The Press Democrat from Santa Rosa, California • 1

MASH's stormy finale ends peacefully ratings smash Chief Technician Gary Peters said. Crews worked at the cable company's transmitter on Mount St. Helena to restore service for "MASH" viewers. "We put up a temporary antenna just for Peters said. "We knew we were under the gun," said Ken McAdams of Total Television.

"We know how important it is." And, he added, that his phones were "ringing off the hook." Some Redwood Empire viewers never did get to see Klinger get married, Hawkeye go crazy or Father Mulcahey lose his hearing after a mortar blast. In Petaluma, about 4,000 of Viacom's Cable Vision customers lost had no outages last night," said Chief Technician Gary Kelechava. "Sunday was our day for outages." On TV screens around Santa Rosa, the picture came and went. At the English Rose pub, where about 250 "MASH" fans gathered, the costumed crowd strained to make sense of scrambled, static-filled images. Pub co-owner Terry Campbell, among the many angry "MASH" fans who called Total Television to complain, told the crowd, "It isn't the greatest picture in the world, but they tell me it's the best they can do." Then, right on cue, the screen hissed and went blank.

The crowd howled in mock anguish. "This is bad news," a woman in a nurse's uniform complained. "We'll have a riot," Bill Martin, Campbell's partner, joked. But the crowd was too busy partying to riot. Ron Graeme of Santa Rosa was the hit of the party.

In honor of Cpl. Klinger, who tried for years to get kicked out of the army for wearing dresses, Graeme wore a low-cut gown, complete with petticoats, seamed stockings, a sequined stole, a necklace and earrings. He looked embarrassed. "I was talked into this," he said. But he cheered up at the end of the evening, when he won the Klinger (See FINALE, back page) MASH a Associated Press The final episode of "MASH' could well become the top-rated entertainment program ever after attracting higher ratings than the bal-lyhooed "Who Shot episode of "Dallas" in three big cities.

More than half the television homes in New York, Los Angeles their TV picture at 4:05 p.m. By 6 p.m., 2,000 of them had service back and by 8:30 p.m. all but about 100 did, said Chief Technician Jim Re THE DEMOCRAT March 1, 1983 Wind, stagge the Empire 7 7 JSSM I i JJ -J By DAN TAYLOR "MASH' fans, wearing Army fatigues and operating masks, crowded around the bar's big TV screen. A few batted an Inflated surgical glove about like a beach ball. Then, at 8:30 p.m.

Monday, everyone settled down to watch the last show. didn't come on. Stormy weather had knocked out reception. Across the United States, an estimated 110 million viewers tuned in to last new episode of "MASH." But in Santa Rosa, about 30,000 Total Television customers missed about the first 20 to 45 minutes of the show Monday, Santa Rosa, Tuesday, New steel contract cuts pay PITTSBURGH (AP) The United Steelworkers of America union today ratified a contract with seven top steelmakers that immediately cuts wages by $1.25 an hour in an effort to help the struggling industry compete with foreign suppliers. The union's Basic Steel Industry Conference of local presidents approved the contract by a vote of 169 to 63, with three abstentions, in a secret ballot at a downtown hotel.

The new contract takes effect immediately because it does not have to be ratified by the 266,000 union workers whose wages are affected Negotiations on the 41-month pact began Feb. 15 with the seven companies that bargain as a group. It replaces a three-year agreement which was to expire Aug. 1 and eliminates the possibility of a summer strike in the struggling industry. "I think we sent a message to a lot of our detractors," said USW chief negotiator Joseph Odorcich after the vote.

"We have been vilified as hungry steelworkers who would not do anything to help the problem. The companies did their thing and we did ours and now it is up to the government," Odorcich said. Termon Phillips, a union executive board member from Birmingham, said he was "very happy" with the vote. But Ron Weisen, president of Local 1397 in nearby Homestead, said he voted against ratification because "it's the same contract as November, they just reworded it." "The industry badly needs the interim relief provided in the. new agreement," said J.

Bruce Johnston, a U.S. Steel Corp. vice president who negotiated the contract for the steel companies. While the agreement is not a permanent answer to the industry's competitive problems, it is an important and urgently needed contribution to our recovery," Johnston said. Odorcich, who took the place of ailing USW President Lloyd Mc-Bride, wrapped up details on the pact late Sunday and early Monday with J.

Bruce Johnston of U.S. Steel the industry's chief negotiator. The conference rejected company proposals for concessions in July and November 1982. "I don't think we have any choice but to accept," said Charles Grese, a local president representing workers at a U.S. Steel Corp.

mill in nearby Clairton. "We're worried about our jobs, our communities and our plants." The union has an estimated 160,000 members on indefinite layoff. (See STEEL, back page) and Chicago watched the 2-hour finale, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," overnight figures from the A.C. Nielsen Co. showed today.

In each instance, the audience for "MASH" Monday night exceeded the number of viewers who watched that November 1980 epi-(See RATINGS, back page) gan. "We got many, many calls from "MASH" fans." he said. In Sonoma, the 5,400 Storer Cable TV customers had better luck. "We Rosemary Edmonds, and her husband. Rick, both 35.

The couple, both real estate agents and developers, died of gunshot wounds at their Thorn Road home near Sebastopol the night of Nov. 27, 1981. Evidence has shown Rick Edmonds was shot by his dinner guest William Steven Day during the con 000 25 Cents rain Flood threat clears homes By RANDI ROSSMAN Press Democrat Bureau PETALUMA For the second time in less than four days, several residents of the town's low lying areas left their homes Monday night because of a threat of more flooding. Runoff from the latest in a series of storms pushed the Petaluma River over its banks in the Payran Street area about 9 p.m., sending more than two feet of water into yards and roads around Jess Avenue and Rocca Drive. The water did not get into houses.

City officials opened the Elks Lodge downtown to evacuees about (See FLOOD, back page) at which the river was expected to crest late in the morning, said Sonoma County Water Agency engineer Bob Cortelyou. Cortelyou said lower lying areas of Guerneville might flood, but probably not the main business district or Highway 116. Another inch or more of rain was expected today, but Cortelyou said that probably wouldn't stop the river level from receding. The prediction for tonight and Wednesday is for frequent showers and thundershowers, with gusty winds 20 to 40 mph. Water passed the Hacienda Bridge at 57,000 cubic feet per second today, Cortelyou said, compared with a volume of 70,000 cubic feet per second recorded after a (See STORM, back page) til March.

7. Mullins said he will use the recess to have the tests conducted cn Pendergrass, 59, including an electroencephalogram and other tests designed to detect brain damage and psychological problems. In court Monday Mullins sought to weaken the credibility of univers-(See TRIAL, back page) By CAROLYN LUND Too much wind and too much rain brought the Redwood Empire to the brink of crisis today. Flooding, road slides, downed trees and power outages through the Empire all told the story of the relentless power of nature as the latest in a series of winter storms pummeled California. Some residents of the lower Russian River area abandoned their homes or at least readied their boats in the face of minor flooding that was predicted for late today.

Clear Lake swelled 2tt feet above flood stage Monday night and was still rising early today as it overflowed onto roads around the lake shore and flooded many lakefront homes. Fierce winds the worst clocked at 97 mph south of Sebastopol caused major outages during the heaviest blows Monday afternoon and evening. Fans of the final broadcast of MASH were disappointed when a television receiving dish atop Mount St. Helena was knocked out, blacking out the cable for about 30,000 customers in Santa Rosa. Many rural customers never regained control of their televisions, but most Santa Rosans missed only the first 20 to 45 minutes of the broadcast before their cable service was restored.

The Russian River rose nearly six feet overnight at Guerneville to 34.8 feet at 7 a.m. Thirty-two feet is considered flood level there, but even that is five feet below the level Rain Totals This Yur Ln Vnr Santa Rosa Healdsburg Petaluma Ukiah 37.41 37.72 57.14 48.67 35.35 29.67 47.25 40.98 fusion of the gunfight but Pendergrass is charged with the slaying under the legal theory that he precipitated the killing by allegedly shooting Rosemary Edmonds. Judge Tochterman declared a four-day recess in the trial because a key defense witness is out of state and will not be available for cross-examination by the prosecution un WEATHER SHOWERS TOMORROW'S High Low 58 50 More weather. Page 2A Chris Dawson An uprooted tree leans against Pleasant Hill the tree went down, but no students were in-school west of Sebastopol this morning, a victim jured. of Tuesday's storm.

School was in session when Judge orders Pender grass to undergo testing dergo the battery of tests. Prosecutor J. Michael Mullins hopes to use the test results to counter the testimony of defense experts who testified a unique combination of drugs, alcohol, liver disease and brain damage turned Pendergrass in to an "automoton," unaware of what he was doing when he supposedly killed his former girlfriend, By GEORGE MANES SACRAMENTO Ernest "Kentucky" Pendergrass has been was ordered by his trial judge to submit to a series of prosecution psychological and medical tests. "I understand it, but I don't like it," Pendergrass said when Superior Court Judge Ronald Tochterman explained he will be required to un STORM WASHES OUT PLANS It even rains on the queen's parade INDEX Bridge 12C 5B Calendar 8B Classified 3-1 2C Comics 2C Crossword 8B Editorial Entertainment ID Gaye Le Baron 1C Insight 1C Obituaries 11A Sports 1-3B Stocks Television 4D Theaters I Viewpoint 126th year No. Ill fcal I the queen and Prince Philip at the Santa Barbara airport for an arrival ceremony.

Initially, the yacht was to sail into the Santa Barbara channel. Originally, the queen and prince had planned to drive up through the Santa Ynez mountains to the Reagans' secluded 688-acre ranch. But Santa Barbara County Supervisor Bob Kallman said that was canceled, and the royal couple planned instead to lunch with the Reagans at a local restaurant and also visit the Santa Barbara courthouse. During her visit to Los Angeles on Monday, the queen zipped from an aerospace plant to a sparkling City Hall gathering, visited a British nursing home and dined with Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. Along the way, she jokingly reminded Los Angeles residents that Sir Francis Drake had claimed the area for the British crown 400 years ago, but she was not here "to press that claim." She also gave the first public speech of her West Coast visit, expressing Britain's gratitude for United States support during the war to recapture the Falklands from Argentina.

"The support of your government and the American people touched us deeply and demonstrated to the world that our close relationship is based on our shared commitment to the same values," the queen said in the City Hall speech. Associated Press With her yacht bobbing in waves and his ranch awash in mud, Queen Elizabeth II and President Reagan were meeting at an airport today after weather fouled their elaborate reunion plans. Following a whirlwind visit to Los Angeles on Monday, a new schedule was drafted for today because severe weather conditions made sailing the queen's yacht up the coast a dangerous undertaking. Instead, the new plans called for the queen's party to fly to Santa Barbara from the royal yacht, which will remain anchored about 150 miles south at Long Beach. Reagan and his wife, Nancy, were to meet.