MSa. l-5tnan, SaJtm, Ort., Sunday, May 22,1955
Our Valley
By CHARLES IRELAND
ewettWJSGtOl
i
tit. , i- m i. I murium- n rm
' When bie news strikes. Statesman reporters often go out
into the "valley" to cover stories in areas nominally served byi
our valley correspondents. . . Today is one of those rare oc
casions when a correspondent, George Strozut Jr. of suburban
TJavecvillo Va clinrAt intn trram in "rmarV for 1 feature
story. . . And reporters who got an advance peek at his story
(elsewhere on this page) about the British war pilot, think
George scored a direct hit when he interviewed M. V. McKeon.
Couple of Sundays ago the New York Times triyel section ran
two-page spread of special events around the nation which tourists
might want to look in on during the summer . . . The Oregon list
Mentioned 17 events . . . Included were the State Marble Tourna
ment and the Cottage Grove Pet Parade ... And missing were
such stalwarts as the St. Paul Rodeo and the Oregon State Fair . . .
A deeper look Into the series of events around the U. S. disclosed
that National Hobo. Day will be observed at Britt, Iowa, on Aug. 23,
and the public is welcome . . . Free mulligan stew.
, Good reports were heard following the first annual con
cert of the Citizen's Band Friday night at Silverton. . . John
Philip Sousa fans may be Interested to know that the .band
included three Sousa marches in its first concert, which also
included such universal favorites as Teddy Bears Picnic, In
diana State Band March and On the MalL . . The titles merit
a mention since the band will present an identical concert at
8 p.m. this Friday at Woodburn High School. . . The Sousa
marches were Semper Fidelis, Washington Post and, of course,
Stars and Stripes Forever. . . Here's a hope that Maestro Chas.
W. Yukl and his toqters will include another fine Sousa march,
High School Cadets, in an early concert. . . And while we're at
it, how about that waltz the band always used to play at the
county fair when the tight-rope walkers went into their act,
Chalma. ,
-
Monmouth folks were happy last week that little Sue Mull re
covered from her illness in time to make the trip to Washington
-.with Teacher of the Year. Margaret Perry ... Dickie Peterson, the
fourth-grade boy who made the trip, got more publicity last week
when the sponsoring magazine came out with a big picture of him
and Miss Perry. He hadn't been selected for the trip when the
magazine decided to use his picture . . . President Eisenhower
joshed Dickie about bis haircut, but in the magazine photo, taken
in January, Dickie's hair is long and straight
-
Postmasters had a varied week in the valley. . . At Dallas,
Postmaster Carl Black learned he was going to get a badly
needed new building. . ; At Jefferson, Postmaster Clarence
Miller made an experimental count and determined that the
Jefferson P. O. handled on average of 840 first-class letters
per day. . . At Lyons, Postmaster Ruth Lyons went out to
burn some rubbish. A hearing-aid battery that someone had
thrown into the trash exploded and struck her in the hand.
The injury required eight stitches. . . And at Albany, the in
ternationallyeirculated Western Stamp Collector devoted an
editorial to how happy Salem Postmaster Al Gragg was be
cause a stamp collector back East wrote him a fan letter about
some nice service he got from the Salem Postoffice.
mmmmmmmmmimam
Pool Opening
Set June 25
JT3lV TV UJlXJJU.XXi'
Statesman Mews Servtco
WOODBURN The Woodburn
Memorial swimming pool will open
for the season on Saturday, June
25, it was announced following the
meeting of the park board Thurs
day evening.
i Keith Llewellyn, who holds sen
ior life saving and water safety
certificates, will be life guard and
superintendent of the pooL
Patrons will be free to picnic,
also, beginning Sunday June 22,
in Settlemier Park. "
Improvements planned for me
park area include the installation
of five additional permanent ta
bles to be set in concrete. The
parking area has already been
enlarged and will be gravelled, it
was reported.
The area at the corner of First
and Oak Streets is in the process
of being graded for the construc
tion of two tennis courts later.
Members of Woodburn Junior
Chamber of Commerce helped with
the project Members of the latter
received permission to hold their
Chuck Wagon Breakfast for the
public July 4, and were also as
signed an area on which to build
storehouse to house stores for
the breakfast- and other equipment
Plans were also made to enlarge
fiie Softball field, and the board
requested persons interested in
softball participation to contact
TV T ..miaa fla n
who will have charge of the or
ganization of leagues.
Salem man Recalls l
Spies To Germany in
Days v: Me' FleW (Two Women
World
War
1
By GEORGE STROZUT JR.
Statesman Correspondent
"Getting caught in the Huns'
searchlights at night made things
rather awkward for us British pi
lots, you know. said M. V. Mc
Keon, 643 Union St, as he remin
isced to Arnold Air Society mem
bers and AFROTC officers at Wil
lamette University recently about
his experiences in the Royal Fly
ing Corps later the RJLF. in
World War L
McKeon, now retired after some
years as an underwriter at Lloyd's
of London, noted that there were
two kinds of "Huns" then, (1) the
enemy in general, and il) all fly
ing pupils, who. sometimes caused
as much damage to aircraft as
the enemy.
Saw lSlft Air Show
Flying had interested him since
he saw an air show in Dublin in
1910. He was enrolled in the Of
ficers Training Corps at Dublin
University, and in 1914 at the age
of 20 he received his second lieu
tenant's commission in the Royal
Artillery.
However, artillery observers
were needed in the Royal Flying
Corps, so he transferred there in
1915. The observers flew with a
pilot over enemy gun emplacements.
"I soon decided I had better be
come a pilot McKeon said.
Much safer. Had control of the
crazy machine then."
Trained , Three Months
' So, after three months of train
ing McKeon received his wings
and was immediately shipped to
France because, his braining of
ficers said, the best training was
at the front
McKeon receeived British Grad
uation Certificate No. 1696 and
simultaneously received Interna
tional Aeroplane Club's license No,
3102. Everyone then, including the
enemy, received the international
license, he recalled.
The battle of Somme in France
had started in July 1916 and Me
Keon found himself involved in
this in a rather peculiar way.
First Tank Attack
The British developed a 'land-
cruiser: secret weapon to use for
opening a wide gap in the enemy
lines. McKeon was assigned to this
project in September, 1916 when
he first saw a "tank." These early
tanks were very crude affairs and
extremely noisy, so in order to
cover up the sound 'of the .tanks
advancing to the front during the
first night, McKeon and three otb-
,' .
t '-,-;
m
- t
Shown in cockpit of plane he flew for British Royal Flying Corps in early days of World War I
l HV V TteH IAW Cl.M Dm.V.1 .a U.. M A- A & -
, ?7 wu( wu bscu hi inuMpori spies across enemy
lines at night The spies wore parachutes for their drop behind the lines bat the pilofaTnever wore
them. This was one of six British' planes equipped with seat for spies.
er pilots flew overhead, back and
forth, making as much noise as
possible.
However, out of 49 tanks which
started to the front only 15 were
able to make it over the line to
participate in th efirst tank attack
in history on Sept 15, 1916, and
only 9 completed the skirmish.
During the third tank engage
ment that month, two tanks found
themselves hopelessly hung up,
straddling a German trench. They
were wondering what to do when
300 Germans came out to see what
all the -noise was about saw the
huge monsters, and immediately
surrendered, McKeon said.
Later McKeon was given the job
of flying spies across the lines.
Spies Volunteered
Tbe spies were volunteers who
had sever been in a plane before.
They were given a dose of spirits
to build up their enthusiasm for
the adventure and then were tak
en out to the plane which was fit
ted with a bucket seat on the left
wing, next to the open cockpit
The spy was fitted with a-parachute,
which had a box of six pig
eons attached to it for communica
tion back to the British, then was
placed in the seat It was an ex
tremely cold position because he
caught the propellor draft and his
feet dangled over the edge of the
wing.
Enthusiasm Waned
Usually these men would lose
their enthusiasm quickly, so when
McKeon could see that he was over
the right location, he would reach
over and pretend to adjust the
spy's safety belt Then he tripped
a lever inside the cockpit and
pulled off the spy before the man
realized what was going on.
"The kindest thing was to do it
suddenly, you know!", he said.
In July, 1917, McKeon became
assistant test pOot at the Bristol
Aeroplane Co., which brought out
the revolutionary, first two-seater
"Bristol Fighter." Altogether, he
tested some 300 planes' as they
came off the assembly line and
never had any mishaps due to
faulty construction.
In July, 1918, he was placed in
charge of the U. S. 38th Aeroplane
Squadron, whose purpose was to
train American fliers.
He was discharged in 1919 with
the rank of acting captain.
During his years of air service
at the front McKeon was forced
down only twice due to "sky'
squabbles.'? In his machine which
cruised at only 65 miles an hour
(a good strong wind blew it back
wards sometimes), he. never wore
a parachute. No one but the spies
wore them until the end of the
war. j s
"Our superiors told us that if
we wore parachutes, the next thing
we'd want would be to take along
extra propellors or wings," be
said.
McKeon came to the United
States in 1939, was granted citizen
ship in 1945, and has been a resi
dent of Salem since 1950. when h
came here because of his wife's
health, which required a mild cli
mate. i
WILL SERVE REBEKAHS
LYONS The Women's Society of
the Methodist Church will serve
cupper for the Rebekah convention
which will be held here Wednes
day, June 22. The society also vot
ed to have a clean-up day at the
church on Tuesday.
School Levy
Reduced in
Dallas Area
: Statesman News Serrle
DALLAS The 1955-56 school bud
get levy for Dallas School District
2 is down $47,790 from the levy of
a year ago, according to figures
released by the budget committee.
Expenditures estimated for the
fiscal year are $544,763. Local tax
levies must account for $291,178 of
the total while $263,585 win come
from other sources.
Of the total, $176,125 is above the
8 per cent limitation and will be
voted on June 20 at the annual dis
trict school election. The amount
is $48,828 less than for the current
school year.
Unexpected Costa
The budget estimates $17,585
cash on hand at the dose of the
present school year in contrast to
an $80,000 deficit a year axo. The
deficit resulted from , unexpected
costs in constructing the new high
school and an addition to Lyle
tirade School. !
Superintendent S. E. Whitworth
said the new budget includes pro
visions for an addition to the high
school shop building. Teachers'
salaries remain at the same level
except for regular increments for
those under the maximum scfaed
ule.
The budget committee is. com
posed of Chairman Earle Richard
son, J. Paul Bollman. Mrs. J. R.
Craven, Lloyd Harris and Kenneth
Shetterly, together with school
board members, William Young,
rranx uuy, arl Stonebrook,
beorge Kurre and Robert Woods.
Silverton Business District
Notes Round of Improvements
A recent survey shows that the
most gasoline is sold to U.S.
motorists between 4 and 7 p.m.
,. SUtessaak News Serrle
SILVERTON When it rains it
nours. and anrone who has been
gone from Silverton for six months
would find that it has been rain
ing" changes here, Mayor Harry
V. Carson noted Saturday. .
Weivi denartment store on
Main street is undergoing a mo
dernization of its front Oldtimers
recall that this section of the
Weiby store is one of the oldest
brick buildings in Silverton.
It withstood two of the hottest
fires in the city's history, once in
1900 when the corner location was
burned, and again in 1938 when
two buildings on both sides were
ruined.
New Building
The new Hollywood Ice Cream
store, at the corner of South Wa
ter and Lewis Streets, opened this
week in its new block-and-glass
building. Owners are Gail Jones,
a former Silverton man but now
of Salem, and Nick Brinkley. The
spot this building occupies has
been m disuse for a number of
years.
A $10,000 improvement at the Sil
ver Bowl has been outlined by Joe
W. Stevens, new owner. The new
proprietors operated a Bonneville
Power Association Cafeteria for 12
years. The bowling alley will be
operated Wednesday through Sun
day. Add New Room
A dining room has been added to
the Silverton Cafe to provide more
room for its patrons. The new ad
dition will seat between 35 and 40.
Hahn's Grocery which closed
last week, will be reopened by R.
A. Montgomery & Son as a retail
meat market and frozen food sup
ply store.
Wing Completed
The debris of the old Methodist
Church has been cleared away and
the new educational wing complet
ed. The adjoining house, known as
the Scarth property, has been
bought and remodeled by the
Methodist Church with the pastor,
the Rev. and Mrs. Paul Henry, set
tled mere.
Mrs. Felix Goyotte of Bethany
Road, has sold her home there to
Mr. and Mrs. V. M. Parke. Mrs.
Goyette will visit for a brief time
with Mrs. Betty Liard (Betty Up
hoff) in Seaside, before leaving for
California to make her home with
relatives at Grass Valley.
W. R. Morten has opened an ac
counting and tax service office at
302 Oak St., in the offices formerly
occupied by M. C. Storruste, . who
has retired because of ill health.
Brown Joins Staff
Of Dallas Station
! "
DALLAS Bruce Brown r4 Ka.
lem has boo appointed commer
cial manager of station KPLK at
Dallas, station owner Ed McEl
roy announced Saturday. Brown
has been an account executive
with KSLM for two years and is
a graduate of Dallas High School
. ;
In SoUth Africa. Com k mTIaH I hla fViraH m marla m m
"mealies." thev are barelv visible. .
New Store Building
Started at Monmouth
' SUtesmaa Ncwi Strrlc
MONMOUTH Van Crider. who
operates a general store here, is
starting work on a new building
uong skm ms present store. This
new addition win be two stories,
and will enable him to increase his
merchandising range.
Prowlers Enter
,W. Stayton School
Statesman News Service
WEST STAYTON A break-in
it West Stayton School was under
investigation Saturday by the
sheriffs office and Stavton nolice.
The culprits took several kitch
en otensus including a bowl from
the electric mixer valued at Sis
Custodian Alfred Thompson dis
covered the break-in when he un
locked the school Friday morning.
The prowlers had entered the
school via the rear door in the
breezeway adjoining the new ad
dition to the building. They broke
a door pane and reached through
10 unlock tne door.
VISIT GEN. POWELL
SUtetmam News Service
MONMOUTH Mr. and . Mrs,
Clares C. Powell are on an air
trip to Honolulu to visit his broth
er and sister-in-law. Gen. and Mrs
Herbert PoweH The general is a
native of Monmouth, attended all
Monmouth schools and was gradu
ated irom the University of Oregon
prior to entering military service.
Births
At Vallty Hospitals
- SUtesmaa News Service
SHERIDAN To Mr. and Mrs.
Glenn Beachy, Sheridan, a daugh
ter. May 17 at McMinnville Hos
pital. .
Polk County
Court News
lUfsnu News Service.
DALLAS The following mar
riage licenses have been issued:
Benny Howard Watt, 19, mill
worker. WiUamma, and Janice L.
Stalwick, 18,. concession worker,
Salem. -
-Richard Baker, Jr., 19, logger,
and Mary Lois Freeman, 18, both
f Dallas.
: The following assumed business
names have been filed:
Arrow Lumber Co., filed by
Harry Engelen and Harlan Goble,
located in Polk County.
Stowers Bros., filed by E. W.
Stowers, located at Dallas.
IIUldDlUICUlI
Inscription Pharmacy
Salem
4-3336
Open Until 11 FJbL
Sundays and Holidays
12 A.M.to2P M.
C PJL to? FJL
130 S. Liberty
'ILCUUJbA
ft cptrtt a ess'
24 hr.
PRESCRIPTION SERVICE
AFTER 11 P.M. CALL
SALEM 3-9123
Duplicate Prescriptions
.' On Filo in AH Stores
Daily
' Deliveries
Downtown Start
Salem
3-9123
310 Court
12:30 and 4:30 P.M.
Medical Center Start
Salem
3-3157
2440GreorSr.
Top Dallas
Flower Show
SUtetmaa Newt Service
DALLAS Sweepstakes winners
in the annual Dallas Garden Club
flower show Thursday were Mrs.
Lynn Cook and Mrs. Elmer Bo-
man.
Mrs. Cook scored a total of 32
points for her entries in the flower
arrangement division while Mrs
Boman topped the horticulture di
vision with 15 points. 4
. Judging was by Mrs. A. W. Bed
ford, Mrs. S. J. Burch and Mrs,
Delmer E. Branson. '
Other blue ribbon winners in
horticulture included Mrs.- Dyre
Yung, Mrs. Bert Campbell. Mrs.
Howard Fleming, Mrs. Norman
Baker, Mrs. Delia waters, Mrs.
Maude Butler, Mrs. G. Brandli,
Mrs. Hilda Lantis, Mrs. Fritz
Klaus, Mrs. Delwin O. Reinemer
and Mrs. John Tilgner.
Blue ribbon winners in the ar
rangement division besides Mrs.
Cook were Mrs. Alpha - Livesay,
Mrs. Lantis, Mrs. Cecil Meeker,
Mrs. Norman Baker, Mrs. Hulda
Smith, Mrs. Claude Hoisington,
Mrs. Harriet Enstad, Mrs. C. L.
Marsters, and Mrs. William Effen
berger. Twenty women displayed their
craft in the noncompetitive' show
ing of ceramics.
MOVE TO BARSTOW
SHERIDAN Mrs. Lowell Leath
ers and baby daughter left by plane
for Los Angeles this week, where
they were met by Cpl. Leathers.
They will live at Barstow, Calif.
Berries avid
Due to Frost '
- V- '
tUtetmaa News Service
'.KEIZER Strawberries -and
beans, two of the mator croos of
this area, are delayed by recent
inclement weather. Temperatures
averaging five degrees below nor
mal, and frequent showery days
have combined to keep tractors
and other .equipment off the fields.
Many bean yards have not yet
been planted, at a time when most
planting would be normally conv
pleted. It now appears that straw
berry picking will be approximate
ly two to three weeks later thai
in normal years. Concentrated
population nearby .provides ample
harvest help for these crops.
Notable in this and surrounding
districts is the increase in. straw
berry acreages. Many five to ten
acre fields, are being planted this
year. '
One of major interest, however,
is the 70-acre field leased by John
Johnson near Mission Bottom. Al
though strawberry harvest will be
late, it is expected that the crop
will be larger than normal.
The cool weather preceding the
. I . . 1 ' I . AM
growth that is frequently damaged
by such frost, and all blossoms art
expected to bring forth top-notch
fruit
QUEEN'S DANCE SET
SHERIDAN The Phil Sheridan
Rodeo Queen's dance win be May
28 at the Eagles halL when the
1955 Rodeo Queen will be named.
Candidates are Joan Keck of
Sheridan, Carolyn Laughlin of
Yamhill and Phyllis Fogg of Tilla
mook. ,
Now fiegis.er-.ng
Men and Women
for Our 1955
r
Canning Season
Please Apply in Person
Foods
Inc.
Corner of Church & Mill
IHIi
M.tr-'i'saiTMV
n ?ew an 5 ton cities a Scuerna- Vft
n -Ajkl$ is&vSi Sew'- m
.1 'TKS.- J
. O R S E E Y. O U R T RAVE, I
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budget, your pleasure! Leave any time... visit
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CRATER LAKE-ORE. CAVES, 5 Days: See 2 of
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nights), with boat trip, and lively Klamath
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NEW YORK QTY, 15 Days: Thrilling circle of
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LASSEN PARK, 7 Days: See fantastic wonder
land of eerie volcanic formations in paradise of
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3 nights at Manzanita Lake Lodge, tours of the 1
area, 7 meals.
PRICES: Crater Lake-Ore. Caves S40.30
New York City $148.60
Lassen Park $72.5 5
ASK FOa PRE! TCU2 FCLCXCSt
Salem Depot 405 N. Church EL
Phone 2-242S
Approximate price from Salem '.
doable-room rate per person, plus U. S. tax :
AGENT