Van Ert awaits FCC test results
By KEVIN HARDEN
Of the Emerald
While Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) officials attempt to pin
point the source of the mysterious radio
signal monitored in Eugene, Marshall Van
Ert, an industrial hygienist with the
University’s Health Physics office who
discovered the radio wave six months ago,
says he will wait to see how accurate pre
liminary FCC tests have been before draw
ing conclusions.
Van Ert and two other engineers
operating independently, monitored the
pulsating radio signal last October and
have been waiting for help from state and
national authorities to determine the
signal’s source and whether it may be
harmful to residents of Eugene or not.
The signal, described by Van Ert as a
pulsing 4.75 megahertz wave with power
intensities of nearly 500,000 watts, has
been monitored in six Eugene locations.
One of those includes the area around
Franklin Boulevard and Agate Street.
The FCC said Tuesday the mysterious ■
signal monitored by Van Ert was originating
from a Navy air station in Alameda, Calif.
Although Van Ert was unable to pin
point the signal’s origin, his findings and the
findings of the FCC conflict, he says.The
signal from the Alameda Navy station isn’t
powerful enough to cause a disturbance in
Eugene, he explains.
“The Naval base operates its signal at
4.71 megahertz with only 7.500 watts of
power,” Van Ert says. ‘The public relations
officer at the base has refuted the FCC
reports because their transmitter is so small
and couldn't put out such a powerful
signal.”
The FCC changed the supposed origin
of the signal Wednesday, and said it was
emanating from another military transmitter
near Dixon, Calif. But Van Ert, who has not
been contacted by the FCC, is still waiting
to see if the preliminary findings are true.
“If this is the source, then it would be
good news,” Van Ert says. "We would know
how to properly shield it, if that is what is
needed. Or even shut it down."
Although there were reports that the
radio waves could have harmful effects on
area residents, a spokesman for the State
Health Division said Tuesday the signal
posed no major health threat.
Speaking at a Portland news confer
ence, the spokesman said the signal ap
peared to be coming from interference with
xpwer lines in Eugene’s electrical grid.
Marshall Van Ert
Another movie firm sets eyes on Eugene
By JOCK HATFIELD
Of the Emerald
Eugene may once again be the backdrop
for a movie this summer if negotiations be
tween Valley River Center (VRC) and a Los
Angeles-based production agency go well.
Weatherly Productions, a subsidiary of
American International Productions, has
scouted the local shopping center as a pos
sible location for its next movie, tentatively
scheduled to begin filming in June.
John Rogers of American International
Productions, emphasizes nothing is final as
yet, but the Valley River Center “looked
excellent’’ as a potential filming site. A final
decision will be made in a week to 10 days,
according to Rogers.
“We’re still gearing ourselves up,” says
Rogers. “We have no cast and no director
as yet.”
Weatherly Productions selected VRC
through Warren Merrill, motion pictures and
special services director for the governor.
Merrill matched Weatherly with the center
after reading the script.
The script calls for a shopping center next
to a river, according to Merrill, and Valley
River filled the bill. Merrill first reviewed the
script two years ago, and selected Valley
River as a potential site. But the production
fell through. The script was recently pur
chased by Weatherly offering the VRC a
second chance.
The movie will deal with three families,
according to Merrill. As the movie progres
ses, the three wives will attempt to rob Val
ley River Center. Merrill claims the movie
has no title as yet and is undergoing a re
write.
Merrill routinely goes on scouting trips in
hopes of matching upcoming movie scripts
with Oregon locations.
“I expect to hear a definite answer on this
any day now,” says Merrill.
This movie, if it comes to Eugene, will be
the second filmed here in less than a year.
Animal House, completed this fall, will be
opening in June.
Aitnough the cast for the Valley River
movie has not been signed, Raquel Welch
has been mentioned as a possibility for one
of the main roles. Rogers denounces this
as a rumor.
‘Everything is still up in the air,” he says.
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next to the Bookstore
Sundries for you.
Kleenex Tissue 200 count box
reg. 830 now 580
Suave Shampoo and Conditioner
reg. $1.49 now 990
Crest Toothpaste 3 oz. reg. 890 now 530
Pepsodent Toothburshes reg. 790 now 390
13th & Kincaid 686-4331
BOOKSTORE Mon-Fri 8;15-5‘30 Sat 10!00-2.’00
Savings on
School
Supplies.
Pentel Rolling Writer reg. 980
now 690
Parker “Big Red” Ball Pen reg. $2.89
now $1.99
Bic Pens reg. 250
now 2 for 290
Erasable Typing Paper 16 lb., 100 sheets pack reg. $1.29 now 890
LiquidPaper reg. $1.10 now 730
Deluxe 3-Ring Binder reg. $2.98 now $1.89
Spiral Notebooks with Duck imprint 80 Sheets reg. 690 now 390
For your munching pleasure.
Mars bars 130 ea. or 2 for 250
Snickers, M & M’s, 3-Musketeers, Milky Way,
Starburst, and Forever Yours.