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'"t 81 s BUY UNITED •tates SAVINGS /bonds Iambsumm VOLUME NO. LXVII NO ONE TO PLOW LOTS THIS SPRING, GARDENERS’PLAINT Farmers Too Busy This Spring To Take Time for Town Garden Plowing Inability to Have Lots Plowed May Force Abandonment Of Gardens Here Wartime shortage of manpower was brought home to Bluffton house holders when it developed that lack of men and teams to ploy town lots may seriously interfere with plans to put out victory gardens this pring. This became evident the first of the •week when inquiries from prospective gardeners for someone to plow their lots met with no response. With planting season at hand, most gard eners faced the prospect of spading as much of their plot as possible and abandoning the remainder of the pro ject. In previous years sufficient number of men and teams were available for this work. These were usually farm ers who pocketed a tidy sum of extra income from this source, receiving on an average of $2.50 for each lot plow ed. Men, Teams Gone This year with an acute shortage of manpower on the farms and farmers still busy with clearing away last fall’s com in order to get fields ready for spring tillage .there is no pros pect of getting them to plow lots. Likewise teams which were to be had in previous years are now being used for farm work or have been re placed by tratcors. In the plowing of town lots, time lost in going from one small plot to another was given as one of the reas ons why farmers w’ere not interested this spring when all hands are busy from morning until night. Lions Victory Gardens One bright spot in the gardening situation appeared the first of the week when officials of the Lions club stated that with their victory garden ing project planned for one or two large tracts there would be no diffi culty in having the ground plowed. These tracts it was pointed out, woud be plowed by a tractor and then subdivided into individual plots. School Music Units Will Give Concert Bluffton High school music groups will be presented in the second con cert of the school year at the high school auditorium Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Included in the presentation will be numbers by the band and orches tra under the direction of Sidney Hauenstein and the high school chorus under the direction of Miss Harriet Brate. The first concert of the music groups was given in December. The concert series have been planned by the high school as a substitute for the spring music contests which have been eliminated because of war con ditions. Births Mr. and Mrs. George Wideman, of Pontiac, Mich., are the parents of a baby boy, Brian David, born on Sun day in that city. Mrs. Wideman was formerly Miss Eva Diller of this place. The following births at the Bluff ton hospital: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Downing, Co lumbus Grove, a girl, Beverly Diane, Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard Buhler, a girl, Ruth Irene, Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. John Allen, Colum bus Grove, a girl, Betty Johneen, Tuesday. Rationing Calendar So that you may keep in mind the numerous important war-time ra tioning dates, the Bluffton News is publishing this weekly reminder: one APRIL 25—Last day for coffee with Stamp 1. 30—Last day to E and stamps pound of 26, Book APRIL blue D, canned or processed foods War Ration Book No. 2. use for in use for MAY 21—Last day to Coupon 5 in A books good four gallons of gasoline. five No. MAY 31—Last day for pounds of sugar with Stamp 12. one JUNE 15—Last day for pair of shooa on Stamp No. 17. *7f Even March Upsets Things In This Old Topsy-Turvy World EWEN the weather is upsetting things in this old topsy turvy world and March which is supposed to come in like a lamb and go out like a lion reversed the usual procedure this year. From zero temperatures which brought record cold March weather early in the month, warm—almost summer-weather appeared Tuesday and Wednes day. Thermometers here registered a high of 76 degrees early Wednesday afternoon—two de grees higher than the top mark of 74 on Tuesday. NEW PUMPER UNIT WILL HELP RURAL FIRE PROTECTION New Pumper Will Give Town Fire Protection While Truck Is On Rural Runs Town Officials Studying Details Of Arrangements for Rural Fire Protection Addition of a new pumper unit to Bluffton’s fire fighting facilities will enable the fire department to offer protection to town property when the regular fire truck answers a rural call, it was indicated this week fol lowing a survey of the equipment of the Bluffton fire department. The new unit together with more than 100 pieces of smaller protective equipment were loaned to the town for the duration of the war by the United States Office of Civilian De fense. Fire Chief Guy Corson is property officer for the equipment. Studying Matter Town officials are studying details of the! arrangements whereby rural protection could be provided without endangering the town with its impor tant industries engaged in war pro duction. The town had previously purchased a $10,000 fire truck for delivery last spring but the War Production Board (Continued on page 8) Many Tickets Sold For Booster Banquet Indications are that a record num ber of tickets will be sold for the Bluffton college Booster banquet to be held at the Bluffton High school gymnasium Friday night at 7:30 o’clock, it was stated by the commit tee in charge the first of the week. Last year’s record of 300 tickets sold may be bettered this year, it was indicated by Paul Detwiler, chairman of the ticket campaign. The banquet will be addressed by Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor, Paul M. Her bert, of Columbus. il IEBLUF Meat Rationing Brings Slim Picking For Fido These Days have Many Bluffton residents heard the speaker in his capacity as commander of the Ohio division of the American Legion. It is reported that Gov. Herbert is a speaker of outstanding oratorical ability. He was born in Marseilles, Ohio, the son of a preacher. He saw ac tion in World War No. 1 as captain of a machine gun battalion. Fol lowing cessation of hostilities he was appointed legal representative for American prisoners. Upon his return to this country he was named liason officer between the War Department and the State Department. Following this ap pointment he returned to his native state and began the practice of law in Columbus. He served two terms each in the Ohio house and senate and is serving his third term as Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor and presiding officer of the senate. In addition to the address by Gov. Herbert, there will be musical numbers by the Bluffton College A-Capella choir, under the direction of Prof. Russell Lantz and xylophone numbers by Barbara Jean Triplett. Honorably Discharged Pvt. Chas. H. Dillman, son of Charles Dillman of North Jackson street who enlisted in the army eight months ago from Detroit has been honorably discharged because of development of a foot ailment and being past the 38-year age limit. Ft. Dillman has been stationed at Sill, Okla., in the field artillery. He expects to return to Detroit. How Many Points for Soupbone Butchers and Housewives Ponder Hamburger, Officially Defined By OPA Is Favorite Buy In Markets That old standby of culinary art— the soupbone—how many points does it take? Butchers and house wives alike here pondered that one this week as they scanned in vain OPA’s table of point values for the answer. Fact is, soupbones weren’t men tioned in the official list which is supposed to cover all the various cuts of beef, veal, lamb and pork, so meatmarket operators here are using their judgment in the matter. Nearest reference to soupbones is the item of oxtails which rate three points per pound. With this as a standard soupbones are being rated more or less according to the amount of meat which they may have. Slim Picking for Fido And with all meat cuts rationed, it looks like a long season of slim picking for pet dogs and cats which are frequently regaled by offals from the butcher shops. Since Fido has no ration book it will be necessary for someone of the family to give up points for such meat as he may eat, with exception of bones without meat. In the case of larger breeds of dogs which re quire sizable portions of meat daily, this has developed into an acute situation. Desire of housewives to conserve their ration points was reflected in purchases Monday when hamburger was a favorite buy. Carrying a low point value, nearly half less than steak and without bones it appealed to point-conscious house wives. OPA Defines Hamburger Hamburger, however, has been of ficially defined by OPA as including neck, flank and shank cuts, beef trimmings and fat. If different in gredients are wanted, it will be necessary to buy them at regular point values and have the meat ground afterward. Because of the expanded demand for hamburger, meat market opera tors expressed the opinion Monday that it would be difficult to keep a supply on hand. out that since go to make up specified in the not be possible Also, they pointed the ingredients which hamburger have been official order, it will in the future to continue the former practice meat in age. of using choicer cuts of hamburger to avoid short- Resigns Reformed Church Pastorate Rev. Emil Burrichter has resigned as pastor of the St. John’s and Emanuel’s Evangelical and Reformed churches here to accept the pastor ate of an Evangelical and Reformed church in Plymouth, Indiana. Announcement was made by the pastor to both congregations Sunday morning. The resignation will be come effective June 1, at which time he will have completed seven years as pastor of the two churches here. Rev. Burrichter will preach his farewell sermon on Sunday, May 23. Formal acceptance of the resignation was made at a joint meeting of the consistories of the St. John’s and Emanuel’s churches, Monday night. Real Estate Deals Wm. Fox of Findlay has pur chased from Cleo N. Smith of Lima the residence known as the D. W. Fox property on West College ave nue. Mr. and Mrs. Fox expect to move here from Findlay this spring. D. W. Fox has been making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Lima. Fred Fritchie of Riley street has purchased the Fred Getties property on South Jackson street occupied by the Shalley family. Mrs. Elizabeth Boutwell has pur chased from the Ellen Andrews es tate the residence property on South Lawn avenue occupied by Arthur Lewis. Honorably Discharged Raymond Amstutz, Bluffton se lectee, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Amstutz of North Main street, who has been in training at Camp Biggs, Texas, has received an honorable discharge because of being past the 38-year-old age limit of selective service regulations. He arrived here Tuesday evening. It A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, APR SALE OF AUTO LICENSES'MORE THAN YEAR AGO Record of 1,400 Sold Here Wednesday Tops Last Year’s Mark Motorists In Rush to Get Wind shield Stickers Before Deadline After getting off to a slow start Bluffton motorists rushed to the local auto license distribution headquarters to purchase a total of about 1,400 li censes by Wednesday noon, it was an nounced at the Bixel Motor Sales, in charge of sales here. In contrast to many other towns in Allen county and surrounding coun ties, the Bluffton sales are higher now than they were at this time last year. Wednesday is the last day in which to obtain the 1943 license stickers. If the sticker is not displayed after April 1, the motorist will be liable to a fine. The present 1942 metal plates must also be displayed on the motor vehicles as well as the stickers to be placed on the windshield. Last Rites For Mrs. Nancy Geiger Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Geiger, 73, were held .at the First Mennonite Church, Saturday after noon at 2 o’clock. She died at her home in Lima, Thursday morning at 1:10 o’clock on the twenty-seventh anniversary of the death of her hus band, Amos Geiger. She was a native of Bluffton having lived in Toledo five years, and Find lay 12 years before moving to Lima last August to live wit hher daughter, Mrs. Edgar Zehrbach. She had been il Iseveral months. She was the widow of a former tel ephone company manager who died in Kenton of a heart attack while the couple resided in BlutZon. Surviving are a son, Stanley of To ledo, and three daughters, Mrs. Lou ella Temple of Monrovia, Calif., Mrs. Josephine Woodworth of Athens, and Mrs. Edgar Zehrbach, at whose home she died. She is also survived by five broth ers and sisters, Dr. J. S. Steiner and Mrs. Lena Bixel of Bluffton Atty. R. S. Steiner of Lima Rev. Albert Steiner of North Lima and Mrs. Sar ah Geiger of North Newton, Kans. She leaves eight grand-children. Burial was at the Zion cemetery, three miles west of town. Army Promotion Gerald Caris who was graduated from the army air force flexible gun nery school at Ft. Myers, Florida, last week has been promoted to rank of sergeant, and Mrs. ton. He is the son of Mr. 1/1943 of Bluff- Ralph Caris, east Motter has been of sergeant, it Robert promoted was an- to rank nounced the first of the week. Sgt. Motter, who was inducted into the service last August is working in the statistical control unit of the air corps at Dayton. His wife is a gov ernment inspector at Wright field, son of Mr. and of Elm street, in rank from Gerald E. Mericle, Mrs. Harry Mericle has been advanced Sergeant to Staff Sergeant at Camp Claiborne, La. This is the fifth ad vancement in five months received by the Bluffton soldier. Bluffton Man In Army Is Married The wedding of Miss Ruth Graze ly of Lima and Pvt. Gerald Basinger of Denver, Colorado, formerly of this place was solemnized last Fri day afternoon at 3:30 o’clock in the chapel of the Lutheran church at Ft. Wayne, with Rev. Zelander officiat ing. The couple was unattended. The bride wore an attractive tail ored wool suit of light blue with navy accessories and a shoulder cor sage of white and pink gardenias. The groom will return to Buckley Field, Denver, Colorado this Thurs day, where he is with the medical department. The bride will in Lima for the present. reside Arrives Overseas Sgt. Raymond Huber has strived safely overseas at an undisclosed des tination, according to word received the first of the week by his par ents, Mr. and Mrs. 0. W. Huber of near Bluffton. ON NEWS Bluffton merchants, farmers or anyone in the conununity desiring to employ young people of high school age may do so through an employ ment clearing house being organized this week at the school, according to an announcement made by Buhler, principal. Congratulations of many friends and relatives were received at open house by Mr. and Mrs. John Wilkins at their home on Cherry street Tuesday afternoon and evening on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. All of the children, except the youngest son, Tech. Sgt. Rudy Wil kins, were present for the occasion. Prior to open house at their home was a family dinner held in the basement at the Church of Christ. Members of the families of the child ren, present for the meal, totaled 48 people. A turkey dinner was served and and the tables shaped in the form of a square were beautiful ly decorated by ladies of the church. A large three-tiered cake surmounted with a bell and two tall tapers on either side was directly in front of Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins. many cards. High School Is Sponsoring Clearing House For Employment Of Student Help Gerhard is being which is needs in The employment bureau sponsored by the Hi-Y dub making a canvass of the the community and is classifying the various students cording to their interests. in the school ac job aptitudes and A file will be kept at the high school office and anyone desiring the services of a high school boy or girl for any job ranging from clerking to mowing a lawn may communicate Celebrate Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary and Mrs. Wilkins received beautiful gifts, flowers and Mr. Last Rites Thursday For Mrs. Levi Oberly Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah El len Oberly, 71, wife of Levi Oberly, will be held at the First Mennonite church, Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Cherry street, Monday night at 11:45 o’clock. Death was due to Bright’s disease. She died at her residence on The daughter of Rev. Christian and Marie (Welty) Zimmerly, she was born in Riley township, Putnam coun ty, April 1, 1871. She is survived by her husband, three sons and four dau ghters, Millard Oberly, at home Reno of Bluffton Olan of Jenera Mrs. Laoma Wilson of Findlay Mrs. Lelah Basinger of Pandora Mrs. Lu cille Doty of Lima and Ladonna at home. There are 24 grand-children and three great-grand-children. Mrs. Oberly is also survived by five sisters and three brothers, Mrs. Hen ry Habegger of Bluffton Mrs. Caro line Augsburger, Mrs. Joshua Am stutz, Mrs. William Habegger and Mrs. Albert Lehman, Pandora Homer Zimmerly of Bluffton and Arden and Leonard Zimmerly of Pandora. Mrs. Oberly was a member of the First Mennonite church. Rev. J. N. Smucker, pastor, will officiate. Bur ial will be at the St. John cemetery at Pandora. Town Purchase To Enlarge Parking Lot Enlarged parking facilities will be available this summer through pur chase by the town of the Chris Buch er lot on Thurman street, was closed the first of whereby the municipality for the real estate. The deal the week paid $500 in use for Part of the lot is now automobile parking under a lease arrangement between the town and Bucher. Purchase of the real estate, however, will make possible enlarg ing of the parking space. On the lot are located a small dwelling and two car garage. The dwelling is occupied by Carl Young since Bucher was removed to the county infirmary some time ago. The town truck and other equip ment of the street and cemetery de partments are stored in the garage. Gets Promotion At Wright Field Base Justin Gratz, formerly of this place, has been promoted to the po sition of senior experimental engin eering draftsman at the army base at Wright field, it was nounced the first of the week. air an was Prior to his promotion Gratz assistant engineering draftsman in the photographic laboratory branch. He is the son of W. H. Gratz, local shoe merchant. with the office or with David Smucker, who is chairman of the Hi-Y project. The students may be contacted for work after school and Saturdays or for summer employment. The em ployment sendee will be available during the summer months for which the high school office may be con tacted. The service is available immediate ly. Farm boys and town boys inter ested in working on farms are avail able to farmers needing extra help this summer, it was explained. Assisting in the plan are the fol lowing students: David Smucker, chairman, Ralph Althaus, Floyd Herr, Earl Dean Luginbuhl and Ken neth Winkler. ROAD REPAIR PROGRAM HERE IS UNCERTAIN Town and Township Given As surance of Sufficient Patch ing Materials Request for Re-surfacing terials Pending: Roads Bad Condition Ma in With the streets of Bluffton in the worst condition in years, the nature and extent of the local road improve ment program hinges on the availabil ity of materials, it was indicated this week by Lee Coon, street commission er. Assurance has been received from the War Production board in Wash ington that the town will receive suf ficient materials this spring for ne cessary patch work. Delivery of one half ton of pulverized asphalt and 1, 500 gallons of road oil is expected this week. Pending is a request for materials sufficient to re-surface several streets in a bad state of repair. If the ma terials should be approved and deliv ered the first streets on the improve ment list are Elm street and also Har mon road from Garau street to Bent ley road. Also in bad condition is Spring street from Elm to Riley streets Coon said. These streets are in such bad condition that patch work would not be practical, it was stated. No word has been received from Wash ington relative to the request for re surfacing materials. In the meantime patchwork will be started at the places where the roads are in the worst condition. There is no road oil or asphalt on hand at the present time and the improvement program will not start until the ma terials arrive. There are no restrictions on stone products and there is plenty of this type of material available. The re pair program will likely get underway toward the end of the week when terials are expected to arrive. ma- are Ap- Richland Township trustees faced with a similar problem, plication was also made for materials sufficient to re-surface nine or ten miles of road but as yet the trustees have been assured of materials ade quate for only patch and repair work, it was stated by N. W. Basinger, township clerk. The roads in the town and township are in the worst condition for many years because of an unusually severe winter with quick freezes and rapid thaws. The condition is further ag gravated by the fact that less than usual material has been available for the patch work. It was thought that the town would be given favorable consideration in the request for re-surfacing materials in view of important industrial instal lations engaged in military produc tion. Red Cross Week To Be Observed Here Week will be observed theatre in Bluffton as nation’s motion picture Red Cross at the Star well as the theatres during the week of April 1 through April 7, it was announced by local Red Cross officials this week. A short feature dealing with the Red Cross will be shown at each performance after which a collection will be taken by the local Red Cross committee. The collection will go entirely to the support of local community Red Cross activities. The War Activities Committee of the motion picture in dustry is sponsoring the nation-wide campaign for commemorating the work of the Red Cross organization. 1 BUY UNITBD STATES STAMM NUMBER 49 MEAT BUYING RUSH DEVELOPS BEFORE RATIONING STARTS Markets Close When Flood of Buyers Exhausts Supplies Saturday Many Commodities, Formerly Frozen are Now Available On Markets housewives are learning to budget according to their purchases of meat, Bluffton this week points, cheese, butter, canned fish, salad and cooking oils, giving up for the pur chase of each commodity red coupons marked “A” in Ration Book No. 2. Beginning of retail sales under the rationing point system followed a hectic weekend when crowds eager to have a last fling at unrationed meat started a run on Bluffton’s two butch er shops which exhausted their sup plies by early Saturday night. Volume of meat sales Saturday were said to have been by far the largest any single day ever exper ienced here. The volume swelled to proportions entirely unforseen by lo cal butchers who said Saturday morn ing that with coolers frilled in antici pation of unusually heavy buying they expected to have sufficient meat for the entire day’s trade. Meat Markets Closed However Saturday night Bigler Bros, market closed its doors before 9 o’clock when its stocks were prac tically exhausted. Basinger Bros, market closed about an hour later. In addition to meat, hard cheeses which come under the rationing pro gram were in demand and local groc eries which handle this type of food stuffs in addition kets were able to to the meat mark supply the demand, unprecedented buy developed Saturday and nation, dealers Because of the ing rush that thruout the state were uncertain as to when their sup plies of packing house meats would be back to normal. These products consist largely of cured meeta.-Stocks of fresh meats were provided by emergency butchering on Sunday to supply Monday morning trade. More Commodities Available Altho rationing is restricting sales of some products, it has made avail able been ing lard, der last week. other commodities which have made unobtainable thru freez orders. These include butter, fats and oils frozen by OPA or- Also included in foodstuffs now available are canned meat and canned fish, sales of which were halted Feb ruary 18 and taken off the market until the start of rationing. Home canned meats may be con sumed without regard to rationing. Also food in frozen food lockers may be used without rationing restrictions, OPA has stated. The total amount of perishable food stored in lockers is considered too small to justify the inconvenience it would cause either to have this food declared, or to place legal restrictions on its use. Home Nursing Course To Start Wednesday The first meeting of the new home nursing and nutrition course for women of Bluffton and the surround ing community will be held at Bluff ton High school Wednesday night at 8 o’clock. The meetings will be held for a six weeks period on Wednesday and Friday meeting because Booster nights. The Friday night will be eliminated this week of the Bluffton college banquet. The course is sponsored by the Al len County Red Cross organization. Local instructors will be Mrs. Ernest Bigelow, Mrs. David Risser and Miss Edflythe Cupp. Registered nurses from Lima will also serve as in structors for the course. Registrations are being accepted at the high school library. The class will be limited to 24 members. The course will deal with matters of nu trition, the care of the sick and the emergency treatment of accidents at home. May Queen Chosen At Bluffton College Miss Ruth Neuenschwander, dau ghter of Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Neuen schwander of Quakertown, Pa., has been elected May Queen of Bluffton college to reign over the annual col lege Bluffton Day exercises scheduled for Saturday afternoon, May 22. Robert Neuenschwander, twin broth er of Miss Neuenschwander, left col lege early in January of this year to join the United States armed forces. He is located at Camp Edwards, Masfe