Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 9

Weather Have a local news tip? Give us a call at 337-3181 and ask for Marlene Perrin, the city editor oca: Deaths Page IB Iowa City Press-Citizen WEDNESDAY, MAY 11. 1988 Tornado, then toxic fumes chase residents Second evacuation in 3 days worries Hilltop trailer park She tried to get her daughter, Sabrina, 7, to go to sleep in the back seat. Sabrina's usual bedtime is 8 p.m.: "Tell the fire that," Sabrina said. At about 11 p.m., Hilltop residents began to return home to smoky trailers after another night away from home. "You could see terror in a lot of people's eyes," Deb VandenBerg, another Hilltop resident, said.

"The thought of not getting back in your home or if you even had a home if that tank blew," she said. VandenBerg had left her son, Brian, lVz, with her parents at Hilltop. She went to Coralville to hand in a term paper and felt the heat from the fire when she drove by the locker. When she tried to return home, she found police and traffic had blocked her way. Finally, she joined her parents and son, who had fled to the Highland Avenue DX service station, 1310 S.

Gilbert to watch the flames and wait for the OK to return. Residents talked about their fears of the ammonia tank exploding, flying pieces of the building and fires breaking out in the trailer park before they turned in for the night. "They say bad things happen in threes," VandenBerg said. "My folks and I are waiting for Thursday." By Mark Slebert The Press-Citizen Ten-year-old Travis Herdlicka and other residents of the Hilltop Mobile Home Park are worried. First, they scrambled for shelter to escape Sunday's tornadoes.

Tuesday, a black smoke cloud containing ammonia fumes forced them from their homes. "I don't know what's going to happen next," Travis said shortly after midnight today. About 500 people were evacuated Tuesday night from a 12-block area in southeast Iowa City. A fire at Gay Locker 1421 Waterfront Drive, sent smoke and ammonia fumes billowing skyward. Wind blew the toxic cloud southeast over Hilltop, mart, Hy-Vee, Econofoods and Pep-perwood Plaza.

The Iowa City Police Department evacuated the area about 7:30 p.m. and allowed residents and business employees to return about 10:45 p.m. The fire burned well past midnight, but the ammonia had burned itself out, Larry Donner, Iowa City fire chief, said. Residents who had to evacuate said they were confused about where to go. Shelley Lacher, 27, parked her station wagon in front of Pleasant Valley Orchards and Nursery, 1301 Gilbert and watched the flames and smoke.

By 10 p.m., Lacher still had no idea how long it would be until she could return to her trailer. 4H.LJJjni.iiM,w.l.ill.Jl,.' I JWIW i. Mll iW a -y -y 4 SY i ih wiY yy'' -ft- 1 Y'f- SiU 'imm I 1 'fiioinniYirMffti I CITY BRIEFS Kirkwood College board in Iowa City Kirkwood Community College wants your input. The college board of directors will have a chat with Iowa City residents as part of an open meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday in -the Iowa City Credit Center, 1816 Lower Muscatine Road.

Judy Glass, secretary to the board, says Kirkwood meets twice a year at all of its off-campus sites. It has two sites in Iowa City. "People can voice their comments and concerns, and just talk with the board," Glass said. In addition to residents, Kirkwood invites members of the school board, Chamber of Commerce members and representatives of other local organizations. City posts limits on sale signs Garage sales are in season, and Iowa City has reminded residents of sign regulations.

Temporary yard signs or signs advertising sales can be put on private property with permission of the owner. Signs may not be attached to utility poles or placed in city right-of-way, the area between the sidewalk and curb. The regulations also apply to real estate signs. For more information, call the Department of Housing and Inspection Services at 356-5120. Glaucoma screenings will be Saturday Free glaucoma screenings will be offered from 10 a.m.

to noon Saturday at Mercy Hospital and from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Sycamore Mall. The screenings are sponsored by the Iowa Society to Prevent Blindness and Mercy Hospital Medical Center. One of the leading causes of adult blindness is glaucoma.

It is estimated that 26,000 Iowans have glaucoma and half don't know it. If not detected and treated in time, glaucoma can cause blindness. Iowa Citians picked for state fair troupe Steve Schnack and Mark Meyer have been chosen to join the Iowa State Fair Singers' performing troupe for 1988. Schnack, a sophomore at City High School, is the son of Ronald and Patricia Schnack. Meyer, a senior at City High, is the son of Dr.

and Mrs. Paul Meyer. They are among 23 Iowa high school students selected during voice and dance auditions that attracted more than 200 246 had jobs to do at fire Here is a list of manpower and equipment used to fight Tuesday night's fire at Gay Locker according to Larry Kinney, Iowa City fire marshal: 127 firefighters. 12 fire departments. 1 ladder truck.

20 engines. 12 other vehicles. 97 volunteers. 19 police officers and sheriff's deputies. 3 ambulances.

3 Red Cross volunteers. Pfvss-CitjzenOavid Creamer Iowa City firefighters attack the fire Tuesday night at the Gay Locker Co. nnnn im jJi imM 3 11, EYE ON UI David Creamer pre-citiien oo.id Creamer All lines of traffic and fire hose lead to the Gay locker Two firefighters check out the front entrance of the Gay Locker Co. during the early stages of Tuesday's fire. Co.

Tuesday night during the fire. Cronin sketches steps to build sports complex at West High I pwf More local news4B MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR Ron Prosser Address: 1840 Friendship Iowa City. Birtbdate: 1945. Hometown: Born in Clear-brook, and moved to Iowa City in 1967 for two years to work on M.A. "It's been a long two years." Family: Son Vincent.

Education: ABD (all but dissertation). Occupation: Iowa City Public Library, flunky. Pet Peeve: "Very little irritates me." Last book read: Adleri: Teu Philosophical Mistakes. Other things I like to read: Mysteries, books about art. UI conductor to get honorary degree The conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra is one of four people who will receive honorary degrees Sunday from St.

Ambrose University. James Dixon, a UI professor of music, has been the symphony's conductor since 1962. He also was conductor of the symphony from 1954-1959. He has been the conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra since 1965. Dixon, a 1952 graduate of UI, has conducted the Chicago and Minnesota symphony orchestras.

He was the recipient of the Gustar Mahler Medal in 1963, the 1976 American Society of Composers authors and Publishers Award for contempory music programming. Anesthesiologist wins fellowship Dr. Mazen A. Maktabi, a University Hospitals anesthesiologist, has been selected a 1988 BOC Health Care fellow by the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research. Maktabi will explore basic physiological mechanisms related to drug action.

The goal is unproved patient care in Favorite people, places, things: Laurence Olivier and Cary Grant, actor's inspiration; place, "wherever I Politics: Constructive and plans that we think need attention," Cronin said. "We target the money at the time we think it will be needed." In preparing its recommendations for the sports complex, the Athletic Issues Committee said it had not been informed about the $300,000 for roof repair. Jerry Palmer, executive director of administrative services for the district, said that although he had known about the roof repair money, he had not received a written version of the budget with that information. Zukin said if Palmer had known about the roof repair money, he should have told the committee. As it was, the committee made its proposal based on the older version of the budget, she said.

The board discussed the West High sports complex as part of its annual review of the capital improvement and site fund. The fund is a main source for financing long-range building projects in the district. By John Marks The Press-Citizen Superintendent of Schools David Cronin recommended Tuesday the Iowa City School Board look into building a sports complex at West High School. In front of parents from West, Cronin asked the board to take three initial steps: Develop a policy about building sports complexes. Upon adoption of the policy, hire a consultant to prepare a master plan and give cost estimates for a competitive football and soccer facility comparable to Bates Field, City High School's complex, and other related projects.

If the board decides to continue the project after reading the consultant's report, consider how to raise the necessary money. Members of the Athletic Issues Committee, the group that proposed the complex, expressed dissatisfaction with how the dis- trict had handled the sports complex so far. "I want to make you aware of the sensitivity of the issue before you," member Harry Ostrander told the board. "Whether or not the problem is real, it is perceived as real by a lot of West High parents." Jane Zukin, another member, said, "There is inequity in the school district. All of our work was geared towards solving that problem.

I think that it's very important for the board to use this committee as a resource." Cronin said the school district had about $1.5 million a year for upkeep and improvements. The district already has committed $900,000 to on-going projects such as roof repair, he said. The remaining $600,000 goes to district maintenance work, determined each year. "We have identified projects 6 Kirkwood students honored today Linda Campion, educational careers; David Gibbon, practical nursing program; James V. Hannah, pre-engineering and pre-computer science; David McCauley, communication electronics technology, and Teresa Shay, advance placement nursing.

Six Iowa City students at Kirkwood Community College will be recognized for outstanding accomplishment during the college's recognition ceremony at 3 p.m. today in Ballantyne Auditorium. They are Nancy Beyer, associate degree nursing program;.