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Wapak Slaying Top 56 Area StoryThe wanton slaying of * Wa-pakoneta tavern operator shortly after the start of the year was the top event of interest in the area surrounding Lima during 1956.Stories of violence and tragedy provided the major news headlines in the 12 months, but there are other stories in the “Top 10 which reflect the growth in industrial* recreational and educational facilities in Limaland.What must be classed,as first.however, is the slaying of Charles Stolzenbach, 54, on Jan. 24 — and the subsequent successful investigation and conviction of three Michigan youths.'The holdup trio, Bernard Harris, James Thornton and Willie Thomas, all of Hazel Park, Mich., received life sentences and are at the Ohio Penitentiary. The murder ‘convictions were the first in 20 years in Auglaize County.Second happening on the annual list was the Nov. 23 multiplefatality traffic accident near Van Wert. David Alspach, an ambulance driver, was electrocuted when he stepped on a downed powe£ line, and the lives of five children were snuffed out. The dead were the children of Mr, and Mrs. Edward Thomas, Cleveland.A ruinous fire which razed the Spencerville Nameplate plant on Oct. ‘ 15 captured the third spot. Recovering after the disaster, the firm was making plans to transfer their facilities to Wa-pakoneta at year’s end.In the No. 4 slot was the escape from the Mercer County jail July 20 by two prisoners who fled after striking a female jail attendant and stealing a deputy's gun.Lawrence Goettemoeller, 45, of near St. Henry, captured the national plowing title at Des Moines, Iowa, back on Sept 22 and that victor)' v.as tabbed for fifth spot in the “Top 10” lineup.Sixth story on the list was of the “human interest” variety. Ben Martins, of Minster, had six children—-all of them adopted, butthis‘year Mrs. Martin gave birth to Nathan Benjamin — her first child. The “welcoming home” for the infant was one of the happiest events of the year.Opening of the new Ex-Cell-0 Corp. plant in Biuffton was the No. 7 story. The late-fall opening highlighted the expansion trend in Biuffton during theyear.In the eighth story, Carl Heinrich, 78, a Dunkirk merchant, shot and wounded Hardin County Denutv Sheriff Fred Barrett, after the deputy was summoned to Heinrich’s general store to quell a disturbance involving the merchant and his tenants. Barrett suffered an eye injury in the December shooting. Heinrich also took a shot at Herdin Sheriff Clarence Brown before being subdued.Stuart M. Weaver, 58, Mansfield, was killed in a plane crash near Delphos Oct. 19, and a $1 million dollar bequest to Ohio Northern University, Adi, was disclosed Jan.' 28, Those were the ninth and 10th “top” stories. **
Newspaper Details
The Lima News
Lima, Ohio, US
Sun, Dec 30, 1956
Page 16
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 19 May 2024
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