1961-03-30; Clare Sentinel

              1 jtIjo
SENTINEL
Established 1878
Ten Cents Copy
THE CLARE SENTINEL/ CLARE. MICHIGAN
MARCH 30, 1961
New Series, Vol. 69, No. 29
School Forced
, 5th Grades
Next year's fourth and fifth
graders in Clare Public Schools
will attend half-day classes as
the answer to the Elementary
Department crowding that has
gone beyond the point of other,
less undesirable solutions. The
district School Board spent
three- hours in a special meeting"
Tuesday evening trying to find a
way through a maze of difficulties surrounding the problem and
finally reached agreement on the
half-day classes.
Two hundred and sixty youngsters in the two grades will be
affected.
In, effect, the answer1 this week
had been 'dictated by past failures in attempts to provide new
classroom units .to relieve the
space shortage. A proposal to
add to the school plant and remodel the existing Elementary
building has met repeated defeat at school district elections.
Wilfred F. Clapp, Assistant
Superintendent of Public Instruction for Michigan, a special consultant at the meeting told the
Board, "You have to make the
decision whether the education
of children will be better served
by half-day classes than by continued classroom crowding that
can reach the point of absurdity." He reminded them that
school overpopulation was dangerous when building exits could
no longer handle the numbers of
children, and when fresh air
supplies are taxed.
These factors were considered
in addition to the obvious shortcomings in a situation where
pupil groups grow too large to
be taught and supervised by
their teacher.
It was noted that in the current school year the elementary
building is already containing
164 students beyond capacity
with all available space in use.
J!c?& the'-^uool Is- faced with
more enrollment next year.
Attending the meeting with
the full Board and Superintendent Richard Wheeler be-
High School Principal Richard
Snyder and Elementary Principal David Donovan who took
part in discussions relating to
their departments.
Study of at least nine different "escape" -solutions were
summarized in the meeting be-
Sore the motion to retreat to the
half-day class plan was approved.
Dismissed by the Board as impractical, or not providing a
complete answer were alternative suggestions, including:
1. Move the seventh and
eighth grades to the new high
school building. — An answer
was that not enough extra space
in the elementary building would
be gained by the move, and it is
undesirable to interfere with operations in the new building if
the idea does not produce a complete answer to the problem in
elementary quarters.
2. Create classroom space by
remodeling elementary gym. —
This suggestion met disfavor on
the grounds that the remodeling
is too expensive and would
probably be vetoed on the
grounds that it would add to a
danger associated with insufficient exit facilities.
3. Eliminate kindergarten. —
The Board learned that complications would arise through state
law that would require the
School to admit tots to the first
grade at the age of five years
and result in a downgrading of
the whole system to give kindergarten level training in the first
grade thus reducing the system
of grade instruction by almost
one whole step,
4. Conduct ten to 12-hour class
sessions daily. — The thought
behind longer class days was
that the building could accommodate the, high enrollment -if
students attended in "shifts",
but transportation, administrative and teacher salary costs
would be greatly increased in-
such a plan and consideration
was dropped for this and other
reasons.
5. Send students to classes outside the regular school plant' —
-vThe Board turned to examination
of the Clare Methodist Church
School building as the most likely place to be used on a lease,
or rental" basis temporarily. It
was found that the building did
not promise approval by state
authorities because of inadequate
emergency exits and toilet and
playground .facilities for public
school use. The cost of improvements and building maintenance
were estimated as beyond the
limits of the public school op">
^rational budget*
6. Four-quarter plan. — The
suggestion to use existing facilities through a full year and
gain a 25 percent student capacity was attacked by arguments
on two points. The experience of
other districts which have tried
the four-quarter plan indicated
it has been found to be not practical. "It makes sense to mostly
people who have no children in
school,'' was one Board member's
comment. Criticism was that
Continued on Page 8
Rural-Urban
Dinner Set
For April 4
The gymnasium of the Clare
High School will be the scene of'
the annual Farm Bureau Rural-
Urban dinner on Tuesday evening, April 4th. Each ' Farm
Bureau member will be inviting
a business or professional* friertd
from town as his guest. All Farm
Bureau members are urged to return their reservation cards immediately so that the committee
can plan for seating and food.
The Clare County Farm Bureau
Board met at the home of Mr,
and Mrs.; Roy Hammersley Monday evening, March 27, and approved final plans for the dinner.
The board also planned a
campaign to inform the voters
of Clare County why a '"No"
vote on the coming Con-Con is
to the advantage of the people
of Michigan-
Easter In Churches
Clare and area churches are
ready for Easter Weekend worshippers in the annual rites on
Maundy Thursday tonight, Good
Friday Tre Ore ceremonies tomorrow and joyous Easter celebrations on Sunday with special
music, pageantry and pulpit
messages of hope and victory.
Clare Church Of
The Nazarene
Easter services begin irt a
giant Sunday School rally Sunday at 10:00 with each choir participating in a special program.
Church at 11:00 will * be conducted by pastor J. D. Uirich. The
last of his Lenten series, "Crucial
Hours With Jesus" is titled, "The
Hour of Glorification". The public
is invited to both services.
Dover Baptist Church
A Good Friday worship service
will be held at 7:30 p.m. and
Pastor Duane McNeil's sermon
title is "The Son Of God". Special
music is to be provided by Rev.
and Mrs. Don Chappel, of Harrison.
An, Easter sunrise service * at
6:00 a.m. Sunday will have special: music, congregational singing,
arid the pastor's sermon, *"He
3 1vSrett* At 11:00 a.m.*Easte> there
will be more special music and
the sermon message, "The Love
Of God".
St. Cecilia's
Tonight at 7:30 Catholics will,
attend an evening Mass at St.
Cecilia's in the beginning of
weekend observances of the
Easter period. Children's Confessions were announced for
10:00 this morning and Confessions are to be heard before and
after the Mass tonight.
Good Friday Communion -Service is to be held tomorrow at
12 o'clock noon and Confessions
announced for prior to the service and again at 7:30 in the evening. On Saturday Confessions
are to be heard from 3:00 to 5:00
and the Easter Virgil will commence at 7:30 in the evening.
Two Masses are scheduled for
Easter morning with the first at
7:30 and a ceremonial High
Mass at 10:30. The adult choir
will perform special numbers
under-the direction of Mrs, Rita
Murphy and Mrs. Sally Murphy.
Eagle Church Of God
A _ sunrise Easter service is to
be.at 6:30 and in charge of the
young people of the church.
Breakfast will be served immediately following the service. Bible
School will be held at the 10:30
hour with Verhe Hams, superintendent.
At the Easter morning service
at 11:30, the pastor, Rev, Lou
Beery will preach the sermon,
"Christ Is Risen" and a choir
number is titled, "He Shall
Reign". Evangelistic services begin at 8:00 Easter night and continue. nightly for two weeks.
Arthur Center Church Of God
The Easter church service will
be conducted by Rev, Elza Beery
who will preach on, MThe Risen
Christ". The anthem title is, "He
Reigns", Bible School at 10:30 is
under the direction of Ruth
Coats, superintendent.
Elm Grove Church Of God
Easter worship is at 10:30 with
Rev. Elza Beery preaching, "The
Risen Christ" and Superintendent
Arthur Dull leading Bible School
at 11:45.
Clare Methodist Church
Tonight, Maundy Thursday,
there will be Holy Communion
and the reception- of new members at 8:00. o'glock* The chancel
"choir will have special ittusio.
Easter Sunday will again feature two services, one at 8:30 and
at .11:00. Rev. Salisbury will
preach on the topic, "A Morning
to Remember". Members and
friends unable to attend services
are reminded of the broadcast
hour at 11:30, and are invited to
tune in to radio station WCRM
990. The Sunshine and Youth
choirs will furnish music for the
8:30 service and the Chancel
choir, at 11:00.
There will be no Sunday evening service, nor will the Commissions or church board have
their monthly meeting this week.
The Methodist Youth Fellowship will have an Easter Sunrise
Breakfast at the church at 6:30
a.m.
Colonville Church Of God
An Easter sunrise service is
scheduled at Colonville for 6:00
a.m. when Rev. Virgil Brinkman
will preach with the sermon title.
"Christ On The Ernmaus Road".
The annual breakfast is to be
served after the service. The
public is invited.
Continued on Page 8
Good Friday Services
The annual Community Good Friday service will be from
1:30-2:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Clare Methodist Church. The
service is sponsored by the Clare County Ministerial Association and is one of three held throughout the county. The offering at these services goes to the work of the Ministerial Association in helping needy people and supporting Christian causes.
This year the Rev. Lee Sickal, minister of the Church of
God will give the sermon, while other local ministers will take
various parts of the service. An anthem will be provided by the •
Methodist Church Choir.
SEVEN CHURCHES
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
EAGLE CHURCH OF GOD
12:55 p.m. Instrumental Prelude — by youth of the churches,
1:00 p.m. Congregational Hymn, "When I Survey"
•Invocation, Pastor McNeil
Welcome, Pastor E. Beery
Special Selection -r- "On A Rugged Hill",       Colonville Church
Responsive Reading, led by Rev- Mrs. Beery
Special Selection — "Why", Arthur Center Church
Special Selection, * Dover Church
Reading — "Simon of Cyrene", - Lynn Metner
Special Selection — "Saw Ye My Saviour",      Herrick Mennonite
Congregational Hymn — "The Old Rugged Cross"
Prayer, Pastor Brinkman
Special Selection — "On Yonder Cross", Eagle Church
Offering (For Clare Co. Ministerium)
in charge of Pastor E. Beery
Special Selection — "How Can I Help But Love Him",
Brown U.B. Church
Presentation.of Speaker, Pastor Hull
Message, Pastor Schade
Special Selection — "He Lives", Elm GrOve Church
Benediction, « Pastor Hull-
Cooperating Churches: Arthur Center, Colonville, Eagle
and Elm Grove Churches of God.; Brown Corners U.B.; Dover
Church; and Herrick Mennonite Church,
No Reason /
**
For Attack,
Suicide      "?.
Wesley Oliver; 95 year-old room?
er in the home of Mr. and'.-MrsJ
Earl Marshall near.Loomis shot,
and wounded Mrs, Marshall Fri'!
day evening of last week,.and:
then killed himself with a second
blast from the112-gauge shotgun-
There was no apparent reason* for
the attack.
Mrs. Marshall is'in improving
condition at Clare General Hosk
pital where she is being treated,
She lost two fingers and the
thumb of her left hand and s'uf-
fered other pellet wounds.
State Police said Mrs. Marshall;
told them there was no apparent
reason for the attack., which ocur-
red in the living room of the
Marshalls' rural home.
She said that when she saw
Oliver approaching with the shotgun, she told him, "Don't point'
that gun at anyone, it might be.
loaded". Then she was suddenly
struck by the charge. *
Oliver was a familiar figure in
towns of the area where, he sold
garden vegetables, from door to
door. An auto accident some time
ago ruined his ancient pickup
truck and prevented him from
driving any longer. He was injured some in the mishap.
Judy Ann Marshall, 15, was
the only other person iri the hoi|se
with her mother and Oliver. Mrs.
Marshall's husband, Earl, 60, was
at work at the Dow Chemical GO.
in Midland when the shootings
occurred about 8 p.m.
The Marshalls purchased the
farm home from Oliver a little
more than- a year ago but "Oliver continued to live there so
the Marshalls could care for him,
police said.
Mrs. Marshall said there had
been no arguments or difficulties
with the old man.
Judy told police she saw Oliver
in the hall carrying the gun as
she came downstairs,, then heard
a -shot. Finding - her mother
wounded; 'she telephoned for, an;
ambulance, then heard the second
shot.
,   She found Oliver dead in the
pantry at the rear of the house.
Complete
Red Gross
Aid Course
A five week course in Red
Cross Standard First Aid was
completed Friday evening, March
24 at the Delwin Grange Hall.
The following people completed
the course. Miss Lorraine McDonald, Miss Joyce Jourdain,
Earl Hacker, Mrs. Barbara Hacker, Mrs. Vivian Vanos, Mrs. Edna
Dixon, Mrs. Ada Tater, Mrs.
Evelyn Cowden, Mrs. Dorothy
Jourdain, Mrs. Francis Brickner
and Cecil Epple. Others completing this Red Cross training are:
Mrs. Aiiene Epple, Mrs. Anna
Calkins, Mrs. Donna Prout, Mrs.
Josephine Cluley, Mrs. Jane Ou-
derkirk, Mrs. Clara Jones, Mrs.
Joyce McDonald, Mrs. Allen McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Doren.
Mrs. Charles Doren, speaking
on behalf of the group told Red
Cross officials that the community residents enjoyed their participation in the course. She
stated that the class was particularly appreciative of the instructor, Trooper James Thomas, who
taught this class in cooperation
with the Michigan State Police
and the Isabella County Chapter,
American Red Cross.     '
Friday's class, marking the
completion of the Standard First
Aid Training, was particularly
enjoyed as the group had a pot
luck supper at the Grange Hall.
It is hoped that this group will
continue their training next fall
with the Red Cross Advanced
First Aid course.
Contest Entries
Entries by the dozen in the
contest to name the lake which
will be created by the restoration
of the dam on the old millpond
site haVe come to The Sentinel
office for the committee ■ tb
judge. Ken Barnes, chairman reminds school students =in the
public and St. Cecilia's classes
that a $25. savings bond is the
prize for the name Selected. Letters or postcards can be addressed to "Name Clare's Lake Contest" aha mailed or brought to
The Sentinel before April 10,
rs
Township Officers; Decide
Con-Con In Election Monday
Election Day issues and candidates, waiting the decision of
local voters next Monday range
from choices of Clare City Com-,
rnvissioners, in Clare and township officers and a millage tax
proposal elsewhere throughout
the county and state, to the issue
of Michigan's Constitutional
Convention. s
For Clare city voters an
eleventh- hour appearance of
write-in candidates in the commission election this week as almost parallel of the week before
the I960 city election when Mayor Gerald'Nivison and Coirimis*
sioners Albert Haley and Glen
Cain were drafted by a citizen
group,
George Wisler, retired Gas
■company manager in Clare is on
the ballot as, the only regularly
nominated candidate for one of
the three vacancies. Deadline this
month for filing petitions passed
with no.other candidate qualifying.
sts
Welcome
New Pastor
The Clare Baptise Church
this week announced the arrival
here of a new pastor to fill their
pulpit, vacant since the departure of Rev.' Schut, last year.
Rev. Harold Knickerbocker with
Mrs. Knickerbocker and their
family assumed pastoral duties
in Clare and moved into the parsonage at 209 E. Sixth .street.
? :3|ev. Knickerbocker graduated
troth, the five-year Seminary
Course of the Grand Rapids Baptist Theological Seminary in
1951. Mrs. Knickerbocker graduated from the Bible Institute
Course of the same school in
1948, and also studied music at
the Moody Bible Institute previously.
"During eleven years of ministry at the North Casnovia Baptist Church, much has been accomplished. He began there in
the Fall of 1949 while,yet a seminary student, 'with an attendance of eight at the morning worship and fifteen in Sunday
School. , __	
In November 1951, they moved to the locality, renting a
farm home. Two years later a
parsonage was built adjacent to
the church, with a value of
$15,000.
Other building necessities included the construction of a new
brick building for Sunday School
and youth work,, nursery and
toddlers' room, as well as modern kitchen and pastor's study,
all completed in 1959.
Attendance during his years of
service have increased steadily
and the Sunday School average
is over 200. Church membership
has grown to 178.
' Rev. Knickerbocker has served
as chairman of the Youth Committee of the Grand Rapids Association of Regular "Baptist
Churches for two years.
Easter Services at the First
Baptist Church in Clare will be
conducted by Rev. Knickerbocker. All are welcome.
Easter Seal
Sale Lags
The Easter Seal sale is still
short of its goal and those who
have not mailed in their contributions are reminded of the
worthiness of this cause.
A Clare parent of a visually
handicapped child appearing on
the letter called in to say if the
people knew how well their
daughter was progressing iri the
study of Braille and how much
the opportunity* was appreciated
they would give more consideration to the project.
Three children appearing on
the- letter sent out by the local
chapter are from this area and
many others-are being aided by
the sale of Easter Seals.
Many wheel" chairs and Walkers are in use throughout this
area due to the local-fund.
Half of the receipts are retained here, 89% stay in Michigan. '
Girls will be on -the stj$*t$-
Saturday to sell Easter Jii\e^'    -
Write-in candidates who have
said they will accept the office
and serve if elected are incumbent member Glen Cain, David
Donovan, Clare. Public School
Elementary Principal, and Joe
Willey, employee at Holley Carburetor, Clare,
Cain and Donovan were contacted Wednesday by a group of
businessmen and residents who
urged -them to run as sticker, or
write-in campaigners and offered
backing and support for their
candidacy.. Willey, who was a
declared candidate earlier in the
week has the support of many
members of the Clare Junior
Chamber of Commerce where he
is a member,
Wisler's, name will appear On
the voting machine instruction
ballots but the choice of any of
the other three must be made by
writing his name on the tape provided, or attaching a small sticker.
Commissioner Cain was elected to his first term on the Commission last April when he won
a one-year term as a write-in
candidate. He is a local oil and
Rev. and Mrs. Harold Knickerbocker have taken up pas
toral duties for the Clare Baptist Church. Their family includes four children, Patricia, 9; Beite, 10 months; Charles,
11; Daniel, 6.  He will conduct   his first church service   in
Clare on Easter morning.
Frank Jackson To
Francis L. Jackson, postmaster
at Clare for" twenty-live years
has announced plans to retire
the last of next month shortly
after his 70th birthday. He will
reach the Department's compulsory quitting age on May 12 and
leave the office On the 31st.
Mr. Jackson was first appointed to his post in 1936 by
then President * Franklin D.
Roosevelt shortly before the
opening of the present postoffice
building. He represents the second generation in his family- to
serve Clare as postmaster, following in the position after his
father, the late John A. Jackson. Their terms were separated
only by the Service of postmasters Kirkbride and L. E. Davy.
The elder Jackson was appointed
by President Woodrow Wilson
and served for about nine years.
Ih recognition of his loyalty
and devotion to an important
service to the public, Mr. Jackson was selected for honor as
the Public Official Of The Year'
at a civic dinner at one time
during his tenure as postmaster.
The move into the new post-
office building was not the-only
changl| and progress Jackson
noted during his quarter century in the Postal Service* He
notes that postoffice business
has shown great gains in volume
during the years and rural patrons who were once served by
Seven carrier routes now need
only four. Improvement in roads
has made it possible to lengthen,
the* routes. ,
"There have been other changes constantly and I have enjoyed
the work," Jackson says.
A lifelong resident of Clare,
the retiring postmaster is a
veteran of World War I and has
been decorated with' the Order
Committees
Are Chosen
The Farwell Citizens Committee for studying the school building program met last "Tuesday at
8:00 p.m. in the high school with
55 members present. Sub-Commit
tees 4 were chosen to study the
various needs of the program and
make definite recommendations
to the Board of Education before
any action is taken.
The members-of the sub-comit-
tees were chosen by the Board of
Education, although if other;citizens are interested in working
on one of the committees,* they
may attend the next meeting
April 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the high
school,,       .   ' w - -iL	
Of The Purple Heart. While
serving in France with Company
I, Seventh Infantry of the Third
Division, he was gassed and hospitalized for 18 months,
Mrs, Belle Jackson, his wife
died two years ago and members
of his family now include a
stepdaughter, Mrs, Don Jones of
Clare, his brother Laurence
Jackson, Sr., and a sister Mrs.
Ethel Schleigel both, of Clare,
two other sisters, and neices and
nephews.
New Bank
To Start
Next Week
The Citizens State Bank, Clare,
announced this week that contracts have- been signed for construction of its new main banking office and that construction
was expected to begin in the
first week in April. The new
building, which will contain
about 6,000 square feet of main
floor area will be located on a
site 200'x200' on the northwest
corner of McEwan and. 7th
Streets, Clare, and will accommodate all of its Clare facilities.
Robert O. Nelson Construction
Company, of Ludington, . was
awarded, the general contract,
with Seiter Electric and Ackerman ' Plumbing, both of Clare,
being awarded the electrical* and
mechanical contracts.
All contractors have agreed to
use area labor and sources of
supply in completing their respective contracts', insofar as
labor and supplies are available
locally.
Completion date for the new,
fully air-conditioned building is
estimated to be November 1,
1961, at which time the bank, will
move from its .present-main office to the new building.
No plans were announced for
the use of the old bank building
except that it will be available
for other uses when the bank is
moved to its new location.
Two Fires
,The Fire Department, answered
calls this week first On Monday
four miles east of Clare on Old
US-10 where a grass blaze had
been, put out before they arrived,
and on Tuesday to the Floyd
Walters farm near Dover where
ah old barn burned. - <
The barn was reported as a
light loss since it was unused
and contained no stock or tools,.
gas producer . and a long«tim0
resident of the city,
Donovan was on the Clare
High School faculty in social-
studies for four years before his
advancement to Elementary principal in May of I960, He holds a
masters degree from the University of Michigan in school ad->
ministration and lives at 214 E.
Seventh street.
Willey has been with Holley
Carburetor since 1952 and lives
at 304 W. Sixth street Married,
he is the father of three children and is presently studying
part time at Central Michigan
University where he is a sophomore in business administration.
He is a former student at Far-
well High School.
An issue in Clare's city election is a proposal to tax property
owners three mills for water
system improvements including
a municipal iron-removal plant
and expansion 'and enlargement
of mains in the circulation system to provide better circulation
and adequate water pressure in
all sections of the city.
A campaign to acquaint electors with needs for the improvements and benefits resulting has
reminded the public that the
iron removal pland is recommended by the City Commission
as the best means of eliminating
rust and water discoloration, and
the revamping" of circulating
mains is the urgent answer to
more water pressure necessary
for health and safety.
Members of the Commission
have observed iron removal
plants in operation similar to the
plant being proposed for Clare,
and report that other towns using the plants are highly satisfied with their softer, iron-free
Water. t      .-,■-.      -'..;'v
Assisting with the    eelrilpaigtt.
in   favor of the   proposal   has
been the firm of George E. Shy.
der and Associates,   water   engineering consultants.
Townships in the area will vote
for local officers and in Clare
county a 1-mill county tax is.
proposed to build a fund for future public building improvement
or remodeling. Supervisors: voted
unanimously to put the tax proposal on the ballot with the specific projects in mind to provide
more suitable quarters iri the
county building for the Judge
of Probate, and to accumulate a
fund for the possible acquiring
of a county convalescent home.
Supervisors view it as highly
desirable to provide more privacy for Probate court affairs,
especially when minor children
and juveniles are appearing, and
the convalescent home was advocated as a saving in the care
of elderly, or welfare case patients who might better be cared
for in such a home rather than
become nursing care patients in
hospitals where costs are higher
and hospital treatment is not required.
Albert Haley, Supervisor Board
Chairman said the proposal was
favored for reasons, that it
might save county taxpapers
money by accumulating funds
before actual need and thus saving interest on a loan, and pro?
fiting the county yet more b^
earning interest as usable capital while waiting to be used for
construction. / ■
Supervisors said there was no
intention to use funds for new
construction at the county building, but considered the money as
for financing remodeling.
Opponents of the Michigan*
Constitutional Convention count-•
ed rural groups and outstate*
objectors as allies in the- fight to
prevent domination by more populous southern counties and the
loss of the minority's representation to "pressure group" control.
The Farm Bureau; State
Grange and fourteen othjer
state organizations join. in opposing ConCon and appealing for
a "No" vote on the proposal in
the April 3 election. Among the
enemies of a new constitution
which they assert would be dictated and approved by'a majority of delegates from only five
counties', are the County Roads
Assn., Michigan Retailers, Sheriffs Assn.; Association of Supervisors, Townships Assn., State
Employees' Union AFL-CIO and
others.
They argue than ConCon dele«
gates from Wayne, Oakland,
Macomb, Kertt and Genesee counties would outnumber outstate
delegates with a 57 percent majority and would control the convention. .