European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes monday february 24, 1992 a float in the first Parade or carnival 1992 Rolls through Rainy new Orleans on saturday afternoon. New Orleans carnival opens in atmosphere of racial tension new Orleans up a world renowned carnival started in rain soaked new Orleans on saturday. The opening followed weeks of controversy concerning an anti Bias ordinance that will affect the makeup of Parade a a Drewcs a and racial violence that marred a suburban Parade the weekend before. Earlier saturday a television report said racial violence shadowed opening festivities with Blacks accusing police of cursing and beating them at the site of one suburban Parade. The first of 20 scheduled City parades went through the downtown area kicking off la Days of partying that will Climax with costumed revelry March 3, known As Mardi gras or fat tuesday. The Crewe of Pandora amp Epimethus rolled into the Middle of the City As spectators cheered marching bands through the rain and yelled to float riders for trinkets and beads. Krawes Are clubs that put on carnival. No trouble was reported along the wet route of the Parade. At least one float carried mixed race riders in costume and Black and White bands paraded. Some Crewe captains and band leaders earlier had Sacramento Calif. Up gov. Pete Wilson sent a letter saturday to president Bush asking him to declare a Federal disaster area in five California counties hit by devastating Rains winds mudslides and flooding. A with damage estimates now totalling nearly $125 million it is Clear that the havoc wrecked by the devastating storms is beyond the ability of state and local governments to provide the funds needed for a total recovery a Wilson said in his letter. The state office of emergency services estimates the storm that struck feb. 10 caused $94 million Worth of damage to Public property alone. The Federal emergency designation would allow the counties of los Angeles Ventura Orange san Bernardino and Kern to receive funds from the Federal emergency management Agency a Public assistance program. The Money would be used for debris removal Road repair repairs to flood control systems and other emergency protective measures. Wilson also asked the Small business administration to provide Low interest Loans to uninsured area businesses that sustained an estimated $8.5 expressed concerns of possible trouble in the Wake of racial violence at a Parade in the suburb of Mandeville. They were also worried about racial tension resulting from an anti discrimination Law that will affect the makeup of carnival Rewes next year. Despite the Rainy weather the mood of most marchers and partying Parade watchers was festive and upbeat. Unsmiling faces did belong to members of a new or leans area prison a Boot campy Drill team however. About 50 first time offenders dressed in White helmets and military greens Sang in cadence with Barking Drill instructors a standing tall and looking Good. Ought be in  earlier saturday angry victims and witnesses told Wal to that White police officers indiscriminately beat cursed and choked Blacks watching a Parade in St. Bernard Parish near new Orleans. Wal to reported two dozen people were arrested and several injured. Also numerous other Blacks claimed they were victims of police violence saturday the television station said. Million in damage. Wilson further requested the president implement the individual and family Grant program As Well As the temporary housing program to assist residents who suffered an estimated $18 million Worth of damage to private property. Wilson declared a state of emergency in the counties of los Angeles and Ventura on feb. 12 and in the counties of Kern Orange and san Bernardino on feb. 19. On Friday a review panel reported that outmoded radar and inadequate phone lines were responsible for the failure of National weather service forecasters to deliver adequate Flash flood warnings to parts of los Angeles san Fernando Valley and Ventura county. Tom Potter the weather services Western regional director said a we Klong analysis concluded the Only Way the weather service will be Able to improve its forecasts is to acquire new technology. The Agency a network of 20-year-od and 30-year-old radar was unable to pick up the intense cloudburst feb. 10 that caused flooding near the Sepulveda dam.  and dog inseparable divorce judge rules from wire reports new York a parents May split up but let nothing come Between a boy and his dog a judge handling a bitter divorce Battle ruled at a hearing. Attorney William Bricker and his psychiatrist wife Leslie Powers were at Odds Over whether their 2-year-od son b.j., could keep a Puppy his father bought him As a Christmas present. Bricker 44, said the German Shepherd named Charlie had worn out its Welcome by using various parts of the three bedroom apartment a that the family still shares a As a bathroom. He returned it to the Kennel but Powers. 43, brought it Back and had it trained. . And Charlie waited outside the courtroom at Manhattan supreme court while �?Ts Nanny Charlies Trainer and attorneys for the parents decided what to do with the dog. Justice David Saxe ruled Friday that the boy and his dog must stay together. A a it a Clear that the dog has a Good relationship with the boy and the boy with him a Saxe said. Leaks plague subway los Angeles a Runoff from recent heavy rain is trickling into new subway stations despite a $2 million Effort to plug leaks. The water is leaking into the stations through supposedly impermeable plastic liners. The stations Are part of a 30-year, $150 billion plan to establish a rail and bus transit system in los Angeles county. County Crews had been working on earlier leaks when Runoff from recent storms revealed dozens of new ones said John Adams vice president of the los Angeles county transportation commissions rail construction corp. A we Hope that this recent saturation will show us where All the remaining leaks Are and we can finally take care of this a Adams  still hospitalized Rancho Mirage Calif. Chrysler corp. Chairman Lee Iacocca remained hospitalized for observation saturday a Day after he pulled a muscle in his Chest while exercising an official said. Iacocca 67, was in Good condition at Eisenhower medical Center said Joe Laguess vice president of the Eisenhower medical Center foundation. A the had a comfortable evening and is expected to be discharged tomorrow a Laguess said. Iacocca who has said he will retire As chairman of Chrysler on dec. 31, was vacationing in Palm Springs with his wife Darrien when he Hurt himself onion head author Dies Norman Okia. A William r. Scott who wrote the Best seller onion head in the Early 1950s under the pen name Weldon Hill died saturday after a Long illness. He was 73. Scott had already had a successful career As an author of Short stories and serials under his own name. Onion head about a University of Oklahoma student who became a reluctant hero Drew on Scott a experience in the coast guard during world War ii. The Book later was made into a movie starring Andy Griffith. A later novel the Long summer of George Adams became a television movie starring James  out of jail los Angeles a White supremacist Tom Metzger founder of the White aryan resistance was released from jail to be with his critically ill wife after serving seven weeks of a six month sentence in a 1983 Cross burning. Superior court judge . Smith said he approved the release for the Sake of Kathleen Metzger who suffers from lung cancer. But he warned Tom Metzger he would be held accountable for threats made in a recent Jailhouse interview. Metzger had likened himself to a wounded grizzly Bear in the Woods and said that a the Hunter better run because the Bear is very  Kathleen Metzger 49, was hospitalized wednesday after suffering a collapsed lung. Federal disaster Relief requested for rainstorm ravaged California