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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1961)
s I? PriceQ10 Cets Subscribers o O 4 Ashlaiift is a city ui4 h been rowing rapidly in recriu years. The rapid trowlh bai teen paralleled by an effort to expand city facilities to meet new demands - created. Read about what factors Influence the .eily and problems which have been encountered on page 12 A of today's Mall Tribune To report improper or non delivery of the Mail Trihune in iiedford phone SP 2-0141. in Vhland Ml) 2-1021 and in Yreka. VI 2-2807, beioro 6:45 p.m. dally and 10:30 a.m Sunday 1 regular delivery srrivea shortly after vou call please notify office thus elimfnatir fpeciaJ messenger f0vlce A. o United Press International Full Leased Wlr .48 PAGES Section A MEDFORD, 08EGON, SUNDAY, JANUAflV 8, 1961 No. 251 1 o f o A T T 9 mm united Prest International Full Lease fir o u i :?y--r-ymii 14 jj STATE Minear SCHOOL HEAD- ana nis wneueiores answering questions at a'press conference Three Persons Die In Eugene Storm Eugene - (UPD - Three Eu gene men were catapulted to their death Saturday when the roof of a combination meat market-fruit stand they were standing on was blown off in a severe wind storm in the Eugene area. The victims were identified as James M. Skeelers, 34; Marvin W. Skeelers, 35, his brother, and Willis J. Pad dock, 35. The three were flipped from the roof while attempting to hold it down in the face of the storm when a gust of wind ripped off the roof. Catapulted To Death , Witnesses said the roof act ed as a lever in catapulting the men to their deaths. One of the victims landed 190 feet from the accident, the others lesser distances. The dead were all em ployees at the stand, Mac's Ranch market in the Bethel area north of Eugene outside the city limits. , They were all pronounced dead on arrival at Sacred Heart hospital here. Authorities said the roof did not land on any of the men. Winds Reach 81 MPH The U.S. Weather Bureau station here reported that winds reached as high as 81 miles an hour at the storm's peak at 2:30 p.m. There were reports of ex tensive damage in the Eugene area and one other report of a minor injury. Two planes at the Eugene airport were flipped on their Baby Drought Ends in Ashland Ashland - The 1961 new baby drought In Ashland ended at 3:38 a.m. Saturday with the birth of a boy to Mr. and Mrs. Lome Martin at Ashland General hospi tal. Thus, a six-day babyless string came to an end. It marked the first time in 10 years that Ashland has gone for more than four days wilhoul a New Year's baby. The longest they previously had to wait was last year when the first baby was born on Jan. 4. The 7 pound, 12 ounce in fant and his mother, Mary, will receive prizes from 12 Ashland merchants. San Dieito, Calif. - il'PC R. H. Baldock, 7: former Oregon highway engineer, was reported to be in fair condition Friday in Palomar hospital In Escondido, Calif., after suffering a heart attack. Dr. Leon P. following his appointment Friday as the new are snown . SuDenntendent. backs,, a hangar at the airport collapsed, several large win dows were broke, at least a dozen trees were felled and the flag pole at a local school was toppled. Commissions Stay In Hatfield Plan Salem - (UPD - Gov. Mark Hatfield says he doesn't fore see abolition of lay boards and commissions, as some fear, if his government reorganization plan is adopted by the 1961 legislature. With a cabinet system they can still exist, he said, adding "we should continue to seek fresh ideas that citizens offer." Hatfield's plan would keep most state lay agencies but a number of them would have advisory rather than policy power. Hatfield likes a full cabinet system for Oregon comprised of seven to 10 members but said the legislature woudn't have to pass his entire pro gram for the program to be successful. He is recommend ing the greater part of a move toward a cabinet form this session. He said the government re organization plan, if adopted, would probably have the most far-reaching effect of any program of his entire admin-istration. Trial Interrupted by Grants Pass - Testimony in the O. H. Bengtson trial under way in Josephine county cir cuit court was interrupted several times Friday for argu ments in chambers with Judge Orval Millard. The Jrial started Thursday in Grants Pass. Bengtson is being tried on a second indict ment'eharging him with lar ceny by embezzlement. The state charges that he convert ed SI, 700 of Medford Escrow company funds to his personal use. He is a Medford lawyer and former company official. The trial was recessed at 4 p.m. Friday until 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Monday the court will set up 'iie court docket for next iionth and consider Old cases. 0 Second witness to testify forOie state was Mrs. Rachel Peterson Carter, former presi dent of tft Mcdfo: Escrow company. of Oreenn selinnis. (UPI Telephoto) . Dr. L P.lMlriear Named School 1 Superintendent Portland - (UPB - Dr. Leon P. Minear, principal of Port land's Benson High school, was named Friday night as the State Superintendent of Pub lic Instruction. Minear, - 45, principal at Benson since 1952, will suc ceed Rex Putnam, who will retire Jan. 31. The appointment was an nounced here by Gov. Mark H a t f i e 1 d's news secretary, Travis Cross. Hatfield made the appointment after meet ing with 14 city and county school superintendents in Sa lem earlier Friday. Also Teaches Minear came to Benson High school after serving three years as president of Stockton, Calif., Junior col lege. He has been teaching classes at Portland State col lege. The new post may involve a financial sacrifice. Minear would get $12,250 a year as Benson principal, effective next September. His new post pays $11,500. The State Board of Education has recommend ed to the 1961 Stale Legisla ture that the salary be raised to $17,500 next year, how ever. Putnam, 70, will retire after holding the position since 1937. TAX REVENUE UP Salem - WPD - The state col lected a total of S15.406.770 in highway use taxes in 1960 -an increase of 527,853 over 1959. During direct examination Friday afternoon she explain ed that the company had two accounts. The general account for the deposit of clients' money, and the special ac count where any money con sidered as profit was placed for the paying of overhead and salaries. Mrs. Carter explained that she received a salary from both the company and Bengt son as she was bookkeeper for both. She testified that the Escrow company only made enough money to cover over head expenses and that, on occasion, money would be drawn from the general ac count for expenses when the special account was short. She added that any money "bor rowed" from the general ac count juld 19 later repaid. unrw lunner qi.wnonin She id t! Jng!r C) 17 Persons Stilled In Election Day Clashes in Algeria Algiers-IUPII-Moslem rebels battled French troops Satur day to try to block Moslem voting on French President Charles de Gaulle's Algerian peace plan. The Dig cities were turned into armed camps to head off more bloodshed. Officials reported 11 per sons killed, 10 Moslem and one French soldier, in a fire fight at the village of Gueltet south of the tense port city of Oran. Ten Moslems were wounded. The death toll in two days of voting rose to at least 17 with the threat there would be more bloodletting when the big cities like Oran Local Employment Conditions Vary Little in December December employment con ditions in Jackson county fol lowed patterns set in the two previous months, according to John J. Patton, manager of the.Medford office of the state employment service. Patton said there was little change in unemployment dur ing the first three weeks of December. Just before the Christmas holidays, several logging and sawmill operators closed operations until after Christmas. Many of the firms were to resume work this week. Other sources of work lay offs were in the fruit industry with the completion of gift 'packaging, and in retail trade witri post-Christmas slumps. Freezing weather during the last several days of the month also caused shutdowns In con struction. Highest Tolal The layoffs brought the highest unemployment total of the present season, Patton said. In general, unemploy ment during the fall months has been higher than during the last two years, but has re mained below the level of three years ago, he noted. Some 1,331 new or reopen ed claims for unemployment were recorded by the local office last month. It was the highest monthly total since December, 1957, when more than 1,400 claims were re ceived. Patton pointed out thai, in spite of the high level of un employment, figures issued by the department of employ ment, Salem, show thai Jack son county has greater em ployment than other Oregon areas more dependent on the lumber industry. Burglars Rob Safe At Coca-Cola Plant Burglars broke into the Medford plant of the Coca Cola Bottling company, 600 North Grape si., Friday night and took an estimated $1,200 from the company safe. Investigating police officers said the burglars apparently cracked open the safe- by knocking off the dial. Entry was gained by prying open a sliding door at the side of the building. Police said the burglary was discovered about 10:30 p.m. by John Stacy Belknap, 2006 Springbrook rd., who is plant superintendent. Chamber Arguments ccived no money personally from the Medford Escrow company. Prior Happenings 'Questioned about a check for $1,658.25 that she had written to pay for a life in surance policy for Bengtson, Mrs. Carter testified to hap penings prior to its issuance. She said that she had been instructed by Bengtson to write a check for that amount early in February, I960, and told him thai he did not have sufficient funds in his person al account to cover that large a check. She said that Bengt son then instructed her to write a check on the Medford Escrow company's general ac count for $1,700 and to deposit it in his (Bengtson'si personal account. The check for $1,700 and the bank statement show that tbvt amount of money had been deducted from the or.cj(9iy'i general recount and Algiers vote in the refer endum today. As troops poured into Oran, Algiers, Conslantine and other cities to patrol against Moslem or anti - Gaullist European violence, officials reported that, the rebels struck daring ly at Gueltet. Posed As Voters The rebels posed as voters and were being taken in French army trucks to the polling place. As they tumbled out of the truck, they pulled out weapons and opened fire. The rebels threatened death to Moslems voting on the De Gaulle plan for a semi-independent Algeria. But authori ties reported 70 per cent turn out in the villages assigned to vote yesterday, despite isolat ed outbursts. Paris -0IPII- All France re mained calm last night on the eve of the historic vote that will decide the future of Al geria and Ihe fate of President Charles de Gaulle and his Fifth Republic. An election eve poll by newspapers pointed to a 64 per cent vote of approval for the president's plan to give Al geria self-determination and eventual independence with close ties to France. This would fall short of the "strong and massive" suport De Gaulle demanded, but ob servers said it would be enough to keep him from quitting. Building in City Good During 1960 A tolal of $5,163,951 worth of building permits were is sued in the city of Medford during 1960 tn what building department officials consider to be an exceptionally good building year in Medford. The total is not a record. It is exceeded by both 1959's record total of $10,994,944 and 1958's total of $5,778,527. City Building Director O. R. McNcel said, however, that 1960 probably would have been a record year had it not been for the Rogue Valley Manor permit which was is sued in 1959, and the Medford Shopping center permit which was issued in 1958. New residence construction led all othpr building activi ties in the city during the year with starts made on 127 homes having a total value of $1,518,200. New business building construction was close behind with starts made on 23 new businesses having a total value of $1,493,600. Other Categories Construction in other build ing categories during the year include six new duplexes val ued at $84,500; three new apartments valued at $102, 000; three new churches val ued at $175,400; two new mo tels valued at $271,656; three new institutions valued at $252,573; and three new pub lic buildings valued at $206, 051. Also Issued were 141 sign permits; 188 electrical per mits; 333 plumbing permits; 36 patio permits and 11 swim ming pool permits. The total number of per mits issued during the year was 1,430. A total of $27,814 was collected in fees and 15, 301 inspections were made. In addition, there were 97 elec trical dealers certificates is sued. were entered as state s ex hibits. Chamber Arguments Arguments heard in cham bers by the attorneys and Judge Millard concerned ques tioning Mrs. Carter as to con versations she had with Bengt son which would have been between employee and em ployer and 8bo'il certain docu ments in the possession of the state to which the defense wishes access. Arguments In chambers re garding the corporation docu ments in the possession of the state .continued Friday after the jury had been recessed fur the three days. Further questioning and cross-examination of Mrs. Car ter is expected Tuesday Medford Attorney Paul llaviland Is the court appoint ed prosecuting attorney. Dp fense attorneys arc Richard Carney and Leo Levenson Portland. g HOME TO HAVANA Cuban Foreign Min ister Raul Roa (left) has a few parting words for newsmen as he board a plane in New York for Havana, Cuba. At right is Sports Bulletins Ashland - Southern Ore gon swept a two-game Ore gon Collegiate conference hoop series by edging East ern Oregon here last night 57 to 53. The Red Raiders fought from behind in the late minutes. Pasco Ar ritola collected 17 points for the Mountaineers and Don Vannice 13 for South ern Oregon. . Central Point - Crater high entered the Southern Oregon conference baskot ball victory column here last night with a 67 to 45 win over Ashland. Loyal Higinbotham of Crater and Sid DeBoer of Ashland each had 24 points. Klamath Falls - Klamath Union High school made it three straight basketball wins in the Southern Ore gon conference by boating Grants Pass 69 to 51 here last night. Eagle Point-Henley high triumphed over Eagle Point last night 45 to 36 in a Rogue league basketball tussle here. Kent Gooding and Ray Brown each put in 11 points for the visitors. Rogue River-Lakeview'i Honkers pulled away from a 31-all lie last night to score a 56 to 41 Rogue league de cision over the Rogue River high cagers. Doug Maxwell tallied 16 counters for Lake view and Barry Frantz 15 for the Chiefs. WEATHER KORKCAST: Variable rlnudlnMi todav wllh a few shower this morning. 0(--aton.illy Miniiv nkk Oil' fthprrioon wllh in rrearttfiK cloutllnrM Innlicht. Itatn likrlv Mnndav. High todav l. Low tonmht 32 to J.'. High Mon day near 40. Temp. IlifUfst YMlerrlay 64 Lowest Trill Morning 'iH PreHn. To 5 p in. Yesterday ,...,:! Our Skies Tonight Suntct lod 4:.i p.m. 7:41 a.m. JSnnrtsp tomorrow MoonrUe ttinlttht -11:41 p.m. PHOMINI NT HT AHS f fin re of I'f kaiui, in Hie vQt , , ,, : p.m. Antitra, rtfi ... .12:21 .tn. VISIH1.E PLANFTB iNKTS f H:22 p.m. ant 7:.U p.m. venni. let Man, In th ta Dr. Drummond Dies; Services Tomorrow Dr. Clarence I. Drummond, 57, a Jackson county public health officer for several years and prominent medical leader In this community, died Fri day in Santa Barbara, Calif. Dr. and Mrs. Drummond moved there recently because of Dr. Drummond's health. He had resigned as health officer here lata last summer after returning to that office for approximately a year. Funeral services will be held in the Trinity Episcopal church In Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The family said memorial donations may be made to the Rogue Valley hospital fund, if desired. Born In India Dr. Drummond was born In Mahoba, India, In 1904, of medical missionary parents, Dr. Clarence and Elizabeth Drummond. They were mis sionaries in India for the First Christian church for 30 years. Dr. Drummond was in India until he was 10 years old. Then he moved by himself to Lincoln, Neb., where he at tended public schools and the University of Nebraska. He received his medical de gree at the University of Ne braska. He was originally county health officer here from March, 1932, to Septem ber. 1937. He received a year's leave of absence in 1935 to study public health at Har vard university under a Rockefeller foundation fellow ship. He was graduated from the Harvard school of public health with honors. Receives Appointment Dr. Drummond was appoint ed temporary health officer hero on July 26, 1959, when Dr. A. Erin Merkel left to take a position with the San Diego county public health de parment. Dr. Drummond be came full-time public health officer on Sept. 15, 1959. Dr. Drummond was an or ganizer of the Rogue Valley Physicians' service in 1952. He was one of three Incorpor ators of Mercy Flights, a non profit flying ambulance serv ice, 10 years ago, and was a V unidentified bodyguard. As Roa departed Friday he vowed he was convinced the United Stales was about to invade his home land. , (UPI Telephoto) member of 'the board of trus tees at the time of his death. Ho was also lormer presi dent of the Jackson County Medical society, chief of staff of the Rogue Valley hospital, member of the hospital execu tive committee for seven years, director of the Oregon Physicians Service from 1944 to 1952 and was secretary of the board of directors during those years. Member of Posso Ho was also a Rolarian, member of the Jackson Coun ty Sheriff's Posse, of Beta T h c t a PI fraternity at the University of Nebraska, and a member of the Medford Elks lodge. Dr. Drummond Is survived by his widow, Helen; a son, Lt. David Drummond, U. S. Army, Salt Lake City, Utah; two daughters, Mrs. Betty Rlegelman, Birmingham, Mich..; and Mrs. Susan Grgicli, Santa Barbara, Calif.; his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Drummond, La Canada, Calif.; a brother, Dr. Donald Drum mond, San Mateo, Calif.; two sisters, Mrs. Helen Southwick, La Canada, Calif.; and Mrs. Lois Milner, Indianapolis, Ind. "Man In WIS-' Document Affirms U.S. Intention To Continue Aid Officials Seek Revival of ICC Washington-IUPII-The United States Saturday called upon other free nations to help tha war lorn kingdom of Laos maintain its independence again Communist aggression 'through whatever means seem most promising." In a "white paper" on Laos. which a spokesman said was designed to "set the , record straight" on the U.S. position, the state department said "Laos can remain independent only if the non-Communist nations of the world render the assistance it has requested to maintain its independence." If Laos should fall to the Communist, the statement said, "the effects could be far reaching and the implication lor otner small ana vuineraoia states all too evident." To Continue Aid ' The 1,600-word white paper did not spell out the type o assistance the United Stales wants other countries to rend er. But it made it clear that the United States intends to continue its massive program of military aid to the Rightist government of Prince Boun Oum, whose forces are under attack by Communist led rebels, of the Palhel Lao. The slate - department dis claimed any Intention of set ting up a U.S. military base in Laos ot trying to persuade the tiny southeast Asian king dom to join any Western mili tary alliance such as SEATO. Meanwhile, U. S. officials acknowledged that they were pinning their hopes, however slim, for a politicial settle ment fn Laos on the efforts of the British and French and other allies to revive the old International Control Com mission (ICC) to supervise the broadening of the Boun Oum government. Will Give ICC Try The ICC, originally set up to oversee the implementation of the Geneva Agreement ot 954 which made the Indo- Chinese states independent, was composed of representa tives of India, Canada and Poland. The United States does not like the make up o the ICC but has told Ihe British It is willing to give it another try. The white paper repeated earlier American allegations that foreign Communists had been Introduced into the Laotian fighting on the side of the rebels but Press Officer Ben Thirkield said the depart ment still had no specifia proof to offer. The air of crisis which had been built up around the Laotian situation a week ago seemed to have disappeared to a considerable extent this week end. Officials said tho situation was still "grave" but there was not so much talk ot military action and "alerts" o the Pacific fleet. Gilchrist - (UPI) - Fifteen children, ranging In age from 10 to 17 years, escaped death near here Friday when the school bus they were riding in plunged off an Icy highway and overturned. Space" o J
