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The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Publication:
The Mercuryi
Location:
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
1
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Mercury Vol. 42, No. 157 Ail 3)3-3000 Claiilfiad JW 7000 Pottstown, Pa. Monday Morning, April 2, 1973 32 A COPY A WEEK CONCRETE SLABS DEMOLISH TRUCKS trucks, least eight died in Georgia and South Carolina by a series of parked at a lighting firm in Conyers, are covered with storms that struck a wide area Saturday night east and south cement slabs and other debris caused by a tornado that demol- Atlanta. (AP Wirephoto).

ished a building closeby. Several persons were injured and at April Greeted By Heavy Rain, Mudslides April began with weather that turned out to be a bad joke, leaving the area soggy with inches of rain, lightning and thunder, and even a tornado watch in the Pottstown area. A number of roads in Limerick Township had mud slides impeding traffic. One of the most serious occurred on Limerick Center Road, about one mile south of Route 422. According to Robert Ward, township patrolman, almost a foot of mud washed out of a nearby field, blocking one lane of traffic.

State crews were called, but three hours after the slide occurred, they still had not cleaned up the mess. Flares were put up to alert motorists of the driving hazard. In the midst of the rain storm, lightning flashed throughout the area for several hours, causing lights to flicker several seconds in Pottstown and Stowe. Some of the mercury vapor street lights were knocked out in the borough, and several automatic fire alarms in the area were set off. In the Norco Mall, the Sears Roebuck and Co.

alarm went off at 6:15 p.m., alerting Norco Fire but there was no fire. In the borough, alarms went off at several stores, including Moyers Jewelers, 24 N. Charlotte and Cycle Shop, 434 High St. Montgomery County police radio broadcast a tornado watch for Montgomery and Chester Counties, and also other southeastern Pennsylvania communities. The watch lasted until after midnight.

For today the weatherman predicts variable cloudiness, with highs in the low 60s. It should be partly cloudy tonight and Tuesday. Winds should be balmy, out of the southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour. Index Editorials 4 Focus 6 Feature 9 Boyertown 14 TV Schedule 14 Spring-Ford 15 Modern Living 17-21 Picture Page 22 Comics 23 Sports 25'27 Classified 28-31 Deaths Joseph Nichols, Bechtelsville; Mrs. Josephine Hallman, St.

Petersburg, Fla; Mrs. Estelle Barkley, Phoenixville; Mrs. Anna M. Walters, 940 N. Franklin Victor F.

Hilbert, Birdsboro RD E. Doyle 331 N. Hanover Mrs. Mary Spiewak, Liniield; C. LeRoy Erb Pottstown RD Norman M.

Shaner, Royersford; Lena M. Hall, Philadelphia and Mrs. Lillian Townsley, 151 Chestnut St. Obituaries On Page Two Tornadoes Kill 8, Last Known Cause Heavy Damage U.S. P0W Is Released By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tornadoes left at least eight persons dead in South Carolina and Georgia over the weekend and the National Weather Service warned Sunday of the possibility of additional twisters and flooding in a widespread section of the nation.

A tornado watch was issued for parts of Florida, Virginia, Maryland. Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The weather bureau said heavy rains across Missouri and into Illinois posed serious flood and rivers in North and South Carolina were reported already above flood stage. The tornadoes in South Carolina and Georgia left hundreds injured and uprooted a motel and threw it across the highway. Reports from Calhoun Falls, S.C., said 20 persons were in the motel that was destroyed, but officials declined to release immediately any information on whether there were deaths or injuries.

looks like some strong person picked it up and threw it across the road and splintered it said Ray Monroe, a Calhoun Falls resident. 5.000 HOMELESS Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter said the tornadoes, which struck Saturday night and early Sunday, caused damage estimated at $50 million to $100 million. He said an estimated 5.000 persons were left homeless in the state and 250 were injured. Some 1.000 homes were damaged, he said.

Carter surveyed the stricken The Weather Variable cloudiness today, high from 60 to 65. Partly cloudy tonight and Tuesday, low in 40s, high upper 50s to low 60s. FIVE DAY FORECAST: Fair Tuesday and Wednesday. Chance of rain Thursday. Clearing Friday.

Daytime highs throughout the period in the low to mid 60s. area from a helicopter Sunday and said he planned to seek emergency federal assistance. He said the storm was the worst natural disaster the state has suffered in terms of financial loss. The tornadoes struck with capricious aim. One mobile home was overturned and destroyed; their car parked adjacent to the trailer was untouched.

The storms killed six persons in South Carolina four from Abbeville and two from Calhoun Falls near the Georgia border. Authorities said the two from Georgia were killed as tornadoes touched down in Monroe and Athens. MAJOR FLOODING Meanwhile, the weather appeared about to deal another blow to Southern states as major flooding was developing on five North Carolina rivers and central Florida was under a tornado watch. In addition, the Pee Dee River at Cheraw, S.C., was expected to crest at about 15 feet over flood stage Sunday night. The forecast office in Columbia, S.C., said the Yadkin-Pee Dee River in North and South Carolina was rising with the heaviest flooding in many years.

Flooding was reported developing near Bewlett, N.C., where the Rocky and Yadkin merge to form the Pee Dee. HEAVY RAINS The Rocky River at Norwood, N.C., was about 23 feet over flood stage Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The flood waters were the result of heavy rains. There were no details of fatalities in South Carolina caused by the tornadoes, but officials said one of the dead was a child, killed near Abbeville. Authorities said the two Georgia victims were Peggy David Hicks who died at a trailer park near Athens; and a Monroe man, Neal Broach, who died when his house was demolished.

CLARK AIR BASE. Philippines (UPI) Army Capt. Rober: T. White, the last known American prisoner of the Vietnam war, was released by ihe Viet Cong and flown here Sunday for his first taste of freedom in aim years. r.

really 6.jat the 32 year-old pilot said when he was turned over to Americans in the Mekong Delta, 75 miles south of Saigon and only a few miles from where he had been captured Nov. 15, 1969. He was whisked by helicopter to Saigon, where he boarded a C9 Nightingale hospital plane and was flown here for aebrieiing and medical examination. En route, he changed from dark blue pajamas and rubber-tire sandals into a blue-striped hospital robe and white sandals. About 100 welcomers cheered as he emerged from the plane.

White, whose wife, Judith, lives l.i Newport News, unsteady on his feet but otherwise well. His feelings wpre displayed by a big smile below his prominent mustache. very happy to be a free man he said. really appreciate this warm and friendly large crowd foi one man. Thank you for coming Whito was the 596th prisoner of war freed by the Communists ill Indochina.

The total included 564 American military men, 24 American civilians, two Thais, two Filipinos, two Canadians and two West Germans. The Viet Cong acknowledged Whites existence last Wednesday. His release raised hopes that others among some Americans missing in action may still be Americans officials believe at least some of the 308 U.S. pilots downed in Laos may still be living. Official sources in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, believe 200 of the pilots may have survived their crashes and that 100 Meatless Menus Found On Many U.S.

Tables By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sunday dinner meant things like macaroni, tuna fish or maybe vegetable casseroles for thousands of American families who joined the start of a weeklong meat boycott aimed at cutting rising food prices. The boycott went on despite newly imposed price ceilings on beef, pork and lamb. Many consumers said President action to limit the cost of these items come soon enough to help. is too little, too said Mrs. Charles Weaver of San Antonio, a senior systems engineer for a computer company.

Mrs. Weaver, who said she spends about $35 a week on food for herself, her husband and their two young daughters, said she has been cutting down on meat for some time and would participate in the Sunday through Saturday boycott launched by a variety of consumer groups. using a lot of she said. We dropped coffee when it went up and we can do without Saturday dinner was tuna burgers for the Weavers; Sunday was tuna tacos. In addition.

Mrs. Weaver said, making such main courses as eggplant casseroles, cheese dishes and eggs. She said she saves about $1 a meal by cutting out meat. Faye Giordano of Brooklyn, Thieu in States For Nixon Talks LOS ANGELES (UPI) South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu arrived by plane in California Sunday night after thanking the Amer- can people for their to help his country. Thieu stepped down from his plane after a flight from Hawaii amid heavy wind gusts at the airport.

A crowd of about 300 persons, most of them Orientals, waved Eed and yellow flags and shouted pro- Thieu slogans in Vietnamese and English. About 500 yards away, but close enough to the pro-Thieu greeters to be heard, was a small group of about 65 anti-Thieu Vietnamese student demonstrators. The anti-Thieu group, called by one policeman, chanted mostly in Vietnamese, but a few in English said Live National Concord and Reconciliation and shouted accusations that Thieu was an Thieu, dressed in a blue suit, appeared to ignore the taunts, however, and stopped to shake hands and mingle with the larger, friendly crowd that cheered Mr. Police had to hold the two groups apart when Thieu attempted to leave the airport. Brandishing two 12-foot long poles, which had held a welcome banner, the pro-Thieu greeters appeared as if they were going to attack the anti- Thieu demonstrators.

Police raced to form a line between the two groups and held them 30 yards apart for a few tense minutes before Thieu could make his way out of the gate. Thieu headed for the Century Plaza Hotel where he will stay during his two days of meeting with President Nixon at the Western White House in San Clemente Monday and Tuesday. In an emotional message taped during a 24-hour stopover in Hawaii. Thieu said. American friends, thank you.

thousand Americans accepted the supreme sacrifice of their lives in order to keep word to a small nation. Thousands of others have been wounded in combat. have experienced the harshest conditions in enemy cells while the rest of America has accepted many individual tragedies in order to see their men bring this war to an honorable Nixon Backed Bill Aimed to Half Internal Disclosures, Muskie Claims FROSTBURG, Md. (AP) Two U.S. senators have introduced.

virtually unnoticed, a bill backed by the Nixon administration that seeks to silence dissent within the federal government while hiding its incompetence and misbehavior, Sen. Edmund S. Muskie, D- Maine, said Sunday. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Roman Hruska, and John L.

McClellan. was formally introduced Wednesday. An aide to Hruska said it was a Nixon administration proposal. Muskie said the measure create staggering penalties for disclosure of information even when the information is totally misclassified or classified only to prevent public knowledge of waste, error, dishonesty or remarks came in a speech prepared for delivery at Frostburg State College. Existing laws already provide for punishment when secrets are disclosed intent to damage America and its Muskie said.

this new lew would go farther. It would prohibit and penalize disclosure of any classified information. regardless of whether or not it damaged The bill also provides for pt'nishing newsmen and officials of their broadcasting companies or publications who participated in making the information public, Muskie said. Penalties of three to seven years in jail and a fine of $25,000 to $50.000 be imposed on actions which are not now considered crimes, which are, instead, the applauded work of investigative Muskie said. The proposed law, he said, establish in peacetime a system of government censorship that a Democracy could hardly tolerate in a time of Muskie also, attacked the en- 1 i classification process, claiming that much more information is classified than is necessary.

Firestone to Aid Employes With Drug, Alcohol Problems A new program to provide early identification, counseling and referral for treatment of employes with drug, alcohol or other medical-behavioral problems will begin this week at Firestone Tire Rubber Co. Pottstown plant. Ten introductory meetings were conducted last week at tbe See Editorial page 4 plant to familiarize supervisory personnel and local union leaders with the program. The program was developed and is being administered by Edward L. Johnson, a member of medical department, an authority on alcohol and drug abuse and a consultant to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse, a division of the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare.

was hired a year ago by Firestone to develop a program to assist our employes and their immediate families to get Johnson said. began our first program at our two Akron plants month and are starting programs in our other plants this The project is available to both salaried and hourly ployes and to members of their immediate families. FAMILY-WIDE decided to make this program family-wide because a behavioral problem, such as an alcoholic wife or a son or daughter on drugs, will affect the general well- be i and Johnson continued. The project is designed to Identify the problem at the earliest possible stage, motivate the individual to seek help and direct the person to the best possible assistance available. Johnson said he scouts each town to see what kind of services are available in the community, such as Alcohols Anonymous, Narcotic Anonymous, or programs like Insight.

generally counsel medical treatment as well to see if any organs have been he added. An alcoholic himself who had a drink in 16 years, Johnson said Firestone realizes that alcoholism and drug abuse are diseases and should be treated as such. social stigma usually associated with these sicknesses has no basis in Johnson said, this realization should encourage employes to take advantage of the new Firestone supervisors were instructed to look for changes in work and behavioral patterns of employes. If an behavior becomes erratic, the supervisor advises the employe of program. DOESN'T DIAGNOSE supervisor going to try to diagnose the Johnson explained.

going to ask the employe if he has any sort of problem and if some sort of behavioral-medical problem show the employe where he can seek Johnson said that so far, he tias counseled each employe in the program for at least four hours before referring him to the proper agency. have 235 employes in our program at he said, from a 12-year-old drug addict to a 78-year-old Johnson said the project is limited to legitimate concerns about work performance and absenteeism, not social drinking. decision to undergo treatment is the responsibility of the employe. But we want to give each employe every opportunity to solve his The traditional corporate (Continued on Page Seven) N.Y., said dinner for her and her husband, a traffic manager for a trucking company, was macaroni instead of roast beef. She said that during the week, have soups and omelets, macaroni, ravioli.

go back to the Italian Mrs. Giordano said her normal food budget is between $50 and $60 a week. The boycott emphasis was on beef and other high-priced meats. Many families turned to chicken and other low-priced poultry items. Some consumers said they wouldn't actually buy any meat this week but would use some they had bought in advance, on sale, and stored in the freezer.

Ruth Francis of Philadelphia said, of the meat (for this week) will come from my freezer. I plan to go out and buy any meat. One of our meals will be ground meat and sometime during the week serve creamed chicken and one night I plan a tuna casserole Saturday wp usually have Mrs. Francis, whose husband George earns $11.000 a year as a production manager for Lutheran Publications, said she used to try to keep the monthly food budget for a family of six including four bovs, aged 11 to 21 to $150. she said, is almost $200 a Two meat dealers in Reno, reported that a lot of their customers who planned to join the buying boycott had stocked up ahead of time.

Charies Bradley, the meat manager at the California Avenue Market, said sales last week were than Kenneth Bell of the meat department at Meat Block, said a of his customers planned to in the boycott, but them are buying up ahead He said he had cut dowi his orders for the current weefe in Emily Dillon of Albany, N.Y., said she would use meat she nad in her freezer, but would not buy any more because of sympathy with the boycott. She said her two daughters were married and noted that she had only her husband and herself to cook for, but added: been in the stores and if I feeding a family, I know what do. hide rather than face the family with vhat I could probably afford to give The price ceiling took effect Thursday: enforcement by the Internal Revenue Service begins on Monday; and retailers must post ceiling prices by April 9. It involves only processors, wholesalers and retailers, does not affect the farmer or cattleman. Heavy Fighting Continues In Cambodia PHNOM PENH (UPI Communist forces stormed government positions defending the provincial capital of Takeo Sunday in what military sources believe may be the opening of an all-out attack on that besieged town.

The High Command said at least 13 government soldiers were wounded in the morning mortar and infantry attack at Takeo, 55 miles south of Phnom Penh on embattled Highway 2. Heavy fighting also was reported on Highway 4, Phnom vital link with the sea; on Highway 1 linking the capital with Saigon and along most important supply artery, the Mekong River. In neighboring South Vietnam Communists gunners reportedly fired 314 rounds of artillery and mortar fire into the besieged Border Ranger camp at Tong Le Chan, 50 miles north of Saigon, which has been surrounded since Feb. 26. South Vietnamese command spokesman Lt.

Col. Le Trung Kien said four Rangers were wounded in the attack. The Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communists) Sunday redoubled offensive operations throughout the country despite 25 consecutive days of saturation bombing raids by American B52 bombers and Fill fighter jets. Well-informed military sources said the U.S. bombing raids have failed to halt the current Communist push.

No cease-fire exists in Cambodia..

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About The Mercury Archive

Pages Available:
293,060
Years Available:
1933-1978