Chillicothe Gazette from Chillicothe, Ohio • 1

irt kmut Monday, II II II II November 1,1976 A Speidel Newspaper Chillicothe, Ohio 26 pages plus supplement our 176th year -oldest newspaper west of the Alleghenies Pollsters: Candidates in dead heat I By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter wind up their campaigns tonight barely 100 miles apart in the President'i home state of Michigan. And if the poll takers are right, the candidates are approaching Election Day in a virtual dead heat. I Too close to call is the forecast coming from most quarters in the hours before Americans go to the polls in the nation's bicentennial presidential election. I One major national poll gave Carter a lone point lead. Another gave Ford a one rint lead.

But it's the electoral vote rather man the national popular vote that will determine who occupies the White House starting next Jan. 20. The electoral votes for each state are equal to the state's representation in Congress, the two senators plus the number of House members. And the candidate who carries the state gets all 'the electoral votes. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the election and few surveys show either candidate with a firm lead in enough to make him feel certain of victory.

In his final day of campaigning for the office he now holds through appointment, the Republican President was in Ohio and planned to go on to Michigan for a closing rally in his hometown of Grand Rapids. I His Democratic challenger campaigned in California and then planned to wind up his two-year quest for the presidency with a rally in Flint, before flying to his Georgia home. The Michigan stop was inserted in i Carter's schedule at the last minute, an indication the candidate believes he still has a chance to carry Ford's home state with its 21 electoral votes. Of uncertain impact was an incident Sunday at the Plains, Baptist Church. The church canceled services after a black minister from Albany, who had applied for membership in the church, attempted to join the worshipers.

Carter, a member of the church's board of deacons and a regular teacher at its Sunday school, learned of the incident while campaigning in Texas and said he believed "anyone who lives in our community who wants to be a member of our church, regardless of race, ought to be admitted" Carter later said he would "seek action" to provide that guarantee to those "who share our religious faith." The Rev. Bruce Edwards, pastor of the Plains church, said he believed the effort of the Rev. Gennon King to join the church was politically motivated. The Rev. Mr.

King had once announced his intention to seek the 1972 Republican presidential nomination and the 1970 Republican gubernatorial nomination in Georgia. William I. Greener spokesman for the President Ford Committee, said Obviously, we were not involved and have no further comment." Both Ford and Carter have purchased time on each of the three major television networks tonight for final appeals to an electorate which pollsters continue to find closely divided with many undecided voters. The final Gallup Poll, released Sunday night, gave Ford 47 per cent, Carter 46 per cent, others 3 per cent and 4 per cent Continued on Page 24 vUtLt-f. mf hmmf i I.

1 Giitttt ptwta URGE TURNOUT FOR AMTRAK INAUGURAL Chillicorheans ond their neighbors turned out by the hundreds Saturday to see the Shenandoah, Amtrak's new daily passenger train that started regular service Sunday. See story, photos, Page 2. Tu day Ro ss vote rs pea inside the gazette Ford caps campaign with visit to Ohio 2 6-7 FIRST SECTION Deaths Living Today News of Record Opinion Page SECOND SECTION Abby Amusements Bridge Classified Ads Comics Crossword Puzzle Horoscope Markets Sports COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) With less ithan a day the polls open, President Ford today repeated his primary campaign of an 11th Ihour visit to Ohio, a successful tactic in the primary which Ford hopes will work for him again. 25 24 25 22-24 25 25 25 23 20-21 engineer (Paul M. Miller.) There are no candidates for the post of county coroner.

State law allows the incumbent officeholder to remain in his job even after the end of his elected term if there is no duly elected replacement. If Dr. Donald Berling, the Republican incumbent, resigns his position, the job would be filled by vote of the executive committee of his party. Political observers say the results of the balloting for President in Ohio (and possibly as a bellweather for the nation) could rest on the ability of the Democrats and their labor allies to turn out the votes on Tuesday. Most of the multi-million dollar voting push is scheduled for the industrial northern (and Democratic) regions of the state.

Some phone banks are planned by area supporters of both Republicans and Democrats. Further information on voting procedures and location of polling places is available through the Ross County Board of Elections in the county courthouse. Persons seeking rides to the polls may be able to arrange for such service through one or the other political party in the county. SUPPLEMENT Kroger By COREY SANDLER staff writer The only poll which counts takes place across the country Tuesday, as voters cast ballots to choose the next President of the United States. The major candidates are watching the voting in Ohio closely for one thing, no Republican has ever been elected President without carrying Ohio.

The state's 25 electoral votes are believed up for grabs. Nationally, pollsters are estimating turnouts in the 50-60 per cent range, while Ohio Secretary of State Ted W. Brown estimates a state turnout of about 61 per cent of the 6.9 million registered voters here, or 4.2 million ballots cast. In Ohio, polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Ross County, though, has had a history of a high voter turnout in presidential elections.

The 1968 vote was 86.4 per cent (22,814 votes out of 26,400 persons registered.) In 1972, that percentage declined slightly, as 81.6 per cent of the voters (22,503 of 27,572) showed up at the polls. The 1976 registration figures show 27,427 persons eligible to vote in Ross in the county and 11,434 in the city. If about 80 per cent of the area voters go to the polls Tuesday, there will be aboul 21,941 ballots cast. Ohio voters will have a chance to vote for one of ten teams of presidential and vice presidential candidates. Besides ticket-leaders Carter and Ford, candidates for President listed on the Ohio ballot include Gus Hall, Lyndon LaRouche Roger L.

McBride, Lester G. Maddox, Eugene J. McCarthy and Peter Camejo. Two write-in candidates for President, Ben Bubar and Julius Levin, are also registered with the secretary of state. Six candidates seek the available U.S.

Senate seat incumbent Robert Taft a Republican, Howard Metzenbaum, Democrat, John O'Neill, Melissa Singler, Emma Lila Fundaburk and Donald E. Babcock. the 6th District U.S. Congress seat has featured a lively campaign by challenger Ted Strickland, a Democrat, seeking the seat of William H. Harsha, Republican incumbent.

The race for state representative from the 88th District pits Myrl H. Shoemaker, Democrat incumbent, against Carl P. Hirsch Republican. A lot of heat has been generated by the four-way race for Ross County sheriff. The Republican nominee, Thomas L.

Hamman and Democrat Harold W. Strausbaugh face opposition from Homer F. Brigner, an independent and Don Detillion, who seeks election as a write-in candidate. In other contested election? in the county courthouse, Audrey Richter (R), faces J. Alfred Immell (D-incumbent) for the clerk of courts post; Ruth Tootle McGlone (D) opposes Wayne F.

Cryder (R-incumbent) for county recorder; Bennett W. Junk (R-incumbent) runs against Fred C. Ginther (D) for county treasurer and Robert Perdue (D) is opposed by Vernon R. Barrett (R) in the race for the new judgeship in the court of common pleas. The two races for county commissioner pit Incumbent Grant McDonald (D) against James M.

Caldwell (R) for one seat, and James R. Starr (R) against Donald W. Arledge (D) for the second seat, being vacated by the retirement of Gilbert W. Stultz, a Republican. There are unopposed Republican candidates for prosecuting attorney (Richard G.

Ward) and for county Ford is aware that no Republican has ever won the White House without carrying Ohio; Carter is aware that only three Democrats have won the state since 1940. "This election is as close as it can be," Mondale told an overflow ethnic audience Sunday at St. George Romanian orthodox church in Canton. "Ohio may well decide who the next president is going to be." Democratic leaders are pinning their hopes in Ohio on turning out Democratic voters. They say they registered voters in 28 target counties in the weeks before the election, and will be calling those voters to the polls on Tuesday.

Republicans are hoping the turnout will be low on election day, depriving Carter of a large plurality from the heavily Democratic precincts of northeast Ohio. "I hope it snows north of the turnpike," joked Keith McNamara, Ford's Ohio campaign manager. An equally tight race in the U.S. Senate faces Ohio voters on Tuesday. Incumbent Republican Sen.

Robert Taft Jr. faces the challenge of Democrat Howard M. Metzenbaum in a contest the pollsters say is too close to call. Voters Tuesday also will be selecting congressmen, legislators, two Supreme Court justices, county officials and will decide state and local issues, including a series of utility issues. Secretary of State Ted W.

Brown has predicted a record voter turnout of 4.2 millio i for Tuesday's election. The President's visit to Akron and Columbus capped the long 1976 campaign in Ohio, the state which gave Jimmy Carter the Democratic nomination but which Ford is trying to keep in the Republican column this week. Ford followed on the heels of Democratic vice presidential nominee Walter Mondale, who campaigned Saturday and Sunday through eastern and northeastern Ohio. After a rally on the Statehouse steps at noon today, Ford was scheduled to depart for his home state of Michigan, where he will cast his vote on Tuesday. His departure marked the end of six months of presidential politicking in the state, a long political season which began as winter faded and which ends with the cold gusty rains of fall.

It was Ford's second trip to Ohio in five days, and either Jimmy Carter or Mondale had been in the state for four days straight. Mondale noted Sunday that he had been in Ohio 13 times over the past few weeks. The candidates' attention signaled the importance of Ohio to their victory strategies. Area weather Partly cloudy and not as cold tonight. Lows in the mid to upper 30s.

Mostly cloudy, breezy and warmer Tuesday. Highs in the mid to upper 50s. The chance of rain 10 per cent tonight and 20 per cent Tuesday. A chance of showers and turning colder Wednesday. Fair and cold Thursday and Friday.

Highs Wednesday in the mid 40s to low 50s and generally in the 40s Thursday and Friday. Lows early Wednesday in the 30s, falling to the 20s Thursday and Friday. Local statistics Saturday: 49 high, 35 low; Rainfall: .60 inch; Sunday: 46 high, 25 low; Monday: 8 a.m., 31; Rainfall: .10 inch. Election calls Election returns on local races will be available at the Gazette switchboard, 773 -2111, from 8 p.m. midnight Tuesday.

Cold drizzle puts lethal chill on local Halloween Parade The first runner-up, Miss Seifert, 17, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Seifert, Route 4. She has been a cheerleader, member of the Varsity Club, French Club, Science Gub, Pep Club, Co-ed and the annual staff. The second runner-up, Miss Rahe, 17, is the daughter of Mrs.

Joyce Rahe, 37 Valley Drive. She has been a four-year member of the tennis team, majorette and assistant head majorette, senior class treasurer, yearbook staff member, National Honor Society member and member of Quill and Scroll, The other school representatives In the event were Nancy Brown, 17, Route 1, Clarksburg, Adena; Lisa Stanton, 17, 549 Parsons Bishop flaget; Teresa Molebash, 17, 331 Sunset Drive, Chillicothe; Mitzl Crowe, 17, Route 10, Huntington; Lisa Noel, 17, Route 5, Southeastern. high school, were Judged on poise, personality and appearance by a panel of judges. The judges interviewed each about high school activities, and asked each to respond to the question, "Do you feel that our country is as free now as our forefathers had expected it would be?" The Judges were JoAnn Shaw, Carolyn Richter, Booker Bunch and Michael Emmons. Miss Krug, the new Miss Ross County, is the 17-year-old daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. James C. Krug, Bainbridge. She has been active in school as a member of student council, band, chorus, Pep Club, Latin Club, Science Club, yearbook staff, Future Teachers of America, volley ball team, Girls State representative, 4-H, National Honor Society, a class officer and statistician. He said the parade was primarily for children, and concern for children's health was a factor in calling it off.

The decision to postpone the parade Saturday was made about 4 p.m., when it appeared from weather forecasts that the weather would not improve, and after city officials had given permission to reschedule the parade for Sunday. "We must have made 200-300 telephone calls in the next 18 hours," a parade committee member said. "We called every entry." Because of traffic control preparations and the involvement of city personnel, the Jaycees had to decide by noon Sunday whether the parade could be held at 4 p.m. Telephone calls to the Columbus and Cincinnati weather bureaus indicated a strong possibility that rain would again dampen the parade, and the decision to cancel it was made. parade entries which were to have been judged in the parade, except for marching units.

Parade entries to participate in the judging must be in place by noon Saturday on Paint Street between Main and Water streets. The units are to be on display along the sUert until 4 p.m. Mummers also will be judged Saturday. Children wishing to have their costumes or wagon floats judged should report to the park near the armory at 1 p.m. The judging will not be held inside the armory, because of a conflict with previously scheduled military activities.

The decision was made by the Jaycees not to attempt to reschedule the parade because the short Halloween season has ended, and because of the logistics of attempting to reorganize the parade. "It took us six weeks to plan It the first time. We can't do It again in four days," one of the organizers said this morning. From the experience Saturday in trying to contact parade participants to reschedule the event for Sunday, the organizers knew that another effort at rescheduling would be futile. Many of those who had signed up for the parade Saturday particularly area bands, whose directors could not contact all band members on a weekend had already indicated they could hot participate Sunday.

"We couldn't compete with the family and church activities that were already scheduled," a committee member said. The Jaycees are asking that anyone having questions about the parade entry judging this Saturday call 7754190. The Miss Ross County Judging was held on schedule Saturday evening in a building at 97 W. Main St. The contestants, homecoming queens or representatives from each Ross County Bad weather washed out this year's city Halloween Parade.

The only portion of the annual com munlty Halloween event which was held on schedule was the selection of Miss Ross County, an indoor event. Mary Lou Krug, a Paint Valley High School student, won the title. First runner-up was Kim Seifert, Zane Trace, and second runner-up was Jackie Rahe, Unioto. The parade which was to have been held Saturday evening had to be postponed because of a cold rain which fell steadily from mid-afternoon. A frantic effort was made to reschedule the parade for Sunday afternoon, but at noon Sunday, when a decision had to be made, threatening weather forced the sponsoring Jaycees to cancel the event.

Instead of a parade, the Jaycees now plan to hold a Judging this Saturday for all.