Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 1

I' I I ENTERTAINMENT rt i 1 17 1 LPzzan stallions will show tonight IFvJ in SB, again Sunday in Ventura: P-13 SPORTS I i 1 1 Ivan Lendl stalks U.S. Open title by beating Noah in the quarters: P-18 SWtfi mm SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA FRIDAYSATURDAY, SEPT. 6-7, 1985 32 PAGES 25 CENTS Heagan -I ft li Airft'tf 4 -V- -Jtolv 1 Nflflsv, 0 J4: Hi Jfl K- I 11 if Callers complain of smell Casmalia not source of odor: county By Tom Mooneyhan Times Staff Writer An unusual odor wafting over the Santa Maria Valley the past two days sparked an equally unusual number of complaints to county Health Care Services, according to spokeswoman Jane Breckwald. "We received 31 complaints Thursday, mostly from the southern Santa Maria area," Breckwald said. Other complaints came from residents of Orcutt, Tanglewood and one from Casmalia, she said.

Breckwald said she did not obtain any description of the odor from the callers. Several people contacting The Times Thursday, however, described it as smelling like home hair permanent solution the same description given by residents of Casmalia, who blame the odor on the nearby Casmalia Resources Class 1 toxic waste dump, for over a year. Breckwald said the response of Health Care Services to the com- plaints was to conduct an immediate inspection of the dump. "A lot of the people calling in wanted to blame Casmalia Resources," she said. "We went on an on-site inspection between 6 p.m.

and 8 p.m. Thursday but did not detect anything unusual." Breckwald said the health department will continue to respond to complaints as they are made and could conduct another inspection of the dump in the future if necessary. severe winter storms in March 1983. All four lanes of S-20, reconstructed by Madonna Construction Co. of San Luis Obispo, were expected to be open abOUt 3:30 p.m.

today. TimesBrad Bisquera SOON to be an unusual sight, vehicles headed for Vandenberg Air Force Base on S-20 this morning were forced to slow, hopefully for the last time, while passing through area damaged by igheHii gym floor is now in SMHS District trustees' stays put on mnca But fight in Congress is warming up WASHINGTON (UPI) President Reagan indicated today he intends, to keep in place his policy of "constructive engagement" with South Africa. In a brief meeting with reporters at the White House press room, Reagan said no decision had been made yet on the administration's current review of policy in light of pressure from Congress to support sanctions against the South African government. But' as to constructive engagement, the policy of firm but friendly persuasion, Reagan said, "I think it's the only thing that's shown any signs of improvement in that whole situation as yet." The president also apologized for suggesting in a radio interview two weeks ago that racial segregation had been eliminated in South Africa. "I'm sorry I carelessly gave the impression that I believed it had been totally eliminated in areas where it hasn't." Reagan, who explored options for dealing with South Africa with his foreign policy advisers Thursday, has asked for additional information before making any decision, White House spokesman Larry Speakes said earlier today.

Speakes said that Reagan, who reviewed all aspects of the South African situation, asked his advisers "for additional input" as he prepares to consult with members of Congress and allies. Speakes said that decisions made be made over the next several days. There were reports that another meeting on South Africa would take place today, but Speakes said that Reagan would not be participating in it. The president has been warning by Republican leaders that they expect passage of legislation invoking sanctions against South Africa and have the votes to override an expected veto. Speakes reiterated that Reagan "does oppose the idea of punitive sanctions." He said the policy of "constructive engagement" remains but stressed Reagan has made no decisions on how to proceed under growing pressure to act.

Speakes indicated that Reagan is reviewing ways for the United States to increase its influence on' South Africa and to promote a dialogue between its white rulers and black leaders. He declined to comment on a statement by Senate Republican leader Robert Dole that there are 80 votes in the Senate to override a veto. White House aides have said Rea-; gan probably will veto the sanctions measure, but the president has not indicated what he will do if the bill comes to him. "How can I tell you when I don't know?" Reagan said Thursday. Republican Senate leaders hold little hope that a veto could be upheld.

Orcutt 'Autorama' set for Saturday Orcwtt's 11th annual "Autorama" unfolds in that community Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., with 150 beautiful cars liko that shown, horo on display. Story and photos In Pago 2. in 7 mi ilinl ml J'- court August his Inauguration Day in January 1981. By any measure, the August improvement was counted a long-awaited triumph in the Reagan administration, a demonstration to skeptics on Capitol Hill who. doubted the rate could get as low as 7 percent.

White House spokesman Larry Speakes called it "very good news." Astroscope 23 Movies 12 Business22 Clossifiod23-31 Comics23 Crossword31 Dear Abby23 'Ear5 Editorial4 Ent.1213 Cold-Silvor22 lifosryle9-1 1 Names in the Nows32 Obituaries8 Police Roundup8 Religion14-13 Sports17-21 Stocks22 Weekend Calendar7 Weather8 SM: Hi 76 56 would only make the board look "guilty" in admitting the gym is unsafe, she said. "Frankly, I'm sick of it (the issue)," Tognazzini added. "It's more dangerous to walk up the grandstands than running across the (gym) floor." Allen pushed the need to at least have the issue further checked into before it's too late. "Unfortunately, we kill some of the best people in the city before we get a traffic signal and I don't want to see the same thing happen to students," he said. The problem of testing the floor, however, is the lack of any real safety standards to compare it to, according to superintendent Larry Ruttan.

"We can give you all the tests you want but if there are no standards, what do you do with that?" Ruttan questioned. "(Besides), there are some people who if they had the Lord himself come down on a gold cloud would still not be satisfied (with the tests)." Richard Loven, a hardwood flooring contractor also working on the repairs at Righetti, was brought in by the district's business department to testify. "In my estimation after working on the floor, I see no evidence that you got less then what you paid for," he said. Loven added, "The qualities of composition floor are immediately more cushy but the more you push into it the harder it seems. I don't see any greater injuries in hitting your head on this floor as opposed to wood." Trustee Kirk Spry said he wanted to see more proof that the injuries were definitely caused by the floor before any further action is taken.

"If we can show those injuries were related to the floor, I would say we have to look into it," he said. By Dianne Hastings Times Staff Writer The Santa Maria High School Board agreed at Thursday night's meeting to look into the cost of testing Righetti High School's Gymnasium floor but it will remain open despite claims of numerous injuries "because it's a dangerous floor." "I would request a test to determine the resilience of the gym and compare it with Wilson and Hancock (gymnasim) floors," suggested Trustee Tom Allen. The gym's old wooden floor was replaced last year by another synthetic one installed by the Venetian Flooring Co. of Los Angeles. Almost immediately the floor cracked, and allegations have been made that the material is hard and not "cushy" like wood floors.

This "hardness" apparently results in athletes falling and thus causing injuries; reportedly 21 in the last year, according to testimony during the meeting. Mike Sapp, teacher at Righetti, presented the board last night with a signed petition from 44 parents asking the gym be closed. Currently, the floor's cracks are being repaired. The school's volleyball team, however, sent a letter to the board asking thaftthe gym remain open and athletic director Bob Jimenez said, "Since we don't have any conclusive evidence (for the injuries), the kids need to play," he said. "If we can't use those facilities in this community, I don't know where we're going to play." Trustee Mary Tognazzini agreed.

"I don't support closing the gymnasim at all," she said. "I feel we're taking very strong efforts to ensure the safety." Closing down the gym Less people sought jobs in Trustees pass HS budget A $14.3 million budget, up slighty from last year and approved Thursday night by the Santa Maria High School Board, shows 85 percent of the total allocated for district em- ployees' salaries and benefits. Of the 50.5 percent going to certificated salaries, 42.2 percent is for teachers. Classified employees take 20 percent of the pie and 15.8 percent is for both groups' fringe benefits. School books and supplies at the district are getting the least amount of money, 6.5 percent of the $14.3 million.

Last year's budget was $13.3 million. In other business, it was announced that the district has received an ESEA Title VII grant of $316,500 over a three year period from the federal government for a bilingual education project. Bruce Correll The number of people out of work fell by about 325,000 people to 8.1 million during the month, the fewest looking for jobs since August 1981, the department said. The 7 percent jobless rate was the lowest since April 1980 and followed six months of remarkable of Swedish haunts Det. remote area about 25 miles east of Santa Maria.

Correll, who is joined in the investigation by Bill Turner, said a major possible suspect was identified last December and another last March. After investigation, both men were cleared. In December, two skeletal remains of young women were found in New Mexico in circumstances somewhat like the finding of the remains of the Swedish women. "It appeared it was possible they could be connected," Correll said. Investigators in a case of two missing young women in Oklahoma City also became involved and the trail eventually led to 1 man In of stability, when it remained stuck at 7.3 percent.

An accompanying rate including military personnel as employed dropped to 6.9 percent. The jobless rate was 7.5 percent when Reagan was first elected in November 1980 and was 7.5 percent girls in Correll custody in Casper, Wyo. The man was an independent truck driver whose records indicated he had traveled across California frequently, including Highway 166. Crimes were traced all along his truck route, Correll said. "We were really excited about this guy (being a suspect)" he said the 47-year-old man.

Correll and District Attorney Tom Sneddon went to Casper in January and the investigation was "just rolling along" until it was found that the man's truck was broken down in Casper on July 22, the day the Swedish women were Continued on Pago 2 WASHINGTON (UPI) The nation's unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percent to 7 percent in August, the lowest during the Reagan administration's 4 Mi years in office, as more teenagers and young adults found jobs or quit looking, the Labor Department said today. Murder '83 still By Randy Uhl Times Staff Writer Another year has passed since the mysterious 1983 disappearance and deaths of two young Swedish women, whose bodies were found by chance east of Santa Maria. The double murder is not yet solved, but Detective Bruce Correll of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is still busy following up leads in the deaths. Swedish travelers Maria Wahlen, 25, and Marie Lilienberg, 23, were murdered some time after they left Redwood City on July 22, 1983.. Three weeks later their bodies were found accidentally by hunters in 1.