Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 7

Reno Sparks FOLLOW-UP LOTTERY METROWATCH OBITUARIES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1938 RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL LINDA DONO, CITY EDITOR, 788-6302 CIRCULATION: 786-8744, CLASSIFIED: 348-7355 ALSO COVERING NORTHERN NEVADA AND THE WEST IN AND AROUND ood alarms to be revamuec 2 2B JDl I 2B ID) I 5B OuEl Mill Corps of Engineers: Work on upgrading warning system could begin in September. 911 phone system which would make it easy for emergency managers to call each resident and business owner in a targeted area to let them know their property is in harm's way. The city of Sparks is already moving forward with its reverse 911 system. "It's all computerized," Steele said. "You paint the area (that will be flooded) with a mouse and the computer will call all the numbers in that area.

"It will give whatever message you give it and you can do periodic updates. It will talk to voice mail and answering machines." The Corps plans to have a report on the improvements out by June and start the work in September. "They were using the best data available." The Army is studying the benefits of adding more gauges so weather watchers will have a better idea of what is coming down the mountains. The problem is the Tmckee River watershed is so short it takes only 12 hours for rain that falls in the upper reaches to arrive in downtown Reno, said civil engineer Merritt Rice of the Corps' planning section in Sacramento. "With the enhancements, the National Weather Service will be able to provide information sooner, but that may only be a couple hours sooner," Rice said.

"That couple of hours may be enough time for people to move their possessions and take action." As part of improving the early-warning system, the Corps also is considering creating a computer model enabling water managers to predict how the various flood stages along the Truckee River will affect low-lying areas. The third major improvement the Corps is researching is how to better notify the public that their neighborhoods or businesses are about to be flooded. In the 1997 flood, the public had to rely on radio and television for up-to-the-minute information on rising floodwaters. But now local governments are making plans to set up a reverse gency managers enough time to react to the impending flood and didn't come close to predicting what areas would be flooded, said Mike Steele, the city of Sparks' emergency management coordinator. "We were told the night before that there was a potential for (the river) to rise but the estimate of rise was nothing compared to what it actually went up to," Steele said.

"It wasn't the fault of the weather service. By Faith Bremner RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on a plan to give Truckee Meadows residents more time to prepare for rising waters. The area's early warning system of gauges that measure rain, snow and stream flows didn't work well in the Flood of 1997, local flood experts say.

In the January 1997 flood, the system didn't give emer 'It 's one of the most sacred sites within the Tahoe Basin. 9 Brian Wallace, Washoe Tribal chairman, speaking about Cave Rock Looking for common ground Friends pay tribute to UNR math professor By Janice Hoke RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Vera Frazier remembered his friend, Robert C. Hooper, "taking off on a bright Saturday doing the thing he most liked to do on one of the mountains he most loved." "I like to remember him with eyes bright and a little smile on Cave Rock: Workshop to help iron out dispute between Washoe Tribe and rock climbers over use of the Tahoe landmark. his lace, his heart charged with energy," Frazier, a retired University of Nevada, Reno physics professor and a priest at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in northwest Reno, said Editor's Note: We invite readers to submit items by calling the number listed below or faxing to 788-6458.

Watch for "Our Town" Tuesday through Saturday. Hug High senior Lesley Janeway, 17, won the Reno Mt. Rose Lions Club student speakers contest. In addition to a $50 prize, she will advance to the next level of competition involving Reno, Sparks Carson City and Gardnerville. There will be three more competitions before a final contest on June 1 3 in Modesto, Calif.

Nevada Gov. Bob Miller and his wife, Sandy, have been named co-chairs of the Nevada Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation's 1998 WalkAmerica. The walk will be at three locations April 25: Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, the Governor's Mansion in Carson City and Lampe Park in Gardnerville. Judith Chow, a Desert Research air quality scientist, has been appointed to the National Research Council Committee reviewing research on airborne particles and public health. Her appointment will run through 2002.

A $25,000 memorial gift has been made to the Reno-Sparks Theater Coalition by Reno Host Lions Club in the names of Jo and Al Binswanger. The grant goes to the campaign to convert the First Church of Christ, Scientist, on Riverside Drive into a community performing arts center. Binswanger was an Arch Lion until his death at age 100. For campaign details, contact Maija Talso at In Fallon, an informal group called the "Coffee Cronies" meet twice daily to gossip, joke and spread charm. Members are proud of their nickname: the Downtown Agitators Association.

The coffee-break tradition began 52 years ago and members include Ray Alcorn, Wen Beeghly, Don Cooper, Joe Keller, Ken Kent, Harvey Kolhoss, Vernon Mills and Bob Rysh. The attorney general's office is reallocating some of the grants awarded in 1997 through the Stop Violence Against Women Act. The Children's Cabinet received 1 0,000 to initiate a Family Crisis Response Team, far short of the 1 83,850 needed to launch the pilot project. Instead, that money will be split between the Advocates to End Domestic Violence in Carson City, Tahoe Women's Services and the Family Support Council of Douglas County. To submit items: Call 324-0225; punch 5627 when asked or fax to 788-6458.

What Forest Service sponsors workshop on Cave Rock. When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Where: South Tahoe High School library. If weather is bad: Call (530)573-2669.

By Jeff DeLong RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL People with a stake in the future of Cave Rock a Lake Tahoe landmark and Indian holy site meet again this week in search of agreement. Washoe Tribal Chairman Brian Wallace describes the formation as one of profound importance to Lake Tahoe's ancestral inhabitants. "It's one of the most sacred sites within the Tahoe Basin," Wallace said. Hooper preparing a management strategy for Cave Rock are trying to balance both perspectives. During an initial workshop at Lake Tahoe last month, tribal I r-K.

Villaoe If Ll" Casqn. members and rock climbers both voiced their concerns. The Forest Service, caretak er of the historic i i i lam taitafe. Cave Rock has become the focus of a dispute between members of the Washoe Tribe, who consider it a religious treasure in need of protection, and rock climbers, who want their access to rock formation over U.S. It fi ighway 50, will host the second public workshop Thursday concerning Cave Rock's Reno Gazette-Journal at a memorial service Monday.

Hooper, 59, on the mathematics faculty at UNR for 30 years, was reported missing Feb. 7 on a hike on Peavine Peak. He was accustomed to hiking vigorously despite rheumatoid arthritis and an eye condition. The search in heavy snow and mud by 70 volunteers on the ground, search dogs, an airplane, snowmobiles and the sheriffs department helicopter was called off after three days. His body has not been found.

The search will continue after the snow melts. The church was filled with friends, family and university colleagues in extra chairs set in the aisles and at the back. Several people stood in the lobby outside the sanctuary. Frazier said Hooper's good deeds were accomplished without fanfare, including help with the sanctuary where the service was held. Hooper captured specimens of termites that infested the church and helped drill holes in the concrete of the church floor to help with extermination.

"He was a modest man of great ability," Frazier said. Frazier also praised Hooper as a teacher who wrote energetically on the blackboard, showed a wry sense of humor and had a sincere interest in students, and had a strong desire to pass along the beauty of his subject to his classes. Students called him "Hooperman." Hooper's father was a Navy vice-admiral. A hymn sung at the service, "Eternal Father Strong to Save," ends with the famous line, "We cry to thee for those in peril on the sea." the popular climbing spot protected. Under pressure from the tribe, the U.S.

Forest Service last year closed Cave Rock to climbers in an effort to preserve the formation as a symbol of Washoe heritage. The action was challenged immediately by rock climbers and the ban was lifted under the threat of a lawsuit by the Access Fund, a climbers' advocacy group. Installation of new climbing anchors on the rock face continues to be prohibited by the federal government. Forest Service planners now Forest Service archaeologist John Maher will give a presentation on Cave Rock's history and discuss the National Historic Preservation Act. Participants will then break into small groups.

Cave Rock is the eroded throat of a volcano and is named for caves cut by waves into the formation's southern face when the lake level was much higher than it is today. According to Washoe lore, Cave Rock was a place where tribal elders communed with powerful spirits. David B. ParkerReno Gazette-Journal file HOLY SITE: Washoe Indians say Cave Rock at Lake Tahoe is of profound importance to the lake's ancestral inhabitants. Reno council asked to continue fight against fast trains downtown Reno considered a permanent solution to more train traffic through the heart of Reno's tourist zone.

Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin, and U.S. Sens. Richard Bryan and Harry Reid already have registered their strong opposition to an STB staff proposal after it was released last week. Reid questioned how the railroad can run its trains through Reno at 30 mph when it can't get trains out of railyards. Burlington Northern railroad had a announced a deadline of last Friday for UnionSouthern Pacific to straighten out its shipping problems in the Gulf States or else it would ask the STB to reopen the 2000 and 35 trains a day by 2005.

The council will be asked to comment on the final recommendations for faster trains as the proposed mitigation effort. Comments are due to the STB by March 1 2. The council will be asked to continue to press its case for a full environmental impact statement in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. All briefs have been filed and the city is awaiting a date for oral arguments.

City manager Charles McNeely wants the council to hire two law firms for $50,000 to help Paine Webberpush for a federal loan package to build a 1 82 million project to put the tracks in an trench in nation's largest railroad in 1 996, the board singled out only Reno and Wichita, for consideration. The Wichita case before STB has been put on hold while negotiations between the railroad and local officials continue. On the agenda: DanWesterlin.PortofOakland strategic marketing manager, will update the council on the port's expansion plans to handle more containerized freight from Pacific Rim countries. When completed, the expansion could result in at least 10 more trains a day leaving the port. If all these trains head over Donner Pass, the train traffic through Reno would jump to 25 daily trains by merger case.

But the two railroads announced plans to set up a joint dispatching center and share interests in a 342-mile line between Houston and New Orleans. But no promises were made to shippers on when the delays will end. Several previous target dates have come and gone. So far, Reno has spent more than $600,000 in its fight to gain fair treatment in the merger. The two firms proposed for another $50,000 assisted Paine Webber in gaining federal money for a large portion of the 2.

1 billion Alameda Corridor project a 10-mile railway trench to be built in the Los Angeles area starting this summer. By Susan Voyles RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The Reno City Council will be asked today to continue to fight faster trains through downtown Reno as the solution to a doubling of traffic by Union Pacific. The federal Surface Transportation Board will decide in April on its staffs recommendation to increase train speed from 20 mph to 30 mph and build one or two pedestrian overpasses downtown. The proposal is meant to offset an increase from 14 to 25 trains a day because of the merger of the Union and Southern Pacific railroads. In approving the creation of the At the UNR Foundation: A memorial fund has been set up in Hooper's name.

Send donations to the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation; University of Nevada, Reno; 201 Morrill Hall; Reno 89557-0090. For search and rescue: Washoe County Search and Rescue Council, in care of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, 91 1 Parr Reno 89512-1000. Watch Dead woman's name withheld pending notification of relatives Authorities have tentatively identified a woman found dead Sunday by railroad tracks near Galletti Way, but Blood needs for the week of 214 220, 1998 0 320 f.l O- 75 I lid not determine cause ot deatn. LUi A Wfin'irw i xw. i Ar mam The Washoe Countv Coroner's Office withheld her lame Mondav until identification is positive.

She is Donate blood at United Blood Services, 1125 Terminal Way, a nonprofit community blood center. They advise you to eat a hearty meal, drink plenty of fluids and don't exercise excessively before relieved to have been 43 years old and a resident of Reno, Please turn to page 5B for a complete obituary listing and more news of record. Abe Williams Collins 6 1 Elko Charles Henry Davis, 70, Fallon Ernest L. Dean 73, Gerlach Pearl M. Gardner Hernandez, 88, Sparks Myrtle Eloise Stewart Hickman, 92, Reno Jeremy Webster Hodges, 44, Reno Raymond Lee Lani, 49, Prescott, Ariz.

Lucille C. Papez Paolercio, 80, Fresno, Calif. Verla Champagne Peavy, 84, Sparks Florence "Pat" Ruth Canfield Rogers, 73, Sparks Eunice E. Peterson White, 69, Reno AB 4 )J AB- 2 Nevada trooper identified in shooting death of fugitive The Nevada Highway Patrol on Monday identified the trooper involved in Friday's fatal shooting of a Kansas fugitive as Michael Gyll, who has served six years with the force. Gyll, 27, will be on paid administrative leave during an investigation by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and the Nevada Division of Investigation into the shooting death of 37-year-old Brian L.

Speaker. Gyll had been involved in a high-speed chase of Speaker, who was a suspect in a Douglas County stolen carcase. At the time he was shot, Speaker tried to run down the trooper, who was standing outside his patrol car after the truck stopped on Dresslerville Lane, officials said. In an act of apparent self-defense, Gyll shot at Speaker as the truck bore down on him. An autopsy Saturday morning revealed that Speaker died of two gunshot wounds to the torso.

but relatives were not found. Preliminary results of an autopsy Monday did not find the cause of death. Toxicology results are pending. The body was reported by a train passenger. Reno police said it was unclothed.

According to the coroner's office, the woman had not been reported missing. and after you donate. Also, bring a piece of identification that shows your name and one of these: your birth date, your Social Security number, your photo or your UBS-assigned donor number. You must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood within eight weeks. New donors, new pheresis donors and new donors for babies are desperately needed at this time.

For more information, questions about these procedures, or if you would like to make an appointment, please call 324-6454. California: Inside the state, call 1-800-427-7623 toll-free. From other states: (916) 445-7623..