Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 1

aria Times Sunday, March 19, 2000 $1 4 Into the darkness: Transmission line fire cuts off power to most of New Mexico B-14 A nc.v Efs: Terrance Sheehy finds a purpose in life as a volunteer for Marian Hospice C-l Wild, wild west: Top three seeds in West Regional tournament get upset B-l A PULITZER COMMUKITY NEWSPAPER -1 A civilized way to travel 1112 I1U I "1 1 A. 250 turn out to yelcome Amtrak Superliner during dedication of new $1.5 million Surf Station depot Sccacseckei Times Staff Writer SURF STATION Pat Leine stpod on the windy platform and Smiled as the Amtrak Superliner Jelled into the station at 1:50 a few hundred yards from hooming waves. Four or five times a year the andenberg Village woman rides lhe rails to visit friends in Jjlendale, Santa Ana, San Diego, juid other southern California spots. "I've been waiting for this station for a year," she said. "I'm iklighted, for people who are Joining to see me too." Leine was one of about 250 train buffs, travelers, dignitaries, protesters, and railroad officials who turned out Saturday after--noon for the grand opening of the new LompocSurf Amtrak Station at the end of Ocean Avenue.

"With the price of gasoline the Soon Frttw Br aw'lfr JLl JLtTSktrSln 2W3 from Surf Station during the dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon. Lompoc man provides glimpse of depot's past during grand opening way it is, this isn't a bad way to go," Caltrans Rail Program Manager Warren Weber told the crowd. Weber said Amtrak is hoping for between 8,000 and 0,000 passengers departing from Lompoc annually. "A civilized way to travel," Amtrak West official Brian Rosenwald called it. tea tuti sun Fesssia, right, and National Economic Director Gene Sperling, left, talk about current oil prices during a press briefing Saturday at the White House.

Clinton: No overnight solution to high fuel costs HJasefKeBert Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON Americans hoping for quick relief from high fuel prices sIhhiU be patient. President Clinton said Saturday as he cautioned against "slxirtsighted and risky steps" to address tlie problem. "There's no overnight solution," the president said in his weekly radio address as he announced a series of modest proposals. None directly addresses the current oil shortages or eases gasoline prices approaching S2 a gallon iih the prospect of higher pump prices during tlie peak summer driving season, or now, Clinton refused to tap the government's emergency oil stockpile, despite appeals from lawmakers liom both parties. White House officials were relying on "quiet diplomacy" to persuade oil exporting countries to increase production and erase a 2-million-barrel-a-day global supply shortfall when they meet March 27 in Vienna, Austria.

To that end. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson was embarking on another round of diplomatic missions Sunday, meeting ith oil ministers from Nigeria, Indonesia, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates as well as other officials inwiKcd in the oil markets. Clinton lamented that expensive oil and gasoline See page A-10 Battle over water rights sees new player Karen WJiits Senior Tmes Writer A new twist may have been added to the Santa Maria Valley basin's ater ars. A businessman from outside the area. Mebcr Perrett.

has purchased the Suey Ranch from New hall Land and Farming Company for $25 million cash. I I. I SccttCSccksl Times Staff Writer SURF STATION Warren Christensen looked around the crowd of about 250 who had gathered Saturday at the train station's grand opening. "They done this up nice," he said. "I've never seen this many people out here." The Lompoc man had worked at the Surf Station depot for six years until it closure in the late '60s.

"I worked as the agent, operator, clerk, you name it." he said. "We didn't have anybody stopping (in those Trains did stop to take on water or to let off sick passengers, but usually Christensen was alone with the waves and the gulls. He pulled his wallet out of his pants and proudly displayed his rail travel privilege card, a lifetime free pass courtesy of his 36 years with the Union Pacific Railroad in San Luis Obispo, Oceano. Guadalupe, King City, Mountainview, and a handful of other California towns. "I like this because I can hop the train and ride all the way to LA he said.

"Don't have to fight The new station boasts an 800-foot-long platform, three passenger shelters to give riders a respite from ocean winds, rest-rooms, and a 39-car parking lot, among other features. The eight-year project cost taxpayers about $1.5 million. It originally was estimated at $380,000. Nine protesters at the station entrance held up signs which read: "Welcome to Vandenbird AFB," "Capps Free The Peoples' Beach," and "Coastal Commission Votes to Give Lompoc The Bird." Earlier this year the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service urged closure of Surf Beach and adjacent Ocean Beach to protect nesting habitat for the threatened Western snowy plover.

Last week the California Coastal Commission approved an interim solution allowing people to walk on a half-mile of the beach. See EEFST, page A-10 the damnable traffic fcn tt from Brww Ttam One night on the job in one of those cities he WSffCSl CfcilStStiSSS of Lompoc, a former employee at the spotted a man in a suit looking around the rail cars. Surf depot until its closure in the late 60s, reflects during the train station's grand opening ceremony held Saturday. See FUST, page A-1 0 They've done this up nice," Christensen said. Professionals show Girl Scouts a thing or two about safety Suey Ranch, flanking Highway 166 in both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, east of Santa Maria, basically surrounds Twikhell Darn.

ftliria Vatfey mater lie hm tons, eofln-Scaied history pagi ft-13 rescues to bicycle care. "It's fun because we get to go around and learn about safety so we don't get hurt." said Trigueros, a member of Brownie Troop No. 332, shortly before climbing into an ambulance. Event co-organizer Julie Posada of Daisy Troop No. 187 saiJ the goal was to introduce the girls to a variety of safety skills.

"With Girl Scouts, you're supposed to learn how to be prepared." Posada said. "So this is an introduction and ea.h troop will explore these topics further as they get older." American Red Cross volunteers offered introductions to eardktpulmonary resuscitation (CPR). first aid and earthquake safety Lifeguards from the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department offered tips for water safety. See Sim, page A-10 JcnnitsrEest Times Staff Writer Flight year-old Myra Trigueros flipped a sw itch on the police car's front console, then hopped out of the driver's seat to see which flashing lights were triggered. With a smile on her face, she crawled back into the driver's seat to ask Santa Maria Police Officer Leo Rodriguez if she could try another sw itch.

Trigueros wis among more than 100 local Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, Juniors and Cadets who gathered Saturday morning at Maramonte Park for the first Santa Maria Girl Scout Safety Day Wuh li.hii blazing and an occasional blast from a Siren or public address system, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, a police officer, lifeguards and other safety professionals offered tips on everything from pool-side The ranch holds water nghls to pump a limited ami Hint of acre feet of water init of Twitchcll. a water saving structure the Sania Maria underground water basin. Suey also holds rights to gnxmd waier. Perrett had worked he fore to devektp a rarivh for underground water banking. Now in Cenfr.d Coast, he amid be an addi-tkral player in i fight to clarify w.tier rights and the future ownership if ground water which wixild involve a gnnip of niral landowners, the City of Santa M.ir,a and ail Lintk tiers in a regton from Niponx to Santa M.ina to Orcuft, Si-iix: and Gua.Linipe.

An unspeken is the pvissibility of later sales of water from the hain. Such sales cnuld be See VTI1, page A-10 tees frefJn Trnut i as she and other Girl Scouts I 4 lake turns calling out to people over the loud speaker of Santa Mar a Police Officer Leo Rodriguez's patrol car. S.r'i sunny and citer Gear and windy romght and breezy o-- a. Todav: 67 -11 Coastil Inland Cr ..2 6 1 2 2f 1 C-2 J3-14 a tit; c-3 B-II.