The Bluffton news. [volume], November 11, 1943, Image 1

About The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
BUY
UNHTD
•vates
SAVINGS
^SONDS
STAMP*
VOLUME NO. LXVIII
COAL YARDS EMPTY
AS FUEL CRISIS
DEVELOPS HERE
Situation Serious as Dealers Re
port Little Possibility of Coal
Shipments Soon.
Snowfall Lays in Empty Coal
Yards as Winter Weather Ar
rives Tuesday Morning.
Snowfall sifted thru the empty coal
yards of local dealers Tuesday morn
ing and the advent of winter weather
brought a realization that Bluffton is
in its most serious fuel crisis since
World War I days, 25 years ago.
Every yard in town has been swept
bare for nearly a week, and dealers
report prospects of getting more
fuel immediately are very unpromis
ing.
In a few instances Bluffton house
holders have been able to obtain
small amouts of coal from Jenera
and Mt. Cory, but those deliveries
have been restricted to lots of about
one ton. Latest reports also indicat
ed that source is no longer available,
and the only recourse will be to wait
shipments to local yards.
No Emergency Yet
A survey of Bluffton dealers Tues
day indicated that altho no coal is
available here, no emergency has de
veloped as yet and most householders
have fuel for their immediate needs.
Continuation of cold weather ush
ered in with Tuesday’s snowfall, how
ever, will shortly present a real crisis
unless shipments to dealers are start
ed soon, with the prospect that coal
bins in many homes may be empty
before the Christmas holidays.
End of the coal strike does not
mean a likelihood of the situation
easing immediately, because practic
ally all available coal is being rush
ed to Great Lakes ports for shipment
to the north, the dealers pointed out.
Close of the lake shipping season
should alleviate the crisis here but in
the meantime there will be a lean
period.
No Coal Handlers
Lack of delivery facilities will also
be a problem to be solved once sup
plier again are available at local
coal yards, for dealers report a lack
of regular drivers for their coal
trucks. Many householders, however,
have indicated their willingness to
help make deliveries to their homes,
thereby offering a solution to the
situation.
Some concern is felt by officials of
the Bluffton municipal light plant
and water works who have only
about 15 days supply of coal on hand,
but they have been assured fuel will
be allotted to them in time to con
tinue operations.
Bluffton High school has enough
oal to last until Christmas, provid
ing unusually cold weather is not ex
perienced, but rationing of heat al
ready has been put into effect at the
institution.
Less Heat in Schools
Fire in the boilers is banked every
afternoon after school is dismissed
and in conserving the present fuel
supply the high school may be with
out normal heat for evening meet
ings. First indication of the conser
vation policy was seen at a meeting
of the board of education last Mon
day night, heat for which was pro
vided by a gas heater in the fireplace.
Bluffton college has a normal sup
ply of coal on hand and no crisis is
expected unless additional fuel can
not be obtained within the next two
or three months.
A normal stockpile also is reported
at the Bluffton generating plant of
the Central Ohio Light and Power
Co.
Promotions
Announcement has been made of
the promotion of Hope, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Kincaid of
South Main street to the rank of
corporal in the WACs. The former
Bluffton young woman is an aerial
dispatcher stationed at Kirtland field,
Albuquerque, New- Mexico.
Frederick Herr, stationed at Fort
Lewis, Washington, has been pro
moted to the rank of sergeant, it
was announced the first of the we *k.
Wayne Habegger, stationed at
Hammer Field, Fresno, Calif., has
been promoted to the rank of ser
geant. He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Joseph Habegger.
College Orchestra
Concert November 21
The Bluffton college orchestra un
der direction of Prof. Sidney Hauen
stein will present a concert in the
College gymnasium on Sunday after
noon, Nov. 21. at 3 o’clock.
Army Flying Cross
Is Won By Former
Bluffton Student
pIRST Lieut. Albert C. Naum,
who left Bluffton college as
a senior in 1941 to enlist in the
Army Air Corps has received
the Distinguished Flying Cross
for valor in action, it was learn
ed this week.
It was the fifth award present
ed to Lieut. Naum, earlier decor
ations including the Air Medal
and three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Announcement of presentation of
the Distinguished Flying Cross
was made from the U. S. Army
Eighth Air Force headquarters
in England.
Lieut. Naum was enrolled at
Bluffton college for two years,
transferring here from Ohio
university at Athens. He is
the son of Mrs. Anna Naum, of
Lima.
SEWER GAS CASE
MAY BE FOLLOWED
BY MORE CLAIMS
Town Council’s Attitude in
Young Case May Indicate
Future Policy.
Other Damage Claims From
Sewer Gas and Fly Ash May
Appear.
Presenting of a claim by Charles
Young for damage to his property
allegedly caused by gas from sewage
in Big Riley creek may open another
chapter in Bluffton’s sewer history
whereby the municipality will be call
ed upon to provide conmpensation
for damages in more or less parallel
cases.
Young’s claim submitted to the
council at its last meeting stated
that his property, painted white the
past summer has turned to an off
color gray as a result of action of
hydrogen sulphid gas generated by
sewage in the creek.
Hi* stand is supported by a report
from the vhemlcal laboratories of the
United States Department of Agri
(Continued on page 8)
Minnie Henry Rites
Thursday Afternoon
Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie
H. Henry, Bluffton saleswoman who
died early Tuesday morning at her
home on Mound street, will be held
at 2:30 p. m. Thursday in the Paul
Diller funeral chapel. Death was
caused by pneumonia.
Rev. J. A. Weed, pastor of the
First Methodist church, of which
Mrs. Henry was a member, will be
in charge of the rites. Burial will
be in Maple Grove cemetery.
Mrs. Henry was bom Aug. 14,
1893, in Eagle township, Hancock
county. She had been seriously ill
two days.
Surviving are one son, Kenneth,
with whom she made her home a
brother, Charles Bender, of Lima,
and one sister, Mrs. Mae Binkley, of
Bluffton.
The body will remain at the fun
eral home.
H. S. Teacher Asks
Leave Of Absence
Mrs. Kenneth Luginbuhl, Bluffton
high school language instructor has
asked the board of education for
leave of absence from teaching
duties. The request was presented
at a meeting of the board Monday
night but no action was taken.
Flags To Fly As Bluffton Observes
Second Wartime Armistice Day Thursday
Her husband, Sgt. Luginbuhi re
turned last summer from service in
the southwest Pacific area and is
now stationed at Ft. Monmouth,
N. J., where he is taking special
training in the army signal corps.
Arrive Overseas
Celestine Schmidt, son of Mr. and
Mrs. George Schmidt of Cherry
street has arrived in England, ac
cording to word received by his par
ents, the first of the week.
Eugene Kohli, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Hiram Kohli north of Bluffton has
written home announcing his arrival
at an undisclosed overseas port.
Mr. and Mrs. Austin Schaller of
near Bluffton have received word
that their son, Pvt. Robert Schaller
has arrived safely in England.
Program in Morning at High
School Whistle Blast at 11
O’clock.
No Mail Delivery on City or
Rural Routes Postoffice Win
dows Closed.
Bluffton’s second war-time observ
ance of Armistice Day this Thursday
will be marked by an American Le
gion program in the high school
auditorium, starting at 11 a. nr.
Flags will fly thruout business and
residence districts.
With the press of war activity
permitting little time for celebra
tion, there will be no parade, and
business and industry will operate as
usual. Classes in Bluffton public
schools will follow their customary
schedules.
A blast of the big whistle at the
water works at 11 a. m. Thursday
will summon the town for a two
minute pause in honor of the dead
of World War I and also mark the
official opening of the Legion pro
gram at the high school.
Rev. W. H. Lahr will be the
speaker at the Legion service, with
Armin Hauenstein as chairman. Spe
cial music will be provided.
Windows at the Bluffton post
office will be closed thruout the day,
and there will be no mail deliveries
on town or rural routes. Outgoing
mail will be made up and dispatched
as usual over trains, aJtho the star
route will not be in operation.
The Citizens National bank also
will be closed in observance of the
holiday.
Open College Bible
Lectures On Sunday
Annual Bible lectures sponsored by
Bluffton college will open on Sun
day morning and continue every
night next week thru Friday. *.
Rufus Bowman, president of Beth
any Biblical seminary, Chicago, will
be the speaker. He is a former pas
tor ex the Church of the Brethren in
Washington, D. C.
Lr Bowman w«.i deliver 13 lec
♦uxes during his six d'ys stay here.
AU evening meetings, set for 7:3Q
p. m. and the Sonday morning meet
W 10:30 a. flewill be helfrlh
the First Mennonite church. Week
day services will be held in the col
lege chapel at 10 o’clock and the
Sunday afternoon service at 3 o’clock
will also be held in the chapel.
Subjects of the lectures follow:
Sunday—
10:30 A.M.—“Chariots on the Moun
tains”
3:00 P.M.—“The Need of a New
Spiritual Awakening”
7:30 P. M.—“The Conversion of
Christians”
Monday—
10:00 A. M.—“What Is Man?"
7:30 P.M.—“The Basis of a Deeper
Church Loyalty”
Tuesday—
10:00 A. M.—“How to Find and Know
the Will of God”
7:30 P. M.—“The Christian Message”
Wednesday—
10:00A. M.—“Shadows”
7:30 P.M.—“Jesus, the Only Hope
of the World”
Thursday—
10:00 A. M.—“What It Means to Be
A Christian Today”
7:30 P. M.—“Our Need of God”
riday—
10:00 A.M.—“Mountains or Mole
Hills”
7:30 P. M.—“The Old Rugged Cross”
Official Vote Count
Decides Election Tie
Tie vote for membership on the
board of public affairs at last week’s
election when unofficial returns indi
cated 222 votes each for Wm. Lug
inbuhi and A. C. Burcky was decided
in favor of Luginbuhl on the basis
of an official count.
The official count made by the
Allen County Board of Elections
gave Luginbuhl a five vote lead re
sulting in his re-election for a two
year term.
Other members of the board are
Harry Barnes and F. J. Harmon
both elected for first term. The new
board will take office the first of
next year.
Joe Hilty Enlists
In Naval Reserve
Joe Hilty, son of Mr. and Mrs.
H. O. Hilty of near Bluffton has en
listed in the naval reserve and has
been commissioned lieutenant junior
grade. Ih will report for training
at Princeton university, Sunday.
I HE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, NOV. 11, 1943
PHYSICAL DEFECTS
TO BAR ONLY FEW
FATHERS IN DRAFT
Physical Rejection of Fathers
Lower Than Expected in Areas
Drafting Them.
Vo Heads of Families Called by
Allen County Board No. 3
in November.
Altho no pre-Peari Harbor fathers
have been drafted yet from rural Al
len county, their rate of rejection for
physical disability is expected to be
much lower than originally anticipa
ted when local draft boards start call
ing them for induction.
Board No. 3, which has jurisdiction
over all of the county outside of Lima
does not expect to call any fathers in
November, according to informed
sources, but once induction is started
physical rejections probably will dif
fer little from the rate of non-fathers.
National selective service officials
had expected rejection of fathers to
run as high as 40 to 50 per cent, but
in those areas where drafting of them
has started only about 10 per cent
have failed to pass physical examina
tions.
This will result in many more be
ing inducted than had been anticipa
ted if the same circumstances hold
true for Allen county men, it was
pointed out.
No Fathers Called
So far no fathers have received no
tices of induction from Allen County
Board No. 3, and it is unlikely that
any will be called in November, ac
cording to unofficial sources in usual
ly informed quarters.
It is assumed that registrants to
fill the November call are coming
from a group of non-fathers who
have had ca®es pending before the
board of appeals and from youths de
ferred during the summer for farm
work.
Local Board No. 3, it is believed,
will notify fathers to report for in
duction only as a last resort, altho in
dications are there is little doubt some
of them will be taken in December.
Other boards in thia area already
have started to ^n^k|^thers, but the
district handled -by Board No. 3 ap
pahently will Ke on*’ of the last in
Northwest™ Ohio to take heads of
families from their wives and child
ren.
D. B. Conrad Named
New Masonic Master
Donavin B. Conrad was named
Master of the Bluffton Masonic
lodge for the coming, year in the an
nual election of officers at a meeting
of the organization, last Monday
night.
Other officers include Arden R.
Baker, senior warden Bertrand
Swank, junior warden Dr. Evan Ba
singer, treasurer Ralph T. Stearns,
secretary Robert Niswander, senior
deacon Lloyd H. Brauen, junior
deacon Charles Aukerman, trustee
John H. Thompson, tyler George
Rauenbuhler, chaplain Ben R. Sha
fer, senior steward Fred Ferguson,
junior steward.
New officers will be installed at
the next meeting of the lodge Mon
day, November 22.
With The Sick
Mrs. N. N. Basinger of Orange
township continues seriously ill at
Bluffton hospital.
Mrs. Lloyd Murray of South Main
street is convalescing following an
operation at St. Luke’s hospital,
Cleveland.
Condition of Mrs. Marion Hixon,
patient in Bluffton hospital suffering
from serious burns sustained last
month remains unchanged.
Mrs. Raymond Conrad of Geiger
street is convalescing following an
operation at Bluffton hospital.
Russell Hasson, Bluffton high
school instructor and athletic coach
who received serious eye injuries
two weeks ago is expected to resume
his teaching duties next week. The
injuries occurred at a Findlay filling
station while servicing the battery
of his automobile when a spark
caused by a short circuit struck him
in one eye.
Mrs. Noah Zimmerman of East
College avenue is critically ill at the
Bluffton hospital follow-ing a cere
bral attack at her home, Tuesday,
Her son, Noah Zimmerman, Jr., in
the army stationed at Camp Adair,
Oregon, was summoned and i sreturn
ing home by plane. He is expected
here this Wednesday night.
Shell shortage or no shell short
age—there will be just as many
hunters taking to the field in the
Bluffton area a week from Friday as
in any other year, it was indicated
here this week.
Practically every local nimrod has
an ample supply of shells to greet
the opening of rabbit and pheasant
hunting at 11 a. m. Friday, Novem
ber 19, and advance room reserva
tions indicate there will be more out
of town hunters here than ever be
fore.
The Pine Hotel reported Tuesday
ihat all available rooms have been
reserved for the first two days of
the seaso.n and management of the
hotei was seeking rooms in Bluffton
houses for other hunters coming
here.
Findlay hotels, too, are oversold
for the two-day period, adequate
proof that this area still is the
Shoe Stamp and Three Blue
Stamps AU That Remain in
First Two Books.
Unused Stamps 19, 20 and 22 in
Ration Book No. 1 Have No
Further Use.
Bluffton residents who have had
their troubles keeping track of four
ration books will soon have only two
books to worry about.
If you have used your shoe ration
stamp 18 in Ration book 1 and your
blue X, Y and Z stamps in Ration
book 2 for processed foods you can
discard the covers.
Unused stamps 19, 20 and 22 have
no further use and these books will
not be replaced if lost.
The stamp 18 in Ration book 1 is
valid for an indefinite period while
blue stamps X, Y and Z in Ration
book 2 may be used in the purchase
of processed goods until November
20.
Members Of School
Boards May Be Paid
Bluffton school board members
who have always served without pay
may now vote themselves salaries
not to exceed $20 per year for each
member of the board under pro
visions of the new Ohio law which
became effective last September.
Sections of the new statute were
discussed at a meeting of the board
of education here Monday night but
no action was taken.
The act provides that board mem
bers may receive compensation not
to exceed $2 per meeting for not
more than 10 meetings each year.
Funds for this purpose are to be
derived from locally collected moneys
for operating costs.
Bluffton Man Teaches
Classes In Russian
Prof. J. P. Klassen of Bluffton
college is teaching two classes in
the Russian language at Lima Cen
tral high school on Thursday even
ings. Eleven students are enrolled.
Prof. Klassen, who formerly lived in
the Russian Ukraine came to this
country with his family about twen
ty years ago following the Russian
revolution.
Mild, fall weather gave way to
the first assault of winter in the
Bluffton area Tuesday with snow,
freezing •e.ppcratures and a biting
wind emphasizing the change in
seasons.
Army Of Hunters Will Be As Large
As Ever Despite Shell Shortage
War Ration Books 1 And 2 May Be
Discarded When Stamps Are Used
Meanwhile word came the first of
the week from the regional office of
Trice Administration pointing out to
grocers that thej remove green cou
pons from War Ration book 4
p’oeessed foods instead of blue cou
pons. The green stamps in Boox 4
correspond to the blue stamps in
Kook 2.
Residents awoke Tuesday morning
to find the ground blanketed with
snow and thermometer recording 29
degree tempera.tres. It was the
first belov freezing weath-r of the
season in this area, and the advent
of winter continued into Wednesday
with colder weather dropping the
temperature into the lower twenties.
mecca for hunters from all parts of
the state. In an effort to find ac
commodations many hunters are re
ported to be offering a box of shells
in addition to paying regular room
rent.
In the meantime, with the opening
of hunting season only a matter of
days, a controversy has developed
among informed sources as to thj
number of pheasants in the fields
and woodlands this year.
One group expects fewer birds to
be found, basing its argument on
last spring’s wet weather which
killed many pheasant chicks in nests
in lowlands. Another school of
thought, however, maintains there
are just as many pheasants as ever.
Final decision in the matter there
fore will be left to the army uf
hunters who will take to the field
next week when the season officia.ly
opens.
TOWN’S TAX RATE
IS CUT TO $18.20
FOR COMING YEAR
New Real Estate Levy ts to be
$1 Per Thousand Under Pres
ent Rate.
School District Levy Cut 60
Cents to $15.50 Beaverdam
Higher.
Reduction of $1 for every thous
and dollars’ worth of taxable real
estate in Bluffton was announced the
first of the week with disclosure of
the new tax rate by the Allen county
budget commission.
The new rate on real estate is
$18.20 as compared with the present
rate of $19.20. It will be assessed
on real estate for the collections of
December 1943 and June 1944.
Bluffton school district, likewise,
will benefit by a reduction of 60
cents per thousand dollars of taxable
real estate. Property holders will
pay at the rate of $15.50 for the
coming year instead of $16.10.
Beaverdam Rate Higher
Beaverdam corporation and school
district will pay a higher rate, both
being assessed at $13.20 instead of
$12.90.
The rate of $19 in Delphos cor
poration is the highest in the county
while the lowest rate is $7.90 in
Landeck school district in Marion
township.
Members of the budget commission
which are charged with the duty of
fixing rates of taxation are County
Auditor Floyd Griffin, County Treas
urer Ray W. Barnett and County
Prosecutor Paul Landis.
Fewer Delinquencies
The budget commission was able
to lower tax rates in most of the
districts principally because property
owners are paying up their tax de
linquencies and current collections
are amounting to almost 100 per
cent.
Another factor in the reduction of
rates is the fact that property
evaluations have been increasing in
the last two years. However, the
six-year reappraisal of all real es
tate in the county will not be com
pleted in time for use in collection
of 1943-44 taxes, Auditor Griffin
explained.
BLUFFION MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bu. prices)—Wheat $1.57
old corn $1.05 oats 70c soys $1.80.
Snow, Freezing Temperatures And
Cold Wind Emphasize Winter’s Debut
Motorists kept filling station and
garage attendants busy in their
search for anti-freeze for radiators.
So far the limited supply of anti
freeze has kept pace with dema.ids,
but it is believed that many auto
mobile owners will be unable to get
amounts required when mure severe
weather sets in.
Arrival of real winter weather was
a source of uneasiness in some quar
ters. With hotter fires required to
heat homes many a Bluffton house
holder eyed his meagre supply of
coal with misgivings, as local coal
yards stood empty.
BUY
UNITS*
STATS*
BFBWSS
STAMM
NUMBER 29
FEEDING LOTS ON
FARMS WILL RE
RARE THIS WHITER
Smallest Livestock Program in
Recent Years Indicated by
Survey.
Farmers Facing Difficulty in
Feed and Uncertain Price
Dump Holdings.
Volume of livestock being fed on
farms in the Bluffton district this
winter may prove to be the smallest
in recent years, according to a sur
vey of the situation made the first
of the week by the Bluffton News.
Heavy marketing of livestock, es
pecially hogs, during the past month
supports the belief that many feed
ing lots will be empty on farms
where ordinarily large scale feeding
is part of the regular winter pro
gram.
Reasons for unseasonably heavy
marketing are attributed by farmers
to difficulty in obtaining concentrates
to supplement the regular grain ra
tion and also to the possibility of
lowering of the government ceiling
prices on jive hogs.
Congestion Reaches Local Yards
Heavy dumping of hogs which has
glutted the large livestock markets
is causing a congestion reaching
back to the local buyers.
Bluffton area farmers seeking to
sell hogs Tuesday reported an em
bargo at Pandora on further ship
ments pending a clearing of conges
tion at the large terminals. Top
price quoted locally on Tuesday was
$13.10 per hundred pounds. The quo
tation however was only nominal be
cause of the tieup in shipments.
Use of concentrates in a feeding
program, farmers explained enables
(Continued on page 8)
Orange Twp. Raises
$491 For War Fund
Orange township has raised the
sum of $491.30 as its contribution to
the National War fund, it was an
nounced Tuesday by J. A. Warren,
township chairman, following a final
check up of solicitors’ receipts.
Amounts raised by solicitors in the
different districts follow:
Dial. No. 1—Ezra Redick, $15 Jacub
Schaller $26.
Dist. No. 2—Wm. Beagle $23.55
Amos Klingler $23.
Dist. No. 4—Edgar Montgomery $45
Jesse Anderson $39.50.
Dist. No. 5—-Fred Boutwell $15 J.
C. Montgomery $55.50.
Dist. No. 6—Burley Boutwell $17.50
Madison Stewart $12.
Dist. No. 7—George McElroy $30
Charles Baker $17.
Dist. No. 8—Lee Morrison $15 Ken
neth Dearth $43.75.
Dist. No. 9—Ralph Caris $12, Sam
Amstutz $32.50.
In New Locations
Rev. and Mrs. Stanley Rupp who
recently moved here from Archbold
are occupying the Miss Sarah Am
stutz property on Mound street. Rev.
Rupp has been called to pastorate
of the Defenseless Mennonite church
here.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Locher and
family have left for Lake Worth,
Florida, where they will spend the
winter.
Rev. and Mrs. Vernon C. Opper
man have moved here from Sulphur
Springs and are occupying the par
sonage of the Reformed churches.
Rev. Opperman has begun his duties
as pastor of the St. John’s and
Emmanuel’s churches.
Household goods of Mrs. W. E.
Diller have been moved to St. Louia
where she expects to make her home
with her daughter Dr. Jeanne Diller,
osteopathic physician of that city.
Before going to St. Louis, Mrs. Dil
ler will visit at the home of her
son Sherwood Diller and family in
Ypsilanti, Michigan.
D. J. Herr residing northwest of
Bluffton will move into the property
on South Main street which he re
cently purchased from Mrs. Diller.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hartman of
Williamstown, a boy, Wayne Darvin,
Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Otis Basinger, Bluff
ton, a girl, Kay Elaine, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Daub, Jr., Ot
tawa, a girl, Nancy Lee, Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Sparrow, Raw
son, a boy, John Leon, Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Clymer, CoIuuh^
bus Grove, a girl, Wednesday.
1