Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

3 Decatur, Illinois, Wednesday, August 5, 1953. DECATUR HERALD Decatur Artist Designs Doll for TV Advertising Wabash Buys Site For Industries i v- it Parking Group Advises Change On South Main Parking restrictions in front of the Beatrice Foods Company, 304 S. Main were recommended to the City Council by the city traffic-parking commission yesterday. The commission proposed the elimination of the first three parking spaces south of the Washington -Main Street intersection and 45-degree angle parking instead of 90-degree parking. Attorney S.

McGaughey, a member of the commission, said right angle parking in front of the dairy makes it necessary for traffic entering Main Street from Washington to get nearly into the middle of "Main before northbound traffic on Main could be seen. Traffic on Washington toward Main Street has become heavier since the new city parking lot was opened, McGaughey pointed out." Police Chief W. Glenn Kerwin and Traffic Lt. William E. Kitch agreed with the recommendation.

The commission also recommended that the request of the Lyon Lumber Company and the Standard Oil Company for parking meters on North Broadway and the north side" of the 400 Block East Cerro Gordo Street, be granted. The commission insisted, how This is Frank Thomalla and use in television commercials. The stands alone in almost anv doll which he has created for doll has 22 movable parts and it tion. (Herald and Review Photo) to design and carve the movable wooden figure. He hopes someday that his idea will be used in the manufacture of plastic dolls.

WTVP Goes on Air With Jest Pattern; Area Viewers Report Good Reception Thomalla Creates Doll With 22 Moving Parts By Wavne W. Krows Of The Herald Staff A Decatur artist' has designed a doll especially for television adver tising. The 11 -inch doll with 22 movable parts is the creation of Frank Thomalla, art director for Pownall Advertising, Inc Thomalla has applied for a patent on the doll which he says is com pletely original so tar as he knows. Elastic stringing of the various movable parts enables the wooden figure to assue almost any position, and shoes made of lead made the figure stand alone. Thomalla believes his doll will put more life into television com- mcercials and at the same time will be a money saver.

"It will eliminate the expense of drawing animated cartoons," he said. By manipulating the doll properlv during the filming of a television commercial, he said, it can be made to perform human-like mo tions on 1 V. Some TV station use models which aren't movable and puppets in their commercials, but Thomalla believes his doll can out-perform anv of them. It took him about three months Driver Examiner John Nicholson of Argenta has been named driver license examiner for Macon County, succeeding Wil liam H. Pope.

Nicholson, whose appointment was confirmed yesterday, said no date has been set for reopening the examiner's office, which probably will remain in the County Building- i He said the office will not be opened until supplies are received for the revised examining program being set up under Sec. of State Charles Carpentier. The office was closed July 1 for the training of examiners under a new licensing law sponsored by Carpentier. Pope, a Democrat, had continued to operate the office until the reorganization went into effect. He worked under the Department of Public Saietv.

Nicholson, a Republican, was a teller in the office of County Treasurer Clarence A. Sablotny before taking the 30-day training course tor license examiners last month. Reid Estate $156,000 An estate valued at $156,000 was left by Mrs. Rosella Reid of near Argenta, according to a petition for letters or administration filed yes terday in (Jounty Court. Mrs.

Reid died Julv 1 in John Warner Hospital, Clinton. The only heirs are two daugh ters, Mrs. Minnie B. Ross, Argenta, and Miss Mariam Reid, Cisco. Included in the estate are gov ernment bonds totaling 40,500.

Charges Dismissed Two charces of driving while in toxicated against Arthur L. Wine- miller were dismissed yesterday by Police Magistrate E. A. Schroeder. Sash-Door Firm Erecting Branch Building Here' The Monran Sash Door Com- pany of Chicago announced yester day it will construct a snop-ware- house-ofhee building on a seven-acre tract northeast of Decatur.

The one-storv building, with 0, 500 sauare feet of floor snace. will 1 be a Quarter of a mile north of the Route 47-48-121 junction on Routes 47-48 and west of the Illinois Cen tral Railroad tracks. P. E. Malinser.

vice nresident and general manager, said Decatur was selected tor a branch ot the firm because of its geographical location in an area where the com pany has planned to expand its distribution. Malincer said oroduction of the firm's manufacturing plants has been sreppea up to meet the demand tor new products, the facility here is tne second expansion move this year. The Mellinffer Construction Com pany, 433 N. 22nd has the construction contract and expects to start work in the next few days, Malinger said. A 90-day construc- non period is anticipated.

Malinger disclosed the conmanv'i plans in a meeting with Association ot commerce President Harold rogue and Chairman Roy M. Black ot tne industrial relations committee. Morgan Sash and Door Comrjanv. one of the affiliated firms with the Morgan organization, was organized in 1855. It makes and distributes doors, sash, frames, cabinet work, stairwork, moulding and related products.

Other plants and warehouse ar in Chicago, Oskosh, Baltimore, Md. and Wilmington, Del. The Wilmington facility was purchased in May from A. T. and O.

ivi. vnone. The Decatur branch will servi- Macon and surrounding counties. where the company's products are aismDutea through retail lumber dealers. Simon Rettbers.

Chamnaion O' I architects, have designed a building ot brick, concrete, steel and glass, with extensive display rooms. The land was purchased from Jack Loeb and Roy Phillips. The County Zoning Board of Appeals recently rezoned the property to an industrial classification. Malinger said that in addition to Decatur's eeoeraDhical location. th city was selected for the warehouse site because it is a fine city and because of cooperation received from Association of Commerce officials.

STORE WORK STARTS Melnick Building to Be Completed In 90 Days Construction of a new drive-in and self-service liquor store at the corner of North Street and Broadway is scheduled for completion in yu oavs. Diseine of the basement fnr fhr building was completed vesterdav Architect Don R. Livergood saii. r-ootings probably will be poured today. Contractor E.

P. Giese has the contract for construction of the store which is to measure 40 by 70 feet, lack Melnik. owner of Decatur Liquor Stores, announced plans for the new liquor store on July'25. It .1. 1 will De known as tne Uecatur ouper Liquor Store.

Remodeling of the Former Frank Tenney used car salesroom on the same corner also has begun. This building will become a National I ea vximpany supermarket. Cnmnantr nffirialc hav cail tli market will be open within 30 davs after completion of remodeling. MAR0A ROAD RESURFACING TO START THIS WEEK The Collins-Bruley Construction Company will start work this week on resurfacing State Aid Route 38 for a seven-mile stretch east of Maroa. George Bruley said the work on the base may begin today.

He estimated the job will require about two months for completion. Collins-Bruley has $161,651 contract for a bituminous resurfacing of the link between Maroa and State Aid Route 25. The cost is being shared by the county and the federal government. 15 TO REGISTER FOR ENGINEERS' COURSE Fifteen men have indicated they will register for a refresher course in preparation for the next professional engineering examination. The 15 were needed to make it possible to hold a class in Decatur.

Classes be held once a week for 11 weeks beginning early in September. The examinations will be Nov. 24-25. Others interested in registering for the course are asked to notify M. Calvert, 1635 N.

Edward St, by Friday. MARINE RECRUITER Sgt. George Thompson is the new non-commissioned officer in charge of Marine Corps recruiting in Decatur. He comes to Decatur from Galesburg. Sgt.

Thompson replaces S. Sgt. James E. Hill. Revised Figure On E.

Eldorado Sent to State City Engineer John M. Weir yesterday sent the state Highway Division a -second revised estimate on the East Eldorado Street improvement project after his first revision was rejected. Weir said the second revised esti mate is $140 higher than the low bid for the project, $247,126, sub mitted by the Collins-Bruley construction Company. The bid was rejected by the state because it was higher than the original engineering estimate of Weir did not say what his first revised estimate totaled. Weir reiterated vesterday his opin ion that the job could not be completed this year even if new bids are taken, and approved, under re vised estimates.

Four Decatur labor leaders, head ed by Business Agent Harry Meisen-helter of the Building Trades Council, said Monday they think the project still could be carried out. Meisenhelter voiced this opinion after a conference with state engineers and said that state officials, possibly including Director Edwin A. Rosenstone of the Department of Public Works and Buildings, would discuss the East Eldorado project with city officials today. Weir and Mayor Robert E. Willis said late vesterdav they have not been notified of the proposed con ference.

Weir said the visit was not mentioned by state engineers with whom he conferred vesterdav. The city's consulting engineer said that work on East Eldorado could not get underway before the middle of September. He said that would leave only six weeks of construction weather, which would not provide enough time for laying asphalt. Weir is opposed to starting the extensive widening and resurfacing project, from the Illinois Central Railroad to 20th Street, unless it can be completed this year. The Citv Council, after the state first rejected the bids, agreed to drop the project until next spring.

Polio Total Reaches 44 Macon County's polio count reached 44 yesterday with the report of one new case along with two others which occurred early in July. The newest case, under treatment in Citv Public Hospital, is John Short, 12, son of John L. Short, 68 IS. 20th St. Dr.

A. C. Baxter, city health superintendent, would not disclose the names of two sisters who he said became ill lulv 7 and 8 but whose cases were not diagnosed until after the contagious stage of the disease passed. One of the girls is in Decatur and Macon County Hospital and the other is at home. Neither was taken to Citv Public Camera Club Picnic Decatur Camera Club will have a meeting and picnic at 6 p.

m. today in the small pavilion in Fair-view Park. D. N. Hanson and Mrs.

Ed Drobisch Sr. are in charge jof the meeting and picnic. Mem bers are asked to bring color slides of their vacation trips. I I wMr, mm oral I 227 Acres Located East of Lake Decatur A 227-acre tract of land east of Decatur has been purchased by the Wabash Railroad for industrial development. Wabash President Arthur K.

At-Iclnson announced the purchase yesterday and said the railroad is negotiating to locate one large industry on part of the tract. Details should be ready for announcement soon, he said. The 227-acre tract is located bout 2Vi miles east of the Decatur city limits, between the Wabash tracks and State Route 10 5. Atkinson expressed confidence that "It will be possible to locate many fine industries on this property, which will aid materially in developing Decatur and the surrounding community." The real estate firm of Roby Roby handled purchase of the prop- ertv, and title was taken in the name of the Wabash Motor Transit Company, a Wabash subsidiary, Atkinson said. The announcement follows weeks of speculation about additional new industries here following the decision of Caterpillar Tractor Company to build a big new plant northeast of the Decatur Signal Depot.

The industrial area purchased by the Wabash is served by that railroad. The Caterpillar plant site is served by the Illinois Central Railroad. Announcing the move to bring new industries here, Atkinson said: "I have a great deal of faith in the growth of Decatur. I believe it to be one of the most progressive cities on the Wabash system. "We have purchased this land in order to help promote and share in that development.

"The land is now in use for agricultural purposes, but I am sure that with the continued active cooperation of the city and county officials, and our other friends in Decatur who have always been so helpful in the past, it will be possible to locate many fine industries on this property which will aid materially in developing Decatur and the surrounding community." "We already have prospect of locating a very worth-while concern on a portion of this property," he said, "and hope that we will be free to make a further announcement relative to this in the near future." The 227-acre tract was purchased tinder options, which have now been exercised. The largest portion, 120 acres, was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. William De Wolfe. Other purchases were 40 acres from Mr.

and Mrs. Herbert E. Hicks, 28 acres from Maude V. Shambaugh, 21Vi acres from James Keller and 17 acres from Mr. and Mrs.

Clarence J. Ahlers. Harold C. Glatz acted as intermediary for Roby Roby in obtaining options, Atkinson said. Prices paid for the property were not disclosed.

Industrial Development Areas Called 'Superior' Industrial development areas, such as the one planned by the Wabash Railroad, are emerging as a superior tvpe of manufacturing area in cities throughout the nation. This is a report from the Urban Land Institute in Washington, -D. C. The Institute reported its -findings last year in a 56-page study titled, "Planned nldustrial Districts -Their Organization and Development." The trend in industry is toward planned industrial districts1 with.at-tractively laid out landscaping, street plans and proper access, the Institute said. The Wabash move apparently is I step in that direction.

The Institute reported that industrial districts are becoming the industrial equivalent of the best planned residential neighborhoods. Traffic Arrests Benjamin L. Cooper, 1456 N. Calhoun was fined $10 for running a stop light. James J.

Bolt, 715 E. Lawrence pleaded innocent yesterday to a charge of speeding 45 miles an hour from 400 to 700 E. Cantrell St. He posted $100 bond pending hearing. Charge Denied Haworth F.

Simpson, 54, of 340 N. Edward pleaded innocent yesterday to a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He posted $1,000 bond pending hear ing Aug. 17 before Justice Wayne L. this.

When the doll gets a sponsor for local television commercials, it will be given an appropriate name, Thomalla said. Longview Pays Off $18,000 The Decatur Housing Authority yesterday retired another $18,000 of the indebtedness for Longview Place, making the total paid to date $519,000. The $1,212,000 balance of the original cost of $1,731,000 was re financed on short term notes to two New York Citv investment banks on bids of 1.77 per cent interest. Salomon Brothers Hutzler were awarded $712,000 and the Hanover Bank $500,000, with the difference in the amount of the awards based on premiums offered. The notes will be due Aug.

6, 1954. Other bidders, both New York firms, were the Chemical Bond and Trust Companv, 1.79 per cent, and die Chase National Bank, 1.87 per cent. Pipeline Work Slowed by Riff A jurisdictional labor dispute has slowed progress on a 4 Vi -million-dollar Texas-Illinois Pipeline Com pany compressor station under construction at Hammond, M. S. Win.

ders, company engineer, said yesterday. He declined to name crafts involved-in the dispute which he said started two ago and has put about 75 of some 250 workers off the job. Business Agent Harry E. Meisen helter of the Decatur Building Trades Council said the dispute is between the Decatur Carpenters Union and Danville Ironworkers, with both claiming jurisdiction over installation of machinery. Officials of the local Carpenters Union declined comment on the dispute last night.

L0FGRENS INJURED IN COLLISION WITH TRAIN A Decatur father and son were injured about 5:50 p. m. yesterday when their car collided -with a Wa bash train at the Route 36 crossing west of Hammond. Charles Lofgren, 61, of 1724 Morgan and his son, George, 31, of 1357 N. Water were brought to St.

Mary's Hospital in a Tuscola ambulance. Neither man was believed to be seriously injured. Both suffered cuts and bruises. The Lofgrens were passengers in a car driven by Walter F. Grupe, 33, of 1701 Ravina Park who escaped injury.

The three men were returning from work at the National Petro Chemical plant near Tuscola. The crash caved in the right side of the car and the elder Lofgren was thrown from the car. Disorderly Charge Denied Timmv Camahan. 17. of 1492 N.

22nd pleaded innocent vesterdav to a disorderly conduct charge and was released on $500 bond pending hearing Aug. 10 before Justice Wayne E. Ellis. Tools Stolen Emil Schimanski, 1150 Nickey told police a box of tools valued at $50 was stolen last Wednesday or Thursday from the fourth floor power house at the A. E.

Staley Mfg. Company. The doll, a male figure, has made only one advertising appearance so far and that was in a Peoria news- paper. This is the test pattern which Decatur area television viewers will see during the next few days on Channel 17, ultra high frequency. Station WTVP put the pattern on the air for the first time last night.

The lines, circles and patterns are used by TV service men to adjust home receivers. to raise the antenna The pole and cable caused trouble in tests of the equipment Monday night, Cowgill said. The test pattern must run a few days on a regular schedule before the rederal Communications Com mission will give its approval for regular programming. J. H.

M0SLEY NAMED IN PUBLIC AID SUIT The Illinois Public Aid Commission seeks a judgment of $624 against J. Hugh Mosley of Decatur in a suit filed in Circuit Court yesterday. The suit alleges that Mosley received $624 in public aid from April, 1949, to June, 1950, and during the same time received wages totaling $1,744.70 as an employe of the state Department of Public Works and Buildings. Mosley failed to notify the com mission ot the change in his income status and misrepresented and concealed the amount of his income, the suit charges. resulting expense of interest payments.

Since 1950 the school budgets have allowed a balance on hand and no anticipation warrants have been necessary. Committee members agreed that a school district has the right to keep itself on a paying basis with money on hand to meet current bills. The Decatur schools show a balance on hand for June 30 of this year of $138,411. Anticipated income from the 1952 tax levy is listed as $2,194,814. Grant said vesterdav that about $1,400,000 cf that amount was made available to the schools this month.

The 1952 tax levy for school purposes included the following amounts for each $100 of assessed valuation: $1.18 for the educational fund, 24 cents for building main tenance and 11.4 cents for bonds and interest. The school board is authorized by present laws to levy as much as $1.40 for the educational fund and 37 Vi cents for building maintenance and bonds. The proposed Decatur school budget is now open to public inspection. There will be a public hearing on the budget and appropria tion ordinance at 4:15 p. m.

next Tuesday in the high school ever, that 90-degree angle parking now in effect by Lyon on North Broadway and proposed by Lyon on Cerro Gordo be limited to 45-degree angles. Members agreed that backing and turning for 90-degree parking is too dangerous. Commission Chairman J. Howard Wolfe, an insurance agent, said his firm has had claims for two minor accidents in connection with 90 degree parking in the area. The parking meters on Broadway would begin at the alley between Eldorado and Cerro Gordo and ex tend north to the Wabash Railroad.

This would be an extension of metered zones planned for the area. Lyon and Standard asked for re stricted parking because new meter zones planned nearby would push all-day parkers into unrestricted areas bv their firms. Lt. Kitch said some meters would be available when the rest of angle parking is removed from North State Street, probably this week. Angle parking is still permitted on the east side of the street near the inter section with Prairie Avenue.

Kitch said cars backing out of angle parking spaces are adding to the congesnon of trattic on INorth I State, which has heavier use because of new one-way street. Chief Kerwin said his department may recommend an end to angle parking at the north and south sides of Central Park because it contributes to traffic congestion on North and South Park Streets, especially in banking areas. N. Calhoun Parking Ban Again Recommended The city traffic-parking commission refused yesterday to change its recommendation for a parking ban on. the west side of five blocks on North Calhoun Street.

Also included in the commission's recommendation to the City Council last month was changing the stop sign at Calhoun and Leafland to make Calhoun the through street. The commission acted vesterdav on the motion of W. D. Kilbom, after considering a petition from 59 persons protesting the recommended changes. The Woare Builders Supply Com pany, 1593 N.

Calhoun asked the parking ban from Condit through the 1600 Block North Cal houn and the stop sign change be cause new businesses in the area are causing traffic problems. The petitioners said many of the houses on Calhoun have no driveways and no space to build driveways, necessitating parking on the street. Thev said that traffic on the street already is exceeding the speed limit and making Calhoun a through street would increase dangers to children. X-Ray Bus The community X-ray will be in Central Park today from 10 a. m.

to 1 p. m. and from 2 to 5 p. m. Yesterday 677 persons had X-rays at Central Park for a two-day total of 1,333.

The No. 2 X-ray bus will be at the Illinois Power Company today. Employes of Schudel's, and neighboring firms also will be included. Yesterday 638 persons Were X-rayed in the No. 2 bus at Marvel Schebler Products Division of Borg Warner Corporation.

Grand total for the communitv-industrial survey to date: 1,971 persons. Television Station WTVP went on the air with its test pattern about 9:50 p. m. yesterday. General Manager Harold G.

Cowgill said that within 20 minutes the station received about 40 calls from television viewers report ing reception was good. Some of the calls came from communities outside Decatur in cluding Springfield, Tuscola and VV arrensburg, he said. "We are more than pleased with the results of the initial test pat tern, he said. Paul K. Taff, WTVP program director, made the first live appear ance on the station about 11:20 p.m.

He appeared briefly to welcome viewers and invite them to report the quality of their reception. No regular test pattern schedule will be announced until the job of checking and adjusting station equipment is completed. Cowgill said the test pattern probably will be on again tonight. VV orkmen climbed the station 550-foot tower again yesterday to remove the gin pole and cable used 'Rec' Sports Festival Today Special events of the Decatur recreation program this week include: Sports Festival at 1:30 p.m. today in Johns Hill Park with city finals in sports events; Band Concert and ice cream social at 7 p.m.

today in Lions Park; Square Dance Roundup at 7 p.m. Thursday in Garfield Park. In addition to square dancers for groups from all city playgrounds there will be an exhibition of rope skipping. The proposed balance' represents only about three months' operational expenses, Grant said. The reserve is needed to meet heaw ex penditures beginning in September when there is little income rrom taxes.

More than half the proposed balance will not be available to the schools until the end of the fiscal year, he said. Listed as anticipated income is $330,000 from the expected $2,200,000 school tax levy for 1953. These taxes are not due until June 1, 1954, and will not be distributed to the schools until the last of June or perhaps July, he said. The proposed balance in the building fund includes in a bond and interest fund, according to the budget. Grant distributed a sheet of figures listing the Decatur District's balance on hand at the end of the last nine fiscal years.

Before 1950 it was the policy of the board to make no provision for the ilate collection of tax revenue. Each year the district was obliged to issue anticipation warrants on its expected income to meet operating expense. In the 1948-49 school year the district had to retire $955,795.62 in anticipation warrants with the Reserve in School Fund Is to Meet Early Fall Expenses, Grant Explains How much money should a school district have on hand at the end of its school year? This question was raised and answered at yesterday's joint meeting of the Association of Commerce taxation and education committees, called to study the proposed 1953- 54 budget of the Decatur Public Schools. Supt. Lester J.

Grant attended the meeting to explain the proposed budget. Total estimated ex penditures and appropriations include $3,082,573 for the educational fund and $676,149 for the building fund. Anticipated income from all sources for the 1953-54 school year is $3,700,370.80 for the educational fund and $753,555.30 for the building fund. Provided expenditures are as estimated and all income is collected, this budget allows for balances on hand on June 30, 1954, of in the educational fund and $77,406.30 in the building fund. E.

Wavne Schroeder, chairman of the A of taxation committee raised the question about the amount of balance. He questioned whether it is necessary to keep one fifth of the educational fund as a balance on hand during summer months when school is not in operation. 1.