Glancing Back for Nov. 5: JG reporter helps find missing man

Nov. 5, 1924

MATTOON — Nary Sexton was fined $5 and costs in police court this morning on a charge of fighting with Harvey Batman in the latter's restaurant in North Ninth street on Tuesday evening. The men are said to have been in a political argument... MATTOON — Through the agency of a Journal Gazette reporter, anxious searchers for the whereabouts of Ezra Ruffin, 78, of Indianapolis, who mysteriously disappeared from the home of his relatives, Mr. and Mrs. N.A. Moore of Charleston, three weeks ago, was discovered this afternoon. Moore came over from Charleston and called at the offices of A.C. Smith to inquire for assistance as Ruffin was supposed to have an insurance policy in Smith's company. Moore told the story in the presence of a Journal Gazette reporter, who secured an accurate description of the last man, his peculiarities, etc. These were found to coincide with an aged man who about three weeks ago became a fellow boarder with the reporter, and who had told of his insurance policy, of which he was quite proud of having kept paid up. Ruffin's name was not known to any of his fellow boarders, he having answered to all as "Uncle." The landlady of the boarding house was called over the phone and asked as to the identity of the aged man. Reference to the insurance policy proved him to be Ezra A. Ruffin. He and his cousin, Moore, soon were talking with each other at the home of Mrs. Rose Jackson, and they will soon return to Charleston.

MATTOON — The Robert G. DeMars Memorial Youth Center is expected to be formally turned over to the city tonight. The Mattoon City Council is scheduled to act on a resolution accepting the youth center building and related property. Mayor Roger Dettro said today that "no definite plans have been made on what to do with the youth center. My idea would be to make it more of a community center. The building could be used as a place to hold different meetings. It's going to need a good bit of work done on it."... CHARLESTON — The Coles County sheriff's office has recovered two pickup truckloads of stolen goods that could solve between 15 and 20 burglaries in the county. Arrested in connection with the burglaries was Gary Shumbarger, 17, Route 1, Mattoon. Shumbarger was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Rardin by Sheriff's Investigator Max Robinson and Deputy Bob Butler. He will be charged with the April burglary of the Ray McNabb residence north of Charleston, Sheriff Paul Smith said. The stolen items were recovered at a Rardin residence after search warrants were issued last week. Authorities will inventory the recovered items for the next three or four days, Smith said... MATTOON — Three female juveniles were arrested here Monday following an armed robbery in Charleston. The juveniles, whose names cannot be released, were arrested by Mattoon police at 2:02 p.m. The three allegedly robbed Haddock's Grocery in Charleston at about 1:37 p.m. armed with a knife when the robbery occurred, according to Charleston police. The three girls are being held in Champaign pending a hearing Wednesday.

MATTOON — As groundwork begins for a long-term yard waste recycling center, street department officials are issuing reminders about this year's leaf-collection program. The worst way to clean your yard is to rake leaves into the street, Superintendent Mike Dow said this week. That clogs intakes and catch basins, causes streets to flood and helps neither the homeowner nor the city. "Our major problem is raking leaves or brush into the street," Dow said... NEOGA — At Monday's regular meeting of the City Council, the council voted not to tear down the maintenance building at Neoga Memorial Cemetery. Neoga City Clerk Pat Ehrhart said the building needed repairs but is still in very good shape...WHEATON — A judge has rejected a Roselle woman's claim that someone should pay for injuries suffered when two renegaded popcorn kernels struck and burned her chest. DuPage County Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Moy on Wednesday dismissed the lawsuit that Jody Cardone had filed against Lake Park High School District 108. Cardone said the unpopped kernels flew out of a popcorn machine and into her blouse in November 1997 while she was supervising concession stand volunteers at the high school's east campus. Cardone, who was not in court Wednesday, later said she plans to appeal. "I will go all the way with it," she said. "I won't stop." Moy said there was no legal basis for her claim, adding state immunity laws offer generous protection to public schools and agencies against such lawsuits. Cardone said she suffered third degree burns in eight places on her chest and needs plastic surgery.