Mexico Ledger from Mexico, Missouri • Page 1

22 PAGES fUrxfrn Mexico, Friday. March 28, 1975 Phone Year No. RAIN CHANGING TOSNOW Fog, Snow, And Flood In Stormy Weather Picture YOUNG RELIGIOUS LEADER-Rod Nebel (left) was honored at today's Lenten breakfast after being named outstanding young religious leader of the community. Lewis Brooks (center) was chairman of Jaycee project and the plaque was presented by the Rev. J.C.

Montgomery (right), pastor of the United Methodist Church of which Mr. Nebel is a member. (Ledger Photo by Richard Vance) By The Associated Press Blizzards battered parts of the upper Midwest and Plains today, paralyzing large sections of some states. The storms, which in some areas have continued for almost a week, are part of a severe weather system from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Lakes. In many sections, snow crews simply gave up trying to battle the effects of the blizzard until the winds died and drifting ended.

In North Dakota, a 3-year- old boy tottered out of his home on the Devils Lake Sioux Indian Reservation, apparently got lost and died in the wind and snow. To the south of the heavy snow zone, cold and warm air clashed and triggered wind and rain storms and isolated tornadoes. One twister spun out of the School Candidates Answer Issue Quiz Three candidates for the board of education of the Mexico School District voiced their views last night in a League Of Women Voters candidates forum last night on Channel 12 See TV. Two of the Howard Copeland, Jay F. Gourley III, and Mrs.

Edward be elected Tuesday in the city-school election. With Mrs. Jim Inlow of the LWV as moderator, the three answered questions from the League and from viewers. The questions and answers: 1. Why are you seeking a position on the School Board and what are your qualifications? Mrs.

Copeland: I am seeking a position on the School Board because of my continuing active interest in the best education possible for the young people in this community. I feel my involvement in many phases of school work over the last 15 years, and especially my first term, which I am just completing, on the School Board well qualify me to serve again. During this first term, in addition to the experience I have gained through our many meetings, the building of a new school, and the hiring of a new superintendent, I have served as Treasurer for the past year and have represented the Board on the High School Graduation Requirements Committee for 2 years. Since we have had 2 children graduate from Mexico Public Schools, I feel I have a broad knowledge of the entire school system, plus the time to spend however many hours as needed at board meetings, doing board homework, and even visiting classrooms. Mr.

Gourley: I believe you need a variety of people and especially those with practical business experience. Also I have two boys and a girl now in the Mexico school system. I believe that the experience I have gained through my present job will enable me to help solve some of the problems that face the board. My qualifications are: I attended Mexico Public Schools and the University of Missori. I have attended and have been a part of'many seminars relating to management and related areas.

I am involved in handling many aspects of running a business for the past ten years. Prior to that I had "grown up" in Jay's IGA, having been there on and off since I was eight years old. I 'am used to making pennies count. Mrs. Hodge: I have lived in Mexico for nearly 14 years; I view this position as an opportunity to be of service to the people of Mexico.

I am concerned about the quality of education which our children are receiving and I believe my qualifications allow me to speak iii this regard. I have three children in the ah Ji.UM one in the 5th grade at McMillan, and one to enter kindergarten in the fall. I hold a B.A. degree, including courses in education, and did graduate study at the University of Virginia. I taught high school history for three years in the Virginia public school system.

More recently I worked on the citizen committees for both bond issues resulting in the new junior high school. The field of education has been of great interest to me all my life. 2. What do you see as the role of the school board member in relation to the children, administration, and patrons of the community? Mrs. Copeland: The primary objective of the school board is quality education for the children, and this should be kept in mind with every decision.

Board members should like children, be interested in them and be respected by the children. Teachers: The best possible facilities, working conditions and salaries for the teachers are a must, as well as a genuine concern for their problems by board members. Administration: The board member, through board action, elects its chief executive officer, and the superintendent of schools, and invests in him the executive powers of the Board. He is the head of the school system and is the channel through which the Board works with the other administrators and teachers. The superintendent places into operation the plans and policies made by the board.

Board members and the superintendent must have a close and cooperative working relationship, but neither should be a rubber stamp for the other. The board holds the superintendent responsible for the educational program and the financial status of the district (with a current budget of nearly 4 million dollars). Patrons: School board members are accountable to the patrons of the community, and must be open and honest with them, available and willing to discuss school district issues and, above all, listen to patrons and their 'concerns. Individual board members should not make promises to anyone, since board action is strictly group action. To sum up this relationship, the teacher answers to the parents and reports to the principal.

The principal reports to the superintendent, who reports directly to the board. And the board answers to the community. Mr. Gourley: The most important function is to provide the students of Mexico with the finest education possible. The only way to complete this is with the finest teachers you can hire.

As in any business, you must have good management for those that will lead. The members of our community elect our board members to accomplish these goals. The board members must be able to be fair, to listen to all groups, then make the decision that will benefit the majority of people. Mrs. Hodge: The primary role of the school board member, working with others on the board, is to provide the best possible education for the children of the district.

The board should provide leadership in this area and serve as a coordinating factor in balancing the interests of (Continued on Page 5) For Religious Leadership Rod Nebel, juvenile officer of the 12th judicial circuit, was named outstanding young religious leader of the community today at the Lenten breakfast at the United Methodist Church. Announcing the honor was Lewis Brooks chairman of the Mexico Jaycee project. He quoted from nominating statements of the Rev. J.C. Montgomery, pastor of the United Methodist Church, of which Mr.

Nebel is an active member, saying "As juvenile officer, Mr. Neblel constantly keeps faith in human nature in a task in which he often sees children, youth and adults breaking faith as well as laws. He works patiently and kindly yet firmly with many in whom others may have lost hope. "Mr. Nebel is often disappointed in the results he achieves but because of his faith in the redeeming work of God, he keeps trying, believing that even if one life in changed it is all worthwhile.

Under his leadership, the 12th judicial circuit has been among the first to try group homes for juveniles, and they have become models of operation for the state, mainly because of the kindly, humane treatment encouraged. In such a way, his work embodies the gospel injunction 'Unto the least of The Rev. Montgomery further said in his nomination of Mr. Nebel, "As chaplain of the Jaycees, member of the Child Welfare Advisory Board, the Optimist Club and other organizations, Mr. Nebel maintains a Christian witness.

He speaks often to civic and church groups, pleading for better juvenile detention facilities or seeking to explain the work of his office. In all of this, he is a tireless advocate for young people and children." Nebel is a member of the administrative board of his church, co-counselor of the junior high youth, an usher, lay leader at worship services and one of several teachers of the new young adult class. He also participates in district youth activities. Following his introduction by Mr. Brooks who told of his religious activities, the Rev.

Montgomery presented an appropriately engraved plaque to Mr. Nebel on behalf, of the Jaycees. Nominations for this award were made by the ministers of the Mexico churches. Continuing the daily increase at the Lenten breakfasts throughout the week, there were 97 in attendance today. Robert Mclntosh, vice president of the A.P.

Green Refractories was speaker. He told about the delays and frustrations of today as the key to uncertainty and said despite the uncertainties we read and hear about today, the uncertainties at the time of Christ's crucifixion were greater. They had some good things, Mr. Mclntosh related, such as no gas shortage, no telephones to interrupt, no watches and clocks to set tight schedules but their uncertainties such as having no modern fertilizers to assure crops were greater. Mr.

Brooks read the Scripture for the service. The opening prayer was by the Rev. Marvin Jones, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church and Attorney Robert Fenlon gave the closing prayer. EARLY MORNING scene here with heavy low-lying fog. clouds today near Gainesville, smashed a mobile home and injured two persons.

A tornado that ripped through the Panhandle community of Lefors Thursday killed at least one person and leveled 148 buildings. Another funnel cloud damaged property in Elk City, Okla. Torrential rains drenched an area from northern Texas to Tennessee. The National Weather- Service termed the system that started the widespread run of foul weather early in the week "an extremely dangerous storm." Various warnings and advisories remained in effect for parts of a dozen states from the Rockies to the Great Ukes. The heaviest snows hit hardest at a section plastered by an earlier blizzard Sunday and Monday.

New snows of 10 to 20 inches piled atop drifts from the previous storm in South Dakota. More than a foot of fresh snow dropped into the Duluth-Superior area of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Winds of 60 to 70 miles per hour closed many previously plowed highways in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wiscon- sin. Road crews were called off the job in many areas Thursday night. All highways in and out of Minneapolis-St.

Paul were blocked by huge drifts and closed early today. State police and highway- crews erected snow fences across Interstate 94 at Tomah and Hudson, Thursday night to keep traffic from attempting to go on after plows were halted. Scores of motorists spent the night in churches, college dormitories and at truck stops. More than 300 cars and trucks were off the pavement due to snow and ice on a 145- mile stretch of 1-94 between Tomah and the Wisconsin- Minnesota line. School buses from Black River Falls, toured a portion of the highway picking up an estimated 75 stranded motorists and carrying them to overnight accomodations in town.

The winds toppled a on Page 5) No Epperson Leads As Search Widens The search for Russell Epperson, 24, who disappeared Wednesday morning shortly before the slain bodies of his wife and two children were discovered around noon that day, has been widened beyond Audrain County and Missouri into other states. Mexico Public Safety Department is sending pictures of the young man to law enforcement officers and the Associated Press has made a copy available to newspapers over a wide area. But so far no leads as to the whereabouts of the mechanic, Churches Prepare To Celebrate Joy And Hope Of Easter HIGH or something akin to it, got Johnita Belcher, 724 S. Union, in a fix Thursday afternoon. The Belcher car didn't quite the corner at the Mexico High Streets, and was nearly submerged in the high waters which came with Wednesday night's and Thursday's two-inch rain.

With the assist of a tow truck, the car was rescued and put Of i ron'I ofain Churchgoers of Ledgerland, joining the Christian faithful of the western world, will flock to churches Sunday, some for the first time in months, to celebrate the unsealed tomb, the cast-away winding sheets, the Risen Lord, and the promise of redemption through love, exemplified by Christ's sacrifice observed today in stark and penitiential Good Friday services. A revivified Church will sing in jubilation, hear homilies of joy and hope and go forth to Easter dinners and family gatherings. The day will not be very conducive to new spring finery of dress, the long range forecast calling for continued gloomy, chill and damp weather, with possibilities of snow or rain or both. In most Mexico churches the Easter celebration will be at the regular service, but many plan special sunrise services and others of large membership plan two services during the morning. And at all churches, persons without churches will be welcomed.

St. Brendan's Catholic church will have services at 7, 9 and 11 a.m., the usual times, following the Easter Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday night, including a mass and the blessing of the New Fire and lighting of the Paschal candle. At First Baptist Church an early service will be at 8 a.m. in addition to the regular 10:40 service.

Special Easter music- is planned. First Presbyterian Church will have services at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. The First Christian Church will hold a sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. and the regular service at 10:45, and a baptism service at 3 p.m. As in many of the churches, a nursery will be provided for all services.

Mexico United Methodist Church will have identical services at 8:30 and 10:45, with music by the Chancel Choir. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Easter service will be at 10 a.m.

at St. John's Lutheran 'Growl' In Today The Bulldog's Growl, student newspaper of Mexico High School, appears in this issue of The Ledger instead of its normal Saturday date. The change was made to accommodate an expanded, eight-page edition of the Growl. Today's Smile A dollar may not go far these what it lacks in distance, it makes up in speed. (HurliiijUori, Church.

The Lockewood Park Baptist Church will have an early service at 7:30 a.m. to present a play, "Easter, The followed by an Easter fellowship breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Sunday school will begin at 9:30 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited.

A community sunrise service will be conducted at (Continued on Page 5) wanted for questioning on suspicion of killing his family, have turned up. Many widely diverse rumors began the rounds yesterday, including one that he fled on a motorcycle and one that his body was found near Rush Hill. PSD Chief Don Bolli said police learned Epperson owned a motorcycle but "it has been accounted for." He would not elaborate. The Rush Hill story had no basis in fact. No charge against Epperson has been filed in Audrain Magistrate Court.

The local search and investigation is continuing unabated by Sheriff Arthur (Bud) Riley and his officers and Chief Bolli's department'. Police and deputies, (Continued on Page 5) TO LIGHT UP GAMES-Going up in time to light up the spring and summer baseball games at Green Field in Plunkett Park are $14,400 worth of new metal Halike lamps, provided as a civic project of the Mexico Recreation Commission. The 36 reflectors with 1500 watts each, replace the old lights which were 23 years old. They are expected to double the amount of light with an expenditure of 30 percent less energy. The Missouri Power and Col.

C.R. stribiing, chairman of commission, sai.d the putting up the in doing so. The new lights made possible friends, and of Commerce Bank, A.P. Green RefractorJei Missouri Power and. iyht installed the liyhtb and.