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BUY UNITED mrts SAVINGS /SON OS AND SUMPS VOLUME NO. LXVIII CHRISTMAS SPIRIT CHANGES LITTLE IN WARTIME SETTING Town Shorn of Decorative Frills But Same Old Holiday Cheer Still Prevails Snow And Cold Weather Provide Setting Shopping Is At Its Peak Here With Christmas shopping and mailing at its peak, Bluffton’s third wartime observance of the Yuletide will differ little from the traditional holidays of other years altho shorn of some of the customary sparkle and decorative frills. Following a light snowfall that blanketed the ground in white Tues day, about the only thing missing from the traditional Christmas set ting was the lack of decorations and lights in the business district, which are out for the duration. Cold weather, frozen creeks, biting winds, and crisp, clear nights also help to create the proper holiday setting, as Christmas draws nearer. Shopping At Peak Christmas shopping for the most part is believed past its peak, altho merchants reported quite a volume of trading still is to be expected. Earlier buying this year, however, will eliminate the last minute rush customary in peace-time. Further reflection of intensive Christmas activity in the community has been the greatly increased out going and incoming volume of mail handled for nearly a week by the Bluffton post office. The peak of incoming mailings is expected next Monday, after which it is believed the volume will taper off gradually. In keeping with the spirit of the season, churches of the community are making preparations for the presentation of Christmas programs, and schools have additional Yuletide entertainment arranged. Musical Background Opening the musical observance of the season, the Bluffton College Choral Society will present its an nual rendition of Handel’s Christmas oratorio, “The Messiah”, at 8 m., Sunday in the high school gym nasium. Bluffton High and Grade school pupils are looking forward to a week’s Christmas holiday recess which will start with the close of school Friday evening, Dec. 24. They will return to classes Monday morn ing, Jan. 3. Bluffton college will have a vaca tion over the holidays extending from Thursday, Dec. 23, at 4 p. m., until Tuesday morning, Jan. 4. Burns Fatal To Mrs. Marion Hixon Mrs. Ethel Mae Hixon, 52, a resident of Richland township, died at 1:30 a. m., Saturday in Bluffton hospital from burns received Oct. 11 in a kerosene explosion in her home. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Methodist church. Surviving are her husband, Mar ion, a son John W. of McComb a daughter, Mrs. Howard Oaks of Wayne, Mich. three grandchildren, four brothers and sisters, Mrs. Volda Barnhill, Clarence, Ralph of Arcadia Roy of Findlay, and a half-brother. Parlee Binger also of Arcadia. Funeral services w’ere held Monday morning in the Paul Diller funeral home. Rev. Bernard Baughn of Beaverdam officiated. Burial was in Arcadia cemetery. District Optometrists Hold Meeting Here Thirty Northwest Ohio optomet rists and their wives attended the annual meeting of zope 10 of the Ohio Optometrists association held at the Walnut Grill, Tuesday night. Speakers were A. Baker of the Triplett Electrical Instrument com pany who talked on visual problems of industrial workers and Dr. O. N. Sparrow’ of Toledo who spoke on pro fessional ethics Drs. D. C. and Gordon Bixel are local members of the association. Funeral For Peter Miller Held Here Funeral services for Peter Miller, 72, inmate of the Allen county in firmary were held at Paul Diller funeral chapel, Tuesday morning. Miller died Sunday morning. He is a native of Goshen, Ind. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Helen Bierly of Columbus and a sister, Mrs. Alice Reed of Cross Plain, Texas. Influenza Common Here In Mild Form Many colds, sore throats and mild forms of influenza are common in the Bluffton area this week, forcing curtailment of war production, busi ness services and operations of schools. Few serious cases have been re ported, however, and it is hoped the change to colder weather will pre vent the disease attaining epidemic proportions. Health officers said that the ail ment is of a far less serious type than the influenza epidemic which swept the country in 1918, and deaths so far have been few thru out the nation. DECEMBER DRAFT CALL WILL TAKE 73 MEN, REPORT Selectees Will Go to Toledo For Physical Examination, Saturday Fathers Must Go in January, However, LTnless National Policy Changes No pre-war fathers are included in the December draft call of ap proximately 73 men being sent to Toledo this Saturday, by Allen County Board No. 3 for induction into the armed forces if they pass physical examinations. With this call, however, the Board under which Bluffton and all of rural Allen county is included has exhausted its list of single men and married men without children. This means fathers must be taken to meet an increased quota in Janu ary, unless definite orders are re ceived in the meantime to delay their induction as a result of recent legislation passed by Congress and signed last Thursday by the Presi dent. Policy Is Uncertain What effect the Congressional action will have on the drafting of fathers is a complicated puzzle this week, and no one in authority yet has made any commitments that men with children will be eliminated from the January draft call, which will be one of the largest of the war. Allen County Board No. 3 so far has met its draft quotas without summoning any pre-Pearl Harbor fathers, altho other boards in this area have been taking men with children for several months. Only Fathers Left Single men who previously were deferred for farming and industry and whose deferments have expired make up the group of about 73 to report on Saturday at Toledo, but there will be only a limited number available from this source for Janu ary. Men accepted for the Navy at Toledo this Saturday will receive a one week’s'furlough. This will make it Saturday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, when they ordinarily would be ex pected to report. However, it is believed that the furlough will be extended until Monday, Dec. 27, be cause of the unusual conditions prevailing. Men accepted for the army will have a period of three weeks before they will be expected to report. Wins Peace Contest In Putnam County Marilyn Steiner of Mt. Cory, who represented the Grace Mennonite church of Pandora, won the Putnam county Prince of Peace declamation contest Sunday night. The contest was held at the United Brethren church in Col. Grove. There were three contestants entered. Miss Steiner, as winner of the contest will represent Putnam county in the district contest. Beaverdam School Plans Music Night Beaverdam high school musical or ganizations will present a program at the school, Friday evening at 8 o’clock. Appearing on the program will be junior and senior choruses of the high school and the girls triple trio. Grade school talent will be pre sented in a one act operetta “Susan na’s Christmas Auction”. Christmas Season To Be Ushered In By Rendition Of “The Messiah” Sunday rHE Bluffton 125 Singers From College And Community Make Up Choir Personnel Rendition Here Sunday Will Be The 41st, Given Annually For 34 Years Bluffton’s observance of the Christmas holiday season will be ushered ’in with the 34th annual rendition of Handel’s oratorio, “The Messiah”, by the Bluffton College Choral society at 8 p. m. Sunday in the Bluffton High gymnasium. Presentation of the oratorio will be made for the 41st time before local audiences, altho it has been given in succession for only 33 years. Prior to 1909 it was not an annual affair here. Appearing in the chorus are 125 singers from the college and sur rounding community under the direc tion of Prof. Russell A. Lantz, head of the department of music at the local institution. Soloists for the performance in clude Dorothy Schultz, of Lima, soprano Opal Berry Stauffer, of Columbus, contralto B. Fred Wise, of Chicago, tenor and E. E. Emer son, of Toledo, baritone. An orchestra of about 35 pieces will accompany the choral society in the presentation of the oratorio. This group plays under the direction of Sidney Hauenstein, of the college music faculty. Mrs. H. P. Mann, also of the col lege faculty, will be the piano ac companist. The large gymnasium at the high school has ample seating accommoda tions for the large crowd that attend each annual rendition of “The Messiah”. Sherm Ewing Buried At Maple Grove Here Remains of Sherman Ewing, 81, of Lima, former Bluffton resident were brought here for interment at Maple Grove cemetery, Wednesday after noon. He died Monday at St. Rita’s hospital, Lima, following a six weeks’ illness. He wras for many years employed by the Ohio Oil company and was prominent in the Masonic lodge. He was also a member of the Lima Cen tral Church of Christ. Surviving are a daughter Mrs. Berda Fritz and two grandchildren Mrs. W K. Baker, of Ft. Wayne Mrs Sam Owen of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Benroth Re-elected Sportsmen's Head Eugene Benroth was re-elected president of the Bluffton Community Sportsmen’s club at a meeting Tues day night in the town hall. Other officers also re-named to the same posts they held last year were Silas Diller, vice-president Gerald Huber, secretary, and Dallas Berry, treasurer. Re-elected to the board of directors were Dan Trippiehorn, Edgar Root, Jesse Manges and William Edwards. Wilbur Fish and Aldine Kohli are new directors. Gail Mumma, a hold-over on the board of directors, entertained the group with an account of the ad ventures of a party of Bluffton sportsmen in Canada on a hunt ing trip a month ago. In the party were Mumma, Dr. J. S. Steiner, Le land Sechler and Hiram Wenger. Four From Here Go To Army Thursday Four Bluffton men were in a group of 24 Allen county men called by Draft Board No. 3 which left for induction into the army at Ft. Hayes, Columbus, last Thursday. Those from here were Karl L. Gable, Richard Cookson, James Howard Basinger and Donavin W. Moser. Two From Here Would Join Navy Two Bluffton youths, Richard Rockcy and Jud Johnson applied for enlistment in the navy the first of the week. They expect to undergo I physical examination and other pre liminaries within the next few days. ARCHERY CLUB TO MEET The archery club will hold the next meeting of the organization next Wednesday night, Dec. 22, at 7:30 o’clock at the archery range in the town. All persons interested are invited to attend. A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, DEC. 16, 1913 POST OFFICE OPEN EVENINGS DURING CHRISTMAS RUSH Peak of 1943 Holiday Mailing Expected to be Reached Over Week End Windows Open Thursday, Fri day and Saturday Nights This Week With the annual Christmas mailing rush at its peak this week, windows at the Bluffton postoffice will be open on Thursday, Friday and Satur day nights, Postmaster Ed R. Reichenbach announced Tuesday. In the evening senice provided each night until 9 p. m. clerks will handle only receiving of mail and selling stamps, the postmaster said. Bluffton’s Christmas mailing rush is under way much earlier than usual this season, with the peak coming a week before the time it normally can be expected, the post master said. Incoming mail also is being receiv ed much earlier, and the bulk of all second-class greeting card mailings is expected to be out of the way before the close of the week. Heaviest stamp sales locally are expected Friday and Saturday of this week, and the complications of handling expanded deliveries pro bably will pass its peak next Mon day. Stamp sales at the post office are running ahead of last year’s figures for the same period, including a heavy demand for one and one-half cent stamps. Practically all parcels will be enroute by the close of the week, otherwise there is little pos sibility of delivery before Christmas. Last Rites For Mrs. Samuel Augsburger Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Augsburger, were held Monday after noon in the Ebenezer Mennonite church of which she was a member. Rev. A. C. Schultz, pastor, officiated. Interment was in the church ceme tery. Mrs. Augsburger, who resided one mile west of Beaverdam, died late Friday night in St. pita’s hospital, Lima, following U «. Illness of three weeks. She was born Dec. 28, 1871, the daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Geiger) Burkholder. She is survived by her husband and five daughters, Mrs. Homer Spallinger, Mrs. Walter Welty, Mrs. Orlando Lugibihl, Mrs. Howard Nis wander and Miss Florence, ail in the Beaverdam vicinity. Mrs. Augsburger is survived also by two sisters, Mrs. Aldine Diller of Pandora Mrs. Dan Herr of Bluffton, four brothers, Amos, Monroe and Jacob Burkholder, all of Columbus Grove, and Chris Burkholder of Gil boa. College Graduate Is Injured In Pacific Lieut. Richard Backensto, of the U. S. Marines, a Bluffton college graduate, was injured in action in the South Pacific, according to in formation learned here this week. Details of where injuries were re ceived or their extent were not in cluded in the notification received by his wife. Lieut. Backensto was a member of football, basketbail and baseball teams during his undergraduate days at Bluffton college. Dr. Travis Is Named Railroad Physician Dr. B. W. Travis has been ap pointed local physician for the Nickel Plate railroad, it was announced the first of the week He succeeds the late Dr. J. S. Steiner who held the appointment for a number of years. Ebenezer Broadcast A girls trio consisting of Jemima Luginbihl, Mrs. Vinton Bucher and Vera Amstutz will be heard on the Ebenezer church musical program broadcast Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock from Findlay station WFIN. Mabel Amstutz is accompanist. Radio Sermon “Courage for Our Time” will be the subject of the radio talk in the series Living Today broadcast by Rev. A. C. Schultz of the Ebenezer Mennonite church from Findlay sta tion WFIN, Friday afternoon at 3:15 o’clock. Zero weather brought by the win ter s first severe cold wave had Bluffton area residents shivering in their heaviest clothing and digging into dwindling piles of scarce coal Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Originating in the frigid wastes of the Lake Superior region, the first onslaught of the cold wave drove temperatures to a new win ter’s low. Accustomed to unseasonably mild weather which has prevailed since early September, Bluffton area resi dents found it hard to adjust them selves to the cold wave that swept down out of the North. A ^intry setting also was pro vided by a light snowfall which fell intermittently on Tuesday and left the ground blanketed with a white covering. Details of Death In Pacific Learned When Buddies Re turn Home from Front Bluffton Area Youth Crouched In Fox Hole When Shell Struck, Parents Told Pvt. Francis Wilkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Wilkins, who reside be tween Mt. Cory and Rawson, was killed in the Pacific war theatre when a Japanese shell made a direct hit on the foxhole in which he was crouched, it was learned here this week. Details of how the youth met his death were learned for the first time thru some of his war buddies, who were near him when he shell struck. His death was instantaneous. Wilkins’ parents were notified on Sept. 1 that he had been killed in action, but the war department com munique did not report any of the details. Serving with the army’s 37th di vision, Wilkins met death in the month of August during some of the most heated fighting in the South Pacific area. He was a graduate of Mt. Cory High school and had been serving overseas since May, 1942. The family is well knowm in the Bluffton area, having lived on the George Read farm north of Bluffton on the county line road before mov ing to their new location several years ago. Pvt. Wilkins’ mother is the former Emma Tschiegg, sister of Amos Tschiegg, of North Jackson street, and of Eldon Tschiegg and Mrs. Aaron Messinger, west of town and Mrs. Otto Badertscher, of north of town. The War Department’s Purple Heart medal was awarded to Pvt. Wilkins, following his death. Mrs. Sarah Diller Dies Here Monday Mrs. Sarah Diller, 72, died at her farm home, five miles west of Bluff ton, at 8 a. m. last Monday. She had been ill from influenza .but death was attributed to a heart condition. The daughter of Samuel and Bar bara (Steiner) Burkholder, Mrs. Diller was born in Richland town ship, Nov. 19, 1871. She was mar ried to Peter Diller, who expired in 1923. Survivors include six sons, Mel vin and Kenneth, at home Harley and Archie, of Bluffton Earl, of Pandora,: and Virgil, of Columbus Grove. Five surviving brothers are Eli, Gideon and Menno Burkholder, of Bluffton John Burkholder, of Wooster, and Reuben, of Washington state. She was a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite church. Funeral sendees were held Wed nesday afternoon at the Ebenezer Mennonite church, Rev. A. C. Schultz officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Named To Honorary Education Society Miss Jeanne Baumgartner, form erly of Bluffton, senior at Bowling Green State university, has been elected to membership in Kappa Beta Pi, honorary national education society, it was announced the first of the week. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lysle Baumgartner of Misha waka, Ind., w’ho previously reside^ here. news Bluffton Shivers As First Zero Cold Wave Of Winter Strikes Area Direct Hit By Jap Shell Causes Death Of Pr vate Francis Wilkins Meat Ration Points For Salvaged Fats Bluffton housewives, with others thruout the nation, may obtain one meat ration point starting Monday of this week for every half-pound of salvaged household fats they turn in to their meat dealers. This is in addition to payment of four cents a pound for fats which dealers have been allowing in the past. The added incentive was an nounced by the OPA in the hope of increasing the supply of waste fats being turned in by housewives for the war program. Brown stamps which the dealers collect from War Ration Book No. 3 w’ill be given to housewives for the fats, which badly are needed to make glycerin used in making gunpowder, it was announced. Promoted Frederick Herr, stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash., has been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant, it was learned the first of the week. Clifford Houts now’ in the Euro pean war zone has been promoted to private first class it was learned by his wife, Mrs. Dorothy Houts of North Main street. Alvin Wilkins, serving overseas in the air force has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Wilkins. Carl Marshall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Marshall of Orange town ship has been promoted from cor poral to sergeant at Camp Gordon Johnston, Florida. He returned to camp Tuesday morning after having spent a seven days emergency fur lough here. His father, a patient at Bluffton hospital who has been crit ically ill following an operation is somewhat improved. Promotion from second to first lieutenant of James Owens, stationed in England was announced the first of the week He has been overseas for several months serving as intel ligence office in the army air force. Announce Wedding Solemnized In Iowa Wedding of Sgt. Harold Balmer and Miss Anna Ruth Mullett of Wayland, Iowa, which took place Sunday, December 5, w’as announced the first of the w’eek when the cou ple arrived here to visit his parents, Mr and Mrs. Henry Balmer of South Law’n avenue. The w’edding was solemnized in Wayland Mennonite church in an evening ceremony in the presence of 250 guests Officiating were Rev. E. S. Mullett and Rev. L. Metzger. The bride wore for the occasion an ivory satin gown and fingertip length veil and carried a bouquet of white roses. Her attendants w’ere Miss Josephine DiMarco of New’ York city anil Maxine Zihlman of Wayland. The bridegroom w’as attended by his brother, Ralph Balmer. Following a reception at the home of the bride’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. Mullett, the couple left on a w’edding trip. The bride is a graduate of the high school at Nappanee, Ind. and groom of Bluffton high school. Both attended Bluffton college. Sgt. Balmer who recently returned from 18 months service in the arctic is now stationed at Milwaukee, Wis. After completing her semester’s schooling at low’a Wesleyan college Mrs. Balmer will join her husband. High School Hires Language Teacher Miss Mildred Keel was hired as instructor in French and Latin in Bluffton high school at a meeting of the board of education, Monday night. She will fill the vacancy in the teaching staff caused by the res ignation of Mrs. Harriette Criblez Luginbuhl which becomes effective at the holidays. Miss Keel, language instructor in Pandora high school, has presented her resignation at that place in order to accept the position here. She will assume her teaching duties with the opening of school after the holidays. Mrs. Kenneth Luginbuhl will leave for Ft. Monmouth, N. J., to join her husband Sgt. Kenneth Luginbuhl who has been at that place since he returned last summer from service in the southwest Pacific war area. BUY UM1TBO ■TATBB mm I -L AM» NUMBER 34 GENERAL STORE AT ROCKPORT RAZED BY FIRE THURSDAY Building And Contents Lost In Conflagration Discovered Late Thursday Fire Leaves Community With* out Store Ration Books of Patrons Also Lost Rockport this week is without a general store for the first time in the memory of its inhabitants, the result of a fire which last Thursday night razed the one story frame structure and destroyed its entire stock of food and merchandise. Operated by Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Lentz, the store did a large volume of business out of proportion to the size of the community, and it was often reported that shoppers could obtain there “hard to get’’ items after supplies in larger cities had been exhausted. Fire Chief Guy Corson, w-ho went with the Bluffton fire department to battle the blaze, but arrived too late, said he understood value of the large stock of supplies lost in the fire was in excess of $3,000. Starts Late At Night Mrs. Milford Everett, of Rockport, who discovered the fire about 10:30 p. m. Thursday, notified the residents of the village and telephoned Mr. and Mrs. Lentz, who had gone to their home in Columbus Grove. However, the blaze was entirely out of control by the time neighbors and the Bluffton fire department reached the scene. Loss was only partially covered by insurance. Also included in the loss were a number of customers’ ration books, which they had been in the habit of leaving in the store. It is reported the store will be rebuilt, inasmuch as the Lentz family has a new home adjacent to the store property nearly completed and ready for occupancy. Some of the lighting fixtures for the residence were lost in the fire, however, and must be re-ordered. Red Cross Business Meeting Next Tuesday Business meeting'of the Bluffton Red Cross organization will be held at the high school cafeteria next Tuesday night at 8 o’clock. Finan cial reports will be presented and officers will be elected for the com ing year. AU members are asked to be present. At Naval School Richard N. Klay, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Klay, of Mound street, has been transferred to the Naval Training School at Dearborn, Mich. He will take up advanced machin ist training at that place. His “boot** schooling was received at the Great Lakes, Ill., naval station. College Xmas Recess Starts December 23 Students will be dismissed from classes and laboratories after 4 P. M. on Thursday, December 23, for the annual Christmas recess. Va cation will continue from that date until Tuesday, January 4, when classes will be resumed at 8:00 A. M. 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: DECEMBER 20—Last day to use Green Stamp A, and C, in Ration Book 4 for processed foods. JANUARY 15—Last day to use Stamp No. 29 in Ration Book 4 for 5 pounds of sugar. SHOES—Stamp No. 18 in Ra tion Book 1 good for one pair. Stamp No. 1 on “Airplane” sheet in Ration Book 3 good for one pair. JANUARY 1—Last day to use Brown Stamps L, M, N, P, in Ration Book No. 3 good for meats, cheese, canned milk, can ned fish, butter, lard and other edible fats. JANUARY 20—Last day use Green Stamps D, E and in Ra tion Book No. 4 for processed foods. JANUARY 21—Last day to use Coupon No. 9 in A books for three gallons of gasoline.