The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • 14

Tuesday, January 1973 I' I HE It 11 Till' CINCINNATI 11 NQ -I Gas Blast Gufe Mouse, ets Fires In Addyston i Mrs. David Meek and their son David, and a family named Morgan. "WE BELIEVE EVERYONE is accounted for and that there were no injuries," a fireman said. Firemen from Cleves and Miami Township helped fight the blaze in 20-degree weather. The explosion occurred shortly before 10 p.

m. tures, which line the north side of Main Street, Addyston's primary street. Behind the three structures is a creek and a hill, which helped pre vent any further spreading. Fire officials said three families lived in the gutted house at 328 Main Street. They were identified as Mr.

and Mrs. Bill Courtney, Mr. and r-. W. It 3.5 Pay Hike Okayed For Comity Employees 1 fflihftf vSSr i in iiiiiii.ihi in.

nun i -i wwii i ii i. nimiro. in in i ill iii i.i i. Enquirer (Gerry Wolter) Photo Firemen Fight Addyston Blaze seek to contain fire at house on right after explosion leveled another house ospital Fears the deep blue sea," he said. "We try to be responsive to the public, and we run up deficits." However, the administrator blamed the bulk of the losses on increased costs and declining use of the hospital due to the lower birth rate and the availability of better outpatient services.

MENDENHALL SAID HE would like for more private physicians to send their paying patients to General, but the doctors will not be Top County Official Hamilton County wxmmlsisioners paved the way Monday for a 3.5 pay hike for 2800 county employees. In a memo to other county department heads, they said funds for the salary hikes about $560,000 would be included in this year's budget. Commissioners also said they would increase all departments' payroll budgets another 1.5 about $140,000 so department heads can "correct some of the inequities" in pay between people in diffeirer.it departments who do similar work. Deeper as a ghost out there. They control from afar.

When do they come to the conference table?" Councilman Charles P. Taft issued a statement before the hearing saying UC is considering establishing an advisory committee, apparently including community representatives, to advise UC on the hospital. The Rev. Paul R. Long Jr.

of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati said his organi criminal classification center and Workhouse replacement." Reckman also said he hopes work will start on drawings for the first three facilities. MUNICIPAL COURT "Last year, the county and city agreed that Municipal Court should became truly a county court; this will require legislative change which should be accomplished so the operation by the county can begin next year," Reckman said. SOLID WASTE Noting that the county has asked the federal government to give it the old Ridgeway Ordinance Depot in Carthage, Reckman said he hopes "part of this will become a collection station for a counitywide disposal system" of which pilot operations could start this year. BRIDGE MAINTENANCE "Every effort should be made," Reckman said, "to resolve this problem early in 1973 so we can go ahead with repair of many facilities." City faway's Finishing Given Priority Riverfront Organ Gets Support City Manager E. Robert Turner recommended Monday against selling Riverfront Stadium's organ, even though it hasn't been used too much.

Turner reported to City Council that availability of the organ helped sell the stadium for two religious conventions. The city manager said there have been numerous inquiries about the Reds' failure to use the organ extensively, as was the case at old Crosley Field, and the situation could change to make the organ a feature in the stadium. Councilman Gerald Springer requested Turner to consider selling the seldom-used organ, using the sale money in any of various needed areas. The city manager added that only one major stadium facility in the country Houston's Astrodome, lacks an organ, and that's because the Astrodome owner dislikes organ music. Smith To Head Middletown Enquirer Bureau FRANKLIN, Ohio Paul Smith was re-elected chairman of Franklin City Council for 1973 during a regular meatihg Monday.

Elected vice chairman was Harold Callahan, who assumes the position held by Gerald Miller. Smith served as chairman last year and in 1970, and was vice chairman In 1971." He served two Deaths and Funerals A gas explosion ripped through a two-stcry frame house In Addyston Monday night, demolishing that house and satfclng fixe to another house on one side and a res-tauramt on the other. Apparently, no one was Injured, poKce and firemen at the scene said. At 11:30 p. a gas fire still rciared from the site on which the demoIMwd house bad stood.

The adjoining house, a two-story frame and brick structure, was gutted and firemen fought to save the adjacent Morning Star Inn. A wlitasss staid the lone occupant of the demolished house at 330 Mata St, identified as a partially blind man named Luke Hayes, smtelled gias and called a policeman. The pc'iceman also smelted gas, got cut of the house with Hayes, and it blew up, the witness saiid, IT WAS impassible to determine immediately just what exploded. The adjoining house caught fixe, then the restaurant. Flames were visible for miles.

A guard at Monsanto Chemical one mile southwest of Addyston, said the explosion shook that building. Monsanto itself was not threatened by the fire. Firemen thought they could contain the blaze to the three struc cause they know their fees would, by hospital regulation, have to be donated to the UC medical school's medical-education fund. Dr. Edward A.

Gall, vice president and director of the UC Medical Center, admitted the medical school could change that regulation. Referring to the physicians at the school, Mayor Theodore Berry said they therefore must share the blame for the deficit: "They stand Cites Goals tlon start on two of the Cross County Highway's last three legs as well as changes In county government's structure. Reckman, a commissioner since 1968, was named to succeed Com-missioner Robert A. Wood as presi-cteot erf the three-member board which admiristieirs county government. He listed six specific goals for the year, noting that they were not listed "in priority order:" CROSS COUNTY HIGHWAY Reckman said he hopes a consent ordinance will be passed in Mt Healthy to perrnit the start of construction drawings for the final section, between Vine Street and Colerain Avenue; he also said he expects construction to begin this year cm the sections between Gal-bnaith Road and Vine Street and between Colerain Avenue and the Circle Freeway.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM "During 1973," Reckman said, "we should a sits for a Juvenile court, municipal court, and a new Massa O'Neil, who survives him, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in November of 1968 with a Mass in Bellarmine Chapel at Xav-ler University. They were married in St. Patrick's Church in North-side. Mass of the Resurrection for Mr. O'Neil will be Intoned in Bellarmine Chapel at 10 a.

m. Thursday. Visitation Is 4 to 9 p. m. Wednesday at the Charles A.

Miller Sons Funeral Home, 4138 Hamilton Northslde. He will be burled in St. Joseph Cemetery, 8th St. and Nebraska Ave. Mr.

O'Neil got his start In the newspaper field In 1900 on The Enquirer. He was with this paper until 1913 when he became a publicity man for the Rapid Transit Authority. In 1917 he went with the Cincinnati Post, serving as politics reported, drama critic and "beat" man at the Federal Building. He Joined the Hamilton County Re-publican organization in 1935, doing publicity and public relations. The Times-Star hired him in 1945, and he again covered politics and did stints at the Federal Building and City Hall.

MR. O'NEIL covered the legitimate theater in the years when it flourished, when there were three road companies here at the same time. George M. Cohan and Eddie Cantor were among show people he knew well. Charlie was known for Ms "pixie" sense of humor, which was exhibited most when he was telling yarns of the Cincinnati scene and its "characters." A cigar, rarely lighted, was one of his trademarks.

Besides his wife, Mr. O'Neil is survived by a son, Charles A. O'Neil, of the Marion Avenue address, store architect for Shlllito's. i By FRANK DENTON Health-Welfare Reporter General Hospital is sinking deeper and deeper into deficits that could more than quadruple in two more years, its administrator warned City Hall Monday. Rodger E.

Mendenhall told City Council's Finance Committee the city hospital's projected deficit of $1.4 million this year could grow to $6.6 million by 1974-75 if things don't change. He called the situation "quite grave and quite serious." Mendenhall and others were testifying before the committee on a proposed ordinance changing the city's agreement for the University of Cincinnati to operate General Hospital. The major change in the 12-year-old arrangement would be greater council involvement in the financial problems of the teaching hospital, Including advance notice from UC to the council about any foreseen deficits. Council was reacting to $1.3 million in deficits which UC handed the city, saying they were incurred between 1966 and 1971. Mendenhall blamed $425,000 of this year's projected deficit on improvements made at the hospital after public hearings last year were sharply critical of hospital services.

"We're between the devil and Franklin Council two-year terms on council in the 1950s, and presently is serving his second four-year term. In other business, council approved an ordinance to annex 93.21 acres east of Second Street in the vicinity of 1-75. The property extends from the Unglesby Funeral Home east to the village limits of Springboro. ion Avondale, lifelong clncin natian, was associated with the" Cincinnati Times-Star as a reporter when he retired in 1958, a few months before that newspaper was purchased by the Scripps-Howard Rite, Syrian Temple Shrine, and Sharonville Lodge 140 OES. Steam engines were a hobby of M.

Huff and he owned a steam-driven threshing machine which he demonstrated and took to many shows. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Iva May Minear Huff; four daughters, Mrs. Aurale Antuna, Modesto, Mrs. Martha Holbrook, Newtons-vllle, Ohio, Mrs.

Rosemary Fortney, Sharonville, Ohio, and Mrs. Frances DeChane, E. Detroit, four brothers, Horace, Harwood, Bowden, Houston, Lewis, W. Columbia, and Dave, Houston; one sister, Mrs. Frances Ty-roff, San Antonio, 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The family requests memorials be made to the Shrlners Burns Institute. Horseman from Silco after more than 30 years with the firm, which makes industrial uniforms. Mr. Schrags, 1056 Spruceglen is survived by his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Carol Wenzel of Cincinnati and Mrs.

Gayle Sutter of Mali-bu, one son, Donald Schrage of St. Louis, and nine grandchildren. A Mass of She Resurrection will be 10 a. m. Thursday at St.

Vivian's Church, with burial in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. General Commissioners said the salary hikes could be effective Thursdiay. They called the 3.5 increase a "cost-of-living adjustment." The 1973 budget probably wont be adopted until late March (March 31 is the legal deadline), but commissioners have already adopted a temporary budget and funds are available for the raises. AH county departments headed by elected officials are independent of commissioners except that commissioners set departments' overall budgets; how the money is spent by the departments, once appropriated, is up to the department heads. Debt zation would endorse the ordinance if that committee is set up.

Yvonne Mayes, chairman of the Peoples Health Movement, told the committee the ordinance would not improve the "terrible conditions" and "ineffective health system" at General and said the hospital should be removed from UC. Rebecca Vandenbosche, a hospital worker, complained of "outrageous" working conditions and said the employees are "literally being worked to death." and county officials have been bickering for months over the extent to which the county is responsible for maintaining and repairing bridges on county highways within, Cincinnati COUNTY GOVERNMENT "Anyone familiar with county government in Ohio," said Reckman, "is well aware of the inadequacy of our present structure to cope with the needs of today. My concern is not with the expansion of authority by the county but rather with increasing the ability of county commissioners to do the things they are presently trying to do. "It is my hope," Reckman continued, "that during 1973 we will see some progress, either through action by the Ohio General Assembly or by changes we may be able to make In Hamilton County. "It Is my sincere belief," he concluded, "that a more effective board of commissioners would mean not only better service to people but would also strengthen the municipalities and townships ney, 25, of 408 E.

Fifth Newport. Police said McKinney and another young man, Wayne Lee Axel-son, 18, of 817 Dayton Newport, were involved in a break-in at the Gallatin County High School, Warsaw, about 2:50 a. m. Monday. They then drove to Kenton County where their temporarily stalled truck was spotted by patrolman James Hatton on rural Madison Pike.

After receiving confirmation from Kentucky State Police that the truck was the same as that Involved in the Gallatin County break-In, Hatton returned to find the vehicle gone but another officer, Capt. Joe Schimade, had given chase. Schmlade said the truck turned east on Holds Branch Road off Madison Pike, stopping at the end of the road. Axelson, he said, surrendered without trouble. McKinney, however, ran and refused re-pea orders to halt before Schmiade fired from a shotgun, according to police.

HATTON, MEANWHILE, arrived at the scene and found the victim bleeding from the back and head. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital where he died about 11:30 a. m. Monday.

Police said 'they found eight typewriters and an adding machine taken in the Warsaw burglary in the truck. Axelson was lodged in the Kenton County Jail for referral to Gallatin County authorities. Courts Voris' Topic Michael J. Voris, member of the Cincinnati Bar Association speakers bureau, will discuss "The Courts and the People" at an orientation class of the Neighborhood Youth Corps at 1 p. m.

today at the NYC Center, 700 E. McMillan St. He will be introduced by Donald Harris, orientation co-ordlnator. Break-In Suspect Killed Charlie O'iYeii, Long-Time Cincinnati Newsman Cigar chompin', story-telling Charlie O'Neil onetime dean of newsmen in Cincinnati died Monday in the Good Samaritan Hospital. Charles R.

O'Neil, 87, 1024 Mar By GRAYDON DeCAMP Politics Reporter Robert Reckman, sworn in Monday as new president of Hamilton bounty commissioners, sets goals br 1973 that include a construc- Robert Reckman ocmmls-ion president chain. His retirement ended, a 58-year career as a newsman and publicist. CHARLIE AND his wife, Mary i Mr. Nelson George A. Nelson George H.

Nelson, 68, 314 Hazel-wood Ft. Wright, retired foreman of The Enquirer mailing room, died Monday at Christ Hospital. Mr. Nelson, retired In 1971 after more than 30 years of service for The Enquirer, is survived by his wife, Edna; stepson, James Han-non. Bellevue, stepdaughter, Mrs.

Patricia DePoy, Mt. Washington; sister, Mrs. Eileen Orren, Ft. Wortu, Texas, and brother, Kenneth Nelson, Shelbyvllle, Ky. Services will be at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday in the Middendorf-Conn-ley Brothers Funeral Home, Erlan-ger, Ky. Visitation, from 4-9 p. m. Wednesday. Burial in the Highland Cemetery.

The family requests any memorials be made as contributions to the Masonic Temple, 15th and Madison Covington. i 1 rS "1 Rites Set For W. N. Huff A young Newport man died about eight hours after he was shot by Kenton county police while allegedly trying to escape arrest early Monday morning. Dead Is Russell Steven McKln- E.

II. Bloebaum, Baseball Scout, Dies Edward H. (Buddy) Bloebaum, 69. an uncle of Pete Rose who signed the Cincinnati Reds' star to his first professional baseball contract, diied Monday at Deaconess Hospital. Mr.

Bloebaum, who was a baseball scout for more than 20 years 15 with the Reds signed Rose to a small bonus contract in 1960 after Rose had starred at Western Hills High School. Mr. Bloebaum was a brother of Rose's mother. He played minor league baseball, witih Cedar Rapids and Peoria in the Three-I league, then played amateur and semi pro bail around Cincinnati, Middletown and Dayton for around 20 years. After leaving the Reds' organization, Mr.

Bloebaum became a scout for the Los Angeles Angels, concentrating mostly on the Dayton area. He worked as an inspector for the National Cash Register retiring after 35 years with the company. He had been ill about two years. Mr. Bloebaum is survived by his wife, Lucille, one son, Edward H.

Bloebaum four grandchildren, one great-grandchild, three sisters and two brothers. Services will be Thursday morning at the Vitt and Stermer Funeral Home, with the exact time to be set later. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Price Hill. Visitation, 4-9 p.

m. Wednesday. Mr. Bloebaum lived at 47 Anderson Ferry Rd. Services for Walter N.

Huff, 69, founder of the weekly newspaper, the Sharon Press, now the Suburban Press, will be held at 9 p. m. Wednesday at the Schmidt-Dhonau Funeral Home, 1C980 Reading Sharonville, where friends may call from 2 to 9 p. also Wednesday. Burial will be In Harwood, Tex.

Mr. Huff, who resided at 582 Vine Loveland, Ohio, died Sunday at Bethesda Base Hospital. He was a native of Texas, who came to Cincinnati at the beginning of world War II as a government inspector at the old Wright Aeron-axiL-ai plant in Evendale. In 1945, he the Sharon Press, later changed to the Suburban Press, vmch he operated for 16 years selling it to other interests. A Wond War I veteran, Mr.

was a member of the Sharon- Hie Ladze 20i F-SsAM, Scottish H. J. Schrage 7 II. Jack Schrmsre. 63.

executive a of the Ohio Tho--mi ah bred Breeders and Owners association, died Monday ait Provi-dnoe Hcfpltal. de had bam hospitalized Saturday after i-ulfrrinj: a stroke. Schrase, a nalvs manager of Sllco, Ire, Norwood, also was rjuBinass rnarar cf the Ohio Thoroughbred Magazine, afflciad publi-oa'taon of the breeders airud owners aaiiix: nation. r. went with the association three years ago, upon retiivimnnt A.