A. Burgess, club president. Meanwhile, the club is further ing plans for the 1946 season, which is expected to be the big gest year in its history. The sea son was formally opened at a dance Wednesday night. The club members are accept ing additional memberships and are especially anxious for out-of town memberships. POPPIES NET $177.50 The Poppy day sales netted $177.50 here, according -to Mrs. Dean Streeter, chairman of the poppy committee of the Ameri can Legion Auxiliary. The pro ceeds from Saturday’s sale are being turned over to disabled v&terans. BOWENS TO CHICAGO Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Bowen, owners of the Bowen Ben Frank lin store here, were in Chicago two days last week on business. They returned Thursday ahead of the railroad strike. CHECK FORGER PLEADS GUILTY Orval Elifritz, 30, Admits Passing 3 Faked Checks Here Orval Elifritz, 30, of Ains worth, admitted writing three checks with forged signatures in a preliminary hearing here Mon day before County Judge Louis W. Reimer. After pleading guil ty (to the complaint filed against him by County Attorney Julius D Cronin, Elifritz’ bond was posted at $1,000 and he was bound over to the district court. He recently cashed checks to taling $75 at three O’Neill firms, affixing presumably anonymous signatures to the checks. During a transaction at the Midwest Motor Company he in advertently mentioned that a cer tain motor part he required had been unavailable at the Chevro let agency in Ainsworth. Later, when the check that he had passed here developed into a bogus one, C. E. Lundgren, of the Midwest firm, contacted the Ainsworth agency and compared notes regarding customers who had been seeking .that particular part. Parts that had been purchased in O’Neill were found in Elifritz’ possession, and within a few hours he was taken into custody by the Brown county sheriff. He was immedi tely brought here by County Sheriff A B. Hubbard, and is being held. The case will not be heard in district court until after District Judge D. R. Mounts returns from a trip to Oklahoma. 4 rubhc School Teachers to School Four O’Neill public school teachers will soon begin summer school work. Superintendent Ira George and Principal F. E. Sain don will enroll at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Mr. George, however, will spend weekends here and will direct the Municipal band. Miss Alice French, a mathematics teacher, nd Miss Margaret Brown, the dramatics and English teacher, will enroll in the summer session at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Miss Teresena Denese, •the social science teacher, plans an extended trip through the East. TOMPKINS TO MEETING INMAN—Harvey A. Tompkins was a delegate to a* two-day Uni versity of Nebraska-sponsored in stitute on small community life, which was held at Lincoln Mon day through Wednesday. Tomp kins was a member of a special committee that was selected to consider, religious life of the com munity. The institute attracted representatives from communi ties under 2,500 population. Dur ing his stay in Lincoln, Tompkins met with the executive commit tee of the Nebraska Methodist confrence’s town and country commission, on which he is a lay representative. RELEASED FROM NAVY CHAMBERS—Chet Fees ar rived Saturday with a discharge from the Navy. He had been in service more than two years, most of the time spent in the Pa cific. STRIKE CURTAILS RAIL SERVICE Northwestern Manages 1 Train Per Day Despite Walkout —■— By recruiting engineers and brakemen from “supervisory jobs,” the Northwestern sus tained at least one train per day on its Om&ha-Chadron line, which serves O'Neill and north eastern and northern Nebraska, during the rail strike which vir tually paralyzed the Nation Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Last Thursday, the day the na tionwide walkout of Engineers and Trainmen went into effect, the Northwestern’s Omaha-bound No. 12 departed from Chrdron on schedule, passing through O’Neill slightly behind its 12:57 a.m. (Fri day) schedule. Next day, Satur day, the Chadron-bound No. 21 passed through O’Neill at ;bout 9 a.m., manned by an improvised crew and operating several hours behind schedule. The first train to pass through here after the strike had been set tled at 3 p.m Saturday was a westbound freight, No. 117, which went through at 9:30 p.m. Northwestern Agent R. M. Sau ers reported that the total loss of Northwestern service here in cluded one passenger and two freight trains on Friday, and one passenger and one freight on Saturday. Burlington Is Idle mere was no Burlington serv ice here either Friday or Satur day, according to Burlington Agent H. A. Yocum, who stated that the crews laid-over at Ferry. Only the engineers and brake men, who are members of the En gineers and Trainmen brother hoods, were striking. Other rail road employees, including con ductors, firemen, agents, section crews, and administrative work ers were not involved, and re ported for work as usual. By Sunday morning, normal rail service had been restored. O’Neill suffered no serious ef fects from ithe strike, but it caused innumerable inconven iences in delayed mail, freight and express service, and a num ber of passengers were stranded. Most freight that had been tied up during the shortlived walkout h d reached its destination by Tuesday. No Shortages Result The strike was a boon to bus and truck lines Exceptionally heavy truck traffic was noted on the highways, especially the transcontinental highway 20. A shortage of food might have developed if the strike had been prolonged, but there was no im mediate concern over the city’s food supply. BISHOP HUNKLER HERE MONDAY Will Confirm Class of 220 from St. Patrick’s, 30 from Emmet The Most, Rev. Bishop Hunkier, bishop of the Grand Island Cath olic diocese, will officiate at 9 a.m. Monday in a confirmation service at St. Patrick’s church here, it has been announced by Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. G. McNamara, church pastor. The confirmation class will in clude 220 from St. Patrick’s par ish and 30 from the Church of the Epiphany parish at Emmet. 11 Seniors Graduate at Inman High School INMAN—The commencement exercises at Inman high school were held Wednesday at the school auditorium. Eleven sen iors received diplomas following art address by Frank O. McIntyre, dean of Norfolk Junior college. Viola Krutz was valedictorian, and Ruthie Sholes, salutatorian. Those receiving scholarships were: Viola Krutz, state teach ers’ college scholarship; Ruthie Sholes, state church college scholarship; and Jimmie Harte, Norfolk Junior college scholar ship. Harvey Tompkins, member of the board of education, presented the diplomas to the following: Viola Krutz, Ruthie Sholes, Jim mie Harte, Rolland Hughes, Mar jorie Lines, Josephine Conger, Ruth Stevens, Vivian Stevens, Robert Geaiy, Janette Hopkins, Helma Kesenholtz. Joseph Coon, grammar room teacher, presented the eighth grade diplomas to the following: Harlen Morsback, Junior Sobot ka, Marlene Geary, Elza Kesen holtz and Deritha Smith. MARRIAGE LICENSES Lester M. Porter, 29, of Dustin, and Miss Bernice Marie Holdren, 17, of Atkinson, May 23. No April Fooling— April 1st Still the Hottest Day in 1916 In case you’ve been thinking that the weather has been warm lately, April 1st still rates as the hottest day of the ye. r. The temperature that day in O’Neill was 88. The ‘early summer’ began with a 73 in March. Then the Weather Man dished out a ‘late winter’ that sent the mercury skidding down to 23 on May 11th. The freeze was accompa nied by snow, sleet, rain and wind. The average daily high temp erature for April was 68, while the May average (for 28 days) is 66. The average minimum temp erature for April was 42.4, while the May average to date is 41 6. Total precipitation since the first of the year is 7.94-inches. A total of 1.39-inches of mois ture has been received here during the past week, accord ing to Government Observer Elmer R. Bowen. The week's summary, based on 24-hour periods ending at 8 a.m., fol lows: Hi Lo Moist. May 23 83 56 .56 May 24 69 50 .66 May 25 59 40 .17 May 26 70 44 May 27 76 53 May 28__ 74 55 May 29 78 57 MEMORIAL RITES IN CITY TODAY ' Tribute to Soldier Dead to Be Paid in Service and At Cemeteries Memorial day rites are being held here today (Thursday) as O’Neill joins the Nation in hon oring the war dead. With stores and offices closed, the day’s activity starts prompt ly at 9:30 a.m. with a parade to the public school auditorium, where a memorial service is planned. Following the service an American Legion firing squad is scheduled to fire three vol leys in a brief ceremony at the adjoining Prospect Hill and Cal vary cemtferies. No changes have been made in the program that was announced a week ago by the American Le gion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, the two organizations jointly in charge of arrange ments. Val Peterson, Elgin publisher, is scheduled to deliver the ad dress at the 10 a.m. service in the auditorium. 1 First Municipal Band Concert Saturday The summer season’s first con-1 cert by the Municipal band will ! begin at 8 p.m. Saturday at the j bandstand e:st of the Holt coun- i ty courthhouse annex building. Director Ira George has an nounced the program as follows: “Star Sp ngled Banner", Key: j march, “On the Square”, Panel la; waltz, “Alice Blue Gov n . McCarthy; selection, "Tea for | Two”, Youmans; march, “On Pa- j rade”, Goldman; vocal solo, “Rose of No Man’s Land”, sung by Mrs. | Earl W. Ralya. Selection, “American P,.trol”. Meechain; hymn, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, Bishop; march, j “Stars and Stripes Forever”, Sousa. MRS. HOUCHIN, 30, BURIED AT LINCOLN Mrs. Keith Houchin, 30, of North Platte, and a former resi dent of the O’Neill vicinity, died May 13th at North Platte. Funer al services were held at 2 p.m last Thursday at Lincoln, with burial in the Wyuka cemetery near there. Dr. Gerald Kennedy officiated. The late Mrs. Houchin, for merly Lillian B. Cederburg, is survived by the widower; one daughter, Beverly Jeanne, 6; one sister, Mrs. Harlan Elam, of Lin coln; five brothers, Vinton Ceder bOrg, of Peyton, Colo., Thomas Cederburg, of Wagner, S. D., Har ley Cederburg, of Waterloo, la , Clarence Cederburg, of Verdigre, and Marion Cederburg, of Mid dlebranch; and n stepfather, John L. Leisure, of Venus. 12 SENIORS AT CHAMBERS CHAMBERS—Twelve seniors graduated from Chambers high school May 17. They were: Delores Albers, Dwayne Bly, Dewey Brittell, Gene Cavanaugh, Richard Farrier‘ Gordon Fluckey, Donald Gibson, Gordon Harley, Harlan Koch, Marlin Rasmussen, Garold Rothchild, Larry Tange man. Prisoner Saws Way Out of County Jail; Captured MISS WINCHELL.50, ILL 6 MONTHS DIES A Daughter of the Late Ben Winchell Buried Here Wednesday A native of Holt county and a daughter of the late Ben Win chell, Miss Catherine Lou Win chell, 50, died at the family home here at 6 a.m. Monday. She had been seriously ill more than six months. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian church with Rev. Kenneth Scott, church pas tor, officiating. Burial was in Prospect Hill cemetery. The late Miss Winchell was born east of Chambers on July 7, 1895. Her mother was the for mer Cora A. Sackett, who came *o Holt county from Wisconsin. The late Miss Winehell’s father, Ben Winchell, was deputy Holt county treasurer when he died September 6, 1945. Her mother, five brothers, and four sisters survive. They are: John W. Win chell, of Seattle, Wash.; Alva B. Winchell, of Omaha; Vern H. Winchell and Orville H. Winchell, both of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. Mae Harvey, of Orchard; Mrs. Nellie Metcalfe, of Chambers; Gilbert Winchell, Mrs. Beatrice Rouse, and Mrs. Beryl Davis, all of O’Neill. The pallbearers were J. Ed Hancock, A B. Hubbard, C. W. Porter, John Harbottle, Arlo Hi att, and Ned Allendorfer. Mrs. Guy Cole, Emmet, Honored by Ak-Sar-Ben The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben of Omaha Wednesday honored 36 "good neighbors” from over the state for "unselfish and merito rious deeds performed during the past 12 months.” Mr. and Mrs. Claude H. Cana day, of Bloomfield, who turned a corn check totaling $1,030 over to UNRRA for relief purposes, topped the list. Mrs. Guy Cole, of Emmet, was among the honor ees for “service beyond the call of duty” as chairman of the wom en’s activities of the statewide salvage campaign, which brought p] udits from the War Produc tion board in Washington. Mrs. G. E. Swanson, of Wausa, was named for her work in “deliver ing a plant in bloom to virtually every home (in her community) where illness strikes.” NOXIOUS WEED PLAN DEFERRED Plan Will lie Held Up Urt I New State Law (iocs into Effect A petition to create a county wide noxious weed district was heard by the Holt county super visors in session here Tuesday, with the result that the board voted 4-to-2 to defer the creation of a weed disrict here until Janu ary 1, 1047. Reason for the de ferrment w.s because the 1945 Unicameral legislature enacted a law making weed districts mand atory in each county where there was evidence of noxious weeds. This new law will go into effect the first of the year. Fee for Services About 40 ranchers and farmers, representing both pro and con views on the proposed district, were present at the hearing. When the state law becomes ef fective, each county will appoint weed district supervisors, whose job it will be to combat noxious weeds. A fund will be provided for that purpose, the amount va rying in each county according to the needs. The landowner, whose property receives treatment, will pay a nominal fee for the serv ices. Bindweed eradication is the main objective of the proponents of the district. A group of ranchers voiced the opinion that the amount of nox ious weeds on their grazing land didn’t justify the creation of a district. RETURNS TO U. S. Clayton Rayla, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl W. Rayla, returned to the United States Tuesday after a year in the Pacific. He is a fireman first-class. He called his parents Tuesday from Ansel mo, Ore. Chinese ‘Half-Starved’, Writes O’Neill Youth The people in Tsingtoo, China, are “half - starved,” wrote George Janousek, 19, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lod Janousek. Janousek is a seaman first-class and a radioman in the Navy. “They (the natives) even come alongside our ship with their lityle boaits to get our garbage. Three of us rode all over the city in a rickshaw. The^ place is filthy and stinks ter ribly. Women come up to you holding their babies and asking for money to feed them. “I am not going on liberty anymore,” he continued, “as I have seen all that I want to see.” Atkinson Girl Wins State Merit Honors ATKINSON—Miss Jane Chace, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Chace and valedictorian of the 1946 Atkinson high school senior class, won the highest score in the examinations given by the state merit system last month. There were 959 competitors for the honor. O'NEILL SPANKS NORFOLK AGAIN Pitcher Helmer’s Timely Hitting Helps Indees Win 4-1 The O’N e i 1 1 Independents trampled the Norfolk semi-pros 4-1 Sunday at Norfolk, making it two-straight over the same op ponents. Donny Helmer, O’Neill moundsman, poked out a timely single and double that brought in three O’Neill counters, and he scored ithe fourth tally himself when Left Fielder Charley Rich ter singled. The Indees bunched six of their eight hits in twro innings. Helmer, who struckout 14 Nor folkans in a seven-inning contest here a week earlier, wron by O’ Neill 7-3, was not as effective this time, although he struckout sev en and allowed only five scat tered hits. Meanwhile, Hundt, Norfolk hurler, struckout six and yielded seven hits. A large Sabbath day crowd witnessed the event in Norfolk’s Athletic park. The boxscore: O'NEILL (4) AB H R Wolfe, cf . 4 0 0 Richter, If 4 10 McKay, ss _4 10 R. Carlson, 2d . 4 10 Tomlinson, 3d ____ 4 0 0 Pruss, c -4 11 Hbbetts, rf 4 11 Toi: ow, 1st --401 I Helmer, p __ 4 2 1 i Totals _-_36 7 4 NORFOLK (1) ABHR i C'h. ndler, ss 2 11 Finkhouse, cf 4 0 0 Hall, If _3 2 0 Gimble, 3d . 4 0* 0 Mitchell, 1st __ 4 0 0 Harrison, 2d „.. 4 2 0 Carney, if 400 Kellogg, c -400 ; Hundt, p _ 3 0 0 Totals_32 5 1 O’Neill _000 020 200—4 8 1 Norfolk _001 000 000—1 6 1 Score by innings: Undefeated St. John's, Deloit, Here Sunday The unbeaten St. John’s base ballers of Deloit will tangle with the O’Neill Independents at the public school field here Sunday. The Chambers Sun Resumes Publication The Chambers Sun, which was forced to suspend publication more than itwo years ago due to wartime causes, resumed publica tion on May 23. Editor C. E. Alderson, who served in the Navy, announced to his readers that the new Sun has been enlarged from four- to five columns in width, and that a larger press has been installed. 280 ATTEND CLASS NIGHT A crowd of 280 persons attend ed the St. Mary’s Academy sen ior class night exercises held in the public school auditorium. John J. Beha departed for his home in Omaha Sunday after a visit with his brother, W. G. Beha, and family. Schilousky Descends from Top of Courthouse with Improvised “Rope” CAUGHT IN NORFOLK A midday break from the Holt county jail, the first since the new courthouse was built in 1936, was made Sunday by Ray mond P. (“Pat”) Schilousky, 29, of Ewing, who had been under confinement since January 3. The prisoner sawed his way •through a barred window on the third (top) floor of the court house, presumably by using a knife which he had converted into a filing device. He dropped to the roof of the second floor, and descended to the ground with use of a mat tress cover which he had cut in to strips and knotted the strips. No witness reported seeing the bold daylight escape. County Sheriff A. B. Hubbard and Deputy Sheriff John Lans worth were in the courthouse at the time of the break, but they were not in the cell section, which occupies the top floor. Occurs At Noon Hubbard said that the break occurred between 12:25 and 12:30 p.m. Lansworth went off duty at 2 p.m. and when Sheriff Hub bard went to the cell block he discovered what had happened. Orval Elifritz, of Ainsworth, an other prisoner, told Hubbard that he was asleep during the affair, and knew none of the details. The cells in the jail are gener ally regarded as escape-proof and are of the latest barred-window type. Schilousky had been the only prisoner until three days before, and it is believed that he had been making preparations for the break for sometime. He made his exit at ai time when one of the narrow-paned windows was open. After sawing, he had a clearance of about 13 inches. Schilousky had been held af ter having been committed to the Norfolk state hospital. Hubbard sponsored a radio broadcast for the escapee, and Tuesday Schilousky wras taken into custody by Norfolk police, who turned him over to state hospital authorities. Mrs. Bernard J.Matthews New Head of St. Mary’s Alumni Group in Omaha Mrs. Bern: rd J. Matthews was elected president of the Omaha chapter of St. Mary’s Academy Alumni at the annual election of oficers held in conjunction with ( a dinner at 6 p.m., Sunday in the Paxton hotel in Omaha. Mrs. W. P. Wagner was named vice-presi dent; Mrs. Joseph Schwadte, sec retary, md Mrs. Thomas Regan, treasurer. Heading the program was an address by Rev. Daniel Brick, who is a former assist nt pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic church in O’Neill. Rev F. R. Price, a former O’Neill resident and son of M" and Mrs. E. G. Price of near here, was the to stmaster. Vocal selections were presented by Marv Fitzsimmons Massie; a duet was sung by Miss Madge Matthews and J ck Davis, and “Home A''ain," a paper, was of fered by John Robert Gallagher. The Omaha ch pter will spon sor a picnic in Benson park, Oma | ha, on Sunday, June 9, to be at tended by all former residents of O’Neill now living in Omah ?. A basket supper will be held in the park pavilion. Marvin Holsclaw Wins Regent’s Scholarship Marvin Holsclaw won the re gent’s scholarship to the Univer sity of Nebraska at O’Neill high school this ye t, with Gordon Hiatt chosen as the alternate. They were among the- 37 seniors receiving diplomas at the com mencement exe reises Thursday night Ilene Searles w s awarded the state (teachers’ college scholar ship, and the state church school award went to Joan Brady. Jen nie Beth Mellor w'on the Norfolk Junior college award. The scholarships were present \ ed by Principal F. E. Saindon. Dr. L. A. Burgess, president of the board of educ tion, presented the diplomas. Val Peterson, El gin publisher, delivered the com mencement address. He admon ished the graduates to “learn to evaluate between true and false,’* and he pointed out that a formal education as such was not suffi cient. He said that too frequent ly persons with college educa tions gave no evidence of it ten years after graduation.