The Daily Journal from Flat River, Missouri • 1

Southwestern Bell Seeks Rate Increase proposed Two-party residence: Fuil proposed, $4.25. One-party business Presea4 proposed, $11.25. Cited Southwestern Bell Friday asked the Missouri Public Service Commission to allow a higher rate of return on the company's operations in Missouri. R. Ray Shockley, vice president and general manager for Southwestern Bell cited increasing costs including higher interest rates on borrowed money as reasons for the request.

"For 16 years, we have been absorbing higher costs and fighting the effects of inflation," Shockley said. "We have done everything possible to increase our efficiency and hold down the cost of providing service. "However, we now have reached a point where inflation Is increasing costs faster than we can absorb them and we have really no choice but to seek an increase in telephone rates. This increase is necessary if we are to provide our customers with new and improved communications services they are demanding. "There is much at stake here, not just for the telephone company, but for the people of Missouri," Shockley said.

"A good communications system is vital to the economic growth and social life of the state." "Only a telephone company with good earnings can attract the Investment capital needed to handle the increasing demands for service and for ser several years," Shockley said, "and it is far below the level of other businesses with whom we must compete for investment capital. In spite of this, we have kept our request for additional revenues at a minimum." The request, filed with the Commission today, would result in additional revenues totaling $44.5 million each year. Shockley said that $20.5 million of the total amount would go to the company and the remaining $24 million would go for Federal, state and local taxes. The $44.5 million increase in annual revenues would produce a rate of return of 6.5 per cent on the present value of Southwestern Bell property. This rate vice improvements put on it.

Our present rate of return ii lower than the rate of Interest we have to pay on the money we borrow to expand our system to meet service demands, Shockley said. Shockley pointed out that Southwestern Bell's last statewide rate increase was in 1952. Since that time the company's investment per telephone has risen from $273 to $470 a 72 per cent increase. As an indication of the general upward trend in costs, Shockley cited the Consumer's Price Index which since 1952 has risen 30.9 per cent in St. Louis and 34 per cent in Kansas City.

The telephone companys main expense items are wages and taxes, both of which have been increasing along with everything else. "Wages are our biggest expense item," Shockley said. "Since 1952, wage increases have increased our annual expenses by $26.6 million annually. The new contract signed in July 1968, will add another $11 million to our expenses by 1970. but we must keep pace with the trends In wage treatment if we are to attract good people and keep "Taxes, our second biggest expense, have increased 235 per cent since 1952," Shockley said.

"The company's rate of return has been trending downward for of return equates to approximately 8.7 per cent on net investment at the present time. "The amount of increase for each customer would vary ac mmm Ten Day Sentence On Drunk Charge Magistrate Judge Francis W. Rentfro on Monday assessed a 10 day jail sentence against Howard Wilson, Baker, 56, Cape Girardeau on a charge of being drunk and disorderly and then stayed the sentence. Baker was picked up shortly after noon Saturday by Cpt, W. R.

Petrus of the Highway Par trol and lodged in the county jail after he was found passed-out on Route near the Highway 8 Intersection. All-Star' To Play The KXOK All-Star's Basketball team will play the North County faculty at the North County Gymnasium In Desloge on Nov. 23rd at 8:00 p.m. Advance tickets may be bought by contacting the North County High School or they may be bought at the door. Admission phices are.

Adults and children under urn uv St Francoio Coanty'a Homo Flat River, St. Francois County, Mo. Inc. Tuesday, November 19, Single Copy 1 A Lower Price For Prlet Carrier Delivery Speed Cases Still Dominating Court fZet i I iqt ,1 w- CL-- V-4 Copyright Missouri Publications. Farmifigton ranking officer and non-commissioned officer.

Jinkerson, a corporal, realized the situation and took command. While covered by enemy fir. Jinkerson drug wounded Americans from the ambush site and established a perimeter ef defense to hold off the enemy attack. With most of the Marine unit killed or seriously injured, those remaining against -unnumberable odds, killing many of the enemy. When the encounter was over, only a few Marines walked away without injury Jirhfr-son was wounded twice dunrg this Time.

Jinkerson. 20, attended tr Farmington public prir-r to entering service. He was released from active duty late this, summer after his tour in Vietnam. Christmas Seal Drive Begins Around County The. SHIP of l.WH TR Seals is underway throughout St.

Francois County. Two hundred of the attractive Christmas- Seals showing a traditional holiday partridge in a lilum tree were mailed to thou- -snnds of county homes the past week by Mrs. Ruth Brown Feeder, Chcrelary 'if the St. County TR association. The Seals sell for one-'t-nst each and the proceeds -will- constitute the association's ndj source of funds for combatttrtf tuberculosis in the couirry throughout Tuberculous Is one of the most contagious dis eases in the world and is doubly dangerous because persom with active TB can distribute the germs for months before they are even aware they are afficted.

Jeff Matkin, of Flat River, president, heads the county association which also is interested in controlling other respira- fory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, influenza, hiso-plamosis, hay fever and the common cold. It is hoped every county family will use the enclosed envelope with their Christmas Seals to contribute $2.00 or more for 196 activities. The envelopes carry the return address of Mrs. El-4mer Wilfong of Bonne Terre, treasurer. Among association directors are Mrs.

Margaret Simpson, county health nurse; Dr. C. W. Chastain, of Farming-ton, a former president, who currently first vice-president and -Dr. Stanley Hardy of Desloge.

ArKi'lance Call Monday Lena Boswell was removed from her residence in Farming-ton to Madison Memorial Hospital. Tuesday nunIn TV i iv i II; (1 ron from Iwr TwWkw5 fci laafcfj1- wood to Bonne Terre Hospital. cording to the type of service, involved," Shockley In Flat River, the following increases in monthly rates arc being requested: One-party residence: Present A former Marine from Farmington has been cited by the President of the United States for "gallantry in action" and will be presented the Silver Star Medal, third highest award available to servicemen. Victor Jinkerson of 11 North Jefferson in Farmington and circulation manager for The Journal, will once again don his Marine uniform in the near future for presentation ceremonies. Site and date of the presentation is to be determined later this week.

The Silver Star is being presented Jinkerson for his quick -response in assuming the re- sponsibility of command when his unit was ambushed in the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam on February 7, 1968. Jinkerson 's outfit was ambushed by a battalion-sized force of enemy troops. In the first few minutes, many Americans in his unit were killed by the hostile force. This Included the by following too closely and lining in an accident. Kerry Glen Smith, Cantwell, was fined $25 for driving while drinking and another fine of $1 was assessed for driving with, an expired operators license.

Barbara- Lee Moyers, Rt. 3, Farmington, paid a $5 penalty for driving with an expired, vehicle license plate. Francis Edgar Gibson, Wein-garlen, was fined $25 for operating a car while his operators license was under Thomas Robert Burnette, Rt. 2, Farmington, was fined $1 for operating a car while having no operators license. Leaman Willard England, Rt.

2, Bonne Terre was fined $15 for speeding. Glenn K. Jones, St. Louis, paid a $15 speeding penalty. St.

Louisans fined $10 each for speeding included Clarence L. Brown, Alvin L. Bowen and Henry L. Thornton. Carrol E.

Harwell, Poplar Bluff, was fined $60 for driving In excess of 100 miles per hour. Clifford D. Roach, Frederick-town, paid a $30 speeding fine while Billy M. Hyde, Arnold, was assessed a $25 penalty for the same offense. Missourians fined $10 each for speeding included William J.

Loftis of Doniphan, Phillip R. Shaver of Marshall and Issom S. Lewis of Annapolis. Seven Illinois drivers paid a total of $75 In fines for speed violations. Four speeding motorists from Arkansas paid $60 In penalties.

In addition to the fines as shown, each traffic charge carries a court cost penalty ef $11 which Is fixed by state statutes. gton mmm I. -Mr pit rd of water per minute. It will carry 1,000 feet of 2l2-inch hose and 300 feet of IVi-inch hose. The approximate cost of the new fire fighting apparatus to the eity of Desloge was $11,000.

Desloge now has two pumpers and one tank truck, the new pumper being owned by the city and the two older vehicles owned by the Desloge Volunteer Fire Department. Staff Photo DESLOGE MAYOR Elva Thurman (left) takes delivery of a new fire truck from Gary Towers, representing the Towers Fire Apparatus Company of Freeburg, 111, earlier today while Fire Chief Bob Bryan looks on. The Towers pumper fitted on a Ford 600 chassis has a 500 gallon booster tank and is capable of pumping 500 gallons Chamber Nominates New Slate Of Officers For '69 1968 Vol. 38, No. 228 is made up of parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Hearnes described the numerous studies which have been made in determining how best to improve the economic climate of the area. We need to promote jobs for everybody but also to train and retrain the people so they can take advantage of jobs created, he said. Hearnes said the commission Is also looking to new crops, especially vegetables, to increase earnings in rural areas. Arrangements Incomplete For C. E.

'Ted' Byers Clarence Edgar (Ted) Byers of Elvins was born Feb. 1, 1912 in Elvins son of the late Henry Byers and Mary Barton Byers and died Nov. 18 at the Mineral Area Osteopathic Hospital at the age of 56 years. Surviving are: his wife, Leota Byers of Elvins; three children, Teddy Byers with the U. S.

Armed Forces In South Vietnam, Dale Byers and Michael Byers of the jiome; one sister, Delcie (Mrs. Frank Downs) of Elvins; three brothers, Raymond Byers of Liberty, Charles Byers of St. Louis and Frank Byers of Sweet Springs. He was a member of the Elvins United Methodist Church. Masonic Lodge 599 will have a memorial service, at 8 p.m.

Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The body will be In state after 7 tonight at the Caldwell Chapel in Elvins. Girl Scout Leaders To Meet Thursday Girl Scout Neighborhood 5 (Desloge, Bonne Terre, Esther and Flat River) leaders will meet Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.

m. at the Taylor Avenue Methodist Church, Flat River. This is an Important meeting and all leaders, assistant leaders, chairmen and sustaining membership captains are invited and urged to attend. Mrs. Dorothy Rouggly serves as Neighborhood Chairman and Miss Mary Ann Thompson is the Field Advisor Church Home Has 25 Children From This Area The Home for Dependent children in Farmington is really a home for many local boys and girls.

Twenty-five of the current residents are from St. Francois County families. This means that approximately one-third were born of local residents. Circumstances of various kinds have made it necessary for these children to be cared for outside of their home. Since their relatives cannot take care of them it seems at least partly the responsibility of the community.

The Children's Home is here for this purpose. Hence the Tag Day Drive for funds each fall to help pay the operating expenses. Established in 1914, the Home has helped raised hundreds oi dependent children who have been left homeless. Many prominent men and women have had their start at the Home or at Boys' Farm. The drive for funds has become a tradition and a gift at this time will enable the local institution to continue giving loving care to the children.

The citizens of St. Francois County are urged to send a Thanksgiving gift. The address is Tag Day Drive, P.O. Box 31, Farmington, Missouri. Effort Launched To End School Traffic Hazard A legislative committee has proposed a major, overhaul in Missouri school administration to Governor Warren E.

Hearnes which would provide the state with only 20 regional districts and reduce the number of local school units from 786 to 132. The plan, which Is likely to go to the General Assembly early- next year, would make St. Francois County a part of a ten county regional district. The proposed change was unveiled Friday when State Representative James I. Spainhow-er of Marshall presented it to Gov.

Hearnes in Jefferson City. Spainhower Is the chairman of the Missouri School District Re- organization Commission, which conducted a study and came up with the far-reaching proposal. Under the proposal, the 20 regional districts would be supervised by 12 board members elected at large from the district. Smaller units, likely to be set up on a county basis, would have a nine member board and still have control of general administration of the school operations. The regional board would disburse revenue, handle building projects, set up vocational, technical and special education programs as well as establish long-range educational plans.

In addition to the regional levy local school units may establish local school taxes not too exceed 10 per cent of the regional levy. St. Francois County will he In the Southeast Missouri Other counties involved are: Madison, Ste. Genevieve, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Perry and parts of Crawford, Reynold and Dent. Spainhower said the new plan is to he studied by the State Department of Education for final drafting before presentation to the General Assembly during the session which opens In January.

The legislator also pointed out that he expects opposition to the plan but feels that those who will carefully evaluate It will see bow DeXgewidot8 An elderly widow of Desloge complained to Sheriff Ken Buckley's department Monday about apparently having been victimized by transient workmen who charged her $110 for termite -treatment of her home. The woman said she was sick but consented to having the termite treatment after the two men showed her "a board they aald was taken from her house. They were only there for a little while, she said, and then charged her the $110 for the job. The woman said she became auspicious and called the bank about half-an-hour after giving the check but that it had already been cashed. THE WEATHER High (yesterday) 39 Lew (this morning) 29 Precipitation none FORECAST: Fair and colder tonight with the low In the 20s.

Sunny and a little warmer Wednesday with the high In the low 40s. Speeing violations continue to make up the major portion of traffic offenses in the county with Magistrate Judge Francis Rentfro assessing 22 speeding fines last week along with nine 'others fined for license and careless driving infractions. William Edward Wilkinson, Knob Lick, was fined $25 for careless and imprudent driving by passing in the face of oncoming traffic. George A. Bauman, Illinois, was fine $10 for driving by making an improper left turn and being In an accident.

John Bebres, O'Fallon, paid a $15 fine for pasing in a no passing zone. John Lewis, St. Louis paid a $25 fine for driving Gennie C. Belken Died At Home In Farmington Gennie Catherine Belken died Nov. 15 at her residence at 617 East Liberty, Farmington.

She was born Aug. 31, 1888 in Perry County, daughter of the late John Sonderman and Louise Schule Sonderman. Her husband Charlie Belken preceded her in death in 1951. She was also preceded in death by one daughter Mary Morgan and one son Charlie Belken Jr. Surviving are: six daughters, Edna (Mrs.

C. E. Woodward) of Sikeston, Sister Ursula Marie of Old Park, 111., Maxine (Mrs. Earl Strong) of Kansas City, Glenda Josephine (Mrs. Robert Boyd) of Farmington, Kathryn (Mrs.

Charles Miller) of Farmington, Lucille (Mrs. C. E. Koppeis) of Farmington; one sister, Elizabeth McWill- -iams of Fredcricktown; 22 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. Rosary was recited at 7:30 1 p.m.

Sunday at the chapel. Funeral service was Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Chu- rch in Farmington. Interment was In the Calvary Cemetery at Frederlcktown under the dir ection of Miller Funeral Ser- vice, Farmington.

it can benefit Missouri's educational process. One of the major reasons for the proposed revision is to assist districts now having serious revenue problems where the educational standards are droppin? drastically. One of these' areas of major concern Is St. Louis city, the problem being created by the mass movement of middle and upper Income families to the suburban areas around the city. He also stressed, however, that it will benefit many rural area schools that are having similar problems.

The plan is basically a fiscal move to provide all Missouri children with an equal opportunity in education. While Spainhower Is aware that there will he those against the plan, he has scheduled a tour of Missouri to speak before groups and explain the proposal. Since the turn of the century, Missouri has worked to reduce the number of school districts in the state. It was at one time as high as 8,000 but now is down to 786. This is the ninth highest number of districts for the country and Is said to be detrimental to a good school moaram.

7 mm All States Have Two Letters Post Office Lists New Abbreviations national average. We are going to close that gap and bring the people's income up to the national average, he said. Hearnes said the goal of Ozark Regional Commission Is to create jobs through economic development and thereby raise per capita income to stop the migration of people away from the area. The widest gap in annual earnings Is between the low Income group and the middle class group. That gap will Increase as economic development progresses and we will have to continue efforts to lessen the difference, he said.

Hearnes said the Ozarks program is designed primarily for rural areas. He said our nation Is troubled with urban problems but that the ozark region also suffers from economir crisis In rural employment. Ozark Regional Commission Massachusetts, MA; Michigan, tana, MT. MI; Minnesota, MN; Mississippi, MS; Missouri, MO; Montana, MT. Nebraska, NB; Nevada, NV; New Hampshire, NH; New Jersey, NJ; New Mexico, NM; York, NY; North Carolina, NC; North Dakota, ND.

Ohio, OH; Oklahoma, OK; Oregon, OR. Pennsylvania, PA; Puerto Rico, PR. Rhode Island, RI. South Carolina, SC; South Dakota, SD. 1 Tennessee, TN; Texas, TX.

Utah, UR. Vernjont, VT; Virginia, VA; Virgin' Islands, VI. Washington, WA; West Virginia, WV; Wisconsin, WI and Wyoming, WY. It remains to be seen what will happen to the popular nickname of Tex which has been applied to Texans whenever they moved to other states for as long as there has been a state of The Farmington Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon meeting Monday during which they nominated seven new officer candidates and were briefed on the importance of the Ozark Regional Commission by Liason Officer Don Hearnes, brother of Missouri Governor Warren E. Hearnes.

New officers nominated were Harry L. Denman for president. Dean Danleley for vice president, Walter Delp for secretary and treasurer, and for two year terms as directors Bill Braun, Bill Grief, Jack Sebastian and Raymond Holmes. Principal speaker Don Hearnes told the businessmen that the chief goal of the Ozark Regional Commission is to raise the per capita Income of the area to the national average and halt the outward migration of cltl-rens. In 1960 the annual Income of this area was $600 below the rules as used in the United States of America.

Rewriting of all text books is likely to take a number of years. Ingenious Americans are likely to ignore the new two letter abbreviations as an individual problem and continue to use the same state abbreviations they learned were proper during their school years. The new list is as follows for those readers who wish to clip and save the P.O. approved state abbreviations for future reference. Alaska, AK; Alabama, AL; Arizona, AZ; Arkansas, AR.

California, CA; Canal Zone, CZ; Colorado, CO; Connetlcut, CT. Deleware, DE; District of Columbia, DC. Florida, FL. Georgia, GA; Guam, GU. Hawaii, HI.

Idaho, ID; Illinois, IL; Indiana, IN; Iowa, IA. Kansas, KS; Kentucky, KY. LA. Maine. ME: Maryland.

MD: By Jim ttreder Along with Zip Code the U. S. Postal Department has now ome up with a new list of two-letter state abbreviations for se with the Zip Code. New two letter state abbreviations are also capital letters and there St no periods following the cap-1 letters. Two spaces should follow the abbreviation and then the Zip Code.

The Post Office Department has issued a list of 65 new abbreviations for states, the District of Columbia and U. 8. protectorates. Only SI state abbreviations remain the same and those SI are now changed such a Missouri which was Mo. and Is now MO without the period.

Only by securing a new list of the Postottice approved two letter state abbreviations can the millions of Americans who mall Christmas cards address them postoffice standards). Another exception has been made in the English lanpuaee -it A LOO.SK t'AIJOQSE Over the weekend this Missouri Facifie caboose derailed on a crossing near the Bonne Terre Farming Cattle Co. facilities in Flat River. Part of a freight unit, it had to be dragged from the crossinir to allow traffic to move. It was placed back on the raibj Monday..