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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 1956)
STATS i5oo a sr. JJdDlUD&rMQ- CASS COUNTY'S GREATEST NEWSPAPER nun ATrTrQrinnniTrrin PUBLISHED SEMI - WEEKLY Monday - Thursday finnr u Consolidated With the Nchawka Enterprise and Elm wood Leader-EchoRead Twice Weekly by More Than 3500 Cass County Families SIX PACES PLATTSMOUTH. CASS COUNTY. NEBRASKA. MONDAY. AUCUST 20. 1956 TEN CENTS PER COPY NUM3E: A Former Editor Recalls: u a ? fi n m J. Frank Smith When The glittering, glib, polished and powdered candidates ap pearing before batteries of tele vision cameras, microphones and the portable radio trans mitters of today may excite and amuse many Cass County convention viewers but there's many an old timer hereabouts who still lookd back with favor on old time "politicking." Among those who can vividly recall the days when politics were politics and not television amusement shows is Frank Smith, for 40 years editor of the Plattsmouth Journal. Retired now from active news paperwork, (but still one of the best sources for news tips), Frank passed on to one of his successors his recollections of A, r ? PHS Band Has Farewell Party To Honor Director McKenney A surprise farewell party was held Thursday evening for Plattsmouth High Schol Music Director Melvin D. McKenney. The party, attended by band members and their parents, was held in the high school auditor ium. Mr. McKenney is leaving this city soon to take a position as music director at Nebraska City High School. During his four year tenure here the Plattsmouth band was three times winner at the Ak- Sar-Ben Marching Band Con test in Omaha. The band also has won many other top awards in the past in addition to out standing individual and small group musical performances. Mr. McKenney is married and has five children. Successor to Mr. McKenney is Richard Ku cera, a graduate of Crete High School and Doane College. He i expected to arive here early Federal Sewage Act Will Be Discussed; Could Affect City The federal water pollution control act, which could have a direct effect on Plattsmouth's sewage system, will be discussed tomorrow at the west chamber office of the capitol building at 1:30 p.m. 'The act provides partial fed eral aid for city sewage disposal with priority going to citys lo cated on rivers and streams. Experts on the new control act will explain details and an swer questions from -the floor. They also will explain the pro cedure necessary for making an Application for a fund grant. Anyone interested in sewage treatment and water pollution is invited to attend the meet- Rev. Mueller Accepts County Church Posts LOUISVILLE Rev. Lyle R. Mueller has accepted positions as minister of St. Pauls Luth eran Church in' Weeping Water and of Immanuel Church in Louisville. ondlodloitB y" n jeiniBiflira V Journal Editor politics when Nebraska's peren nial "favorite son" candidate was just about the perennial Democratic' candidate. That man of course, is none other than the most extraor dinary Democratic leader of all time, Williams Jennings Bryan. Frank, now 72, is among those old timers who recall Bryan's frequent visits here just before and after the turn of the cen tury. Whenever he came here to speak he always drew a capa city crowd, Frank recalls. How ever, he also came here on numerous occasions just to visit local people with whom he was friendly and also to do some old fashioned "politicking." Frank was in his early news- next month. He presently is at tending an army reserve sum mer camp. Mr. McKenney was presented with an identification bracelet by band members and band parents gave him a card table and blanket during the farewell party. Sharon Harbaugh. acted as mistress of ceremonies of the program which included: Linda Livingston, saxophone solo; Bob Morris, piano solo; Janet Campbell, vocal solo; and Jane Fauquet, piano solo. An added feature was an im promptu dance with music provided by several members o the high school band. Dance band members were: Mary Nolting, Linda Livings ton Jane and John Fauquet Alan Wiles. Jim Morris, Jim Grosshans and Bob Beverage. Cake, ice cream and punch were served those attending. During the meeting, Mr. Mc Kenney told the group he had received an invitation for the band to participate in a march ing contest at Columbus, Augus 31. Mr. McKenney said since he woulld not be in the Platts mouth school system on this dater he would leave the decis ion of the trip to band parents it was decided to attend the contest and to travel by bus. Those Wash Day Any local housewives who find themselves grumbling over the size of the family wash should compare notes with Joe Segrave, a 58-year-old former Plattsmoutn man. Joe, now laundry superinten dent at Woodward State Ho pital in Iowa, supervises the laundering of 50,000 dry weight nounds of sheets, shirts, dresses and towels each week. The washing activites of Joe were told recently in a feature storv in the Des Moines Tri bune. Joe was born and raised on a farm near here. He left dren and started his laundry the city about 35 years ago to work in 1915 at Kimball Laun move to Iowa, hut still returns! dry at Waterloo. An elder broth ay Like iry co m papering days during the latter portion of Bryan s political career, but he still can remem ber an abundant part of Bry an's activities before he (Frank) began his duties with the Journ al. An avowed Democrat who says he never voted for a Re publican presidential candidate, Frank said he wasn't old enough to ever cast a vote for Bryan but he woulld have. He said this although after looking back on things several days ago he admitted he didn't think the Nebraska political whiz would have made a good chief executive. "His viewpoint was too nar row." Frank recalls. "Even moreso than that of the Repub lican of his day." But personally Bryan was an impressive man one who could hold his audiences spellbound, Frank recalls. He had an un canny memory and could re member people whenever he re turned on a "politicking" or visiting mission. . The tall heavy set man with the Roman nose would stand out in a crowd, Frank says. His long black hair thinned with the years but his fire was always with him. Frank remembers going to Lincoln once to hear Bryan at a time when Democratic lum inaries from throughout the nat ion were there to hear their leader. "I met the man dozens of times," Frank recalls. "He was here too many times for me to remember." An old-time friend of Frank's (Continued on Page Five) Offutt Man Is Fined $74 On Two Counts An Offutt Air Force Base man paid a total of $74 in fines and court costs in Cass County Court action this past week. He is Irvin R. Merrick who pleaded guilty to charges of speeding and passing on the crest of a hill. Other recent cases include: Donald F. Jones of Kansas City, Mo., overload on axle, $50 fine, $4 costs. Charles R. Cawley of Tecum- seh, overweight on capacity plates, $69 fine, $4 costs. T. A. McConkey of Shenandoah ! Iowa, expired number plates, $10 fine, $4 costs. Billy C. Devoe of Lincoln, speeding, $10 fine, $4 costs. Alvm W. Dearmont of Bur well, failure to stop at stop sign, $10 fine, $4 costs. Armon L. Hawkins of Bellevue speeding, $15 fine, $4 costs. Walter D. Marshall of Lincoln Air Force Base, speeding, $10 fine, $4 costs. Ardell R. Linder of Harvard, speeding, $15 fine, $4 costs. Frank Smith Back At Journal Desk Frank Smith, long time news editor of The Journal, reported back to his news desk this Mon day morning to take a hand in editing. jfranic, cue to illness, was forced to give up a few years ago and take things easier. He still will be at his news desk, but on a part time basis "at his typewriter will add materially j to the news content of this news paper. ... .. Blues: oty Mami Has A about once a year to look up old friends. The week's wash at Woodward includes 95,000 "flat" pieces, 11,000. sheets, 1,000 uniforms, 3,350 men's shirts and 4,950 women's dresses, Joe says. He has a staff of 12 and the aid of about 50 boys and 25 girls who are patients. - Joe's father was a commercial laundryman for almost 50 years in England. Joe has ' supervised operations at Woodward for 25 years. He is the youngest of 12 chil Heavy Rains Lash County Friday Night Heavy rains, accompanied by high winds in some areas, lash ed Cass County Friday night giving the area much needed moisture measuring up to more than three inches in the Union area, it was reported to the Journal. Here in Plattsmouth little more than one-half inch fell dur ing the night, with no damage reported in the immediate vi cinity. At Murray the rainfall measur ed up to two and one-half inch es to the south and west of that community. Union and A voca reported an equal amount of moisture as did other towns in central and west Cass Coun ty. To the south in Otoe county heavy winds accompanied the rain that did extensive damage in Nebraska City and surround ing farm areas. With over two inches of moisture there, winds toppled trees, destroyed a num ber of farm buildings, and dam aged at least two houses in the city. Some homes were without electric power for several hours when power lines were torn down. Second Farm Family Will Be Recognized A second Cass County farm family has been nominated to receive the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award during the Cass County Fair, August 23rd. Carl C. Cross of Union, Nebraska, will receive the engraved plaque and framed certificate show ing that he is a descendant of a family that started a century of farm ownership in 1855, when he took out pre-emption rights on ' the , property now farmed by Mr. Cross. Last week a farm iamily from Nehawka, the John G. Hansens, were nominated for the award. The Nebraska Pioneer Farm A ward is co-sponsored by Ak-Sar-Ben and the Nebraska Associ ation of Fair Managers, and will be made annually to owners of farms which have remained in the same family 100 years or longer. 6 Cass Countians Are Recipients Of NU Scholarships Six Cass Countians are a mong 408 University of Nebras- ka students receiving scholar- ships this week. Awarded $100 upperclass scholarships are: Wendell Friest, Evelyn Hen ry and Barbara Sullivan oi Plattsmouth, and Joanne Bend er of Weeping Water. Receiving donor scholarships for the coming school year are: Merwinna G. Kampman of Elmwood, scholarship donated by the class of 1910; and Sally J. Wiesneth of Louisville, schol arship donated by W. J. Nickel and Harry S. Wingert. Good News Today At Sheriff's Office There was good news and re joicing at the Cass County Sher iff's office this Monday morning. Over the weekend not one call had come in which breaks some sort of record for this depart ment. No accidents, no fights, no nothin' excepting smiles on the faces of Sheriff Solom6n and Deputy Rhoden. er recently retired after 50 years in the laundry; business. . . . Joe was assigned to laundry work after enlisting in the Mar ines during World War 1. After his discharge, he worked for the Hinchey Laundry in Omaha, remaining there unti: 1930. In 1933 he married Florence Powers, a hospital employe. She is now night watchman in one of the women's dormitories. The Seagraves have a daugh ter, Marjorie, 21, a nurse at St Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids and a 14-year-old son, Mike IBflCjJ Jb who lives at home. J DTfi)0TW UFO School Days Sale Is Off To Busy Opening Plattsmouth's gigantic "back to school" sale started off with a bang this past Friday with hundreds of shoppers crowding into local stores. Parents anxious to get their youngsters dressed up for the opening day of school partook freely of the generous bargains offered by city, merchants. Within a few hours after the Plattsmouth Journal hit the streets some merchants report ed they received calls from parents who wanted certain ar ticles set aside for their chil dren. Friday was busier than usual despite the warm weather and Saturday things really be gan to boom. All in all, it appears Cass County youngsters will be the best dressed in the country when the school bells are rung for the first time on Sept. 4th. However, the buying is not just limited to clothing. The youngsters also wanted pencils, rulers, lunch boxes and pencil boxes. Teachers, too, joined the shop pers. The instructors decided it was the time for them to buy their new suits and dresses for the big day when they meet their pupils. Plattsmouth merchants were busy most of the summer plan ning for the big sale. They and the chamber of com merce urge area residents to remember the sale motto: "SEE PLATTSMOUTH FIRST!" Rainmaking Funds Sought At Gass Fair WEEPING WATER It still remains undecided whether or not Cass County farmers plan to go ahead with the artificial rainmaking project. A recent meeting voted to set a new deadline of Sept. 15 for raising the goal of $8,600 needed or the experiment. Presently the fund is about $5,000 short. Those spearhead ing the rainmaking venture claim if things work out rain- all can be induced during the all and winter months to build up a good reserve for next year's crops. A booth will be set up at Cass County Fair where funds will be solicited from farmers who have not already made their donations. Farmers are asked to con tribute five cents for each acre of their land. Those wishing to mail their donations may send them to DeForrest Philpot of Weeping Water. He is head of the Cass County Weather Mod ification Coommittee. Meanwhile farmers in the Alma area are pondering the advantages of artificial rainmak ing and meetings are being held there to decide whether to go ahead with a similar project. Businessmen as well as far mers throughout Harlan County are taking part in planning the project. Louisville School Registration Set To StarV August 28 LOUISVILLE (Special) High school students will register as follows for the coming school ter ma. Freshman r and sophomores, Tuesday, August 28 at Lp. m. Juniors and seniors, Monday, August 27, at ,1 p. m. Physicals ,for boys participat ing in athletics will be given at 8:30 a.' ra., Friday, August 25. Two Cass Couples Get Permits To Wed Two Cass County couples were issued marriage licenses in Cass County Court this past week They are: - ' - Merle D. Meisinger, 23, and Joan M. Pink, 19, both of Platts mouth. - Havley E. Sayers,. 18, and Minnie M. Hoschar,; 18, both of Plattsmouth. pre rr wwe- . .3 - ' --- - . . - . HEN KILLER This large owl measuring 4 and V-i feet from wing tip to wing tip was brought down from the top of a treee with one blast of a shot gun. Raymond Lancaster of Murray shot the bird as it was feasting on one of his hens Monday night. (Journal Photo). Mayor Gold Calls For Support Of Plattsmouth Watershed Plattsmouth Mayor Bruce E. Gold today appealed for area residents to get behind the city's watershed project and support it financially. In an advertisement in today's issue of the Plattsmouth Journal, Mayor Gold outlines the flood control plans and tells readers why their support is needed. (Also see - editorial on the edi torial page.) "Give your share and we will get the project going," Mayor Gold says in urging local people to sign pledge cards. He is joined in the request by Paul Fauquet, chairman of the committee which has. worked many months to chart, plan and then obtain the necessary funds for the watershed project. Mayor Gold termed partici pating in the project as a "one time investment." He points out that $30,000 must be raised locally over a period of five years. Half of the funds are needed now, the mayor said, to pave the way for pur chase of necessary land and easements and to build the ma jor flood structure. Those who will benefit from the project are expected to con tribute, the mayor said. The fees have been set from $20 and up for residences and $40 and up for business locations. Solicitors will call on resi nt . - -ho ti-, , ir- . t- v - V . 1 : t Tv . 1 A V'V IMPROM?TU. ENTERTAINER An unidentified Kansas Na tional Guardsman is shown singing and playing his guitar as he amused, scores of his budd ies and local people on the corner of Sixth and Main Street recently. His impromptu ap pearance lasted for more than two hoars. He said he sings part time on an Iowa television station. The picture was taken as the National Guard Unit camped in Plattsmouth August 11. : (rhoto by Don Newborn). Mir tlOOGTy Dy dents within the next two weeks to obtain the pledges, the may or said. Should the city succeed in raising the necessary matching funds locally, the federal gov ernment will offer more than $65,000 for the development of tne Plattsmouth Watershed. The project is designed to pro tect the city from serious dam age in the event of sidden heavy rainfalls. Its supporters claim the cost of constructing water shed facilities would be less than the damage caused in one heavy rainfall flood. Plattsmouth Girl Saves Swimmer At Beach Last Week Sharon Harbaugh, a Plattsmouth High School girl, saved the life of a girl swimmer this, past .Wednes day at Merritt's Beach. Sharon was teaching swimming classes at the beach when she saw a girl going down. She dived into the water and saved the girl. The class not only ' got a lesson in swimming-j-but one in life saving as well. 3t S ... f t - ' - s K . ".i."-' -'A.1. .....it -LuaHP'"7? 'A - peon WEEPING WATER The gay pageantry of Cass County Fair wrill commence tomorrow at 9 a. m. This will mark the open- ing of the 37th annual fair. Outstanding agricultural ex hibits, 4-H demonstrations and contests, the presentation of the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award and the coronation of the queen will be among the featured at tractions. A new $12,000 merry-go-round will furnish music and exciting rides for youngsters with num erous other midway attractions for the delight of kiddies and oldsters alike. Some $2,800 in cash prizes will be offered to tkose taking part in presentation of the fair. A gala parade is expected to draw a large turnout and num erous bands will offer musical selections for fair-goers. Among the bands participating will be Plattsmouth, Syracuse and Weeping Water High School, Elks Colored Drum and Bugle Corps and Offutt Air Force Band. A county championship horse shoe match will be among the features and the trophy will be presented the winner Friday ' night by Howard Robinson, state champion. The fair program follows: Tuesday, 4-H schedule of ac tivities: 9-12 a.m. Entries on all 4-H exhibits (except livestock). Livestock have until 8:00 a. m. Wednesday to arrive; 1:30 p. m. 4-H tractor operators contest; 2:30 p. m., 4-H song contest at Congregational Church; 4 p. m., 4-H. public speaking contest at Congregational Church; 4 p. m. 4-H crops judging contest. Open Class events: 1-5 p. m. Entry Day on all displays and exhibits. Wednesday, Cass County Day, 4-H schedule of activities: 8 a. m., all 4-H livestock in place 8 a. m., 4-H demonstations start and continue throughout the day; 9 a. m., 4-H Sheep showmanship contest followed by judging of 4-H sheep; 10 a. m., 4-H swine showmanship congest followed by judging of 4-H; swine; 2:30 p. m., 4-H dairy shownanship contest followed by judging of 4-H dairy animals; 4 p. m., judges comments on judging of 4-H home economics exhibits; 8 a. m., judging be gins in homemaking department, fine arts department, beef cat tle, poultry, pets, and swine de partment; 9 a. m., judging be gins in sheep department and fruit and agriculture depart ments; 10 a. m. horseshoe pitch ing practice at Memorial Field 11 a. m. judging begins in flow er department and women's de partment; 2 p. m., Cass County grand parade, Weeping Water Band, Syracuse Band; 2 p. m. dedication of new 4-H show ring (Continued on Page Five) Cass School Head Issues Tuition Certificates Free high school tuition cer tificates were mailed Saturday by the county superintendent to all those who made application and qualify by living with par ents in a Cass County school district not maintaining a high school. Pupils living in a rural school district which has merged with a high school district do not now need to apply for a free high school tuition certificate as they are now legal residents of a school district operating a high school. Former School Districts 43, 21, 23, 26, 72, 78, 80, 83, 64 and 70 have merged with high school districts within the past year. Pupils in School District 17 (Union) must now apply for free high school tuition certifi cates, i THE WEATHER Compiled for the Plattsmouth Journal at the Masonic Homo Weather Station, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. August 16, 17, 18, 19, 1956 High Low Prec. Thursday 94 '67 .00 Friday 88 65 .50 Saturday .. 89 66 .00 Sunday 74 52 .00 Forecast: Mostly cloudy today; scattered showers. High near 70. Lows 45-50. Warmer Tues day. Bun sets tonight at 7:16. Bun rises Tuesday at 5:38 a.m. T I