Stockton Evening and Sunday Record from Stockton, California • 53

f.f3T i-DiTlON 11 -Page Report Stockton (Calif.) Record A A Thursday, Oct. 16, 1958 (Semllimfl (2nfl5flnrimflni TUOLUMNE PILOTS RAP AIRPORT OPERATION; SEEK CORRECTIONS SONORA, Oct. 16 A detailed 11-page report criticizing operation of the Columbia Airport was presented the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors yesterday by James Hardin, attorney for the County Pilots Association. The board took no action on the report after supporters of Airport Manager Bob Roberts asked that Main Criticisms and Suggestions in Airport Row UNIQUE BIRD HOUSE A wide variety of birds will soon call this polygon-shaped aviary home. "Centerpiece in the new wing of cages being built at Micke Grove Zoo, the facility will have 16 cages along the outside rim.

A passageway leads to an interior storage room. (Record photo) Angered Mayor Storms Out of LODI PHILANTHROPIST'S DREAM ROOM WITH A VIEW This is a peacocks eye view of a portion of the new wing of cages at Micke Grove Zoo. Occupying cages in this section will be, from left, peacocks, chimpanzees and bears. (Record photo) Micke Grove Zoo Lodi City Council Capital Outlay Program Is Issue LODI, Oct. 16 Mayor Bozant Katzakian stormed out of they City Council chambers in a rage last night after a fellow councilman charged there has been no capital outlay program in the six months of Katzakians regime.

You said we had no program in the last six months, inferring since I have been mayor, Katzakian declared in the middle of a discussion chi the program of major civic improvements. Katzakian adjourned the meeting and walked out. But no one else left and the meeting continued under the chairmanship of Vice-Mayor Fred Brown. Katzakians antagonist, Councilman Willard J. Robinson, later made this statement: MAKES STATEMENT "I am sony he (Katzakian) took exception.

I did not question his operation of the city. But I did point out that we do not have a capital outlay program before us. Robinson started discussion on the capital outlay program an often discussed but seldom implemented program of development. There now is an estimated $513,291 in capital outlay reserve. Robinson called for study on civic center site, pointing out the City Planning Commission had promised to have a plan by September.

Katzakian, prior to his exit, ex- 1 been plained the commission had BUSY PLACE This picture was taken locking southeast from the baboon cage. Shown behind the oaks in the planting areas is the framework for cages for a pair of lions and a tiger. At far right is the lion cage in the existing zoo. (Record photo) Columbia Airport Manager Promises Pilots' Report Rebuttal to Critical signatures of authors of the report be given the supervisors and that Roberts be given an opportunity to present a written rebuttal. Gist of the report is a request to the supervisors for appointment of a full-time airport manager who would have no private commercial connection at the facility.

The report was not signed by the complainants. The association stressed in the opening paragraph of the report that it does not oppose use of the airport for borate operations in firefighting or as the site of commercial enterprises, but pointed out that the firefighting operation should not interfere with other airport activities and the manager should not engage in any enterprise other than operation of the airport. DUAL CHORES Roberts operates a flying service in addition to being airport manager. The protestants also take exception to statements that Roberts is responsible for improvements at the airport. They contend the existing paved north-south runway and light system was completed before he was appointed except for 500 feet of substandard pavement recently installed," and that con struction of present hangars was under way before he took over.

The report also cited alleged use of machine shop and other facilities by private parties without rent. Discussing proposed future aviation expansion in the county, the report favors construction of an airstrip in the Groveland area, but stated the association would prefer improvement of the east-west runway at Columbia before funds are diverted for such an airstrip. FINANCIAL. PICTURE Referring to financial aspects of the operation, the report said: "During the past five years there has been expended at the airport the sum of during the past 10 years a sum slightly less than a quarter of a million dollars of the taxpayers funds have been spent in the development and operation of the airport. "These sums represent a tremendous investment by the taxpayers of a county of this size.

The object of these expenditures has been to provide air facilities for the use of the general public, an objective which, in many aspects, is not being fulfilled. COULD BE SELF-SUPPORTING "The airport is presently in the financial position where it can be virtually self-supporting under proper and careful management, and no longer a burden upon our taxpayers; however, the airport is rapidly deteriorating into the status of being a private operation which is largely financed by public funds." Also hit was the reported leasing to Roberts of a large hangar, office space in the new administration building, exclusive right to the sale of gasoline and petroleum products, and the reported use by Roberts of an addition to the large hangar and the west end of another hangar for storage of petroleum products. PREVIOUS PROFIT "The foregoing listed facilities Include a floor space area of nearly 5,000 square feet. For all of this, the county receives only $100 per month. According to Ernest Guide, county statistician, the gas and oil concession prior to the time it was leased to the present manager, was making a net profit for the county which averaged between $1,200 and $1,500 a year, the report stated.

It added that county employes sell the petroleum products on county time with no return to the county for such services and that the leasing concession allows Roberts an unfair advantage over other pilots, both commercial and private, because he has the privilege of purchasing fuel at cost In addition, the report criticized the Sonora Flying Service, Roberts company, of using the county fire jeep, pickup truck, tractor, and movable crane for his private business with no compensation for the county. It added that the equipment is serviced by petroleum products sold the county by Roberts for the full retail price. Stanislaus Drive Nears Half Mark MODESTO, Oct 16 The United Crusade campaign for Stanislaus County exceeded the 43 per cent mark, according to a report made by campaign workers yesterday. It was the second report session since the opening of the annual campaign last week. A-total of $89,126 or 43.4 per cent of the $205,141 goal has been collected, or pledged, to date.

Turlock continues to lead the communities with $9,991 or 71.3 per cent of its goal collected. Oakdale is second with 29.1 per cent; Salida has collected 20.6 per cent; Riverbank 19.6 per cent; Ceres, 10.9 per cent, and Empire 4.9 per cent. In the division sectors in the Modesto area, the corporate advanced gifts group has turned in $29,196 or 76.5 of its allocation. The third report meeting will be held next Wednesday in the Hotel Covell. Sonora Lions See Film; Get Pool Report SONORA, Oct.

16 A film, "Progressive Norway, was shown members of the Sonora Lions Club yesterday at their meeting in the Sonora Inn. Andy Anderson was program chairman. During the meeting, Harold Stoker, principal of Sonora Union! High School, reported most of the! i SONORA, Oct. 16 Following are main of the criticisms of Columbia Airport management, as well as recommendations for im provement, presented yestferday to the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors by the County Pilots Association: 1. That the.

county for some time has been paying the total expense of maintaining a private telephone at the airport at a cost pf $17.45 per month, exclusive of toll charges, and that the phone is listed under both the County of Tuolumne and Sonora Flying Service. It also is alleged that the cost includes two extension phones, one of which is placed in a building occupied solely by the flying service. 2. That the county has been paying an electrical bill for air-port service which averages $65 a month and includes use of power for the flying service. That upon the completion of a private borate mixing plant at the north end of the paved runway, a pump was installed on a well and the county is billed for the power used to operate the pump.

EAST-WEST RUNWAY 3. That nothing has been done to maintain or improve the east-west runway for the past two years and it is becoming rough and unlevel. That 75 per cent of the pilots use this runway in preference to the paved north-south runway. 4. That there is little or no control on traffic landing and take off at the airport.

That while some pilots follow the established traffic patterns while approaching and leaving the installation, there are some notable exceptions, the worst offenders being pilots of the Sonora Flying Service." That during borate dropping operations, planes of the flying service land and take off in opposite directions, creating a traffic hazard. UNAUTHORIZED USE 5. That the pilots association has purchased and loaned to the airport a unicorn receiver and transmitter and rules and regulations of the Federal Communication Commission require that only licensed personnel use such equipment, but that unauthorized persons, including minors, use the unicorn at the airport. 6. That county owned vehicles have been operated by minors and other personnel who are not county employes and are not covered by insurance.

7. That aircraft of the Sonora Flying Service are "nearly always parked immediately in front of the administration building and not in the "tie down area provided, although this is prohibited by county ordinance. That certain aircraft are left unattended with their engines running. The protestants also allege that Roberts, through revenue from sale of petroleum products, use of county-paid utilities, and use of other county-paid services, makes about $7,307 a year, rather than the $4,188 salary provided by the county. 4TH HIGH IN SALARY We would like to point out that the manager is actually the fourth highest paid employe of the County of Tuolumne, the report stated.

Suggestions made in the report call for: 1. The replacement of Roberts by a full-time working airport manager with a relief man, and a condition of employment being that the manager have no private commercial connection at the airport 2. The re-negotiatibn of the leasing of fafilities at the airport to Roberts, eliminating the gas and oil concession, and returning them to the county. 3. The increasing of Roberts lease to a more realistic figure, comparable to that being paid by the Army Reserve unit at the airport.

UNIFORM RENT'PROGRAM 4. The establishment of a uniform square foot basis for renting county airport property, based on type of facility, and quality of improvements. 5. Insuring that commercial and private facility renters pay for their own utilities. 6.

The removal of petroleum products from the room at the west end of the first row of hangars and offering of the room for rent to interested parties. 7. Insuring that the county receives a fair compensation for all new facilities constructed and occupied by the Sonora Flying Service without charge since last winter, and the establishment of a fair future rental on such accommodations in accordance with Item four. 8. Provision for the grading and surfacing of the east-west runway to permit the airport to be used with maximum safety.

COUNTY EQUIPMENT 9. Provision that county equipment be operated solely by authorized and insured personnel for county business only. 10. Contacting the Civil Aeronautics Authority if the county deems it fit to permit borate operations to disregard flight patterns, to determine if the field traffic can be controlled. 1L The formation of a committee of five licensed private or commercial pilots to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on airport budgeting and policies.

12. The taking of action the board to recover any funds which have been improperly spent for 24 More ages at By MAURICE KANE Of the Record Staff LODI, Oct. 16 William Mickes dream Js a little closer to realiza tion today. Micke, 84-year-old Lodi vine-yardist and philanthropist, is adding 24 additional cages to the already impressive Micke Grove Zoo. Like the rest of the zoo and the adjoining 59-acre park, the new facilities will, be deeded to San Joaquin County to maintain.

Started last May, the additions are expected to be completed and ready to be stocked next spring. Mickes reward? He just likes to see the youngsters and the grownups enjoying themselves, commented one workman. LARGER AND STRONGER Larger and stronger cages are being built of concrete block and slab of heavy wire for the bigger animals, including the African lion and his mate who sometimes malevolently, sometimes Indifferently, watch the seemingly unconcerned builders working, hardly a whisker away. The work is being done by Lodi general contractor and Mickes close C. Hoegerman, who has built virtually all of the facilities in the park.

Micke has no contract with Hoegerman. "He just tells me what he wants and I try to build it that way," says Hoegerman, who shares Mickes enthusiasm for the project. Occupants of the new cages will include the two lions, who will be moved from their present, smaller cage; a Bengal tiger, three Malayan sun bears, four California bears, two pairs of chimpanzees, a "long-armed baboon, a mandrill (West African baboon), peacocks, and a variety of other birds. SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION The chimps cage is being constructed, so that it can be partitioned into two separate cages in the event domestic differences arise among its occupants. Susceptible to the same diseases as humans, chimps have to have special accomodations.

Radiant heating is being installed in the concrete floor of the chimps den as a cold preventive measure natural desire of bears to wallow in water also is not being overlooked. Baths three feet deep, seven feet wide, and 10 feet long are luxury features of their cages. New tenants in the lions former residence will be two black panthers. NEW AVIARY The "centerpiece of this new wing of cages is a polygon-shaped New Deputies in Stanislaus MODESTO, Oct. 16 Sheriff Dan Kelsey announced today the employment of two new deputies.

They will start work Monday and both. will be rated as grade one deputies. William Fred Wood, 23, who leaves the Turlock Police Department to come to the sheriffs office, is a former member of the Marine Corps. He has served with the Turlock department for the past year as dispatch officer. He is married and the father of three children.

Billy Joe Brassfield, 34, has relinquished his post as chief of the Williams Police Department to join the local sheriffs office. He has been with the Williams department three years as chief, was with Colusa Police Department for two years prior to that as a patrolman and after leaving the Navy following World War II, was a special agent with the Southern Pacific Railroad for several years the father of two children, has taken college courses in law enforcement at the Metro politan College, Oakland. Kelsay said he will be assigned to the late shift in the patrol division, and Wood will start in the jail division. The two men were among eight successful candidates out of 90 who took recent written and oral examinations for the deputy positions. 1 Sunday School to in Calaveras Open MURPHYS, Oct.

16 The fall sessions for the Murphys Congregational Church Sunday School will begin at 10:30 ajn. Sunday following church services which will be held at 9:30 ajn. The Angels Camp Sunday School will be at 10:30 ajn. also, followed by church services at 11:30 am. The Rev.

Louis E. Higgins will officiate at both services. The title of his sermon is Beyond Ordinary Goodness. aviary. Sixteen cages, each permit ting plenty of flight space, form the rim of the structure, believed to be the only one of its kind anywhere.

The aviary is 52 feet In diameter and 170 feet around. In the middle of the facility is a service room, 26 feet in diameter, affording zoo personnel access, to the individual cages. Here, too, food and equipment will be stored and ailing birds hospitalized. Incubators also will be installed. Planting areas are provided between all the big animal cages, just as in the zoos older section where flowers create a riot of color.

FLOWERS ENHANCE "In addition to being beautiful, the flowers between the cages make the animals more congenial and less nervous, Hoegerman says. There also are two planting areas in the new section, both occupied by towering, gnarled oak trees Weve tried to preserve all the trees we could, the contractor declares. "Mr. Micke is very insistent on that. When the new unit, is complete, the zoo will i have a total of 53 case cages, in addition to the existing waterfowl cage, the seal island, the monkey island, kitchen, central storage building, animal hospital, and concession building.

A concrete walkway for pedestrians spans Pixley Creek adjoining the new section. Here, Micke sometimes stands, adjusting bis steel-rimmed spectacles, and studying his open land and smaller oak grove south of the park, site of possible future expansion of the zoo. Tuolumne High Transfer Action TUOLUMNE CITY, Oct 16-Two requests for transfers from the Summerville Union High School to Sonora Union High School were denied Tuesday during a Summerville Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs.

Lee Brisbin re quested a transfer for their daugh ter, Greta, a sophomore, -and Mrs. E. C. Bryant requested a transfer for her daughter, Donna Harder, also a sophomore. The board instructed the secretary to write a letter to accompany the denial to the parents explaining to the Bris-bins a chemistry course requested instead of a biology course their daughter now is taking will be available in her junior years as the biology is a sophomore science course.

A letter will be sent Mrs. Bryant outlining the commercial courses offered which she requested for her daughter, Donna. The high school has 142 regis tered students this year and registered students last year. Approximately 45 students from this district are attending Sonora High through the certification of the Tuolumne Board of Education. Mrs.

Knute Anberg, secretary for the high school, received a $40 salary increase $270 to $310 a month. In another matter, trustees voted to pay substitute -teachers $20 per day for teaching. The schools in the county pay $15 to $18 a day for substitute teachers. The high school has four teachers on the substitute list. The Sonora High board, at a recent meeting, granted the request of Virginia Egger, to trans fer from the Sonora High School to the Summerville High School The local board accepted the transfer.

The girl is a senior and had been attending Summerville High but recently moved from the Summerville district to the Sonora District. The next Summerville High board meeting will be Monday, Nov. 10, instead nf Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. instead of 7:30 pjn.

Chairman Named MANTECA, Oct. 16 Mrs. Jay Long has been named chairman of the Manteca Jay-C-Ettes "goblin party" planned for 8 p.m. Nov. 1 in American Legion Hall.

and guests are asked to dress as "ghosts and not to reveal their identity for the first hour of the party A box social meal is planned for midnight. Waterford Event WATERFORD, Oct. 16 The Waterford Huffers Puffers will sponsor a dance tomorrow night in the local Grange HalL Carl Kindle will be the caller. The dance group also reminds dancers of the hoe-down it will sponsor Oct 31 in the Waterford School on Bentley Street. 000 has been granted the airport in a federal appropriation and that the money will be used to lengthen the north-south runway and make other improvements.

Referring to the groups comint that the east-west runway as been neglected, Roberts said the Civil Aeronautics Administration "will not have anything to do with the dirt east-west runway, He continued: Five years ago nobody wanted that cow pasture out there. The cost of operation now is considerably below what it was when I took over. Most of this is from a bunch of dlisgruntled individuals who cannot stand progress. Roberts added that a group from, the California Aeronautics Commission, Senator Swift Berry, and air-minded persons from the Lake Tahoe area were due at the airport this morning to get tips on operation of the facility. Walter Ronten, president of the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce and acting chairman of the chambers airport committee, sat in on the hearing as an observer for that group.

He said that after listening to the report' submitted by Hardin it only seems right that Roberts should have an opportunity to present his side through an attorney. He requested the board to appoint one for the manager. Supervisor Ralph Thiel of Grove-land replied: "Thats a good idea, but I think we should wait until the board has an opportunity to study the associations report. busy on the zoning ordinance. George Rodgers, city planning director, added the civic center proposal will be up before the commission at the next meeting.

We were told we would have it by September. Now it is the end of October and we dont have ft. I am asking for a progress report, Robinson said. TIME FOR ACTION He also commented it is time to take action to locate a new fire house. Katzakian pointed out action already has been taken to locate the fire house in-a certain part of the city.

(A previous council had voted 3 to 2 to place the fire house in the area bounded by Lodi Avenue, Tokay Street, Sacramento Street, and Hutchins Street). The location is dependent on the civic center site as part of the land may be used for a fire house, it was explained. If we answer the question on the need for a civic center and where then it will be located, we have the answer on several capital outlay items, Katzakian said. I personalty am not in of proceeding in that location, Robinson said, and asked for the matter to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. NEW VOTE "In other words, every two years when there is a change of council there should be a new vote on major Improvements, Katzakian charged.

City Manager Henry A. Glaves then pointed out the hall of justice and the fire station should '1 be together for a combined communication center. As far as I am concerned you have an ideal location in this part of the city Emerson School for the fire house, regardless of where the civic center goes, Robinson said. (The Emerson school property is owned by the city' and serves as a park.) Robinson suggested it was time to take action and not to sit around and wait for planning. If we lay out the plans for all the capital outlay, then we will know where we are going, Katzakian said.

I think we are at the threshhold of the final plans. Councilman James F. Culbertson then asked for a summary by every department on their needs for capital outlay, so we can sit down and see what the city-must spend for the 40,000 population we will have in 20 years, he said. He added it will be necessary to find out how much can be constructed with normal funds and how much extra must be raised. NEW SCHOOL FOR OAKDALE IS CONSIDERED OAKDALE, Oct.

16 Because of Increased enrollment in the Oakdale Elementary School District, trustees are giving further study to proposed construction of a new lower grade school The district already owns a 10-acre site west of Oak Street and has preliminary plans for a building. A report on enrollment at a Tuesday night board meeting showed a registration now of 1,546. Supt. B. W.

Gripenstraw said there Is some crowding and still is a waiting list for kindergarten children. He said at least one more teacher could be used at Oakdale Union School building. PLAN REVIEW -Trustees decided to review the plans and check on bonding capacity to determine whether to proceed with a new school The alternative would be double shifts. Gripenstraw also reported on cafeteria attendance which has not appreciably dropped because of a five cent lunch cost Increase. He said student accident insurance policies are continuing to be issued with the total at 667, a figure which already is greater than that for last year.

In other business trustees: Appointed Trustee Donald Jack-son as representative to an Oct 30 meeting to elect members on a Stanislaus County committee on district reorganization. OPPOSE PROP. 17 Adopted a resolution opposing the passage of Proposition 17, re-arcfing sales tax, on the grounds it would impair the financing of public education. Sold an old bus to Gillig Bros, for $515. Received information the Oakdale Kiwanis Club is providing weekly show passes to the 40 members of the school traffic patrol.

Favorably discussed a student body plan to issue the schools first yearbook. Decided to study further a service plan presented by William Echols, merchant patrolman. Received information a school audit found everything in order. Sonora Patrolman Resigns Post SONORA, Oct 16 -Dewey Coc-chi, a City of Sonora patrolman for the past year and a half, announced yesterday that he will resign from the police department at the end of the month. Cocchi, a former Sonora plans to return to the trade in the Standard City area.

Police Chief Mervin Ballwanz said he will interview applicants for the job this week. Baptist Rally ESCALON, Oct 16 A Young Peoples rally will be held in the Escalon Missionary Baptist Church Saturday morning, October 25, at 9:30 oclock with a luncheon served at noon for. the all day affair. The San Joaquin Valley singing group will also meet in the church Nov. 2 starting at 2 pan.

SONORA, Oct, Airport Manager Bob Roberts, under fire by the Tuolumne County Pilots Association for alleged mismanagement of the installation, yesterday told the Board of Supervisors that he will prepare a written rebuttal to the groups charges. The board and interested parties will meet at the airport at 10 a.m. Tuesday to continue its investigation into the matter. -At yesterdays meeting, Vem Vassar, a Roberts supporter, asked James Hardin, attorney for the pilots group, if the critical report is signed. When Hardin replied it was not and that it was submitted by himself on behalf of the association, Vassar said: It should be signed by all those making the allegations or the petition is worthless.

I ask that this be done before the board takes action because the allegations can be disproved. Roberts then said: I definitely insist that it be signed. Answering one of the points in the report, Roberts said that Unionization Opposed by Newman Units NEWMAN, Oct. 16 Some 150 citizens from Patterson, Crows Landing, and Gustine attended a meeting of the Board of Trustees of Orestimba Union High School Tuesday evening to discuss the merits of unionizing -the schools of the three districts. Resolutions were presented from the Newman Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association opposing unionization.

Some Newman citizens thought favorably of the proposition if there were one attendance center at Newman. Gustine and Patterson favored two attendance centers, leaving Newman out. Discussion disclosed those present would be willing to support a bond issue to build a new union high school at -Newman and personalty work for it. Some Crows Landing residents stated they had no advance notice of the Tuesday night session and a special meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Bonita School in Crows Landing for -further expression and clarificatipn.

Woman Faces Auto Death Charge MODESTO, Oct. 16 Released from the hospital yesterday, Mrs. Dorothy Carrier, 36, of 1402 Eleventh, reported at the County Jail and immediately posted $3,000 bail from a misdemanor manslaughter booking. She is charged in the April 19 traffic death of Mrs. Barbara Luis Stomi, 32, Santa Maria.

Mrs. Carrier has been hospitalized since the crash which also took the life of her passenger, Fred Dorsey, 40, Modesto. 16 Columbia ACCIDENT AT WINERY HURTS LODI YOUTH LODI, Oct. 16 Gary Bender, 18, employe at the Mid-Valley Winery, 1601 Victor Road, was burned and injured this morning in a flash explosion in a tank. Details of the industrial accident were withheld by officials of the company.

The officials said fire equipment was not summoned to the scene. Bender, taken to Lodi Memorial Hospital, was treated for bums and was to undergo X-rays for determination of other injuries. Bender had been gauging contents of the tank, one company official said. Stanley E. Longcor MODESTO, Oct.

16 Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Franklin Downs Funeral Home for-Stanley Edwin Longcor, 15, who was killed Tuesday in It bicycle-car collision in Dixon. The Salvation Army will officiate at the rites. Interment will be in Masonic Cemetery. He was the son of Mr.

and Mrs. Raymond -fongcor, who moved to Dixon a month ago. The boy was en route home from football practice when the collision occurred. Other a sister, Katherine; a brother, John; and grandfathers Fred Spangler of Oakland and Albert Longcor of Modesto. MAYOR WALKS OUT At this point the mayor walked out.

After more discussion, Glaves said the capital outlay program must be brought up to date each year at budget time. The problem each year is that the money runs out before the capital improvement items are taken care of, he continued. If the hall of justice and the library were built, the city would be broke, he said. So there has to be a little done each year. Robinson made the motion to have the departments In the city bring the capital outlay program up to date.

It was decided then the council would set the priority for the proj ects to.be completed. rocks surrounding the school the benefit of private Interests at swimming pool have been cleared: the airport, away and the next step in the 13. The fencing off of the air-Lions landscaping project will be. craft parking area and taxiways, the installation of top soil. and restricting the use of such President Vernon Rue presided.area to authorized parties.

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