03 Jan 1940
Page 1
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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 03, 1940
Page
1
Rev. Fred W. Smith announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Wapello county sheriff, signaling a political move within Iowa. Smith aims to win the county sheriff seat, aligning with party goals in the region.
Logan County attorney Carl V. Burbridge recovering from surgery at a local hospital after a blaze in his office building destroyed much of his law library. The fire caused about $6,000 in damages to the structure housing his practice.
After being padlocked for over seven months, Radio Chapel in Mason City resumes operations. The $70,000 evangelical center is now led by Rev. Carl Sentman of Sheffield, who bought the building for $50,000 last month.
Iowa painter Grant Wood will speak at Iowa State College as the first guest artist in the winter quarter lecture series. He designed murals in the college library. Appearing later in January are Harry A. Overstreet of New York University and Nobel laureate Thomas Mann.
Waterloo news reports Cedar Falls residents become Cedar Falls township residents after Black Hawk county board approves a resolution moving a quarter by one mile area from Waterloo township to Cedar Falls township.
Davenport will seek authority from Special Master Walter Newport to dispose of Pointer Brewing Co property by special auction sale. The property, held in trust in a reorganization petition, was ordered sold as an operating unit on August 22 at public sale, but no offers were received.
City prosecutors report nearly 5000 dollars in practice fines lost as suspended sentences in municipal court over two years. About 150 violators failed to pay an additional 2551 dollars in fines after judges released them to pay later.
Harold Fink, a high school freshman, was accidentally shot in the face Friday afternoon. Doctors say repair work on his wounds is healing satisfactorily and his condition is good today.
Albert M. Huff camp of Spanish-American War Veterans elected and installed officers at a Congress hotel meeting after a noon dinner. Col WM Hahn installed them. Names include H. W. McCleery commander and D W Harvey first vice commander. Twenty five veterans attended. several officers traveled from Ottumwa and other towns.
A Marlborough apartment hotel blaze in Minneapolis traps residents as flames race through basements halls and stairways. At least nineteen to twenty people die or later perish, many jumping from second and third floor windows. Dozens more injured including two firefighters.
At the first Washington county board of supervisors meeting of the year Ned Morrow of Wellman was chosen chairman for three years. H P Wilson began a second term, Dr C W McLaughlin named physician for the county home and jail, Martha Foster re appointed overseer of the poor, and Bauer Wilson Morrow and Klein with Fry named to supervise and welfare roles for 1939.
Sheriff H M Putnam reports 1939 arrests in Washington county show bad checks and traffic law violations as the top offenses. Uttering false checks caused 15 arrests, combatting forgery. 6 drunk driving arrests. 3 without consent. 23 other traffic violations. plus numerous larceny, assault and other counts. 94 detainees sent to jail with varied sentences.
James Mohr of Scott county won first place in the district public speaking contest on The Need for Cooperative Organizations in Iowa Agriculture. The event, one of nine statewide, was promoted by the Iowa Farmers' Grain Dealers' association and held yesterday afternoon at Stewart school. Vernon Kuhl of Scott county finished second and Edith Voetberg of Tama county placed third.
Scandinavian dispatches report small Finnish units harassing Russian troops in forests and disrupting a Soviet offensive in central Finland. Helsinki says Red Army digs in on the Karelian isthmus after a failed Soviet attempt to outflank the Mannerheim line, with Finnish forces claimed to have shot down at least 150 Russian airplanes.
The ratio of marriages to divorces in Washington county was five to one in 1939, per clerk of court records. In 1939, 140 wedding licenses were issued and 27 decrees granted. The 140 marriages are 21 fewer than 1938, when 161 licenses were issued. Two licenses were issued yesterday to Edgar E Helmuth and Bertha Nissley of Kalona, and Donald Rich and Velma Haifley of Brighton. Rex Frank returned from Grinnell after New Year’s weekend visits.
The district winner will receive a gold watch and the top three advance to a Des Moines state contest held with the grain dealers convention January 23 to 25. Other district events will be in Corning Denison Boone Hampton Elkader Forest City Garner Sibley Fort Dodge and Iowa Falls. Nearly 190 boys and girls compete in districts.
Albert Tangora, famed as the world’s fastest typist, will demonstrate his skill at a special student assembly at Washington High School Thursday at 10:36 A. M. January 4. The Commercial club sponsors the event with invited students from nearby schools. Tangora has held and set multiple typing records from 1923 through 1937, including an all-time 14] net five stroke words per minute for one hour and an accuracy above 99 percent.
Sheriff H M Putnam reports 122 motor vehicle accidents in 1939 causing 97 injuries and two deaths. 182 accidents caused $15,802.36 damage. most fatalities occurred in towns, not on county highways. Monthly totals range 5 to 20 incidents with December tied to one fatality.
The 8. B. Watson family moves from 518 South Avenue B to 400 West Third Street, updating their residence information.
Temperatures began moderating across the state today after days of deep cold. Des Moines reports show the nationwide chill easing with the mercury climbing but still averaging 14 degrees below normal. Mason City recorded five below zero as the coldest in the state.
Washington city council heard two requests for beer licenses one for a new restaurant business by Joe Dougall Jr and Felix Dougall and another for Joelhimmer’s tavern on North Iowa avenue both tied to family runs a two hour parking change petition from local doctors was also presented with action deferred to a later meeting as officials consider state limit implications.
President Roosevelt addressed Congress in Washington urging national unity to defend democracy and peace while requesting emergency powers to seize factories ships and materials in peace. He proposed a wartime defense fund of four hundred million to five hundred million dollars and warned against apologists for foreign aggression and self serving groups at home. The third session of the 76th Congress opened as the joint session heard his annual message.
Funeral services for Mrs. J A McCoy, who died yesterday, are set for Thursday at 10 30 AM at L A Jones funeral home. Dr R C Keagy of the Methodist church will conduct the rites. Burial will be in Elm Grove cemetery.
At Leon Beatty post in Washington an official announced the next county Legion meeting will be in Washington late January or early February to hear Father McDermott of Atlantic Iowa the national chaplain. District Commander Fred Downing said the date will be set soon. The event attracts local interest because the chaplain once lived in Washington. A separate note said the Company K World War unit reunion will be at Fort Madison on Sunday January 14 with a noon dinner.
Rev. Vernon Carter of Marion and former Pleasant Hill pastor will help Rev. R. C. Keagy conduct the funeral of Mrs. Thomas J. Thompson at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Methodist church. The Thompson family has ties to Pleasant Hill Church, where Mrs. Thompson first joined worship.
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