The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • 13

13 pnrrgf if li Mo Dai IvfSt ws Mo, Nov. 72, 1976 IS hT'Li Whai'i going on here? -i I i i 7 -1 if- lr- i fl I fi. hi i 1 ktJJ I j- rennet in.jnn'i"" 1 I By SUSAN SORIC Suff Writer City construction work is keeping a steady pace as work on a new "Amoco station, a city sewer line project, and a business office addition gets underway. And SMS remodeling and building projects are also progressing quickly. Holl work progressing Southwest Missouri State University's administration building, Carnngton is undergoing 1 extensive remodeling on the third and fourth floors.

All activities on those floors have been temporarily relocated, said Ron Crews, campus development director. He explained that construction workers are demolishing old partitions and are getting ready to pour concrete slabs for more floor support. Storage areas will be converted into, office space, and the Carrington Hall Theater balcony will also be used for office space, he said. Crews added that an elevator at the north end of the building is included in the project, to be completed in the next eight months. Open meetings could be helpful By GALE BALDWIN ()n Nny 10, City Manainr Don Busch denied two reporters entrance a meeting concerning the city's" minority hiring practices.

On Nov. 17, following a news conference, Busch once again asked a reporter to leave a similar meeting. In each instance, the meeting involved city administrators, representatives of the NAACP and two officials of the U.S. Justice Department. In each instance, Busch was within legal guidelines established by the state open meetings (sunshine) law in ordering the reporters out of the meetings.

This reporter feels, that there was no reason for closing either of those meetings, but what's important is not the merits of that argument in either of those particular ipstances but rather the over all attitude of Springfield city officials toward open 4-r Storage hears completion meetings. That attitude is reflected in a comment made by A rambliag nch-style4 billdiig (right) rrplam the mall raich hcise that bariH-d U4 December it the Gm4 Samirttai Iwl rtl SprlmfiftJ The billdtag. recistnrte4 whh the walls 4aniagH ti the blaze, hises the kitchen aid dlilig facilities, as well as ffiees, receptica ravm, aid sme ship space. Bslde It staads the aewlyiceipled resideatlal balldlag. Boys Ranch now 'back to normal' Utile evidence remains of fire last December Busch Nov.

10 when he said he has no apologies for doing what he thinks is his job and "it's the press's job to try to get it." There are two implications in his statement which are bothersome. One is the feeling that he is saying, in effect, that he would be happier without a sunshine law and city officials comply with it only because it is the law and they have no choice. This feeling is reinforced by constant problems that have cropped up with city agencies concerning the open meetings law since it was enacted problems that have led on at least one occasion to a meeting between CityTAttomey Howard Wright and SMS's new central storage and maintenance facility on Grand and Kings, should be completed some time next February, Ron Crews said. By the end of last week, the building was closed, and workers began building with pre-cast concrete on the exterior. Paving is yet to be completed, he added.

Clothing shop to open Guys and Dolls Clothing Shop will be located at 2142 South Brentwood when the home there is remodeled for business. Presently located on the Plaza, the children's clothing business may xtiange names as well as -locations when the project is completed next February. Display indows will be constructed and doors will be enlarged at the house across from the Stereo Buff, just off Seminole near the Brentwood Library. Paving for the parking lot will begin soon, an owner, Mrs. Doris Mitchell, said.

two newspaper editors. The second implication mation from City Hall is through the structure during the Christmas vacation last year. The jenovatefLbmLding houses the ranch's kitchen, dining and laundry area and facilities for a chapel-theatre area, office space, a reception room and storage, which remain under construction. The construction of both buildings, which cost approximately $200,000, was funded through donations and insurance funds, according to Lloyd Green, executive secretary for the ranch. The director of the Boys Ranch Quin Riggs says plans also are underway to remodel a cottage on the opposite side By JULIE WESTERMANN Staff Writer Return to an active, productive way of life, a remote pos sibility after crippling fire damage late last December, is here today at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch north of Springfield.

Seventeen youngsters and the ranch's director settled down last week in their new quarters, a roomy ranch styled house fronted with gleaming white stone. Beside the residence building stands the main ranch house, reconstructed from the foundation and walls of the original building which remained after fire swept officials and reporters. Somehow. Busch seems to have forgotten that reporters didn't enact the sunshine law It was passed by state representatives and senators and signed by a governor elected by the same people who pay the city manager's salary. See MEETINGS, Page 14 Sewer work Winds whip tree limbs causing power outages Drag racers to build own track A project to install a sanitary sewer along Ferguson between Walnut Lawn and Battlefield, will begin today, according to Dave Snider, public works director.

The street will be closed to through traffic for the next five weeks. Station under construction Construction began last week at 2621 North Kansas, the site for a new Amoco self-service and full service gas station. Located just north of Wal-Mart, the construction project is in back of an older Amoco station which will be removed when the new one is completed. Completion is expected in about eight weeks, according to Ben Smith, manager of Morris Oil. Footings and foundation should be underway today.

Office addition underway A two-story office addition is underway at the Paul Mueller plant at the corner of Kansas and Phelps. Construction for the addition began in the middle of October, and will be completed by the middle of December. According to Robert L. Jaeobsmeyer, vice president of administration at the plant, construction is located at the southeast corner of the main plant. The building will provide additional space for processing equipment sales, and will house the engineering and advertising departments.

Jaeobsmeyer added that this project is the 30th addition for the plant in the past 26 years. Hundreds of Springfield homeowners spent a part of Sunday afternoon without electricity because tree limbs, torn down by strong winds, fell on power lines. The wires went down, causing the power to go out, about 315 p.m., according to Larry Donley, assistant dispatcher at City Utilities. The power was out in a strip of the city located one block north and one block south of Catalpa from National to 65 Bypass, Donley said. Donley said power was restored to most homes within 30 minutes.

However, crews were expected to work several hours to return the power in one small area. Donley said workers were unable to restore power to the area sooner because they had problems gett Steve Keller room, inter 'Sinnected by a bathroom shared by the six. Each youngster has a chest of drawers and a walk-in closet for his personal "belongings and shares a shower with two others. The basement of the residential unit, when finished, will include a tv room, large recreational room and "mud room" to accommodate the boys' boots during the winter months. Besides offering materials and instruction in arts and crafts, the ranch will soon provide an opportunity for the youngsters to participate in See RANCH, Page 14 The association has also guaranteed that no other professional tracks will be built within a 160-mile radius, Seiferd said.

The professional track would satisfy the desire of many Springfield drag racers. The racing enthusiasts have been vocal recently in trying to get a street for racing. The City Council gave the group to race on Eastgate Avenue, but the group withdrew its request for access to the street when property owners in the area objected to the proposal. "A professional track will be safer by far," Seiferd said. "The safety precautions will See ACERS, Page 14 if -Staff ptatU by of the residence building which was used as a dormitory after the fire.

Biggs, a former meat marketer and infantry instructor with the U.S. Marine Corps, became director of the ranch June 15. Until yesterday, Riggs and his wife, Barbara, lived in a mobile home near the entrance to the ranch on Mo. 13. Riggs also maintains a home in Springfield.

The ranch now is licensed to provide housing for 24 boys, but remodeling of the existing structure will allow Riggs to accept 10 additional residents. The new dormitory features U-shaped units of two bedrooms, three boys to a He added that the association and the businesses will be paid back with interest once the track is making money. Persons at the meeting voted to consider hiring a public relations man to approach businesses about the project. The track, which will be called the Springfield International Raceway, is scheduled to be completed by April. Seiferd said professional tracks also pay for themselves by selling advertising along the track.

The American Hotrod Association has promised the Greene County group it could hold one national meet in 1977 and two in 1978 at the proposed track, Seiferd said. I tr Zl VlN It" i is that access to infor-a contest between city ing to wires in a blind alley. National Weather Service specialist Fred Roush said Springfield didn't have any severe winds Sunday, but it was a fairly high, sustained wind. Beginning about mid-moming, the wind was about 20 to 25 miles per hour, occasionally gusting to a high of 33 ph. Winds are expected to moderate today, but sunny, cold weather will continue.

And Roush said Thanksgiving Day should be a good one. The weather should be generally fair and continued cold, Roush said, probably beginning to turn warmer by Friday. No precipitation is indicated through the week, he said. -4 if 1 4. i 1 -J 4.

Hi 4i -i I Fordland couple dies in Driver apparently failed to see to begin couple's southbound car when they evidently failed to see or hear a westbound Frisco freight train as it approached a rural road crossing a mile and a half east of Rogersville about 12:05 p.m. Struck as it pulled into the path of the locomotive, the vehicle was hurled 120 feet down a small embankment. Officers said the Crigers apparently Mrs. Moses, who sells Tup-perware, said two suitcases and two large plastic bags containing the product also were stolen, according to police. Also under investigation is a costly burglary which occurred at the Charles R.

Ison home at 2508 South Cambridge while the family was on a vacation trip during the past week. Forcing a sliding door to enter the house, intruders carried off a $1000 coin collection, $700 worth of silverware and a $400 color tv, according to Officer Paul Lynch. James Bingham, 1500 East Lindberg, told police someone entered his home between 12:45 and 11 p.m. Saturday to steal a .22 caliber rifle. 20 gauge shotgun, coat and three suits, all valued at $665.

A Webster County couple died Sunday when their auto was demolished by a train which also was involved in a fatal accident near Rogersville 26 hours earlier. Killed in the double fatality tragedy were Ansin Criger. 70, Route Fordland, and his wife, Edna E. Criger. 72.

Troopers said the woman was at the wheel of the ate the project will cost about $300,000. Seiferd said half of the track is already paid for. He explained that Riddell paid $100,000 for the land and that an excavating company has agreed to move dirt and level the land for $50,000. The company said it can begin the work Dec. 5 and it does not expect payment until the track is bringing in money, Seiferd said.

The association president urged members to help raise the remaining $150,000. Seiferd explained that the association will ask businessmen to loan the association money. The association in turn will loan the money to Riddell to develop the track. crash train approaching trol. W.

H. Houser Springfield, was train conductnr In other weekend wrecks Paul E. Merrifield, 56, of 806 LaSalle, was taken to St. John's Hospital with possible neck and back injuries after his easlbound motorcycle left a Route curve and struck a fence five miles north of Sparta at 1135 a.m. Sunday.

James A. Riffe, 18, Pleasant Hill, also was treated St. John's Hospital after his westbound car left a Route curve and overturned two miles west of Spokane at 11 15 James S. Straw, 29, Anderson, was taken to Sale Hospital in Neosho with facial lacerations and a possible jaw fracture after his auto left U.S. 71 at excessive speed, plunged down an embankment and went through a fence four miles north of Anderson at 10:50 p.m.

Saturday, troopers reported. A broadside smashup one mile west of Salem on Route sent a Salem couple to Salem Hospital with body lacerations and abrasions shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday. Mrs. Nevada Lewis.

30, also received possible back injuries in the accident, which occurred when an auto driven by her husband, Bobby. 39, turned left into the path of a car driven by Michael G. Heit-man! 29, Rolla, officer said. By SBERRY ROBERTS Staff Writer More than 50 drag racing enthusiasts voted to support the development of a professional racing track near Rogerswille at the Greene County Drag Racing Association's meeting Sunday. The track is to be built on 160 acres of land five miles from Rogersville owned by surveyor Tom Ridilell, according to Joe Seiferd, association president.

Seiferd told persons at the meeting at the Ozark Gymnastics Empire that Riddell wants nothing from them but support. The proposed track is to be 60 Teet wide and 3500 feet long. Promoters of the track estim died almost instantly. Their bodies were taken to Marsh Funeral Home in Rogersville. Mr.

and Mrs. Criger were members of First Baptist Church in Fordland. The couple had lived most of their lives in this area. They are survived by a daughter, Mrs. Fonda Burks, Fordland; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Criger is also survived by a brother, Francis Wilson, Seal Beach. two sisters, Mrs. Josephine Lee and Mrs. Dorothy" Clouse, both of Springfield.

Arrangements will be announced by Marsh. Art Rolufs. 57, of Republic, was engineer on the train, and C. O. Church.

Route 11, Springfield, was conductor. James Masterson, 27, Springfield, was engineer on the same train when it struck a car traveling on a gravel road two mileseastof Rogersvilleat 10:05 a.m. Saturday. 17-year-old senior at Logan-Rogersville High School, the driver of the auto; Debra Ann Ivy, was taken to St. John's Hospital, where she died at 3:35 p.m.

Saturday. Like the Crigers, she resided on Route 1, Fordland. The young woman was thrown from her vehicle as the locomotive knocked it about 90 feet, according to the state pa Thieves aren't choosy, officer's wife learns ,1 hS.Awitt' 1. 1 Even police officials' families aren't safe from Christmas gift nappers this season. Mrs.

Elaine Moses, wife ef Detective Lt. Richard Moses, said she and her family were shopping Saturday evening when they placed several packages in their car, then left it parked at the north end of Batllcfierd Mall while they went to a restaurant. Returning about 7:30 p.m., they discovered someone had forced a rear door to cancel out their shopping efforts. Stolen were about $350 wtlrth of items which included a cutlery set, stainless flatware, a coffee maker, griddle, slow cooker, a coat, tachometer, hamburger grill, cookbook and a case containing maps The trampled remalis tt ai aiU which carried a Webster duty cuple to their deaths are shiwa beside a freight trill which stnch the vehicle leirRigersvllle Saaday. Mr.

aid Mrs. Aisli Criger, Rutc 1, FirdUid. wen hilled la the raral enssiag tragedy, the seciid livilvlig the same trail wHhla twi days. Anther RMte 1, Firdlaad resldeit, Debra An Ivy, 17, was killed wbe her car was strick at anther eresslig aear Rigersvllle Satarday..