European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday february 16, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 5 rain brings West coast floods mudslides by the associated press one of the strongest storms of the season rolled ashore ortday onto the West coast with torrential rain causing moods and mudslides plus a threat of heavy Snow in the mountains. A separate storm spread a fresh layer of Snow from the great Plains into the Central appalachians. Storm warning flags snapped in the wind along the Central California coast with 40 Mph winds reported Between the Golden Gate and Monterey Bay. Golc warnings were posted along much of the rest of califor Nia and Oregon. Winter storm watches were issued for the Inland mountains from California to Washington state and into Montana. In the East Winter storm warnings were issued As far As southwestern Virginia and parts of North Carolina. One to 2.5 inches of rain fell during the night Over the coastal mountains South of san Francisco and the Hea Viest rain was still offshore forecasters said. There s enough out there to cover at least five Days said forecaster Thornton Jeffries in san Francisco. It could be one of the most significant storms we will have seen in Southern California this Winter Meteorol Ogist Peter Wilensky said Friday in los Angeles. It s rather vigorous not All that Normal for our  at least two people had died in weather related Acci dents since mid week in California. About 150,000 Pacific Gas & electric co. Customers in California were without Power Friday said company spokeswoman Roberta Bradley. Among the hardest hit areas was san Mateo county and the Alameda Contra Costa counties she said around san Francisco . 101, the Highway leading to the Golden Gate Bridge was closed at the Marin Sonoma county line by about 5 feet of rapidly flowing water. An alternate route also was closed and residents of Sonoma and Northern Marin county were stranded said Mike o Brien of the California Highway patrol. Flooding also forced some people from their Homes. It s unbelievable out there said o Brien. The rain is coming Down like somebody turned on a fire  emergency Crews some using boats worked to evac uate residents from about 200 Mobile Homes and houses in several neighbourhoods in Petaluma along the rapidly rising Petaluma River North of san Francisco in Sonoma county. The police fire Public works departments and anyone else they can get their hands on Are helping to evacuate people said City spokesman Pat Bernard. Several Small mudslides were reported in Northern California threatening More serious slides in areas denuded of vegetation by summer Brush fires. They May look like members of a new wave Rock group but these Fellows Are students at the Columbus Ohio College dressed for class of Art and design and the outfits they re modelling Are the result of a class project. Students raided trash heaps to Salvage old bedsprings bits of cloth plastic and Metal and worn out football gear to Cre ate their costumes. "1 think i there were houses there they already would have come Down with the slide o Brien said. But i think everything that was there came Down in the mudslides of 1982." Northwest of los Angeles Highway 33 near Ojai and Matilita Canyon Road remained closed Friday by mudslides. Officials said they did not know How Many residents of slide prone areas had left their Homes in response to warnings Over the past two Days. High wind in the Sierra Nevada forced the Tahoe Donner ski area to close. A mid week storm also dropped 14 inches of new Snow on the mid Sierra. A Man was killed when the water logged roof of his Cabin collapsed near North Fork. Runoff forced flood control officials to release water Over Friant dam at Millerton Lake near Fresno calif., 180 Miles Southeast of san Francisco. The National weather service warned of High surf with occasional Breakers up to 16 feet. Three men were rescued by helicopter thursday just As their 50-foot boat disappeared in 8-foot swells South of los Angeles said coast guard Petty officer Pat Milton. Heavy Snow was expected on Colorado s mountains on top of the 1 to 2 feet that had fallen from the storm that was racing toward the East on Friday Maryland House passes ban on obscene records Annapolis my. Up the Maryland House of delegates Friday passed a Bill Banning the Sale of obscene records to minors after hearing one Law maker Call the Raunchy lyrics the worst kind of child abuse we  it s hard for me to understand that we now do not allow one form of communication to distribute filth but we will allow other forms said Joseph Owens chairman of the House judiciary committee. The Bill s sponsor Judith Toth said Dur ing a 45-Mmutc debate that she was shocked by lyrics to such songs As Prince s Darling Nikki and sister which Deal with masturbation and incest. We re talking about records that Deal with incest and rape told said. These records Are saying do it kids. It feels Good " this probably is the worst kind of child abuse we have m this state. This is mass child abuse Owens said. The delegates voted 96 to 31 in favor of the measure which carries a $1,000 Fine or a year in prison for anyone Selling records or tapes deemed pornographic to minors. The Bill now must pass the Senate. More than double National average Billig admits High death rate of patients Washington a the former head of cardiac surgery at Bethesda naval Hospital said Friday that the rate of deaths in his open heart operations was More than twice the National average in 1984. But Navy cmdr. Donal m. Billig also insisted those statistics meaningless As he denied negligence in the deaths for which he is charged with involuntary Man Slaughter. Billig. Under Cross examination in his court martial went to an easel and at the to obstruction of the prosecution wrote then Ameson each of 20 patients who died Dur ing of following surgery by him in 1983 and 1984 the two years he was at the Navy s flagship Hospital. He is charged in five of those deaths Billig said 14 of the deaths were in 1984, out of 100 operations in which he was the principal or supervising surgeon for a 14 percent mortality rate. Seven of his patients died within a three monthc1period before his privileges to per form heart surgery were lifted. Prosecutors have said that a 6 percent rate is considered the nationally accepted average in open heart surgery and Billig earlier contended that his Overall death rate in heart surgery was in line with that Fig ure about 7 percent. Billig on the stand for the third Day responded strongly and with occasional sarcasm to Cross examination by prosecutor it. Cmdr. Joseph Van Winkle. It s Clear to me you Don t understand anything about Medicine commander Billig said. You re just playing with  he said the mortality rate was inflated because some patients were risky and complicated cases. I Don t believe you can make a statement about that except that it s not out of line unless they were All simple straight Forward cases Billig said. He also said that some of the deaths should be attributed to other staff surgeons who participated in the operations not to him. Van Winkle recounted Billig s departures from a series of civilian jobs including when he was stripped of privileges at a new Jersey Hospital because of questions about his competence. The prosecutor asked if that revocation following a review by Peers caused him to question his own surgical ability. Absolutely not. In my opinion that re View was a garbage review that had nothing to do with the facts Billig said. Billig s Cross examination was interrupted so that other scheduled defense witnesses could testify. He will resume testimony wednesday. Or. David Brugman a Paterson n.j., heart surgeon testified he had reviewed Billig s cases and believed the surgeon used acceptable procedures and judgment. He had so Many cases that went Well Brugman said. You can t get that Many Good results and not be a Good surgeon. I Don t believe any trained surgeon who goes in to do the Best Job he can should be charged like this Bregman said. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. Feb. 16, 1946 lord Burghley British olympic Council chairman announced that the 1948 olympic games will be held in London. 30 years ago today.,. Feb. 16, 1956 italian Shoemaker Michael Delia Rocca won the top prize in lbs s the $64,000 question with a spectacular display of opera knowledge. Marine capt. Richard Mccutcheon and new York psychiatrist or. Joyce Brothers were pre Vious winners of the top prize. 20 years ago today. Feb. 16, 1966 defense Secretary Robert Mcnamara said he believes the communists will intensify the Vietnam conflict and that preparations Are being made for substantially increasing the . Troop commitment there if necessary. 10 years ago today. Feb. 16, 1976 the body of Sal Mineo was returned to his Hometown of new York for burial. The 37-year-old actor was stabbed to death last week in the garage of his los Angeles apartment House