Arizona Daily Sun from Flagstaff, Arizona • 17

Exercise Caution, More Care The SUN, Flaqstaff, Arizona, Sunday, July 19, 198117 The People Speak A Comment On Ruling Editor, The Sun: In the Thursday paper, you had a small news article regarding a recent federal court decision involving Babbitt Ford. The news of the decision appeared on the front page of the Arizona Republic the same day, Your news article did not reflect the importance of the decision and it implied that Babbitt Ford has been acting wrongfully in repossessing vehicles on the Navajo Reservation, I would like to comment on both of these areas now that we have had a chance to review the courts 32 page decision. One of the issues in the case was whether the laws of Arizona or the laws of the reservation apply to contracts made off the reservation. Under Arizona law a vehicle may be repossessed if done peacefully. Reservation law requires a tribal court order before repossession.

Judge Muecke ruled that our repossessions have been done peacefully and in accordance with Arizona law. More significantly, he ruled that Arizona law applies to the repossessions on the reservation. Judge Muecke went on to rule that even though Arizona law would apply, a non-Indian may be subject to lawsuits by Indians in tribal court under certain circumstances. This will be important to many Flagstaff businessmen. Jurisdictional questions between states and reservations are very complex.

We believe that it is in the best interests of everyone to get these questions resolved through the courts even though the process is time consuming and expensive. JAMES D. BABBITT president Babbitt Ford, Inc. Flagstaff Unfortunately, Flagstaff witnessed another tragedy last week. This time it was a young Flagstaff teenager who lost her life while riding a bicycle on a busy East Flagstaff street.

The 14-year-old girl was riding along U.S. 89. Shortly after the accident with a pickup truck, Anne Marie Taylor became the eighth person to die in a Flagstaff city limits traffic mishap this year. Eight deaths on Flagstaff streets is a record and a real cause for concern. However, the untimely death of Anne Taylor was different from the other seven fatalities.

In the five other accidents, which killed seven people, the use of alcohol played a role, according to Flagstaff police. In the bike-truck accident, investigating officers said there was an absence of alcohol. In alcohol-related fatal traffic accidents this year, Flagstaff is considerably above the national average. Nationally, 50 percent of fatal accidents involved the use of alcohol. K' 1 A I ft it 3Vv i Jt Dangerous TVC Iff'.

THIS UNIDENTIFIED YOUNG PERSON Is riding dangerously close to the middle of the lane forcing the driver of a car to the extreme Not Convinced Jack Anderson Flying without Airplanes left of the lane. So far this year, there have been a record eight fatalities within the Flagstaff city limits. narcotics violators. Its not a bad idea: At least 130,000 members of the armed services are estimated to be hooked on either alcohol or illegal drugs, and almost one in five junior personnel have reported that they have been high while working. Despite the apparent possibility that many of our soldiers, sailors and Marines are zonked-out on duty, the Postal Service has ruled out the use of mail openings and drugsniffing dogs on military packages unless postal inspectors are present an obvious impossibility on the high seas.

The situation is so bad that military authorities fear foreign customs officials may start intercepting mail deliveries to U.S. service personnel in hopes of cutting off the smuggling of illicit drugs into their countries. A Flagstaff Police Department spokesman says the department is taking a serious look at the recent rash of fatal accidents. It is trying to do what it can in order to reduce the number of mishaps within the city. Most accidents, according to police, are caused by speed, bad driving habits and the consumption of alcohol.

A person should be aware of everything that may be experienced while driving. Police suggest while driving to watch in front and in back, look for potential hazards, and give yourself plenty of driving space. Its also advisable to be aware of traffic on either side of the roadway. Police want cyclists and pedestrians to realize that their alertness also is of vital importance. Granted, following such safety precautions will not prevent all accidents, but they are certainly a beginning.

Hopefully, residents of the Northland will exercise more care when traveling city streets. These tragedies ought to make us all keenly aware of the risks we can encounter day in and day out. Sun can be a hazard. Even air conditioning can be a problem. A number of years ago, Flagstaff Hospital was in the nursing home business but not for long.

We think conditions are a bit different today. We are growing in population and people are living longer. A public hearing on the application is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 28 at the second floor conference room in the Coconino County Administrative Building. The results of the local hearing will be sent to the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services who has the final authority to decide whether a certificate of need should be issued to construct the facility.

Reps. Sam McConnell, John Wettaw and Sen. Tony Gabaldon can be influential when it comes to the Department of Health Services. After all, they control the departments budget. The NAHSA staff might be right with its recommendation of denial.

However, we believe the proposal certainly warrants a detailed study. We arent convinced there isnt a need for some type of a nursing home in Flagstaff. If you agree, or for that matter disagree, circle the July 28 hearing on your calendar and plan to attend. Such a proposal shouldnt go down to defeat without at least part of the concerned citizenry being heard. back Republicans will say he hasnt served his apprenticeship and that could be a stumbling block to his getting the GOP nomination.

Still Sellers candidacy is a bit refreshing, particularly when one ponders those veteran political war horses who may be seeking the Republican nomination for governor. No doubt the electorate is pleased to welcome a new face, new ideas, in any usage are common among 60 to 70 percent of American military personnel in Western Europe, an informed source told my associate Jack Mitchell. What makes this particularly disturbing is that the congressional investigators found that soldiers and sailors admitted getting high on drugs as readily while they were on duty as off-duty. Not only that, the congressional sleuths uncovered evidence that suggests widespread use of the U.S. mails to transport narcotics aboard ships at sea.

The administration has now agreed to let military investigators help civilian authorities track down WASHINGTON Members of Congress revealed last month that traces of narcotics were discovered in the bodies of some of the sailors killed in the landing accident aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz. The Navy claimed that drug abuse had nothing to do with the tragedy, however. Alarmed by the possibility that our service personnel are functioning under the influence of drugs, congressional investigators traveled recently to Germany and Italy to look into the situation. The investigators findings were not encouraging. Marijuana smoking and hashish We question the recommendation of the Northern Arizona Health Systems Agency staff in denying the application for a nursing home in Flagstaff.

The applicant, Ron Hayes and Associates of Seattle, proposes to construct the facility. It would lease the management of the home to Flagg Industries a California operator of nursing homes. One of the reasons for denial by the NAHSA staff is the Flagstaff market area doesnt have a need for 100 additional nursing care beds. Very well. Is it possible to come in with 75 or 50 beds? Can that size operation be profitable? We know a few Flagstaff folks who have placed their loved ones in nursing homes in the Valley of The Sun or elsewhere.

Just the travel and accommodations for frequent visits can be expensive. Another reason for denial is reportedly a legislative mandate that home health services be provided by the counties. It might be a mandate but Coconino County is having financial difficulty trying to meet indigent health care needs now. There is no way the county is going to branch out into another area of health care. We have heard the comment that Flagstaffs high altitude can be a problem for nursing home residents.

We dont completely buy that one either. The heat in the Valley of The SUN Opinion Page Art Buchwald A Quiet Game of Mothers Tennis One congressional expert, while acknowledging that there is a high recreational use of drugs, even on duty, insisted that its not a military full of junkies. Footnote: In the Navys most recent tests, 50 percent of the sailors examined had used marijuana shortly before being tested. WATCH ON WASTE! The administration wants to crack down on people who owe money to Uncle Sam. A good place to start would be the Pentagon.

At last count, there were 73,000 deadbeats either currently or formerly employed there who owe a total of $43 million. In fiscal 1979, Pentagon auditors reported that the armed services had managed to collect $7.3 million, but had written off $25.8 million as uncollectable. The collection rates ranged from 50 percent in the Air Force to 14 percent in the Army. other side of the net. He was finally grabbed by one of the other mothers and was dragged, howling and kicking, off the court.

He didnt stop screaming for the rest of the morning. During the set one husband showed up looking for his car keys, and two more dogs appeared on the court one in heat. It was a typical Mother's Tennis match, and no different from any I played all summer. The beauty of Mothers Tennis, and where it differs from regular tennis, is that no one keeps score. Who can remember? Phone 774-4545 Community Service Award Winner Arizona Newspapers Association of us kept swinging our rackets in the air to keep warm.

Game was about to resume when Lucys 3-year-old walked out on the court and sat on the baseline. "Peter, please dont sit on the baseline, Lucy beggged. Go over there by the bench. Peter just sat there, scratching himself. Lucy was becoming angry.

Peter, if you dont get off the court, Im going to give you a good spanking. Peter pursed his lips and then started to cry. Lucy made a dive for him, but he escaped and ran to the 417 West Santa Fe Avenue Refreshing We all stopped while one of the mothers shouted at the dog, Parkinson, go home! Parkinson sat down next to the net and stared at all of us. The mother-owner of the dog shouted to her daughter, Polly, take Parkinson home. I cant, the daughter shouted back.

"I have a sailing lesson. The mother grabbed Parkinson by the collar and said to the rest of us, Ill be right back. Fifteen minutes later she returned, and play resumed. For three minutes. Then another child appeared at the fence.

Mom, Dad wants to know where his bathing suit is. Its on the porch where he left it to dry. He says it isnt there now. Well, tell him to look in the laundry room. You better tell him.

Hes mad as heck. He had to make his own breakfast, and he cut his finger opening a grapefruit. Ill be home in a half-hour. We managed to get through one game when a lady appeared and shouted, "Sally, do you have a list of the sponsors for the wildlife benefit next week? I need it for the printer right away." The list is in my car. Ill get it.

Sally went to her car while the rest DOONESBURY mm imrmu.HB: MM' SAP 50MB- Honour INTHSSVK TAtm5 Official Legal Newspaper City of Flagstaff. Coconino County Original Publication Founded in 1883 PLATT CLINE. Ed. 1945-52. Ed I Pub.

195S-66, Pres. 1966-75. Vice Pres 1975- BURL L. LYONS, Publisher and Editor The explosion of tennis in the United States has produced all sorts of innovations in the game. One of the most exciting is called Mothers Tennis.

It differs from" regular tennis in that it requires not only four players, but also a number of children, several dogs, and an occasional irate husband. The game is played on a standard court, with two players on each side. But the thrill comes not from hitting the ball back and forth, but from the unexpected intervention of children and dogs onto the court during play. I was introduced to Mothers Tennis at Marthas Vineyard last summer, and this is how it went: One of the mothers was about to serve the ball when her 7-year-old child ran up to the fence and shouted, Mommy, Johnny has climbed on the roof and he's crying because he cant get down. Well, tell him to stay up there until I finish the set, she said.

He says hes afraid of falling. Tell him to hang onto the chimney. A few minutes later, during a heated volley, a large black Labrador walked across the court. The rules of Mothers Tennis say play must be stopped when a dog comes on the court. From time to time, weve heard the argument from students there is nothing to do on campus and that is why the drinking spots are popular.

If they are bored, we suggest a few off-campus activities. Flagstaff Hospital, Northland Crisis Nursery, Salvation Army, Sunshine Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities and a host of others are always in need of volunteer assistance. ART COUGHANOUR, Managing Editor CHERVLE DAWN, Office Manager THERESA SMITH. Advertising Director EUGENE KIRBY. Circulation Manager ED HOOGE.

Production Superintendent BILL SMITH. Assistant Production Manager Member of tbe United Press International Dean Sellers of Mesa certainly awaits a big challenge. The Republican businessman believes he stands a good chance of unseating Sen. Dennis DeConcini next year. First, he has to get the Republican nomination and that could be quite a challenge in itself.

It could be a crowded Republican field in the primary. It is Sellers first political race and that is a bit unusual. He hasnt served in the State Legislature or run for any elective office. Some moss- We should have been aware but it was a bit of a shock to see the statistic in print. The report to the Arizona Board of Regents revealed there are 59 businesses with liquor licenses within a half mile perimeter of Northern Arizona University.

By contrast, there are 60 near Arizona State University and only 28 near the University of Arizona. Those 59 watering holes near Bit of a Shock by Garry Trudeau AmMOUS. NAU are a pretty good reason for not allowing alcohol on campus, particularly if our university doesnt wish to compete with private enterprise. The sale of alcohol on campus would probably result in a few private operators closing their doors. With all those establishments within a half mile, even students walking to and from cant get much in the way of physical exercise.

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