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The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 5

Location:
San Bernardino, California
Issue Date:
Page:
5
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

A-6 THE SUN-TELEGRAM 12, 1977 Shasta Lake falling too low to generate electric 4 State Stabbing motive sought SEASIDE (AP) Police searched Jor a motive Thursday in the bloody slayings of a white-haired grandmother, her attractive daughter, a leenaged granddaughter and a yudgy 6-year-old granddaughter. a mystery," said Cmdr. Bill Gullett, Seaside Police Department. The four stabbed bodies were found Thursday morning in the blood-spattered duplex apartment where they iived together in this coastal community on the edge of Ft. Ord Army base, about 120 miles south of San Francisco.

Dead of multiple stab wounds were Josephine Smith, 66, her daughter, Suzanne Harris, 28, and two granddaughters, Renee Ferguson, 15, and Rachel Harris, 6. The 6-year-old was Mrs. Harris' daughter and the teenager was her niece. "There's no evidence of robbery, burglary, sexual assault or a cult-type slaying," Gullett said. He said all the victims were wearing nightgowns or pajamas.

Three bodies were found on the kitchen floor, near bloody footprints. Ferguson was in a bedroom. Ferguson's hands were tied behind her back. The other victims were unbound. SACRAMENTO (AP) At the rate Shasta Lake is falling, it will be too low to generate electricity on Aug.

19. a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Thursday. But for odd reasons, Shasta's 200-megawatt generators might be kept in'action longer something that could be crucial in case of another heat wave. It all depends on such things as the shutdown of a nuclear plant, forest fire smoke, rice farming, and the eather in Fresno.

"It all shows, in my judgment, that we all live together in this world," said Jerry King, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Shasta Dam. Because of the drought, Shasta Lake, on the Sacramento River above Redding, is now at its lowest level in history. At the present rate, the tater level will fall below the generator intakes on Aug. 19, King said.

Coincidentally, that's the date the Sacramento Municipal Utility District plans to shut down its 913-megawatt Rancho Seco nuclear power plant for refueling. The plant will be closed for two months, said Jeff Marx, a spokesman for SMUD. Marx said the plant must be closed because it will be out of fuel, and it must be readied for a return to service in the fall, when several other California power plants will be shut down for maintenance. dergarten through sixth grades. "I'm really annoyed," Rodda told the Assembly members, saying they had left Serrano of second importance to restructuring despite the court's deadline of 1980.

But Greene, whose position was backed by Gov. Edmund Brown said the state shouldn't approve more money without tying some of it to reform. Quake breaks L.A. windows LOS ANGELES (AP) A moderate earthquake broke windows, rattled dishes and interrupted dinners from Santa Monica to Santa Barbara late Thursday, causing a flurry of phone calls to news services and police agencies. A spokesman for the seismological lab at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena tentatively placed the tremor's epicenter near Sylmar, 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley.

The quake registered 4.4 on the Richter scale. Conference panel agrees on school bill The Rancho Seco shutdown may keep Shasta's generators in action longer, because SMUD and the Pacific Gas Electric Co. will have to start operating hydroelectric plants. Some of those are on the upper Sacramento River, and water released from them will flow into Shasta Lake. Others are on Sierra streams that will release water into the Track gets religion INGLEWOOD (AP) As the minister made his way through the sermon, a har-ness horse thundered through his train of thought.

But stranger things have happened during the Jehovah's Witnesses district convention at Hollywood Park racetrack. Just last week, the biblical attack of the frogs and locusts was re-enacted on the home stretch. New church members are being baptized in the saddling area near the finish line. And they are lining up at th betting windows for food vouchers. "The good news is the same no matter where you hear it," one official was overheard saying.

The convention will end its three-weekend schedule this Sunday, with a projected total of 80,000 in attendance, and the Western Harness Racing season will begin next Thursday night. Horses warming up for the79-night harness meeting have been sharing the track with the brethren. "In the middle of a sermon, you hear, 'Clop, clop, Hollywood Park spokesman Tim Thomas said Thursday. Later, the mealtime crowd flocked to the betting windows and bought tickets for food, so workers wouldn't have to handle food and money together, explained a church spokesman. Thomas, noting the attendance, said, "They've had some good crowds I wish we could open the mutuel machines." Josephine Smith Gullett said the victims were stabbed sometime during the night.

But relatives became concerned earlier, when Ferguson didn't show up for her summer Job Wednesday. Police were called by Marvin Thiel, 43, a friend of the teenager's mother, who had told him of her concern. Thiel said he stopped by the house about 5 a.m. after he got no answer to a predawn telephone call. Thiel said a knock on the door also failed to get an answer.

He went for police after he looked through a window and saw Miss Ferguson's bound body. Police kicked open the door. "I walked in and saw blood all over dergarten through the 12th grade, offering extra money to schools that wanted to take part in the program. One key element of the compromise was that money for the fourth and fifth years of restructuring was dropped from the bill. The legislature could add it in a future year.

Sen. Albert Rodda, D-Sacramento, accused the Assembly members of putting restructuring ahead of meeting the Serrano decision for equalizing the amount of money spent on each child regardless of a district's wealth. But Rodda, joining Greene as a coauthor of AB 65, said the final fifth-year foundation figure $818 million would "substantially" comply with the court decision. The five-year plan includes $389.5 million in 1977-78 and increases to $1.26 billion in 1981-82. Although Gov.

Edmund Brown Jr. earlier vetoed $10 million for restructuring expansion in 1978-79, Assemblyman Gary Hart, D-Santa Barbara, said the governor now favors some revamping of educational methods as the legislation The conference committee left $95.8 million for restructuring, far short of the $579 million that the Republican who when the reference Rachel Harris and the officer told me to get out," Thiel said. "I don't ever want to see anything like that again. It about made me sick." Thiel said he had no idea who would have killed them. "I wish I knew who did it," he said.

"They were all Christian people." Gullett said there were some signs of struggle, but no furniture was overturned and no glass was broken. He said the house had not been broken into by force. Thiel said Mrs. Smith and the Harrises were area natives and had returned from Kansas City about one year ago after living for a time in Kansas. Assembly bill had called for.

In a concession to high-wealth school districts, the committee voted to repeal only $5 from the $125-per-student basic aid payments to districts. The Supreme Court had criticized basic aid, but Greene's motion to eliminate the whole $125 was defeated. Rodda said the $818 million in foundation funds, including $260 million in 1977-78, by the end of three years will bring 96 per cent of the state's school children within a $200 range $1,450 to $1,650 per pupil. The other four per cent will be above that, but none will be below, he said. A few small districts, such as those with oil wells or great wealth, may have $2,200 or more per pupil.

"It's very difficult to do anything about them," Rodda said. Rodda opposed boosting funds for restructuring in high schools, and the Senate proposal called for only $35 million for the third year leaving enough to affect only five per cent of the students in junior and senior highs. The compromise was reached when the Senate added $15 million for grades 7-12, and then agreed to add $5 million more for kin i I Ethan BAtve SACRAMENTO (AP) Winding up months of haggling, six legislators Thursday agreed on a five-year plan for California schools. The compromise bill would close the gap between districts with widely varying property wealth, as ordered by the state Supreme Court, though it doesn't comply with the exact terms of the court's Serrano decision. Assemblyman Leroy Greene, D-Sacramento, chairman of the Senate-Assembly conference committee, said that the action to be formalized Monday in writing allows school districts to set their budgets.

The agreement goes before houses of the legislature next week before reaching the governor. "Once school districts hear what done today, Ahey can start running" to finish their 1978-79 budgets, said Greene. The compromise between Assembly and Senate versions of -school finance bills was reached after an agreement on restructuring, involves more parent participation in schools and more personalized teaching. 7 It would, in effect, spread Early Childhood Education from kin power Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, enabling a cutback in releases from Shasta for maintaining Delta water quality. Now.

hat does forest fire smoke, rice farming and Fresno's weather have to do with it? Smoke from forest fires burning in far northern California has caused several "flashovers" on the power line that brings electricity to California from the Pacific Northwest. ThP "flashovers" result because the smoke is heavy with carbon. King said. Several times the intertie has been shut down for several hours requiring turn-on of more California generators. As for rice farming, in mid-August farmers in the Sacramento Valley are expected to start draining their fields.

The water will drain, eventually, into the Delta. Fresno's weather is important because if it gets hot, San Joaquin Valley farmers will start pumping water from wells to irrigate their crops. The power comes from the grid that serves all of northern California. Exotic Newcastle strikes again SACRAMENTO (AP) California's pet bird industry has been hit by the exotic Newcastle disease for the second time this year, state officials say. Recent tests confirmed the disease in Exotic Birds and Supplies, a shop in Bakersfield, the state Department of Food and Agriculture reported Wednesday.

"The disease entered Hawaii in a shipment of parrots from Exotic Birds and Supplies," said Dr. Patton Smith, department animal health chief. He said specimens were taken from about 500 birds and on Aug. 8, all of the birds were destroyed. Veterinary epidemiologists are tracing all recent sales that were made from the aviary and tests will be made to detect possible spread of the disease to other pet birds and domestic poultry.

Exotic Newcastle disease, which officials describe as a virulent strain of the Newcastle virus, was diagnosed last February in San Diego County, but was eradicated before spreading into the area's poultry industry. In 1971, an outbreak of the disease that started at an aviary resulted in the destruction of nearly 12 million birds at a cost of more than $55 million, the department said. II Ml Irfrl li it 888-4168 888-4168 feJ rrri State senate passes bill Allen Dining Sets i to prohibit gay nuptials ings! ry special sav to men and women was dropped and marriage was defined as a union between two persons. Nestande said the County Clerks Association of California asked him to carry the bill after some clerks complained that they had been asked by gays to issue them licenses. Critics of the Nestande bill have complained that the state has no business saying who can get married and who cannot.

They also say that without legal recognition, of gay marriages, homosexual couples do not have same rights as heterosexuals in such areas as inheritance and taxes. the bill on the Senate said the measure "restore some sense to state law. another Republican, Marks of San questioned the the bill. fact is, there have licenses issued by clerks to anyone men and women," said. "There is no for this bill whatsoever." Briggs contended under current marriage a court might order county clerk to issue a to two gays.

is the result of an change made several years ago Imagine! An Ethan Allen extension table and four mates chairs at this price. This 42" round table with easy -care Formica plastic top opens to 52" to seat six. Handsome mates chairs have traditional comb backs and com foil-able contoured seats. All in sunny Nutmeg finish. ho would have thought you'd find so much value at such clow to earth prices? Heirloom Table and 4 Chairs Reg.

$427.50 Sale $319.50 Firemen contain northern blaze SACRAMENTO (AP) A Fullerton Ibill designed to prevent homosexual couples from obtaining marriage licenses easily cleared the State Senate Thursday despite a claim that it wasn't ineeded. A 23-5 vote sent the meas-ure, AB 607, by Assemblyman Bruce iJMestande, R-Orange, back to the Assembly for action "on minor Senate amendments. I The bill, a reaction to attempts by some gays to obtain licenses, would not it illegal for a minister to perform a wedding Iceremony for two homosexuals. But it would stipulate Ithat marriage is a civil contract between a man and a Twoman, making it unlaw ful for county clerks to issue Tuarriage licenses to homosexuals. Sen.

John Briggs, the Workers uated SANTA ANA (AP) -tMore than 500 workers I were evacuated from three 'buildings as natural gas from a broken pipeline escaped for more than three hours Thursday. Sacramento summary Asoclated Press Thundiv, Aug. 11, 1977 THE GOVERNOR Hotted Spact Day ceremonies in Lot 'Angeles. THE ASSEMBLY Vile Overridden Death Imposes death penalty tor reason end 15 types' of first-degree murder; SB 155; Deukmeilan, R-Long 54-26; final action, takes effect inv Constitutional Amendment Approved Drinking Would lower drinking age from 21 to 19; ACA 55, Papan, D-Daly City, to Senate. THE SENATE tills Approved Marriage Would stipulate that mar- riage is a civil contract between a man and a woman; AB 607, Nestande, -Orange, 23-5, returned to Assembly for action on Senate amendments.

Milk Would allow director of food and agriculture to set minimum wholesale end retail milk prices only after determining certain marketing conditions exist; AB Fazio, D-Sacramento; 24-2; mturned to Assembly for action on Senate amendments, carried floor, would of morality" But Sen. Milton Francisco, need for "The been no county other than he necessity But that law a license The bill inadvertent in the law Fire timber contained The pronounced midnight, cent But National Coast lands. after They check said In brighter contain Trinity ignited those officials The but of dig an Six Lightning nearly 260,000 Graceful scalloped edges and turned spoonfoot legs lend a traditional flavor to a handsome 54" table with easy -care Formica plastic top that extends to 84" to seat ten! Comfortable Governor Bradford chairs complete the tjroup in sunny Nutmeg finish. Gome on over to our house and furnish your house, your ay. Save now on Ethan Allen! Heirloom Table and 4 Chairs, Sale $419.50 Reg.

$507.50 fighters battling three lighting-ignited major and brush blazes in Northern California had one and another nearly so Thursday night. Scarface fire in Modoc County was 100 per cent contained shortly before and 40 per cent controlled, while the Pon-dosa blaze in Shasta Trinity National Forest was 75 per contained. the 11-day-old Marble-Cone fire in the Los Padres Forest near Big Sur on the scenic Central continued to burn through pristine wilderness Firemen said the blaze was 40 per cent contained scarring 92,200 acres. did not predict when they might be able to the fire's spread. "It's going to be a slow one," Bernie Bane, California Department of Forestry.

extreme Northern California, the outlook was for two timber fires authorities hoped to Thursday night. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 15 smaller blazes in County and Klamath National Forest were by lightning Wednesday night. The largest of fires was between 50 and 100 acres in size, said. troublesome Marble-Cone fire was still spreading, 19 miles of irelines had slowed the fire's rate progress, a CDF spokesman said. Fireman worked to additional nine miles of fireline.

"hot spots" were giving firemen the most difficulty. has been blamed for almost all of the 1,000 fires ignited since Aug. 1 in brittle California timber stands and dense brushlands. More than acres have burned. I Hi 03 Come on ov er to our house mm Girriajje Mouse Ail Ethan Allen lullery 1363 S.

SAN BERNARDINO Financing Available Hours: Fri. 10 to 9 Sat. 10 to 5.30, Sun. 1-5 f. j.tfg; PH.

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About The San Bernardino County Sun Archive

Pages Available:
1,350,050
Years Available:
1894-1998