St. Clair Chronicle from St. Clair, Missouri • Page 1

STATE HXSTOaiCAL SOCIETY Columbia, lio. Your Own Franklin County NewspaDer NATIONAL N4WJMP 1 1 The Clair CI: VOLUME 42 NUMBER 35 FHANK i .1 COUNTY, ST. CLAIR, MISSOURI THURSDAY. JUNE 8. 1967 8 PAGES IOC St imnicie MoARNG Involved In National Shuffle 1 -wvM I 1 2 ed strength levels in times when recruiting is difficult.

The record of existing unit achievements in training and readiness must be considered. The performance of units in the coming field training period and the past will also be considered. The fact that most of our training during theyearwill be outdoor weekend training also dictates consideration of the availabilty of weekend training sites." OFFICERS AND MEN "The proposed plan," according to General Adams. "Will permit the retention of all officers and men currently enlisted or appointed in the National Cuard in an overage category for a period of three years or until they are lost by normal attrition in this period. This will create a new and separate problem, because we will be restricted in recruiting new personnel where the over Airport Outgrows Original Facilities which Robert McNamara is the V.

S. Secretary of Defense and who has persisted in changes) has promised that these units will be fully supported with their authorized equipment. This will force consideration of the availability of space to store and maintain vehicles, tracked equipment, and items of heavy engineer equipment, in addition to the normal Armory storage and training space presently available. "In all of the reorganizations of the Army National Guard in the past," said General Adams. "We have been rushed and pressed to complex a reorganization plan.

In tius proposal, at least, ample time has been provided to develop well considered, detailed plans and this time cushion will be fully utilized to permit consideration of all pertinent factors." Development of the reorganization plan to bring Missouri in line with the new trooD basis will be under study by Staff Officers of the Adjutant General and major Comr inders. The annual field training pc riods for the Army National Guard units beginning in June and continuing in 15 day increments through late August, coupled with other support commitments of the Guard, will mean that a sound plan cannot be developed before mid-September. General Adams said. "In developing a new plan, we must consider many points. These will include the demonstrated ability, over the past many years, of a given city or town to support a unit at the need- Girl Shot In Hip Kathy Ziegler.

14, St. Clair, was admitted June 4th to St. Francis Hospital about 3:00 a.m. and it was found she had a gunshot wound in the upper right thigh. The Washington Police Department was notified.

The girl is said to have stated she and other persons were parked at "the old oak tree on Happy Sac Road" which runs from St. Clair to Union. No other details were revealed. Fire snuffled out tlv life of Mrs. Mary Tourville about lour o'c lock last Thursday morning.

Her husband Ferd Tourville received burns when he attempted to remove her from the middle bedroom of the mobile home located on Highway about two miles south of St. Clair. Her bedroom was located at the section of the trailer indicated by missing wall. Heat had melted the aluminum outer cover and destroyed wowdeu panels and all furnishings indoors. STAFF NhWS PHOTO Owners Protest Land Grab Plan Near Lake Loses Life In House Trailer Fire Ferd Tourville awoke about 4:00 a.m.

last Thursday to the strong, acrid smell of smoke and dazed, half asleep, investigated in the bathroom of the two bedroom mobile home which he and his wife Mary occupied on the Tourville property on Highway two miles south of St. Clair. In the bathroom he found more smoke. Investigating further, barefoot opened the door to the bedroom occupied by Mary. The room, which adjoined the kitchen in the south end ol the trailer, was an inferno of flame, he told later.

Mary was lying just as he had seen her when he re-tired about 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. At that time she had been reading in bed. lie-tried to move her, failed, but received second degree burns on liis (eel. He went to a relative, Suvi Tourville, who operates the Tourville Store just south ol the trailer and lives there at the- store.

It was apparently Steve who called the St. Clair Volunte I ire Department. When firemen arrived, the mobile home was engulft din flame-. Aluminum sheathing melted in the intense heal. Interior wall panels and all furnishings were burned.

The fire had appare ntly bfcgun in the are a of Mrs. Tour-ville's bedroom. There is no report that she called out or screamed, and it is believed she died of smoke inhalation even before her husband discovered the plan was burning. Dr. Robert Mollenholi was failed and pronounced the death accidental.

Funeral services with a closed casket were held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Casey-Lenox Chapel. Interment was in the- O. 1-. cemetery in Sullivan where Mrs.

Tourvi lie's parents are buried. Mrs. Tourville had been in poor health lor several years. The Tourvi lies have three sur-vivini! daughters and a son, Janus Clyde Tourville, married and living on Yellow Dog road Lonedell. The daughters are Fthel Jane Delcour and Virginia May lusselmanbothof St.

Louis, and Mary Lee Thur-man of St. lair. There art-ten grandchildren, three sisters and two brothers. The deceased was 44 years old. Man Found Dead Vergil L.

Brown, age 59, was found lying on the floor of the trailer he and his wife occupied when she returned to the mobile home June 2nd. He had died of natural causes according to Dr. Robert Mollen-hoff, coroner, who was called. Mr. Brown had been under treatment (or a heart condition.

There were no signs ol violence. The trailer is one at the Tip-pin Trailer Court at Roberts-ville. He was a disabled II veteran. The body was taken to Thiebes Funeral Home in Pacific. 1 hey state that so much park land will lead to a lack of commercial facilities, as those who use the lake will camp around it and use only the supplies they bring with them, "We would rather see residential development that will bring permanent residents to the area, than a bunch of campers who use the area but spend little in it." WENT TO WASHINGTON On May 8th Mr.

and Mrs. John Rice and Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Roedemeier traveled to ashington to present their side of the story. Their trip coincided with the trip of members CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 proposal, it was discussed as a lake with a 300-foot hand back from the flood stage level.

They add that never was s-ich a vast amount of laini discussed as is actually lieing reserved for park or public use. The local land owners state that they are not the lake or the profits It could bring. They are against the reserved area which was marked in red on the preliminary map and commonly referred to as the "Red Area" concentrating mostly on the north shore from Sullivan to Rourbon, leaving for private ownership much of the south shore there, and on both shores west of Bourbon. In a press conference held at 6:30 a.m. June 6th.

Major General L. B. Adams Missouri's Adjutant General, out-lined the Department of Defense proposed new troop list for the Missouri Army NationalGuard. Missouri is programmed tore-organize in January 1968 under the ne-w troop basis. The new troop basis proposed for the Missouri Guard represents a substantial loss of troops to the State.

The loss in strength is more than 900 officers and men, and comprises 18 company sized units in five battalions. Battery located in the Armory at St. Clair, is a component of the 128th Artillery, irst Battalion. Just how far or to what degree its status will be affected in the- shuffle is not known here. The loss of the five battalions includes two of the present infantry battalions, two of the- artillery battalions, and one tank battalion.

The loss of the present 35th Command Headquarters Divisional is only partly offset by the addition of an I ngineer Brigade Headquarters. The present Command Headquarters contains many of the most experienced Commanders and Staff Officers as well as a high percentage of highly qualified enlisted men. General Adams said, "A loss of this magnitude does not permit the quick, development of a 'simple plan for reorganization. We recognize, and each National Guard community in Missouri must recognize, that the burden of this loss must be spread equitably across the 5tate. No single existing unit can anticipate, a gain, nor is any unit immune from possible reduction or conversion to a different branch of service." The liighest proportion of units in the proposed troop basis for Missouri is engineer units.

These are very desirable type units, and the Missouri Guard currently has some excellent engineer units. Fort Leonard Wood is the Fngineer Training Center for the U. S. Army and potentially would make a very desirable site for annual field training. EQUIPMENT PROMISED The Department of Defense (of Marshall Jackson, considered a fixture at St.

Clair after serving here for 15 years as superintendent of schools, tossed a bombshell last Thursday night when he made the surprise announcement that he is resigning as of July 1st. Soft-spoken, mild mannered and often known to choose words with deliberation and at slow pace, he made the announcement in his usual manner. The advisory board had met earlier in the evening to consider future needs of the school system. Four members of the school board and Marshall Jackson were present. He quietly asked the four board members whether a special meeting of the board could be called following the advisory board meeting, as a quorum was there.

There are six members to the school board of directors. In announcing his resignation he stated that he prefers that it be effective July 1st, but that he will remain until mid-July if necessary. On Friday of the previous week he said he had received a telephone call from the Commissioner of Education in Jefferson City advising that there was a vacancy in the Department of School Finance, and asking whether Jackson would be interested in the post. He CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Open lnK. a guard, Is taking Red Cross lt safety Instructions to Innu them later to give Red roi approved swimming lea-n the city pool.

Ronnie A'hworth, Luther Isgrlggs, Mttcla Dierklng are also signed senior Red Cross Ufe-and Packy Gephardt Is Red Cross Junior lifeguard onduty. ry Jane Dunn and Roger rtuey work in the basket to bend out baskets (to COntln apparel) to swimmers. Marshall For age exists, and any losses as they occur may not be where the overages are being maintained. "This is a very critical period in the history of our State and Nation, and there are many circumstances that could have an overriding influence on the actual implementation of the plan. Each factor will be weighed in the light of each new development." To sum it up, the Battery A headquartered in the Armory at St.

Clair is one of three artillery battalions now authorized. The new quota will cut the artillery battalions to one, and that which survives Robert McNamara's cut-down will be in a community which contributes sufficient men to keep up (tie quota of men for such a battery; training and readiness, outdoor weekend training facilities, all are factors to be considered. is. The aldermen, city attorney and city clerk were on duty. To eliminate parking his car and truck in a narrow street to congest traffic, Mr.

and Mrs. Charles Willis were granted their request for a city-built blacktop entry to the property at North and Duckworth streets. Willis said he might get into it with the Missus if he parked on the lawn, and everyone else has entry, which Is true. James R. Helton has suddenly found himself vice-president of the St.

Clair Youth Club and in order to bolster the membership, which is down to42, asked whether the city swimmingpool could be made available to the teenage group once or twice a month when it is closed to the public. The kids have volunteered to clean the pool after their swims if necessary. The pool is closed each Monday, however it is not drained and scrubbed each week, in fact the only reason it had to be drained and thoroughly cleaned last year shortly after opening was that unidentified persons had tossed broken glass bottles into the water. Nor is the city council willing to turn the pool over to any group unless qualified lifeguards, preferably those hired by the city for public pool use, are on hand. The guards now have only one night a week off the Job and the council could not commit them to work overtime on a private opening, but goes along with the idea that the swimming pool is a facility that's good for teenagers.

The pool Is already committed for the Boy Scouts on a Saturday morning; St. Clair Klwanis and International Shoe on dates and hours otherwise closed. The council finally decided to consult with CONTINUEO'ON PAGI Zhe Weather TIME TO MAKE HAY Sunny skies, with just a hint of rain clouds, spurs farmers to mow and bale hay long after sundown and the crop is lush this year. After a total rainfall of 2.II last week, it is down to .33 or one-third Inch for this week, .27 coming Wednesday May 31 and .06 early iast Monday. Still .89 of an inch out in front of normal, the total so far this year is 16.09 and if a bit of moisture continues, the wild berry crop will also be a bumper one.

The Bour-beuse river crested last Thursday at 9 ft. 6 inches as the earth was saturated, and Wednesday rain had nowhere to go but into the creeks and on to the rivers. The Bourbeuse at Union bad subsided to 2.23 ft. and was falling Tuesday night of this week It has been extremely cool for tin's time of year. Maximum average Is 81 degrees, say George Bader, Official Weather Observer at the Union Weather Station.

Here are the actual reedUagst Mgfc. Low May Wed. 59 ,52 Tuurt. 5 S3 2. Fri.

74 59 Sat. 71 i 4S 4. Sun. 7t 51 ,3. Mon.

11 Jackson Jeff City Post A meeting, the third, was held at Sullivan City Hall Monday, June 5, beginnin)! at 7:30 p.m. The 2n who attended were there because the land they own and live on has been included as park land by the Army Engineers in their release of a map to the public last January, relative to Meramec State Park Reservoir. When the map was released John Rice, operator of Radio Station KTl'I, Rice Realty, and a 400-plus acre farm in the proposed park area, and his wife Louise began a movement of inquiry and protest. They and the n0-phis who have joined their organization, The Meramec Valley Land Protective Association, question the need for so many acres of park land compacted in Sullivan and. Bourbon.

They cite the present used area of Meramec State Park and its actual acreage. They also ask why it is that certain large land holders apparently have been left virtually untouched. They contend that a development group of St. Louis holds several thousand acres of land in the open area. The local property owners claim a complete about-face on the part of the Army Engineers.

They state that since the early beginning of the lake Palmer To Build Hospital Addition Fred Atkinson, St. Clair's airport manager, appeared before the city council Monday night and requested seven additional tiedowns at the airport. There are 22 planes permanently qua-tered there now and when they fly in like homing pigeons, all tiedowns are in use, with none for other planes. The council granted the request. Atkinson also said that "if and when" he and Mrs.

Atkinson sell their home on North Main street, he would prefer to park a mobile home at the airport as he is on call for his job day and night, driving back and forth would be eliminated, and he would be better able to keep an eye on the city facilities. On an "if and when" basis the council okayed his request, the trailer to be parked beside the airport administration building with clear visibility to the runway. Water, sewer, telephone and electrical facilities are available. Mayor Evans was attending a convention in St. Lou- Quits and the firemen did well to protect other buildings.

The fire was discovered by Pursley, who was working in his garden, and heard "something crackling." He turned and sew bis house burning. His wis Alma Is employed by Dab Shoe Co. The shoe factory is on its first week of a two-week vacation. She was however not at home at the time of the fire, for which the cause Is unknown. The Pursleys have again lost all clothing, food, posse salons by fire.

Bell Phone Co. Sets Up New Headquarters For This District 7 The J.W, Palmer Construction Company of Sullivan was the low bidder on an addition to Sullivan Community Hospital. Bids on the job were received from six construction firms. Palmer submitted a low bill of $192,408 for the eight patient rooms and two wards that are to be added to the present 35 bed facility. Bids were opened by the Sullivan city council Thursday June 1, at p.m.

GEORCE MAUZE ter from Kirkwood, where he had been district plant superintendent. He is a native of St. Louis and a veteran of World War II, Joined the telephone company in March of 1942. Bids of the other five bidders were Hoel-Steffen Construction Company Allied Builders Corp. $229 MoVal Contractors Inc.

Wardway Construction Co. and Sites Construction Co. $248,000.00. Two alternates in the construction of the addition were given in the specifications and Palmer remained the low bidder by a wide margin with the alternatives figured in. The council awarded the construction contract to Palmer.

Walther Palmer, the owner, stated that as soon as a work order was received from the architects and the weather permitted, he would begin work. R. L. Waldo Company is to be the plumbing, heating and ventilating subcontractor and Ed Zey, Central Supply, is the electrical sub-contractor. The architects' estimate for the cost of construction was $216,000.

Palmer's total bid with the alternatives figured, was substantially below this figure. The cost of construction will be financed with operational profits, accumulation of mil tax funds paid by Sullivan property owners, and a bond issue okayed August 11, 1964 for $80 thousand. Pool Is The St. Clair city swimming pool in the dry park opened 2:00 pjn Tuesday after repairs and replacement of some pump machinery, a thorough paint job, and help lined up. Public pool hours are 2:00 to 5:00 and 6:00 to 9:00 pjn.

each Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Mrs. John Stolte it the pool manager. Mrs. Irene Venable won by bid the operation of concession stands.

Eric Rau i head life guard with Alice Loft- Supt. of Schools Marshall Jackson Resigns Gene Pursley Home Burns To Ground 9 r-)mWi. 1 I A new district with headquarters in Manchester, Mo. has been established by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. The new district, which will be called the Manchester District, will serve the communities of Manchester, Ballwin, Union, Washington, St.

Clair. Beaufort, Festus, Crystal City, Ste. Genevieve and St.Charles. In announcing the new district, R. R.

Shockley, vice-president and general manager, noted the "continuing dynamic growth of the outer suburban area around St. Louis." He said, "Rapid growth just beyond the immediate St.Louis suburbs has led to the formation of a new district to better serve telephone customers in these growing areas. "The new district brings together communities having similar growth patterns and telephone requirements." George Mauze has been named district manager in charge of commercial business office operations, and Glenn Christian has been named district plant superintendent of the new dis- The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Pursley and their school aged daughter was destroyed, with all contentt.byaflrewhich broke out Tuesday.

The property Is located on Highway Km Schuster Lake and the t. OUve church nearRoberts-ville. They also lost a home and all contents In a fire on North Commercial street la St. Clair about twelve years ago. The St.

Clair Volunteer Fire Department was called Tuesday but the house was la full flame GLEN CHRISTIAN trict. Mauze, who had been working in the St. Louis division offices of the telephone company, has been withSouthwesternBell for eight years. Christian moves to Manches-.