The Brownsville Herald from Brownsville, Texas • Page 1

ron aaMCaaenaPi ---P wpwvM VaMHC fee a itiag jgr evacuation quite a to JWM when hook-eat they mid jtojr OM nan opt Mm the atom TIM (torn was Hurricane Aufrcy, rated aw after 4 Loimuma Remember trwfcle'wito them," Unity when offshore ail wews started kt By Tuesday that effort named a hurricane, people Vi. nilhtfall NoonewanbSltohwetotrawlthe mnacai tworoadi it night if Ui; storm struck, he said. a fc ile Anita rcjeandered about the tropical riam. GuH, drifting and up strength. "A of the older people with the Reaction lo the storm began hatf left, tart fewer children wen let out at noon.

Their home from the'rigs and areas and their mothers began food and clothing arid boarding up tharbotws. staved overnight after he had seat' his family north to Lake Charles He esti- ahout 7S per cent of the residents' aeriff dispatcher KanU Snty a lew fW tyythpM, a dvMoiy that served a fortrei lor Anita Advisory FrnlteNatioialWeatherServfce A hurricane watch remains in effect along the Haas coast and along the Louisiana Coast westof Vermfflion Bay. A hurricane watch means that Anita now poises a threat la the coast and people should be ready to take action if warninB are requiredforaporUonofthewalcharea. At 11 a.m. Hurricane Anita was located near latitucte 26.2north longitude 92.0 west.

Ms position is about SSOmiteseast southeast of Corpus Christi. The hurricane js drifting slowly towards the west less than 4 mph and is expected to continue on this course today. Highest sustained with higher gusts in squalls near the center. The lowest reported pressure is 982 MB or 29.00 inches. Conditions remain favorable for a continued slow increase in strength.

Gale force winds extend outward 200 miles to the east and 109 irutes to west of thecenter. Tides are riuuiing 2 to 4 feet above normal along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Interests in these areas should keep in touch with statenwits being issued by National Weather Service offices concerning local coastal flooding. Small craft from Bilooti, Id Brownsvilleshould ranain in port and small craft elsewhere from Tarpon Springs, to the upperMexicanfiulf coast shouldnot venture into the open Gulf. Texans Keep Eye On Anita By MILLER BONNER Press Writer Anita, the first hurricane of the season, gathered strength this morning loitering on the Auto Theft ouspecis Arraigned- Brownsville Police made several auto theft arrests Tuesday and recovered pickup trucks reported stolen in Victoria and In Irving Eluterio Cantu, 29, of Victoria, was picked up Tuesday morning on a charge of fictitious license plates! Police teamed a short time later'that the man was named in an outstanding warrant from Victoria alleging unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

He was later taken before Justice of the Peace Ed Sarabia for formal arraignment on that charge and was ordered held in lieu of $8,000 bond. Police also recovered the vehicle in question, a 1977 blue CMC pickup. In a separate case, police a tip shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday that a white over blue 1976 Ford pickup parked near El Jardin Hotel was being readied for export into Matamoros. A sureveillance was ordered, beginning at 3 p.m.

Police made an arrest about 3tt hours later when a 29-year-old Matamoros man attempted to drive away in the truck, which meanwhile had been identified as having been stolen in Irving. The suspect, Antonio S. Contreras Cortinas, told officers that he had been offered JM to deliver the pickup into Matamoros for a man who was staying at the hotel. A warrant was secured and the second individual was taken into custody a short time later. He was identified as Abacan Tovar, 37, of Dallas.

Both men appeared before Sarabia this morning and were charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Tovar was ordered held in lieu of J7.500 bond and his alleged accomplice was jailed after failing to post a bond of 110,000. DON PEDRO aid aiketf, "Where's that "Hwt flnrtt," aaU UK Dm Pete CMU haw be wot Gulf about 375 miles off the lower coast while some coastal residents boarded homes and made preparations for possible evacuation. Anita was drifting slowly about five miles per hour in a westerly direction after shifting to the south Tuesday afternoon. Early this rooming, it -sTM located near htitofc 28.2 north and longitude 91.5.

Brownsville is near latitude 26 John Dorian of the National a Service in Brownsville said Anita, with winds of up to 90 miles per hour, was still a Class One or the weakest class of hurricanes A hurricane with winds of 156 miles per hour is Class Five. Dorian said Anita was expected to- keep its westerly course and may drift south because of low pressure areas along the lower coast and northern Mexico. He said a high pressure ridge north of the hurricane will keep it from turning north "unless the ridge breaks up." Residents along the lower coast from Corpus Christi to Brownsville were mostly going about their business but, keeping an eye on Anita, they stocked up on non-perishable edibles and items such as masking tape, lantern fuel, candles and plywood to board up windows. National Weather Service spokesmen said Anita posed a "definite threat" to the Texas coast The Port Lavaca shrimp fleet came to port late Tuesday and boats were being secured early today. Late Tuesday residents of a i a Chambers, a Harris and Matagorda counties were warned to be alert to advisories and be prepared to move.

But after Anita veered slightly south, the Weather Service warned early today that residents along the lower coast, especially those five feet below sea level, should make preliminary preparations for possible evacuation later in the day. Some had already begun trickling out of Corpus Christi, which bore the brunt of CeUa's wrath. Celia, the last hurricane to hit Texas, reduced Corpus Christi to "shambles" and killed a total of 31 persons -12 in Texas. Merchants reported long lines at stores and gas stations as coastal residents stocked up in anticipation of Anita's withering winds. remember Hurricane Celia," said one plywood merchant in Corpus Christi.

"They seem to know whit to do." The American Red Cross moved disaster relief specialists and mobile emergency Tint aid units into positions along the Gulf from Jat 'who here, was then, was bo MfUed behind its 'Tm very safe "I remember. That's wl said mlk Btprn On The Fourth Of July, 1892 VOL.86-N0.51 Copyright Newspapers BBJDWNSVILLE, TEXAS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31,1977 (28 PAGES) Daily 15c Sunday 3Sc Hurricane Armta Heads For Texas ILVESTON. Tei. (IIPIl i i GALVESTON, Tex. (OPI) The first hurricane of the season drifted westward today toward the Texas coast, spilling tides over low-lying shore roads and chasing vacationers inland from the state's resortbeacnes, A spokesman for the National Weather Service said tides were running four the five feet above normal in advance of Anita, which reached hurricane strength Tuesday.

i i Defense i recommending evacuation of persons living below the five-foot leveli 'east of Galveston," an Nj'iVS spokesman said. "Further-evaeuatiori may be recommeoded later depending on the riijovement of Hurricane At 9 a.m. was located near 26.2 north and longitude 91.9 west, or about 350 miles of Corpus Christi, Tejici At noon Anita was located near lau'U ide 26.2. north and longitude west, about J50 miles southeast of'Corpus Christi, Tex. G.ale force winds extended 2)0 milles to the east and 100 miles to'the west of the hurricane eye.

The storm was drifting slowly westward at less thaji 5 miles per hour and pas expected to continue westerly course day. Highest sustained wifids were reported at 95 miles jer hour, with slightly higher gu sts in squalls near the hurricane eye. The NWS said conditions remained favorable for. Anita to increase In strength. At Gafveston, where a 1900 hurricane killed 6.000 to 8,000 persons, winds remained gusty at about 20 to 30 miles per hour in advance -of the storm.

Higher winds and heavy rainfall was forecast by late evening. Numerous highways along the beaches were closed due to rising water, including Slate Highway 87 between High Island and Sabine Pass, Tex. The National Seashore south of Malaquite Beach was also closed. "Persons should remain off Gulf beaches and continue preparations for the possible arrival of. Hurricane Anita," the NWS spokesman said.

More than 30,000 offshore oil workers and coastal residents in Louisiana and the upper Texas coast had flew inland Tuesday as Anita changed from a blustery tropical storm to a hurricane. The Coast Guard placed all six of its Texas stations on standby' alert and warned residents living in areas below sea level to prepare to leave on short notice. Oil companies shut down offshore drilling operations and shuttled more than 7,000 workers to shore in helicopters and crew boats when Anita Storm Definite Threat To Area The National Weather Ser- increase along the coast today, vice (NWS) reported at noon? reaching 20 to 30 mph tonight today that the westward drift of Hurricane Anita 'poses a definite area threat the coastal tions of Cameron and Willacy Counties should be preparing to act fast should warnings be Satellite cloud picture thotfg Hurricane Anita in advised "Residents on or near the coast should be preparing to relocate Persons on South Padre Island should be making plans to evacuate' the Island later today as tides are beginning to rise," the NWS advisory continues At noon today tides at South Island were reported to be a little more than 2 feet. Tides of 3 feet above normal will flood Texas 4, travelers are warned, isolating Boca Chica and Brazos Island Tides of 5 feet will close the approaches, to the Queen Isabella Causeway, the NWS bulletin advised. Winds are expected to slowly Police Qiief Gets ListjOf Incidents' ByBOBRIVARO An 8-item list of topics has been delivered by mail to Los Fresnos Chief of Police Carlos Esparza for airing at a meeting of the LF City Council on Sept.

7 at 6 p.m. At a previous meeting, the council ordered Esparza's suspension from his police post with termination proposed following the hearing. Esparza, who was suspended without pay Aug. 25, has been Die subject of controversy in Los Fresnos since he refused to resign his position after the City Council became disenchanted with his performance as a peace officer. While no specific charges are levied in the 2-page letter received by Esparza, 3 different incidents are listed that i unbecoming a police officer and prejudicial to good order." Theyare: --Arrest of Albert Wolfe by Esparza for a traffic violation on Ocean Boulevard, April 21 IKS.

--Arrest of Marcos Torres by Esparza for a traffic violation on Arroyo Boulevard, Oct. 28, I97t. --When Esparza went to the residence of Marie McComas Feb. -When the (Sty Council advised Esparza of its decision not to hire Albert San Miguel June 30,1977. --When Esparza went to the residence of Charles Burgen, July --When Esparza had altercations with Donald Paine, July 2, W7.

--When Espirza was in con- sultation ty'ith the City Council, Aug. 1,1977. Esparza arrested Armando brego on Texas 100, Aug. --Accor ding lo Esparaa, "All those 1 was just doing my job." The suspended police chYef went on to say that he was innocent of any brutality, misconduct or prejudice and that "some of the incidents happened so long ago I don't even remember the details," 1 "I cal'lud the dispathcer (Los Fresnos Police Department) couldn't remember. The dispatcher told me that a (City Secreta ry) had picked up the' logs, sol was unable to find out about some of them," Esparza said.

Esparza also believes that the City.Council attempted to "set him up" in his last days on the job. He claims that he did not arrest Armando Abrego on Aug. 22, but that Abrego, a relative of Councilman Fred Abrego, may have been used in an attempt to provoke Esparza. "I got a call that night from the security guard at the high school that there was a man on the grounds. When I went out there, he (the guard) was shining a flashlight on a man who was lying on the ground.

I called the Cameron Department because 'it was outside the city limits ji "When I went over to him Vlthe man), he sprung up, real crazy. I didn'tsmell rany alcohol on his breath, but he was acting real high on something," Esparza said, i'add ing tha he of fered the man a iride home after finable to point out the direction jpf Los Fresnos, the school, or Ciccurately identify where he vVas. Abrego's reaction, Esparza's iplaims, was to assume a Ifighting stance. Two Sheriffs (Deputies arrived and took Abrego home, Esparza said. The next night, Aug.

22. Abrego Judge Should Knoitv Better HOUSTON (OPI) A judge fined $50 for illegal importation of wtitewing doves from Mexijco, complains he received "real shabby trealcrrient" from Brownsville Justice of the Atex F. Perez. didn't even get a fair hearing," State District Judge Jon Nelson Hughes said The judge said he had no idea permits were required for 119 dead doves shot on Mexican hunting trip until his party had its plane inspected by game wardens on arrival at Birownsville. (Hughes five companions pleaded no cqiiitest.

He said he offered to buy the permit, cost but Perez would not let him. Today in Brownsville, Perez told the Herald hi! felt Hughes' criticism was unfounded and the reported remarks did not relate to the behavior and "what he told me" at the appearance. "He asked," Perez explained, "Woulji it make any difference if I told you I was a stjate district judge?" Perez said hit "No, everyone receives the same here." "Perhaps he (yanted me to dismiss the case," Perez continued, adding that Hughes and his party wer givm every opportunity to plead but that the "no contest" plea was decided; upon by them. The peace justice explained; that he felt Hughes might now be. having' second thoughts due to "anbarassment.V;' Perez also said; the subject of paying the 1 fee in lieu of fined was "never mentioned." The peaipe justice said Hughes also admitted to having hunted several times before in "I don't think was mlstraated at all," Perez adding, "If the same thing happens next year 1 it will cost him then he should kno more than better." and a companion in the aly park around midnight A city ordinance forbids entry to the park after Esparza said, so he proceeded to tell the pair to vacate the premises, but instead was met with taunts from Abrego about how he soon was going to lose his job as police chief, and that, "I can't do anything to'you now, but when you're off-duty or outside the city limits" he would "settle things" with Esparza, Esparza further.

charged that he doesn't remember going to the residence at Marie McComas on Feb. of this year, but that "she is the girlfriend of Paine now." A broad.understanding of the charges and the actual ewnts of Esparza's alleged wrongdoings will probably not surface until the hearing. The City Council has consistently taken the stance that, despite Esparza being a public official, a See CHIEF Page It-A Officer Killed PORT WORTH AFort Worth police officer died lab- a i while attempting to help out out flans for a stalled truck on Interstate 35 near ouwutowii Fort Worth. Officers said RahdU Fletcher, 24, was assisting driver. Paul Anders of Burieson when a vehicle struck the pottcecar and pinned Fletcher brimm the police car and Anden' stalled truck.

Preliminary preparations are being made in Brownsville and the surrounding coastal areas in anticioation of the possible a rrival of Anita Port of Brownsville Harbormaster Rey Ramirez said the everything in the Port that may be subject to heavy winds including the only ship In Port, the Greek "GeorgiosC." Coast Guard officials at the Marine Safety Detachment are standing by to escort into the Port any Mexican shrimp boats which may get caught in the storm. Lt (j P.M Koib said most of the local shrimp boats are in Port, and that others "are coming in like crazy." Extra space for the shrimp boats is being prepared in the main harbor at the Port, to prevent the need, for triple-docking at the fishing harbor. 'Reports from Port Isabel and -South Padre Island indicate that some people are beginning to board up windows and boats have been taken out of the water and moved to shelters. Mayor W.H. Neukoinm said in regards to South Padre Island, preparations in the Town, "Everyone is pretty much in a holding pattern," waiting for more definite information concerning the path of the storm.

Mayor Ruben Fxttstein met this morning with representatives of the Public Utilities Board, Civil Defense and the City Parks Department to discuss strategy should the city suffer a general power outage such as those usually experienced during such a Edelstein said that the city's first priority in such an event would be to keep facilities in operation. Since all of the city's drainage pumps (which transport excess water to the Rio Grande) are electric, he said "we are making See STORM Page 14-A surged hurricane force Tuesday night Another 2,200 residents of Grand Isle, La were asked to leave their homes even though they were east of the hurricane; danger zone Backlash winds from the storm forced tides' more than two feet above, normal and threatened the only road onto the narrow five-mile beach community The biggest evacuation, however, took place in I Cameron Parish, a coastal; area of southwest which was devasted Hurricane Audrey on June 27,1. 1957 "We're evacuating a 20,000," said Cameron Sheriff: Claude Eagleson "We only got but two roads out of here, one on the west and one on the east." Eagleson lived less than 31, miles from Cameron in 19S7 when Audrey killed 9f persons and swept away every bulkkng but the concrete courthouse "The old residents don't like to talk about it too much more, but they often about said "The' Uon of but said the number of was swelled by tzniMnds of vacationers who'crortd three popular beach areas the before Labor Day, Most of thow who; left Cameron went nm Unreal to Lake Charles, where officials converted schools into tetters and opened the Burtoi' Cab- scum to house livestock evacuated from coastal i Even before Anita bteame a hurricane, Cameron cffidab took the precaution of senhng I.WO students home for an early vacation Tuesday The same five schools were to be closed today became of the evacuation. Several schools farther east were being used as shelters for residents of Grand Isle who Ml their homes at the requac of Mayor Wayne Gtridry Chocolate Highway LOS ANGELES (UP1) -All the traffic jam oo the freeway connecting road needed Tuesday was some whipped cream and a cherry on top. me jam was caused by cars slowing down for, or sbddkg around in, a pool of ZStgaDm of chocolate syrup, "the tad used for sundaes," the highway patrol said The chocolate Bulled that toppled off a truck carrying them for Popude Industries of La Puote, be- chocolating the road between the San Bernardino and Hollywood freeways.

1 Inside Today V-8s Extinct? 2-A Silence On Canal 4.A Rangers Win Horacopc Amuttmml CUuifwd Comici Ediloml. HermUr? Obihurin SpocU Wetlhtt 4-t 14-A 2-A.