Newspaper Page Text
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.