Council: Little Environmental Harm at By NORM TAYLOR U-B Staff Writer The City Council voted 4 to 2 last night to declare the use of property at Twelfth and Poplar for the city's main fire station a major action with insignificant environmental impact. The determination allows the city to proceed with plans to purchase property at Twelfth and Poplar by exercising the options it has held on it for 86 days. The 90-day options expire Tuesday. The decision came after a procession of citizens pleaded with the council for further study on the matter and sharp, detailed debate between the citizens, i proponents of construction of the fire station on city-owned property on Mullan Avenue, and their council opponents. The vote followed partisan lines.
Councilmen Lorn D. Proctor, H. Brandt Gessel, Maurice Anthony and Carrol Musgrave, all in favor of building the fire station at Twelfth and Poplar, voted to declare the project a major one without significant environmental impact. Mayor John D. Swank and Councilman Nig Gradwohl — who voted against purchase of the Poplar property June 13 —voted "no." City Attorney James Mitchell advised the council before the vote that in his opinion, there was no question the project should be considered a major one and that in deciding whether there would be significant environmental impact, the council think in terms of adverse impact The move to purchase the property, as approved in a 4-2 council vote June 13. was slowed first by a temporary
restraining order against exercise of the options and then by a summary judgment declared last Friday by Superior Court Judge Albert Bradford ordering the city to comply with SEPA prior to completion of the property purchase. Exercise of the options now cannot be stopped unless further court action is renewed or instigated by opponents. Members of the "Fire Station Five" said after the special council meeting last night they are considering the renewal of their suit on the basis that this latest decision was unreasonable Mrs. Whitney (Sandra) Ellis, who along with Mrs. James (Kathy) Shepherd, Mrs. Joseph (Laura) Maier, Mrs. Douglas (Sally) Underwood and Mrs Richard (Lucia) Stuart, sponsored the earlier suit, said there is less inclination to renew
action on the other two bases of that suit — that the council failed to reach a fair and reasonable decision and that the council failed to reach the decision with the appearance of reasonableness. Councilman Anthony's motion said that the use of the Poplar property for a main fire station was a major action with insignificant effects with regard to the quality of the environment. It was preceded by apparent confusion by the councilman as to which alternative he should espouse in the motion: declaring it a minor project with insignificant impact, declaring it a major project with significant impact or declaring it a major project with insignificant impact. Anthony said he didn't think an environmental impact statement was
e^ "•
!<.'"„ 05?r.
Ysar
\
A
* >'
Poplar Site needed at all and then asked Mitchell. "Which one of these (alternatives) do 1 want to use?" A brief conference between Mitchell and Anthony preceded the motion. If the council had determined that the project was a major one with significant environmental impact the SEPA process would have been required to continue, with completion and review of an environmental impact statement by the city planning department. The assessment prepared by Vogt and an assistant, Jim Beard, was produced in 3 Vz days. The council voted 6-0 June 27 to prepare an environmental assessment on the Twelfth and Poplar site Bradford's order had the effect of requiring assessment and determination of impact before purchase
Particular merits, probable environmental impact and possible additional costs of the Twelfth and Poplar fire station site were outlined; justification and probable environmental impact of the alternative Mullan site also were outlined in the assessment. Particular merits of the Twelfth and Poplar site mentioned in the assessment were: • Provides a straight run for fire trucks to the downtown area and Sharpstein District. • Close proximity to the proposed new Walla Walla General Hospital and developing southwest area • Alternate access available on Birch Street from proposed site. • Sixty-foot wide Poplar Street Continued on page 5 . . .
c-*-*",-J"* '
-"idav, .'_ " i,
Farm Goods Push Prices To Highest Level Since ' WASHINGTON (AP) - Pushed upward by a record increase in the cost of farm products, wholesale prices rose last month at the sharpest rate since January 1951. the government said today. The statistical data comes a day after the government raised to five per cent the permissible interest rate banks may pay on passbook savings, the savings method favored by many American consumers. The agencies approving the higher rate indicated the move is designed to draw more savings into financial institutions and cool off the economy. The interest-rate ceiling for savings
and loan association deposits also was raised, as was the maximum allowable interest rate for federally backed home mortgages In yet another move to restrain rising costs at home— this time in the area of farm products and meat—the administration Thursday further limited sales abroad by slapping export controls on 41 agricultural items. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the Wholesale Price Index advanced by 2 4 per cent in June, just below the 2 5 per cent recorded in January 1951 during the Korean War inflationary boom. With adjustment for seasonal price
changes, the rise was almost as bad, 2 3 per cent The seasonally adjusted increase matched the March advance in wholesale prices, which was also the highest since January 1951. While the price report was bad, the bureau reported that the nation's unemployment rate dropped to 18 per cent in June, marking the first time since June 1970 that the rate has been below 5 per cent The wholesale price report was gathered by the government a day before President Nixon froze all wholesale, retail and manufacturing prices for 60 days.
Prices of farm products, including fresh vegetables, livestock, poultry and eggs, increased seven per cent in June, the biggest one-month jump since the government began keeping such records in 1947. Only the first sale of raw agricultural products at the farm is exempt from the President's price freeze. The report said that prices of farm products and processed foods and feeds combined went up 56 per cent last month and 5 per cent after seasonal pricing patterns were subtracted. Both rates were the highest since December 1972.
$ 100,000 Bracket U-B Photo by John Gallagher
Sun drenched wheat heads await harvest crews.
Wheat Harvest Begins Here Three wheat growers are now hauling their produce to Walla Walla Grain Growers (WWGG) elevators, according to manager Wayne Fondahn. The 1973 wheat harvest officially began Monday on the Jim Schubert ranch near Umapine. Schubert is hauling grain to the Gardena Elevator. Two Eureka area growers. George Wehe and LeRoy Walter, began harvesting grain yesterday. Wehe is cutting red wheat and Walker is harvesting white wheat. Fondahn said the Schubert farm is traditionally one of the first places where wheat is cut in the Walla Walla area because it is at a relatively low elevation in a dry area. Schubert is-harvesting Requa wheat, a soft white wheat that is bred to produce well in low-rainfall areas. The Umapine wheat farmer predicted his fields would yield from 25-30 bushels per acre this year. Schubert said these fields usually average about 35 bushels per acre.
Defense Chief: Nixon May Ask Bomb Authority WASHINGTON <AP) - James R. Schlesinger. the new secretary of Defense, today left open the possibility that President Nixon might request new authority to bomb Cambodia beyond a congressionally-mandated Aug. 15 cut off date In his first news conference as Defense chief, Schlesmger expressed confidence the government in Phnom Penh would become strong enough to ward off rebel attacks and survive beyond Aug. 15 He said strikes by big B52 bombers would stay at the current level of about 40 strikes daily. Tactical strikes by Fill fighter-bombers and F4 jets will fluctuate around the current level of more than 200 daily, Schlesmger said Communist-supported rebels and forces loyal to the government in Phnom Penh have stepped up their military activity in recent days in anticipation of the Aug. 15 compromise worked out last week between the White House and congressional leaders. The compromise requires the President to gain congressional approval for any bombing beyond Aug. 15. Schlesinger said "it is quite possible he (Nixon) might seek new authority if the situation were to deteriorate,"
This year's wheat crop was hurt by unusually dry weather last winter and spring. Cool weather in June helped the crop to some degree and most growers are now predicting an average to slightly below average crop. The 10-year average wheat yield for Walla Walla County is roughly 45 bushels per acre, however the county averaged close to 60 bushels per acre the past three years. Earlier this spring it appeared that the wheat harvest would begin about a week ahead of schedule this year. Fondahn said the cool June weather slowed maturity so that this year's harvest starting time is about average. Several wheat growers will begin cutting their crop next week, Fondahn said. Harvest should be in full swing in 10 days or two weeks. WWGG also began receiving dry peas this week from several growers in the Mill Creek area, Fondahn said. Some barley is also being cut in the Touchet-Lowden area.
Airline Admits Illegal Donation to Nixon WASHINGTON (AP), - American Airlines stated publicly today that it made illegal corporate donations to President Nixon's campaign in 1971 and 1972. The money was given after Nixon's personal lawyer, Herbert W. Kalmbach. asked for S100.000 from the company, American Airlines chairman George A. Spater said in a statement He declined to answer questions about the matter Federal law provides penalties of up to two years m jail and a $10,000 fine for those who give or receive campaign dona^
tions from corporate funds. Special Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox said American had made its admission voluntarily, and said this "will be considered as a mitigating circumstance in deciding what charges to bring'' Cox. in a two-page statement, said he hoped other corporate executives would admit any similar illegal gifts But he indicated that jail term's and fines might await corporate officers who attempt to keep such gifts secret
"Whether they come forward or not we intend to get to the bottom of illegal funding practices," Cox said A spokesman for Cox said no charges have yet been placed against American Airlines officials. Spater said Kalmbach told him "we were among those from whom $100,000 was expected." Spater said he was aware that Kalmbach was Nixon's attorney and also counsel for United Air Lines. American's major competitor.
At the time the money was given, American was attempting to merge with Western Airlines, a move that required approval of both the White House and the Civil Aeronautics Board. The merger was disapproved by the CAB last summer, and didn't go through. Spater said he admitted the corporate -donation to Cox "before any knowledge, of these facts had reached the govern- ment from other sources."
Election Law Violations Alledged in Agnew Fete WASHINGTON (AP)-The General Accounting Office has cited four apparent violations of election laws in the transfer of $49.900 from President Nixon's re-election effort to a "Salute for Ted Agnew" gala last year. The GAO said Thursday the Agnew committee falsely reported the S49.900 as contributions from 31 donors. It said also that the Finance Committee to Reelect the President failed to report the transfer of the money. The GAO accused Blagden H. Wharton. treasurer of the Agnew committee, of making "false, fictitious or fraudulent statements" and of "subscrib-
ing under oath to materials he believed to be untrue." The fourth violation was against unnamed persons "acting for the committee" who "willfully participated in the effort to falsify, conceal or cover up" the §49.900 transfer. The GAO. which oversees the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. turned the report over to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's office said he had no part in arranging the May 1972 affair in Baltimore, but that he agreed toj>artitipate in it to raise
funds for Maryland state candidates. Hugh W. Sloan Jr., former treasurer of Nixon's re-election finance committee, told the Senate Watergate committee of the fund transfer and said he assumed its purpose was to make the gala look more successful than it was. The GAO said members of the Agnew committee reported soliciting 31 people who were listed on the committee's Sept 10, 1972, report to the Office of Federal Elections as having bought S49.900 worth of tickets for the affair. Roy Pfautch of St Louis, Mo., a bookkeeping consultant for the Agnew committee, the GAO said, "assisted in
obtaining some of the names of the fictitious contributors and his secretary prepared and signed false documents supporting the contributions.'' Pfautch could not be reached immediately for comment
The Weather
|
Partly cloudy today, tonight, and tomorrow with chance of showers. Cooler today. High today 75. Low tonight 56. High tomorrow 78. Precipitation probability: 30 per cent today; 20 per cent tonight; and 10 per cent tomorrow.
STOP FIRES BEFORE THEY START
'l/p-Counf of Our Out-Count'
Be Sure All Equipment Is "Fire Safe" for Harvest
Inmates Still Perched on Water Tower ByJOMORELAND U-B Staff Writer Three penitentiary inmates who climbed atop the prison's old water tower on the Fourth of July were still perched there today. Penitentiary Supt B. J Rhay said the trio threw sprinkler hoses over tower beams Wednesday afternoon to gel to the catwalk around the top of the 120-foot structure in the inmates" yard inside the walls. Rhay said he didn't know why the men were there or when they might come down. "We really haven't paid much attention to them." he said "We can count 'em up there very easy. We call them the upcount of our out-count." Rhay said there was some speculation the inmates originally
climbed the tower to watch Wednesday night's firework? display at Borleske Stadium "but we don't know for sure." There have been no attempts to get t h e men d o w n , the superintendent said. 44 1 wouldn't jeopardize anybody's life, either slaff or inmates." he said "They're confined and if that's where they want to cell. Rhay identified the three as Kenneth Agtuca. 20. Ron Harstad. 25: and Leon Gaze, 20. The inmates drop a string down occasionally "and someone takes pity on ihem and sends 'em up a sandwich or something," said the warden. "We have no facilities for feeding people on the tower." There has been no reaction among other prisoners to the
tower-sitting and no incidents have cost too much to remove it, Rha> occurred in connection with the sit- said this morning it has not beef up. Rhay said. put up for bid. Agtuca is scheduled to be tried One prisoner committed suicide Aug. 16 for first degree assault in last year by jumping from the with the attack on a tower. Two others staged sit-ins connection prison guard last summer in successful attempts The inmate was sentenced to 30 to negotiate demands. years in 1970 for a King County The tower's four legs were robbery charge. His tentative sheeted over with metal at the release" date is 1979. bottom after those incidents. The Harstad is serving concurrent 30sheeting didn't deter this week's year terms for two King County venture. charges of robbery. Prison administrators last year Sentenced in' 1966, he was said the tower was to have been paroled and Ihen sent back to the sold and removed after a new. prison last March. His release date larger water lower was was 1975 constructed outside the walls A Cowlitz County auto theft The new 140-foot, 250,000-gallon charge sent Ga'ze to the tower was completed last spring penitentiary in 1971 for a 10-year but the old tower has remained in term. place. He is scheduled for a November Prison employes said i! would release
IN CASE OF FIRE CALLIMMEDIATELY See Page 8 for Dispatcher List Clip it—Post it—Remember it This Fire Prevention Series Mode Possible By Columbia Ccvnty Grain Growers | Melcher-Ray Machinery Co.
United Mutual Savings Sank louisiono-Pocrfk Corporation
Boise-Cascade Corporation
Hontington-Cummings Shell Nib '
Sherwood & Roberts, Inc.
Colombia Rural Electric
Smith farm Chemicals She!) NH3
Stone Machinery Co.
form Chemicals ct Athena
Dayton Chemicals Inc. Shell NUT
Sanders farm Supply
Wollo Walla Farmers Co-o* , Inc ] WolloWollo *ew«r'
form fertilizer Service PWIiipi t>i> Mihen-f ttewati, Jtontsvillt
Touchet Valley Grain Growers Warhiwrj
Pioneer farm Chemicals SMI NH P*m««»
Everett Craik lumber Co. Woilo Walk, Wash Cewinmd, Wy«nm| .
Walla Walla Grain Growers
iWSPAPLRl