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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Mar 20, 1949
Page
1
Sunday weather outlook calls for partly cloudy and warmer conditions with moderate northeast to east coastal winds. Walter M. Jackson and William Jenkins visited Oak Ridge Tennessee for dedication ceremonies with Vice President Barkley and David Lilienthal as speakers.
Light snow fell across a band from central Missouri to the Dakotas with rain in central California and along the Pacific coast in Washington and Oregon. Most areas faced fair weather while the northern plains to New England stayed cold. The central Rockies saw near normal or milder temperatures with Denver at 68. Oklahoma City and Sasasega posted 65s. Fargo and New York reported 28 and Cleveland 30 in the chill area.
Oak Ridge Tennessee hosts a day-long celebration as a white fire puff from an atomic pile burns a ribbon at the main gate and removes entry restrictions. About 40 000 visitors join 36 000 residents, while guards relocate to new gates guarding uranium plants and the atomic pile. Senator McMahon calls the event historic and warns against spread of nuclear power to aggressors.
The Decatur council has until midnight Monday to decide whether to purchase Alabama Gas Corporation holdings for 2500 dollars. Engineers value the plant scrap at over 20000 dollars, but councilmen fear ongoing losses if natural gas delivery is delayed beyond the decision date.
Congress votes next week on two major items rent controls in the Senate and veterans pensions in the House. The Senate bill would extend federal controls 12 to 15 months with states deciding ceilings while the House plan lasts 15 months and allows counties and cities to decontrol. The House also clears a 70 group Air Force bill and funds rivers and harbors work by the Army engineers.
In Pensacola Escambia bay rescuers found a capsized skiff as searchers extend the hunt for three fishermen missing since yesterday. Capt. R R Marselis of Pensacola Major Henry S Wilkins of Birmingham and Wilkins son Doug were reported missing after their boat battled rough water and warnings.
Pittsburgh March 19. A week into the coal mine shutdown speculation grows on its end date. John L Lewis urges a two week memorial and protest work stoppage East of the Mississippi. Layoffs in coal using railroads reach 70,000 while Sharon Steel plans curtailment at Farrell plant. Local shortages and operator claims are disputed as anthracite reserves are debated.
San Juan Capistrano swallows return to the mission as Father A J Hutchinson notes they nest under the North building. The birds historically arrive on St Josephs Day and depart on St Johns Day, but today insecticide use alters their timing though they still follow a seasonal schedule. Ornithologists note swallows migrate long distances with banded birds found as far as Patagonia.
Chief Deputy Leon Chism said James Vernon Moody, 34, a Birmingham man, is held in custody after a weekend crash on the Birmingham Highway that killed a 22-year-old Bessemer woman. Moody faces charges linked to the incident.
The Associated Press reports the U S State Department says NATO must form a common strategic plan for defense against Russia. A defense committee under the Atlantic Council is to be formed, warning that past wars show Europe’s conflict would draw the United States.
Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky and deputy Andrei Gromyko are expected to lead a push against the North Atlantic treaty at the United Nations assembly opening April 5 at Flushing Meadows. A UN official said Vishinsky would likely travel from Moscow for the session.
Officials note the pact aims for integrated military strength into a common strategy in case of war. The booklet omits Russia by name, though officials view Russia as the only power outside the alliance capable of a major conflict. REDS on Page 2.
Rodgers and Rodgers bus company seeks a temporary injunction in Morgan circuit court against GI Taxi Co and Stanford Taxi Co of Hartselle to stop operations between Decatur and Hartselle under the 1939 Alabama Motor Carrier Act. Hearing set before Judge N B Powell in March. complaint filed Saturday with circuit clerk.
Soviet commentators denounce the North Atlantic treaty as a move by Anglo American warmakers to gain bases and dominate the world. Moscow broadcasts call it a war tool while Kremlin satellites decry the pact as a Western warmongering weapon.
Decatur Kiwanis Club leads a Go To Church March 20 campaign urging all residents to attend church today. Decatur pastors express deep appreciation for the Kiwanians effort as services fill.
At the annual stockholders meeting of Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company of Decatur the board of directors and officers were named. Melvin Hutson was elected president and Collier vice president while S. A. Lynne and Redus Collier are among the directors. Insurance in force exceeds 60 million dollars and capital plus surplus surpasses one million, with about 60 local employees and 225 state agents. The firm has grown since its 1927 founding and aided regional development through financing for farms and improvements.
In Guntersville Alabama a circuit court jury convicted taxi driver David May of first degree manslaughter for the July shooting of Hewlett King. May was sentenced to eight years in prison by Circuit Judge Stuart Stone after testimony showed May found his wife with King in a downtown car, then dragged King from the vehicle and shot him.
The senate appropriations committee again postponed a decision on restoring salaries for two Reclamation Bureau executives. Chairman McKellar said the panel will reconvene Monday to review Reclamation Commissioner Michael W. Straus and California regional director Richard L. Boke.
Decatur hosts its second AAUW art show at the public library with 300 plus entries from Morgan County residents. Richard Brough of the University of Alabama judged the exhibits and ribbons were awarded across preschool to sixth grade categories for drawings, pictures, and crafts.
Janet Gentle a 17 year old polio victim long in an iron lung plans to go to a Denver clinic late this spring after the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis stopped funding two nurses at her Russellville home. Family hopes to use an air National Guard plane to fly her to Denver around late May or early June.
City residents enjoyed bright sun and cool breezes as spring officially arrives this afternoon. Old Man Winter is said to depart for good as Miss Spring takes charge, bringing milder weather after a chilly Saturday morning. The TVA substation reported a high of 51 and a low of 31 degrees.
At Danville High School a meeting shifted Morgan County lead in sericea acre signing with 183 acres recorded for Danville. Priceville trails by one acre on the northern riverbank side while Danville sits near the national forest in the county’s west. R W Rew led the session with Vocational Agriculture, and speakers included R N Tucker and R M Chapman from the Soil Conservation Service.
Through Friday night 699 acres have been signed for sericea planting this spring. The leading signers are A. B. Sharp of Priceville with 50 acres and Guy F. Roberts of Danville with 25 acres. James Tomlinson of Danville also signed 16 acres.
Danville program features L T Wagnon county agent extolling sericea as a profitable crop for Morgan County. Wagnon shows a farm feature film. Seed drawing winners are M G Maddox and Coy Breedlove. John Caldwell of North Alabama Associates introduced. GI program teachers present include Elmer White Roy Moore and Wallace Sims. See DANVILLE on Page 2.
The state's rights Democrats of Alabama announce an appreciation dinner in Dothan on April. Principal speaker will be Charles J. Bloch of Macon Georgia, with John Temple Graves and other movement notables invited. Tickets are two dollars.
Judge Albert Logue weighed the question of where Houston county should place a baby elephant reportedly owned by the county. A woman claimed ownership and offered to deliver the half ton animal to the county amid uncertain arrangements.
Velé Anders seeks a new trial but Judge James H. Crow Jr overrules the motion after a hearing. Anders, condemned for second degree murder in the Sept 30, 1948 Hartsville killing of John Sparkman, faces up to ten years in the state penitentiary.
A group of 45 workers at the Cooper Wells hosiery plant will be furloughed until April 15. The furlough, originally set for March 11, was extended by one week. Remaining plant staff will continue operations as usual.
A fragmentary clipping notes emphasis on power dynamics surpassing violence in the Lema Lod context. Details are unclear due to damaged text, but the piece highlights a shift in emphasis toward control and influence rather than force.
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