BUY
UNIT**
■TATW
VOLUME NO. LXX
PAUL AUGSBURGER
IS CLERK OF BOARD
OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Returned War Veteran is Nam
ed to Position Tuesday
Night
New Clerk Will Assume Office
on
August 1, Board
Announces
Augsburger, Bluffton World
veteran has been named clerk
Paul
War II
of the Board of Public Affairs effect
ive August 1. Action naming Augs
burger to the position was taken at a
meeting of the board Tuesday night.
He will succeed Edgar Hauenstein,
Bluffton pharmacist, who has been
clerk for the past 25 years.
With the naming of a new clerk,
the board announced other changes
that will be made in the office set-up
of Bluffton’s municipal electric light
and waterworks plant.
Full Time Job
Chief of these is the change from
a part-time to full-time basis. Augs
burger will receive under the new
arrangement an annual salary of
41,800.
Hauenstein who handled the work
in connection with his pharmacy re
ceived a salary of $1,020 annually.
The office of the board which was
previously in the Hauenstein phar
macy will be moved to new quarters
on Vine street at the rear of the
Basinger furniture store. The room
is now being fitted up for office pur
poses and is expected to be ready for
occupancy by the first of next month.
In Office This Month
Augsburger will be in the clerk’s
office at the Hauenstein pharmacy
this month to acquaint himself with
the office routine, preparatory to
taking over the work on August 1.
The incoming clerk is experienced
in clerical work and previous to his
army service wras employed at the
office of the Production Credit asso
ciation at Defiance, an organization
-engaged in making loans to fanners.
He is a graduate of Bluffton high
school and Northwestern School of
Commerce, Lima
During his two years of service in
the South Pacific area he was en
:gaged principally in clerical work,
'holding the rank of technical ser
geant.
Released
from
Army
the
the
Augsburger was released from
armed services last month under
Army’s new discharge schedule with
'93 points to his credit. Since that
time he has been here with his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Augsburger
of South Jackson street.
In announcing Augsburger’s ap
pointment, the Board of Public Af
fairs pointed out that his salary will
»e subject to approval by the town
ccrancil, which controls all municipal
salaries. However, no difficulty
obtaining approval of that body
anticipated.
in
is
on
A fire-year lease has been taken
the new office location at a monthly
rental of $25, beginning July
1.
Raise For School
Service Employes
Janitors and maintenance employes
in the high and grade schools were
given a flat increase in salary of $75
for the coming year in action taken
by the Board of Education, Monday
night.
The pay raise will give janitors an
annual salary of $1,700 and main
tenance man $2,000.
Action of the board Monday night
follows an adjustment in pay of
teachers w’hich was taken at the
meeting last month. For the coming
year high school instructors will re
ceive an average of $1,865 and those
in the grade school will average
.$1,750.
Roland Bixler On
Business Council
Roland Bixler, president of J-B-T
Instruments, Inc., New Haven, Conn.,
and son of Mr and Mrs. D. W. Bix
ler, of Kibler street, has been named
to the Industrial loan and credit com
mittee of the Connecticut Manufac
turers association.
Bixler also was one of 32 New’
England businessmen selected from
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachu
setts, Rhode Island and Connecticut
to participate in hearings on the
financial problems of small business,
held recently in Boston by a sub-com
mittee of the U. S. House of Repre
sentatives committee on small busi
ness.
School Bus Driving
Jobs Go Begging
School bus driving jobs, eagerly
sought during the drab days of the
depression a dozen years ago are now
going begging. Notwithstanding the
fact that th? jobs draw the highest
rate ever paid for this service, the
Bluffton board of education found no
takers for three of the four bus driv
ing jobs Monday night.
Aaron Messinger, veteran driver
for the past 12 years signified that
he would continue in view’ of
emergency.
Two Bluffton college students w’ho
drove buses last year will complete
their studies here at the close of the
first semester.
Bus drivers’ pay is $52.50 a
month for nine months.
SHORTAGE OF SOAP
STARTS STAMPEDE
OF BUYING HERE
Available Supplies of Laundry
Soap Swept from Shelves
in Frantic Buying
3ar Soap, Chips and Powder
Are Bought on Impending
Rationing Rumors
No laundry soap has been avail
able as a stock item in Bluffton
groceries for nearly a week, with the
normal shelf supplies swept bare in
a stampede of fraqjic buying on the
part of housewives fearing a soap
shortage.
Small shipments received occasion
ally by individual grocers disappear
from stores within hours as eager
housewives quickly .•«
rm
THE BLUF
Restaurateurs Ponder ProHem Of
Substitutes For Meat And Potatoes
the
in
an
Wilford Geiger, high school
structor who recently purchased
interest in a clothing store here is
not an applicant for the bus driving
job which he held last year.
up the
entire available supply.
The situation has been particularly
bad so far as laundry bar soap, soap
powder and soap chips are concern
ed, and growing fears of a shortage,
aggravated by rumors of rationing,
during the last week found toilet
soap supplies also well nigh ex
hausted.
Supplies Dwindle
For the past month soap supplies
have been steadily dwindling, but the
real pinch came the latter part of
last week when a few local grocery
stores found their entire supply ex
hausted.
This immediately set off a wave
of hysterical buying Saturday and
housewives began
of stores to buy
plies. Soon the
in every store.
making the rounds
all available sup
shelves were bare
Some grocers attempted to put an
informal system of rationing into
effect by limiting the quantities
individual purchasers could obtain,
but despite the precautions all
soon had disappeared from
shelves too.
soap
their
See Relief in Rationing
The attitude of the dealers,
rassed to the point of desperation by
continual requests for soap, was
seen when a woman with a worried
expression asked, “Is soap ration
ed?” “No, lady,” said the dealer,
“but it certainly ought to be.”
har-
Newspaper dispatches this week
indicated that the situation is gener
al thruout the nation, with the same
vicious circle, starting with rumors
of rationing, being repeated else
where. As a result, a wave of buy
ing follows, depleting storeholder’s
supplies of soap, forcing rationing
as the only solution to the problem.
Recovering From Jap
Inflicted Wounds
Pfc. Robert Criblez, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Alfred Criblez of near Bluff
ton, who was wounded during the
fighting on Okinawa, May 15, is
convalescing at Nichols General hos
pital in Louisville, Ky.
His wounds consisted of injuries to
the upper back caused by an enemy
shell fragment, resulting in partial
paralysis-, from
ing.
which he is recover-
He arrived
w’eeks ago at
hospital at Hamilton Field, Calif.,
from where he was removed to Louis
ville.
His sister, Miss Rachel Criblez and
Miss Ida May Arnold both of Bluff
ton visited him at the hospital last
Sunday.
Many Culinary Dodges Practis
ed to Stretch Diminishing
Meat Ration
Potatoes V anishing from Menus
As Patrons Feel Sharp
Pinch of Scarcity
Increased rationing restrictions
coupled with current shortage of non
rationed foods have made operation
of a restaurant a continued night
mare for the last month, with pres
ent indications pointing to the de
velopment of more complications
rather than an easing of the situa
tion.
Meat and potatoes, the foundation
since time immemorial of restaurant
menus, now’ are severely restricted
or out all together so far as the bill
of fare at local eating places is
concerned.
How’ to find these two principal
foods, or replace them with suitable
substitutes, is a problem that is
adding premature gray to the hair
of local
restaurateurs.
Meat?
on local restaurant menus
on an “if and when” basis,
Meat
now is
and all kinds of culinary dodyges are
being practiced to stretch curtailed
meat rations.
Fish are scarce and prices are
high, and poultry, the foundation for
Sunday dinners, is on the scarce list.
Hamburger, lifeblood of the quick
lunch trade, has long been a memory,
and can be obtained only infrequent
ly.
Further complications have been
added to the situation by an OPA
announcement that a further cut of
20 per cent will be made in restau
rant meat allotments for the current
month. Cuts of 12 to 15 per cent
also have been made in canned fruit
and vegetable allotments,
25 per cent cuts in sugar
and 20 to
rations.
Potatoes Too
are dras-
Un-rationed foods also
tically short, and the potato famine
existing here for the last two weeks
has resulted in that old restaurant
standby virtually disappearing from
cottage cheese and macaroni and
eggs are doing double duty as sub
stitutes for both potatoes and meat.
An evidence of the times was the
glee with which one local restaurant
operator told how he skirmished
around to find 10 pounds of potatoes,
and how he would stretch that quan
tity out by serving it as potato
salad.
Fresh vegetables of all kinds are
short. Fresh peas, generally plenti
ful at this time of the year, could
not be found in the offerings of
Bluffton grocers over the past week
end lettuce was virtually unobtain
able and grapefruit were scarce.
Orange were plentiful and there are
indications that peaches shipped
from the south will be received
good-sized quantities.
in
in
Sugar Bowls Empty
Further reduction in sugar quotas
may force the removal of sugar
bowls from the tables in the
restaurants that so far have
them there despite rationing.
few
kept
res
has
All of which means that the
taurant patron who heretofore
been dining fairly well as compared
with folks eating at home will now
feel more keenly the pinch of war
time food shortages.
The effects of sharper rationing
also will affect many persons who
have been making a practice of eat
ing out part of the time to stretch
their ration points further.
Charles Montgomery
Promoted In Italy
Charles W. Montgomery with a
15th Air Force Engineering Squad
ron in Italy, has been promoted to
the rank of sergeant from that of
corporal, according to a recent an
nouncement by his unit commander.
He is the husband of Mrs. Mar
jorie Montgomery of Spring Street
and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
A. Montgomery of Orange township.
Entering the service in January 1943,
he w’ent overseas in December of the
same year.
He W’ears the Army Good Conduct
medal and
Operations
stars.
the European Theater of
ribbon with tw’o
battle
Births
Mrs. Robert Peterson of
Mr. and
in this country two
the Air Debarkation
Findlay are the pa rents of a boy,
John Franklin, bom at Bluffton
hospital, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. George A.
Harrison, Mich., a son,
They previously resided
Balmer being the former
Born to
Balmer of
Monday,
here, Mrs.
Eloise Lugibill of Columbus Grove.
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1945
PARTY CAUCUSES
TO NAME NOMINEES
EARLIER THIS YEAR
__
Candidates Selected At Party
Caucuses Must Fite On
Or Before Aug. 8
)ate of Filing and Primary Set
Ahead Because of Overseas
Soldier Vote
—....—
Democratic and Republican cau
cuses to nominate candidates for
Richland township offices and for
three vacancies on the Bluffton board
of education must be held within the
next four weeks to permit filing
candidacy petitions before the dead
line on Wednesday, August 8.
Caucuses will be held earlier this
summer than usual because of state
action in moving ahead dates for
filing and for the primary election,
so ballots for the November election
can be printed early enough for
mailing to men and women in serv
ice.
Normally, the deadline for filing by
candidates nominated in caucuses is
in September, and the political meet
ings to name them are held the lat
(Continued on page 8)
WHEAT HARVEST IS
WELL UNDER WAY
IN BLUFFTON AREA
Major Portion of Acreage Will
be Cut This Week Quality
Good
is Estimated at 25
Yield
Bushels Acre Heavy Straw
Poses Problem
Farmers in the tiff ton district
are in the midst orwheat harvest,
cutting one of the heaviest crops in
recent years. First, wheat
last Saturday and with the prospect
of settled weather the bulk
crop will be harvested by the
this week.
was cut
of the
end of
to be
First grain is expected
marketed here the last of the week
and dealers say the crop will be of
Reflecting prospects for a
large crop, wheat was quoted at
$1.54 a bushel on the Bluffton
market Wednesday. This is a
decline of 14 cents from the
$1.68 quotation which held steady
last spring. The current price
applies to both old and new
wheat.
good quality. Average yield is
placed at about 25 bushels per acre
some fields however, will produce
considerably above that amount.
With little winter damage to the
wheat, because of deep snows which
covered this area followed by abund
ant moisture during the spring, the
stand grew fence-high with unusual
ly heavy straw.
Combine Most of Crop
Most of the crop is being combin
ed, an operation which cuts and
threshes the grain in one operation.
During the past few’ years the short
age of f^rrn labor has stimulated the
combine method of hervesting.
This year, however, despite the
lack of manpower, some farmers
are reverting to the two operations
of cutting the stand with a binder
and threshing it afterward.
Because of the unusually heavy
straw this year, farmers fear that
if left in the fields it may “smother”
next year’s grass crop.
The matter of removing straw
from the fields after combining has
raised complications. There are not
enough small balers in this section,
farmers say, to bale the straw in the
fields which may influence some
growers who ordinarily combine
their crop to cut the wheat and
thresh it despite the shortage of
help.
Robert Moyer Gets
Rating As Sergeant
Robert W. Moyer, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Myron D. Moyer, Mt. Cory, has
been promoted to the grade of ser
geant at Peterson Field, Colorado
Springs, Colo.
Sgt. Moyer, who operated his fath
er’s farm in civilian life, entered mil
itary service in September, 1943. He
is assigned as a radio operator at
Peterson Field, an installation of the
Second Air Force.
ON NEWS
Parents Of Marine Killed On Saipan To
Pfc. Minard Deeds, Bluffton col
lege graduate in the class of 1942
who was killed W’hile fighting with
“conspicuous gallantry” on Saipan a
year ago has been posthumously
awarded the Silver Star medal by
Secretary of the Navy
Forrestal.
Corn has had plenty of moisture for
rapid growth over the last several
weeks, but the situation also has been
such that cultivation is in good con
dition.
Good Oats Outlook
Cool weather the early part of the
summer has been favorable for oats,
and a near record yield of that crop
is expected. Soybeans also are grow
ing rapidly, and with the wheat har
vest well under way a better than
average yield is expected.
Decided easing in the shortage of
potatoes, which has prevailed here for
more than a month, is expected within
the next fortnight, as new home
grown potatoes come on the market
and victory gardens start producing
their yield.
Potatoes are expected to provide a
better than average yield, altho the
acreage is smaller in this area than
it has been in past years.
Union Mennonite
C. E. Rally Sunday
Young people’s societies of five
churches will participate in an All
Mennonite Christian Endeavor rally
to be held at St. John Mennonite
church northwest of Bluffton, Sun
day night at 8:30 o’clock, fast time.
Societies of participating churches
are: First Mennonite, Bluffton Grace
Mennonite, Pandora Ebenezer and
St. oJhn Mennonite, and the First
Mennonite church of Lima.
Hiram Kohli will be chairman of
the meeting and representatives of
the different societies will apppear
on the program. Principal speaker
will be Rev. Jacob Entz of Nappanee,
Ind., president of the Middle District
Christian Endeavor societies.
Preceding the evening meeting a
potluck supper will be held at the
Pandora school park at 6:30 o’clock
fast time.
Graveside Services
Are Held For Infant
Graveside services were held at
Maple Grove cemetery, Sunday morn
ing for the infant daughter of Thom
as and Jennie (Ramsey) Fett of
Lafayette.
The child, born Saturday morning
at Memorial hospital, Lima, died
shortly after birth. Father James
Nett, pastor of St Mary’s church
here officiated at the service.
Receive Navy Medal At Church Sunday
James
Dwight
former
receive
His parents Mr. and Mrs.
Deeds of route 5, Lima who
ly lived near Rawson will
their son’s aw’ard in ceremonies at
the Rawson United Brethren church
at the close of the morning service
next Sunday.
Deeds, who was 24, was mortally
wounded the second day of the Sai
pan campaign,
before he died
a Jap strong
marine advance
his heroic efforts
the citation which
award:
“While serving
Battalion, 25th
June 16, 1944, but
he helped to smash
point and keep a
rolling. Details of
are contained in
accompanied his
with the Third
Marines, Fourth
Hay Crops Are Best In Years
And Wheat Harvest Is Better
Than Average Here
Corn, Handicapped By Late
Start, Is Looking Better
Potato Prospects Good
Heavier than average rainfall which
fell thruout the month of June is be
ing reflected this summer in an unus
ual farm crop picture.
The farm outlook is especially
bright for feed crops, including alfal
fa, clover and timothy hay, and farm
ers are encouraged over the prospect
of ample feed for next winter’s re
quirements.
Altho corn got off to a late start,
because of a wet spring that delayed
seeding, hot humid weather has help
ed the crop overcome its earlier handi
cap.
Corn Outlook Promising
Over the past week there has
an almost incredible change in
prospects, and bettering of the
look is reflected in an easing of
shortage conditions arising from the
fact that most farmers were holding
old stocks pending some definite indi
cation as to what might be expected
this year.
’lentv Of Rain, Favorable Growing
Weather Brighten Farm Crop Outlook
nrn /'hniMrart thn lanananoo nnei.l
PLANS FOR ROAD
WORK BALKED BY
BAN ON ROAD OIL
New
been
com
out
corn
Marine Division, in action against
Japanese forces at Saipan, Marianas
Islands, he unhesitatingly volunteer
ed to lead his men in a flanking
movement when his platoon encount-1 Preinduction Physical Examina
ered an enemy strongpoint, during al tions This Month For Group
perilous advance.
Bluffton’s Summer Street Im-1 Elida—Edward
provement Program Likely I Shenk, Paul Hartman
Will Be Delayed Evans.
National Restrictions On
Road Oil Also Affect Town
ship Plans
Improvements to Harmon road and I
Spring street, delayed since the out-
I Qf Men
"Private First Class Deeds val-1
iantly pressed forward under al
withering, intense barrage of hostil, Notifications Sent By Draft
Board
fire and charged the Japanenae posi
tion, thereby relieving the fire on the
rest of his platoon and enabling
them to continue their advance
against the enemy.
“Although mortally wounded dur-1 Eight
ing the fierce action, Private First I ani the
Class Deeds, by his daring initiative I eluded in
and valiant fighting spirit, had con-led by Allen County Draft Board No.
tributed materially to the success ofl 3 to report for July preinduction
our forces in this hazardous opera-1 Physical examinations.
tion, and his courageous devotion to I Bluffton registrants called up for
duty throughout was in keeping with! physical examinations include Robert
the highest traditions of the United I B. Marshall, Route 2 Evan E. Herr,
States Naval Service. He gallantlyl Lawn avenue Otto Klassen, 339
gave his life for his country.” 8. Jackson St. Harold E. Amstutz,
Neither the town or township has I Bis death was unexpected. He had
road oil on hand for the improvement I n0^ complained of illness previously
programs earmarked for completion I and on Saturday worked in the hay
this summer, and a new ban put on I held and was in town that evening,
use of the material last week by the I The son of Amos and Susanna
Petroleum Administration for War I Thut, he was born on Aug. 10, 1896.
likely will hold up the work for at I Be w’as married Dec. 27, 1941, to
least another year. I the former Carrie Motter, w’ho sur-
Re-surfacing of Harmon road and I rives. There are no children.
Spring street, already delayed for I In addition to the widow-, survivors
four years because of the war situa- I include his father and his mother
tion, had been placed at the top of the I and two sisters, Mrs. Hiram Alt
list of street improvements scheduled I haus, Bluffton, and Sylvia Thut, La
in the town this summer, and village Icarne, Ohio and two brothers, La
officials expected to complete both I verne Thut, Bluffton, and Raymond
projects if funds were avaiable. I Thut, Springfield.
Ban to Face Come! and als„ was a buyer of hay anit
The new ban on use of road oil ap- I s|raWt He was a veteran of World,
patently will bring cancellation of the w„ a„j was a member of U1O
program, altho the council has not Firs, Mennonite church.
met to discuss the situation since the |. were held Tucs(!ay
new restnctions were put into effect lfternoon at tbe Firs, Mcnnonite
Richland townsh.p trustees had chur(?h, wi(h Rev N Smuckeri
planned to put oil on about cght miles I aston officiating Buria| was in
of hard-surfaced roads which were the Ebenezer cemetery.
badly damaged last winter. No new I _________
construction had been planned, but I
present indications are that even re-1 UUnmail KlieS
pairs will be out of the picture. I
Presbyterian Youth
Conference Continues
Principal purpose of the new gov-1 _____
ernment ban on road oil is said to I Funeral services were held Tues
provide for an increase in the supply I day afternoon at the Paul Diller fun
of fuel oil, stocks of which are badly I erai home for Mrs. Charles B. Kauff
depleted. Need of heavy fuel oil is I man who died at her home on Riley
said to have become more acute with I street at 8:45 Saturday.
concentration upon the war with Ja-I Rev. Milton Fronsoe, pastor of the
Pan- I Church of Christ, officiated at the
First Ban in 1942 I service. Burial was in Maple Grove
A national ban on the use of road I cemeterF
oil first was imposed in October of I Mrs- Kauffman’s death followed an
1942, when the use of asphalt and as-1 illness of 30 hours.
phalt products also were restrited. Ini Born, November 1 18, in Snyd
September, 1943, this order was re-1 er county, Pennsylvania, she was
voked, but restrictions on road oil con-1 married in 1893 to Mr. Kauffman,
tinued in force. survives. One daughter, Mrs.
In November, 1944, the entire ban I NeUte M. James, of Flat Rock, Mich.,
was lifted, hut re-insatemont at this I a brother, John Meirich, of Hunting
time, only six months later, again ap-|ton» I®&» an’l a sister. Mrs. Bessie
pears to‘have delayed the completion I Burgoyne, also are survivors.
of necessary street and road improve-1 Mrs. Kauffman was a member of
ments, the Bluffton Church of Christ.
The week’s program includes class-1 of enemy fleet units.
es and discussion groups in the morn-1 The Bluffton
ing followed by recreational activities I mate first class,
in the afternoon. I to that activity
The conference here is one of sev-l He is the son of
eral which are being held by the I Soash of Bluffton,
denomination in different parts of the| former
state.
BUY
NUMBER 12
EIGHT BLUFFTON
kf^ECTEES CALLED
FOR EXAMINATIONS
w
No. 3 To Allen County
Registrants
registrants from Bluffton
surrounding area are in
a group of 20 men notifi-
Route 2 and Sherwood A. Diller
formerly of this place now’ living in
Alameda, Calif.
Arthur L. Hilty, Route 2, Colum
bus Grove, and Jay W. Basinger, of
the same address, also are to report
for physical examinations. Called
with the same group is Charles A.
Heiser, of Route 2.
Others who are to report for ex
amination this month are:
Lima—Kingston M. Winget, Rob
ert N. Winner, Robert F. Walters,
Jack H. Rader and Francis H.
Thompson.
Laman, Louis
and William
Delphos—Ralph N.
Melvin R. Haunhorst.
Spencerville—Eugene
break of war because of material pri- I A 1/
orities, together with an extensive re-1 tlOme ^lltl(lay
pair program mapped for Richland I
township highways this summer to I ^'nor Thut, 48, died suddenly at
.erase evidences of heavy winter dam-li^*s ^arm home where he was bora,
[age. may be curtailed or even aban-ll one*balf mile northwest of Bluffton
doned due to a new’ war ban on the I Sunday morning at 9:30 o’clock of a
use of road oil. I heart attack.
Burget, and
W. Kerr.
July’s preinduction call of 20 is
slightly heavier than in June when
only 14 men were taken for physical
examinations.
Thut Dies
Mr. Thut was engaged in farming
Are Held Tuesday
Evan Soash Is With
Pacific Fleet Patrol
I Evan Soash of Bluffton who has
The second week of Presbyterian I been in the Navy for the past three
conference on the Bluffton college I years has been assigned to duty with
campus is being held this week with! the Hawaiian Sea Frontier, a unit
another group of young people num-1 of the fleet which patrols the Central
bering 100 in attendance. I Pacific to keep the sea-lanes clear
man, pharmacist's
has been attached
for three months.
Dr. and Mrs. M. D.
His wife, the
Verena Balmer Uvea on
South Main street