30 Dec 1955
Page 1
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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 30, 1955
Page
1
A column highlights weekly happenings in the town including group events at community centers, a note on neighborhood volunteer activity, and brief updates from local clubs such as a reading circle and youth sports practice.
Mr and Mrs H A Whatley announce the birth of a son at Nun gester Clinic. The Decatur DAV seeks a volunteer typist and lists contact numbers 2990 and 72. Two fires cause no loss, one at Boy Scout Camp and a trash blaze on Market Street. The State Employment Office closes for New Year. An evening of games by the Decatur DAV is at 7 30 tonight. A traffic collision on Vine Street injures no one. two vehicles suffer light damage. Six city court cases involve speeding violation prohibition and drunken driving.
Decatur reported a cold year with a January low of 15 and December low of 17. The yearly high reached 98 on August 15, while rainfall totaled 39.71 inches, about one inch less than 1954. The December high was 64 and 85 for December 1953.
Five significant facts summarize Decatur area employment in fading 55. The county and city no longer listed as critical labor surpluses. Employment stands at 95.7 percent of the labor force. Unemployment has fallen 40 percent in 15 months. Unemployment compensation claims trend downward. Job seekers from January to November declined. Morgan County removed from “critical” list due to surplus labor.
Nationwide estimates peg 38 500 traffic deaths for the year 1955 with safety officials warning of a new high as reports from state police and AP tally rising fatalities. November saw 3 680 deaths, with Black Christmas spurring stricter enforcement ahead of New Year.
In Wade England a mongrel named Bella fell into a 40 foot deep hole yesterday. The boxer Woo Woo had been at the bottom for four days hoping someone would arrive. Bella and Woo Woo were rescued unharmed by their master Ross Baldock who climbed the shaft with a rope ladder.
Daily records show 1955 fire damage totaling about 600000 from four downtown blazes and a cotton gin fire. Arson was suspected in at least three incidents, with 326 calls answered by the fire department that year.
Three Dionne quintuplets arrived from Montreal to mend rifts with their parents Mr. and Mrs. Oliva Dionne who were not at the door. The trio Yvonne Cecile and Annette traveled with Oliva Jr. and two youths to patch up differences that drew headlines twenty one years after their birth. Marie remained in Montreal convalescing and Emilie had died in 1954.
Mrs. Coy Leathers of 1612 North Street Decatur recounts a miracle as a flour sack yielded a matching wedding band the day after Christmas. The ring appears to fit her husband again after she had bought a replacement on credit and hid it under the tree. The couple has been married 14 years and credit the Lord with the resolution.
Mayor H. R. Summer reported Decatur’s 1955 operations as a large business effort with a population of 25,539 and payroll growth from 2,500 to about 8,500 per week. The economy budget trimmed staff while maintaining services, with street work including nine miles of streets and 30 blocks of alleys opened.
Washington Senate House Economic subcommittee today held up a go slow stance against precipitate tax cut moves in the 1956 session. The report signed by four members warns a rate reduction next year could be inflationary while suggesting possible cuts over ten years perhaps up to one third if conditions stay favorable.
Tennessee River at Keller Memorial Bridge shows 15.95 feet with a 0.1 foot drop in 24 hours. Sea level at 550.25 feet. Yesterday's high 54 and low 36. 8:30 am today 39 rising to 42 at 11:05 am. Rainfall .05 inch. Forecast cloudy and colder with a freeze tonight and Saturday. occasional light rain today and tonight. High today around 48. Legal waterfowl shooting times Saturday 6:26 am to 4:16 pm and Sunday 6:26 pm to 4:17 pm.
The Ballistic Missiles Agency at Huntsville Alabama will employ about 1 500 additional workers alongside the 6 000 at Redstone Arsenal. The agency will design and produce atomic headed rockets and work with the Navy to improve range and performance. New intermediate range missiles are planned with a range of 1 000 to 1 500 miles.
The Southeastern Conference fined Alabama 1 000 for illegal recruiting by its alumni and friends. Commissioner Bernie Moore scheduled a press conference at 12 noon CST and did not disclose the subject. The case followed Auburn's 2 000 penalty over gifts to players and staff.
Two auto deaths occurred in or near Decatur during 1955, Sedenna Waugh aged 3 on February 27 and John Nelms aged 12 on May 5. The incidents marked a rise from a death-free record and followed streets Moulton Street and Moulton Road near the city.
Decatur's First Federal Savings & Loan Assn will pay its 86th semi annual dividend tomorrow amounting to 53939.70 or a 3 percent return to investors. Established in 1912 it has grown with total assets now 4478942.13, up 1226132.76 since last year end.
Decatur city utilities show growth in 1955 with electricity, gas and water services. Gas revenue rose to 544,198.93 dollars. electricity 1,362,478 and water 351,783.07. Customer counts grew across all sectors, with 317 new electricity and 317 new water customers and 191 more gas customers. The electric plant value climbed to 2,099,931 dollars.
An undergarment plant to employ about 60 women at a payroll exceeding 156000 annually is announced for Hartselle. The Traymore Undergarment Co Inc of New York will operate as Hartselle Undergarment Co at a renovated Hickory Street building near the freight depot with initial training and a one year lease.
Construction in Decatur neared four million dollars in 1955 to set a record as the greatest building year in the city. Permits issued through December 28 totaled 3.828 million, up 1.784 million from the previous year, with Southeast Decatur driving most activity and major expansions expected. Subdivisions include Brookmead, Bayside, Morningside Addition No 1, Penny Acres, Woodland Street, Harrison Heights, Cook, and others, with plans for a Southeast Decatur peninsular development and a new shopping center by end of 1956.
The White House defended U S aims to free captive Europeans and pursue peaceable liberation despite Khrushchev saying Moscow would intervene. In Alaska two cities declared a state of emergency as a severe winter storm hit.
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