The Bluffton news. [volume], March 29, 1945, Image 1

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BUY
UNIT**
VOLUME NO. LXIX
AIRMAN RICHARD
OBERLY MISSING
IN GERMAN AREA
Missing Staff Sergeant Was
Turret Gunner on B-17 Fly
ing Fortress
War Department Notifies Father
That Son is Missing Since
March 15
Staff Sgt. Richard Oberly, 19, tur
ret gunner on a Flying Fortress, has
been missing in action over Germany
since March 15, according to a tele
gram from the War Department re
ceived Tuesday morning by his father,
Millard Oberly, of Cherry street.
Sgt. Oberly was based in Italy with
the 15th American Air Force, the first
station to which he was assigned after
completing AAF aerial gunnery
training at Las Vegas, Nev., air field
in August, 1944.
Prior to his enlistment in the air
force on December 20, 1943, the youth
was employed in the calibrating de
partment of Th Triplett Electrical In
strument Co.
In February, Sgt. Oberly received
the Air Medal for “meritorious
achievment while participating in
aerial flight.” He was the second
in his family to be so honored, his
elder brother, 2nd Lt. Kenneth Oberly,
navigator on an English based Flying
Fortress having received the same
award in January.
Sgt. Oberly was graduated from
Bluffton High school in 1943. In ad
dition to Lt. Kenneth, there is another
brother overseas, Sgt. Robert, who is
■with the American army in Belgium.
Their father is a veteran of World
War I.
Funeral Friday For
Mrs. J. H. Tschantz
Mrs. Elizabeth Tschantz, 79, died
Wednesday at 1:50 a. m. at her home
at 117 East Kibler street. Her
-death followed four days illness after
a period of failing health.
Funeral services will be held Fri
day afternoon at 3:30 o’clock at the
First Mennonite church with the
pastor, Rev. J. N. Smucker officiat
ing after which thebody will be
taken to Dalton, Ohio, for services
in the Salem Mennonite church Sat
urday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev.
A. S. Rosenberger, pastor of the
Salem church will officiate at the
latter service and burial will be in
the Salem cemetery.
Mrs. Tschantz was born in Putnam
•county, the daughter of the iate
John and Ann (Steiner) Geiger.'
She was married to John H.
Tschantz and resided in Wayne
county on a farm near Dalton most
of her married life.
Following the death of her hus
band in 1928 she moved to Bluffton
where she has since resided. She
■was a member of the First Mennonite
church here and also the women’s
wnissionary society.
Surviving are three daughters,
Mrs. S. F. Pannabecker and Mrs. D.
W. Bixler of Bluffton and Mrs. R.
S. Gerber, Dayton and three sons,
Clyde Tschantz of Warren, and Irv
ing and Amos Tschantz of Dalton.
Two brothers surviving are Aaron
and Peter Geiger of Bluffton and a
aister, Mrs. Leah Leichty of Pan
dora.
The body will be at the Paul Diller
funeral home until time for the
services here Friday afternoon.
After the services it will be returned
to the funeral home until Saturday
morning when it will be taken to
Dalton.
Announce Program
For Good Friday
Program for Bluffton’s Good Fri
day union service was announced the
first of the week by the Bluffton
Ministerial association. Service will
be held at the Presbyterian church
from 12:30 to 3 o’clock in the after
noon.
The program theme of seven
Good Friday scenes will be divided
into 7 parts of twenty minutes, with
one Bluffton minister in charge of
each. Pastors will speak in the fol
lowing order: Rev. J. A. Weed, Rev.
Stanley Rupp, Rev. Robert Welch,
Rev. J. N. Smucker, Rev. G. T.
Soldner, Rev. John Esau, Rev. V. C.
Oppermann.
Real Estate Deal
Jerome Herr has purchased the
Mi's. Amos Moser farm of 80 acres
one-half mile west of Gratz cross
ing. The place was occupied by
Mrs. Moser’s son, Rawleigh Moser
who is moving on the Chester Matter
farm of 80 acres south of Bluffton
which he recently purchased.
Missing
Otaff Sgt. Richard Oberly, Fly
ing Fortress turret gunner,
and son of Millard Oberly of
Cherry street, has been reported
missing in action over Germany,
by the War Department.
RECORD HATCHERY
BUSINESS BOOKED
HERE THIS SPRING
Demand For Chicks Increases
After OPA Price Boost For
Poultry
Situation in Contrast to 1944
When Oversupply of Chickens
Prevailed
Expanding emphasis on chicken and
egg production on Bluffton area farms
is indicated in the capacity business
booked by the town’s two hatcheries
this spring.
Hatcheries, already doing a rushing
business .reported that OPA action of
last week in raising chicken prices
one and onehalf cents a pound retail,
resulted in a stronger demand for
chicks, with some indication that this
season’s hatchery output may assume
record proportions.
Farmers generally are increasing
the size of their flocks, with this
year’s situation in contrast to that of
one year ago when hatchery business
was slow and there was little de
mand for chickens. Last year the
market was flooded with eggs, while
this spring’s egg market is strong,
with no danger of an oversupply de
veloping.
Feed prices, however, are higher
this year, and farmers say the raise in
the price of chickens will be absorbed
by that increase.
Increased retail prices for chickens
likely will bring more poultry to the
market, thereby helping to offset the
lack of other meats.
The action is also seen by many as
foreshadowing a raise in prices paid
for hogs, a market situation in which
a serious shortage is threatened.
Many such moves are anticipated
in the coming months to spur increas
ed production of poultry and livestock,
as a means of helping to relieve a
critical shortage of meat expected to
develop as U. S. responsibilities in
crease in the feeding of liberated
European and Asiatic countries.
Red Cross Meeting
Next Monday Night
Annual business meeting of the
Bluffton Red Cross will be held at
the high school library Monday
night at 8 o’clock. Reports will be
given and officers elected for the
coming year. Anyone who has paid
one dollar for Red Cross membership
in the past year is a member of the
organization and invited to attend.
Arrive Overseas
John Stonehill lias arrived in
Germany, according to word received
by his wife, Mrs. Meredith Stonehill.
Mrs. Rosalie Rakosky has received
word of the arrival in France of her
husband, Cpl. J. Gail Rakosky.
Lawn mowers are going into ac
tion on Bluffton lawns this week, the
earliest in recent years as abnorm
ally warm weather of the past two
weeks continues, apparently for the
remainder of the week.
Oriental cherry trees along Cam
pus Drive at Bluffton college are in
bloom and apricot trees are blossom
ing as temperatures continue in the
seventies. Various early blooming
shrubs are in blossom, dandelions
are seen on lawns and spring beau
ties and violets in the woods.
ft U
Trees In Bloom Lawn Mowers Are
Busy As Warm Weather Continues
Highest temperature this spring
1HE BLUFF
Government Report Brings To Light
Almost Forgotten Morphine Supply
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTER
Civilian Defense Stock of Drug
Has Been Locked in Mayor's
Safe
Medical Supplies Included in
Many Items Sent at Start
of War
A questionnaire received here the
first of the week from the federal
government focused the attention of
municipal officials on an all but for
gotten stout paper carton, somewhat
smaller than a shoe box, which has
been under lock and key in the big
iron safe in the mayor’s office for
the last three years.
In the carton are nine smaller
boxes filled with morphine in the
form used by hospitals and physi
cians for medicinal purposes, and
which is so eagerly sought by “dope”
addicts that it never is left unguard
ed.
The morphine is in one-fourth and
one-half grain glass ampules, or tiny
glass containers. None of it has
been used.
It was sent by the federal govern
ment three years ago in establishing
a medical supplies reserve built up
here as a part of the civilian defense
program, which mushroomed into a
nation-wide organization shortly after
the outbreak of war.
Custodians of the various supplies
furnished to the town by the govern
ment are Mayor Wilbur A. Howe
and Fire Chief Guy Corson.
Report
on
Morphine
The questionnaire dealing with the
morphine, entailing a report on
where it is kept, how safely it is
guarded, how much of it has been
Used, etc., is believed here to be a
preliminary step in action on the
part of the government to reclaim
supplies furnished in connection
with civilian defense.
Other civilian defense supplies
stored here in the city building in
clude 120 hand-stirrup pumps for
extinguishing fires, 120 metal hel
mets, 120 gas masks for fire fighting,
five cots, stretchers, arm and leg
splints.
Another item sent to the town was
a motor driven pump mounted on an
iron wheel trailer, to be used as an
auxiliary fire trailer pump. It has
never been used because there is no
way to get it to the scene of a fire
except to hitch it to the back of a
truck, and Bluffton’s motorized fire
fighting equipment can reach the
scene of a blaze much quicker.
Pfc. Ned Schultz In
German Prison Camp
Pfc. Ned Schultz, reported by the
War Department as missing in ac
tion since last December 16, is a
prisoner of war in Germany, ac
cording to word received last Wed
nesday afternoon by his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Theodore Schultz, of Kib
ler street.
Notification that he was alive and
well came in the form of a post card
written by him from a prison camp
in Germany, the location of which
was undisclosed. The card was dat
ed January 25.
So far Mr. and Mrs. Schultz have
received no official notice, either
through the Red Cross or the War
Department, that their son is being
held a prisoner of war, but his com
munication ended more than two
months of uncertainty which have
elapsed since they were notified on
Jan. 15 that he was missing in ac
tion.
Pfc. Schultz’ last previous com
munication received by his parents
was a letter dated Dec. 13 in Bel
gium, which had been written by
candlelight. Army records reported
him missing three days later on
December 16.
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices) Wheat,
$1.68 corn, $1.12 oats, 80c soys,
$2.04.
was 82 degrees last Sunday after
noon. Weather forecasters predict
the present temperatures will con
tinue for the next five days with
light showers on Thursday or Fri
day. Prospects for a warm and
springlike Easter appear promising.
Farmers are going all out for
spring plowing and early garden
truck planted some two weeks ago is
beginning to appear. Grass is not
uniformly high but most lawns have
developed splotches of high grass
which need cutting now.
MANY ACTI
MARK ARRI
EASTER WE
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THU MARCH 29, 1945
-—. .................
Special services in chu
Easter wardrobes, the
wme gardens,
all are includ*
interest in
rise service
for the day
with four evenings
Dr. John
superintendent
will close with
this Wedne
Methodist clhurch.
IES
OF
Special Services Sunday Union
Good Friday Service in
Afternoon
Sunrise Service at St. John’s
Reformed Church Opens East
er Program
______
Easter—one of the outstanding
events on the church calendar, tradi
tional harbinger of spring and of
considerable significance in mercan
tile circles—will be observed next
Sunday.
Approach of the holid
in the pre-Easter activi
are absorbing the inter
community this week.
is seen
s which
of the
s, new
srennial
a sun
n plans
Prices,
s-Easter churc]
Union pre
of addresses by
Versteeg, Lima ’district
of Methodist churches,
a meeting at 8 p. m.
?sday in the Bluffton
Communion Service
A united communion service for
the various denominations will be
held at 8 p. m.
First Mennonite church,
day services will be condi
12:30 to 3
church.
Thursday at the
pyj.
from
p. m. in the Presbyterian
Bluffton college students will enjoy
noon
morn-
an Easter recess starting
Friday and ending on Mondi
ing.
Easter Sunday services
ushered in with a sunrise
the St. John’s Reformed church at
6:30 a. m. with the program consist
ing of a cantata presented by the
young people’s federation.
Special services will be held during
the day in all churches of the town
and the surrounding community, with
most of the Easter events scheduled
for the morning. One of the princi
pal Sunday evening events will be a
musical program by an adult choir
at the First Methodist church at
8 p. m., with Mrs. Pearl Mann
directing.
IF. Delos Keel Dies
Wednesday Morning
W. Delos Keel died Wednesday
morning at 6:45 o’clock at his home
at 213 South Main street. His
death followed a two years’ illness
of diabetes and complications. He
was aged 78 years, one month and
26 days.
Mr. Keel, a retired farmer, lived
in Bluffton for the past 21 years.
He was born February 2, 1867, in
Union township and was married
October 16, 1890 to Nannie B. And
erson.
For a number of years the couple
resided on a farm between Bluffton
and Pandora. While living there he
served eight years as a member of
the Pandora board of education and
two terms as Riley township trustee.
He was a member of the Masonic
order.
Surviving are his wife and two
daughters, Mrs. Grace Longsdorf and
Miss Mildred Keel all of Bluffton.
Also surviving are two half-sis
ters: Mrs. Joe Barnett of Lima and
Mrs. Lee McElderry of Delphos.
Funeral services will be held at his
late home Friday afternoon at 2:30
o’clock with Rev. John Hummon of
Louisville, Ky., officiating assisted by
Rev. J. A. Weed of Bluffton. Burial
will be in Benton Ridge cemetery.
Name May Queen For*
College Campus Fete
Miss Lois Sommer of Pekin, Ill.,
Bluffton college senior, was elected
May queen by a vote of the student
body it was announced the first of
the week. She will preside at the
May day festivities, the open air
fete during commencement week.
The student body also elected Miss
Phyllis Bachman, of Washington, Ill.,
also a senior as maid of honor who
will crown the queen.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Byron Smith of Je
nera are the parents of a boy bom
at Bluffton hospital, Thursday.
N NEWS
OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY_____________
Pfc. Edgar E. Huber, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Harry Huber, residing on
the Lincoln highway east of Beaver
dam, a member of the Marine Corps,
figured in one of the weirdest ad
ventures reported on the bitter fight
ing that figured in the U. S. con
quest of the Japanese island fort
ress, Iowa Jima.
Accompanied by a Marine compan
ion, Pfc. Huber crawled thru heavy
mortar and sniper fire to assist
what they thought were wounded
Marines lying in a trench.
Instead of buddies they found six
dead Japs, dressed in Marine outfits
complete with helmets and packs.
The enemy soldiers apparently had
taken the clothing from dead Ma
rines.
Early Spring This Year Similar
to 1942 When Easter Came
April 5
Spring Gardening and Plowing
is Full Month Ahead of Last
Year
weather prophet
borne out by this
closed
Friday
generally will
time of the Gc
services, but
Business
during the
afternoon
public schools have cancellt
usual Good Friday vacation 1
up time lost from classes during last
winter’s severe snow storms,
Bluffton
?d their
Bo make
In 1943, Easter on April 25 was
late and spring was correspondingly
late in setting’ in, and in 1944 Easter
on April 9 found spring coming
later than it has this year.
Date of Easter may vary from
March 22 to April 25, with its ar
rival determined by the various
phases of the moon. The generally
accepted rule for establishing the
date is that Easter comes on the
Sunday following the full moon that
occurs on or after
nox, altho this rule
casional variations
out of astronomical
Bluffton Marine Figures In Weird
Adventure In Capture Of Iowa Jima
“Early Easter—Early Spring” Weather
Prophecy Is Ho
aimed by old-time
appears to be
year’s weather.
The Easter holiday comes quite
early this year and spring weather
so far has given every indication of
being here to stay. Spring plowing
is under way on farms of the area,
and in town spring gardening has
gotten away to a start at least a
month earlier thain in 1944.
Weather observers report that
spring this year is similar to that of
1942 when Easter came on April 5
and the arrival of spring was cor
respondingly early.
the spring equi
is subject to oc
in the working
calculations.
Wife Gets Husband's
Purple Heart Award
Mrs. John Gilbert of Orange town
ship received Monday the Purple
Heart medal awarded to her hus
band, Pvt. John Gilbert who was
wounded in Germany on Feb. 2.
Pvt. Gilbert who was hospitalized
following his wounding was released
on February 15 and has since re
turned to duty.
Sgt. Carl Steiner Is
Wounded In Germany
Sgt. Carl Steiner, son of Mr. and
Mrs. S. E. Steiner residing south
west of Bluffton was wounded in
Germany on March 7, according to a
telegram received by his parents
from the War department. He is
now in a hospital in France.
Sgt. Steiner entered the service
three years ago and has been over
seas four months with a mechanized
cavalry reconnaisance squadron of
the Ninth army.
Bluffton’s Red Cross War Fund
drive is within $360 of going ‘over
the top” in the campaign to raise
$3000 locally, it was reported Tues
day night by Woodrow Little, chair
man of the drive.
In house-to-house solicitation of the
town, a total of $2,267.70 was raised
toward the $3000 goal, and an addi
tional sum of $177.35 was contribut
ed to the fund by a special collection
at the Star theatre.
Solicitation of clubs, organizations,
business places and industries so far
has netted $195 additional.
Only a little additional impetus is
needed to make sure that Bluffton
will reach its quota, and anyone who
has not contributed, or who wishes
to contribute more, may do so by
contacting either Chairman Little, or
Mrs. J. S. Steiner, assistant chair
man.
Red Cross War Fund Drive Within
$360 Of Bluffton Goal Of $3,000
Auto Tag Purchase
Deadline Is Saturday
Only three days remain for the
purchase of 1945 automobile license
plates if motorists expect to operate
their cars after Saturday of this
week, Harold Montgomery, Bluffton
license registrar, warned Wednesday
morning.
The number of tags sold Wednes
day morning had reached the 1000
mark, with about 250 more purchases
to be made if last year’s total of
1250 is to be equalled.
have the new 1945
Motorists must
license plate on the back end of
their cars after midnight Saturday
or be subject to arrest.
ding True This Year
RETAILERS HERE
FIGURING NEW
PRICE CEILINGS
Wearing Apparel and House
furnishing Affected by OPA
Order
Schedules Must be Filed by
April 20 for OPA Approval
by May 4
Bluffton retail merchants are
starting this week the task of figur
ing new price ceilings on more than
100 classifications of wearing ap
parel and house furnishings in ac
cordance with a new regulation of
the Office of Price Administration.
The new ceilings must be filed with
the OPA district office by April 20
and merchandise cannot be sold after
May 4 unless OPA approval
been received.
or to accept war jobs
has
to
The new regulation applies
men’s, women’s, children’s, or
fants’ wearing apparel, apparel
cessories, shoes, household
items like blankets, towels or sheets,
furniture, floor coverings, lamps, bed
ding and scores of specialized items.
in
ac-
textile
New ceilings will be based on the
net cost to the retailer and on the
average percentage of profit on all
items
If a
kinds of shirts, his average percent
age of “markup” for all shirts be
comes the percentage “markup per
missible on any brand of shirt”. The
same procedure is followed in all
categories.
offered in the same category,
retailer has in stock a dozen
As a result, ceilings will be slight
ly higher on some items and slightly
lower on others, OPA officials ex
plained.
Shipping charges cannot be includ
ed in the cost price, officials said,
but must be paid from the profit.
Merchants have 25 days in which
to list all purchase prices and all
selling prices on items on their
stores, figure the average “markup”,
and determine their new ceilings.
Prices are to be figured on a base
date, which is March 19, 1945.
Personal Tax Return
Deadline Is Saturday
Saturday is the deadline for filing
of personal tax returns, it was stat
ed by Allen County Auditor Floyd
Griffin. One-half year’s payment of
personal taxes will be due at that
time and the remainder may be de
ferred until September 30.
Bluffton Sergeant
Weds In California
Staff Sgt. Marvin Hilty, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hilty south of
Bluffton was married to Miss Edna
Howard of Redding, Calif., at her
home, Friday evening, according to
word received here the first of the
week.
The bride is a graduate of Redd
ing high school and the University
of California and for the past six
years she has been engaged in so
cial work in Redding.
Sgt. Hilty was graduated from
Bluffton high school in the class of
1937. He is stationed at Great Bend,
Kansas, where the couple will reside.
BUY
VNRW
•TATU
NUMBER 49
WARTIME CHANGE
MAY KEEP HIRED
HAND OFF FARMS
Hired Man Now in Army or
Industry Being Replaced by
Mechanical Aids
Bluffton District Farmers,
Single Handed Operating
200 Acre Tracts
The
‘hired man”—a fixture on
the average good-sized farm before
the outbreak of war—apparently is
going into the discard as a result
of post-war planning for more in
tensive mechanized farming general
ly adopted thruout the district.
of farm mach-
icchanized
increased
of acres
and ap
an out of
future is
forced
scene
Forced to get along with farm
rk as best they could, farmers of
e area have worked out a new
(Continued on page 8)
Home On Furlough
Lt. Harry Mehfllin, navigator on
B-24 bomber, arrived the first of
week after 35 missions over
a
the
Germany to spend three weeks with i
his wife and little daughter. H/“
has been overseas since last
During his absence Mrs. M^hollin
and daughter are making th home
with the former’s parentv ’-’fr. and
Mrs. Homer ZimmerlW north ox
Bluffton.
Byron Fritchie SM wc of the Navy
is home on a three wAs’ leave vltJit
ing his parents Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Fritchie here.
Staff Sgt. Robert Cooney, gunner
on a B-24 bomber is home
lough visiting his wife and parents,
Mr. and Mrs. R. K. Cooney, Sr. Sgt.
Cooney who has been overseas in
the European theatre of operations
recently completed 35 combat mis
sions.
Everett
assigned
laboratory
on fur­
Staff Sgt. Gene Mericle who has
been overseas for the past two years
is home on a 47 day furlough visit
ing his wife and little son Jerry
and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry
Mericle.
has been
Research
Hiestand, who
:o the Naval
Washington is spend
leave with his parents
in
Mr. and Mrs. N. M. Hiestand of
Orange township. On conclusion of
his leave here he will be transferred
to Boston to study in the Massechu
setts Institute of Technology.
Kenneth J. Krautter 1/c of the
Navy has returned to New York
'after spending a 14 days leave with
his wife and parents. His wife, the
former Lillian Huber, will join him in
New York for several weeks after
which he will return to active sea
duty.
Pfc. Wm. Holtkamp left Tuesday,
returning to Camp Fannin, Texas,
after spending a ten day furlough
with his parents, Prof, and Mrs. Otto
Holtkamp.
Easter Music
An Easter cantata “The Crucified”
by Mevin will be presented by the
Young People’s C. E. Federation,
Sunday morning at 6:30 o’clock in
St. John’s Reformed church. A
union chorus of 40 voices is directed
by Mrs. James Suter. Soloists are
Jean Ann Steinman, Genevieve Buh
ler, Alice Jean Bixel, Dean Niswand-
er and Ralph Balmer
Weed is accompanist.
Annabelle
A union adult choir
Mrs. Pearl Mann will
program at the Methodist church,
Sunday night ?t 8 o’clock
directed by
present a
“The Story of the Cross” by Dud
ley Buck will be given Sunday night
at the Ebenezer Mennonite church at
8 o’clock, by the mixed chorus of the
church directed by Prof. Otto Holt
kamp. Mabel Amstutz is accompan
ist.
“Olivet to Calvary” will be pre
sented at the Grace Mennonite
church, Pandora, by the church choir,
Sunday night at 8 o’clock under di
rection of Prof. R. A. Lantz. Solo
ists are John S. Walters, baritone
Russell Childs, tenor, both of Lima
Dorothy Lugibihl, soprano, Pandora,
and Eulalia Steiner, organist.