J I
* PAGES — 2 SECTIONS SECTION I — PAGES I -8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
North-Neb'raska’s Fastest-Growing Newspaper
7 jLUME 69^NUMBER 32 0'NEU.L, NEBR., THURSDAY. DECEMBER IS, 1949 PRICE—7 CENTS
C MAN WINTER
; '.TRIKES REGION
\ i -
aeJ th. in Changes Course and
girl City Escapes Brunt
Of Attack
an —i —
N« )ld Man Winter cloaked the
, ion with snow and dealt frig
I11 temperatures this week as
TV cial readings varied from a
v ;h of 35 on Saturday to a
v reading of 1 below recorded
rly Wednesday.
tTie season’s first snowfall
i,3 Thursday when O’Neill
.surrounding area received
moisture. Friday afternoon
sun broke through and by
turday afternoon virtually
of the first snowfall had
appeared.
Warm rains fell most of Sat
% day night. Temperatures fell
oidly. At approximately 1ft:
Sunday morning snow be
ll to fall again. By mid-after
in visibility was cut to a
ty block and .18 of an inch
‘ snow was recorded.
The snow was borne by a
rong wind from the Norih
ist. Gordon Harper, mana
ir of the O'Neill airport, es
ibmatid velocity of gusts up
45-nr lles-per-hour.
>nowfall in O’Neill was esti
ted it about three inches in
pth.
The fury of the Sunday storm
as only mildy reminiscent of
krear ago. In other sections of
l* Midwest the storm was more
yero and caused considerably
• re hardship.
I’adios and newspapers had
ned that a severe Winter
a was heading this way out
Wyoming and Montana, but
, torm changed its course and
vied Northeasterly across
n Dakota and Northern Min
ta
rhe scare sent many Christ
' as shoppers scurrying from
■ieiU—most folks playing
the cautious side because
last Winter's ordeal.
le early - Winter storm
■ nday hit all parts of Holt
iinfv cimiiltsnoniielv
•m of the Winter season hit
day about mid - mo, ning.
rers and ranchers ar_ bet
prepared for the , Revere
ither .than a year age.
illetins from the 1 Amelia
munity said the. .Sunday
n was accompanied by high
is and a light fall to snow.
Jay morning the pun broke
ugh but the ter peratures
.tred close to zero
ie Celia community parallel
the high winds and light
munity. Temperatures dip
to below zero there Sunday
s'r report from the Amelia
ht and Monday it was clear
* cold. *
/anwhile, the Saturday
* in addition to the Thurs
j December 8, snowfall, aid
“ the rye and wheat crops
rey went into the Winter
, n.
•ause of the unusually
Fall season most observ
Y Continued orp^page 8)
Sentence, Fine
or Norfolk Man
H. Hood, 39, of Nor
vas fined $50 and costs,
driver’s license suspend
year and was sentenced
in jail ,by Justice of
ace H. W. Tomlinson here
Hood pleaded
to a charge of “operating
or vehicle while under the
nee of i ntoxicating liq
charge, filed by State
Patrolman Fay Robe
grew out of an accident
i-ccured Tuesday morning.
5, on the curve of
20 in West O’Neill.
passenger in the Hood
Clyde Landis, of Winner,
D.. was given a $10 sus
fine by Tomlinson.
accident involved a truck
Don Rosenbach, 20,
Rossenbach was
into O’Neill with a
of cattle on the way to
City.
Hood car was Westbound
O’Neill when the accident
irred.
>d On Reckless
•ing Count—
th Gish, of Kansas City,
. was fined $10 and costs
iday, by Justice of the
,ce H. W. Tomlinson after
pleaded guilty to a reek
driving charge. The charge
s filed by State Highway
j rolman Fay Robeson. Gish
\ s taken into custody Satur
i v night after he was in
volved in a minor accident in i
S.uthwest O’Neill. I
Dealh struck twice near here late Saturday. Two Holt county
men. whose bodies are strewn on the highway, perished in a
car-truck collision. At left is body of Clarence P. Stevens; right
body of Robert C. Heck. Upper left inset shows front view of
demolished 1936 model car. (See story at right.)—The Frontier
Photo.
Chamber Sponsors
Lighting Contest
A
$10 To Be Awarded for
Best Residential
Yule Dress
Many homes in the city are
resplendant with gay yule dec
orations in competition for the
honor of being O’Neill’s best
dressed residence.
The Chamber of Commerce
I has posted a $10 prize for first
place winner, and $5 to the run
nerup.
Contest will remain open un
til December 23 and out-of-town
judges will be used.
Details of the contest were
announced Tuesday at a noon
meeting of the Chamber.
Special store hours for mem
ber firms were adopted. Stores
will remain open until 9 p. m.
on Thursday and Friday, De
cember 22 and 23, for conven
ience of 11th hour shoppers.
Doors will close at 5:30 p. m. on
Christmas eve and New Year’s
ve in order that downtown
workers will have an opportun
ty to spend those evenings with
„heir families.
Hence, the stores will be
closed on Saturday evenings.
December 24 and December
31. In addition, the stores will
remain closed all day Monday.
December 26, and Monday.
January 2.
A. P. Jaszkowiak and M. J.
Golden were appointed as a
committee to investigate possi
bilities for an athletic banquet
in the Spring to recognize prep
athletes in the O’Neill schools
and possibly a number of other
nearby schools.
Ed Wilson gave a report on
the yule lighting program.
Workmen Saturday erected
multi-colored lights at the
Fourth and Douglas sheet in
Tractor Upset
Kills Boyd Man
LYNCH — Emil Milacek was
killed Saturday, December 10,
when the tractor he was driv
ing with a load of corn at
tached, overturned. The ac
cident oocured on the William
Mu hair farm Northeast of
Lynch.
When Mr. Milacek failed to
return home from work, his
son went to investigate. He
was unable to free the body
and was obliged to go for help.
Mr. Milacek has farmed near
Lynch for several years.
Survivors include: widow;
daughters—Mrs. Rollin Hiatt,
and Mrs. Dan Chambers; son
—Glen Milacek, all of Lynch
section and at two other
points. Two more strings of
lights are yet to be raised.
M. E. Jacobson reported to
the Chamber that the recent
fund-raising for Boy Scoiits net
ted over $1,300 In the commu
nity of O’Neill. The quota for all
of Holt and Boyd counties (in
which there are only two other
troops) was $1,800, he said. The
Chamber helps sponsor Scout
ing here.
Secretary James W. Rooney
reported that 70 firms and in
dividuals have joined the
Chamber for 1950. He pointed
out that more than two hundred
firms are eligible.
The Chambers hopes for
150 memberships for next
year. The Chamber is operat
ing under an expanded bud
get, President Melv,’n Ruzicka
pointed out.
It was voted to present tro
phies to winners in the annual
Spring shows sponsored by the
Holt County Hereford Breed
ers’ association and the Holt
County Aberdeen-Angus Breed
ers’ association. It was decided
to provide a traveling trophy
that could be retained aiter it
had been copped three times.
President Ruzicka presided at
the luncheon meeting held m
Slat’s cafe. Thirty were present.
AIR FORCE MAN
DIES IN CRASH
ORCHARD—Funeral services
were held here Monday for
S/Sgt. Conrad Liebsack, 49, of
the air force. Burial was in the
Orchard cemetery.
Sergeant Liebsack died in the
crash of an air force fighter
plane Thursday night, Decem
ber 7, 12 miles East of Ardmore,
Okla. He was a mechanic. The
plane was listed as being from
the Bengstrom air force base at
Austin, Tex. Officials there said
the plane was on a return trip
from Lincoln.
On the trip to Lincoln, the
family reported, Sergeant Lieb
sack and his pilot flew here to
visit Liebsack’s family just pri
or to (he time they started their
return trip to Texas.
A resident of Orchard for ma
ny years and widely-known in
this area, the late Sergeant
Liebsack was stationed at the
former Kearney air force base
two years before his transfer to j
the Texas base. An army career
man, Liebsack had served over- j
seas in Japan and Germany.
Survivors include: Widow, of.
Orchard; sons — Richard and
Donald; daughter—Marie; par-,
ents, of Grand Island.
PAGE COUPLE
WED 56 YEARS
Williamsons Say Vows
December 6, 1893, at
Platte, S. D.
PAGE—Mr. and Mrs. William
Williamson observed their 56th
wedding anniversary Tuesday,
December 6, at their home in
Page.
Guests were Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Snyder, Mr. and Mrs.
Sam Coover, Mr. and Mrs. Lar
bee Kelly and Mr. and Mrs.
Munson Stewart.
William F. Williamson and
Celestine Elizabeth Leedom
were married December 6, 1893,
near Platte, S. D. There they
spent the first years of their
married life. In 1912 they mov
'd to California.
After three years there they
ame to Page and lived on a
aim until a few years ago they
moved to Page.
They have two daughters:
Mrs. I. O. Wood, of Page, and
Mrs. C. P. Leach, of Bellingham,
Wash.; four sons—William L.,
u aonoma, Calif.; Joe, of Hazel
ion, Ida.; Lynn, of La Grand,
_ire„ and Harold, of O’Neill.
Santa Claus Is
Coining to Town
—
Jolly Ol’ Santa Claus will
be in town with bells on come
Saturday, December 17 •
He has sent word via radio
that he’ll arrive at the O’Neill
airport, probably via superson
ic jet aircraft, shortly after
2 o’clock and will reach the
O’Neill public school at 2:30
p. m.
The Chamber of Commerce
is helping Santa with arrange
ments and there will be gifts
of goodies for the youngsters.
Santa said he hopes to see at
'east 1,200 children in O’Neill.
He will be met at the airport
by Fire Chief G. E. Miles and
a big fire truck.
District 8 and 67 To
Hold Christmas Party—
Holt county school districts
8 and 67 will present a Christ
mas program and box social
Thursday, December 22. The
program will begin at 8 p m. at
the district 8 schoolhouse. The
program is under co-direction of
Dorothy Culhans and Arllys
Wayman. Both teachers invite
parents and students to attend.
DIES IN CHADRON
ORCHARD— Burial services
were held here Saturday for
Herman Link, 55, who died
Wednesday, December 7, at
Chadron Survivors include:
Widow; one daughter in Calif
ornia, and one son at home.
Crash Victim
CLARENCE P. STEVENS
(Photo of Robert C. Heck,
other fatality, was not avail- j
able.)
RURAL INSTITUTE ;
GETS UNDERWAY
One-Day Event Is Being
Held at Methodist
Church Here
The rural life institute will
convene today (Thursday) at 10
a.m., at the O’Neill Methodist
church, according to Rev. V. R.
Bell, host pastor.
Rev. E. E. Jackman, district
superintendent of the Norfolk
district, will deliver the worship
message “The Bible in Rural
Life.”
In addition to church speak
ers. Robert Hill, of the '
Holt soil conservation ser- |
vice, A. Neil Dawes. Holt
county agent, and F. J. Case,
extension economist in farm
management of the University
of Nebraska college of agricul
ture, will address the group.
The highlight of the program i
will come in the form of a pan
el discussion on “What Is the
Church Doing and What Can It
Do to Establish Christian Fam
ily Life in Rural Communities.”
Besides Chase and Dawes,
Harvey Tompkins, an Inman
farmer, Rev. Ralph Gerber, of
the O’Neill Presbyterian church,
Rev. Rav Magnuson, of Lin
coln, and J. O. Walker, of O’
Neill, will participate.
The rural life institute is
jointly sponsored by the town
and county commission of the
Nebraska annual conference and
the agriculture extension ser
vice of the University of Ne
braska.
Reverend Bell urges both rur
al and town folks to attend the
institute.
Give The Frontier for Xmas!
Gift cards will be sent. t
Highway Crash
Claims 2 Lives
Robert C. Heck, 61, and Clarence P. Stevens,
41, Meet Instant Death Near Here
(By a Staff Writer)
Two men are dead as the result of an auto-truck collision
about 9 p.m. Saturday at a point 6 miles East of here on highways
20-275.
Dead are:
ROBERT C. HECK. 61, of Inman.
CLARENCE P. STEVENS. 41. of Page.
Heck and Stevens were riding in a 1936 model sedan being
driven by George Strong, 25, of Inman, Their machine collided
with a truck being driven by Clarence Hansen, of Chambers. The
truck was owned by Floyd Dye, of Ewing.
Heck and Stevens are believed to have died almost instantly.
Stevens is believed to have been riding in the rear seat. At the
time of the impact his body was sent through the windshield. His
neck was almost severed. Heck’s head was crushed and morticians
said his nose was broken and he received a gash from beneath his
nose up the left side of his face. His left leg and arm were frac
tured.
JACKSON PRIEST
COMES TO O’NEILL
Very Rev. O’Sullivan Is
Msgr. McNamara’s
Successor
Very Rev. Timothy O’Sulli
van, of Jackson, has been ap
pointed successor to the late
Rt. Rev. J. G. McNamara, as
pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic
church in O’Neill.
Appointment was announced
in Omaha last Thursday by
Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan,
head of the Omaha diocese. Fa
ther O’Sullivan’s change will
become effective Saturday, De
cember 17. He will arrive here
about 1 p. m.
As St. Patrick’s pastor he will
also hold the title of dean of the
O’Neill deanery. Rev. C. J. Wer
ner will continue as assistant.
Monsignor McNamara died
last month. He had been in O’
Neill since 1934.
Father O'Sullivan, now in
his sixties, was born in tho
village of Sneem, County Ca
rey, Ireland. After complet
ing his elementary education
in Ireland he entered the Uni
versity of Insbruck at Ins
bruck, Austria.
World War I broke out in
Europe while he was on leave
in Ireland, and he was unable
to resume at Insbruck. He
completed his theological train
ing in Ireland and was ordain
ed thero in June, 1915.
In October of the same year
he came to America and was
assigned as on assistant priest
at St. Cecelia’s cathedral in Om
aha. After three years there he
went to North Bend on a tempo
rary six-months basis, and in
October, 1918, he was given his
first full pastorate when he was
assigned to Tilden where he re
mained until March, 1935.
On March 23, 1945, he began
his work at Jackson, which in
cluded being dean of the Jack
son deanery and one of the as
sistants to the archbishop.
Since coming to America
Father O'Sullivan has made
three trips to Europe. In 1920
he was visiting his native
land and was stranded be
cause of the Anglo-Irish dif
ficulties.
In 1930 he made an extended
tour of Europe and gained an
audience with Pope Pius XI in
Vatican City. Two years ago
he went to Ireland and for hts
third visit in 34 years.
Father O’Sullivan has two
brothers living in Chicago, in.
L. G. Gillespie’s
Sister Expires
Mrs. John Dullaham, 60, a
native O’Neiliite will be bur
ied at 2 p m. Friday at Cas
per, Wyo. She died early this
week in Casper. ...
The late Mrs. Dullahan is
the former Ruth Gil espre,
daughter of the late Mr. and
Mrs. B. S. Gillespie, a pioneer
Holt county couple. She went
through the eighth grade in
the O’Nei l schools and gradu
ited from Rushville high school.
Fhe family had moved to Rush
ville in 1905.
Survivors include: Widower,
son—Jack; brothers — L. G.
Gillespie, of O’Neill, _ and
Frank of California; sisters—
Mrs. George Whitney, of Ains
worth, and Mrs. H. O. Jack
son, of Los Angeles Calif.
L. G. Gillespie left O Neill
early today (Thursday) to at
tend the funeral rites.
WJAG ... 780 on yoor dial!
. The driver ot the m-iaiea
car, Strong, was taken to the
O’Neill hospital in a Biglin
Bros, ambulance. He suffered
a badly fractured leg, chin lac
erations and bruises.
The accident occurred during
a freakish Winter rain. Visibil
ity may have been somewhat re
duced due to the cold rain
which preceeded snow.
These fatalities boosted Holt
county’s highway death toll to
eight for 1949. Holt now has
had three times as many fatal
ities on the highways as any
other county in the 19-county
Northeastern Nebraska safety
patrol district.
Monday afternoon a coroner'*
jury found that the car in which
Heck and Stevens met their
death was being “operated un
lawfully,” according to Holt
County Attorney William W.
Griffin. Griffin said the driver
of the truck was exonerated.
Griffin indicated at the close
of the inquest Monday that
he would file charge* again*!
the driver of the passenger ve
hicle involved in the accident.
However, up until late Wed
nesday afternoon charges had
not been filed. The driver of the
passenger vehicle, Strong, was
transferred from the O’Neill
hospital to a Lincoln hospital
Monday.
In an interview with investi
gating authorities shortly after
the accident, it was termed a
partial headon collision. The
passenger car was Eastbound
and the truck was Westbound.
Here is how State Highway
Patrolman Fay Robeson recon
structed the accident:
Mr. atevens was sitting in
the back. seat of the passenger
car between the driver and
Heck, the other passenger. When
two vehicles met Stevens
j wai Muled through the wind
shield headfirst, killing him in
siantiy. The car swerved three
quarters of the way around and
uirew Heck out onto the pave
ment.”
The Strong car ended up tn
the middle of the road. The
truck was off in the North ditch
part way into a field about 25
to 30 yards from where the car
finally stopped.”
The motor of the car was torn
out and the front end demol
ished. Damage to the truck was
negligible.
Heck Riles
Held at Inman—
Military funeral rites for Mr.
Heck were held in the Method
ist church at Inman. He was a
veteran of World War I. Rev.
Roy M. Wingate officiated and
burial was in the Inman ceme
tery.
Members of Simonson post 93
of the American Legion, of O’
Neill, served as pallbearers.
They formed a firing squad and
a color guard.
Pallbearers were A. B. Hub
bard, Ira H. Moss, Tim Harring
ton, Matthew Hynes, Archie
Bowen and A1 Strube. Taps
were sounded by Bugler Roy D.
Johnson. Post members forming
the firing squad, under the com
mand of Emmet Carr, were:
Dorrance Crabb, Hugh Benson,
Dercy Abart, Richard Cole,
Robert Lowery, Ben Oetter,
Clinton Wolf and James Lyons.
Colorbearers were Gordon O.
Harper and John Grutsch and
Edward Flood and Virgil Barger
served as color guards.
The late Mr. Heck was born
in Clearwater April 24. 1888,
and he had lived there most
of his life. He came to Holt
county in September. For a
time he lived at Neligh.
Following his discharge from
the armed forces after WW1,
he married Martha Kuckku, of
Stanton, and to them five chil
dren were born.
Mr. Heck was a member of
Simonson post 93 of the Ameri
can Legion at O’Neill. ,
Survivors include: Widow;
sons — Kenneth, of West Wor
wick, R. I.; Raymond, of Inman,
| and Delmont, serving in thn
1 (Continued on page 8)
f