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Newspaper
Sikeston Herald
Location
Sikeston, Missouri, United States of America
Date
Dec 28, 1939
Page
1
Three vehicles in a three way crash on Highway 61 near Jack's Y station south of Sikeston. Glen Williams and Roscoe Weltecke escaped serious injury. Weltecke faces careless and reckless driving charges. A third car struck Weltecke's vehicle after it blocked the highway. Damage totaled over 350 dollars.
At a Sikeston board of education meeting last Thursday night two new teachers were elected to fill vacancies. Leslie May Allen of Benton will teach the second grade at the south grade school, previously held by Mrs Lasley. Dale Teachout of Dexter will lead the third and fifth grade combination at Bailey school, subject to release at Dexter. Paulie Meredith will move to the second grade at the south grade school, the position once held by Mrs Davis. Teechout holds a degree from Southeast Missouri State Teachers College and Allen will graduate from the same institution this summer. They start duties after the first semester ends.
The coldest Christmas holiday period featured a Friday low of 20 degrees followed by 21 degrees on Christmas and the day after. This morning reached 28 degrees as a weekend chill looms. Sikeston and surrounding Missouri areas remain partly snow covered with 1.15 inches of weekly precipitation and a 2.25 inch snowfall. Leroy Leslie, treated at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, is due to return home with Mrs. Leslie accompanying him early next week.
The Herald announces a Fifth Annual New Building Review Edition to be issued about February 1. It will feature photos and descriptions of Sikeston's new buildings erected in 1939 and remodeling projects, highlighting the year as Sikeston's greatest building year. It seeks wide cooperation from residents to gather data and interviews.
Mr and Mrs Harvey Morrison and Mr and Mrs W H Haman escaped serious injury after a Plymouth sedan skidded on a tow pavement 175 miles southeast of Kansas City, rolled over trapping occupants. They crawled out, resumed travel to Sikeston, arriving home in good shape.
Mr and Mrs Dick Humes and Mrs Maudie Wicks narrowly escaped death last Saturday when their Chevrolet coach skidded on an icy Apple Creek bridge 55 miles north of Alton Illinois, spun, hit the safety fence and tumbled down a 12 foot embankment. Wicks suffered scratches and bruises while the others were only lightly hurt. Relatives took them to Mrs Humes' parents in Rock Island then to Sikeston in a borrowed car. Damaged vehicle valued about 100 dollars.
The holiday death toll nears 600 with Illinois leading and California second in casualties. Over 30 killed in traffic, more than 27 in fires, nearly 50 in personal crises, plus drownings, shootings and falls. Missouri reports over a dozen fatalities, mostly not traffic related. An auto collision near Joplin claims a 12 year old, John Kallett Jr. One Cape Girardeau man found shot in a St. Louis hotel. Lester F. Young dies on Highway 60 near Fisk in an automobile crash.
Two automobiles were badly damaged Sunday afternoon on Highway 61 nine miles south of Sikeston. A Plymouth driven by A. M. Morgan spun after loss of control. An Oldsmobile traveling north could not dodge and struck Morgan, pushing the car into a ditch and turning it over. No injuries reported. both vehicles to Henington's Garage for repair.
Two automobiles were damaged at 9 30 Monday night when they collided on Highway 61 one mile south of Sikeston. Arlis Fry of St Louis was driving north in a 1939 Ford coach. Fry failed to stop in time and pulled into the wrong lane causing the crash. Bert McWaters of Canalou drove the south bound car which was damaged at the scene. Fry’s car was scraped along the left side with most damage to the front. No injuries were reported.
Beginning New Year's day the International Shoe Company plant will resume the regular five day schedule. Employees worked only four days this week following the Christmas holidays.
Sikeston post office reports 1939 Christmas week set a record with about 75 000 letters handled and 17 010 on the peak day Wednesday. Carriers racked 124 hours overtime as weather and organization aided rapid processing. An Associated Press dispatch notes nationwide mail volume was the greatest ever, with postageApril? up 20 to 30 percent over 1938.
Approximately sixty officers from twenty units of the 140th Infantry Missouri National Guard gather in Sikeston for annual officers meeting ahead of the Federal inspection planned for February. Attendees include Major General Ralph E. Truman and Brigadier General Lewis M Means, plus Col G. W. Phipps and staff. Sikeston reps Lieut-Col Harry E Dudley and Captain Tanner C Dye. Meeting starts 5 pm at Sikeston armory with a 6 50 pm banquet at Hotel Marshall for officers and guests.
Early yesterday at 8 50 a Plymouth sedan driven by Peter P Cortilet 55 of Chicago collided with a Midwest Distributing Co truck northbound on Highway 61 south of Sikeston The car veered onto the shoulder struck the truck and gas tank tearing damage to both vehicles No injuries were reported The driver Cortilet was charged with careless and reckless driving fined 5 with 9 50 court costs Two Matthews County youths 17 nearly were struck by the Cortilet car during the incident
Southeast Missouri highways were cleared this week as trucks and snow blades worked with the Highway divisions operating 24 hours a day. Northern and western areas have used snow plows since last Saturday, with 3,000 workers keeping Missouri's 15,550 mile road system open. Division No 10 reports all highways in its section free of snow and in excellent condition.
The Lions Club of Sikeston sent three trucks with Santa helpers on Christmas morning to ensure every child in the city received a toy and candy. O T Elder and Clarence Felker aided in the north and south areas, Elmos Taylor assisted in Sunset addition, while Boy Scouts repaired toys and the Woman's Junior Chamber of Commerce dressed dolls for the drive.
More than 130 baskets were filled and distributed to deserving Sikeston families by churches and the American Legion. Foodstuffs clothing and toys accompanied staples with canned goods from a free show and a fat chicken as part of the basket.
Seven hundred children attended the Lions Club matinee at the Malone Theatre Saturday morning. Tickets were exchanged for canned vegetables or fruit and other raw produce. About 500 cans were donated along with a bushel of potatoes and a harvest of turnips, onions, sweet potatoes, oranges, and apples. The food was distributed to city churches for baskets to needy families on Christmas morning.
Work began last Thursday on a brick and tile six room home with full basement for Sid Schillig and family in East Acres. A hot air furnace will heat the house. Triangle Lumber Company holds the building contract.
Second Lieutenant Seth McKee of Fortn felt, Montgomery, Alabama, delayed departure due to bad weather before finally leaving Sikeston at 2:25 pm. The Curtiss pursuit ship valued at 75000 dollars features a 1200 horsepower engine, 300 mph cruising speed, 125 mph landing speed, and four machine guns.
The Board of Public Works will meet tonight to examine bids for the new pump for the municipal water plant. No other business is scheduled.
The Herald announces increased production costs due to wartime newsprint shortages, taxes, and wages. Display rates rise to 25 cents per single column inch with a 5 cent per inch reduction for paid-on-delivery home advertisers, while subscriptions remain cash in advance.
A Negro fortune teller in Sikes ton aided by police and troopers failed to locate about $300 reported stolen from Mrs. London of London's Grocery. The owner accused 22 year old James Johnson, who said the cash was hidden behind Ward's Store, but the search found no money. The fortune teller misled the pursuit, leaving Mrs. London still short funds.
The Foley Motor Co Ford agency on Highway 60 south of the Missour Pacific station was sold to Herbert Walton and Ralph Williams of Cape Girardeau. The Walton Williams Motor Co will take over with inventory being processed before settlement. Walton has 16 years at Ford and Williams 12 years at Groves Motor Co.
The Federal Government will begin monthly retirement pensions in January for older workers and dependents. About 1,000,000 people are expected to benefit under the Social Security Law. Monthly payments range from 26 to 34 for most, with a top of 85 dollars for those with 40 years covered, and the program funds from employer and employee taxes. Eligibility requires 65 or older and at least 50 earned in each of the prior six quarters.
Mrs Rebecca Harper who had been visiting her daughter Mrs E A Dunagan for the past month returned to her home in Thebes Tl today.
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