19 Dec 1955
Page 1
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This newspaper page contains 26 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Dec 19, 1955
Page
1
Chicago area Navy district announces next week’s recruits will depart December 28 as a unit for San Diego for nine weeks of basic training in Southern California. The lure highlights a mild winter locale as part of the program.
A bone chilling cold wave swept the Midwest and moved into the Ohio Valley and Atlantic Seaboard. Minneapolis recorded 21 below zero tying a date record while Bemidji dropped to 45 below. Deaths linked to the weather reached at least 24 as fire crews battled a blaze and city utilities faced frozen equipment.
In Cairo five Catholic clergymen and a group of laymen were arrested after distributing a protest declaration in Catholic churches. The government replaced religious courts with state courts to unify handling of personal affairs, especially divorce, previously heard by clerical panels. One priest was released after papal protest. others freed later.
New Britain Connecticut workers at the Federal Savings and Loan Association report safe sidewalks as the firm installs a heating conduit beneath the pavement to melt snow this winter.
The Washington YMCA announced a planned vacation schedule with special activities on Thursday and Friday. Regular Saturday hours will hold and the building closes all day Monday for Christmas. Thursday includes grade based gym and swim sessions, a noon hike, and a ping pong tournament.
UNITED PRESS reports extreme cold across Iowa with subzero readings led by 20 below at Lone Rock and 19 below at Mason City. A high pressure system and incoming Pacific Northwest storm are forecast to bring a modest warming and cloudy skies by Tuesday with light snow possible in the northwest.
Four year old Rodney Dee Brodie, who survived a 1952 operation that separated him from his Siamese twin, will spend Christmas at home after a nine month hospital stay in Chicago. He will return in about two months for additional treatment after visiting his five brothers and sisters and parents Rovt and Edna Brodie at Ferris Illinois.
Storm Lake man William G. Seward 46 dies when his car is struck by an Illinois Central train in downtown Storm Lake. Verne Von Sprechen 34 and Jackie McCannant 24 farmers near Hale die in a truck train crash. Robert Eugene Ehardt 21 of near Fairfield fatally injured in a two car crash on U S 218. Toll since weekend rise noted with state patrol reporting 600 total deaths for 1955.
In Gaza Egypt and Israel clash with fatalities as Jordan imposes a Bethlehem curfew to quell anti Baghdad Pact unrest. Jerusalem faces renewed rioting with Arab Legion fire reported while Bethlehem braces for Christmas Eve mass. Jordan cites security fears and bans gatherings until further notice.
Senate subcommittee probes whether about 250 Korean War prisoners branded traitors without trial. seeks constitutional basis and secret Army findings used to deny War Claims Act payments. Some with honorable discharges or re enlistment faced denied benefits despite potential redress.
President Eisenhower spoke from Gettysburg College lighting a 65 foot spruce in the Pageant of Peace. He noted Christmas 1955 is brighter than in recent years and conveyed prayers for peace. The ceremony reached a worldwide audience in 38 languages via radio and TV.
Nationalist forces reported sinking two Communist gunboats and damaging three others near Tungshan Island after a morning strike off the South China Coast. Aerial action involved jet fighter bombers, while anti-aircraft fire was exchanged with the 250-ton class vessels. All Nationalist planes returned safely to Formosa.
Phyllis McConnell daughter of Mr and Mrs Charles H McConnell 1124 BE Main Washington placed third in the Walsh Oratorical Contest at Sioux Falls College announced by Paul Roten head of SFC speech department McConnell a junior at the college competed against Sioux Falls College students First place went to Gary Reif from Kalona Iowa and Richard Olson from Timber Lake South Dakota took second.
President Eisenhower meets with Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Lewis L. Strauss in Gettysburg. The visit is described as mostly social with a few atomic topics likely. He plans a meeting with Dillon S. Anderson to prep for Thursday’s National Security Council session.
In Springfield Ohio a fire sparked by an oil stove explosion destroyed a one room home. A woman Betty Lou Hamilton 20 and five children Rebecca 2 Deborah 3 Connie Fogel 13 Theresa Coleman 8 and Paulette McDaniel 10 died. Two occupants Robert McDaniel owner of the home and his son 6 were hospitalized with third degree burns.
Pfc Fritz Moeller and 30 Korean refugee orphans confront a lean holiday as he fights Army objections to his off limits village orphanage. He spent $600 of his own funds, faces legal hurdles, and hopes a church group can take over ownership while carpenters are needed to finish the building.
Mrs Lawrence L Kozak 44 died in Davenport after a several months illness. Born January 23 1911 in Washington she was former Catherine McConaughy. Funeral services 3 p m Tuesday at Hill Fredericks Funeral Home Davenport with burial there. Survivors include her mother husband two sisters a brother and an aunt.
Police arrested Hilmer Barnes after a two hour standoff in Clarinda Iowa when tear gas forced him to surrender. The incident began as officers attempted to serve a custody complaint filed by Herman Day Topeka Kan. Barnes fired on deputies with a 22 caliber rifle injuring no one. Day sought custody of four children alleging abuse and confinement by Barnes and his ex wife Rita.
Commander Don Hazen urged Leon Beatty American Legion post members to attend an important business meeting Tuesday evening at the Legion rooms in the Washington city hall. The meeting opens at 8 p.m.
The report notes that over 60 percent of rural roads across the United States are now hard surfaced. It highlights improvements in several states and discusses funding and maintenance challenges facing rural transportation networks.
Washington Postmaster O J Brown warned that post offices will close from Saturday noon to Tuesday morning for the Christmas holiday. Patrons are urged to mail cards and packages early so they can be delivered before the closure.
Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin and Communist Party chief Nikita Khrushchev concluded a tour of India Burma and Afghanistan with a 100 million dollar aid pledge to Afghanistan a ten year extension of the non aggression pact and delivery of a new airliner buses and a 100 bed hospital. They also promised road and hydro electric projects and supported Afghanistan in a Pakistan border dispute. The visit boosted Soviet prestige among Indians Burmese and Afghans.
Clarence S. Hill and his son Arthur of Minburn and Robert Bu, a former Washington County farmer, are in Washington today. Hill was among Iowa farmers who traveled to Russia last summer and spoke to the Rotary Club at Monday noon.
In Gainesville Texas the body of 22 year old Billie Allen Brown was found murdered with a meat cleaver in her garage apartment. Her husband WT Brown was arrested in Dallas and faces questioning after deputies reported blood on his trousers.
Washingtonians shivered as temperatures plunged to two degrees below zero marking the first official subfreezing reading of the season. Strong winds and clear skies contributed to the chill across the area.
Cloudy night with continued very cold readings across the state. Occasional light snow and moderating temperatures in the northwest, increasing southerly winds by Tuesday night. Lows around 5 to 15 below in the north and 5 above to 5 below in the south. Tuesdays highs 15 to 20 east and 20 to 30 west. Wednesday brings partial clouds and a warmer trend turning colder in the northwest with snow flurries.
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