The Des Moines Register du lieu suivant : Des Moines, Iowa • Page 15

The DksMoinks KkcistkkB Pi.mhay. Arm vr 11. 1 3M ITYSUBURBS A quick look at U.S. elections through the years By MARY HILL Rkoistkr Staff Wkitkk L-v llllwisi urday LW Ptcldy Ptcldy Mocldy Sunny Ptcldy Ptcldy Sunny Sunny Ptcldy Ptcldy Sunny Ptcldy Shwrs rstrms' Ptcldy Sunny i Sunny V. if Br vi Willi' -i i I -s.

Jim Graeber knows local, national and global politics. The principal of Moulton Elementary School in Des Moines knows the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat of dozens of candidates and causes through the campaign buttons he's collected. "It was self-defense," he said of his hobby. He needed something to do while his wife shopped for antiques. A glass case on the wall of his school office has scores of buttons from all over the world.

A giant Ford button encourages people to re-elect him. Graeber likes to test visitors' knowledge of history by asking what's wrong with that button. Give up? Ford was never elected. He was appointed after President Richard Nixon resigned the nation's top political office. The buttons carry some direct messages.

For instance: "I've been RAYped," referring to former Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray, who allegedly reneged on a campaign promise; and "Goldwater in '64, Hotwater in '65, and Bread 'N Water in 1966." Graeber's favorite button is one that asks Americans to boycott Nestle products because of its investments in South Africa. Attached to the pendants is a ribbon encouraging the release of former South African dissident, and now president, Nelson Mandela. "I like that one because I'm probably one of the few people in the whole Midwest to own one like it," Graeber said.

A wealth of history is represented by the buttons. Like this one: "If I Were 21 I'd Vote." The 26th Amendment ratified in 1971 allowed citizens age 18 to 20 to vote. Graeber has more than 200 buttons and keeps only a portion of them in his office. He said he attempts to purchase only originals. He's traveled to Chicago and Washington, D.C., to collect some of the campaign buttons.

He's never run for political office himself, but Graeber said he's worked on campaign platforms for Democratic candidates. Collecting campaign buttons is so popular that candidates rarely give them away anymore, he said. Campaign workers will give someone a sticker, but expect to be paid for the buttons, he said. "I hate to buy buttons from candidates that I don't really support," he said, pointing at a Bush-Quay le in 1988 button. "But what are you going to do?" Graeber said he has spent $5 to $8 for a button, and many have been given to him by friends and acquaintances.

"I probably wouldn't resell the buttons unless I was K( )B NANI1K1 Reo.istkk Phi )T is Dozens of political buttons make up the collection of Jim Graeber, principal of Moulton Elementary. really down on my luck," he said. The entire political spectrum is represented in the collection. There are buttons urging the boycotting of grapes and lettuce, and he also has buttons urging people to vote for arch-conservative Alabama Gov. George Wallace for president.

Students come into the office and inquire about the buttons, Graeber said, but he tries not to overload them with history. "I try to explain who the people are and what they stood for," he said. "They especially like the ones with the pictures. I try not to bore them with too many Zr f'J Principal Jim Graeber likes to give Moulton Elementary School students impromptu history lessons with his collection of political, buttons. "They especially like the ones with the pict lie says.

YWCA resignations books to be open for Our customers can expect a great deal! ft 1 1 The other resigning members -could not be reached for comment or declined to comment. Hensley said she couldn't release the organization's audits or federal tax reports Thursday because she still was gathering the information. However, she pledged that Monday she and other board members would go through the financial documents with a reporter. "The history of the YWCA facility is one of very expensive capital repairs, which we have paid for out of our general operating funds, choosing not to fund them with long-term debt," Hensley said in a statement issued Thursday. "We have explored the use of long-term debt, but have not pursued it at the present time, because the larger issue which the board must address is the long-term facility issue." Scheve, who resigned Wednesday, revealed her resignation Thursday By CHRIS 0SHER Registkh Staff Wkitkk Christine Hensley, executive director of the YWCA of Greater Des Moines, on Thursday promised to open the organization's financial records for inspection next week.

Meanwhile, the Y's treasurer, Mary Scheve, revealed that she had resigned and said she had done so to spend more time with her family. The resignation of Scheve comes on the heels of the resignations of five members of the Y's executive, committee over what one of those members has called a dispute over the organization's finances. Inga Bumbary-Langston, who resigned as president, declined to reveal why she resigned. She said a letter from the five resigning members to the Y's board delineated the reasons. She declined to make a copy of the letter available.

Suburban Report Arcliitects selected for proposed Altoona library Altoona. Ia. A huilriine rom mittee has selected FEH Assnrintos to work on the preliminary drawings iur a proposed nnrary. The architectural firm is exDected to complete its work by the end of November, city of licials have talked about holding a bond issue in the spring iortne library. Library Director Kim Smith said a finance committee is looking into grants and other ways area libraries nave raised money for new build mgs.

Land south of Eighth Street South west has been considered as the site for the project. A consultant's study issued earlier this spring estimated the cost for one version of the Droi- ect at $2.9 million. It would be about three times the size of the existing li Drary at uu nrst Ave. south. Child-care center to open ft 1 w-v -m xwonaay yv.d.jm.

West Des Moines, Ia. The West Des Moines school district is opening a new child-care center Monday at Valley United Methodist Church, 42nd Street and Ashworth Road. An open house for the center, called Children's Learning Resource Center, will be from 1 to 6 p.m. at the church. The public is invited to attend.

The center will provide an educa tion-based program for children 5 weeks to kindergarten-aged. There are still openings for the kindergarteners, who will be bused to and from the center to elementary schools throughout the district. For more information, call 226-2750. Missing carrier Gosch's parents granted divorce West Des Moines, Ia. Noreen and, John Gosch, parents of missing newspaper carrier Johnny Gosch, have been granted their divorce.

Both Gosches have been accused of harassment during acrimonious divorce proceedings, which began over a year and a half ago. Noreen Gosch also had filed for bankruptcy. In 1982 Johnny Gosch, then 12, disappeared while delivering the Des Moines Sunday Register a few blocks from his home in West Des Moines. Authorities still have no leads in the case. 'Stars Over Saylorville' come out tliis weekend Johnston, Ia.

Take a closer look at the sky tonight and Saturday during "Stars Over Saylorville Lake," a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program. The viewing will be from 10 to midnight both nights at the Walnut Ridge Shelter No. 2, on Northwest Beaver Drive north of Camp Dodge. Astronomers Ed Brown and Burton Lodwick will provide telescopes for viewing.

Participants should bring blankets or chairs for comfortable seating. Union backs Wilson for school board Jonathan Wilson, running for re-election to the Des Moines school board, has received another endorsement from the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Perry Chapin, president of the union, praised Wilson's record on the school board, citing Wilson's support for" vocational programs. "Wilson is fighting for the interests of working Iowans," said Chapin. "For the past 12 years, Wilson has fought hard to make sure Des Moines has strong vocational education programs, so that students who get a job after high school are as well-educat ed as those who go into college." He said that about half of the 25.000 central Iowa members are registered voters in Des Moines.

Wilson welcomed the endorsement, which he adds to nods from others. Those other endorsements include the Communicator, a Des Moines newspaper with a primarily black readership, and Des Moines Local 2048 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union endorsement "is not just an endorsement of me, but an endorsement of the need for quality public education," said Wilson. "Their support is a significant boost to my campaign." Theater manager denies racism awmn HiU''W I Wi You can expect a lot rom your John Deere dealer. Quality equipment, prompt service, and of course, great deals.

BOB SHAW GREAT AMERICAN, URBANDAl RUNS LIKE A DEERE FOR THE SEASON EYE-OPENER! srf-ir I It" i ai ill ir-1 s. tow.i 12 Mih Mnit Ml W. lut Ut I i m- ur l.t rnturtll Ki-vulvinv i 0272 loll I rt I -KOO-747-OOH4 Vlirr unl I iii.mh iiisj v.ul.iblt NOTHING UR NEW LOOK IS A REAL yrjr wn JHP I JtAL 1 continue; inspection in an interview, saying she had just had a baby and wanted to devote more time to her family. "With everything going on, I just don have the time, Scheve said. "There was too much pressure for me, so I those to resign.

I'm sure they'll pick up without me." The statement from the YWCA said the organization had come through a period of great capital improvement needs and faces another one the replacement of the boiler before cold weather arrives. The release also said the organization will need to find stable, long-term financial support "I want to stress that the commu-. nity has been extremely supportive and various people have come forward offering to help," Hensley said in the release. "The board needs to conduct a facility planning study to know how best to use the wonderful offers of help we've received." have perplexed AAU organizers, who say they have little to go on. "You don't know any details, and it's so hard," said Vicki Comegys, a representative on the local AAU organizing committee.

"Hopefully, we can get some details. We don't even know the specifics of the incidents." Some business leaders are rankled by the sketchy allegations, Collins said. "Dorms, motels and theaters are put in a bad light," he said. Dodd also has said that black athletes in a dorm were told to go to bed while white athletes were allowed to roam the halls. He would not say, however, where that alleged incident or others occurred.

He did say that the reported problems would change AAU policy prompting sensitivity training and adding racial diversity as a selection criterion for other host cities. everybody," he said. Some businesses are thriving, he said, including a new country-western bar at East 14th Street and Euclid Avenue that is drawing "huge crowds." Mortale said he doesn't object to true competition. "I face competition all the time," he said. "That's nothing new.

But you can't compete with something you can't get." Mortale said business at his bar dropped in April after the casino opened, recovered somewhat in May, and now is about the same as last year. "I don't mean to imply everyone is suffering," he said. "But everyone is tipset about Bishop's insensitivity. We know we can't do anything about the casino, but we don't need a politician kicking beer in our face. "Every owner I showed the letter to signed it immediately," he said.

By STEPHANIE ARMOUR Register Staff Writer A movie theater manager says blacks participating in the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics weren't turned away because of their race. He says it was because of their age. Dave Collins, the Des Moines man ager for Carmike Cinemas, said a group of AAU athletes last week tried to get into an R-rated movie. They couldn see the movie at the Valu Cinema in downtown Des Moines, he said, because they weren't old enough. 'This was simply a case of age.

It had nothing to do with race," Collins said. "It is incumbent upon us to make a good faith effort to enforce the R-rated restrictions." Aimoire. list 4280. SALE 2520 Quean postoi txxi. list 3900, SALE 2340 Queen canopy, list 780, SALE 468 bocneioi cnest witn stew top, list 1 SALE 1 206 Collins said he believes the Aug.

4 incident led to claims of alleged discrimination against black athletes and fans during the Junior Olympics, which ended Saturday. Bobby Dodd, AAU president, has said at least six racial incidents during the event. But he has declined to disclose further details about the alleged discrimination, including the names of those who complained. Dodd could not be reached for comment Thursday. Cinema employees told AAU organizers that the athletes were underage, Collins said.

He didn't know what movie they wanted to see or how many people were involved. Black athletes being denied admission to a movie was described as one of the more serious racial incidents by Dodd. But those and other assertions "When you have a product that is available only to Prairie Meadows Casino and no one else, there is no competition. Let the bar owners have video gambling and we could show Mr. Bishop what competition is," Mortale's letter said.

Bishop said Prairie Meadows is just one element of the area's entertainment mix. "Prairie Meadows Casino benefits the community and it's part of the entertainment scene," he said. "The last thing we want is to hurt ot her businesses, but that's competition." Bishop said Prairie Meadows rejected a proposal to give free drinks to gamblers in favor of charging competitive prices and discontinued a karaoke feature after a karaoke bar owner complained. "We're trying to work with people, but I don't think we can satisfy Tavern owners protest casino remark Our new Bernhardt Napa Valley collection combines the rustic loob of polished stone and antiqued brass with the elegance of knotty white oab. Bedroom, dining room and living room ensembles available.

SALE ENDS AUGUST 31 st. 40 OFF STOSEWIDE SALE PLUS A BONUS! NO PAYMENTS AND NO INTEREST FOR SIX MONTHS OR 5 EXTRA DISCOUNT FOR CASH OR REGULAR TERMS. By FRANK BOWERS Register St.uk Writer A group of bar and tavern owners has lashed out at Polk County Supervisor Jack Bishop for a remark he made about Prairie Meadows' effect on small-business owners. In an interview reacting to the casino's effect on some taverns and restaurants, Bishop said, "Competi tion is the name of the game in this society businesses have to compete." Tony Mortale of Tony Sports Bar and Grill, 918 E. Euclid and 13 other lounge owners sent a letter Wednesday to 250 other liquor li censees calling the remark "an af front to every small business owner in Polk County affected adversely by Prairie Meadows Casino." it nr 3V KOI 7ni si reel.

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