Thursday, June 18, 2026

6/14/1956

 

EAST FAREWELL NEWS


Thursday, June 14, 1956   Vol. C572


LOCAL NEWS


LOCAL DELI EXPLODES – MEAT EVERYWHERE


East Farewell- The town avoided a full-fledged disaster on Tuesday thanks to the quick thinking of Fire Chief Thomas “Cal” Calhoun.  At approximately 7:00 AM Lou’s Deli, 501 Main, unexpectedly and inexplicably blew up. Debris showered down on Main Street and a huge fire ball rolled into the evening sky. Luckily for everyone the deli was only two blocks down from the fire station. Almost immediately an alarm was sounded and firemen were scrambled. Calhoun arrived on the scene within minutes of the explosion and took charge. He was able to quickly shut down the gas main that fed the block and direct his men to bring the fire under control within eight minutes. The entire structure was demolished but buildings on both sides were spared. The deli was bracketed by a bank and a furniture store and both were closed at the time of the explosion. There was one injury, Miss Monica Shippensport was struck in the head with a ham hock. She was knocked to the ground and suffered cuts and bruises to her head.  She was treated at the scene and sent home to recover further. Miss Shippensport was in the news earlier for other, less catastrophic reasons. She admitted to giving away the Flower Show budget to a con man in the spring. She was sentenced to house arrest and commanded to repay the money. Ironically, last Tuesday was only her third day allowed back on the street. She was walking home from a meeting with her lawyer when she was struck. “I just can’t believe this happened to me. If I was closer I would have been blown to bits. I walking along feeling sorry for myself, I heard the explosion and looked around next thing I know, kapow! This giant hunk of meat hits me in the head and knocks me down. I am feeling like I am the luckiest person in the world right now, a little banged up but still lucky to be alive,” reflected Shippensport to this reporter before she was escorted home.

            It is believed that a gas leak inside the deli caused the explosion but the investigation is ongoing. Owner Lou Myer was in tears out front of the space where his deli used to stand. He had closed the store early because of a family commitment and was called back by Calhoun soon after the fire was brought under control. “This is a tragedy,” sobbed Myer, “I can’t begin to tell you how crushed I am. This deli was my life. Now I have nothing.”

            Many people have already started giving donations to Lou to try and rebuild. Even before he had made any statements a fund was founded at the bank called “Lou’s Deli Fund” and had more than $1000.00 in it through anonymous donations. “We all love Lou and we loved his deli,” said Mrs. Mallard, “I hope he will rebuild and thank goodness no one was seriously injured. How about Monica though, what she doesn’t need right now is a big old ham hitting her in the head. Holy cow, that is some bad luck wrapped in a good luck package. If she was any closer she would have been gone.”

Collapsed Lou’s Deli 


SPORTS


TRAVELERS MAUL BEARS


Bedford – The Travelers got back on track in a big way Saturday as they dismantled the Bedford Bears, 10-2. The bats started early and continued through every inning with at least one hit in every inning. The Travelers ended up with a team record of 17 hits. They also set a season record with four homeruns. Every Traveler in the lineup was able to register a hit in the game, another record. This game was a display of offensive power by the Travelers. The homers were all extra run blasts by Cloos (3), Dimero (2), Francis (2) and Brown (3). The defense was top notch, too. The Travelers were able to turn tree double plays and winning pitcher, Danny Lane, was able to strikeout eight hapless Bears.

            The Bears have been having trouble all season. They lost their best hitter, Al Kelly, to a broken foot in the first game and then they lost their star pitcher, Billy Thompson to a torn bicep. They have struggled to score and they have not been able to keep opponents off the board. “So far, this has been a rough season. We lost A.K. in the first game and then we lost Billy T. a couple of weeks later. Along with a lot of other little problems we have been playing catch up all season. It has been really tough but we are still getting dressed for every game and we go out there expecting to win,” said Bears coach, Rob Willis.

            The Travelers continue their road trip next week when they make a stop in Riverview and cast their fate against the Anglers. The game begins at 1:45PM in the Angler Fishbowl (Stadium).


 NATIONAL NEWS


IKE STAYS IN HOSPITAL – LOINS BREAKOUT IN ROME – NEW AT DISNEYLAND – MONROE & MILLER TO MARRY – ROCK & ROLL UNDER THE GUN


President Eisenhower’s personal physician discloses the President will be hospitalized somewhat longer than first forecast. He won’t get out before the middle of next week.

Two lions break free from their cages at a Rome circus, leaving hundreds of patrons running screaming. One of the lions broke the back of circus mule with a blow of the paw, and then clawed two ponies across their faces. Both were caught quickly. 

New at Disneyland (In Fantasyland) - Walt Disney revives “3-D” at a theater dedicated to the showing of the medium. The pictures include a musical subject, a Donald Duck cartoon and one with Mickey as well. Says Walt; “The 3D vogue went by so quickly that there are probably many people who were hardly aware of it. Therefore, I thought a revival might be a good thing, just for curiosity seekers if naught else.” Also debuting at Disneyland this week is Tom Sawyer Island and a boat ride through the miniature world of fantasy found in Disney films and productions.

Marilyn Monroe announces that she and playwright Arthur Miller will be married sometime between now and July 13. Meanwhile, Miller is in Washington, testifying in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities - saying he had made errors about his involvement with Red activities, but denied he had ever been “under Communist party discipline.” He said he “wouldn’t deny” he had contributed to Red front groups - “I’m here to tell you the truth.”

The Miami Board of Review, originally appointed to act as a censorship group for comic books, gets into the rock ‘n’ roll act after several area concerts by Bill Haley & The Comets. The concerts went well, despite a non-segregation policy. There was only one arrest when a youth began to argue with police. But at least one board member (The chairman) doesn’t dig rock ‘n’ roll - calling it “Worm ‘n’ Wiggle.” Chairman Regina McLinden says she intends to wage a fight against rock via her pulpit and the schools with an invitation issued to the clergy and school authorities to meet at this month’s board meeting. She describes rock ‘n’ roll dancing as “nothing more than shoving boys and girls around” and “vile gyrations,” adding the “fad can get out of hand unless we act now.”

The Andrews Sisters confirm their reunion and will begin recording this week. Their prepping a June 28 date at the Las Vegas Flamingo, where they last appeared in 1953.


Many, many thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.


 


Thursday, June 11, 2026

6/7/1956

 

EAST FAREWELL NEWS


Thursday, June 7, 1956   Vol. C571


LOCAL NEWS


RACE AROUND THE LAKE ANOTHER HIT


East Farewell – The 6th Annual “Race Around the Lake” took place on a beautiful Decoration day and ended with a spectacular finish. The official side of the race had a record high 70 riders and on the unofficial side almost 20 riders joined in at different parts of the race with an amazing assortment of decorated bikes, tricycles and other truly unusual vehicles. The race itself has had a six year tradition but the strange ‘added’ event of riders joining in along the way for as long as they want has been going on for four years now and has become more entertaining each year. This year the official race was won by Frankie Chase with a winning time of 1 hour 57 minutes. This year’s time was considerably slower than last year’s due to the increased peripheral activity that took place along the route. At one point a vehicle that can only be described as a self-powered butterfly piloted by a Wayne Winchell slowed the entire pack down by taking up all of Lake Shore Drive for almost one third of a lap. Winchell was finally pushed off the course and into the lake by bystanders and race participants who had come to a stop behind him. The bemused Winchell came out of the lake laughing and shaking his fists in either mock anger or total success, no one could tell.

This year the race ended at the Lakefront Plaza where there was a stirring sunset memorial service honoring all the fallen. The ceremony was very respectful contrasting the frivolity of earlier in the day. A single bugler, high school senior and ROTC member, David Kane, played Taps from the overlook while the flag was raised over the Plaza. A list of the townsfolk who had paid the ultimate price was read and a moment of silence was held. After the ceremony the large crowd was treated to several local restaurants fare presented on the Plaza and listened to the music of local band leader Gus Templeton along with other local bands, Al Jackson’s Blues Band and a new favorite folk trio, Diamonds. The beautiful weather was the perfect compliment for the early summer kick off holiday in East Farewell.

Butterfly bike piloted by Wayne Winchell


SPORTS


TRAVELERS GET SMOKED AT CORNING


Corning – The Travelers showed a rare letdown on Saturday when they lost to CGW 5-2. The game was not the average Travelers style with quick scores early and strong defense. This game was just the opposite, they didn’t score until the eighth and they committed an unimaginable 5 errors in the field. CGW on the other hand was almost flawless. Their ace, Bill “Smoke” Black, was sharp from the start, pitching a perfect first four innings. It wasn’t until the middle of the fifth that Dale Dunham poked a hit through the middle that the Travelers were able to get on the scoreboard, scoring Francis who had walked earlier. That single hit was all they were able to garner that inning and ‘Smoke’ continued to burn. He stayed hot until the eighth when he walked his first batter and then his nemesis, Johnny Cloos, finally connected with a low fastball and drove out of the park.

            CGW had an easier time but by no means a cakewalk. Traveler’s pitcher, Billy Green, held CGW to two hits until the fifth but unfortunately the Traveler’s defense was sloppy. By the end of the sixth CGW had done all the damage it needed to do, scoring two in the fourth and three in the sixth. The Travelers showed a surprisingly porous defense and seemed unable to hold onto the ball. Dropped and muffed balls were the reason for two of the four CGW runs.  But even if you take away those unearned runs the Travelers came up short on Saturday.

            The Travelers stay on the road this week as they travel to Bedford. The Bears are currently in the bottom half of the league standings so the Travelers may have an easier time. The game begins in Bedford at 1:00 on Saturday.


 NATIONAL NEWS


IKE HAS STOMACH SCARE – KHRUSHCHEV TOURS WITH TITO – HONEYMOONER FALLS OUT OF PLANE – ROBESON IN CONTEMPT


President Eisenhower undergoes an exploratory operation in the early morning hours, just 24 hours after he awoke with symptoms of indigestion reminiscent of the fateful heart attack he suffered last Sept. 24. This time, however, the president’s trouble was an obstruction of the small intestine which all official sources emphasize had no relation to his cardiac condition.  President Eisenhower was back on his feet and walked with some assistance from his hospital bed to an armchair 15 feet way.

Communist Party Chief Nikita Khrushchev, touring the region with President Tito of Yugoslavia, told a cheering crowd at Stalingrad that the United States is the richest country now “but tomorrow, we will be richer.”

A honeymooner falls 6500 feet to his death from a two-engine DC-3 Piedmont airliner flying from Charlotte to Asheville. Oren A. Pruitt went to get his bride a drink of water when he apparently opened the wrong door. His body landed near a cemetery near Shelby, NC.

The House Committee on Un-American Activities initiates contempt of Congress action against singer Paul Robeson after a session in which the Negro singer declared, “You are the bad Americans… you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”

Robeson later told a newsman, “There was no contempt. I answered every question. I was just standing my ground.”


Many, many thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.


 

Thursday, June 4, 2026

5/31/1956

 

EAST FAREWELL NEWS


Thursday, May 31, 1956   Vol. C570


LOCAL NEWS


SHIPPENSPORT CONFESSES - ROMANDO GONE


East Farewell – Monica Shippensport has confessed to taking the Flower Show budget estimated to be $3,000.00. Her partner, Romando, (strangely, only one name) is still missing. Miss Shippensport it seems was the unwitting accomplice of an elaborate scam that involved a whirlwind romance, a naïve young woman, lots of money, a scoundrel and a broken heart that ended with the scammed holding the bag and in jail.

            It all started last year around Thanksgiving when Miss Shippensport first met Romando. She said she met him in the Lost Oasis Bar after she got off work. Romando presented himself as a South American horticultural expert and started talking with Shippensport. She mentioned she was involved with the annual flower show, then he started making small talk. One thing led to another and the next thing Miss Shippensport knew she was being escorted around town by an elusive but very handsome foreign stranger. They became quite an item and were seen celebrating New Year’s Eve together at a local party. Miss Shippensport is said to have confided with a friend that she was hoping that the relationship would go further. Well, it certainly went further, on or around January 2nd Romando presented Miss Shippensport with a proposal. Not the proposal she was hoping for though, he said that with his experience and her budget they could put on the most fabulous Flower Show ever. All she had to do was give him the entire budget and so he could purchase some exotic South American flowers. Then she could go back to the Town Council and ask for more money to put on the show. Miss Shippensport, smitten by Romando, let her heart block her good judgment and handed over the cash to Romando in late January. She was able to postpone meetings of the committee because of the bad weather at the time so no one was able to question her actions until late February. When confronted with the fund dispersal, she explained the Romando was only going to use a small amount and he had promised to return the rest.

            It was in early April when Miss Shippensport went to Romando’s apartment and found it empty. Frantic, she started to look for him in all their usual places but to no avail. Thinking something nefarious had happened to him she went to the police. The police mounted a short search for him but soon realized the true nature of the crime. Bulletins were sent to surrounding towns and major cities in the area but they were not expecting to find Romando. “He is long gone, I bet he has left the country. If he was really from South America, I bet he is back there living high on the hog with our money,” said police chief, Ed O’Malley.

            Unfortunately for Miss Shippensport, she is under arrest for taking the money and will have to stay in jail until her hearing because she cannot raise the bail of $300.00. She is understandably upset and says her heart is broken and her pride has been severely damaged. Her hearing is scheduled for later this week. She has profusely apologized for her actions and has said she will accept what ever consequences that are handed down to her.   


Last known photo of Romando


SPORTS


TRAVELERS WIN GREAT GAME


East Farewell – The Travelers won one of the best played games, if not the best game, of the early season. The red hot Travelers (13-3) faced an equally incendiary Mountain View Explorers (12-4). Both teams had been enjoying winning streaks and both were playing top notch baseball. The leading hitters in the league were going against the two best pitchers in the league. Something had to give. The pitchers were the ones who took control. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that either team mounted any offense and it was not until the fifth that any runs were scored. Both pitchers, Joe Nagy for the Travelers and Joe ‘Freight’ Trane for the Explorers, were sharp from the start and kept up the pressure till the end. Only a few let downs for each let the power of the best hitters in the league show their stuff. Explorer’s biggest bat, Bobby ‘Hammer’ Taxen smashed a Nagy fastball out of the park in the fourth and Traveler’s Johnny Cloos clobbered a Trane curve for a two run homer in the sixth. That was the difference in the game. The Travelers prevailed 2-1 with Trane throwing a four hitter and Nagy throwing a three hit gem. With this win the Travelers are in sole possession of first place in the league.

            Next week the Travelers go on the road to Corning where they play CGW for the first time this season. The game begins at 3:30 in Corning.


 NATIONAL NEWS


IKE READY TO CAMPAIGN – KHRUSHCHEV DENOUNCES STALIN – DEAD SEA SCROLLS DECIPHERED – BUS SEGREGATION IN ALABAMA UNCONSTITUTIONAL


President Eisenhower displayed a touch of campaign fever when he told a national conference of Citizens for Eisenhower that he will campaign for a second term “as cheerfully, as energetically, as enthusiastically as it is possible for me to do.” 

Communist party Boss Nikita Khrushchev denounced Stalin as a mass murderer who was plotting the complete liquidation of his old Politburo colleagues. Stalin was accused of planning to wipe out former Foreign Minister Molotov and Politburo member A.J. Mikoyan among others. Stalin’s death on March 5, 1953 was attributed to natural causes.

Two more Dead Sea scrolls have been deciphered and revealed clues to a legendary buried treasure worth countless millions instead of dealing with Biblical subjects. The scrolls were found beside the Dead Sea in 1952. If the treasure exists, it includes 200 tons of gold and silver. 

In Alabama a three-judge panel in federal court ruled that racial segregation on city buses in Montgomery violated the Federal Constitution. But the court took no immediate action to issue an injunction against enforcement of city and State segregation laws. That will come later.


Many, many thanks to www.mrpopculture.com for contributing to this section of the East Farewell News.