13 Dec 1955
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 13, 1955
Page
1
A brief column notes community life and local events with snapshots of residents, shops, and upcoming gatherings. The piece paints a collage of neighborhood activities, small happenings, and shared spaces that shape daily life.
The Decatur fire department answered three calls last night and this morning. A defective flue caused a fire at Aaron Jones’s residence at 413 NW Davis St at 8 13. Slight loss reported. A car caught fire at 303 West Moulton St at 4 07 this morning with no loss and unknown owner. Questers Club meets Thursday at 7 30 p.m. at Wanda Harris home with Garnett Young as co host. Central Garden Club meets Thursday at 10 a.m. with a program on candle care. A building permit for 1000 was issued to Irene Holmes for a room and carport addition.
The Associated Press reports renewed talk about President Eisenhower's role in the 1956 elections. Senate Democratic Leader Lyndon Johnson expressed a hope he could be a candidate if recovered, while Johnson denied any intention to seek public office. House GOP leaders predicted Eisenhower will run.
The Dixon Yates group filed a $3 534 778 suit in the U S Court of Claims against the government for expenses tied to the cancelled private Valley Authority area contract. Mississippi Valley Generating Co led the case, with E H Dixon of Mississippi Valley Generating and Middle South Utilities also tied to the effort. The contract intended to supply power to the TVA system at West Memphis Arkansas to replace Atomic Energy Commission supplies.
President Eisenhower briefed congressional leaders from both parties on foreign aid and overseas information programs. Senate Armed Services Chairman Russell said the defense program looks good but calls for detailed committee review before commitment. Hagerty quoted the President thanking leaders from both sides after the 8:30 to 11:10 briefing.
Judge T. C. Almon postponed hearings on four land tracts needed for the Iron Man Neel road. The delay stemmed from failure to serve all parties originally, with heirs to the Mulligan estate and E. D. Jones among the defendants listed in the condemnation action.
Cullman County board of education asks the State Department of Education to conduct a survey toward building a new Arkadelphia school. Officials expect the survey within weeks, with rebuilding plans to follow state recommendations. Elementary students attend church classes after a fire destroyed the Arkadelphia school. junior high pupils meet in Cold Springs School.
Governor James E. Folsom received a $5,000 check from Alabama's $100,000 emergency fund in a move described as his first personal withdrawal. The fund, earmarked for the governor's discretion, exists alongside the mansion and operating accounts. A prior $3,000 warrant to Citizens for TVA in Nashville was the only other draw this year, tied to Alabama's support for the Jones Davis Kerr TVA financing plan in Congress.
Actress Rita Hayworth, in Paris with her children, wins a mail order divorce from singer Dick Haymes in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he is performing. this marks Hayworth's fourth marriage ending.
The four county area reported 32 highway fatalities for 1954 after weekend crashes. Lennie Humphrey, 20, of Huntsville died Saturday on Highway 231 south of Whitesburg Bridge in Morgan County. Eugene Lafallette, 59, of Hanceville died Saturday on Arkadelphia Road in Cullman County.
Federal farm officials expect cotton growers to vote today to continue marketing quotas for the next year. Approval by two thirds is needed to enforce controls aimed at preventing surplus. Some 1.3 million growers were eligible, with past turnout around 318,949 to 27,593 in favor last year.
Privately supported Alabama institutions share 3.52 million, with colleges receiving 1.786 million and state hospitals 1.734 million. Notable gifts go to Athens College, Birmingham Southern, Howard College, Huntingdon, Miles, Spring Hill, Stillman, Judson, and Talladega, with some awards marked as extra for salary leadership. Further details appear on page 2.
State and federal agencies charitable groups churches and individuals joined Monday to aid John Henry Terry a 40 year old Decatur carpenter who lost the sight of his remaining good eye in an accident Friday The group discussed sending him to the Talladega school for the blind for four months and starting a small business at East Acres housing project with a 12 by 16 foot stand for drinks and ice cream at an estimated cost of 1200 Rehabilitation would provide ongoing technical help as Terry runs the venture
Tennessee River level at Keller Memorial Bridge first thing this morning 16.47 feet, down 48 feet in 24 hours. Sea level reading 550.77 feet. Yesterday's high 44 degrees at 1 pm, low 28 at 6 am. Forecast fair and warmer today, tonight and Wednesday unsettled with scattered thundershowers and turning colder. Wednesday high 54, low 30, Wednesday night 52. Legal waterfowl shooting times set for Wednesday 6 18 am to 4 08 pm and Thursday 6 18 am to 4 08 pm.
Charles B. Shuman president of the American Farm Bureau Federation urged a soil bank as part of flexible farm price support. The plan would take acres out of production into soil-building crops and rent banked land to the government, potentially paying in surplus commodities.
The State Highway Department told Decatur officials that bids to widen Wilson Street to four lanes from Bank Street to beyond the Chemstrand plant will not be opened until January 6. The project covers 3.39 miles and will route Alabama Highway 20 through Decatur. Right of way negotiations are in settlement, a major city expense, while state and federal agencies cover most other costs.
The Ford Foundation announced a historic giveaway totaling half a billion dollars to 615 private colleges and universities, 3,500 privately supported hospitals, and privately funded medical schools. The gifts include 210 million to colleges, 200 million to hospitals, and 90 million to medical schools, with 50 million more for teaching salaries. New York University received five million, Harvard 4.51 million, Chicago 4.3242 million, Yale 4.0009 million, while California School of Fine Arts got 31,900.
Bonn reports that Otto John, noted former security chief and defector, has returned to the west. The West German government confirms his arrival and describes the development as a significant political shift.
In Bonn Chancellor Konrad Adenauer interrupted a coalition meeting to read a brief notice of Dr. Otto John’s westward flight. The room erupted in laughter as the report was announced.
A man described as a man of a thousand secrets who defected to communist East Germany 16 months ago surrendered to West German security forces. He crossed into West Berlin yesterday and was flown secretly to West Germany the same afternoon. He is being questioned by the West German supreme court prosecutor. Details on his location and the method of eluding East German police were not disclosed. East Germans had suspected he might try to flee again to the west and kept him under surveillance. See GERMAN on Page 2.
Campaign leader and former state chairman Tru man Hobbs proposed forming a nonpartisan committee to study Alabama's school situation. He previously backed the Goodwyn amendment and supported a $110 million school bond issue and school tax amendment through the Alabama Citizens Committee for Schools. Nationalists claim fighter-bombers destroyed five Red Chinese gunboats near Matsu Island in a strike from Formosa.
Richard Roger Tenneson a 22 year old former war prisoner arrived from Red China saying he believes the Communist charges that the United States used germ warfare in Korea He earlier refused repatriation with 21 other Americans and was allowed to go home in September after permission from the Communists He spoke at a Kowloon hotel news conference and said conditions in the United States are favorable for his return He insisted he is not fighting for nor against communism and cited alleged U S germ warfare evidence as his reason for belief.
In Birmingham lawyers say no Alabama law or constitution allows contesting the Jefferson County Amendment No 20 election. A Montgomery source calls it a statutory right with no statute to support a challenge, suggesting the election cannot be contested.
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