UNFAIR: Your water bill seem high? You’re...

UNFAIR: Your water bill seem high? You’re not alone. Seems a new water billing system is hitting the pocketbooks of Valley homeowners with bills as high as $700 (B1). . . . Valley lawmakers want the Department of Water and Power to take a second look at the system, which forces large users to pay nearly twice as much for their water. “This isn’t working for the Valley,” said an aide to City Council member Hal Bernson. One plus for the Valley: the area’s clout at the huge city-owned utility has been strengthened by the appointment of two residents to the powerful DWP Commission.

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DEAD DOG: Taunts of “dog killer” have been following some Southern California Gas Co. meter readers this week after a Chihuahua in Burbank was accidentally killed after being kicked (B3). . . . “I’m constantly being reminded of it,” said Ray Burmeister, a meter reader who has been the subject of many angry phone calls to the company. One taunt to meter readers: “Hey, how many Chihuahuas have you killed today?”

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MAKING A SPLASH: Camarillo resident Sarah Nichols, just 15 but one of the nation’s top free-stylers, is competing in the U.S. Olympic Festival in San Antonio, a preview to the Olympics (C14). Her discipline keeps her in the pool long after others get out. . . . Despite her accomplishments, she recalls with disbelief the time she was approached by a young admirer. She replied: “You want my autograph?”

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SAVING VALLEY SOULS: In a first for the San Fernando Valley, a Billy Graham-style crusade will be staged in Van Nuys next summer. A broad range of 130 evangelical churches in the Valley area have pledged support for the event next June featuring evangelist Luis Palau, an Argentine-born American who is regarded by some pastors as a natural successor to Billy Graham. . . . The crusade will be held at the football stadium at Van Nuys’ Birmingham High School (B1).