The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 16

Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Monday, April 2, 1979 Meyer: Farm boy turns to education TWIN FALLS Assistant superintendent of schools Camden B. "Cam" Meyer says the Depression is the main reason he has spent his career as an educator instead of a farmer. "I'm a farm boy," said Meyer, 65, who will retire June 30 after 43 years in education, 37 of which he spent in Idaho schools. "If things had been good, I'd probably be a farmer "But my father discouraged that. There were three years in a row, back in the early when I he never even pulled the harvester out of the shed." Meyer and his four brothers and four sisters worked full or part-time jobs to pull the family through.

The nearest town was 27 miles away. Meyer attended a one-room schoolhouse with other farm children until he started high school. Several drought years in Meyer's home state of South Dakota joined with the nation's ailing economy to turn him toward teaching. Graduating from high school in 1932, he went on to take a bachelor's degree from nearby Huron College and, the fall after graduation, landed a job teaching high school mathematics and social studies in Seneca, S.D. "Working with kids fascinated me, and I've been at it ever since," he said.

He remembers his yearly salary in that first teaching i job was $765, "one of the better salaries in that day." "Today they take more than that out of my paycheck in taxes alone," said Meyer. That same year he bought a new 1936 Chevrolet 1 for $550. Money was also the reason Meyer decided to leave teaching after nine years in South Dakota and Idaho schools to take a master's degree in education administration from the By BEN McKELWAY Times-News writer University of Southern California. It aged young people in the United was 1946, and Meyer, a newlywed, States were actually in school." was thinking about supporting a "Since then we have we learned family. can't afford not to an educated Before entering the administration public.

Today we have almost all field, Meyer was a baseball, basket- young people in school." ball, and drama coach for his students Meyer recalls that the parents of a as well as a classroom teacher. He retarded or handicapped child would came to Idaho in 1938 and taught at often "literally lock the kid up at Nez Perce High School for three home," with no education. For contrast he points to special programs for years. He chose Idaho because his middle these children in today's schools. name is "Borah." The great grandfa- "I think the most important thing ther of former U.S.

Senator William society does is to educate its people," Edgar Borah was Meyer's great- Meyer said. Although Meyer is a great-great-grandfather, Jacob strong believer in compulsory educaBorah. tion, he feels parents should have the Meyer remembers his grandfather right to educate their children at quoting the Senator as saying, "'The home if they can first prove they have smart thing for a man to do is to the ability. always go west." Senator Borah was "Compulsory education has proved born in the Midwest. its worth in this country," said Meyer.

The lineage led Meyer to begin "It makes a big difference when you genealogical research on his family educate all the people rather than just heritage, and the result was a book on a part." the Borah family which he published Discussing the stifling of spontanin 1965. Since then he has researched eity and other common charges the roots of six other family trees and against U.S. public school systems, intends to continue the hobby in his Meyer said some progressive ideas retirement like the open classroom have some Meyer left Nez Perce to teach math good results but take so much extra at the University of Idaho in Moscow. work and cooperation on the part of From there he came to Shoshone, teachers that they may not be worth where he taught for two years and the trouble. met Marie, whom he married in 1946.

"In the long run, it all comes back to the ability of the teacher," he said. His first administrative job was as "That is what really makes the the high school principal in Pendleton, difference." Ore. After four years there he "Education is an intangible thing," returned to Shoshone, where he was he continued. "The reason it is so superintendent of schools for 10 years. controversial is because it is SO He then served for 15 years as important.

In a democratic society, superintendent of the Minidoka joint anything this important has to be school district before coming to Twin controversial." Falls eight years ago. On the subject of discipline in the "I've noticed quite a few changes in schools, Meyer said, "Many parents the world of education since I started want their neighbor's kids disciplined, out," said Meyer. "For instance, but not their own." when I was a high school freshman in "Schools are a reflection of society. 1928, less than half of the high school- If society wants us to run a rigidly ObituariesClaude D. McKissick SHOSHONE Claude D.

McKissick, 80, of Shoshone died Sunday at the Wood River Convalescent Center of a lingering illness. Born July 6, 1898, at Hagerman, he grew up in the Carey valley, attending school there. He married Anna Hunter on Sept. 29, 1921, near Shoshone. The couple came to the Richfield Tract in 1927 and had lived in Shoshone since 1945.

Mr. McKissick had worked for the Big Wood Canal Co. and the Union Pacific Railroad for 28 years, retiring in 1967. Since that time he had done some trapping. Survivors include: one son, Claude Delmer McKissick of Pullman, four daughters, Mrs.

John (Clara) Sankey of Boise, Mrs. Orville (Edith) Haigh of Roseburg, Mrs. Jane Graham, of Seattle, and Mary McKissick of Shoshone; one sister, Melvina Flowers of Los Angeles, seven grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, one daughter, one brother and one sister. Funeral is pending at the Bergin Funeral Chapel in Shoshone.

Lloyd O. Gale RUPERT Lloyd 0. Gale, 70, of Rupert died Friday at the Minidoka Memorial Hospital. Born May 11, 1908, at Bassett, he attended schools and farmed there until 1934 when he moved to Riverton, Wyo. He worked in the shipyards in Tacoma, during World War II and later moved back to Nebraska.

In 1957 Mr. Gale moved to Rupert where he has lived since. He worked in the Stag Pool Hall until 1973 when he retired. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister. Survivors include: one twin brother and sister-inlaw, Floyd and Marjorie Gale of Rupert; one brotherin-law, George Street of Kalispell, one sister-in-law, Melissa Gale of Chadron, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be held today at the Hansen Mortuary Chapel at 11 a.m. with Arvin Hansen officiating. Friends may call at the chapel prior to services today. Burial will be in Rupert Cemetery. Friends may make memorials to the intensive care unit care of Minidoka Memorial Hospital.

Services TWIN FALLS Services for Walter Louis Starr, 70, of Twin Falls, who died Wednesday at Magic Valley Memorial Hospital, will be at 10 a.m. today at White Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel today until time of service. HAILEY Services for Betty S.

Balis, 52, of Hailey, who died Saturday, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Community Baptist Church in Hailey with Hospitals Wade Douglas Smith BUHL Wade Douglas Smith, 4, of Buhl died Friday of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Born Aug. 28, 1974, at Provo, Utah, he came to the Buhl area in 1978 from Nevada with his parents. Survivors include: his mother, Mrs.

Patrick McKee of Buhl; his father, Mr. Wade Smith of Elko, a brother, Jeremy, of Buhl; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond H. Raper Mr.

and Mrs. Raymond H. Raper and Mr. and Mrs. Walter H.

Borgogno, all of Elko, and Mr. and Mrs. M. 0. Russ of Riverpine, and paternal grandparents, Mr.

and Mrs. Wade Smith of Elko. Funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the West End Cemetery at Buhl with the discourse given by Randy McCormick. Arrangements are under the direction of the Farmer Chapel.

Andrew Petersen DECLO Andrew Petersen, 78, of Declo died Sunday morning in Cassia Memorial Hospital of a short illness. Services will be announced by McCulloch's in Burley. Phillip J. Engel FILER Phillip J. Engel, 90, of Filer died Saturday at Magic Valley Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born Feb. 7, 1889, in Gletstich, Russia, and as a young man moved to Canada and later to North Dakota. He homesteaded a farm in Marsh, and moved to Filer in 1936 where in farmed and was a carpenter. He was married to Margaret Kuhn on Oct. 23, 1914, in Terry, Mont.

He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Filer. Survivors include: his wife of Filer; one daughter, Mrs. Johnnie (Bessie) Kuest of Buhl; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter and several brothers and sisters. Funeral will be held at 2 p.m.

Tuesday at Reynolds Funeral Chapel with Pastor R. B. Leake of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Twin Falls officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park. Friends may call at the chapel today and Tuesday until time of services.

The Rev. Everett Berrey officiating. Burial will be in Hailey Cemetery. Friends may call at Wood River Chapel this evening and tomorrow. Services for Calvin E.

Mann, 60, of Jerome, who died Tuesday in California, will be held at 2 p.m. today in the Hove Funeral Chapel by The Rev. W. Daniel Klingler. A flag ceremony will be conducted by the Jerome American Legion at Jerome Cemetery.

Friends may call at the chapel today until 1:30 p.m. MAGIC VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Hansen; Susan Erickson of Jerome; Harlis Cagle Admitted Jamie Hendrix, Gary Selin, Jeremy Asay, Rose Hovey, Mrs. Danny Kay, Mrs. Kody Klundt and Dave Howard, all of Twin Falls; Myrtle Howard of Buhl; and Baby girl Chugg of Rupert. Dismissed Rose Perkins, Mrs.

Michael Quesnell and daughter, Mrs. Davis Lipman and daughter, Mrs. O. H. Higgins, Mrs.

Daniel Carroll, Debra Evans, Pearl Federico, Barbara McMilian, Mrs. Elbert Hedrick, Karlan Anderson and Elizabeth Windsor, all of Twin Falls; Mrs. Klyn Cheney of Gooding; LaVonne Strawser, Myrtle Smalley, Mrs. Justice III and Mrs. Farris Clark, all of Stewart Buhl; Jessie Johnson of Burley; Mrs.

Cleon and Mrs. Steven Anderson, son Thompson and Wilson and Javda Peterson of Deanna all of Kimberly; Filer; Mrs. Walter Todd of disciplined school, we're going to run it. But they don't want us to now. I think schools need to be given more power to discipline as necessary, and I think the country is gradually coming back around to that point of view." "If kids think there is a possibility of getting spanked, they're going to straighten up," he concluded.

Meyer thinks Twin Falls has escaped most of the discipline breakdown experienced by urban schools. Meyer is concerned that local school districts have steadily lost power to Boise over the last 40 years. He feels school boards should have the power to raise all the funds they need locally, without restrictions from the Legislature. "To me it's a step in the wrong direction when they take away more control," he said. "Up there they just howl like the devil when the federal government tells them what to do, but then they turn around and tell us how to do things." "And the Legislature should look at the state as a whole," he continued.

"They should treat all school districts equally. We have so many inequalities already, and it gets worse now with this 1 percent thing." For education, Twin Falls spends less per pupil than any other Idaho school district. Idaho spends less per pupil than any other state. His background in mathematics has helped Meyer prepare the school district's budget every year, and that is what takes up most of his time this time of year. He has also reviewed architectural plans and supervised new building projects in addition to other responsibilities.

Meyer has two daughters and two sons. One son is a teacher and the other married a teacher, he points other married a teacher, he points out. One of his daughters also teaches. Meyer, who says he is "used to the wide open spaces," intends to stay in Twin Falls after his retirement. He will stay busy, he says, with his pastimes of hunting, fishing, golf, genealogy, and traveling.

The Meyers are considering an autumn trip to Assistant school superintendent Camden B. Meyer India. presently principal of Hayden School "My years of experience here have in Hayden, Colo. Pliler, whose been a very fine experience," said doctorate in school administration is Meyer. "A fine staff and excellent from Brigham Young University in teachers have made Twin Falls a very Provo, Utah, was an industrial arts nice place to be." teacher and guidance counselor Meyer's replacement July 1 will be before going into school administraDr.

Gary C. Pliler, 39, who is tion. Escapee fighting extradition asks Evans to probe case BOISE (UPI) The attorney of a prison escapee fighting extradition to Alabama has asked Idaho Gov. John V. Evans to investigate the case before deciding whether to sign extradition papers.

Richard Rosenberry, Caldwell, the court-appointed lawyer for Billy Don Clark, 38, convicted of murder in Alabama, made his request by letter. The governor's attorney, Steve Thomsen, said Rosenberry's request had been received and Evans would begin reviewing it today. Thomsen declined to say when and what action may be taken by the governor. Rosenberry said court records appear to confirm that Alabama authorities were not actively seeking the return of Clark, who walked away from the Hamilton Work Release He says that while in prison he Center in July, 1977. participated in undercover investigaHe said a fugitive warrant was not tions of the activities of prisoners and issued for Clark by Alabama authori- officials at Fountain Penitentiary and ties until March 2 the day after he Holman Penitentiary, both Atmore, turned himself in to Idaho authorities.

and Draper Penitentiary in "This certainly shows a lack of northeast Alamaba. concern on the part of Alabama," At least one Alabama governmental Rosenberry said. "It appears they official agrees with Clark and has told hadn't charged him with the crime of the escapee to fight extradition. A escape and there was no outstanding petition asking Evans to conduct an warrant." He said records indicate investigation of Clark's case before authorities felt "he (Clark) had filled deciding to sign extradition, papers his obligation in Alabama." was submitted to the governor's office Clark was convicted of the 1969 Tuesday. gunshot death in Tuscaloosa County, The petition bore the signatures of of Donald R.

Gwinn. some 130 Marsing residents. Clark Since voluntarily surrendering to worked in that small southwest Idaho Homedale police, Clark has argued he town on a dairy farm before he turned will be killed if returned to Alabama. himself in. County to open bids on equipment TWIN FALLS County commissioners will open bids at 11 a.m.

April 16 for rappelling equipment for the Twin Falls County Search and Rescue Unit. Commission Chairman Merl E. Leonard said the county will purchase enough equipment for four members of the search and rescue group who will be receiving special training from Salt Lake City rappelling experts. "We have a number of emergencies every year in our canyons and we are unique in this area in that we have Snake River, Salmon Falls, Rock Creek and several other canyons which are attractive to youngsters and adults alike. Frequently it is Grandfather invents safer kiddie chair When little Dustin Kidd of Lava Hot Springs kept sliding out from under the tray of his high chair, his grandfather went to work on the problem.

C. Wells Nelson invented, patented, and has begun selling a high chair safety accessory. It is a flexible plastic saddle which ties to the back of the chair, and sports a smooth saddle horn up front to keep little buckaroos like Dustin from standing up or scooting out under the tray. Nelson, a longtime rancher miner, has 11 other grandchildren a dream of retirimg. But he will to wait.

"I'd like to retire," Nelson "But now I have to get this business going." necessary to rescue someone from a ledge in one of these deep canyons which cannot be reached by any other means," Leonard said. Sheriff James Munn and Ron Cogswell, head of the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Unit, met with the commissioners Tuesday to discuss the need for the equipment. Cogswell said members of the volunteer organization have already received training in the use of rappel equipment on canyon walls here and more training is planned. He and Munn said equipment for four men should be adequate for most any emergency need of this type. Leonard said the county will allocate a maximum of $1,100 to $1,200 for the purchase.

Filer schools hold meetings FILER Parent-teacher conferences in School District 413 will be held today from 12:30 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. Schools will let out at noon and there will be no hot lunches. A special school board meeting has been scheduled for 1 p.m. at the high school.

The school district has plans for other spring workshops and meetings. High school principal, Edwin Marshall, will go to Burley April 10 to 12 to evaluate the Burley High School. He has assisted in previous school evaluations. A Systematic Teaching and Measuring Mathematics workshop will be held April 26 at the high school. In recent school board action, early graduation was approved for Colleen Nelson if she meets all of the requirements.

The seniors were granted permission to hold a sneak day. The trustees tabled a motion to increase credits needed for graduation from 38 to 40. Most. schools are now requireing 40 credits, according to Baker. Columnist speaks in Boise Shoshone; and Harold Parsons and Geneva Parsons of Covington, Ky.

Births A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kody Klundt of Twin Falls and twin sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Steven Anderson of Kimberly.

GOODING COUNTY MEMORIAL Dismissed Ina Nelson of Gooding MINIDOKA MEMORIAL Admitted Jesse Shillington of Rupert. Dismissed Rena Hillman of Paul and Reuben Coch of Heyburn. BOISE (UPI) New York Times columnist Tom Wicker said Saturday the federal government and nuclear power industry officials have not been candid with the public about the potential hazards of nuclear power. Wicker, in Boise to speak at an Idaho Press Club dinner, said the Harrisburg. nuclear accident is vindicating people who say the dangers of nuclear power plants are greater than have been stated.

Wicker added he does not believe the news media created the china syndrome and that he does not think it exaggerated the seriousness of the situation. Volunteer tax service changes hours and and TWIN FALLS The Internal and low-income families in preparing have Revenue Service announced today their tax returns. that the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) service at the The center, located at 939 4th said. Senior Citizen Center in Twin Falls Avenue West, Twin Falls, will be open saddle has changed its schedule. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 10 The center assists older Americans a.m.

to 3 p.m., through April 12. we.