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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 1957)
KEEIt. STATE III3T. COCICTY XXX 1500 R ST. TIME !PUOTM!(UTH JJ(D)(MIMil.' LINCOLN, KEBLSHED CASS COUNTY'S GREATEST NEWSPAPER SEMI-WEEKLY Monday-Thursday Consolidated With the Nchowka Enterprise ond Elmwood Leader-Echo Read Twice Weekly by More Than 3500 Cass County Families VOLUME 76 SIXTEEN PACES PLATTSMOUTH, CASS COUNTY, NEBRASKA. THURSDAY, JUNE 27. 1957 TEN CENTS PER COPY NUMBER C3 Tornado Devised ' ".'r- " '""""- il i ii ,nin,ini ii wlit i t iliiiinniii - mi n 1 f 3K , 5 S 4" ' V,WBgMMMlDrjl1ViMla IMMMUbl IJ-nMMnBbilMMHIHV I Sy-v LMfMit'' RECEIVING you loud and clear. Bill Highfield (top), and Charley Christensen show how Consumers Power District mobile radio units will act to forward word of storms which may threaten the Plattsmouth area. Ilighfield is lineman and serviceman for the company while Christensen in superintendent. Journal Photo Storm Watch Set By Power District Nebraska's statewide storm warning system gained another active "team member" today when Consumers Public Power District's 263 radio units join ed forces with the state's Civil Defense weather watcher. The move directly affects Plattsmouth and Cass Coun ty as this district's three radio equipped CPPD trucks will be put on storm alert duty. The scattered, but tightly-knit storm-warnine "team" was an nounced by CPPD officials and Austin S. Beacon, Lincoln, de puty state director of Civil De fense. Ernie Elliott, CPPD's Platts mouth district manager, said drivers of his district's three trucks have been instructed to forward immediately to the home office by radio any sight Like It Or Not - - By EARL S. DAPP Journal News Editor There is one unchangeable fact among the many presented concerning sewage disposal fa cilities and improved sanitary sewer lines for Plattsmouth: Whether the current city ad ministration activly backs Im provements, or ignores them; whether residents of the city ac tively back such improvements or ignore them Every taxpayer in the city beginning in 1958 will be pay ing a two mill levy for the construction of a sewage dis posal plant. It's an inescapable tax and there are no loopholes at least as far as this city is concern edfor the tax is labeled "LB 123" and was enacted into law by the 1957. legislature. The law leads to only one ul Warning System For Plattsmouth i Liz Ir i . ; v r.. l,ii-..U ... ii.ii.i. .n,..l 1 . T ing of funnel clouds in the area. He said the Plattsmouth dis trict also is in constant radio contact with Lincoln and could also receive storm alerts from that source. Following receipt of storm warning the Plattsmouth office will, Elliott said, pass on such information to city officials and Sheriff Tom Sol omon, civil defense director here. Elliott Wednesday conferred with Plattsmouth Mavor Bruce E. Gold concerning a warning setup for the city. Plattsmouth CPPD district has remote control units lo cated at the Main Street office and sub station south of the city. Transmitter is situated at the North 8th Street tower. Subscribe to The Journal Now! timate, all-encompassing con clusion: If taxpayers of the city are go ing to pay through the nose for sewage disposal facilities, they may as well get In the act by getting on a sanitary sewer line it's the only way they'll rea lize any benefit from their tax money. But is such a plan so lousy? Inescapable as is the upcom ing state tax for disposal facil ities, equally inescapable is the fact a city must put Its best foot forward if it is to progress And to progress, a ciy must of'er present householders and prospective householders of the future conveniences which add to the overall attractiveness. There is no better way to begin than through the con struction of adequate sewage disposal facilities and mod City and volunteer fire depart ment officials Wednesday jump ed quickly into action to bring to Plattsmouth a tornado warn ing system. Warning method was devised by Fire Chief Joe Kruntorad following a hastily called confer ence with Mayor Bruce E. Gold Chief Kruntorad said warning of an approaching tornado would be signaled by three short blasts on the fire siren. However, he said operation of the siren would be only by himself or city police. As an additional precaution, Chief Kruntorad said either a fire department truck or his own car would be used to cruise residential districts with siren going to further notify residents of the impending winds. In event it ever becomes necessary to warn of tornado, the chief asked citizens not to become excited and not to fol low the truck or car. Rather he said they should begin taking whatever safety precautions are available. For homeowners whose houses have basements, Chief Kruntorad said house holders should go to the cel lar's southwest corner. If the house does not have a base ment, he advised finding a ditch or culvert away from trees if possible in which to lie down. To notify authorities f an ap proaching tornado, call phone 5251 from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m., daily. During night hours call phone 4271. Chief Kruntorad emphasized the tornado warning signal would be blown only if a tor nado appears heading in the di rection of this city. He said no all clear signal would be given. Kruntorad felt, most residents would realize when danger is oast and to use the siren to signal all clear might add to confusion follow ing a storm. Larry Cole Has Lead Role In Production A 16-year-old Plattsmouth High School senior has been as signed one of the lead roles in "Girl Crazy", a musical com edy by George Gershwin which will be presented at 7:30 p. m. Friday in University High School auditorium at Lincoln. He is Larry Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Cole, and Is attending the All-State Fine Arts Course in Lincoln. Young Cole is one of a cast of 80 all-state students who will take part in the production which is under the direction of Margie Smith, vocal music in structor at Thomas Jefferson High School, Council Bluffs. Choreography Is being done by Judy Grazier, 17-year-old high school student also from Coun cil Bluffs. "Girl Crazy" will bring forth such musical hits as "Embrace able You." "I Got Rhythm", and "BidhV My Time." There is no admission charge and the public is invited to at tend the comedy which deals with a boy who has been sent to Arizona as punishment by his father, and also with his epi sodes during the stay. A Classified Ad In The Journal costs as little as 35 cents You'll Pay ern sanitary sewers which will serve all areas in the city. Additonally, sewage disposal facilities and sanitary lines in modern cities no longer are con sidered luxury items. Rather, they are classed as necessities. Anyone who has battled balky cess pools or septic tanks prob ably would agree without hesi tation. Certainly a majority of medical men and health depart ments agree adequate sewage disposal and sanitary sewers are musts In the teeming cities of today. Actually, Plattsmouth is in the dark ages on sanitary sfwers and disposal. The city is a hodge podge of lines originally con structed as private sewer mains but recently brought under mu nicipal control. But they serve only limited areas. A good por Journal To Print On Wednesday Next Week; Deadlines Set Next Thursday's edition of The Plattsmouth Journal will be printed Wednesday in or der employes may join with other citizens in observance of Independence Day. All advertisers wishing to use space in this edition are reminded deadline for ad copy is Tuesday noon. No material will be accepted after that time. Correspondents throughout the county are asked to have copy to the Journal not la ter than Monday morning. Doody's Offer Of Free Beach Turned Down City recreation program of ficials today thumbed down an offer by E. J. Doody. owner of Merritt Beach, to provide free use of swimming facilities for children. In refusing the offer, program officials said a negative deci sion was necessary only because of insufficient supervisory per sonnel. While Doody offered use of the beach Mondays through Fridays either mornings or afternoons, it was pointed out the recreation program would be unable to use the morning time because it would have to supply life guards. Merritt Beach lifeguards are on duty every afternoon but again recreation officials had to make a choice: if recreation di rector Garv Ashbaugh and girls' director Sharon Harbaugh de vote afternoons to swimming, balance of the city's play and recreation program would be wrecked. Recreation committeemen said this was the major reason Glen wood pool was considered. At Glenwood supervisory personnel would have been furnished at the quoted figure of $250. The committee said it deeply appreciated Doody's gesture and regretted inabil ity to take advantage of it, but felt present circumstan ces dictated dropping any plans for a swimming pro gram. Financially, the recreation program is in no shape to pay even one dollar for a swimming program. Although Merritt Beach has one block of marked shallow water and has always been used by the recreation program in previous years, the program could not avail itself of the morning hours because of inability to pay for lifeguards. Mail Service Fees To Be Increased Here On Monday An increase in all mail vice fees effective Monday, ser July 1, has been announced by post office authorities. The hike will effect such ser vices as registered. Insured, special delivery, special handl ing, money order and business replies. Special delivery fees for first class air parcel post for items not over two pounds has been set at 30 cents: all other classes will be 45 cents. Over two pounds but less than 10 pounds the prices are 45 and 55 cents. Complete data on other ser vice fee hikes will be carried in Monday's Journal. For Disposal Plant In City tion of the city currently is with out sanitary sewer service. They dump their refuse in to the only disposal facility the city can offer a ditch at the foot of Main Street which carries the offal into the Missouri River. Residents have a name for this so called "creek", but it isn't used in polite society or In newspaper columns. . .Nevertheless, the title fits and will remain until such time as adequate, modern disposal plant is in use here. ' Engineers of Hennlngson, Dur ham and Richardson In a recent survey of Plattsmouth, offered a preliminary plan to city coun cil which estimated cost of a sewage disposal plant at $217,263. Cost to the city, however, would be about $132,084. This Is made possible because recently Pmking Tickets Gasoline Price Battle Flares In Plattsmouth A large scale gas war brought lower prices to car owners and service stations in the commun ity and signs along Chicago Avenue today invite passing mo torists to take advantage of slashed prices. The battle of prices was spark ed by six stations dropping gas oline prices earlier this week. Current prices list ethyl gaso line at 32.9 and regular at 28.9. Rates had been 35.4 and 31.7. Apparently the main reason for the sudden dip in gasoline rates is the fact Omaha has been involved in a gas war for almost a month. Prices in that vicinity have pone as low as 24 cents a gallon for regular type motor fuel. Tom Grosshans. operator of Tom's Standard Station, told a Journal reporter purpose of the gas war is to bring lower pri ces to this city. His station was one of six which dropped pri ces earlier this week. Grosshans stated he intended to leave his prices as they are until the state tax raises them a penny. This would happen about September 1. Then gas oline prices would be up to 29.9 and 33.9. He doesn't plan to lower prices more unless the company thinks they shouldet be decreased. Carol Long To Appear Carer Long, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Long will ap pear on WOW-TV Saturday morning June 29 at 9 o'clock on "Futures Unlimited." , She will also appear on the program at Veteran's Hospital this evening. A Classified Ad in The Journal costs as little as 35 cents Bypass Hearing equest Chamber of Commerce Pres dent Cecil Karr today labeled as "cut and dried" a proposed bypass of Plattsmouth. Karr said Monday action of the state highway com mission in refusing this city a rehearing on the planned project only lends emphasis to a widespread local be lief an original hearing held in Plattsmouth was a "for mality" conducted by the commission only to meet fed eral requirements. The commission unanimously turned down a second hear ing request lodged by Karr. Several commissioners, after hearing a letter written by the local C of C prexy, said no new facts had been presented to jus tify another hearing. However, President Karr in dicated the chamber hadn't fin ished its attempts to sway com mission thinking. He said the C of C board of directors prob ably would meet Friday, July 5, and the matter would be plac ed before them to determine if federal grants for construction of sewage treatment works have been made available to munici palities through public law 660. The law broadens the federal water pollution act and provides assistance in the financing by direct grants for construction, and means 30 per cent of cost for a treatment plant in Platts mouth could be paid through this fund. Getting sanitary sewers Into those areas now unserved is an other problem. City council can order main sewer lines constructed and no following petition from af fected landowners can alter the plan. However, construc tion off laterals is a different proposition. Here the land owner can voice an opinion either by approving or disap proving creation of sanitary sewer districts. Plattsmouth Family Is Rudely Jolted; 'Tomcat' Has Kittens The Charley Christensen family, 1301 1st Ave., re cently received a mighty rude jolt when a beloved "tomcat" gave birth to a litter of three kittens. Two of the offspring al ready have been taken, but the Christensen family now is seeking homes for the mother cat and one kitten. Anybody like to have a real feline oddity a mother "tomcat" around the house? Current Drive For Museum Totals $1,491 Cass County Historical Society today issued anoKher appeal for contributions to a drive to es tablish a museum which will hold relics and artifacts of early day life in the county. Receipts in the current cam paign total $1,491.81 with an ad ditional several thousand dol lars pledged. But society offic ials said more funds are need ed to insure creation of the mu seum. Forty members of the society gathered Wednesday in the Weeping Water Christian Church for a combined luncheon busi ness meeting. Lunch was served by ladies of the church. Society President Martin Spo rer, Murray, presented a paper on early Cass County and Carl Day, Weeping Water, sketched for listeners the early history of Weeping Water. The society set July 24 as next meeting date. It will be a sack lunch to begin at 12 noon in Wa bash. Denied further action should be taken. He said, 'The chamber feels it did the best it could to protect the interests of Plattsmouth. At least our protests to the proposed by pass are on record with the highway commission. Karr also felt if the state is to have its way about the by pass, the city should at least have some say in location of the access road which will lead to the highway. As planned by the department the bypass will turn south near the Oreapolis - viaduct and will reconnect with present highway 73-75 at a point near the Rich ard Spangler farm. The highway department's 1957-58 construction pro gram includes the 514 mile bypass at an estimated cost of $1,020,000. A good portion of the funds will come from 'federal aid. Several Plattsmouth business es have indicated construction of such a highway would cause severe economical damage to them and other firms in the city. To bring sanitary sewers to districts surveyed by engineers would cost an estimated $75,566. Such a sum .would be financed by creation of sanitary sewer districts in eacl) locality. Certainly, it's expensive. But progress is not wrought through the expenditure of peanuts in these days of the Inflated dollar. Nor is contentment in and pride for a city purchased without sacrifices. If you're living in an area currently unserved by sanitary sewers, or if you're living in an area which has sewer mains, inform city council of your feel ings. Remember, as a taxpayer you're going to put out two mills in 1958 and each suc ceeding year to establish a sinking fand for construction of a sewage treatment plant. vert h Ashe of contention to riuiw on when Chamber of Commerce Manager Dale Uowman protested curri'iit police practices in ticketing" out-of-town cars for traffic law violations and overtime parking. City Dads hedged a bit when they placed the entire matter "under advisement" and tabled it for further discussion. Bowman, representing the chamber of commerce and its affiliated businessmen, contend ed police should go easier in issuing tickets to out-of-town cars and suggested more len iency regarding overtime park ing violations. The chamber official sug gested police allow three overtime parking violations a year before cracking down on offenders with summons which usually result in the payment of a. $1 fine plus $4 court costs. He contended strict enforce ment of parking regulations was driving out-of-town shoppers from Plattsmouth to other cities and towns in the region. While council seemed to lean toward the idea present enforce ment may be too strict, the city's official body appeared uncertain as to just how the matter should be handled. Hence, the proposition was ta ken under advisement for fur ther study before final action is taken. In another portion of the session council opened bids from several companies for a new fire truck. Council was somewhat surprised be- Korn Karnival Meet Slated Friday Night A complete outline for this September's King Korn Karnival will be given at 7:30 p. m. Fri day in chamber of commerce offices, Karnival President Er nie Schultz said. And he emphasized interestec persons not only are .invited but urged to attend this second plan ning session for the Karnival. Schultz said committees have been appointed and have been working on delegated tasks., Each committee will report on what it has accomplished to date. The Karnival president said representatives of various or ganizations also would be on hand and he said each would be handed an "obligation" for his repective group. Schultz said each organiza tion would receive a definite obligation such as planning for Pioneer Day or Kiddles Day or other promotions connected with the Karnival. THE WEATHER Compiled for the Plattsmouth Journal at the Masonic Home Weather Station, Plattsmouth, Nebraska. June 24,25,26, 1957 Date High Low Prec. Monday 81 48 .00 Tuesday 79 62 .05 Wednesday 79 59 .00 Forecast: High near 80. Show ers tonight and continued clou dy Friday. Sun sets tonight at 8:01. Sun rises Friday at 4:53 a.m. Mayor Gold eyes city's omrae d cause several of the nations larger firms dealing in fire fighting equpiment failed to enter bids here. Bids received were turned ov er to the Volunteer fire depart ment which, in turn, will scan them for a meeting of specifi cations. A petition was presented to council by residents of the south 9th street area asking official action regarding speeding. The petition suggested no specific remedy. Council was of the opinion "slow" would 'xio no good be cause speeders are conscious of violating the law. The matter was referred to the Streets and Alleys committee for spticific suggestions dealing with the pro blem. Blind corners caused by high shrubbery also was made tar get of criticism. But council found no ordinance which cov ered the situation and instructed City Attorney Harold Lebens to draw an ordinance which Will give the city jurisdiction to e liminate such corners. Council also got around to. making things a little easier for spectators attending ses sions by ordering 15 new chairs for the council cham ber. The new seats will re place rickety, broken chairs now in us-e. Official sanction also was giv en to painting exterior of city hall. Council selected a light green color similar to that of the building which houses the Plattsmouth Journal. Mayor Bruce E. Gold report ed to council results of his "door bell rinsing" expedition into the city's west side, where he asked residents how thev felt about obtaining sanitary sewer service. Mayor Gold said a sur prising number of residents con tacted favored the Idea. He recommended council commission an engineer to give an estimated cost on construction of laterals re . quired to serve that district. Hut he suggested before do ing so, council should study plans drawn in 1947 by 1). McKnight, Lincoln engineer, and review them in compari son with a recent survey con ducted by an Omaha en gineering firm. Council also onened a lone bid on road oil. The bid, offer ed by Standard Oil of Indiana, was accepted and the streets and alleys committee . was In structed to order oil as soon as ready. In another action, council heard a request by the Box brothers requesting establish ment of a sanitary sewer dis trict in an area on South 13th Street. While council told the Kox brothers, who are building homes there, it was sympa thetic, officials suggested the brothers contact property owners in the district to de termine how many favor such a plan. ,. v " -.4 JL . ; " j 4 W present disposal facility i