There goes de judge.
Police Magistrate R. J. Obbmk, Nebraska City, will be out of a job as judge when the new county district court system goes into effect January 4.
In fact, Judge Obbink is looking forward to his "retirement" and the new court system.
He has enjoyed his years on the bench handling police cases, but he admits the job has been time consuming and has taken him away too much from his own practice.
Under the new court system, all police cases previously heard before Judge Obbink will go to the courthouse and to County District Judge-elect Bob Morrissey, Syracuse, and his associate judge, George H. Stanley.
We will miss covering court sessions presided over by Judge Obbink. He has conducted his court cases in an efficient and courteous manner and was always "bending over backwards" to give the accused speeder or whatever the case, a continuance or delay. He always made it a point to give the other guy every chance.
He's also got a sense of humor.
A number of years ago we got all dolled up in a Halloween costume and mingled with some youngsters as they made their rounds for tricks or treats.
When we came to the judge's home, I was a bit hesitant to enter because I didn't want to be recognized, but at the insistence of one of the judge's daughters all of "us kids" stepped inside.
With muffled voices we made our demands known and all the time the judge sat in his easy chair reading, of all things, the World-Herald.
He didn't even put his paper down to say hello or chase us out of the house.
Don McBride, the Nebraska City Chamber executive, pointed out the other day of a new special service available to anyone by just dialing a number.
Readers can now direct dial the Lincoln or Omaha Better Business Bureaus toll free to register complaints about faulty goods or services they have purchased, or to obtain information about unknown businesses in their community.
"All you have to do is dial 112-800-642-9332 for Omaha and 112-800-742-7327 for Lincoln."
He said also that a similar toll free system will be put into service soon for shoppers from southwest Iowa.
Hello there. Orange Bowl.
The Auburn band is going to the Orange Bowl to watch the Huskers wallop Notre Dame.
Mrs. Patrick Crotty, 2121 L Street, Auburn, says "we are sponsoring numerous projects to raise the needed amount of money to do so. The cooperation of our local people has been most gratifying. We've had lots of heads and hands working to get this going and that's what it takes."
Here are projects scheduled this month:
December 11 — Basketball game, Jaycees vs. faculty, 7:30 p.m., Senior High.
December 14 — Dance at the armory, 9 to midnight with music by the John Bremer band.
December 15—Spaghetti dinner, Senior High, 5 to 8 p.m.
December 16—Auction, 4-H building, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Items include 30-inch Caloric gas stove, Palmerton painting, guitar, two bushels of seed corn and a $75 gift certificate.
December 23 — Movie, State Theater, 7 p.m., "Cancel My Reservation" with Bob Hope.
Congratulations to the Auburn Boosters for getting behind the project to send the Bulldog bandsmen to the bowl.
With that type of effort, you're bound to get that $16,000 or $17,000.
We are also told that the Humboldt band contributed $25 to Auburn as the "official" band at the Orange Bowl.
And we are told that it will cost about $125 for each of the 100-plus youngsters and sponsors.
In case you're not on any "list" of boosters, and you'd like to contribute, send your checks to Mrs. Crotty at the Auburn address.
Commencement at Omaha Tech.
Several years ago, a favorite cousin sent us an invitation tc attend his high school graduation exercises at Omaha Tech.
There is just Jimmy and his mother. His dad was a long distance trucker, had a heart attack and died while at the wheel of a semi on the Iowa interstate. He managed to stop the truck before he collapsed.
Jimmy was alone. In the years that he was reared in Omaha, he attended Omaha Tech, predominantly a black public school.
Jimmy knew everyone and it seemed everyone knew Jimmy. So, when we drove into the parking lot at Tech it was no surprise when his many friends called to him and we met so many people we were at a loss to remember names.
In the auditorium, we "got with it." The students received their diplomas one at a time in a chow line fashion and at the same time their names were announced over the public address system.
So, when Jimmy stepped up to receive his diploma, we whooped it up.
We were joined in applause by just about everyone in the auditorium.
"Golly, Millie," I said, "I didn't know Jimmy was so popular."
A mother in front of us, turned around and with a smile said, "It's not for THAT boy," she said and pointed to another boy in the line, "it's for HIM — that's Johnny Rodgers!"
Sports fans were well acquainted with the speedy football player at Omaha Tech and his popularity on the gridiron carried throughout the school.
That's the way they felt about Johnny Rodgers at Tech. And his desire and great athletic ability have now earned for him the Heisman Trophy . . . quite a compliment for a boy from the ghetto.