TWELVE MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sunday, March 13, 193S
MERCY FLIGHTS' EQUIPMENT S h o w n
above are the three major items of equipment
owned by Mercy Flights, Inc., Jackson coun
ty's non-profit air ambulance service. At left
Is the Stinson Reliant air ambulance, used
for operation from small fields and as a
standby plane when the other aircraft is in
service. In the hangar is the twin-engine
Cessna, which carries most of Mercy Flights'
patients, and Is a veteran of thousands of
miles of ambulance service. The hangar itself
is a major item of equipment, being owned
outright by the organization. It was con
structed entirely by volunteer workmen,
and includes office and storage space. The
city of Medford furnishes the airport space at
a SI annual rental. A fund for eventual re
placement of the planes is being set up by
Mercy Flights, which is increasing its pre
paid subscription charge to $4 per family per
year. Details are told in the accompanying
story.
EVdercy SFOSghts Announces Plans
For Price, (Operation Changes
Mercy Flights, Inc., Jackson
county's non-profit air ambul
ance organization, Saturday an
nounced plans for administra
tive changes which will guaran
tee continuation of its service
The group's air ambulances
last week carried the 334th pa
tient an average of nearly l'4
flights per week since service
was started just over five years
ago.
The non-profit corporation
has grown from nothing but an
idea to a responsible organiza
tion with assets totaling several
thousand dollars, including a
metal hangar at the Medford air
port, a twin-engine Cessna air
craft, a single-engine Stinson
aircraft, both converted to am
bulance planes by the use of
stretchers and big loading doors,
and considerable radio, first aid
and other equipment.
To maintain its planes in top
condition, and to plan for future
purchase of replacement planes,
the group's board of directors
has found It necessary to in
crease its pre-paid subscription
charge to $4 per family per
year. Subscription will be $2 for
individuals.
The income from this higher
fee will permit the corporation
to set up a fund for the purchase
of replacement planes, which
will become necessary some
time in the future, and will
allow continuance of mainten
ance and operations at the pres
ent level.
The pre-paid subscription
plan "saved" Mercy Flights
from going -bankrupt when it
was first instituted in 1951 about
a year and a half after service
was first started, arid provided
It with a regular and reliable
source of income. Prior to that,
the only income was from flight
charges, which were irregular.
And since Mercy Flights has
never turned down a patient for
inability to pay, the corpora
tion once or twice was in debt
with no prospects of getting out.
Four Service Classes
r our classes of service are
now offered:
1.. For subscribers, emer
gency ambulance service, cer
tified as necessary by a doc
tor, within a 400 mile radius
(this includes Seattle and San
Francisco), is free on both
the planes.
2. For subscribers, non-emergency
but necessary ambu
lance service is available at a
rate of 25 cents per mile one
way in the Cessna and 17
cents in the Stinson.
3. For non-subscribers liv
ing in Jackson county, the rate
is 35 cents per mile in the
Cessna and 25 cents in the
Stinson.
4. For nor.-subscribers liv
ing outside of Jackson county
the rate is 50 cents for the
Cessna; 35 cents for the Stin
son. Out-of -county flights are
made only in medical emergen
cies, and only when other air
transportation is unavailable. As
a non-profit corporation, Mercy
Flights does not compete with
commercial operators. Its flights
are limited strictly to ambulance
operations.
Pilots Net Small Pay
When the service began op
erations, the pilots were unpaid.
Since the demand , for the ser
vice has increased, however, and
the calls for pilots are more
and more frequent, they are
paid at a rate of 3 cents per mile
which in most cases does not
compensate them for the time.
All pilots are volunteers, and
all observe strict flight safety
regulations. All are qualified
and experienced in the type of
flying done.
Other phases of the operation
being changed includes the bond
ing of company officers who
handle funds of the organiza
tion; the centralization of record-keeping,
and setting up of
a new accounting system. Offic
ers believe these steps together
with the increase in rates to
provide needed income, will in
sure the stability and safety of
the organization.
Billings Now Up
Billings going out this month
will be for the increased am
ount which is still felt to be a
small amount for the type of
protection and service offered.
There are 12 directors who
are responsible for the opera
tion of the organization. They
include George Milligan, who is
also founder, chairman and
chief pilot of Mercy Flights;
Mrs. Jeanette Thatcher Mar
shall, secretary; Dr. L. Paul
Walker, vice-chairman, and Eric
Allen Jr., treasurer, and Dr. C.
Drummond, Seth Bullis, Mrs.
Stephen Nye, Frank Perl, Vern
Smith, George Flanagan, Har
old Frye, and Joseph Burns.
Burns was recently elected to
the board to succeed Dick
Woods, who moved from Med
ford.
A chief pilot's committee,
which assists in the formulation
and enforcement of safety fly
ing regulations, consists of Gene
Kooser and John Childers, both
Mercy Flights pilots. A techni
cal advisory committee, respon
sible for plane maintenance, in
cludes Milligan, Kooser, Chil
ders, Allen and Burns. The
corporation's executive commit
tee, which makes policy decis
ions between board meetings,
consists of the four officers.
2
I X K Iks f fevV - 1
OPEN HOUSE TODAY Shown above are
five ambulatory patients and staff members
at the Park View Nursing home, 906 West
Main st., where an open house is planned to
day. Ambulatory patients, who are seated,
are, left to right, Mrs. Maude Edwards, Mrs.
Alma Heilman, Mrs. Sarah Hedberg, Mrs.
Nora Jbnes. and Mrs. Margaret Burroughs.
Standing, left to right, are staff members in
cluding Mrs. Anna Tonn. Mrs. Juanita Atkins,
Mrs. Elizabeth Reed, Mrs. Vevia Grigsby,
Mrs. Rowena Cury, registered nurse and su
pervisor; A. J. Curry, business manager; Mrs.
Jeannette Chapman, Mrs. Esther Erickson,
and Mrs. Ethel Hoefft. Although the open
house is planned for today, the Park View
Nursing home has regular visiting hours and
visitors are welcome, according to Mr. and
Mrs. Curry, owners and operators of the
home. Park View Nursing home is not asso
ciated with the Nursing Home association,
members of which are also holding open
house today. (Brainerd Photo)
Disaster Unit Plans
Talked by Red Cross
Ten disaster units, with
some 100 people active in man
ning them and about 250 per
sons trained for the job, have
been set up in Jackson county,
Mrs. O. A. Eden, chairman for
the disaster plan, reported to
the board of directors of the
county Red Cross chapter last
week
She pointed out that the pro
gram has a great importance in
peacetime, as well as during
war in connection with civil
defense. The floods in the
Rogue valley of three years
ago alerted the Red Cross
to the need for trained units,
Mrs. Eden said, and as a re
sult a representative of the na
tional organization came here
to help plan and set up the un
its. Chairmta Named
Primary responsibility of a
disaster unit is in furnishing
food, clothing and shelter to
persons made homeless during
an emergency. Chairmen for
various disaster services are Col.
H. J. Meiring, food; John Graff,
clothing; Robert Temple, hous
ing; H. Pringle, transportation,
and Ken MacDonald, communi
cations.
Mrs. Eden said that section
chiefs have been appointed in
all communities of the county
to arrange for mass care, and
the Granges are cooperating,
offering their halls as centers
for feeding, clothing and hous
ing.
The chairman closed by point
ing out that the Red Cross has
more and more come to be a
symbol of self help.
Touches All
It has touched all our lives
at some time," she said. "The
Red Cross taught us our first
aid. The Red Cross taught our
children to swim. The Red Cross
stood by our sons on the battle
field. And whenever disaster
struck flood, fire or storm
the Red Cross was there. We
have not hesitated to take," she
concluded, "we should not hes
itate to give."
Mrs. J. W. Burba, blood pro
gram chairman, reported that
the bloodmobile's next visit will
be on April 6, and that 240 pints
of blood are needed. For this
one visit only, the place has been
changed to the Medford YWCA
building, she said.
Aid Station Set Up
First Aid Chairman Leroy
Williams reported that the coun
ty's first roadside first aid sta
tion was set up in the Shady
Cove area on March 3. He also
reported that a class for instruc
tors has been started in Ashland,
and that a recent refresher
course here had 24 instructors in
attendance. The fire department
has completed a refresher
course, and state police here will
soon have its patrol cars equip
ped with portable first aid kits,
Williams said. He added that
within two weeks, the entire
personnel of the Ashland fire
department will have had first
aid training.
The work being done by the
Gray Lady service in the commu
nity was discussed by Mrs. John
Day, representing volunteer ser
vices. She stressed the import
ance of the work, especially with
blind people, and said that new
recruits are needed. She report
ed that seven representatives of
the local chapter attendd a hos
pital council meeting in Rose
burg recently.
Take Service Course
All home service volunteer
workers took a one-day course in
service to veterans last week,
under the direction of Max No
vak, Portland, field director of
the Veterans Administration re
gional office, it was. reported by
Mrs. Frank Fairweather.
Col. C. E. Stafford was intro
duced as a newly elected mem
ber of the board. It was announc
ed that Mrs. Lillian Salade has
been appointed alternate repre
sentative to the hospital council,
and that Edward Branchfield
has been named representative
to the United Medford Crusade,
with Manville Heisel as alter
nate.
Dr. Elmo Stevenson, vice-pres
ident, was in charge of the meet
ing.
'OPERATION ICICLE READIED Plans for
supplying members of 'Operation Icicle,' in
which 34 scouts and four adult leaders will
spend five days in the snow-covered Lake O
Woods country, were being made last week.
Test-loading a plane which will be used to
air-drop supplies to the scouts are Bob Frazer
and Mike Bauer, member of Explorers Post 8,
Bill McNeel, advisor to the post, and Gene
Kooser, who will pilot the air-drop plane,
owned by George brothers' Rogue Aircraft
service. Two groups of boys, one from the
Big Pines district of the Medford-Ashland
area, and the other from Grants Pass and
Cave Junction, will ski and snowshoe into the
lake this week. (Photo by Frank Btsh Jr.)
'Operation Icicle Scout Trip
Through Snow, Set This Week
"Operation Icicle," a five-dav
trip during which 34 Explorer
Sccuts and four adult leaders
will ski and snowshoe into the
Home Safety Session
Planned on March 25
Plans for an area-wide home
safety conference, to be held at
Southern Oregon college Friday,
March 25, were studied and dis
cussed at a meeting of the Med
ford Safety council Friday noon.
A film on home safety was
shown by Miss Dorothy Huskey,
health educator of the county
health department.
Dr. William Thompson will be
chairman of the one-day confer
ence assisted by Miss Eula Win-
termote of the county extension
service.
Sponsors Told
Sponsoring the conference
will be a number of organiza
tions including the Safety comi
cal. Other sponsors include the
Jackson County Public Health
association, the Jackson County
Council for Children and Youth,
the Josephine and Klamath
county health departments, the
state board of health and the
UNICEF Film To Be Shown in Medford
"Assignment Children," a
short motion picture featuring
Danny Kaye and a number of
children in Asia, will start a
showing at the Holly theater
today. It will run through March
17.
The film was made under the
auspices of the United Nations
International Children's Emer
gency fund, and was produced
on a non-profit basis by Para
mount pictures. It shows the
work UNICEF is doing for sick
and undernourished children in
Asia, and Kaye, who appeared
in the film voluntarily while
qu a tour of the Far East, was
designated as UNICEF "ambas-sador-at-large."
Proceeds from showings of the
picture go to UNICEF aid work.
It is being shown with the fea
ture film. "Captain Lightfoot."
The short subject runs for 20
minutes, and is in color.
" According to those acquainted
with the film, it "is more than
a motion picture," it is a
learn that governments and
people are determined that the
means by which millions will
children of tomorrow will "be
healthier oiid happier than any
preceding generations."
The average worker in the
United States loses seven and a
half days a year because of tem
porary illness, reports a Twen
tieth Century fund study.
36 Fire Alarms Here
In February Lisled
A total of 36 alarms were an
swered during February by
Medford city firemen. Nine
alarms were sounded for the
rural district.
Fire Chief Gordon Barker in
his monthly report said there
were thirteen fires in dwellings,
1 hotel. 1 auto court, 7 trash, 10
gasoline spills, 3 miscellaneous
calls and 1 false alarm.
Equipment was in service a
total of 11 hours 57 minutes. A
total of 107 hours of drill and
school was conducted at the stations.
In the rural district, six dwell
ings were involved in minor
Business Names
Status Changes
Three business names have
been filed in the office of the
Jackson county clerk, and two
retirements from assumed busi
ness names have been listed,
according to clerk's records.
Floy Kucera, James M. Sims,
and Don Kucera have filed the
assumed business name Kucera
and Sims, for a logging business
with an address of Route 1,
Applegate.
The assumed business name
Boner Candy Service, with an
address of Box 1143, Phoenix,
has been filed by Howard G.
Boner and Johnaca T. Boner.
Earl E. Nill has filed the as
sumed busines name Hiway Fur
niture Exchange, with a Central
Point address.
Gordon S. MacKenzie has re
tired from the assumed business
name Gordon MacKenzie Phoe
nix Agency.
Notice of retirement for the
assumed business name Manley
and Offord Logging Company
has been filed by Earl M. Man
ley and Ray Offord Jr.
fires and three trash or grass
fires occurred.
Equipment was out on rural
alarms for a total of five hours
and three minutes.
Jackson county extension serv
ice.
Principal speaker, it was an
nounced, will be Dr. Harry F.
Dietrich, Beverly Hills, Calif., a
nationally-recognized authority
on child safety practices. Other
speakers will include Lawrence
Beauchamp, chairman of "Safety
Limited" in Camas, Wash.,
Claude Haggard, safety engineer
for the California Oregon Pow-
ed company, and Dr. Ralph Sul
livan, of the state board of
health, as well as others.
To Study Intersection
At the council meeting,.a com
mittee was appointed to study
means of improving the safety
of the intersection of Highway
62 and the Camp White turnoff,
where there was a recent traffic
fatality.
The council also passed a reso
lution asking the city council to
initiate means of utilizing radar
traffic control in Medford, which
the Safety council has agreed to
help underwrite.
Allan Cameron, chairman of
the council, presided.
A
INSTRUCTOR Capt. Paul
Parson, above, .head of the
southwest Oregon state police
district, Medford, will give in
struction in. the laws of arrest,
search and seizure during the
advanced police training school
now under way at the Medford
city hall. Captain Parson's lec
ture is scheduled for tomorrow.
It is the second in a series of
eight classes being held here
sponsored by the Oregon Asso
ciation of City Police Officers
and the Oregon State Sheriffs
association.
Returned to Medford
Dr. ROBT. E. LEE, Optometrist
OFFICES NOW OPEN AT THE
BIG Y MARKET BUILDING
1912 N. Pacific Hwy. ' Phon. 3-5923
EASY PARKING '
Copco's Net Income
For Year Reported
Toialing $3,008,704
Net income of the California
Oregon Power company for the
year ending Dec. 31, 1954, was
$3,008,704, or $1.86 a share, ac
cording to figures released by
the firm this week.
The total does not include
charges, among them preferred
dividends of $407,658. Per share
figures are based on a total of
1,620,462 shares of common
stock outstanding.
The 1954 incomes compared
with earnings of $2,286,212 after
all charges, equal to $1.76 per
share, earned in 1953 on 1,300,
000 outstanding shares, accord
ing to A. S. Cummins, Copco
president.
Gross revenue for Copco dur
ing 1954 amounted to $17,046,
937, an increase of $2,691,823, or
18.75 per cent over 1953.
Copco's federal, state and local
taxes reached an alltime high in
1954, according to Cummins. The
firm's total taxes, which amount
ed to $4,124,840, were 47.39 per
cent greater than the year's total
operating salaries and wages,
44.49 per cent greater than all
dividends to stockholders, and
were equal to about 24 cents of
every revenue dollar.',
Expenditures for new con
struction and improvements dur
ing the year totaled $12,196,058,
and expansion of electric prop
erty, plant and equipment de
signed to meet present and fu
ture power . requirements will
continue to be a major activity
of the company, Cummins stated.
MANAGER CHOSEN
Portland U.R) Bonneville
Power Administrator William
A. Pearl has announced the ap
pointment of Thomas E. Black
as manager of the Portland area
office, and Loren A. Moore as
manager of the Eugene district
otiice. The appointments will be
come effective March 14.
Lake O' Woods area, will begin
this week.
It is the third annual trip in
to snow country, and will have
the largest number of scouts
alcng, according to George Fre
deen, Grants Pass, who is in
charge.
Ski Seven Miles
The boys, who come from
the Big Pines and Roaring
Rogue districts, will enter the
lake area from the Klamath
Falls side. They will go by car
as far as possible, and will
use skis and snowshoes for about
seven miles. The first night
will be spent in the Boy Scout
camp hospital building, where
there are facilities for cooking
and heating.
The second day they will go
to the area known variously as
Calamity Flats, and Cold Springs
at the base of Mt. McLoughlin,
for two nights. Igloos and other
shelters, such as snow caves,
tunnels between trees and bur
rows, will be used for protection
from the weather. Instructions
in camping in snow and cold
weather will be given!
Will Drop Food
Food supplies will be drop
ped from an airplane flying out
of Medford at both campsites.
Gene Kooser will pilot the
George Brothers' plane for the
airdrops, and radio contact be
tween the plane and the Scouts
will be maintained. '
Al Hanson, of the Rogue Riv
er National forest, has supervis
ed preparation and packing for
the parachute drops, and the
forest service is furnishing the
chutes.
The fourth night will be spent
back at base camp, where a
ceremony will bq conducted in
recognition of the boys' snow
training, camping and rescue
work.
Adult Leaders
In addition to Fredeen, who
is camping chairman for the
scout district in Grants Pas,
the adult leaders will be Rob
ert Cotton, Grants Pass, advisor
to Post 22; William McNeel, ad
visor, and Jerry Conner, assis
tant advisor. Post 8, Medford.
The scouts are from Illinois
Valley Troop 70: Explorer
Post 24, Jerome Prairie, 22,
Grants Pass, Squadron 83 and
Ship 88, Grants Pass, and Post
8. Squadron 14. and Troop 9,
Medford, and Troop 112, Ash
land. The Josephine and Jackson
county groups will go in sep
arately, the first on Wednesday,
returning Sunday, and the sec
ond on Thursday, returning
Monday.
Previous Years
The first year of "Operation
Icicle" had 12 scouts from
Grants Pass making the trip.
Last year 20 explorers from
Grants Pass, Medford and Ash
land were along. Fred McMul
lin, field executive in Grants
Pass, was leader the first year
and was along last ' year. Free
deen has been on each of the
trips.
Four years ago a group of 14.
Explorer Scouts from Medford
camped on the Butte Falls side
of Mt. McLoughlin in a winter
survival camp, where they took
only flour, salt and shortening
for food, and killed a porcupine
to stretch out their supplies.
This- trip did not involve the
distances of "Operation Icicle,"
however, and lasted only three
days.
Annual St. Patrick's
HAM DINNER
TODAY, March 13 Noon to 5 P.M.
Parish Hall - 326 S. Oakdale
Tickets $1.50 Special Rates for Children
Sponsored by St. Anne's Altar Society
irs run jo
"Eating Our" ... an occasion for the youngsters ... a
vacation for Mom ... a pleasure for alii
For a variety of tasty, wholesome menu delights, expertly
prepared and pleasantly served choose one of the
restaurants listed below and
DONT FORGET TO ASK FOR-
Maury's Corner
Eaton's Dinner House
Trailways Cafe
Hotel Medford
Lulu's Cafe
El Rogue Cafe
Red Streak Cafe
Rogue Valley Country Club
Busy Bee Cafe
Holiday Inn Coffee Shop
Steak House Cafe
"The Pick-Up That
Never Lets You
Down"
AT NO
EXTRA COST!
Hotel Jackson
Brown's Cafe
Wimer Cafe
Whistle Stop Cafe
Big Y Super Market
Kim's Restaurant
Top Notch Cafe
Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop
Al White's Rogue Restaurant
Groceteria
Other restaurant or cafes wishing to cooperate and be included on our future ads Call Med
ford 2-8212. Ad paid by Milk Producers League and Jackson County Pomona Grange.