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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 30, 1959)
o o 4, 4) M REFUSE EFFUSION Medford residents -have pitched into the citywide "clean-up" : today with a vengeance, and cleaner-uppers : reportedly are swamped with tree-trim-. mings, grass clippings, cardboard boxes and .at least one old refrigerator. Four city trucks and two from City Sanitary service manned by firemen were making their ap DA Rules That All Bids on Sheriff's Cars Be Thrown Out - All bids on five cars for the Jackson county sheriffs de partment should be thrown out, according to recommen dations from the district at torney's office. - Deputy District Attorney Geftld Scannell said he would make that recommendation to the county court when he pre sents his opinion this after noon. According to state law, all bids must be advertised for at least one week, Scan nell stated. The last publica tion must be made at least live days before the bids are opened. The county court did not do this, he pointed out. The court has yet to study the opinion and reach a deci sion. ' BcporUd as Too Light J - The question involved was whether the court had to ac cept the low bids of DeLeigh Motors, Medford, at a total price of $10,472.25 ftr five : Studebaker Larks. Sheriff Joe Walsh has insisted that the Larks are too light for high speed travel over rough coun ty roads as required of depu ties' cars. However, the cars Boats to Patrol r ...-- (Recreation Spots A boat patrol at water rec . reation spot3 in Jackson coun ty will be operating over the Fourth of July week end, ' Sheriff Joe Walsh said today. He said such a patrol was operating on Emigrant reser voir and at Savage Rapids Idam on the Rogue river last week end and was well re ceived by the public. Two boats were on patrol, jjperated by special deputies "of the Rogue Aqua Ski club, Jast week end. Probably the same number of boats will be patrolling this week end, the sheriff said. Each boat has a uniformed regular sheriffs teputy assigned to it, he add gd, and flies a special pennant. No arrests will be made ex cept for serious violations, tWalsh said. Only verbal warn ings were issued last week end and those persons who received them seemed to take them well, he said. Boaters and especially boat landing operators, appreciated having a patrol to watch over their safety, the sheriff added. Residents Complain Of Equipment Noise Construction crews on the Rogue Valley Manor project atop Barneburg hill last night worked after hours without permission from city hall, ac cording to a report received by Medford police. t John Jay Gomer, 2456 Nieto way, reportedly called Jhe police department about 10 p.m. Monday to report the noise from excavation equip Xhent at the manor site a block Sway. A city patrolman reported aetting in touch half an hour feter -with Heber Joel Mem mott, 331 South Ivy st., iden tified as the foreman on the job. The patrolman - quoted Memmott as saying his com pany had a permit from the city. to work after 7 p.m. since it had to meet a deadline. But City Manager Robert A?Duff today denied that the company had been granted such permission. According to city ordinance 3440, such "construction worfe must halt at 6 pjn. except with special permission from the city council. '.. Washington (UPD -. Presi dent Eisenhower will hold a sews conference at 6 a.m. pst) Wednesday. 2-- had apparently met bid speci fications as issued to the pros pective bidders." County Judge ' Earl Miller said yesterday that a clause in all letters sent to prospec tive bidders stated that the county could accept or reject all bids. However, the district attorney's office was asked for, a legal opinion to guide the county court in its deci sion. Variety of Cars County Judge Miller said Thursday he had hoped that the county could purchase a variety of cars in the low priced range which could be compared for costs and opera tion during the next several months. Judge Miller said yesterday that he had spoken for the county court and that County Commissioner Ralph James had agreed with his Thursday statement. However, yesterday the car purchase issue reached an ex plosive point when Miller and County Commissioner Chester Wendt saw a statement James had issued to press and radio. In the statement James denied that he had agreed with the county judge's statement Thursday. He said the county court must accept the bid of DeLeigh Motors. Meanwhile, Sheriff Walsh said the car question must be settled by tomorrow, July 1, and the start of the new fiscal year. Deputies who have been using personal cars for their work and are to use the five promised county-owned cars have either sold or made ar rangements to sell their cars by the first of July, Walsh said. If a decision- is not reach ed soon the deputies would be without any cars, he added. NEW SWITCHBOARD City Manager Robert Duff (right) and Gilbert Gutjahr, administrative assistant, watch as Miss Marie Johnson tries out the new. PBX switchboard at the Medford city hall. Starting tomorrow morning all city hall offices may.be reached by dialing SPring 3-7355. Fire alarm and police numbers will not be affected by the switchboard, Duff explained. Miss Johnson is one of two employees who will operate the PBX system. City Departments May Be Reached At Medford's city hall business telephone numbers will be consolidated under one num ber, SPring 3-7355, at 8 ajn. tomorrow, according to Pa cific Telephone Manager J. H. Creager. The new city number will enable the public to reach city departments by dialing a sin gle number, Creager ex plained. Night answering features are also provided by the new dial telephone system which the " telephone company has installed. The after-hour calls will be automatically switch pointed rounds with all possible dispatch, but observers agreed that chances for com pleting the pickup routes today were slim indeed. The refuse is being taken to City Sanitary's dump near Jacksonville, where it will be burned. Pickups will continue un til visits have been made to all residences, City Manager Robert A. Duff said at noon. (Knackstedt photo) Hospital Rates To Increase Here Tomorrow The minimum ward rate in the two Medford hospitals will increase $1.25 per day tomor row when wage increases go into effect for both profes sional and non-professional hospital employees, hospital officials reported today. The minimum ward rate at both Sacred Heart and Rogue Valley hospitals will go to $19.75. Dr. Paul T. Rutter, owner of Medford Osteopathic hos pital, reported that they "are endeavoring 'not to raise the present minimum ward rate of $16." Sister Luke of Sacred Heart and Charles Gustafson of Rogue Valley hospitals, ad ministrators, explained that the raise is necessary due to salary increases. They added that approximately 75 per cent of the hospitals' budgets are for salaries. The increase in cost of essential surgical supplies arid equipment was also given as a reason for the rate boost. . . Dr. Rutter explained that the Osteopathic hospital would be able to maintain their pres ent rates at least until they move into their new hospital in Central Point. He added that groundbreaking is expect ed on the building approxi mately Aug. 1. - Similar ward rate increases have been reported in other parts of the state and Wash ington. Assistant Secretary Of Navy Confirmed Washington-(UPD-The Senate today confirmed the nomina tion of James Henry Wakelin Jr., of New Jersey, as Assist ant Secretary of the Navy. One Number ed to an answering location. When the new PBX goes into operation, city officials will be able to dial other city offices direct. Fire alarm and police num bers will not change. After the changeover, the fire chiefs office number will be come SPring 3-7355 during the hours from 8 a.m. to 5 pjn., and after 5 p.m. he can be reached by dialing SPring 3-6653. . Operators serving the new" PBX will be Mrs. Shirley Thompson and " Miss Marie Johnson. . 1 W IIMI w M !54th 16 Pages y;ave .isms Pemnio Appling, Hatfield Praise Work of Party Chairman Autopsy Planned To Determine Cause Salem-(UPD-Dave Epps, chair man of the Democratic State Central Committee and an ac tive party worker for 30 years, died suddenly here last night. He was 52. He had entered Salem Me morial hospital for treatment of a recurrence of ulcers. It was believed he died of a perforated ulcer, but an au topsy was scheduled for to day. Secretary of State Howell Appling, a Republican, com mented; "While we differed sharply in political philosophy I re spect the fact that he fought hard, openly and unceasingly for the things in which he believed. Strong Leader Lost "His aspirations for govern ment have lost a strong lead er. His friends in both politi cal parties have lost a most personable companion. His family has lost a devoted father and husband. I extend sincerest condolences to his family and to his many friends everywhere." Gov. Mark Hatfield said: "Dave. Epps gave of himself unceasingly to the Democratic party and . to good govern ment as he saw it in the state of Oregon. "He served ably as state chairman in time of victory and he tried valiantly to bind up his party's wounds in time of anguish. Always cheerful and enthusiastic he was an optimist at heart and spread good will for his party throughout the state. "His passing is that of an adversary in the poltical arena but also a personal friend and in both capacities he had my respect. His death leaves the political scene with a vacancy that should be regretted by all Oregonians for he brought to his job basic interest and understanding." Elected in 1958 The body of the political leader and merchant was tak en temporarily to Barrick Clough Funeral, home here where the autopsy was sched uled. Epps, who owned furniture stores in Sweet Home and Lebanon, had been one of Oregon's most active Demo crats ever since he was 21. He. was elected state central committee chairman in Janu ary, 1958, cto fill an unex pired term, and was elected to a full term six months later. He had said lie would be a candidate for reelection when his current term ended in 1960. Epps was born in Portland July 8, 1907. He was gradu ated from Franklin High school and the University of Oregon, where he starred in baseball and basketball. Dur ing the depression years of the 193 0's, he was active in the Oregon Commonwealth Federation, a liberal political group. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 and fought in Italy, winning the bronze star. He is survived by his wid ow, the former Nancy F. Kaadt, and two daughters, Mardi, 6, and Susie, 2. Italy Prime Minister Plans To Visit U.S. Washington-(DPD-The White House announced today Ital ian Prime Minister Antonio Segni will make an official visit to the United States in September. Bloodhounds Used in Hunt for Florence Man Florence, Ore. -(DPD Blood hounds were brought into the search today for Elbert Straight, 76, Florence resident missing since Monday after noon in a densely wooded area in the Canary road dis trict near the Oregon coast. Year MEDFORD, Leader, Dies Coming ESecfions Bring ietaRflatflon (By East Germans Berlin -(UPD-The East Ger man Communists resorted to a brief slowdown of truck traffic outbound from Berlin today in apparent retaliation for the West German govern ment's decision to hold its presidential elections here Wednesday. But the Reds made ho ma jor attempt to blockade the city, and even subdued their propaganda this morning. Move in Normal Fashion After brief harassing moves against the outbound traffic in the middle of the night, the Reds eased off. Truck convoys and individual vehicles moved across East Germany in normal fashion as the day wore on. 4 West German Chancellor Girl Killed in Hornbrook Crash, Four Injured Hornbrook, Calif. -(DPD -A 10-year-old girl was fatally injured, and four other per sons were critically hurt, in an automobile accident near here yesterday afternoon. Linda Peters; 10, died about 7:30 p.m. yesterday in Siski you General hospital. Martha Farnsworth, 11, and Percilla Peters, 16, are reported in critical condition. ' Mrs. Lillian Peters, 30, mother of Linda and aunt of Percilla, and Mrs. Nola Farns worth, 31, Hornbrook, rnoth er of Martha, are both on the "serious" list at the hospital. Monday Night State highway patrol offi cers reported the accident oc curred at 12:45 p.m. Monday, on Ditch Creek rd. some 200 yards south of the intersec tion with old Highway 99 where it enters Hornbrook from the north. Mrs. Peters was driving a j pickup truck, which was tow ing with a logging chain a passenger vehicle, steered by her brother-in-law, Andrew Peters, reports indicated. Con trol of the two vehicles was lost by the drivers on the down-grade "on Ditch Creek rd. The passenger car "whip lashed," and passed the pick up. The three girls, riding in the bed of the pickup, were thrown out and down an em bankment. The pickup was thrown on top of them, and the passenger car on top of that. i One investigating officer said the scene was "the worst I've ever seen," as the three injured girls and two women lay under and around the wreckage. Peters was report edly unhurt. The injured were taken to the hospital by the Hilt am bulance and by passenger cars. Martha and Percilla were said suffering from broken pelvises and legs, as well as cuts and bruises. Strauss Resigns Commerce Post Washington-IPD-The White House today announced the formal resignation of Secre tary of Commerce Lewis L. Strauss, effective at the end of business today. President Eisenhower ac cepted the resignation "with personal sadness" and the reso lute conviction that charges against Strauss during the Senate battle over his con firmation were "totally unjus tified." Strauss, who had been serv ing in the Cabinet under a recess appointment since last November, was 'rejected for the post when the Senate re fused to confirm his nomination. ftLAXT OREGON, TUESDAY, JUNE reoomi K o n r a d Adenauer arrived here this morning on one of his rare visits and pledged continued support for West Berlin against its Red besieg ers. Adenauer said he would re main here only until Wednes day evening, by which time the Federal Assembly should have elected a new West German president. But he said he would visit the city again at the end of July to confer with members of the Senate whifh governs the city. Ludwig Erhard, vice chan cellor and economics minister,' arrived at the same airfield about the same time as Ade nauer. Soviet newspapers and broadcasts have called the de cisions to hold the presiden tial elections here a "hostile act" and "provocative." East Germans said the meeting would be convening on. "for eign territory" and that West Berlin was part of East Ger many. 1.038 Delegates The presidential election is carried out by 1,038 delegates made up of all members of the West German lower house of parliament plus an equal number of delegates elected by the-11 state legislatures. The assembly is convened once every five years and only to elect a president. The presidential candidates are Minister of Agriculture Heinrich Luebke, member of Adenauer's Christian Demo cratic party; Socialist Carlo Schmid, and Free Democrat Max Becker. Attempted Burglary Reported at Agency An attempted safe burglary at Dick Knight's automobile agency, 33 South Riverside ave., was reported to Medford police this morning. Alvin George Buss, 1517 Whitman ave., a janitor, re ported the crime at about 5:40 a.m. He said he noticed a metal object on the floor of the office, swept it into his dust pan and discovered it was the dial from the sufe. The safe's spindle had been battered, investigators noted, but the safe had not been opened. Police said entry into the office was apparently gained through breaking a window at the rear of the building. The attempt was made some time between 6 p.m. Monday and Buss' discovery just be fore he called police, accord ing to the report. Police reported nothing was taken from the office although several items of value were in plain sight. Dick Knight himself was quoted by inves tigators as saying the safe never contained more than $300. Investigation meanwhile was reported c6ntinuing in last week's unsolved burglaries involving the Coca-Cola Bot tling Co. safe and cash and equipment at McCulloch Chain Saw company. Everett (DPD Kathleen Friend, 4, died in a hospital here today as a result of se vere burns suffered Monday when fireworks set her cloth ing afire. WEATHER FORECAST: Fair tonight and Wednesday. Low tonight 55. High Wednesday 95. Temp. Highest Yesterday 83 Lowest this Morning 50 Our Skies Tonight Sunset today 7:53 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow 4:38 a.m. Moonrise tomorrow 1:47 a.m. New Moon July 5 PROMINENT CONSTELLATION Scorpio, in the south 10:28 p.m. VISIBLE PLANETS Saturn, low In south east 8:37 p.m. Jupiter, due south 8:59 p.m. Venus, in the west at sunset, sets 9:59 pjn. Tribune 30, 1959 "We're Not Gonna Be Stampeded" Temporary Increase In Gasoline Taxes Declared Possible Washington -(DPD Some in- Suential House Democrats Iked cautiously today, about the possibility that Congress might grant for one year part of the gasoline tax hike Presi dent Eisenhower says is need ed to save the interstate super highway system. These Democrats said pri vately that Congress might be willing to go that far if the Eisenhower administra t i o n agreed to resolve the highway crisis permanently by tapping regular treasury revenues for road construction after July 1, 1960. Republican sources Indicat ed the administration was likely to favor the compro mise. But there was no assur ance that House Democratic leaders would go along with the plan being discussed by their lieutenants. Under the compromise, gas taxes would go up by Vz-cent or one cent a gallon some time this summer and would drop back to the current 3 cents a gallon on July 1, 1960. Beginning July 1, 1960, the revenues from certain highway-user taxes, which now go into the general treasury fund, would be diverted into the highway trust fund from which construction of the su- Fiscal Year Ends For City Tonight Medford city officials today faced the close of the 1958-59 fiscal year at midnight with equanimity. ' - No last-minute city council meetings for approval of budget item transfers were anticipated. Bills paid up until Thurs day night when the city coun cil considers final approval of the 1959-60 budget are to be paid out of 1958-59 monies, officials said. Asked if the city was reach ing the end of the current fis cal year in the black, one of ficial replied, "We always are. We'd go to jail if we weren't." Radio Medford Files With Construction Radio Medford Inc., owner and operator of radio station KMED, filed yesterday for a construction permit for tele vision Channel 10, Ray John son, KMED general manager, reported today. The applica tion was filed with the Fed eral Communications commis sion in Washington, D.C. The corporation is the sec ond group in the area to file for a construction permit on Channel 10. Last month TOT Industries Inc.. a group of val ley businessmen, submitted its aDDlication. The FCC al lotted Channel 10 to Medford effective June 4. ADDroval of. a permit is determined by the FCC after Dublic hearings which are scheduled following a wait ing period from the. date the channel is allotted to the area. Price 10 Cents No. 87 perhighway system is fi nanced. Eisenhower has told Con gress that the trust fund is dwindling. He has warned that work on the 41,000-mile road network would practi cally cease unless the fund was replensihed by boosting the gas tax VA cents, from 3 to 4Vi cents a gallon. School Teacher Killed by Tree Dick Lawrence Merriman, 33-year-old school teacher and minister from Jacksonville, was killed instantly today in a logging accident near Shale City in the Dead Indian area. Merriman was struck by a tree felled by Ray Baker, a close friend, when it was blown from its line of fall by a gust of wind. The felled tree reportedly struck a smaller tree and was deflected onto Merriman, who was bucking a log at the time. The accident," which occur red about 6:50 a.m., was re ported to state police by El mont George, Ashland logger who employed the two men. Merriman, of 401 East E st., Jacksonville, is survived by his wife and two children. He had taught social studies at Jackson Elementary school in Medford this past year, and was to have started next fall in the history department at McLoughlin Junior High school. He was also a minis ter of the Village church in Jacksonville, which held serv ices at the historic Methodist church building there. A brother, Rodrick Merri man, was killed May 12, 1954, in a logging accident in the same area. Baker, of 417 Beatty st., Medford, is a student at Southern Oregon college. Both were experienced at logging. According to Mrs. Baker, they had discussed quitting early because of the gusty winds just before the fatal accident occurred. Permit for Channel 10 Actual construction can not begin until the FCC grants the permit. Johnson explained that KMED corporation has con templated a television outlet to be known as KMED-TV in Medford since 1951. He added that the stockholders of Radio Medford feel that a second television outlet in Medford would more adequately serve the communities of southern Oregon and northern Cali fornia. The local manager said that once the group is granted a construction permit it is the plan of Radio Medford to go on the air with KMED-TV as a companion medium to KMED radio as soon as the equipment can be installed and a test period run.' Johnson said that the trans mitter wiil be located on 16 Known Dead As Craft Falls In Housing Area Okinawa Officials Assist Homeless Nana, Okinawa-(UPD-A flam ing U.S. Air Force jet fighter abandoned by its. pilot struck an Okinawa schoolhouse to day and exploded in the midst of a crowded housing area, killing and wounding scares of persons. The Air Force said 10 Oki nawans were killed and 76 injured when the plane ex ploded on impact and spewed burning wreckage onto a row of houses, destroying 30, of them. Okinawa police said six children also were killed, raising the toll to 16 dead. They said 100 were injured. Four children, two with skull fractures and two with serious burns, were reported among the injured. Officials of this former Japanese island set up tents and other shelters near the re sort city of Ishikawa, about 25 miles from the capital of Naha, to shelter the homeless. Police said 150 persons were without homes. Parachutes lo Safely The pilot of the disabled jet was Capt. John G. Schmitt, Chalmers, Ind., who parachut ed to safety. An Air Force announce ment said Schmitt's aircraft developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff on a routine training mission. He first attempted to return to his base, Kadena airfield near Naha, for an emergency landing. , But Schmitt found the plan difficult to control and then realized it was on fire. He directed the plane toward an unpopulated area west of Ishikawa when an explosion occurred, filling his cockpit with smoke and flames, the Air Force said. He then eject ed himself from the dam- aged aircraft. Political Repercussions The plane struck the heavily populated area, exploding with such force many houses went up in flames immedi ately. Most of the victims were burned so badly authorities had difficulty identifying the bodies. The crash was expected to have major political repercus sions, and Lt. Gen. Robert W. Burns, commander of the 5th Air Force, flew here from Tokyo to make a personal investigation. Socialist and other left-wing groups in the Ryukyu Islands and in Japan have campaign ed to force withdrawal of the U.S. Air Force on grounds fre quent accidents endangered the lives of Japanese and Okinawans. Brothers Drown South of Astoria Astoria (UPD Two teenage brothers drowned last night in Coffenbury lake south of here. It was the 3rd and 4th drownings in eight days for Clatsop county. John Murray Burlingame, 19, and Donald Burlingame, 16, were the victims. Both are from Hobbs, N.M. The older brother was stationed at the U.S. naval base at Tongue Point, just east of Astoria. His brother had just arrived to spend a vacation visit with him. Witnesses said John went to the rescue of Donald when the younger brother floundered in the popular Coffenbury swim ming area. Donald apparently grabbed his brother in panic and both drowned. FCC for Blackwell hill where the transmitting equipment for the present television station is located. He explained that this makes unnecessary the in stallation and adjustment of additional receiving antenna equipment by viewers who are now receiving KBES-TV programs. "Studio facilities will be from the present radio studios on Ross lane. Each applicant making ap plication for a television chan nel to the FCC must meet cer tain qualifications. FCC hear ings for channel allocation, where more than one group is involved, have been known to continue for extended peri ods of time. Officials estimate f that without complications in the FCC hearings, a minimum ; time of a year would elapse brfore actual broadcasting : could begin locally, t
