Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1960)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1980 MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE. A 3 Pickin' Pears Newt and Notes From Camp White By WALTER TOWNSEND Flu shots were the order, of the day Friday with 150 mem bers appearing from "person nel" to receive the needles in their arms. Margaret (Peg) Corcoran, secretary to the chief medical officer, sat at a table at the entrance to the treatment room, and chic, with simple pearls and glamorous brace lets, presided at the two-hour session, . Some appeared with frowns and apprehension, but Peg's wit and ruthless reassurance, gave them courage to endure it. She frequently appears at the coffee shop of a morning, and greets the morning Vets, with courtesy and smiles. striking and neat - and popu lar with the members - she perhaps knows a thousand persons by name. .j Bestows Titles Upon some of them she has bestowed titles of great re-1 spect and outrageous dignity. Marshall Jackson, she greets j with profound obeisance. "Hello, Bishop!" she'll say. Others, she has addressed ; with lesser honors, as for in- j stance, looking at a "certain" j writer, this week, she said, I "How are you Walter Lip mann - or is it Ernie Pyle?" ! It has often been noted by j the members, talking among themselves, "CMO s come and go but Peg stays." Quick of step and quick of wit - with a ready smile - Peg has been secretary to one CMO or an other for the past seven years. Often the only womanly per-1 s'onality in the new coffee shop mornings, Peg comes be cause she is so welcome, all lie members suppose. "There is nothing like Peg," some say. "Never will be any thing like Peg again," others claim. Sometimes Wonder Why The members who think about it, sometimes wonder why, in all the names she has conferred upon different per sonalities among the men, no one has yet been referred to by Peg, as a "Cardinal." She is saving that high rank, for some "special" person, it is generally believed. She enjoys coffee in the early morning. And will dis cuss nearly any subject with a Veteran - whatever it is -and with whosoever brings it up. Nor does she hedge at love, or marriage, even. Does not turn away. But looks into her purse instead, a faint smile showing on her face, as she has more than once collapsed a cbffee-drinker, sitting next to her. In her office at the medical clinic, she sits at a desk be hind a wide glass window. and in point of service has been there through many ad ministrations. Often the chief medical officer is seen confer ring with-and talking to Peg lor a moment or lwu. many a member watching them, won ders, and would like to know if Peg, slender and erect, is talking to the doctor about his particular case? Medical Fil Tuesday at 10, a medical file was in her hand, as seen through the glass. "That's my file," one of the members ven tured Tiopefully, "she's talking to the MD about me!" Many of the others heard the remark, and nodded knowingly, for they too, sat waiting in the sicK-caii line. Her gift of keen and cutting repartee is enjoyed by the men, for it does not wound or hurt, and they trust her im plicitly. Another time this week, sipping her coffee slow ly and staring over the cup, little finger straight out, she looked at the "certain" writer again. He writes for a monthly publication, with less than a thousand circulation. "How's the press of the nation?" she asked. "The member writer," could only grin, and look away. Yet in a vague sort of emotion, he felt complimented for his writ ing ability - or something! -he did not know just what. Turns To Coffee-Drinker She turned to another coffee-drinker, who had just seat ed himself with a cup, and insisted on being heard. "Ill, Professor!" she said, "how you like my new nair-ao . . . u nft ma flaM" She nattod her well-groomed hair in despair. The other members iookcci admiringly at Peg, and One of (hom tnlrt her. it was worth more than it cost, in his opin ion. Apparently she was molli fied, even though, two or three Veterans laughed. But on Friday, the flu shots came, and the civil service employees needed cheering up. To every one's surprise, Peg Corcoran sat at the table fhpckinB off names and say ing, "How are you?" as the victims filed in. As they came out. and left, her parting re marks would invariably prompt a smile, the pain for gotten. Doctors, nurses, engineers, and dietitians came to the ta ble where Peg sat, with her pencil and list. "How are you, John? - bare your arm!" she said in a low voice. He was a young man from the person nel section, "and very hand some," Peg said. "He's assistant to the as sistant," she explained without a smile. Young John Bourdon smiled broadly, and stepped into the treatment room. - There Christine Bates, RN, stood in stiff professional white, and swabbed the spots on 150 arms to receive the shots. As they came out, more went in. Outside the door, Peg took care of other details. "You don't have to sign, Gals," she said to a group of pale women coming out. Mrs. Edna Brass field of the canteen, stood doubtfully. "It's all right," Peg said to her, "the damage is already done." Suddenly Peg Corcoran was very much on the job. "Here's Dr. Thomas Frank Crowley!" she exclaimed breathlessly, a verv fine addition to our medical staff." Peg works for Dr. Crowley, or at least, works with him. The doctor, distin guished, and just the right age for greying hair, bowed, sa luted Peg, and left without a word. Mr. Glenn and Frank Glon- ning, came up to Peg's desk, and bared their arms and pre tended to be brave. "Go in Gentlemen," Peg said encour agingly; Glonning went first, and Glenn followed cautious ly. "A couple of giants!" Peg commented acidly, looking down at her desk, overwhelm ed. Active Service She has had 15 years of ac tive service in the Veterans administration. "I'm a pio neer," she said suddenly. At this moment, Mr. Kelley, chief of social services, arriv ed hurriedly in white shirt sleeves. "Hello , Bob Hope," she greeted him. The busy of ficial, with urgent duties wait ing, and an unpleasant needle ahead, at last, made some sort of suiluble and proper reply. This might have continued into further repartee, had not Dr. Hein arrived In a trot. Ha was on an emergency case, "1 have to have my 'shot' imme diately," ho said. The whole line gave way for him. L Save on High Quality PAINTS AND WALLPAPER Colorama Paint Center "Your Silver Dollar Paint Store" 315 E. Main St. Ph. SP 2-4564 218 Cases Reported To Sheriff in Oct. Yreka - Sheriff A. B. Cot tar reports the following ac tivities by the Siskiyou Coun ty Sheriff's office during the month of October, 1960: There were 218 cases re ported and investigated dur ing the month. These includ ed: One assault, one auto theft, 11 burglaries, three checks, six disturbing the peace, seven drunk, three failure to provide, two forg ery, two insanity, 22 thefts, one robbery and 111 miscel laneous criminal cases. There were 46 miscellaneous non criminal cases handled. During the month of Oc tober there were 85 bookings at the Siskiyou county jail of which 78 were adults and seven were juveniles. The average daily population for the month was 63 persons. The sheriff's civil depart ment handled 30 cases during the same period and collected $228.12 in county fees. COUNCIL MEETING Central Point - The city council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 1, resulted in the adop tion of a City Planning com mission recommendation to tear down the old grandstand at the ballpark. All salvable material will be later utilized in constructing portable bleachers. Fencing the field and building dugouts are also planned for the future. HOW CHRISTIAN SCIENCE HEAIS Station K-BOY Sundays -9:45 A.M. mm IU1 r n 1 1 0 Reach for Your Phone and Dial for . . WMEI&S Pre-Holiday Values in en ,-. Jit , mi-vlJ.ii.-ii I S - JC if Carpet Samples Brought to Your Home Without Obligation! Free estimate of your choice of carpet and pad. Dial SP 2-9351 Beautiful OVAL BRAIDED muss 9x12 Better Quality WOOL BLEND l?-, " lr L 88 (a L L. J Sq. A!! wool tweed broadloom. Brown and beige or green, brown and beige. Your choice. All wool Willon. Embossed high low loop. Hard finish yarn. Moth proof. $(f88 i0) .& All wool. Embossed. Nutria moth proofed Axminster. 3 Rolls all wool Wilton. Beige, brown and turquoise and spruce green. Your choice. $(0)88 lees "lasting Star" all nylon. DuPont, 501 continuous filla ment, longer wearing. 12 dec orator colors. $(g95 rl I Sq. V Yd. Large Selection Odd Sizes REMNANTS! T00FF REGULAR PRICE ORDER YOUR CARPET NOW-ENJOY IT FOR ALL THE HOLIDAYS! WIEIEIKS & (IDIKnfi 114 West Main St. 0 Phone SP 2-9351 EASY TERMS No carrying charges or interest-we carry our own contracts. There is no extra charge added to your payments. Shop at Southern Oregon's longest established Furniture Store where you find quality at lowest prices. Open Monday Night
