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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 25, 1955
Page
2
Five workmen fled to safety when the bottom dropped from a 12 foot deep hole under a Birmingham street. Foreman described earth pouring out like sand and recommended rock beds and bridging before filling. Street officials noted prior settling and cited similar cave-ins in the area.
Across a long holiday period from 6 p.m. Friday December 9 to midnight Monday December 12 a total of 364 traffic fatalities were reported. In the first ten months traffic deaths averaged 102 per day. Hazardous driving followed rain snow and fog with widespread fog in the upper Mississippi and Ohio valleys and parts of Illinois and lower Michigan. Snow covered northern border states New England and parts of New York and Pennsylvania while rain persisted in the far West. State tallies include California 40 Georgia 20 Illinois 10 Michigan 60 Missouri 7 Texas 30 Pennsylvania 30 Ohio 6 Oklahoma 10 New York 20 North Carolina 10 New Jersey 10 Massachusetts 20 Virginia 20 and other listed figures.
Atlanta residents began using public golf courses after a federal court order. At North Fulton course the first foursome started mid morning with minimal fanfare as players paid fees and played. The 71 year old leader of the four year legal fight initially planned to play but did not.
Two accidents Friday caused heavy damage to two cars on 6th Ave SE and 5th St. left turns. Vehicles driven by Rufus Wilson Orr Jr 18 and Cecil Cobb 18 were cited by officers Watson and Shafer Jr. A second collision at Moulton St and Somerville Rd involved Lawrence Lowery 75 and Oris Tucker. investigators were Sgt. Charles Tith and Carmon Taylor.
Today’s lineup features Princess The Spoilers with Anne Baxter and Jeff Chandler at 3:30 5:25 7:23 9:20. Roxy Trail of the Lonesome Pine stars Fred MacMurray and Sylvia Sidney at 3:20 5:20 7:20 9:20. Bunset Foxfire with Jane Russell and Jeff Chandler at 6:45 9:00. Bowline Good Morning Miss Dove starring Jennifer Jones and Robert Stack at 7:00 9:00. Ranch Young at Heart with Doris Day and Frank Sinatra at 6:45 9:00. Hatfield Vera Cruz with Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster at 7:00. Starvue Rage At Dawn featuring Randolph Scott at 6:30 8:30.
A covered slough under six downtown streets flooded a large town area in Stockton. Dozens of communities in the Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, and Sierra foothills reported floods. President Eisenhower designated the entire northern California region a major disaster area.
The notice lists residents living on 11th Street Court Line Street Oak Street Carri dale Street and 4th Avenue Southeast. Names include David White Mrs Bobby Hall J R Daniels Mrs R D Lorance and Annie Ruth Stewart.
Dismissals include Mrs L B Frahn Jr and infant at 1219 20th Ave SE Mrs Eugene Cross and infant son at 1808 7th St SE James W Irons 931 4th Ave SE Mrs Ben Jaco 818 9th Ave SE Mrs A T Wells Wheeler John H Terry 901 Railroad St Admissions include Estel D Irons 907 7th Ave Jesse Williams Salitta Ala Mrs Roy W Howell Thomas
Mrs. Charlie Robinson of Athens and Mrs. J. W. Crawford of Madison are listed along with Mrs. Alice Phillips of Athens and Max Hudson of Athens. Also named are Mrs. Charles Johnson and infant son of Athens, Marylon Sanders of Athens, and Kenneth Sewell of Lexington.
A son was born Friday to Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Owens of Danville. The child was delivered at Decatur General Hospital.
In Danville the Hancel Glover home won first prize in the Danville Home Demonstration decoration contest for both exterior and interior display. Second place went to the James Teague residence with a yard scene, and third to the Ann Randolph home featuring a manger display.
Bald and golden eagles are similar in size and, with the California Condor, are among the largest birds of prey in North America.
A 14 year old Chicago boy Eugene Stokes Jr appeals to the Chicago Tribune for help finding his missing father. His letter describes his mother’s illness and a hopeful Christmas wish for his father to call on Christmas Day. The family says the father has not been seen since November 21 and was last seen with the mother during a ride to work.
Pope, continuing a page 1 to 16 discussion, assembled cardinals and prelates for a Christmas message. He spoke in contrast to last year when he greeted the world briefly after convalescing from a grave illness. Close associates say he looked tired but fitter than in recent years.
Two girls from Hartselle testified they were given soft drinks at a filling station on the town’s edge and blacked out. They recalled nothing until the next day while defendants Shaneyfelt and Segars claimed innocence and said they had been double crossed.
John Fell Stevenson, 19, youngest son of Adlai E Stevenson, will undergo surgery at Passavant Hospital to remove a shattered right kneecap from a car crash. Dr. James K Stack expects the operation Monday or Wednesday with a 10 day recovery, while the family notes he is doing fine.
Wheeler Home Demonstration Club met in December at the Limestone County club room with 29 members attending. President Mrs Curtis Gordon led the program with readings and prayers while guests and new member Mrs Kenneth Sharpe were welcomed. Meetings adjourned to resume January 17 with hostesses listed.
Jackson Mississippi Federal Internal Revenue employees may join Citizens Councils. District revenue director James L. Enochs revoked his December 5 order forbidding such activity after further review of regulations. He said, I just made a mistake.
Crawford M. Hill, brother of Mrs. Erin Walker of Decatur and uncle to Lytton C. Walker, died in Paris Tennessee. He was a Mason, employed by the L&N Railroad for 52 years, retiring about two years ago as a passenger conductor. Interment was in Paris on Friday. He and his family were early Henry County settlers.
Town Creek students returning home from various colleges for Christmas include Ann and Skipper Carter Peggy Norton Anita Gibson Jerry Nell Streater Billy Letson FSTC Florence and Harry Fennel Anderson Auburn.
Hagerty says there are no plans to announce a southern trip now and there are no emergencies tying Eisenhower to his desk. He notes substantial work remains on the State of the Union and other messages to Congress and suggests the work could be done elsewhere or here.
The queen's Christmas broadcast will reach the Commonwealth and Empire in 28 languages over five days. Pope Pius XII makes his 17th Eve appeal for peace. Cardinal Spellman and Dr. Blake bring messages to American troops abroad. Spellman visits Korea. Blake at Thule Greenland. U.S. units across Europe host holiday parties for thousands of orphans and refugees, with 70,000 children entertained in Germany alone.
In Rockville Centre New York 12-year-old Robert Plamondon pleaded to save his younger brother Edward 11 who fell through thin ice on a pond. A passerby and police rescued Robert but Edward drowned before help arrived.
Norman Bradley said he resigned as editor of the Jackson State Times effective Monday. No successor named. He joined the paper last December as it began publication after moving from the Chattanooga Times where he was associate editor for eight years.
The fragment notes abundant Cretaceous flora in Arctic Greenland. It also mentions Tahiti with an area of 402 square miles and a length of 33 miles, though the context and connections to the Greenland finds are unclear.
Joe Wesley Sanderson of Sewanee University joins Clyde Lansdell and Eva Ruth Lansdell of Freed Hardeman College in Henderson Tennessee along with John William Stair of Cornell University and Jackie Montgomery joining Bobby Lemay Travis Givens J. P. Kimbrell Robert Kimbrell Davis Wilson Sexton and Stanly Norton of the University of Alabama.
E Merl Young was released from a federal prison in Florida after completing a perjury sentence tied to the Truman era mink coat case. He departed by plane for a home south of Miami after midnight, with officials citing 144 days off for good conduct and 36 days for meritorious service.
United Nations observers speculate Yugoslavia may be drafted as a behind the scenes mediator in the Middle East dispute before the Security Council. The council paused action on Syria's aggression charges against Israel until after Yugoslavia's Jan 1 seat takes effect alongside Cuba and Australia.
A Census Bureau report shows U S family income averaging about 4173 dollars last year, down from the 1953 boom but higher than 1952. Farm family income stood at 2000 dollars, not counting on farm production. North and West averages reached 4500 dollars, about 1200 dollars above the South due to rural and nonwhite population factors.
A surprise resumption of negotiations in the nine week old Westinghouse strike ended Friday night with no progress, leaving the deadlock unbroken until after Christmas. Federal mediator John R. Murray had brought together company negotiators and the AFL CIO union leaders but reports indicated nothing was accomplished and talks recessed until Tuesday.
In Louisville Kentucky a mother of two aged 4 and 6 addressed Santa but trusted God in a Christmas appeal. She asked for one toy per child and 360 oranges, noting her husband cannot work and the family is on relief. Post office workers arranged gifts for the family.
D L Grizzard, patient at the Veterans Hospital in Birmingham, spends holidays with homefolks. Visitors include Mr and Mrs Byron Reid and Mr and Mrs Edward Clark of Shelbyville and Birmingham. Police investigate theft of bath fixtures at Tennessee Valley Co op. wash basin found nearby. commode sold for 3 dollars to Newton Garnett at Decatur Trading Post.
Virginia O'Hanlon Douglas, once the little girl who asked if there is a Santa Claus, now 66 and a New York City school principal, spends Christmas with six grandchildren. She recalls the editor's famous reply "Yes, Virginia" and notes she is grateful for the enduring recognition and warmth it brought.
James Kutcher, a World War II veteran who lost his legs, has his $329 monthly VA pension restored pending a loyalty hearing. The Veterans Administration cited fairness and preventing hardship while the charges against him remain officially undisclosed.
The Christmas holiday weekend began with two traffic deaths in Alabama. Florence police report 38 year old Charlie Bean fatally injured during a high speed chase with officers. In Winfield, 21 year old James Ray Weeks died when a speeding car overturned off a county road near four times.
Damage estimates reach 10 million dollars with potential rise as state and federal agencies mobilize for relief. President Eisenhower proclaims northern California a major disaster area while rain threatens new floods in the central coast and Central Valley. Over 1,500 workers rush sandbags to shore up breached levees around Yuba City Marysville evacuees flood into safe zones.
Two crashes were reported Friday in Morgan County. Joseph T. Kay of Decatur lost control of a 1956 Oldsmobile and struck a parked 1952 Chevrolet owned by Ralph Speegle, causing about 1500 dollars in damage. Ludlow B. Hallman of Dayton Ohio drove a 1950 Plymouth into a culvert after failing to turn in time, totaling about 200 dollars in damage and minor head lacerations. Patrolman A. D. Ashcraft investigated both wrecks.
Decatur market notes show No 2 yellow ear corn at 1.18 per bushel and No 2 white corn at 1.07. Milk at 3.20, oats 0.63, prime cattle feed 23.50 to 26.50, hogs 180 to 260 pounds at 11.00. Utility prices listed 9.50 to 12.00.
Joseph Brevard Jones, 88, retired Montgomery attorney and brother of the late Gov. Thomas G. Jones, died Friday. Funeral services are scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jones, formerly tax attorney for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, practiced here for 50 years.
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