Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1955)
“Voice of The Frontier” |jgj " femSS 4C.1 TWELVE IO 9:45 A.M. _ 780 k.c. P®** 1 t0 12 North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper Volume 75.—Number 3. O’Neill, Nebraska, Thursday, May 19, 1955. Seven Cents Deraid Graham caresses back of his head where he was slug ged during a robbery . . . James Earey looks on. — The Frontier Photo. William R. Warren, 19 (left), and James Blood, 17 . . . robbed fitting station, captured, sentenced in span of five days.—The Fron tier Photo. A WOL Airmen Slug Station Attendant City Obliged to Spend $12,000 384-Ft. Well Going Down Soon At a special meeting of the city council Tuesday afternoon, called by Mayor Alva Marcellus, the council voted to seek bids on a new municipal water well to al leviate a serious supply situa tion. The city’s consultant engineer estimates the new well might cost $12,000. Bids will be opened on June 10. According to present plans, the well will be drilled within about six feet ot the socalled “middle well” on U.S. highway 81 right of-way ,1!£ miles south of town. A test hole there last week indi cated a 1,100-gallons-per-minute capacity pump could be used there at a depth of 384 feet. This well is to be considerably deeper than existing wells, which have been troublesome because of sand. A test hole within the city bore good indications, Mayor Marcellus said, but the estab lished well sites south of town would enable a savings on pipe and material. Mayor Marcellus said he would name a finance committee from a group of businessmen (not members of the council) to review the city books, which are being audited, and the city’s budget re ' quirements. The newly - elected mayor indicated the council would o welcome and guide on the fiscal recommendations of the unnamed committee. The council also authorized purchase of a new police cruiser car. The new combination police rest station on South Fourth street, in the Yantzi budding, may be ready for occupancy next v'eek. The council reviewed activities of the street department. Consid erable grading, gravelling and culvert work has been done on the streets since the new council took office; also some alley im provements have been made. The Frontier was designated as the official city newspaper for the new fiscal year. Mayor Marcellus said some appointments will be forthcoming at the next regular meeting of the council, o ■ — Pool Opening Set for Sunday, May 29 Weather permitting the O’Neil] municipal swimming pool wil] open for its second season on Sun day, May 29. Season tickets are now on sale at the pool office Western Auto, Eby’s Service sta tion and First National bank. During the forenoons the poo' wid be used exclusively for Rec Cross swimming lessons. Dor Templemeyer will again manage the pool and will operate througl the supper hour. ' < Two airmen, absent-without- ‘ leave from an air force radar sta- , tion at Waverly, la., bargained for trouble and found it within ' a span of five days. William R. Warren, 19, of Val- j ley Falls, R.I., and James Blood, , 17, of Lynn, Mass., took off hitch- ! hiking from Waverly last week. They were picked up by Edward E. Heatherton, a Waterloo, la., motorist. The driver was rapped in the head with the butt of a re volver, tied up, left in a field, and the two airmen headed west ward in Heatherton’s car. About 6:40 p.m., last Thursday, Blood walked into the Earley Oil company station in West O’Neill. According to Deraid Graham, the attendant at the station, young Blood asked permission to use the rest room. Upon emerging from the rest room, the air force man wearing jeans and a red jacket and flashing a revolver, advised Graham this was a hold up. Blood ordered Graham into the rest room. When Graham’s back was turned, the attendant was clob bered on the head with the butt of the revolver. Graham was dazed but not knocked out. Blood then picked up a ham mer handle and hit Graham in the head again, drawing considerable blood. Still conscious, Graham said Blood helped himself to $131 in the cash register and escaped into a waiting car, which had been parked nearby. Dan Scott of Atkinson stopped off at the station within a few minutes after the robber had left, aided Graham and summon ed help. News of the bold robbery was flashed to law enforcement offi cers throughout the area. A roadblock at Valentine later in the evening enabled Cherry County Sheriff Bill Herman to quiz the two airmen. Herman thought the radioed description of Blood didn’t apply and did not detain them. A person standing nearby, however, saw a revolver which had not been concealed. Herman began pursuit of the two, who, about 1 o’clock, were finally stopped at Rushville by Sheridan County Sheriff Wen dell Hill. Holt County Sheriff Leo Tom jack set out immediately for Rushville and returned Warren and Blood to O’Neill Friday night. The two AWOL airmen had, in a few short hours, run their course. They signed statements, admitting the Graham incident. Monday morning they pleaded guilty before H. W. Tomlinson and were bound over to district court without bail. At 2:30 p.m., Tuesday they appeared before District Judge D. R. Mounts and were sentenced to the Nebraska men’s reformatory at Lincoln. Each was given a sentence of from three to 10 years for rob bery. County Attorney William W. Griffin prosecuted. John R. Gal lagher was appointed by the court to represent Blood; Norman Gon i deringer was appointed to rep l resent Warren. (Continued on page 12) Soaking Rain Buoys Ag Hopes Driver, 17, Critically Injured Thelma Summers in ‘Grave’ Condition; 3 Others Are Hurt Miss Thelma Summers, 17, was in “grave" condition Wednesday night at St. Anthony’s hospital here following a two-car crash in which three other persons were injured. Miss Summers, driver of one of the vehicles, is suffering from multiple internal injuries, a possible skull fracture and con siderable hemorrhaging. Successive blood transfusions were made and the hospital listed her condition as “criti cal.” Her two sisters, Leona, 16, and Joyce, 12, passengers in her car, were listed in “satisfactory” con dition. Miss Leona suffered a brain concussion and possible skull fracture. The youngest sister, Joyce, suffered possible chest in juries. » The other car was owned and operated by Louis Juracek of Niobrara, who escaped unhurt. A passenger in the Juracek ma chine, Henry Meyers of Niobrara, suffered a broken leg and was taken to the Lindberg Memorial hospital at Creighton. Meyers also suffered facial cuts. The accident ocurred about 5 o’clock Wednesday afternoon on a country road 13 miles east of O’Neill. The Juracek car, a 1955 Buick, was travelling eastward. The Summers car, owned by the girls’ father, Harold Summers of Page, was travelling northward. The collision occurred on an inter section. Holt County Sheriff Leo Tom jack, who invetigated, said a shelterbelt made visibility poor at the corner. The Summers girls were en route to their home after hav ing cleaned up the rural school in district 55 taught this past term by Miss Thelma. Both cars were badly demolish ed and school books in the Sum mers machine were strewn around the wreckage. The Summers girls were brought to O’Neill by Biglin’s am bulance, and another ambulance took Meyers to Creighton. Miss Leona was graduated from Page high school this spring. 31 to Graduate at St. Mary’s Thirty-one St. Mary’s academy seniors will receive diplomas in commencement exercises at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 6. Rev. Ed ward B. Gill of Butte will address the graduates. Ellen Corkle has been an nounced winner of valedictorian honors and the salutatorian award goes to Helen Vitt. Miss Corkle receives the St. Mary college, Xavier, Kans., scholar ship, and Miss Vitt will be award ed the Mt. Marty college, Yank ton, S.D., scholarship. Other awards: Connie Lydon, scholarship to Marycrest college, Davenport, la.; JoAnn Ziska, scholarship to St. Mary’s college, Omaha; Barbara Cunningham, Norfolk J unior college scholarship; Mary Janice Remter, Wayne State Teachers college award. Class night will be observed Wednesday, May 25, in the public school auditorium. The class mot to: “Today we follow, tomorrow we lead.” The class flower is the white rose. The class roll: John Connot of Valentine, Jerry Cuddy, Terry Donlin of Bristow, Bennie Fleming, Pat Gokie, Ter ry Wanser of Ewing. Jeanne Cole, Ellen Corkle, Bar bara Cunningham, Peggy Degan of Superior, Mary E. Froelich, Vera Dell Funk of Clearwater, Sandra Harpe», Edna Heeb of Midland, S.D. Pauline Hoffman of Cody, Dot ty Lee of Browmlee, Connie Ly don of Ewing, Kay Martin, Patty Morrison, Patty Mullen. Betty Osborn of Dorsey, Ce cilia Peter, Mary Janice Remter, Regina Roggasch of Rose, Patty Sullivan of Omaha, Patty Tomlin son, Miriam Troshynski, Mary Lou Uhl, Helen Martha Vitt, Helen Winchell, Jo Ann Ziska of Emmet. On Thursday, April 28, the jun iors entertained the seniors at the annual banquet and prom. A short intermission followed the banquet while the students, their parents and friends danced. Diplomas to 35 O’Neill Hi Seniors Marilyn Lindberg Is Valedictorian Marilyn Lindberg was award ed valedictorian honors Wednes day evening, May 18, in O’Neill high school commencement ex ercises. She was awarded a church school scholarship) also the Reader’s Digest award. Pre sentation was made by Principal Paul Baker. Salutatorian honors went to Norma Timmerman, who received the state teachers’ college award. Robert Sanders, who finished Lindberg Timmerman third scholastically, received the Norfolk Junior college scholar ship. The University of Nebraska re gents’ scholarships went to Miss gents’ scholarship went to Miss ternates: David Sanders, Janice Holsclaw and Jea nene Backhaus. Dr. Walter Beggs of the University of Nebraska pre sented the com mencement ad dress. He is chair man of the depart- Sanders meat of educational principles and history. The senior class roll: Donald C. Adams, Duane E. Alton, Ardyce Jeanene Altpn, Da vid C. Andersen, Jeanene Kay Backhaus, Radean G. Block, Du ane D. Boelter, Mildred Louise Crabb, Owen M. Davis, Vera Jean Ernst, Eugene R. Ermer, James A. Frerichs, Richard E. Gaskill, Edward E. Gatz, Joan Kathryn Godel, Carroll F. Grenier, Don ald H. Gruhn. Betty Mae Harmon, Janice Joy Holsclaw, Janet Arlene Hull, Marilyn Marie Lindberg, Bernard D. Lorenz, Lillian Marie Mauer, Carolyn JoAnn Moseman, Bertha Ellen Orsborn, David M. Page, Patricia Jeanne Pierson, Edward Ritts, Robert I. Sanders, Janet Rosalie Seger, Leila Mae Shaw, Mavis Kay Strong, Vonda Rose Thomas, Norma Jean Timmer man, Sharon Glee Hancock. Supt. D. E. Nelson presented diplomas to 38 eighth graders: The roll: Larry Anderson, Shirley Ba butzke, Bill Baker, Joan Booth, Jerry Dawes, Robert Dennis, Darrel Dexter, Velda Ernst, Nan cy Fetrow, David Floyd, Jeanette Fricke, Larry Frisch, George Ful ler. Karen Hartronft, Sharon Hart ronft, Dianne Howard, Cherrian Knepper, Konnie Kurtz, Jimmy Larson, Patty Lewis, Sharon Marcellus, Ronnie Mauer, David McCage, Keith McKim, Mary Neiman. Ruby Passieux, Allen Reynold son, Betty Rodman, Carolyn Schmiechel, Jo Ann Searles, Nan cy Sipes, Konrad Smith, Melvin Sollman, Howard Staub, Marilyn Strong, Teddy Strong, Rose Wal ton, Robert Wheeler. Jesse Wilkinson, 87, Rites Set Friday Jesse W. Wilkinson, 67, a re tired farmer who came to Holt county in 1928, died at 5:05 p.m., Tuesday, May 17, at the home of his daughter Mrs. Hazel Boat man, who resides in the north east section of the city. He had been ill 2% weeks. The remains will lie in state at Biglin’s chapel between 9 o‘clock and noon today (Thursday) and will be forwarded to Ansley. Funeral services will be con ducted at 2 p.m., Friday, May 20, at the Church of Christ in Ans ley. Burial will be in the Ansley cemetery. The late Jesse William Wilkin son was born May 28, 1867, in Iowa, the son of Hiram M. and Minerva Paine Wilkinson. They became the parents of seven chil dren—three of whom are deceass ed. On January 24, 1893, at Aurora, he married Eva Jane Barnett. The family came to Holt county from Cherry county in 1928. Mrs. Wilkinson died June 29, 1938. Survivors include: Sons—Wil liam of Sun Valley, Calif., and Vern of Chambers; daughters — Mrs. Haze1 Boatman of O’Neill and Mrs. Earl Robison of Wood ruff, Kans. «■■■. Jk.x,.i i ; —i i» i in i if ;i«jKX mrssmwmmAXM Spanish Dancers in Musical Production O’Neill public grade school pupils, under the direction of Richard Smithson, recently pre sented the musical production, “A Day at the Book Store.” A Spanish dance team comprised a portion of the program. The dancers (left-to right): Bobbie Kramer, Ruth Ann Walker, Lon na Haynes and Stanley Schmeichel. Minister ‘Captures’ Wayward Boy Aroused by the activity of a 17-year-old boy who was at tempting to steal a car from the street in front of the Assembly of God church, the owner of the automobile and church pas tor, Rev. Wayne A. Hall, made a “capture” Thursday night. The minister applied the golden rule to the wayward boy, gained a confession, noti fied authorities here and the young man’s farm parents near Kearney. After obstructing the boy’s efforts to take the O’Neill car, Reverend Hall invited the youth into his home where Mrs. Hall prepared a good supper. The boy poured out his heart. He recounted how he had disagreed with his father, taken a 1947 car from the streets of Kearney and abandoned it at Pleasanton, having run out of gas. He appropriated another car and drove to O’Neill. “The boy said he was tired and sleepy,” Reverend Hall ex plained, “so we told him to go to bed and get a good rest.” Reverend Hall said he would not press charges and ques tioned if authorities at Kearney would press the matter. The boy was to graduate from high school this week. “He was a good boy,” Rev erend Hall commented. “He simply had had bitterness and disappointment and got off on the wrong track.” HITS 2 PARKED CARS ATKINSON—A 1947 two-door car driven by Don Wedige, 17, of Atkinson rounded the comer near St. Joseph’s Catholic church Sun day morning and smacked into two unoccupied parked cars. The unoccupied cars were owned by E. C. McKay, a 1954 model, and by Harold Waldo, a 1952 model. All three vehicles were damaged, according to Deputy Holt County Sheriff James Mullen, who in vestigated. Wedige was not hurt. Carl Hammerberg Expires in Hastings Bom Near Celia ; Burial Monday ATKINSON— Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m., Mon day, May 16, from the Methodist church here for Carl Martin Hammerberg, 60, who died Fri day, May 13, in Mary Lanning hospital at Hastings. He had been in poor health about 18 months. Rev. E. G. Hughes officiated and burial was in Woodlawn cemetery. Pallbearers were Stan ley Johnson, Merrill Smith, Glen McClurg, Lou Humphrey, Har old Kirkland and Earl Ellsbury. Singers were Mrs. Dean Flem ing and Mrs. William Schorn with Mrs. E. G. Hughes at the organ. They sang “In the Garden” and “Abide wTith Me.” The late Mr. Hammerberg was born July 3, 1894, in the Celia community north of Atkinson. He was a son of Frank and Mary Hulda Hammerberg (deceased). He resided on the farm until 1919 when his parents moved into At kinson. Mr. Hammerberg sold auto mobiles, did some trucking, and for 12 years carried mail on RFD route 4. He was employ ed for a time at the naval am munition depot at Hastings. He was a member of the Methodist church here. On September 11, 1954, he mar ried Miss Julia Allhouse of Stu art. Survivors include: Widow — Julia of Hastings; brother—Oscar Algot Hammerberg of Atkinson; sister — Mrs. W. R. (Mildred) Greenwood of Sagle, Ida.; five nieces and four nephews. Among relatives and friends from out-of-town for the funeral were Mrs. Martin (Julia) Ham merberg of Hastings, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Johnson of Lyons, Elmer Johnson of Oakland, Mr. and Mrs. J. V. Johnson of O’ Neill, Mr. and Mrs. Ora Yarges of Stuart, Fred Zink of Stuart and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Loger well of Bassett. Mrs. Ada Fleener Dies in California Mrs. Ada Fleeoer, 67, the for mer Ada McAllister, a longtime resident of Holt county, died at her home at Costa Mesa, Calif. Survivors include: Five daugh ters, two sons, five brothers and five sisters. Mrs. Jennie Eppen bach of O’Neill is a sister. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Muff and Carolyn took Miss Bonita to Om aha Sunday from where she went by plane to Washington, D. C., to spend the summer with her sister, Miss Barbara. Over 200 Attend Deanery Meeting; 7 Speakers Heard Among those from O’Neill at tending the O’Neill deanery meet ing of the National Council of Catholic Women Monday after noon at Lynch were: Mesdames John Donohoe, Grover Shaw, John H. McCarville, Edward Gleeson, Oliver Ross, Charles Boyle, Joseph L. McCarville, sr., Frank Clements, Edward M. Gal lagher, Henry Martin, Jerry Hal va, George Head, H. J. Lohaus, Leo Gokie, John Pribil, Floyd Wilson, Lod Janousek, John Hick ey, Robert Shoemaker, William Watson, Harry Graham, Sylvester Zakrzewski and Miss Mary Car ney. Over two hundred persons at tended the session held in the Odd Fellows hall in Lynch. Speakers were Rev. William Fos ter of Spencer, Rev. Charles Kamber of Lynch, Rev. Francis Price of Emmet, Very Rev. Tim othy O’Sullivan, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Juricek of Omaha, Mrs. H. Schultz, president of the O’Neill deanery, and Mrs. G. O’Brien of Omaha, archdiocesan president of the council. Mrs. William Watson and Mrs. Robert Shoemaker, both of O’ Neill and both registered nurses, gave a demonstration on emer gency baptism. Rev. Hall Accepts Broken Bow Post Rev. Wayne A. Hall, pastor of the Assembly of God church here for the past six years, Sunday resigned his pastorate to accept a call from the Assembly of God church at Broken Bow. The field there is larger he told his congre gation. Reverend Hall, who lived a number of years in southwestern Holt county, succeeded Rev. Jo nah Hamburger as pastor of the new church here. Prior to coming to O'Neill, Reverend Hall and his wife, a native of Ansley, had been in evangelistic work. The Halls increased the aver age church attendance from 20 to 120 according to church records. " ; Quinns Leaving for California— Mr. and Mrs. Ed Quinn expect to leave Monday for San Diego, Calif., where they will visit their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Quinn and family. They also plan to spend some time with their nephew, Bill Moore and his wife in las Angeles. They will be accompanied by their grandson, Jerry Versal of Atkinson. On Tuesday evening the Quinns attended commence ment exercises in Atkinson where Jerry was a member of the grad uating class. Frontier for printing! Walter Richard, 111 Several Months, Dies Funeral Saturday at Chambers CHAMBERS—Walter A. Rich ard, 76, longtime resident of the Chambers community, died at 12:20 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, at his home at Chambers. He had been ill several months and re cently had been hospitalized at O’Neill. Funeral services will be con ducted at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 21, from the Methodist church in Chambers. Rev. J. M. Hodgkin will officaite and burial will be in the Chambers cemetery. The late Walter Allen Rich ard was born December 20, 1878, at Lincoln Center, Kans. He came to Holt county in 1894 from Kansas. On August 31, 1901, he married Lillie Bell Wyant at O’Neill. They became the parents of two chil dren. The late Mr. Richard farmed for many years. He had spent most of the winter in Wyoming near his daughter, but recently had been residing in his home on an acreage at the west edge of town. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Chambers. Survivors include: Son—Clar ence W. of Powell, Wyo.; daugh ter — Mrs. Leona Hodgson of Chugwater, Wyo. Atkinson Rural Route Extended ATKINSON—An extension has been made to rural route number two which operates northwest of Atkinson. Carrier Donald R. Da vis made his first trip on the new portion Monday, May 16. Nine families are now getting rural mail service who formerly had to go into Atkinson to get their mail as service had never been extend ed into that community. The patrons who receive ser vice from the extension are Lew is Jphnson, Harry Anderson, Claude Raymer, John Kramer, jr., Eugene Poessneckei, Dean Funk, Eugene Karr, Charles Deermer and William Spann. MOTHER DIES Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Harder attended the funeral Tuesday of her mother, Mrs. Santi Haivala, 74, in Bufaflo, S.D. Services were conducted from the Lutheran church in Buffalo. Mrs. Haivala died Sunday at the hospital in Felle Fourche, S.D. She is sur vived by three daughters and two sons. Mrs. R. L. Sutcliffe entertained the Jeudi club at dinner and bridge last Thursday. Mesdames J. B. Grady and D. A. Kersen brock had the high bridge scores. j> - .1 .... Moisture Is Welcomed; Vital Time o O’Neill Measures .65; Cloudburst Hits in Locality of Bristow Prayers for rain in the parched north-central Nebraska area were answered Tuesday. Some portions of the O’Neill region, on the verge of being drought-stricken were blessed with heavy rains. Tuesday afternoon’s rainfall at O'Neill was officially tabbed at .65 of an inch. Heaviest rain in the area came in the form of a cloudburst along the Niobrara river south of Bristow and east of the Spencer hydro-electric dam. Up to 3.60 inches was recorded there. On the opposite side of the ledger, a locality east of Page received only a sprinkle and Long Pine got no relief at all. Tuesday morning light showers were reported by motorists trav eling between Norfolk and Clear water. At the same time, Ran dolph, Plainview and Brunswick report showers. About noon rain began falling0 at Bassett and by l o’clock the precipitation amounted to 1.10 o inches. This storm moved east ward giving most of Holt county an old-fashioned drenching. The Atkinson-Emmet area received rain for several hours measuring up to 2.10 inches in the Atkinson and Green Valley localities. Am elia reported 1.50; Chambers, .73; Ewing, .75; Inman, .60. Bonesteel and Lynch measured one inch of rain; Spencer, .45; Verdigre, .30; Creighton, .50. Clarence t)onohoe, who resides 6!& miles north of O’Neill, report ed two inches of rain at his place and heavier rainfall in the Mid way locality farther north. He said some of the farmers who had staved off corn planting until the past week are “sitting just right now.” ... Mayor Edwin Wink of Cham bers happily explained “every nickel’s worth soaked in” around his neighborhood. The Chambers area and the country south and west of Chambers had been deprived of moisture all spring and some of the pas tures were naked. Troxel Green, who resides four miles west of Chambers and two miles south, indicated the 1.69 inch rainfall in his neighborhood would transform the pastures in just a few days. Mr. Green, a young rancher, said oldtimers re call springs when pastures were worse off, “but I can’t remember a drier spring season.” Because of the dry condition of his pas ture. Mr. Green had sent out a load of cattle last week. R. H. Strong, who lives 12 miles south of O’Neill and three miles west, reported a one-inch rain at his place. “I was getting ready to sell off some of my cat tle and I know some of the neigh bors were beginning to feel the same way about the drought,” Mr. Strong told The Frontier. “But Tuesday’s rain changed all of that!” he grinned. Clarence Johnson, who lives south of O’Neill, reported “more than a half-inch of rain” and pre dicted pastures would recover quickly with a little warm wea ther. Ord, which was in the heart of the north-central drought area, got 2.37 inches; Burwell, coun tyseat of Garfield county, re ported 1.50 inches; Greeley coun ty received partial relief in the form of a quarter-inch rain. Bart lett measured a half-inch. Pickstown, S.D., received 1.50' inches; Norfolk, .13; Clearwater, .31. O’Neill retailers felt immedi ate resalts as rural folk, hopes buoyed by the general rainfall, switched Into a spending mood. In O’Neill the rain began fall ing at 3:45 and literally poured for about 10 minutes. The skies continued to drip into the early evening hours. Mrs. O. A. Hammerberg, The Frontier’s correspondent in the Atkinson locality, described the moisture like this: “A big rain badly needed.” The hop-skip-and-jump show ers were accompanied by consid erablje electrical disturbance, c Consumers Public Power report ed lightning difficulty at the Spencer hydro. Last week’s report by the state-federal statistician in Lin coln declared Nebraska pastures were 73 percent of normal, com pard to 78 percent at the corre sponding time a year ago.
