The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 31, 1954, Page 12

Page 12 ACCIDENT INSURANCE FAKERS CONVICTED LOS ANGELES (®—Two men ac- cused of a fake accident insurance collection scheme were convicted Wednesday of conspiracy and &rand theft. The state charged that Bill Gold- stein, 38, of Culver City, and Jay Rich, 40, of Pacoima, arranged a collision in August 1953 between THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Friday, December 31, “LUGGAGE” EXPLODES OSORNO, Chile —A bus pas- senger heading for Puerto Octay brought along a jar of explosives Wednesday. The explosives ex- ploded and 27 travelers were in- jured. ———————________ a truck driven by Goldstein and a car carrying Rich, then effected a $3,000 insurance settlement, Sen- tencing was set for Jan. 18. GREETINGS Wen the arrival of the New Yoor, we wish ofl our friends © future filled with good fheehth and good luck. Cheely Lumber Corp. 700 Catherine Street PHONE 2.5665 flew Year Good health ond good tuek to everybody for the eoming New Yeor. Cycle Store 1030 Eaton Street DIAL 2.6016 To everyone, we send cur best wishes jor a New Vea filied with g00d health, happiness and success. Anniversary Of Airport Squabble | Citizen Ads Pay! Finds Matter Still To Be Settled By DENIS SNEIGR A year ago today the big row between Monroe Coun-|things over with George Baker, ty and National Airlines began when NAL dropped three of its four daily flights between here and Miami. The NAL-County squabble was probably the biggest news story of the year as far as the county beat is con- cerned, and the fight isn’t finished. A final hearing on the matter is scheduled for next Tuesday before Circuit Court Judge Aquilino Lopez, Jr. Also pending is a hearing before County Judge Raymond R. Lord on the county’s attempt to oust NAL from Meacham Airport for non-payment of rent. Whether or not this county court hearing will be held depends upon how Judge Lopez rules. Could Continue Even then, Lopez’ ruling may not end the matter. Either side can appeal to the Florida Sup- reme Court. The preliminaries to the main event began in 1953 when the coun- ty put a new rate schedule into effect at Meacham Airport. Before 1954 was very old, the Navy and the Department of Commerce had gotten into the act. And for a while it seemed as if the boys were ganging up to close Meacham Airport for good. Johnson's Crown Service Station Margaret |from Miami and the battle began. | But now that we are heading in- to the home stretch, it looks like the county has won all its points and will have an up-to-date air- port here by the middle of 1955. Complaint Basis NAL’s big complaint about the new rate structure which went into effect Jan. 1, 1954 was the fee of 50 cents for each revenue passen- ger taking off or landing at Mea- cham. The county commissioners call- ed a special meeting on Dec. 30, 1953. NAL representatives came The long, jangling row revolved around the 50-cent fee. National flatly refused to pay it| and promised to cancel all but one of its flights to Key West. At that | time NAL was flying four daily | flights between Miami and Key | West. The county commissioners would not back down on their plan to charge the 50 cent fee. Flights Cut Off The following day, Dec. 31, 1953, NAL dropped three of its four flights, This caused considerable moan- ing, groaning and hair tearing on the part of some Key West busi- ness men, the flight cancellation coming as they did right at the be- ginning of the tourist season. For the first few months of 1954, the fight rocked along with both sides counter punching beautifully. NAL tried to get Navy permis- sion to fly into Boca Chica Naval Air Station. The Navy turned down the request. president of NAL. : As a result of that meeting, NAL | put three flights into service be-| April 12. Fall Action After that the hassle dragged a- | came here from Miami and Wash. | ington to meet with the county) commissioners. | That meeting ended when Ger- ald Saunders, chairman of the board of county commissioners handed NAL a $5,144 bill for NAL’s use of Meachan from Jan. 1 to| Aug, 31, 1954. A couple of weeks later, when NAL hadn’t paid the bill (as a mat- ter of fact, it hasn’t been paid yet) the commissioners called another meeting. That was Sept. 30. They voted to take legal action to collect the bill. airport adviser, handed NAL a no- tice to either pay the bill or quit Meacham Airport within three day The notice was filed in accordance with ‘the delinquent tenant’s act. Nothing Happened field. This ultimatum by the county apparently woke up the Chamber of Commerce and the Junior Cham- ber of Commerce. At a commission meeting the night of Oct. 12, Harold Laubscher, chamber manager, and Harry Knight of the junior chamber’ both appeared. They wanted to stall the ousting of NAL but the county commission- | said. they were going ahead with the eviction proceedings. And they did, too. Petition For Ouster On Oct. 15, Paul Sawyer, county legal adviser, filed a petition with Judge Lord in County Court ask- | On April 9, 1954, the county com- missioners went to Miami to talk ing that NAL be put out of Mea-! cham Field for non - paymentof long until Sept. 16 when NAL men} | On Oct. 11, Harold Wilde, county | NAL neither paid nor quit the! ers gave them a fast brush-off and | cham Field for non - payment of| the bill. | Judge Lord set Oct. 19 as the} date for a hearing on the petition, |tween Miami and Key West on|pbut on the afternoon of Oct. 15 tizzly morning, Highway Patrol- NAL moved into Circuit Court with | man Kenneth Armbruster said, and a petition for an injunction to stop|a ¢a, the county from ousting the air-! line and from collecting the bill. On Oct. 18, Judge Lopez granted | a temporary injunction that bar-/| }from Meacham Airport or from! collecting the money the county }says NAL owes. That’s what Tuesday’s final hear- ing will be about — unless some- | Can't Get Away To Re-Wed Today BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. «7 — New Year’s Eve remarriage plans for Marie (The Body) McDonald and millionaire shoe manufacturer Harry Karl were called off today |after the film actress collapsed | yesterday from nervous exhaustion jand a week-long fever. | Miss McDonald received em- jergency oxygen from a Fire De- |partment inhalator squad and was jordered to bed. She and Karl were divorced last Nov. 23. Karl said they will be remarried when Miss McDonald, recovers. | middle of a narrow two-lane tunnel on U.S. 40 near here. red the county from evicting NAL | “'"dshield wiper that squeaked. create such a dangerous traffic hazard?” the officer asked. | | plied. “I can work on the wiper | She’s Careful ROSEVILLE, Calif. @—It was a . We hope every minute of the New Year brings new delights for you and your family! Here's to your health, happiness, and prosperity in ‘SS. i was parked smack in the A pretty girl was working on a “Why stop in the tunnel and Torano Cycle Works 626 Fleming St. Dial 2-2072 “That’s obvious,” the girl re-| one moves to stall the showdown, | €re without getting wet.” Wetcome 19551 may it bring to everyone a heaping portion ot peace and prosperity, health and happiness. M. E. Bennett Construction Co. CONTRACTORS 217 Duval Street Post Office Box 328 Dial 2-2333 Key West, Florida and MAJOR ATTRACTION—Top drawing card of the holiday sea- son has been the Nativity scene on the court house lawn, Both before Christmas and since, spectators have enjoyed the lovely display, set up by the Chamber of Commerce, with its life-size figures. Plans are to repeat the display every Christmas sea- son, with figures being added from time to time. The scene will be on display through this weekend.—Citizen Staff Photo, Don Pinder. Altman's Furniture Co. 900 Duval Street Dial 2-5941 Fleming Streets TELEPHONE 2-9431 Southern Engineering ‘Read Citizen Daily ¢ ge! We W ‘We welcome the New Year with bright hopes for the health and happiness of all our good friends. ReeTings © it’s time once snore to wish our friends the happiest, healthiest New Year! the approach of the New Year, we revoloe to serve you cheerfully, courteously, ond 0 the best of owe ability. The Florida National Bank at Key West WITH BANKING FACILITIES AT THE U.S. NAVY YARD Member FDIC YOUR FRIENDLY COMMUNITY BANK First Federal ‘Savings and Loan Association of Key West INSURED $10,000 EACH ACCOUNT. There's Greater Comfort in the Thought, Your Savings Are Insured 514 Southard Street Compliments of LLOYD C. CHRISTOPHER Home Milk Distributor , STOCK ISLAND Lewinsky's Men's Shop 526 Duval Street Dial 2-3931 Dial 2-6441