The Bluffton news. [volume], April 15, 1948, Image 1

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BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live
VOLUME LXXII
NO CHANGE IN
SCHOOL BOARD'S
ECONOMY STAND
Two Delegations Meet with
Board in Session Until After
Midnight
Proposal to Admit in School
Only Children 6 Years Old
by Nov. 1
Economy program of the Bluffton
board of education which involved
■dropping from the high school cur
riculum departments of art, agricul
ture and speech came for some high
ly critical scrutiny and caustic com
ment together with here and there a
word of commendation from delega
tions representing interested groups
which attended the board meeting
Monday night.
At the close of the meeting which
lasted from 8 o’clock until well after
midnight, the situation was unchang
ed with no action taken by the board
altho there appeared the possibility
that some adjustments might be af
fected which would entail no in
crease in expenditures.
Among these Were:
Admitting into the first grade in
the fall only pupils who will
reach the age of six years before
November 1.
Incorporating into the high
school English department class
es in speech and coaching of
plays.
Absorbing farm shop instruc
tion into the industrial arts de
partment and combining agri
cultural chemistry with instruc
tion in biology.
Whether any of these suggestions
'finally will be adopted by the board
could not be determined following
Monday night’s meeting when a
recess was taken until Saturday
afternoon at 2:30 o’clock when the
board will convene for an inspection
of buildfhgs and grounds to deter
mine action in regard to maintenance
Board Non-Committal
Board members were non-commit
tal as to whether the thorny matter
of dropping the three departments
would come up at the Saturday
meeting or would be deferred for
later consideration.
There was no indication, however,
that the board would reverse itself
in any major departure from its
■original stand unless funds therefor
were available.
Instead of the usual meetings
■when visitors are a rarity, the board
room in the office of Supt. R. S.
Uannarn at the high school building
was filled to overflowing Monday
night, when two separate delega
tions appeared to. meet with the
board.
Urge Reconsideration
First of these groups included
parents of pupils, representatives of
women’s clubs and farmers. Three
clubs, the Century circle, Alice Free
man and Poinsettia dubs and also
Farm Bureau Council No. 1 had
previously submitted to the board
copies of resolutions urging recon
sideration of the action in dropping
the three departments.
In explaining their action, board
members, Leland Diller, chairman.
Levi Althaus, Carl Derringer, Paul
Diller and N. A. Triplett, told the
meeting that their action in regard
to dropping the departments was un
animous and that an estimated sav
ing of $3,234 would be obtained
thereby, providing funds for addi
tional teachers in the grade schools.
As an alternative to dropping the
three departments, discussion of the
group centered about the possibility
of affecting savings by reducing the
personnel of the music department
to one instructor instead of the
present setup of one full time and
one half-time teacher.
Criticize Extra Pay to Teachers
Cuts also were suggested in the
athletic department and the practice
of paying teachers for some extra
curricular activities, particularly for
serving as class sponsors was sharp
ly criticized.
In answer to suggestions that a
levy addition to the present one
of 5 mills be voted for school pur
poses, the board pointed out that
Bluffton’s present tax rate is $19.20
per $1,000 of taxable property and
of this $12.80 currently goes to
schools. It -was further stated that
Bluffton’s school tax is the highest
in Allen county Lima ranking
second with a rate of $11.90.
The present extra 5-mills outside
the 10-mill limitation which yields
an income of roughly $25,000 will be
jp for renewal by a vote of the
(Continued on page 10)
Find Cracked Ribs
In Nose Operation
Harry Shrider, Sr., mail carrier
between Bluffton post office and the
railroad depots who entered Lima
Memorial hospital last Wednesday
for an operation on his nose, was
surprised when examining physicians
found two fractured ribs.
The rib injury occurred on Mon
day night of last week when the
mail truck which Shrider was driv
ing struck a light standard at
Church and Jackson streets and he
was thrown against the steering
wheel.
Shrider’s truck sustained only
minor damage, the light standard
also was not damaged and Shrider
was unaware that he had received
nothing more than a bad bruise.
He was discharged from the hos
pital the first of the week and re
sumed his duties as mail carrier
here Wednesday morning.
HIGHWAY DEPT. TO
WIDEN ROUTE 30-N
NEAR BEAVERDAM
Four Feet Will Be Added to Lin
coln Highway East To The
County-Line Road
Extensive Improvements Plan
ned by State as Local Road
Work Suffers
Although street and road repair
work in Bluffton and Richland town
ship will be restricted to the bare
necessities this siimmer because of a
lack of funds, extensive improve
ment projects are planned in the
area by the sta1
ment.
Coach Cotterman Named As Director
Of Summer Activities At Harmon Field
te highway depart­
Widening and resurfacing of the
Lincoln highway east from Beaver
dam to the Al en-Hancock county
line is the principal item on the
state program in this immediate vi
cinity, it was ai
by officials.
In the highway improvement, the
pavement will be widened from 18
to 22 feet, and several small bridges
also will be made wider.
Route 115 in Putnam county from
Vaughnsville north for 3.8 miles will
be re-surfaced at an estimated cost
of $51,000 and two miles of Route
69 south from Ada to the Harding
highway will cost $31,000.
Cancer Tag Day
Here Nets $186
More than $186 were netted last
Saturday in cancer month tag day
sales in Bluffton, according to Mrs.
George Linden, chairman of the
day’s solicitation.
Plans for tag day were made by
the Travel class, and sales were
handled by members of the organiza
tion, other women’s clubs of the
town, and the Bluffton High school
Y-Teens.
Sponsorship of tag dag was the
first in a series of activities con
ducted by the Bluffton Federation of
Women’s clubs to raise money for
the American Cancer society and its
Allen county unit.
Since formation of the local
branch of the national cancer organ
ization last week, $2,900 has been
returned to Allen county from the
cancer society. This is an accumu
lation of funds raised over previous
years and held for Allen county un
til an active local group was organ
ized.
A major item on the Allen county
unit program will be establishment
of an information bureau in Lima,
to operate an educational program.
Rev. Davidian Will
Be Vesper Speaker
Rev. S. M. Davidian, former well
known Lima pastor, will be the
speaker at Bluffton college vesper
services at 3 p. m. next Sunday in
Ramseyer chapel, talking on the sub
ject, “Understanding the Slavic Peo
ple.”
For the past five veal's, Rev. Da
vidian has been lecturing for Rotary
Institutes on international under
standing, and his talk here Sunday
will be based on a tour last sum
mer through Eastern Europe.
Before becoming a Rotary lectur
er, Rev. Davidian was pastor of the
Lima Central Church of Christ for
17 years.
High School Athletic Mentor
Engaged at Meeting Tues
day Night
W. A. Howe in Charge of
Tennis Courts Plan Financ
ing Program
Inaugurating planning for the
summer’s recreational program at
Harmon field, Kent Cotterman, Bluff
ton High athletic coach was employed
as recreational director at a meeting
of the Bluffton Recreation committee,
Tuesday night in the Triplett offices.
Coach Cotterman will direct field
activities for a two and one-half
months’ program at a salary of $450,
the committee decided.
In addition to employing Cotter
man, the committee hired W. A.
Howe as caretaker of the Harmon
field tennis courts at a salary of
$200 for the summer. Tennis les
sons will be included on the field
program for the first time.
At the meeting, Chairman Wood
row Little reptirted tllat the recrea
tion committee cash balance
of $530.97 after paying the expenses
incurred in th e 1947 summer and
1947-48 winter progrs
Plan FinANCING Program
Since the rec reation committee be
gan activities here in 1946, a total
of $6,007.04 has been raised in con
tributions, rec rom a rodeo,
football previcjw ant1 games, the
report showed. Aggi egate expendi
turns in the tvro-year program have
amounted
Playy
ment
surfa
groin
to
u,
$5,476.07, including
luipment, game equip
di rector salaries, hard
the grade school
ew expenses, etc.
ttee decided that no
canvass for funds
round ec
athletic
ids, prev
houst
will
be condu
an enc
the committee
inounced this week
Total milage n the project will
be 4.69, and the estimated cost is
$145,000.
creation program thru
sports events.
Little announced that
will participate in the
airman
July 5 rodeo with the Saddle Club,
the Jportsmeti’s club and the Busi-
men’s as
addition
In
isociation.
the second annual
preview will be sponsored next Sep
tember, with Bellefontaine, Upper
Sandusky, Ada, Forest, Columbus
Grove and Bluffton, appearing in
competition on Sept. 10. In addi
tion to the football preview, a
basketball preview is being planned
for next winter.
Church Orchestra
In Concert Sunday
Sunday school orchestra of the
First Mennonite church will present
a concert under the direction of its
conductor, Laurence Burkhalter, at
7:30 p. m. nevt Sunday in the
church.
Concert appearance of the 18-piece
orchestra is being sponsored by the
young people of the church in a
project to raise funds for a new
piano for the auditorium.
Also included in the evening pro
gram will be a number by the choir
choir, and selections by a women’s
trio consisting of Jean Ann Burcky,
Joan Vercler and Dorothy Salzman.
In the orchestra are: Violins,
Mary Lou Dean, Alice Jean Bixel,
Mary Ann and Joe Smucker violas,
Mary K. Bauman, Genevieve Buhler
cello, John Bauman bass, Paul Em
mert flutes, Paul Don Bixel, John
Moser, Sam Diller clarinet, Joan
Buhler trumpets, Dean Niswander,
Leonard Smucker French horn,
Marilyn Saunders trombone, Bill
Boehr piano, Arlene Hartzler.
Last P. T. A. Meeting
Of Year Monday Night
Last meeting of the Bluffton Par
ent-Teacher association for the school
year will be held at the high school
cafeteria, Monday night at 8 o’clock.
Mrs. Herman Hilty, program com
mittee member will be in charge of
the program and a panel discussion
by teachers continued from the Feb
ruary meeting will be concluded at
this time.
Devotions will be in charge of
Mrs. Harry Yoder and special music
will be a duet by Mrs. Milo Lora and
Mrs. Mvron Lugibihl.
Goshen Chorus To
Sing Here Friday
An evening concert by the Goshen
college men’s chorus will be present
ed in the First Menhonite church at
8 p. m. this Friday, under auspices
of the Bluffton college music depart
ment.
The 35-voice Goshen chorus will
present a program of varied fea
tures.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO,a THURSDAY, APRIL 15. 1948
-------------------------—___ __________—___________________
44 SENIORS WILL
GRADUATE AT HIGH
SCHOOL MAY 20
Tentative List of Graduating
Seniors Includes 23 Boys
and 21 Girls
Class Plans Sighting Trip to
Washington’ After Grad
uation
Bluffton High school urill gradu
ai e a class of 44 seniors this spring,
u e of the smallest classt» in more
11, an a decade, according to an an
uncement of tentative graduates
leased this week by echool authori
ties. Commencement will be Thurs
di y night, May 20.
In the class will be 23 boys and
21 girls.
Graduating seniors on
ze list includes:
Theodore Ray Bauma
me Bell, Kenneth N. Bracy, Allen
Burkholder, R. Paul Dii ler, James
Ewing, Richard E. Fields, George
arl Frick, Maurice D. jarmatter,
Earl Dean Hauenstein, 1 onald Eu
ne Herr.
James Franz Howe, Johi W. KI ay,
chard Norman Kohler, i
paH
Kohli, Isaac Luke Lugib
k sith Moore, Addison Mi ihael v
s, Arthur A. Neuens
Wade L. Oberly, Ralph i. Stager,
A lan R. Tschiegg and Norman Dean
hite.
Norma Lucille Badertscher, Har
I itit Joyce Burkhart, Jean Burkhold
Mary Jane Burkholder, Maxine
Y zonne Criblez, Betty Els IH6 UCCuS.
*ggy Joyce Eckenwiler Marilyn
an Everett, Wanda Dok
:, Marilyn Fett.
t.’t
ires Ever-
Lois Ann Hauenstein, Norma I.ou
IStj Klapp, Dora Jean Luginbuhl,
anda E. Neiswander, Ct?acle Rose
i’ itee, Betty Roush, Marj Schmidt,
ary Ann Smucker. Mari lyn Strat
n, Edith Joan Zuercher
Liicille Zuercher.
Following graduation week the
iss will leave Monday, IV ay 24 via
i e B. & O, railroad on a five days’
sightseeing trip ashington.
Dwight Spaythe, nigrT school Indus
trial arts instructor and class ad
viser will accompany the group. Cost
of the trip will be $28 for each
member, with the balance to be
paid from the class treasury.
High School Singers
Compete At Columbus
Boy’s and girl’s vocal ensembles
won I ratings in Ohio state final
high school audition held in Colum
bus, last Friday.
Members of the boy’s vocal en
semble include Luke Lugibihl, Lynn
Carmack, Dave Hofstetter, Eugene
Hankish, Roger Linden, Ted Kohli,
Sam Buhler and Donald Herr.
In the girl’s ensemble are Mae
Oyer, Dora Jean Lugibihl, Ruth Dil
ler, Jean Burkholder, Lois Marquart,
Anita Althaus, Mary Ann Smucker,
and Mary Jane Burkholder
Accompanists were Ruth Irene Dil
ler and Harriet Burkhart.
Treva Althaus, who competed in
the soprano solo audition, and Don
ald Herr, an entry in the baritone
solo class, received II ratings.
Bluffton's Man's
Relative Killed
Jess Cochran, 67, Allen county
home superintendent and a half-bro
ther of Harry Mericle of Bluffton
was killed instantly Monday after
noon in a two-car collision at high
way junction of Stgte Routes 117
and 501 on the Spencerville road
about 3 miles west of Lima.
Harry Shimmoeller, 22, of Spen
cerville, driver of the other car was
taken to Lima St. Rita’s hospital and
given emergency treatment for a
possible jaw fracture and bruises.
Both men were driving alone. A
third unidentified vehicle was be
lieved responsible for the accident,
the highway patrol reported.
Cochran was a candidate for Al
len county commissioner in the Re
publican May 4 primary, a former
county recorder and had served for
17 years as superintendent of the
Allen county infirmary.
Funeral services will be held in
Lima Thursday afternoon.
Triplett Softball
Meeting Thursday
Triplett softball team will hold its
first meeting of the season at 8 p. m.
this Thursday evening in the Trip
lett offices. Manager Charles Stein
er urged all candidates for the squad
to attend.
Neither Flood Nor Drought
Will Hamper Farmers,
Forecaster Says
Weather Prediction By Bowling
Green Professor Favorable
To Crop Outlook
Bluffton area corn farmers will
not have to contend with either flood
or drought this year, according to
the latest weather prediction of Dr.
Edwin Lincoln Mosely, 83-year-old
professor-emeritus at Bowling Green
State university.
Dr. Mosely has been making long
range weather forecasts with pretty
fair success for many years, basing
his predictions on his theory that
rainfall in an area repeats itself
every 90.4 years, of four times the
magne tic sunspot cycle.
On the basis of his prediction for
this v ?ar neither floods nor drought
will a fleet the midwest corn belt
next v.'inter or spring, but no serious
roughit is in prospect until 1950.
How ever, this sprinjfs outlook for
the ea st, including ea stern Ohio is
lOT Li
1 H6I1
Corn Farmers In Area Optimistic As
Forecast Indicates Favorable Weather
He expects corn belt floods
shortage of i ain late this
spring and early in the summer.
there will be an excess of
1 Llllt 11 A.UgXlSt\
Mosely predicts a surplus of
or northern Ohk) in 1949 only
first few montlis
The Bowling Green jirofessor-emer
itus of
his th“vl
Dr.
biology has be
pnrv mnef nf
en working on
IIIOkVV
VI
his re
io time since
he classrooms
ti cement- from 1
in 194 5, He states hr prediction of
espread drought
intly verified.
in 1946 was
rs Peter Herr
Called By Death
Fun re held Tues
First Mennon
ite church for Mrs. I’eter C. (Bar
bara) Herr, 73, who
urday evening nt her farm home
ile north of Rlu
i in Allen cou nty, May 24,
Bor
1874, she was the daughter of Peter
and I arbara (Steiner) Diller. She
was rr arried to Mr. Herr, March 19,
1895.
The husband survives with six
childrtm: Ed L. Herr, at home Milo
Herr, Dayton Nelson C. and Kermit
Herr, both of Bluffton Miss Vidella
Herr, at home and Mrs. Barbara
Joabson, Chicago.
Also surviving are two sisters,
Mrs. Peter Nusbaum and Miss Mary
Diller, both of Bluffton.
Mrs. Herr was a member of the
First Mennonite church, where fun
eral services were held. Rev. J. N.
Smucker, pastor of the church, offi
ciated. Burial was in Ebenezer
cemetery.
New Year's Baby
Dies Of Pneumonia
Robert Allen Marsh, three and
one-half months’ old son of Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Marsh, of Clawson,
Michigan, died of pneumonia last
Wednesday in Highland Park Gen
eral hospital, Highland Park, Mich.,
it was learned here this week. The
child was the first 1948 baby to be
born at the hospital.
Mrs. Marsh is the former Janice
King, youngest daughter of the late
Rev. and Mrs. J. Norman King,'
former Bluffton residents.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Rev. and Mrs. Ernest Bigelow,
Bluffton, a boy, Mark Boyd, last
Wednesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Gerdemann,
Lima, a girl, Mary Lou, Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Max Blosser, Colum
bus Grove, a girl, Kay Lynne, Sat
urday.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Burbick, Bluff
ton, a boy, William Alan, Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Emmerson Niswan
der, Columbus, a girl, Sue Ann, born
in a Columbus hospital, Saturday.
Mr. Niswander is the son of Mrs.
Noah Niswander of South Lawn
avenue.
Mr. and Mrs. James Bixel, New
ton, Kansas, a gid, Sara Elizabeth,
born Sunday at Bethel hospital, New
ton. Mr. Bixel is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel Bixel of South
Main street.
CONDITION UNCHANGED
Condition of Mrs. Noah Niswander
a patient for the past week in
Bluffton hospital following a paraly
tic stroke at her South Lawn avenue
home is reported unchanged.
Mennonite College
Lobbyists Assigned
Bluffton college is one of the four
Mennonite colleges who are sending
a representative to lobby against
peace-time conscription in the United
States. William Keeney, Beaverburg,
will represent Bluffton college in
Washington, D. C., during week of
April 23 to 30.
Keeney, a senior at the college,
was selected by a joint meeting of
the college relief committee, student
council, and peace clubs. He was
chosen on the basis of interest in
the situation and capability to repre
sent the college views.
Other Mennonite colleges sending
lobbyists are Bethel college, Newton,
Kansas, Freeman college, Freeman,
S. D., and the Chicago Biblical sem
inary, Chicago.
WELL ROUNDED
SPRING SPORTS
PROGRAM OPENS
College And High School Teams
To Begin Competition When
Weather Permits
College Baseball Opener Last
Saturday launches Busy
Season Here
With favorable breaks in the
weather, Bluffton High school and
Blluffton college teams will swimr
Bluffton college baseball season
was opened last Saturday afternoon
when the Beavers lost a twin-bill to
Toledo university’s powerhouse on
the local diamond, but a tilt scheduled
with Ohio Northern on Tuesday was
rained out.
Lima Central Here
Blluffton High’s opener, also set
for Tuesday, was postponed, and as
a result the Pirates will not be seen
at home until a week from this com
ing Friday when Lima Central will
play here.
In the meantime, however, the
high school nine will tangle with
Lima South at Lima, Friday, and
with Central, also at Lima, next
Tuesday.
Track activities at the college are
scheduled to get under way this week,
with an inter-class track meet, fol
lowing which the Beavers will swing
into action in a dual meet with Ohio
Northern university at Ada, the fol
lowing week.
Unfavorable weather has checked
outdoor workouts by the college ten
nis team thus far, but plans are
underway to launch intercollegiate
play when conditions permit.
Name Pupils For
Scholarship Tests
The following Bluffton high school
pupils have been namd to compete
in the scholarship test to be held at
Ohio Northern university, Ada, Sat
urday, May 1, it was announced the
first of the week:
Biology, John Bauman general
science, Lynn Carmack physics,
James Ewing algebra, Margaret
Stratton plane geometry, Wanda
Hochstettler world history, Willa
Hilty senior social studies, Ted
Bauman English 9, Barbara Lewis
English 10, Ruth Diller English 11,
Coletta Badertscher English 12,
Marilyn Fett Latin 1, Louise Reich
enbach Latin 2, Jane Risser.
Sportsmen Softball
Team Will Practice
Softball practice for the Bluffton
Sportsmen team will be held at 7
o’clock next Monday evening on the
Harmon field diamond. All those in
terested in playing are urged to at
tend.
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices) Wheat
$2.40 corn $2.20 oats $1.20 soys
$3.65.
Poultry—Heavy hens 34c leghorn
hens 24c.
Eggs—Large white 45c large
brown 41c.
Butterfat—84c.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 52
THREE DAYS’ RAIN
HALTS START OF
SPRING
Heavy Downpours Sunday Thru
Tuesday Put End to Tillage
Here
Planting Season Finds Many
Seeds at Record High
Quotations
Preparation of the ground for oats
and in some cases actual seeding of
the crop was started on many farms
the latter pirt of last week when
a break in the weather permitted
*. i r: ’lers to get into their field for
s u s lined wc»rk for the first time
this
spring,
Riishing
tlleir soil preparation to
rcome del ays already experienced,
tors worked late into the night
in nanv lo'alities on Friday and
rday,
Pelying
dividends to the
ter who got his seed in the
no \dew of heavy rainfall
from Siinday through Tuesday.
Sa turday night, normally the time
for farm faimily shopping ventures
into town, found many farmers stay
ing at horne, and the sound of
or motors was heard until near
idnight, is Lliosc fcarinsr a
It1x5alc
in th e weatnEsr went ahead with oats
ci ri I n
Star! Spring Work
Pr
and ral start on general
spring I iiig, delayed throughout
n uy *t)id weather finally got
under way hire on Thursday of last
week. Many farmers got seed in
the ground in the weekend rush, but
ge pan
s to be
tone
Al thn season is 51 little*
has been declining here
for
duo to a SUI
several years, partly
unfavorable weather
the seed in tltie ground at the proper
heat pnispects in the area
nd with a large acreage
devoted the crop farmers
optimistic a trout the general outl 00k,
expecting Prices to remain at eur
rent high 1 evels through the next
harvest st
Meanwhile the acute farm labor
shortage has been eased, and the
principal item of worry so far as
farmers are concerned rests in :ur
rent high prices of seed.
Seed Prices High
Good corn is one of the leaders in
high-priced seed, and where the
market finally stabilizes, plus the
availability of good seed, may large
ly determine the extent of the dis
trict’s corn acreage this summer.
Most farmers, however, are looking
forward to prospects of a larger corn
acreage than usual if the seed pricq^
factor and availability of good seed
do not complicate present planning.
Current seed corn prices range
from $10 to $12 a bushel, about
double normal but high prices af
fect all farm seeds with the ex
ception of alfalfa, quoted now at
$20 a bushel, about $5 under the
average price.
Alfalfa seed, however, is plentiful,
and is expected to more than answer
an unusually high level of demand
for it this spring. Many fanners
are planning alfalfa as a substitute
for other crops, especially little red
clover, seed of which is very sraire
and selling at from $38 to $40 a
bushel. The clover price is about
four times higher than normal, and
those farmers planning clover seed
ing are stretching one bushel of
seed to cover as much as 10 acres,
although generally on*1 bushel to
about six acres is preferred.
Surveys show a big acreage devot
ed ti wheat in the Bluffton area,
but oats seeding will be lighter than
usual. Soy bean acreage also ap
pears to be headed for curtailment
this year, largely because of high
priced seed, and grass crops are
planned as a substitute.
Many potatoes already are in the
ground, and altho a large number
of acres will be devoted to the crop
no record acreage is expected so far
as the crop is concerned.
Music Program At
Pandora Sunday
A sacred music program at Grace
Mennonite church, Pandora, will be
given Sunday evening at 8 o’clock
by three Bluffton college music stu
dents.
Appearing on the program are
Claren Sommer, Dalton, organ solo
ist and accompanist and Misses
Freda Yoder, contralto, and Eliza
beth Brand, soprano, both of Bluff
ton.