European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 3, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                January 3, 1993 . The stars and stripes Page 5 ic6 by Roger Petterson the associated press heavy mow closed major highways through califor Niass Nigger Sierra Nevada on Friday for the second time during the week but plows reopened another important through Way for snowbound travellers. In Texas arid Oklahoma freezing rain left a Quarter Inch of ice on some roads resulting in at least nine traffic related deaths. Amtrak Quot trains remained out of service across the Northern Plains and Rockies. An 80-mile stretch of North South interstate 5, closed by the Snow thursday from Redding to Yreka near the Oregon state line was reopened Friday morning said California Highway patrol spokeswoman Donna Coleman. She said the first group of 100 cars was escorted through at a maximum Speed of 35 Mph. Hundreds of travellers had been stranded in Redding and Yreka. A people were coming out to the truck bringing us Coffee and food. Then they invited us to their House its like the Way it used to be when people helped each other out. It gives me Hope for society a said trucker Randall Miller of tos Angeles. A the storm had piled up 8 feet of Snow in the Region partially collapsing some roofs and breaking Power lines. Sisk you county residents said the storm was the worst in years. Quot it. Quot the last real big snowstorm they had was Back before my time in 1952. But this is the first real Snow we be had since the drought hit a said sgt. 1st Gass motorists in the Sierra Nevada near Pollock Pines calif., await Snow a caring operations Friday on . Highway 50 Don la if at the National guard armory in mount Shasta referring to californians six year drought. The armory was one of several shelters opened in Sisk you county for travellers and people who lost heat in their Homes. The heaviest Snow Friday was in the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range alone californians Border with Nevada. A previous storm that began monday had dumped As much As 8 feet of Snow at higher elevations and built 12-foot drifts. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago Jan. 3,1983 a president Reagan arranged to inspect flood damage in northeastern Louisiana diverting air Force one to the stricken Region As he headed Back to Washington d.c., from a Holiday vacation. 20 years ago Jan. 3,1973 a president Nixon set in motion a series of meetings with top advisers to Chart strategy for resumption of Henry a. Kissinger a Vietnam peace talks in Paris. 30 years ago Jan. 3.1963 a Gen. Lyman l Lemnitzer took command of the North Atlantic treaty organizations armed forces from Gen. Lauris Norstad who retired after holding the Post for six years. 40 years ago Jan. 3,1953 a republicans voted unanimously in a closed session to chose sen Robert a. Taft of Ohio As their floor Leader in the new Senate. L world War ii 50 years ago today Jan. 3.194�?~3 soviet troops retake Mondok and Mal Gobek in the caucasus mountains on the Southern front As they pursue Germany a withdrawing army group a. Field marshal Erich von Manstein s Don army group fights tenaciously in Russia to keep the Road to Rostov open and prevent the retreating caucasus Force from being Cut off. The soviets prepare a new assault on the germans surrounded at Stalingrad. Source 2194 Days of War w. H Smitti publishers inc. World almanac Book of world War ii Bison books corp j 981 a ban lifted on blood donations from persian Gulf War veterans by the new York times the american association of blood Banks and the department of defense have lifted the ban on blood donations by military personnel who served in the persian Gulf War. Civilian and military blood Banks were advised last week to allow the 500,000 members of the armed forces affected by the ban to resume donating blood on new years Day. The ban was imposed nov. 12,1991, As a precaution against the transmission of the disease leishmaniasis. But in the 13vs months that the ban was in effect the american association of blood Banks did not find any cases of the disease in blood samples. Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite common to saudi Arabia Kuwait and other areas of the Middle East and can be transmitted through the blood. The disease most commonly transmitted through the bite of a sandfly usually causes Only skin lesions. Of the 17 military personnel who returned from the War with the disease 11 had internal symptoms As Well. These unusual cases caused concern about the very rare but possible risk of the transmission of the disease through blood transfusion. The blood Banks association noted that a personal health questionnaire that potential donors Are routinely required to fill out pinpointed symptoms and risk factors of leishmaniasis _ a donor who appears to be at risk of getting the disease will be referred for medical evaluation and will be indefinitely barred from donating blood. A we do not feel there is any danger from people who served in the Gulf a said or. Arthur j. Silvergleid president of the association of blood american a and with the Banks prehensile questionnaire we Feci we will still be Able to catch the very few who might have symptoms before they give  the questionnaire includes questions about whether potential donors experience night sweats aching joints fevers fatigue or skin sores. It also asks whether they have travelled to areas of the world where there is a High incidence of malaria. The persian Gulf is one such place. Andrea Smith director of Public information at the new York blood Center said the ban never had a significant effect on the blood Bank because the military personnel would have been disqualified from donating based on the other Standard criteria for donors a under our guidelines for anyone civilian or military who wants to give blood the individual must not have been in a malarial area for at least a year a she said. Silvergleid said the association reviewed its data in november one year after the ban took effect and selected the first of the year to lift the ban because it was easy to synchronize with blood Banks around the country. Arson spree continues to plague perplex residents officials of Montana Community Butte Mont. A it has been almost a year since the first fire broke out in a vacant hotel. Since then arsonists have struck 18 More times setting fire to Homes Eolice cars businesses the county court ouse the probation office the chamber of Commerce a mormon Church. Residents Are frightened and suspicious. Sales of Security systems have increased and a 12-year Veteran sheriff who was voted out of office said the fires Cost him his Job. Officials estimate that the 19 unsolved arson fires have caused $1.64 million in damage. They say they re no closer today to knowing who is responsible than they were last Jan. 19, when it All started. Kelly Hemmert president of the Butte area stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day saints said a he could t understand the motive for the nov 2 fire that destroyed a Wing of his Church a a other than just mean and malicious  a it makes me mad a said Butte Silver Bow chief executive Jack Lynch. A Given the numbers and the Wanton nature it arouses a  the chamber of Commerce with contributions from its members and others has established an $3,100 fund for tips on the fires. But no one to Date has offered information according to John Walsh chief of detectives for Silver Bow county. A i know there Are people out there who have information but they Arentt coming Forward a he said. A we just can to seem to entice them with Public or Pri vate  a it is frustrating and it s also real hard to attract new businesses to town a said Judy Martz president of the chamber of Commerce. A old businesses Are left wondering if they will be  the fires have stymied local investigators the state fire marshals office the Bureau of alcohol tobacco and firearms and the Fri. A it s a very difficult crime to solve because fire almost always destroys the evidence said Tom Minnich an arson specialist with the . Fire administration in Emmitsburg my. The fires have kept one local business Busy. John Selon co owner of Asp Security said sales of Security systems Are up 25 percent since the feb. 17 courthouse fire