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Decatur Daily in Decatur, Alabama

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Newspaper

Decatur Daily

Location

Decatur, Alabama, United States of America

Date

Dec 31, 1957

Page

7

Break-Ins Traffic and Death Hit Decatur Police in 1957

The Decatur Police faced a troubled year with five first degree murder charges and a high level of break-ins. Jeff Mitchell and his wife were central to the case involving John Wesley Smith, a mussel fisherman found murdered June 24.

Decatur Police Dept Jeff Mitchell Pauline John Wesley Smith Tennessee River Mitchells Smith Law Arab Mitchell Whitesburg Emmett Kent Handley Jr George Wiggins George Griffin Handley Russell Kelley Kelley Wiggins Robert "Johnson Martha Ann Clemmons Lakeside Dance Hall Griffin Sadie Morrison Somerville Rd Locust 7Th Sts Decatur Fuller H & H Drug Second Ave Brock and Spight Brock Spight Decatur Iron & Metal Co Yeggs

Marion County tax amendment faces further votes in Alabama

Alabama voters defeated the Marion County tax amendment three times but supporters led by House Speaker Rankin Fite plan more ballots. The measure would grant the county governing body authority to levy taxes and issue bonds to attract industry, with voters in the county not required to approve taxes. The plan parallels a prior statewide amendment that allowed municipalities to pursue growth, and backers say continued elections may yield approval if the provisions are understood.

Montgomery Alabama Marion County Rankin Fite Fife Fite

Decatur City Budget Reaches Million Dollar Mark

The city mapped a record annual budget and plans for major expansions including a 50 percent capacity increase at the water treatment plant funded by a 2.1 million dollar project and a 150 thousand dollar electric line expansion into the three mile police jurisdiction. Mayor Knox McRae resigned to focus on the Alabama State Docks after a lengthy debate over holding both posts. Roy Odom became mayor. C E Poole and Charles N Harvey assumed council leadership roles as Frank Stone joined to fill the vacancy. The council also rejected McRae’s bid for a purchasing agent and approved several audits of the library and park boards.

Polglaze and Basenberg Birmingham City Electric Department Decatur Joe Wheeler Odom Knox McRae Alabama State Docks McRae Ward McFarland James Folsom Alabama Attorney-General Roy Odom T. C. Almon C. E. Poole Charles N. Harvey Frank Stone City Hall Library Board Park and Recreation Board

Alabama Weather Summary for 1957 Storm Toll and Impacts

Alabama endured 48 tornadoes in 1957, killing 10 and injuring 197 with about 4.6 million dollars in property damage. Thunder squalls, windstorms, and lightning caused additional deaths and injuries and added hundreds of thousands in losses. Temperatures were mixed with a warm February and cold October, while rainfall varied from drought in midsummer to record wet Sep and Nov. Major floods affected the Black Warrior Tombigbee and Tennessee rivers with moderate to severe events in early year and again in November.

Montgomery Alabama Fort Morgan Gulf Shores Black Warrior Tennessee River Cahaba Tombigbee Coosa River Warrior

Clear New Year’s Day Weather Across the Nation

The Weather Bureau forecasts clear conditions for most of the central U S and the Southwest on New Year’s Day with rain or snow across the East. Snow flurries expected near theGreat Lakes and Appalachians, while Florida and parts of the Southwest reach around 70 degrees. Cold snaps forecast north of New England through the Ohio Valley.

Washington United States Southwest Pacific The Weather Bureau Great Lakes Appalachians Upper New England Middle Atlantic States Pacific Northwest Gulf States Rockies Northwest Pasadena Calif Florida Ohio Valley Central Rockies

Alabama Native Named Atlanta IRS Regional Commissioner

William Harry Loeb, a University of Alabama graduate and Montgomery native, was named the new Atlanta regional commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service succeeding Ellison C. Palmer. Loeb, serving as Atlanta regional counsel since 1952, holds BA and LLB degrees from Alabama. The Atlanta region covers Georgia Florida North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Alabama and Mississippi.

Washington University of Alabama Montgomery Ala Atlanta Internal Revenue Service William Harry Ellison C. Palmer Loeb Georgia Florida North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Alabama Mississippi

Decatur Council Votes on Dog Pound and Ordinance

In February Decatur council approved building a dog pound and passed an ordinance banning dogs and other small animals from running loose on city streets. Docks Outlook notes McRae welcomed Amendment 1 as clearing a financial block for state docks in Decatur and said bids would be sought around Jan 10 and opened about Feb 10, framing Decatur docks as part of a statewide river dock system.

Decatur McRae

Utilities Reflect Decatur Growth Across Departments

The three city utility departments report gains in customers and revenue. Electric service shows 9,435 customers this Nov 30 up from 9,142. revenue for January–November reaches 1,503,725 versus 1,473,000 last year. Gas serves 3,201 users with 605,465 in revenue and 94 4 2 142 thousand feet sold. water serves 7,525 customers with 375,087 in revenue for the January period.

City Electric Department Gas Department Met S. E Water Department

House Group To Consider Emergency Missile Funds

A House appropriations subcommittee will begin hearings January 8 on a Defense Department request for emergency funds to accelerate missile procurement. Chairman Mahon supports a roughly 1.2 billion dollar supplemental, aims to speed procurement, and prefers no second nuclear powered carrier now. Admiral Wright notes Polaris readiness within a year or two and urges more money for submarine defenses and broader anti submarine measures.

William F. Arbogast Washington House Defense Department Mahon D-Tex Department Defense McElroy Sen Hayden D-Ariz Senate Appropriations Committee Sen. Chavez D-Nm Defense Appropriations Congress Adm Jerauld Wright U. S. Atlantic NATO Atlantic Command Pentagon Wright Navy

Sparkman outlines four point program to curb Soviet spread in Asia

Senator Sparkman warns Soviet space advances threaten 13 Asian nations and future freedom in Africa and the near East. He proposes a four point plan: economic and defense pacts, recognition of nonalignment rights, nonalignment not equal to hostility, and aid tied to expanding individual liberty while boosting nonmilitary economic aid.

Washington Sen Sparkman D-Ala Senate Foreign Relations Committee Far East Southeast Asia Africa Near East West Alabama United States Russia

Mussel and Boy Help Reunite Man With His Ring

In Santa Monica a mussel shell and seven year old Robi Rini uncovered a gold wedding band, matching a ring lost by A C Tracy in 1955 while swimming. Tracy, alerted by a Santa Monica Evening Outlook story, confirmed the ring’s pattern and inscription, leaving him with two rings identical in appearance.

Santa Monica Calif Douglas Aircraft Co A. C. Tracy Tracy Robi Rini Rini

Second Tallest Skyscraper Sold in Major New York Deal

NEW YORK with the 71 story Chrysler Building and its 32 story annex along with the 30 story Graybar Building traded in a record market sale. Prentice Development Corp bought the trio from Webb & Knapp led by William Zeckendorf. Webb & Knapp will continue to operate the properties. The Chrysler Building, second to the Empire State Building, was built in 1929 with the annex added in 1951 and the Graybar Building in 1927.

New York Chrysler Lexington Ave Prentice Development Corp Webb & Knapp William Zeckendorf Empire State Building Graybar

Odds Against Accidental A-Bomb Blast

General Herbert Lopez, a Defense Department atomic energy specialist, says the chance of a nuclear weapon exploding by accident is about one in three billion, effectively nonexistent. He notes his role as assistant to the Defense Secretary on atomic matters. The piece adds a tangential line about apples produced per capita in a good year.

Washington Defense Department Herbert B. Loper Lopez Defense McElroy United States Harold Stassen Eisenhower Stassen Dulles Atomic Energy Lewis L. Stauss Nesuliiem

One Alabama Crop Increased In Value During 1957

Washington reports the only Alabama crop to rise in value in 1957 was commercial vegetables rising from 5.17 million to 6.041 million. Total Alabama crop value fell from 285.934 million in 1956 to 221.045 million in 1957 due to prolonged rains and wind damage. Other crops and fruits declined, seed crops fell, while field and forage crops dropped.

Washington Alabama U.S. Department of Agriculure

New York City avoids transit strike with wage pact

A New Year's Eve transit strike threat ended after a City Hall settlement. Michael J. Quill of the Transport Workers Union and the City Transit Authority reached a two year pact granting immediate 15 cent an hour raises and 10 cent increases on Jan 1 1959, with further raises over two years. The deal covers 32 700 city employees and 8 200 private bus workers and awaits union ratification. A citizen committee aided the talks.

New York Michael J. Quills Transport Workers Union City Transit “Authority Harold A. Felix TWU Westchester County Robert F. Wagner Quill

Alabama Faces January Draft Quota With 274 Slots

Alabama's share of the January draft call is 274 men. State Director James W. Jones said the quota will be filled by volunteers postponed registrants delinquents and draftees 23 years old and over. County totals include Calhoun six Colbert six Dallas five Etowah nine Lauderdale seven Lee one Madison seven Morgan six Pike one Talladega six Tuscaloosa six.

Montgomery Alabama James W. Jones Calhoun Colbert Dallas Etowah Houston Lauderdale Lee Madison Morgan Pike Talladega Tuscaloosa

Blast Topples Bham's WEZB

Eight sticks of dynamite exploded at WEZB in Birmingham toppling our transmitter tower and taking the station off the air. No injuries were reported and owner Gene Newman estimated damage at ten thousand dollars or more. A union labor dispute, with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, is noted but denied as the cause.

Birmingham WEZB Gene Newman WHRT Hartselle Tom Cook Connie Pitts Newman Cook International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Radio Division

Montgomery Earns Commendation for 1957 Traffic Record

A state official congratulated Montgomery for the nation’s best traffic safety record among cities of 100000 to 209000 in 1957. Only two auto deaths occurred that year, with praise to city officials police and the Montgomery County Safety Council for ongoing public safety efforts.

Montgomery National Saety Council Bill Lyerly City Commission Montgomery County Safety Council Lyerly

Motormen’s Benevolent Association Leader Name Mentioned

The article fragment notes Theodore Loos holding the presidency of the Motormen's Benevolent Association, indicating leadership at the organization's top level amidst ongoing labor discussions.

Theodore Loos The Motormen’s Benevolent Assn

Double Murder Suspect Netted

Russell Wayne Carpenter, 21, wanted for a Washington D C bar double murder, was arrested by a Florida patrolman during a routine check. FBI says he will be jailed in Miami and faces an unlawful flight to avoid prosecution charge for murder.

West Palm Beach Fla Russell Wayne Carpenter Washington, D.C FBI Miami John H. Williams Larry Wald Carpenter Ward E. E. Graham Miami Beach Henry Clay Overton Overton Wrens Charles N. Wray High Point N.C Graham Wray Cape Canaveral Georgia State Patrol J. L. Knight Washington George Kaldes Kenneth Fisher Bernard J. Mainer Doris Mattingly Army Pfe Larry Lee Monteith Miss Mattingly Richmond Monteith Alberta Asonia G. Allman Cheraw S.C

Kresge Heir to Wed Blountsville Native in Fort Lauderdale

Detroit Heiress heir to S S Kresge stores Howard Carrington Kresge announced his upcoming marriage to M Ruth Freeman of Pontiac Michigan formerly of Blountsville Alabama. The ceremony is set for December 23 in Fort Lauderdale Florida and follows his 1953 divorce from Ann Walker.

Detroit Howard Carrington Sonny) Kresge S. S. Kresge M. Ruth Freeman Pontiac Mich Blountsville Ala Fort Lauderdale Fla Kresge Ann Walker

United States Eyes New Summit Talks With Russia

Washington reports say the United States plans to press Russia to prove good faith with disarmament concessions and may hold a second East West summit. Eisenhower and Dulles weigh limited ministerial talks to test intent while keeping a door open for a future multilateral meeting if progress is made.

Washington United States Russia Eisenhower Bulganin Secretary State Dulles United Nations Disarmament Commission Dulles

Also Mentioned on This Page

Martha Ann Tucker 16Th Ave 8Th St G. M. Smith L1th St Macon Ing Bridgeport U.S IRS Sputniks Asia Mussel Small Boy Man Todd N.Y Bham
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