La Grande observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1959-1968, December 26, 1959, Image 1

La Grande observer., December 26, 1959, Page 1, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextLA GRANDE OBSERVER 96th Issue 64th Year LA GRANDE, OREGON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1959 6 Paget Five Cents MERRY CHRISTMAS Little Keith Andrews is trying to tell mamma soim-tiiing, perhaps Merry Christmas, as he arrived at 5:40 a.m. on Dee. 25. He is tha first child horn to Mr. and Mrs. James R. Kchwalt, 503M! Washington Avenue. He was born in the St. Joseph Hospital and weighed in at six pounds, 13 and a fourth ounces. (Observer Photo) Seed Crops Show Income Increase (Editor's Note This it the final article dealing with the Union County gross farm in come roundup for 1959. The article it bated on informa tion provided by the Union County Extension Service.) By BILL BEBOUT Observer Staff Writer Seed crop, due to increased acres and production per area, increased gross inccme by $100, 000 this year. A tolal of $1,530, 8l5 was realized from seed crops wilh fine fescue accounting for almost a third of this income. Tine fescue prices dropped from 35c F"r pound in 1958 to 26c per pound in 1959. Total pro duction Jigurees show increased production this year with 2. 109. 000 pounds of fine fescue as com pared to last year's 1.600,000 pounds. Studies conducted by Oregon State College in 1958 indicated that the average cost of produc tion totals 28c per pound for fine fescue seeds. On the basis of that study, seed producers suffered a two cents per pound loss for ev ery pound of fine fescue seed produced in 1959. Green peas represented a gross income of $104,000 for the county in 1959. Crested Wheat Grass Crested wheat grass income was up this year with $25,875 gross income for 112.500 pounds and compared to $21,600 for 120, 000 pounds last year. The price was 18c per pound last year and 23c in 1959. Tall wheat grass accounted for $18,000 in 1959 for 120000 pounds as compared to $22,800 for 142.000 in 1958. The price dropped from 16c to 14c this year. Meadow foxUil production was up this year with 25,000 pounds at 85c per pound bringing in $21. 250 as compared to last year's 17.500 pounds at 85c and a tolal LONESOME FOR GRANDCHILDREN Ike In Quickie To Gettysburg WASHINGTON UTIl Presi dent Eisenhower, lonesome for his grandchildren at Christmas time, left the White House this morning for an unannounced trip to visit them at Gettysburg. Pa The President, who returned here Tuesday after his 19 - day goi.d will tour overseas, spent Christmas Day at the White House waile the four grandchild ren were at their Gettysburg home with their parents, Maj. and Mrs. John Eisenhower. The White House said that Ei senhower left by car alut 8: 15 a m. est. after learning that high way conditions were less hazard ,ous than Friday. Mrs. Eisenhow er remained home. Associate White House Tress Secretary Anne Wheaton said the President wanted to see his grand children and their Christmas toys for an hour or so and then return Immediately to Washington. The President is flying south to morrow to rest and put the fin ishing touches on major reports and recommendations to the re 7.' .v. i of $14,800. Barley prices remained even with last year's $35 per ton but production dropped from 880,- C00 to 840.000 bushels. Total in come this year from barley was $705,600 as compared to $733, 250 in 1958. See SEED On Page White House Official's Charged With Woman's HERRIN. 111. L'PH-A brother of Brig. Gen. Andrew f. Good pasler. White House Stalf Secre tary, charged today tth hV Christmas murder of a 51-year-old mother. But Waller J. Goodpaster. 4C. a Carterville, III., optometrist, re fused to make a statement or discuss the slaying with police. Goodpaster was held without bond after Justice of the Peace Elmer Farmer charged him with murder. He was accused of the fatal shcoling of Mrs. Margaret Strunk. Christmas Gift One .Day Late CANOGA PARK (LTD Mrs. Donald J. Doles got her biggest Christmas present a day late to day, permission to take home her infant daughter, once believed "too little to live." "It seems like a miraeele, es pecially coming at this time of year." said Mrs. Doles. The infant, Christine Michele. weighed only 1 pound. 13 ounces when born in October. Doctors who kept the infant alive in an in cubator at Valley Presbyterian Hospital estimated her chances at 1 in 100,000. But Christine Michele now weighs 4 pounds, 12 ounces and is gaining steadily. Holiday To Visit turning congress. The Chief Executive and Mrs. Eisenhower plan to leave after U a.m. e s t. church services for the Augusta. Ga.. National Golf Cluh. one of the President's favorite spots for getting away from it all. Eisenhower wants to rest from his arduous 23.000 mile, 19-day "peace and friendship" tour ol Europe. Africa and Asia. He re turned to Washington last Tues dav. But (he vacation won't be all play. The President must com plete his State of the Union mes sage, the budget for the fiscal year starting next July 1 and his report on the nation's economic health. All three will be submitted to Congress shortly after Jan. 6. In addition, Eisenhower will re ceive reports on the unresolved steel dispute and will be kept ad vised of international develop ments. The President's Christmas' holi day was interrupted by the ar rival of a message from Soviet Explosicr Shatters 15 Homes WARSAW. Ky. ilPP Families h te Christmas was shaltecd by a gas explosion in a bottling ;l-il dug through the dehris oi heir wrecked homes today lor unowned presents mid personal belongings. Filtecn stale troopers stood guard throusih the night against looters. The Led Cross aided vic tims. Officials estimated 15 homes were destroyed and 30 severely damaged Friday when the explo sion ended Christmas festivities Friday afternoon. An all-night search yielded no bodies. Kleven persons were taken to hospitals wilh injuries but eight have been released, police report ed. "It just about blew everything all to the devil," said Mrs. Heth Abbott who lives two blocks from the Jack Smith Pepsi Cola Co plant in which the explosion hap- pei ed. M:s. Abbott said the blast blew out windows, djors and door cas ings in her home. She said her grandson, Billy Bradley, 29, who also lives near the blast site "uus blown clear out of his house. He had just gotten out of fi.e bathtub, and the bathtub was blown out too." Reports Theft Of Tire Arch Hiatt, 803 Grandy Ave., re ported to police the theft of a tire and wheel from his garage some time Wednesday. The stolen items were valued at $50. 51, Carterville, and the wounding of. her companion, Bernard Do braski, 32, Herrin, in what police said was a cluaoMe an argument, over a barking dog.', : ' Body Found In Pit - Mrs. Strunk's body, shot twice in the head, was found floating in a water-filled strip mine pit near Guxlpaster's home. Dobras ki, who also was shot twice in the back of the head, was taken to a St, Louis Hospital. Sheriff Dean West said Mrs. Strunk was separated from a hus band in Arizona and had "five or six" children at home and "four or five others away from home." Dobraski said he and Mrs. Strunk were heading home from a Christmas Eve round of taverns when their car broke down near Goodpaster's home. He said they walked toward Goodpaster's home to look for help, but a huge dog began bark ing at them. Order Blanks Ready For Forest Trees Order blanks are now avail ab'e at the Union County Exten sion Service office for forest tree orders to the Oregon State Board of Forestry. Trees should be ordered as soon as possible, including trees for spring plantings, according to Ted Sidor, Union County agent. Trip Kids Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev agreeing to a Western proposal for a summit conference but sug gesting other dates. Eisenhower was given a trans lation of the message. But the White House' had no immediate comment. If he fellows past practice, Ei senhower will spend a few hours each day working in an impro vised o.fice above the golf pro's shop at Augusta. He and Mrs. Eisenhower will stay in "Mamie's cottage" near the club house. The President and the first lady spent a quiet Yule and gay holiday decorations at the White House. The shouts and laughter of children which have echoed through Jls rooms on past Christ mases were absent. The four Eisenhower grandchil dren and their parents. Maj. and Mrs. John Eisenhower, cele brated the holiday at their Get tysburg. Pa., home. Among the youngsters' gifts were toys and other presents from Khrushchev. i..V$.r' rAi LJ MARGARET MORRIS Phys-Ed Prof At EOC Will Address Confab Dr. Margaret Morris, associate professor of physical education and hei'lth at F-ast:"rn Oregon College, will adoress the Oregon Associa tion of Health. Physical Education and Recreation conference sched uled Monday and Tuesday in Gear- hart. Dr. Morris, whose topic will, be "Values and Uses of Selected Playground Equipment in the E'e men tar y School," will also present a film produced by EOC's depart ment of audio-visual aids. The film d'-monstrates the use of special equipment designed by Dr. Morris as a part of her graduated study at the State University of Iowa. WEATHER Generally fair tonight; In. creasing clouds Sunday with chance of few snow flurries north portion; high Sunday 12 4t; low tonight 15-2S, locallyq tear II. Brother Murder i Dobraski said he threw stones at the dog and cursed it and Goodpaster came out and threat .ned ISj wjt! a gun,. ... ....t You've Had It" The couple continued to walk up the road, Dobraski said, but a few minutes later Goodpaster drove up in a truck, got out and said, "You've had it. "Don't.. .don't shoot." Dobraski said Mrs. Strunk screamed. Then shots rang out. Dobraski said he stumbled into a nearby home and called po lice, who found Mrs. Strunk's body floating in the pit 93 feel from the scene and arrested Goodpaster at his home. Police said the murder weapon, which Dobraski described" as a derringer, was still missing. One Auto Accident La Grande police reported only one accident in the city during the hrst two days of the Christmas weekend. Oran F. Howell, 1315 Jackson Ave., and Victor S. Rayburn, 1805 Spruce St., were the drivers of two vehicles that collided on Spruce Street at 9:30 p.m. Thurs day. Howell was driving east on Spruce and Rayburn was ti avel ing west at the time of the acci dent. No one was injured. Lloyd W. Dayley, Lost inc. was cited by officers for driving while under the influence of an intoxicat ing liquor at 12:20 this morning, at the intersection of Adams Ave nue and Spruce Street. Heckles Driving Richard A. Cunningham, 2711 N. Fourth St., was charged with reck less driving between V and X Ave nues on Pine Street at 10:40 p.m. Friday. Ellis Elmer Speer. 1809 X Ave., was cited for a stop sign viola tion at Hemlock Street and Adams Avenue at 10:55 yesterday evening. Bail was set at $5. .Virgil E. Jeffries, Portland, was issued a citation for violation of the basic rule on Adams Avenue at 5:30 p.m. He was cited for traveling 45 miles per hour in a 35 mile zone. He posted $10 bail. Michael L. Keffer. 504 Penn St., was also issued a citation for viola tion of the basic rule for traveling 50 miles per hour in a 35 mile zone on Adams Avenue at 5:24 p.m. yesterday. Bail was S"t at (15. Eldon K. Hiatt. 2010 Birch St.. was Issued a ticket for running a stop sign at Second Street and Y Avenue at 1:23 a.m. Friday morn ing. Bail was set at $5. Noel D. Klilz. 2206 Washington Ave., was cited for violation of the basic rule, failure to have his vehicle under control. Klitz was arrested on Adams Avenue be tween Depot Street and Elm Street Wednesday alternoon. Bail was set at $25. DR. AUTO PACE United Press International The Christmas holiday weekend passed the half-way mark today, and highway dealhs were running perilously close to the rale which safety officials ha I feared. At noon est. tin- I'nited Press lute' national count showed 271 persons dead in highway ac cidents. Fires killed 18 persons, plane mishaps three, other acci dental causes 51. The overall total was 3-13. California had 21 traffic deaths. New York 20, Pennsylvania and Texas 18 each. Michigan and Ninth Carolina 15 each. The Natio al Safety Council winch had is mated that 530 per sons might die during the 78 hour holiday period which began at 6 i - w A PEEP AT SANTA'S WORKSHOP Santa's workshop is portrayed in this unique setting in the yard of the M. L. Dodge family, 1608 K Avenue. Due to the vast decorations, this photo only shows a part of the entire setting. The Dodge family each had a part in making the pieces, from de signing to cutting of plywood and the fini shing paint. (Observer Photo) Miserable Pose Hazard In Holiday Travel United Press International A wide band of rain, snow and sleet straddled the nation's mid section today, posing a hazardous driving problem for millions of travelers heading home from Christmas trips. The weather bureau said the moisture belt would stretch from border to border and from Mon tana, eastern Utah and New Mex ico in the West through Michigan, Indiana and Mississippi in the East. Freezing rain was forecast for northeast Minnesota across Wis- Freighter Rescues 12 Crew Members SA DIEGO, Calif. (UPIl A Japanese freighter Friday rescued all 12 crew members from the sinking tuna clipper. Sea Boy. The Coast Guard said the freighter, Laplanta Maru respond ed to the 125-foot Sea Boy's "May Day" distress signal, and the en tire crew was transferred safely. The clipper was still afloat when abandoned but water had reached the 10-foot level in the engine room and a fire had started in the pumps. The Coast Guard said it had not confirmed whether the ship sank. The Sea Boy, owned by the Franco-Italian Packing Co. of Los AngHes, had sailed from that city earlier this week. It was left to drift 330 miles south of here off the coast of Baja, Calif. It was not known what caused the ship to take, water. EX-DP SHOWS GRATITUDE NF.W YORK lUPli Miss Ni na Zozulin. 35, a native of the Ukraine who came to "this coun try from a French displaced per sons camp and set up a grocery store seven years ago, said she tried to think of some way to show her gratitude to Americans Friday she served her cus tomers as usual but refused to let any of them pay. DEATHS DURING p.m. Thursday, issued a new plea to motorists on this day allei Christmas. Many of the automobile acci dents adding to the mounting toll look three or more lives in a; single crash In one of the latest, four high school hoys were kilted and lusscd burning from a cat that hit a bridge support early today near San Antonio. Texas. A fifth liy was burned seriously During the lust Christmas hull day ol comparable duration, in 1953, 523 persons were killed on the highways. In liLVi, with a four-day holiday period, 712 were killed. "We are faced wilh a combina tion of treacherous roads, uncer tain weather and extra traffic." Weather cousin and Michigan and in parts of New England. Dangerous dnv ing warnings were hoisted in the sleet areas. The weathermen predicted snow for parts of the central plateau, northern Rockies and northern plains. Light rains were predicted ov er the rest of the plains. Midwest and parts of the Ohio Valley, with a few showers forecast for the fur Pacific Northwest. Light rain and snow fell Christ mas night from Arizona and New Mexico into Montana. A few driz zles were reported from Northern California to the Canadian border, from Texas into the central plains and from the Gulf to the Ohio River. Scattered snow flurries dot- STEEL UNION TO BE POLLED ON 'STRIKE OR WORK' PACT PITTSBURGH (UPI) A beat of drums swelled behind the car ols and jingle bells In nearly .tOO.Oho American homes Christ mas Day. The rat-a-tat -tat was not rolled out by the fumbling fingers of children, but by prof e s a i o n a I drum-beaters press agent va riety. They were wielding their stickp in an all-out effort to grab votes in an election unique in the na tion's history. In the 20 days fol lowing Jan. 6. the National Labor Relations Board will poll the coun try's steel workers to get their verdict on a management propo sal for settlement of a bitter wage dispute with the United Steelworkers Union. Nofotiations In Progress With a government injunction, which ended a record-smashing 116-day nationwide steel strike, due to expiie in 30 days, the workers had their choice at their holiday tables of reading, listen SETTING HOLIDAY i a cnum.il siNikesiuan said, we La:1 ony apH.aj u,at motorists I ... ... .... . , , .Mn'l'-.ie.Mii acci.i. nis uk.k a terrible l" l ight persons were killed and three critically injured when an overloaded car slammed into a concrete stanchion near llavcrslrnw. N Y. Police saad the car was "smashed to hits." Kills 6, Hurts 17 Six persons Inst their lives and seven others were seriously in jured in a grinding hend-on col lision on a stretch of highway near Yazoo City. Miss. Police said one car apparently swung into the wrong lane. Five New Yorkers died on sliv pery highways near Kilty Hawk, Conditions ted central New England. Temperatures wcrmed as much as 30 degrees over the eastern two-thirds of the nation. The mer cury shot from near zero to a round 30 through New England during Christmas Day and Belle rourche, SI)., reported a freak reading of 54 after Ihc tempera lure rose 18 degrees from 30 to 48, during 15 minutes early in the day. The weather bureau said tern peratures would continue to rise today in the Great Lake states. the Ohio Valley and parts of the Central and Southern Atlantic stall's. But cooler weather was predicted from Nevada into east era Montana, southern Idaho and the northern plains. ing to or watching union and management arguments. Government-sponsored efforts to '-nd the dispute through "volun tary" negotiations still were in progress. But steel management stuck to its "non-inflationary" of fer of a wage benefit package which it estimated would cost the companies 33 cents per hour per man over a 36-month period. USW President David J. Mc Donald and his union associates sought a package which they es timated would cost the companies "slightly more' than 221 cents an hour per man over a 20 month period. The union proposal was based upon set 1 1 f m e n t s reached with Kaiser Sleel, the big can making companies and the major aluminum producers. But money on the barrel-head issues were dwarfed by the furnace-hot quarrel over the "local working conditions" provisions of the previous lalior agreement, now in effect until Jan 26 under GRIM FUNG N.C., when their car skidded through a bridge rail and plunged' into Currituck Sound. A Louisiana boy and four Tex ans were killed in a head on smushup near De Quincy, La. Three, x'rsons were killed when their car hit a Continental Trail' ways bus nc.ir Weslaeo, Texas. Four persons died in the collision of a tractor trailer and a car' near Nashville, Tenn. Among the dead was Charles llenkel, 27, of Caledonia, Wis., the father of three little girls, llenkel died in an auto crash while wearing the red Santa Onus suit with which he planned to surprise and delight his chil dren. Vets' Tax : Ante High : Union County war veterans paid $23,318.62 In property tax for 1959-60, according to information released by the Oregon Depart ment of Veterans' Affairs. There are 171 loans hi Union County. Wallowa County veterans paid $21,703 84 on 141 loans, the de partment figures indicated. The average ex-GI with an Ore gon veterans' farm and home loan paid a property tax of nearly $194 as compared to $168 last year and $145 in 1957. The figures were reported fair Roy V. Bell, auditor of the de partment, which paid the 1959-40 luxes last month on the properties of 14.915 World War II and Korean veterans who have state loans. The total amount paid in taxes was $3,626,343. , . The borrower pays his taxes monthly to the department along with his loan repayment. The de partment in turn pays the tax col lector and does so before Nov. 15 to earn the veteran k three per cent discount. The dis count this year saved veteraftj $112,155. ;T provisions , of a Taft-Hartley In junction. ; Seeks Freer Hand ' - Management seeks a freer t1 in making crew assignments, reg ulating working hours, penalizliit workers for wildcat strikes, aojl setting standards of performance;. The companies propose bindiflk arbitration. The union wants 5 study group with its findings tuft, ject to open negotiations. J The issue was the "big bonet as the steel workers downed theft holiday fare with their famlUesTar toasted each other in the tap rooms of the mill towns. , The management publicists cei pled with catch ,. words sjch e -efficiency" and "featherbaal. ding" in their bid for the wort. era' favor. The union Uexlesa countered with "union bustinaT and a flat charge, "if the ootsV panies get their way, lM.OOt Mall workers could be knocked eiaTTt Ihsir L,Ha ku . " -J " per ceni i up.