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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1956)
FOURTEEN MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE Bobcats, Cougars Gives Woman In Applegate 'Cat Girl7 By HELGA MITCHELL Newcomers to the Applegate valley are often asked, "Haven't you met the 'Cat girr yet?" Thia question leads to all sorts of inquiries, and finally winds up in crossing-a makeshift winging foot bridge on the Ap plegate rive. There one can meet the "Cat girl," better known as Mrs. Curtis Gerhardt. Her un affected smile enhances her friendliness and one immediate ly feels at ease. The sun tanned face, the cot ton plaid shirt, and the worn blue jeans reveal her zest for liv ing in the outdoors. Cimh Pastures .-. Her house, which is situated on an incline, is surrounded by fir trees and lush green pastures overlooking the river. Entering her rustic living room, attention is immediately captured by the ornaments on the walls. A cou gar skin is on one wall, a bobcat skin on another, and from above the fireplace a huge elk hed omberly looks down. one asKs, "Mrs. lierhardt, is this why you are nicknamed the Cat girl?" She shrugs and re plies, "I don't think those two skins gave me that name, but I think the 107 bobcats and two cougars, that Curt and I have shot may have something to do with it.' - It began six years ago, when Jack, their dog, who had a rep utation of being a "no good :houn dog," tracked down his and her first bobcat. She recalled !her tussle with the underbrush, 'crawling on hands and knees to Jreach the treed cat; the thrill and excitement of shooting her first cat, and the struggle it was to carry home Jack's prize. It was then she started her quest for bobcats .to prove that Jack wasn't a "no good houn dog." Another Raason Another reason she" gave for hunting cats was, when dissect ing them, she found large chunks of fresh deer meat in their stomachs. Today, she has a rec ord of killing 70 bobcats and one cougar within a radius of Don't plan your vacation without this FREE folder VIVID COLOR PHOTOSl j "Jot your free copy, phone or ruin t: liJf J It . i iviearora vepor 212 N. Bartlett r : t i . 1 - Phone 2-2202 Copio alio available from your favorite travel agent.' FOOTLIGHTERS "GOOD HOUSEKEEPING" 3-Act Comedy Opens May 8 for 5 Nights at the FAIRGROUNDS THEATER Work en tht Theater and Winter Weather Have Delayed Our Activities, tut New FOOTLIGHTERS ARE LIGHTING UP AGAIN! Ceme Out and See Hew GOOD HOUSEKEEPING Is Dene ... Smudse ec Ne Smudge! COMPLIMENTS of HUDSON'S PHARMACY MRS. CURTIS Shown With three miles of her home, but she modestly gives all the credit to Jack. Her husband has shot 37 cats and one cougar in the same vicinity. They also have killed more than 500 coons, which have destroyed many farmers' chickens. The Gerhardts' hunting ex periences first started in Kan sas, where they shot coyotes and jackrabbits. In 1940, the Ger hardts won three first prizes within ' nine days at Grants Pass. Curt received a gold tro phy for bringing in a 261-pound deer, the largest ever recorded in Grants Pass at that time. Mrs. Gerhardt won bronze book ends for bringing in the largest antelope in the same city at that time, and Curt obtained first prize for a 54-pound Chi nook salmon caught in the Chet co river, which was then the largest salmon caught in eight years. Day's Catch Among their adventures, Mrs. Gerhardt recalls the time they caught a porcupine, a bobcat, cougar, rattlesnake, and a dig ger squirrel all in one day. There was also the time' when they were driving along a back road and . saw several ' deer and : rab bits standing tamely in the road. They couldn't understand why the animals didn t . run from them, as they usually do. A short Roy Kelly Resigns From CP Council Central Point Roy E. Kelly, veteran city councilman, sub mitted his resignation to the council at a special meeting re cently. The resignation, became effective immediately. Kelly has served as a mem ber of the city council since his election to office in Nov., 1944. During his last term of office, he was serving as chairman of the council, chairman of the finance committee and member of the sewer and water com mittee. s William F. Saxbury was ap pointed to serve the remainder of Kelly's term, which runs un til December. Three ot four ' farms in the U.S. have automobiles; half have motor trucks. - Announce The First Play of The Season ... Sunday, May 6, I9S8 Name GERHARDT Cougar Skin MRS .GERHARDT . Shown With Bobcat time later, they came face to face with their first cougar, and it was then that they understood why the animals had preferred their company to that of their deadly . enemy. That cougar, which received nine holes and a bullet in his lungs, climbed up and down six different trees before it dropped dead. Mrs. Gerhardt encourages hikers who hesitate to enter iso lated mountain areas due to the dangers of wild life, by inform ing them that there is nothing to fear in the mountains, unless it's a mother bear with her cubs. She claims that wildlife will generally flee from humans. Cougar Scream When asked if she ever heard a cougar scream, she replied that she never, had, and that she would have to have it proved that a cougar does scream. Mrs. Gerhardt, known as "Dana", to the Applegate chil dren, has driven the Applegate school bus for the past nine years, and is leader of the 4-H Applegate Fishermen's club. Vice Findings May Be Ready Next Week Portland U.R Attorney General Robert Y. Thornton said Saturday he hoped to have his investigation into vice and rack keteering conditions in Multno mah county completed and his findings ready for the grand jury in the next 10 days. . The attorney general said his office and the state police have been carrying on "an intensive investigation in charges of al leged vice, official misconduct and racketeering" in the county for the last 11 days. He sai dan all-out effort was being made to cover the entire field of inquiry as rapidly as possible. The probe is "of major .pro portions," : Thornton said, and the complexity of the investiga tion will require additional time before the evidenc eis ready to present to the grand jury. ! j vri We've Menu Delights for Tots as well as their parents Top Notch Cafe Next to Craterian Beauty Shop Man Injured When Truck Hits Train Joe Charles Ayoutt, Newpine Creek, Ore., was reported in good condition at Community, hospital Saturday, where he was taken after the truck he was driving collided with a train at 8:35 a.m. Friday. The accident occurred on Cen tral Point Market rd., between Table Rock four corners and Highway 62 four corners, state police said. Officers reported the truck was moving toward Highway 62 about 25 miles per hour. The train, a Medco engine pulling 30 empty log cars and a caboose, was traveling toward Butte Falls, when it hit the right door of the truck, officers said. The truck was pushed 32 feet down the track. Speed of the train was not indicated in the report, though officers stated the train whistle was operating. It was raining at the time of the accident and Ayoutt was unfamiliar with the area, they, reported. Engineer was identified as George Henry Davis, route 2,' box 664, Central Point, and con ductor, Emil Peterson, 52, of 2574 Jacksonville highway. No one on the train was injured.' State police said the train was slightly damaged and the truck was badly wrecked. Details on Ayoutt's injuries were not available. Car, Truck Collide Near Prospect Friday Jerry Raymond Troxel,' 19, of 1680 Camp Baker rd., Medford, was released from Sacred Heart hospital Friday . after being treated for minor injuries suf fered when his car collided with a truck at about 3:38 p.m. a few miles, west of Prospect on High way 62. State police reported Troxel was attempting ' to pass . the truck, operated by James Cecil Wilson, 35, Trail, when Wilson made a left turn- Troxel's ve hicle hit the truck, went into a ditch and rolled over, officers said.' ; Both vehicles were east bound. No one else was reported in jured in the accident. Passengers in Troxel's car 'were Duane A. Brood, 19, route 1, box 420, Medford, Thelma Jean Cox, ,16, of 1245 Morrow, rd., Medford, and Norma jean Evans, 16, of 145 Norths Third . St., Central Point. Only passenger in Wil son's' truck was Lawrence Les ter Anderson, 18, Trail. Troxel was taken to the hos pital - by Medford Ambulance service. - . ' Buffe Falls Marshal Submits Resignation " David Smjth, Butte Falls, said Friday he, submitted his resig nation as Butte Falls marshal to the mayor because he failed to get "backing" from the coun cil. . .. Smith said the action was the result of a case.. in Jackson county district court Thursday in which a jury unanimously found Andrew Hamstra, 36, Butte Falls, innocent of assault and battery.. . ' ' Smith, who signed the com plaint against Hamstra, said he asked Hamstra to move his car from a crosswalk in Butte Falls last December. Hamstra, Smith claimed, struck him with his fists. Smith . said he resigned be cause the council was not pres ent to "back, him up," and claimed Hamstra was found in nocent on that basis. The council probably will con sider Smith's resignation at the next meeting Thursday night. Hamstra was represented by Edward . C. and Noreen Kelly, Medford father-and-daughter at torneys. Local Woman Author Of Paper Article Mrs. Melvin Fader, 1897 Kings highway, Medford, is author of an article in the April 24 issue of the Christian Science Monitor concerning the role the television set should play in the household. In the article, Mrs. Fader ex plained, "The first problem we noticed was the sudden disap pearance of the quiet, calm peace of our home." Because the set was always on chores were ne glected, then the children were neglected and finally it came to either sending the set back or working out an acceptable; rou tine, Mrs. Fader added. A routine was worked out, Mrs. Fader stated, and the situa tion was reversed to work tele vision to fit the schedule. 1 1 " " iiiw TWO-FOLD PURPOSE This obsolete phone apparatus, one of two involved in an eighth grade science project at Prospect school, has proved to be a worthwhile subject. Students, who watched repair and installation of the communication medium, got first hand knowledge while the instructor, an expectant father, kept in touch with proceedingi at home. Telephone Line Installed Between Schoolroom, Home Prospect A twtf-way direct telephone line, recently installed as a science project for Prospect eighth graders, has accomplish ed a two-fold purpose. The idea originated, with the students, who desired to ease the mind of theuv instructor, Richard A. Price, an expectant father. Mrs. Price had no way of getting in touch with him, other than walking the half-mile from their home to the school. Thus, the class acquired two antiquated . crank-style phones. After both phones. were repair ed, one was installed in the eighth grade room and the other in the kitchen of Price's home.! Whistle Wira Used Michael Burrill obtained a half-mile of whistle wire with which the phones were connect High School Students Are Honored by Elks Club Here High school students partici pating in youth leadership and scholarship contests and Student Government Day, sponsored by the Medfford Elks lodge, were honored at the annual National Youth Day ceremony at the Elks temple here Thursday. Dick Woodcock, exalted ruler, expressed the lodge's apprecia tion to the young . people and their parents for achievements through the school year, and for participation in Elks activities. Engraved wrist watches, were presented to students who' won leadership and scholarship con tests by Jack Thompson, of the Elks youth activties. committee. First place winners in . the leadership contest, were Nathan Douthit and Vicki Noel, both of Crater High in Central Point, while Carol Denman and Ruth Kellington, both of ' Medford, and Sharon Lee James, of Phoe nix received honorable mention. .Scholarship contest winners were Douthot, who ' received a cash award in lieu of a second watch, and Nancy McKeown of Medford. Honorable , mention went to James Korth and San dra Owens, both of Phoenix, David G a u 1 1, Medford, and Donna Eskew of Crater High. Medford city councilman Stanley Jones, who gave the principal address, compared the observance of May Day in a democratic society with similar celebrations in communist1 dom inated countries. He compared the way of life of young people and their future in the two soci eties. ' , Special Tributes Woodcock paid special tribute to the late Diamond X,. Flynn, and Mrs. Joanne Shith, head of the social studies department at Medford High school, who were TAKE AWAY HAMBURGERS New Open Under Management of Marjerie Wall' CHILDEN'S SPECIAL Hamburger, Fries and Shake TAKE AWAY SPECIAL Hamburger with trimming , Fries and a Shake SUPER DELUXE TAKE AWAY QDEPIAl Hamburger with cheese, peanut OrCUlHk butter & trimmings, plus a shake We Will Start Serving Breakfast at 7 a.m. Tuesday CLOSED MONDAYS TAKE AWAY HAMBURGERS 831 So. Central and 830 So. Riverside - wewwapwpyiiiyewweeM ed. The wire ,extends from the phone in the eighth grade room, over, the . top of the school, through numerous trees, through the kitchen window of Price's home, thence to the other phone. . Both phones are in excellent working . order, according to Price, whose frequent visitors delight in using the old style ap paratus. ' The telephones were repaired and installed during the eight grade science period,, giving the class first hand knowledge of Bell's 'mechanism. Incidentally, the Prices be came parents of a IVi pound boy on April 28 at Community hos pital. Mother and son are doing well and, thanks to the direct- line phone, the father is expect ed to survive. ' principals in initiating the pro gram in Medford eight years ago. Special tribute . also was extended Mrs.- Una B. Inch,, as sistant ' county "school - superin tendent, who was principally in volved in extending the program through county schools in ' the Medford Elks jurisdictional area. Schools participating in the program in the . jurisidctional area include Medford, St. Mary's of Medford,.., Phoenix, Jackson ville,: Crater High., in Central Point, Eagle Point, Prospect and Butte Falls.' . .' - Refreshments were served in the Elks temple basement fol lowing the .ceremony. . Hitchcock Speaks In Tillamook Friday Tillamook U.R) Phil Hitchcock told a Tillamook-audience of about 80 persons Fri day night that Oregonians should send to 1 Washington a senator willing to stay in office "to build up seniority and pres tige for his state." .The Republican United States senatorial candidate discounted the value of being on a "first name" basis with Washington officials. Hitchcock said no door had even been closed to - him "because I don't know the man on the. other side by his first name." The candidate, who said he had been meeting about 2,000 people a week in his barnstorm ing campaign, praised young vo ters he said were supporting his candidacy. - - v. The Republican party of Ore gon "must pay more attention to appeal to first-time voters," he said. .: .- '-. ' ... 35 50 70 In County JACKSON SCHOOL Health Day, May 4, at Jackson school was a day of enthusiastic competition. Lee Ragsdale, physical educa tion supervisor, Miss Olive Cur ry, school nurse, and Tom New ton physical education teacher at Jackson school, had to use keen judgement in choosing the winner of the posture contest. Two students from each room competed for the coveted prize. The winners were Bernice Bal comb, third grade, and Ben Wilmoth, first grade. Every child in Jackson school participated in a race. Winners of the races were: First grade First, Shawn Lees; second, Tommy Campbell; third, Larry Barr. Second grade First, Buzzy Curry; second, Rebecca Glines; third, Kent Ste vens. Third grade First, Lor raine LeFaive; second, Ricky Templeton; third, Mike Barker. Fourth grade First, Barbara Danczek; second, Sherry Mor- Glenn Klein Named To IFYE Committee Glenn Klein, 735 Dakota ave., has been named as a member of the equipment committee for the fifth annual International Farm Youth Exchange confer ence to be held at Estes Park, Colo., August 7-10, according to Miss Fern , Johnson, Cedar City, Utah, chairman of the National IFYE conference. Klein was a 1951 IFYE to New Zealand where he lived with farm families. The IFYE is a "grassroots" program aimed at building a stronger foundation of understanding for world peace. MM i r I HrCI 0 f& hl jpN&f """"" WINS NATIONAL CONTEST Mrs. Marie E. Dizney, 360 South Second st., Central Point, pictured, above left,-is shown as she re ceived the keys to an Oldsmobile Super "88" Holiday coupe which she won in a national Safeway stores contest. Giving her the keys is T. C. Carter, manager of the Bartlett st., Safeway store, and at the right is Art Nordquist, manager of the West Main st., store. In the background is Darrell M. Miller of the Darrell Miller com pany, Oldsmobile dealer. Mrs. Dizney, a school teacher for 50 years before retiring in 1952 plans to do some traveling with her new car. She taught school in Central Point for about 10 years before her retirement and is a past secretary of Jackson county chapter," Retired .Teachers association. . Mrs. ' Dizney won the contest by completing a statement concerning why she liked Skylark bread, 3 Safeway stores product.--(Brainerd photo) Tribe WCDdDIIDIEM SQDflDE Is NOW Featuring For Your Dining and Dancing Pleasure . . . The Finest in Entertainment . Seven Nights a Week! SUNDAY NIGHTS ONLY From 7 P.M. Until 12 Midnight The Outstanding ... "BOB ANDERSON TRIO" And Held Over by Popular Demand THE LOVABLE BLAKELYS SIXTH AND Schools... ris; third, Ronald McGuire. Fifth grade First, Mike Glines; sec--ond, Herbert Vallee; third, Car ol Mason. Sixth grade First, Judy Jones; second, George Clearwater; third Joe Griffin. On April 27, the students of Jackson school voted for school officers for the year 1956-1957. After a campaign of lectures and posters the officers elected are: President, Grant Schroeder; vice-president, Jimmy Powers; secretary, Shelley White; treas urer, Connie Hum; yell leaders, Mary Margaret Barr and Lynda Grimes. Voting was done by the secret ballot method. Esles, Adlai Won't Appear on Same Stand Portland U.R) Adlai Ste venson's campaign leaders Sat urday squelched plans to put Stevenson and Estes Kefauver on the same speakers platform in Eugene on May 15. Both candidates for the Dem will be in Eugene the same day and Lane county Democrats were bent on seeing them to gether as an expression of party unity. Both are campaigning for write-in votes in Oregon's" May 18 primary election. Hy Haskin, Chicago attorney handling Stevenson's campaign strategy in the state, greeted the proposal with a flat "No." He said he saw no reason why the Stevenson organization should provide Kefauver with a speak ing platform. (7 .'41 Bill & Jan Entertaining Every MONDAY Thru SATURDAY From" 9 P.M. Until 2 A.M. Located in the Holland Hotel FIR STREETS