The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 4

THE COURIER-JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983 3 Funds are sought for planned clean coal locomotive ing process, proven in the lab but not on the rails, would be cleaner than the exhaust that comes from diesel locomotives, he said. Sidney G. Liddle, on the technical staff of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology, told the subcommittee: "The old locomotives, at full power, could lose half the coal, unbumed, up the stack. The efficiency of the new combustion systems would be 90 to 95 percent." Subcommittee chairman Sen. John W.

Warner, saw a snowballing effect for potential cost savings. If trains could run on cheaper fuel, he said, the cost of getting coal from mines to power plants could go down, perhaps reducing the cost of coal and the price of electricity generated at coal-burning power plants. Lowering transportation costs, which Joseph E. Lema of the National Coal Association estimated as 25 percent to 50 percent of coal's delivered price, might even make U.S. coal more competitive on the world market, Warner said.

Warner called on anyone interested to appear at the subcommittee's final hearing on the topic Jan. 9 in Richmond, Va. He noted that "not one person has stepped up to say this idea won't work." Associated Prost WASHINGTON American Inventors have a coal-fired locomotive on the drawing boards that will save money and won't belch smoke. Now they need money to build one. Experts told a Senate subcommittee yesterday that the new technology would allow railroads save money because coal is cheaper and more abundant than the diesel fuel used to power trains.

What's needed now is someone to finance construction of a $50 million to $70 million prototype so America's railroads can see that the technology works, an inventor, William C. Withuhn, told the Senate Energy subcommittee on energy and mineral resources. He said simple economics will lead railroads to buy the new locomotive for the 1990s. Withuhn, a Washington railroad consultant, said he used figures for the least efficient coal-burning system and the most expensive coal in making his calculations that the new locomotive could bring railroads a 20 percent to 30 percent rate of return on their investment. "U.S.

railroads could cut their fuel bill by more than half," Withuhn said. The exhaust from the coal-burn 'TO a-W tfj, I fLil I j- I Star! Photo by Bon Van Hook Washing while he works Medical problem forces bid-rigging trial recess Kenny Byrd of Lexington wiped off the hood of a Jeep at the morning. Byrd, an employee at the car wash, said he and other Broadway Car Wash on Broadway Street in Lexington Sunday employees had washed more than 500 cars Saturday. FCC issues license for new TV station Religious and family programs will be mainstays of Channel 21 lar with lending institutions," Rodgers said. About 60 percent of the programming will be religious, he said, with the rest to be family entertainment.

Rodgers said the station is negotiating for some old programs such as "The Cisco Kid." He said it also will show "film festivals," featuring the likes of John Wayne and Doris Day. He said the station hopes to get programming from other Christian sources, such as the Trinity and Christian broadcasting networks. "We believe we are going to; be a national network," Rodgers said. "This will be our first station. We hope eventually to have more." In addition to Rodgers, "Word Broadcasting's directors are; Rhea Morgan, a retired Kentucky State Police officer; Don Miller, a "vice president of Liberty National Bank; Willis Berry, Evangel Tabernacle's business manager; and Marion Parker, a real-estate agent.

under new ownership and withdrew its application for the license, Elmer Jaspan, president of WDRB, said Monday. Rodgers expressed high hopes for the new station. He said it will have 5 million watts of power and should cover an area bounded by Bowling Green, Owensboro, Lexington and Seymour, Ind. He said cable-television systems probably will carry the station. He said WBNA will initially be on 18 hours a day, soon going to 24 hours.

He wouldn't be specific about financing but said some donations have been received. "Once you get the license, you become real popu- be directly associated with any religious denomination. The FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration are also reviewing Word Broadcasting's proposal for a tower in Bullitt County, said the Rev. Walter Martin, an Evangel Tabernacle pastor. Five years ago both WDRB and Word Broadcasting filed with the FCC to operate on Channel 21.

An FCC hearing judge granted the license to Word Broadcasting, but WDRB appealed. An FCC review board reversed the decision and ruled that WDRB should get the license. Recently, however, WDRB came Staff Photo Gil Whittenberg "Severe cost overruns" cited Whittenberg said he and Davis are parting ways because "of different business philosophies." Whittenberg, who has recently sold off other holdings, including the Kentucky Home Life Building, said he found that the Seelbach and 1400 Willow had been "taking too much time from my construction business." Davis said it was inevitable that the partnership break up. "I am an on the motions for a mistrial or a separate trial for Kellstrom. Instead, he directed the government to try to line up one or more cardiologists who are willing to examine Kellstrom during the recess and then testify in court as to whether Kellstrom should be returned to Montana.

Defendants in the case are four of the nation's largest electrical contracting companies and seven of their top executives. They are charged with conspiring in 1978 and 1979 to rig bids totaling $360 million for electrical work at five nuclear generating plants Public Service Indiana's Marble Hill plant near Madison, and four in Washington. Corporate defendants are Fisch-bach Moore Inc. of Dallas, L. K.

Comstock Co. Inc. of Danbury, Commonwealth Electric Co. Inc. of Lincoln, and Lord Electric Co.

Inc. of New York City. Kellstrom is chairman of the board of the Fischbach the parent firm of Fischbach Moore, and formerly was board chairman for Fischbach Moore. package and ends tion WAVE (now WAVG) about information on him, but they knew nothing. Many thanks to you for writing the McMitchen article and bringing out what he did for Merle Travis, and I'm sure many others." Finally, belated thanks to David Wallace of Boston, in Nelson County, who sent me a picture some time ago of a sassafras tree in Boston that measures 13 feet around.

"If there is one bigger," Wallace said, "I would like to see it." Ironically, Mr. Wallace, the largest sassafras tree known to exist in the United States is located in Owensboro, at 2100 Fredricka St. A Kentucky Historical marker nearby states: "This giant tree, first mentioned for its size in 1883, has been an historic landmark in Daviess Co. for several centuries. Believed to be 250 to 300 years old, it measures over 100 feet tall with a circumference of 16 feet.

It is probably the largest of its kind in the world, and is registered with the American Forestry Association as the largest in the U.S." The Boston sassafras may well be runner-up to this national and possible world champion, Mr. Wallace. trust that our friends with the Kentucky Division of Forestry will check the exact dimensions of the Nelson County tree for possible inclusion in the record books. 1H3, Tho Courier-Journal to be open today maining slopes are scheduled to open today. The ski area is located at General Butler State Resort Park.

Janke said that the ski shop is operating and that there will be six lifts taking skiers to the slopes. A new slope for advanced skiers is also open this year. Ski Butler is open weekdays from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m., with longer hours on weekends. By WARREN WINTRODE Associated Prtis HELENA, Mont Medical problems faced by one of the defendants in a federal bid-rigging trial prompted U.S.

District Court Judge John C. Coughenour yesterday to recess the trial until Jan. 3. The trial, which began Nov. 14, had been scheduled to run through tomorrow before those involved went home for a holiday break.

The defendant who caused the early recess is 70-year-old Francis S. Kellstrom of Beverly Hills, Calif. He entered a hospital in Los Angeles last weekend at the urging of his cardiologist, said defense attorney Ralph Hurvitz. Kellstrom didn't show up in court for Monday afternoon's session, and Hurvitz asked Coughenour to declare a mistrial in Kellstrom's case or grant him a separate trial. Hurvitz said that Kellstrom previously underwent heart surgery, and that the current problems could lead to something "as serious as another coronary bypass." Hurvitz said Kellstrom probably will be hospitalized at least a week for tests.

Coughenour didn't rule yesterday Tying up a full of odds Continued from Page 1 the dates involved, but he believes that he ran a race there in 1927, and he is reasonably sure that racing continued at the speedway until about 1935, when the track was sold and the grandstands torn down to make room for a housing development. Oct. 5's "Railroad Tales" reminded Phillip Fox of Barbourville of a story that was passed on to him concerning a section foreman who worked in the early years of the Cumberland Railroad. "It seems that this fellow would lay out the necessary work for the section crew to do, and then leave them, find a suitable spot and take a nap. "This went on for quite a while, until one day the general manager of the railroad happened along and found him asleep.

"Sleep on, my friend," the general manager was heard to remark. "As long as you sleep you have a job, but when you wake up, you will be out of a job." Leon Keeling of Harrodsburg writes: "Your Nov. 14 article on Clayton McMitchen not only brought back old memories (I was a Georgia Wildcat fan during the 1930s and 1940s), but also answers the question about whatever happened to him. I had only heard that he was dead, and had written to radio sta All of Ski Butler Associated Prott FRANKFORT, Ky. All of the facilities at the Ski Butler resort near Carrollton are expected to be open today, state officials said yesterday.

According to Phil Janke, general manager of the resort, the first three slopes opened Saturday when weather permitted the making of snow. A fourth slope opened Monday. The three re a I By SHELDON SHAFER Courior-Journal Staff Writer A new television station that will feature Christian and family programming has received a Federal Communications Commission license to operate in Louisville over Channel 21. The station, WBNA, should be on the air June 1, according to the Rev. Bob Rodgers, president of the Word Broadcasting Network which will run the station.

It will be the first new station in the Louisville area since WDRB-41 began operating in 1971. Word Broadcasting has filed for a zoning change to allow it to build a television studio near Minors Lane and Interstate 65 on land that will be leased from Evangel Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God. Several principals in the new station have been affiliated with the tabernacle, but Rodgers said the station will be commercial and will not Seelbach is having money woes Continued from Page 1 three to five years to meet mortgage payments. Davis said he sxpects the Seelbach to continue to operate but he said he has greater hope for that if he retains a major stake in it. "If I continue to struggle with this, it will work," he said.

"But it is not an easy struggle. My effort is to see that (the hotel) remains the statement that I set out to make it a five-star property." But Davis said that if he relinquishes his interest, "I have very serious concerns as to what will happen with the Seelbach." Whittenberg said he and Davis are negotiating for one or the other to assume total control of 1400 Willow, a high-rise condominium project that Davis designed and Whittenberg built in Cherokee Triange. Whittenberg said he would like to retain interest in it. Tobacco firm executive gets Democratic post Tho Courior-Journal Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Louisville native Eugene H. Russell, public-affairs manager of the Brown Williamson Tobacco has been named communications director of the Democratic National Committee.

Democratic Chairman Charles Manatt, who announced the appointment Monday, was quoted in a press release as saying Russell brings "communications and political skills that will not only help the Democratic Party in the presidential election year of 1984 but will also help quide the DNC beyond that." Russell is a former public-affairs director for the U.S. Conference of Mayors and was press secretary to Moon Landrieu, secretary of housing and urban development under former President Jimmy Carter. In the early 1960s, Russell worked for The New Albany Tribune and The Evansville Courier, both in Southern Indiana. Owensboro's Fisher has heart surgery Associated Pross Jack Fisher, mayor-elect of Owensboro, was reported in serious condition last night after undergoing open-heart surgery in Louisville yesterday. Dr.

Allan Lansing, who performed the surgery at Jewish Hospital, said Fisher will be in the intensive-care unit for several days and probably will return to Owensboro in about a week. Lansing said Fisher should, be able to assume part-time duties by Jan. 2, the day he was scheduled to be sworn into office. Daviess Circuit Judge Robert Short said, however, that he administered the oath of office to Fisher on Saturday in the Owensboro-Da-viess County Hospital. Fisher had Short swear him in early because he believed he might be facing surgery and he feared he wouldn't be home by Jan.

2, Short said. City Attorney Frankie Hager said Fisher will become mayor, automatically on Jan. 2. Fisher was admitted to Owens-boro-Daviess County Hospital on Dec. 12 with symptoms of a heart attack.

He was admitted to Jewish Hospital on Sunday after tests in Owensboro indicated he had suffered a hiatus hernia instead of a heart attack. Correspondent named by AP Associated Prost EVANSVILLE, Ind. David C. McCormick a newsman with The Associated Press bureau in New Orleans, has been appointed Evansville correspondent for the news cooperative. McCormick, 27, succeeds Mark R.

Chellgren, who was named, last month as statehouse correspondent in Frankfort, Ky. McCormick will begin duties in Evansville on Jan. 9. As Evansville correspondent, McCormick will be responsible for the AP's news coverage in Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky. McCormick joined the AP In New Orleans in May 1981, after- five years as a staff writer leap the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.

He is a native of Fort Myers, and a 1977 journalism graduate of the University of Florida. 4 London mayor gets support in claim to hiring authority Staff Photo Roger Davis "An incorrigible optimist" entrepreneur and Gil has a good business as a contractor," he said. "I am 40, Gil is 60. "Gil wants to lessen his involvement. We entered into a partnership that would have broken the backs of most partners.

We did the two projects we set out to do. We accomplished what we wanted. It has been a great struggle. It is very natural at this point that we get back to what we both do best." ion on the legality of the personnel policy because he had not formally been asked to comment on it But McFadden said in light of Herdman's opinion, he questions the legality of the policy's requirement that all hirings and firings of city employees be approved by a two-thirds majority of the council. Councilmen Sam Tyree and Charles Bullock said, however, that the policy had been affirmed by lawyers for the Kentucky Municipal League, and Bullock said McFadden must abide by the policy as long as it remains in effect.

Councilwoman Sharon Hibbits said she was "embarrassed" by what she said were efforts to wrest away the mayor's executive authority. But she also said she supports the personnel policy, because it forces McFadden to keep the council informed on personnel matters. Associated Prost LONDON, Ky. London Mayor Ed McFadden says an attorney general's opinion backs his authority to hire city employees, including a police chief, without the approval of the City Council. McFadden says the opinion also supports his claim that portions of the city's personnel policy requiring such approval are illegal.

The mayor had asked the attorney general's office if he needed the council's approval on the selection of a police chief when appointments come up in January. Assistant Attorney General Walter Herdman wrote that a 1982 amendment to state statutes gives the mayor the sole authority to appoint city employees and police officers. "As far as appointments are concerned, the council has no authority at all," Herdman said in a telephone interview. Herdman would not offer an opin.