The Baytown Sun from Baytown, Texas • Page 3

Hurricane Dangers Cited To Beachfront Dwellers TH6 BAYTOWM SUN JttlY i. By CARROLL FADAL to areas." cuate in case of a major storm. Dr. Neil L. Frank, who runs the Miami center, was in Houston to kick off a three-day series une ls Ir of Gulf Coast hurricane aware- that always ness meetings with a news con- Inland residents, however, have to be concerned both with n'nd damage and two kinds of flooding.

One is from the heavy rains 'ferenre. Frank quoted figures that show 45 per cent more people lived on the coastline in 1970 than in 1960. At present population, experts figure that under ideal conditions, it would take at least eight hours to evacuate Galveston Island in case of a major storm. "But if people keep moving to the coastline and beachfront areas." Frank said, "we may reach a threshhold point where we couldn't give enough lead time for all them to get out. "We are constantly improving our methods of forecasting and tracking major storms," Frank continued, "but we can not keep up with the population growth on vulnerable coastline areas." Frank, hurricane center director since 1974, said most people in the upper Gulf Coast area aren't aware of the severity of a major storm.

"There is a great deal of difference between feeling the brunt of a hurricane and being on the fringe," he said. "When Carla hit in 1961, this area only was on the fringe, since it hit near Port Lavaca. "Only if people were here in 1900 or 1915 would they remember the impact of such a major storm." Despite only being on the fringe, the upper coastal are felt a sizable impact from Carl And because of land subsidem and increased population, the fed of a Carla would be muc worse now. STORM SURGE "If Carla were to hit with th same fore; and in the same plai today it dill 16 years ago," Fran said, "its effect would be rnuc worse there would be coi siderably more flooding." Several factors, he said, com bine to give area residents a fals sense of security. One is tl above-mentioned idea that went through Carla and made i so we can make it this time." That isn't the case, Frank sail First, the subsidence has mat the likelihood of increased fiooi ing greater.

Second, Carla hit a Port Lavaca and the upper coas only caught the fringe. Third, the storm surge -moving, destructive dome of wa ter that usually accompanies hurricane was only 15 fee wilh Carla. Hurricane Camille -that devastated the Mississipp coast in 1969 had a storm su ge of 25 feet--nine feet highe than any surge recorded in tha area in 250 years. Another misconception is tha seawalls. levees and insuranc will give absolute protection.

"In a hurricane," Frank sail "there are two major considera lions one is life and ther othe is dollar loss. Things like th Galveston seawall and the Tex as City levee, as well as floo and windstorm insurance, ar designed to minimize dollar loss "But none of those will sav your life if you live on the beach front in the path of a majo storm. The only thing to do the is pack up and get out of ther when the warning comes." Despite satellites, radar, com puters. air reconnaissance an other modern aides, hurrican forecasters still are unable I plot accurately the 24-hour pat of a storm. "It's kind of like trying to predict where a beginner is going bowl." Frank said.

"You hav an alley, but one time, he' throw in the left gutter, anothe time in the right gutter and an other time hit the headpin righ on. "With hurricane plotting, ou alley is about 200 miles wide When we try to give 24-hour leai time, we have to forecast for an area plus or minus 100 miles. Ni matter how much we improve we'll never he good enough keep up with the people moving cane urri wd how much water can collect in a short time during a heavy storm. The second type of flooding is from river or creek overflow, and it also can cause extensive damage to houses, foundations, carpets and floors. After a hurricane, Frank said, agencies such as the Red Cross and church groups like Meno- nites and Seventh-day lists provide shelters and relief for the homeless.

Several questions have been raised about the possibility of a major storm In the area, since Carla was the last 16 years ago. "No one can predict when Texas will get a hurricane," Frank said. "The main thing to do is be prepared and know what to do if one does strike." He Died, And Maybe Only His Cats Really Loved Him PABLO RAMIREZ IH and Christine Ramlm, children of Sir, and Mrs. Pablo Ramirez Jr. of Baylown.

celebrate their birthdays Tuesday. Pablo Is two and Christine is Jour. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Pablo Ramirez Sr.

and Mr. and Mrs Oscar R. Chapa, all of Baytown. JIM BOND INSURANCE 207W.MH 4H-K41 Items Frw Put AND THE ROCKETS' red a So It was Monday night as some 7,000 watched a fireworks display to put the capper on the July Fourth Americana Day. It was a fitting climax to a fun-filled day.

(Sun staff photo by Chris Hill) I People In The News GROSSINGER, N.Y. (AP) Eddie Fisher, the "Golden Throat" of the 1950s, has launched what he hopes will be a successful comeback wilh a one-night stand at Grossinger's, a resort hotel in the Catskill Mountains. Fisher, now in his late 40s, began his career at the same hotel when he was 17. He said his appearance Sunday night "is like a rebirth for me, a new beginning." During the almost 30 years of his spotty show business career, Fisher has had four wives, including Debbie Reynolds and later, Elizabeth Taylor, run up heavy debts and battled with amphetamines. "This will be my last shot," he said.

He plans a series of appearance across the country leading to a "whole new act in Vegas" in October. BARTOW, Fla. (AP) Services For Robert Pohler Set Thursday Services for Robert Henry 'ohler, 82, of 2003 New Mexic will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thurs day at St. Joseph Catholi Church with Msgr.

Joseph O'Sullivan officiating. Pohler, a 60-year resident Jaytown, died Tuesday mornin a Baytown hospital. member of St. Joseph Catholi Church and the Knights Columbus, he was retired from Exxon after 34 years. He is survived by his wife Mrs.

Minnie Pohler of Baytown daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lelan V. Pohler of Baytown; tw irothers, Ervin Pohler of Terr laute, and August Pohle if Beeville; a sister, Mrs. Rober fcCauley of Texas City; am hree grandchildren, William 'ohler and Jane Ellen Pohler xth of Baytown, and Laur 'ohler of Livermore, Calif. A rosary will be recited at i.m.

Wednesday at Earthma Chapel. Burial will be in Garde if Gethsemani Cemetery iouston. Services are under direction Earthman Funeral Home. Charlie Smith, a former slave who once told an interviewer that "I'm a United Slates man." celebrated his 135th birthday as the nation marked its 201s(. Smith, the oldest person on Social Security rolls and the oldest known resident of the nation, was host at a party in his honor Monday at the Bartow Convalescent Center here.

"He had quite a celebration," a nurse said later. "He was on the news tonight at 6 o'clock. And his son, Chester, was here; the one who couldn't make it on Father's Day." Chester is 70. "His health has been fairly good lately better than anyone could expect," she said. limith doesn't know when he was born.

He says he was sold a slave on July 4, 1842, in New Orleans after being kid- naped from his native Liberia. He uses that date to mark his birthday. LEXINGTON, Tenn. (AP) No beer was on hand but Billy Carter had a high time of it anyway, kissing women, signing autographs and presenting the top prize at Lexington's World Champion Pole-Climbing Contest. With his teen-aged daughter, Kim, Carter appeared in good spirits, posing for family snapshots and playing in a Softball game at Pratt Park Monday on the nation's 201st birthday.

THE WORLD ALMANAC'S QA 1. Columbus did not reach Vorth American continental and until his third voyage, in 1498. True-False. 2. Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic Augustine monk.

True-False. The Japanese BobLail is a (ai breed of cat (bl species of bidd (c) the 1975 American 'ower Boat Racing Assn. gold cup boat. 'Fourth' Celebration Here Reported Quiet The July Fourth holiday waslbeing discharged in the city relatively quiet for Baylown police and firefighters, with several complaints about fiieworks and two of three reported fires Monday possibly caused by fireworks. Bottle rockets were listed as possible cause of a brush fire at 4405 McLean Road, about 8:53 p.m.

Monday. Firefighters from Station 5 and volunteers from Districl 5 spent about 20 minutes at the scene of the fire, which did no damage to any structure. A small grass fire in (he 5500 block of Decker at 4:07 p.m. Monday kept firefighters from Station 5 busy about seven minutes. The possible cause was cigaret or fireworks, a fire department spokesman said.

A third Monday fire, this one at the Silver Wings Lounge, 4519 Highway H6, ket firefighters from Station 6 busy between 1:07 and 1:35 a.m. A fire department spokesman said a trash pile was on fire at the business, but no damage was done to the building. Baytown police had more than 30 complaints about fireworks Anahuac Bids On School Building Set ANAHUAC (Sp) Anahuai school trustees will consider call ng for bids for the sale of the junior high building when they meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Trustees have been negotiating the sale of the building with Chambers County commissioners.

The board will also discuss the school budget for 1977-78. limits, but the department slowed down on taking calls after midnight Monday. Police said they had no reports of anyone being hurt by fireworks during the holidaj weekend. ROXIE MARIE Murdock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.

John E. Murdock of Haytown, celebrates her first birthday Tuesday. Grandparents arc Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Novosad of Baytown and Mrs.

Eudna Murdock of Vldor. Great- grandmother Is Mrs. Sophie Novosad of Haytown. ILLEGITIMATE PRINCESSES On June 8,1536, at a meeting of Parliament, the question of the succession of Henry Vlfl's children was settled and the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth were pronounced illegitimate. ANSWERS: IB) anjj, 'z onoj, 427-6126 Wild Bill (James) Hickok was murdered while playing joker in a saloon in Deadwood S.D.

Art Mart ARTS CRAFTS 2 N. Mlfe 422-3731 No mailer who examines your guarantee absolute accuracy and finest quality materials in filling your ophthalmic prescription ISO will fill your prescription for glasses or contact lenses ACCURATELY ECONOMICALLY Convenient credit at no extra cost TEXAS STATE OPTICAL PH. 427-7374 305 W. TEXAS DALLAS (AP) Several scrawny cats wandered down a South Dallas alley the only reminders that Konslanty Prasnowski ever) 1 lived. Nobody knew for sure where the 80-year-old Polish immigrant came from.

Few even knew his name. Every morning at exactly 8:15, the old man would trudge down the narrow dirt path to the neighborhood grocery a block away. And almost every morning he would return with the same items a can cheap pet food and a pack of cigarettes'. His daily chore done Pras- nowski would sit on his favorite stump under his favorite tree and watch his beloved cats at play. There were few visitors.

But he didn't seem to need anyone else. "They were his babies. They won't come to nobody but him," said M.B. Smith, as several scrawny alley cats romped jus! out of reach. "He'd buy cat food and wouldn't eat.

I've seen him buy two chickens and cook them and feed them to the cats, and he'd eat a piece of bread." Smith, whose family owns Prasnowski's three-room, J60- a-month apartment, said the old man would keep as many as 30 cats In the tiny bungalow, even sleeping with several of them. Police said the old man appeared at Parkland Hospital June 25 claiming he had been assaulted. He was treated for minor head injuries and released. He was not seen again until a police helicopter spotted Ids body last Thursday near the railroad tracks behind the hospital. An autopsy showed he died of a common heart disease.

Prasnowski kept to himself. One of the neighbors knew only that he came to America the Fifties, that he was from a Nad concentration camp and received infrequent letters from Lodi, Poland. "This was his little castle, right back here." said neighbor Mcrtha Hawk. She gestured at a narrow, grassless side yard next to the apartment. "He'd sweep up there and around his Smoking On Airline Beats Cry Bitbies DALLAS (AP) A drunk passenger or the choking smoke from tobacco-using travelers doesn't bother airline passengers near as much as a crying infant does.

,1 recently relejsed survey show's. THC survey, released by the Airline Passengers Association (APA), showed that 57.2 per cent of more than 10,000 respondents would rather sit near passengers who smoked or drank than near a crying Infant. The APA snld the survey showed that frequent air travelers feel airlines should provide separate seating for passengers with Infants. An average APA member takes 40 (lights each yenr, the group says. More than 70 per cent ol those polled favored keeping present smoklng-non-smoklng seating arrangements on airlines.

Some, however, said cigar nnd pipe smokers should be further segregated. The Civil Aeronautics Board has proposed regulations that wnuld ban all smoking on nil flights. Only 28.9 per cent ol Ihc APA respondents agreed. Asked if passengers who consume alcoholic beverages should have ,1 section of their own, 81.5 per cent voted no, stool. He sat there witli his cup.

The folks next dour would give him over fence. He was a good old nun. He was a likable fellow. But cvcrytiinc you saw him, he drunk." Prasnowski probably won't even have a funeral. Even If he does.

It will be a pauper's service. Officials have been unable to locale' his next of kin. In such oases, bodies are usually turned over to medical schools unless they are rejected. Shaking her head Mrs. Hawk Mid, "It's pitiful to die and don't nobody know nothing about you," Grand Jury To Report On 'Top Official' HOUSTON (Sfi)-A report li wpected by July 91 by i County grand jury Inmtlften alleged mixonduct by "Mfh public official." This wu Irritated ow the weekend by forenun BUI Viw- er, who "Grand jurin cui- omarily nail repoiti.

Be pi- lent." The grand jury's term endi SI, Vawler's remiriu after Houston Mayor Fred Hoflwiiu sked for an ipotojy by Vawter, who said he had no Intention of pologiring. Hofheini said In in Interview i KPRC televiilon Sunday, aped earlier In Uu week, that Vawter connected the mayor to he grand jury tnvwllptlon into May 3 drug raid by Hmnlon po- cc officers during which a high public official" WM al- eged to htve been arrested and itcr released. 'Holbelns said his name was soil during interviews with 'awicr "and that me no mall amount." The mayor ad- cil he fell "the foreman should forward with an 800100." Vawter denied he mentioned lolhcliu or any other public of- cial by name. Perro Perdido MALI; CHIMAUHUA was found at Hie No. 5 flreslaUon In Woosltr on Dayway.

The owner should call 422-7JW. NATHAN HUHNS, son of Mr. iind Mrs, Cecil 1,, Burns Jr. of Huffman, celebrates his fourth birthday Tuesday wlih party, He has sister, Lisa, and hrolhcr, Nelson. Grandparents nrc Mr.

and Mrs. Cecil Burns liaison and Mr. and Mrs. Ted Michael of Vldor. Great- grandparents are Mr.

and Mrs. Mark Hurch of Orange and Mrs. Myrtle Ashworth of llcauimml. Francisco Coronado died In Mexico CUy In November 1554 nl the ago of 44. A kitchen scissors Is a worthwhile Investment.

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