Page 1 of 3 Sep 1964 Issue of Smethport M Kean County Democrat in Smethport, Pennsylvania

Smethport M Kean County Democrat September 3, 1964 Page 1 old newspaper archives

Read an issue on 3 Sep 1964 in Smethport, Pennsylvania and find what was happening, who was there, and other important and exciting news from the times. You can also check out other issues in The Smethport M Kean County Democrat.

Browse Smethport M Kean County Democrat

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

How to Find What You Are Looking for on This Page

We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to make the text on a newspaper image searchable. Below is the OCR data for 3 Sep 1964 Smethport M Kean County Democrat in Smethport, Pennsylvania. Because of the nature of the OCR technology, sometimes the language can appear to be nonsensical. The best way to see what’s on the page is to view the newspaper page.

Show OCR

Smethport Mckean County Democrat (Newspaper) - September 3, 1964, Smethport, Pennsylvania Published in the county seat of Mckean county Kean county Democrat Northwestern Pennsylvania a leading democratic newspaper Quot Mckean county picture newspaper established 1858 volume no. 105 Over a Century of service to the Public Smethport pa., thursday september 3, 1964 terms�?$4.00 per year single copy�?10c no. 36 Man fatally wounded in gunfight with police in Bradford saturday Sikes Bradford pending the announcement of the results of an inquest scheduled last night Mckean county Coroner Gale f. Hollenbeck is withholding issuance of a certificate of death for Melvin k. Sikes 50, of Gates hollow who died in Bradford Hospital at 6 05 . Saturday less than two hours after he was wounded in an Exchange o f bullets with Bradford police. The shooting affray took place on the Hillside Avenue area above East Avenue at about 4 20 ., nearly 40 minutes after Sikes parked car was found on cottage Row. Sikes had been wanted on a felony warrant in connection with a series of burglaries and Larcenie Over several weeks period including the army and Navy store on West Washington St. Monday of last week. Sikes brother Ernest jr., was arrested several Days ago by state police in connection with burglary and larceny charges and is currently confined to the county jail in Smethport. The two Brothers had been fingered for breaking into the Bradford area Golf association building at Marshburn several Camps and summer Homes in the county and the sportsmen a club near Ridgway. Mrs. Shirley Sikes Ernest a wife was arrested saturday night for aiding and harbouring a fugitive. Ends extended search Sikes had been the object of a wide search by City township county and state police agencies in the Pennsylvania and new York District for several weeks he was allegedly responsible for the taking of several automobiles without the owners consent and with stripping one or two of them. He was thought to have stolen several License plates using them in an Effort to avoid detention by changing plates from time to time. The Eldred native who had resided in Bradford most of his life had a number of brushes with the Law enforcement agencies since 1932 and had served time. He had boasted that he would not be taken alive and would shoot it out with any Grice officer who tried to take in into custody. Lott Lott bid for Freedom however his last bid to continue his Freedom came to an end saturday afternoon As he attempted to match his shooting prowess with patrolmen John Colosimo and Johnston d. Arbuckle of the Bradford police. Sikes shots at the two officers failed to find their Mark and in the retaliation a charge from one of the two officers guns found its critical spot through the right Temple. Sikes toppled to the ground. He had moved around in the Brush for More than 125 Yards when he was found mortally wounded by police. The fire department ambulance was summoned and he was rushed to Bradford Hospital where the victim died about one hour and a half after being taken into the emergency room. Car is spotted the first break in the Case saturday came about As patrolman Neal Fields cruising the City in the patrol car came across an abandoned Auto in cottage Row off High St., which fit the description of a machine Sikes was seen driving. It bore one of the sets of License plates reported stolen. Desk officer Theodore Greenberg was appraised of the suspicion and acting police chief John Woodley accompanied by sgt. Reynold florentine went to the area. After making sure that the vehicle was one used by Sikes chief Woodley Felt certain the wanted Man was in the neighbourhood. He radioed for additional assistance. Responding first were patrolmen Colosimo and Arbuckle followed within a few minutes by patrolmen George Bove John Beyler Leo Ackley and Ralph Schiappia of the local police Force and Richard Giddings of Foster twp. Police. Or. Giddings also is a Deputy under sheriff Leslie w. Pendleton. Search warrant demanded after assigning his officers to spread out and search the Hilly area of East Avenue Hillside. Avenue and cottage Row chid Woodley took himself sgt. Florentine and patrolman Fields to the residence of mrs. Shirley Sikes 14 East Avenue sister in Law of the wanted Man. Mrs. Sikes met chief Woodley on the porch. She was asked whether or not she had seen Sikes and whether or not he was in her place. She replied a a not to both questions. Asked if she would permit them to search the place mrs. Sikes is said to have inquired a do you have a search warrant a without the required authority the three officers elected to leave and fan out and keep out of sight of persons in the Sikes residence. As the officers were moving onto the Board walk in front of the East Avenue residence gunfire was heard. The officers realized that something was wrong and made a Bee line toward the sector of shots. As they progressed to the rear of the East Avenue Home additional shots were heard one of which found its Way through Sikes Temple. Ran from rear Deer chief Woodley said that officers Colosimo and Arbuckle had been sent to the Hillside area when Sikes was spotted apparently after bolting out of the rear door. Officer Colosimo started after the fugitive issuing a warning to halt. Sikes answered the command with a Volley of shots from a Browning .32 calibre automatic. Officer Colosimo alerted his fellow patrolmen to beware As Sikes had an automatic. The two officers kept after their prey firing in return. Just which officers Bullet hit the Mark was not Learned. Officer Colosimo sustained a wrenched Back in the Chase and required medical attention. City manager Paul Mccauley was informed of the situation by police and went to the area to assist. In a statement to a reporter saturday night. Or. Mccauley paid High tribute to the Bradford police and All other agencies who had taken part in the search for the wanted Man for several Days. Policemen Are rewarded or. Mccauley said that both patrolmen Colosimo and Arbuckle displayed outstanding courage in defying a Man who had intended to keep his boast of never to be taken alive by any police officer. A their action is a credit to the police who of times Are Beverly criticized a he said. As a Reward few their deed or. Mccauley instructed chief Woodley to give officers Colosimo and Arbuckle one week s vacation with . Chief Woodley sunday night had part of his office full of the loot found in Possession of Sikes car most in the trunk and the Back seat. Among articles recovered were a Quantity taken from galleys army and Navy store. John Vantine scamp Frank kans Home in Gates hollow and tires wheels and jacks taken from a 1963 car belonging to Raymond Ward of 201 w. Washington St. Long criminal record Sikes had served several Peni ternary terms. He was Given a 10-year sentence in 1932 to the Pennsylvania state institution at Huntington but managed to escape june i 1933. However he was returned to the institution on aug. 14 that year. On april 24, 1934, he again escaped from the place but this time he was Back in the toils of the Law within six Days. In 1934 he was arrested for burglary larceny and received a 3 to 6-year sentence. After serving part of his term Sikes was Back in the arms of the Law in 1938, when he was charged for Auto larceny and received 2 to 4 years. In 1941, the Bradford Man was handed a to year sentence for burglary and served until Jan. 23, 1951, when he was paroled. He was returned to jail in 1959 As a parole violator. In Jan. 16, 1963 he was paroled on the Mckean county parole plan. Mrs. Sikes released mrs. Shirley Sikes was acquitted on a charge of aiding and harbouring a fugitive As the result of a hearing before Alderman Frederick r. Sica in Bradford on monday. Mrs. Sikes testified that her brother in Law Melvin k. Sikes who was fatally wounded in a gun Battle saturday with Bradford police had threatened to kill her and members at her family if she informed police of his whereabouts. Bill for Kinzua funds is signed a Bill appropriating $4.4 billion for Public works projects including Tho atomic Energy commission and various water projects was signed by president Johnson on monday. Included in Tho now Law is a $27,000,000 allotment for Tho Allegheny River Reservoir a Insua dam project. Tho Money is for Tho fiscal year which started july i. Tho Bill was sent to Tho president after Tho Senate completed congressional action on it aug. 14. It it it it Johnson signs Bill providing Seneca funds Washington a the Seneca indians adjustment to construction of the Allegheny River dam and Reservoir Kinzua dam will be facilitated by a $15,000,-573 damage and rehabilitation fund authorized in a Bill signed tuesday by president Johnson. The $107 million Reservoir project in new York and Pennsylvania will flood much of the indians Allegany reservation which was guaranteed to the senecas forever by a 1794 treaty. Continued downstream flooding on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania prompted construction of the dam at Kinzua pa., by the army engineers. The supreme court authorized the government to break its oldest existing treaty in disposing of a suit filed by the indians to prevent their land from to it eing taken. Both the House and the Senate approved earlier this month the Compromise Bill setting up the fund. But it took More than a year of work by Congress before the final version of the compensation Bill was drafted. Rep. John p. Saylor r-pa., a member of the House Senate committee that Drew up the Compromise proposal said after agreement was reached that the total was too Low. He noted that a report financed by the Federal government suggested a rehabilitation fund of $29 million. The total was called a just and generous a however by sen. Frank Church a Idaho chairman of the Senate Interior subcommittee. There Are 4,132 enrolled members of the Seneca nation one of six which comprise new Yorkus Iroquois federation. Of these. 1,103 live on the Allegheny reservation one of three owned by the indians and 482 within the Reservoir area. 3 Wallendar have died in this act the great Wallendar worlds most spectacular High wire attraction will be featured sunday and monday at the Mckean county fair in Smethport. Sheriff solves three burglaries in county three juveniles nabbed great Mckean county fair has outstanding attractions today thursday is family Day at the Mckean county fair which opened on tuesday and will continue through monday. For family Day a successful innovation on the fair program last year prices will again be reduced. $1.00 admits an automobile and All its occupants at the Gate and the grandstand show is reduced to 50c for Chil Dren. All rides will be 10c until Chevrolet. Ture at last years fair will again race on the half mile dirt track sunday afternoon in a spectacular display of both raw nerve and Superb driving skill. Twenty seven Drivers have signed up to Date and More Are expected. Competition is open to racing cars with several types of engines including offenhauser bricks Fords Falcons and Honor mrs. Reap for work at Pool in Smethport mrs. Bernadine reap was surprised tuesday evening at her Home on West main St., Smethport by a group of women who presented her with a gift from memorial recreation Center inc., which operates the swimming Pool in Smethport. The Pool is a living memorial to Smethport area veterans of All wars. The gift was presented to mrs. Reap in recognition of her seven years service As manager and instructor at the Pool. The group representing Mac expressed appreciation to mrs. Reap for her efforts often above and beyond the Ordinary requirements of her position at the Pool service frequently performed on her own time and at her own expense. Continued investigation for three Days produced results for Mckean county sheriff l. W. Tom Pendleton chief e. Abbey Southwick and patrolman Russell Wells of the Smith miss Firth named Mckean county Home dec director As of nov. 24, miss Betsy Jane Firth will be in charge of the Extension Home economics program in Mckean county. Miss Firth is a graduate of sugar Grove pa., High school. She attended Indiana pa., state College and graduated with a major in Home economics education in 1960. During the summer of 1959 miss Firth served As a summer assistant Home economist in Lebanon county. Upon her graduation in 1960 she assumed full time duties As assistant Home economist in Columbia county. Although she has been engaged in All phases of Home economics Extension programs. Miss Firth has been especially Active in clothing work with adult and 4-h groups. The Columbia county Home economics newsletter was originated by miss Firth. She was in charge of tri county Home economics demonstration work at the 4-h Junior achievement show and has presented a number of Extension press and radio releases. Miss Firth will replace miss Donna Slezak summer assistant Home economist in Mckean county who will return to the Pennsylvania state University to Complete her final year of borne economics studies. Port Borough police and game protector John Putman of Crosby in solving three burglaries of the Mulvihill store at Kings Corners in e. Smethport. Three juveniles were questioned end admitted their pert. They were released in custody of their parents pending a i juvenile court hearing. Two rifles and some shells taken from the place of business were recovered. One of the juveniles questioned As to what became of the $93 taken informed sheriff Pendleton that a you wont believe me but i was robbed at knife Point a the teenagers revealed the names of two other juveniles one from Smethport and another from port Allegany. Further questioning of the two disclosed that the boys Story of being robbed was True As he had been robbed by an older juvenile. The last of the three burglaries the other Day was in process when neighbors called the sheriff As they saw someone moving inside the building. The individual Ira the store managed to make Good his escape through a window As officer Russell Wells approached. However an Eye witness furnished a Good description. Two warning shots were fired end a command to Stop failed to halt Tho booing youngster. Brush and Woods aided Tho burglary. Several other officers arrived and a search made of Tho area find a Trail which led away from Tho store by Tho Crook through a Sluice under Tho Road to Crosby and then under a Bridge of Tho second Road and through Tho Fields. The Trail placed suspicion upon a local juvenile who answered the description. He was later picked up and admitted the three burglaries. 25 voters sign up in Ceres twp. Group to visit Cornplanter area Twenty five persons registered tuesday in Ceres township to qualify for the november general election. There were 20 republicans and five democrats members and friends of the Mckean county historical so signed at the residence of Leslie piety will visit the Kinzua dam Langworthy according to and Cornplanter Indian Reser George e. Berkwater county vation area on saturday sept commissioner clerk. There 19. Were no changes of addresses this May be the last of recorded. Port Unity for a visit to chief today thursday registrars com planters sold Home on the will be at the port Allegany Western Bank of the Allegheny extend Drivers permits Drivers permits expiring in the sept. 4-8 period will be extended until tile next examination Date because state police will be required to concentrate on traffic control during the labor Day weekend. Borough bldg Between 4 and 8 . Registrations May be made daily during regular business hours at the commissioners office in the Smethport. Court House at River. The Only Means of Access by automobile is a dirt Road which is impassible in Winter. The reservation will be inundated soon after the Gates of Kinzua dam Are closed next year. Game club to build the Canoe place fish St game club of port Allegany has purchased the Sam Dudley property in the Pine Grove area. A new club House will be built. A. State police to Check annual Holiday hazards claim big Relief saving Pennsylvania claims to have saved $2.5 million in Relief Grants during the last fiscal ear through its vocational re ration program. Caught big Muskie a 40-Inch Muskellunge was caught in the Allegheny River near Eldred by Curt Cushman a port Allegany Fisherman Punxsutawney a capt. Joseph f. Mcllvain commanding troop cd Punxsutawney of which the Kane Barracks Are a part has announced that there will be a an intense concentration of the manpower in troop cd area to combat the annual Holiday hazards of traffic accidents and traffic he announced that the concentration will Start sept. 4 and will continue around the clock daily through sept. T. Saki capt. A Walna Quot while primarily directed toward traffic safety the general safety and welfare of the Public also will receive appropriate one result of these plans he added will be the temporary cancellation of Driver applicant examinations when they Are scheduled on Friday saturday monday and tuesday. Any Holder of a learners permit with an expiration Date of sept. 4 through sept. 8 will be examined on the next Date that the examination station is open. 6 . In addition to a Complete stage revue the Belles and beaus of Bradford and Vicinity will entertain the fair audience with an old fashioned Square dance. First harness races today the harness racing program opens this afternoon at the fair when older Trotters and pacers will compete for purses totalling $900. Big Parade Friday feature of Friday nights program at the fair will be the annual Parade. Outstanding marching units will include the computers Black knights ambassadors and Jamestown Stateline. Also scheduled to appear Friday night is the prize winning Bessemer legion Drill team which is not competing but will perform in front of the reviewing stand. Horse races saturday saturday afternoon in addition to a Complete stage revue the harness a raceway stars of tomorrow will take to the half mile Oval in the Keystone Colt stakes circuit action. The Keystone circuit composed of seven Pennsylvania fairs was organized to encourage Breeding and racing of Keystone state standards reds. Purses for stake races Are $500 with entry fees added which by supplied by the Commonwealth out of the state share of Richard Mccrossan of Buffalo promoter of the midget Auto races says a for Many years the offenhauser engine has dominated Auto racing in this country and Many cars owners have experimented with new types of engines in the Hope that they might develop one to Challenge the supremacy of the offenhauser. A by and Large these efforts have not been too successful in the past. However at a recent race i received a Surprise when on a 1-5 mile dirt track the offenhauser were soundly beaten. The race was won by a Falcon and of the next four finishers two were bricks. A i have a feeling that despite your larger track the offenhauser May be in for a Between races sunday fair goers will be entertained by the stage acts and the great Wallendar. Gala labor Day show the Mckean county fair will have the outstanding program for labor Day in this Section of the United states the great Wallendar will be featured again monday afternoon and evening. Final harness races win be presented monday afternoon for purses totalling $900. The Wallendar spectacular High wire act is known to All Beaman Hyde Albert w. Johnson James b. Mcelhattan Dewey Mcconnell William f. Potter William Pierotti jr., David Pytcher Philip m. Rose o. S. Scott Russell j. Weston Ray e. Youngquist. Honorary directors Are Bernal Connelly Emil Johnson and de studholme. Department superintendents also members of the Board of directors Are general supt of livestock w. R. Wallace. Beef cattle James Mckean. Dairy cattle Carlton comes. Sheep Bernard Vossler. Horses Robert Cooper. Horse show Dean Cole. Poultry Michael Fay. Farm products Leo Hackett. Grange Booths Byron Bickford. Fruit Leo Hackett. Plants and Flowers Ronald German. Youth a miss Marian Marsh and James Miller. Home economics miss Donna Leznek general supt. Mrs. Alfred Kleisath supt. A fair weather Good crowds opening Days Mckean county fair officials estimated that More than 4,000 were in attendance for the afternoon and evening performances tuesday the opening Day of the seven Day exposition at the fair grounds in East Smethport. Perfect weather greeted the visitors who jammed the Gates at the 4 . Opening. Tuesdays opening program featured displays of All natures music a county 4-h tractor through press accounts of tragic accidents which have claimed w Mac he the lives of three members of the Dari my tue take it Quot the the troupe and permanently driving contest and in the eve Mem. Pm i crippled Marie Wallenda. Ning the famed Joie Chitwood the Wallenda Story was Fea Auto thrill show. During the tured in the saturday evening Meadows and Liberty Bell Park raceways. Provisions of the Bill also make possible the distribution this year of $2,400 for overnight race purses for thursday and labor Day races. More than too of the Best of the current crop of fledgling Trotters and pacers have been nominated for the Keystone series. Four races of two heats each will be held saturday a Trot and a Pace for two and three year Olds. A Mckean county is proud to Host this Fine group of horses and horsemen a said James r. Mcelhattan of Smethport racing Secretary of the Mckean county fair association. A i think Well see some Fine racing a or. Mcelhattan predicted. A noteworthy event will occur saturday when . Senator Hugh Scott of Pennsylvania will arrive by helicopter at 8 . This will be the first time in recent years at least that a . Senator has visited the fair. Fireworks win conclude the fair program after saturday nights stage revue. Triple attraction sunday a triple attraction is scheduled for sunday afternoon at the Mckean county fair. There will be midget Auto racing a performance by the great Wallendar worlds leading High wire performers and stage acts. Midget autos a popular Fea flames destroy storage barn port Allegany special a a barn on the Clarence Mcelwee property at Dir Lepoint was destroyed by fire Early monday morning. The barn did not have cattle or farm products in it As it was used for storage. The Star Hose company answered the alarm at 4 45 . With three trucks and 36 men. George Guncheon fire chief said he had no idea at this time As to the cause of the Blaze or an estimate of damage. Post of feb. 15, 1964, and in an hour Long presentation on the to show of the week series. In the Post article. Karl Wallenda the troupes Leader discussed his family background and Rise to Success. His great Grandfather Wallenda in old Bohemia of the Austro hungarian Empire had a troupe of a a Stan Del Erst a Street tumblers minstrels and jugglers. Asked about the absence of a net during the High wire act Carla Wallenda replied Quot we never train with them nets. In any kind of a fall into a net our heavy poles harness and chair would go with us and we could be Hurt badly by these. Besides the act loses something if people see a net and figure. A Well if they fall they wont get Hurt a a final appearance of the Wallendar monday night will conclude the 1964 Mckean county fair. Officers and directors officers of the Mckean county fair association Are president Lloyd e. Mulvihill. Vice president John Pytcher. Secretary Nancy Beere. Treasurer of. Albert Johnson. Assistant treasurer a h. L. Morrison. Directors of the fair association Are Robert b. Apple Bernard Ball j. B. Beere Harry Boylan Cletus Carlson James e. Carlson Robert Cooper Clarence Craver Robert a. Digel Orion Freer Frank b. Gilmore Hugh Grant Richard Greville. Or. F. E. Guenter Joseph t. Haynes Earl Hults thrill show Ronald Bailey Goodrich ave., Olean was awarded a miniature automobile in an event in which Only children 12 or under were eligible. Headlining the entertainment program yesterday was the gala stage revue which presents a number of radio and television personalities including Joanne Castle and Marimba player Jack Imel of the Lawrence Welk show who scored a tremendous hit with the huge crowd in their one Day scheduled appearance. Plan Industrial building Russell j. Weston a director and a past president of the fair association monday revealed the possibility of erection of a $15,000 Industrial building at the grounds Here next year. Still in the talking stage but experienc ing must enthusiasm the plan Calls for financial help from county industries. Upon completion or. Weston said Tho building would to used to display Tho products boing manufactured in Mckean county to their Bast advantage. It would be located tentatively on the area across from the Grange building near the East Smethport Entrance. This area now is being used for the Midway carnival rides. It will be a one Story steel Structure or. Weston told the members of the Smethport rotary club where he was the main speaker. It is hoped said or. Weston that the building would be in. Operation by the time the 1965 fair gets under Way. District Oil groups to meet sept 18 at pen Hills club refinery Workman scalded by steam a Smethport Young Man was scalded last thursday while working at the Quaker state refinery in Farmers Valley. Robert Anderson 21, son of mrs. Katharine Anderson of Smethport was admitted to the the annual session of the engineers society of Western Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Section will be held at the pen Hills club Friday sept. 18, according to the Bradford local committee head John de Petro. This meeting a joint affair win include from the new producers association Middle District of producers association. Bradford District Pennsylvania of producers association Pennsylvania Grade crude of association and the api Eastern District study committee on secondary recovery. De t Minard run of co. A use of polymer to control water to Busty a by or. E. J. Burcik department of Petroleum and natural Gas Pennsylvania state University and a exploration for cambrian production in Western Pennsylvania a by Walter representatives r. Wagner geologist Pennsyl York state of Vania geological Survey. There will be an informal reception and cock tau party from 6 . To 7 . With diner being served immediately afterwards. Reservations for the dinner it was said must be made and returned to the engineers society office in the Penn Sheraton hotel As soon As it was announced that techno Bradford Quot Hospital after suffer-1 Cal sessions who Start at 2 . Ing first and second degree and continue through to 5 . At pen Hills. The program will working with or. Depetro on include the following the local committee Are Ronald a Minard Jun Oil co. Fracture Ault s. W. Gregg jr., or. Heck orientation tool a by or. E. T. Percy Knott and Warren Payn a Fps vice president of the ter. Burns on the Back and legs the Workman received the injury when a steam gun exploded while he was operating i the equipment

Search All Newspapers in Smethport, Pennsylvania

Advanced Search

Search the Smethport M Kean County Democrat Today with a Free Trial

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.

Start for Free

Not Finding What You Were Looking for on This Page of The Smethport M Kean County Democrat?

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!

Advanced Search