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About The Coquille Valley sentinel. (Coquille, Coos County, Or.) 1921-2003 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1943)
» Sentinel AN VOL. XXXIX. INDNPBNÓSMT N|W8PAPIB NO. 33. Frank Statement Of County Policy In Tag. Matters Most Successful Ä(r Raid Practice One of the most successful air raid practices ever held in Coquille was staged last Thursday by the Civilian Defense Council. This practice dif fered from the usual plan in that in stead of being called at the custom ary time of 7:30 p. m., it was called at 9:10 p. m., with none of the mem bers of the participating units having any advance information as to the time. The yellow alarm, upon which the telephone operators call all chiefs of service to stand by in case of n^ed, came at 8:45. The blue alarm by which all chiefs of service call their respective crews into headquarters, was sounded at $ p. -m., and the red alarm which indicates actual bomb ing and is indicated by three blasts of the city siren, was sounded at 9:10. All control board workers incident officers, fire polloe, ambulance and messenger crews were on duty by the time the red alarm sounded and six incidents at five-minute intervals, beginning at 9:15 p. m., were handled in a nearly perfect manner. It is hoped to hold future practices in this manner providing it is possible to obtain permisiosn from army offi cials to do so. Chief Bill Barrow was highly pleased at the showing made in last week's practice and wishes to express his appreciation to all block wardens; district wardens, central headquarters workers and telephone operators who took part in it (By L. D. Felsheim, Copnty Judge) . Probably the most important and far-reaching undertaking in official county business in a number of years is the present program of reorgani zation and modernization of the tax department. This is being done un der the authority of Sheriff Wm. F. Howell in coordination with the as sessor’s department and the County Court, and satisfactory progress is being made. a, Taxpayers of Coos county, at least those who have been paying, or at tempting to pay, their taxes with any degree of regularity, are well aware of the difficulty they have faced in recent years when endeavoring te determine what they actually owe and how and when they might pay to get the greatest possible benefit un der current tax laws. This statement is not made as a reflection on any person or persons connected with the tax department. No such reflection' is intended, nor is it justified, because the situation is more or less the outgrowth of a combination of circumstances brought about by the ever-changing tax laws enacted%y succeeding legislatures in attempting to meet the problems that arose during the depression years of the early ’80s. So many different ways to pay taxes were devised and put into ef fect by legislation that the adminis trative machinery and the personnel of the tax department, under the old system In operation, was Inadequate A letter from Mr. and Mrs. Jack to cope with the situation. It took trained employees of several years Laird, she was Gretchen Clinton be- standing to keep advised of the fore.her marriage, written from Pen changes taking place, and to main sacola, Florida, has many items of in tain coordination between the vari terest to their friends here: “The South has lived up to many ous methods of tax payment. Such employees could not always be held; of our expectations, but I know noth in fact, there were numerous changes ing can compare with Coos county in personnel over a period of critical in our estimation. It’s beautiful down ____ here, but after being raised in a years, and at times the department , The was considerably under-manned. ----- mild climate wWget awfully uncom cry for “economy” at that time when fortable. And I can understand why people couldn’t pay their taxes and the Southerners are called ‘lazy’—if everyone thought expenses should be you moved too fast -in this climate cut to the limit, proved detrimental you would just melt away. “We get quite a kick out of seeing to - the tax department because it struck at a time when there was cotton, tobacco, peanuts, sugar cane, etc., growing. But as to Florida more work than ever to do. As a result of the circumstances ex oranges—the only decent ones we get plained in the foregoing, the actual down here have ’California' stamped on them. (Continued on page two) “Jack is kept quite busy instructing but he says it is an interesting job. We expect to be here until next spring but you never know just what the Navy will decide. ' J. E. Norton, who had not been at “I must say how much the Sentinel all well this week, is feeling some means to us, now we're so far from what better this morning but still has home. Tony and Frances Estes pass to remain very quiet and make no the current issues on to us and my exertion. We mother sends us copies, too. ____ A. read it from cover to cover." Mrs. Hale B. Eubanks is expecting Capt. Eubanks home for a short Concert, Dance By Army visit this evening, or soon. The boat on which he is chaplain in transport Band at Bandon, Aug. 27 -' service is docked at San Francisco A free, public concert and dance, for a few days and he wrote he ex the music to be furnished by the pected to have a few days* furlough. U. S. Army band, is advertised to be held in the grade school gymnasium Lud Scharfer went up to Myrtle at Bandon tomorrow (Friday) eve Point yesterday morning and brought ning. The concert will start at 7:30 home from the Mast Hospital, Mrs. and the dance will follow. Scharfer and that new baby daughter, Anyone who can get there is in- Barbara Elaine. vited to attend. There will be no charge for either concert or dance Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thrift left: -------------------------- Sunday on a two weeks’ vacation Good shipment of Chrome trip, he from duty with the Mt. States From the Independence Mine Power Co. and she from the Lorenz A fine shipment of chrome which Department Store. They went to Long Beach to visit Tom Thrift and tested 46.7 per cent was received at the government stockpile here this family. week from Frank Fish’s Coos Inde Joe Fortier, youngest brother of pendence Mine, Stanley Fitzgerald W. H. Fortier, accompanied by his reports. wife came in Monday from Eugene for a few days' visit. They are out First Circus To Show In at Verrill McCurdy’s where the Coquille For Many Years Fortiers have been staying the past The advance agent for Arthur few weeks and the men were busy Tuesday helping Verrill shingle his Brothers' big three-ring circus was in Coquille last Saturday and stated that barn. the circus would show in Coquille on The Eagles Auxiliary will initiate Tuesday, Sept. 14, with an afternoon a class Friday evening and it is im and evening performance. Letter From The Sunny South Personal Mention portant that everyone who can at Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Harriman re tend do so. All of the birthdays which fall in August will be cele turned Tuesday afternoon from their six weeks stay in Portland. Mr. Har brated. x riman says he is feeling<very fit again Mm. Mapon R. Clayton and two though still a little jhaky on ids sons, John and Paul, left last Friday legs. He spent five of the ¿lx weeks evening for Peoria, Ills., where her flat on his back in the hospital father, Wm. Miles, is quite seriously ill following an operation. He was a Postmaster M. O. Hawkins is tak Coquille visitor three years ago. , ing a week off from duty in the post office here and Saturday he and Mrs. Joyce Owen and son, Richard, Mrs. Hswklns went down to Curry left yesterday morning for Corvallis, county tp spend the time with their where Mrs. Owen is to teach the daughter«, Mrs. Tom Dimmick and fourth grade the coming school year. | Miss Ann. $400 Now In Fund For The Boys And Girls Clubs There was a splendid attendance at the dance last Saturday night, in the Community Building, which enjoyed until an early morning hour the music of Shady's orchestra. The dance netted $200 or the Co quille Yputh Advisory committee and the funds will be used for purchas ing equipment for the Girls Club and the Boys Club which are being or ganized and which will have their headquarters in tne Community Building. Gene Johnson with a sale of 33 tickets is to receive the Na 1 mem bership card in the Boys Club and George Litzenberger receives the No. 2 card, he having sold 32 tickets. Others who participated in the ticket selling campaign were Raymond Kay, Robert Simpson, Vernon Owen, Dick Martindale, Art Kelch, Neal Milligan, Donald Minard, Jack Axtell, George Johnson, Bob Dykes. Bill Berry, Pete Ireland. The Youth Advisory Council, which now has about $400 to spend for getting the two clubs started with a good assortment of games and equip ment, Is composed of representatives from the various adult clubs, church es, and other organizations in Co quille. The executive committee is composed of Mrs. Jack Dolan, chair man; Rev. Robert L. Greene, O. L. Wood, R. L. Stewart and Clarence Oslka. Mrs. Mabel Whereat has donated a ping pong table for the club’s use, W. H. Fortier has loaned the use of a bi I lard table, and other equipment will be gratefully received by the committee. "So Is The Enemy Far Away Our Treasury test sum of money yet raised from individuals in this country, obviously every per son will have to do more. It is a project that calls for care ful self-analysis and planning. Oc casionally it is pointed out to us that our per capita purchase of war bonds does not nearly approximate that in England, and is far below that in Germany. England has had the ne cessity of such purchases driven home by the actual devastation of enemy bombs and by nearness to the entire war scene. The recently publicized phrase from an American soldier’s letter is worth repeating. He wrote to his family that **I am still far away, but remember, as long as I am far away, so is the enemy." One way for us to keep the enemy far away, one way for us to keep our right to determine for ourselves what our bond purchases shall be is to voluntarily, willingly, gladly do our full share when the call comes. No Summer This Year Speaking of weather—These morn ings have a decided feel of fall! And there has been no summer at all in Coos county The thermometer has not been higher than 80 the past three months. Occasional reins, too, have tended tb reduce the fire hazard and Oregon has been kept green But the preci pitation has been spotted. Last Sat urday was cloudy and gloomy all day but the few minutes rain between two and three o’clock was all that fell herp, yet 100 miles to the north rain fell on the coast all day long. The Geo. Swinney Family Here For A Few Days County Fair To Open At Myrtle Point September 4 Coos Valuation Up $480,000 This Year [ a $| ern Q m | tyan Visits Coos County Coal Regions The taxpayers of Coos county will : be pleased to know that although the Coos county budget estimate, as ad vertised for the final hearing oh August 27, and for the 1943-44 fiscal The 32d annual Coos County Fair, year, is only slightly higher, $23.66 to (By L. D. Felsheim, County Judge) which will open on Saturday of next be exact, than the previous year's Prospects for successful develop- week, Sept. 4, is to be a three day tax levy, the levy itself will show ap- ment of various coal areas in Coos affair this year, continuing through proximltely a three-tenths of a mill county through strip mining, were Labor Day. Sept. 8, bdt there will be reduction. The actual millage drop enhanced materially during the past as much activity cramimed into those ping from 15 mills to 14.73. This is week by the visit here of K. G. Spen three days as there h<ks been hereto due to the fact the assessed valuation cer, president of the Pittsburg Mid fore in a week. , of the county was greatly increased— way Coal Mining company of Kan Friday, the 3rd. is Entry Day for according to figures just compiled in sas City. Mo. general exhibits, Victory Garden and the office of Assessor Charles W. After visiting several areas where Food Conservation displays, and else Forrest. the Coos county coal exploration • ‘ , where in this issue appears a coupon The ussessed value of the county ierew' under direction of the Oregon which those planning on entering ex for the 1943-44 tax year, just com . Department of Geology and Mineral hibits- are requested to fill out and piled, shows an assessed value of , Industries, has been boring test holes, mail prior to Sept. 3. $26,794,087 or a net increase of $480,- Spencer, accompanied by Earl K. The general exhibits premium list 461 over the previous year's assessed I Nixon, director of the state depart- is the same as was shown in the 1941 valuation. The records also show a ment, visited the County Court Fri booklet. net increase in assessed valuation in day. They were accompanied by J. A Rodeo is to be one of the big Coos County for the past three years , K. Kernson and J. B. Isgrig, mining attractions this year. Christiansen of $2,131,299.00. men of Grants Pass, and by a repre- ■ros of Eugene are bringing in the The assessor states “although there , aentative of the War Production stock, after a two weeks’ successful has been some criticism of the slight Board, Portland office, in charge of show at Jantzen Beach. The stock increase in the expenditures of this priorities. A includes Brahma bulls, cows and office in the past there years—the Spencer stated that he had road calves and this will be the first time above figures are ample proof that about the Coos county exploration and Brahma stock has been shown in that money has been well spent, with project in one of the mining journals Coos county. The Rodeo will be an the taxpayers each year receiving the and, while on a business trip to Wy open show with all local riders in benefits in a more equalized assess oming. decided to fly to Oregon and vited to participate. look over the Cooe county field, His ment and a lower tax levy.” B Another feature is to be the local A large portion of the above in company has beep strip-mining coal saddle hone show, all three after crease in assessed value is attributed throughout certain areas of the noons, with lady and men saddle to the assessment of property which Middle West, including the states of horse races and contests, similar to had not previously been on the tax Kansas. Missouri and Illinois. the great show at the ball park here rolls due to lack of sufficient field Spencer was much interested in ow July 4. Smith who arranged that help. what has already been revealed show here is chairman in charge of In the year 1940 the assessed valua through the cooperative exploration the Fair program for the local horse tion of the county was $24,662,788.00 work and complimented the people exhibitions and contests. with the county levy being 21.9 mills of Coos county upon their progressive Night watchmen, stalls and feed as compared with today’s assessed ness in inaugurating such a movement for the horses will be provided by valuation of $26,794,087.00 and a While in no position to comment on U»e fair association. ‘his findings here, he did say that levy of 14.78 mitts. ! An additional 300 feet of bleachers The assessor states, according to he was intensely interested in seeing seats has been provided and the law, it will be necessary for his office strippin*-areas of considerable size • grandstand and bleachers will seat to increase the levy to the nearest where comparatively large veins of between four and five thousand. tenth of a mill over the requested coal can be reached by the removal There is. also ample free parking amount to be raised by taxation. of comparatively shallow overburden. space for cars on the Infield. However, should the county Budget In contrast, he mentioned that his : _ The Browning Consolidated Car Committee in its final hearing»oh company has stripped aa much as 87 nival is also billed to add to the at- Aug. 27, reduce the requested amount feet of overburden successfully to to'"tee raised Jpy .taxatton fay $803.82, Director Nixon is giving a great the levy would then be exactly 14.7 deal of personal attention to the local mills. ■ J « . Bob Zumwalt’s seven-piece or- exploration project, and more par chestra Is to furnish the music for ticularly at this time to the stripping Daughter And Family Visiting the dancing in Oaks Pavilion each of areas because machinery for open the three nights and that assures that At The F. A. Pook Home pit surface mining is becoming more the crowds will enjoy the dancing. Capt. and Mrs. R. F. Roake and rapidly available as various large Admission is to be 99 cents for children, Judy and Peter, arrived government military projects are be adults, including tax; 40 cents for the here last Friday for a visit at the ing completed. Strip mining requires 12 to 18 year old young folks and home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. a minimum of manpower and lends children under 12 are admitted free. F. A. Pook. Capt. Roake was on itself to production In the shortest Among the eating concessions will furlough but on Saturday received possible time. —L ’- be one provided by the Coquille word to go on a special mission to Eagles lodge and Auxiliary. Idaho, with only 15 minutes in which Phyllis Bunch To Take Throe to catch the bus. When that job is Year Nurse’s Training Course completed he will be back here for the rest of htr furlough. Mrs. Roake . Miss Phyllis Bunch left Saturday and the children are here for an In for - southern California, where she definite stay. After leaving his poet is to enter Loma Linda, a college of Medical Evangelists and Nurses’ A portion of the program time at in California the Roakes visited his training, for a three-year course. the weekly luncheon meeting of the parents in Portland before coming The college la 65 miles east of Loe Rotary club at the hotel on Wednes to Coquille. Angeles and the course will include day was taken up by reports on the practical work in the hospitals of annual stag dinner held last Friday Self-Confessed Murderer L. A. Dr. and Mrs. J*. R. Bunch took evening at the J. Arthur Berg cabin Is Taken Back To IoWa her out to Eugene last Saturday and at Laurel lake, some of which were Russell Garris, who has been in she took the train from there, they quite interesting. the county jail since Aug, 14 after he returning home Sunday. The balance of the time was taken had confessed to police officers at over by Rev. Robert O. Greene, who the Bay that he had committed a Is Helping Guard Italian led a song session.. murder in Iowa, back in the 1930’s, Prisoners at Ogden, Utah A challenge was received from the Was taken from jail yesterday morn Eagles for a softball game and a Victor Farris Fitzgerald, nephew ing and started back to the Buckeye committee was appointed to arrange state with officers who came west of Stanley Fitzgerald, who formerly a date for the latter part of next was*with the Pacific Feed & Seed for him. week. A peculiar matter in connection here, came in Monday evening for a O. B. Harriman was welcomed with his confession is that the officers week’s visit. He is one of the Mili back to the club after an absence of Escort Guards, stationed set the date of the murder about ten tary - Police - several weeks in a Portland hospital. years prior to what Garris stated in '•» Ogden, Utah, where he is a guard John Jayes was introduced as a his confession which he said was in- »» «»• Italian interment camp. He new member, having been elected at duced by remorse. _ haM be*n in the bc * last week's meeting. ■ - 11 "" 1 -'.L F ■. — W 1 — L.......................... ■ - - U 2— ■ ~ JI ■ Visiting Rotarians present were Harry Nasburg, of Marshfield, John E. Runyon, of Roseburg, and John D. Carl and Wallace Dement, of Myr tle Point. Rotarians Hold Song Session , "Unavoidable," Was The Inquest Verdict Coroner W. O. Campbell, District Attorney Ben Flaxel and Dr. J. D. Rankin, who conducted the inquest last Friday over the body of Mrs. C. V. Smith, who was killed when the Coquille mail truck was overturned last Wednesday afternoon, rendered a verdict that the accident was “un avoidable” and thgt there was no criminal negligence -on the »art at ■ Gerald Lillie, who was driving the lagging truck. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Swinney and son, Raymond, came in Saturday from Eagle Point, where they have resided for the past year, and they left again for there yesterday morn ing. George has been a guard at Camp White for^ the past year and while he te Ilot a* drafted nor enlisted man, he wears the uniform and is subject to all Army rules and regu lations while on duty, Ray Jeub last Thursday purchased He mentioned some of th« high prices prevailing around Medford, the F. 8. Emery home on East Second. cherries selling for 15 cents a pound Mr, Emery expects to leave early next and green beans at 11 or 13 oenta. A week to enter upon his duties as man ranch of ten acres belonging to a ager of the pine mill at Elgin in east relative of his recently sold for 1750 gem Oregon and Mrs. Emery will join | him there within a month. t VICTORY GARDEN EXHIBIT: Adult and Junior Division Prizes: 1st, $15; 2nd, $10; 3rd, $7.50; 4th, $5; 5th, $2.50; Sth. $1. Display: Five different vegetables judged on quality, variety, uniformity, market size, condition and attractiveness of display. Reserve space for my Victory’ Garden Display Name Addr< FOOD PRESERVATION BOOTH EXHIBITS by Organizations t Prizes: 1st, $25; 2nd, $15; and $10 or each organization making a dispfijjr creditable display. Display: Any aceptable method of Food Preservation, Including canning, freezing, drying, brining, curing, smoking, etc. Reserve spape for our Food Preservation Exhibit Name of Organization >4< Address ...,. (Fill out this application blank and mail it te Bob Sheedy, Myrtle Point, as soon as possible)