The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 1

COMMERCIAL APPEAL SECTION FINAL 141st Year No 82 Memphis Tenn Saturday Morning March 22 1980 MM Price 15 Cents On Summer Is Closed Collapse ermed Possibility By David Darnell Wolf River Bridge Summer Avenue Was Closed Yesterday More Cuts In Spending Taxes Vowed By GOP Congressmen By WILLIAM CTEVERSON The Summer Avenue bridge over the Wolf River wee closed to traffic yesterday after noon after city and state officials found that miming supports in the center put the structure in danger of Imminent collapse At the earns time officials posted a strict 10-ton load limit for vehicles using the Second Street bridge over the Wolf River fear lng that one of the major supports In that six-year-old bridge might ha giving way The Summer Avenue bridge which handles doee to 26)0 cars and trucks dally was closed shortly yesterday when state transportation officials noticed a dip of aboat one inch In the center of the roadbed near the middle of the bridge Upon doaer examination Inspector! discovered that at least six of seven concrete pilings holding up tho center pert of the bridge had been wished away The closure created Inconveniences for motorists as rush-hour traffic wee routed to alternate streets Nino Cicdino manager of the lounge at Ramada Inn East near the bridge laid business would here ben off sharply had it not been for two large parties scheduled Friday night Ta sure it's going to hurt ns drastically" ho said Officials said they would keep a cfoae watch on the bridge all night ana throughout the weekend There's i good pomibillty that it (the central part of the bridge) could go any aid Public Work Director Maynard Stiles after looking at the structure James Boal amistant regional maintenance engineer for the state Transportation Department said tba old part of the bridge (the center part) should drop it is our opinion that tha whola bridge could go 1 don't think there would hare ben any chance of it standing if traffic were still on It" ho said adding that It could go any minute now" oven without any can on il Officials said they don't tha bridge had been in peril Both city and state Inspectors looked at the bridge Tburt- Xpen of general Inspection of most i in the city but apparently wen unable to notice the miming piles because the high water of the Wolf River made it impossible to get under the bridge "I have no Idea at this point how long the piles have been Blaring" Stiles said add-ing that "they could have been ae early as this morning" Officials said the problems at the Summer bridge and later yesterday at tha Second Street bridge had no connection with tho col la pie of part of the Perkins Road bridge Nonconnah inah Creek Sunday night except for the fact that the problems have surfaced Traffic Will Be Detoured Around Summer Avenue Bridge Fkmi Our arm tervkn WASHINGTON Hotut Republicans did Friday they will pm for deeper spending cuts and a lira comattaant on tax reduction! when the proposed 1911 balanced bud-et oea to the Home floor next week The GOP nance could prove dediive became with etroog liberal oppoaitloo to the budget1! nclal spending cuts the Democrat-ic leadership amt gain eoae Republican votee to win approval of the budget plan Republican! Joined with aoderete Demo-crete on Thursday night to posh the spending package out of the Home Budget Commit-tee Some Republicans however raid that COP cooperation Bight disappear when the budget reaches tba full House Others laid Republicans will demand sharper social spending cut! higher defeats outlays end tax reduction! to encourage bueinea productivity In exchange for their support The budget committee approved the proposed balanced budget on an 1M vote with only liberal Democrats opposing It The budget calls for $15 Ulllon in spending cuts from President Carter's original 1981 budget and projects a S2-UlUon surplus original 1961 budget called for In spending The current fiscal budget calls for SS47J In spending with a S29 J-Ullion deficit The conservative victory wee compounded when the panel approved apian to uso IMU Ulllon In revenues (Tom Carters new oil import fee to give Americans 20 Ullion in tax cuts if the final budget is balanced fill material from the cofferdam Is wished away" at the southernmost support As in the case with the Sommer I Stiles said engineers wont be able to i the damage until the Wolf River recedei In several piece! Including the Summer area the Wolf has spilled over Its bonk! and officials said It will not crest until tomorrow It probably will take five or six days after that before the water la low enough to permit thorough Inspection! When the dip on the surface of the Summer bridge was first discovered by a Meat phis polios officer offletata indicated mild concern and casually walked on the bridge's roadway for about an hour while a state crane was used to lower city and state officials over tha tide so they could make a visual inspection When they returned with the report that moat of supports wore gone tho calm disappeared This bridge could go any minute and I inty'alli don't want y'aU standing on it when It i Ceremony On Friday To Open 1-240 North during time of exceptionally heavy rain and high water in the two waterways 1 know of nothing that Is different from tha past" Stiles said when asked about the succemion of bridge foiluree during the post week Stiles said the load limit placed on traffic using the Second Street bridge was taken on advice from the UA Engineers after a vortex or whirlpool wee discovered in the water on the downstream side of the southern-moet pier The Second Street bridge has solid supports spanning the width of the bridge whereas the Summer bridge has concrete poets or piles extending from the bridge tha Stiles said the load limit on tho Second Street bridge would affect trucks from War reu Brothers Co end Continential Grain Co which Mi tha bridge Ho said thoes firms have been advised to route their trucks over other bridges until engineers can determine whether the Second Street bridge is safe for heavy loads Tha concrete supports into tho water go through cofferdams built around them Stiles said and he said the vortex In the water "gives the indication that some of the 1 county Adams said he did not bring the matter of the IRA plan to the attention of any members of tho interim committee or seek guidance from that group He said be received a letter from the Social Security Administration Dec 12 1979 "stab lug It wee OK to get IRA We signed contract for shout 240 employes In January of 1980" Approval from the IRS had already given be said at a board meeting last Adams and Duncan who recently wee hired is the agency? fiscal services director on March 14 could not identify the other two companies that submitted bids on the retirement plan last year and said they did not know where the bids were so they could be shown to a reporter They promised to get the Information this peat week but foiled to do so Aduu in the March 14 interview said he did not see any problem with adding the 75 permanent CAA employes to the contract He said he considered it In the same vein as CAA Retirement Plan Contracted Without Approval-By Local Board "1 don't know if there's anything I can add to what la on tho governor's schedule" Transportation officials earlier in the weeksaid workmen would need 38 to 40 more working days to finish sign work and marking before tho six-lane highway could open The highway which will span from Summer Avenua and Interstate 40 on the east to Thomas on the west originally had been tar gated for completion In 1971 It will roughly follow tho wolf River through part of North Memphis Dblems with fundini Northeast and North Memphis funding weather and contracts have repeatedly delayed tha opining Tha new roadway Includes on- and offramps at North Watkins Hollywood Jack-son Covington Pike and Summer and 1-40 Local and state officials expect the highway to reduce greatly the traffic on the southern 1-240 segment and other east-west arteries through the city Commissioner of Transportation Bill San-soa la expected to attend the ceremonies with Alexander (Map Additional Story en Figs BIS) Gov Lamar Alexander will be in Memphis Friday for ded lea lion ceremonies marking tha opening the northern leg of Interstate 248 A spokesman in Alexander's office said yesterday the ceremonies for opening the M-mUc etretch will begin at 12J0 pm Friday in tha 1 108 block of Chelsea at the Chelsea exit off 1-240 Motorists will be allowed to travel on the segment immediately after the ceremonies spokesman said Tha announcement of tho opening ceremonies which are expected to include the traditional ribbon-cutting and speeches from stats and local officials came yesterday morning despite comments bom state Department of Transportation officials earlier in the week that tho roadway probably wouldn't be open to traffic for another month or more Renee Pickens Information officer for the state highway department in Nashville said the announcement came on Alexander's schedule of activities (or next week a schedule which rouUnuely la Issued on Fridays Inside Today JUDGE RULES that Kansas City can reinitata temporarily 42 fire fighters dismimad during December work slowdown Page AC PRESIDENT CASTES eayi hall try to help deposed shah get good medical care Page All Sports SEMIFINALS TODAY in NCAA basketball playoffs Page D31 The liberals charged that the committee balanced the budget largely it the expense of tht poor while demanding little sacrifice from tba rich They vowed to fight the proposal's social spending cuts when it reaches the House floor The comal nee's budget covering the fiscal year starting Oct 1 recommends (61IS Ullion In spending Hill Ulllon in revenues and 12-billlon surplus If approved by Congress It would be the first balanced federal budget In 12 years In a televleed response to Carter's economic address of last week House Minority Leader John Rhodes (R-Artz) and Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker (R-Tenn) attacked the proposed budget for Increasing "The main difference that wa have with the Democratic proposal Is that tha Democrats cbooes to balance the budget at a very high level and they are going to do this by increasing taxes" Rhodes laid in in inter view with ABC-TV Rhodes said Republicans would seek at lent i24 billion In cuts below Cartel's Jans- ary budget IS billion more for defense and a S2tbillion tax cut Baker denounced Carter's oil import foe which will raise the price of gasoline by 18 cents a gallon "The last thing on Barth that tha average American needs is higher-priced gasoline" ha said Although Carter called last week for a balanced budget the President his yet to submit a revised version of hie 1981 spending The budget ha propoaed in January for a SlSMillioa deficit The House Budget Committee's Eliminates revenue sharing to the states to save SI 7 billion a Terminates the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration cutting 1188 million from tho 1981 budget and eliminating congressional budget authority for the program ratal Service for a Ends a subsidy to tha Saturday mall delivery saving SS Cuts 50000 jobs from the CETA program to save SSOO million Defers domestic programs such as Carter1 youth Initiative tha Child Health Assurance program welfare reform and Medicare-Medicaid expansion to save SU billion Cuts Si 4 million in unspecified maugo-ment coeti from the defense budget Liberali failed In repeated attempts to cut the Pentagon budget further Of tha recommended foetal budget cute Postmaster General William Bolger Friday amured the public mast poet offices will remain open Satunfoys even If the cuts become final cant eliminata our seven -day operation" Bolger mid "Ws might be atria to adjust hare and than but not eliminate it I think these people who are talking about eliminating Saturday service are confining it to delivery Bolger stressed that the House Budget Committee's proposal to reduce mail delivery from rix days to five 1 the Postal They put down this menu of Items to bo cut Dram the budget" he said "We're an entree" "They have gone out of their way to belp and to show Memphis and the Mid-Sonth the best of their cultural Mre Maxwell said you stayed in the country for months you wouldn't be able to eee all of the groupe that we will have for us doing the month "Their whole cultural and entertainment package has bean put together to accurately represent their different region! diverse peoples and rich varieties they are determined to The Memphis In May committee is seeking people willing tc for the" I to provide food and lodging the Venezuelan performers for a week In their homes Mre Maxwell uld "We are going to place all of them people guest! The 1U Germans who were hers last yaar ware placed with Memphis families acting a horn We have pledged onnelf to provide for their transportation and food while they are hen This is a perfectly good opportunity to get to know someone from other country They are warm and wooded people" Appellate Court Overturns MEA Recall Election Order Henry Rvau chief administrative officer yelled to a group of about 2S state and city (Cendaued ew Fags All) mporary workers such ae weath-employes to the pension plan or adding the names of the extra CAA employes to the list ofy roll checks to be cut by First In that am Interview Adame scoffed at the idea that a commission of as much as $40000 ee wee rumored at that time could be made on the IRA contract Adams also said he had contracted for liability insurance workmen? compensation end hospitalisation with tho Fete Mitchell end Amodates Insurance company in January with annual premiums being about SR006 Bids were let on this project he said and that matter alio was not brought to the attention of tho interim governmental committee Adams said the liability Insurance was for the CAA and its eight service centers (two iff which art in the hum building) The workmen? compenatlon wm for about 98 CAA employes Adame Hid end the hospitalization was for about 10 of the CAA central staff worker! At ona point the factions had worked out an agreement However a consent order wm never entered and Alisundratoe then made hie own ruling "The prims lane is whether tha meeting of the representative assembly of MEA held on December 11 1979 at which a 'new' constitution wm purportedly adopted wm held in accordance with the then existing constitution of MEA" the court wrote determination of that ieoue will rceolvt tha question of which constitution la now In effect and under which any recall election must he held "Tho decree of the chancellor dated March 12 1988 ii reversed This cause is remanded to the chancery court for a determination by the chancellor of the Isium proto the pleadings and for tha entry of decree adjudicating thoM leiue! a final i the chancellor ta of tho opinion that more proof to needed ho can ao The Weather FDR MEMPHIS end Vicinity Fair today and tonight with Increasing duudinea tomorrow High today In tho mid 88! Low tonight now so High tomorrow around 70 Winds southerly at 10 mph Sunrise 02 sunset 13 YESTERDAYS REPORT High 57 degreM at 3 pm Low 43 detNM at i am Normal high 61 degree low 40 (Map Detalli an B20) a SHIRLEY DOWNING me executive director of tho Community Action Agency has contracted without approval of any current local board or employes through agent Rome Overton who 1 or-d Adams' Job at the CAA The CAA paying about $156000 yearly-half from employe deductions end half from CAA fundi for an Individual Retirement Account plan with Washington National In-' according to tho antlpo fiscal services director Phil Duncan Adams said In February 1979 that the CAA? now-defund administering board authorised him to contract with Washington National for an IRA plan for tha CAA? Headstart employee who number about US Adams said lu Jtuuary ef this year that added about 75 CAA employes gained whan tha antipoverty agency was restructured last foil to tha retirement plan but did not accept additional bid! although the original approval given by tha agency? board was only for Headstart employe! Overton late yesterday said hU first-year comaiafon on the CAA bueinea will be $40000" He said the plan involves 75 per cent of the funds being put in individual retirement annuities end 25 per cent being pul in life insurance policies end long-term disability He was executive director of the CAA from 1971 to 1978 during whkh time Adame wee hie deputy director Overton left the CAA directorship fore Job with the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences after controversy erupted over recommendations he made for central-lied funding and control of CAA Adams said be was basing the authority for hie actions on tho approval granted by tha CAA? administering board at its Febru- administering bo meeting Bulbs that approval wh put on hold at tha board? March 22 1979 meeting after some MBbere questioned the legality of tho matter At that Beating soma beard members questioned if tho throe bids on tha project had ban submitted property "Since tho items for bidding were differ ant each propoeel eubalttsd by the various Insurance companies were different" board member Wayne Cox Is quoted in tha minutes of that meeting Cox Mao questioned If tha federal government would allow the CAA to drop Social Security In lieu of setting up an IRA plan The board votsd to refer tha matter to tha budget committee for further review and tiou taken at the February Besting Cox said this week that he asked Adams to fornlsh him with additional Information alter tha March meeting and "Adams never got any more information to mo" Dm matter never made It out of tho budget committee end Cox Last May the federal government ordered the CAA restructured end subeequent bourd meetings were largely devoted to that issue The board wm disbanded In September end replaced by in interim ittoa mads up of members of the City cornet! Venezuelans Turn Tables Plan Salute To Hosts A May Festival The Tennessee Court of Appeals yesterday overturned a Chancery Court order for a recall election of Memphis Education Aarod-ation officer! The election wh to have been held today Chancellor Alisundratos had ordered the election so that MEA membeti might decide whether current officers now locked In power struggle with another faction of MEA leadera re to remain In office Alan Chambers an attorney for tha faction led by MEA president Elaine Nunnally Hid the ruling had tha affect of making tha MEA offices Immediately available to Nunnally end other officer! Many of tho Incumbent board awaken have resigned Nunnally end the other officers now wish to assume control of the iHociatloa and reconcile the differences within the organisation" Chambers said last night An election of new officers wh to follow if current officers bad been recalled In the meantime Allssandratoi had ordered current officers to stay ewijr from the MEA office and had placed the day-today operation of the amodation In the hands of the Chancery Court clerk and master Earlier this week AllHsndratos refused to stay his order end call off the election It wm this docistoo which attorneys for the faction led by If! Nunnally appealed to the Court of Appeals In Jackson its ruling the court add it granted an immediate review because "the chancellor hM ao far departed from the accepted and usual coons of Judicial proceedings Allmndratoi bed ordered the recall election after declaring he could not determine the matter became of Inadequate and confused record-keeping by tha aaociatton and affidavit! EDITORIAL Buck-passing on local bridge inspections must stop and real work of flood-control must begin Page A S2SJM0 in books The participation hae -been wonderful In each cam But ws have never had thii kind of performing arts group before "1 think wc already have established good relations with the Venezuelan government Now It la up to Memphis to show them how much wo appreciate them and rend them home with soma good thought!" Mrs Maxwell said Venesuelan officials hM been helpful in planning for the month? activities which so far include a Beale Street Festival on May 17 the Venezuelan folk festival on May 24 and the F1m Arts Festival May 31-Jum 1 They appointed this one lady in the Ministry of Youth (Irene Stein) to work on It (the program) for four month! She ligomi to be Sere for the enure month of May Mre Maxwell So for Venezuela hM agreed to send more than 350 performers to participate In weekly programs on the Mid-America Mall and to visit area school! churches tuepitale and civic group! It will coat Its government mors than poojooo By LINDA 1 WALLACE RICIllfUIBH will are shiiws oie Memphis In May (estival committee? tribute to Venezuela beglni foil yaar became tho South American country hM tuned the tu-btaa and arranged a nlut to Its hoat Memi Sxty-threo musicane Hogan and dancers will present the "Salute To the People of Memphis From the Peoe of Venezuela" it 7 JO pm May 1 at the Orobcua The event will be attended by Venezuelan Ambassador Marcial Feres Chiriboga and Dr nwia Palacios cultural Blache It Martha Ellen Maxwell executive director of tho festival committee said "an altogsthar fitting worthy and exciting inau-juration our Sooth Aawrlcan friends put ft to tha month that is to Mlow "It? a tip of th bat to as and ills absolutely wonderful Venezuela hH been om of th moet enthusiastic governments wo have honored Each government that we have honored during the last four yean bn been very different in its participation That is tha out thlni thit niktf it bom interesting The Gorman govenunet (tael year) sent us.