davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Schools Will Not Have To Make
Up Time Missed Because OF Snow

Bluffton public schools will not
have to make up time missed since
December IL because of snowbound
conditions in the area, officials of
the state department of education
notified Supt. Ralph S. Lanham,
Tuesday.
Days on which schools were closed
because of bad weather will be rec
ognized as part of the $50 days of
classes required for maximum state
support under the school foundation
program, the superintendent was
told.
This means the schools will not be
penalized for time lost in the way
of decreased funds from the state.
Under the Ohio school system school
foundation funds are paid on the
basis of daily attendance of pupils.
Schools which did not close but
suffered abnormal absences because
of storms may apply to the director
of education at the end of the school
year for reappointment of funds, it
also was announced.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Promotions In Rank

Richard Balmer, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. James Balmer of South Main
street in Naval service has been pro-
NOTED to rank of storekeeper second
class.
Eugene Kohl, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Hiram Kohl, north of Bluffton, now
in the European war area has been
promoted to rank of corporal.
James Butler, in Naval service,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Roy Butler of
Church street, has been promoted to
rank of water tender third class.
Waldo Hover, construction fore
man with an Army Engineers unit
at Camp Claiborne, La, has been
promoted to the rank of staff SER
geant. His wife is the former Helen
Corson of North Jackson street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
farm BOYS WITH
DEFERMENTS FACE
new DRAFT CALLS
War Mobilization Director Asks
Review of All Cases i'm
1925 Bracket
All Not Previously Rejected to
Be Called for Pre-Induc-
ti0n Examinations

Allen county farm youths in the
1S to 26 age group, who have not
previously been rejected for physical
defects will be called shortly for
pre-induction physical examinations.
The call for Allen county farm
youths in this age group Il in line
with Selectiye Service developments
in rapidly changing manpower
picture during the past week which
has sharply stepped up demands for
men in the armed forces.
At the same time, however, there
were complications in the situation
which made it appear reasonably
doubtful whether any substantial
number of these registrants will be
drafted, inasmuch as deferment
standards remain unchanged, despite
the order for pre-induction examina-
tions.
Harrassed local draft boards in
the area report they have combed
the lists of deferred farm workers
time and again for men who could
be spared and it is doubtful if any
large numbers of registrants will
be found available for induction.
Review All Cases
In the nation as a whole there
are 364,000 young men, Is thru 25,
who now have agricultural defer
ments, and local draft boards have
been directed by General Hershey to
Immediately review all such cases
in addition to sending the men for
pre-induction physical examinations.
Complications in determining who
should be exempt from military
service as bonafide agricultural
workers arise from the Tydings
amendment to the Selective Service
act which directs local draft boards
to exempt agricultural workers
Standards for deferment are de-
termined by each local draft board
altho Selective Service headquarters
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25

For the first time since 1888,
Bluffton High cagers this winter will
play in a pre-sectional tournament,
the result of district action in set
ting up Sectional elimination
tourney for exempted village and pa
rochial schools to be held at the same
time of the county tournaments in
the Lima district.
Eight teams including Bluffton
will compete in the new pre-sectional
tournament, and the winner and run
nerup of the meet will be eligible to
play against the two top county
teams in the Class B Sectional at
Celina.
The pre-sectional tournament is
tentatively scheduled in the Lima
South gymnasium on February 21,
% and "a, and pairings will be made
on February 3.
Competing in tourney play will be
Button, Delphos st. Johns and Del
phos jefferson; Lima st. Rose, Lima
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25

A girls trio from Taylor univers-
ity, Upland, Ind. will appear as a
special feature @ the Defenseless
Mennonite church. Singspiration to
be conducted by Ms Phyllis Steiner,
of Bluffton, at 9 nm. next, Sunday.
Miss Steiner, wh& Is graduate of
Taylor university, now teaches music
in Beaverdam. She is the daughter
of Rev. and Mrs. E. G. Steiner, of
South Jackson street.
The girls trio from the university
also will sing at morning and even
ing services in the church, it was
announced by Rev. Stanley Rupp,
pastor. Robert Bontrager, senior
at Taylor, will be the speaker at
both services.
In the girls trio are Wilma Stein
er, Bluffton; Mabel Busch, North
Dakota; and Arlouine Hamann, Chi
cago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Returns To Duties
As Head Of COUege

DIR. Clarence Lehman has returned
to his duties as president of the
State Teachers College of Potsdam,
N. Y, after a several months leave
of absence for benefit of his health.
His condition is reported much inn
proved.
DR.. Lehman is a graduate of
Bluffton college and his wife is the
former Carol Betzner of Bluffton.
He is a brother of Prof. G. A.
Lehman, formerly head of the music
department of Bluffton college and
now director of music at Colgate
Rochester Divinity school, Rochester,
N. Y.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25

of the rural highways had been clear
ed, principallv thru the efforts of
farmers who banded together to clear
the drifts by hand.
Not too much trouble is expected
in clearing the roads again, however,
unless additional snow should fall
soon... Also, there is assurance that
farmers armed with shovels will keep
at work on the principal rural roads
to keep them open.
Farmers at Work
Richland township trustees are
paying farm residents for time put in
to clear roads of drifts and with the
township snow plow back in operation
again fair headway is being made in
combating the new drifts.
Present objective is to keep roads
open for at least one-way traffic,
with places scooped out at intervals
to permit two cars to pass. For the
last week most farmers have had a
way to get to town, altho the route
usually is a roundabout one.
Snowfall and drifted roads on Mon
day and Tuesday started the seventh
consecutive week of snow-bound con-
ditions here. In town, some snow
has melted only to freeze into ice that
makes a treacherous surface on
streets and walks.
Drifts this week first became notice
able about noon on Tuesday. Rural
mail carriers were unable to make
their rounds, and schools were dis
missed half an hour early Tuesday
afternoon.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Receipts Of Municipal Light Plant
And Water Works SS5,024 In 1914
Mark NistUas,der
Wins Air Medal

Ensign Earl Mark Niswander,
USNR, son of Mrs. Olivia Niswand-
er, of Bluffton, who is stationed at
the Naval Air Station, Corpus Chris
ii, Texas, was awarded the Air Med
al in ceremonies held there last week.
Acting as navigator of medium
land plane bomber, Ensign Niswand-
er completed more combat missions
over Northern Kuriles than his
squadron's average.
Ensign Niswander also was COM
mended "for excellent service in the
performance of his duty as a crew
member of a land based medium
bomber which engaged enemy fight
ers over Paramushiro Island on
August 20, 1914.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
DRIFT MAROONS HIGHWAY
CREW

Two Hancock county highway
maintenance men were marooned
Tuesday when the wind drifted
the roads shut faster than the
crews could open them.
Ben Brunk and Guy Dunn
cleared a two mile stretch on
the Benton Ridge-Rawson road
and became stuck i'm drifts when
they headed back for Rawson
over the road they had cleared
a short time before. They had
to call for help to get them
selves and their equipment out
of the deep snow.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Is FARM YOUTHS
UNDER 26 GET Ia
IN DRAFT APPEALS
Stricter Application of Defer
ment Standards Indicated
for Farm Registrants
Six Placed in la on Presiden-
tial Appeal; Board of APP
peals Rules on Other z

Stricter application of deferment
standards as they apply to farm
youths under 26 is reflected in Presi-
Dental and Board of Appeals decis-
ions placing 13 registrants in Class
Ia in the area over which Local
Board No. 8, Allen county, has juris-
diction, it was announced Wednes-
day.
In six agricultural cases Board No.
3 action in putting men in Class Ia,
reversed by the board of appeals and
appealed to the president BY the State
Director of Selective Service, was up
held by presidential decision and the
registrants are re-classifed IA.
Seven other registrants placed in
Class Ia by the Local Board were
retained in that classification by de-
cision of the Board of Appeals.
Cases Appealed
The six registrants under 26 who
were changed from &c to la class
ification on the Presidential appeal
include:
Bluffton-Harold Perry Schick.
Delphos-Richard E. Thompson,
Firmin B. Pothast.
Alger-Garland II. Harvey.
Lafayette-Howard v. Howbert.
Spencerville-Thomas e. Dillon.
In the other seven cases, Local
Board cancellation of &c deferments
for registrants under 26 was upheld
in Class IA appeals decisions hand
ed down by the Board of Appeals as
follows:
Lima-Eugene F. Meyers; Charles
E. DeLong; Lewis E. Bassett; Mark
Jacobs
Delphos-Clement L. Croft; Leon
ard L. Allen.
wayAesfeld- -Rodger N. Stimmel.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Heart Attack Claims
Local Mans Father

William Mcclure, SO, of Lima,
county road employe was stricken
with heart attack while shoveling
snow recently on Route 25 and died
before medical aid could reach him.
He was the father of Allen Nc
Clure of jefferson street.
Funeral services were held in the
Lewis funeral home in Lima with
Rev. Howard Thomas officiating.
Burial was in Harrod cemetery.
Besides his son residing here, he
is survived by three other sons, his
wife, one daughter, two brothers and
two sisters.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Chris Bucher Rites
4 Held On SUNDAY

Chris Bucher, so, retired carpenter
of Bluffton, died at 6 a. m. Friday
in the Allen county hospital follow
ing a long illness.
Funeral services were held Sun
day afternoon in the Paul Diller fun
eral home, with Rev. v. C. Opper-
mann, pastor of the st. Johns
Reformed church, officiating. Burial
was in the Ebenezer cemetery.
The son of Jacob and Barbara
(Badertscher) Bucher, he is survived
only by brother, Peter Bucher, of
near Lafayette. He never married
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Births

The following births at Rluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Luginbuhl of
Bluffton, girl, Nancy Ellen, Fri
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Glen Augsburger,
Bluffton, boy, Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Hall, Beav-
erdam, girl, Wednesday morning.
A girl, Marilyn Jane, was born
to Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Renick at
Grant hospital, Columbus, January
16. Mrs. Renick is the former Miss
Virginia Ruhl of this place, a niece
of Miss Louise Ruhl of South Main
street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Farm Sales OF Stock And Equipment
Will Reach New High In February
Two Months of Public Sales
Concentrated Into One
Month This Year
Snow Blocked Roads Prevented
Many Farm Sales In
January

Public sales of farm stock and
equipment are expected to reach an
all-time high in February of this
year, because impossible snow-blocked
roads prevented the normal number
of sales in January.
Only in few scattered instances
were farm sales held this month,
despite the fact that they ordinarily
reach their peak in January and
February.
AS result, the public sales that
ordinarily would be spaced over a
two-months period will be held in
February this winter, because it is
general farm acceptance that they
should be out Of the way before the
start of the farming year on March
/.
Another contributing factor to-
ward a February period of record
farm sales is the fact that more of
them than usual have been planned
for this winter.
Many farmers sons have gone into
the army, requiring liquidation of
their stock and implements, and in
other cases sales result from farm
ers leaving their land to take jobs
in war plants.
In addition many of the older
farmers are giving up farming and
selling out at a time when high
prices for land, stock and equipment
make it particularly attractive for
them to retire.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
TRAFFIC RE-ROUTED
over A. C. and Y.
BECAUSE OF WRECK
Freight Train Wreck Near Mt.
Blanchard Closes Track
for Two Days
A. c. and Y. Traffic Goes to
Fostoria on Nickel Plate;
on c. and o. to Carey

Wreck of an eastbound freight
train one mile west of Mt. Blanchard
on the A. c. and Y. railroad Mon
day night caused re-routing of pas
senger and essential freight traffic
over other lines between Bluffton
and Carey until Wednesday noon.
In the wreck east of here, q
freight locomotive and IA cars are
reported to have left the track.
Spreading of the rails is believed to
have been the cause of the mishap,
in which no one was hurt. The
wreck occurred at 10:30 p. m. Mon
day.
While wrecking crews were work
ing around the clock on Tuesday
and Wednesday morning. passenger
train service and essential freight
routed over the A. c. and Y. went
from Bluffton over the Nickel Plate
to Fostoria, and from there on the
c. and o. to Carey.
This is the first serious nishap on
the A. C. and Y. in this area since
May 1896 when nine cars were de-
rallied in a wreck three miles east
of Bluffton which tied up traffic for
twelve hours.
Clearing the wreckage and laying
new track in this years accident has
been hindered by snow and ice, but
wrecking crews work on a 24-hour-
a-day schedule to open the road for
service again.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
BLUFFTON DISTRICT
in SEVENTH WEEK
OF SNOW and ICE
Roads Opened Last Week Are
Blocked Again by Fresh
Drifts
Schools Close Again As Farm
ers Lose Ground i'm Clear
ing Rural Roads

Rural roads in the Bluffton area
were right back in the impossible
stage again Wednesday, after a two
inch snow that fell on Monday was
whipped into new drifts by a strong
and continuous wind that blew all day
Tuesday.
With school buses unable to make
their rounds, Bluffton public schools
were closed again on Wednesday, a
common occurance since the first
blizzard in this unusual winter struck
here on December IL.
Fresh drifts on the roads in this
area came just at time when most
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Returns On Leave
From Pacific Area

Ems. Maynard Coon of the Navy
who has been in the Pacific war area
for the past eight months arrived
Wednesday morning to visit his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Fl. L. Coon of
South Jackson street. He was ac-
companied by his wife who has been
living in their home in North Rob-
inson while her husband is in service.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Principal Item of Income S64,-
334 from Electric Current
Service to Area
Disbursements for the Year
Were S73,475; Balance on
Jan. / Was S23,635

Bluffton home owners, industries
and commercial houses paid S64,-
347.47 for electric current service in
1914, a gain of $3,745.07 over the
preceding years, according to the an
nual report of the Board of Public
Affairs, released this week.
Aggregate receipts of the munic-
ipal light plant and water works
during 1944 were $s5,024.01, a total
of $7,273.15 more than in 1943.
For water service, the plant coll
lected s12,2s2.99 last year, as COM
pared with S11,454.09 for the pre-
ceding IL months. Income from city
heat mounted sharply from s4,700.22
in 1943 to $6,07798 in 1914. Incl
dentals and refunds during the past
year amount to $2,328.57.
S24,759 FOR WAGES
Principal items of disbursement
during 1914 were payments of $24,-
759.48 for salaries and labor and
$27,324.19 for fuel, the report shows.
New equipment cost the plant $5,-
1885.
Total payments for the year
amounted to s73,475.02, slightly
more than in lp43 when disburse-
ments were s73,s6o.S7. Balance on
hand at the close of 1914 was $685.
635.13, nearly double the figure of
s12,Os6.14 reported on Jan. l.. 1914.
Complete financial report of the
board for 1914 appears in this issue
of the Bluffton News.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Real Estate Deal

Edwin Diller has sold the Oliver
Locher farm of 100 acres north of
the Bluffton corporation limits to
G. F. Eikenbary of Ada for $4,000,
it was announced the first of the
week. Possession will be given in
February. The Oliver Locher family
who have spent the past several
winters in the south for benefit Of
his health will make their permanent
residence at Lake Worth, Fla.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Hospital Auxiliary
Membership Canvass

Biennial canvass for memberships
in the Bluffton hospital Woman's
Auxiliary will begin February I
with house to house solicitation
it is announced by officers of the
organization. The canvass is made
every two years.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
To Collect Taxes
Here Feb. 1914

Deputy from the Allen county
treasurer's office will be at the
Citizens National bank, Bluffton on
Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 13
and IA to collect real estate taxes
for the first half of 1914. Tax books
for this collection will close on
February "a, Ray w. Barnett, county
treasurer announced.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
At Ohio State

Dale Huber, Bluffton, and Jay w.
Basinger, Columbus Grove, are en-
rolled in Ohio State university for
the winter quarter, in a student body
that has increased % per cent over
what it was last fall, it was an
nounced this week by the university.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Skidding Car Breaks
Light Standard Here

A car driven by Abe Myers, Raw
son, skidded and crashed into a boul-
evard light standard on South Main
street near the A. B. Lowell residence
Sunday morning.
The light standard was broken
and Myers car was considerably
damaged and taken to the Augsburg
er garage. Myers escaped with min
or bruises. He was northbound
when the accident occurred.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
Woman Falls On Icy
Walk; In Hospital

Mrs. Myrtle Griffith of Ottawa,
employed at the Triplett Electrical
Instrument company is patient in
Bluffton hospital as the result of a
fall on an icy sidewalk here Thurs
day. Mrs. Griffith's right leg was
fractured in the fall. Her condition
was reported satisfactory, Wednes-
day morning.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25

Rev. E. j. A. st. Louis, pastor of
Grace Methodist church, Lima, will
address meeting of the Brother
hood of the Methodist church here
Thursday night following a covered
dish dinner at 6:45 o'clock.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25
COACHES CLASS PLAY

Miss Ora Spangler of Bluffton who
teaches in Leipsic high school is di-
recting the senior class play "Goin'
on Seventeen" to be presented at
that place, Wednesday night, Feb. T..
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-01-25

BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning
Grain (bushel prices Wheat $1.68;
corn SLIP; oats SOC; soys $2.04.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-01

compress in a week of costly
counterattacks.
West Africans south of Myoha-
ung in the Kaladan valley were
approaching Minya, which the
Japanese were believed to be
evacuating. The Japanese COM
mander apparently taking des-
perate gamble to break out south
ward toward Taungup, near the
Bay of Bengal on the west coast
Some of the bloodiest fighting of
the day occurred in the vicinity
of Gangaw for vital hills dominat-
ing the Taungup road. Incessant
Allied air attacks paved the way
for the capture of two hills. A
fanatical Japanese counterattack
recovered one, but they later lost
it.
Japanese casualties from air at
tacks in this area have been heavy
and are increasing.
On Ramree Island, off the Bur-
ma west coast, Allied amphibious
forces still were held up along the
Northumberland, which almost BIZ
sects the island. Japanese there
are strongly dug in and have been
getting reinforcements at night
from the mainland.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-01
TROOPS
CAPTURE KUK0NC

CHUNGKING, Jan. 81 up
Guarding against Allied landings,
japanese troops today completely
sealed off the China coast east OF
the Canton-HankoW railway by cap
during Kukong. 100 miles above
Canton and last Chinese strongpolnt
on the vital rail artery.
The Chinese garrison fought to
the last man but was overwhelmed
by superior enemy forces.
(Tokyo radio also claimed the
capture of Suichwan airfield in
western Kwangsi province, one of
the few U. S. airbases left in south
eastern China. The japanese last
summer and fall captured all of the
major l4th U. S. Air Force bases
in southeast China.)
Kukong fell to the japanese jan
uary 8 after two days of fierce
street fighting, the Chinese COM
munique said. The defenders in
flicted heavy losses on the enemy
before being wiped out, it was dis
closed. Recent reports from Ku-
kong have told how the Chinese de-
tenders fought with suicidal brav-
cry, often blowing up themselves
and the Japanese attackers with
hand grenades.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-01
NOTED PHYSICIAN
. DIES OF WOUNDS

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Jan. 81
UP)-Dr. Logan Clendening, 6o,
nationally known medical writer
wlo recently told his physician
that he would take his own life,
was found dead in bed today with
his throat slashed.
Ben Tibbs. member OF the Kan
sas City police department honnl-
eide squad, said that Clendenlng
had been dead about u hours be-
fore his body was found. When ne
failed to get up about noon today
his wife. Dorothy, went into his
darkened bedroom and discovered
the body.
He apparently had sat down on
the edge of his bed" Tibbs said,
and then had slashed his throat
with a combination pen knife and
cigar cutter.
The knife was on table near
the bed. Clendening was dressed
in his night clothes"
Tibbs said that DR.. John H.
Wheeler. Clendening's physician.
had visited him Monday night. He
said Clendening expressed the de-
sire to take MS own life. adding
that he would do it when people
least expected him to.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-02-01
Enemy Believed Preparing
For Battle At Mandalay

CALCUTTA, Jan. 81 up The
Japanese obviously were prepar-
ing today for a last ditch defense
of Mandalay, Burma's second
largest city.
The Japanese defenders, with
their backs to the IrraWaddy riv-
er, have elected to make their
stand in the corridor between the
Myitkyina -Mandalay railraod n d
the river from Sheinmaga, 20
miles northwest of Mandalay to
Sagaing. Immediately across the
Irrawaddy from Mandalay.
One Allied column moving east
ward from Monywa, 40 miles
northwest of Mandalay, was with
in u miles, a second striking from
Myinmu had cleared the north
bank of the IrraWaddy for a dis
lance of approximately 20 miles.
Both constitute threat to the low
er end of the Mandalay defense
positions and can cover crossings
below Sagaing from h solidly
held ground on the north bank.
A third threat was developing
at Singu, where the British have
opened an attack in strength from
bridgehead across the Irrawad-
dy which the Japanese failed to