Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 13

This evening's Reno Evening Gazett roundup Phone (702) 786-8989 Reno. Nevada, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1977 Thirteen Complaint involves missing gun Reno police officer arrested, suspended tl I its approximately 60 shotguns and 30 pistols. Most officers carry privately-owned .357 magnums, which they prefer to the regularly Issued pistols. Better believes some of the missing guns might be found at officers' residences.

He said they might have forgotten to turn them in after purchasing their own. The department's SWAT team was checked today to verify location of guns. An inventory of other weapons was made last week. By PHIL BARBER Reno police Monday arrested and suspended a former firing range officer in connection with an ongoing investigation into missing police guns. Washoe County Dist.

Atty Larry Hicks said Officer Jack Brownell, now with the patrol division, was charged in a complaint issued Monday in connection with just one gun. Assistant Chief Frank Better Monday suspended Brownell without pay pending outcome of the criminal charges. Brownell is charged with fraudulent appropriation of property, petty larceny and embezzlement, all misdemeanors. Hicks said the gun in question is worth less than $100, the minimum necessary for a theft to be a felony. Bail was $250, but Reno Justice of the Peace William Beemer released him on his own recognizance.

Better said no other arrests are anticipated, but police today still were trying to account for other missing city-owned pistols and shotguns. The investigation came to light when a policeman bought a gun which turned out to be city-owned. That policeman submitted to polygraph examination and was cleared of knowledge that the gun is owned by the city. Better said Brownell was assigned to duty at his residence for a week prior to his being charged. He is to appear for arraignment in Justice court Jan.

17. Brownell joined the Reno Police Department in 1967. The weapons investigation began Dec. 7, Better said. He declined to give details on the gun for which Brownell is charged.

But it was learned through other police sources that the investigation centered on five missing city-owned guns. They are among an estimated 25 which have disappeared over the last 15 years, the sources said. Better confirmed that until the last year, the department kept poor account of JACKBROWNELL policeman -County commissioners Auto pollution control inspection possible By BILL PHILLIPS Legislation may be introduced into the 1977 legislature which would require a vehicle emission control inspection system in Washoe and Clark counties. Chuck Breese, director of Washoe County's Division of Environmental Services, told county commissioners Monday a feasibility study ordered by the legislature in 1975 is almost completed and the results will be submitted when legislators convene Jan. 17.

Breese said he personally supports an inspection program, "although it won't stop pollution." In fact, Breese cautioned the commission not to expect any single program to be the answer to the growing problem in the Truckee Meadows. "The inspection (it Aw weekends, Breese said it shows a major contributor to air pollution "is the cross-town trip to work or shopping." Breese said the cross-town trip in the area is a standard practice, "being encouraged by the fact all the major shopping centers are locating in the southern part of Reno, causing those living in the north to drive a greater distance." Breese said there has never been a pollution alert in Washoe County, "but I keep thinking this could be the year." January traditionally is the worst month. Breese told commissioners growth could be halted in the Reno-Sparks area and the pollution rates could still increase, as he showed blackened filters which registered the pollutants in the air over downtown Reno on Dec. 20. "Basically, it would take some drastic lifestyle changes before an easing of the situation could be detected," Breese said.

"The automobile is the prime contributor to the hazy skies you see, but it isn't all the result of the engines." Breese said one transportation-related polluter is the sand put down on icy streets. "Salt would be better, but as is the case in so many of the situations, we would ease the air pollution, only to dump the salt into the river." On a brighter note, Breese said a wide-range of possible programs to fight pollution are being compiled for review by the Blue Ribbon Task Force. "We should have the strategies ready next week. We will offer a wide range, some which are social changes not very acceptable to many," Breese warned. He said the task force would then pare the list into one commissioners could review.

Commission Chairman Dick Scott suggested the task force, called back into active service last summer, be designated as an advisory board to the commission, "in order that they will feel like they are having some effect." Breese said that areas experiencing any success in fighting pollution have taken the many-faceted approach which he recommended. "We think we can do something to ease the situation, particularly in the area of particles in the air," Breese said. "But like other places with the same problem, until the federal government mandates that Detroit meet national standards in automobile manufacturing, the" main source remains untouched." In reply to Commissioner Ken Gaunt's remark that the picture looks bleak, Breese said, "We still have a healthy place to live, but we're pushing the point." program would be very clostly, and the maximum results we could expect would be a 10 per cent reduction in pollution," Breese said. Commissioners were told Riverside, presently has such a Erogram "which results only a 1 per cent reduction, but they cannot stop the program because pollution would increase." Breese said he does not know if the legislature will introduce any legislation as a result of the feasibility study, "but if it could clean up 10 per cent, I would favor the program." Breese did express concern about high costs of such programs now conducted Argent exec resigns LAS VEGAS (AP) Carl Thomas, a top executive for Argent has resigned to pursue other business interests, reports an Argent spokesman. Thomas has served as a key assistant to Argent chief executive Allen Glick since early 1976, when he was named to fill the administrative gap left by the departure of Frank Rosenthal.

An Argent source said Thomas, a shareholder in the Circus Circus hotel-casino and the Mini-Price Casino here, had submitted his resignation twice before but agreed to stay on at management's request. Thomas was said to be negotiating for a share in a northern Nevada gaming operation and asked to resign to be free to pursue that and other business interests. Rosenthal returned to Argent recently after a successful court challenge of proceedures used by the Nevada State Gaming Commission in denying him a state gambling license. Airwest stock hearing set Under a mandate from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Dist.

Judge Bruce Thompson in Reno Monday ordered three former Howard Hughes associates to appear for arraignment Jan. 14 on stock manipulation charges. Judge Thompson ordered Four-Star Productions head David Charnay, Hughes attorney Chester Davis and Robert Maheu, his former Nevada operations chief, to appear for arraignment Jan. 14. He scheduled their trial on the charges March 7.

The indictment accused them and Hughes of stock manipulation, conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the purchase of Airwest airlines in 1968. Hospital board elects Maida Pringle was reelected chairman of the Washoe Medical Center board of trustees Monday during an unannounced meeting. Mrs. Pringle has served as chairman since last October. Reelected vice chairman was Dr.

Mary Raymond, who was reelected to a third term of office in November. Jo Powell was sworn into office Monday, beginning her first term on the board. Also joining the board was County Commissioner Bill Farr who was appointed to represent the county. The trustees normally meet the last Monday of each month. Murder trial under way Dewayne Arndt, 19, went on trial in Washoe District Court this morning for the October 1975 gunshot-stabbing death of his stepfather.

Arndt, who last Aug. 30 pleaded guilty to second-degree murder but changed his plea to innocent about a month later, faces an open murder charge when his trial begins at 10 a.m. in Dist. Judge John Barrett's court. Jury selection in the trial was completed Monday.

Arndt is accused of murdering Mervyn Walter Arndt, 46, an unemployed cook who had come to Reno from Tacoma, in 1975. The elder Arndt was found dead in the living room of his West Fourth Street home, with multiple gunshot wounds and at least nine kitchen-knife stab wounds in his body. Cord widow bugs station Reno's KCRL Radio has been sold to Virginia Kirk Cord, widow of the late automobile magnate Erret Lobban Cord, who owned the station before his death in 1974. The sale, which was made several months ago, was not completed until the Federal Communications Commission gave its final approval, effective last Friday at midnight. Sewer issue to be discussed The Sparks City Council will hold a special meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m.

City Clerk Chloris Goodwin said items to be discussed will be a charter committee report on city charter revisions, a report from Fire Chief Don Young regarding a regional training program for auxiliary fire fighters, the acquisition of downtown land for parking use and a report on sewage issues. Train hits woman's truck A Sparks woman apparently escaped serious injury, but her pick-up truck was practically demolished during an encounter Monday afternoon with a Southern Pacific freight train on the Lake Street grade crossing. Reno police said Shirley Ann Hedrick, 39, of 1260 El Rancho Drive, was northbound across the tracks when her vehicle stalled and one of the crossing gates came down on the bed of her truck. The locomotive of the westbound freight engineered by Leigh Brink, of Roseville, plowed into the passenger side of the truck and pushed it about 332 feet down the track before coming to a stop at Center Street. Manager named forMGM LAS VEGAS Glen Neely of Las Vegas has been named casino manager of the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno.

Until the hotel is built, Neely will be with the casino staff at the Cal-Neva Lodge at Lake Tahoe, MGM said. Neely recently resigned as vice president in charge of gaming for Hyatt Hotels in Las Vegas and became a consultant to MGM Board Chairman Kirk Kerkorian. Driver flees bulldozer It came as a considerable surprise to all concerned, but Cleveland Montgomery did see it coming, and, in his own words "I bailed out." Montgomer, of 1890 Helena St. drove a Reno Animal Control Center pickup truck loaded with garbage to the Mustang dump Monday morning. He backed in beside a much bigger garbage truck and commenced unloading his refuse, a task he completed in due time.

Meanwhile, the bigger truck, having dumped its load, pulled out. George Stonbarger, driving a bulldozer for the Nevada Landfill started pushing the pile of garbage away Montgomery's pickup, meanwhile, became stuck in the mud, and the next thing he saw was a wave of dirt and garbage being bulldozed over his truck. That's when he bailed out, the police report said. The truck was buried under a considerable heap of garbage and bent somewhat out of shape. It had to be towed out with a cable, and although operative, will need some straightening out in the city's automotive shop.

CHUCK BREESE almost done in other communities. A bleak picture was painted for commissioners as they learned that since September only 20 days could be classified as having clean air in the Truckee Meadows. In September, there were nine clean days, seven of whicn were on weekend days; in October, seven clean days, two of which were on weekends; three days in November, two of which were on weekends; and, in December, only one day was classified as a clean day. Asked the significance of the clean days falling on Advisory vote still needed Once a day Proposed gas tax hike rejected Once a day, Bill Terry feeds his dogs "Teddy" and "Bowser" by spoon. The two pets have been Terry's constant companions for the last 17 years.

Terry says "Bowser" ence saved his life, and "Teddy" has mothered countless litters of pups over the past years. The dogs eat warm, cod-hver-oil fortified dog food. Gazette photo by Jim Beazley Gaunt had expressed opposition to the idea during the lengthy discussion. Asked if the streets and highways commission vote had been unanimous, Hall said he could not recall an actual vote being taken. "The discussion was very supportive, but I don't think there was a formal vote taken," Hall explained.

Rusk called the proposed legislation a way of obtaining flexibility for financing future street and highway projects in Washoe County, and urged support of such legislation. Presently there is a two-cent tax on each gallon of gasoline sold which is designated for use by the county for regional road projects. Under the proposal, the county would be allowed to boost that tax up to four cents per gallon. "There is nothing saying we have to levy the tax, or if it was decided more funds are needed, it would not necessarily be the full two cents," Rusk said. "We know we will have certain projects that must be done, and this is a way to plan for them." Opposition was expressed by Gaunt and Farr, who noted Gov.

Mike O'Callaghan has said there will be no new taxes in 1977. "Two cents may not sound like much, until you look at the whole picture," Farr said in reply to Hall's statement the proposed increase was only a small portion of the total price of gasoline. A proposed two-cent increase in gasoline taxes was sent back to the Regional Streets and Highways Commission Monday after it was learned the advisory group never voted on the concept. Washoe County commissioners, giving the proposal mixed reviews, quickly sent it back to the advisory commission when Jerry Hall, streets and highways commission special projects manager, said no vote was taken. "That irritates me a little bit," Dick Scott, county commission chairman, said.

"If they are encouraging this thing, then I want their vote on public record." Scott had been supporting the proposal which calls for legislation authorizing Washoe County to levy up to two cents more a gallon on gasoline purchases. The tax would be earmarked for road construction. "This is basically a tool we could use in the future, and there Ls nothing that says the tax must ever be levied," Scott said. "But it seems to me the streets and highways commission is trying to get the elected officials to support it without the advisers taking a position." Scott said he had been under the impression a vote had been taken. Just prior to learning the advisory board did not vote on the proposal, Scott had joined Commissioner Bob Rusk in supporting the concept of the legislation.

Commissioners Bill Farr and Ken Overwhelming response reported to tree appeal A group of 4-H youngsters reported an overwhelming response to their appeal for discarded Christmas trees to use as firewood for residents of a low-income Reno area New Year's weekend. Mrs. Toni Winkle, adviser to the Potato Peelers, a division of the Reno 4-H Club, said several local businessmen helped with the drive, collecting and cutting Christmas trees through a driving rainstorm. Jack Herzig of Wells Cargo donated a truck to transport the trees to the Cribs, a collection of bungalows occupied by elderly pensioners between the Truckee River and East Second Street. Herzig and Denis Pierce, a Reno fireman, chopped wood and delivered trees during the three-day drive and Eamon Byrne of a Carson City radio station, collected trees from donors' homes and also helped cut them, Mrs.

Winkle said. "Everybody turned themselves inside-out." 1 SOME OF THE 6E5T5T0RIE5 IVE EVER REA3 oJEKE ON I WRONS WITH I ffZXZ THAT 5QUE 0M A CEREAL BOX WILL WIN THE PULITZER PRiZE! '0U'Re tUEiXC? I SiPlT! 1 CEREAL 01 itfNT HAVE TD TURN ANY Woman robbed at home A young gunman forced his way into a Reno area residence Monday afternoon and robbed the woman occupant of about $60. Washoe County sheriff's deputies said Marjorie Maue, 62, of 340 Sierra Manor, told them she answered a knock on her door at about 3 p.m. and was confronted by a man in his early 20's who pulled a pistol from a paper bag. A detective said the man pushed his way into the house and told the woman she "had better come up with some money." fry Its.