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“Voice of The Frontier” TWELVE
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North-Central Nebraska’s BIGGEST Newspaper
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I Volume 75.—Number 18. O’Neill, Nebr., Thursday, Septmber 1, 1955._Seven Cents
Mrs. Ernset Cofield, 70, had just been removed from the wreck
age (right) and placed in an ambulance when this picture was
taken.—The Frontier Photo.
- _ <3> . ..
Woman, 70,
Injured in
Crash Dies
Expires Unexpectedly
After Air Transfer
to Indiana Hospital
A 70-year-old Rushville, Ind.,
woman, who was badly injured in
a one-car automobile accident
near here about 10 o’clock Friday
morning, died early Monday in an
Indianapolis, Ind., hospital.
Mrs. Ernest Cofield and her
husband, Doctor Cofield, 77, a re
tired dentist, were taken to St.
Anthony’s hospital following the
accident. X-rays "bowed that Mrs.
Cofield, who was the passenger in
the car, was most seriously hurt
and suffered a broken arm, facial
injuries, fractured pelvis, dislo
cated hip in addition to possible
other injuries and shock. They
were the only two people involv
ed in the accident.
Doctors and hospital attendants
here believed Mrs. Cofield would
recover.
At 6 a.m., Sunday she was
removed to the Municipal air
port here and flown to Indian
apolis, arriving there at 11 a.m.,
after a refuelling stop at Peoria,
111. Attending her on the air
ambulance trip was Joe Dufek
of St. Anthony’s hospital staff.
Mr. Dufek said the patient with
stood the trip well and appeared
to be in a good mood. She said
she was “very grateful.”
Before the plane returned to O’
Neill the Indianapolis doctors had
advised Mr. Cofield, who remain
ed here, that his wife’s fractures
had been set, the dislocated hip
adjusted, and indicated she would
recover.
Doctor uotieia received ine
news of his wife’s death from
hemorrhaging early Monday but
learned no details. It. was not
known here whether she died
from ihternal injuries relating to
the accident or from a brain hem
orrhage.
The dentist, who suffered a head
injury and from shock, had pur
chased a new automobile here
and intended to drive back to
Indiana. When he learned of his
wife’s death, he was chauffeured
to Sioux City and took a plane
for Indianapolis.
Mrs. Cofield is survived by her
husband, one nephew and one
niece.
Doctor Cofield homesteaded
in South Dakota and earned
money to attend dental college.
The childless couple had been
married 48 years. They were en
route to Doctor Cofield’s former
Dakota home to participate in
a community celebration.
The accident occurred on the
U.S. highway 281 detour near the
Blake Benson school, about 16
miles north of O’Neill and one
milb west. The northbound, late
model car failed to negotiate the
& righthand turn, went beyond the
intersection and nosed into a deep
ditch. The impact of Mrs. Cofield’s
head broke the windshield.
The front of the car was so bad
ly smashed, Holt County Sheriff
Leo Tomjack said, there was dif
ficulty in removing the injured
woman from the car.
A passerby summoned Mr. and
Mrs. Blake Benson, who reside
about a half-mile from the inter
setcion, and a doctor and an am
bulance were called.
The death may be recorded as
Nebraska’s 194th fatality on the
highways this year compared to
109 at this time last year.
College Set Leaves
for Various Campuses
Among those from O’Neill who
will be attending various uni
versities and colleges are:
University of Nebraska—Janet
Seger, Jeanne Cole, Elizabeth
Schaffer, Ted Lindberg and Du
axte Booth.
Wayne State Teachers college
—Patricia DeBolt and Mildred
Crabb.
Duchesne (Omaha)—Mary El
len Ffoelich. •
Nebraska Wesleyan— Marilyn
Lindberg. .
Hastings—Lyle Fox.
St. Mary’s (Omaha)—Sandra
Harper, Patty Sullivan, and Mary
Lou UhL *
St. Mary’s (Xavier, Kans.)—
Ellen and Rosemary Corkle.
Omaha Business—Ardyce Al
ton.
Morningside (Sioux City)—
Don Lanman and Joe Sobotka.
Mt. St. Scholastica—Shirley
Leahy.
Minnesota Bible college—Mr
and Mrs. Russell Galbreath.
Creigthon (Omaha)—John Jo€
Uhl, Donald Graham.
SP2 Joe Kubik, jr., who has
been in Germany for the past six
years, has reenhsted for another
year. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs
Joe Kubik of O’Neill.
This closeup of the Cofield
car reveals extensive damage
to the front of the machine. The
passenger died later. — The
Frontier Photo.
275 Attend Larson
Golden Wedding
Ewing Couple Counts
36 Descendants
EWING—Mr. and Mrs. Casper
Larson of Ewing celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary Sunday.
August 28, at the home of their
son and daughter-in-law with
275 relatives and friends in at
tendance.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson were mar
ried at Stromsberg August 29,
1905.
Nine children and 27 grandchil
dren were present for the aiuii
versary observance. Those attend
ing were:
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Larson
and family of Colome, S.D.; Mrs.
Clarence (Frances) Harrod, Mr.
Harrod and family of Burweil; Mr.
and Mrs. Weslyn Larson and fam
ily and Mr. and Mrs. Chester
Larson and family, all of Ewing;
Mr. and Mrs. George Larson and
family of Mt. Vernon, Wash.; Mrs.
Robert (Ruth) Peters and Mr.
Peters of Norfolk; Mrs. James
(Dorothy) Ruby, Mr. Ruby and
famliy of Norfolk, Va.; Mr. and
Mrs. Harlan Larson and family of
O’Neill; Mrs. Cressel (Eula) An
derson, Mr. Anderson and family
of Bloomfield.
Two grandchildren were unable
to attend, Gaylord, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Lawrence Larson, who is in
the navy, and Haroldyne, daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Larson
of San Diego, Calif., who was be
ing married that day.
Dinner was prepared and serv
ed for 170 guests by Mrs. Joe
Thoendel, Mrs. William Hubei,
Mrs. Robert Kreitzinger, Mrs.
Norma Christiansen, Mrs. E. V.
Ruby, Mrs. John Rosno and Anna
Thoendel. Dora Lou Rosno and
three of the Larsons’ granddaugh
ters, Verna, Phyllis and Joan Lar
son, assisted. The wedding cakes
were made and decorated by Mrs.
Harrod, Mrs. James Ruby, Mrs.
Weslyn Larson and Mrs. Chester
Larson.
During the open-house in the
afternoon Mrs. Clarence Harrod
poured, Mrs. Robert Peters serv
ed the cake, Mrs. James Ruby was
in charge of the guest book and
Mrs. Cressel Anderson was in
charge of the gitfs. The Anderson
quartette of Butte provided enter
tainment during the afternoon by
singing hymns and Mrs. Dale Har
rod of Burwell sang “What a
Friend We Have in Jesus,” ac
companied by the quartette. Loris
Anderson, Garland Anderson of
Eutte, Cressel Anderson of Bloom
field and Bud Jons of Butte form
ed the quartette. They were ac
companied by Mrs. Bud Jons.
Relatives attending were Mrs.
Larson’s brother, Carl Lindquist
of Stromsburg; three sisters, Mrs.
Ben Stromberg and Mrs. Julia
Lindquist, both of Stromsburg,
and Mrs. Lillie Larson of Sidney;
Mr. Larson’s brother, Clarence
Larson of Meadow Grove; nieces
and nephews from Stromsburg,
Meadow Grove, Sidney, Clarks,
Gurley, and three who came by
plane from Potter.
Friends were present from Ew
ing, Pender, Bristow, Chambers,
Broken Bow, Burwell, Page, Butte,
Herrick, S.D., and Colome, S D.
The honorees received many
cards and gifts.
Twin Calves, ‘Porky’
at Ira Lange Farm
CELIA — It can be said there
was a lot of activity at the Ira
O. Lange farm Sunday morn
ing.
Twin Hereford calves were
born—a bull and a heifer. Mr.
i Lange says the new arrivals are
“doing nicely.”
For variety a porcupine pulled
into the place, whereupon Mr.
Lange proceeded to kill that vis
itor.
Frontier for printing!
940 Pupils Enroll in
City’s Two Schools
The O’Neill city schools report
ed a total enrollment of 514 stu
dents for the 1955-’56 term, whieh
started this week. Supt. Milton
Baack said there are 170 high
school students with several more
on vacation yet to be registered
In the grade school there are
335 pupils, Mr. Baack reported.
Enrollment by grades:
Kindergarten . 48
first . 43
Second . 45
Third . 44
Fourth . 36
Fifth . 3!
Sixth . 26
Seventh . 24
Seventh and eighth
(combination room) ... .29
Eighth . 18
Ninth . 47
Tenth . 40
Eleventh . 43
Twelfth . 40
Total .514
Bell, Tower Come
Down as Remodeling
Begins on Church
INMAN— Extensive remodeling
of the Methodist church here,
which was rebuilt in 1906, was
begun this week.
The bell, which called the con
gregation to worship for nearly a
half-century, was torn down, also
the tower.
A pastor’s study on the east, a
choir room on the west and a new
entrance are planned, and the in
terior will be completely remod
eled and redecorated.
Mr. Monk of Laurel, architect,
is the supervisor. A 75th anniver
sary observance is planned for
next year.
Hurricane Disaster
Quota for Holt $300
Holt countyans have been asked
to contribute $300 to the disaster
fund of the American Red Cross
to help relieve suffering in the
wake of the recent hurricane,
which claimed many lives and
made thousands homeless in the
Eastern states.
Dr. Rex. W. Wilson of O’Neill,
who is chairman of the Holt coun
ty chapter, ARC, said:
“We are all being called upon
to assist in the American way
by donating what we can. The
Holt county quota is only $300.”
Ah estimate has been made that
the American Red Cross will
spend upward of $5,000,000 for
emergency food, clothing and
shelter for 8,000 families.
“Send contribution to any of
the Holt county banks or to
Emergency Fund, American Red
Cross, Holt County, O’Neill,” the
chairman urged.
Karen Johnson spent Sunday
afternoon at the Connie Frickel
home.
I
The 1955-’56 school term for
mally opened Wednesday at St.
Mary’s academy. The overall en
rollment shows 161 high school
students and 265 grade pupils—a
grand total of 426.
Enrollment by grades:
Kindergarten . 42
First . 38
Second . 38
Third . 37
Fourth . 25
Fifth and sixth. 29
Seventh . 23
Eighth . 33
Ninth . 15
Tenth . 33
Eleventh . 41
Twelfth. 42
Total . 426
8-County Clinic for
Children September 8
Early Registration Is
Being Urged
The next extension clinic to be
held in this area for crippled
children will be at the O’Neill
public school on Saturday, Sept
ember 10. Registration will begin
at 7 a.m. Because eight counties
are served by this clinic, Holt
county children should register
early as a courtesy to those ar
riving from the more distant
towns. All registration should be
completed by noon.
The clinic is for diagnosis, con
sultation, checkup and after-care
services for children now receiv
ing treatment and will be con
ducted by Dr. Dwight W. Bur
ney, orthopedist, and Dr. Gilbert
Schriener, pediatrician. Children
who are not now receiving ser
vices under the program of ser
vices for crippled children may
be admitted to the clinic when
referred by their local physician
or in certain cases at the request
of parents.
All physicians in Holt county
have been informed regarding
the clinic and have been furnish- j
ed blanks for the referral of
children to the clinic. Completed
blanks should be mailed prompt
ly to the county welfare office, in
time as will permit clearance
with the services for crippled
children division prior to the
clinic.
“The practice of sending the
referral with the patient is un
desirable, but may be necessary
in some cases,” a spokesman ex
plained. It is very important
that a referral be furnished, even
if the patient does have to bring
it to the doctors, The announce
ment added.
Assisting at the clinic will be
Mrs. J. P. Brown and Mrs. Ben
Gilligan.
A noon lunch, served by the
ladies of Circle III, Mrs. Earl
Hunt, women’s association of the
First Presbyterian church, will be
furnished by Elk’s lodge without
cost to all parents and children
registered for examination.
‘BARNYARD CHRISTINE’ . . .
Egg-Laying Hen Becomes Rooster
By a Staff Writer
Nearly everyone will recall
“Christine,” the one - time male
soldier who, after submitting to
surgery, emerged as a woman.
That physiological phenomena is
known the world over.
Comes now a “Barnyard Chris
tine” in Holt county —\ quick
change-of-sex in the fowl king
dom.
This “Barnyard Christine” (or
“Christopher”) was not unlike the
149 other hens in the flock of
chickens at the Clyde Streeter
farm, 10 miles north of O’Neill.
About a month ago Mr. Streeter
and his wife began to be awaken
ed each morning by a rooster’s
crow. The crowing voice develop
ed rapidly and soon became full
throated. It wasn’t difficult for
the Streeters to sense something
unusual had been going on be
cause they hadn’t kept a rooster
on the place for years.
They singled out the noisy one,
which appeared to be a hen. “She”
had been earning “her” keep by
laying eggs with the best of them.
Came the crowing. Then the
rapid development of a comb.
“Christine” (beg your pardon,
“Christopher”) began to lo^e in
terest in laying eggs and quickly
acquired a typical rooster's in
terest in the hens. Long tail fea
thers began to grow.
The Streeters say this phenome
na of the poultry world now pre
sides at the feedyard in the typ
ical rooster tradition and summons
the girls to chow.
Mr. Streeter is wondering if
“Christine” (aw shucks, “Chisto
pher”) will grow spurs and there
by finish the course.
A few weeks ago a farmer at
Bennington reported a similar
transformation in his poultry
flock—the only other incident of
this kind they’d heard about. The
Streeter prize is a cross between
a white leghorn and an Austra
white.
Unaccustomed to listening to an
animated alarm clock between 3
and 4 o’clock in the morning, the
Streeters have a notion to Keep
“Chris” around for a little while
longer and then turn “him” over
-to somebody who has a hankering
for studying such a specimen.
“Chris” cackles like a hen out
crows with the best of the roosters,
Mr. Streeter declares.
“The cackling I don’t mind, but
that 3 o’clock crowing has gotta
stop!” he added.
(A tape-recorded interview with
Mr. Streeter and “Chris,” who
will be heard in a few cackles,
will be broadcast on the Saturday,
September 3, “Voice of The Fron
tier” program, WJAG, 780 kc, 9:30
a.m.)
I
Clyde Streeter and “Chris” . . . feathered friend laid eggs until
a month ago, now crows.—The Frontier Photo.
v At the close of Tuesday’s dedicatory rites in Atkinson’s new St. Joseph’s Catholic church, Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan (left fore
ground, wearing distinctive head dress) and 60 clergymen file up the aisle. More than 600 persons attended.—The Frontier Photo.
/Ss __
m——iiimu uni is... • ,. m jKriMjnb.
Archbishop Bergan . . . “the
altar — none finer in the mid
west.”—The Frontier Photo.
PURSE STOLEN
Mrs. George Weingartner, who
is a clerk at an O’Neill store, re
ported the theft of her pocket
book at the store. A stranger had
been seen in the back room of the
store near the place where the
clerks keep their personal effects
while on duty.
Bergan:(Beyond Fondest Hope’
By a Staff Writer
ATKINSON — Six hundred
persons overflowed the new St.
Joseph’s Catholic church Tuesday
morning, August 30, for the ded
icatory rites, formally opening the
new 200-thousand-dollar Gothic
type structure.
Most Rev. Gerald T. Bergan,
archbishop of the Omaha diocese
of the Roman Catholic church, of
ficiated in a pontifical high mass
and, in a sermon, praised the
church pastor and the parishoners
for the “wonderful church — far
beyond my fondest hopes in
grandeur and beauty.”
Sixty other members of the
clergy, including six monsignors,
were present. The monsignors in
cluded the Rt. Revs. Robert Burns
of Norfolk, Ernest Graham of
Omaha, Floyd Fischer of Omaha,
Daniel Sheehan of Omaha, Francis
Dube of Fairfax, S.D. Also present
were Very Rev. Timothy O’Sulli
van of St. Patrick’s church, O’
Neill, and all priests of the O’Neill
deanery.
Two former parishoners who
are now ordained priests were
present: Rev. Francis Kubart of
Omaha and Rev. Francis Night
engale of San Diego, Calif. Two
others were unable to attend:
Rev. James Barnabas Berigan
of San Francisco, Calif., and
Rev. John McNally of Omaha.
The occasion served as a home
coming for scores of former par
ishoners.
Visitors were highly impressed
with the twin - towered edifice
which faces east and presides at
the west end of Atkinson’s State
street. The church had been under
construction for 18 months.
The cornerstone was laid June
26, 1954, with Archbishop Bergan
officiating.
Wilt? Ul Lilt; IIIUSL UiaLlIlULlVt; ICd
tures of the building is the altar of
Belgian marble designed by the
pastor, Rev. Richard Parr. The
stained glass windows (only two
of which were in position on ded
ication day) will depict the seven
joys and sorrows of St. Joseph.
The windows are designed by
Richard A. Leader, assistant pro
fessor of art at Notre Dame uni
versity.
Archbishop Bergan told the aud
ience:
“Worthy of solemn ceremony is
this dedication of this new fortress
for better living. Worthy, too, of
the sincere congratulations is your
energetic pastor, his talented as
sistant (Rev. William Kelligar)
and you—His dearly devoted chil
dren.
“The dream of many years
comes to a reality today. The
dream has come through rare
prudence in judgment. Always
fearful that perhaps a financial
burden might be placed upon his
ilock, your good shepherd quiet
ly, modestly and courageously,
with your generous help, prepar
ed for this crowning event of his
life and yours.
“Your archbishop wishes to
express publicly that which is
deep in his heart—his profound
gratitude for the sacrifices
which your pastor and you have
made these many, many years.
“To each and everyone, I offer
my most prayerful thanks. Each
one has been generous, otherwise
we should not be here this morn
ing. Thank God for your practical
faith and your gracious charity.
“You, too, can exclaim, ana so
honestly: ‘I, too, have loved the
beauty of Thy house and the place
where Thy glory dwelleth.’
“I had hoped on my first trip
on my first visit here six or sev
en years ago that I might drive
down this main street and see a
new cHurch with one spire, or,
better yet, two, mounting toward
Heaven. Last evening, as the sun
was setting, here I saw this mag
nificent house of God.
“I hope my dear people, Cath
olic and non-Catholic alike, that
when you hear this lovely clarion
three times each day that in your
own way you will offer a prayer
of thanksgiving to Almighty God,
and a little prayer for his bless
ing for Atkinson and for all of its
citizens.
“The altar here—there is none
more beautiful in the middlewest.
“This is a very practical, mod
est and sensible church. And by
your pastor’s exquisite taste, only
the best, according to your means,
was placed in this house of God.”
Stork Winner in
Automobile Race
INMAN—The stork won the
decision in the wee hours Wed
nesday, August 24, in an auto
mobile race to the Neligh hos
pital. In fact, the long-legged
maternity transport bird was the
easy victor.
Mrs. Robert E. Geary, an ex
pectant mother, announced to
her husband it was time to
head for the hospital ahead of
schedule.
The couple climbed into a
car and the race was on.
Reaching the home of Mrs.
Geary’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Maden Funk, at Inman at 2
a.m., the couple stopped off.
The handwriting was on the
wall foretelling a victory for
Mr. Stork.
A half-hour later Mrs. Funk
and a neighbor woman, also
acting as a midwife, had help
ed deliver a seven-pound baby
girl named Mary Etta.
When a doctor from O’Neill
arrived, he pronounced the
mother and baby “doing nice
ly’’ and doubted if hospitaliza
tion would be needed.
The Gearys have an older
daughter named Sally.
Man Hurt as Car
Overturns Near Here
Raymond L. Beers, about 45,
was injured about 4:45 p.m.,
Wednesday when his northbound
car left U.S. highway 281, at a
point 13% miles south of O’Neill,
and overturned two or three times.
Deputy Holt County Sheriff
James Mullen, who investigated,
said the O’Neill man’s car, a 1953
model sedan, was on-and-off the
highway several times, traveling
a distance of 375 feet before com
ing to a stop in an overturned
position.
The accident occurred near the
Roland Harvey place. Mrs. Har
vey saw Mr. Beers thrown free of
tile machine and Mr. Harvey had
a glimpse of the car summer
saulting to a stop.
Mr. Beers, who was the only oc
cupant, was taken to St. Anthony’s
hospital by ambulance. His physi
cian said the driver suffered a
broken leg, badly bruised arm,
and possible other injuries. The
doctor described the victim’s con
dition as “fair” four hours after
the accident.
3 Stuart Girls in
Omaha Hospital
STUART—Three Stuart girls,
Misses Radeen Kramer, Sharon
Biglow and LaVonne Sch
maderer, who are employed in
Omaha, were involved in a one
car accident early Wednesday
morning.
All are in a hospital suffering
from cuts and abrasions. Three
male companions, all of Omaha,
are in more serious condition.
Frontier for printing!
O’Neill Housewife
Assailed Near Home
A middleaged O’Neill housewife,
who had taken a walk near her
home about 1:30 a.m., Friday, was
attacked by an unknown male as
sailant wearing a white tee-shirt.
The woman, who had been un
able to sleep because of the in
tense heat, took the walk to get
fresh air. She had gone a little
more than a block from home
when she realized a man was fol
lowing her. She turned a corner1
and accelerated her steps. Sud
denly the man thrust his arms
about her and clenched her
mouth. She said she managed to
bite his hand and scream several
times.
He hit her behind her knees to
knock her down. Finally, when
neighborhood lights began to
come on, the man fled past a
neighbor’s house and disappeared
down an alley.
O’Neill police have questioned
several regarding the incident, and
fingerprints are being checked.
The woman suffered only from
shock.
Trio Makes Tour
of Three Airports
Three O’Neillites—Mayor Alva
Marcellus, Councilman L. M.
Merriman and President G. E.
Miles of the Chamber of Com
merce—were flown to Ainsworth,
Valentine and Merriman last
Thursday on a tour of modern air
ports. The flight was arranged by
James Ramsey, director of the
Nebraska department of aeronaut
ics.
The trio was flown fn a state
owned plane piloted by Mr. Heirs.
O’Neill is eligible for federal
aid for airport development, ac
cording to Ramsey, who asks that
the city make known its plan
concerning possible airport con
struction by October 1. A recently
enacted law provides for about
700-thousand-dollars for airport
development in Nebraska. The
city would foot about 20 or 25 per
cent of the bill
Ramsey will send a spokesman
to O’Neill on Tuesday, September
6, tc appear at the regular month
ly meeting of the council and ex
plain the federal and state partici
pation. Mayor Marcellus said he
would appoint a committee to in
vestigate the matter.
Escapes from 2d
Floor Thru Window
ATKINSON — One of five
children in a family escaped
from a second-floor window
Tuesday morning as the farm
h6me of Mr. and Mrs. Jake
Braun was destroyed by fire. No
one was injured.
Most of the home’s furnishings
were saved, but much of the
family’s clothing was lost. The
farm is about four miles north
east of Atkinson.
Origin of the fire had not been
determined.
