20 Jan 1948
Page 1
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 22 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 20, 1948
Page
1
A compact survey of local happenings highlights residents, groups, and ongoing projects in a small town. Community events, volunteer efforts, and planning notes are summarized to reflect neighborhood activity and civic life.
Mostly cloudy with possible rain this afternoon and tonight in the state. Decatur noon cotton quotations show middling at 35.5 and strict low at 34.5. Local reports cover arrests, licenses due, church activities, births, enlistees, and court notices for Morgan county in 1947 archives.
Washington memo reports the GOP steering committee meets to shape 1948 tax cut policy. Knutson backs a $5.6 billion bill, aiming for broad cuts with emphasis on lower brackets. Exemptions rise to $600, community property tax changes loom, veto risk looms but cross party support hoped to offset Truman's revenue goal.
Rep. Whitten warns of floor battles in both houses over Tennessee Valley Authority funding this year. He recalls last year's fight where the Senate cut funds but conference committee preserved most support. He argues TVA must cover flood control and navigation costs, not just power, to avoid crippling the agency.
In Dallas Oregon Betty Dunlavy aged 40 tavern owner has won her fifteenth divorce from John S Dunlavy. The Polk County decree follows a history of multiple marriages and separations with Dunlavy seeking future marriage prospects though past unions have ended. The report notes her ambitions toward more marriages and mentions prior divorces including Victor Williams.
John White was elected commo dore of the Wheeler Lake Yacht Club for 1948 at a Monday night meeting. He succeeds Quince Eddins, with George Vaughn as vice commodore and a secretary treasurer. Six directors were chosen including George LaBoon and Euel Garrison. The club voted to seek a Red Cross boat from the government for Decatur for emergency use and to staff it with members. Red Cross representatives Alvis Briscoe and George Porter pledged support. Boy Scouts sponsors and a skipper were discussed with Sea Scouting. The club plans racing events and considered sponsoring Sea Scouting for youth 15 to 18 in boating. Porter offered further Red Cross help if sponsored.
Russia demands dissolution of the American British joint economic administration in their zones arguing it violates Potsdam. Marshal Sokolovsky voices the Soviet view to the Allied control council while Clay flies to Washington to discuss Marshall plan funds. Cologne workers plan a 24 hour general strike amid renewed protests in bizonia.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 A M from Johns chapel in Birmingham for Samuel Randall Stephenson 43 a prominent brick company executive who died suddenly Monday night at his residence 2655 Montevallo Road Birmingham Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery Johns of Birmingham directing He was born and reared in Birmingham and lived in Decatur in the late 1920s and early 1930s when his company purchased the old Decatur Brick Manufacturing company He led the Stephenson Brick company which supplied government bricks in both World Wars He is survived by his wife Bess Bailey Stephenson son Samuel R Stephenson Jr his father Lovett L Stephenson Sr one brother and two sisters Pallbearers are listed.
In the Imperial river near Santiago about 100 people died when the steamer Cautin capsized after carrying 350 passengers. Officials blamed excessive cargo and arrested the captain. Survivors swam long distances to reach safety.
Freezing rain stretched from Arkansas to Northeast Georgia and parts of North and South Carolina, coating streets with ice around Athens and Atlanta. Temperatures hovered near 30 to 32 degrees, while snow fell in the South with Shreveport reporting 10 inches. Schools closed in several areas as cold weather persisted.
A taxi driver claimed to have seen 14 year old pianist Jacqueline Horner in Buffalo but police found no substantiation. Her Hollywood California home was left after a dispute with her mother and there were unconfirmed sightings in California towns including San Bernardino and Santa Monica.
In Green Cove Springs Florida an 80 year old investor and his backer expect to uncover a four million dollar pirate cache. Workmen unearthed yellow metal fragments that resemble gold causing excitement as a large excavation continued into the night and the metal was tested amid wet sand and iron.
The Decatur City Council voted unanimously to extend the North East bus line for six months. Routes extend north on Ferry Street to Wilson Avenue, west on Wilson to Oak Street, and south on Oak back to Walnut Street. The body also reviewed fire plugs on W Vine Street and music box licenses with associated fees.
Arab fighters struck the Jewish settlement of Yechiel near Acre in reprisals, with fighting continuing three hours later and casualties unreported. The incident follows the partition plan’s disputes as 19 settlements remain outside the proposed Jewish state. Also reported are a Jerusalem military court sentence of four Jews aged 15 to 17 for arms offenses, and Britain’s sale of surplus Auster planes and gear to the Jewish Agency amid mixed Arab rejection. The Palestine government approves Red Cross aid access and discusses aid channels.
Birmingham reports cash contributions and pledges totaling 656,692 toward a 2,500,000 drive for Howard and Birmingham Southern colleges. Jefferson county aims to finish its 1,000,000 solicitation in three days, with 1,500,000 still to raise from 66 counties and the Education Board which pledges 300,000 if the rest is raised. A 100,000 gift from Erskine Ramsay adds to Jefferson county's total.
The Senate Armed Forces Committee rejected President Truman’s plea to allow Nautics Board and retain his rank and pay as an air force general. The committee refused to approve the needed special legislation, confirming the prior unanimous committee vote against the measure.
Edwin W. Pauley told Senate investigators to prove he used inside government information for personal gain or admit he profited from commodities by business skill. He cited a three year record showing $932,703 in gains and said he would resign from his Army post, with further testimony pending alongside Harold Stassen.
Last minute plans were being written for the Junior Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting at Why Not Eat Here cafe at 7 p m. Three safety engineers from well known companies will discuss psychological and physical safety. City officials and Decatur businessmen will attend as special guests.
Fire of undetermined origin wiped out a Selma laundry plant. Fire Chief H. H. Berrey estimated the damage at about $100,000, including loss of clothing in the plant and equipment.
A 16 year old blind girl Mary Louise Childress and her 18 month old brother Bobby Ray died in a house fire in Town Creek. Grandmother Brenda Sue saved the baby as fire destroyed the ant house on the E S Ballentine farm. The mother Mrs Comer Childress could not find Mary Louise and both mother and child were carried from the home. Fire cause unknown though oil around the house and a 500 gallon water supply hampered efforts. The family of nine children attended services at Black Ground church with Timmons Terry presiding.
Burglars stole between 18000 and 20000 dollars in cash from a safe at S King’s home in Nashville Georgia while the family was away. Sheriff N N Hughes said FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents were called in to assist the probe. The break in occurred Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and the intruders pried open the bottom of the safe. other valuables were untouched and no clues were found.
Tuscaloosa reports state building commission members will tour the University of Alabama as Auburn hears a report that the Alabama Institute is experiencing critical loss of storage, classroom, and general building space amid shortages.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.