1958-11-13; Clare Sentinel

              *A
Established 1878
$2.50 Year in Clare. Isabella Counties  THE  CLARE  SENTINEL.  CLAREL MICHIGAN
NOVEMBER 13. 1958
Ten Cents Copy
New Series, Vol. 67, No. 9
Take Smith
Back, Union
Demands
A meeting Tuesday between Clare city officials and
union representatives reportedly to discuss the October
27 ouster of former Clare policeman Gordon Smith, broke
up at noon with no progress
to report. Following the session, CIO negotiators said
that "a better understanding
of all problems is being
reached by both parties."
Gordon Smith was dismissed from his job with the City
of Clare Police Department
Monday of last week. He was
elected president in September of the local affiliate of
State, County and Municipal
Workers Union, AFL-CIO.
Union representatives from
outside of Clare have reportedly demanded Smith's reinstatement with an answer
to the demand asked for by
Friday this week.
Other developments this week
In the local incident have seen
the circulation of petitions by
friends of former Police Chief
William Cook asking for his reinstatement. Some of these petitions were reported to include
a request for the removal of City
Manager Clarence Gum.
. The petitions made their appearance before Cook accepted a
job as officer with the Clare police force and went to work
Tuesday night.
One Family's
Problem On
Stage Tonight
It is always a little difficult
for a fellow to preseht his best
girl to his family, but Don's problem is unique. It is told tonight
in the CHS student play, "The
Family Nobody wanted."
Don is wild about an extremely
attractive girl who is just a
trifle on the stuffy side. The
girl's parents are charming and
wealthy, but they are definitely
on the stuffy side.
It is time for the girl to "meet
the family," and here's the
problem: Don has a lot of
brothers and sisters—some are
part Japanese, Balinese, Mexican,
and fulljblooded American Indian!
Don's parents are a young minister and his wife. When they
found that couldn't have children
of their own, they set out to
adopt some. After adopting young
Don (now a handsome, interesting teen-ager) they were stopped
(by the mountain o'f red tape.
They discovered that some
children—children with Oriental
or Spanish or Indian blood-
were considered "unadoptable".
In spite of strong apposition,
this young minister and his wife
adopted a houseful of intriguing
"unadoptable" children. They
grew up together. They became
brothers and sisters in every
sense. They were all a part of one
family.
Library Has
Drop Box
The Clare City Library has a
new drop box for the deposit of
books being returned during
hours when the library is closed.
Mrs. Donald Richardson, librarian accepted the drop box, a
gift from the Clare Kiwanis club.
It is beig installed, on W. Fifth
street near the corner of McEwan
Where the library is located.
Shoots Leg
In Hunting
Accident
A hunting accident Sunday resulted in a serious and painful
shotgun wound in the leg for
Jim Green, 17 year-old son of
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Green, The
20-ga,uge blast, accidently set off
by Jim, 'himself, tore through
the upper part df his leg and
carried away the thigh muscle
but missed bone, a main artery
and the nerve.
Now in Clare General hospital,
Jim is reported by his family as
some improved after transfusions and, repair of the wound
by Dr. Kranik there. Many pellets
were removed from the injury.
Hunting with friends a mile
and one-half north of Loomis,
Jim wag resting on the ground
with his gun unloaded nearby
when he noticed the firing pin
out of normal position, He replaced the pin and loaded a shell
in the gun with intentions of
firing a trial shot.
The sun fired accidently while
he was closing it on the shell.
Treatment of the leg was delayed and Jim suffered excessive loss of blood because of the
rough country in which the
party was hunting and the distance necessary to travel to bring
him to where he could he
placed in an ambulance.
It was thought at first that
partial crippling of the leg would
.result from the accident,, (but
later~word given to the family
is more optimistic in the hope
for complete recovery.
Jim will remain a patient at
the hospital for some time. His
friends are invited to send Mm
cards and visit him later when
recovery starts.
Roll 2881 Series
. The high scoring Pete's Bar
team of bowlers rolling the
Major League at Clare Alleys
came up with their third 1000
game of the season last week
besides scoring the highest team
series in league play so far this
•year.
Putting together games of 93S,
1008 and 935 they totaled 2881
against the Dan McDonald
quintet.
Individual efforts were topped
with Clarence Zawaeki's 622
followed by Larry Shelander with
595, Earl Neff with 581, J. Show-
alter with 579, and Wilson Sharp
with 504.
The same team recently defeated the Pleasant Lanes team from
Mt. Pleasant with a 2795 total.
Current standings in the Major
League find them still tied for
second iplace with the Dunlop's
team and leading the pair by
three points is the Hill Top five.
9 Young Sharpshooters
Given Air Rifle Awards
The full cast of the Clare school's student production, "The Family Nobody Wanted"
was in costume for Ihis picture. The play is tonight at ihe school auditorium. Dress rehearsals have been scheduled during this week and at a matinee performance before
students on Wednesday, the show gave evidence of a successful performance. Tickets
have been on sale Ior several weeks and seals will be available -tonight at the door.
Photo by Lee Sowie
New Chief On The Job
Heading Clare Police
Clare Loses Civic Leader
In Death Of George White
,i *r
More than sixty boys from
eight years through 15 took
turns on the firing line Saturday at the first marksmanship
contest staged here by the Clare
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
The event was held at the
Army Reserve Armory on E.
Fourth street with air rifles,
ammunition and targets furnished by the Daisy Company.
JayCees hope to make the shoot
an annual affair here.
Purpose of the event was to
impress upon boys, the safe and
correct way to use a gun.
Winning in the Class A Division for boys 12 through 15
were Rick Kempher-first, Jack
Kleinhardt artd Garry Warner-
tied for second.
Places in Class B for ten and
11-year olds went to Gary Nor*
cutt-first, Terry Cooper-secand,
Mike Krell-third.
In Class C Division for boys
eight and nine years old, winners
were Ted Lewis-first, Danny Mc-
Guire-second, Steve Gallagher-
third.
Don Bell, local conservation
officer,    presented   a    movie!
Muzzle Shy, and gave a short
talk on safety with guns. Afterwards he answered questions
for the boys.
Sgt. Don Case of the Army
Reserves, gave a demonstration
of shooting positions and explained some of the army-
weapons. Warrant Officer Bill
Case and 2nd Lt, Harley Teeter,
both of the Army Reserves, acted as range safety officers and
conducted the firing range in accordance with army regulations.
All nine of the place winners
were presented with certificates
at a JayCee meeting at the Armory, Tuesday, November 11 and
on November 29 will be taken to
Grand Rapids to compete in the
State Air Rifle contest.
The JayCeec would like to express their appreciation to the
Army Reserves, Don Bell, and
to Ray Ruby, Floyd Norcutt and
Homer O'Dell who all helped on
the firing range.
The organization was pleased
with the cooperation they received from the parents of the
boys and with the enthusiasni
of the boys themselves.
George John White, a man of
countless friends and who himself probably seldom knew loneliness, left his family and friends
in grievLig emptiness when he
died suddenly here last ■ Satur
day.
He had been a life resident of
Clare where scores and hundreds
of people knew him well as
friend, civic loader, businessman,
and member of-many noteworthy clubs and organizations.
An intestinal obstruction caused his sudden illness and was
later complicated by fatal disorders.
Mr. White was a member of
the Congregatidnal Church of
Clare where he was a deacon. He
also belonged to John Q. Look
Lodge, F & AM, Bay City Consistory AASR, Clare IOOF
Knights of Pythias, Zenobia
Chapter, OES, past member of
the White Shrjne of Alma.
He took great pride in accomplishments of the. Clare Rotary
club of which he was a charter
member and past president. His
active outdoor life was the
source of his interest in the
Clare Rod and Gun club for
sportsmen. In business activity
Mr. White was honored as a past
president of the Clare Chamber
of Commerce and held a membership in the Michigan Retail
Jewelers Association.
He was owner and operator of
White's Jewelry, a Clare institution for 38 years.
Mr. White's civic achievements
included 25 years service as secretary of the Clare School Board,
and he was a former clerk of
The City of Clare.
Born in Owosso, Michigan
1893, he was the son of John and
Anna White. The family came to
Clare when Mr. White was of an
early age and he spent almost
his entire life in this city.
He was married to Pearl Grill
in December, 1916 at Toledo
Ohio. Tneir family of children
numbers a daughter, Mrs. Burton FleischhaUer of Reed City,
and two sons, Dr. John White
and Dale White both of Clare.
A very devoted family man
and father, Mr. White shared
all aspects of his life with those
closest to him. His sons were
frequent companions in the outdoors and his eight grandchildren were his delight. His kind
and considered advice Was often
sought in matters of concern in
his children's families.
Survivors in the immediate
family besides Mrs, White and
their children are a brother, Edward White, Clare, and a sister
Mrs. Florence White Gay, East
Lansing.
Funeral services for Mr. White
were held Tuesday in the Clare
Congregational Church Where a
very great many friends attend*
ed to pay last respects. Floral
tributes were profuse and attest*
cd to the esteem in which he
was held. The arrangements
were in charge of t Stephenson
F'uneral Home- with services conducted by Rev. Hugh Kennedy,
Congregational pastor, and Rev.
Harold Watson of Grand Ledge,
former pastor in Clare. Burial
was in Cherry Grove Cemetery.
GEORGE  J.   WHITE
Contestant
For State
Sweetheart
Miss Ruth Janet Schroeder
with her parents returned Sunday from Grand Rapids where
she had been a contestant for
The title of DeMolay Sweetheart
of Michigan at the organization's
State convention. Previous to
the convention, she had been
chosen DeMolay Chapter Sweetheart in Clare and had won district honors in competition at
Mt. Pleasant.
State winner was Miss Schroe-
der's roommate at Grand Rapids, Miss Kay Lee, a high school
senior from Pontiac.
The convention Was attended
by delegate Chuck Shayler, of
Clare and others making the
"rip were Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Schroeder and Mr. and Mrs. Ken
Roe.
More than 700 boys from all
parts of the state were in attendance with highlights of the
three-day session including election of state officers, degree
work, and the annual banquet
where all Sweetheart candidates
were presented and interviewed
before the assembly.
Your Boy
And Military
Service
"Your Boy and His Military
Service", will be the general
theme of the evening when W.
R. Catton speaks to the Clare
P.T.A. Monday evening November 17.
Dr. Catton is a chaplain in the
Naval Reserve, and has served
with the Navy In both World
Wars.
Also a report* on the Opinion-
aires will be given at this
meeting.
November 9 through the 15th
is National Education Week and
the P-TA urges every citizen to
take the opportunity to visit
schools.
Teen Town
Quits For Lack
Of Interest
About four weeks ago the Teen
Town Board gave "mimeographed
sheets to all the teen agers at a
school assembly. This sheet con-
taind the question, "I am or am
not in. favor of a Teenage Recreation Center in Clare . These
sheets "did not have to be signed,
"it was also mentioned in the
sheet that the response to this
questionaire would to a large extent determine the future operation of Teen Town.
i The response to this questlon-
1 aire according to the Teen Town
rBoard was extremely disappointing. From a distribution of about
490 sheets, only 40 were returned.
Of these forty, five were not
in favor of the project. This
represents about an 8% or less
interest in this project by the
parents and teenagers.
After much consideration by
the Teen Town Board, it has
been decided that there is not
sufficient interest either for or
against this project to justify
the time and effort on the part
of the board. It was not the
opposition of the five replies that
•were received but the extreme
indifference and apathy on the
part of 92% of the teen agers and
their parents who neglected to
answer this simple questionaire.
This project was operated last
year more or less on a trial
basis by a small group who composed the Teen Town Board. It
was the opinion of the board
that the trial was successful and
worth continuing. However, after
the demonstrated indifference to
this project, the present board
decided to discontinue Teen
Town indefinately.
Before closing this report the
Teen Town Board would like to
thank all those who contributed
both time and money; to make the
operation last year a success. The
board wishes to thank especially
Mrs. Arthur Thayer for handling
the difficult task of providing the
chaperones and also to those who
chaperoned, and also the Beta
Sigma. Phi Sorority for providing
drapes for the windows, and
those who contributed furniture.
To the teen agers the board
wishes to commend them most
highly for their over all good conduct and help. With One or two
minor exceptions the Aboard was
most pleased with the good manners and integrity of the teen
agers who came to Teen Town
last year. The Junior Board of
Teen Town was especially helpful in the operation of this project.
In the event that some organization in Clare would like to
take over the operation of Teen
Town this, year, the board will
hold uip dissolving the non-profit
corporation for one month. If no
offers are forthcoming during
that time, the board will continue
with the absolution of the corporation. The building 'has been
redecorated inside and with a
good cleaning would be ready
for operation.
Garfield Sets
Vote Record
Clinton (Jake) Case, Garfield
township supervisor is proud of
the voting record of citizens
there after the November 4
election when 251 residents of
Garfield went to the polls. Jake
has said that it is a source of
pride to him, and should be to
each one in the township to
think that .the unit set a nev
voting record with the large
turnout.
"I would like to say, as your
supervisor that we are proud as
we can be to think that we have
so many loyal supporters." He
said that other members of the
township Board joined him in
the satisfaction and pride.
More than 81% of the registered electors voted in the county's
southwest township and Jake
avers that whether the results
were as an individual liked, or
not doesn't matter as much as
the fact that citizens were making the effort for the good of
the community.
EDITOR'S LETTERBOX
Residents Air Views
On Hot Police Affair
Wilfred (Bill) Skidmore who
became Clare's police chief on
Monday this week is the new
head of a Department just settling itself after an upheaval
which in the past ten days saw
the dismissal of one officer, the
resignation of another, and the
WILFRED SKIDMORE
New   Chief  of  Clare Police
To the Editor:
If Clare city employees think
they need to organize for "protection" against the town which
employs them, — their home
town, then it is time for Clare to
label this behavior unnecessary
and provoking and support whatever is being done to preserve
city government in the best interests of all. In my opinion,
city workers have laid down
battle lines between themselves
and their fellow townspeople
and now employ outsiders in a
campaign of hostility.
CIO interference in local affairs is as ominous cloud on our
scene. Perhaps now, "no larger
than a man's hand", the cloud if
not wiped out will grow to
smother our town with harmful
domination.
It is time now for the showdown to see whether city labor
affairs shall rest in the hands of
local work'ers and the city's
eltcjed representatives on the
Commission, or shall be seized
by outsider labor elements.
Signed,
"Clare First"
Bank Club
Distributing
Xmas Checks
J. Stuart Bicknell, president of
the Citizens State Bank, announced Wednesday that distribution of the bank's 1958 Christmas Club funds would be made
on November 15.
On that date, checks will be
placed in the mail to 453 members
of the club for amounts totaling
$33,091.50, Mr. Bicknell stated.
The distribution being made
to the 1958 Christmas Club members amounted to an increase of
some $4,000.00 over that distributed to 1957 members and will
provide funds, set aside toy those
members, tfor not only Christmas ipurchases, tout for anticipated year end expanses and
other purposes.
It is anticipated that much of
the funds will be spent in Clare
among Clare merchants.
The bank is now. enrolling
members for its 1959 Christmas
Club.
Ferris Band
To Be Honored
The Ferris Institute Marching
Band will be honored Sunday
when they willbe featured at
the half time of the Lions Football game in Detroit. They will
dedicate their new marching
song, and also have a special
display of talent and show during that time.
Jack Mair, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Donald Jones of Clare, and
3 student at Ferris Institute, is
a member of the band, and will
be privileged to have a part in
the day's event.       _      _
To the Editor:
I am a taxpayer in the City
of Clare and' would like to know
just what kind of City Management and Commissioners we
have serving us. I would like
the following questions answered as would many others. We as
taxpayers have the right to these
answers and expect them.
1. What police officer was on
duty the night the call came in
about the teenage fight going on
in a restaurant located between
Clare and Farwell? Also, what
officer was driving the police
car?
2. Is the party who is releasing all these news reports to
local and non-local reporters
sure the State Police were not
notified concerning the aforementioned fight?
3. How long does it take for a
person or persons to become seriously injured or even killed
when a gang fight breaks out?
4. Would the same charges
have been leveled if a son or
daughter of a City Official had
been injured? Is there any reason why an injury could not
have occured to your or my child
during the ten to fifteen minutes
it took the State Police to arrive
if the Clare Police had failed to
break it up?
As I stated above, we   expect
answers to the above questions,
Signed,
"Taxpayer"
Methodists
To Hear
Guest Speaker
The guest preacher at the
Clare Methodist Church next
Sunday morning and evening
will be Rev. Roy Smyres of New
York City.
At the 10:00 a.m. service the
theme will be, "And Seeing the
Multitudes.", In the evening the
theme will be "Methodist Mis-
pions Around the World" illustrated by a collection of beautiful kodachrome color slides.
Rev. Smyres is on the staff of
the Methodist Board of World
Missions and has served in Africa as a missionary. While serving in the Congo in Africa he
made a trip of 1300 miles With
800 miles of it on foot.
In his present position he has
done a great deal of traveling
visiting several countries in connection with the world wide missionary program. Last year he
traveled around the world visiting in twenty different countries.
The pictures he will show Sunday evening were taken on this
last globe-encircling trip.
Because so many Protestant
churches are engaged in missionary work in the Various
countries visited by Rev. Smyres,
the pictures to be shown Sunday
evening at 7:30 o'clock, should
have a wide appeal and We are
extending a most cordial invitation to the public to attend
these services of the church*
step down of veteran police
officer William Cook, former
head of the Department.
Chief Skidmore was appointed
to the job by City Manager Clarence Gum and his name will
come up before the City Commission for confirmation at
Monday's regular meeting. *
Present uniformed members of
the Department are William Bell
and former Chief William Cook,
both with several years experience as Clare policemen.
Gone are Gordon Smith, dismissed last Monday by Mr. Guten,
and Ray; Shoe who resigned this
week to take a job on the Mt.
Pleasant police force.
The new Chief is a professional
law enforcement officer of more
than 26 years experience. He began with the Wyandotte, Michigan
Police Department as a patrolman in 1930 and quit the Department to retire in 1956.
According to his record, Skid-
more had risen through the 45-
man Wyandotte Department
from patrolman to traffic and
scout-car assignments and the
police detective bureau, finally to
lieutenant in tlie uniform
division.
Having a cottage near Beulah,
he took a job as Assistant Chief
of Police at Frankfort where he
has been since August, 1957- until he came to Clare. He and
Mrs. Skidmore moved to Clare
last week.
One of the first actions by the
new Chief was the scheduling of
eight-hour work shifts for officers who had been burdened
with overtime duty while the
force was short handed. Applications were being taken from men
to fill the vacancy on the Department.
Ex-chief Cook returned to duty
after talking with his successor
early this week. He ibrings valuable experience anq enjoys wi&e
confidence among people here for
whom he has served as police
officer more than six years.
CHS Handed
Fourth Loss
In Last Tilt
Clare High School's Pioneer
football team finished one of
their most unsuccessful seasons
in recent years Saturday night
with a loss to Sacred Heart
Academy   of Mt.  Pleasant, 20-6.
Consoling the hapless Green
and White players is the memory of two victories, both in
front of home crowds, and the
knowledge that their losses were
inflicted by good teams.
The 1958 record is complete
with two wins, four defeats and
one tie.
On the Academy field Saturday the Irish drew first blood
when their Jim Fox toted the
ball around end for a fleet 14-
yard dash into Clare's end zone.
Fox kicked the placement for
an extra point.
Clare returned to almost even
the score in the second quarter
when Doug Young drove over
from the one yard line to cap
a sustained march and tally six
points. The try for point after
tlie touchdown was no good.
Fox for Sacred Heart showed
scoring wizardry when he added
thirteen more points to pull
away from the Pioneers and ice
fhe victory. Resuming in the
latter part of the second period,
Fox pulled in a lateral pass on a
razzle-dazzle play which cleared
him for a fast-stepping 35-yard
scoring run, The try for point
failed, but another touchdown
came on a Fox plunge over
Clare's goal from the two yard
line. Fox again added the point
to end the scoring.
The Pioneers total of 13 first
down's was one more than
Academy collected, but they
were outgained 312 to 284.
Deep Plowing
Doesn't Pay
Most Michigan farmers Probably won't find deep plowing a
paying proposition. Higher till'
age costs are not offset by bigger
yields, say Michigan State University soil scientists.