The Courier News from Blytheville, Arkansas • Page 1

BLYTHEVILLE COURIER NEWS VOL. 85 BLSTHEVILLE, ARKANSAS (72815) MONDAY, JUNE 26, 1967 14 PAGES TEN CENTS Flames Gut Landmark "It had already gotten a good start before we were notified," said one member of the Blytheville fire department, describing VlllC IIIC UCJJCU LlllGlIbf fJ the conflagration which did for supplies and mis- heavy damage Saturday after- noon to the First Baptist Church at Walnut North Eight, a landmark in the city since its construction in 1914-15. It was the oldest of the church's four-building complex. Large sections of the roof were burned out and caved in, the interior of the church was disemboweled by the flames, the attics were destroyed a windows shattered from the heat. Presently no estimate is avail- There is no evidence as to the exact cause of the fire, but there are indications thai it may have begun in a closet used cellaneous materials, or may possibly have been caused by faulty wiring.

Members of the fire department say the fire began in almost the precise center of the building, that i of the wherein the library and baptismal pool are located. Firefighters were able to subdue the blaze at the place of origin, but by that time the fire had spread to the attics of the. church, where it was most difficult to control. Five city fire trucks and one FOUR-MAN JOB It required the efforts of four husky firefighters to handle the high-pressure hose shown here being used Saturday afternoon in an attempt to contain the fire at the old First Baptist Church a Walnut and Eighth Streets: Citizens volunteered their services in combatting the blaze. (Courier News Photo) presently nu raumare Five city fjj.

trucks ana one able regarding the value of the from Blytnevi A ir Force Base ruined building and appomt-'fougnt the blaze until about 5:30 ments. However, according to before flnall winning out 1 Alvis Carpenter, a the was insured for $85,000. The building, considered a total loss, was being used for religious instruction. The church's board of deacons had intended to demolish the building and erect modern facilities on the property. According to one member of the board of deacons, the church probably will demolish what remains of the building as soon as possible.

Reverend Carpenter said the church hopes to begin new construction at the site by fall. The fire department was notified about 1:15 p.m. Saturday when, according to their report, an unidentified woman motorist noticed the smoke as she was driving by the building, stopped to investigate, and immediately, notified the firefighters. Via Havana Kosygin Flies Home NEW YORK (AP) Then he added, Premier Alexei N. Kosygin, leaving the United States after a nine-day stay, said today he would fly to Cuba from here on a flight scheduled for 11:50 a.m., EOT.

As Kosygin left the Soviet United Nations Mission for Kennedy Airport, he was asked by reporters if it were true, that he was flying to Cuba. He nodded his head and through -an inter- Russian word for Yes." prefer said, How did you Manila Man Dies During MANILA Several soldiers, among them Sgt. Samuel Lee Modesitt, 25, of Manila, were killed June 17 in Vietnam when the muzzle of their assault tank exploded in action against enemy forces southeast of Saigon, about 10 miles from the Cambodian border. The soldiers were members of A Battery, Sixth Battalion of the 27th Army Artillery. After an 18-day leave with his family in early March, Modesitt departed for Vietnam.

A career soldier, he had been In the Army six years and had spent 18 months in Korea. He had just re-enlisted before being assigned to Vietnam. Services were Sunday from the Fiist Methodist Church in Manila, with burial in Leachville Cemetery, Howard Funeral Service in charge. Survivors include Sheilia Modesitt of McFarland, a Rockefeller appointed 45 persons One son, Samual Modesitt Jr. from over the state to the Council.

The members will be asked loaesire 01 nuiuia, to problems which face His grandmother, Mrs. Ferbie the state In mobilizing man- arker of Manila; power for training, and re-train- One brother, Paul Dean Mod- ing to meet the needs indus- of Manila; try. And one sister, Sheila Diane It also will study, the state's Moaesitt of Manila. Manila; His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Modesitt of Manila; the i troops I lines." behind the armistice p.m.

before finally winning out. A total of about 25 firefighters including several from the base, were called in to help with the emergency. The fire, as might be expected, drew a large crowd and some men of tiie general public, as well as a number of city employes, assisted firemen in handling, the high pressure hoses and in other duties. Several women provided drinking water and soft beverages for those fighting the blaze. Luckily, no one was seriously injured while combatting the fire, but there were a few casualties.

Billy Bratton of the Blytheville Fire Department sustained a serious cut on his hand and was removed to a hospital for emergency treatment. Airman l.C. Edward Fenwick was also injured on the hand, requiring several stitches. Two of the firefighters were overcome by smoke, but quickly recovere after being moved to cleaner air, then went back the fire. The efficiency of, the city's 65-foot ladder truck was credited with containing the fire so See CHURCH on Page 3 By WILLIAM N.

OATIS UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. Albania, Communist China's voice at the United Nations, was expected to attack Kosygin for his summit talks with President Johnson. The Soviet premier arrived in New York June 17 on his first visit to the United States. He has been attending the emergency session of the U.N. General Assembly, sightseeing in New York City and Niagara Falls, and talking with President Johnson in Glassboro, N.J.

The Soviet leader made plain at an 80-minute news conference Sundy night that his 10 hours of talks with Johnson had not shifted his public stand on the Arab-Israeli conflict one iota. He argued once more for the resolution he introduced a week ago to condemn "Israel's aggressive acts" and demand her withdrawal from territory in Egypt, Jordan and Syria occupied in the June 5-10 war. He said delay in the withdrwal "would only enhance the risks of war breaking out again." In the first week of the assembly session, he-said, "the results have been positive" in that "the majority of speakers have condemned the aggression of Israel and called for the withdrawal of He did not go so far as to predict that his resolution would be adopted. But he said that "if the General Assembly could adopt a decision along those lines, it could then entrust the Security Council with implementing that decision, and if that decision were not complied with, then appropriate sanctions could be applied." Only after Israel's withdrawal, he said, could there be consideration of such questions as limiting arms shipments to the Middle East, guaranteeing the existence of all states there and ensuring freedom of passage through disputed waterways "questions the solution of which could bring about a stronger peace in the area." The United States is sponsoring a resolution calling for nego- See KOSYGIN on Page 3 Mrs. Keith Appointed Mrs, T.

H. Keith, wife of a Blytheville dentist, has been named a member of the Governor's Council on Human Re- wife, sources. Friday, Governor Winthrop economic resources. Kennett Man Is Injured HAYTI A 43-year-old Kennet man suffered a concussion as a result of a two-car collision on Highway 61 four miles north of Hayti at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, James Evans, the injured man, driving a southbound 1967 Buick sedan, was attempting to pass several cars when one of the vehicles, a 1964 Ford sedan driven by Sue Gillis, 57, of Hayti, made a left turn. Evans was carried to the Dunklin County Memorial Hospital in Kennett for emergency treatment and was issued a summons for improper passing. No other injuries or charges were reported. END OF LANDMARK The old First Baptist Church at Walnut and Eighth Streets, a city landmark for 52 years, was finally destroyed. A fire which began early Saturday afternoon raged until the building was totally ruined before firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control.

Firemen from Blytheville and the Air Force base iought the in- fernb for about four hours. Church administrators had planned to demolish the building to make room for more modern facilities, but now the demolition will go on considerably; ahead of schedule. The building was used for religious instruction. (Courier News Photo) fo World 10-Hour Summit: Still No Solution statement that "no agreement is readily in sight on the Middle Eastern crisis, and our well ei N. Kosygin have failed to resolve any of their differences over such major world issues as Vietnam and the Middle East, but they intend to keep in direct contact on these and other problems they debated in their Glassboro summit conference.

The conference ended Sunday night after the two men had spent almost 10 hours together in two days at the small New Jersey town south of Philadel of Glassboro State Bv JOHN HIGHTOWER i ton and said in a broadcast i home of President Thomas E. i 1 nf fllaocHnrn fifatn AP Special Correspondent NEW YORK (AP) Presi dent Johnson and Premier Alex known differences over Vietnam continue." But he added: "I believe it is fair to say that these days at Hollybush have made the world a little less dangerous." Kosygin was scheduled to leave New York about noon today, returning to Moscow 10 report in detail to his Kremlin colleagues on his talks with Johnson. He indicated at the phia. Both told a cheering rain-! news conference he might visit some other countries on the way drenched crowd of their desire to promote peace in the world. Kosygin returned to New York in a helicopter provided by the President and held a news conference at the United Nations.

There he abandoned the smiling countenance displayed at Glassboro and reverted to familiar Soviet attacks on Israel in the Middle East and the United States in Vietnam. Johnson returned to Washing- iut did not say which ones. Secretary of State Dean Rusk and Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko, now in New York, were left with the hard ask of trying to negotiate some concrete accords out of what Johnson called "the spirit of Hollybush." They are expected begin a series of talks in a day or 60. Hollybush is the name of the UP IN SMOKE Cletus Hudson, top, extreme left, and Ted Brown, second from left, symbolically burn a $25,000 second mortgage on Mississippi County Union Mission.

The Mission still has a $32,000 first mortgage against It. Shown at the ceremony are (top from left) Hudson, Brown, Pat Sullivan, Roland Rounsaville, Mayor Tom A. Little Fenner Garrison and Preston Ramey; (bottom) Kyle Loller, Bill Hancock, Austin Wyatt, Walter K. Ayers, visiting evangelist, and Paul Kirkindall, mission superintendent. All except Loller, Ayers and Kirkindall are members of Hie Mission board of directors.

(Courier News Photo) the conference was that the twa leaders, while failing lo resolve College where Johnson and any of their major differences, Kosygin met on Friday and Sun- had at least demonstrated the day intention to keep their conflicts The major impression left by 1 See SUMMIT on Page 3 Dateline June 26 Early Bloomer First cotton bloom of 1967 was brought into the Courier News office this morning. It was grown by Robert A. Brown, Rt. 3, on land he farms about four miles west of Gosnell. The cotton was planted April 1 and is Stoneville 213.

George Hamilton is the land owner of the farm which produced the bloom. Board Meets The board of directors of the Blytheville Voter League will meet Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Burton's Cafe on Elm Street. All members are urged to be present. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinniniiiiiiii Weather Forecast Partly cloudy northwest throught Tuesday.

Considerable cloudiness elsewhere tonight, becoming partly cloudy Tuesday. Warmer tonight and Tuesday. Widely scattered showers and thundershowert tonight and Tuesday. Low tonight W-78. Beginning Today: The Warren Lingering Shadow (See Page Seven) GLASSBORO, N.J.

(AP) -President Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin marched up to the summit and. down again without shifting their postures on issues deeply dividing the world's greatest powers. This was not unexpected. But was the exercise worth-.

while? From the U.S. standpoint, the answer is probably a quali- fied'yes A more definite verdict can only come with WASHINGTON (AP) Millions of television viewers waited Sunday night for Soviet Premier Alexei N. Kosygin's, news conference were unaware of a sometimes hectic race by President Johnson to get on television himself before Kosygin conference started. The President made it back to Washington in time to deliver a short televised statement from the White House south lawn 15 minutes.before the start of Kosygin's 8 p.m. broatk cast from New York.

Johnson's problem involved getting from Philadelphia Washington by plane, from Washington National Airport to, the White House by helicopter and the ability of the to set up their equipment on short notice. BATESILLE, Miss. rights, figure James Meredith limped onward in his Mississippi "walk fear" today, but aching feet slowed the pace and may the 200-mile march first planned. With 37 miles behind him, Meredith started the third by switching from his yellow hiking boots to a pair of slit along the toes. "I've been pushing it too fast," he said.

"I hate to slow down but it doesn't look like I've got any choice." In Sardis Sunday, as he celebrated his birthday, Meredith said he may stop his walk along U.S. 51 at Canton; 25 miles short of the capital at Jackson. AUSTIN, Tex. (AP) Luci Johnson Nugent and her in-i- fant son leave Seton Hospital for home today after the President's grandson, six days old, gets a final checkup from hia doctors. Departure from the hospital was scheduled for early afternoon.

Photographers were told they could pictures of the baby today. White House photographer! took a number of pictures of President Johnson with his daughter and grandson Patrick Lyndon in the hospital Saturday during the President's first visit..