16 Mar 1954
Page 1
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Newspaper
Alamogordo News
Location
Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States of America
Date
Mar 16, 1954
Page
1
The town hosts a festival promoted by Ralph Edwards and Ed Werds using national radio. Advertised as bigger than the town, it attracts attention but risks outgrowing local capacity and the cost of footing the bill.
An El Paso radio promotion failed to win Alamogordo advertisers. Scout District committee men meet at Central School with Jack Vowell appearing. Lieut. Col. P. E. Waters and wife announce a change of address from Ottawa to Washington. D. C. Local merchants react to ads and a builder notes two weeks of publication. An appliance dealer reports five advertised items sold Saturday.
A board discussion argues that allowing reputable outside solicitors to compete is necessary to keep city business vibrant. Local merchants cannot close doors to outsiders even if they have strong references and national advertising. El Paso papers showcase attractive ads that lure shoppers, underscoring the need for local merchants to adapt.
Alamogordo will host District No. 2 Boy Scout committee of Yucca Council headed by Leo Valdez. City leaders will cite council program timing, three month plans, and officer meetings with Jack Sonal, Spelecer Baird, Joe Walter, Dr E Elkins, Col Jack Fulton, Fulton Vowels, Howard Mat Poe, Irvin Schwartz, Dan Schultz, and Tommy Rogers.
The city commission approved a minimum water charge increase to 2.50 for 700 cubic feet, up from 2.00, to fund new well development, pumping, piping, and filtering. Officials expect the rise to be temporary and rely on the additional revenue of about 1,000 per month, with sewer rates unchanged.
Merchants of Alamogordo sponsor appreciation days for the weekend of March 26-27. Local merchants will show thanks to shoppers with special offers in their stores. The News will publish ads for the event on March 25, and organizers hope to make it a monthly affair.
Gordon J. Thorpe of Las Cruces visited Sunday with Bob Hoffman to organize a Jaycee club in Alamogordo. Hoffman and Aubrey Dunn canvass town for men interested in joining or with Jaycee experience. Contact Hoffman or Dunn for details.
County Health and Alamo gordo City Schools announce free immunization clinics March 22 to 24 at the Community Center to protect children entering school from Diphtheria and Smallpox. Families north and west meet Monday March 22, east of Florida Avenue Tuesday March 23, and all again Wednesday March 24 if needed.
Billy Randolph 25 of San Patricio died in Ruidoso hospital after a Saturday crash on State Highway 37 one mile west of Ruidoso. His car, traveling east at excessive speed, left the road, overturned twice, and stopped 402 feet from the curve. Two passengers Rudy Polasco 16 and Johnny Chavez 19, both of San Patricio, were treated and released.
Dave Stevens of the local forest service headquarters will head the chamber of commerce tourist committee for the coming year. He has worked in developing tourist committee work in prior years.
The piece corrects a paragraph about the proposed new courthouse tax. It states the probable highest assessment in the first year would total 29 250 dollars in principal and interest. Across the county this equals 2.44 mills or about 24 cents per 100 valuation.
Four Progressive Party candidates seek city offices for the April 6 vote in Tularosa. Walter Ray seeks mayor for a two year term. Albert Sandoval Jr and Ed Turner seek four year trustee terms. Ernest Bookout also runs for two years as trustee. Incumbent Ernest Duran has two years left in his term.
Holloman AFB opened the 1954 Red Cross Drive with $1,255 raised by noon Thursday as part of a county goal of 3,600 to be collected by April 15. Base contributions are expected to exceed 1,300, with unit reports still pending. Separate drives are led by Jack Kearney in Tularosa, Mrs. W. A. Gage in Pinon, Mrs. Bess Voorhees in Orogrande, and Ray Sowell in Weed.
The board at the Chamber of Commerce outlined a plan to expand membership and boost finances. Ted Bonnell will lead membership efforts while other directors assume chair duties for highway, industry, retail, and special event committees. Ex officio leaders Baxley and Hammett will coordinate across all groups.
Paul Brown, a druggist active in chamber work, was elected to fill the board of directors vacancy created by the resignation of Andrew Hendrix. Hendrix cited time constraints due to his duties as county commissioners chair and hospital association treasurer and said he would consult with the board as needed.
The Tularosa Valley Amateur Radio Club invites all members and interested people to a 7 30 p m meeting Wednesday night at the CAP building behind the high school gym. Officers for the coming year are to be elected.
Airman Secundina L. Dimas from Carlswell Air Force Base Fort Worth Texas visits his mother Mrs Julia L Flores and his brother at 407 Pennsylvania. He will spend a 15 day furlough here.
Dust storms shut Highway 54 between Tularosa and Carrizozo causing about ten injuries and multiple car pileups. State police closed the road from 2 to 6 pm, as drivers could barely see. Officer Pete Moore reported several crashes three miles south of Three Rivers with more vehicles colliding while stranded. Victims were treated locally and six were transported to Alice? hospital.
County Red Cross praise for public help after a Sacramento family lost their home on February 27. Bonnie Gillis says clothing bedding and household items were donated and picked up for the seven member family now housed at the Prestridge Lumber Camp site.
Mildred Virginia Akers two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leon ard Akers died March 11 at Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were held Saturday at Mullins Hamilton Funeral Home with Ted Trent officiating. Interment followed at Weed cemetery. Surviving are the parents a brother Lewis a sister Verna grandparents Lewis Hall of Delhart Texas and Jess Akers of Alamogordo. Sue Gardner sang In the Garden and God Will Take Care of You with Bonnie Gillis at the piano.
Mrs Frona Brashier of 23 Alta Vista Drive Alamogordo died March 13 at age 70. Funeral services pending at Mullins Hamilton Funeral Home. Born in California she moved to Alamogordo three years ago. Survived by husband Linsey a daughter Mrs Melvin G Musick Cloudcroft two sons Clarence A Santa Ana Calif and Charles Brashier Tulsa Okla five grandchildren including Mrs Virginia Smith Alamogordo and five great grandchildren.
A blaze at 203 Dewey Lane was under control by 4 p m after residents extinguished the fire before fire trucks left the station. Fire Chief A Bass confirmed a second call reported the blaze was tackled by locals.
Right hand man during the storm, Clyde Gossett directed aid via radio from State Police HQ. His central microphone helped establish a roadblock across southern New Mexico to stop murder suspect Marvin Vaughn and two accomplices who fled Lordsburg jail, later captured at Hatchita.
Ambulance crews ferrying injured travelers from a spate of crashes on Highway 54 in dust storms. Five Alamogordo tow trucks and one from Tularosa assisted in clearing wreckage. Admitted to Gerald Champion Memorial were J. E. Smith Estancia Walter Smith Oklahoma City Tex Carlton Grant Pecan Gap Tex Frances Sherrow Lubbock Roy Galles Denver and car driver E L Dest Denver. Others treated for rib injuries cuts or broken leg at Alamogordo Holoman AFB hospital and Las Cruces.
Irvin Menger of the New Mexico Insurance Board attended a board meeting in Albuquerque last week. He was accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Ida C. Menger, who visited friends and relatives there.
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