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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1954)
o . ' O ”Voic* ol Th* F ronti«T~ ■ North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper Volume 74.—Number 18. O’Neill, Nebr., Thursday, September 2, 1954. Seven Cents / hist soc 10- to 14- Inch Deluge Hits Celia Community Christensen Rites Held Wednesday Retired Farmer Dies at Omaha EWING—Niels C. Christensen, 77, longtime resident of the Ew ing community, died Saturday, August 28, in an Omaha hospital. He became seriously ill in July and went to South Sioux City to be near his son, Percy, and later was transferred to the hospital. Funeral services were conduct ed Wednesday afternoon, Sep tember 1, from the Methodist church in Ewing. Rev. W. J. Bomer, pastor of the United Presbyterian church, officiated and burial was in the Ewing cem etery. The late Mr, Christensen was barn April 24. 1877. at Perth Amboy. N.J.. a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nels C. Christensen. As a child he came with his parents to Blair. On February 28, 1898, he mar ried Miss Lydia Kinsey at Blair. The couple moved onto a farm near Ewing where they became the parents of five children—two “of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Christensen died May 27, 1935. Survivors inclue: Sons— Per cy of South Sioux City and Har old C. of Omaha; daughter—Mrs. Helen Sholes of Buhl, Ida.; broth ers—Walter of Park City, Utah, and Andrew of Casper. Wyo.; sisters — Mrs. Anna Deaver of Omaha and Mrs. Emery Epling of Casper, Wyo.; eight grandchil dren and 12 great-grandchildren. 3 Public Sales Are Scheduled Three public farm auctions are listed on The Frontier’s sale calendar. Wednesday, September 8: Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Whiting, v/ho re side 22M> miles south of O’Neill on U.S. highway 281, will offer 43 head of cattle, farm machin ery and equipment and some household goods. Feature of the sale will be he disposal of dairy cattle. Col. Ed Thorin of O’Neill, auctioneer; Chambers State bank, clerk. (See advertisement on page 8.) Friday, September 10: Floyd Crawford, who resides four miles east of the Midway store, two miles north, two miles east and one mile north, will offer his 640-acre ranch, 50 head of cattle, ranch machinery and some household goods. Sale will be conducted by Thorin-Bowker Auction Service of O’Neill; Col Ed Thorin, auctioneer; Bill Bow ker, clerk. (Consult advertise ment on page 11.) Wednesday, September 15: Henry W. Durre, who lives 16 miles south of O’Neill, will offer 64 head of cattle, including both milk cows and stock cattle; also farm and ranch machinery and some household goods; Col. Ed Thorin of O’Neill, auctioneer; Chambers State bank, clerk. (See advertisement in next issue.) Mr. and Mrs. Crawford plan to retire. Mr. Crawford, who will be 79-years-old this month, has spent his entire lifetime within a three-mile radus of his place. He vividly recalls many events in the early his tory of northern Holt county. He tells the story about an In dian scare in which a “Paul Re vere” raced through the coun tryside warning setlers of ap proaching Indians. The redskins never came, he remembers, and the people who gathered at a farm home spent the evening dancing and rejoic ing. He recalls having made the trip to Scottville to see a famous outlaw, Kid Wade, who was be ing held pending arrival of au thorities. A few days later Wade was hanged on the crossarm of a telegraph pole near Bassett. Mr. Crawford is reluctantly selling his place, but reckons it's about time to move out and let • some younger man take over. 3 Cattle Killed by Lightning CLEARWATER— Three head of cattle belonging to Emery Carey, farmer living north of Clearwater, were killed Sunday morning when struck by light ning dumg a rainstorm. Mrs. Harold Kelly Named Custodian— PAGE—Mrs. Harold Kelly has been chosen custodian at the Burlington depot here. The for mer rail agent, William Howell, has been transferred to Plain view. The depot wll be open two hours daily. NAMED CHAIRMAN It has been announced by Jo seph L. McCarville, jr., president of the Holt County Tuberculosis association, that Mrs. A. W. Car roll will be Holt county Christ mas seal chairman for 1954. Returning to Texas— Mrs. Ted Kenny arid children of Houston, Tex., have been visit mgfor 2 Vi weeks with Mr. and Mrs. AJva Marcellus. Mr. Kenny arrived Monday and the family will return to Texas on Friday. Returns to O'Neill— Robert Wheeler returned home Monday after visiting for four days at the Robert and Doyle Kel ler homes in Beemer. Hailstones Large as Golf Balls Reported; Joe Hendricks Dazed A narrow east and west belt south of the Niobrara river was struck Thursday night by a cloudburst. And varying reports of the amount of rain falling have reached The Frontier. The Frontier’s Celia correspond ent, Mrs. O. A. Hammerberg, quoted the Mark and Joe Hend ricks families and the Emil Col fack family in reporting 10 to 14 inches of ram between 8 and 10:30 o’clock that evening. Mrs. Emil Colfack said wash tubs in the front yard were ov erflowing with water from the deluge. Atkinson and O’Neill received none of the rain. At a point 10 miles north of Atkinson only three inches of rain fell. However, 15 miles north of Atkinson, in the Hendricks and Colfack vicinities, a 10-inch rainfall was reported on sever al different farms. Spencer reported about five inches. Bristow and Butte had lesser amounts. Joe Hendricks, who lives in the hard-hit Celia neighborhood, was stunned during that storm when lightning struck the telephone line. A bolt of lightning shot through the telephone transmit ter and raced across the room to a refrigerator door. The bolt of lightning was so intense a hole was burned in the metal refrig erator door. Mr. Hendricks is recovering from the ordeal okay. He was hurled from a chair on which he was sitting. Corrals, fences, chutes and gar dens were damaged in Celia community by the almost unpre cedented downpour. Hail stones as large as golf balls were re ported. Hay which had not been V.U* TV UO L U1X1V.U. At the Mark Hendricks farm the hail pounded a hole into the roof and water came rushing into the house» Both halves of a 30-gallon oil drum, which had been cut in two, were overflowing at the Mark Hendricks place. Water was still flowing in the barn yard the following day. A twister tore tops out of trees at the Mark Hendricks place and several cats were drowned. At the Clarence Focken farm, a machine shed which was about to be shingled was wrecked by the wind. Chickens there were taken to the basement of the house for safety. Paul P'ocken saw his 4-H club garden project ruined bv the deluge. At the Marvin Focken place only three inches of rain was received, and one mile south of there only a sprinkle was report ed. Cornstalks were stripped at the LeRoy Hoffman place. Mrs. Hammerberg said it was the worst storm of its kind in her memory'. Many miles of fences will have to be repaired. Rubbish on the hay meadows has been deposited in “three-foot drifts” and occasionally up to six feet high in trees. Many trees were split from top-to-bot tom under the pressure. A tiny creek running between the Mark Hendricks and Stan ley Johnson places showed evi dence of having accomodated water 14 feet deep. McEIhaneys Unhurt as Car Overturns Mr. and Mrs. Ted McElhaney and daughter, Jeannine, 13, es caped injury Friday afternoon about 5 o’clock when their home ward bound car was struck in the rear by a machine driven by Ward Sanders of Ogallala. The accident occurred on West Dodge street east of Boys Town near Omaha. The McElhaney car overturned and landed on its top, badly damaged. Mrs. Sanders, who was riding with her husband, was injured when her head hit the windshield of their car. New Postmaster Takes Office T_TT TMT __ ._. ■» , < . . _ xx« xx. xvxv/oo vacaicu tu ugiu; late lucsuay was sworn in as O’Neill’s new postmaster, suc ceeding Mrs. Helen Sullivan who has been act ing postmaster since December 18, 1952. Harold Weier (standing at left), assistant postmaser, iooks on. u. acnoep of Norfolk (also stand ing), district inspector for the postal service, officially installed Mr. Moss and relieved Mrs. Sullivan.—The Frontier Photo, Commission to Inspect Proposed 281 Routes Cole, Gallagher Named Party Heads Demos Pick Candidate for Court Clerk Holt county republicans and democrats held their traditional post - primary conventions here last Thursday. Both parties gain ed new county chairmen and, except for the democrats naming a candidate for clerk of the dis trict court, business transacted was strictly routine. The republicans, meeting in the courthouse basement, named Mrs. Guy Cole of Emmet as new county chairman, succeeding William W. Griffin of O’Neill, who had held the post seven years. Kenneth Adams of Cham bers was elected vice-chairman, aijd F. J. Brady of Atkinson was named secretary-treasurer. The democrats named John R. Gallagher of O’Neill their new Holt chairman, succeeding John Sullivan, who had held the post about six years. Lloyd Cork of Page was elected secretary-treas urer. The demos convened in the Knights of Columbus hall. The democrats nominated Mrs. Don (Dorothy) Enright of O’Neill as their candidate for clerk of the district court in the general elec tion in November. The demo slot was vacant on the primary ballot. She will oppose Howard Manson of O’Neill, who won the repub lican nomination. Manson pres ently is filling the post by ap pointment. Democratic delegates to the state convention will be Galla gher, Cork, Francis D. Lee of Atkinson, Fred Mack of Atkin son, John Tushla of Atkinson and Gerry Lamason of Page. 8 Volunteer for Service Thru Draft Eight Holt county young men departed from O’Neill Wednesday ior military service, volun teering through the selective ser vice system. They include: John H. Osborne of Atkinson; James E. Fritton of Emmet; Larry J. Krysl, Willis J. Berry and Rich ard E. White, all of Stuart; Mich ael E. London, jr., Robert C. Hynes and Vernon Wayne Dono hoe, all of O’Neill. Mrs. W. H. Harty, chief clerk of the draft board, said she had en ough volunteers already to fill the October quota. Meanwhile, the following recent enlistments rave been announced by Sfc. James R. Lyons of the O’Neill Army recruting station: Robert E. Mullen of O’Neill, quartermaster corps; David L. Phipps of Atkinson, army airplane school; Robert N. (Nissen of Elgin, engineer corps; Glenn A. Baum gartner of Atkinson, engineer corps, and Robert G. Horst of Fairfax, S. D., engineer corps. These enlistees have been sent by the recuriting service to Ft. Bliss, Tex., for training. Frontier want ads tell you where you can save! Strong Wind Whips City Early Sunday— A strong wind with gusts up o 50-miies-per-hour whipped out of the nortneast about 10 o’clock Sunday morning, doing some damage to trees in the city. The wind was accompanied by a severe electrical storm and .36 ot an inch of rain fell. Later the sky cleared and the sun shone brightly. The door on a hangar was dam aged at the O’Neill airport. Guide ropes, anchoring one of the air planes, snapped under the stress but the plane was not damaged. Week’s weather summary, based on 24-hour periods ending at 6 p.m, daily, follows: Hi Lo Prec. August 26 _92 66 August 27_92 66 August 28_92 66 August 29 __87 61 .36 August 30 _ 84 67 August 31 _89 60 September 1 _86 67 2 Unconfirmed Polio Cases Investigated Mail Response ‘Very Disappointing’ Mrs. H. D. Gildersleeve, who heads the Holt county chapter of the National Foundation for In fantile Paralysis, reported there were two unconfirmed cases of polio in Stuart this week — the first this year in Holt county. Cases are being investigated, Mrs. Gildersleeve said. Four thousand letters were mailed by the chapter hoping to raise $2,000 in emergency funds. Only $372.25 has been received todate, Mrs. Gildersleeve said. The response from the mail was “very disappointing,” she said, and contributions are badly needed. Miss Sandra Harper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon O. Harp er. Saturday night was chosen “Miss Emergency March of Dimes” queen in beauty compe tition at the American Legion auditorium. She represented the Merri Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. Second place honors went to Miss Darlene Grimes, who was entered by Gambles. Other entrants and their spon sors: the Misses Maureen Mur phy, J. M. McDonald Co.; Ellen Corkle, McIntosh Jewelry; Janice Holsclaw, Sno-Creme Drive In; LaVonna Miller, Johnson Jew elry; Rosemary Babl. J. C. Pen ney Co.; Elizabeth Schaffer, Western Auto; Bonita Muff, Pon ton Insurance; Marilyn Carroll, C’Neill Auto Supply; Patricia DeBolt, Coast - to - Coast store; Maxine Ackers, Petersen’s Clo thing; Bernadette Hynes, Lee I store. Emergencv march of dimes contributions entitled dancers to votes in the contest. The Legion donated the use of the club for the queen contest and Post Commander Elgin Ray crowned Miss Harper. The event raised $224.02 for the polio chap ter. Gibson, Krotter Argue Merits of Proposed Boyd Relocation A two-year dispute over the relocation of U.S. highway 281 was given an airing Monday in the state capitol hearing room before the state advisory high way commission. Those packing the chamber were aligned on two sides. One group wants the highway relo cated through Spencer or near Spencer and the other group, several times larger than the first, wants the new highway to veer toward Bristow and beeline for the new Ft. Randall dam. Relocation of 281 and also of South Dakota highway 18 have been made necessary by the backup of water in the Randall reservoir. After hearing detailed argu ments, the commission voted to make an inspection tour of the disputed routes in Boyd county. Don Hanna of Valentine, com mission member who had toured the proposed routes a fortnight ago, was ill and was not present at Monday’s hearing. Four proposed routes are un der consideration by the state highway commission for extend ing the road north from the pres ent junction of U.S. 281 and Ne braska 12. which is 214 miles north of the Niobrara river: Proposal 1: Bend the new 281 eastward at the junction to a point one mile west of Bristow, angle northeast to a point north of Bristow, head straight north to within a short distance of the Nebraska - Dakota state line. (South Dakota would be obliged to build south and slightly west to join up.) Total miles to be con structed^ 14.2; estimated cost $559,87b mot including connec tion to Bristow from north or south or 1.2 miles of present high way 12). Proposal 2: Continue north from junction 1.5 miles, angle northeast to state line (last three miles essentially same route as proposal 1). Total miles to be con structed 11.7; estimated cost $520,500. Proposal 3: Continue north from junction 1.5 miles, angle northwest to point 3 miles north of Spencer, continue northward on present state-owned Nebraska highway 18 right-of-way to state line. Total miles to be construct ed: 11.2 miles; estimated cost $571,500. Proposal 4: A potential route through Spencer, not yet survey ed, rebuilding highway 12 from the 281 junction to Spencer, then northward on route of present Nebraska highway 18. (Least miles of construction would be required on this line; likewise least cost.) L. W. Gibson, Bristow bank er, argued that a route north from Bristow would be a more direct and shorter route to the dam for residents living to the east. His plea for expediting traffic to the dam recreational area was endorsed by John D. Forsyth of Niobrara, president of the Nebraska Highway 12 association. John Krotter of Spencer fa-1 vored continued use of Nebraska highway 18 to the junction of South Dakota highway 54, which j is linked with South Dakota’s i recently - relocated highway 18 (main east-west artery). Krotter argued that this route would bring traffic into Nebraska from South Dakota and that the nor-1 mal traffic flow is northwest-to southeast. Dewey C. Schaffer was spokes man for a group from the O’Neill Chamber of Commerce, which1 (Continued on page 6) OHS Enrollment ‘About the Same’ A total of 170 pupils—85 boys and 85 girls—registered Monday and Tuesday at O’Neill high school and reported for opening day classes on Wednesday. The registration shows 44 freshmen, 44 sophomores, 46 juniors and 36 seniors. "The figures are about the same as at the start of the 1953 ’54 term,” Supt. D. E. Nelson said. However, he indicated sev eral more registrations are ex pected in the freshman class. Meanwhile, grade school regis tration was incomplete and will be finished today (Thursday). ! _ Superintendent Nelson said the i final vacancy on the faculty was j filled Saturday when Rich ' ard Smithson, 26, of Rapid City, j S D., was signed to teach vocal j music. Smithson, who is married ; end is the father of a 2-year-old child, was graduated from Yank i ton college. He taught two years | at Mitchell and one year at I Chamberlain. Wind Levels Evangelist s Tent QlinHoir ivinminn’c /nfnlnnin nrin/4 nnnm J n *■!_ A_i_ 1 r •» « 1 — ««r tent to collapse. The tent was unoccupied at the time and no one was hurt. Erected on a vacant lot five blocks north of the traffic signal, the tent belonged to Evangelist A. M. Alber of Sioux City, visiting O’Neill under the auspices V“C V/X VJVU UlUltU. XV C V. TV IIVT Hall, church pastor, and Mr. Alber are shown (above) mending the ripped canvas. The tent was rolled up, shipped to a Fremont factory, repaired and was again in service Wednesday night.—The Frontier Photo. Patrol Inaugurates Radar to Catch Speeders A radar device for rat chins* motorists: pv. hi doc TVio mJor _„„ _ ceeding the speed limit on highways in this area was put to use Monday afternoon on a trial basis on U-S. highways 20-275, 2\h. miles east of O’Neill. Within an hour four warnings were issued and one offender buzzing along at 70 miles per hour, was hailed into justice court. Lt. Harry Brt is shown (above) reading the me ter which registers the speed of passing ve is focused on both lanes of the highway about 150 feet ahead. It is possible to camouflage the camera in brush and have the meter hanging on the dashboard of the car parked a few feet off the road. The camera and meter are linked by cable. In order to make the radar equipment effective, the operator must be able to direct by radio another patrol car to overhaul the speeders.—The Frontier Photo. Thatched John JL. Visitor Here T T c 4 U _ . £ > i i the United Mine Workers of America, stopped in O’Neill briefly Wednesday. O’Neillites had him properly pegged and all except one per mitted him to enjoy his sojourn without engaging him in shop talk. Driving a late model car, Mr. Lewis pulled up at the A. Marcellus Buick garage and asked for a grease job and oil change. In a brief conversation with Mr. Marcellus, the visitor explained he was in somewhat of a big push and would like to call for the car “after a bite to eat.” Mr. Lewis, wearing dunga rees, a denim shirt and an ov ersized hat, strolled down Fourth street to the Tom-Tom cafe. In the restaurant the nearby customers had table talk fun identifying Mr. Lew is, but none opened a conver sation. Finally, a man in a group of tourists went over to Mr. Lewis and inquired how things were in Washington, DC. When Mr. Lewis went back to the Buick garage to claim his car, Alan Van Vleck was in charge. “Who are you?” queried Mr. Van Vleck. “That depends,” retorted Mr. Lewis. “Are you serving pro cess papers or why should you want to know?” “I think you’re John L. Lew is and I want you to know I admire some of the things you’ve done,” said Mr. Van Vleck. “Thank-you, young man,” i responded John L., warming up ! to the situation. “You hit it right on the nail.” When Van Vleck asked Mr. Lewis if he was traveling alone, ; me inquisitor got uie age-old answer: “I am—unless some body rides with me.” Mr. Lewis said he had been on the West coast and was driving east by himself on U.S. highway 20. He originated in the Illinois mine fields but has been headquartering at Wash ington since his rise to fame as a labor leader. He said his Swimming Meet Planned Sunday A swimming meet will be held at 5 o clock Sunday, September s.^at the Municipal swimming Pool Manager Don Temple meyer said there had been “quite a number of grade school en tries. ’ A feature of the meet will be a diving contest open to all with no classifications. Mr. Templemeyer said the pool will close for the season at 7 p m., on Monday, September 6— labor day. Meanwhile, the daily hours during the final days of the initial season are from 1 until 7 p.m., daily. Korean Veterans Expected Home— CHAMBERS — The following Chambers men from the Korean theater are expected home this week; Sfc. Richard Reed, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Reed; Sgt. Jack McClenahan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Omar McClenahan, and Cpl. Ger ald Grimes, son of Mr. and Mrs Charles Grimes. The boys have all served two years. Frank O’Donnell left Wednes day for his home in Dallas, Tex. He has been visiting his sisters, Miss Ann O’Donnell and Mrs. Susan Deaver, for several weeks. home is in Alexandria. Va., across the Potomac from the naton’s capitol. Asked if she enjoyed waiting on a personality whom the car toonists characterize as a rough and tough customer, Mrs. Rob ert Retke, waitress at the Tom Tom, said Mr. Lewis was “very nice, like most of our custom ers.” Stockwell’ Bandshell Dedicated at Bassett BASSETT—A large crowd at tended the dedication of the new “Chester Stockwell bandshell” Sunday at the Rock county fair grounds. Mr. Stockwell has been active in music circles here for a half-century. The shell was made possible by contributions from past and present band mem bers, local citizens and Ak-Sar Ben. Allen Marlin Calls Home— Mrs. Henrv Martin received a telephone call from her son. Pfc. Allen H. Martin, at 6:15 a.m, Sunday. Allen was on a week’s leave at Tokyo when he called and the connection was so good, Mrs. Martin said, he sounded like he was in the United States. He flew from Seoul to Tokyo and there were 150 people aboard. He is with battery A. 235 FAOBM, APO 264, San Francis co, Calif. MISS BURGESS HOME Dr. and Mrs. L. A. Burgess went to Rochester on Saurday, August 28, to visit their daugher, Joann, who had been a patient in St. Mary’s hospital. They return ed home on Wednesday. Joann accompanied them home.