anaheim-gazette 1963-01-02

Anaheim Library Annex 116 N. Clementine St. Anaheim, Calif. Comp. ANAHEIM PUBLIC LIBRARY Hot Air Balloon Balloonist Mark Semich readies craft (left); soa Landing in Water Balloonist Mark Semich readies craft (left); soaring Landing in Water Proves Successful The weather was cool and clear this morning on the Balboa Peninsula for history's first recorded hot air balloon water landing since 1810. Conditions were perfect — except for the wind. It was blowing the wrong way. So Mark Semich, 37-year-old professional yachtsman and part-time balloonist, was forced to alter his course for the big event. Instead of launching from the mainland and dropping into the ocean a quarter-mile off the coast as planned, he charted a route inland. He would sail over the Peninsula and drop into Balboa Bay. There his feat would be recorded by a boatload of reporters and photographers. Dry Run The event was billed as a dry run — if you'll pardon the ex-pressure — for emergencies that may occur during the Jan. 11 hot air balloon race from Catalina to the mainland. "We're going to check the techniques for rescuing balloons over water," said Balboa lawyer Richard Higbie, president of the California Balloon Club. Semich inflated his vehicle with a hot air blower unit that pumped in 30,000 cubic feet of air until the balloon towered 65 feet high and 40 feet in diameter. He controls the altitude of the balloon, Semich explained, by regulating a gas burner above his head as he sat in the single chair that dangles below the balloon. The burner is fed by two propane tank below his seat. Drifts East Semich rose from the west jetty at the end of the Peninsula. and immediately began drifting east before a gentle breeze. He shot some 500 feet in the air, then aimed his descent at a point in the bay some 600-700 yards from the takeoff point. Crewmen on a boat caught line dropped from the balloon. The seat splashed into the water and Semich disappeared beneath the surface. He bobbed up quickly, buoyed by the gas tanks. As he hit, Semich pulled "rip valve" on the side of the balloon which turned the ballover and released the hot air immediately. If it escaped uncontrolled, Semich had explained, it would drag him over the water like a jet. Wet but uninjured, Semich was pulled to safety. FOR JUNIOR COLLEGE New District Need Told One of the biggest decisions in the history of Anaheim education is coming before the voters in the huge, sprawling Anaheim Union High School District. It is the question of whether or not to form a junior college district jointly with the Placencia Unified School District and the Brea-Olinda High School District. Formation of the district, election of trustees, and a $9 million bond issue all are on the ballot for Feb. 25. The bond Junior College than Fullerton will, unless something is done in the interim." Meanwhile, he added, the three districts are paying Fullerton $300 per year per student, which in itself is a major consideration. "Three years ago," Cook continued, "a survey the districts made indicated the best feasible plan to handle our situation would be to form this three-way district." "After formation and bonding we could then join in a new district with Fullerton, matching its existing investment (Continued on Page 3) ers in the huge, sprawling Anaheim Union High School District. It is the question of whether or not to form a junior college district jointly with the Placentia Unified School District and the Brea-Olinda High School District. Formation of the district, election of trustees, and a $9 million bond issue all are on the ballot for Feb. 25. The bond issue, according to state law, must be passed, or the formation of the district will be voided even if the voters approve that question. While high school trustees are forbidden by law to spend district money to push the district formation and bond issue, the Anaheim board backs the plan and there is a citizen group now beginning to fight for it. The tremendous increase in junior college-bound Anaheim district graduates is a major reason for the urgency in this matter, according to Superintendent Paul Cook. "We could use a junior college in this area right now, at least by next September," Cook explained. "By 1968, the Anaheim district alone will be sending more students to Fullerton." Police and other city officials are checking on the backgrounds of promoters who have sought city sponsorship in building a $21-million rapid transit link between Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. John Joseph Lipko, secretary of the Los Angeles-based Duorail Aerospace Rapid Transit Corp., has been revealed as one of the central figures in a tide-lands oil scandal of several years back. At the time the tidelands story broke, Lipko said he had given a $10,000 bribe to secure an oil lease from the county. While the proposed city charter a 15-man city committee has been drafting is complete, it is doubtful that the proposal will be ready for a vote of the people by the April 14 city election, according to Mayor Ro Coons. The council must give its approval to a draft for submission to the voters by Jan. 21 in order for it to be on the April ballot. City councilmen, led by the mayor, have said they want to hold public hearings on the charter before they give it the okay. A proposal to conduct a space utilization study for a new city hall comes up for city council approval or rejection Jan. 17. The proposal was made by Space Utilization Associates in Beverly Hills. A special meeting of the Anaheim Union High School District board of trustees will be held night to consider building plans for junior and senior high schools. Elementary school districts trustees open bids Tuesday night for construction of three portable classrooms for the James M. Guinn School. The board expects the cost to be about $8,000 per classroom. PUBLIC LIBRARY oon Makes History at craft (left); soars off Balboa jetty (second photo); wafts over yacht harbor; and Water ssful immediately began drifting before a gentle breeze. Shot some 500 feet in the then aimed his descent at point in the bay some 600 yards from the takeoff point. Men on a boat caught a dropped from the balloon. Seat splashed into the and Semich disappeared with the surface. He bobbed quickly, buoyed by the gas he hit. Semich pulled a valve" on the side of the which turned the bag and released the hot air diately. If it escaped unplled, Semich had explain- would drag him over the like a jet. but uninjured, Semich pulled to safety. Anaheim G ESTABLISHED SINCE 1870·HOME CITY PAPER Volume 91 No. 72 Anaheim, California, Thursday, January 2, 19 Battle Looms On Plan; Disneyland Told indicated the best feasilan to handle our situation be to form this three-way ct." ater formation and bonding would then join in a new act with Fullerton, matchs existing investment in Continued on Page 3) at a Glance FIRST PRESBYTERIAN EXPANDS — Workmen already begun laying the forms for 30,000 square foot addition to the first Presbyterian Church at 310 W. Broadway. The three story structure will cost an estimated $360,000 and will be completed in about eight months. The building will be used as a fellowship hall An End to Creekbed C Promise by Flood Control U By FRANK HALL Developers who tackle Orange's Santiago Creekbed during 1964 will know what is expected of them, Chief Engineer George Osborne of the Orange County Flood Control District has promised. Alignment, size and improvements needed on the creekbed between Villa Park Dam to the Santa Ana River will be determined when a study is completed next year, Osborne said. Attention from Orange was focused on the creekbed recently when the Plaza Development Co. plans for a development on property which bounded the creekbed were denied. The plan seemed headed for approval before the flood control district submitted its findings that some of the planned development would be in the creekbed. Developers James Beam and John White reportedly lost some $7,000 on the plans because of the difference in opinion between their engineers and flood control district engineers over the path of the creek. at Balboa Bay acht harbor; and splashes into Balboa Bay A protest from Disneyland will force a public hearing on an application to build a 22-story hotel in Anaheim. Charging that the construction of the hotel will interfere with the carefully created illusion of removal from the modern world which has been created in the park, the protest reached city hall well in advance of the New Year's Eve deadline. Backers of the hotel project, an Anaheim-Fullerton group of investors, are seeking to build a 750-room, $18-million structure containing a hotel and retail facilities. Management would be by the Sheraton Hotel Corp., and the building would be known as the Sheraton - Anaheim. Construction is slated to begin in May, with opening a year later. The hotel project has been approved by the City Planning Commission, but because it will be in the "Disneyland Area" the plans must be approved by the city council. Under city law, any property owner in the area may demand a public hearing (Continued on Page 3) Dean Hyink Named To Advisory Group Dean Bernard L. Hyink of Orange State College has accepted appointment to the Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Constitutional Revision now being formed by the State of California, it was revealed today by Orange State. Dean Hyink joins former State Assemblyman and Santa Ana at attorney Bruce W. Sumner as the only representatives from Orange County appointed to the blue-ribbon commission. In a joint statement of acceptance the educator and the former lawmaker declared. “Sorely Needed” “We accept your appointment with enthusiasm. We are particularly pleased to be serving with the other distinguished citizens named on the Commission. California sorely needs constitutional revision and we are proud to be asked to assist in this vital and long-overdue project.” The Commission has been selected by the Joint Committee on Legislative Organization of the California State Legislature, State Assemblyman Tom Bane, chairman, and State Senator Stephen T. Teale, vice-chairman. Will Recommend Changes Those serving on the Commission will study California’s 84-year-old Constitution and recommend changes to improve and update the document. Other distinguished Califor- (Continued on Page 3)