The Decatur Daily Review du lieu suivant : Decatur, Illinois • Page 52

PAGES TODAY. THE DECATUR REVIEW Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday, January 20, 1954. 3 Bosses Resign At Station WTVP In Sudden Move Telecasts to Continue If At All Possible, Shellabarger States Three key members of television station WTVP's staff quit morning. William L. Shellabarger, president of Prairie Television, erator of the station said the resignations came after the three "delivered an ultimatum with which I could not comply." Resignations came from Harold G.

Cowgill, general manager; James C. Wulliman, chief engineer, and Paul K. Taff, program director. "The three men came to me morning," the WTVP president said, "and delivered an ultimatum with which I could not comply. "All three men resigned and accepted their resignations.

"We are taking steps to keep the air this afternoon and Shellabarger said. "If possible, programs will telecast as scheduled. We particularly are attempting to put on March of Dimes polio show scheduled for tonight." All three men came to Decatur last summer while the station was under construction. Cowgill, a Decatur native, came to WTVP from Washington, D. where he was connected with a law firm.

Prior to that he worked several years with the Federal Communications Commission. Taff, a 1941 graduate of Millikin University, was district manager Encyclopedia Brittanica Films Company with headquarters in Chicago before joining the staff of WTVP. He had been program director of Chicago FM radio station and once was assistant production manager radio station KFUO in St. Louis. Wullimann is a former Tuscola resident and before being named chief engineer for WTVP was engineer for radio stations in Connersville, five years.

He was once a part-time engineer with radio station WDZ when it was in Tuscola and while attending Northwestern University constructed and operated a radio station in Evanston. Statement on Change Is Given by Cowgill Harold G. Cowgill, former general manager of television station WTVP, issued the following statement today after he and two other members of the station's staff resigned: "This morning I called a staff meeting for the purpose of constructively appraising the present and charting the future program, financial and station management policies of WTVP. "Irreconcilable differences in views and positions were expressed. Whereupon President William L.

Shellabarger requested the immediate resignation of myself, Program Director Paul Taff, and Chief Engineer James Wulliman. "It is a great disappointment to the three of us, who have tried so hard during the past year to bring Decatur fine television service, not to be permitted to go forward with that objective. "We want to thank all the good people of the community for all the wonderful support they have given to our efforts. "Our best wishes go to those who may succeed us at the station." MRS. DORA SMITH, 81, OF MAROA DIES TODAY Mrs.

Dora Smith, 81, Maroa died at 5:40. a. m. today in her home. Mrs.

Smith was born Dec. 19, 1872 in Tunbridge Township, Dewitt County, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Garriott and was married in Clinton Sept. 16, 1896, to Charles Smith.

He preceded her in death. She leaves a daughter, Mrs. Pearl Nicholson, Maroa; a son, Leo, Peoria; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Borgdus and Mrs. Cora Hefner, both of Filer, Idaho; a brother, Charles Garriott, Clinton, and one grandson.

She had lived in Maroa 55 years and was a member of the Maroa Christian Church. The body is at the Ruble Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete. HUPP TO CONVENTION C. E.

Hupp; of Linn and Scruggs Company, has been chosen to represent the Peoria Division of General Electric at a salesmen's convention in Havana, Cuba. The three-day meeting will start Tuesday. Mrs. Hupp will accompany her husband. They will return by plane Feb.

1. True Morse To Speak at Ag Dinner Reports on Snowy Owl Are Wanted by Audubon Society Don't pick up that shotgun if you see a large, ghostly white bird perched in your trees. Instead, pick up the telephone and call a member of the Decatur Audubon Society. The bird is probably a snowy owl, and there are laws against shooting him. The quadrennial winter migration of the snowy owl from the arctic tundra into the northern and central states has begun, according to the Audubon Society, and the large birds may be seen in Decatur and other Illinois cities.

The migration coincides with the regular die-off of the lemmings in the north. The lemmings provide much of the snowy owls' food and when they become scarce the owls move south in search of food. The birds are unused to man and therefore unafraid. They also hunt during the day and are more likely to be seen than ordinary owls. Reports from people who have seen the birds are to be channeled to National Audubon Society headquarters.

Rainfall Adds Only 4 Days Water Supply The first real rain in months early this morning gave Decatur about four days' water supply. The weather station measured eight-tenths of an inch of rain, and the official Decatur observer said "It sure sounded good coming down." It was the biggest rain here since Oct. 27, when 1.07 inches came down. Lake Decatur went up a inch from yesterday's 4.77-foot low to today's 4.75. The lake has been averaging abouta fifth-of-an-inch daily drop this month.

At that rate, the rain was good for four days' supply. That's how much eight-tenths of an inch of rain, falling in the lake, would be worth. Little if any runoff water is expected. The dry ground wasn't frozen and the rain soaked in. The ground was soft underfoot today for the first time in a long time.

Today's quarter-inch lake climb partly reversed a six-tenths-inch drop yesterday. The lake has been falling faster this month with little precipitation. Until today, January had seen only three traces of precipitation and a tenth-of-an-inch of snow last Thursday. Normally, Decatur has 2.32 inches of rain in January. Last January there was only 1.63 inches.

This month still has .73 of an inch of rain to go to match even last year's skimpy figure. To meet the norm, the next 11 days will have to see 1.42 inches of rain or snow. Skies were clearing at midmorning, and a cold front was reported on the way with snow. It will take an 8-inch snow to match the water in today's rain, however. JAMES SANNER PASSES PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT EXAM James Q.

Sanner, who is with the firm of Gauger Diehl, accountants, has successfully passed the examination for the degree of certified lic accountant it is announced by the Board of Examiners on Accountancy at the University of Illinois. Sanner, who served in the Army in World War II, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration at the University of Kentucky in 1948. Mr. and Mrs. Sanner have three children and live at 2008 N.

Graceland Ave. False Pretense Charge An information charging Alvin George Butts with obtaining money under false pretenses was on file today in County Court. He is accused of false representations in the sale of a sewing machine to the Beaman Furniture Company. DENIES CHARGE Arthur E. Kingery pleaded innocent today in County Court to a charge of driving while under the influence of liquor and was released under a $1,000 bond pending trial 15.

True Delbert Morse, undersecretary of agriculture, will speak at a I public dinner sponsored by the Association of Commerce agriculture committce and the Farm Bureau Feb. 22. The dinner will be at 6:30 p. m. in the Masonic Temple.

Walter W. McLaughlin, A of committee chairman, previously had extended an invitation to Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson to speak at the meeting. Morse, long connected with: agriculture, is from St. Louis.

He is the author of several books on agriculture and farm economics and has been connected with the University of Missouri in farm extension work. He was for many years president of Doane Agriculture Service, St. Louis. Walt Spilman To Aurora Job J. Walter Spilman, boys department secretary of the Decatur YMCA, resigned today.

He has accepted a similar position with the Aurora YMCA. C. G. Thomson, general secretary of the Decatur who announced Spilman's resignation, said efforts will be made at once to find a successor. In moving to Aurora, Spilman will be able to complete additional YMCA training at nearby George Williams College in Chicago, which J.

Walter Spilman will permit his further advancement in YMCA work. Spilman, a 1935 graduate of Millikin University, has been with the Decatur YMCA since 1946.. He served in 1936 and 1937 as assistant to C. K. Brightbill, director of the Decatur Recreation Association which later became the city recreation department.

In 1937 he was appointed district recreation supervisor for the Works Project Administration and served in that position until June, 1942, when he joined the Red Cross for overseas service. He served as a club and recreation director in Australia about two vears. Before joining the YMCA he was employed by the Federal Security Agency as a state recreation representative in Wisconsin and with the Red Cross as a field director serving United States Army posts. In Decatur Spilman has been a member of the Lions Club, the Fellows Club and the Masonic Lodge. He is a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, the American Camping Association and in 1948 was vice president of the Association of Boys Work Secretaries and secretary of the Illinois.

Bovs Work Council. Gasoline Prices Are Down ery and Miller's station show up between Brownie's and some 15 homes that come within the rightof-way. (Herald and Review Photo from a Decatur Aviation Company Plane Piloted by Bob Hunter.) West Sewer Is Dr. W. Hatfield, superintendent of the Decatur Sanitary District, told the City Council yesterday that the Westlawn sewer is adequate and adding the planned homes in Shaw's 4th addition will be only a "drop in the bucket." He said, however, that the sewer may eventually have to be relaid because parts of it apparently do not slope properly.

Many of the back-ups reported by residents of the Glencoe Avenue area are caused by stoppages in the small individual sewers serving the homes, he said. Hatfield blamed most of the overload problem on the attaching of downspouts to sewers. He suggested that the Council might legislate against this practice in residential areas. Part of the Westlawn sewer, now used by homes, was built as a storm water sewer and was never intended for use as -a sanitary sewer, he said. The question of what to do about the Westlawn sewer came before the City Council last week when Councilmen discussed approving of a plat for Shaw's 4th addition which will be connected to the sewer.

Craft Class Meets The Decatur High School Adult Craft Class, sponsored by the recreation department, will meet at 1:15 p. m. Thursday in the home of Mrs. John Durchholz, 1937 E. North St.

The class will work on leather goods and copper planters, according to Esther Andrews, instructor for the group. Service Stations Lower Cost About 5 Cents The war appears to be on certain among Decatur service stations and it is the kind motorists love. Gasoline prices have been lowered at many stations at the start of a so-called price war. The price battle probably was touched off Saturday when the Site Oil Company station- on Pershing Road reduced its price on regular gasoline by 3 cents to 23.9 a gallon, and the ethyl price by 1 cent to 26.9. Another independent station made the same reduction Monday afternoon and most dealers for major companies lowered prices day.

A check of all the major brands this morning revealed that prices are cut to 24.9 on regular and to. 26.9 and 29.9 on ethyl. The average reduction was about 5 cents a gallon. Only one major brand hasn't cut prices yet because they are waiting on permission from their district IN RACE Robert B. Borchers Borchers Is Candidate for Representative By J.

Neely Martin Of The Review Staff Announcement by Robert B. Borchers, 40, Decatur lawyer, that he is a candidate for a Democratic nomination for state representative today assured a contest for the two party nominations in the 28th district. Rep. Paul H. Ferguson, Decatur, and Sheriff David M.

Peters previously filed as candidates. Howard L. Doyle, former U. attorney, who had been mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate for representative, has told party leaders he will not enter the race. Doyle first gained statewide attention as a member of the House, before his appointment as U.

S. attornev. Ill health of Mrs. Doyle and development of a private law practise were determining factors in Doyle's decision not to run, party leaders said. Entry of Borchers in the race presents an unusual situation of three Macon County Democrats in the contest, with none from the other two counties, Dewitt and Logan.

Candidates have until next Monday to file petitions, and possibility was seen that one or more may appear in the two other counties. Borchers announced his candidacy after a survey which indicated he will have the support of a substantial part of the Macon County Democratic organization. Four vears ago, Borchers was the Democratic nominee for representative in Congress and in that contesting became widely acquainted in legislative district. He is a son of the late C. M.

Borchers, who was elected to Congress in 1912 and also served as mavor of Decatur. Borchers is a graduate of the Decatur High School, University of Illinois, and the law college of the Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Tex. He started law practise with his father in 1940, but soon entered military service and rose to the rank of captain before his discharge in June, 1944. Since, he has practised law in Decatur. Borchers' candidacy for representative may produce an odd political situation, if he wins one of the two Democratic nominations.

His brother, Webber, also of Decatur, has filed as a candidate for one of the Republican nominations for state representative, and a contest of brother against brother would develop in the November election campaign, if both won nominations. John W. Alsup, 1712 N. Church has filed his petition as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for county treasurer. In 1952, making his first bid for public office, Alsup made an impressive showing in a race for county recorder.

Two candidates, who kept vigil from Saturday afternoon until Monday morning at the entrance of County Clerk Laurence Tangney's office to gain first positions on the ballots for the April 13 primary, would have lost their favored positions, if other candidates had been ready with petitions. C. W. "Chuck" Peebles, date for the Democratic nomination for sheriff, and Wayne Ellis, Republican candidate for sheriff made the long wait. When Tangney's office door was opened, Peebles and Ellis presented their petitions, but it was discovered neither had attached an affidavit, which is required.

Their filings were delayed, while affidavits were prepared, but no other candidates for the two nominations appeared in the meantime to file ahead of Peebles or Ellis. Trueblood Files Petition Dwight Trueblood, pensioned Decatur police officer, filed his petition today with County Clerk Laurence Tangney as a candidate for the Republican nomination for sheriff. Judge Ponders Assault Case Of 3 Youths County Judge Gus T. Greanias will rule at 9 a. m.

tomorrow on the guilt or innocence of three youths whose trial on assault charges was completed late yesterday. The three defendants, Clark "Cookie" Parks, 17; Fred Putnam II, 18, both of near Decatur, and Carlos W. Tackett, 21, Cerro Gordo, were accused of joining in a gang assault upon Arlie Holmes, 27, N. Clinton and Vernon Mowry, 22, of 2645 N. Morgan last Sept.

17. Holmes and Mowry testified they were beaten by several youths, traveling in two cars, who chased Holmes' car from Decatur to the Danceland Road. Mowry said the gang attacking him came out of the cars so fast, he couldn't count them. Holmes, who required hospitalization after the assault, said four or five attacked him. Holmes and Mowry were unable to identify Parks, Putnam or Tackett as members of the gang.

Mowry identified Henry Tucker, 18, as one of his assailants. Tucker has since been sentenced to the penitentiary for a robbery. Another member of the gang, Richard Higgs, was sentenced in Circuit Court for robbing Holmes, while another member, Delane F. Probst, 16, of Rural Route 6, also accused of assaulting Holmes and Mowry, recently pleaded guilty and is serving a 90-day jail sentence. Putnam, one of the defendants on trial yesterday.

is serving: a 90- day jail sentence for his part in another gang beating. Parks and Putnam both denied vesterdav that they took any part in the Holmes-Mowry assault. Tackett admitted an open-palm blow at Holmes in self-defense. But Tackett explained he avoided the fight because he was recovering from a serious operation. Putnam said he saw the fight but didn't take part.

Parks, driver of one of the cars, said he didn't see the fight. He said 10 youths jumped in his car when he started to follow an ambulance. He said he knew none of the passengers, Parks said except he thought his car was scraped by the Holmes car: in passing, and for that reason, chased Holmes' car. When he got in front of the Holmes car, Parks said, one of his passengers applied the brakes and his car stopped. "I got out," he said, "saw nothback in.

did not see any fightwas wrong, with my car and got ing." How the Route 36 improvement east of the Nelson Park Bridge will slice through homes and business is shown in this air view, looking west from over Brownie's service station (lower left) to the lake (top). The dotted line shows roughly the rightof-way staked off on the south side of the road. Right-of-way will also be obtained along the tracks at right. Morey's Groc- Rt. 36 Job to Cut Through 15 Homes Total Valuation Set At Half Million Dollars The Route 36 improvement cast of the Nelson Park Bridge will slice through about 15 homes, six businesses and a dozen tracts of land at a cost of perhaps a half-million dollars.

Some 36 properties on the west side of the bridge from 20th Street to Lake Shore Drive may push the total to a million. State surveyors have staked out about a 100-foot-wide strip along the south side of the highway east from the bridge to a point past the Route 121 junction. Negotiations with property owners started in mid-December and are to be completed June 1, according to William Waller of the Paris district office, one of two right-of-way agents for the Highway Division working on the project. Waller wouldn't properties and valuations involved, which he said would have to come from the top in Springfield. Construction of a new four-lane Nelson Park Bridge is to start this spring.

The balance of the improvement east of the bridge is expected a year later. Negotiations for rightof-way are usually wound up a year ahead to allow time for any necessary condemnation suits. Many property owners along the route have been contacted, eight have sold, some are negotiating, and some are waiting for the state to make them an offer. Signs along the highway mark it as a freeway, with access limited. That means businesses along the strip won't be able to just move back a bit--not unless they can locate on a side road.

Kelley Claim Trial Starts Trial of a $45,000 claim for injuries to a man later killed in a highway accident was started today before a jury in Circuit Court. The late Orville Kelley, 56, of 992 E. Eldorado St. suffered back and rib injuries, the complaint alleges, when he fell from a truck at an Illinois Terminal Railroad crossing east of Decatur in 1950. It is for this injury that suit is brought against the railroad company.

Kelley was killed on Feb. 1, 1953, when he was hit by an automobile at Wyckles Corner. Don Muirheid, who filed the suit as public administrator for the Kelley estate, said the action against the railroad company was started before Kelley's death. The Coffee Pot cafe on the north side of the road will be taken out by the widening. Most right-of-way on that side will be obtained from the Baltimore Ohio Railroad.

Mrs. Ruth Fletcher, owner of the Coffee Pot, said today she hadn't heard anything from the state about her business. Jerry Bickes of Brownie Oil Company said the right-of-way cuts just behind the Brownie station. He said his company wasn't yet negotiating with the state, they were just waiting to see what would happen. He said the freeway might prevent moving the station back.

Home owners negotiating with state representatives said they were offered two prices, one with the home and one for them to move i it off the property. Some said they wouldn't attempt to move their homes and would rather sell them. The state will then have to dispose of. the homes by open bid sale, if possible. The home of Mr.

and Mrs. J. F. Heynen, Route 36 at 34th Street, is in the line of both the Route 36 widening and straightening of 34th Street to join the highway at a right angle. The Hevnens have had one talk with the state representative and have another scheduled tonight.

"We're all going to have to move," Mrs. Hevnen said. Next door, the F. J. Quintenz home is subject of negotiations and the D.

J. Hartford home was reported sold. The project will also make use of the site of the old Art Shields dump, subject of neighborhood complaints two years ago but since closed and leveled. The C. W.

Brewer home on the knoll at the east end of the bridge will be taken out and the high ground used for fill for the Lake Shore Drive overhead and wider bridge approaches. DAVIS, FRY PLEAD GUILTY, ASK PROBATION Ralph O. Davis, 27, of 313 S. Church and Frank Fry, 35, of 3164 E. Garifeld pleaded guilty in County Court yesterday to a petit larceny charge and made applications for probation.

They admitted the theft of old batteries from the Sears Roebuck Company farm store. Donald D. Benson, 19, of 1690 N. 29th previously had pleaded guilty to the same charge and asked for probation. With The Sick Nits.

Helen Davis, Sullivan, who fractured her hip in a fall Fridav, is a patient in Decatur and Macon County Hospital. 233 Sign To Give Blood Definite appointments have been made for 233 donors for today's bloodmobile session in the YMCA, according to Mrs. Robert H. Mueller, blood program chairman. Bloodmobile hours are from noon to 5:30 p.

IN. today and tomorrow. More than 250 donors will be needed at each session, Mrs. Mueller said, because some donors will not keep appointments and others will be rejected for physical reasons. Donors can walk in either day without an appointment or they can make them by calling the Red Cross office.

Best time for donations is in the early afternoon. Red Cross motor service and the Yellow Cab Company will provide free transportation to and from the YMCA for those donors needing it. 5,615 Pints of Blood Collected in 11 Months fice, but a spokesman said their prices will drop by tomorrow. P. A.

Houser, district manager of Central Illinois for the Shell Oil Company, said the "war" is probably the result of an over supply of petroleum products. "The independents started cutting, prices and our dealers had to go along," Houser said. One major company distributor said the dealers are absorbing 1.2 cents a gallon and the distributor the rest of the average 5 cents a galIon cut. The last big price war on gasoline in Decatur ended in the spring of yester-1951, according to one dealer. A series of cuts brought the price down to 17.9 cents per gallon.

Gas was selling for 25.9 cents a gallon at major brand stations before the war started at that time. Champaign, which is also reported to be in the throes of a price war, has one independent station selling regular gas for 20.9 cents a gallon. Macon County has contributed 5,615 pints of blood for local and defense needs since it joined the Red Cross regional blood program Feb. 19, 1953. Mrs.

Robert H. Mueller, county blood program chairman, reported that about 60 per cent of the blood collected in Decatur was used cally and 40 per cent went to the Defense Department. The figures are: 3,204 pints of whole blood for local use 188 pints of whole blood made into plasma for local use 2,223 pints shipped to the Defense Department. Part of the blood shipped from here is processed into serum albumin and gamma globulin. Car Wrecked A car driven by Forrest H.

Gordon, 32, Bethany, was wrecked at midnight last night at the intersection of Route 36 and 121. Sherift deputies said that Gordon lost control of the car in the fog and crashed in a ditch. Ronald Cline, Illiopolis, was a passenger in the car..