'ZERO TOLERANCE' NETS 25 ARRESTS ON GUADALUPE

NEW BRAUNFELS -- Less than an hour into "zero tolerance weekend" on the
Guadalupe River, law officers seeking a return to law and order on the
water had their first suspect in custody.

Perhaps it was the tattoo of a marijuana leaf on the man's right arm that
caught the attention of Comal Sheriff's Deputy Mark Reynolds as he stood,
knee-deep, at midstream about noon Saturday.

"Mind if I look in your ice chest real quick?" Reynolds asked the bearded
and balding man as he guided a raft through a narrow section of the river
known as the chute.

Seconds later, Reynolds was signaling officers on shore to call the paddy
wagon, saying, "P-O-M (possession of marijuana), I believe."

As the man and two female companions were led away, he claimed no knowledge
of what police suspected were marijuana cigarettes found in a baggie taken
from a cooler in the raft.

"I didn't know nothing about it," said the man, identified as a 43-
year-old Temple resident. "That's why I told him he could look in the cooler."

Numerous citations were issued in the unprecedented crackdown involving
more than 60 law officers from local and state agencies.

Thirteen people had been arrested and charged by 6:15 p.m., according to
Sheriff's Lt. David Ott.

He said seven were charged with public intoxication, four with possession
of marijuana, one minor with alcohol and one speeding.

Another 12 were in a paddy wagon at the time, en route to New Braunfels,
Ott said.

A few miles away, more than 30 elected and civic leaders were preparing to
get a first-hand look at the situation.

"We're going to see what really is going on, on the river, from a bird's
eye view," New Braunfels Mayor Jan Kennady said before setting off in a
raft with state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, and Comal County Judge
Carter Casteel.

Casteel said drastic action was called for because the volume of tubers --
and problems -- has been increasing steadily.

"This past summer we've had a lot of bad, bad behavior," said Casteel, who
says the problems mirror the general decline of morals in society.

"I'm not sure we can correct society's problems on the Guadalupe River, but
we're gonna try," she said.

Wentworth and state Rep. Edmund Kuempel, D-Seguin, were invited because
they may be asked to sponsor legislation to address problems created by
tubers and rafters.

"We are going to request the Legislature to give us the power to ban
alcohol on the river," Comal County Commissioner Danny Scheel said. "We're
by no means trying to drive people away. We are encouraging them to come
and enjoy our facilities, but we expect them to behave and leave our county
as they found it."

To drive home that message, 20 new signs were installed Friday along the
15-mile stretch of the waterway used by tubers, warning of fines up to $500
for littering, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, or bringing glass
or polystyrene on the river.

Scheel said a special meeting of commissioners will be held at 9 a.m.
Tuesday to hear a report from Comal County Sheriff Bob Holder on the zero
tolerance weekend.

Speaking by phone as he rafted downstream, Wentworth said: "It's really
pretty peaceful, and there's really not as many people along the river as I
expected for a holiday weekend."

Wentworth said he had not been asked to carry legislation to allow counties
to ban alcohol.

Wentworth added, "We're going to be responsive to what local officials feel
will be the solution to their problems."

Riverside residents like Karen Green applauded the effort to eliminate
littering, lewdness, public intoxication, drug use and other problems with
tubers that have become all too familiar.

"We just heard the 'F-word' a few minutes ago, loud and clear," said Green,
44. "We regularly see drunks on weekends."

Tubers interviewed Saturday also expressed support for the police that
lined the riverbanks, but some felt it was overkill.

"Seeing them one at a time is all right, but 20 cops at once makes me
nervous," said Byron Neatherby, 45, of Austin. "I was concerned about a
strip search . . . just kidding."

Rusty Hubbarth, 42, said wildlife on the river isn't what it was a decade ago.

"You don't see the dope-rings of tubers. It's a lot less rowdy," the
Austinite said. "Of course, so are we."

© 1998 San Antonio Express-News

Checked-by: Richard Lake