TWELVE
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This Issue
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Volume 75.—Number 47. O’Neill, Holt County, Nebraska, Thursday, March 22/4 956. Seven Cents
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Nebraska Gov. Victor Anderson (left) made Publisher Cal
Stewart and other members of a press party honoroary “admirals”
in the mythical Nebraska “navy” prior to takeoff on aerial trip to
Miami.—U.S. Navy Photo.
Navy Air Reservists
‘Make Like Birds’
By CAL STEWART
Editor, The Frontier
MIAMI, FLA.—They told us at
a briefing at the navy air service
station in Lincoln we would com
plete the 2,000-odd mile dog-leg
course to Miami at 7:22 p.m.
The briefing officer knew what
he was talking about. The big:
^(33 tons) twin-engined Neptune i
patrol plane set down at Op a!
lacka field within one minute of
the estimated time of arrival
Wednesday evening, March 14.
And six other editors and pub
lishers aboard the training craft
were equally impressed by the
precise teamwork.
The commanding officer of
the navy station at Lincoln had
invited the press group to climb
aboard for the “cruise” to Mi
ami and there to watch navy air
reservists from Nebraska busily
at work during their two weeks
of active duty.
I rounded a cavernous hangar
(equivalent to a square block) at
* Opa Lacka and the first person
I met was O’Nefll’s Lt. C. R.
(“Russ”) Foree, a reservist. In
stead of wrestling with and re
capping auto and truck tires and
directing his employees as he
does at ljome (Foree Tire &
Supply), “Russ” was sweatin’ out
his supply of tires for the F9F6
Gntman jet fighter planes. Cross
winds cm the main runway were
causing tires to sear and holdout
for only one or two landings.
Oh yes, and “Russ” has some
tlung like 27,000 parts to worry
about for each of the Grumans
in the squadron.
He is in charge of fuel, from
high test gas to kerosene (jets
use kerosene for fuel).
“Russ” loves to fly privately
with props but doesn’t shepherd
a jet.
Dt. H. J. Lechtel, a Leigh
_ banker, had been shooting land
ings in the Gruman when Foree
and I went onto the line. Lechtel
has been doing “weekend war
rior” duty at the navy base in
Lincoln for several years.
After a few days at Miami he
had checked out in this craft—a
brother to some of the navy’s
front-line planes.
He ran down his preflight check
list (external inspection) and
permitted me to sat in the pilot’s
seat for the painstaking scratch
of 137 items in the cockpit check
off.
We learned lots about jets
and made private observations
about the men who fly ’em and '
keep ’em flying.
The newspaper crowd had been
briefed thoroughly before ven
turing onto the line. We were
told the Lincoln navy installation
• $50,000 L-Shaped
Wing to Be Built
ATKINSON — An L - shaped
. wing, costing approximately 50
thousand-dollars, is planned for
Atkinson’s Memorial hospital.
Half the construction cost al
ready is accessible. Ten thousand
dollars is available through the
Ford foundation, which has au
thorized a grant in that amount;
a 10-thousand-dollar gift has been
made to the hospital by the
Mother House of the Franciscan
Sisters of Blessed Kunegunda; and
there is other money presently on
hand in the hospital’s building
fund.
The hospital advisory board
will ask local citizens to match
that amount.
Architectural plans for the new
addition have already been pre
pared. The hospital is now in its
fourth year of service to the
community.
Two School Board
Positions Open
EWING—A school caucus was
held Tuesday evening, March 13,
at the Ewing public school. A
fair crowd was in attendance to
select candidates for two
three-year terms. Candidates cho
sen were: J. L. Pruden, Alfred
Napier, Everett Ruby and Wilbur
Spangler, whose term expired
this year and who was nominated
as a candidate for reelection.
Alvin Gibson, who has served
on the board of education for sev
eral years, was not a candidate
for re-election. ^
BULLS AVERAGE $285
The Niobrara Valley Hereford
association sale grossed $9,975
with 35 bulls averaging $285 each.
The sale was held March 13.
was homebase for two fighter
squadrons, one attack squadron,
two patrol squadrons and one
service squadron — all reserve
units. They are kept in combat
readiness. In the event of war
these units could be the core of
new expanded organizations.
All conceivable types of planes
were parading overhead and
around Opa Lacka, and the Ne
braska reservists were taking ad
vantage of the highly desirable
flying weather—a Florida char
acteristic.
Lt. Harry Anderson of Harting
ton looked like a man from Mars
as he headed for his plane.
“Gonna make like a bird!” he
exclaimed and began his externa]
check-off outside the 18-ton fight
er—moments later to be soaring
30-, 40- or 50,000 feet overhead
The reservists who do dull
surface jobs to keep the jets fly
ing are great chaps. You mus1
have a yen to be near planes, have
pronounced technical ability anc
a desire to do' a bit for national
defense if you are to be a success
ful “weekend warrior”—navy ah
reserve style.
These fellows have all that
and are keeping abreast of de
velopments in the aviation field.
Fighters are built to kill the
enemy. One squirt is all you gel
at the other fellow in a fight. Us
ually by the time you make youi
turn your respective 600-mpl
speeds have taken you out o!
each other’s sight.
As an air force veteran of World
War II, I’ve been quite a skeptic
about the navy. But the navy’s
reserve air program makes a lo
of sense and offers economy, too
Accompanying us were Cmdr
Frank Holt, CO of the Lincolr
station; Cmdr. Ray Thorpe, train
ing officer, and Lt. Roy Highberg
all of Lincoln.
Our Neptune crew included Lt
Merle Hofer of Lincoln, pilot; Lt
Marv Skappel of Lincoln (jus
returned from Alaska), co-pilo
and navigator; ADI Carroll Youni
of Fullerton, ATC Cliff Weber
mechanic, and ATI Erwin Pivon
ka of Lincoln, radio operator.
Sunday’s return trip was a rou
tine navigational problem for thi
Neptune boys — despite snow
rain, sleet and a 50-mph head
wind. The weatherman tendei
to make you forget the sofl
sandy beach and plush hotel
1 left behind in that gaudy am
miracle kingdom of Miami.
:
Lt. C. R. (“Russ”) Foree of O’Neill (left) and Lt. H. J. (“Lucky”) Luchtel of Leigh . .. give navy
jet plane a preflight inspection at Miami base.—TJ.S. Navy Photo.
Jury Finds
Van Buren
Not Guilty
Deliberates 3% Hours
i n Motor Vehicle
Homicide Trial
BUTTE — The courtroom was
packed Tuesday and Wednesday
for the motor vehicle homicide
trial in which the state of Ne
braska was prosecuting a 20-year
old Spencer father, Willard Van
Buren, in connection with the
August 21, 1955, highway death
of Danny Kersch, 16, of Spencer.
Four women were on the jury
—the first time in Boyd county
history that women have serv
ed as jurors.
District Judge D. R. Mounts of
O’Neill presided and the case was
turned over to the jury at 5:30
p.m., Wednesday.
After 3% hours of deliberation,
the jury returned a verdict at
9:05 p.m., finding Van Buren “not
guilty.”
A large number of witnesses
were called and examined.
Witnesses for the state were
Sheriff Claude Collins, State
Highway Patrolman Ray Shorriey,
Mary Ann Rasmussen of Butte,
Beverly Dix of Butte, Donna
Klasna of Spencer, Mrs. Joe Kel
ler of Spencer, Mr. and Mrs. Leo
Marx of Spencer, Alvin Blair of
near Butte, Dr. R. E. Kriz of
Lynch, Jack Wells of Butte, Rich
ard Jones of Spencer and Connie
Sattler of Omaha (formerly of
Spencer).
Witnesses for the defendant
were Ralph M. Friedrich, Orlyn
Wells, Carl Friedrich and Wayne
Blair, all of Spencer, Alvira and
Elaine Jons, both of Bonesteel,
S.D., and the defendant.
Julius D. Cronin of O’Neill and
. William P Wills of Butte were
attorneys for the defendants, and
County Attorney William L.
Brennan was the prosecutor.
Court Clerk C. J. Tomek said
the Van Buren trial likely will be
the only action in the spring term
of court.
D. E. Conner, Wife
Soon Wed 60 Years
EWING—Mr. and Mrs. D. E.
Conner of Ewing will have been
; married 60 years on Wednesday,
' March 28.
They will formally observe the
’ event on Sunday. March 25, with
\ a family dinner at the home of
their daughter, Mrs. William
Robinson, in Orchard.
*
Lyle P. Dierks of Ewing, Holt
] county savings bond chairman,
1 Tuesday was presented a medal
lion by N. R. Phillips of Omaha,
5 savings bond sales supervisor.
1 The medallion signifies Holt
countyans purchased 100 percent
of the bond quota during 1955.
1 -1"1 . — ■ 1 1
Mrs. Hazel Abel
Presents Gift
Former Senator Gives
$1,000 to Center
Mrs. Hazel Abel of Lincoln,
former U.S. senator (short-short
term in 1954), pulled a surprise
last Thursday during her partici
pation in the opening of O’Neill’s
new youth center.
In the presence of a reception
committee she tore up a personal
check she had made out for $500
for use at the center and replaced
it with a $1,000 check.
Mrs. Abel was featured on the
open - house program. Another
guest was Miss Sandra Speicher,
“Miss Nebraska of 1955.”
Entertainment included a home
talent show, which lasted more
than two hours.
Speaking at the dedication
were L. D. Putnam, who di
rected the renovation of the
center on the main floor of the
Knights of Columbus building,
and Mayor Alva Marcellus, who
was a leader in the movement.
At a meeting of the board on
Monday night it was decided to
open the new O’Neill youth cen
ter on Friday, March 23, from 7:30
p.m. until 11 p.m., and again on
Saturday from 7:30 p.m. until
10:30 p.m. After that date the
regular schedule will be as fol
lows:
Tuesday — 7:30 p.m. until 10
p.m.
Friday—7:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Saturday—8:30 p.m. until 10:30
p.m.
Sponsors for Friday night are
Jerome Gallagher, Herman Renze
and Fred Heermann. For Satur
day night they are Robert Kurtz,
Bill Brewster and Mr. Putnam.
For the present membership
will consist of pupils in the sev
enth and eighth grades and
through high school until their
18th birthday anniversary, and
the membership fee will be $2
per year. This year’s membership
will be good until September,
1957. Beginning with the fall of
1956, the center’s year will par
allel the school year and it will
not be open during June, July
and August.
A youth council compose , of
the president and secretary of the
freshman, sophomore, junior and
senior classes of O’Neill high
school and St. Mary’s academy
will play a major part in setting
up rules governing the use of the
center. They will elect a mayor
and assistant mayor from their
group to officiate for April and
May. In September new officers
will be elected in the same man
ner.
Applications are being receiv
ed by the officers for a center
manager. Present plans do not
anticipate the use of one until the
fall opening.
GOES TO DORSEY
DORSEY—W. A. Ellis, 84, who
suffered a stroke recently and
has been hospitalized in O’Neill,
returned to his home here Tues
day,
Putnam, Abel, Marcellus . . . one-thousand- dollar check for O’Neill’s youth center.—The
Frontier Photo,
... . . ...-.... .----- -■ ■ ^ --
Plan Grand Opening
I
McCarvilles on Saturday will
stage a grand opening sale in
their impressive new store
building at 308 East Douglas
street.
The date coincides with the
50th anniversary of the entry
of J. L. McCarville, sr., into
the retail field.. Mr. McCarville,
a native of Iowa, went into bus
iness in Bonesteel, S.D., in 1906,
and operated a store there many
years.
In 1946 he came to O’Neill
and purchased the Anton Toy
store. He was joined by his
sons, John (upper left) and J.
L. jr. Their business expanded
and they moved from the Odd
Fellows building to the Con
sumers building. This spring
their own new building was
completed.
Prizes, gifts and refreshments
are a part of Saturday’s cele
bration. (Details on page 4.)
—The Frontier Photos.
State-Federal Funds
Okayed for Airport
$12,000 Building to Be
Erected
The Nebraska state aeronautics
commission, in custody of more
than a half-million-dollar “wind
fall” from congressional appro
priations, Monday agreed to ex
pend some of that money for an
administration building at O'
Neill’s Municipal airport.
The state will allocate $3,000
and the city of O’Neill will match
that amount. The federal govern
ment will grant $6,000—thus mak
ing a $12,000 building.
Mayor Alva Marcellus and Air
port Manager George Nachtman
appeared at Monday’s hearing.
Airport improvement has been
the subject of considerable dis
cussion at recent city council
meetings and city officials have
made inspections of ’ports at
other cities.
O’Neill High Hunts
New Basketball Coach
Elmer Murman, O’Neill high
school faculty member and head
basketball coach for the past two
years, has declined to accept a
contract for 1956-’57, it was an
nounced Tuesday by Supt, M. J.
Baack.
Murman, who has been spend
ing summers working on his mas
ter’s deeree in school administra
tion, indicated he would stay in
the teaching field.
DELOIT — Frank Schmiser’s
daughter, Clara, arrived recently
T'n'-riarvi where her husband
is a maior in the armv. She was
called because of the illness of
her father. However he is im
proving at his home at this time.
2 Unusual Accidents;
Results Not Serious
PAGE—Here are two minor
accidents, both of which could
have been a lot worse:
Leroy Clasey, 13, son of Mr.
and Mrs. George Clasey of
Page, removed the burner from
a gas stove in order to fill a
balloon with gas. An explosion
ensued, and the lad suffered
second degree burns on his
hands.
Merwyn French, jr., suffered
painful injuries when he at
tempted to put a cow and her
young calf through a gate.
When Mr. French tried to guide
the young calf through, Mama
Cow tossed Mr. French into the
air and trampled him. The
family dog arrived on the scene
in time to prevent further in
jury. No bones were broken.
Mrs. Howard Desieve
Expires in Hospital
STUART — Funeral services
were conducted here Wednesday
morning, March 22, from St. Bon
iface Catholic church for Mrs.
Howard (Marie) Deseive, 25, of
Stuart.
She died about 3 p.m., Monday,
March 20, in Atkinson Memorial
hospital. She had been in failing
health for several weeks.
Burial was to be made at
Crawford.
Contest of Will
Lone Case Remaining—
Lone remaining case definitely
on the docket for the spring term
of the Holt county district court
involves a contest of a will. The
controversy concerns the $6,000
| estate of the late Lottie Thomp
son.
Paintiffs are Darlene Cooper
and William Thompson.
J. L. McCarville sr. . . en
tered retail business at Bone
steel in 1906. — The Frontier
Photo.
• ■
H . i .v"
‘Miss Lurline’
Arriving in Hawaii recently
aboard the luxury liner Lurline
was Miss Mary Lou Birming
ham (above), chosen “Miss
Lurline” for the voyage. Trav
eling with her parents, Miss
Birmingham will visit relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Latta of Hon
olulu. The Birminghams are
scheduled to sail homeward
April 2 although Mr. Birming
' ham suffered a “mild” heart
attack Sunday and was hos
pitalized there. Miss Marde
Birmingham left Tuesday by
I air to be near her father and is
to arrive in Honolulu today
I (Thursday).
Mary Uhl
Dies at 79;
Burial Here
Native of Germany
Resident of Holt
County Since 1904 0
Mrs Mary Uhl, 79, widow of
the late Casper Uhl, died at St.
Anthony’s .hospital in O’Neill at
1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 15.
She had been in failing health for
some time but had been hospital
ized only a few days.
Funeral services were conduct
ed at 9 a.m., Monday, March 19,
from St. Patrick’s Catholic church
with Very Rev. Timothy O’Sulli
van officiating. Burial was in
Calvary cemetery.
Pallbearers were Edward James
Donohoe, Donald Donohoe, Ray
mond Donohoe, John Joe Uhl, all
grandchildren also Merle Hickey
and Harold Weier. Biglins were
in charge of the funeral arrange
ments. Rosary was recited at the
home Sunday afternoon and eve
ning.
Mary Wahle Uhl, daughter of
Joe Wahle and Ann Peters „
Wahle, was born on July 13,
1876, in Furstenburg, West
phalia Germany. She came to
America with her parents at
the age of 4.
They settled on a homestead
near Salem, S.D., where she spent
her childhood.
On June 27, 1902, she was
married to Casper Uhl at Dan
bury, la. They moved to Holt
county in 1904.
The Uhls became the parents of
four children—two sons and two
daughters.
Survivors include: Sons—Nor
bert of O’Neill and Leslie R. of
•Portland, Ore; daughters— Mrs.
Leo (Alaxa) Gokie and Mrs. John
E. (Kamilla) Donohoe, both of O’
Neill; sister—Mrs. Louisa Toft of 0
Los Angeles, Calif.; 14 grandchil
dren and three great-grandchil
dren.
She was a member of St. Pat
rick’s church, Altar society and
Goldenrod extension club.
Mr. Uhl died in 1947.
Out-of-town relatives here to
attend the funeral were Mr. and
Mrs. John Uhl and son, Leo, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Welte, Kay Fran
cis Scott, all of Mapleton, la.;
Herman Streik, Mr. and Mrs.
Johnny Uhl and Shirley, Mrs. Cle
tus Richtemeir and son, Amey, of
Danbury, la.; Mr. and Mrs. Ben
Rawling, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wahle
and Joe Wahle, all of Salem, S.D.;
Mrs. Buddy Cloyd of Waynesville,
Mo.; Mr. and Mrs Merle Keiser
and Kay of Valentine.
Baack Promoted to
Major by Guards
M. J. Baack, superintendent of
the O’Neill city schools, an officer
in the Pacific theater during
World War II and an active na
tional guard officer during the
past 10 years, this week was
promoted from captain to major
by the guards.
He joined the guards in 1938
following his graduation from
high school and has had continu
ous service either with the guards
or with the regular army.
Presently he is planning and
training officer for the Second
battalion, 134th infantry, Nebras
ka national guard. Units in the
battalion are located at Norfolk,
Columbus, Grand Island, Seward
and Hastings.
Meanwhile, Cap*. J. L. McCar
ville, jr., of company D, 195th
tank battalion, said strength of
the O’Neill company continues to
1* soar. There are now 71 enlisted
men and two officers in the unit.
| Cronk, Batenhorst
Seek Reelection
Two Holt county supervisors
who are completing their second
terms, Friday filed for nomina
tion for reelection. They are:
Frank Cronk of Page, Fourth
distirct, republican, and A. M.
Batenhorst of Stuart, Sixth dis
trict, democrat.
Until now both are unopposed.
Meanwhile, Fred Jungman of
Atkinson filed Tuesday, March
' 13, seeking nomination for state
senator from the 28th legislative
i district. Other candidates for the
post are Frank Nelson of O’Neill
(incumbent), Donald Rohde of
Lynch and John Tenborg of Em
' met.
Potluck Sapper—
American Legion auxiliary, Si
monson unit 93, will entertain
the Legionnaires at a potluck sup
per at 6:30 o’clock Sunday eve
ning at the club. Stanley Huffman
of Elgin, state Legion command
er, and Charles Chace of Atkin
son, district commander, will be
guests.
New Baby Named—
William Wesley is the name
! chosen for the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Jenkins. They’ll call
I him “Wes.”