Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Wednesday, April 28, 1976, page 4 (of 32)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
You can dig it safely by calling man from UUNC
By GARY GIBBS News Editor Dig this... "If you're thinking of playing golf with the boys this afternoon, you might think about putting up the new clothes line in the back yard this morning," Mary said in her best "or else" tone of voice. "After all," she added, "we've only had the posts, cement and wire sitting in the garage for six weeks now." "Alright, alright," husband Joe said. "Don't nag, I'll get it done." Sweat broke out on Joe's forehead after just a few minutes of swinging the pick axe into the coral rock inches below his not-so-green back yard grass. Mary was inside, on the phone talking to Mother. Joe hoisted the pick for what felt like the umpteenth time and brought the head down hard. The blade drove deep. Wresting it from side to side to loosen the earth's grip on the pick, Joe noticed a black cable, neatly severed by his last blow. Mary continued talking on the phone for several minutes before she realized Mother wasn't on the other end any longer. "Joe, Joe," Mary cried. "The phone's out of order. Do something, please." "So that's what this cable is for," Joe said to himself. "Oh boy, Ma Bell's gonna be plenty mad." ★ ★ ★ "People are out there digging" Ted Slattery of 10391 SW 156th St., said. "But many of them may not know what they're digging into." Slattery, employed as an operations district manager for AT&T, is devoting a great deal of his spare time on a project to let people know what might lie beneath that sprinkler system they're planning to install. Or for that matter, beneath a new post for a clothes line. His project is a not-for-profit organization called the Underground Utilities Notification Center (UUNC), a rather imposing title for an outfit whose earthy motto is "Don't Give Us a Break." "Whether you plan to plant shrubbery or put a fence around your yard, do yourself and your neighbors a favor and call us first," Slattery implores. UUNC has solicited the cooperation and membership of several Dade County companies whose lifelines to business and customer service lie underground. The object is to establish a central control that can inform anyone — homeowner, gardner, building contractor — of what lies beneath planned projects. The new service, which began April 1 after 15 months of planning, has been set up because each year, accidental cuts of underground wires, cables and pipes have caused thousands of utility users to be without service, Slattery said. As of now, Southern Bell, AT&T, Florida Gas and Peoples Gas, along with the City of Miami and Dade County have joined UUNC, evidencing their belief in the need for such a center. But there are more than 50 companies with underground equipment in Dade and UUNC members only represent "about 25 per cent of the total undergound mileage" in Dade, Slattery said. Eighty per cent of member mileage belongs to Southern Bell. The phone company's cooperation with UUNC was a coup for Slattery's group. But there are still some companies that UUNC definitely needs to broaden its efforts. "Florida Power and Light has given us a verbal commitment to join, but there's nothing in writing yet," Slattery said. City Gas, General Waterworks and Miami-Dade Water and Sewer are also atop Slattery's list of much-needed members. Joining UUNC isn't free and Slattery feels that money may be keeping some companies from cooperating. "You pay according to how many miles of underground facilities you have," Slattery explained. But Slattery reasons that dues paid to keep UUNC operating are small compared to what companies might spend repairing breaks in the line caused by people who didn't know what was beneath the spot they picked for a hibiscus hedge. Right now, UUNC has a paid staff of four, three clerks and a manager. And, according to Slattery, the foursome is kept busy. "They're handling about 60 calls a day," he said. If you're planning on digging, call UUNC at 264-6820, 48 hours in advance of beginning work. The location of any underground lines on your property, at least whatever belongs to UUNC's members will be shown to you.
$15 90 MO.
15x30 POOL ALL CHEMICALS FOR YOUR POOL PUT IN BY US OK POOL SERVICE 264-8616
$$ CASH $$ FOR YOUR OLD PERSIAN ORIENTAL RUGS
ORIENTAL RUGS INC. 2664 S. DIXIE HWY., MIAMI 856-3052 ANYTIME
The Coral Gables Times The South Miami Guide
Florida's Best Suburban Newspaper Serving Coral Gables and South Dade Since 1926 Published Wednesday and Saturday Gables Publishing Co. 4627 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, Fla. 33146 (305) 666-7981 Price: 10 cents per issue, home delivered; $12.50 per year by mail anywhere in the United States. Application to mail at controlled circulation rates is pending at Miami, Fla. John Sugg Editor/General Manager Bea Moss Managing Editor
Keep it rolling, Florida.
There's a new spirit all over Florida. You can feel it on the beaches, in the towns, on the farms. It's "Thumbs up" Florida. From one end of the state to the other. Because everything's looking up. Agriculture. Industry. Tourism. And now that we've got it rolling, let's keep it rolling. Let's all do what we can to make Florida even better. It might be as simple as mending the fences with a neighbor. Or planting some roses in the front yard. You might join a local civic group. Arrange a company picnic. Recycle your newspapers. Coach a Little League team. Go on a diet. Maybe it's just smiling a little more often. And after all, when you live in Florida, there's a lot to smile about. It could be something we haven't thought of, too. So suggest it to us. Maybe we'll pass it on to your fellow Floridians. We're the 3,200 Sun Bank people in 39 banks all across Florida. So get up with us. Get up with the Sun, Florida. Sun Banks Get up with the Sun.