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Newspaper
Lovington Leader
Location
Lovington, New Mexico, United States of America
Date
Aug 21, 1955
Page
1
A flood disaster in the Northeast leaves at least 100 dead as rescue and relief efforts rush to affected towns. Authorities warn the number could rise, with widespread damage to homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.
A devastating Northeast flood from Diane causes hundreds of deaths and multi state damage. Connecticut reports about one billion dollars in losses. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts report multiple fatalities and emergency actions as rivers flood dams break and residents evacuate.
Ocie Jenkins, Hobbs resident, was seriously injured in a motor accident one mile east of Seminole Texas on Saturday morning. Jenkins’s father reported the crash to Hobbs police and said his son’s companion Bill Langford escaped injury. No details of the mishap were available.
The Hobbs Sports host the Midland Indians for five games starting Tuesday with two doubleheaders in three days. Wednesday features Barbecue Night with $1 admission and barbecue for early arrivals before the game. A Thursday twin bill closes the homestand before a road trip.
Graveside services were conducted at 4 30 p m on Friday at Prairie Haven in Hobbs for an infant named Remijio. The obituary note lists no further details on family or burial arrangements.
Fines totaling 60 dollars were assessed in Hobbs Municipal Court by Judge Robert Bensing against Jerry Raymond East. He faced charges of making an illegal U turn using obscene language to an officer and resisting arrest after a stop near Dal Paso and Broadway in Hobbs two weeks earlier.
Twenty year old Edward Alexander told a judge he skipped his trial on breaking and entering because his brother wore the only pair of shoes. The judge ordered him to get another pair or face consequences for fleeing the law.
Ted Phillips and Roy Boland outline a $15,000 cafe at 402 South Main with fireproofing. Moyer Tire Co proposes a $5,000 28 by 60 building at 1501 South Main. Bessie Haynes lists storage for $100 at 214 Commercial Avenue. David R. Worley plans a brick dwelling 80 by 32 for $66,000. Arnold Hughes adds a dwelling at 615 West Avenue J for $900. Luckie and Noack propose a dwelling at 402 West Avenue L for $7,500.
The IRS in Albuquerque will release about 600 names this week of residents owed refunds overpayments. Missing addresses and insufficient data hinder delivery, so names are publicized to help locate the recipients. One refund exceeds $1700.
Hobbs police department expands to full strength of 27 with two new officers. George R. O Neill joined August 4 and Charles A. Hardy August 1. Both are married, Native Texas, with two years police experience and high school diplomas. Budget for 1955-50 authorized the hires.
A 21 year old Davis was arrested on aggravated assault after an attack on a 24 year old woman Friday night. Police say Bill Franklin Davis of Colonial Homes followed the woman from the Reel Theatre to Turner Street and near Marland Street where he allegedly knocked her to the ground then she ran to a Drive In and called police.
August 22 is the deadline for voters to register or update their address to participate in the Constitutional Amendment election on September 20. The notice stresses timely filing to ensure eligibility and directs residents to complete registration before the deadline.
Seven Air Force personnel died when a twin engined transport plummeted into a 6000 foot peak in the Tugged Gillis range near Hawthorn Nevada. Rescue teams found the charred wreckage and recovered seven bodies as searchers scoured surrounding slopes for survivors in clear weather.
Lovington Lions hold a Friday meeting August 5 appointing Leon Leo Jones to head a committee with Jerry Wright and C T Sparkman to arrange selling the fence at the Lions Ball Park. A new club directory is slated for September 1 and the regular Lions meeting time shifts to 7:00 PM for a joint session with the Eunice Lions.
Funeral services were held Friday for David Francis Gordon 16 Hobbs who died in a can highway accident Wednesday night. He was pinned beneath a pickup during a rabbit chase on Taylor Ranch land as a 14 year old driver swerved the truck overturned. A coroners inquest ruled accidental death and the three other youths escaped injury. Burial was in Prairie Haven with Griffin Funeral Home in charge. Reverend Frank Isaacs officiated.
The Washington School in Hobbs will not open with the term as the new building delays completion. Principal R D Littleton expects completion before October 1 and about 315 students. The school, formerly Booker T. Washington, now named Washington School after segregation ended, has nine Black teachers and two vacancies to be filled after the term starts.
Soviet farm officials touring the United States will receive a warm reception in Washington from Agriculture Secretary Benson and USDA leaders. They will meet privately with Matskevich, attend a group lunch, and discuss farm planning and production. Tours include the Beltsville research center before moving to New York and Canada. Governor Johnson invites further Colorado visits but avoids conflicting with Eisenhower.
District Judge George T. Harris of Roswell will issue a decision in the Lovington Press case on August 25 after arguments by Kermit Nash of Hobbs and Truman Sanders of Roswell. Testimony concluded July, with the matter set for Roswell court and a potential appeal to the State Supreme Court if lost. The Press operates under receiver Mrs. J. E. Speegle appointed by the court.
New Mexico high schools begin fall football practice as 12 Class Double-A teams start drills and others follow. Realignment places Farmington Santa Fe and Albuquerque Valley in the northwest and northeast districts while Highlands in the southwest adds to the title race. Highland seeks repeat glory despite losses to top scorers Anthony Grey and Dewey Bohling. Artesia counters with Johnny Riddle and Freddie Sander fresh from an all star game. St. Marys drops to Class C and Clovis returns after eligibility suspension last year.
A 47 year old Santa Cruz man Sostenes Trujillo is jailed in Santa Fe awaiting arraignment on federal charges of illegal possession and sale of marihuana. He was arrested during a surprise raid and found with more than 66 dollars worth of the drug and 300 marijuana cigarettes and a half gallon jar of bulk marijuana in Santa Cruz.
Civil suits listed include Albert Byland v Garland Or lando Thornhill for $1,285.67 from an automobile wreck. Joe A Hagelgans v Loffland Bros. seeks compensation for shoulder injuries. Ada Curtis v Johnnie Curtis seeks divorce custody of one child and support. Lea County Hospital v Lorene Baker Ligon seeks $1,184.24 plus interest for hospital bill. Hospital v Eugene and Grace Latham seeks $259.45 for Mrs Latham’s hospitalization with $150 paid.
Governor Al Shivers granted a 30 day stay of execution for Johnnie Elwood Gordon of Houston, allowing time for appeal to the US Supreme Court. Gordon, a Black man, was convicting of injuring a white woman on July 29, 1954, and his electrocution date was moved to September 23.
An Albuquerque woman refused a $197 tax refund after explaining that she and her husband separated and he remarried. She said his new wife threatened to cut her throat if she spoke to him again, so she would not accept the money either.
Hobbs Fire Department fought two fires within three hours on Thursday night. A scrap lumber pile near a home under construction on Second Street caused minor damage after a 20 minute response. Shortly after, a Sparks Recreation Center fire at 1200 Main Street resulted from a short circuit and also caused minor damage with a 25 minute response.
City Manager Bill Harrison announced receipt of a new fly insecticide that kills flies. He noted the current flake poison mixed with water dries quickly, and promised replacing the spray machine next year with Eunice’s fogging setup to cover larger areas, while Lovington’s machine remains limited to small zones.
Promoters of the Lovington Building and Loan Association report more than half of the required capital has been subscribed. Stock is sold in $100 multiples. J. B. Selman leads the stock sales as the group seeks 150 subscribers and $150,000 paid in capital to qualify for a charter.
Booker Benton of Eunice was buried in Hobbs Colored Cemetery with Rev Cecil Williams of the CME Church officiating. Survivors include brothers Johnny Benton and Tom Benton of Beaumont Texas.
Governor John F. Simms calls a rough crackdown on traffic violators in New Mexico after two highway deaths within days. Victims include Oscar Maestas of Mesilla Park and Aubrey L. Craig of Baltimore, with state patrols to be used, marked or unmarked, to curb fatalities.
A preliminary hearing for Geo Herbert Largent on negligent homicide and manslaughter charges will be held in Hobbs Tuesday before Justice of Peace Robert L. Bensing. The charges stem from Edna Wood’s death when Largent’s car struck an oil field truck on the Carlsbad highway west of Hobbs about three weeks ago. Largent lacked a valid driver’s license, which had been revoked earlier for drunk driving. The defense contends Largent was not drinking at the time of the accident.
The United Nations protested a tenth attack in ten months as Communist gunners fired on an unarmed T-6 trainer over the Korean DMZ. The plane crashed in North Korea. two Americans aboard, Captain and Lieutenant, are reported missing.
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