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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 25, 1956)
fvr -t" ti-- 1500 R ST. LIHCOLIl, iss?. PUBLISHED SEMI - WEEKLY Monday - Thursday CASS COUNTY'S GREATEST NEWSPAPER Consolidated With the Nehawka Enterprise and Elm wood Leader-EchoRead Twice Weekly by More Than 3500 Cass County Families VOLUME 75 SIXTEEN PACES PLATTSMOUTH, CASS COUNTY, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1956 TEN CENTS PER COPY NUMBER 97 dflimeol" CflO IT 12) Plattsmouth city councilmen Monday night agreed to name a separate election board to ac cept ballots for the special park pool bond election which is to be held in conjunction with the November 6 general election. City clerk Albert Olson Tues day said county officials, act ing on advise received from state sources, were "somewhat re luctant" to use general elec tions boards to handle the Platts mouth question. A multiplicity of duties al ready confronting general elec tion boards; the fact that hand ling the park-pool electon would require a dual bookkeeping sys tem, were among the reasons listed for the naming of special and separate elections boards for the Plattsmouth bond proposal. Olson said names of board members who , will handle the snscial election will be announc- New Plymouth To Be Seen On Oct. 30th Longer, wider and more pow erful, the 1957 Plymouth will go on display at the R. V. Bryant Motor Co. in Plattsmouth on Tuesday Oct. 30. The 1957 Plymouth models are as much as five inches lower than corresponding 1956 models The wheelbase has been length ened from 115 inches for all models in 1956 to 118 inches for standard models and 122 inches for suburban station wagons in the 1957 line. New styling gives the new car an appearance of greater length and, aiding in the impression, are a broad hood, soaring tail fins and fqrward thrusting head light canopies. Plymouth officials say they have accomplished one of the car's most significant changes since the introduction of front wheel suspensions with Torsion Aire. This change eliminates coil springs which are said to pro duce a new kind of ride and handling. All of the 1957 Plymouths have more powerful engines. The stan dard V-8 for all models except the Plaza in the new Fury 301, the number signifying displace ment. The Plaza V-8 retains a displacement of 277 cubic inches but, like the Fury 301, has a new camshaft, carburetion and other innovations. Other features to be offered include a new integral all-weather air conditioning system which combines heating, cooling, dehumidifying and ventilating in one underhood unit and is avail able on all V-8 models: padded instrument panel: new safety recessed center steering wheel; new full-view windshields with 45 per cent greater glass area in sedans an suburbans and 43 per cent greater in hardtops. As in 1956, Plymouth for 1957 offers four lines of standard aut mobiles. Belvedere is the top line, Savoy the middle and Plaza the lowest priced. A two-door hardtop is available in the Savoy line and both a two-door and four-door hardtop are available in the Belvedere line. Surburbans again in 1957 make up a distinct line of cars, in three groups: Deluxe, custom and sport, coming in 12 models. Clem Wostcr On Clen Cunningham Program Former Mayor Clement Wos ter of this city was one of those appearing on the TV program Tuesday evening from Omaha. The show was interviews with members of the public in sup port of Glen Cunningham, for mer Omaha mayor, now Re publican candidate for congress from the second district. THE WEATHER Compiled for the Plattsmouth Journal at the Masonic Horn Weather Station, Plattsmouth Nebraska. October 22, 23, 24, 1956 High Low Prec. Monday 70 50 .00 Tuesday ... 66 42 .00 Wednesday 76 46 .10 Forecast: Cluody today and tonight with scattered light showers. High in upper 50's. Ex pected low in mid 30's. Cooler Friday. Sun sets tonight at 5:29. Sun rises tomorrow at 6:47 a.m. IF3 Jo M dam ectfloo ed by his office in the near future. Voters in the special elec tion will be asked to approve the issuance of $90,000 in bonds which will be used for the con struction of an L-shaped swim ming pool 100 feet by 40 feet plus a purification system, bath houses and parking area for approximately 400 cars. The pool will be located on a 10-acre plot adjacent to Oakmont drive and Hillcrest subdivision. To the west of the pool acre is 30 to 40 acres that pool spon sors say will make an ideal city park. Much of the land is heav ily wooded and would make an ideal site for a park. Under terms of the proposed bond issue, no increase will be made in the present 25 mill levy. Funds for retirement of the park-pool bonds would be taken from levies already made for payment of previous issues. The city at present is paying in advance some issues of gen eral obligation bonds. First pay ment on park-pool bonds would not be due until 1958 and it is felt by that time present obli gations would allow ample funds under the existing mill levy to retire the bonds without a mill levy increase. Backers of the proposal be lieve approval of the park-pool plan is an important step in the progress of Plattsmouth and em phasize construction of park and pool will, through its recreation al attraction, add to the city's value as home for future indust ry. City councilmen were some what startled to discover a call for bids for a new Plattsmouth (Continued on Page 6) Nebraska City Fete Draws Local Masons Twelve Plattsmouth Masons journeyed to Nebraska City to take part in the centennial cele bration of that city's Western Star lodge. A gigantic street parade kick ed off afternoon activities and was followed by a dinner and program of entertainment and speeches. Celebrants heard Ray Cook, Omaha, and formerly of Platts mouth, speak on the history of Masonic ritual. Cook is grand custodian. Also included on the program was a topflight baton twirler. Plattsmouth Masons making the trip included: C. E. Ledg way, past master, Marion Reed, past master, E. J. Weyrich, secretary, John Beckman, wor shipful master, Russell Nielsen, Maynard Ramge, past master, Alvin Ramge, Robert Ramge, W. F. Evers, superintendent Masonic home, Edward Wehr bein, past master, Rajymond Lancaster, past master, and John Rishel. Mayor Bruce Gold Mayor Bruce Gold this week, following numerous requests from Plattsmouth citizens, sub mitted an outline of the city's financial status as of this date, together with information rela tive to rate of payment on in debtedness, interest and mill levies. In addition, the information given this newspaper with a re quest that it be published, car ries present needs of the city, the necessity of careful manage ment and long range planning. Mayor Gold's letter follows: October 24, 1956 Editor: The bond issue, to be sub mitted to the voters on Novem ber 6, places an obligation on the city government to see that the voters are fully informed on the city's finances. THE 1956-57 budget calls for an estimated expenditure of $192,000. Part of this money comes from taxes on special improvement districts, gasoline taxes, licenses, fees etc. The remainder, approximately $100, 000, is raised by a property tax of 25 mills, or $25.00 per thou Iowa County To Prosecute Gerald Record Fremont County Iowa attorney John Thornell has indicated he will file manslaughter charges against former Plattsmouth resident Gerald Record follow ing the fatal shooting of Record's mother, Mrs. Earl Record, Sun day in Sidney, Iowa. Mrs. Record died Sunday in St. Mary's hospital, Nebraska City, of a bullet wound which Iowa officials say was inflicted by a bullet which Gerald had in tended for himself in a suicide attempt. Gerald Record, 30, Tues day was sentenced to eight years in the Iowa state pris on, Ft. Madison, for acciden tally killing his mother, Mrs. Earl Record, while attemp ting to commit suicide Sun day. Record entered a. plea of guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced by District Judge Vernon Johnson. The farm laborer and former Plattsmouth resident began serving his prison term Wed nesday. Fremont County Coroner Dr. Ralph Lovelady said Record in curred a flesh wound in the shoulder. The bullet which wounded Record continued on, striking his mother in the chest. Doctor Lovelady said Record borrowed a gun after threaten ing suicide, went to his parents' home where he apparently made the suicide attempt. The coroner, in his report, said Record went to his mother's home early Sunday and threat ened to kill himself but that his mother thought she had talked him out of the action. But Doctor Lovelady said Re cord later borrowed a .22 cali ber rifle from Burl Dyke to go squirrel hunting. Dyke had no shells; the coroner said, and Record borrowed ammunition from another neighbor, Rufus Lockett. Returning to his parents home Record stood on the porch talk ing to his mother when he point ed the gun at himself and fired. The version released by Fre mont County officials alters original press reports which indicated Record had fired at his mother. Record is being held in Fre mont County jail by Sheriff Al Christopher. Ceorge Haith Trial Is Continued Until November 2 Trial date for George T. Haith, 523 Seventh St., Plattsmouth, charged with driving while in toxicated, has been continued un til 9 a. m. November 2, by Po lice Judge J. Howard Graves upon the request of city attorney Harold Lebens. Haith, who is represented by attorney Francis M. Casey, has posted a $150 cash appearance bond. In other police court actions before Judge Graves, Ray Shu bert, Tecumseh, entered a plea of guilty to a charge of reckless (Continued on Page 6) Outlines . . . . .POGMiirDe sand dollars of taxable valuation. DIVISION OF THE mill levy requires that 11.2 mills, or 45 per cent be used to pay off bonds, warrants, and interest on debts previously incurred. The other 55 percent is used to Trr? for city operational expenses such as salaries, insurance, po lice and fire protection, sewer maintenance, road repair, street lighting, park maintenance, li brary, etc. THE CITY indebtedness as of November 1, 1956 will consist of approximately $71,000 in bonds and $190,000 in warrants. These are municipal I O U'S on which we pay 4 per cent interest. Un der existing tax levies our bonds will be paid off in 1960. But, our warrants present a different picture. Of the $190,000 in war rants outstanding, approximate ly 50 per cent wTill come from monies due on special assess ments, or improvement districts. The other half, $95,000, will have to be retired by mill levy. The fiscal budget this year ap plies about $12,000 of the mill levy against warrants and inter est, but the 4 per cent interest Two Drivers Miss Injury In Crash Of Cars Wednesday City p a t r o 1 m an Wayne Schneider and John S. Chappell,: escaped injury Wednesday morning when their cars col lided on First Avenue near South Sixth St. Investigating city officer Es til Jenkins said Schneider was traveling east on First Ave. when a car driven by Chappell pulled from a parking lot. The cars collided with an unestimat- ed amount of damage done the rear fender of Schneider's' ve hicle. Schneider did not own the car he was driving but was trying it out with intentions of con sidering it for purchase. Huebner Grand Opening Meets With Success "A tremendous success," was Al Huebner's description of Sat urday's grand opening of his new Phillips 66 servce station on Chicago Avenue. The event, publicized only in the Plattsmouth Journal, drew customers into the station drive way at such a clip Huebner found it necessary to use the services of 14 attendants. In addition, the rapid influx of business sent the boss scramb ling for more bacon when it was determined demand would far outweigh supplies which pre opening estimates had deemed sufficient. All told, Huebner's station handed out better than 600 pound packages of bacon to customers who came in and said: "Fill 'er up." The grand opening was actual ly a dual celebration for Hueb ner who, in addition to observ ing the opening, was also fet ing his 15th year of business in Plattsmouth. Construction of the new ser vice station was begun in July and completed two weeks ago! The structure was erected to specifications supplied by the Phillips company's engineering department and is considered one of the country's finest. Avoca Farmer Injured When Caught In Saw AVOCA (Special)-Ernest Dieck man, 45, farmer living west of Avoca on the Herman Leefers farm, was taken to the St. Joseph's hospital, Omaha Mon day after receiving back and leg injuries when his clothes were entangled in the power take off while combining milo. The men working with him thought his heel was caught in the machinery. He suffered no broken bones but large areas of skin was torn off his legs and torso. He was thrown several feet from the machine. Later in the week neighbors took ten corn pickers, two corn shellers and finished his corn and shelled it. Subscribe to The Journal Now! on the $190,000 in warrants costs $7,600 leaving only $4,400 applied against the warrants. Obviously at the present rate of retire ment, it will take some time to payoff these warrants. THE TAXATION limit of 25 mills, fixed by state law, limits the city's revenue. Increases in costs of labor and materials mean that our revenues won't go as far as formerly. This means we must budget our fi nances carefully. CAN OUR TAXES be increas ed? Yes, our taxes will be ap proximately 8 per cent higher this year, due to increased school levy. County and state levies can be increased. These have no bearing on the city levy, but are part of the total prop erty tax bill. OUR CITY NEEDS a sewage disposal plant, additional sewers and pavement, bridge and cul vert repair, fire equipment, road machinery, additional park facil ities and a swimming pool. Each new improvement of facil ity will require funds for oper ation and care. The few items mentioned total close to one-half Three Youths Being Held By City Police Three teenagers this morning were in custody of the Platts- mouth city police on hold orders placed against them by officials of Nebraska City and Omaha. The three, whose ages range from 14 to 17, were picked up early this morning near the A&W root beer stand by police officers Fred Tesch and Law rence Chappell. The two lawmen were amazed, upon searching the youths, to find them supplied with what ap peared to be enough keys to jopen the door of every business house and home in Plattsmouth. Actual count turned up 97 keys of varying sizes and description. The department this morning said all three youths were "keeping mum." and even under questioning had refused to re veal names or addresses. Al though several different kinds of identification papers were un covered, city police were in clined to believe none belonged to any of the jailed lads. When apprehended at 1:15 by officers the youths were stand ing on a corner near the root beer stand. Bicycle Brigade Solicits Funds Omaha School You should be on the lookout for a "bicycle brigade". A local woman informs this newspaper that early Sunday evening she answered her door to find a young girl about 12 years of age who told her a long story about her school burning down in west Omaha. She also stated that she was soliciting funds to help rebuild classrooms as the district did not have the money to replace the. structure so the Children could get back to their studies. Accompanied by two or three other young girls, the girl was informed that with taxes being paid here to support the city's own schools, it was out of the question to ask Plattsmouth residents to donate towards building schools in Omaha. The girl joined the others and all mounted their bicyles and rode north out the avenue. If you are approached by this or any other group soliciting funds for out-of-town charity purposes, you should phone po lice at once in order that an investigation can be made. Harold Austin Home Damaged By Fire The fire department was callde Monday evening shortly after 6 o'clock to the Harold Austin residence, 304 Second Avenue. It was found that a skelgas stove had exploded and caused a small flash fire. There was a great deal of smoke in the house as two mattresses were damaged.- Mrs. Austin suffered injury in the fire by having leg burns. Damage to the premises was estimated by Chief Kruntorad at $150. million dollars. Our street de partment operates out of tin sheds hardly suitable to house cattle. Our police department headquarters is a damp base ment jail cell, and we have never seen anyone point with pride to our city hall. Our city buildings are inadequate to house what little equipment we have now. CITY PLANNING and oper ating efficiency cannot be ac complished with antiquated equipment and pre-spent reve nue. Twelve per cent of our tax levy paid as interest brings nothing except receipts and food credit rating. On the other hand, a little patience, careful man agement, and freedom from debt can give us a flexible budget to care for orderly and planned expansion and improvement. We hope the above information will assist the voters to decide the relative importance of a swimming pool to the total city needs at this time. Sincerely, Bruce E. Gold Mayor Ion Otiy on Diidov Injured Man Remains On Critical List The condition of John Alt schaffl, injured Saturday night in a street fight, is "critical," and hospital authorities report he probably will remain in that condition for the next 30 days. Altschaffl, a Plattsmouth con tractor, is suffering a concussion fractures of the skull and rup tured blood veins in the head. It is reported the injured man, in a coma for several days fol lowing the accident, is now con scious at intervals. He was hurt in an altercation with Carl Morehead, his part- ner m a contracting business, at Fourth and Main late Sat urday night. Apparently the pair were arguing some personl bus iness when Morehead struck Altschaffl who fell to the side walk. In falling Altschaffl struck his head on the concrete. County attorney James Begley today said he is contemplating no action in the case at pres ent. He said future action de pends on the outcome of Alt schaffl's fight for life in Omaha Veterans Hospital. Morehead and Altschaffl have been partners in their contrac ting business for a number of years and, according to friends, their relationship has been "Bet ter than average." The company engages in the business of earth moving and bulldozing oper ations. Altschaffl 's family is remain ing near his bedside" at the hos pital where he was taken Sat urday after the argument. To Give Recital LINCOLN Wendell Friest of Plattsmouth, will give his sen ior recital, a requirement for graduation from the University of Nebraska department of Music, at 4 p. m., Nov. 23, in the Social Science audirorium. Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. I. Friest, he will play a trombone solo. Earl S. Dapp Joins Journal; Will Fill News Editor Post xV 4 4 t , . - - t i i ' i ; . f w - if it ' "'A i . - - ? 4 X Earl Earl S. Dapp of Alamosa, Colo., joined The Journal staff Monday taking over the position of news editor, a post he filled for the Las Cruces, New Mex., News-Sun for several years be fore joining the staff of the Ala mosa, Colo., San Luis Valley Daily Courier about a year ago. Mr. Dapp attended Hastings College, Nebr., and Westminis ter Law College at Denver. Shortly after completing his col lege training he entered Naval service during War 11 and spent a good deal of time in foreign waters. Following discharge he joined the staff of the News-Sun at Las Cruces, where he spent sev Final plans were nearing com pletion today for the community census which gets underway in Plattsmouth Monday, Oct. 29, and it has been announced eight churches will take part in the census taking. Chamber of commerce mana ger Dale Bowman this morning said census takers, so far as possible, have been assigned areas near their own homes in order to put the census taking on a more friendly basis. Each of the churches taking part has been assigned specific areas of operation and maps of Plattsmouth with individual team areas outlined, will be fur nished. The Chamber of Commerce urges cooperation of every Region Lions Guests Local Club Tuesday Nearly 100 Lions Club mem bers and their wives from Reg ion 1 were guests of the Platts mouth Lions Club here Tuesday evening at a District 33B ban quet held in the Lions Auditor ium. Members of the Lions Club from Ashland, Avoca, Bellevue, Millard, Murdock, Omaha, Flor ence, Papillion, Ralston, Blair, Omaha Country Side, Benson, Glenwood, la., as well as Platts mouth were represented. Table decorations were in the autumn motif gaily decorated with pastel colored leaves, flow ers and centerpieces with duck and goose decoys. Following a dinner served to over 200 local members and their guests, recognition was given to guests of honor, followed by en tertainment furnished by the lo cal club. Dinner music was rendered by Misses Jeanette Wiess and Mary Ann Ryan. Introduction of guests was by Ford Bates, District Governor of Omaha, with Rich ard Walters of Council Bluffs acting as master of ceremonies. Lion Bates gave a brief re (Continued on Page 6) 1 1 ' y .s . a t y?! V - 3 IK , s. S. Dapp eral years as general news re porter and as news editor. Editor Dapp is married and the father of three children, ages 18, 14 and 11. Oldest girl, Cora Lee is in nurses training in Denver. Two are at home, Earl attends sixth grade, while Don na Lynn is an eighth grade stu dent. Mr. Dapp will have charge of the News department of The Journal, responsible for newrs coverage, pictures and general makeup. Mrs. Dapp and family will ar rive in Plattsmouth about Nov ember 1. They will make their home at Mynard hi the Otto Lutz property. Plattsmouth citizen in making the upcoming community cen sus a success. Some of the questions to be asked residents by census teams include: church membership of preference; employment; organ izational affiliation; how many families in the home or apart ment; owner or renter; names of members of family; for ad dress; and how many children in the family. Churches furnishing teams for the project include: Lutheran, Presbyterian, Holy Rosary, Christian, Methodist. St. Luke's, St. John's and St. Paul's Evan gelical and Reformed. A total of 55 two-man teams will take part in the all out drive with the Lutheran church furnishing 5 teams, Presbyter ian, 10, Holy Rosary, 5, Chris tian, 6, Methodist, 10, St. Luke's 4, St. John's, 10, and St. Paul's, 5 teams. Following are the areas to which each church has been as signed: Area 1 - North of Main and all East of 4th Street - St. Paul's. Area 2 North of Main and all West of 4th and East of 5th St. Luke's. Area 3 - North of Main - West of 5th and East of 6th. Includ ing all of Whitman Avenue. -Lutheran and St. Luke's. Area 4 - North of Main - West of 6th and East of 7th - St. John's, Lutheran. Area 5 - North of Main - West of 7th and East of 8th-Lutheran LSt.. Luke's, Area 6 - North of Main West of 8th and East of 9th. Includ ing Winters Trailer Court. -Christian Church. Area 7 - North of Main West of 9th and East of 10th - St. Paul's. Area 8 - North of Main - West of 10th and East of 11th. In cluding Dieter's Trailer- Court Christian Church. Area 9 - North of Main - West of 11th - East of 15th Street -Holy Rosary. Area 10 - All North of Lapidus Timber- all West of 15th Street and East of Railroad tracks and North to Missouri Pacific Track. Holy Rosary. Area 11 - All area North of Missouri Pacific Tracks and East of Maiden Lane - Metho dist Church. Area 12 - All area North of Railroad tracks and West of South to city limits - Christian tian Church. Area 13 - All East of 1st Street - East to Livingston Road (Continued on Page 6) Church Guild Cans 1200 Jars Of Mincemeat Although the spelling is dif ferent, Plattsmouth and mince meat are synonomous as far as a good many out of state people are concerned. The reason , of course, is the national mincemeat selling pro gram conducted annually by St. Mary's Guild of St. Luke's Epis copal Church, Plattsmouth. Working four days with shifts composed of eight ladies each, the guild last Friday completed the task of making the mince meat. The guild was to assemble again today for the purpose of labeling each jar. The work of making the mincemeat was done in the home of Miss Barbara Gering, 423 North 6th. That the name of Plattsmouth is being spread through the sale of the mincemeat is evidenced by the fact it is sent nearly all over the United States. Some of the states represented in the list of purchasers are California, Florida and New York. Miss Gering Tuesday said she had received an inquiry. from a gentleman living In Washington, D. C. asking the availability of and price .for a jar of mince meat. The mincemeat costs $1.25 per jar and this year ladies of the guild canned 1,200 jars. Proceeds from the sale go to the parish treasury.