Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 13

ENO EVENING Ga Nevada's Greatest Newspaper PHONE FA 3-3161 RENO, NEVADA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,.1958 PAGE THIRTEEN Ml ZETTE TRAIL BLAZER ISN'T SURE School Board Authorizes Excused Cuts Two A Semester Plan Approved On Split Vote Reno Airport Terminal Bids Are Rejected Council Decides. To Start Over Following Protest All ten bids on the new Reno Tahoe Biltmore Remodelling Set Nevada Club Starts Alteration Project Slated to Run $200,000 One of the largest alteration jobs in the history of Washoe county, and the largest since county building inspector Paul McAfee took office two years ago is underway at Crystal Bay, Lake Tahoe. The old Tahoe-Biltmore hotel on the lake's north shore is being remodelled into a new gambling spot and lodge by Reno's Nevada' Club. The Reno club took out a building permit for $200,000 in alterations in Febru r. tH i "--mi ttrfti-ffitm itmi timrtir iKwtiiH LARGEST GREAT SEAL, of the State of Nevada ever made left Reno this morning for Car-ion where it wiU be installed near the north entrance of the new state office building on the Capitol grounds.

The great seal weighs about a ton, is seven feet in diameter and was made by Sno-Lite Products of Reno. Nevada ma rble is inlaid in seven inch thick concrete, bound with a stainless steel band. A recess in the wall of the building will frame the great seal. J. Catron, president of the company (right) designed the concrete and marble seal.

Shown with him is Craig Sheppard, head of University of Nevada art department. (Chamber of Commerce photo by Jimmy Smith) School Bond Rate Drop Is Approved Reduction of Washoe county 'MISTAKEN IDENTITY' BEATING CASE FACTOR blood and a badly smashed nose. He didn't" fight back, police said, because he's admittedly not much of a fighter and knows it. He didn't even raise The plot still thickens, police noted tqday, in their investigation of the beating of a 17-year-old Reno high school boy last Friday night. Now it seems, that the 200-pound, 16-year-old who has admitted beating the youth actually mistook the victim for someone else.

The 16-year-old was a member of the "Deacons," a high school club (not sanctioned by school officials) but was thrown out of the club after the beating incident. Police said the half dozen boys who stood and casually watched the brutal beating weren't members of any club. They just watched, apparently not bothered by a slight overdose of brutality. The beaten boy was admitted to St. Mary's hospital for treatment for shock, loss of City Council, Urban Agency Move Closer Better liaison between the Reno city council and the urban renewal agency and a contract for planning in the northeast urban renewal area were the main items at the renewal agency meeting Tuesday night.

In a letter to the agency, City Manager C. B. Kinnison suggested that the urban renewal staff should be made a city department and its funds should be handled by the city comptroller. OPINION. READ Agency Chairman Graham Erskine, however, read a legal opinion from Attorney Paul Richards to the effect that the agency had been established as self-governing organization and could not now be made a city department.

It was generally agreed at the that councilmen had rot been kept well enough informed of renewal developments, but it was also, agreed that the council had not asked for more information. A plan was developed in which the council is to arrange a special meeting soon and be brought up to date by the urban renewal staff. KEEP INFORMED Allen Stewart, executive secretary of the renewal agency said that regular reports would keep the council informed after the meeting. POLICEMEN OCCUPIED WITH STRANGE CASES airport terminal were thrown out by city councilmen by a vote of four to two Tuesday after noon as a result of protests lodg ed against the low bid of Councilmen Russell Mills and Charles Cowen oppose rejec tion of the bids. LEGAL OPINION The council action was taken in spite of a legal opinion from City Attorney Samuel B.

Fran covich that the low bid, submit' ted by the Baldwin Construction of Marysville, was a legal one. The council was also informed that Staiger Construction which submitted the next low est bid of $1,215,000, had with drawn its protest against Baldwin. Another protest, by the McKenzie Construction still- stands. Francovich read a legal opin ion he has submitted to the Civil Aeronautics Administ ration, which is expected to pay about 35 per cent of the terminal cost, then went on to say the council should not worry about threatened law suits, but should only consider what is best for the city. READ LETTER Mayor Len Harris cut the attorney off sharply with an abrupt, "Sam, we don't want an opinion from you.

All we want is to have that letter read." Attorney Harold O. Taber, representing urged councilmen to take the Baldwin bid because it was a legal bid and the firm was ready and able to begin construction immediately. He said the low bid should be accepted so that the city could obtain a badly needed new terminal as quickly as possible. City Manager C. B.

Kinnison recommended throwing out all the bids and trying to get a lower one. FEARS COST RISE Councilman Russell Mills voted against the bid repection, saying new bids might go higher, costing the taxpayers more money. Councilman Charles Cowen also voted no on the rejection motion, saying he thought the question should be put to Charles Winger, CAA of ficial, who is expected to come to Reno this week. The move to reject bids was spearheaded by Councilman Jos eph Mastroianni, solidly backed by William L. Foster, and with the added support of Ben Maffi and Harold A.

Mathisen. As the situation now stands, new bids are to be opened March 24. Mastroianni said that if the bids were too high, some fea tures of the terminal would be deleted to lower the cost. With rejection of bids Tues day, the council was duplicating bidding for the second time on terminal projects. Several months ago the council rejected all bids on grading and other preparation of the terminal site after the low bidder protested that the specifica tions had been in error.

First National Bid Is Accepted First National Bank of Ne vada's low bid on $129,466 in 1957 street and alley bonds was accepted by the Reno city council Tuesday afternoon. The bid calls for the city to pay an interest rate of 3.4725 per cent on the 20 year loan, for a total cost over 20 years of $24,810 in interest. The only other bid was sub mitted by the Security National bank, at 3.7232 per cent and a 20 year interest cost of 576.68. The bonds are repaid by prop erty owners through assessments. ABOUT ARREST A real trail blazer is 23-year-old Donald Alan Ridin-ger of Sparks.

Rldinger, who lives at 103 Vt Tenth wasn't quite sure why highway patrolman John Paszek arrested him. Paszek pointed out that Rldlnger's sedan was some 156 feet into the university campus far, far from any road. He must have been asleep at the wheel, Rldinger said, but pleaded guilty to reckless driving charges and was fined $25. It all happened at 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Ridlnger's sedan, north bound on University Avenue, wandered off the beaten path. It subsequently beat Its own path through shrubbery and across lawns, halting when it smashed Into the wooden "tram" below Manzanita Lake. Rldinger wasn't hurt. Teenage Reno Boys Jailed In Car Thefts Two cars stolen in Reno in the last 12 hours have been picked up in the hands of teen-age boys one car at Hawthorne and the other at Bridgeport, Calif. Po lice are still looking for another half dozen stolen vehicles.

Two boys age 15 and 16 were arrested at Bridgeport in a 1957 station wagon belonging to Vincent Vercoe, 1775 Laiola Drive. Vercoe said the vehicle was stolen from E. Liberty and Sinclair streets between 7:20 p. m. and 8 p.

m. Tuesday. It was unlocked. FAIRLY SURE Detectives and juvenile officers are "fairly sure" the two youths are responsible for the theft of a motor scooter Monday afternoon from Reno high school. The scooter was abandoned here near a drug where the boys were seen trying to break into a parked sedan.

A policeman scared them and they fled. They face federal charges, for taking the stolen vehicle across state lines. Picked up at Hawthorne this morning shortly before 11 o'clock were two boys age 13 and 16, both runaways from their homes at Elko. They were driving a 1957 sedan owned by Ros alie Sperry, 715 W. Twelfth who said she left the car on N.

Center street at 6 a. m. Wednes day unlocked, and the keys in it. It's enough to give you headache, police said, the way people leave their, cars unlocked. STILL MISSING Here are some of the cars po lice still can't find: A 1955 sedan stolen on Feb.

7. Owner Pete Thomsen, 235 Mo-ana Lane, said the keys were in the glove box. A 1941 sedan stolen on March 1. Owner Dorothy Young, Bell Jo Trailer Court, said it was locked. A 1952 sedan stolen on March 3 even though owner Pearl Mil ler, 425 Casazza Drive, had the keys with her.

A 1950 sedan stolen on Feb. 26. Owner Melvin Rogers, 2425 North Sufro said a spare set of keys was hidden in the car. And there's a 1937 country sedan that police think was em bezzled from the Avis-Rent-A- Car company in Reno on Jan. 6 That one hasn't been found either, nor has the man who rented it.

The trouble is, police said, that some people own cars that have an ron-off" ignition switch. It can be turned on with the fin gers, if it isn't locked. It also helps to take the ignition keys out of the car, too. And leaving" car doors unlock ed not only aids theft of the car itself, Chief T. R.

Berrum added, but it makes it easy for burglars to remove all manner of goods from inside the cars. Seth G. Evans Passes in Reno World War I veteran Seth C. Evans died in a local hospital Tuesday. He had been confined to the hospital for the past month.

Mr. Evans was a native of Clay county, born there May 18, 1888, and was a resident of Dry Lake. He is survived by a brother, Weaver Evans of Texas. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Ross-Burke Co. Washoe county high school youngsters are authorized two "excused cuts" a semester under a regulation adopted by the county school board Tuesday nieht Board action came just in time to allow high school students to use an excused cut to attend the state basketball tournament in Las Vegas late next week.

ACTION SPARKED It was the tourney which sparked board action, which was not unanimous. There was considerable discussi on over whether such cuts were legal under the Nevada school code. The excused cut pre sumably allow absence for deer-hunting, fishing or any other form of recreation which par ents felt were legitimate. Four Reno high school stu dents, including student botly president Dudley Cate, former president Dave Quinn, Kenny Taber and Ed Pine, appeared before the board and selected Pine, basketball player and son of Ed Pine the school board president, as their first spokesman. He asked the board to make it legal for students to attend the state tourney in the southern Nevada city.

Quinn said the students want ed "something specific," namely nre-arraneed absence with classwork made up in advance Cate advised the board that only the 'better students' would be able to meet Quinn's qualification. WISE GUY OUT Taber told members "this cuts out the wise guy who just wants to go down there (Las Vegas) and fool around." He said state code regulations which apparently forbid such excuses "was not a very good state law someone was asleep when they passed it," Earl Wooster, superintendent of schools, cited an October, 1957 action by the board in which it went on record as not in favor of excusing students for out-of-town games. But local students easily see that in some other counties no such decision is followed because events like the zone tournament here brought hundreds of stu dents from other cities, su oerintendent stated. "It's a bad example." Wooster advised the board t-at in Clark county students an attend such activities if excuses are pre-arranged and travel is in an auto with a parent supervising. This situation has come up for the last four or five years, David Finch, principal at Reno high (Turn to page 14, Col.

4) Truckee-Tahoe Road Job Due California's division of high ways has called for bids on the improvement of state sign route 89 from 0.2 mile south of the Squaw Valley road to the Don-ner creek underpass near Truc-kee. The bids for the contract are to be opened in Sacramento April 2. Squaw Valley will be the site of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. State sign route 89 is the access road from highway U. S.

40 to the Squaw Valley area. The highway is being improved to handle the increased traffic pressure expected at the time of the games. The contract will call for wid ening the existing traveled way to a 44-foot all-paved highway. The section will be graded and plant-mixed surfacing will be placed on untreated base. In addition, the present 26-footJ wide bridge over Squaw creek will be widened to 44 feet.

The project will improve 8.3 miles of roadway. Construction is scheduled for completion in the 1959 construction season. The 1958-59 construction bud get of the division of highways contains $1,700,000 for this project. M'AVOY RITES Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Geraldine McAvoy will be held in the Masonic section of Mountain View cemetery Thursday at 2 p.

m. with the Rev. John Hargrave of Emanuel First Baptist church clergyman and Ross-Burke Co. in charge. The agency also approved a contract with the Regional Planning Commission which provides for the commission to 7 ao about six months work on ary.

The Biltmore, which had faced financial problems several times since it was built in 1948, was purchased by the Nevada Club in Aug ust 1957 for $421,000. The resort was sold by a federal referee in bankruptcy and the Nevada Club was the only bidder. The new resort, which won't look at all like the Biltmore frontside, is undergoing "ex tensive changes" according to its owners. The casino is being moved from its present second floor location to the ground floor. Gaming will be conducted under the Nevada Club name and the resort will be known as the Nevada Lodge.

The lodge dining room will probably feature entertainment, the new owners said. The lodge's parking area is being modified and several new rooms are be ing completed in the hotel building. An elevator will be installed in the three-story building. Renos Nevada Club becomes the third major Reno casino to take on a Lake Tahoe branch. Both Harrah's Club and the Palace Club have operations at the south end of the lake.

Down payment of $276,000 last year went to Joseph Green- bach of San Mateo, Calif, major Tahoe Biltmore creditor who forced the sale. Balance of the sale price will be paid over three years and will go toward retiring a second deed of trust held by Sanford Adler's old Cal-Neva Corp. That cor poration is bankruptcy and the money will go to creditors of the corporation. The plush resort was complet ed in 1948 with the federal Re construction Finance Corp. fur nishing $500,000 or J5 per cent of the cost.

It went broke a year later and was auctioned to the Cal-Neva group which in turn sold It to David Ross Crow and associates of New York for $650,000. Reno Freeway Route Studied Recommendations of the Ne vada highway department on the Reno-Sparks freeway route are being surveyed by the Bu reau of Public roads in Wash ington, the Reno Chamber of Commerce has been advised. President William Horgan read a letter to the board of directors of the chamber at their weekly meeting Tuesday, from Bertram Tallamy, federal freeway director. The letter acknowledged receipt of the data sent him by the chamber regarding selection of the freeway route. Horgan also advised the di rectors that Reno merchants will received four day freight shipping service from Chicago commencing April 30, the date on which lower freight; rates become effective.

Now shippers are required to pay rates from eastern points to San Francisco plus the rate from San Francisco to Reno. Plans for the year were out lined for the directors by new committee chairmen. COOK SERVICES The body of William Cook has been accompanied to Los An geles, Calif. for services and burial in the Veteran's Admini stration cemetery. Mr.

Cook died in a local hospital Sunday. Ross-Burke company was charge of arrangements. The participants saw slides and heard from Dr. Marland K. Strasser of the association of casualty and surety companies.

All information was beamed toward the new campaign. The "slow down drive will be stressed during the na tion's and the state's peak traf fic months the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Arrangements for the local meeting were made by Charles M. Oliver, director of the driver's license division of the Ne vada motor vehicle department. Oliver conducted the session which was held in the Reno Chamber of Commerce conference room.

planning of the northeast re newal area. his hands. Anyway, it was simply, a case of mistaken identity. The 16-year-old, who knocked down a couple of other boys during the evenmg, attacked his third victim because he thought he was the one who! made comments about cheating by Reno high school players during a championship game at the university gymnasium. He's been turned over to juvenile probation officers.

Parents of the beaten boy said he was beaten once before, in trouble apparently stemming from the demotion of a high school ROTC officer and their son's promotion to the post. refused to leave. He had screwed an extension cord'lnto an outside light outlet, run the cord to his parked car and 'attached it to an electric heater. He was cozilv siecpmg wnen police explained ne a nave to move on. Another tenant, who's paid up, took him m.

A frantic wife called police to ner trailer home because a man outside was banging on the door and flashing a light inside. The man was a drug store clerk, trying to deliver a prescription. They've lived together three years, she told police. Their babv daughter is nine months old. He got mad when she apparently favored another man so he left with the baby.

Don't worry, she said, he won't mistreat the child. She left for the night with a mend. He never 'gets supper served to him, the husband told sheriff's deputies. And when supper finally arrived, he threw the food and al the kitchen utensils into the fireplace. Noting that he'd 'imbibed too 1 deputies warned hind to keep the peace.

The car (blocking the woman's driveway, xlice found, was only ma jncnes out or line, i ney pa tiently pushed it back a foot. Snow: Showers Likely In Reno Occasional rain or snow showers beginning in the north this afternoon should spread over central Nevada tonight and continue through tomorrow. Reno and Fallon will have a chance of light snow showers to night. Southern Nevada skies should be fair today, becoming partly cloudy tomorrow. Gusty winds and cooler temperatures are expected statewide.

Reno's mercury dropped from yesterday's high of 50 to a low of 23 this morning. About 48 will be today's maximum, followed by a low of 20. Suspect Riley told police the whole thing was planned, and that McDonald's wallet was thrown to bartender Stanton who removed $150 from it. Riley said he wound up with the empty wallet and threw it under a parked car. i All are charged with robbery "through the use of force and violence." school district bond redemption rate another two-tenths of a cent was approved by the board Tuesday night as the $5 million plus budget for the m'WLQ school year was siimprf At a public hearing Th, tfte board had tentatively set the bond rate at 39 cents and the tax levy at $1.50.

"ho ro. vised school total tax rate will LUJfCH REJECTED The school board reiecferf proposal for a hot lunch program at the Home Gardens school because it had been ad-vised by the state health deMrt. ment that a kitchen installation wuuia cost about $20,000. The lunch program there would operate at a continual loss. Earl i superintendent of schools, told the board because there are not enough students to support it.

The board seized this opportunity to establish a policy of rejecting all school lunch programs unless they are "almost self-supporting." An unconfirmed report of student misconduct at Northside junior high school was read by board members, whereupon Ed Pine, board president, ordered administrators to look into the situation and take steps to correct it. if necessary. The report mentioned gang fights, insolence to and direct disobedience toward teachers, threats and defiance and petting parties in the basement. WILL WIRE' KITCHEN Approved was a request to wire the kitchen facilities to complete installation of a hot lunch program at Verdi school. The cost, $780.

Request for payment of aD- praisal and arbitration fees on school and city properties which are part of a proposed swap was filed until a complete re port and a full bill are received by the board. Granted was an extension of sick leave to Mrs. Mamie Hilde- brand, a teacher who was struck by an auto in December, 1957. The board based its decision on her past record of almost perfect attendance. By a three-two vote the board endorsed a section of the Reno high school' handbook which warns members of out-of-school organizations that no initiation, pledging or distinctive insignia wearing is to be allowed in the school.

The action came upon request of David Finch, princi pal. SAFETY CROSSINGS Action was withheld on a safety crossing near the Wads-worth school. A revised regulation on maternity leaves for teachers was considered briefly and then referred to the superintendent for changes. Administrators are to determine the cost of a fence at Hunter Lake school where neighbors had suggested that one be installed. The board ordered that the old Lawton school site near Mogul be appraised since there have been requests for its sale.

Several commendatory letters were read to the board by administrators. Praise went to Bonham teacher Mrs. Hazel Olson, physics teacher John Mar-ean now on leave at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Superintendent Wooster. The board decided not to dedi cate the short street in front of Sierra Vista school to the city on advice from Wooster. The dedication had been considered in order to obtain maintenance from the city.

The new teacher, Mrs. Mar- jorie Menke, was elected to replace Mrs. Andree Richards at Valley road school. Rental fees for-the Reno high school gymnasium will have to be paid for a March 29 charity basketball game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Reno All-Stars. The board stood fast on the rental policy.

Water problems and broken window dangers at Wadsworth school introduced by Fred Kei-per were referred to administra Police and deputies dealt with numerous complaints Tuesday night including a woman who attempted suicide, a stubborn tenant, a misplaced baby and a husband who hurled his supper into the fireplace. Police battered down a bathroom door to reach the wife who tried to take her life. She was found standing before the medi cine cabinet with a razor blade in her hand and moderately full of aspirin tablets and other miscellaneous drugs. She was taken to the hospital. The stubborn tenant, a man, couldn't pay his rent.

The landlady called police when the man Bureau Closes Royal Nevada LAS VEGAS, March 5. UPi Bureau of internal revenue agents closed the 4 -million- dollar Royal Nevada hotel to day for nonpayment of income taxes and said they will sell the furniture, fixtures and bar stocks within two weeks unless arrearages of $50,000 are paid up. Wendell Ruby, collections agent for this area, led seven men in the morning seizure. Guests were not roilted out, but new guests were prevented from registering. The furniture and fixtures belong to the firm, headed by T.

W. Richardson, which has operated the hotel since last year. The hotel structure itself, owned by another firm, is not involved in the seizure. The Royal Nevada, built in 1956, has had other troubles in recent months. Last Fall the state tax commission accused it of cheating in its casino- The casino has been shut down since except for a brief period during the Christmas holidays.

The hotel denied the charge. The contract must be ap proved by the planning commis sion before it becomes effective. Under the agreement the commission would be paid $3,450 for the work it does. Stewart also said the agency plans to enter into another contract within about two weeks for a market analysis on property in the renewal area. Councilmen Harold A Mathi-sen, Joseph Mastroianni and William L.

Foster attended the meeting. Animal Cruelty Case Is Probed Not overly fond of dogs is the "helpful" man who returned Carl Guidici's dog early Monday after dragging the helpless animal some five blocks behind a truck. Guidici told police a bloody trail indicated the dog was hauled along the pavement' at least that far and its paws and legs were scraped almost to the bone. Guidici said he was awakened at his home at 700 Casazza Drive at 1 a.m. Monday by a man in an old model truck.

The man asked if the dog belonged to Guidici. Guidici said it did. The kind-hearted truck driver then put the dog in Guidici's back yard and left. Guidici examined the dog at dawn. He took the suffering animal to a veterinary hospital.

Police are investigating the cruel act'. BAIL IS SET AT $2500 FOR ROBBERY SUSPECTS 'SLOW DOWN AND LIVE' CAMPAIGN IS DRAFTED Representatives of civic and fraternal organizations and members of the greater. Reno traffic safety council met in Reno earlier this week to formulate plans for the 1958 slow down and live" traffic campaign. Bail has been set at $2500 for each of three stroggarm robbery suspects arraigned Tuesday in Reno justice court. A fourth suspect, a bartender, is free on $5000 bail bond.

Preliminary hearing for all four has been set for March -20 at 2 p.m. Charged with the robbery of a bar patron at the Mizpah Bar on Lake Street early Monday are Charles A. Merrell, 38, no address; Fred Earl Zunino, 41, Pioneer Hotel; Donovan Farrell Riley, 29, Sacramento, and Sam Robert Stanton, 31, Mizpah bartender. All four were arrested when William P. McDonald of Reno said Merrell knocked him down and took his wallet, after Zunino first started an argument.

I II il Reserve Sets Range Firing Lt. CoL Clarence B. Bacon, Reno area commander, 15th U. S. Army Corps reserve has announced that the U.

S. Army reserve rifle team will fire on the Washoe county rifle range Sunday March 9. Firing will commence at nine o'clock and cease at 3:30 p. m. -AU persons proceeding in and around the area were advised bv Colonel Bacon to be extremely cautious.

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