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DESERT % DISPATCHFair with continued sunny and hot days through Friday. Some high cloudiness at times. Local afternoon winds 15 to 25 m.p.h. at times. Highs Friday near 110. Overnight lows mostly in the 70s. Yesterday’s hi-los, 104-72.Volume 64 Number—366Barstow, California—San Bernardino County15c One SectionThursday, June 30, 1977CART1Controversial Weapon Production TerminatedWASHINGTON (UPI) - President Carter today killed further production of the controversial B1 bomber in a surprise decision he said was not governed by his campaign statements against the multibillion dollar program.This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made since I’ve been in office, the President told a news conference. “My decision is that we should not continue with deployment of the B1 bomber.Carter said that testing with models of the bomber already flying would continue, however, in case of unanticipated problems with development of cruise missiles or other U.S. strategic weapons planned for the 1980s.The President also said that if in the next ■ few years relations with the Soviet Union deteriorate drastically — which I don t expect - it may necessary for me to change my mind.White House Press Secretary Jody poweii said liiai. wuik on one completed but that proposals for five others will be scrapped.i In Pittsburgh, Rockwell International Corp. — prime contractor of the B1 — quickly announced about 10,000 employes will be laid off because of Carter’s decision. Most are in the Los Angeles area.)The President's announcment was hailed by opponents of the bomber, which at a cost of at least $101.7 million per copy has been enmeshed in controversy. But supporters of the plane criticized the decision.Rep. Robert Dornan. R-Calif., who represents the congressional district in which B1 builder Rockwell International is located, termed it an economic and defense disaster. He estimated the decision could cost 68,000 jobs in California.Carter described the B1 as a very expensive weapons system conceived in the absence of the cruise missile factor.He said development of the cruise missiles — small, pilotless jet planes with a high degree of accuracy in reaching a target — would continue. Present B52 bombers would be used as launch platforms as others such as modified jumbo jets should be developed, he saidThe Air Force had originally asked for 244 of the Bis at a cost of at least $24.8 billion. In recent months it backed away from that figure, but critics charged a smaller fleet would raise the individual cost of the planes to as high as $160 million.The sleek white-painted B1 — dubbed a • white turkey by its critics - had been designed to dash at supersonic speed underneath Soviet defenses to its targets.But opponents argued the Russians will be likely to have a “look-down, shoot-down defensive capability in the 1980s that would make the bombers’s ground-hugging tactics vulnerable.Earlier this week the House voted $1.9 billion to buy five more of the planes and additional parts in the year which starts Oct. 1.Carter said present B52 bombers would continue “into the 1980s to be part of the three-pronged U.S. strategic “Triad. In addition to the new air launched Cruise missiles, other parts of the Triad are in-micciips and submarine-launched missiles.Finders OfMeteoriteLose BattleBARSTOW (UPI) - Three men who found a three-ton meteorite near Cadiz have failed in their effort to block the Smiths oman Institution from moving the meteorite to Washington, D.C.U.S. District Court Judge Francis Whelan Wednesday declined to grant a temporary restraining order preventing the move.Jack Harwood, Mike Jendruczak and David Friberg, all of Twentynine Palms, contended the meteorite was on land for which they had filed a mining claim. The government says it has a right to the meteor as an American “antiquity.The men found the meteorite in the Old Woman Mountains, 10 miles south of CadizDuring his campaign, Carter described the B1 as a wasteful system that should not be funded, but in recent weeks Pentagon and congressional sources had reported the President leaning toward at least limited production in his review. The final decision came as a surprise.“I deliberately tried not to make my campaign statements the determining factor in the decision, declared Carter, saying he had spent hours over technical reports on the plane. I always try to keep an open mind and base my decisions onMWA SeeksNew ReportOn Pipelineirhut't hpit fnr fhp rnnnfrv 'BARSTOW-Following protests from Lenwood residents Tuesday night, the Mojave Water Agency agreed to conduct further research into the proposed drawing of Grandview water for thehpnofit nf thp Mannp RaspBoth Sides Shocked ByBig DecisionWASHINGTON t UPI) - Opponents of the B1 were so taken by surprise when President Carter announced today that the bomber would not be deployed, it took them some time to react. But when they did, they were delighted.Supporters of the $100 million plane responded with quick dismay “They’re breaking open the vodka bottles in Moscow, said Rep. Robert Dornan, R-Calif., who represents the district where Rockwell International's B1 division is located.This is some sort of ‘born again’ idealistic decision, added the former Air Force pilot who called the decision an economic and defense disaster” that would cost 60,000 jobs in California.Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: T think any cutback in this area or any defense area, hinders our bargaining position with the Russians.Bill Brock, the Republican party chairman, called Carter’s decision a tragic error and offered a dire warning: “At a time when the Soviet Union is forging ahead with production of the Backfire bomber, huge increases in tactical and strategic armaments, and sophisticated nuclear weapons systems, the United States could rapidly become a secondclass military power.James Schlesinger, a former secretary of defense who supported the Bl. was silent. He is now Carter's energy adviser.Bl opponents took some time to react, but when they did, it was with pleasure.Sen. John C. Culver, D-Iowa, who sat across the cabinet table from Carter two weeks ago and told him that money was needed more for U.S. nonnuclear forces, said the decision “is a victory for common sense. It is the most constructive and courageous decision on military spending in our time. The President has recognized the enormous costs and limited benefits of this program, and his decision squares with the numerous defense experts who now believe that the Bl is not justified. Culver said he would try to delete Bl production money from the defense appropriations bill.Sen. George McGovern, DS.D., a longtime foe of the Bl who has accused Carter of letting his liberal supporters down, interrupted debate on a child nutrition bill to tell the Senate he was deeply gratified.It is not only a prudent decision with respect to national sa’urity but it is one that will maintain the strength and credibility of the President, said McGovern.WELCOME TO BARSTOW ...Superior Court Judge Don Egan was honored at a breakfast this morning at Steak Eater's Restaurant. Barstow Mayor George ETentative FiguresBARSTOW—Unified school district trustees here have adopted a $12 million tentative 1977-78 school year budget with some last minute changes in the incomihg and outgoing money categories.The BUSD board unanimously voted Tuesday night to adopt the budget, which will now be sent to the county superintendent of schools for review and possible adjustments. It is then slated to come back to Barstow trustees for final review and adoption in August.BUSD Supt. Frank W. English told trustees expenditures had to be increased by $311,085 for programs and projects being returned to the budget because of the influx of state and federal monies for those programs. The expenditures will be for certificated and classified salaries; books, supplies and equipment; contracted services; equipment and state school building costs. English said cost for work-Goldsmith and San Bernardino County Supervisor James L. Mayfield organized the breakfast, which was attended by about SO local dignitaries. Judge Egan willman s compensation was lower than original estimates, which allowed a $7,494 decrease in that expenditure category.English said income was increased by $487,155 due to the programs, including Indian Education, Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA i, Early Childhood Education, Education of the Disadvantaged and Elementary Reading I Miller-Unruh), An additional increase of $37,091 was placed in the income due to the late inclusion of permissive taxes.The monies collected for the programs have to be used for the programs only, and were not for the district’s general fund. English explained, adding the unsecured taxes were for the general fund.The superintendent said, however, there would be a decrease of $214,678 in the total income, since enrollment estimates for the summer school session were higher than actual figures and that dropped the general fund income figure. He said the total income increase would then be $272,477.The ending balance for the 1976-77 school year was also increased due to securedtake office July l, and he is the first per manent Superior Court |udqe to be appointed in Barstow(Dispatch Photo)The counter-proposal was read without comment by trustees or members of the audience.Trustees unanimously approved the first reading of a proposed change in the principal and assistant principal rotation policy, with one adjustment: Trustee Ralph Conner suggested the word rotation be changed to assignment. That suggestion was approvedThe policy states principals and assistant principals will be assigned to schools on a yearly basis, as opposed to the old policy of three-year rotation.Board President Richard Kolbly asked that persons interested in filling the upcoming board vacancy in trustee area three submit a statement of qualifications and reasons why they want to be on the board to trustees.He said the board wanted to make an appointment to fill the seat held by Ron Case as opposed to conducting an election to save costs.He added if enough persons were interested and submitted statements to the board, an election may be conducted.President Would WelcomeAm I «r» i i n IBUSD Budget Approved
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Barstow Desert Dispatch
Barstow, California, US
Thu, Jun 30, 1977
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