Playground Daily News from Fort Walton Beach, Florida • Page 1

Disaster Area Status Asked for County By CATHY BLUM Commissioners asked that Okaloosa tpunty be declared a disaster area Thursday in wake of heavy flooding on the Alaqua and YeUow Rivers and a dam break at Silver Lake. most severe flooding was in the north end of toe county, although south county residents had to through or drive around rain-swollen streets Wop losses were estimated to be as much as $4 Damage estimates for home a were not available. saying waters may be even mgher today, asked Reubin Askew to designate the county as. a disaster area, making the county eligible for state relief, -i Silver Lake Dam, north' of Crest view, emptied waters into the Yellow River early Thursday when the spillway caved in under pressure from continuous rains. The swollen river is expected to crest at 15 feel over its normal level, Civil Defense spokesmen said.

The National Weather Service said (lie Yellow River crest Is "almost a fool above the previous record flood of 1940." Civil Defense workers and sheriff's deputies 'worked through Wednesday to warn residents of the water's encroachment. Civil Defense spokesmen said late Thursday only two main roads in Okaloosa County were still closed to traffic. Slate Highway 20 and Bob Sikes Road were still considered impassable. Residents of the Freeport-Porlland area were also advised of possible evacuation, according to Wallbn County officials. Roads throughout both counties were closed and some of the bridges connecting the two counties were awash as Ihe rivers overflowed their Banks.

The Highway 20 bridgenear Freeport was under water for several hours, and residents were warned by officials to stay off the streets and keep travel to a minimum. Crop damage has been estimated in the millions of dollars, particularity the corn crop, county agricultural agent Jack Patton said. Virtually all the county roads in Walton County were damaged and some of the clay roads were completely washed away, deputies said. The Alaqua River was reported at 23 inches above normal late Wednesday, officials said. Dozensof streets in south Okaloosa County were closed for sort periods of time.

Firemen spent most of the day trying to pump water out of low areas into drainage ditches. Damage to homes, businesses and some of the farmlands cannot even be estimated due to inac- cessability, reports said. Counlless homes on Okaloosa Island suffered water damage. Santa Rosa Blvd. was under water most of the day Thursday.

In Valparaiso only some flooding in Lincoln Park was reported. The park is in a low area overlooking Boggy Baywi. Niceville police reported that a block of 27th Slrecl between Bailey and Bullock Avenues was closed to traffic Thursday night. Water seepage, underneath Ihe asphalt road bed caused sections to cave in. There also was damage to Rallan Street in Palm Estates, a new residential suburb of Niceville.

Parts of the street washed out, police said. Civil Defense authorities had 11 people housed in the emergency shelter at Choclawhatchee High School Wednesday but closed thecenler Thursday. Eglin's Refugee Center suffered little damage during the excessive rains but were prepared to evacuatethe remaining 4,000 refugees to the main base if the situation worsened, information officers said. A number of homes in south Okaloosa County were flooded when streets in low lying areas failed to drain. In some areas the water was almost waist deep and children paddled boats and rode I heir bicycles down the flooded roads while adults grimly mopped up flooded homes and automobiles.

Many of the victims discovered their homes weren't insured for floods or "rising waters." A representative of the firm holding all the flood insurance policies in Okaloosa County said Thursday Ihat single family homes can be insured for up and Ihe contentsof the homes may be covered for up to $10,000 damage. Most of Okaloosa County is eligible for flood insurance under Ihe emergency flood insurance plan. However, Mary Esther, Shalimar and Crestview do not qualify under that program. Some of the areas flooded included the Ross- Thornhill Road area south of Racetrack Road; part of Mary Esther and the Driftwood Avenue area in Fort Walton Beach. Good Morning I Today is Friday, August 1975 "lit there be no strife, 1 pray thee, between me and tliee, for we be brethren." --Genesis 13:8 jOth Year Okoloosa County's No, 151 28 Pages 15 Cents Israelis Have A-Bomb probably has "at least 10" nuclear weapons and the capability to use them on a number cities in the Arab world, military expert Dale R.

Teh tin en said Thursday. Tahtinen, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official, is assistant director of foreign and defense policy studies for the American Enterprise Institute, a private research organization. "They definitely have the weapons," Tahtinen said in' a telephone interview. "Now if you want to get into hairsplitting, whether they have 10 or 12... I'm not sure.

But I'm very confident they have least 10 is a very reasonable Convention Center Beyond City Means By CATHY BLUM A Fort Walton Beach City Council committee formed to study the feasibility of a convention center reported Thursday that such a project is too much for the city to handle alone. "The whole project would have to be put to the people and we'd have to disassociate the project from the convention center hassle the Island Authority-, was involved with," Rev. falmadge Smith, a cprnrriittee a i "We can't do it alone, and we can't the county--we can only report to. the city council and let them take it from there," chairman Howard Pritchard said. The committee studied the architectural plans drawn up for a civic center planned by the now-defunct Okaloosa Island Authority.

The plans--by Ricks, Kendricks, Stokes and David--called for a three-unit complex containing an exhibition hall, theater and coliseum. The initial phase, according to Roy Ricks, would be an exhibition hall and the cost of the proposed building would be about million, for the structure and parking area alone. "It is not financially feasible as a money making venture--you could probably recover the operating costs but yoini probably have to get the Superman Wouldn't Like Ma Bell's Phone Booths capital outlay somewhere else. Bonds could be a solution," architect Ricks told the committee. "We'd have to have other sources of income to 1 psyifor Smith said.

"The civic centers we studied in other parts of the country were usually non-revenue producing facilities," Ricks said. The area needs an auditorium that can, seat Rev. Smith The pla ns Ricks drew up for the Island Authority were for a multipurpose building that would have stage, seating and exhibit facilities and parking for 1,100 cars. The building would hold almost 4,000 people. The plans were for a 53-acre site on Okaloosa Island.

Ricks said the center would have to earn $1,000 a day to retire the debt. Cost of maintaining and running a center would be high, due to the cost of utilities, janitorial care and other maintenance, he said. Pritchard said he thought that with the right manager, the center could be made to pay. Mayor Gene Smith, who attended the committee meeting, said he thought that if the center is to make money to pay back the capital outlay, the public's cost-free use it could be impaired. estimate of the number they have." At the Israeli Embassy here, press officer Aviezer Pazner said: "Israel will not be Ihe first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East." Tahtinen said nuclear weapons in Israel would spur the Arab neighbors to get them too, either purchasing weapons with their oil wealth or getting their own capability to develop atomic bombs.

"I think they'll try harder and harder in procuring the weapons," he said. The Boston Globe said Thursday that "senior American analysts believe Ihat Israel has made more than 10 nuclear each with an explosive force comparable to the atomic bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki." Woman And the rains stayed. Streets and yards took on the wet look, as did a few youngsters and pets who probably would have preferred to have avoided all that unnecessary immersion. --More photographs on Page IDA MIAMI (UPI) Everything from Southern Bell's management to phone booths top small for change suits in" came under fire by angry consumers as a two-day public hearing on the telephone company's $216.5 million rate hike request wound up here Thursday. A dozen witnesses voiced their complaints before the Public Service Commission, w.hich will decide whether lo grant the request by October.

Robert Danforth, a Coconut Grove resident who said he uses coin phones almost exclusively, provided a moment of hilarity during the hearing when he complained about the size of Southern Bell phone booths. Hired By King George ly Unlt(d 1-King ordered the pay- jntnl of 10,000 pounds for flie hiring of 2,355 jjanoverian toldlert. Trie five battalion! of rr.tr- tinarlej were scheduled lo reyiace'lritlih regular! at (Hbraitar and Minorca In September so the Redcoats could serve In America. "Can you imagine Superman trying to change suits in one of those things they have now?" he asked. On a more serious vein, Danforth objected to the company's proposed 10-cent increase for pay-phone calls, saying il would double expenses for those who, like himself, depend almost exclusively' on Ihe coin phones, It's Second Time Victim Is Kidnaped BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (UPI) A British financier who was kidnaped Iwo years ago and released for $2 million was again abducted by terrorists Thursday in a fierce eun battle.

Posing as railroad workers, guerrillas opened fire on (ho car carrying 65-year-old Charles A. Lockwood, president of the Roberls financial firm, and dragged him away after wounding a bodyguard.and a chauffeur who resisted, police sources said. In another attack, guerrillas killed three policemen in the Industrial city of Cordoba, as they were dismantling a bomb used as a decoy, police said. WEATHER Partly cloudy and warmer with a 50 per cent chance of mainly afternoon or evening thundershowers through Saturday. Southerly wtndi 2 to 12 mph, gusty and diminishing.

Highs mid 80s, lows law 70s. Island fterhtgh tide 4i34 a.m., low tide 4:34 p.m. East fan high tide 6:07 a.m., low tide 7:20 p.m. Sunup 0:04, sunset 7:40. INDEX In City An intensive search for a white man who raped a 28-year-old woman in an abandoned house on Brooks Street downtown Thursday morning is being conducted by the Fort Walton Beach Detective Bureau, officials said.

The woman was abducted off the street and forced into the house where she was criminally assaulted by the man, believed to be 18 to 20 years of age, officials said. She also had been beaten about the face. The rape suspect was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, plaid pants, and sneakers. He was described as being approximately five feel nine inches in height, weighing about 140 pounds, with collar lenglh dirty blond hair, officials said. Persons having any in- a i pertaining to Ihe suspect are asked lo call Ihe detective bureau at the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

All information will be held in strict confidence, officials said. Waterway Closed By Mud Slides The Inlracoastal Waterway was closed Thursday after rain- eroded banks slid into the barge canal in three spots, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said. Heavy rains caused at least three slides corps district spokeman Harry said. The' channel i bloc ked from' navigation marker 202 to 264-about a two mile plug--Peterson said.

"We're not sure how bad the problem is because we haven't been able to get a helicopter aloft lo check it out," he said. The engineers are expecting the traffic along the waterway to be halted for at least a week--if the rains let up and there is no more damage. "We won't know for sure how bad the situation is until Monday," Peterson said. "But we've got the dredge 'Guthrie' out at the east end of the blockage working to see what can be done to restore at least a pilot channel lo get traffic moving again," he said. The barges will progress at O'AAalley Eligible to Draw $10,000 State Pension at 62 Column Comlu 9A CrcsiYrtjrd Puxil 8A Door Abby IDA Editorials 4A BA Okalooia Dlgtit 7A Sports 1-3(1 8A Women 11-13A Composite Drawing Of Rapist Suspect TALUHASSEE, Fla.

(UPI) Ex-Treasurer Tom O'Malley will be able to draw a $10,000 a year state pension when he is age 62 or collect a refund of his retirement system contributions, officials said Thursday. Bill Gibson, press secretary to Lieutenant Governor Jim Williams, said O'Malley has accumulated 14 years of government service making him eligible for a $10,000 yearly pension when he is 62. O'Malley resigned Tuesday and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge with the state dropping two felony counts, including accepting $10,000 in unlawful compensation. The deal was crucial lo O'Malley's pension rights because Florida statutes strip an official convicted of bribery of his pension and Attorney General Robert Shevin has ruled that unlawful compensation amounts to bribery as far as the statutes are concerned. O'Malley could ask for a lump sum refund of the retirement contributions taken froiii his paycheck over the years.

Gibson said the Division of Retirement in Williams' Department of Administration hasn't figured out how much they will be and won't unless O'Malley asks for the refund. If O'Malley waits until he is 62, the slate's recognized retirement age, he would get 100 per cent of his pension eligibility, If he wants Ihe pension early, he would lose 5 per cent for each year of his age below 62. O'Malley, hospitalized in Miami with a severe heart condition, is 41. His years service include four and a half years as treasurer, seven years as a Bade County commissioner and three years in the military service, which count toward slate retirement credil. He pleaded no contest to misuse of office in pressuring Gulf Life Insurance Co.

to float a $2.3 million loan (or friends. Leon County Judge Hal McClamma has not adjudicated O'Malley guilty yet, but indicated he will when O'Malley can appear before him. Shevin said former Education Commissioner Floyd Christian cannot draw his a year pension because he pleaded no contest to an unlawful compensation charge. Christian, who is in federal prison in Texas, is fighting the Shevin opinion in the courts. slow speeds through the pilol channel once it is opened, he said.

Mariners have been notified the closure will be for at least one week, possibly longer, he said. Jet Crashes In Taiwan; 27 Killed TAIPEI, Taiwan (UPI) A Chinese Nationalist airliner carrying 7G passengers and crew members crashed on its second attempt lo land in a heavy rainstorm at Taipei International Airport killing at least 27 persons, including an American couple. Officials said 48 persons were injured and one person was missing in Ihe crash of the Far Eastern Air Transport Viscount turboprop airliner. The Americans were identified only as Mr. and Mrs.

Richard Cehon. Officials in the control tower tojd UPI that Hie British-made plane's landing i a malfunctioned. The sources said they suspected (ho plane's landing instruments wwe probably affected by the clectricily- charged clouds hanging low- over the airport. "When (he pilot found out that his plane was not properly aligned with the runway only about 1,500 feet away, he asked and was immediately given permission by control tower to pull up for another try," Ihe sources said. "But the plane failed lo respond to Ihe suddenly applied power and it veered to the right, causing Ihe right wing scratch the ground and (hen the fuselage to crash.

"The plane bounced up from (he impact, jumping a parked Chinese Air Kurce DC6 Iran- sport plane while il rolled over in the air." The Viscount Ihcn plunged to the ground again and broke into throe parts. Commissioners Decline to Reprimand Employes By SHEILA BRAXTON Okaloosa County Commissioners spent almost two hours Thursday arguing the jusliceot disciplinary action proposed by the Superintendent of Roads against two road department employes, Road Superintendent Ben Parker presented (o commissioners for review copies of reprimands he recently drew up against two employes. Parker said the reprimands, which had not been delivered to the men, would be a part of (heir permanent work files. One of the men, a road crew foreman, was to be disciplined by Parker for going directly to County Commissioner Leon Greene with complaint against a fellow workerrathnr than turning the information over (o the superintendent. A second road department employe was to be disciplined for reportedly dumping an excessive amount of asphalt, ap- proximalely one ton, along the county right-of-way.

Thai asphalt, valued at less than $10, was reportedly picked up within mlnules flftcr llwas dumped from a spreader and used by a county resident lo patch holes on private property. The properly is located in the Escambia Farms area. Parker told Ihe board he was convinced that the dumping was nothing more than "bad judgement" on Ihe par! of (ho employe bul thai il cost the taxpayers money and couldn't just be ignored. Greene, who originally brought the incident to the attention of the board, told fellow commissioners he wasn't satisfied wilh the reprimand and felt a public hearing was needed lo "clear the whole matter up." Greene later reversed his decision and told Ihe commissioners to jusl forgel the whole thing:" Greene said thai if the mailer was simply bad judgement, he was willing to go along with Parker's reprimand of the worker. The motion passed unanimously.

Greene Ihen asked the board in a separate motion to "do away wilh the reprimand" against the crew foreman for coming directly to Greene wilh Ihe problem rather relating it lo Parker. "I don't feel hedid anything wrong in coming lo his commissioner." Parker defended his actions saying, "I would rnlhcr lake care of my department's business as I was directed to do by this board rather than bothering commissioners cvcrylime something comes up." Commissioners argued the point back and forth and Greene's motion finally died for lack of a second. A third motion made by commissioners during Ihe discussion of the reprimand came from Dec Parkton. Parkton moved Ihat both reprimands be torn up and forgotten. Commissioner Jack Nichols supported Ihe move.

Greene voted against it and chairman Hay ward Hayes casl the deciding affirmative vote. In other business, Fort Walton Beach consultant Warren Liscnby was hired by the hoard to work wilh Ihe counly on plans lo remodel sections of Ihe Oknloosa Memorial Hospital and draw up plans to add a second story to the prcsenl structure. Liscnby will assist the counly in gaining a certificate of approval for Ihe project. Thai certificate must be issued before construction on the hospital can begin,.