The Winona Republican-Herald from Winona, Minnesota • Page 3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1952 THE WINONA REPUBLICAN-HERALD, WINONA, MINNESOTA 3 Dr. W. A. Billings, seated, father of the Minnesota Turkey industry who said he looks like Harry Truman when he doesn't face the camera, telling one of his famous turkey stories at the Rex Turkeys appreciation dinner at the Oaks Monday when the above picture was taken. The listeners, from left to right, are Ed Simon, manager of Rex Turkeys; Herman Bloom, Philadelphia; Joseph Kassel, Chicago, distributors; John Kronebush, Chicago, president of the Rex Turkeys board, and Leonard Sullivan, assistant manager.

Turkey Production in '52 To Top Previous Record Better merchandising of turkeys in home areas was advanced as a solution to the rapid increase in turkey production by Dr. W. A. Billings, University of Minnesota, and "father" of the Minnesota turkey industry at the -Rex Turkeys appreciation banquet at the Oaks Monday evening. Despite hazardous highways more than 300 attended the dinner.

"The United States," Dr. Billings forecast, "will grow the biggest crop of turkeys on record in 1952 because conditions are favorable, the market promising and the brood stock is large." Dr. Billings stopped at Winona en route home from attending the national turkey growers convention st Loms He urged local owers to pro duce more small fryer turkeys, Homer Man Dies Back From Stalled Car HOMER, Minn. (Special)--The exertion of walking back to Dakota, from his car which was stalled on highway 61 because of the icy condition of the road, brought on a heart attack which caused the death of Nelius Sebo, 76, Homer, at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Mr. Sebo had gone on business to Dakota earlier in the morning and was returning home at the time. Icing conditions caused him to abandon his car and walk back to the John Donehower General Store in Dakota where he died. He was alone on the trip to Dakota. Mr.

Sebo who had suffered from a heart condition for some time, farmed in the Cedar Valley community until four years ago when his wife and he moved to Homer. He had been school janitor there for three years. He was born in Cedar Valley Oct. 5, 1875. His wife and he would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary June 17,1952.

She is the former Annie Nelson. Survivors are his wife; five children, Gerhardt, Witoka; Alma (Mrs. Palmer Erickson), Winona; Irvin and Garvin, Nodine, and Edgar, Winona; 11 grandchildren, three brothers, Oscar, Winona; Norman, Spokane, and Carl, Seattle, and four sisters, Mrs. Andrew Nelson, Mrs. Carlton Myhre, Mrs.

Gordon Davenport and Mrs. Olga Reynolds, Spokane. Funeral services will be Thursday, at 1 p. m. at the Cedar Valley Lutheran Church, Dr.

L. E. Brynestad officiating. Preliminary services will be at the Breitlow Funeral Home, Winona, at 1 p. m.

Burial will be at Cedar Valley. Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p. m. Wednesday. A of Board Studies Taxes Establishment of a special tax committee to study city tax problems and the distribution of the city's tax load was considered Monday noon by the board of directors of the Winona Association of Commerce at its first regular monthly meeting of the year at the Hotel Winona.

Fourteen members and ex-officio members of the board participated in the luncheon discussions. New- Jy-elected President Philip A. Baumann presided at the meeting. Also discussed by the new members were: A proposal to urge the city to appoint a special city planning commissioin to work with the city planning council and civic organizations to carry on a long range program of city planning. The revision and printing of a new Winona brochure to be used in promotion looking toward industrial and commercial expansion in the community.

Revision of by-laws under which the association operates. Baumann will appoint a committee to study the by-laws. A recommendation to the association's education committee that a plan be worked-out for helping to'find or create part-time jobs for Winona college students. The board approved the association's budget for the year and accepted a new member, Jay Robb of Robb Brothers Yard. pointing to the growing housewife demand for this little turkey.

Feeds to Cost More Cost of feeds will be higher, he said, but can be partly offset by good pasture. Winona County growers do not use sufficient pasture, he indicated. The turkey industry is worth a lot of money to Winona County, he pointed out, and every family in the county should be sold the program of eating one more turkey each year. The small fryer helps to answer this demand. John Kronebusch, president of the board of Rex Turkeys Industries, welcomed the growers.

Leonard Sullivan, toastmaster, than introduced Ed Simon, general manager, who briefly summed 1951 activities. "The 1952 crop of Altura Rex turkeys," he announced, "will be United States government inspected, forward step in our program of producing the world's best turkeys." $80,000 Payroll Donald Simon outlined the $50,000 of improvements made in the plant in 1951. The payroll for processing help was $80,000. By-products increased income $15,000. Two million dollars were paid for turkeys during the year.

Cyrus Kramer, Altura banker, Senator James Keller, and Judge Leo F. Murphy spoke briefly. Joseph Kassel, Chicago, Rex Turkeys distributor, and Herman Bloom, Philadelphia distributor, here for the dinner, were introduced and spoke briefly on marketing problems. In addition to growers, local distributors were guests. The Carl Miller Trio played for dancing after the program.

Edslrom photo Carland G. Gaustad, above, 457 Main has been appointed assistant to the director of the Winona Civil Defense organization. The appointment was announced today by Mayor J. Roland Eddie. Gaustad will assist Gordon R.

Closway, director, with much of the detail of the office and will also work with the city's five vice directors. Gaustad is a native of Winona and a graduate of Winona High School. He is employed by the Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission as livestock weighmaster at the Swift Company packing plant. He is married and has two children. Highway Grading Contract Awarded CENTERVILLE, Wis.

(Special) --Contract for grading 4.35 miles of Highway 93 between Arcadia and Centerville has been awarded to L. G. Arnold, Inc. of Eau Claire at a cost of $88,839. The project, last step in streamlining Highway 93, is scheduled to start this spring, with a detour to te put into effect.

Section of the road to be rebuilt is at the Arcadia end, including the ridge approaches and the sec- Lion on top of the ridge. Grades will be changed, bad curves either eliminated or made less dangerous, and the entire road widened. A high grade black top pavement will be used as surfacing when the job is completed by 1953. Clemency Denied Arcadian Sentenced For Barracks Fire Edmund S. Misch, 31, native of, set the apartment fires.

Sheriff Arcadia, Monday was sentenced to serve up to seven years George Fort -previously had obtained statements from Mrs. Misch in the St. Cloud reformatory after on circumstances of the blaze. ie pleaded guilty in District Court jere to a charge of setting fires in a city Veterans' housing unit at 1126 E. King St.

Dec. 5. Pleas for clemency and for a suspended sentence entered by Harold J. Libera, court-appointed counsel for the accused man, were denied by Judge Karl Finkelnburg. The formal charge was third degree arson.

County Attorney W. Kenneth Nissen told the court Misch started "four or five" fires in the apartment occupied by his wife after a series of marital disputes and day of drinking. Character Witnesses Following Misch's plea, Libera asked relatives of the man to take he stand as character witnesses. Testifying on behalf of the Navy veteran were his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs.

Paul Misch; his sister, Mrs. Clotilda Haines, and his uncle, Albert Bisek. The first three are of Arcadia. Bisek lives at 303 Chatfield St. Misch was arrested by city police January 6 after he returned to Winona from visiting his parents at Arcadia.

His arrest climaxed an investigation by City Fire Chief Frank P. Witt and the state fire marshal. Chief of Bingold obtained Police signed A. J. statements from the man admitting he Investigations revealed at least two fires had been set in the apartment bedroom--one in a closet and one near the bed--another in the bathroom and several more in the living room and kitchen.

Damage to the apartment was estimated at between $500 and $600. Court testimony Monday revealed the dispute between Misch and his wife which ended ia the apartment fire began in May, 1951, when Misch was attending a watch repair school at Memphis, Tenn. The couple had an argument and Mrs. Misch returned to Winona. Misch came to Winona in early December and another argument developed.

He had been drinking on the morning of Dec. 6 when he went to the apartment occupied by his wife. She went into an adjoining apartment occupied by her sister and two children. Misch set fire to his wife's clothing, then rapped on the wall separating the two apartments, telling his wife to call the fire department. The husband was at the scene when firemen arrived to extinguish the blaze.

He left for his parents' home in Arcadia the following day. During the investigation leading to arrest of Misch the police, the fire department, the state fire marshal and the county sheriffs offices all were called into the Award Contract For Olmstead Flood Gates Bigham Dresser Receive Job on Second Low Bid The City Council voted late Monday afternoon to award a contract for the construction of a flood control gate structure at the foot of Olmstead street to Bigham and Dresser, second lowest bidder on the flood project when proposals were opened Jan. 1, Motion to award the contract for $16,171.89 to the Winona contracting firm was made by Second Ward Alderman William S. Christensen, son of William M. Christensen, who submitted the lowest bid of $13,960.

The son's motion came after First Ward Alderman Rudy K. Ellings expressed belief the council would be "walking a pretty thin line" in awarding a contract to the father of a city alderman--despite the fact the father was bidding as an individual rather than as a principal stockholder in the firm of WMC, Inc. "I don't want any reflections of any kind against myself or my father," Christensen told his fellow aldermen, "so I'll make a motion that this bid be awarded to the next low bidder." Letter Received Council President William Theurer opened the meeting by re questing City Recorder Roy Wilde grube to read a letter he had re ceived from the senior Christensen "I understand that my bid for the Olmstead street gate structure was low. but I further under stand that there might be some question as to the legality of my doing the job, inasmuch as my son happens to be a member of tin city council," the elder Christensen wrote. "If there is the slightest pQssibil ity that my performing the job would be in the remotest realm being at all illegal," he continued "I would certainly not want any thing to do with the job in any way, shape or form.

"When you have your meeting to decide, I wish you would make my position clear on this matter t( your fellow aldermen, because wish to be 100 per cent honest anc above board in this and every oth er matter. If any of you think that awarding the contract to me would fall under any of the fore going classifications, I would ap preciate your awarding the job to either of the two other bidders Both of them are very good contractors, and I can certainly rec oramend them to you as well able to do the job." City Attorney Harold S. Streater told the council, "In my opinion Mr. Christensen's bid would be a legal bid, but it is a very close thing." He added later that Christensen could not lawfully withdraw his bid, although the council was not necessarily required to accept the lowest bid. Mayor J.

Roland Eddie interposed, "Well, if it's a legal bid I can't see the good sense in wasting the city's money by accepting the second lowest bid." He pointed out the difference between the two bids would cost the city an additional $211. Christensen's motion was second ed by Fourth Warder L. Robert Prondzinski, and the action prevailed unanimously. Prevent Flooding Installation of the gate will prevent back-watering in storm sewers in the lower Olmstead street area. Installation of an a-minute pump at the gate will handle run-off during high water and seepage from the river through the elevated North Western Railway right of way.

In other business the council School Building Plans Stymied by Shortages lassed unanimously a motion to close Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The street- closing was approved after Henry Muras, parade chairman of the Winona Winter Carnival, had asked ts closure to accommodate a Camp Coy display of large Army ve. licles immediately preceding the )arade.

The council was asked by W. O. Cribbs, city engineer, whether it could guarantee to raise to $300, effective in May, the salary of a department employe who has been iffered a salary in excess of that amount to go into private employment. The individual now is receiving $255. Council Split The proposal split tie council wide open on the question of how handle the touchy question of wages.

Several council men proposed the body wait until the May mdget meeting before tackling the question. No action was tak- 2n on Cribbs' request. "If you lose a good man," the engineer said, "you may have to lay a new man more money than 'ou would have paid the one you ost if you raised him." Cribbs cited comparative salaries paid in the ity engineering department. I thought we had agreed that we couldn't draw a ifair compari- on with Rochester on salary figures," Howard A. Baumann, Third ward alderman said.

"We've always taken that stand." "That may be true," Cribbs re- ilied, "But you're going to have compete with Rochester for men, owever." The aldermen adjourned without taking action on salaries. Backer CHATSWORTH, Ga. Cffl--Taft Is- enhoower, a Murray county farmer, ays he will vote for Sen. Kefauver the Tennesseean is a candidate or President The Winona board of education was informed Monday night that its plans for the construction of an addition to the Senior High School building have run afoul government restrictions on building materials. Notice was received that the request of the board to obtain critical materials for construction of an addition to house a girls' gymnasium, cafeteria, shops and classroom areas cannot be satisfied during the current quarter.

The government emphas however, that the request has notj been disapproved but merely de-' ferred for reconsideration later in the year. At last month's meeting, the board considered the possibility that the request might not be allowed in the face of material shortages and at that time the architectural firm of Boyum, Schubert and Sorensen was instructed to go ahead with its plans and specifications for the building. Monday night, Director Philip A. Baumann inquired whether it was advisable to draft plans and specifications now with the actual date of construction uncertain. "After all," he commented, "I understand that the authorization we're asking for is nothing more than a 'hunting license' to allow us to go out and try to find these materials.

I think it's possible that we might be able to have a dozen sets of plans drawn up in the time that it would take to find the materials after we've gotten authorization. Wouldn't it be possible that after that time we might want to make some changes in the plans that would be made now?" Other members the board didn't share these views, however. Director George W. Richman, chairman of the buildings and committee, observed, "We've gone this far and I can't see any reason why we should stop now. We may get the authorization for materials in the third or the fourth quarter of the year and might be able to start construction early in 1953." He also doubted whether there would be any radical changes necessary in the plans at the time construction would be started.

Hale Stow, chairman of the board's finance committee, also had a report on the financial aspects of construction. Earlier, the board had found that the school building sinking fund has been depleted by Lincoln school construction and that funds might not be immediately available to finance the construction of the new addition if the project was begun this year. Stow told the board that he had contacted officials of banks in the city and learned that they would be willing to give short-term loans to finance the building. Also discussed were heating facilities at the high school. The superintendent of buildings and grounds was instructed to obtain estimates of the comparative costs of repairing the present boilers and of buying new boilers for the high school which would service the new addition.

The clerk was authorized to make arrangements for the purchase of two gas stoves for use in the home economics department of the Washington-Kosciusko School. Bids Asked For Razing Old School Anticipating that this spring it may be slightly overstocked on schools, the Winona board of education is planning a January clearance sale. Slated for the auction block is the old Lincoln school building at West Sarm'a and Winona Streets which will be vacated next spring with the completion of the new Lincoln structure. Already advised by the state fire marshal that the old building is unsafe and that it cannot be occupied after the new school is available, the board Monday night voted to advertise for bids this month for the razing of the old school. Board directors instructed that an inventory be made immediately to determine what equipment in the building shall be removed and what will be left for the wrecking crew.

The bids will be opened when the board meets as a committee of the whole February 7. It is believed that the new building will be ready for occupancy about March 1. In other actions Monday night the board purchased footmats and stage equipment for the new school. The footmats were purchased from the Needles Company at a bid price of $885.31. Bids from other suppliers for comparable combination colored rubber mats were: St.

Paul Book and Stationery Company, the Wisconsin River Valley Chemical Company, Edward Don and Company, American Mat Corporation, 51,241.41, and Paul E. Hallman Company, $1,076.22. The stage equipment was purchased from the Winona Electric Construction Company and the Pittsburgh Stage and Equipment Studios at a total price of SI ,468.12. Included in the equipment to be obtained from Pittsburgh will be rigging at $350; a cyclorama and drop at $294; curtain and valance, $260. The spotlight will be purchased from the Winona firm at $95.37.

The estimated cost of installation was set at $150. Other bids were received from the Twin City Scenic Company and the Northwest Studios, Inc. Janitors overtime for December amounting to $229.72 was approved for payment. John W. Koepsel! Funeral Thursday LEWISTON, Minn.

(Special)-John W. Koepsell, 79, retired Lew- ston businessman, died at his home Monday afternoon. He opened the Lewistqn Creamery here in 1897 and operated it for 45 years. Born May 22, 1872, at Watertown, Koepsell came here in 1897 and married Martha Dorn Nov. 11 that year.

Their daughter, Erna, died in 1911 at the age of 7. Surviving are his wife; seven mothers', Henry, Watertown; Marin, Onaway, Reinhold and Theodore, Coleman, Bernard, Shawano, Otto, Mayville, and William, Lomira, and three sisters, Mrs. Gus Zimmerman and Mrs, Theodore Hueller, Mayville, and Mrs. Pan! Steinbeck, Waltham, Minn. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m.

at St. John's Lutheran Church, the Rev. R. P. Korn officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Werner Funeral Home here. Friends may call at the funeral lome Wednesday until 4 p.m. and Wednesday evening at the Koepsell tome. Jefferson Post Filled by Board Formal approval of the employment of Robert E.

Plucker as instructor in English and vocal music at the Jefferson School was voted by the Winona board of education Monday night. A graduate of the Brookings, S.D., State College, Plucker joined the faculty Jan. 7 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of M. Kenneth Augst. He is a native of Lennox, S.D., and was hired at a starting salary of $2,900 a year.

The board also voted to rehire R. J. Walker, director of veterans agriculture classes, to serve next year as a half-time veterans instructor and, for the other half day, to work with adult education classes. He is to assist the regular day school agriculture instructor. Nels Thompson, 82, Dies at St.

Charles ST. CHARLES, Minn. (Special)-Nels Thompson, 82, died at his H. M. Lamberton New President Of County Bar was elected president the Winona County Bar Association at its annual meeting and dinner at the Hotel Winona last night.

He succeeds Municipal Judge E. D. Libera. Probate Judge Leo F. Murphy was named vice president and C.

Stanley McMahon was re-elected secretary-treasurer. A report on the Winona County Law Library project was made and it was announced that the board of trustees consists of W. H. Gurnee president, Mr. McMahon secretary and Milton A.

Goldberg, Judge Libera and Adolph Spitzer, president of the Board of County CommiST sioners, trustees. Space for the library, authorized under a new Minnesota statute, is being sought and the attorneys discussed the matter of obtaining volumes for the library. The matter will be discussed in greater detail at a future meeting. By-laws have been adopted. H.

M. Bierce reported for tht committee on the practice of law and two new members, Robert Dobbs and Robert Brehmer, introduced. Twenty-two attended. McCoy Convoy Will Join Parade Line The units of Field Artillery and Antiaircraft equipment will be in the Winona Winter Carnival parade Saturday, it was announced today by Henry Muras, parade chairman. The equipment is being sent to Winona through the courtesy of Brig.

Gen. Frederic B. Butler, commanding officer of Camp McCoy. The convoy is scheduled to ar- home here Monday afternoon. Re- rive in Winona at 11:30 a.m.

Sat- tired, Thompson had been a section foreman for the Chicago North Western Railroad. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Jacobs Funeral Home here and are incomplete. Peter LKIink, 11, Independence, Dies INDEPENDENCE, Wis. (Spe- cia.1)--Peter L. Klinfc, 77, retired area farmer, died at his home in the town of Burnside Monday.

He was born in the town of Lincoln June 28, 1874 and lived in this area all his life. He was a supervisor of the town of Burnside for 15 years. Surviving are his wife, the former Anna Marsolek; six sons and five daughters: Roman, Independence; Coddie, Blair; Nicholas, at home; Clifford, and Ben, Milwaukee; Peter, Arcadia; Mrs. Paul Motszko, Winona; Mrs. Frank Kuka, Mrs.

John Kuka, Independence; Mrs. Albert Motszko, Arcadia, and Genevieve, at home. Also a brother, Lawrence, of Gull Lake, Canada, and a sister, Mrs. Louis Lyga, Independence; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. The funeral has been set tentatively for Thursday at 9 a.m.

at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the Rt. Rev. L. J.

Kufel officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be said at 8 p.m. today and Wednesday at the Wiemer chapel here. urday and the field pieces will be.

on display on Main street between Third and Fourth Streets from 11:30 until the 2 p.m. parade, said Mr. Muras. Operation of the 90 millimeter gun, drawn by an M-4 tractor, will be shown and winter equipment will be displayed. Sedatives Topic At Nurses Seminar Sedatives and narcotics will be discussed by Dr.

Patrick Rollins, St. Charles, at a Sixth District nurses seminar here Wednesday evening. The meeting, first in the spring series, will be held at the Winona General Hospital Nurses Home at 7:30 p.m. The spring section of the seminar has been planned to bring nurses up to date on drugs and solutions. On Taft Committee WHITEHALL, Wis.

(Special)-Three Republicans from this area of Wisconsin are members of the Taft for President committee, according to a release from the committee headquarters. They are Attorney Clarence E. Fugina, Arcadia; Nat P. Ward, Durand, and Editor Helmer L. Gilbertson of the Melrose Chronicle.

Senator Taft will open a campaign trip in Wisconsin at Fort Atkinson March 1. TODAY is the LAST DAY to pay your radio advertising bill and receive the CASH DISCOUNT.