The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 1

0.6% Inflation rising as output slips WASHINGTON (UPI) The government reported Wednesday that America's gross national product dropped 0.6 percent from July to September, a second straight quarterly downturn for the economy but less serious than expected. The market value of the nation's goods and services increased $61.2 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate during the third quarter to $2,947 -billion $2.9 trillion the Commerce Department said. However, after adjustment for inflation the figure became a decline. "It's not yet evidence of Mr. Reagan's recession," said private economist Michael Evans, of Evans Economics.

"It's very close to zero and that's where we are," he added, saying that so far the only economic sector deeply mired in recession is housing. Another private forecasting firm, Chase Econometrics, had predicted a 1.5 percent drop and most financial market analysts had agreed. Inflation, as measured by what the government calls the "implicit price deflator," went up to 9.4 percent projected annually. But Evans said the figure was "a mirror image" of the previous quarter's 6.4 percent rate, "which wasn't believeable either." He said the real rate of inflation was still about an average of the two figures, eight percent. Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldrige said Wednesday he still agrees with President Reagan's weekend observation that the economy is in a "light recession," and said the current quarter also may show a GNP drop.

"No one likes recessions," Baldridge added, taking a longer view. "The effect on human lives is not something that anyone likes." But, he continued, "a slight recession I think is perhaps almost necessary right now." GNP in the second quarter dropped by 1.6 percent but it was up by 8.6 percent in the first quarter. The traditional definition of a recession is two straight quarters of declining GNP, but other factors are also considered. Last year's recession was the shortest on record, but drove GNP down 9.9 percent at an annual rate during 1980's second quarter. The decline in the nation's real output was blamed on drops in both final sales and inventories with declining exports accounting for much of the sales weakness.

A SPLASH OF AUTUMN This "burning bush" was planted in the early 1950s at 801 Hancock by the late William J. Robertson. Enjoying the crimson beauty is his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Hazel Robertson, 761 Han- Journol Photo by Evelyn Burger cock, who said the bush will turn even more crimson as colder weather approaches. Get out the long Johns It's time to throw an extra log on the fire.

Freeze warning flags were flying in Northwest and North- Central Kansas, with an outside chance of show flurries in the extreme northwest corner of the state by Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Highs throughout the area were expected to reach only into the high 40s or low 50s Wednesday with a drop into the 25-30 degree range overnight. That's quite a change from the 82-de- gree marks recorded at Garden City and Dodge City, and Salina's 76 Tuesday afternoon. Goodland had dropped to 36 degrees and Russell to 39 by 7 a.m. Wednesday with strong northerly winds.

The National Weather Service held out a good chance for light rain moving in from Colorado, where drizzle was reported at Denver and Ldmon early Wednesday. As temperatures drop below freezing, the NWS said, some flurries are possible Northwest. 25 CENTS SALINA The Salina Journal 110th YEAR No. 294 SALINA, KANSAS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1981 56 Pages Planners endorse revis By DALE GOTER Staff Writer It was essentially the same question, the same debate and the same result Tuesday as the Salina Planning Commission approved a revised Central Mall proposal by a 6-3 vote. The planners recommended approval of two key changes in the plans for a $20 million regional South Salina shopping center in a 114-acre wheat field at 9th and Magnolia.

Dropped from the application were requirements for about 90 units of perimeter housing and a $5 million off-site drainage system that would have eased much of the surface flooding problems in South Salina. Although the hearing lasted nearly three noun, the debate skirted the issue of a mall and centered largely around drainage concerns by South Salina residents. About 40 persons considerably less than expected by the planners attended the hearing at the Bicentennial Center. Last year's planning commission hearing on the original Central Mall application drew considerable comment from downtown merchants who opposed the South Salina regional mall proposal. The merchants asked for time to develop an alternative of a downtown regional mall, and a Chamber of Commerce task force subse- quently commissioned a major study of the downtown area.

The proposal for a downtown mall north of Santa Fe and Ash, unveiled two weeks ago by a Chicago consultant, was criticized Tuesday by Frank Norton, attorney for Central Mall developer Ed Warmack. Norton said the cost of improving street access from the interstate highways to the downtown mall would be $40 million to $50 million. Norton said his estimate was compiled by Wilson Company Engineers and Architects, who are serving as consultant to Warmack on the Central Mall project. The estimate is based on 70 acres of concrete for street widening and the (See MALL, Page 2) entral AAall proposal Exchange fire over providing access to mall An estimate of a million price tag on widening Ash, Ohio and State Streets to serve a proposed downtown regional mall drew a skeptical response from the consultant on the downtown project Wednesday. The estimate was given at Tuesday's planning commission by Frank Norton, attorney for the developer of a proposed regional Central Mall in South Salina.

The estimate was compiled by Wilson and Company Engineers and Architects, consultants for Central Mall developer Ed Warmack. The estimate drew a sharp response from Nick Trkla, consultant on a study of a proposed downtown regional mall. Trkla, in comments to The Journal Wednesday morning, said the estimate was premature. "They're jumping the gun," Trkla said. "Obviously, they (Wilson and Company) are involved in a need to discredit the (downtown) mall site and protect theirs." Trkla said his study is in the process of looking at street improvement costs, but no estimates are yet available.

"We're going to be looking at all nec- essary actions and costs related to the downtown development package," he said. "We just can't say yet what the costs might be." Trkla's statement drew an equally sharp response from Nate Butcher, managing partner in Wilson Company. "We don't have any vested interest in Warmack's proposal," Butcher said. "We're just hired to give the information that's requested." Butcher labeled Trkla's comment as "very, very improper." "For him to challenge an estimate (See ROAD, PAGE 2) Jo day Today is Wednesday, Oct. 21, the 294th day of 1981 with 71 to fol- low.

Those born this date are under ithe sign of Ubra. Alfred Nobel, Swedish inventor and founder of the Nobel prize, was born Oct. 21, J833. Also on this date in history: In 1879, after 14 months of ex- Tperiments, Thomas Edison in- a workable electric incan- lamp. Inside WORLD leaders converge on Concun, Mexico, for North-South summit.

Page 2. "THE prison boil will continue 'to fester." Editorial comment, Page 4. JAYHAWKS get healthy; WUd- cats have good practice. Page 10. AVERAGE wheat production costs difficult to determine.

Page Sen. Dole may attend Elizabeth Hanford Dole to address Chamber event SLAP HAPPY Bob Watson (right) of the New York Yankees leaps on home plate following three-run homer in the first inning of Tuesday evening's opening game of the 1981 UPI Photo World Series. Glad-handing Watson are Lou PinieUa (partially hidden at left) and Jerry Mumphrey (22), who scored ahead of him. Area News Comics Courts Crossword Deaths Pr. Donohue.

faro. Circus Hospitals 20 Living 15-17 27 Local 13,14 13 Markets 13 7 Opinion 4 13 Sports 11-13 ...3 TV-Films 22 .28 24-27 13 Weather 13 Yanks claim Series opener Weather KANSAS Cloudy, windy and much cooler Wednesday night. Lows in the 30s southeast and 20s other areas. Mostly cloudy west decreasing clouds east Thursday. Cold.

Highs in the 40s. NEW YORK (UP!) Bob Watson, fulfilling a 17-year dream, hit a three-run homer in his first World Series at-bat and his New York Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 in the opening game Tuesday night. Watson connected for a three-run homer off Jerry Reuss in the first inning to get the Yankees started on their way- Then third baseman Graig Nettles, an old Dodgers nemesis, saved the contest with two sparkling plays, including a diving one-handed catch of Steve Garvey's line drive in the eighth inning that choked off a Dodgers' rally. Ron Guidry and Lou PinieUa also played prominent roles. Wednesday night, the Yankees planned to send ex-Dodger Tommy John to the mound against right- hander Hurt Hooton.

Details of the opening game are on Ptgf 19 of today's Journal. Elizabeth Hanford Dole, wife of the senior senator from Kansas, Bob Dole, will speak at the annual banquet of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Jan. 28 in the Salina Bicentennial Center. Mrs. Dole is on the White House staff of President Ronald Reagan as assistant for public liaison.

Her appearance continues the Salina Chamber's tradition of bringing major figures in public life here for the annual affair. Mrs. Dole has been in federal government posts for some years. She was a member of the Federal Trade Commission when she and the Kansas senator married, but resigned in 1979 when her husband made a run for the Re- publican presidential nomination. She also has been a deputy special assistant to the president and a staff assistant to the assistant secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

"We are very pleased to have Mrs. Dole as our annual banquet speaker," said Chamber President Flavel Simcox. "She is an excellent speaker and knowledgeable in the areas of politics and business. We are looking forward to her visit to Salina." Sen. Dole is expected to accompany his wife here.

The banquet is open to the public. Tickets will go on sale later but reservations now are open at the Chamber office, 827-9301. Elizabeth Hanford Dole Kansas patriot plans warm, wet war MANHATTAN, Kan. (UPI) A Kansas newspaperman dismissed West Virginia as a "thicket of nothingness, a doldnun of despair, an assemblage of rented air." And West Virginia's secretary of state is angry. They're going to fight it out in a hot tub.

A. James Manchin, the secretary of state, said he will visit Manhattan, Thursday to "straighten the mind out" of David Hacker of the Manhattan Mercury. As Manchin boanU the plane to KMIM which will be out by Stcrttery of State Jack Britr Hackw will to waiting In the tnmcbM of KMIM, with "Al- OMNt HMVW" hot tub manufactured in Renlck, W. "I plan on immersing Mr. Manchin up to his neck in my West Virginia hot tub while he looks out over the beauty of the wonderful, barren, people-less, mountainous Kansas Flint Hills," Hacker told Brier, who is helping to arrange Manchin's visit.

The Mercury staff plans to present Manchin with Kansas souvenirs upon his arrival. And according to a statement from Brier, Manchin will present Hacker with an honorary West Virginia citizenship to demonstrate the forgiving nature of the people of his state. Hackler's editorial called West Virginia "a thicket of nothingness," etc. An outraged West Virginia newspaper columnist was quick to reply, labeling Kansas "9 place where bad Nebraskans go to die," etc. Dear Sal On the one hand, if we lose this "war," we qualify for billions in economic aid a la Germany and Japan.

On the other, does West Virginia have anything we want? Yours, I no.