The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 2

A-2 P'burgh Press, Nov. 18, 1978 mm rmr m. 'I uo title Mem ains atet By LAWRENCE WALSH Fluoridated water today continued to flow into homes and businesses supplied by the West View Water Authority. An appeal yesterday to Commonwealth Court by water authority attorneys stopped, at least temporarily, a lower court's order prohibiting the agency from adding the chemical to its water. 1 Citing a possible cancer-fluoride link, Common Pleas Judge John P.

Flaherty Jr. Thursday ordered the au- thority to remove the chemical from water pumped to 160,000 residents in 27 North Hills and Ohio River communities. Flaherty based his decision on a study which supposedly shows a definite link between fluoride and cancer. The validity of the methods and conclusions of the study was challenged yesterday by the National Cancer Institute. The NCI said studies conducted in the United States, Canada and Great Britain conclude there is no scientific evidence to support the claims of Dean Burk and John Yiamouyiannis, biochemists who wrote the study.

Yiamouyiannis, who is attending a conference in Atlanta, last night seemed upset that the water authority has allowed the fluoridation to continue. He also questioned the agency's "waste of money" in buying and using fluoride. Flaherty yesterday defended his ruling, saying: "This was not a lightly made decision. This wasn't something that I pulled out of the seat of my pants. "I intensely applied myself to the evidence presented in this case.

And the defendants (the authority and its board members) didn't controvert the study by Dr. Burk and Dr. Flaherty said. The study compared the cancer death rates of 10 cities (including Pittsburgh) which fluoridated their water systems with 10 other cities which did not during the years 1950 through 1968. And it concluded there was "a significant increase in cancer mortality in the fluoridated cities," Flaherty wrote.

Flaherty said no more fluoride should be added to the West View water system until he holds a final hearing or the state Department of Environmental Resources reviews the case. He said it took him seven months to conclude the "preliminary hearing." When Flaherty refused to suspend his order, water authority lawyers petitioned Commonwealth Court for permission to appeal the case. It is expected to be approved in Harrisburg on Monday. Unless successfully challenged by' the water authority customers who filed their anti-fluoride lawsuit last March 1, the same day the agency added the chemical to its water supply, Commonwealth Court's acceptance of the appeal will allow the authority to keep adding fluoride to its system. Flaherty could be asked to hold the authority and its members in contempt of court for failure to obey his order.

He said no such petition has been submitted to him. On Tap In West View Conrail Derails Disco For PennC Station with "a number of prospects, but the true test is the money. He (Albright) doesn't have the money." Admitting that Conrail was "embarrassed" by its dealings with Albright, Williams said the railroad is now ready to do business with the historical foundation or any other developers. In addition to a $30,000 grant from the Federal Railways Administration and smaller grants from PAT and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, th foundation is preparing a detailed study of the building. Heinz, ina terse telegram to Conrail officials yesterday, warned them they could violate federal laws by selling the building while federal tax money is being used to study its future use.

Ziegler said yesterday that engineering work on the study will be complete in about two weeks and the foundation should be prepared by the end of the year to offer Conrail "a complete development package," including reputable investors or government subsidies. The historical foundation also was up in arms about Albright's advertised plans to auction off some of the building's furnishings today. That auction is cancelled, Conrail's Thomas Hoppin said last night. Albright refused to comment on the deal. While no one faulted Albright for trying to buy the railroad building abandoned by Conrail in September, Arthur P.

Ziegler executive director of the foundation, questioned Conrail's motives in the deal. "Why would Conrail just take the building off the market for someone who did not offer any option money Ziegler asked. "They (Conrail) wouldn't do it for us." Kenneth Williams, manager of Conrail's real estate department here, explained last night that Albright "was the first prospect who said he was ready to sit down at the table and sign a contract." Williams added Conrail has talked The art dealer and the railroad officials met repeatedly this week in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh but Albright failed to come up with the required cash for a legal option on the property. Had he produced the option money, officials from the Pittsburgh History Landmarks Foundation were prepared to go into federal court to request a temporary restraining order against the sale. The foundation even enlisted the aid of Sen.

H. John Heinz III, R-Fox Chapel, yesterday to dissuade Conrail from selling the building before a study of possible uses could be completed. Foundation and city officials said this week they opposed the negotiations because of Albright's plans for the historic station and because of several questionable business transactions that brought Albright into court for debt judgments filed against him in the last two years. City tax records show he also failed to pay business privilege taxes on his art gallery for the last four years. EAST LAN Efc- 1' .,1.11 js v'hi A 1 i V- I 1 V) it 1 -r? t-n r.Jiur -I i i i i 2-', 1 I 1 V- -v 1 4 'V' -A JV.

"'V' f' Mi Ai JAMES ROBERTSOW MARY E. KING Honors to Senior Companions were passed out by ACTION HOW'S THAT AGAIN? could hove been the reaction of this puzzled pedestrian who suddenly found himself on the North Side, at South-side Avenue and East Lane. Seminar To Tackle Racism, Repression Dinner Honors Senior Companions Howard Albright's dream of opening a disco in historic Penn Cnetral Station Downtown has officially fizzled. He failed to come up with the cash downpayment Conrail wanted to else the deal by 5 p.m. yesterday and now the railroad is back in the market for another buyer.

Albright, owner of the Albright Galleries Downtown, obtained exclusive rights to negotiate for "the purchase of the 76-year-old building earlier this month on the promise that he was "ready and willing and able to buy right away," according to Conrail officials. He had proposed converting the station rotunda into the city's largest disco, surrounded by commercial shops, with office space on the 11 floors above. The plans were first disclosed in The Press last Sunday. At that time, Con-rail's Pittsburgh real estate department was expecting a $300,000 down payment from Albright on an estimated $3.4 million purchase price. Civil Service Commission Urges Veto HARRISBURG (UPI) The Civil Service Commission has urged Gov.

Milton Shapp to veto a bill allowing 7,000 politically appointed state employees to bypass regulations and automatically receive Civil Service status. "We believe this is not consistent with merit principles," said the commission in a brief statement yesterday. The commission said the 7,000 should not be permitted to obtain Civil Service status without taking the usual aptitude tests and competing with other applicants. Civil Service status allows state employees to request and compete for promotions and better jobs and salary increases within the state bureaucracy. In response the bill's chief author, Rep.

David DiCarlo, D-Erie, said the 7,000 employees were all unskilled workers who deserved to be moved up the ladder because they performed their jobs well. A spokesman for Shapp said he would weigh the commission's argument before acting. Of the Commonwealth's 105,000 employees, about 11,000 are not covered by Civil Service's professional standards for hiring and promotion and can be selected at the discretion of the incumbent governor and his political party. The posts in this category are unskilled positions and include cafeteria workers and janitors in state buildings and hospitals. While the 11,000 can be hired by the governor, once in state government they cannot be fired for political reasons because of union representation.

DiCarlo disputed the implication that the bill was designed to protect Shapp's patronage workers. Jet Crash Kills Area Marine Press State Wire GREENSBURG An area Marine lieutenant has died in a jet crash near a Dare County, N.C., practice bombing range. Michael S. Novotny, 27, of Greens-burg was the bombardier-navigator in a Navy A6E Intruder that crashed Thursday night, a Marine spokesman said yesterday. Novotny was based at the Cherry Point Marine Air Station.

He and the pilot, 1st Lt. Lee Dennis Barthel, 26, of California, who also was killed, were on a routine training mission west of Mateo, N.C. Cause of the crash is being investigated. The Pittsburgh Press A Scnpps-Howard Newspaper General oHires at 34 Boulevard of the Allies. Pittsburgh.

Pa 15230. Daily. Si 20 Sunday. 50 cents a week Mail in the first and second postal zones where there is no earner delivery Daily one month $4 50; one year $47. Sunday one month.

one year. $43 Extra postage cost beyond second zone. Daily and Sunday second-class paid at Pittsburgh, Pa. Mail jt' subscription telephone: 14 121 263-13 1 7. Brunwasser said he had asked, and U.S.

District Judge Daniel Snyder agreed, that once Snyder is in custody he should receive complete psychiatric help. At the time of the Fox Chapel alleged robbery, Snyder was free on three bonds totalling $50,000. Among charges he faces, which date from July when he was named a key suspect in 13 East End burglaries, are interstate transfer of stolen goods, 26 counts of mail fraud and other theft-related charges. China Buys Corn WASHINGTON (UPI) The Agriculture Department announced yesterday China has purchased another metric tons of corn from U.S. sources.

payers $2,400 a year for each or $1.5 million annually. "It's also very cost effective because the senior companions themselves realize a great degree of gratification from knowing they're needed and they're making a real contribution," Ms. King added. "These volunteers give a great deal to the program and they get a great deal out of it," she said. Established in August 1974 under the ACTION office, which administers the Peace Corps and VISTA, the Senior Press Photo by Ross A.

Clnil VALERIE COUGIILAN official. Companion program now involves 3,100 volunteers nationwide. Locally, the program includes volunteers like Valerie Coughlan, who speaks seven foreign languages, and James Robertson, who is handicapped himself and serves program "clients" who are blind or disabled. Along with the other local senior companions serving the county, they were honored yesterday at their fourth annual recognition dinner in Lawless Hall of St. Mary of Mercy Church, Downtown.

Police recovered a pillow case with about $7,000 in it, but the remainder was not recovered. According to reports, a gunman stood guard near the bank door while two accomplices scooped cash from drawers into yellow pillowcases. All three, who wore ski masks durinbg the robbery, allegedly hopped into a cab. After dropping off his passengers, the cab driver returned to the hotel, where he told police where he had dropped off his riders. The three suspects were arrested near the Connelley Skill Learning Center in the Hill District.

3 Held For Court En City Bank Holdup By RICH GIGLER In one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation, 183 Allegheny County residents are proving senior citizens "don't just want to be helped, they want to help, and they don't want to be a problem, but part of a solution." Now in its fourth year, the Senior Companion program in Allegheny County "is the largest and one of the best in the country, according to Mary E. King, deputy director of the federal volunteer program ACTION. Ms. King yesterday attended a recognition dinner for the 183 volunteers who serve 642 other elderly county residents in the rogram. The three county commissioners and Mayor Richard Caliguiri also appeared at the dinner to thank the volunteers for their continued service.

The Senior Companion program enlists the help of elderly volunteers willing and able to spend some time each day with other senior citizens who are disabled or otherwise confined to their homes. Ms. King said most of the 642 persons served by volunteer companions "would have to be institutionalized if it wasn't for that one visit each day." Considering what it could cost to, care for the same people in county institutions, Ms. King estimated the program saves Allegheny County tax The Western Pennsylvania Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression sponsored an organizing seminar today at 412 Semple Oakland. Keynote speaker for the conference was Charlene Mitchell, executive secretary for the national wing of the group.

Ms. Mitchell charged during a press conference yesterday that there has been a resurgence of racism and oppression (of minorities) MS. MITCHELL throughout the United States, and Pittsburgh is no exception. She said there is an urgent need for control over police departments by the people they serve, and to this end her group has drawn up "model legislation." Kim Nickens, co-chairperson of the local alliance, read a statement which referred to "recent violent attacks by the police on black citizens in the East End area of the city." Asked to elaborate, she cited recent charges of alleged brutality against Wil-kinsburg police by three men arrested after a melee at a birthday party. Rudy Rudolph, 25, and his brother Rodney, 23, both of 2811 Centre Hill District, and Gregory Anderson, 24, of 1308 Singer Place, Wilkinsburg, face charges ranging from aggravated assault to riot as a result of the Oct.

29 incident at the Singer Place address. The three defendants said they, were 4' Presi Photo by Ross arrested under false pretenses and beaten while in the Wilkinsburg jail. The FBI is investigating the alleged police brutality in the case. Other types of repression listed by the group included attacks on parents and students struggling for integration and the use of behavior control against prisoners in penitentiaries. Yesterday's press conference was held at the Hill House on Centre Avenue in the Hill District.

Westmoreland Boy, 12, Dies In Home Fire Press Slate Wire RUFFSDALE A 12-year-old boy was killed in a fire which destroyed a two-story frame home in a rural area of East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County. Authorities said Todd Hixson, of Box 131 Ruffsdale, was pronounced dead at the scene at 9 o'clock last night. Todd was in the home with two brothers, Michael, 13, and and William, 16, when the fire broke out. The brothers escaped by climbing onto the roof and jumping to the ground. Two firemen, Gary Potaoka, 23, and Norman Smith, 38, both of Tarrs, suffered smoke inhalation while fighting the blaze.

They were treated at Frick Community Hospital in Mount Pleasant and released. Mrs. Hixson was visiting friends at the time of the fire. A state fire marshal is conducting an investigation. ed that the Snyder robbery case is "still at the magistrate's level." Snyder had planned to waive his preliminary hearing on the Fox Chapel robbery, Brunwasser said.

Early Thursday, the attorney added, he (Brunwasser) "got a rumor" that Harmar Township District Magistrate Arthur Sabulsky would raise Snyder's bond from $5,000 to $50,000. Sabulsky did so, Brunwasser charged, after contacting Common Pleas Judge Robert Dauer and the district attorney's office. Brunwasser currently is involved in a case before the State Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the City Court system. He described Snyder, with whom he spoke via telephone yesterday, as "panicked. I'm afraid he's going to commit suicide instead of turnicj himself in." A.

Cdtania The Family Circus Three suspects in a Downtown bank robbery have been held for criminal court action after a preliminary hearing in City Court. Ordered held vesterday were Eugene Nance, 27, of 2271 Somers Drive, Hill District; Paul Milton, 27. of 22 Hamilton Place, North Side, and Tom Harris. 31, of the 800 block of Whiteside Road, Hill District. The three are charged with a holdup at the William Penn Hotel branch of Pittsburgh National Bank, where $12,000 to $14,000 was reported taken on Nov.

10. just buttering It Pitt accepted Army, 49-10, chose the about an into Archie Bunker's The Pittsburgh and Delila," starring fans howled when Raiders-Jets game show. Mrs. Herbert from her husband's turkey City -Court to reverse Pittsburgh Water Carnegie Tech field defeat for the Women's Christian Lawyer Fears Client May Kill Self Happened Nov. 18 By JOHN PLACE UVXVAWAW FIVE YEARS AGO a bid to play in the Fiesta Bowl after defeating 34-0, and Penn State, downing Ohio University, Orange Bowl Television viewers complained overlong speech by President Nixon cutting "All in the Family" show.

10 YEARS AGO Opera opened ticket sales for "Samson Mignon Dunn and William Olvis TV NBC cut off the last 65 seconds of a (won by the Raiders, 43-32) for a Heidi 25 YEARS AGO Burdette of Sandy Lake, firing a single shot rifle on the back steps, bagged a 15-pound Solicitor Anne X. Alpern asked Superior an $800,000 rate boost granted the South Co. 50 YEARS AGO routed Notre Dame, 27-7, the first home Irish in 22 years The Philadelphia Temperance Union urged censoring all scenes showing drinking in moving pictures. Attorney Allen Brunwasser describes his client, Jeffrey Snyder, as a "very sick boy" and fears Snyder may kill himself rather than surrender to police. Snyder, 29, of 5600 Munhall Road, Squirrel Hill, is being sought by county police and U.S.

marshals after failing to show up for two hearings Thursday. One involved a Fox Chapel robbery and the other was a federal hearing on mail fraud charges. Brunwasser, who said he currently is representing Snyder only in bail matters, contends Snyder is "being stampeded" by police and the district attorney's office who have "incessantly tried to illegally raise his bond." Brunwasser also said Snyder was not obligated to appear for the federal court hearing Thursday. Ande stress 'Was his win legit or are you him up to help rake the leaves?" 4.