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VOLUME LXXI DRIFTED, ICY ROADS ISOUTE FARffiRS AND SHUT SCMDLS Virtually All North-South Sec ondary Roads Blocked By i Deep Snow Bluffton Schools Ope^Wednes day After Two Days Closing Wind-whipped snow which blocked all north-south roads jn the area with fence-high drifts^ and left a treacherous coating of jice on main highways and streets gave the Bluff ton district this week Us most severe taste of wintry weather in three years, following a heavy snow storm that began on Saturday a ued through Sunday. nd contin- With many rural areas solated by drifts piled high on roads y a strong wind that came up Sunday night and continued thru Monday, school buses were unable to make their usual rounds and Bluffton gh and grade schools were closed al day Monday and Tuesday. Classes were resumi*d Wednesday morning altho the buses were unable to make their compleite rounds be cause a number of no rth and south roads are still impassable. Parents Bring Pupilh to School Some pupils living ii1 areas where roads are still blocked with drifts were brought to school by their- par «nts. However, absenteeism was sur prisingly low in the higly school Wed nesday morning, only I 2 being listed as not present accord ng to an at tendance checkup. Even with warmer 5veather which came Wednesday, it will be the end of the week before all roads in the district are passable, Richland tow n ship trustees estimated. The township road scraper has been at work since Monday, but progrses has been hampered by a hard coating of ice which has formed over the snow. Some time also was lost Tues day, bcause of a mechanical break. No Pay for Hand Labor Township trustees which have al ready earmarked money in the high way fund for road improvements this summer, have no balance available to pay for hand labor in opening of roads, it was stated Wednesday. Center of the heavy snow storm, which brought a white blanket near ly six inches deep in a 24-hour period, was in this immediate area, with nearby schools in Hancock and Har din county also forced to close be cause of impassable roads. Among other schools closed were those of Mt. Cory, Rawson, Beaverdam and Ada. Beaverdam, Lafayette and Bath township schools remained closed Wednesday, but expected to resume classes on Thursday. All north and south roads in Beaverdam school dis trict were reported closed Wednes day. State Highway department crews worked day and night to keep main highways open, but county and town ship workers lost out early in their battle to prevent drifts from block ing secondary roads. For nearly 24 hours snow was drifting back onto north-south roads as fast as it could be removed, adding to the difficulty of trying to keep traffic moving. Thruout Monday and Tuesday, the Dixie highway was a glare of ice in many places, and what little traffic there w’as on main highways moved at a snails-pace to prevent accidents. County Line Road Blocked The Allen-Hancock county line road north of the Dixie highway was blocked early Monday afternoon, cut ting off one of the main travelled roads in this district, and those who ordinarily use the route to come to Bluffton were forced to go thru Mt. Cory. North of Mt. Cory, Route 69 was blocked by drifts, and virtually all north-south country roads were im passable, one of the worst stretches being reported on the Phillips road, south of Gratz crossing, where there were drifts more than four feet high in two places. Treacherous roads were blamed for a three-car collision that occurred one-half mile east of Bluffton on Route 103, at 10 o’clock Saturday night. Car Skids There were two phases in the mis hap, the first occurring when an au tomobile driven by Max Nonnamak er, 17, skidded into a ear operated by John Koch, 46, Route 2, Bluffton when Nonnamaker attempted to pass the other car. As the occupants stepped out to survey the damage, a third auto driv en by Harvey Bame, 41, Jenera, skid ded into the Koch car. Ollie Non namaker, father of Max, who was in (Continued on page 8) Lions Back Program For Mosquito Control Bluffton Lions club went on record at their meeting Tuesday night as backing a program for mosquito con trol here this summer and appointed a committee to convey to the town council a formal offer of the club’s cooperation. Members of the com mittee are C. B. Fett, Rev. Paul Cramer and .A Lantz. The club also endorsed the Dan iels-Cramer bill before the Ohio leg islature providing for increased pay for school teachers. Saraj Bahadar, native of India and senior at Ohio Northern uni versity, Ada, who was the after dinner speaker told of current condi tions in his country. He predicted that a period of civil war will ensue before India has solved her problem. TWO TRUCKS BURN AFTER CRASH LOSS ESTIMATED $35,000 Heavily Laden Freight Outfits Crash on the Lincoln Highway Cleveland Truck Rams Disabled Chicago Unit Parked on Road Loss estim ated wliich from a fire large trucks Lincoln high ana their cargoes on the at the Dally school intersection Bluffton shoirtly miles after day morning The fire which a wes Great Lakes southeast of 4 o’clock Tues- folio tbou Alni.or wed ndl vlcveianu cr£ other truck Chicago, par traffic, accoi'ding a collision in ’tick owned by spatch Inc., of slice into the renr 01 un* Joe Chirio of north lane of State Highway ?d by ked to Patrolman, I tigated the ). E. accident son, who invvs Both trucks were semi-trailer outfits, Ralph Elkins, 40, driver of the Cleveland truck is in Lima Memorial hospital as the result of injuries re ceived when his cargo of 18 tons of tin sheets, hurled forward by impact of the collision, sheared off the top of the cab in which he was riding. Fire Department Called The Bluffton fire department made a run to the scene of the accident and altho hampered by lack of water suc ceeded in saving the tractor of the Chicagq unit. The trailer of the Chi cago truck, together with the Cleve land vehicle could not be saved and continued to burn thruout Tuesday morning. Jack Bryant, 46, driver of the Chi cago truck was found asleep in a Beaverdam tourist house 5 miles a way following the accident. He said his truck had broken down Monday afternoon at 5 o’clock and that he had set out flares before leaving to spend the night in Beaverdam. The truck was loaded with rubber hose, mats, empty oxygen tanks and other freight. Attaches at the hospital in Lima said Elkins is suffering from severe chest injuries and shock. His condi tion was described as serious. Many At Opening Of Funeral Home Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather over the week end, nearly 1,000 persons visited the Basinger funeral home on the occasion of its formal opening on Saturday and Sunday. The establishment is situated at West College avenue and Jackson streets on the site of the former Oberly property which has been ex tensively remodeled to provide mod ern commodious quarters for the mortuary. Many beautiful floral pieces from friends and business associates -ex pressing good wishes were received in connection with the opening. A continuous program of muted organ music was arranged and souvenirs were presented to all callers. Fire Damages Beaver Village House Unit Fire, originating from an over heated oil stove resulted in $300 damage to the house trailer of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Stahl at Beaver village, Bluffton college G. I. Hous ing unit Thursday night at 8:45 o’clock. The fire department answered the alarm and extinguished the blaze. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl who came from Leipsic to attend college were not at home when occupants of nearby trailers discovered the fire. NEW PLANT BEGINS OPERATION MAKING CONCRETE BRICKS Bluffton Cement Blocky Inc, Starts Manufacture in New Building Industry Expects to Double Present Capacity of 1,500 Daily Bluffton’s newest indlustry went in to operation this wjek, with the start of manufacturej of concrete brick blocks in the new two- story building recently com pleted for the Bluffton Cement Bloclc Co., Inc., on the old sawmill site facing College avenue. One manufacturing ianit with a ca pacity of 15,000 blocks in an eight hour day already is in operation, and a second battery will be com pl eted by the end of the month, to double the plant outp'ut. When all equipmenit is installed the company will emjploy 10 or 12 men in the fabrication of a new-type concrete brick block. New Type BLOCKS Most of the new type blocks will be 2&X4 double Rapids, and Wayne Amstutz, and Royce Whitker, Green, are the other the board of directors. It in a shades of crete colo at $ 35,000 ^suited destroyed two Buildings of the Ceme Co., off Cherry street, also tinue in operation, it was a by officials of the concern. Cement, sand and building supplies will be handled at that location. Block In expanding for increased mant cement the incorporate President of the corporation is Michael Johnson, of Sidney. Other officers include Ben Amstutz, Bluff ton, vice-president and general man ager Harold Diller, Bluffton, secre tary and Sam Koukious, Grand Dwayne Mich., treasurer. of Bluffton, of members of Bowling Authority to erect the new con crete block plant building was grant ed early last summer by the Colum bus District construction committee of the OPA, which approved plans for a structure 104 by 106 feet. District OPA Manager Louis W. Gehring reported that construction of the $25,000 plant would increase production of critical building pro ducts. P. T.A. Parents9 Night On Monday Panel discussion on practical sug gestions for Bluffton’s public school program will be featured at a Par ents Night meeting of the Bluffton Parent-Teacher association at 8:00 .M. next Monday night in the high school cafeteria. P. W Stauffer will preside as for the panel discussion of five-minute talks-as fol- chairman made up lows: Mrsf Clair Fett, arts wards, athletics Mrs. Harry Yoaei, character training scholastic standing N. vocational training. A. Stratton, agriculture' William Ed M. Following the panel will be a cicipation sion. E.. Riegei, A. Tripletu, period for audience pax discu»- questions and for the coming in Officers 2ar win session, the business be elected Special music will be Mrs. Mabel Steiner and Waldo Hoi stetter. directed oy All citizens of the school district are invited regardless of P. T. A. membership. Bluffton Veteran Gets Housing Break Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Clark of Bluffton are among 24 G. I. fami lies at Marietta college who are oc cupying the new three-rooms-and bath apartments on the campus there, it was announced this week by the college. Mrs. Clark Patterson, daughter of Ralph Patterson. Her student in metallurgy. the former 1 Mr. and husbandI Betty Mrs. is a The vete-ins and th cently moved into three i ment buildings completed on the I campus. Four other buildings to accommodate 32 additional veterans’ families are expected to be complet ed next spring. FPHA apart- FHB BLUFFTON NEWS BLUFFTON, OHIO THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1947 House-to-house solicitation started next Monday in annual Red Cross Roll Cal ■with a goal of $1,000 set volunteer campaign Mr service committee. NEW PUMP TO AID IN FIGHTING FIRES IN COUNTY AREAS Richland and Orange Townships Renew Each township contracts for fire fighting services at a flat charge of $250 per year. This will be the second year the contract basis has been in effect. A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY i $1,000 Sought In Red Cross Roll Call Drive Opening Next Monday 1 be 80 workers. drive chairma the solicitors organization Mrs. Edith Mann, is directing work of town. A separate handling the township. Bluffton’s Red Cross officers the coming year, elected last mont include Mrs. Mrs. Paul Hogs And Wheat Lead General Upsurge Of Higher Prices For Farm Products $384 Auxil Meeting Town Council Buys iary Pump at Monday Night Fighting the auxiliary truck pumper ago is ideally Aids Rural Fire With addition of pump, the new fire purchased 18 months adapted for rural fire fighting, it was pointed out. Principal advantage of the new pump is the fact that it can be placed in cisterns for use in getting water to the pumper in case it is impossible to maneuver the truck near to drop its lines into the source. enough supply always Without the truck there was a chance the pumper sometime might not be able to reach a cistern, in case it was located too near the fire, or if mud or the location of other buildings interfered. Grass Fire Fighting In fighting grass fires, the auxili ary pump makes it possible for the truck to move while continuing to pump water, where heretofore it has been necessary to discontinue pump ing while the truck is being moved. The pump will be mounted on the new fire truck, anJ can easily be car ried by two men whenever it is put in use. It has a capacity of 15,000 gallons per hour. The Homelife Corp., of Port Chester, N. Y., is the manu facturer. In the first year of providing fire protection to rural areas under a con tract arrangement, the new fire pumper has provided satisfactory i service. When it is called out of town, an older fire pumper is available here in care of an emergency call in the municipality. Part of the fire .fighting force clso remains on duty here as an additional safeguard. Auto License Tags Go On Sale Monday Auto license tags for 1947 will go on sale Cherry Clayton registrar at Bixel Motor sales on street, Monday morning, Bixel deputy motor vehicle announced. license plates may be it The new displayed at any time and musi be on all cars operated after March 31. To Make Out Personal Tax Returns March 18 office Representative! of County Auditor Rosseti Hire and County Treasurer Ray Harnett will be at the Citizens National hank, Bluffton, Tuesday. March 18 to assist in making out personal and classified tax returns and receive payments. GIVE! canvass for Richla liigh 1947 bre Fire Protection Contracts fire fighting rural areas a Improved for use in grass fires nigh day vith provided Me by the municipal council ise of a portable aux s new fi RED CROSS FUND Scarcity of Porkers in Is the rd by a farmer north Eggs, poultry ar well as beef cattle, parade of higher trend upward is strong until spring ipment flowing pump to municipal fire eq s voted by the council and Orange townships to renew con tracts for fire protec fon provided in their areas by the l^luffton depart ment. Feedlo Light Reflected in Markets Are Continue Until Into Spring trong to Expected Well of in is to be ng thi fat the to Farmers pointed that the scarcity the 30 cents government bonus, paid last year for corn, which led i ers to sell corn on the open ms instead of raising as many 1 usual. Now there is said Country-wide shortage of hogs ming from the departure customary feeding practices. be a stem from Farmers In Buying Mood With farm prices generally brightest since last summer, prosperity that comes to a rural munity under such was day one the their the com- under such circumstances evident in Bluffton last Satur when local retailers reported of the best trading days since Christmas holiday season. The nationwide shortage of rail road box cars has some repercussions in the farm picture, but conditions are not as serious as they would be in mid-summer. Three carloads of wheat shipped from Bluffton markets during the last month were delayed by the car shortage, but eventually were moved. Shortage of freight cars showed up in another way, however, for the Bluffton markets were bare of oyster shells source whom item. last of the week, occasioning a new worry for poultrymen to shells are an important for farm livestock ial markets for the prospective purchasers reported. Salt on loc son short rea- In New Locations Jerome Herr and family are oc cupying the property at West Elm and Jackson streets which he pur chased recently from Willis Althaus. Mr. and Mrs. Althaus are at pres ent in Findlay with relatives. Herr moved from the 80 acre farm west of Gratz crossing, better known as the Amos Moser which he sold to Joe Follas, now occupies the place. place who Mrs. Follas formerly tenanted the 60 acres on purchased by former Mat by Francis Mary Matter farm of Bentley road which was Sam Badertscher. The ter place is occupied Hochstettler and family who moved there last Saturday from the Noah Zimmerman property on Mound street, formerly the Sarah Amstutz residence. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman will oc cupy their Mound street property, moving from the Ben Johnson prop- Real Estate Deal Paul Greding, merchant has purchased from Bertha Balmer her South street property occupied by Thomfis. Bluffton hardware Mrs. Main Loyd Night School For Veterans Proposed Mechanical drawing or general hop instruction may be offered with ut cost to World War II war vet rans interested in enrolling for it was an- ight study course ounced this week Those wishing add If tl Under the prop ights weekl cement made rma- proposal are ked to contact Dwight Spayth, vo ational arts Blu schoi TENANTS FINDING FARMS SCARCE AS SPRINGTIME NEARS Farm Owners Are Now Staying on Land Instead of Com ing to Town Neighbors with Modern Meehan ical Equipment Are Rent ing Fields Farm tenants ten with families, are finding very bw farms for rent this spring, and they haven’t yet made connections sr the coming farm year there is very indication they will be un- ar jk Demand For Land Before the days of farming, 80 acres were about what one Now man to handle 200 acres, more. Machinery Provides More At the same time, farmers have! the pastor, Rev. J. N. no worries about keeping their farms! Services on the two in cultivation, for in these days ofl ings will be held at mechanical farming there always isl evening services wil be held a neighbor looking for more land. I o'clock. BLUFFTON A Good Place To Trade jf the available indicate that in this be numbered. nets who used to retire and to town now stay on their! will be when they stop work, because! church riced city properties represent! Sunday a poor investment to anyone \vho| evening has a home in which he can stay. Mechanized farming enables the! The speaker will be Rev. operator to handle far more land! Unruh, pastor of West Zion Men than his predecessor could with! nonite church, Moundridge, Kansas, horses, and the more acreage he has| former missionary to India, under cultivation the less overhead his expenditure in represents. equipment I Since 200-acre farms are this part of Ohio, the farmer with| the Hol mechanical equipment always is glad to have a neighbor from whomleign of the Nati he can rent additional acreage. Most! Our Living Lord, of these rental arrangements are on! a 50-50 grain rent basis. This development has been making itself felt since before the war, brt the housing shortage and resultant! high prices for city properties has intensified the practice over the last five years. As a result tenant farmers spring find fewer farms for and are worried by a trend seems to indicate the farm cultivated on a tenant basis eventually may become a rarity. Buhler Is Re-hired I Gerhard Buhler received a three-. rear renewal contract as Bluffton I”1/ aj‘ T'~ High school principal, at a meeting I of the board of education last Fn-| ®*r' day night. Buhler’s contract, becoming effect *ve next August 1, provides a salary af $2,900 per year. Vote on the contract was Diller, Levi Althaus, Leland Dilier and Waldo Hofstetter, yes N. A. Triplett, not voting. With The Sick NUMBER 46 FARM TESTS SHOW WATER LEVELS Hi AREA ARE LOWER State Board Gives Results of Records from Richland and Riley Townships Measurements Taken Over Three Year Period by Nine District Farmers Agriculture in the Blluffton area ust be prepared to cope with a ceding water level. This was jvealed the first of the week when ita was released by the Ohio Water esources board which has been lecking wells over a three, year in cooperation with nine irmers in Richland wnships. pe?riod and Riley Periodic individual measuremenis •e made by the participating farm ■s by means of a weighted steel pe chalked at the bot1tom to give clear water mark. Rendings are ported to the Ohio Water Resources »ard which keeps a record used in trends (dying local the fluctuation of 8 to the Bluffton sman’s club by en, chief geolgist board, no reason vanced for generally declining evels in this area. Tests On Nine Farms table observations are made on the following farms: Joe Follas, Eldon O. Reichenbach, David A. Reichenbach, Weldon Basinger, D. J. Basinger, Malcolm Ewing and Joseph L. Thompson, all of Richland town- I Pre-East er Services n I To Open Next Sunday Annual special pre-E held ten nonite beginning ling each wrning and contin thruout the Saturday, closing the day, March 16, it is mechanizedl the Soul Surgeon' considered! Monday, Jesus the Miracle Worker, man could manage. Tuesday, Jesus the Revelation. it is nothing unusual for one week except following Sun announced by Smucker. Sunday mom 10:30 o’clock at 7:30 W. F. The topics follow: Sunday morning, Jesus as Labor er and Worshipper evening Jesus Monday, Jesus Tuesday, Jesus Wednesday, Jesus the Divine For- or even! giver of Sins. Thursday, Jesus Dealing with Evil Capacity! for Us. scarce in| Friday, Jesus Spirit. unday morning, Jesus the Sover vening, Jesus Bluffton, a Mr. and eachI I Pandora, rent,l.. I Monday. baptizes with Births The births at Bluffton Mrs. Charles Conrad, girl, Diane, Monday. Mrs. Richard Rusmisel, boy, James Richard, Mr. and ia Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Geiger, Pan dora, a boy, Richard Allen, Monday. Mrs. Geiger is the former Stella Steiner, who attended Bluffton col Mrs. M. M. Kibler is a surgical! Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Rader, Me* patient at Bluffton hospital where! Comb, a boy, Thomas Lynn, Thurs she underwent an operation Monday! day. afternoon. I Edwin Niswander, patient at Lima! Mr. and Mrs William Wells, Lima, Memorial hospital is expected to be I formerly of Bluffton, a boy, Philip moved to Bluffton hospital shortly.! McKirgan, born at St. Rita’s hos- Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fry, Lima, a As H. S. Principally R°y T“csd* \, 1 Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kirtland, Findlay, a boy, Kenneth Eugene Sat Mrs. Kirtland is the former and Mrs. Willard Rettig, Je a girl, Victoria Lee, Sunday. and Mrs. Wm. Cook, Pandora, girl, Diane Christine, Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Main, Ar- jllington, a girl, Charlene Rae, Fri Main is the former Betty of Bluffton. day. Mrs. Livingston Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Basinger, Mt. Blanchard, a girl, Brenda Ruth, Thursday. .Mrs. Basinger is the former Ruth Anderson of Orange township. Mrs. George Klay continues quite! pital, February 20. ill at her home on Mound street. Miss Huldah Schifferiy, nurse, has been a patient in Bluffton hos-|born Feb. 24, the 24th birthday an pital as result of a hip injury tained in a fall last December has! formerly Kae Baumgartner, grand been removed to her home on Pop-1 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Bo lar street. who sus- I Mr. and Mrs. Joe Holmes, North Wales, Pa., a boy, Richard Martin, niversary of the mother, w’ho was gart of Bluffton.