The Bluffton news. [volume], January 16, 1947, Image 1

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BLUFFTON
A Good Place To Live
VOLUME LXXI
HIGH PRICES DELAY
BUYING BOILER FOR
LIGHT PLANT HERE
Bids for Boiler and Stack Re
jected by Board of Public
Affairs
Contracts Awarded for Feed
Water Heater and Boiler
Water Softener
Plans for expansion of Bluffton’s
municipal electric light plant struck
a new snag last Thursday night when
members of the board of public af
fairs rejected bids for a boiler and
stack, principal items in the improve
ment program.
Rejection of the bids resulted from
the board’s belief that the two pro
posals submitted represented too
great an expenditure of funds to war
rant proceeding with the work at
this time, a spokesman for the group
said following the meeting.
On the basis of low bids submit
ted, an aggregate expenditure of
$104,408 would have been entailed
for the installation of a new boiler
and stack. Of this amount, $71,908
would have been ear-marked for the
boiler and $32,500 for the stack.
For the entire expansion program,
the board has $125,000 raised thru
revenue bonds issued last summer,
and of that amount a total of $9,708
will go for a feed water heater and a
water softener, contracts for which
were let by the board at the Thurs
day meeting.
The softener for boiler water will
be purchased from the Worthington
Pump and Machinery Corp., Harri
son, N. J., for $5,859. Contract for the
feed water heater went to the Swart
out Co., Cleveland, on a bid of $3,849.
In view of the high cost of install
ing a new boiler and a new stack to
serve the plant, the board has under
consideration an alternate plan to ask
for bids on a boiler with a blower
equipped steel stack.
Under this proposal the present
stack would be retained for operation
of the existing boiler, which wilt be
used as a standby after the new’ boil
er is in operation.
Funeral Thursday
For Gossman Child
Linda Lee Gossman, infant daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Goss
man of Cherry street died at Bluff
ton hospital Wednesday at 12:15
a. m. following a brief illness. She
was aged two months and four days.
Services will be held at the Ba
singer funeral home Thursday after
noon at 2 o’clock with Rev. Irvin
Kaufman officiating. Interment will
be in the Thompson cemetery.
Surviving besides the parents are
the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Al
bert Gossman of Bluffton and Mr.
and Mrs. David Kauffman of Ot
tawa.
Woman In Hospital
After Auto Crash
Mrs. Odelia Nagel, 51, of Minster,
is in Bluffton hospital with injuries
received when the car in which she
was riding skidded from the Dixie
highway at a curve on the south
edge of Beaverdam and crashed into
a telephone pole last Thursday night
at 7 o’clock.
Mrs. Nagel sustained a severe cut
on the right forehead together with
chest bruises. She and her 15-year
old daughter Joan who was in the
car at the time of the accident, were
brought to the hospital in the Diller
ambulance.
The daughter was discharged
after receiving first-aid treatment
for minor injuries. Mrs. Nagel’s son
Stanley, 22, of Dayton, driver of
the car was unhurt.
Beaverdam Institute
Scheduled For Feb. 12
Beaverdam community institute
will be held Wednesday afternoon
and evening, Feb. 12 in the Beaver
dam high school auditorium. Speak
ers will be Rev. Arthur Romig and
Rev. Paul Graeser, both of Lima.
Officers are: Pres., Lewis Van
Meter vice pres., Ira LaRue secre
tary, C. L. Rupright.
Annual Hospital
Meeting Monday
Annual business meeting of the
Bluffton hospital shareholders will
be held at the high school cafeteria
next Monday night at 7:30 o’clock,
it was announced the first of the
week.
Makes National
Record
PD R. Reichenbach, Bluffton
^Postmaster who received
national recognition for
standing record made
post office here during Air Mail
Week recently.
The Bluffton volunteer fire depart
ment had the flames under control
in 30 minutes, but stood by for two
hours to prevent possibility of an
other outbreak of flames.
Boy Scout Troop To
Re-organize Monday
Record Of Bluffton Postmaster And
Post Office Gets National Recognition
the out
by the
BLAZE AT BIXEL
MOTOR CAUSES
$3,500 DAMAGE
Fire Due to Overheated Chim
ney Breaks Out in Office
and Parts Room
Fire Gained Headway Under
Roof of Structure Before
Being Discovered
Fire at the Bixel Motor salesroom
and garage on Cherry street last
Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock
resulted in a $3,500 loss with prin
cipal damage in the office and parts
department.
Believed to have originated from
an over-heated chimney, the blaze
broke out on the second floor and
had gained considerable headway be
fore it was discovered by Clayton
Bixel, head of the company.
Automobiles in the garage at the
rear of the building were not dam
aged, and the fire was restricted to
the front part where the office and
parts department were located.
Reorganization of Bluffton Boy
Scout Troop No. 82 will be effected
at a meeting in the American Le
gion hall at 8 p. m. next Monday
night.
The American Legion post will be
new sponsor of the troop, and the
re-organization will be one of the
features of the regular meeting of
the group. Frederick Reichenbach,
post commander, will preside.
Appearing on the program and
assisting in re-organization will be
Ollie Bahler, of Lima, representing
scouting for the Shawnee council
Bob Changnon, field executive of the
Shawnee Council Rev. Vernon C.
Oppermann, neighborhood commis
sioner Rev. Ernest Bigelow, district
organization and activity chairman
and former Troop 82 committeemen
including Ralph T. Stearns, chair
man W .A. Howe, A. J. Nonna
maker and Robert Potts.
Motion pictures will be shown on
various phases of scouting activity.
Former members of Troop 82, par
ents of boys, Legion members and
all other boys and parents interested
in scouting are invited to attend.
Orange Twp. Youth's
Funeral On Thursday
Funeral services for William Rus
sell Creeger, 14-year-old son of Mr.
and Mrs. Wm. Creeger of Orange
township will be held at Emmauel’s
Reformed church south of Bluffton
Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
Rev. V. C. Oppermann, pastor, will
officiate. Burial will be in Foun
tain cemetery, Fostoria.
The youth died suddenly at his
i home Sunday night following a two
days’ illness. Death was due to
hemophilia. He was a freshman in
Mt. Cory high school.
Surviving are his parents and a
younger brother, Larry David. Also
I surviving are grandparents Mr. and
Mrs. A. D. Whitney and Mr. and
lMrs. Frank Duncan all of Fostoria.
National Air Mail Week
Achievements Are Cited in
“The Postmaster’s Gazette”
Picture of Postmaster Reichen
bach and Article Praise
209% Increase
Record of Bluffton post office in
promotion of
week last fall
outstanding in
dicated in an
the current issue of Postmaster's
Gazette, a nationally circulated pub
lication.
National Air Mail
was one of the most
the country, it is in
article appearing in
Bluffton’s activities in which air
mail handled during the week, Octo
ber 27 to November 2, showed a 209
per cent increase over the monthly
Waverage were cited as outstanding in
the nation, and Postmaster Reichen
bach’s photograph was pictured in
recognition of the event.
Complete description of the many
phases of Bluffton’s promotional ac
tivity was included in the article,
with particular emphasis paid to the
airmail educational program among
Bluffton’s 484 public school students.
Describing that feature, the ar
ticle stated: “An air mail educa
tional program among Bluffton’s 484
public school students, including an
individual marking for each pupil,
sponsored by the Community Sports
man’s club, marked the Bluffton post
office observance of National Air
Mail Week.
Students Get Envelopes
“Each student in the school sys
tem received an air mail stamped
envelope free, each of the envelopes
being imprinted with a special ca
chet These the students mailed
during National Air Mail week. The
envelopes were delivered to the stu
dents, after which groups were con
ducted thru the post office and saw
their air mail letters dispatched to
the place of address.
“Special cachet envelopes were
provided at the post office windows
by Postmaster Ed R. Reichenbach.
A slogan that is recognized thruout
the nation is: “When there is an
important job to be done, turn it
over to the Postmasters of the na
tion and rest assured it will be
done.”
Bluffton’s percentage of increase
was one of the greatest in the na
tion’s more than 48,000 post offices,
and Reichenbach was honored ac
cordingly in the Postmaster's Ga
zette. For 10 years, Postmaster
Reichenbach was Allen County di
rector in the National Association
of Postmasters, but resigned this
year.
Library Circulation
Is 23,659 For 1946
Readership of Bluffton public li
brary books increased in 1946, with
2,602 more volumes circulated than
during the preceding year, according
to a report made this week by Li
brarian Ocie Anderson
Total book circulation for 1946
was 23,659, which means that one
book was borrowed and one returned
every minute the library was open.
Circulation figures include only the
volumes which left the library, as
no record is kept of reading room
activity.
By using Bluffton’s population to
determine the per capita circulation,
Miss Anderson said the library
loaned 12 books per person during
the year. In contrast the Lima li
brary circulation was six books per
capita.
During the year, 610 new volumes
were added to the library thru pur
chase and donations. The library
now has 13,25 ^volumes on its shelves.
With the Sick
Mrs. M. M. Murray who has been
in Bluffton hospital for the past two
months following a paralytic stroke
is slowly improving but will remain
in the hospital for an indefinite time.
Mrs. Martha Flick who was a
medical patient in the hospital is
much improved and is now at the
home of her son Donald Flick in De
troit.
Miss Huldah Schifferly is still con
fined to her home on Poplar street
as a result of hip injuries received
in a fall on the ice a month ago.
Collect Tax On Real
Estate Here Feb. 4-5
Deputies from the Allen county
treasurer's office will be in Bluffton
at the Citizens bank Tuesday and
Wednesday, Feb. 4 and 5 to collect
real estate taxes for the first half
of 1946.
1HE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BI UFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO THURSDAY, JAN 16, 1947
HIGHER SCALE OF
TEACHERS’ PAY SET
BY SCHOOL BOARD
Get $100 Boost, Plus One Per
Cent for Each Year's
Service
Board Sets Compromise Salary
Scale in Third Meeting
of Week
In their third meeting of the week,
the Bluffton board of education last
Saturday night revamped the pres
ent salary schedule for teachers rep
resenting an effort to compromise
differences existing in the teaching
staff between old and new instruc
tors.
Under the new salary classifica
tion, 17 full-time and three part
time teachers in the public schools
system will receive an average an
nual salary of $2,165, an increase of
$159 over the previous aVerage of
151,996.
Each full-time instructor will re
ceive a flat increase of $100, plus one
per cent of the previous salary for
each year of service in the local
school system, up to a .maximum of
14 years. Effective on January 1 of
this year, and continufikg until the
close of the school year on August
31, the schedule applies, without dis
tinction to grade or high school
teachers.
Salaries of custodians were in
creased by the board on the same
basis, and the monthly Remuneration
of four school bus drivers was boos
ted from $52.50 to $55 for January’
thru May. Under the new plan the
average salary of custodians went up
from $1,812 to $1,880 for the current
contract term expiring June 30.
60% of Levy for Salaries
In drafting of the plan the board
reaffirmed its previous position that
60% of the $10,000 realized from the
2 mill levy will be distributed in sala
ries during the calender year. This
earmarks $6,000 in salaries to teach
ers, men and bus drh •’zwand $4,000
fo upkeep of buikHjv''M.'and ether
physical equipment.
However, for the current school
year, as distinguished from the cal
ender year only $4,546 of the $6,000
will be distributed. This will give the
pro-rata increase for teachers to the
close of their contract period on Au
gust 31, custodians to June 30 and
bus drivers to May 31. The remaining
portion of the $6,000 fund will be
used to continue the present increase
for the remainder of the calender
year to December 31.
Although school sessions close fur
the term in May, the official school
year closes August 31, and teachers’
salaries are paid during the summer,
being computed on a 12-months’ ba
sis.
This means that under the new sal
ary setup, instructors will receive in
creased pay for eight months of the
current school year, January thru
August. The amount expended this
school year for salaries therefore ac
tually represents only two-thirds of
the annual increase.
However, it was stated by board
members that teachers returning
next year will receive not less than
the salaries set up for the remainder
of this year, giving them the benefit
of the full annual increase. The total
expended for teaching instruction un
der the new schedule is $40,056.
Board members also pointed out
that if additional funds are received
from the state it may be possible to
further increase the salary figure.
All Get $100
In the adjustment schedule deter
(Continued on page 8)
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs .Donald Harris,
Bluffton, a girl, Linda Marie, Tues
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Devier,
Bluffton, a boy, Stephen Alan, Tues
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Guillen, Ot
tawa, a girl Mary Lou, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Caughman,
Bluffton, a girl, Diane Elaine, Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mikesell,
Beaverdam, a boy, Ronald Lee, last
Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Deppler,
Lima, a girl, Diane at Findlay hos
pital last Wednesday. Mr. Deppler
is formerly of Bluffton.
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lora, a boy,
Stephen Thomas at Findlay hospital,
Saturday. Mr. Lora is formerly of
Bluffton.
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Reynolds
of Lubbock, Texas, a boy, David
Carl last Wednesday, Mrs, Reynolds
is the former Josephine Augsburger
of Bluffton.
Butter prices in Bluffton stores
dropped sharply the first of the
week from 80 cents a pound last
Saturday to 71 cents, Wednesday
morning.
The break in butter prices which
is general over the country is be
lieved by some observers to be the
forerunner of generally lower prices
for foodstuffs.
Farmers producing butterfat are
likewise selling their product on a
lower market, the price Wednesday
morning being quoted at 72 cents a
pound as compared with 81 cents a
week ago.
Other downward trends in prices
have applied to orange, lemon and
grapefruit juices, which now are
selling for approximately 50 per cent
less than two weeks ago. These
discussion Of General Interest
Is Featured Also Music,
Drama
Joint Meetings Feature Pro
gram No Morning Ses
sions This Year
Featuring talks and discussion on
subjects of general community inter
est, Bluffton’s annual two-day com
munity institute will be opened
Wednesday afternoon of next week
in the Bluffton High school auditor
ium.
Retail Butter Prices Register
Drop Of Nine Cents First Of Week
Offering a varied program of in
structive talks, discussion sessions
and entertainment features, the in
stitute will follow a pattern in keep
ing with the trend of the last several
years toward a more complete con
sideration of the social aspects of
towm and community life.
Highlighting the two-day session
will be the Wednesday night pro
i gram featuring special music, talks
by state speakers and dramatic of
ferings.
Two Day Community Institute To
Open In Bluffton Next Wednesday
No Morning Sessions
An innovation this year is the
discontinuance of morning sessions
during the two-day meeting, thereby
concentrating institute activity Wed
nesday afternoon and night, and
Thursday afternoon.
Wednesday’s opening session will
start at 1:30 p. m. the evening pro
gram will begin at 7:30 p. m. and
the Thursday afternoon session will
open at 1 p. m. Complete details of
the two-day program appear on
Pages 6 and 7 of this issue of The
News.
Heading an impressive list of
speakers appearing on the institute
program this year are Rev. William
Stauffer, of Sugar Creek, O., a
Bluffton college graduate in 1932,
and Mrs. Ruth Arnold Steva, of St.
Marys.
Rebuilding Worn-out Farms
Rev. Stauffer has been active in
agricultural activity and now is co
owner-operator of 300 acres experi
menting in re-building three worn
out farms.
He is chairman of the rural
rehabilitation for returning service
men.
Mrs. Steva is nationally known in
farm organizations, and has served
as trustee of the Ohio Farm Bureau,
the governor’s tax committee, in 4-H
club work, and rural electrification
activities and is an active Sunday
school and church worker.
Funeral Friday For
Mrs. Stephen Shulaw
Funeral services for Mrs. Ada
Viola Shulaw, 64, of Lafayette Rt. 1,
will be held in the Lafayette Meth
odist church, Friday afternoon at 2
o’clock with Rev. W. B. Arthur offi
ciating. Burial will be in Lafay
ette cemetery.
Mrs. Shulaw died Tuesday morn
ing at her home following an illness
of six months. She was a lifelong
resident of Jackson township.
Besides her husband she is sur
vived by four sons Closser and Ger
ald of Lafayette and Archie and
Murray, of Lima two daughters,
Mrs. Clarice Brooks, Geneva, Pa.,
and Mrs. Evelyn Yokes, Meadville,
Pa., 13 grandchildren and two great
grandchildren.
Business Men's Assn.
Will Elect Officers
Annual election of officers will be
held at a meeting of the Bluffton
Business Men’s association in the
Walnut Grill on Wednesday niprht
of next week at 8 o’clock.
prices dropped sharply almost over
night, most other decreases are ex
pected to be more of a gradual na
ture.
Staple items such as bread, sugar,
panned goods, butter, eggs and the
most popular cuts of meat have not
undergone any appreciable reduction
in prices, altho there appear to be
national indications that a general
price decline is in prospect and like
ly will be apparent by early spring.
Soap and soap powders are begin
ning to appear in quantities on gro
cers’ shelves, but prices have re
mained steady because of the short
age of waste fats. Dealers current
ly are paying 10 cents a pound for
waste fats, and turning the supply
over to soap manufacturers. Waste
fat price last month was six cents
a pound.
MENNONITE AID
INSURANCE GROUP,
SHOWS GROWTH
Organization Has $4,455,275 In
Risks in Force An In
crease of $413,085
’olicies Carried By Insurance
Society Number 915 Offi
cers Are Re-elected
Insurance risks aggregating $4,
455, 275 are carried by the Mennonite
Mutual Aid Society, a locally owned
and operated insurance organization
specializing in farm protection, it
was reported Saturday afternoon at
the annual meeting in the Bluffton
High school building.
Reports made at the session show
that the mutual society has 915 poli
cies in force in Allen, Putnam, Han
cock and Hardin counties. This total
includes 40 new members.
Aggregate risks covered by the or
ganization represent its largest
coverage since the society was form
ed on June 5, 1866. A gain of $413,
085 was shown over the figure on the
books at the close of 1945.
Total losses suffered by policy
holders during 194-6 amounted to 6,
393.03 about half of which was
caused by fire. Remaining damage
resulted from windstorm and light
ning. Losses during the last year
were considerably less than in 1945
when they amounted to $8,125.39.
Balance $12,491.49
The organization closed the year
with a cash balance of $12,491.69,
which represents a gain of $2,801.13
over the 1945 balance, according to a
report made at the meeting.
Officers were re-elected in organi
zation of the board of directors, in
cluding E. E. Bucher, president
Llewellyn Geiger, vice-president Al
bert Winkler, secretary Max J.
Crawfis, assistant secretary, and Ray
S. Hilty, treasurer.
Appraisers for the society during
the coming year will be the same as
in 1946: Amos Tschiegg, Calvin Gar
matter, Llewellyn Geiger and Max
Crawfis.
Deadline For Dog
Tags Is Monday
Attention of dog owners is called
to the deadline next Monday, the
last day on which licenses may be
purchased without penalty.
License sales have lagged and a
heavy last minute rush will develop
if the number purchased this year
is to reach last year’s total.
Licenses for both Allen and Han
cock counties are obtainable at the
Community market from Mrs. Zelma
Tripplehorn, deputy.
Cost is $1 for male and spayed
female dogs and $3 for females.
Those sending applications by mail
should give a complete description
of the dog.
Bank Increases
Annual Dividend
Increase in the dividend rate from
$4 to $5 per share on the common
stock of the Citizens National Bank
was announced at the annual stock
holders meeting Tuesday night.
All of the bank’s directors were
re-elected for the coming year. They
are: C. H, Smith, E. C. Romey, Ed
win Amstutz, M. M. Bogart, H. P.
Huber, C. F. Niswander and Adam
Steiner.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place To Trade
NUMBER 39
RICHLAND FARMERS
MUTUAL INSURANCE
BUSINESS GROWS
Risks Aggregate $2,644,360
Total of 484 Policies
Are In Force
Mutual Insurance Organization
Names Director, Treasurer
And Appraiser
Expansion of the insurance cover
age of the Richland Township Farm
ers Insurance Co. was announced
Saturday at the annual meeting of
the organization in the council room
of the Bluffton town hall.
Insurance risks aggregating $2,
644,360 are carried by the society in
Allen, Putnam, Hardin and Hancock
counties, with the principal emphasis
on farm coverage.
Coverage shows a gain of $264,865
over the amount specified in policies
in force during the preceding year,
altho the number of policy holders
decreased slightly from 492 to 484.
Losse.® during 1946 amounted to
$3,491.16, representing $2,535 in fire
damages $882.45 from windstorm
damage and $73.71 in lightning dam
age. Aggregate losses for 1945 fi
rn ounted to $1,548.90.
Moser Re-Elected
The annual report showed a two
mill levy during the past year to
cover losses. This was the first as
sessment in two years, directors of
the organization announced, no levy
having been made to cover operations
in 1945.
At Saturday’s meeting Ezra Moser
was re-elected director Quentin
Burkholder was re-elected treasurer
Wayne Zimmerman was re-elected
appraiser, and Guy Scoles was elected
appraiser to succeed Charles Lora.
In organization of the board of di
rectors, Ezra Moser was named pres
ident Alfred Mueller, vice-president
and the board appointed Earl Matter
secretary for 1947. Directors include
Moser, Mueller and Walter Hochstet
tler, the former two of whom are
serving unexpired terms.
Announce Wedding
Of Holiday Season
Mrs. Flarence LaChat, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs .Edw. Krites of
North Lawrence, Ohio, and Elmer
Nusbaum, son of David Nusbaum, of
near Bluffton, were married Sunday,
Dec. 22, at the Reformed Mennonite
church in Marshallville, Ohio.
Rev. Will Rupp, of Archbold, re
ceived the vows. Following the cere
mony, a reception was held for the
immediate families and relatives at
the home of Rev. and Mrs. Ray
Bear, of Marshallville, friends of
the bride and groom.
Mr. and Mrs. Nusbaum are re
siding on the Nusbaum farm west
of Bluffton. The groom is engaged
in farming
County Meeting Of
Methodist Men Here
Members of the Allen County
'Methodist Brotherhood will hold a
idiQner riveting starting at 6:15 p. m.
Wednesday of next week in the
Bluffton Methodist church.
Rev. Paul Graeser, pastor of the
First Reformed church in Lima, will
be the speaker. Approximately 200
men are expected here for the meet
ing.
Nelson Steiner, member of the
Bluffton church, is secretary of the
Brotherhood. The dinner will be
served by the W. S. C. S
Grismore Heads
Twp. Trustees
Allen Grismore was elected presi
dent and Watson Steiner vice presi
dent in the reorganization meeting
of the Richland township board of
trustees. Fred C. Badertscher is
the third member of the board and
N. W. Basinger, clerk.
Bluffton Couple Fly
To Hawaii Next Week
Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Lane nf Grove
street will leave next Monday for
Los Angeles from where they will
go by plane to Honolulu to visit
their son Naval Lt. Commander
Wade Lape and family at Barber’s
Point near that city. They expect
to be gone for six weeks.
Real Estate Deal
Mrs. Eva Kohli has purchased the
Biome property on North Main street
and will take possession April 1.
The property is occupied by the Wm.
Rurgly family.