The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 1

TWaday morning, 1988 Texas'oldest newspaper Member Associated Pre RJCK3 Texas 2200 Market 763-6561 PERFECT WEATHER Will Labor Day's perfect weather continue? Page 2-A MAKING PLEDGE Dan Quayle says the pledge is still important to GOP. Page 8-A STUCK IN THE MU Sloppy field slips up Texas City's option. Page 1-B (SahiEstutt Mack Hayes in the Waterspout Lounge all summer! 28 dead in Mexico floods MEXICO CITY (AP) Crews cleared mudslides from roads Monday and took food and other supplies to thousands of people stranded in southern Mexico by floods that killed at least 28 people. At least 16 of the dead and the largest group of homeless, 25,000, were in northern Veracruz state, which took the brunt of Hurricane Debby on Friday, said Maj. Javier Lopez Medel, assistant state public security director.

The hurricane dissipated after coming ashore from the Caribbean, but rain continued Monday in much of the region and in Mexico City. Flood waters were reported subsiding in some areas, but officials said they feared rain in the mountains would make the waters riseagain. Mud and rock loosened by more than a week of rain slid onto roads, blocking or slowing traffic on several major highways. Most of the casualties and displaced people lived between Tuxpan and Poza Rica, 150 miles northeast of Mexico City, and just inland. Debby struck land in that area.

Among the dead was a 3-year- old girl from Tuxpan, killed Saturday when a wall of her home fell on her, said Matilde Albino of the Red Cross in Tuxpan. She said parts of the town remained under 4V 2 feetof water. About 8,000 of the homeless were in Alamo, 15 miles inland from Tuxpan, said Guadalupe Lopez, a spokeswoman for the Veracru2S.tate.gq vernment. Lopez Medel said the Cazones River overflowed Monday, cutting the coast road between Veracruz andTampico. No estimates of total damage were available.

About 600 people fled their homes in Mexico City late Sunday when rivers flooded but they were returning Monday, a Red Cross worker said. Jore Bautizo Espinosa, the mayor of Poza Rica, 22 miles south of Tuxpan, said people were repairing their homes and cleaning away the mud. He said a number of houses built on the banks of gullies that cut through the city of 300,000 people were washed away, but he did not have a specific number. Relief teams were using boats to deliver supplies to towns that could not be reached by road, he added. Light rain continued on the Pacific coast, where Hurricane Kristy dumped rain last week but never went ashore, the national weather service said.

photo by Robert W. Rizzo Fire engineer Pete Bridges collects donations for muscular dystrophy Volunteers net $22,500 for MDA; BySCOTTREEDER The Daily News GALVESTON More than $22,500 was raised tm S( Ular Galveston this weekend, from donations and concession stands telephonesolicitations and event fees. "This is the most the friendly people of Galveston have ever, given to MDA," Fire Chief W.H. Wisko said. He added that this was about $2500 more than was collected last year.

than 1,200 people gatfiered at the Flagship Hotel Monday to watch rocketing speed boats listen to bands and eat, all in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association; The money was raised by telephone donations concession stand profits, donations solicited from motorists by firefighters and from a $3 entrance fee charged all people going on the pier to listen to bands and to.watch the speedboats, said Dyann Chandler, cruise director for the hotel. Firefighters from throughout the nation have traditionally supported the telethon, Wisko said Gary James, president of the Galveston Firefighters Association said, "It's something firefighters have traditionally done it's also a lot of fun. Galveston firefighters have participated in the event for thepastiS years, hesaid. iv About 25 speedboats performed to attract onlookers to the pier, Chandler said. Live bands and See VOLUNTEERS, 9-A Grisly death Woman's burned body found in Galveston By SCOTTREEDER The Daily News GALVESTON The nude, partially charred body of an unidentified woman was discovered Monday behind a store at 6327 Stewart Road.

Galveston police have labeled the death a homicide and are awaiting the medical examiner's report on the cause of death. Patrol officer Lem Powell said the woman was white, in her mid 20s and had reddish brown hair. Powell said it appeared a cloth was placed over the woman's face and shoulder and set on fire. Sgt. Harry Millo said it is unclear whether the woman was alive when the burning took place.

He added the autopsy would determine whether the fire killed her or was used to disfigure the coro- se. The body was discovered and reported to the police by a boy at 9:24 a.m. Monday, Powell said. He said officials estimated the woman had been dead for less than 12 hours-. "I'm almost sure she was killed here," Millo said, referring to where the corpse was discovered.

He said there were signs of a struggle at the scene and no signs the body had been deposited there after being killed elsewhere. Other than the burn marks and some minor scratches there were no clearly discernable wounds on the body, said Bess Leveque, an investigator for the medical examiner's off ice. Millo said the murder is Galveston's 10th this year. Holiday festive end to summer By The Associated Press Labor Day's last holiday blast after a summer marred by drought and fire sent thousands of Americans to parades, food festivals, rides on a vintage train and political rallies where the presidential campaign lit up with sharp salvos from both sides. Southern California, a third day of sizzling heat over 100 degrees drove an estimated million people to beaches.

But in much of the eastern part of the nation, weather was more like autumn. The city-owned Wave Pool in Nashville drew only about 30 people Monday with temperatures in the high 60s. The normal Labor Day crowd is 1,000, a spokesman said. Thousands swarmed to the third annual RaiJroad Days celebration at Topeka, an observance of the role the Santa Fe and Union Pacific played in the city's history. Tickets were sold out weeks in advance for rides on a 1940s vintage train to the little town of Scranton, 20 miles southwest of Topeka, commemorating the first leg of the as it was built toward Santa Fe last century.

"It's just been fantastic," said Marge Schnacke of Topeka, one of the organizers of the event that also featured antique cars and locomotives and a carnival. At Long Beach, N.Y., a human chain of about 1,000 people stret- tnain anow 1,000 peo ched across two Long Island beaches Monday, singing "America the Beautiful" and calling for an end to ocean dumping That has been blamed for medical waste and other debris that has washed ashore this summer ruining swimming for hundreds of thousands of beachgoers. Michigan Gov. James Blan- 'chard led people who marched the five miles along the Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan's two peninsulas. Blanchard finished the walk in an hour and four minutes, a minute faster than his 1987 time.

Two rainbows filled the western sky when the walkers started the trek at dawn and the governor suggested that meant a winning streak for the struggling Detroit Tigers. Michigan also was a magnet for presidential politics as the candidates skipped to rallies and parades across the country. Democrat Michael Dukakis addressed a rally that followed Detroit's three-hour Labor Day parade, and Republican Dan Quayle addressed people who had gathered for the Polish Day parade at Hamtramck, a Polish Detroit enclave. Dukakis also appeared in Philadelphia and headed for St. Louis, while fellow Democrat Jesse Jackson derided Bush and Quayle as "rich young rulers" in a New York City speech.

DALLAS Demonstra tors in wheelchairs blocked Greyhound terminals in several U.S. cities Monday, claiming buses are inaccessible to disabled riders. Police arrested some demonstrators who refused orders to move. In some cases, demonstrators organized by American Disabled for Accessible Public Transportation, or ADAPT, blocked Labor Day travelers' entry to buses, police said. "This is a very busy day for us," said George Gravley, a spokesman for Dallas-based Greyhound Lines Inc.

Five protesters in wheelchairs and one blind demonstrator were arrested in Dallas and taken to Lew Sterrett Justice Center, the county jail, said police Sgt Walters. Passing Parade Happy Birthday Frank Coffman Emogene Rodriquez, Bobbie Mason Luella Mlllier, Janie Watkins, Iva Lopez, Diane Garza, Joanna Taylor Darla Flower. Happy Anniversary Frank Dorothy Baroux. Submit news to Passing Parade P.O. Box 628.

Galveston 77553. Classifieds Get The Job Done formal LR. WMWPirVer OM.3M»Pire.«MMI.«W4m. mfmiie tntMing me io rtfA my ho jot Huey 744-3611 Inside Bulletin Classified 1 Crossword DearAbby. Entertainment, Movies Obituaries Opinion People Police Sports TV Listings, Comics Weather 10A 7-1 OB 98 6B 9A 4A RA 4A 2A 1-3B 66 2A Weather AREA FORECAST Sunny today with a high in the mid 80s.

Fair tonight, low in the mid 70s. Sunny Wednesday, high in upper 80s. GALVESTON BAY Northeast winds 10-15 knots today, east-northeast winds 10-15 knots tonight. Bay waters slightly choppy. BEACH WATER 82 degrees More Weather, 2-A EDITOR'S NOTE This is the third installment in a series of about proposed dog track 1 locations in Galveston County.

The series runs through Sunday. ByJACKSTENGLER The Daily News LA MARQUE Three groups are working to put a greyhound race track in the La Marque area, but Mayor Carlton A. Getty said if one of these is chosen it would not materially affect Galveston County's tourism business. One group looking at a La Marque site includes Galveston native and Austin restaurant owner Nick Kralj, former House Speaker Billy Clayton and former professional football coach Bum Phillips. South of FM 1764 is another site being considered by a group led by Austin real estate broker James "Jack" Drummond.

Others in this group are Bob Johnson and Paul Bryant Jr. This site is between FM 1764 and FM 2004, adjacent to the west side of the Gulf Freeway. The third site is less than a mile west of the freeway and north of FM 1764 near the intersection of FM2004. Reports said the group involved with this site is Haybon Investments Inc. of San Antonio.

Some of the individuals in this are Herman Maisel, who has an interest in a track in Mobile, and San Antonio lawyer Roy Barrera a former Republican district judge and candidate for attorney general in 1986. in this group are Hayes Russell and Tom Turner. "We are currently doing a feasibility study on putting a greyhound race track in La I Galveston Daily News reporter Jack Stengler continues his series on greyhound racing in Galveston County. The series concludes Sunday. Today Three high- powered groups are working to get a greyhound track in the La Marque area.

city's mayor, Carlton Getty, discusses what impact he thinks a dog track would have on La Marque. Wednesday Galveston County's two state representatives, Lloyd Criss and James Hury, express their opposing views on the Texas Racing Commission. Thursday The Texas Racing Commission is expected to adopt rules for race track applications and operations at its Sept. 12 meeting. "It will give people in the city who are not now working a chance to go to work, but most of them will not be in high paying jobs." La Marque Mayor Carlton Getty Marque and hope to have it completed in two or three weeks," Gettysatd.

He said Lee Marketing Tnc. of Dickinson will put the study in final form. This will then be on file at City Hall as a public record, and the mayor said copies will be sent to the three development groups. Getty said he expects the Texas Racing Commission to begin taking applications in September or October, and knows of only four groups making serious attempts at getting a greyhound race track in the county. "If there is going to be any others, they are a little late gel- tingstarted," the mayor said.

The groups include the three looking at La Marque areas and the John Hill-Delaware North group in Galveston. Getty said it appears that only in Galveston County is there a real contest for where a track will be located. The other two counties which can develop greyhound race tracks are Nueces and Cameron counties. Getty said once the application process begins with the Texas Racing Commission the selection should be made fairly quickly. Mayor Carlton Getty "The racing commission has 120 days to make its selection after the application deadline," hesaid.

The mayor said he does not see a dog track having any major impact on the economy of La Marque, but that it will have a big impact on the financial position of the city. "When you are operating a city on a budget of $4 million a year and you get a business which would generate $1 million to $1.5 million a year into the city's treasury, this will have a big impact, "Getty said. "It will give people in the city who are not now working a chance to go to work, but most of them will not be in high paying jobs," See TRACK, 9-A.