The Bluffton news. [volume], February 06, 1947, Image 1

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BLUFFTON
A Good Place To Live
VOLUME LXXI
PROSPECT REMOTE
FOR HOLDING TOWN
PRIMARY ELECTION
Democrats and Republicans
Name Tickets At Monday
Night Caucuses
Political Leaders Anticipate No
Inter-Party Contests
Here
Municipal Candidates
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN
For Mayor
Arden R. Baker Paul W. Stauffer
For Town Clerk
Charles Emans
For Town
Sidney C. Stettler
Richard Cookson
Treasurer
Hiram Huser
Council
For
Don Patterson
Frank Todd
C. A. Stauffer
Wilford Gratz
AV. O. Geiger
Armin Hauenstein
Charles Aukerman
Richard Davies
For Board of
A. C. Burcky
Forrest Steinman
Cleon Triplett
Carl Cahill
Public Affairs
Harry F. Barnes
Harvey Beidler
Bluffton will not have a primary
this summer, for the second time in
successive “off-year elections”, it was
indicated Monday night when no
inter-party contests developed on
either ticket at Democratic and
Republican caucuses to draft a slate
of candidates for municipal offices.
With citizens shying away from
candidacy, and the deadline for filing
falling at 6 p. m. this Wednesday,
prospective nominees were named at
the caucuses to fill the Republican
and Democratic tickets.
Uncertainty still beclouded the
political horizon following the caucus
meetings, for party leaders said they
have no information if all those
named will accept, and there is
prospect of last-minute scrambling
to maintain full tickets for the filing
deadline.
Trend of the last few years in
regarding the holding of public of
fices as unwanted jobs was apparent
in pre-caucus maneuvering of both
parties.
Just how many of those named at
the caucuses will run for election
next fall represents a question to
which party committeemen must get
the answers before the filing dead
line Wednesday.
With little possibility of the
development of inter-party contests,
it appears that a town primary7
election will be by-passed again this
year.
In 1945 when candidates also were
few and far between, Bluffton held
no primary, and neither party had a
xull slate of candidates in the fall
election.
Swiss Chorus To Give
Concert Sunday Night
The Swiss Community Male chor
us will present a program at St.
John Mennonite church Sunday even
ing at 7:30 o’clock under the direc
tion of Earl Lehman, accompanied
by Mrs. Earl Lehman.
The program follows:
Accept Our Thanks —........ Sibelius
Now Let Every Tongue Adore
Thee Bach
The Lord's Prayer Malotte
May Now Thy Spirit Schuetly
Male Chorus
My Anchor Holds ... Male Quartet
Rolland Reichenbach Earl Lehman
Harold Diller-Chauncey Schumacher
The Lost Chord Sullivan
Thanks Be to God Dickson
Service Cadman
Bless This House— Brahe
Swiss Male Chorus
Offering
Were You There?.. .’ Burleigh
Ole Ark’s Amoverin --------------Cain
Now the Day Is Over... Barnby
Elect Officers For
Business Men's Ass’n.
William Edwards was chosen
president of the Bluffton Business
Men’s association for the coming
year at the annual election of officers
last Wednesday night.
Other officers elected included:
vice pres., Morris Fett secretary, W.
O. Geiger treas., H. M. Troy
representative on Community Pro
gress committee, Silas Diller alter
nate, Clayton Bixel.
Real Estate Deal
The Janies Elvin residence on
Poplar street has been purchased by
John Amstutz. The property will be
occupied this spring by his mother.
Mrs. Eli Amstutz and his sisters
the Misses Rhoda and Eunice Am
stutz.
Presbyterian Church
______When Ushers
Four Escape Serious
Hurt In Auto Mishap
Four Bluffton area residents es
caped serious injury late last W’ed
nesday afternoon when automobiles
driven by Chauncey Spallinger, of
near Beaverdam, and Warren Moser,
of Gratz crossing, collided at the
old Gratz school road intersection
near Moser’s home.
Taken to the Bluffton hospital in
the Basinger ambulance following
the crash were Spallinger, his wife
who was in the car with him, and
Clair Moser, of west of Bluffton, a
passenger in the other auto.
Moser and Spallinger were releas
ed following emergency treatment,
and Mrs. Spallinger remained in the
hospital until Saturday when she
was taken home. She suffered
bruises and an eye cut.
Both cars were badly damaged in
the mishap.
MILK DROPS ONE
CENT QUART PRICE
TO FARMERS LESS
New Retail Price of 18 Cents is
First Break in Long Upward
Trend.
Butter Prices Reverse Decline
and Rise Butterfat Also
Higher.
Lower prices for milk in the
Bluffton area are reflected this week
in both consumers’ and producers’
markets, it developed Wednesday
morning.
Reduction in retail milk price
from 19 cents to 18 cents a quart
was announced the first of the week
by two dairies supplying Bluffton
while at the same time the return
to farmers for sales of raw milk
dropped from $4.10 to $4 per hund
red pounds.
The drop in retail milk is the first
reduction here since the price began
its steady upward climb more than
a year ago.
The four-dollar price of raw milk,
paid to farmers in the Bluffton area
was announced Wednesday morning
by the Page Dairy company, prin
cipal buyer of milk in this district.
Raw Milk Down 10 Cents
The price is for milk marketed
during the last half of January and
represents a decline of ten cents un
der the quotation for the first half
of last month. December’s price was
$4.35.
While milk prices drifted lower,
the butter market showed definite
signs of strength after an uninter
rupted decline for several weeks.
Butter which dropped to 64 cents
a pound here the latter part of last
week was quoted at 67 cents Wed
nesday afternoon. Butterfat, like
wise which usually moves with the
market for butterwas posted at 69
cents a pound Wednesday, an ad
vance of six cents over the market
of a week ago.
Elvina Criblez Bride
Of Wilbur Heldman
Simplicity marked the wedding of
Miss Elvina Criblez, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Criblez, living
south of Bluffton and Wilbur C.
Heldman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi
Heldman of Rawson, solemnized
Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock.
The wedding was solemnized at
the home of the officiating minister,
Rev. Voss of Trinity Lutheran
church in Jenera. The couple was
unattended.
The bride was attired in a grey
wool crepe suite with black accessor
ies and wore a corsage of pink car
nations. Following the ceremony
the couple left on a short wedding
trip.
The bride served for a number of
years on the nursing staff of the
Bluffton hospital. The couple will
reside on the farm of the bride
groom’s parents, where he is en
gaged in farming.
To Gather Waste
Paper Saturday
Collection of waste paper will be
made by Explorer Post, Bluffton Boy
Scout Troop No. 56, Saturday after
noon. Newspapers end magazines
should be bundled and on the curb
by one o’clock.
OCCUPY NEW HOME
Mr. and Mrs. John Swisher are
occupying their newly built residence
on East Kibler street.
Members Gasp
Hand Them $10 Bills
Money to be Invested in Mod
ern Application of Parable
of the Talents
Each Member of Congregation
Receives Money Distributed
at Sunday Services
In a present-day application of the
Biblical parable of the talents, the
sum of $1,000 was distributed at the
Presbyterian church Sunday when
each person present at the morning
service was handed a $10 bill as a
basic investment in a plan to raise
$8,000 for improvements to the
church and manse.
Following a sermon on the topic
“Here Is Your Talent,” by the pas
tor, Rev. E. N. Bigelow, an unan
nounced feature of the service came
when ushers came forward to the
front of the church auditorium with
collection plates heaped high with
crisp new7 $10 bills.
Handing the first bill to the pas
tor, the ushers then passed collec
tion plates thru the audience with a
bill for everyone present, including
members of the congregation and
visitors.
Used As Investment
The money, the pastor explained
is to be used as a symbol, together
with other resources as an invest
ment in adding to talents in raising
funds for the long-range improve
ment program planned by the
church.
Rev. Bigelow’s sermon on the Bib
lical story of investment of talents
stressed three steps involved: 1—Giv
ing of the talent 2—Using of the
talent, and 3—Accounting of the
talent.
Printed lists of suggestions for
putting the talents to work also were
distributed Sunday morning with
various pursuits mentioned for those
of junior high school age and over.
Surprise
to
Congregation
The unusual idea conceived by the
church finance committee and ap
proved by members of the board of
trustees who authorized borrqwing
of the money for talent distribution
came as a complete surprise to the
congregation which knew nothing of
the plan until distribution of the
money wras started.
With the initial fund of $1,000
exhausted in Sunday morning’s dis
tribution an additional $850 was ob
tained the first of the week which
will be sent in $10 bills by register
ed mail to members of the congrega
tion who were not present at last
Sunday’s service.
This, it was pointed out, will com
plete the initial phase of the cam
paign which will continue until
June 22.
Bluffton Couple
Weds In Chicago
Wedding of Veldean Car is, Bluff
ton beautician, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Harvey Moser, and James Mar
tin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mar
tin, all of Bluffton, took place in
Chicago last Friday night.
The marriage was solemnized in a
double ring ceremony at the home
of the officiating minister, Rev. A.
C. Schultz, former pastor of the
Ebenezer Mennonite church here.
The couple was attended by Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Watkins of Chi
cago, formerly of Bluffton. The
bride wore for the occasion a brown
and white suit with orchid corsage
and brown accessories.
Following the wedding the couple
left for Columbus where they at
tended the state hairdressers’ con
vention, returning here Monday
night.
The bride operates Vel’s Beauty
Box on North Main street and Mr.
Martin since his discharge from the
armed services has been employed at
the Triplett plant.
New Night Supervisor
At Bluffton Hospital
Miss Ruth Boaz of Pandora re
cently named as night supervisor of
Bluffton hospital has begun her
duties here, it was announced Wed
nesday by Miss Sylvia Riederman,
hospital superintendent. Miss Boaz
is a graduate of Lima Memorial
hospital school of nursing.
P. T. A. To Discuss
International Peace
A panel discussion on the topic of
international peace will be held at
the meeting of the Bluffton Parent
Teacher association at the high
school cafeteria next Monday night
at 8 o’clock.
The Bluffton Ministerial associa*
tion is in charge of the program and
Rev. Paul Cramer will lead the dis
cussion.
W wW- 4
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
Funeral Services Will Be Held
in Church at ArKngton
Bury There
Body of Lt. Wayne Yoakam, 29,
Bluffton native who died in Ger
many will arrive in Bluffton, Thurs
day night on the Cleveland-St Louis
Nickel Plate train due here at 9:25
p. m.
Word to this effect was received
by members of the family here Wed
nesday noon. The body, according
to the message is now in Hoboken,
N. J., from where it will be sent to
Bluffton.
On arrival here the remains will
be taken to the Paul Diller funeral
home awaiting completion of ar
rangements for the funeral services.
Lt. Yoakam died in Germany, De
cember 8 of injuries Resulting from
a grade crossing accident when a
jeep in which he was riding was
struck by a train.
BLUFFTON NEWS
BLUFFTON, OHIO THURSDAY, FEB. 6, 1947
BODY OF WAYNE
YOAKAM COMING
THURSDAY NIGHT
Cleveland-St. Louis Train to
Bring Remains of Army
Lieutenant
Funeral, according to present
plans, will be held at the Good Hope
Lutheran church, Arlington, where he
was married Jan. 7, 1945 to the for
mer Luelle Smith of Jenera who sur
vives. Rev. Arthur Rismiller will
officiate. Burial will be in the Ar
lington cemetery.
COLD WAVE MOST
SEVERE OF WINTER
SWEEPS BLUFFTON
Near-Zero Temperatures Re
corded for
Two
Gas Service is Curtailed Tues
day Skating on Tennis
Courts
Confirming last Sunday’s Ground
hog Day prediction of six more
weeks of cold weather, the winter’s
severest cold wave swept into the
Bluffton area late Monday night and
continued into Wednesday morning
when the mercury barely missed the
zero mark for the second time in
two weeks.
When the Groundhog saw his
shadow in Sunday’s bright and sun
ny weather he set the stage for the
season’s worst wintry assault, and
a rapid drop of the thermometer
started Monday night brought a
reading of four above at 8 a. m.
Tuesday.
Near-zero temperatures continued
all day Tuesday with the highest
mark at seven degrees in the after
noon and dropping to two above zero
Tuesday night at 10 o’clock. Slight
rise in the thermometer was indi
cated after midnight when a high
of 5 degrees was attained, accom
panied by a rising wind.
Wednesday morning showed slowly
rising temperatures and considerably
warmer weather is forecast for
Thursday.
Bluffton gas service was disrupted
by the cold wave, with the first ef
fects showing up on Tuesday when
industrial users had service suspend
ed. One local restaurant found it
impossible to prepare any food ex
cept hamburger steaks.
Skating
on
Tennis Courts
While a^ea residents shivered in
the icy bl st, a youth contingent
that has been anxiously awaiting
colder weather for three weeks, to
bring a start of Bluffton Recreation
Committee sponsored ice skating on
the college tennis courts, found their
hopes finally realized.
When predictions of the cold wave
were received on Monday, the courts
were flooded by the fire department
pumper. Sandbags had been placed
along the creek edge of the courts
two weeks ago, to make flooding
feasible.
Preparation and flooding of the
courts was directed by William Ed
wards and Coach A. C. Burcky, of
the recreation committee.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
James Wenger, 22, Bluffton, fac
tory worker and Mary Gene Sieficld,
20, Bluffton, factory worker.
In great attempts it is glorious
even to fall. —Longinus
Former Bluffton Seminary Head
Will Give Class Address
This Year
Bluffton High Has Senior Class
of 55, Supt. R. S. Lanham
Announces
Dr. J. E. Hartzler, of Goshen, Ind.,
who lived in Bluffton about 17
years ago, will be the speaker at
Bluffton High school commencement
exercises on Thursday night, May 22.
Announcement that Dr. Hartzler
will be the class speaker was made
this week by Supt. Ralph S. Lanham,
of the public school system.
When he lived here Dr. Hartzler
was president of Witmarsum Theo
logical seminary, formerly located on
the Bluffton college campus. Now a
resident of Goshen, Ind., he is a
lecturer at Hartford Theological
seminary, Hartford, Conn., and
travels extensively about the country
as a speaker.
Bluffton has a class of 55 seniors
this year, Supt. Lanham said.
Editor’s Note—This is one
of a series of articles to appear
in the Bluffton News dealing
with early Ohio history. Others
will appear in forthcoming
issues.
Medina County’s
Sleigh Ride
Only tradition, because it happened
91 years ago, but big news all over
the country in its day, Medina’s
great sleigh and bob-sled expedition
to Akron to capture the sleigh ride
flag still holds the record in Buckeye
winter sports.
Dr. J. E. Hartzler To Be Bluffton
High Commencement Speaker May 22
The Medina procession consisted of
182 four-horse sleighs and a bob
sled pulled by a double team of
mules. The concerted clangor of
many-toned bells nearly drowned
the music of the “numerous town
ship brass bands” which accompanied
the parade, and the roar of voices
was deafening—there was an aver
age of 14 persons in each sleigh.
The expedition won the coveted
championship flag which went to the
district organizing the largest sleigh
ride crowd.
It all occurred in the winter of
1855-56. There were nearly 100
consecutive days of snow that year.
The big sleigh ride competition
begun after a party from Cuyahoga
County had gone to Akron in seven
four-horse sleighs and consequently
had received a bit of newspaper
publicity. i
There already had been several
smaller parties in sleighs from
Medina and other nearby counties
which created some comment, but
the Cuyahoga delegation had a flag.
It was of cotton, about 33 inches
wide and 55 inches long, and had
the regulation stars and stripes on
one side. On the other side, how
ever, was the profile of the head
and shoulders of a man thumbing his
nose at citizens of the town through
which the party passed. That start
ed the fireworks.
Twinsburg Twp. Gets Flag
Twinsburg township, through
which the Solon, Cuyahoga County,
party had driven, got together 14
four-horse sleighs and drove to
Solon, where the flag was surrend
ered to them. They took it back to
Twinsburg.
Next, Royalton, Cuyahoga County,
organized a party of 38 four-horse
s'eighs which went to Twinsberg,
received the flag and returned it to
Cuyahoga County. The matter now
became a county affair among Cuya
hoga, Summit and Medina Counties.
The sleigh ride competition now
was arousing much interest in North
ern Ohio, so delegations from Cuya
hoga, Summit and Medina counties
got together and arranged for one
grand sleigh ride meeting at Rich
field, Summit County, which they
figured would settle the rivalry.
That township, adjoining both
Cuyahoga and Medina counties, was
easily accessible to all, and the
county having the greatest number
of sleighs in their party there on
March 14 was to be winner and
receive the championship flag.
That dav 144 four-horse sleighs
from Med'na County pulled into
Richf’f'I 1 township. Thev were beaten
by C7iv hoga Count v which had 151
fnur-hors? sleighc in i’« procession.
Summit County took the flag with
171 of the double-team sleighs.
6.524 People On Sleighride
Each sleigh contained its capacity
(Continued on page 5)
Beaverdam Institute
Next Wednesday
Afternoon and evening sessions
will feature a Beaverdam community
institute to be held in the high
school building at that place, Wed
nesday of next week.
Appearing on the afternoon pro
gram, opening at 1 p. m. will be
Rev. Arthur Romig, of Lima Coun
ty Extension Agent James Warner
and Harry F. Barnes, of Bluffton,
vocational agriculture teacher at
Beaverdam.
Rev. Paul H. Graeser, of Lima,
will be the speaker at the evening
session, starting at 7:30 p. m.
Special music and other features
also will be presented at afternoon
and evening sessions.
Institute officers include Lewis R.
Vanmeter, president I. A. LaRue,
vice-president, and C. L. Rupright,
secretary.
COMMUNITY NEED
WOULD BE FILLED
BY COLLEGE GYM
New $250,000 Structure Would
Be Ideal for Basketball
Tournaments
Used As Auditorium, Building
Would Have Accommo
dations for 1,800
Bluffton college’s proposed $250,
000 gymnasium-auditorium will serve
three major purposes on the cam
pus, it was pointed out this week as
a local committee readied plans for
solicitation of the Bluffton commun
ity to raise funds for the new build
ing.
With its largest enrollment in his
tory, and operating free of debts,
the college has planned the gymnas
ium-auditorium as the first step in
an expansion program required to
keep pace with the growth of the in
stitution.
Three major functions served by
the building will be its adaptability
(Continued on page 2)
Last Rites For
Glenn Nonnamaker
Services for Glenn Nonnamaker,
57, of Orange township, were held
at the Basinger funeral home Sat
urday afternoon with Rev. Irvin
Kaufman pastor of the Bethesda
Evangelical church officiating.
Mr. Nonnamaker, a retired A. C.
& Y. railroad maintenance worker
died Thursday morning in Bluffton
hospital of uremic poisoning follow
ing a several days’ illness.
He was born in Orange township
the son of Ami and Frances Nonna
makes, July 28, 1889. He was a
member of Bethesda church.
Surviving are his mother of
Orange township two sisters, Mts.
Bernice Klingler of Ada and Miss
Faery Nonnamaker at home a bro
ther Howard Nonnamaker of Je
nera. He was never married.
Interment following funeral serv
ices was in Hasscn cemetery, Orange
township.
Income Tax Men In
Bluffton February 18
Deputies from the office of the
collector of internal revenue will be
in Bluffton at the mayor’s office,
Tuesday, February 18 from 8:30
a. m. to 4:30 p. m. to assist tax
payers in preparing their federal
income tax returns.
The office of the internal revenue
collector at the Lima post office
building also will be open for this
purpose from Monday through Fri
day of each week and on Saturday,
March 8 and 15.
Any person whose total income in
1946 was $500 or more is required
to file a return on or before March
15.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Luginbuhl,
Bluffton, a boy, Wednesday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Truman Bixel, Bluff
ton, a boy, Earl Dean, Tuesday.
Mrs. Bixel is the former Levada
Balmer.
Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Bowman,
Bluffton, a girl, Myra F'aine, Sun
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Firestone,
Toledo, a girl,, Janus Fay, Satutday.
Mrs. Firestone is the former Berda
Gratz.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Coates, Lima,
a boy, Frederick Alan, Thursday.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place To Trade
NUMBER 42
DELPHOS PUBLIC IS
FIRST TOURNEY FOE
FOR PIRATE CAGERS
Unbeaten High School Five Will
Play First Tournament
Game Feb. 17
Four Strongest Teams in 1947
Tournament Are Grouped
in Upper Bracket
Bluffton high school’s fast stepping
basketball team, which defeated all
comers thruout the season by wide
margins will meet Delphos Jefferson
high on Monday, February 17 in the
first round of the Class basketball
tourflament for exempted village and
parochial teams. The game will be
played in the Ohio Northern gym
nasium at Ada.
Riding the crest of a spectacular
15-game winning streak, Bluffton
High's undefeated eagers are the
tournament favorites and will be
the team most anxiously watched in
play in the Ohio Northern gym
nasium.
All the tournament’s stronger
teams are grouped in the upper
bracket with Bluffton. In addition
to meeting Delphos Jefferson as their
first tourney fee, the Pirates, if
successful, must tangle with winner
of the Lima St. Rose-Delphos St.
Johns tilt on Thursday, Feb. 20.
Delphos Jefferson has an outstand
ing record this season Lima St.
Rose has dropped only two decisions,
one a 52 to 47 setback at the hands
of Bluffton, and Delphos St. Johns
is the only team which has beaten
Elida’s cracker
jack aggregation this
winter.
In the lower bracket are Ada,
Lima St. Johns, Hicksville, Wapak
oneta St. Joe and Lima St. Girard.
Ada and Wapakopeta St. Joe will
engage in the tournament opener on
Feb. 14.
Play in the tournament at the
Ohio Northern gymnasium will be
on Feb. 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22.
i
Orange Twp. Girl
Married Sunday
Miss Dorothy Bassitt, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bassitt of Orange
township and Clarence Kersker, Jr.,
were married Sunday afternoon at
2 o’clock at the home of the bride
groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clar
ence Kersker, Sr., of near Lima.
Rev. R. A. Peterson officiated at
the ceremony. Miss Barbara Kers
ker, sister of the bridegroom played
the wedding march and the bride
was attended by her sister, Miss
Joan Bassitt. Carl Conaway was
best man.
The bride attended Beaverdam
high school and later was employed
in Lima. Mr. Kersker, a graduate
of Lafayette high school served
three years in the Navy and is now
also employed in Lima.
Council Accepts New
Gar mat ter Addition
Accepted by the municipal council
at its meeting Monday night were
plans for the Garmatter addition to
the village, a 28-lot subdivision off
College road, west of Elm street.
A new street, Garmatter avenue,
extending east from College road,
will run thru the addition to a depth
of 688 feet. There will be 14 build
ing lots on each side of the 40-foot
street.
Corner lots at College road are
51 feet wide, and the others 50 feet
in width, according to the layout.
Councilmen akj took action to
officially extend Kibler street from
Lawn avenue to College avenue, clar
ifying confusion as to whether the
section should be known as West
Kibler street or Prosperity avenue.
James Klingler On
New Aircraft Carrier
James H. Klingler, seaman sec
ond class, son of John H. Klingler, of
Bluffton, is serving aboard the 27,
000-ton aircraft carrier, the USS
Valley Forge.
The first vessel to bear that name,
the Valley Forge honors the national
shrine outside Philadelphia where
General George Washington estab
lished his celebrated winter quart
ers.
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices)—Wheat $2
12 corn $1.20 oats 78c soys $3.
Poultry—Heavy hens 25c heavy
springers 27c leghorn hens 14c
stags 14c.
Eggs—Large whites 35c large
browns 33c mediums and pullets 30c.
Butterfat—69e.