Idaho State Journal from Pocatello, Idaho • Page 9

Scary Drive Will Be History WHITE BIRD, Idaho (AP)- One of the most spectacula'r- and frightening-drives in North America is about to be bypassed. The Idaho Department of Transportation said Friday a new bridge is nearing completion at White Bird to open a 10- mile stretch of highway eliminating the winding, steep road up White Bird Hill. "If the weather holds up, we can have it done and open by the first of the year," said information officer William Harvey. "We still have to lay a concrete bed over the bridge, install 65 signs and paint and do cleanup," he said. The strip of roadway has been carved out of a mountainside to eliminate a stretch of U.S.

95 which has been called the most scary in the country. The old road from White Bird to the top of the plateau climbes several thousand feet in a few miles. The result is a progression of sharp, hairpin turns with no guardrails to keep one from plunging several hundred feel down the steep hill. Truckers prefer to drive many miles out of their way rather than try to negotiate the torturous stretch. One story that has become almost legend is of the Massachusetts motorist who was spotted creeping slowly down the hill with his wife trudging stubbornly ahead.

He told passersby his wife refused to ride down the steep hill. The department has carved a nice, gently sloping road out of the mountain, averaging about a 6.5 per cent grade. The project started nearly two years ago, but completion was delayed by the bridge over the Salmon River. First fabrication of the mammoth structural steel girders was delayed by a steel strike. The one beam was damaged in transit.

The big beams were put in place, but it was then discovered one was six inches too long. The roadbed apparently had settled during the long delay. That meant more delays while the excess was trimmed off. the last beam was put in place last week. "1 imagine we'll have some sort of ceremony to celebrate," said Harvey.

NEARING COMPLETION--It will be a historic moment in Idaho transportation when this bridge near White Bird is complete. It is final link in new highway that will bypass White Bird Hill, a treacherous strip of mountain road that for years has limited travel between Southern and Northern Idaho. Highway officials hope to have the new road open by 1975. (AP Wirephoto) Sfafe Bear Lake Tax Board on Land Valuations BY PAT WILDE Journal Correspondent FISH HAVEN-Bear Lake County taxpayers, least 14 of them from this small Bear Lake County lakeside community, have won their case against what they fell was overvaluation. According to a 13-page deposition from the Idaho Board of Tax Appeals, signed b.v J.M.

Liggett, chairman of the board, "action of the Bear Lake County board of equalization which met in July of 1973 was arbitrary and resulted in a lack of uniformity of assessment and was discriminatory to appellant land." Liggett stated "those actions in the opinion of this Board must be modified to give uniformity and equality." The issue developed after Bear Lake County hired Max P. Arnold and Associates of Denver to reassess lands within the county as required by state law. Completing a revaluation by November of 1972, Arnold and the Bear Lake County assessor established their new tax structure and set up individual hearings for those desiring to protest. Many did so and most were heard and dropped their complaints, but 14 taxpayers from Fisli Haven elected to continue. They formed a Bear Lake County Citizens Tax Committee and elected Leon Howell as chairman engaged a lawyer and IDAHO JOURNAL NEWS OF EASTERN IDAHO AND THE STATE Stction MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1974 prepared to light for what they considered their rights.

In a letter drafted by Howell to Gov. Cecil D. Andrus in February of 1973, Howell stated the problem: "Some of our land on one side is appraised at rates ranging from $1,000 to $33,000 an acre. Where other land is going at S225 per acre and in the middle of a 640 acre plot is one acre apopraised at $23.75." Howell called on the governor to assist in clearing the issue A hearing was held in April where the taxpayers presented their case to the county board of equalization and commissioner, to no avail. The board of equalization ruled in favor of the new tax levy.

The Fish Haven 4 continued their challenge and gained the ear of the Tax Board of Appeals who held a two-day hearing in the county on the issue in July. The official deposition is the result of their apparent final word. In it the Appeals Board has changed the appraisers category of "other rural lands to agricultural or grazing and reduce the appraisers value to accord with the changes. Their letter states, "this board is of the opinion that the only practical method of obtaining uniformity is to determine the value of the land in the category that it was prior to 1972. It is nearby ordered that the previous order of the Bear Lake County Board of equalization be modified to show the value of the land on the basis of the category it had in 1972 and prior.

A refund is to be returned to the people accordingly." Said chairman Howell, "we are very pleased at the results. Our farm land will now be taxed as farm land and not recreational acreage. Our local officials should have taken care of this. When they did not we were forced to go through the appeals courts to prove our case and we were pleased with our results." Hijacker Dead After Shootout PROVO.Utah (API-Richard was arrested. Floyd McCoy, the plane hijacker, Vietnam war hero, Sunday school teacher and prison escapee shot to death in a Saturday night gun battle, probably will remain a mystery forever to those who knew him in Provo.

McCoy, who escaped with three others inmates from a federal penitentiary at Lewisbury, last August, was killed in a gun battle with FBI agents in a residential suburb of Virginia Beach, Va. McCoy, while a 29-year-old law enforcement student at Brigham Young University, in 1972 hijacked a 727 jet and bailed out with $500,000 ransom over his hometown of Provo. He was captured two days later, as he was about to leave for National Guard duty, was convicted and was sentenced to 45 years in prison for air piracy. Federal agents recovered all but $30 of the ransom. Those who knew him in 1972 reacted with disbelief after he During McCoy's trial only four witnesses appeared in his defense, all saying they knew him four years before in Germany when he was president of a church congregation of about 40 members.

A former Mormon mission president in Germany, Elder Orville Gunther of American Fork, Utah, characterized McCoy as "highly regarded for his as peaceful and non-violent." About 200 people filled the courtroom during the trial and about three dozen waited Still Reigns SHERIDAN, Wyo. (AP) Claire Manning of Owyhee, Nev. agreed Saturday to extend her reign as Miss Indian America until the 1975 All American Indian Days celebration can be held. around until just before midnight on the day the verdict was announced. A defense attorney told the court McCoy earned some of the highest medals awarded to Army pilots.

He read from official records of McCoy's two tours of duty in Vietnam, describing one incident where the former Green Beret rescued two men from a downed helicopter by leaping from his craft and dragging them to safety across hostile territory. Last August McCoy and other federal prison inmates commandeered a garbage truck at gunpoint, smashed it through a rear gate and escaped. Melvin D. Walker, 35, and McCoy remained free until Saturday night, when McCoy was killed and Walker was captured. The two had been charged with escape and bank robbery, stemming from the holdup of a bank in Pollocksville, N.C., three days after the escape.

MELVIN WALKER Wounded, Captured RICHAHD McCOY Hijacker Killed Judge Gives American Falls Council Kills Jctil BLM-Leased Land Grazing PRESTON-In four cases restitution estimated at $800. A Bad Day For Engine 30-40' PRESTON--In four cases held in Franklin County over a two-day period, five juveniles and four men were given hearings in Sixth District Court. Three juveniles appeared on a charge of a burglary of Ralph's Store and West Side High School in Dayton and one was ordered US spend 10 weekends in jail, another five weekends and a third, because of a series of past offenses, was committed to the State Youth Training Center in St. Anthony. Two juveniles charged with "bombing" a public restroom in the city park were given probation and ordered to make complete restitution for the repair of the restrooms.

They will also work in the city, cleaning restrooms and other work under the supervision of a city councilman in charge of parks. Three men entered guilty pleas to a charge of malicious injury to property and were ordered to make complete restitution estimated at $800. They also had jail sentences suspended on payment of $50 fines. None had previous records. The three were Kevin Viehweg, Stan Garrett and Bruce L.

Wanner, all 18 years of age. They pled guilty of killing one horse and injuring four others- one seriously--and shooting up the Cub River Stock Assn. cabin in Cub River, as well as shooting signs and garbage cans during a shooting spree Oct. 16. Hal Keller, 18, Preston, entered court following an arrest involving drugs.

He is charged with having marijuana and amphetamines in his possession and burying them in sand when approached by an off-duty Franklin County sheriff's deputy at the county gun range. The judge took his case under advisement on whether or not to bind him over for trial in district court. BY R.K. NEVES Journal Correspondent AMERICAN of Reclamation land which has been leased to the city for recreation purposes cannot be sub-leased for grazing," according to attorney Richard Schou at the city council meeting recently. Schou's opinion came as a result of a dispute over grazing rights on a 30 acre piece of ground located near the site of the proposed American Falls marina.

Interested parties Doug Mauch, Cleo Shipp, Latin Morris and Bob Schmitz appeared before the council and requested a decision as to who should be allowed to use the property which is presently under lease to the city. After considerable discussion, and a check of'the city's lease agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, it was determined that all livestock would have to be removed from the area immediately. Through an oversight, the city has received no rental from the land for two years. By mistake the fees were paid to an adjacent land owner during this time. Council members indicated no intention to attempt collection of past use fees.

Other business at the Wednesday meeting included THE WAY IT IS Accused Murderer Jailed in Boise Shopping Center Antics BOISE (AP)--Former sexton Thomas Eugene Creech, accused in two murders in- Idaho and two slayings in Oregon, faces a hearing Tuesday before a magistrate in Boise or Cascade. Creech was transferred Saturday from the Valley County Jail at Cascade to the Ada County Jail in Boise for security reasons. The body of Edward Thomas Arnold, 34, of Lancaster, and that of a man, who the sheriff's office said Sunday still had not been identified, were found last Tuesday near Donnelly, Idaho. The men had been shot in the head and their bodies were to the Boise jail because the facility at Cascade was old and "not escape proof." Miss Spaulding also has been accused in the Idaho slayings and is being held in Boise. Creech is scheduled to have a hearing before a magistrate in Cascade Tuesday at 10 a.m., but Remaklus said the hearing might be held before a magistrate in Boise instead to avoid secuity problems in transferring Creech from Boise to Cascade.

The hearing is to determine whether Creech is to have a preliminary hearing. Hemaklus said earlier two detectives had traveled from Portland to question Creech covered with dirt and hidden about the Aug. 7 deaths of Wil- under a quilt and sleeping bag. liam Joseph Dean, 22, of Port- Arnold's car, registered in land and Sandra Jane Ramsa- Grand Junction, was mog, killed at the Salem, found on a road 36 miles south of grocery store where she where the bodies were found in worked, a ditch beside the same high- Dean's body was found in the way Idaho 44. sexton's quarters at St.

Mark's Creech, 24, and Carol Spaulding were arrested Friday in Glenns Ferry Idaho, about 180 miles south of the Cascade-Donnelly area Creech was arraigned Friday night in Cascade on charges of first-degree murder. Vaney County Prosecuting Atiy. Robert Remaklus said Sunday Creech had been taken Episcopal Church in Porland, where Creech had been sexton. Creech's defense attorney, Ward Hower, the Valley County public dafender, said Sunday Creech also had been questioned about an alleged death threat against Senator-elect Gary Hart of Colorado. Hower would not say who did the questioning, only that it wasn't by Colorado authorities.

By RICHARD LAKE I am a student of shopping centers. These fascinating phenomena are acres of parking space with shops on all sides. And sometimes through the middle. People lock their brains in their automobiles, and rush about in mobs, whooping. The first shopping center I saw was in Old Town, Albuquerque, where it was established more than 200 years ago.

The horse trough and hitching post was the center attraction. All the shops in town were right there because that was the town. In later years 1 saw shopping centers stretch Albuquerque all" the way to the Sandia mountains. This made me feel very bad. If people had left the tiny village alone, its shopping center would have remained charming.

No such luck. The trouble is the automobile. People who have wheels can tell Ihemelves they "live" in Los Angeles. Actually there is no such town. A municipality or settlement of about 200 persons can hang together and be itself.

When it gets larger than that, another settlement forms. A city is merely an abstraction. Obviously a shopping center that can serve 200 persons cannot serve' 200 thousand persons. A the little shopping centers thai spring up everywhere make a kind of sense. This is so only because of the automobile.

To the automobile nut, a place where you can park most any time you drive in is just too much. Add to that many bright and attractive shops and stores looking at you whichever way you turn. No wonder intelligence gives up. People love to run around and spend money. If they haven't any money they can run around looking for bargains.

As they drive to the fabulous shopping center, people no doubt fell themselves they plan lo find bargains and save money. Once they get there, this kind of prudence is locked in the car along with the brains. People love to read signs claiming discount and telling about the great bargains, Obviously there can be very few bargains, and those small ones. The shopping center costs a lot of money, and this is passed on to the consumer. The merchant who slnys "downtown" is going out of business.

Shopping centers arc lots of fun, and people arc always willing to pay for fun. approval of a permit for Mountain Bell Telephone to dig in the alley in the vicinity of their new building. Unfavorable mention was also made of the architectural design of the new structure. Council members expressed hope that painting or other measures would be taken to make the building more compatable with others in the area. Appearing briefly at the meeting was former Mayor Emil Grischkowsky who represented the city planning and zoning commission.

Grischkowsky informed the council of an abandoned potato cellar in town which presented a safety hazard. Council members agreed to take measures to see that the hazard is removed. Grischkowsky also complained to the council that the curb and gutter in front of the new post office building has been installed improperly, and suggested that the city take some action to see that the difficulty is corrected. Mayor Mert Ferguson indicated thai he would contact the state highway engineer and arrange for an inspection. Robert Ewing, the city insurance agent, appeared before the council and submitted a bill of $5,364 for the coming year.

Ewing commended the city employees for good safety practices, and indicated that a considerable savings had resulted due to the smaller number of claims submitted by the city in the past year. Ewing indicated, however, that rather than reducing the insurance premiums, he had increased insurance benefits, so premiums are about the same as last year. In final action the council discussed measures which could be taken to insure the safety of fire fighting personnel in fires where hazardous substances are being stored. The concern resulted from a recent fire in a chemical storage shed in American Falls. Fortunately none of the containers filled with highly toxic chemicals were ruptured during the fire fighting process.

Council members initially considered passage of an ordinance requiring businesses storing hazardous and toxic substances to register their inventories with the city fire department. When it was pointed out that a "Fire Prevention Code" which was adopted a short time ago provided for registration of such substances, council members decided to contact all businesses concerned, and request their voluntary cooperation. SALT LAKE CITY (AP)-A Union Pacific freight train was involved in separate'colli-' sions Sunday, leaving three motorists seriously injured. The first accident occurred about 8 a.m. in Pleasant Grove when a vehicle driven by Gary Rose, 32, of Pleasant Grove was hit by the train.

Rose was reported in fair condition at a Utah County hospital. Police said a frosty windshield obstructed the motorist's vision. Investigation of the first accident held up the train and engineer Floyd Fowler was called to relieve the first engineer. As the train approached Salt Lake City, it collided with a car eastbound on 3900 South near 2nd West. The noontime mishap left one passenger, Roger Ridgway, 28, of Nampa, Idaho, in critical condition and the driver, Ronald L.

Sparks, 30, of Salt Lake, in fair condition. Fowler said the 100-car, train traveled about 1,200 feet before it stopped. It was Body Found SPRINGERVILLE, Ariz. (AP)-The body of a Denver, helicopter pilot was recovered from the wreckage of his craft about three miles west of this northeastern Arizona community Saturday. Apache County Sheriff's deputies identified the pilot as Ron Snapp.

36, an employe of the Intermountain West Co. of Salt Lake City. The wreckage was spooled by another I a i em- ployes fiving a helicopter 4 moving 25 miles per hour, he said. Authorities reported that crossing signals were functioning. "It hasn't been a very good day for engine No.

30-40. She's really s-mashed up," Fowler said. Naturopaths Face Charge BOISE, Idaho (AP)-About 150 Boise-area residents have decided to form a committee to make people aware of their rights to use unconventional forms of medical treatment, The decision follows the arrest of three Boise naturopathic physicians for practicing without licenses. "You must be kidding," said Dr. Kurt Schultz after his arrest.

He said he had been practicing in Boise for 10 years. He told a newsman Thursday he plans to file false arrest charges against the Boise city policemen who jailed him. About 150 persons attended a Wednesday night meeting and decided to form the Idaho Committee for Freedom of Choice in Health Care. Goals, according to spokesperson Phyllis Huffman, are to prevent arrests of legitimate naturopaths and "to educate the public on state laws and supreme court rulings to let people know they have freedom of choice in choosing the type of health care they desire." Several persons at the meeting said naturopaths helped cure ailments other doctors said could be helped only by surgery. New Idaho Power Plant This artist's drawing shows the new Idaho Power Company coal-fired electric generating plant proposed for Orchard, Idaho, 34 miles southeast of Boise.

The plant will cost $400 million and will produce one million kilowatts of power. Some area residents are protesting the Drooosed' location. (AP Wirephoto).