The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 5

(F) THf- COUHIIR. JOURNAL, WlDNf SDAY, Df'CLMBfR 16, 1987 B3 For an exciting career, consider rest-area attendant REGIONAL COMPILED FROM STAFF ROUNDUP AND AP DISPATCHES BYRON CRAWFORD ists, who work rest areas, many times using children to help them elicit sympathy and money. Then there was the man who, Bowman said, ran over his mother-in-law after an argument. Bowman called the state police and an ambulance. On the lighter side, rest-area foreman Terry Richardson, 70, of Sono-ra, recalls that several occupants of an official, state-owned vehicle stopped several years ago at an 1-65 rest area where he worked near Munfordville, trying to find Interstate 75, which is about 100 miles to the east.

"That beat anything ever I heard of," Richardson said. "They weren't putting on; they was actually lost." "We had a bunch of Moslems, I reckon, the ones that face the sun when they pray, come in one day, and it was raining," he continued. "The funny part was. some of them come in and asked the attendant if they could pray in there, and he thought they said play. "He said, 'Hell no, you can't play in "You name it and we've seen it," commented attendant James Lewis, 52, of Hodgenville.

"I've learned more here than I did when I was going to school. The only trouble is, you never get a diploma. "We had a school bus come in here one day, loaded with registered hogs. Then we had a lion, I guess it was, come in here one day. A man had it outside on a leash." Among other unusual pets that have visited the rest area are a snake (wrapped around its owner's neck), miniature horses, rabbits and ferrets.

Rest-area attendants at Sonora, who alternate between the north and southbound rest stops, have observed that, in general, people going south are in a better mood than travelers going north. They presume it is because many of the southbound travelers are leaving for vacations and that those going north are ending vacations. Someone is on duty at the rest areas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The beginning of the Labor Day weekend, Terry Richardson said, is probably the busiest time for the rest areas that he supervises. "There's 96 rolls of toilet paper to a case, and on one day, just before Labor Day, we used a case and a half of toilet paper at one rest area," he said.

That's a lot of toilet paper. r. imagine the thoughts that were going through his head right then? "I'd say she was here a good three or four hours by the time he got back here to pick her up," Bowman said. Then there was the Michigan woman with two small children, whose husband left the rest area in the family's van while she and the children were in the restroom. "They came outside and he was gone," Bowman said.

"I had to work eight hours, and, in that whole eight hours, he never came back. Just left them. I couldn't believe it. "She asked me, you know, 'What should I do? I think she called her mom, and she came and got them." Naturally, there are those minor emergencies in which keys are locked in cars and fan belts are broken. And there are the con artists, claiming to be stranded motor PSI wants to delay rate hearing INDIANAPOLIS A hearing on Public Service Indiana's electric rates, scheduled for this afternoon, may be postponed if PSI has its way.

The utility asked the Utility Regulatory Commission yesterday to postpone the hearing for at least 20 days. No decision was made because the administrative law judge who handles the case had already left for the day. The hearing will be on PSI's motion to dismiss a rate-reduction petition filed Oct. 26 by two citizens groups, the city of Terre Haute and 16 individuals. PSI said it needed more time to prepare its arguments against new developments, including a request Monday by the state utility consumer counselor, who also wants rates to be reduced.

to cut cost of in-state toE! calls INDIANAPOLIS will reduce its in-state long-distance charges on April 1 to reflect savings under the new federal come-tax law. the company planned to cut $543,000 from its annual rates Jan. 1 and $992,000 on July 1 as part of an agreement with the Indiana Regulatory Commission. Instead, the cuts will be made in one step and will reduce annual income by $1.52 million, said Robert Glazier, direc-- tor of utilities for the commission. The April cuts will trim rates by an average of about 1 percent, he said.

Hudnut ranked among top mayors Indianapolis Mayor William Hudnut and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson have been selected as two of the 20 best mayors in the United States for 1987 by U.S. News World Report magazine. The magazine devoted two pages to the mayors as part of a Dec. 21 package on the nation's best mayors, governors and members of Congress. The feature on the mayors includes a photo of Hudnut standing in front of the Indiana Staiehouse.

The mayors were chosen by region, with five each from the East, Midwest, South and West. In addition to Hudnut and Abramson, other mayors included on the magazine's list were Raymond Flynn of Boston; Richard Cali-guiri of Pittsburgh; Bernard Sanders of Burlington, Richard Green of Rochester, N.H.; Steven Carlson of Jamestown, N.Y.; George Voinovich of Cleveland; George Latimer of St. Paul, Henry Maier of Milwaukee; and Coleman Young of Detroit. Also, Joseph Riley of Charleston, S.C.; Richard Arrington Jr. of Birmingham, Ala; Henry Cisneros of San Antonio, Texas; Raul Martinez of Hialeah, Tom Bradley of Los Angeles; Terry Goddard of Phoenix, Charles Royer of Seattle; Robert Isaac of Colorado Springs, and Don Peoples of Butte, Mont.

Lafayette mayor to lead cities group INDIANAPOLIS Mayor James F. Richie of Lafayette has been elected to a second term as president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, effective Jan. 1. Riehle will serve through September to complete the unexpired term of Plymouth Mayor Charles O. Glaub, who was defeated in the November election.

Riehle previously had served a full term as president in 1985-86. 1987 mixed lots of bright spots If so, the judge should have let the investigation run its course to clear the air. He and we would have been better served. HO HO HO The Indiana General Assembly did more things for me than to me for a change. It restricted smoking in public buildings.

It came up with a prepaid college-tuition plan, money to study the need for a bridge between eastern Clark County and eastern Louisville, and more money to further improve education. HUMBUG Clark County Commissioners Larry Dean and Larry Coats pleaded guilty to violating a federal law when they fired four county road workers who wouldn't contribute to the county Democratic Party. Coats and Dean were put on probation and ordered to perform community service. Their decision to fire the workers was arrogant, and it tarnished the records of Coats and Dean, ho, all in all, have done a lot to improve county government. HO HO HO A group petitioned the state Utility Regulatory Commission for a 27 percent reduction in If you are seeking an exciting career, and if you have an aptitude for psychology, social work, religion, auto mechanics, plumbing, marriage counseling, loeksmithlng, law enforcement and tourism, perhaps you can qualify as a rest-area attendant.

Scarcely a day passes that the attendants are not called upon to exercise their talents in several of those fields, and then some. Consider a few of the incidents witnessed by attendants at the two rest areas on Interstate 65 near So-nora, 10 miles south of Elizabeth-town, in Hardin County: "About a week and a half ago, this guy and his girlfriend were coming back from someplace in Ohio, and she was asleep in the back seat of the car with a blanket over her," said Tim Bowman, 20, of Radcliff, who has been an attendant at the rest area only nine months. "He pulled over and got out to go to the restroom, and after he went in, she woke up and got out to go to the restroom, and right when she went in, he came out and got in the car and left. "He went on to Tennessee, and got to within about three miles of whatever university they went to, and reached back to wake her up, and she wasn't back there. Can you digest COMPILED BY ED SCHUELER A New Year's camp for 6- to 14-year-olds will run from 3 p.m.

Dec. 31 to 11 a.m. Jan. 2 at The Thunder Sports Center, 520 Marriott Drive. Clarksville.

The cost is $90 for one child. $75 for the second and $60 for a third in the same family. Children will be supervised at all times by at least one adult per 10 children. Activities will include soccer, tennis, movies, a magic show, aerobics, a pizza party, volleyball, swimming, clowns, board games, a New Year's Eve party and an Orange Bowl pool with prizes. Also included will be dinner Thursday, three meals Friday and breakfast Saturday.

Children will camp dormitory-style in the building. They will need a sleeping bag. ample clothes and toiletries for the weekend. For more information call (812) 283-0785. The American Red Cross bloodmo-bile schedule for tomorrow: Floyd Memorial Hospital, 1850 Slate New Albany, 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.; Clark County Memorial Hospital, 1220 Missouri Jeffersonville, 2 to 7 p.m Paoh Friends Church, 530 N. Gospel 1 to 6 p.m. MEETINGS TOMORROW Southern Indiana Board of Realtors. Sheraton Lakeview Hotel, Clarksville, 9 a.m. For more information call 945-2374.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly. Chapter 436, Recreation Center, 201 National Jeffersonville. 10.30 a.m.: Chapter 963, Jacobs Chapel United Methodist Church, Charlestown Road, New Albany, 7 p.m. New Directions. Mount Tabor Elementary School, 800 Mount Tabor Road, New Albany, 3:30 p.m.

This is a free Floyd County project for the prevention of delinquency in 9- through 1 1 -year-olds. Programs include speakers, films and discussion groups for first offenders and others identified as being at risk. For information call 945-4107. Clarksville Kiwanis Club. Denny's Restaurant, 943 E.

IND 131, Clarksville. 6:15 p.m. Our Place Drug and Alcohol Education Service, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Mount St. Francis Retreat Center, Floyds Knobs.

The organization is for youths and adults, or more information, call 923-3400. Civil Air Patrol, Falcon Composite Squadron. Clarksville Optimist Clubhouse, 111 S. Clark 7 p.m. Open to adults and toen-agers.

Ftauch Industries Parent Support Croup. Mellnser, Enclies Tucker Building 301 E. Elm New Albany. 7:30 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous.

Charles-town Group. 214 McCampbell Charlestown, 8 p.m. Indiana Digest contains news and announcements from Southern Indiana. Send items to Indiana Digest, The Courier-Journal, 525 W. Broadway, Louisville, Ky.

40202, or call 582-4234. and humbug Public Service Indiana's electric rates. The group, a coalition of longtime PSI opponents, is convinced the utility is financially healthy again after its Marble Hill debacle. PSI's rates are "excessive, extortionate and beyond the value of service rendered," the petition states. Couldn't have said it better.

I'm still mad about Marble Hill. The state utility consumer counselor agrees the group has a point and wants a 13.2 percent rate reduction. The matter is pending. HO HO HO Quick praise for new Indiana University President Thomas Ehrlich, who showed more guts then predecessor John Ryan ever did in reprimanding coach Knight for taking his team off the court against the Soviets; for John Horner, who retired after a distinguished career as president of Hanover College; for Paul Geyman, the Madison man whose body was ravaged by a rare disease but who is getting on with his life, using artificial limbs; and to all of you who called with story tips. Associate Superintendent Jack Seville said the school corporation is studying the middle school idea, but must solve space problems now.

"It doesn't matter if we have (kindergarten) through five at the elementary level or through six we're still going to be short on classroom space," he said. Beverly Smith, director of the Floyd County Plan Commission, told the school board that several new subdivisions in the area would mean continued enrollment increases at Galena Elementary. "For nearly 10 years now this school has been overcrowded and has had a lack of facilities," Seville said. "It's time we did something about it." Parents cheer Galena, Slate Run plans Murdered student was strangled VINCENNES, Ind. A Vincennes University student who was found murdered two months ago was strangled, according to authorities who have made no arrest in the case.

Lisa McCraken, 19, of Hazelton was found murdered in her apartment in Vincennes on Oct. 13. Police did not reveal at the time how she died. However, her death certificate filed with the Knox County Health Department lists "asphyxiation and external neck compression" as the cause of death. The certificate also notes a postmortem stab wound from a small knife.

3 named to state Coard of Education INDIANAPOLIS A. Theressa Bynum of Terre Haute, Robert Hanni of Monticello and Joan B. McNagny of Fort Wayne have been reappointed to the State Board of Education by Gov. Robert D. Orr.

Their terms will expire June 30, 1990. The 10-member board has one appointed representative from each of Indiana's congressional districts. Continued from Page 1 mentioned only the $1.4 million from the Capital Projects Fund. "I thought that the cost of these projects was covered in the Capital Projects Fund, which only allows $700,000 to be spent at each school," Wilson said. "Now we find out that the cost is actually going to be more than $700,000 at each school.

That doesn't seem right." Adams said the school corporation never intended to ask for more than $1.4 million from Capital Projects and would cover any additional costs through other means. Wilson also asked the board to consider building a middle school beforebuilding more elementary school classrooms. Continued from Page 1 people in Southern Indiana have believed for decades. Hamilton is as fair and honorable a public servant as one will find, and it's our loss he doesn't want to be senator or president. HUMBUG Whatever Jefferson-ville's Orem did to losing mayoral candidate George Budd on election night, it was too much.

People don't like a bad loser, and they hate a bad winner. Orem's second term is tarnished before it begins. HO HO HO By challenging himself and his students, Tony Willis of Jeffersonville High School became Indiana's Teacher of the Year. Jim Lang, one of Willis' journalism students, said, "He respects us and we respect him and that makes learning a lot easier." Another ho ho ho for Jeffersonville High goes to that basketball coach, Mark Bixler, whose courage in fighting the tumor now in remission inspired the community. HUMBUG It wasn't Floyd County Court Judge Robert Hublar's year.

This summer, he sought reimbursement from the county for some personal expenses he incurred in connection with a trip to a judicial conference in Reno, Nev. After being questioned by the county commissioners, Hublar noted he should have separated expenses for a personal side trip to California from his conference expenses and was allowed to submit a new and improved expense-account report. "I don't know how I missed some of these expenses," Hublar told the commissioners. This fall, Hublar ordered a drunken-driving suspect released from the county jail while, police said, the woman was still legally drunk. The woman, Donna Watkins, who at the time was a New Albany zoning officer, was arrested again within three hours and charged with public intoxication.

Hublar told a reporter for The New Albany Tribune that he agreed to release Watkins because her city job meant that she was responsible. The Courier-Journal repeatedly sought an elaboration; Hublar wouldn't return our calls. HUMBUG Jeffersonville City Court Judge Duard Avery Jr. stayed off the ballot in this re-election year and the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications got off Avery's back. From all indications, there was a connection a deal there.

The commission had been privately investigating Avery's conduct after receiving complaints that Avery termed "lies and rumors spread by hate-mongers." Scllcrsburg police angry about raises Continued from Page I cated, describing the board's decision as "discrimination of the worst sort." But stale law doesn't allow changes in salary ordinances once they are passed, so the police will have to wait until next year. Current board President Melvin Curtis denied that politics had anything to do with the lower raises. "They've been getting raises when olher town employees didn't," Curtis said. "It's a balancing type of thing." Curtis said the police agreed to a guarantee of 1 percent raises three years ago, telling the board they wouldn't ask for more. "They've been getting that 1 percent, plus 5 percent in the past," Curtis said.

Huber said police never agreed to raises of only 1 percent. "I think we pull our share in this city," he said. "I don't see why we couldn't get an adequate raise." The police don't like to get involved in politics, Huber said, "but we thought we had to in this last election. I believe we have a right to do that like anybody else." Apartment fire claims life of 4th child INDIANAPOLIS A fourth child died yesterday from injuries suffered when the lights on his family's Christmas tree sparked a fire at an eastside apartment complex. Emmanuel Austin, 4, died shortly after noon at Riley Hospital for Children, about 27 hours after the fire that killed his two brothers and a sister.

Also injured in the fire was Herman A. Davis, 24, who was babysitting while the children's mother, Lorraine Austin, was at work. An electrical short in the plug of a string of Christmas lights caused the blaze, fire officials said. Christinas Plants MMWk oinsettias A Monroe 4:1,1 4.5" pot 3 4 Mooms $3.49 4-G blooms $8.95 pot-10-12 Mooms $15.95 sizes to 20 Mooms TIanjinf! baskets Iln to 25 Mooms A $29.95 .11 .1 I.W.kXK 6.0" pot- 8.0" Larger Mayor won't release names of donors VINCENNES, Ind. A list of people who gave $100 each to the re-election campaign of Mayor William D.

Rose during a "Mayor Rose Appreciation Days" promotion will not be released, despite a move to have Rose found in contempt of the county election board. "Until a court orders us, we will maintain the anonymity of our contributors," said the mayor's attorney, Paul Ledford. The Knox County Election Board filed a petition against Rose and campaign treasurer Doloras Montgomery citing them with contempt for failing to turn over the list. The election board demanded the names during a hearing on a complaint filed against Rose the week after he was re-elected in November. The complaint accused the mayor's campaign of irregularities in financial reports.

Among those who signed the complaint was Rose's unsuccessful GOP challenger, Leonard Goodwin. Hoosier burned in uranium-plant blast CINCINNATI A small explosion at a federal uranium processing plant yesterday left an Indiana man with second-degree burns on his buttocks. Michael Frank, 29, of Bright, was admitted to University Hospital in Cincinnati. Hospital spokeswoman Janice Joyce said he also was washed with soap and water for slight radioactive contamination. He was in good condition yesterday afternoon.

Frank, a welder at the Feed Materials Production Center in northern Hamilton County, was removing metal bolts from a fluid-bed reactor that had become clogged with uranium dioxide when a small explosion occurred, a plant spokesman said. No one else was injured. ffju on air Mini Poinsettias $1.39 Items wrenths FCjTV; Christmas if) Everything Christmas WgZ Artificial Trees F-VS" Ornaments Wreaths ftfjSSSfo Miniature Litcs lfZAtf Christmas Ribbon (by the bolt only) ajii jT ''xlvPt live plnnlB, frrnli ft a. Teen on death row called troublesome Continued from Page 1 vegetates," Wolter said. Correction officials said that Cooper's commissary, recreation and visitation privileges have been suspended.

"I wouldn't say she's an escape risk, but she's a high-security risk," said Clarence E. Trigg, prison superintendent. "Someone facing death doesn't have much to lose. She gels in those moods and gets very defiant," he said. Utility fined for lapses in r.uclear-plant security ATERFORD, Conn.

(AP) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission vf.sterday fined Northeast Utilities $25,000 for security violations at Millstone Nuclear Power Station. Among other things, inspectors discovered two visitors wandering without escort in a restricted area, officials said. The utility said it will pay the fine. ljWjJT'lS Brecon, end ccmrtnry memorial. UUwiLiliJI III Jerve-gas report ticks off Kentucky RICHMOND, Ky.

Kentucky has asked the Army to take the state's name off an environmental impact statement on destroying nerve-gas weapons because the stale was consulted only after the report was prepared. "We are not interested in buying into a situation we have had no impact on," cabinet spokesman Brad Marquette said Monday. report will describe how the Army plans to dispose of nerve-gas weapons stored at several sites, including the Lexington- Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County. Jolfersonvillc, 2108 Hamburg Piko. 288 6G91 New Albany, Spring al Silvor Creek, 945 6607 Floyds Knobs.

Highlander Point, 923 9881 Louisville. 4919 Dixie Hwy (K mart Plaza), 448 9615 Open Mon. thru 9:00 to 5:30, Sun. Noon to 0:00.