The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 1

RF.R THE CINCINNATI EI A Combined Communications Newspaper FINAL EDITIONPRICE 20CHOME DELIVERY: $4.50 A MONTH Friday, 0 It To Cincinnati zzar Jan. 27, 1970 lips MB en the inside Blizzard devastates northern U.S.,Page A-ll. Governor Rhodes calls emergency, Page A-11. Weather stories and pictures Pages D-l D-3. "Neither rain, nor wind nor snow, nor sleet," goes the slogan about how the mall service never stops.

Except In Cincinnati on January 26, 1978, letter carriers did miss their appointed rounds. As the worst blizzard in Ohio's recorded history swirled through Greater Cincinnati virtually everything, Including residential mall delivery, was suspended. "It Just goes to show that nothing Is an absolute," observed Cincinnati Postmaster Joseph Scanlon. Absolutes about the weather, Greater Clnclnnatlans are learning, don't exist Things can get worse. Last year's coldest temperature and last week's heaviest snow In one fall gave way to what Gov.

James A. Rhodes called Ohio's "worst snow blizzard." That blizzard caused such hardship Thursday, Governor Rhodes said, that President Carter declared an emergency exists In Ohio, opening federal supply lines to the state, according to the Associated Press. THE DECISION to suspend regular mall delivery was probably historic, conceded Scanlon. But the health and safety of the postal service workers became more important than even the ancient axiom about the malls going through, Scanlon said. Decisions like Scanlon's became the rule rather than the exception as the Trl-State grappled with the elements still another time.

During the storm's full fury, the pleas for help were sometimes as eerie as the strange combination of fierce winds and blowing, drifting snow, and plummeting temperatures. And wlnd-chlll factors which would scare Eskimos. "Investigate a man who says he's freezing to death," said a Cincinnati police dispatcher about 3:20 a.m. The citizen had called from a phone booth on Glenway Avenue In Price Hill near where his car was stranded. He was rescued by police.

In at least one similar case, there was tragedy. The cold weather apparently contributed to the death of a man whose body was found in parked car at Baltimore St. and Claumet Ave. in Mlddletown about 8 a.m. He was identified as Arthur C.

McCray, 60, 1007 Baltimore St. Cause of death had not yet been determined. EMERGENCY SQUADSMEN said the motor of the vehicle was not running and that there was gasoline In the car, which apparently had been parked for some time. In southeastern Indiana, an Indiana National Guard armored personnel carrier from Connersvllle became snowbound and the troops who were on their way to rescue citizens had to be rescued themselves. A bulldozer was dispatched.

Other stranded motorists were taking shelter for Thursday night In Red Cross centers set up In locations throughout the area. But most motorists heeded official requests to stay off ice-covered roads. WIND GUSTS of up to 49 mph toppled power lines throughout the Trl-State. While electricity was out in parts of Blue Ash, Greenhills, Indian Hill, Montgomery, Mt Healthy, Norwood and Springfield Township, the worst disruption was in Love-land where the Stonybrook subdivision was without electricity for more than eight hours. A Red Cross shelter was housing an estimated 100 Loveland residents.

About half the city of Ft. Thomas, lost electricity for a good part of Thursday, but service was restored in mid-afternoon, Just as many resident were preparing to move to the Ft. Thomas Armory. The stranded Indiana National Guard unit was on its way to the eastern half of Rush County and the western half of Fayette County, where residents remained without power late Thursday. A Cincinnati Gas Electric Co.

spokesman attrl-bued most of the outages to fallen trees, but said the repair process was complicated with the terrible road conditions. SO BAD were the roads that most maintenance officials either gave up on conventional salt and sand treatment or altered their normal procedure to give what help they could on a case-by-case basis. Cincinnati Highway Maintenance crews teamed with Queen City Metro buses, but both reported they were hampered by stalled cars blocking streets. "The streets are still treacherous and we dont look for any Improvement by morning rush hour," said FLURRIES TODAY TOMORROW Another windy, cold day Is forecast for today, though no blizzard such as Thursday's. Blowing and drifting snow will continue with occasional flurries.

High will be near 20, low between zero and -10. Snow and snow squalls are predicted dally from Saturday through Monday, with a high in the teens Saturday and an overnight low of zero to 10. Weather map, Page A-U. Today The Enquirer vas published In only one edition because of the blizzard. News from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and the Cincinnati area appears In sections A and D.

smile Freezing weather calls for a healthy mixture of optimism and practicality. Keep your chin up but be sure It covered. metro Owners of a landfill where contaminated soli was dumped have asked for a meeting with Clermont County representatives and they arent saying what they'll be talking about. Page D-3. oiiio-miiiana Thursday's arctic weather seemed to add an exclamation point to the now-ended ordeal of Warren County Sheriff Roy Wallace and his wife Elda, who were found Innocent of embezzlement and bribery charges by a Jury late Wednesday nlght.But friends soon provided plenty of warmth.

Page A-5. Police and Indiana National Ouard units Thursday were evacuating dozens of Southeastern Indiana families stranded without power and heat in what the National Weather Service In Indianapolis said was the worst blizzard of the season. Page A-6. SQKcrfiaa Radio personality Jerry Thomas says he cant understand why he has failed to get support for reappointment to the Delhi Township zoning board of appeals. Page D-2.

sports Sons of two former basketball stars are making names for themselves playing for unbeaten St. Xavler High School. Page C-l. people today It's not the cheapest thing In the world to do, but capping damaged teeth can give the mouth a whole new look. PageB-1.

nation President Carter asks Congress to authorize five-year, $50-btlllon highway-mass transit program. Page A-2. uor Israel opens door for resumption of Israeli-Egyptian military negotiations next week. Page A-12. in our opinion North Carolina's governor probably made the right decision In the case of the "Wilmington 10." Editorial, Page A-10.

I FLURRIES) if-' figure waitl ng for a bus downtown Pressure Was Low When Storm Struck Bill Harder, a Cincinnati Highway Maintenance supervisor. As far as salt and sand, Harder said, "as fast as we put It down, the wind Is blowing It off. It's so cold It can't penetrate." A spokesman for REACT, a cltl-zen band radio unit, said the National Guard was needed In Union Township because many motorists were stranded In deep snow drifts and could not get to Red Cross shelters. Roads were Impassable, he said. Butler County declared a state of emergency and declared all county roads officially closed.

IN CINCINNATI, Mayor Gerald Springer said he would not take the legal step of ordering all cars off the road, but did ask all vehicles to stay off streets "unless It is an emergency." Springer urged all businesses that do not have to open today to stay closed. "The forecast now is for the temperature to rise for the first time tomorrow about noon," Springer said. "We're prepared to start massive cleanups then." Cincinnati Fire Chief Bert Luga-nanni suggested citizens be careful with heating units, smoking habits and previously unused fire wind would drive a fire through a building very quickly," Luganannl warned. A highway maintenance snowplow was detailed to help firemen get to the scene of a fire, If necesary. National Guard units were called up In Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

While guard units were made available to Cincinnati, they were not being used. Suburban and outlying communities were taking advantage of the assistance, however. At Greater Cincinnati Airport, there were about 100 stranded travelers at the Delta and Eastern terminals and 250 cots were used by anyone who might have to spend the night. While the airport was officially open earlier In the day, arrivals and departures were rare. The airport closed at 6:10 p.m.

The storm dumped five Inches of fresh snow on the five Inches of old snow remaining after the rain. The forecast calls for continuing low temperatures through Monday. Blowing and drifting snow, though only occasional new flurries, are predicted for today. It will be windy with a high temperature near 20 and a low of 0 to -10, the weather service said. SNOW AND snow squalls are expected dally Saturday through Monday.

If it's any consolation, the bearers of the bad-weather tidings are suffering as much as everyone else. "Some guys have been here since yesterday afternoon," Pawlak said of his fellow meteorologists. Pawlak himself had started work at midnight and was supposed to be off at 8 a.m. "I spent four or five hours trying to get home but gave up because of the drifts and abandoned cars and came back," he said Thursday afternoon. When The Enquirer called back two hours later and asked for Pawlak, the man who answered said he had gone to sleep.

CONTACT QUEEN CITY, a Christian crisis counseling center, received a number of serious calls. "There's an Increase In women home with kids and people getting on each other's nerves," said one of the telephone workers. "People can't get out, and the frustration of being confined hurts." Police In South Lebanon, Ohio, were ready to evacuate homes along the Little Miami River because an ice Jam at the bridge on Ohio 48 threatened to cause flooding. TIME PASSED BY BARBARA ZtGU Enquirer Reporter Greater Cincinnati hit a new low Thursday, literally as well as figuratively. The lowest air pressure ever recorded, 28.81 inches at midnight, helped produce the blizzard that nearly paralyzed the city, said Sal Pawlak, specialist at tfhe National Weather Service.

THE RELATIONSHIP of air pressure to weather Is complex, but meteorologists say low air pressure often accompanies severe storms. Two separate cold fronts, one from the West and one from the Northwest, swept through the area and dropped temperatures to -1 at 8 a.m., he said. Winds hit 49 mph about the same time. The wlnd-chlll factor, which measures the effect of wind and cold on exposed skin, reached -52. It was cold.

During Wednesday's warmer temperatures, almost nine-tenths of an inch of rain fell, Pawlak said. "Then snow fell on the rain and made slush. When the temperatures fell, it laid a sheet of Ice on It." hound Bus station In downtown Cincinnati, where nearly 50 travelers were stranded. The Red Cross was asking for volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles and tire chains to answer numerous calls for help. The Alcoholic Drop In Center at 217 W.

12th St. stayed open all day, although It usually closes between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. "I made a bunch of peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches," said staffer Lee Altman. "It's Just too cold out there, especially for the old ones." LONELY VIGIL is kept by this Eskimo-like Stranded Motorists Do 4 A Lot Of Praying' AP (Brian Horton) Photo Thursday afternoon.

Madeira and Springfield Township police reported rushing women to hospitals Just before their babies were born. Emergency shelters were set up In many communities. Residents whose homes lost power and heat, and drivers whose autos would go no further, called police to learn where to find shelter. The Red Cross and Salvation Army ran about a dozen shelters and assisted up to 150 people throughout the day. The Red Cross sent food and bedding to the Grey cinnati police communications Sgt Lester Muse.

"We've been flooded with calls of accidents, abandoned cars and roads blocked by both." The Cincinnati Highway Maintenance Division gave the police 10 utility vehicles with plows and a driver for each, enabling officers to go where police cars could not. CINCINNATI POLICE spent much of Thursday helping stranded motorists, taking sick people and physicians to hospitals, helping city employees reach work and pushing abandoned cars off the streets. BY JIAA GREENFIELD Enquirer reporter Stranded on a highway miles from his home and unable to combat the fury of nature, Bert Gadd turned elsewhere for help. "We done a lot of praying," Gadd said. For nearly seven hours early Thursday, Gadd, his sister and her two children huddled together In their car on impassable 1-71 in Gallatin County, as high winds and snow buffeted them.

"The main thing we did was to try to keep warm and we done a lot of talking to try to keep each other awake," said Gadd, 22, Berea, Ky. "For a while I thought we'd be rescued, but about 3 a.m. I started to get frustrated and mad." A WRECKER from a service station in Warsaw arrived Just before dawn and towed them to shelter. Other victims were Wayne Duzan, 35, his wife and their four young children. They spent six hours in their auto, lodged In a snow drift on Slack Pike In Mason ty, Ky.

When the blizzard subsided at dawn Thursday, they discovered they were only 500 feet from a farmhouse where heat and food awaited. They walked to help. 'It's been a real mess," said Cin fpi ibs index Four Sections, 137th Year, No. 293 ACTION LINE B-2 BRIDGE BRUMFIELD A-U BUSINESS C-4-7 CALLAHAN C-1 CLASSIFIED C-8-10, D-4-8 COLUMNISTS A-U COMICS CROSSWORD B-6 DEAR ABBY B-2 DEATHS EDITORIALS A-10 ENTERTAINMENT A-7-9 GRAHAM A-U HEALTH BJ HOROSCOPE HORSE SENSE INDIANA NEWS JUMBLE B-5 KENTUCKY NEWS A-4 LOCAL NEWS D-l-3 OHIO NEWS A-5 RACES C-4 SOCIETY B-3 TV-RADIO A-6 WEIKEL D-l WORD GAME B-6 slowly for weary travelers at the -Cincinnati Greyhound Bus Terminal as they awaited buses that never arrived. The Red Cross finally rescued weary travelers with a load of cots and blankets Thursday afternoon.

i Enquirer photo BY MARK TRE1TEL i.