The Bluffton news. [volume], August 17, 1944, Image 1

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BUY
VNITtD
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VOLUME NO. LXIX
SCHOOL MAY DROP
MANUAL TRAINING
FOR COMING YEAR
No Instructor Is Found to Fill
Vacancy, Board Is In
formed
New Teacher Is Employed for
First Grade Music Situ
ation Indefinite
Closing of the manuel training de
partment in Bluffton high school for
the coming year looms as a distinct
possibility because of the inability to
obtain an instructor.
This became known following a
meeting of the board of education,
Monday night when Supt. of Schools
Ralph S. Lanham reported develop
ments in the situation to board mem
bers.
Supt. Lanham stated that an ex
haustive canvass of
failed to disclose an
position, however,
board that he would continue his ef
forts to fill the vacancy. The vacan
cy in the department followed the res
ignation last month of Hayden Stein
er, the former instructor.
the situation has
instructor for the
he assured the
Employ First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Clayton Murray of West Elm
street was employed as instructor in
the first grade filling the vacancy
caused by the resignation a week ago
of Mrs. R. B. Rader.
Mrs. Rader asked to be released
from her teaching contract here in or
der to accompany her husband to an
army camp near Los Angeles.
Mrs. Murray w’ho previously taught
in the primary grades here will re
ceive a salary’ of $1212. Because of an
anticipated enrollment of 52 pupils in
the first grade this fall, the largest in
recent years the board of education
has arranged to have two first grades
this year instead of one.
Two First Grade Teachers
Miss Meredith Stepleton, first grade
instructor last year will be continued
at that place during the coming year
with Mrs. Murray teaching the newly
added first grade root
are indefinite awaiting the arrival of
Miss Harriet Brate, supervisor, who
is expected here over the week end.
Miss Brate who has been employed
previously on five-sixths time, devot
ing one-sixth time to the college de
partment of music, will probably be
given full time employment in the
public schools, taking over supervision
of both vocal and instrumental music
with a part time instructor added to
take charge of the band.
Rites Held Sunday
For D. L. Shalley
Funeral services were held Sun
day afternoon in the Stanley Ba
singer funeral home for D. L. Shal
ley, 88, retired Bluffton merchant,
who died last Thursday in the Bluff
ton Community hospital.
Shalley had been in the hospital
for the last six days, after falling
and fracturing his shoulder. Death
was due to this injury and to the
infirmities of age.
The last member of a family of
12, he came to Bluffton from Berne,
Ind., 22 years ago, and for many
years operated a variety store here.
A son, Harry K. Shalley, with whom
he was associated in business
last year, and his wife died in
died
1941.
Fla.,
Mrs. Opal Egly, of Miami,
is the only surviving child.
Rev. V. C. Oppermann, pastor of
St. John’s Reformed church, offi
ciated at the rites
later in the day
church at Berne,
ley was buried.
here Sunday, and
in the Reformed
Ind., where
Shal-
Lions Club Works
At Buckeye Lake
Bluffton Lions club met at Buck
eye Lake, Tuesday night to clean up
the grounds and make minor repairs
to equipment in the park.
Weeds were cut, leaves were raked
and burned, trees were trimmed, the
bridge repaired and broken boards
were replaced on the swimming pool
float.
Twenty-six Lions were present for
the picnic and the work hour that
followed.
Pvt. Robert McCune
Cited In England
Pvt. Robert McCune of Bluffton,
i.n ammunition worker at an army
Eighth Air Force Liberator station
in England has been cited for dis
tinguished and outstanding service
in 100 combat missions over Europe.
The group made its 100th mission in
support of the initial landings by
Allied forces in France, it was said.
D-Day Survivor Weds
Girl Employed Here
Arthur Badertscher, seaman second
class and one of the survivors of the
destroyer Meredith which was lost
in the invasion cf France was mar
ried to Miss Donna Dishong, em
ployed at Plant No. 3 of the Trip
lett Electrical Instrument company.
The wedding which took place in
the Deweyville Church of God on
July 22 was announced this week.
Seaman Badertscher, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur Badertscher of
Pandora has reported to New York
for reassignment. His bride, the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Dishong of McComb, has resumed
her duties here.
FORMER SOLDIER
CRUSHED TO DEATH
UNDER MILK TRUCK
Willard Lee, of Near Bluffton
Dies in Crash on Put
nam County Road
Fatal Accident Occurs on Sec
ond Day Operating Truck
for Dairy Firm
Willard I/ewis Lee, 24, of near Bluff
ton who was honorably’ discharged
from the Army last spring was crush
ed to death beneath the cab of nis
overturned milk truck in a collision
with an automobile at road intersec
tion, Sunday morning at nine o'clock.
He was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Garvin Lee who live two miles north
west of Bluffton on what was former
ly the Jacob Schnegg farm,
owned by Edgar Biel who sold
the elder Lee.
Pinned Beneath Cab
Lee’s truck careened into a ditch
and the Bluffton man was pinned be
neath the cab when the vehicle over
turned. Efforts of passing motorists
to raise the truck and release him
were futile and by the time a farmer
brought his tractor to lift the heavy
cab Lee was dead, John Krontz, Jr.,
13-yr. old Columbus Grove youth
who was riding with Lee escaped un
injured.
The victim of the crash was hon
orably discharged from the army last
March after serving for five and one
half month.
He is survived by his parents, a
brother, Robert and a sister, Ruth
Ann, both at home.
Funeral services were held Tuesday
afternoon in the Ebenezer Mennonite
church, with Rev. A. C. Schultz, pas
tor of the church, officiating. Burial
was in the Walnut Grove cemetery
near Delphos.
Two occupants of the Stechschulte
car were injured seriously in the mis
hap. Sister Mary’ Laura, a sister of
Stechschulte, who has been teaching
in Cincinnati and was on her first vis
it home in 17 years, is in critical con
dition in Lima St. Rita’s hospital with
a back injury.
Mrs. Stechschulte also was seriously
hurt, suffering from a deep cut across
the thigh, a fractured leg and broken
knee cap, in addition to severe face
and body lacerations.
Stechschulte and his daughter, Mar
cella escaped with minor injuries.
Clifford L. Filhart Is
Discharged From Navy
Clifford L. Filhart, S. C. 3/c, grad
uate of Bluffton High school in 1929,
who served for 13 months on Guad
alcanal, has been honorably dis
charged from the navy, and is now
at his home near Ortonville, Mich.
Injuries received in the line of
duty resulted in the discharge. For
seven months of the time he was
stationed on Guadalcanal the unit to
which Filhart was assigned was un
der continuous enemy shellfire and
bombing attacks.
He has been awarded the Island
Citation bar, the South Pacific Asia
tic campaign bar, with two stars rep
resenting two major enemy engage
ments, and the American theatre
bar. Filhart was in the Navy 22
months.
Carol Diller Accepts Position As
Nurse In New Porto Rican Hospital
later
it to
miles
Scene of the crash was three
east of Kalida at the intersection of
the Columbus Grove-Kalida road and
a township road.
te
second day Lee had operated the truck
on a bulk milk route for the Nestle’s
Milk company of Columbus Grove
when the vehicle was involved in a
collision with an automobile operated
by William Stechschulte, Putnam
county commissioner.
Institution for Care of Natives
Operated by Mennonite
Central Committee
Bluffton Woman Leaves Monday
for Her New Duties on
Hospital Staff
Carol Diller, registered nurse and
daughter of the late Chris Diller,
of near Bluffton, has resigned her
position at St. Luke’s hospital in
Cleveland, to accept an assignment
as a nurse in a Mennonite hospital
at Abonito, Porto Rico.
She left for Porto Rico Monday
night to assume her duties in the
new hospital, recently opened by the
Mennonite Central committee, which
has headquarters in Akron, Pa. The
hospital is operated under the di
rection of the federal government’s
Porto Rican Reconstruction admin
istration.
Miss Diller will be one of four
registered nurses assigned to the
hospital staff. She is scheduled to
e in
expects
on Saturday
her work at
the institution next Monday.
In addition
of the native
Rico, the hospital will establish a
school for the training of Porto
Ricans in the
and hygiene.
needs
to serving the
population of
Nuptials Solemnized
In Church Ceremony
Miss Lucille Steiner, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Steiner of Pop
lar street became the bride of Wi
liam T. Snyder, son of Mrs. Susa
Snyder in a nuptial service of dig
nity and beauty at the First Men
nonite church here Saturday after
noon at 4 o’clock.
church officiated in an impressive
double ring ceremony.
Setting for the nuptials consisted
of a background screen of greenery
from which rose white cathedral
candles. The chancel was banked
with ferns and lilies and two tall
baskets of scarlet and white gladioli
on either side of the
the effect. Lilies and
the bride’s aisle.
altar completed
azeleas marked
grave a quarter­
Mrs. Glen Morgan
hour pre-nuptial organ recital which
was followed by Miss Anna Burk
holder of Findlay, cousin of the
bride who sang Edward Lippe’s
musical setting of Elizabeth Bar
rett Browning’s How Do I Love Thee
and Mrs. Paul Whaley of Chicago,
cousin
stein’s
of the bride rendered Ruben
Romance as a violin number,
organ number Dreams by
An
Me Annis played by Mrs. Morgan was
followed by Miss Dorothy Burner of
Findlay, college classmate of the
who sang Grieg’s Ich Liebe
bride
Dich.
Miss Burkholder sang Oh Power of
Love,
violin
Bixel
After
holder sang The Lord Bless You and
Keep You.
Preceding the wedding march
All Else Transcending with a
obligato arranged by James
and played by Mrs. Whaley,
the closing prayer Miss Burk-
The bridal party entered to the
organ number Entree Nuptiale by
Smith. Mendelssohn’s
was the recessional.
wedding march
by her father,
in a gown of
Given in marriage
the bride was lovely
white satin, the skirt covered with
net and appliqued with satin motifs.
A finger tip veil of tulle edge with
lace and a shower bouquet of white
roses completed her ensemble.
The bride’s only attendant was
(Continued on page 8)
Softball old-timers will match
their prowess against the strength
of the Triplett team which has won
10 games in inter-city play in a
Buckeye Lake benefit contest, spon
sored by the Bluffton Lions
7 p. m. this Wednesday at
field.
Lions Old-Timers Will Play Triplett
Softball Team In Benefit Contest
club, at
Harmon
To make the contest more evenly
matched, the Triplett team will not
be permitted to use either Timer
Spaeth or Maynard Geiger, regular
fHE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1944
................... im*"
STORM BRINGS
SHORT BREAK
IN HEATWAVE
Lightning Tuesday Night Dis
rupts Residence 'and Street
Lighting.
Downpour Refreshes Drought
Ridden Lr.wns, Gardens and
Pasture^.
rumbling, flashing thunder
which swept Bluffton Tues-
storm
day night brought the most beneficial
rain of the summer and brought a
measure of relief to the drought
stricken area and a momentary re
spite from six continuous
ninety-degree temperature
e district
ess when
Portions of the resldeni
were plunged into darkr
the storm
street lighting electric
repair crews of the mu
were called out to locate
some of which had not
Wednesday morning.
disrupted domestic and
service and
cipal plant
Temperatures which
maximum of 96 degree on Tuesday
dropped to a low of 75 early Wed
nesday morning, giving Bluffton res
idents their first night of comfort­
Hot Wave Con'd
cooler
of short
saw a
The
for establishing the
completed this sum
crews from Civilian
camps sent to Porto
purpose under aus-
Preparations
hospital were
mer by labor
Public Service
Rico for that
pices of the Mennonite Central com
mittee.
weather,
duration
resumpt ic
of the lo
years.
too late
corn
heat wave, one
tinued in recent
Altho coming
materially the corn crop, Tuesday
night’s rain did much toward green
ing lawns and drought-ridden pas
tures showed invigorating effects of
the downpour.
Weather forecasts held out some
prospect of
Friday and
Sunday.
collected
two Boy
ation of
Bluffton’s waste paper collection
is a part of a nation-wide campaign
to obtain scrap paper urgently need
ed for the war effort, because of a
shortage of wood pulp used in mak
ing paper. Boy Scout troops all
over the county have been asked to
make the collections in their home
communities.
of heavy rain, the paper
will be made here on the
collection
following
Saturday.
Advanced In Rank
Robert Oberly, serving overseas,
has been promoted from the rank
of corporal to staff sergeant, it was
learned by his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Millard Oberly of Cherry
street.
Having finished three months in
radio training at Grove City Col
lege, Pa., Wilhelm A. Amstutz, Jr.,
has received the rating of corporal
and is now in Corpus Christi, Texas,
where he is continuing his training
in radio and radar. He is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Amstutz
north of Bluffton.
Richard Augsburger, son of Mr.
and Mrs.
stationed
moted to
class.
H. E. Augsburger, who is
at Hawaii has been pro
the rank of private first
pitchers for the team, and Manager
Jesse Manges is slated to take over
the mound duties for the outfit. In
addition the Triplett team will be
limited to nine
one inning or
outs.
In the Lions
Triplett,
will be
many of
The Lions’ club lineup
studded with the names of
the stars of other years who will
try their throwing arms and bat
ting eyes again this week in order
to raise funds to improve the Buck
eye lake swimming pool and park.
men batting in any
the regulation three
lineup will be Norm
pitcher Mayor W. A.
Howe, catcher Dr. Munson Bixel,
first base Dr. Gordon Bixel, second
base
Coach A. C. Burcky, left field I. B.
Beeshy, center field Ed Lape, right
field Homer Gratz, short stop, and
Clair I/eiber, short field.
base D. W. Bixler, third
A. E. Lichtenwalter and Ed Wal
termire will be umpires for the con
test.
New basic “A” gasoline ration
books, for which motorists will make
application beginning August 25,
will provide
gasoline per
allotment, it
week. These
rent “A” books which expire
tember 21.
Each coupon in the new book
be worth four gallons of gasoline,
but only six will become valid every
three months. This provides 24 gal
lons of gasoline, good for about 120
miles a month, which is the same
allowance motorists now receive.
noon
and Wed
n of the
ngest con-
to affect
lower temperatures on
Saturday and warmer
Scouts Will Collect
Scrap Paper Saturday
this Saturday by Bluffton’s
Scout troops in a continu
their waste paper drive.
with paper for the Scouts
Those
are requested to place magazines
and newspapers in separate bundles,
and tie them securely with stout
cord. Bundles should be placed on
curbs where they can be easily load
ed onto trucks. The collection will
start at 1 p. m.
Cost of the project $27,500 will be
divided between the state highway
department and the town, the latter
paying a lump sum of $5,000 as its
portion. Contract for the work is
held by the Maumee Asphalt & Pav
ing Co., of
Toledo.
Ray Clark Cited
In Army Training
Pvt. Raymond V. Clark, of Bluff
ton, now in training at the Armored
Replacement Center, Fort Knox, Ky.,
recently qualified as
the machine gun, by
the highest scores in
New “A” Ration Books Will Provide
Same Amount Of Gasoline Per Period
the same amount of
period as the present
was announced
will replace the
this
cur-
will
Applicants for the A books will
Work on New Lines and Taps
is Completed Wednesday
Noon.
Expect to Start Putting on Hot
Mix Top Last Part of This
Month.
Water Line Replacement Finished
On Main Street Resurfacing Soon
on Bluffton’s Main
street commissioner.
Repair of broken strips
along the street will be
Thursday and the thorofare
ready for the resurfacing
of the state highway department
which has been held up pending the
water line replacements.
started
will be
project
will require about
stated. However,
be carried on at
the resurfacing op-
Curb repairing
ten days, Coon
this work could
the same time as
eration and the street is now ready
for the highway department work
crews.
Lost Shipment Delays Work
Replacement of the water lines
under supervision of the Board of
Public Affairs and the municipal
about two months when a shipment
of taps was lost intransit.
The street resurfacing project will
consist of a one and three-quarters
inch asphalt hot mix top applied
on the present brick pavement be
ginning at the Rentley road and
continuing north to the Allen-Han
cock county line. This will com
prise a one and one-half mile pro
ject within the city limits.
an expert on
making one of
his company.
Bluffton Roller
Clark operated the
Rink before going into the service.
In New Locations
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Marquart
are occupying the Edward Marquart
property on
Mr. and
formerly occupied the property have
apartments in the W. H. Gratz res
idence on Lawn avenue.
South Jackson street.
Mrs. Wm. Cookson who
Earle Lugibill and family have
moved to Lima, vacating the T. A.
Kitchen
recently
Slusser.
cupy it
present
Bentley
property on Cherry street
purchased by Miss Theresa
The Slusser family will oc
soon, moving from their
location south of town on
road.
With The Sick
Miss Hulda Schifferly, Bluffton
hospital nurse is convalescing at her
home on Poplar street from effects
of a fall which she sustained at the
hospital recently.
Noah Basinger is convalescing at
his home on South Lawn avenue
following an operation for gall
stones which he underwent at Bluff
ton hospital nearly’three weeks ago.
Miss Ocie Anderson, Bluffton librar
ian, is convalescing at her home on
South Main street following a tonsil
lectomy which she underwent at
Bluffton hospital.
the
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices)—Wheat $1.42
corn $1.12 oats 80c soys $1.86.
not have to make a personal ap
pearance before their ration boards
in registering for the new rations,
it was announced.
One-page forms will be available
at gasoline stations on August 25,
and motorists can fill out the blanks
and return them by mail to ration
boards by Sept. 9 together with the
back cover of the current A book
properly signed.
There will be no further use for
the tire inspection record which
formerly had to accompany all ap
plications for gasoline rations. A
stub marked “mileage rationing
record” will replace the tire inspec
tion record.
FEED SITUATION ON
FARMS STEADILY
IS GROWING WORSE
Conditions Reversed from 1913
When There Was Commer
cial Feed Shortage
Corn and Oats Disappear from
Market Farmers Hold to
Scanty Grain Supplies
The farm feed situation in the
Bluffton area is exactly the reverse of
what it was last year, with farm ob
servers reporting plenty of concen
trated commercial feeds but this sum
mer a growing shortage of home
grown carbohydrates.
As far as feed is concerned the sit
uation is steadily growing worse, and
the prolonged drought has caused
many farmers to withhold corn from
the market until the effect of scanty
rainfall on the growing crop can be
determined. Rains which fell last
Saturday afternoon and Tuesday night
were not sufficient to change the long
range view of the situation.
Many cattle and dairy herds al
ready have been put on dry feed,
about two months before the usual
time, and with the yield of feed crops
badly damaged by the drought, fann
ers are holding on to all feed they
now have in storage.
With practically no feed changing
hands in the present stringent situa
tion, market quotations only are nom
inal for grain that is quite scarce.
However, the prices do not reflect a
true picture of conditions, for there
were reports the first of the week of
feeders bidding $1 per bushel fol oats
and finding none to buy, even tho the
figure they offered was 20 cents more
than nominal market price of 80
cents.
Average quotations on oats in nor
mal years range from 30 to 35 cents a
bushel, but the price has been boost
ed to a mark nearly three times
greater this summer. The grain is
needed for supplementing nearly all
kinds of livestock feed.
No Corn Sold
With this fall’s orn harvest pros
pects becoming more gloomy every
week, very little corn is being sold,
and farmers with plentiful supplies
on hand are holding what they have
until they can determine what this
year’s stand will produce.
Even wheat straw is being careful
ly husbanded by growers, who not on
ly anticipate a shortage of feed dur
ing the normal length of the feed ng
season, but who also fear
will bring a feeding season
months longer than usual.
fire
call
this year
about two
critical is
The situation here altho
not as had as in Central Ohio where
the drought was described by George
Mindiing, U. S. weather bureau me
teorologist, as bringing driest July
since 1930
50 years.
July was
considered adequate.
and second most arid in
Rainfall during June and
Meanwhile farm special Sts at the
Ohio Experiment station in Wooster
are urging farmers thruout the state
to begin feeding drought stricken
Ohio corn to cattle at once to
maximum feed values from the
pleted crop.
get
de­
much
Specialists advised that
com as possible should made into
silage and feeding from
should continue as late as possible to
conserve silage for later use during
the winter.
the field
Couple Observe 45th
Wedding Anniversary
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hahn of West
Elm street observed their 45th wed
ding anniversary while visiting in
Toledo over the week end at the
home of their daughter, Mrs. Glen
Eichelberger and family.
BUY
STAMM
NUMBER 17
AREA REPLIES TO
DETERMINE TYPE
OF FIRE PUMPER
Type of Equipment Will De
pend on Whether Rural
Protection Is Provided
Answers Awaited on Proposals
to Richland, Orange Town
ships and Beaverdam
Whether Bluffton’s new fire truck
pumper will be equipped for town use
only or will have facilities also fitting
it for rural fire fighting will be a
major item for consideration nt next
Monday’s meeting of the Bluffton city
council.
Decision of the town in the matter
will be governed largely by ieplies re­
and and
township
uffton’s future
been pointed out.
tection is to be provided
s and Beaverdam in the
water.
A lighter truck will be used with a
smaller booster tank if the townships
and Beaverdam are willing to make
commitments on a future fire protec
tion policy. Less booster capacity is
needed in Bluffton where sufficient
water can be obtained from town
water mains.
Councilmen are starting proceed
ings anew in consideration of the type
of equipment the town will buy in
modernizing the fire department.
A contract let in 1942 for a Mack
truck was cancelled later when the
company was unable to make delivery
because of war restrictions.
An $8000 bond issue authorized by
Bluffton voters at the polls in Novem
ber, 1942, is available for the purchase
of new equipment.
Peter Matter Rites
Are Held Tuesday
Peter Matter, 78, retired farmer
and lifetime resident of the Bluffton
community, died in his home
N. Spring street at 10:30
Sunday, after an illness
months from carcinoma.
at 131
a. m.
of 10
He was born in Richland township
January 19, 1866, the son of Chris
tian and Regina (Stauffer) Matter.
14, 1889,
survives
R. Mat-
He was married on Dec.
to Sara Badertscher, who
with five children: Richard
ter, Ft. Wayne Earl L.
Bluffton Mrs. Edgar Montgomery,
Mrs. Harry Anderson and Mrs. Mi
nor Thutt, all of Bluffton. There
are 13 grandchildren.
Matter,
Two sisters, Mrs. Anna Groman,
of Bluffton, and Mrs. G. B. Oberly,
of Lafayette, also survive.
Matter was a former member of
the Richland township board of edu
cation and had served as director of
the Richland Township Farmers Mu
tual Insurance Co. He was a mem
ber of Emmanuel’s Reformed church,
where he sat on the consistory.
Brief services in the Diller fun
eral home Tuesday afternoon were
immediately followed by rites in the
Emmanual’s church. Rev. V. C. Op
permann officiated, assisted
W. H. Lahr. Burial was
church cemetery.
by Rev.
in the
Births
Bluffton
following births at
The
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Shimp of Ak
ron, a daughter, Monday. Mrs. Shimp
is the former Eloise Alspach of Bluff
ton.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Trabert of Bluff
ton, a daughter, Karen Kay, Sunday.
Mrs. Trabert is the former Dorothy
Swick. Her husband is in the army.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Crawford
of Pandora, a daughter, Diane Marie,
Sunday. Mrs. Crawford is the form
er Jane Sutter.
Mr. and Mrs. Kent Klingler of Ada,
a son, David Bradley, Sunday.
Cpl. and Mrs. Ralph Bibler of
Bluffton, a son, Brian Lee, Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen McCluer of
Bluffton, a daughter Donna Mae,
Thursday. Mrs. McCluer is the form
er Vadabelle Cahill.
Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Steiner of
Rawson, a daughter, Wednesday.
Mr. Steiner is in naval service.
Announcement has been received
here of the birth of a son to Mr. and
Mrs. Raymond Hixon of Hillsboro.