The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 8

U.S. opens probe in marijuana plane caper By MAC MCDONOUGH Staff Writer An aerial chase that ended Sunday with the wreck of a U.S. Customs aircraft and the burning of a smuggler's plane and cargo near Maricopa is under investigation which may take some time, a federal investigator reports. Miss M. W.

"Wally" Funk II, air safety investigator. National Transportation Safety Board, said yesterday "the incident is still under investigation and will be for some time." (see pictures, page 11 She viewed the wrecked federal twin-engine Cessna and the Cessna 207. used to fly in the marijuana, about six miles southeast of Maricopa. The first sheriff's department report said about 800 pounds of marijuana was in the smuggler's aircraft, but. Sgt.

Ken Lisenboc of the Taft substation said it was 1.500 to 1,800 pounds This would boost the estimated street value of the contraband from SliiO.nnn to at least $300,000. Lisenbee said at least two persons were involved in the smuggling (ho pilot and a person waiting for him "in a 4-wheol drive vehicle Lisenbee was in charge of security at the crash site yesterday Also the scene was U.S. Customs Service pilot W. Ponders who said he did not know how much marijuana was aboard He said the Cessna 207 had a capacity of pounds. Lisenbee said the landing gear of the Customs plane, piloted by Per 11 sen, collapsed on landing in rough terrain about 200 yards behind the smuggler's plane, which landed on a country road Jensen suffered a back injury and is reported "resting nicely" in San Joaquin Hospital An agent with him was not injured The sheriff's office and federal agents are continuing their search for the pilot and get-away vehicle driver.

It is believed, the authorities said, the pilot set his aircraft afire before jumping into the get-away vehicle The sheriff's office was alerted tn the aerial pursuit by the Customs Service about 8.40 p.m. Sunday and was asked to assist. TUESDAY, MAY 3.1, 1977 MEIHOPOLI1AN NEWS SECTION PAGES 9 TO 16 The sadness of remembering a loved one who lost faces of an unidentified couple who attended his life in his country's service is reflected in the Memorial Day service at Union Cemetery. Mercury will hit Crowd thinner 100 today for Memorial Day Few attended Memorial Day observances at Bakersfield cemeteries yesterday. "Ever)' year the crowd gets said Chuck Pierce, who participated in veterans organization programs at Union, Hillcrest and Greenlawn cemeteries.

"People could care less anymore." About 120 were at Union Cemetery for the program sponsored by units of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and World War I organizations. Ben Moxley was chairman, Wanda McKib ben, cochairman. A cannon firing squad began the program, followed by posting of the colors by a USMC color guard. The Rev. James Farmer gave the invocation.

Rolf Shepard's speech gave the history of Memorial Day and the reasons it is observed: remembering the nation's war dead. The national anthem and other patriotic songs were sung. A wreath was placed on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Following a benediction by Doris McDonald, vice president of VFW Auxiliary 1468, a Marine rifle squad fired a final burst, Wilson Mackey played taps and the day was done. Pierce said about 25 attended the program at Hillcrest, a like number at Greenlawn.

"We do this every year to remember the many wars this country has been in," Pierce said. "People just need to know the history of it, what it's all about." U.S. Marine Corps firing squad gives a final salute to America's war dead buried at Union Cemetery during Memorial Day observance yesterday. Program began with posting of the colors, ended with the sounds of taps. Veterans' organizations spokesman Chuck Pierce said Bakersfield residents show a decreasing interest each year in official programs at the city's cemeteries.

(Staff Photos by Liz Snyder) Shadows of American flags are imposed on glis- on hand to mark the observance. Fewer numbers tening white markers in bright morning sun on attended veterans' organisations programs at Hill- Memorial Day at Union Cemetery. Atfout 120 were crest and Greenlawn cemeteries. Spring flowers soften the harshness of rows of white grave markers in veterans section of Union Cemetery. Mr.

and Mrs. Ray Armijo were who remembered war dead with a bouquet yesterday. Miniature U.S. Flags were placed by veterans organizations. The temperature in Bakersfield is expected to climb to the 100-degree mark for the first time this year today.

The weatherman said it will remain hot to the end of the week. The forecast is for 100-degree highs today and tomorrow with an overnight low of 70 High yesterday was 98 and low this morning 68. The National Weather Service said temperatures may be slightly cooler at the end of the week. Although these Will be the first 100- degree days of the year they are not near the records for the dates set in 1970 of 106 for a May 31 and 110 for a June I. Normal for this time of year is 87 degrees.

The weatherman said the hot temperatures are caused by "a good high- pressure area building over us. "We're about due for some hot weather: we've had an exceptionally cool spring so far Former deputy held in killings Former Kern County sheriff's Sgt. Fred Moreno, 37, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal shootings of two campus police officers during a station house argument last night at California State University at Hayward. Moreno joined the Kern sheriff's department Nov. 25.

1968. and resigned as a sergeant Aug. 27,1975. His fast assignment was in the jail division. A Hayward Police Department spokesman said a campus sergeant and a patrolman died late last night after the shootings.

According to a woman dispatcher at the university. Moreno had responded at 10:45 p.m. to a silent alarm at a campus field station. The alarm proved to be false. Moreno then, she told police, became involved in an argument with campus Sergeant Stanley Henney, 44.

and patrolman Gary Hart, 24, over their alleged failure to provide him with backup protection. A shouting match ensued, said the dispatcher and Moreno shot Henney in the chest and head, and Hart in the head, she told investigators. The fatal shots, said police, were fired from a .38 caliber police revolver. The dispatcher was found hiding in a closet, unharmed. Investigation by the Oakland Tribune disclosed Moreno had been employed as a university patrolman for six months, had graduated from Cal State Bakersfield and had attended UC Davis law school.

He lives in Pleasanton. Moreno is a native of Bakersfield Approval needed for 6 projects The county Manpower Planning Council will administer six federal projects totaling $857,781 if the Board of Supervisors approves The project proposals were submitted by the IV S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The forest service allocation amounts to $541,701 and the BLM is seeking $316.080 for its projects.

Money for the projects will come from the Comprehensive Training Employment Act, (CETA i The land management agency's proposals include a project to update information and records related to management of public lands in the county. It involves hiring three archaeologists at an annual salary of $10,000 The archaeologists will survey sites in the county, writing historical overviews, developing maps, overlays, charts and a filing system, said Tim Christensen. manpower planning director Also included in sought for the project are a public affairs aide, an assistant warehouseman, two see 10.