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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 17, 1950
Page
1
Cloudy with rain in north and central portions this afternoon and tonight. Tonight milder. Wednesday mostly sunny and warm with a few showers in north and west. East to southeast winds along the coast. Local society notes include visitors from Penns and Huntsville, births, hospital admissions, and church services. VFW meeting in Birmingham and Robert E. Lee birthday observed. See Diary on Page 2.
Mobile Alabama January report notes Mrs Dorothy J Blatchford appointed to Mobile county board of registrars by state board of appointments replacing Chairman J Milton Schnell on sick leave. Blatchford previously served as Mobile board clerk while Schnell’s health declined and absent at public hearing on December 9 amid labor complaints over registration delays.
President Truman rejects Senator Brewster request to use Taft Hartley in coal dispute. Pickets spur totals to over 79 000 strikers across six states as Alabama mines close and Pennsylvania West Virginia and Indiana areas feel impact. Police patrols and roving pickets appear while UMW leaders urge workers back as strike widens.
In Mahanoy City Pennsylvania rescuers edging toward within about twelve feet of Edward Burda a 25 year old miner entombed by a rock slide last Friday hope to reach him later today. They fear another collapse as they reinforce the tunnel using timbers and boards while continuing to dig through the eight foot wide rock filled slope.
Two persons died from traffic accident injuries in Birmingham. Eddie Albers, 19, died in a hospital from injuries after his motorscooter collided with a car one mile north of the city limits. Lucy Swakegood, 17, was killed when the car she rode in plunged off a fill near Bradford mines. her sister Betty, 14, was slightly injured.
Senate Democrats endorsed the administration's Formosa stance as President Truman and Secretary of State Acheson refused military aid to Chinese Nationalists on the island. Senator Lucas said the caucus showed unity and warned intervention could trigger war. Republicans criticized the policy amid concerns over security near China.
Washington January 17 The administration urged Congress to broaden Social Security beyond the House expansion. Social Security head Arthur J. Altmeyer asked the Senate Finance Committee to extend coverage to practically all gainfully employed persons and to raise payment amounts.
Seven Jefferson county members of the state democratic executive committee urged voters to decide party loyalty at the polls. The eight-man group met in Birmingham and planned a Montgomery meeting to set candidate qualifications for primaries. A proposal to bar backers of President Truman in 1948 was to be considered.
Walter Jackson, superintendent, announces a lease for 100 acres north of Courtland on Spring Creek in Lawrence county to be developed as a year round Decatur city school camp. The site will support recreation, conservation, nature study, physical education and crafts as part of regular schooling, expanding on-the-scene teaching for all children.
Two libel actions of $100 000 against the Cullman Banner were not scheduled for trial when circuit court proceeded February 6 Judge James Crow Jr docketed cases for the term The suits claim the paper maligned the state parole board members William H Drinkard Glen Vinson and Governor Folsom appointees in a November 24 story The plaintiffs seek damages for loss of reputation humiliation and embarrassment Attorneys for the plaintiffs are Beddow Jones and Bland Bland The newspaper is represented by Harvey DeRamus and Finis E St John
Most state city and county offices will be closed Thursday for Robert E. Lee birthday observance. The Board of Registrars at the county courthouse and the Morgan Superintendent of Education's office will remain open.
Friends and neighbors in Sonoma California joined national leaders in mourning Gen H H Hap Arnold the wartime Army Air Forces commander who died Sunday at 63 His body will be flown to Washington for burial at Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery services are set for 3 PM Thursday EST
The Decatur Junior Service League today voted to sponsor a purpose built youth center and will seek support from the town. Mrs. Skeggs Crawford, chair of the future policy committee, said the youth deserve a wholesome recreation space and the league will present the project to city government civil clubs and the public. The morning meeting at the Decatur Country club was led by president Mrs. Thomas J. Hendrix with members including Mrs. John C. Bragg and Mrs. Billy Lee.
Cecil R. Sims of 312 Ninth Avenue West and Hulan Lamar of 1035 East Jackson have received National Service Life Insurance refunds. Lamar, veteran of 39 months, got 214 dollars on a 10 000 policy. Sims, 42 months, received 231 dollars on a 10 000 policy. Postal authorities say a few more checks are en route.
In Nashville federal court an effort to lower bonds for three Athens men who admitted participating in the Ardmore Bank robbery is underway. Bonds were set at 10,000 each by U S Commissioner Marvin Eubanks. About 1,734 was stolen with 1,050 recovered after the Swanner brothers disclosed the hiding place during transfer to Nashville. Junior Wilson was moved from Decatur to Nashville for further investigation. The Ardmore bank lies just inside the Tennessee line.
The Decatur City Council adopted an ordinance to pave and install drainage on Seventh Street Fourteenth Avenue and Locust Street East with a public hearing set for February 9. Drainage on adjoining streets will be addressed and a bus stop expansion request was denied. Selection of election officials was deferred.
Orbon P. Smith, 37, of Decatur, is jailed in Morgan County on a forgery charge after allegedly signing the name of J. D. Sims to a $40 check at Humphrey's Grocery. Also jailed are a 17 year old on an assault with intent to murder charge, and two people for driving while intoxicated. Lucius A. Bell, 17, is held on assault with intent to murder. bond set at 750 dollars, hearing at 10 A.M. January 26.
Rev. Eugene M. Chapman will resign after five and a half years as rector of St. John's Episcopal church to accept an executive post at Calvary Church in Pittsburgh. He will leave about May 1 and has served Decatur well, earning broad local regard.
FBI instructors lead a Decatur police school on safe cracking solution tests and burglary methods. Local officers attend daily sessions in the police courtroom from 1 to 5 p.m. Twenty of Decatur's 24 city officers participated, says Police Chief J B Whitmire.
The Saar dispute intensifies as France occupies the 738 square mile industrial region and seeks a 50 year lease while Germany’s Chancellor Adenauer asserts the mines belong to the republic. Both sides say the final settlement awaits the peace treaty with Blums cautions and Soviet propaganda influencing the debate.
President Truman announced plans to seek a civil rights bill vote "if it takes all summer" while personally opposing a House Rules change aimed at blocking consideration. He called the proposal a serious backward step as administration leaders faced a coalition of Republicans and Southern Democrats over rules control.
W T Bill Willoughby longtime Morgan County law enforcement veteran announces candidacy for sheriff. He has served as chief deputy under B E Davis and A W Davis and was sheriff for eight years in the county. Native of Cullman County and active in Baptist church and local singing convention leadership. After leaving office he ran a Decatur grocery, then joined Homer Lawrence automobile firm in June 1949.
Alabama and Mississippi dairymen have nearly halted Midwestern milk in Birmingham. County health officer Dr. George Denison reported to the county medical society that Birmingham imported only 600,000 gallons in 1949, with earlier years averaging far higher.
Big flood risk described along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers with Villecemes Indiana facing crest 28 to 29 feet and Army engineers prepared to defend the city. Evacuations unfold as residents in Illinois Indiana Arkansas and Missouri brace for overflow while Birds Point New Madrid floodway could be opened.
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