Idaho State Journal from Pocatello, Idaho • Page 2

PAGE J-SECTION A-1DAHO STATE JOURNAL POCATELLO, IDAHO, THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1974 Electric Companies Labor To Restore Cut Service By PAUL SMITH Journal Staff Writer Electrical companies serving the food-stricken Upper Snake River Valley are gradually bringing service back to normal, at least for areas where people can live and work. Meanwhile, the power companies are attempting to assess the multi-million-dollar total cost of flood damage to their facilities. IN THE BLACKFOOT AREA, Idaho Power Co. crews restored full service at 8 p.m. Wednesday to the large area west of the Snake River and north of Rockford.

Localities, such as Moreland and the west Blackfoot suburban area, had been on a six-hours-on, six-hours-off power basis since the weekend when Idaho Power lost half its "juice" to the rampaging Snake River. This source is a transmission line which crosses the river from the east. It is carried on a structure of two big double-poles, where the line crosses a gravel pit just west of the river. Oue of the double-poles was completely washed away, and the other was leaning, with a broken wire extending into the river. IDAHO POWER WAS COMPLETELY relying on a "feed" from Utah Power and Light Co.

for the west-of-the- river area, until the big twin structure was repaired late Wednesday. One of the poles is still leaning, division electrical superintendent Larry Gunnoesaid this morning, but he believes it will serve until a permanent repair can be made. Just east of the river, electricity had not been turned back on yet this morning in the flooded Blackfoot Riverside Plaza Shopping Center, Riverside Inn, or at the airport and golf course. Service was disconnected for safety reasons. However, Gunnoe observed cleanup work in progress Wednesday night in higher portions of the shopping center.

Still without electricity are two flooded Blackfoot mobile home parks, totaling about 100 residents, on both sides of the river. Power heads will have to be replaced at the individual trailer spaces, Gunnoe said. UTAH POWER AND LIGHT which serves the heart of the Teton and Upper Snake area, estimates 4,000 to 5,000 customers lost service for a time. UPL lost its transmission line, between Rexburg and north of Sugar City. Some of the line was obliterated by floodwaters, and the land will have to be resurveyed for relocation.

This line is expected to be back in service in three to four days. It continues to St. Anthony and Ashton. MEANWHILE, ST. ANTHONY and Ashton are being supplied with power from two small UPL hydroelectric plants, augmented by power from the Fall River REA.

Thirty-eight UPL crews totaling some 200 men, aided by four helicopters, have been working in the region since four hours after the Teton Dam ruptured Saturday. They succeeded in restoring power to Rexburg by about 11 a.m. Sunday, through two lines to the Goshen plant east of Shelley. The only exceptions in Rexburg are the Rogers Bros, potato plant and flooded-out residential areas. AS FOR SUGAR CITY, which got the brunt of the flood, UPL distribution lines were mostly wiped out.

Few people are able to live there to use electricity. Fall River REA serves rural areas below the dam in the Newdale area and also below Rexburg. Fall River lost about 30 miles of line, about 40 irrigation pumps, with a total of about 300 power consumers without service. A Fall River spokesman in Ashton said attempts are being made to restore transformers and regulators, but lineman cannot get access to some farms. Some of the irrigation service never will be restored, the spokesman said, on farmland destroyed by the flood.

Fall River REA obtains its power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). ALL THREE OF THE IDAHO FALLS municipal power company's hydroelectric plants were damaged, with a loss of about 3,000 kilowatts, but little service was lost. The city also obtains power from BPA and through private utility interconnections. There was very little damage to transmission lines, according to Steve Harrison, manager of the Idaho Falls Electric Division. The worst damage is to the south dam, of which about 200 feet had to be blasted away to relieve Snake River flooding.

The dam just below the Broadway Street bridge in Idaho Falls was damaged to a lesser extent when gates were blasted out. The upper plant, about two miles north of the city, also received blast damage, but repairs should not be too difficult, Harrison said. UTAH POWER LIGHT CO. crews pulled from Ogden, Salt Lake City, and other locations slowly rebuild power transmission lines in flood stricken-areas, including these lines from Rexburg to Parker (above). Repair efforts are hampered by impassable roads, missing poles, and dwindling supplies of materials.

"Our warehouses at Salt Lake are almost empty," said an unidentified UPL crew foreman, "and I don't think there's a crew left in Utah. The power line network in western Madison County and the eastern tip of Jefferson County was almost completely washed away, and towns like St. Anthony and Thornton, relatively unharmed by flooding, are experiencing power shortages. (Journal Photo by Joe Brugger) Seven Idaho Communities Dig Out from Teton Flood COMPILED FROM JOURNAL REPORTS The Telon Dam disaster has affected at least six Southeast Idaho counties. Madison.

Jefferson, Bonneville, Fremont, and Bingham counties have been declared disaster areas by the federal government. Power County, where American Falls dam and reservoir are located, has also been affected. The following communities are among those which have suffered losses due to flooding: TETON: The tinv town of Teton. (DODUlation 400). was one of the first areas to be inundated by the cascading waters Saturday.

Barely 10 miles below the dam itself, Teton came under several feet of water. Two residents from Teton were among the 10 reported flood fatalities. Mary Gillette, 94, was an invalid who lived in Teton. When news of the dam's break came, she was evaculated from her home. After several hours out of doors she became ill and died.

"It's my opinion she would not be dead today if she hadn't been evacuated and exposed," said Paul Romrell, Fremont County coroner and administrator at Fremont General Hospital. David Benson, 21, was another Teton resident killed by the flooding. He and Daryl Griggs of St. Anthony were fishing along the Teton River when a 20-foot wall of water washed them down the canyon. A third fishing companion has not yet been found.

SUGAR CITY: This community of 700 persons was one of the hardest hit by flood waters. Situated between the two forks of the Teton River, it received the brunt of the water's force. No deaths have been reported in Sugar City, but property damage is extensive. Idaho State Journal reporters arrived in Sugar City while water still swirled on the main street of town. No business or home appeared to be undamaged.

Many homes were entirely destroyed. Mobile homes were ripped apart and wrapped around telephone poles. Two -story houses were carried off their foundations and smashed into trees hundreds of feet away. As much as six feet of mud covered everything in the water's path. All telephone service to Sugar City has been disrupted by flooding.

Many of the poles which once carried phone lines were uprooted and swept into the Snake River. State Highway 91, the main road into Sugar City, is open but state police and national guardsmen are restricting traffic to residents of the area. REXBURG: John C. Porter, mayor of this community of 8,000 persons, now estimates "about 65 per cent" of the city was "severely damaged" by the flood. Much of the town is beyond repair and thousands are homeless.

Mayor Porter estimates damage to downtown Rexburg to be "a minimum of S75 million." Damage to residential Rexburg has not been determined. Two flood-related deaths in Rexburg have been reported. Startey Peterson 51, accidentally shot hunself wnile protecting hts Rexburg home, a spokesman for the Idaho 62, died of a heart attack in Rexburg Telephone service to Rexburg is being repaired, but many phones are still out of order. RaUroad and highway travel from Rexburg north is al restricted The Yellowstone branch of Union Pacific RaUroad reported 11 miles of track either destroyed or washed awav by flooding in this area. State Highway 88, from Rexburg to Sage Junction, is closed to all but emergency traffic.

Other roads in the area have similar restricted traffic flows. IDAHO FALLS: The west side of Idaho Falls, located on the Snake River, was heavily flooded despite extensive sandbagging. Many hotels and motels along the river came under several feet of water. Idaho Falls Mayor S. Eddie Pederson said a major part of the city's power dam was lost, rendering the power plant itself inoperable because of lack of water.

Several bridges in Idaho Falls over the Snake River were damaged by the water and have been closed until repairs can be made. Telephone repairs are still being made in this city ot 36 000 Railroad connections between Pocatello and Idaho Falls have been restored, but highway traffic is still restricted. Interstate 15 from Blackfoot to Idaho Falls is closed, and U.S. 91, between Blackfoot and Idaho Falls is being repaired. According to Merlin E.

Tebbs. director of plans and operations for the state Bureau of Disaster Relief, damage in Bonneville County, mostly around Idaho Falls, may run as high as $500 million. FIRTH AND SHELLEY: Much farm land in these farming communities was covered by mud and silt. Railroads traveling through the towns were washed out, and roads were submerged under several feet of water. Firth itself was evacuated, and people will be unable to move back into their homes until they are disinfected.

The two city sewage lagoons in Firth were flooded and spread sewage over the area. Detours around the flooded part of Firth are still in effect. BLACKFOOT: Parts of this community were covered by 10 feet of water. Innundated were Blackfoot Golf Course, the municipal airport, Jensen Grove Park, and the Bingham Co-op. Also partly flooded in Blackfoot were the Riverside Plaza, the Treehouse Restaurant, and Valley Bank.

About 400 to 500 homes in Bingham County were evacuated, with about one fourth of these homes being seriously damaged. Farmers Urged to Contact the FCIC Boy, 15, Dies in Cycle Crash Standard Oil Co. built one of the world's largest oil refineries at Whiting, in 1889. A 15-year-old Poeatello boy was killed early today when his motorcycle rammed into a parked back hoe, police said, Brenton Ray "Lloyd, 1610 Homer, was dead at the scene, according to Bannock County Coroner Jim Allen. The cycle hit a combination back hoe and front end loader owned by Mitchell Construction on a dirt road at the end of Lake View Drive, according to police reports.

Officers at the scene said Lloyd's cycle "was apparently traveling at a high rate of speed." They said the boy's cycle hit the back hoe, throwing him forward and his head struck the arm of the bucket. Police said the boy was not, wearing a helmut. They said The areas was extremely dark. The "motocross" cycle did not have lights, according to police reports. Meanwhile, a nine-year-old Heyburn youth is listed in critical condition today at St.

BRENT LLOYD Brent Lloyd, 15, of 1610 Homer, died early today of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident. He was born; Feb. 26, 196V at! Pocatello to a Raedene Hale Lloyd. He attended Green Acres Elementary School and had just com pleted ninth a a Alameda Junior High School. He had a "football and Bannock Boys baseball.

His father died here in September of 1971. He was a member of the 23rd Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Survivors include his mother; a sister, Mrs. Karen Kramer of Pocatello; a brother, Ricky of Pocatello; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan D.

Hale of Soda Springs and Mrs. Daniel D. Lloyd of Grace. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Downard Funeral Home. MICHAEL L.VanORDEN I i a Lynne VanOrden, died in a swimming accident Tuesday.

He was born Aug. 14, 1961 to Royd and Claudia Van Orden in Ogden, Utah. The family moved to Montpelier seven years ago. He was a member of the LDS Church and enjoyed sports and outdoor activities. Survivors include his parents of Montpelier, three Brothers, Scott, Barry and Daniel, also of Montpelier; maternal grandparents, Mr.

and Mrs. Arriel Potter of Centerville, Utah; and paternal grandmother, Mrs. Eunice VanOrden of Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday in the Montpelier Third- Firth LDS ward chapel.

Friends may call at Matthews Mortuary in Montpelier Friday from 11 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in the Montpelier city cemetery. CARDOFTHANKS We would like to thank you for all the (lowers, calls kind of family of Betty McCullom Rose Royston Trlnrtt Jones LEROYFULLMER BLACKFOOT--Leroy Fullmer, 73, who farmed many years on Rich Lane in Blackfoot, died Monday in Provo, Utah. He was hospitalized June 2 with congestive heart difficulties, and had left the hospital to be at the home of his son shortly before his death.

Mr. Fullmer was born New Year's Day, 1903 in Hayden, Idaho to Herbert Alonzo and Mary Jensen Fullmer. He married Verna Hansen March 27, 1923 in Arco, Idaho. Their vows were solemnized in November 1956 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. For 39 years he lived in the Blackfoot area.

He served on the board of directors of the Corbett Slough, was a canal manager until his retirement, and served as president of the Barnard Lateral Ditch Co. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a home teacher and manager of the Fourth Ward Welfare Farm many years. Survivors include his wife of Blackfoot; three sons and two daughters, Darren L. Fullmer of Rose, H. Lynn Fullmer of Blackfoot, Mrs.

Jim (Barbara) Christiansen of Rupert, Dr. Mark A. Fullmer of Provo, and Mrs. Edward (Nancy) Palmer of Blackfoot. A son, Frank, died in 1962.

A brother, Warren of Tetonia, Idaho, also survives. There are grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today at the Blackfoot 11th Ward LDS Church, 520 Shilling, by Bishop Don H. Novas.

Burial will be at Grove City Cemetery, with arrangements by Packham Mortuary. JOHN BYRON RAMEY John Byron Ramey, six-week- old son of James and Sheila Reisner Ramey, Aberdeen, died Tuesday at his home. He was born April 26, and Is survived by his parents; three brothers, Phillip, James Michael, Jr, and Danny; two sisters, Tammy and Ginger; and a grandfather, W.H. Ramey, all of Aberdeen. Funeral services were conducted today at 1 p.m.

in the Aberdeen LDS Ward Chapel with Bishop Leslie Pratt officiating. Burial was In the Aberdeen City Cemetery under the direction of Manning Funeral Chapel. Anthony Community Hospital in Pocatello following a bicycle- motorcycle collision in Heyburn Tuesday night. Tony Lavern Phillips, son of Gene and Violet Phillips, suf- fered head and possible neck injuries when the bicycle he was riding was struck by a Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Clifford Leo Bailey, 24, also of Heyburn, about 4:30 p.m. Phillips and Bailey were both taken to Cassia Memorial Hospital and Phillips was later transferred to Pocatello.

EVERETT PARSONS ARCO--Everett Parson, 73, a Groveiand resident, died Tuesday following a brief illness. He was born Sept. 8, 1902 at Thomas to Charley and Myrtle Patterson Parsons. He attended schools in Springfield and Thomas and married Violet Lavern at Pocatello Jan. 11, 1922.

Mr. Parsons also lived in the Arco area where he worked for the Big Butte and Leadbelt cattle associations 45 years. Survivors include his widow of Groveiand; five sons, Willis Parsons of Shoshone, Idaho, Earl Parsons of Arco, Rolland Parsons of Las Vegas, Jesse Parsons of Miami, and Tyrone Parsons of Blackfoot; four daughters, Mrs. Ted (Phontella) Blamires of Pocatello, Mrs. Gus (Virginia) Phiros of Ventura, and Mrs.

Robert (Juanita) Barter and Mrs. Jack (Darlene) Gini, both of Arco; 27 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Clifford Parsons and Irvin Parsons, both of Blackfoot; and two sisters, Mrs. LaVon Hunter of Blackfoot and Mrs. Harry (Altai King of Pocatello. Funeral services will be I p.m.

today at the Arco LDS Ward Chapel. Burial will be at Hilcrest Cemetery in Arco under the direction of Marvel Memorial Chapel. James Nugent HAWTHORNE, N.Y. (AP) James Nugent, an Associated Press police and courtroom reporter who established a reputation for never disclosing the source of inside information as he covered The Bronx for nearly 40 years, died Tuesday at the age of 62. Farmers whose crops were lost or damaged from the Teton Dam collapse and its flooding should contact the Pocatello office of the Federal Crop Insurance Corp.

Leroy F. Knox, Spokane, regional director for the FCIC, this morning said his agency will bring in a team of loss adjusters to assess damages so payments may begin to insured farmers. "We've had difficulty contacting some of our insured in several counties," Knox said. He explained his agency had not been able to get calls and questions through to Fremont, Madison, Jefferson, Bingham, and Bonneville counties where flood waters hit. All farmers insured by the FCIC who suffered any crop loss or damage from the flood or its effects should contact Pholomena Lance, Room 306 of the Federal Building at Pocatello, Knox said.

The telephone number is 233-35S3. "We can't even get into the area at this point," Knox said, but insured farmers and their crop damage must be identified so insurance benefits can be paid. His agency must know how much acreage was insured and the crop damage. "We'll assess the crop damage. get prepared to pay all the indemnities due," Knox said.

"We want to get on track right now." Flood damage is covered under the crop insurance, Knox said, although he stressed his agency is making no determination of blame for the flood. "We're going to pay all our claims. care totally of all our people." Information is needed as soon as possible, Knox said, although deadlines have been liberalized. "I have yet to find out exactly where the water did go and didn't go," he added. "We insure wheat, barley, and sugar beets in this area." NO CATTLE REMAINS A.F.

Dam Contains Flood Waters Teton Dam flood waters have now been contained behind the American Falls Dam, the water level there is lowering, -but cattle remains still haven't been spotted in the reservoir. The surge of flood waters into the A.F. Reservoir only raised that dam's water level a foot-and-a-half, according to Carlos a Bureau of Reclamation project superientendent in Burley. Randolph was contacted this morning by telephone. Randolph said the river downstream from the dam.

remained constant, and the bureau had no problems in controlling the flood waters. Leo Bush, chief of river operations, said water behind the A. F. Dam reached its maximum level at 11 a.m. Wednesday at 4,345 feet above sea level.

The level was 0.15 feet less this morning. Top of the reservoir is at 4,354 feet above sea level, Bush said. Leland Hawkley, Power County civil defense director, said water flow out of the dam this morning has been reduced to 20,000 cubic feet a second. Spillway flood gates were closed to maintain normal stream flow. Power County sheriff's deputies were unable to check accumulated debris in the reservoir Wednesday because of strong winds, Hawkley noted, but a report should be made today.

Paul Cleaver, environmental services director, said results of a chemical analysis of water sampled below the American Falls Dam should be back from Boise by Friday. "We're advising that no recreational activities be allowed there because it could be highly toxic." Cleaver said, referring to the reservoir. To fish, swim, or water-ski in the area would be foolish, he added. Cleaver's department is attempting to coordinate retrieval and landfill activities. Dead livestock are expected lo be swept into the A.

F. Reservoir by flood waters. "We're sure a lot of them are still floating. We still haven't been able to find the estimated 20,000 head that have disappeared," he said, noting many animals along the flood route have already been buried. BANNOCK HOTEL FRIDAY HAVE YOU TRIED EXTRA SPECIAL CRAB MEAT SALAD? Police Hold Two for 'Looting 7 FUNERAL NOTICES A a services for Rosetta Hansen Farnsworth, 72, of 174 Oakland who died Sunday, will be conducted Friday at 11 a.m.

in the LDS 18th Ward Chapel at Eldredge and Hawthorne. Brent Smith, a counselor In the Bishopric, will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends today from 7-9 p.m. at Manning Funeral Chapel.

REXBURG--Two men are under arrest for alleged looting, and Rexburg police chief Blair K. Seipert says police problems are increasing as his flood-torn city stabilizes. Trucks belonging to the Morrison-Knudsen Company were stoned Tuesday as they passed through the city. (See story on page B-l) Seipert and Madison County Sheriff Ford Smith said the two men were spotted in Rexburg in a clean vehicle with Nevada plates, and were picked up at a roadblock in nearby Sugar City, also severely damaged by flooding. Seipert and Smith said they did not know the names or ages of the men, who are being held at the Jefferson County Jail in Rigby.

Night dispatchers WEATHER Pocalello area forecast: partly cloudy today with scattered showers and thundershowers developing this afternoon and evening. Strong gusty winds near 45 miles per hour In vicinity of thundershowers with possibly locallyheavy thundershowers this evening. Rain likely tonight continuing into Friday. Much cooler Friday. Precipitation: 40 pe cent today, 60 per cent tonight, 50 per cent Friday.

Extended outlook: Saturday through Monday: mostly dry, but seasonably cool weather. Highs In the 60s to low 70s, lows In the forties. IS YOUR UNIFORM OLD AND OUT OF STYLE? Wednesday at the jail refused t( disclose the men's identity, am telephone circuits into the are. are still overloaded. "They were pretty obvious," commented Sheriff Smith "Anybody who's been workin in the flood area has mud up here, and these two didn't loo like that." "Problems with vandalisn have increased since the earlie stages," added Seipert, who ha been on duty almost continousl since the Teton Dam burs Saturday.

"Most of the situations we'v encountered we've been able work out," he added. "People see this stuff at th curbside and seem to think it fair game," Smith added. Both said the control weekend sightseers is going 1 $300 REWARD For Information Loading To Arreit Conviction Of Ptnonl Or Pononi Invoked In Destruction To. 1 19M UKTmil Electric Smiw Lit Al iHfinintin Mftkntirf MLtTM It 232-2433 i i I 3 i i i 0 0 1 a major headache, and ac- ess to flood-ravaged areas will )e strictly limited. "So far, there has been good ooperation and assistance etween local law enforcement, tate police, national guard- men, and volunteers," added iteve Leroy, information of- icer for the Idaho Department Law Enforcement.

Bingham sheriff Mike Shiosaki, and Bonneville County luthorities, said law en- orcement problems-- except or traffic control-- have been ninimal. KNIT NOOK WILL BE IIA 1 CLOSED June 15th to Sept. 1st Lay-A-Ways must be picked up by i 1 June loth 140 jUHk At Medical Mart i We're Doing Our Thing For Beauty. 4 $000 I fl Trade-in jm JH Allowance Toward The Purchase Of A Stylish, New SUMMER UNIFORM ffl. SERVICE 4 4-1 1--1 LA.V4 I I 4 OF POCATEL LO 160 JEFFERSON.