The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 1

717 "-J i 17; 7" i Fair's fT" ..1 PlT'' a A a. A a i i r'K i rVf Copyright 1SS2, The Courier-Journal leagan may see 30 billion more I in domestic cuts i i -i- Beekeepers tried to calm some of the 27 million honeybees that were let loose yesterday when a tractor-trailer ran off 1-65. Bee haulers are stung by a net loss through a construction zone on I-65, which had reduced southbound traffic to one lane. They were about 20 miles south of Louisville when the rig went off the road. It started sinking in some mud and, as the weight of its load shifted, overturned.

The Fetches weren't Injured and climbed out a window, only to get stung by the angry bees. The accident was not near any residential areas or any of the places where construction was going on. No one was reported injured, although several people were stung beekeepers and a state trooper besides the Fetch brothers, according to state police. The bees "are very upset and they're very aggressive," said bee By FRANCIS X. CLINES Mw Ynil Times Nwl Service WASHINGTON President Reagan, setting the stage for a budget battle with Congress, has tentatively decided to seek cuts of $25 billion to $30 billion in domestic spending in next year's budget.

White House officials disclosed yesterday. The decision, indicating that the president intends to continue focusing his budget-cutting efforts on social programs. Is a key part of Reagan's evolving strategy for dealing with a new Congress that is expected to look less kindly on his budgetary plans particularly his determination to make additional cuts in domestic programs. "He's begun to make the tough decisions," one presidential adviser said. The aide said that, while the administration's initial bargaining position on domestic spending has now been staked out, difficult choices remain to be made in the areas of defense spending and revenue increases.

According to initial estimates, the 1984 budget deficit will be in the neighborhood of $180 billion unless additional budget cuts or tax Increases are added to the formula. That's a figure that White House strategists find alarmingly high. Thus the early decisions on proposed reductions in domestic programs would still leave a deficit of $150 billion although the president has insisted recently that he will oppose attempts to make substantial cuts in his military budget or to enact any major new tax-raising measures. In effect, the White House will be approaching the next Congress with the ostensible goal of duplicating the level of cuts in domestic spending that the president achieved in his first two years of legislative victories on Capitol Hill. Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress have cautioned the administration that social-spending cuts of roughly $30 billion in each of the past two years have left little more to be wrung from that area.

Various presidential advisers are known to feel that, with his political base weakened in the House because of the recent election, the president ultimately will have to accept less and compromise more. The re-emphasis on cuts in domestic spending reflects the White House's political plan for approaching Congress and indicates that the president doesn't intend to yield ear- President Reagan says recovery will come with unemployment dropping and inflation holding fast. Story, Page A 2 ly to whatever forces may suggest compromise. The theory behind the new approach is that, by again stressing the hard line on social spending, Reagan will gain bargaining room and be able to protect much of his five-year, $1.6 trillion program for increased military spending. Congress is already sizing up the plan for possible reductions, to help narrow the deficit and make funds available for emergency programs to address the chronic problem of unemployment.

The cuts in domestic spending cited yesterday of $25 billion to $30 billion weren't disclosed in detail. However, they reportedly will be sought in such politically sensitive programs as Social Security, federal pensions, veterans' benefits, welfare and Medicaid. This proposed level of cuts would be in addition to any solution that might be worked out to the problems of the Social Security system, which may have a cumulative deficit of $200 billion by 1989, according to estimates. The president met yesterday with his Cabinet for a review of the budget numbers worked out thus far. He also held a morning meeting with his budget strategists, at which the subject of defense spending was touched upon, according to one participant, but possible reductions were not discussed.

Reagan has said that he is willing to consider reasonable proposals for cost-cutting in the military budget, but won't alter his basic plan for Increased defense spending to match the military buildup in the Soviet Union. This will be one of the most heavily contested areas of the budget Some leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate already have begun a public campaign aimed at softening the White House stand to reflect Congress's general reading of the elections which is that unemployment, not defense spending, is the nation's immediate priority. The level of cuts In domestic spending is only the first of a series of troublesome budget decisions the president must make by mid-December. The cuts under discussion now will be put through a pro-See REAGAN Back page, col. 5, this section Go wet, young man National Waathtr Strvlct keeper Jon Norman, 29.

"Their hives have been turned over. If your house was turned over with you in it, you'd be angry too." He had a bee sting on his neck, and a smoke canister in his hand that he set off. The smoke makes the bees buzz off, he said. Norman, a beekeeper for about 15 years and a biology major at Indiana University Southeast near New Albany, said it probably would take all night, and possibly most of today, to get the bees back to their hives. To do that, every hive has to be moved by hand from the overturned vehicle, placed upright, and put in another truck, he said.

Last night, two wreckers had also ar renceburg, Athertonville (in LaRue County), and Coxs Creek," said Philip E. Beekman, Seagram's president and chief operating officer. Fewer than 100 people total are employed at those locations. The Jefferson County plant, which employed more than 1,000 people years ago, had about 550 workers two years ago. The decline followed the changing drinking patterns of American consumers.

Bourbon sales have declined sharply in the past two decades as consumers shifted to lower-proof and lighter-flavored distilled spirits. The Jefferson County plant bottled primarily the Calvert and Cana- StiH Photos by Adriannt Mllfir rived to try to right the overturned truck. Each time a hive is moved, "millions of bees are upon you," Norman said. He said each hive has its own scent and its own queen bee. The bees can't reside at any hive but their own, Norman said, because their scent would be detected by bees from another hive.

If bees go to the wrong hive, Norman said it leads to wars. But he said the bees die if they don't find their hives. And much of the cargo had already died yesterday afternoon, he said. But he said about a dozen beekeepers from the Louisville area See 1-65 Back page, col. 2, this section dian Lord Calvert brands, and distilled and bottled the Benchmark and Mattingly Moore bourbon brands, among others.

In announcing Seagram's plan, William E. Wunder, vice president for production and engineering, said the decision was made "after a thorough study and analysis of market conditions and the capital investment required to modernize and improve efficiency at our various plants." Wunder said that because of the drop in demand "we now have significant excessive production capac- See SEAGRAM Back page, coL 1, this section INSIDE Dairymen the Louisville-based milk-marketing co-op, has proposed a 50-cent reduction In federal milk-price supports 10 Accent 7-9 Classified ads Section Comics 12 Deaths 6 Dimension page A 7 Marketplace 10-12 Opinion page A 6 People A 2 Racing entries 11 Show clock 9 Sports 1-11 TV, radio 2, 3 't i.t brother was driving, talked to workers. A mile away drivers were warned to shut their windows. By KAY STEWART Courier-Journal Staff writer Interstate 65 was abuzz much of yesterday. First it was the Fetch brothers, buzzing down the highway in their tractor-trailer.

But it went off the road, sank in some mud and overturned. That unleashed the truck's cargo 27 million honeybees, all buzzing angrily after being toppled from their hives. And they were still buzzing last night as beekeepers swarmed to the scene to try to calm them down. The $50,000 cargo was en route to Florida when the accident occurred at 7:15 a.m. yesterday.

Jerry and Scott Fetch were driving their tractor-trailer Scott Fetch, right, whose tentative comment, but Joseph A. Thomas, the local's financial secretary, said he was "stunned, flabbergasted" by the news. Thomas retired recently after working at the plant since its opening in 1936, but has continued to handle some union matters. He said he learned of the proposed closing from another union member, who had been notified by the company about 2:30 p.m. Gov.

John Y. Brown Jr. and Louisville and Jefferson County officials were notified about the same time. Linda Broadus, acting press secretary for County Judge Mitch McCon-nell, said McConnell was trying to and geared up for yet another court fight "I have no comment," Ms. White said yesterday, then added that none of her residents was too sick to live in her home.

"They are harassing me." In theory, boarding homes are supposed to provide only food and shelter. In practice, some house the sick and disabled. One of the worst known cases occurred in Louisville two years ago, when an elderly man died of infected bedsores he developed while lying unattended in the attic of a boarding home. r-- plan to close Louisville plant LOUISVILLE area A 60 percent chance of showers today, diminishing through tomorrow. Highs both days mid-to upper 60s.

low tonight, mid- to upper 50s. KENTUCKY Chance of showers across state both days. Highs today, 60s east to low 70s west; tomorrow, mid- to upper 60s. lows tonight, mid- to upper 50s. INDIANA Good chance of showers through the weekend, perhaps some Seagram By JIM THOMPSON Courier-Journal Business Writer Citing a slump in the demand for bourbon and the "relatively prohibitive" cost of modernizing a 46-year-old facility, Joseph E.

Seagram Sons Inc. said yesterday it tentatively plans to close its Jefferson County plant. About 400 workers at the Seventh Street Road plant would be idled by the end of July if the company carries through with its decision. Bottling and shipping would be ended earlier, perhaps by the end of April. Seagram officials were reluctant to discuss why their decision was labeled as "tentative," but apparently thundershowers in the south tomorrow night.

Highs today, 60s; tomorrow, 50s. Lows tonight, upper 40s to mid-50s. TENNESSEE Widely scattered showers west today and over the state tomorrow. Highs both days, 60s and 70s. lows tonight, 50s and 60s.

High yesterday, 64; low, 54. Year ago yesterday: High, 71; bw, 46. Sun: Rises, 7:29 EST; sets, 5:28. Moon: Rises, 1 1:48 a.m.; sets, 9:32 p.m. Weather map and details, Page 6.

announces it hinges on the success of negotiations with the distillery-workers' union about benefits. In mid-August 1981, the union agreed to a new, three-year contract with Seagram. As part of that agreement, the union said it would increase productivity in exchange for higher wages and an improved retirement plan. Rumors about the future of the aging facility have flourished in recent days, but few workers were prepared for yesterday's announcement John Straub, president of Local 16 of Distillery Workers' International Union, could not be reached for board and she's gone to court. But after more than 2y2 years, the dispute with Ms.

White isn't settled. Last week, licensing inspectors found used adult diapers in a trash can outside of another, previously unknown boarding home operated by Ms. White. Relying on this and other evidence, city police kicked in the door and state inspectors found nine feeble, disoriented or elderly residents, including one blind man, according to state reports. Three days ago, the state, for the second time, cited Ms.

White for operating an illegal health-care facility schedule a meeting with members of Project 2000 and Forward Louisville to see if those groups of Louisville business executives could come up with a plan to keep the jobs in the county. "Naturally, we are upset," Ms. Broadus said, and "we would like to reverse it if at all possible." The city and county have been plagued in recent months by layoffs and closings at International Harvester, Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp. and General Electric Co. Seagram officials said that if the plant is closed it will try to sell it.

"We will continue our other Kentucky-based operations, in Law- Last winter, the General Assembly refused to pass legislation to bring these homes under better control by requiring local health departments to Inspect them annually. But some lawmakers argued this was an unwarranted government intrusion into the operation of small businesses. Because boarding homes are not well regulated, inspectors sometimes don't know about them. They can't even enter them without search warrants. And when they do get inside, the inspectors sometimes get into disputes over whether the residents Legal battle over Louisville boarding home heats up By ROBERT L.

PEIRCE Courier-Journal Staff Writer Almost since her first day on the job, Sharon Ware has had a running argument with Mary White, a Louisville boarding home operator who has been accused of illegally caring for sick people. Boarding homes aren't monitored like nursing homes and the operators don't have to meet any qualifications. And because of this, they aren't allowed to care for the ill or mentally incompetent But that's difficult to enforce in Kentucky, as Ms. Ware, the state licensing director, has found out She's gone to the state licensing really are too sick to be living in the home. The case of Ms.

White, who gave up her license to operate a family-care home in 1978, may be one of the longest running of these arguments. In April 1980, an early-morning fire at her boarding home at 4138 W. Broadway routed nearly a dozen elderly residents. "It was my first or second day at licensure," Ms. Ware recalled.

"I woke up to radio news reports about it." State inspectors became con-See BATTLE Back page, col. 2, this section.