davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Collegiate Debate
.Highlights Faculty
Club Meeting

A debate between Bluffton college
and Ohio Northern university was
the special feature of the monthly
Bluffton college Faculty club meet
ing at Founders Hall, Monday.
Topic of the debate was, "Resolv-
ed that non-agricultural industries
in the United States should guaran-
tee their employees an annual wage"
Representing the negative side of
this debate, which is the standard
debate among colleges this year,
was Bluffton with Edmund Leech
and Marion Keeney. Ohio Northern
was represented in the affirmative
by David Bowden and David Wilson.
Judges for the debate were the
Rev. James Heininger, pastor of the
First Methodist church in Bluffton;
Darwin Luginbuhl, art teacher at
Bluffton high school; and Robert
Schumann, principal of Bluffton high
school.
Bluffton, on the negative side, won
the debate 2-1.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Teen Age Problems
Subject Of Panel
At PTA Meeting

Building Faith in Teen-Agers"
will be the subject of panel discus
sion at the next meeting of the
Bluffton Parent-Teacher association
Monday evening, January 8, in the
high school cafeteria.
Carl F. Smucker, professor of
social service at Bluffton college,
will be the moderator for the dis
cussion. Representing mothers on
the panel will be Mrs. Wilford Stein
er and Mrs. Fred Tschantz; w. O..
Geiger is a member of the panel as
both teacher and father; Robert
Schumann, high school principal, will
represent teachers, and Jean Kempf
and Ronald Lora will represent the
teen-age youth.
In the discussion, the panel will
cover. narcotics and alcohol as well
as other teen-age problems.
The Rev. C. A. Classen, pastor OF
the Evangelical Mennonite church
will have the devotions.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Civil Air Patrol
Plane Crashes At
BluftOn Airport

A Civil Air Patrol plane crashed
in a field adjacent to the Bluffton
Airport last Thursday afternoon, but
the pilot who was alone in the plane
escaped injury.
Witnesses to the mishap said that
the plane clipped two trees and came
down hard on the field, damaging the
craft.
Personnel at the Bluffton Airport
said they were unable to release any
information on the accident due to
regulations of the CAP.
Capt. L. j. Slevidence, public infor-
nation officer for the CAP in Lima,
declined to release the name of the
pilot, who repeatedly was ferrying
the plane to Bluffton from wing
headquarters in Cincinnati. He said
that the plane can be repaired.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Flames Destroy
Produce Dealers
.TwO-StOry Barn
Fire On Cal Steiner Prop
erty Threatens Triplett
Company Buildings

The alertness of Triplett company
watchman and quick action of the
Bluffton volunteer fire fighters were
credited Monday afternoon with aver
ting what might easily have been one
on Bluffton's worst industrial blazes.
A large two-story frame barn
standing next to another similar
building and closely between two
factory buildings of the Triplett
Electrical Instrument Co. was gutted
by flames. A stronger wind might
have famed the blaze into the adjoin-
ing buildings housing paint depart
ment and plating department chem
icals.
Austin Shaller, Triplett watchman,
was first to notice flames coming
from the barn building used by Cal
Steiner in his poultry and produce
business. He called Mr.. Steiner who
summoned the fire department about
$3.50 p. m.
Firehhen battled the blaze for an
hour and half confining it to the
original building. Only slight damage
was done to closely adjoining frame
barn structure. Both buildings were
used for storage of poultry and eggs,
but they had been virtually emptied
Saturday afternoon.
Mr.. Steiner said that he did not
understand how the fire could have
started. There had been fire in the
heating stove since Saturday, and the
blaze did not seem to originate near
any electrical wiring.
Damage was estimated by the
owner at in excess of $4,000, although
he pointed out that replacement of
the building would be much greater
than that.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05

The stork made a double play at
Bluffton Community hospital this
week. He produced two baby derby
winners in two days.
Exactly an hour and % minutes af
ter the stroke of midnight New
Years eve Debra Ann Habegger ar
rived to claim ''first baby" honors in
Hancock county. The next day at
SIT a. M, January2, Joel Reed Rad
abaugh was checked in at the hospital
as the claimant of the No. 1856 cit
izen in the Bluffton Baby Derby.
Debra Ann could not claim the
Bluffton honor, because her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayne w. Habegger,
reside in Findlay, more than 10 miles
from the hospital. According to Bluff
ton rules, the baby's parents must live
within that radius.
The Bluffton winner is the son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed Radabaugh of Mt.
Cory rural route. Their home is just
four miles north of Bluffton, and
they thereby qualify for more than a
ton of prizes including gifts of all de-
scriptions for the parents as well as
the baby.
Little Joel, weighing nine pounds
and five ounces, was delivered by DR..
F. d. Rodabaugh of Bluffton. He is
the Radabaugh's first child.
His maternal grandparents are Mr..
and Mrs. Dale Crawfis of Route /,
Ottawa, and his fathers parents are
Mr.. and Mrs. Harold Radabaugh, Mt.
Cory.
The prizes may be claimed by Mr..
Radabaugh from the various stores
offering them upon presentation of his
letter of introduction from Paul Bas-
niger, president of the Business Mems
association.
This is the second year in row
that boy has won the baby derby.
Last year it was Ronald Ray Dukes,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Carl w. Dukes
of Blanchard township near Benton
Ridge, who won the derby. He was
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Reflect Staufer
Head OF BIuftOn
School Board
Mrs. VernaI COrsOn
Appointed TO Three Year
Term AS Board Clerk

For the fifth consecutive year, Paul
w. Stauffer was reelected president
of the Bluffton board Of education at
the annual reorganization meeting
Monday evening at the home of board
member Kimmel Marshall.
The board also reelected DR.. Boyd
w. Travis as vice president and ap-
pointed Mrs. Vernal Corson to a
three-year term as clerk. Mrs. Corson
was named to the post about year
and half ago to fill the unexpired
term of the former Miss Mary Gratz.
The entire organization remained
the same with action to also reap
point Superintendent A. B. Murray
as school purchasing lagent as in the
past.
The meeting opened with Mr..
Stauffer administering the oath Of
office to reelected members Maurice
Bell and Harvey Burkholder, followed
by the reorganization.
Committee appointments were as
follows: buildings and grounds, Bell
and Marshall; finance, DR.. Travis
and Stauffer; and athletics, Burk-
ho1ier.
Regular meetings Of the board We're
set as they have been in the past on
the second Tuesday of each month in
the school office at s p. m. The time
is half an hour later, at $3.50 during
June, July and August.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
BIuftOn's United Church Women Elect
Mrs. E. r. MOser NelU President For Sc


herd". The service will be held at the
Church of Christ church.
The executive committee this year
includes Mrs. Garnette Foltz, repre-
senting the Methodist church; Mrs.
Robert Murray, Church of Christ;
Mrs. Ed Waltermire, Presbyterian;
Mrs. Ralph Stearns, st. Johns Evan
gelical and Reformed church; Mrs.
Vernon Oppermann, EN- m uel's
Evangelical and Reformed church;
Mrs. Carl Burkhart, Lutheran; Miss
Elizabeth Zimmerly, Mrs. Kenneth
Hartman and Mrs. Mary Hilty, Men
MONTE church.
Mrs. Moser also announced the
following committee appointments:
Program-Mrs. Heininger, chair
Continued on page 10)
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Two BlufftOn Boys
Enter Services

Two Bluffton area youths were in
Quoted this week into the armed
forces, one into the Army, the other
into the Navy.
Evan w. Lehman, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Peter Lehman, Route 2, Colum-
bus Grove, was among 10 Allen
county men who reported to Ft.
Hayes, Columbus, Monday for in
duction.
Lehman, 1853 graduate of Bluff
ton high school, was member of the
Pirate basketball and baseball teams,
Gene Badertscher, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Albert Badertscher of Geiger
street, was inducted by the Navy fol-
a four-year enlistment period Wednes-
day morning.
Gene has been assisting his father
in the building business.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
First Job OF Politically Split Council
To Approve Mayor Risser's Appointments

Buttons new village council, elect
ed in November, will hold its first ses-
sion of the 1956-57 term in council
chamber next Tuesday evening.
All but two Of the members will be
newcomers round the council table.
Francis L. Reichenbach, who polled
the heaviest vote, will likely, accord
ing TO custom, be named president of
council Gerald Swank is the only
other veteran returning for another
term.
Taking the oath of office for the
first time as councilmen will be Edwin
Rice, Charles Hanksh, Jr., Wilbur
Amstutz and Edwin Badertscher.
The old council, according to law,
will meet first Tuesday evening to
conclude its business and then ad-
iourn sine die. After the new mem
bers are then sworn in, they meet and
re-organize.
Also taking the oath of office with
members of council will be the new
village treasurer, Harold Balmer, and
Clerk A. ]. B. Longsdorf, a veteran
at his job. Mayor David L. Riser was
sworn in Saturday afternoon about
4:30 by his predecessor, w. A. Howe.
First important action of the new
fathers will be to approve the
of Mayor Riser. He
will be prepared Tuesday to appoint
the street commissioner, chief of po-
lice, fire chief, night watchman and
members of the fire department.
The new mayor would not say
any changes are contemplat-
ed in his appointments. In taking Of
fee, Risser changes the political COM
plexion of the towns chief executive
from Republican to Democratic.
His council, however, will be split
in half with Reichenbach, Swank and
Badertscher his Democratic support,
and Rice, Hankish and Amstutz, Re-
publicans.
Both of the other village officers,
Clerk Longsdorf and Treasurer Bal
mer are Republicans.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05

1IlOl lllliSs
Kent c. Amstutz, new president of
the board, said that it is believed that
the establishment of a proper dump
ing ground will halt present illegal
disposal of tin cans and other trash
along township roadsides.
At present township residents must
not only haul their own trash but
must pay to dispose of it at the. old
quarry dump in Rockport or the Col
umbus Grove dump. Dumping by nom
residents is prohibited at the Bluff
ton and Beaverda municipal
grounds.
Mr.. Amstutz said that legal aspects
of the project are to be Investigated
through County Prosecutor Anthony
Bowers. If it is not feasible to pur-
chase ground and operate a~dump, the
trustees may seek to contract with
Bluffton or Beaverdam for use of
their dumps by township residents.
The trustees said that their new "
type snow ploy had arrived and was
ready for its first call to remove
drifts from township roads. The town
ship may also take over the work of
sanding its own road intersections
when snow and ice make them dang
erous, rather than to depend upon the
county. This will be discussed with
the county commissioners.
Mr.. Amstutz also reminded far
mers of the township that all sheep
claims must be reported within 80
days of the loss instead of so as had
once been the practice. Several local
farmers were unable to collect claims
last year because they delayed filing
them until too late, he said.
Township residents having prob
lens that should be brought before
the board are asked to see the trustee
in charge of their area. Mr.. Amstutz
is in charge of the southwest part of
the township; Jesse Yoakam, the
northwest section; and Robert Neig-
wander, the eastern section.
Neiswander was elected vice-presi-
dent of the board at the reorganiza-
ton meeting, and Dale Reichenbach is
the clerk.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Alumni Planners
Vote Down Dance
For Annual Meet
Lack Of Space And Conflict
Of Events Reason Given
For Dropping Event

Seventy-five years of progress in
education will be the theme of the an
nual Bluffton High School Alumni as
sociation meeting next June when the
18th graduating class is welcomed in
to the association, but the celebration
will not include the traditional gym
nasium dance.
Ralph Stearns, president of the as
sociation, said that members of the
association attending a planning ses.
sion Wednesday of last week had vot-
ed unanimously in favor of dispens-
ing with the dance this year. "Lack
Of adequate space, if attendance is as
great as expected, and the problem Of
having two major attractions on the
same evening banquet and dance)
were given as the reason for dispens-
ing with the dance
Mr.. Stearns also announced that
the date, not yet definitely fixed,
would be on Saturday evening rath-
er than Friday as has been the Gus
tom. 1t is believed the Saturday night
date will find more persons free to
come because most factories and Of
fees are closed on Saturdays, and
those teaching school are usually
available on Saturday evenings while
Friday evenings are taken at the close
of the year by school activities.
The banquet will be either a buffet
or box lunch affair to make the food
handling chore easiest.
On the menu committee are Miss
Theda Hankish, chairman; Mrs. Rob-
ert Ewing, Mrs. Paul Geiser, Mrs.
Nelson Steiner and Mrs. Harry
Moore.
1t was the opinion of the planning
group that the program should in
clude demonstrations of the progress
of Bluffton high school and more time
for visitation of those attending. If
the new elementary school is far
enough complete, a tour of the build
ing has been suggested together with
movies and slides showing demolition
of the old building and erection of the
new one.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
In 81 Years Of Local Weather Records
1866 Closes With Driest December

Following two months of heav-
ier than normal rainfall in OctO-
ber and November, last month
was the driest December in the
62-year weather records of this
area, Ray BurkhOlder official
weather observer of near Pandora
reported this week.
Total precipitation during the
month was only ST of an inch
and snowfall was 3.8 inches. The
previous driest December occurr-
ed in .1943 when only SO of an
inch of rain fell.
Local farmers we're feeling the
effects of the dry spell, several
reporting empty cisterns.
Rainfall for the entire year
totaled 34.55 inches, which is
only 80 of an inch below the
normal here of 34.S7 inches.
Snowfall of 29.7 inches was re-
corded, 2.6 above the 62-year
average of 27.1 inches.
The mean temperature of 51.4
was exactly the same as in 1854
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Section OF Class B District Basketball
Tournament Slated For Founders Hall
BIuffton Will Be Host
To First Dist. Tourney
In Basketball History


For the first time in the history Of
local basketball district cage tourn-
ament viii be held in Bluffton.
A section of the Celina Glass B
district tournament will be played at
Bluffton colleges Founders Hall Fri
day and Saturday, March and 3.
The notice of the change appeared in
the December issue of the Ohio High
School Athlete, official organ of the
Ohio High School Athletic Associa-
ton.
According to the article six teams
from the area Class B tournament
will move to Bluffton. These teams
will include two participants of the
Celina Non-County tournament, two
from the Allen County tournament
and one each from the Hardin and
Putnam county tournaments.
Remaining at Celina will be two
schools from the Mercer county
tournament, two from Van Vert
county, two from Auglaize county
and one team from the Non-County
tournament at Celina.
Semi-finals and finals of these
two sections will be played at the
new Lima Senior high school gym
nasium Friday and Saturday, March
8 and 10.
Harris Is Happy
Coach Joe Harris said this week
he was pleased with the change of
plans for the district tournament.
Harris and other area coaches ap-
parently feel that the new setup will
aid them should their teams reach
the district play. Most of this opti-
mism stems from the fact that none
Of them would like the possibility of
meeting the powerful Wiltshire Wild
cats in the first game of district
play and feel they would stand a
better chance in later rounds.
Wiltshire, led by 6-8 center Gary
kesler, went to the finals of the state
Class B tournament last year at Gin
cinnati. They are undefeated in
eight games this season with Kesler
averaging 80 points plus per contest.
The article noted that if teams
from county or non-county tourna-
ment are divided in the district
tournaments, the nearest team to a
site shall be sent to that site.
Other Northwest Ohio district
tournaments will be held at Anthony
Wayne high school, White House;
Defiance, Clyde, Findlay, Heidelberg
college, Tiffin; and Mansfield.
A. C. Burcky, athletic director at
Bluffton college will be the tourna-
ment manager for the local event.
Continued on page 10)
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05

Mrs. E. R. Moser will head the
United Church Women of Bluffton
during 1866 succeeding Mrs. A. B.
Murray, it was announced this week
following the annual election.
Other officers of the women's
group, which annually plans several
community religious observances, will
be Mrs. James B. Heininger, vice
president; Mrs. A. d. Gratz, secretary
and Mrs. Gilbert Fett, treasurer.
Included in planning for 1866 will
probably be a district meeting to be
held here sometime during the year,
according to Mrs. Moser.
First program on the calendar this
year will be the annual observance
of World Day of Prayer on February
IT. The theme of the observance this
year will be zone Flock, One Shep-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
City Missions
To Get Emphasis
In College Study
Pastor OF Chicago Mennonite
Church and Seminary Prexy
VIII Speak Here

City and home missions will be fea-
tured topics during the annual Mis-
sionary Emphasis Period to be held
in Bluffton January IL to Is under
the Joint sponsorship of Bluffton col
lege and the First Mennonite church.
The program will bring here the
Rev. Leland Harder, pastor of the
First Mennonite church in Chicago,
and DIR. S. F. Pannabecker, president
of the Mennonite Biblical Seminary
in Chicago.
The services~will include showing
of the new film recently produced by
the General Conference Mennonite
church entitled "The Call of the
Cheyenne.
Services Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday will be held at the college.
Sunday services will be held at the
First Mennonite church. Everyone is
invited to attend any or all of the
services.
The program opens Wednesday,
Jan. IL, with 9:35 a. m. chapel serv-
ice. Rev. Mr.. Harder will speak on
MAN in the City: The Challenge of
City Missions" He will also show
slides and speak on mission in the
City" at the 7:15 p. m. service.
Thursday morning the topic will be
"God in the City: A New Strategy in
City Missions, and at 8:15 p. m. in
the College SEA room Bluffton mis-
sion students will present the topic,
"Why l Plan to be Missionary"
"The Disciple at the Front, will be
DR.. Pannabecker's topic Friday morn
ing and "The College and Missions"
will be discussed at a p. m. in the
Mosiman Room at the college.
DIR. Pannabccker will also be the
speaker at the Sunday morning serv-
ice in the First Mennonite church.
His subject will be "The Church on
the Frontier, and at the 7:30 p. m.
service the movie, "Call of the Chey-
enne" will be screened at the church.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Births

The following births were recorded
at Bluffton Community hospital dur
ing the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. James Rausch, Jen-
era, girl, Amelia Louise, born last
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Halsey Hutchinson
Mae Huber), Lima, twin boys,
Richard Lee and Robert Lynn, born
last Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Roger Bell (Maryln
Holtkamp), Bluffton, a girl, Cheryl
Ann, born last Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Morris R. Lewis,
Beaverdam, girl, Kim Gaylene,
born last Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ellwyn Hartzler,
Pandora, a girl, Sandra Jean, born
last Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Andy Lazenby, Will
Jamestown, a girl, Virginia, born
Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wayne Habegger,
Findlay, a girl, Debra Ann, born
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reed Radabaugh,
Mt. Cory, a boy, Joel Reed, born
Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Miguel Sanchez, Col.
Grove, a girl, Maria Theresa, born
Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles McDougall,
Rawson, boy, born Wednesday.
=
Mr.. and Mrs. Roger Martin (Car-
olyn Shafer), Columbus, boy, born
January 3.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
BLuftOn Youth In Midst
Of Arab Refugee RiOting

A Bluffton youth, David Bixel, is
in the midst of the Arab refugee up
risings in Jordan it was learned this
week by his parents, DIR. and Mrs.
Gordon Bixel, N. Spring street.
The riots reached their peak a
couple weeks ago when an estimated
10000 refugees from Israel poured
out of their camps and rampaged
through property of the Mennonite
Central Committee and other holdings
of U. S. and Middle Eastern philan-
thropists in Jericho.
David, who has been connected with
relief work with the MCC in Jordan
for 13 months, is a member of the
Jericho MCC unit but recently had
been assigned to the Baraka Sanitori-
um in Bethlehem. He escaped the
most serious uprisings in Jericho but
ran into some trouble at the Baraka
Sanitorium.
While he was on duty at the hos
pital, rioters broke into his headquar-
ters and made off with all of his per-
sonal possessions, DIR. and Mrs. Bixel
learned in letter from David this
week. After the rioters left, David
had only the clothes whichshe wore
on his back. Missing were cameras,
slides which he intended to show up
on his return to this country, money
orders and travellers checks, some of
which were sent as Christmas pres
ents by his parents and his aunts,
Misses Fern and Dora Bixel.
The Baraka Sanitorium is operated
by Mrs. Irma Schneck Lambie, for
merly of Pandora, whose missionary
doctor husband founded the sanitori-
UNI.
The tempers of the refugees were
triggered by the recent urging of
Great Britain's General Sir Gerald
Templer to bring Jordan into. the an
ti-Communist Baghdad pact too fast.
This pact would increase, Britain's
economic and military aid if only Jor-
dan would sign. Immediately Jordan's
Premier resigned. King Husse
quickly appointed new government
to accept Templer's proposals, but the
rioters already were stirring.
Included in the damage inflicted in
Jericho was the burning down of the
Mennonite Central Committees ware
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05
Churches To ShOIU
Martin Luther Film

The film MARTIN Luther, acclaim
ed throughout the country as one of
the greatest religious films of all time,
will be shown in two local churches at
7:30 p. m. Sunday.
One showing of the film will be at
the County Line of the Brethren, six
miles south of Bluffton. The public is
invited.
The Senior Hi Youth Fellowship
will show the film at the First Men
MONTE church. A free will offering
will be taken during the evening.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1956-01-05

house. The warehouse contained some
100000 worth of clothing which the
MCC had planned to distribute to the
refugees as gifts. At least 16 were
killed and 100 injured during the
riots.
David has nine months to serve
with the MCC unit in Jordan. When
his tour of duty is finished sometime
in October he viii return to Bluffton
and enroll at the college where he will
be junior.