New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung from New Braunfels, Texas • Page 1

NB PULLS WITHIN GAME OF LEAD; SV IN 4-WAY TIE FOR FIRST Page 11A New Braunfels Wednesday Vol. 139, No. 108 707 Landa New Braunfels, Texas 78130 (USPS 377-880) 512-625-9144 April 17, 1991 25 Cents Two Sections, 20 Pages Stammtisch Best wishes The New Braunfels llerald- Zeitung wishes "happy birthday" today to Adrian Resales, Hartman, Agapipo Lara, Rene Lara, Andrea "Audi" Olga Lara Ruth Warburton and Ashley Kaufmann. Belated birthday greetings to Adrian Alexander Garcia. "Happy anniversary" today to Thomas and Angclita Vallcjo and Frank and Annie L.

Huctcr. Know of a birthday or anniversary? Give our receptionist a call the day before at 625-9144 we'd like to share in the greetings. Street closings Closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today for street construction are Live Oak Avenue from Cross Street to U.S.

Highway 81, Lee Street from Hackbcrry to Orange avenues, Stonewall Street from Hackbcrry to Orange avenues and Jackson Street from Hackbcrry to Live Oak avenues. Closed until further notice is Unicorn Avenue from U.S. Highway 81 to the Interstate 35 access road. Newcomers' Club All new residents of New Braunfels are invited to an activity of the Newcomers' Club at Landa Park Pavilion No. 16 on Thursday.

Bring musical instruments and games for a 4 p.m. entertainment lime and-a covered dish for dinner at 5:30. For more information, call Shirley Kellerman at 629-6916. Project Graduation There will be a very important Project Graduation meeting for all parents of juniors and seniors at 7 pjn. Thursday in the Commons of Canyon High School.

Even those who haven't attended past meetings, and especially the parents of juniors, are encouraged to attend, said Paula Spitzer. Patriot pep rally At 2 p.m. Friday, New Braunfels Middle School will host a Patriot Pep Rally. Desert Storm veterans and other former service members are invited. For more information, call Sue Haywortli at 625-7728.

Go Western Dance Tickets are available now for the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce's Go Western Dance and Bar-B-Q on Saturday. Tickets, which arc 10 for adults and $4 for children may be purchased at the Canyon Lake Chamber office, Canyon Lake Office Supply, Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts or from any Canyon Lake Chamber director. In New Braunfels, tickets may be obtained at the Herald-Zeitung offices. Aggie Muster Former students of Texas University will assemble in New Braunfels Sunday for the annual Texas Aggie Muster, according to Co-Chairman Marvin Pustka. Muster activities will begin, Pustka said, at 12:30 p.m.

after church at Forke's Store in Conservation Plaza. Muster is open to all former students and their families, parents of students, and friends of Texas he said. Those planning to take part in the New Braunfels Muster are asked to call 629-4406 by April 18. See STAMMTISCH, Page 2A Good Day Cloud cover should break up today, but late-evening showers are still a possibility. A high estimated today at 85 should be followed by a low near 69, with mirror conditions Thursday.

High in New Braunfels Tuesday was 85 and the overnight low was 69. For more weather information, please see Page 2A. Inside: CLASSIFIED 5-8B COMICS 10A CROSSWORD 3A DEAR ABBY 4B EDUCATION 3B ENTERTAINMENT 4B HOROSCOPE 1QA KALEIDOSCOPE 1-5B SPORTS 11-12A TV LISTINGS 10A WEATHER 2A Railroad strike hits home A striking rail worker who declined to give his name carries a pickets sign at a New Braunfels crossing. Please see related stories, Page 6A (Photo by Erik Karlsson) Garden Ridge can't fill seat until By STEPHANIE FERGUSON N0wt Editor The Union Pacific tracks that wind through New Braunfels will be deserted today as picket lines of striking rail unions begin forming across the country. "In fact, right now, pickets are starling to pop up along the railroad," said Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis in a telephone interview this morning from Omaha, Neb.

A small picket of about five men formed in New Braunfels this mom- ing at the railroad crossing at Hill Avenue and Coll Street to show their support of the strike. "We're all in this together," said one striker, who refused to give his name. The New Braunfels strikers work on the line at various locations assisting in bringing in supplies to local industries. The earliest evidence of the strike came from the East Coast around 7 this morning after the nation's rail unions walked off the job when last- ditch negotiations failed to produce a settlement with major freight carriers. One of the last Union Pacific trains to travel through New Braunfels went through town around 8:30 a.m.

today after the picket had formed at the Coll crossing. The strike resulted from the differences between unions and management. Unions say the railroads are not offering high enough pay increase to make up for past wage freezes, but management says railroad workers are paid higher wages then those of other industrial workers. U.S. Congress is pledging quick action today to keep the walkout from being a long one.

The strike, if extended, could affect industries located in New Braunfels that rely on supplies that come in on rail, officials say. "It will have a definite immediate effect," Davis said. "If they (local industries) get timely shipments coming in daily they will feel the impact of the strike immediately. And that rolls over to the consumer." The New Braunfels strikers, some from United Transportation Union, Sea RAIL, Page 2A By STEPHANIE FERGUSON News Editor State District Judge Charles Ramsay extended a temporary restraining order Tuesday barring the Garden Ridge City Council from filling a council seat, declared vacant, until after the May 4 election. Ramsay's granted extension comes after District Judge Robert Pfeuffer issued a temporary restraining order, barring the council from filing the position held by Mayor Pro Ternpore Keith Richter, who filed suit against the city for declaring his seat vacant.

Mayor Walter Yohey declared the seat vacant after Richter, who was deployed to serve in Operation Desert Storm, missed three city council meetings. Richter, who filed suit April 3, accused the city council members from playing politics. He has served five terms as a council member. The council was deadlocked several weeks ago on whether the reinstate Richter. He said he would drop the suit if he won tiie race for mayor.

Richter faces former city secretary Linda Klekar in the election. Yohey is not running for reelection. Cutting plant's power would violate rights By STEPHANIE FERGUSON News Editor The general manager of the New Braunfels Utilities says that "arbitrary disconnection" of power from the Balcones Cement Plant would be a violation of the owner's rights. "Realistically, the arbitrary disconnection of any of our customers would be, at least in my opinion at this point, a pretty severe, violation of their rights," said Bob Sohn. Disconnecting power from the plant was suggested last week during a New Braunfels City Council meeting.

Paul Fraser, an opponent of plans of hazardous waste at the plant mid a candidate for city council, suggested that the city had the authority to cut power from the plant, under the City Charter, if hazardous waste was burned mere. "I would feel like certainly that there could be some very, very dire consequences for such an action," Sohn said. "I feel that our customer's rights are pretty sacred so long as the customer has paid his hill and from a utility standpoint done what our agreement says he should do." District 4 City Council Member Eddie Temple, running for rlet tion against Fraser said: "In doing research on that idea of Mr. Frasor's it's my understanding from the NBU and city officials that it would have a very negative effect on our city and NBU ratepayers." Temple, who said he is opposed to the idea, said pulling the plug from any company could put the city in a position of possibly being sued by that company. Susan Curtis, also running for the District 4 council seat, called the idea to cut off electricity from the plant "foolhearted." She said if electricity was cut from the Balcones Cement Plant, one of the largest NBU customers, the ratepayers would suffer, the Public Utility Commission would receive a complaint that day and San Antonio-based City Public Service could offer electricity to the plant.

Public Utility Commission of Texas Spokesman Bill Dunn said: "From our standpoint, our jurisdiction over a city-owned utility is extremely limited. Basically, the city council ultimately has the responsibility for the city-owned utility." Sohn said if electricity was cut from the plant the company and its employees could file a lawsuit againsc the city-owned utility NBU. "The Public Utility Regulatory Act establishes, among utility commissions, a certain certified area that we serve and those are sornewhac sacred in a seme that they have been very closely guarded regulated arid th.u the inclusion of a municipal into an area that is approved by the PUC doesn't give that customer any taii tildes as through what utility company they want to be served from," he said. The installation or cameras in Department of Public Safety vehicles serving the New Braunfels area could see increased convitions or drunken drivers, authorities believe. The dashboard- mounted video cameras will allow the courts to see exactly what the arresting officer saw.

(Photo by Erik Karlsson) Cameras in DPS cars should give 'truerpicture' of DWl 8y STEPHANIE rESGUSCN Nawj Editor Cameras now ire foilaig ui local Siaie Department of Public Surety trooper cars taping jvcrvilnng from DWl suspects to accident investigations. "They ire going take iwiy my contradiction Jial may come up in said DPS Sgi. A. Holder, of New Bruunfeis. "Picturesdon't lie." The small video cameras nui moaners ire Ivuig mounted on the vehicles' dashboards and troopers ire being wired with microphones to give i boner picture of what happens on the roadways.

Those taped recordings can be used in court, co bring various accidents and incidents to the jurors "I think we will get a truer picture of the DWl suspect," said Trooper Scon Haaa, who recently attended seminar ui College Station on uie use ui video cameras in law enforcemem. Trooper Rojelio "Roger" Gaiza said in .1 cuuiiroum, jurors more iliau lesumoiiy, iney vvuiu io die ''drunk car." Partners Haag and Garza saw ihey have oheady used vhe camera, installed lust week, Jiuujg an accident uivusiigaiioii mid on irailic slops. Haag said in lowns whcic the video cameras aie used conviction rales have gune up. Holder said lie expects io have cameras umuiileu ill nooper vehicles in New Brauni'cis tleei. The Stale of Texas pays tor ihe cameras and momtois.

Haag in ilic next iom io five years he expects all DPS vehicles ihe state will be equipped with the cameras and monilois..