1962-11-15; Clare Sentinel

              I       Ten Cents Copy       Thursday, November 15, 1962
The   Clare   Sentinel
EstaljlishtH   1878
New Series,     Vol. 71.      No. 10
EONG CONTINUING FAULTS
lommission's Failure
©  Reform' Is Root
nty Road Woes
In the opinion of some
members of the Clare County Board of Supervisors
terms of County Road Commissioners should be cut
"from six years to three.
Talking to one supervisor,
you find this view backed
with seasoned, personal
judgment that a single term
as road commissioner is
not enough for an able administrator, but two or
more terms then stretch
out to 12, 18 or more years
in the office and 'that is
too long*.
Shorter terms would allow the re-appointment of
members   in best  use  of
^iSheir ability, —and yet not
make such re-appointment
tie up the post for 12 years.
While he spoke as an
individual,the supervisor's i
arguments are respecteu
and regarded as frequently
expressing a majority view
on the whole County Board.
One thing seems evident—supervisors holding
the authority for appointment of Road Commissioners feel a large weight of
responsibility when the
Commission comes under
^~c!Fiticism!
The changes that started
with recent personnel
replacement on the 3-man
road agency, and that may
carry further, are evidence
of a stirring toward
reforms that supervisors
hone for and expect.
A new Road Commission
chairman to succeed Avery
Barber will be elected in
January, and if other
changes are due, they will
begin then;
Over the past ten years,
filed reports after annual
examinations of the books
and records ui  the  Road
w-Commission show that
there has been a continuing
struggle to persuade the
county Board to follow
acceptable money accounting practices, to maintain
suitable inventories and
account for " material
transfers", - to audit all
claims properly, - and to
file vouchers or other
evidence when expense
money was paid out even
to commissioners themselves. The Commission
has continually drawn fire
for laxity in correcting
improper procedures.
* *- In 1955 the then State
Auditor General, Victor
Targonski " requested "
Clare County Prosecutor
Robert Campbell     to,
"direct" the Road Commission to comply with the
law in regards to accounting and reporting records.
There may have been
results from this strong
appeal because reports improved for some time after
that audit.
But later audits brought
varying   comments,   sOihe
I fetter and some not so good
f/tfhtil the latest one in
September of this year.
What has gone before
has a bearing on the
present problem only so
far as it shows practices
and trends in the Commission business that contin
ually bring criticism from
superiors who are charged
with overseeing proper
accounting from the tax
spending department of
Clare county.
Quotes from later State
reports read: (1956)
"Claims for travel expenses by a member_of the
County Road Commission
should be audited and
approved for payment by
the Board of Supervisors.
Practice in this county has
been for the Road Commission to approve their own
members'   claims   .   .   "
In 1957," . . Payments
for items purchased were
not always at the price,
quoted by the successful
bidder. Proper procedure
where  changes are made
Pushing
Work On
Classrooms
Work on new additions
to Clare Public School
buildings is progressing
with floors,partitions and
interior finishing now
underway. The report on
the project was given to
to Board of Education al
the last regular meeting
on Monday of this week by
Clark Ackley,architect.
Other business at the
meeting included notice
that a teaching contract
has been signed for David
Gloss, a replacement in
the high school math
department for Marilyn
Barry. Gloss will begin
at the opening of the new
cseiii-cSter.
The purchase of a new
car for Driver Training
is planned. New car dealers will be given an opportunity to provide a car if
they wish.
The School District will
i borrow money against State
\ Aid payments. $67,500 is
needed the Board decided.
A 10,000-gallon fuel oil
tank that is no longer
needed by the school is
going to- be sold along with
about 3,500 gallons of fuel
oil in it. Prospective purchasers should contact the
office of Superintendent
Richard Wheeler.
In the line of athletics,
the announcement was
made that a ninth football
game may be added to the
1963 schedule if possible.
If the game is added, it
will make four home games
and five on the road for the
Pioneers.
Yam Mart
Open House
Ciaie's newest business
The Yarn Mart enjoyed a
successful open house in
the location at 601 1/2
McEwan, former site of
the City Library below
Maxwell's Gift Shop.
^ A unique feature of the
interior arrangement of the
Mart was a "Paris Sidewalk Cafe" section with
tables for future knitting
classes and the examining
of pattern books. Green
of many plants and growing
vines are repeated in
colors of walls, and mahogany furnishings add rich
appearance.
Owner, Mrs. Frieda
Tate highlighted a display
of 13 handmade sweaters,
six by herself and seven
others loaned for the
opening by the Spinnerin
¥arn company. Coffee and
refreshments were served
patrons  on   opening  day.
The Mart specializes in
yarns of all types and
instruction bodks and knitting kits.
Enlisting Aid for Kids' Christmas
To scores  of children well done,
whose Christmas this year       We have  seen"Christ-
is going to be happier be-, mas     at     work    already
cause  ot  unexpected gifts preparing   for distribution
and     surprises,    it won't
matter  nor perhaps  ever
after bids were submitted,
is to refuse all bids and
readvertise, Bidders
should be required „ to
deliver according to adver-
vertised specifications .."
In 1959 the audit noted
that Avery Barber and Fred
Jones as members of the
County Road Commission
were overpaid in the respective amounts of $200.
and $175. because of
absfciise from meetings.
"Upon being advised of the
apparent overpayments,we
were assured by Mr. Jones
and Mr. Barber they would
repay . .    "
In 1961, " Despite
request of three years
standing we find the (continuing) personal use and
inadequate control of road
equipment during this audit
period. We direct(it) be
completely and immediately discontinued and that
adequate controls be established to prevent this
practice from recurring,"
And again concerning
failure to advertise for bids
on purchase of items
costing more than $1,000
State auditors said,"Our
1958 report also directed
the Com mission's attention
to its failure to-advertise
for bids when required.
However (two) foregoing
examples clearly show a
failure to follow the statutory requirements on bids
three years later."
Inventory control •was
called lacking in the charge
of 45 steel fence posts
to " primary and local
i maintenance" on a 50-50
basis because they "disappeared" from stock and
no one could account for
their proper use.
The urgency "in which
auditors - viewed the need
for correction of Road
Commission procedures is
revealed by a change in
language of the notes from
the former use of "we
recommend" and "we
request," to stonger terms
in the 1961 comments such
as "we specifically direct"
and "certain matters
reported have been referred to the attention of the
Attorney General . . ".
Criticisms in the annual
reports of the Road
Commission have been the
subject of Sentinel articles
in recent weeks to bare the
problem before those who
are most entitled toknow,-
the public. The articles
started after hints that the
Supervisors voted a change
in Commission officeholders because the reports
indicated that a re-organization was needed.
be known where the gifts
came from. But for un-i
counted workers and unselfish givers who made the
gifts for the sake of child-
rens happiness, it is
reward enough to feel a
little satisfaction for a job
of toys, clothing and gifts
in time for unexpected
cheer at holiday time
"Christmas" is the
title of an organization of
united effort to collect gift
material for children.
Headed by Tony Wedal and
enlisting the time,money
and  spirit  of many organ
izations and groups in the
Clare area, it's only aim
is to spread cheer and
happiness among children
in the Clare school district
whose holiday might otherwise be disappointing or
cold or hungry.
To help "Christmas"
women of Beta Sigma Phi
sorority are preparing
outfits of new-condition
clothing for children. Here
is   what   the   sorority   is
Citizens State Bank Adds
Trust Powers to Full Service
J. Stuart Bicknell,pres-
ident , Citizens State Bank,
announced this week that
the bank has been granted
authority to exercise full
trust powers, effective
November "6, 1962. Authorization to exercise trust
powers was provided by
both the Michigan State
Banking Department and by
the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System in communications
received by the bank this
week.
Trust powers, which
will enable the bank to act'
as a trustee under instruments of trust, executor or
administrator of estates,
registrar of stocks and
bonds, guardians of estates
of minors or incompetent
persons, and to act as agent
for the transaction of business in the management
of estates, and other fiduciary capacities will complete the many banking services heretofore
only available In metropolitan areas, and the Clare
bank is the only financial
institution in this immediate central Michigan area
authorized to render such
complete financial services, Mr. Bicknell stated.
The bank, organized as
a state bank in March, 1909
.will complete its 54th year
of uninterrupted service,
to the community next
March 10th, occupied its
newly built, modern banking quarters at Seventh and
McEwan Streets about one
year ago, and operates
a branch office in Rosebush.
- Frank LaGoe, vice
president of the bank since
195.3 nas beet: named, trust
officer, . to handle the
administrative functions in
rendering the expanded
services.
Remedies
Expected At
Sentinel
Of all the readers of
The Sentinel who are impatient to see better print
quality promised in offset
methods, newspaper staffers' are probablyjiie most..
In the few"" weeks since
the first offset issue,soma
improvement week- by -
week has been noticable
but the Sentinel is first to
admit the gains are too
little and too slow.
Remedies of new kinds
are being undertaken this
weekend and it is hoped
that smudgy sheets and
other faulty reproduction,
can be eliminated. Ready
for installation will be improved parts of the press
to present page quality of
more black and white
"snap" and clarity.
Experienced offset
printers say that final desired quality cannot be
attained in a shorter time.
SOBOBITY WOMEN members ot Beta Sigma Phi have hit on a share-the-effort
scheme to help them kids enjoy a merrier
Christmas by asking- donations of "sets" of
clothing' for either boys or girls, and packett
as complete as donors can make them. Mrs.
Helen Anderson (1) and Josephine Koch
arranged a display in the Clare Furniture
Co. store of one sample set for a girl size
four.
doing and what anyone else
can do to help the project:
Clothing of all kinds and
even shoes is being
assembled in    outfits,
accoraing to size, and
packed or boxed in units
co give to children.Beta
Sigs say that they will give
only clean, or - new-
condition garments and
they think the public will
agree that garments worn
too badly, dirty or button-
less are not acceptable as
gifts.
In the interest of better
organization for the project
the donor's own assembly
of, say--socks, underwear,
sweaters, coat or jacket,
cap, mittens, and maybe
shoes should be all for
a boy or girl of any age.
The size or age should be
marked on the package.
The system is better
organized than last year
when armloads of clothing
was collected like rummage and sorority members didn't have enough
time to sort, fold and
prepare the donations for
presentable gifts. In asking
for donations of gift units
in simple outfits marked
for either boy or girl, and
everything of a size for
one youngster, time will be
saved for better systematic
distribution of the
presents.
Many contributors to the
Beta Sigs' projects are including at least some brand
new articles in original
wrappings, such as shirts,
or blouses, socks, underwear or the like.
Clare Civitans are
engaged in a separate club
project of their own under
the general direction of fhe
"Christmas" leaders. Literally barnsful of used toys
are being re-built and
painted and made like new
again for holiday giving to
area youngsters.
Bicycles for boys^and
girls, and 50 dolls ate the
major items that'will find
their way to some' child's
heart atyuletime. But there
are hundreds of other
things like rocking horses
toy -furniture,
and   a     full
Shepard
New Chief
Of Police
Announcement of the
appointment of a new Clare
Police Chief came this
week, when officer Milan
Shepard was promoted to
the post. The new Department head took his badge
and desk on Tuesday, after
the departure of former-
chief William Bell who
retired to enter private
business.
Chief Shepard has been,
a Clare police officer two
years during which time he
has earned the respect of
fellow officers for his
ability and attention to
duty. He is proud of the
fact that he is regarded as
a "strict" policeman, but
still able to maintain
genuinely friendly relations with townspeople,—
especially young people.
Shepard is 30 years old,
married and has a family
of three daughters. Mrs.
Shepard is Delores, and
their children are Diana
Lynn, Robin Mae, and
Kelly Sue,
Plans for the administration of Clare's Police
Department are for the
chief to spend a part of
his time in necessary desk
work, but to "be a policeman too". Shepard says
this means that he wants
to keep in personal touch
with the street work and
public contacts.
The new chief once had
ambitions   to   be   a  State
Police      trooper    but
couldn' t make the minimum
weight until he passed the
age at which recruits are
accepted.    He's no "lightweight"   as a Clare police
man,  however,  borne  out
by a record of good co-op
eration from other officers
and  better  than  average
success      in     preventing
trouble and solving crimes.
He has already cemented good relations with the
Clare   county  sheriff  and
State   Police   at   the   Mt.
action toys] Pleasant      post,   —two
Santa- likej agencies   that   are   ready
assortment  of things that and   able    to    help   make
will make young eyes bright'Clare     law    enforcement
OPEBATION "CHBiSTMAS" in Clare is
getting all-out co-operation from Civitans
who are contributing time and cash to help
see that no child in the Clare school district
goes without a happier holiday. Sorting
some of the toys to be renewed and given
away here are (from I.) Jim Cook, Bob
Giles, C. E. "Doughy" Foss, and Cal Foss
representing the club's all-member participation in the project. The co-operation of
many groups is told in a story on this page.
Sentinel photos.
Clinic Head
P-TA Speaker
Dr. Archie McKinnon,
director of the Central
Michigan Child Guidance
Clinic will be speaker on
the program at the Clare
P-TA Monday evening in
the all-purpose room of
the high school. Starting
time for the meeting is
8:00 p.m.
Dr. McKinnon's topic is
"Recognizing Some Emotional Problems in Home
and School".
Art work of Instructor
Robert McDaniel's students  will  be  on display.
A room will be provided with baby sitters,so
parents are welcome to
bring small children,and
refreshments will be served by second grade room
mothers.
Give Thanks
A special Christian
Science Thanksgiving service will be held at 10.-30
Thanksgiving- morning in
the Clare Masonic Temple.
The Society invites the
public to attend and to
listen to a special Sunday
broadcast on November 18
over station WGRM,
Reward Trip To Stock Show
Six outstanding 4-H
members are to be rewarded for accomplishments
with a trip this month to
the International Livestock
and Horse Show in Chicago.
Sponsored by the Clare
Kiwanis, club,Helen Penrose is to be the outstanding local beef raising member to make the trip.
Others scheduled to go
are Evelym Ferweda,Kath-
erine Krawczynski and
Roxanne Schroeder. The
Clare County 4-H parent
and Leader Council will
send two leaders and five
Bowmen To
Set Season
The Clare Archery Club
will start the schedule of
their winter indoor shooting at the Clare. Rod and
Gun Club on November 29.
A meeting at 7:30 will be
for the purpose of setting
up competitive teams and
discuss this year's shooting, special meets and
awards.
Practice shooting will
follow- the meeting so bows
and arrows should be
brought to the club* ■
members on the same trip.
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Schunk
are the leaders and chaperones.
Gift Buying
Due For
$39,600 Boost"
The Citizens State Bank
with offices in Clare and
Rosebush, will place in the
mail today checks totaling
$39,000. for the 475 members of its 1962 Christmas
Club.
This years payments
will be used by club members for intended Christmas purchases, year-end
taxes, general sayings
purposes and to provide
cash funds for major family his
purchases.
Payments made to 1962
club members will provide
an initial buying spurt in
local retail stores for the
coming holiday season.
The bank is this week
beginning enrollment of
members in its 1963
Christmas Club. The banks
management suggests
early enrollment in order
to prepare for 1963 holiday expenditures.
and hearts joyful
Civitans are doing a
really big job with their
time and money. The 50
dolls are brand new in
attractive original cartons
and will be -all given away
before December 25. Not
so go: d at sewing,
themselves, the men are
sponsoring a contest among
older girls and women of
the area who can take a doll
or' dolls and make clothes
in competition for a savings
bond prize. In the plan,
doll, clothes and all will go
to 50 little girls as gifts
for the holiday.
Full contest details a^e
available      from     Robei
Giles, Ev-6-2488.
Giving-toys   is   a  gor
will projects that has bet
expanded    from   Civitan-
1961 "Christmas" participation.    Members   collect
usuable  toys  of al   kinds
to be painted or renewed.
In  the  case   of bicycles,
those   that   have  at  least
good  frames  are actually
re-manufactured.
New from the factories
are chrome fenders, new
wheel rims and spokes,
pedals and accessories to
make painted frames completed in shiny new
condition as" whole re-
manufactured bikes. All
this material has been
purchased with cash that
Civitans earned by sales of
cotton candy and fruit cakes
two of their .activities.
Usable toys are donated by you and me, or
anyone. Take „toys to
Cashway Electric, two
miles west of Clare on
US-10.
Plenty of other groups
and organizations are
adding prominent support
to the goal of "Christmas"
that no area child shall be
without   a   hanpy holiday!
Wedal is emphatic that
role in 'Christmas' is
not that of a supervisor,
but rather a co-ordinatorpf
efforts from many sources.
Perhaps most important
parts of what he does are
to determine how the gifts
will go and who gets them,
■—and to get co-operation in
the collection of money and
material early enough to
finish packing, transportation and distribution of the
gifts before late Christmas
Eve.**.
,4ft
more efficient. Shepard last
week      joined     the     Mt.
Pleasant      chapter     of
Fraternal Order of Police.
Two vacancies are now
unfilled     on     the     Glare -
Department, C'iief Shepard
said.   Officers   Vining and
Lippold      remain,       with
Shepard's old job and one
other vacancy to be filled
with new men.
More Police
For Safer
Freeways
The Michigan legislature is being asked to increase the police strength
on expressways to cut the
death and injury rate. The
traffic safety committee of
Michigan Association of
Chiefs of Police say that
greater traffic rates will
raise accidents and injuries on state highways
to a new all-time high this
year. In the report the
committee specifically
asks for the addition of
15.0   State Police Officers.
The additional manpower is especially
necessary because of the
states expanding express
way system as well- -a*
assist other police agen^
cles as needed,, it was
stated by Chief of Police
Frederick - J. Serra, of
Mount Morice, committee
chairman.
The authorized strength
of the State Police is now
1,155 and 150 more troopers would bring "fc to 1,305.
The department has included the request in, its
proposed budget for the
next fiscal year, but this
must be approved. -
The authorized strength
has not been increased
since 1956, When 165 troopers were added because of
fast climbing toll of
traffice deaths, injuries
and accidents. Deaths
thereafter decreased for
three years, but then.moved
upward the following' three
years with the heavy in^
crease in traffic and
drivers. The same trend
is continuing in 1962. It
now has only 725 troopers"-
(available for patroL
r
■*