The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 6

V' THE COURIER-JOURNAL, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1989 3 Mayors like talk, want action Rep. Hubbard seeks ban on assault rifles .4 there isn't a feeling from the state: 'OK, now we won't have to do this. We gave it to them and they've got that tax and they can pay for if she said. Helmke said city officials would also have to fight a feeling among some lawmakers that they "like to have the mayors and city councils and local officials go down there (to the Statehouse) to pay homage. That helps the legislature keep control over local things." Senate Finance Chairman Lawrence M.

Borst R-Indianapolis, defended the legislature's actions by noting that lawmakers have repeatedly given local governments more taxing options. But he said the legislators might "have to think long and hard" before letting cities impose a local sales tax that would add a penny or two to the state's 5-cent sales tax a proposal some mayors such as Helmke support The mayors also know the new authority could bring new political risks. Like governors forced to raise taxes under former President Reagan's "new federalism," which, turned more authority back to the states, mayors could find them-' selves raising taxes while state and federal rates remain stable. "When we passed the county-option income tax here, I got some letters saying, 'Haven't you heard, (President) Bush read my no new Helmke said. "I come back to people that this is! what federalism is all about; this, is; what the Reagan revolution stood1 for don't send money to Washing-! ton.

Keep it here. "I prefer to have people send their money directly to Fort Wayne, rather than Washington, D.C.: or even Indianapolis if it's a local project and I think most people, when you explain it that way, buy it" he said. "I'm willing to take the heat and I think most people who are active in local government are." Corp. before killing himself with a pistol One of the injured died yesterday, raising the death toll to nine. "After Stockton, and Louisville, and who-knows-where else today and tomorrow, what more is needed to show us in Congress the crying need for this legislation?" Hubbard asked.

In January a man with an AK-47 and other guns killed five children in a Stockton schoolyard. Hubbard said many Kentuckians believe "that our constitutional right to bear and keep arms surely must not include the right to possess AK-47 attack weapons by civilians." U.S. Rep. Romano Mazzoli, D-3rd District, who has long been a gun-control advocate, said the Louisville incident should spur action on legislation to require a seven-day waiting period when buying a handgun. Referring to that bill, Stark's bill and legislation sponsored by Rep.

Howard Berman, to prohibit even possession of AK-47-style weapons, Mazzoli said the time has come for House action, adding, "The public needs it" Both candidates for Jefferson County, judge-executive indicated yesterday that they would favor a ban on the sale of assault weapons in Kentucky. Stu Sampson, a spokesman for Democrat Dave Armstrong, said Armstrong is "on record as being opposed to them in the past, he is opposed to them now and he'll be opposed to them in the future." Republican John G. Heyburn II said he believes the state should ban the sale of such weapons. "I don't see why anyone needs machine guns except people trying to stop criminals," he said. Information for this story was also gathered by staff writer Deborah Yetter.

By MIKE BROWN Staff Writer WASHINGTON U.S- Rep. Carroll Hubbard, reacting to last week's Louisville shooting, took to the House floor yesterday to announce his support for legislation to ban the importation and domestic manufacture of semiautomatic assault weapons. Hubbard's announcement, made in two speeches, is noteworthy because he has opposed gun-control measures in the past, and has a top rating from the National Rifle Association, which opposes restricting such weapons. James Baker, NRA's federal af-' fairs director, said the group is "disappointed" in Hubbard's decision and will work to change his mind. Speaking to the House, Kentucky's 1st District Democrat acknowledged that most of his constituents want guns for hunting and self-defense.

many times, he said, he has heard constituents in his mostly rural Western Kentucky district say "gun control means a steady aim." But alluding to last week's Louisville tragedy in which nine have now died and yesterday's situa-. tion in Jackson County in which a teen-ager took his classmates hos-' tage Hubbard said he believes "more and more Kentuckians will be taking another look at some of the gun-control issues" before Congress and the legislature. Hubbard added his name as a co-sponsor to legislation introduced in March by Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, to ban the import and manufacture of 11 specific semiautomatic assault weapons, including the AK-47. It was an AK-47 that Joseph Wesbecker used Thursday to kill seven people and wound 13 at Louisville's Standard Gravure Continued from Page 1 cautious about Bayh's statements.

"We are going to continue to press both the governor and the legislature to fulfill that promise," she said. If the mayors sound skeptical, it's because they've heard promises before. At last year's convention, Bayh, then the Democratic candidate for governor, said he would like to see up to 25 percent of lottery revenues distributed to local governments. But he never offered that as a formal proposal to the legislature, instead lobbying for his Build Indiana Fund. That fund will distribute lottery profits to projects of local and state government educational institutions and other entities.

"Based on last year, what people say and what they are able to deliver are not always the same thing," Helmke said. Bayh said he doesn't yet have a formal proposal on fiscal home rule for cities. But he made it clear he believes in letting the governmental unit that's going to spend the money have responsibility for raising it "We're talking about a level of government that is very close to the public and therefore should be given as much latitude as possible in setting its own priorities and answering to the public for setting those priorities, whether it should be spending more or taxing less," he said. But Margerum took note of the tricky course the mayors will have to follow. "We need to have the flexibility to raise money for local needs, such as police and fire and streets and trash," she said.

"But I think there's got to be a balance. There has to be a cooperative effort as to what should be local, what should be state and what should be shared. "We've got to be very careful that if those options are presented to us Victim of Louisville Continued from Page 1 and death was that his father was also shot to death 19 years ago. In 1972, Clive Fentress Jr. was operating a grocery store at Third Street and Heywood Avenue when he was killed in a robbery.

The murder was never solved, Joyce Fentress said. Last night, several pressmen at Standard Gravure remembered Fentress as a "dedicated friend" who joined their crew on May 2, 1967. During his 22 years, Kenneth "Kid" Fentress was almost always at the center of good times at Standard, said Al Kinberger, a pressman. "He got the name Kid because he was the youngest among us when he came here, and the name stuck," Kinberger said. "He was always cutting up making people laugh." Kinberger said Fentress apparently was "just in the way doing paper work" last Thursday when Wesbecker "kicked open" the door of the company snack room and opened fire.

Fentress was hit four times at point-blank range with bullets from a high-powered assault rifle, but "hung on" through three operations before he died. Joyce Fentress said she spoke with her husband briefly Saturday Casino gambling's effects questioned Continued from Page 1 driving distance of other major population centers, could support five casino-hotels. Besides the direct benefits of con-' struction and casino jobs, the estab- lishments also would purchase goods and services worth more than $410 million a year from other busi-' nesses in the area, Zeitz said in a report given to the committee. Representatives of Resorts International and Circus Circus Enterprises have said their companies are interested in building casinos in Gary. But Booth maintained casinos aren't the cure for Gary's economic ills.

"We are limping along but with casino gambling we would become paralytic," he said. Citing studies of Atlantic City and a feasibility study done when Detroit considered casino gambling, Booth said small businesses would suffer because the casinos would COMPILED FROM STAFF AND AP DISPATCHES Ideas sought on saving state's money INDIANAPOLIS Hoosiers with ideas of how the state can save money while providing health and human services can express those thoughts at a public hearing at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Room 210 of Jeffersonville High School. The hearing is one of seven sponsored around the state. It will be conducted by Cosette Simon, special assistant to Gov.

Evan Bayh for state government efficiency. It will focus on six agencies: the State Board of Health, the departments of Human Services, Mental Health and Public Welfare, the Board of Animal Health and the Human Services Interdepartmental Board. Map delay slows Hoosier redisricting INDIANAPOLIS Many Indiana counties may miss an Oct 1 deadline for submitting new precinct maps because of a computer glitch that delayed delivery of maps from the U.S. Census Bureau. As a result the State Election Board may have to draw new voting precincts in some counties, according to state election officials.

Precinct maps must conform to census blocks that the federal government will use to count citizens in 1990. Maps showing those census blocks were delayed, and some were not delivered until early this week. Only six counties have submitted their precinct maps. Another 10 have said they'd submit their maps in a week. The new precinct maps begin the process that remakes the state's legislative districts every 10 years.

The new precincts are used to make up the new districts for the Legislature and for Congress. The election board has until Dec. 31 to complete the precinct maps. Legislative districts are redrawn every decade to keep up with shifts in population. The new precincts can contain no fewer than 800 voters and they cannot cross any political division lines, such as city limits.

Kentuckians face drug charges MOUNT VERNON, Ind. Three Kentucky men were arrested on charges of cultivating marijuana Sunday after state conservation officers discovered 10 of the plants growing at Hovey State Recreation Area. Department of Natural Resources officers were investigating a small boat along the river bank when they spotted a plot containing 10 marijuana plants and the men nearby, conservation officer Paul Axton said. Adam Toney, 18, James Franklin, 26, and Steven Powell, 23, all of Uniontown, were charged with cultivating marijuana and illegal entry to state property, Axton said. Toney faces an additional charge of possessing a loaded firearm on state property.

Axton said evidence of harvested marijuana was found about 50 feet from the river bank. He estimated the conviscated marijuana was worth between $4,000 and $9,000. State professor of year is from DePauw GREENCASTLE, Ind. A DePauw University associate professor of English has been honored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Washington as Indiana Professor of the Year. Wayne E.

Glausser, 38, was cited for his teaching and service to the DePauw community. He has been at the private university since 1980. Glausser said he thinks the strongest attribute he brings to the classroom is the desire for his students to succeed. The southern California native graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz and has master's and doctoral degrees from Yale University. The council chooses a professor from each state for the annual honor.

The organization encourages understanding and support of education. It also chooses a national professor of the year as part of Higher Education Week, which this year will be Oct. 8-14. Regional center appeals for blood CINCINNATI A regional blood center that serves 29 hospitals has issued an emergency appeal for donor help because of a drain on type-0 blood, a spokeswoman said yesterday. Hoxworth Blood Center, a division of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, has not issued such an appeal in nearly three years, said Marsha Terry.

It is extending the operating hours of blood-collection units to help meet the demand. The center normally gets type-0 blood from 100 to 150 donors daily, but needs an additional 500 type-0 donors this week alone to catch up with the demand, Terry said. The type-0 blood shortage is a nationwide problem, she said. About 44 percent of the U.S. population has type-0 blood, the most common type.

People with type-0 blood can receive only type-0 transfusions, unlike people with other blood types, who can receive blood that isn't a perfect match. The Hoxworth center serves 29 hospitals in southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. Utility repairs to slow Louisville traffic Emergency utility repairs will hamper traffic on Third Street between Main and Market streets for the next two months. Louisville Gas Electric Co. discovered yesterday that two of its main underground vaults that supply electricity downtown buildings were in danger of caving in.

The two center lanes of Third Street will be closed during the repairs. The brick vaults must be rebuilt. Hoosiers urged to be tourists in state INDIANAPOLIS A new advertising campaign partially funded by a corporate sponsor will encourage Hoosiers to "spend a weekend in Indiana," during the fall, state tourism officials announced yesterday. Lt Gov. Frank O'Bannon and Tourism and Film Development Director Denise Miller said the $125,000 in-state advertising campaign begins this week and will last for four weeks.

The campaign will use 30-second television spots in five Indiana markets and advertisments in 40 newspapers. The ads carry the slogan, "Autumn In Indiana Is More Than Meets The Eye." The campaign "begins to develop an image of Indiana that is more than just colored leaves," said Miller. "We chose to showcase the diverse festivals and events in the state. We feel the campaign will encourage residents to take weekend trips throughout Indiana." Hoosier Energy, a group of rural elactric cooperatives in southern and central Indiana, will pay $25,000 of the cost of the advertising campaign. The rest will come from the state's $1.2 million tourism advertising budget Tourism officials said they hope this is the first of several agreements for companies to help sponsor tourism advertising.

Miller said corporate sponsors are needed to underwrite tourism efforts to promote specific interest areas such as bed and breakfasts, sports, camping and fishing, antique shopping and cultural events. Purdue to honor astronaut alumni WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Eight Purdue University graduates who have become U.S. astronauts will be honored by their alma mater this month. Purdue officials said eight current and former astronauts will receive the Engineering Astronaut Alumnus Award at a special convocation Sept.

29. Purdue has dubbed itself the "mother of astronauts" because 17 graduates have been selected for space flights, including the first and last men to walk on the moon. The eight astronaut alumni are Col. John E. Blaha, who was pilot of the shuttle Discovery mission last spring; Charles D.

Walker, who flew three shuttle missions during 1984 and 1985; Lt. Col. Mark N. Brown, who was mission specialist aboard the shuttle Columbia flight last month; Col. Loren J.

Shriver, who was a pilot for a Discovery shuttle mission; Col. Richard O. Convey, who was pilot on Discovery missions in 1985 and 1988; Lt. Col. Jerry L.

Ross, who served as mission specialist on the shuttle Atlantis in 1985; Col. Guy S. Gardner, who was pilot on an Atlantis mission last December; Lt. Col. Gary E.

Payton, who was a payload specialist on Discovery in 1985. Court may decide right to shared property AK-47 seized in drug arrest shooting spree dies; afternoon, the last time he was aware of his family being nearby. He was conscious for about two hours. "I'm just so thankful for that," she said. "He couldn't speak, but he moved his lips told me he loved me and told my daughter (Missy) that he loved her." Phil Centers was a close friend of Fentress for the past 16 years.

"He was an incredibly tough competitor in softball, bowling, darts. It didn't matter," Centers said. "That's probably why he held on for so long in the hospital. He was a1 really good person I can't tell you how good." Fentress, who was wounded in the stomach, arm and leg, died at 5:48 p.m. yesterday, according to deputy Jefferson 'County Coroner Robert Carter.

His body will be taken to Owen Funeral Home. Ten other victims of the shooting remained hospitalized last night Their conditions: Angela Bowman, 24, critical but stable; John Stein 34, serious; Andrew Pointer, 50, serious; Jackie Miller, 38, serious; Wil-'. liam Hoffman, 41, fair; Stanley Hatfield, 42, fair, Forrest Conrad, 49, fair; Michael Campbell, 51, fair; Paula Warman, 40, fair, David Sei-denfaden, 44, fair. Two other victims were discharged last week. Becher said several of his officers have been trained to use automatic weapons, but the department has, none of its own.

His officers use; only handguns, shotguns and long-range rifles. I Assault rifles "are extremely dan-; gerous even in the hands of trained; police officers. We don't use them here because there's too much of a' chance of innocent bystanders getting shot if an officer had to shoot in a crowded area," Becher said. But unlike Louisville Police Chief Richard Dotson, who said after Thursday's Standard Gravure shootings that assault rifles have only one purpose "killing people" Becher is not in favor of outlawing automatic and semi-automatic weapons. 1 "It's not going to protect law-enforcement people by passing a law to do away with this kind of weapon.

I think the criminals will get them whether they are outlawed or not. If we do ban them, we're taking them out of the hands of people who are good people," Becher said. Nevada atom blast tests military Survivability' LAS VEGAS (AP) A nuclear weapons test designed to determine the survivability of America's space and military hardware was conducted last week in a tunnel at the Nevada Test Site, the Energy Department said. The test, code-named Disko Elm, had an explosive yield of less than 20,000 tons of TNT. The nuclear test was the eighth announced this year and the 695th announced shot since testing began in the Nevada desert in January 1951.

Continued from Page 1 their chances on civil property law, as in the Vanderburgh County case. That case may extend the legal issues of property law to the rights of unmarried people statewide, attorneys said. Willett sued Clark in August 1987, requesting that their jointly owned property including a home in Ev-ansville and a lot with a trailer in Warrick County be divided by partition, or equally. Clark filed a counterclaim, arguing the 50-50 split was unreasonable. The women "began a homosexual relationship in 1981, commenced living together in September 1982, separated and ceased living together in June 1987," court records said.

Despite the request by Willett for consideration under partition law, Vanderburgh Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Lockyear divided the property last June in a method simi drive up wages and rents. Restaurants would be unable to compete with low-cost eateries that casinos offer to keep gamblers from straying far, he said. He also said most of the high-paying casino jobs probably wouldn't go to the unemployed people in Gary. Booth also noted that several casino companies, including Resorts, are heavily in debt, and he urged lawmakers to consider the financial viability of the industry and individual companies.

"I'm concerned Gary may be the effort to bail out fiscally from some of the problems the casino industry faces," he said. Steve Norton, an executive vice president at Resorts, responded that his company's casino in Atlantic City is a moneymaker. The debt comes from a leveraged buyout of some stockholders, he said. Rogers has said she will introduce legislation in 1990 to allow casino gambling if Gary residents approve it in the November referendum. lar to a divorce settlement Willett and her attorney at the time, Glenn Grampp, appealed the decision.

The Court of Appeals last month partially reversed Lockyear's ruling, ordering the judge to amend the "findings of fact" in his ruling to reflect Clark's ownership claims and to detail the ownership claims of both parties. Johnson said the case may eventually go before the Indiana Supreme Court The high court could then determine new case law about property disputes between unmarried people, he said. "I think this case will either say people who live together and aren't married can come into court and can ask for a proper division of property or it will be the one that closes it (legally)," he said. "If the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court handles this, it will be one way or the other to decide the issue." ty in control in 1991 will draw redisricting maps for state legislative and congressional districts. House Democrats hope to win the majority in their chamber, the House membership is now split 50-50.

Republicans hold a 26-24 majority in the Senate, and Democrats hope to make inroads there as well. Bayh's trip south will also include a fund-raising event for Southern Indiana legislative candidates. It is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. EDT at the Grand Convention Center, 138 E. Market St, New Albany.

Dawson said that Bayh would fly on a private plane to the events. Call it a roto-scooter Tilt-rotor technology developed by NASA can provide efficient medium- and short-haul air transportation. They take off and land vertically, like helicopters. Former Kentucky governor helping Bayh Continued from Page 1 police officers staked out the truck stop and watched a man park his car next to Rakes' car shortly before midnight After the man got out of his car and entered the front passenger side of Rakes' police surrounded the vehicles and ordered the suspects to come out he said. An officer carrying a shotgun approached the car and saw Rakes holding a pistol, Becher said.

Rakes "looked around, saw the number of officers and gave up," Becher said. Rakes, 26, of Clarksville, had earlier served time for theft and burglary. He is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a handgun without a permit trafficking in narcotics, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Also arrested was Kenny R. Fortney, 33, of Henryville, who is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police later went to Rakes' apartment and found small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, a police scanner, and checks and balance sheets showing recent narcotic purchases, Becher said. Police also arrested Tonia Ann Lambert 19, at Rakes' apartment She was charged with trafficking in narcotics, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The idea that only big-time drug dealers in Miami and New York use automatic and semiautomatic weapons to "protect their investment" is a misconception, Becher said. "It's happening right here in Clark County. This time, fortunately for us, we had prior warning and we were able to control the situation," Becher said.

Continued from Page 1 speculated that his political future may hold even more, perhaps a U.S. Senate seat or the presidency. But Bayh, who has ruled out the 1990 Senate race, is unlikely to participate in any election until 1992, when he could choose to run for reelection or the Senate. Dawson said that "one interesting thing about this" is that "although there have been some spotty fundraisers for the Evan Bayh Committee this year, the real emphasis is on raising money for the legislative candidates and for Joe Hogsett and for Baron Hill." Hogsett, whom Bayh appointed secretary of state to fill out his own term, is running to retain the office. Hill, a state representative from Seymour, is the likely Democratic candidate for the U.S.

Senate seat held by Dan Coats. Legislative races in 1990 are particularly important because the par la din.