(P a a a a a a a and News-Chronicle The Benkelman Post 54 C. L. Ketler, Publisher. Benkelman, Dundy County, Nebraska, Friday, August 8, 1947. Subscription Price $2.50 Per Year.
Number 16. Preparations Are Made For Big Rodeo-Fair Committees Perfect Plans for the Biggest Rodeo Show In This Area Operation Success But New Developments Are Serious District Judge Victor Westermark, wife and daughter Celestine were Benkelman business visitors on Wednesday. Mrs. Westermark said that her mother, Mrs. Liza Robidoux is in serious condition at the Presbyterian hospital in Denver following her recent operation for the setting of a hip fracture sustained at the home of daughter, Mrs.
Dora Durrie in Denver. Mrs. Westermark said that the specialists had performed a nailing operation which bound the fractured portions of the hip in such a manner that no cast was necessary. Upon her return to her hospital room later, Mrs. Robidoux was able to move her limbs which testified to the success of the operation, but a later development in the form of a blood clot of the brain provided a serious threat to her recovery.
At the present time Mrs. Robidoux has lost the use of one arm and is unable to converse, but her doctors feel that there is a chance for her recovery from the attack if she can be kept quiet and at ease. Mrs. Robidoux is nearing her 90th birthday anniversary of and her advanced age is a physical handicap, altho it had not lessened her determination to recover as soon as possible, which fact is welcomed by the many friends of the Robidoux family here. Well Drillers Make Progress On New Well In City Park The drilling of the new well for the City Water Department was well underway in the City Park on Wednesday when the crew of the LynnWestern Company of Omaha entered sand structure and began sinking the large casing to the water-bearing sands beneath.
The crew has been on the scene for several days but were delayed in actual work on the well by reason of breakage in machine and the replacement of several parts. They were of the opinion that after they had passed into the sand structure they would make up for lost time in good order and if everything went well they may have the work well in hand in a week. The pump and casing is already on hand, as is the necessary water main pipe which will connect the well to the city water system. The city management hopes to arrange the new main in such a way that it will provide the most water to the system and to serve as a source of emergency water should anything ever disable the primary main which leads direct to the standpipe. Both the pump located east of the Laughlin residence and the new pump in the park are so constructed that in case of the loss of electrical power, tractors may be used to supply the energy needed" in their operation.
Funeral Services Held For Frank Black In Kansas Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Puryear Funeral Chapel for Frank W. Black, 71, who passed away Friday, July 25, after a lingering illness. The Rev. John H. Kroeker, pastor of the Baptist church, officiated at the services and interment was made in the Sunset Hill cemetery." Frank W.
Black was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, on November 22, 1876, and for the past two years had been a resident of Herington, Kansas. He leaves to mourn his loss the following brothers and Walter Black and Ben Black, both of Fredonia; Ed Black of Herington; Mrs. Margaret Cale of Herington and Maria Kenny of Illualco, Wash. Frank Wallace Black, son of Mr. and Mrs.
D. S. Black, was born Nov. 22, 1876 in Rockbridge county, Va. He came to Kansas a small child and remained here his Benkel- parents whith until 1906 when he moved to man, Neb.
He lived there until a year ago, then because of ill health he returned to Herington where he made his home with his sister, Mrs. W. H. Cale. He had been bedfast since the first of May and entered the City Hospital on June 19.
He departed this life on July 24, 1947. Brothers and sister who preceded him in death were Anna Ludolph, Mary Sellards, Bill Black and Bertie Black. FAIR GROUNDS CLEAN- UP Wednesday of next week, August 13th, has been named as clean-up day at the fair grounds when all public spirited men interested in the 4-H fair and the rodeo are requested to be on hand to assist in getting the grounds in order. For further information contact Joe Laughlin, Secretary of the Dundy County Agricultural Society. An advertisem*nt in the Benkelman Post is always a good investment.
Nebraska Historical Society MEN PLEAD INNOCENT TO BURGLARY CHARGE Bernard McGlynn, 46, and Charles Robinson, 36, whose place of residence is said to be North Platte, entered pleas of not guilty in arraignments here before County Judge W. H. Putnan on charges of burglary in connection with a forced entry made into the Hamilton Drug Company store. on Tuesday night of last week. Both men were bound over to the district court and released under a $1,000 bond each, which was paid in cash.
McGlynn, who was taken into custody by City Marshal Omar Hardwick after he was found in the rear portion of the Hamilton Drug Store, was arraigned on Thursday afternoon and innocent to the charge and waived preliminary hearing. He was represented by the law firm, Beatty, Murphy, L. and L. Hines Clark of of North Benkelman. Platte He was released upon payment of the payment of the $1,000 appearance bond.
Trial in the district court is to be held on November 3rd. Charles Robinson was arraigned in county court here on Saturday after his return from Imperial where he had been arrested on Wednesday morning after a chase by the Chase county sheriff. Robinson's preliminary hearing took place with testimony Ough, City Marshal Omar Hardwick supplied by Lee Hamilton, to Harry and Sheriff Glenard Phelps. Robinson plead not guilty to the charges of burglary and was bound over to the district for November 3rd trial was released upon the filing of a and, $1,000 bond. Robinson was represented by the same attorneys as McGlynn.
Officers charged Robinson with being associated with McGlynn in the forced entry into the store that he had served as a look-out and the driver of the alleged "get-away vehicle," which they said was the Jeep driven by Robinson. Parade Is Outlet For Community Cooperation Rodeo-fair visitors this year are anticipating the annual parade which is traditionally held in connection with the celebration on two days and this year they can even look forward to greater enjoyment as the supply of float materials is greater and the civic minded folks are looking forward to the most elaborate parade in the history of the show. Plans for the parade are well underway at this time with a committee composed of Alvin Lorance, Mark Bock and Dale Bauer already soliciting business men for parade entries. The parade will stress all types of entries, including old-time and with a liberal addition of comic tries. Children's entries are also solicited and everyone should feel that it is his duty to contribute to the success of the celebration by taking part in the parade.
The committee has released the prizes which will be offered this year with the word that altho the prize money is net in a great sum and will fall short of the expenses incurred by each entry even if he wins the money, the finances of the big show will be short of requirements anyway and the winning of the prizes will be more of an honor than an actual cash gain. Judges will be selected by the committee from the number of out town guests in attendance. The parade entries in other years has shown the excellent spirit the business people and the people of the entire community in expending considerable energy and expense in doing their share in making this feature of the show an outstanding success. In the parade this year a similar expression of civic interest is expected to be shown. The parades will be held on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
The the prizes to be awarded at the conclusion of the Thursday morning parade: Best entry by Dundy county business firm $10.00 Best old-time 10.00 Best club or organization entry 5.00 Best decorated auto. 5.00 Special prize 5.00 Best cowgirl (under 18) Best cowboy (under 3.00 Best bicycle (boy) 3.00 Best bicycle (girl). 3.00 Best entry, child with 3.00 Will Hold 4-H Camp at Curtis August 12-13-14 Plans are shaping up for a large number of Dundy county 4-H club boys and girls to attend Curtis 4-H Camp. The Camp is August 12-13-14. The delegation will leave Benkelman at 8:00 o'clock a.
Tuesday, August 12. All boys and girls who plan to go, should see their leader and have their registration and $5.00 fee sent in. They should also obtain a health certificate and have it signed by one of their parents or physician. -The Altar Society will sponsor an Ice Cream Social on Friday, August 8th, starting at 8:00 p. m.
Presbyterian Group Attend Tarkio Youth Conference A delegation of young people from the Presbyterian church in Benkelman departed on Monday morning for Tarkio, Missouri, where they will attenthe Presbyterian youth seminary in conference that city. The party made the trip in a small bus recently acquired by Rev. J. W. Woodworth to be used in his work.
Those making the trip were Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Woodworth and two children, Warren and Jerry Jackson, Donna and Ruby Leech, Norida Merklin and Boyd and Wayne Stroup.
Mrs. Charles Carpenter accompanied the group and planned to visit her relatives at Rock Port, Missouri, They planned to be home by Saturday evening. Eleven Inning Game Won By Hayes Center Sunday The -N League resumed play Sunthe fast Hayes Center club made their appearance on the Benkelman grounds with the Benkelman club that afternoon. The contest, an 11 inning affair, was strictly a crowd pleaser, going into the 11th 3-3, but ending the same frame when Hayes Center brought in 8 scores to win the game 11-3 when the Benkelman pitching collapsed. Hayes Center started their march toward victory in the second inning by runs, while Benkelman driving, in their first run in the third when Dale Blecha scored on a single by Freddie Novacek.
After both clubs had remained scoreless for five innings, Hayes Center's May, scored a run in the eighth and Benkelman's battery of Thelman Pursley and Bill Hardwick tied the visitors by a series of hits with Pursley getting on on a single, Hardwick bringing him in with a two-bagger and Hardwick scoring on a single poled out by Johnny Hendrix. However the game was decided by a blister located on one of the fingers of the pitching hand of Bill Hardwick. The blister, inadequately protected to go that many innings, broke in the third of the 11th inning, thus handicapping his delivery and forcing his retirement from the contest. Shortstop Freddie Novacek took over the pitching chores for the remainder of the inning, but the Hayes boys soon got on to his stuff and ran up a safe margin of runs to win the game. In looking over the picture of the contest, all the pitchers of the day permitted the infields and outfields to get a good workout in collecting the putouts, as the winning hurler, D.
Yonkers, struck out 6, allowed 3 runs, 12 hits and 3 bases, on balls. Bill Hardwick struck allowed 3 runs, 7 hits and 4 walks in 10 1-3 innings, while Freddie Novacek allowed 8 runs, 6 hits and 3 bases on. balls in 2-3rd's of an inning. According to news dispatches, neta defeated Culbertson 3-2 and Palisade won from Trenton 9-5 1 at the Pow-Wow. Other Sunday results of the K-N League games are not available.
Benkelman will travel to Culbertson Sunday, Hayes Center entertains dell, Herndon journeys Palisade, Imperial goes to Trenton and Atwood will play at Wauneta. Plunkett's Show Here Is Sponsored By Fire Dept. Plunkett's Variety Show, with ten members of the family giving the show company its name will set up in Benkelman, August 11-12-13. A new flameproof tent will house the show on the fair grounds lot. The Plunkett family has a stage show on the road operated, and has a tent show since 1934 in the west.
Twenty-five people are in the company of entertainers, presenting a comedy play and ten acts of vaudeville, with a complete change of program each night. On the vaudeville bill are Miss Jerrie Plunkett, songstress; Kennedy Swain and Goofo Gibbs, described as two of the funniest men in stage show business; Captain Plunkett four trained animal acts, dogs, seals, monkeys and Congo the educated Chimpanzee, and the famous Plunkett Troupe in the bounding trampoline. At the Show this season are some beautiful lighted acts using the new U. V. Black lights.
The Plunkett show is sponsored here by the Benkelman Volunteer Fire Department. Mrs. Ida B. Sheeder and daughter Aletha Belle of the Hackberry were business visitors in town Monday. Mrs.
Sheeder is a member of the pioneer W. T. Johnson family who lived east of Benkelman for many years hand she was one of the county's highest rated school teachers too in her day. But in recent years she has been content to look after her farm and grow live stock in which she is ably assisted and advised by Miss Aletha Belle and as a result they have enjoyed considerable success, owning quite extensive land interests. "GO WESTERN" PLEADS RODEO COMMITTEE "Hi Cowboy," will be a familiar greeting on the streets of Benkelman from now until the conclusion of the rodeo performance on Thursday, August 21st, when Benkelman and Dundy county folks don the garments of the Old West in an advertising plan to stimulate interest in the big show.
The Rodeo Committee has issued a declaration this week that in the interest of the rodeo all western folks are to take to "dudeing" by getting out those old rodeo-booster clothes, that big hat, that loud shirt and those boots, if you can stand to walk in them, and bring back the flavor of the Old West. Of course if the rodeo clothes of old are a little musty, Vernard Gummere of the Rodeo Committee, who is also "Steamy" in the cleaning and pressing business, will be glad to renew them, or if you want your outfit, the modernize, are in a position to help you. In any event, the Old West is coming back fast and you sure should be in style even if the sight of a wild horse makes you chill. There's a lot of "Dudeing" to be done and your help is needed. Football Practice Will Begin On August 22nd Contrary, 'fall to the is present soon to weather be diet, upon us and with it comes the opening of the football practice season, which in Benkelman starts early this year.
Announcement of the first practice call was made by Superintendent P. F. Morris on the request of the new coach, Donald Ewen of Chadron. practice call date is August 22 when Coach Ewen will be on hand to undertake his gridiron duties. The Tigers have a ten game schedule this year, with Ogallala playing host to them on the opening game.
on September 12th. There will be four home games this year, all of which will be played under the lights at the new field north of the school buildings. The lighting of the new. field has been under consideration by the City Light Department for many months and materials have been collected by the school district and the City for that purpose for some time. On Wednesday Homer E.
Davis visited the field with Supt. Morris and located the sites for the erection of the huge poles which hold the battery of lights. The setting of the poles is to be undertaken immediately. The further improvement of the stadium for the pleasure of the fans is anticipated in the erection of bleachers through the cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rodeo Committee who have volunteered the use of the rodeo stadium equipment to provide. seating capacity for the large patronage expected at the night games.
Holds Clouds Back With One Hand, Combines With Other Henry Frenzen is back on the job at the postoffice and is greeting, the patrons in a deep shade which is evidence that he has been spending some time in the direct days Old Sol. Henry was off the job at the postoffice for some 21 days during which period he was assisting Wilber Cooley in the wheat harvesting chores. Wilber had some 500 acres for treatment by the combine and Henry stayed with him until all but 80 acres had felt the bite of the sickle and then he returned to the postoffice. Twelve days of his 21 days on the job was spent in the wheat field and some of those days were just a little too hot for comfort according to Henry. Part of Henry's job was holding the hail clouds back and he did an excellent job, altho he admits that on some of the real hot days he almost yielded to the temptation of letting a little rain fall, altho he realized that once a.
storm started he would have a difficult time confining it to a gentle rain. BAND CONCERT FRIDAY NIGHT City Band Director Dale Bauer announces the presentation of a band concert by the Benkelman band on Friday evening of this week at the band stand south of the court house. After this concert the band will undertake preparations to participate in the Benkelman rodeo parade on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, August 20-21, and will be doing considerable marching on special practice nights. The plans for further concerts have not yet been announced in the light of these preparations. Mrs.
Clyde Pursley was dismissed from a Benkelman hospital on Tuesday following her major operation the week previous. Pioneer Postmaster Quit Job Despite Protests Mr. and Mrs. R. W.
Haigler of Omaha were callers in the Larned home in Haigler Sunday evening. The Haiglers, enroute to a western that bears their name to vacation spot, stopped 'althe town pioneers who personally knew their uncle, Jake Haigler. Mr. Sam Porter and Miss D. Maud Porter were well acquainted with Jake Haigler.
In 1881 James R. Porter filed on a homstead which he later sold to the Lincoln Land Company to develop a town. By 1886 Haigler was established this homestead site. When the Porters op, came to their homestead in 1881 Jake Haigler was living two miles west of them and their nearest neighbor. Several years before the town was formed Jake Haigler left the country because it was getting too crowded for him.
According to story that Sam Porter tells, Jake Haigler's departure was occasioned by too much of the East moving in on the West. This is Sam's version of it: "An Easterner walked into the ranch postoffice with a letter to be registered and asked for receipt. that Postmaster Haigler had explained no other person ever asked for a receipt and he would not do business with a man dishonest enough to want one." This incident so upset Haigler that he immediately boxed up the government supplies and sent them to Washington, D. C. Soon a postoffice inspector came out and told Jake that he could not resign in that manner.
According to Sam, Jake's reply was, "Resign, hell, I just Mr. and Mrs. Haigler were interested to first-hand information of their Unele Jake and Nebraska in the 80's. The early settlement of Southwestern Nebraska was accomplished by hard-working men and women who struggled and died to make this part of the country what it is today. Those were days of privation and hardships.
Towns grew up from wild and the sturdy pioneers fought the elements and other obstacles to eke out an existence from the These pioneers devoted their lives to the development of the land in the Republican watershed. School Will Open Here On September First A music instructor for the high school and a grade school principal are still needed to round, out the staff of the Benkelman school system for the beginning of school on the first Monday in September, which falls on the first, Labor Day. Superintendent P. F. Morris announced Wednesday that all positions had been filled except the two named above and that in the faculty this year there are five new members contracted for the 1947- 48 term.
The high school faculty will include Supt. Morris; Franklin Anderson, Principal, Manual Training and Mathematics; Jacquelin Ough, Commercial; Elsie Lorenz, English; Donald Ewen, Coach, Physics and Social Science and Lee Stoner, Social Science. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Ewen are graduates of Chadron State Normal and are residents of that city.
Miss Ough and Miss Lorenz are graduates of Boulder State College, and Lee Stoner is a graduate of the University of Nebraska. The grade school principal and the eighth grade teacher have not been named but with this exception the staff i is complete with Mrs. Wilda Rhodes, seventh grade; Miss Helen White, sixth grade; Mrs. Sarah Scott, fifth grade; Mrs. Mabel Lewis, fourth grade; Miss Fay Rosenfelt, third grade; Mrs.
Ann Benge, second grade; Mrs. Helen Phelps, first grade and Mrs. Mildred Calkins, kindergarten. Harry DeLaMater is the custodian for the high school building and Calking is the custodian for the grade school building. Noxious Weed Supervisors Elect Officers Friday The supervisors of the Dundy County Noxious Weed District elected officers last Friday, August 1.
Ed Schrader of Benkelman was elected chairman. W. H. Brown of Haigler, secretary, and Lee Clegg of Haigler was elected treasurer. The group decided to request a 1-2 mill levy for the administration and purchase of supplies for the district.
Chemicals purchased, of course, will be eventually paid back to the fund. The tax for operation of the district does not apply to the town of Benkelman and Haigler and is only applied on real estate. The district plans on purchasing 2-4, chemical at wholesale and selling at cost to those who control their bindweed. No new equipment is planned on being purchased this year. Mr.
and Mrs. Tom Humphrey returned home Wednesday afternoon from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and other Colorado points where they had been vacationing for the past week, Enlarged Stadium Will Give Big Crowd Perfect View of Exciting Shows The planning for the 1947, Benkelman rodeo in connection with the Dundy County 4-H Fair, reached final stages on Tuesday noon when chairmanships for important rodeo services were named by Daniel E. Owens, president of the Benkelman Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the event. To assist the Rodeo Committee, consisting of Cecil E. Mosier, chairman; Vernard Gummere, Secretary; True Howard, L.
Ough, Miles Jones, A. G. Shafer and H. L. "Andy" Anderson, in execution of the many details of the big show, President Owens appointed P.
F. Morris as chairman of the ticket committee; Roy Pease, chairman of police and parking, and Alvin Lorance, chairman of the parade committee. Other parade committee members are Dale Bauer and Mark Bock. Other committee chairmen will name their committee members during the week for announcement at the next meeting of the Chamber on next Tuesday noon at the Patterson hotel where the noon luncheon is served. The parade, one of the most popular features of fair and rodeo, will be staged in the afternoon of the first day of the rodeo and on Thursday morning at ten o'clock on the second day of the show.
The rodeo performances are booked for a night show on Wednesday, August 20th and Thursday afternoon and evening of August 21st. The regular fair dates were August 18, 19 and 20, but a mixup between the rodeo sponsors and the fair folks led to the irregularity of the dates at a time when nothing could be done about them. The 4-H Catch-ItContest will be a feature of the Wednesday night show. Plans for the parade on Wednesday afternoon call for the beginning. of the parade at about 4 o'clock and the evening show will open at 7:30 o'clock.
Preceding the parades on both days the patrons of the Benkelman airport, under the direction of Sam Norton, airport manager, will present a formation flight over the city parade route. This feature is one will be anticipated with delight for both young and old who enjoy an organized air display. The rodeo stock for the three shows will again be furnished by Lester Hines of Arapahoe, Colorado, one of the leading rodeo stockmen in this area. Mr. Hines has spent a great deal of money in collecting together a string of rodeo stock that far exceeds the requirements for any one show and he has maintained a standard of excellence in his stock which has made his string famous in this territory.
The stock which will be used in the. Benkelman show will come direct from Phillipsburg, where it will be used in one of the biggest rodeos of the season in this territory. The stock will come to Benkelman a week in advance of the Benkelman show in order that every animal will be rested and in perfect shape for the arena. In addition to cowboys, rough and tough horses, brahma bulls and calves, the crowd will be treated to some excellent clowning, trick riding and roping. addition on to all of this, the rodeo committee has been fortunate in securing the services of the Sonny Shultz Troupe, a rodeo company which has never performed in this entire area and are equalled nowhere.
This act comes to Benkelman at a high figure and is guaranteed to satisfy every observer. In its physical appearance the Benkelman show this year will be different in several ways. In the first place instead of having the rodeo stadium just on one side, there will be stands on both sides of the arena, providing double the seating capacity for the guests. Care has been taken to see that no seat is too far away from the center point of activity and that no one will be located about the arena so that he cannot obtain full view of the action. The nearness of the crowd the action of the rodeo made the Benkelman show even more outstanding last year from the standpoint of thrills and this year an even greater number may have the privilege of enjoying this feature of the show.
An enlarged public address system has been procured for the rodeo this year and everyone will be able to keep good account of the progress thru the information provided by Colonel "Andy" Anderson, who has consented to again handle the microphone. In the problem of providing ample light for the two big night shows, addition lights have been procured this year through the cooperation of the Benkelman Municipal Light Plant and in addition to the new lights for the arena, further illumination will be provided for the parking area to provide communication between the parked cars and the stadium..
