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

About The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current

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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.