The Californian from Salinas, California • 15

Tuesday, June 4, 1996 3C-7 i The Californian Around the region Crime Stoppers warns travelers to use caution when on vacation KCCN: Newscast back on air Continued from Page 1C estimated that close to 90 percent of those hired to date were among the 70 laid off in April. The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing a challenge to the local marketing agreement filed by Jim McGillen, a retired film producer, and Cindy Lindsay-McGillen, his wife and former general manager of KSBW-TV in Salinas. The commission could approve the deal, nix the deal or schedule public hearings on the matter, Roberts said. Letters and electronic mail from concerned viewers are being forward ed to the commissioners, and elecftd officials such as U.S. Rep'.

Sam D-Carmel, and U.S. Sens. BarbetSL I Boxer and Dianne Feinstein have k-v: pressed concern over the -he said. Everybody we talked to in aftyv ington thought this was a bad ideejT Roberts said. Its clear weve some support.

KCBA also made a programming I change Monday when it discontinued its 11 p.m. news broadcast, replacing 1 it with a half-hour broadcast by CNN Headline News Service. The stations 10 p.m. news broadcast was unaffefF-1 ed. Crime Stoppers of Monterey County is warning travelers to be careful when taking summer vacations, and people should take extra precautions when theyre in unfamiliar places.

The American Hotel and Motel Association makes the following suggestions: Close the door securely whenever youre in your motel room. Use all of the locking devices provided. Check to see that sliding glass doors and windows and connecting room doors are locked. Call 911 in case of emergencies. If someone knocks on your door, always use the peephole before answering.

If people at the door claim to be hotel employees, call the front desk and ask whether they are supposed to have access to your room and if so, for what purpose. MARCH: Initiative targeted I students Dont invite strangers into your room. Dont needlessly display room keys in public or leave them on restaurant tables, at hotel swimming pools or in other places where they could be stolen easily. Boxer pledges help for roads along border The Associated Press SAN DIEGO Sen. Barbara Boxer promised Monday lo introduce a bill in Congress to help ease the gridlock on border roads caused by the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The legislation would establish a $500 million border fund to pay for upgrading roads, highways and railroad connections along the U.S. -Mexico corridor. NAFTA is a tremendous opportunity at the border, Boxer said in a news conference. We have to make it work and let California take advantage of the new global economy. The key is transportation.

Texas. Arizona and New Mexico also would get some of the money. In San Diego, the two-lane road outside the Otay Mesa port of entry the third busiest truck crossing on the U.S. -Mexico border is congested from big rigs carrying everything from televisions to building materials. Traffic on Otay Mesa Road, which leads to freeways heading north to Los Angeles, has increased from 668,000 trucks in 1993 to more than 1 .5 million today.

Boxer said. Her proposed bill would pay for new highway connectors to the federal border crossing and widening of Otay Mesa Road to six lanes. Boxer said she opposed NAFTA because she believed the United States was unprepared for the impact it would have on highways and roads. A companion bill will be introduced in the House of Representatives this week by Congressman Bob Filner, D-San Die-go. The North American Free Trade Agreement was approved by Congress in 1993.

It lifted trade restrictions between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Boxer's bill also would: Set aside $10 million to help the Border Patrol and other federal law enforcement agencies pay for lights and road improxements. Provide loan guarantees to the state for construction projects. Provide federal assistance to reopen the San Diego Arizona Eastern Railroad. I Don't draw attention by displaying large amounts of money or expensive jewelry.

Try using a money belt. Place all valuables in the motels safe-deposit box. Dont leave valuables in your vehicle. Fire Protection District firefighter extinguishes a brush fire that scorched a quarter-acre in Prunedaie Monday morning. A spark from a power line apparently started the blaze, which began at 10:45 a.m.

on the 17000 block of Blackie Road. Brush and several trees were blackened, but no homes were damaged and no one was hurt. Continued from Page 1C preferences which would leave intact any affirmative action program which did not grant a preference based on race or gender in government contracts, jobs or other benefits such as college admissions. The marchers mostly Latino and Native American, with smaller numbers of blacks, Caucasians and Asians rallied on the Capitol steps and chanted slogans from earlier civil rights, anti-war and farm labor demonstrations. Their march began behind large Defend Affirmative Action and Defeat CCRI banners.

The planned march route stretches 750 miles, zig-zagging through 42 California cities before concluding with a planned rally and news conference in San Diego Aug. 12, the opening day of the Republican National Convention. Cordova said 30 to 35 would march the entire 750-1 route, and would be joined by hettt- i dreds of marchers prior to each of sfx planned mass mobilizations along the route. A' At the kickoff rally on the CapaiH-r' steps, a dozen speakers described 3 affirmative action as a vital tool io empower poor people and attacked sponsors of the November ballot. CCRI is not a black issue.

It is rtbt a Latino issue. It is a human issue said black Sacramento radio 2 ty Victor Savage. When people ask, Why are ly -marching? We are here for serious business. This is about movement building, said Eric Vega of theT Sacramento Civil Rights Network i While conservatives use it 1 -wedge issue to divide, we have to se it as a wedge issue to unite. We will win, because we are right and they fike wrong, Vega told the marchers.

I 1 When returning to your hotel or motel late at night, use the buildings main entrance. Be observant and look around before leaving your vehicle in the parking lot. If you see suspicious activity, immediately report it to hotel managers. In cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Monterey County and a citizen board of directors, The Californian is participating in Crime Stoppers, a program that features a crime of the week. Anyone with information on any serious crime may call (800) 499-CRIME.

All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of as much as $1,000 for information leading to arrest and prosecution. Big Sur brush fire scorches 35 acres dUH CARMEL Blue Bag Bandit pleads guilty to six counts of bank robbery A 46-year-old Carmel man known to investigators as the Blue Bag Bandit pleaded guilty to six counts of bank robbery Monday in federal court in San Jose. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Sax Rosen said that as part of Joseph W. Thomas plea bargain, Thomas also confessed to robbing 24 other banks.

The former Monterey taxi driver earned his nickname from the blue bag he carried during bank robberies. Bank tellers described Thomas as a polite, well-groomed man who sometimes apologized after robberies. Thomas faces up to 120 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines. The string of robberies began in July 1994 and ended in December. The heists took place from Fairfield to San Jose and involved a total of more than $130,000.

Thomas was arrested by the FBI in Seaside Jan. 30. He was indicted Feb. 1 1 by a federal grand jury on 1 1 counts of bank robbery. He has been in custody in lieu of $400,000 bail.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26. before the fire is extinguished, Pedtf-sen said. Its not like a normal grass fire, he said. The biggest problem getting to the fire.

There are improved roads into the fire. At the fires peak, there were about 125 firefighters battling flames. Members of the U.S. Forest Service, the state Department of Parks and Recreation and the Big Sur and Mid-Coast volunteer fire departments helped state firefighters. A brush fire that scorched 35 acres Monday near Big Sur should be under control by 6 p.m.

today, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. The blaze began at 1 1 a.m. at the upper end of Andrew Molera State Park, fire Capt. Mitch Pedersen said. The cause still was being investigated.

Firefighters contained the flames by 3 p.m. Monday, but because of the rugged, steep terrain, it will be a while SALINAS Woman hurt after being struck by car while crossing the street A woman was hit by a car Monday afternoon while crossing a Salinas street. The accident tied up traffic coming from nearby Highway 101, Salinas police said. The accident happened just before 5 p.m. near the intersection of North Main Street and Bernal Drive, Lt.

John Carr said. A 41-year-old Salinas woman was turning right from Bernal Drive onto northbound North Main Street. A 46-year-old woman, who was not in the crosswalk, walked in front of the womans vehicle and was struck, Carr said. The victim suffered an injury to her right shoulder. She was treated at Natividad Medical Center and released, a nursing supervisor said.

rn HARDEN RANCH CLEANERS and LAO! ft Io The Harden Ranch Pliza Salinas BIRTHS 1540 N. As Good As He Bet Better Than Tlie Rest HartatwkOaer'iOa "1 II 1 1 or more of Dir Cleaning exduding I $15.00 or more of Dr) Geaning. Leather' and Draperies I Present Coupon with incoming present Coupon with incoming iHheaqxaptrcBtMwpCTiid'NrtgoodmtliigdKl vti)Mng4nlkarite' rffmordriperjsptdiisorlalbefOftfffipmFlS-JI grdrryaivlatkr'OmreniMt-NjI 4 Public meetings Today Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency board of directors, 1:30 p.m.. First National Bank, community room, 655 Main Watsonville. Monterey County Board of Supervisors and Monterey County Water Resources Agency board of directors, joint meeting, 145 p.m., supervisors chambers, 240 Church Salinas Salinas City Council, 4 and 7 30 Salinas City Hall rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave Salinas.

Carmel City Council, 3 30 p.m., Council chambers, east side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh avenues, Carmel. Marina City Council, 6:30 p.m., council chambers, 211 Hillcrest Marina Hartnell Community College board of trustees, 5 p.m., Hartnell Community College, 156 Homestead Salinas Alisal Union School District board of trustees, 6 30 p.m., special budget $tudy session, district office board room, 1205 E. Market Salinas. Emergency Medical Services Regional Council, Salinas, 1:30 p.m., multipurpose room, Emergency Medical Services Agency, 19065 Portola Drive, Suite Salinas. Spreckels Union School District board of trustees, 6 Spreckels School library, Fourth Street and Hatton Avenue, Spreckels.

Salinas Valley Memorial The following babies were born at Salmas Valley Memorial Hospital JENNIFER GRACE OTERI, daughter of James and Kathy Oferi of Salinas. Born May 18 BRIANNA MARIE MARTIN, daughter of Randolph Dean Martin of Castroville and Rosemary D. Vidrios of Salinas. Born April 19. PUBLIC NOTICE GOING ON VACATION? Donate your papers lo local school classrooms in support of our Newspapers In Education Program Call 758-2000 or 1-800-300-6397 CaMomia A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM Send Him a personalized message in the June 15th edition of The Californian.

Call Today For Details! Extension of Public Comment Period for the Fort Ord Proposed Plans NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to extend the public comment period for' written responses to the Proposed Plans for Remedial Investigation Sites and Site 3 Beach Trainfire Ranges at Fort Ord. The public" comment period will be extended to July 8, 1996. The Proposed Plan describes the remedial alternatives considered and the selection of the preferred alternatives. For Site 3, the preferred alternative is excavation of contaminated soil, separation and recycling of spent ammunition, and placement of the soil at the Operable Unit 2 Landfill Corrective Action Management Unit. For the Remedial Investigation Sites, the preferred alternative is excavation of soil and debris, placement of soil and debris at the Operable Unit 2 Landfill Correction Action Management Unit or treatment of hydrocarbon contaminated soil at the Fort Ord Soil Treatment Area.

The preferred alternative for I Sites 2 and 12 includes groundwater extraction and treatment by granular activated carbon to remediate groundwater contamination. The Proposed Plans are available for public review at the following information repositories: Chamberlain Library Bldg 4275 North-South Road Presidio of Monterey Annex, California 93941 Telephone: (408) 242-3241 Hours: Sunday through Thursday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seaside Branch Library 550 Harcourt Avenue Seaside, California 93955 Telephone: (408) 899-2055 Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 1 0 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 1 0 a.m. to 6 p.m. Written comments should be postmarked no later than July 8,. 1996 and sent to: U.S. Army Representative Department of the Army Commander, DUFLC and POM (Fort Ord) Presidio of Monterey, California 93944 Contact: Gail Youngblood Telephone: (408) 242-7924 Hours: 8:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m. ntk. Youth Soccer Camp REGISTRATION FORM Name Age Date of Birth Male Female Address Day Phone Eve Phone Mothers Name Fathers Name T-Shirt Size (6-8) Youth Sm (8-10) Youth Med (10-12) Youth Lrg (6-8) Adult Sin (8-10) Adult Med (10-12) Adult Lrg I hereby certify th.it my child is in gixxj health and has my permission to participate in the California Jaguars Camp. Signature of Parent or Guardian Return completed registration form and fee by June 14, 1996: California Jaguars, PO Box 6956, Salinas, CA 93912 Phone: (408) 757-7475 Fax: (408) 757-2105 Sponsored by Galifopmsm Your Paper, Your Partner June 18-21 North Salinas High School 9:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

Sign up today for Jaguar Youth Soccer Camp. Jaguar camps are designed for boys and girls of all levels of ability and experience. Instructed by current players on the California Jaguars, these camps allow your young player the opportunity to receive high level instruction by professional players. Topics range from fundamental techniques of the game to the tactics required in order to become a successful team player. After a week of training with the California Jaguars, each player is sure to improve hisher play! Youth Soccer Camps will be overseen by Captain of the 96 Jaguars, Randy Mann and second-year player, Nicholas Garcia.

Both bring with them extensive coaching and playing experience. Camp Fees: $75 Per Player (Add $5 for a T-Shirt) $10 Discount for Registration of 12 or More Players For More Information Call (408) 757-7475 CALL 424-2222 CiUUopnian Your Paper, Your Partner 1 1 DEFECTIVCn.