The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 21

7 i uuu DES MOHIES a ffctjistcr Section 10, IMS 1 ICGIlTfa PHOTO IV 0AV'ANDCL Lottery spurs I DAHLII1E IOWA Teachers ask for 9 percent pay raise 'Y -1 i Ti i I "i 1 id ss i I' I i I .1 A ''I i. tJJliaj. s'n, Umbrellas everywhere Most everyone who ventured out Wednesday did so pre- Grand Avenue downtown, came prepared for the worst. He pared for the rain that fell throughout the day. Perhaps this needn't have worried; Des Moines received only a little motorist, stopped for a traffic light at sevemn street ana more tnan an men $60,000 welcome planned By KENNETH PINS Of Tht RMfitWt Aims Bureau AMES, IA.

Motorists entering Iowa, consolidation of networks Merging of 16 sy stems may save state 1 million By BOB SHAW A new electronic network to carry Iowa lottery bets next year will allow the state 16 separate communica' lions systems to "piggyback" on It, a plan that may trim $1 million off the state 1 $17.5 million annual phone bill. "We are pretty excited about this," said Glen Anderson, director of com munications for the Iowa Department of General Services. "We have to seize this opportunity. The lottery will be using a massive system that we can use as the backbone of a state-con trolled facility." Officials say nearly all of the state's communications needs ranging from sheriffs' emergency messages to community college teleconferences could be served by a single super-sys tem. The impetus for the consolidation comes from an unlikely source the Iowa lottery's planned on-line com puter game, which will begin by May 1986.

That game, unlike the instant game involving scratch-off tickets, will allow bettors to pick their own numbers at any of about 1,000 sites statewide. From those sites, numbers would be fed electronically into a cen tral computer in Des Moines. Plans for the lottery's state-of-the-art system caught the attention of oth er state officials, spurred by Gov. Terry Branstad's executive order earlier this year to make state communi cations more efficient. That order formed the Telecommunication and Information Management council, which is orchestrating the state's efforts.

"But the lottery is the steam behind this," said Anderson, because of its May deadline. "I'd be comfortable saying we could save another million a year through all this." Anderson said a letter of intent to negotiate a contract to design the su per-system has been sent to Spectra Associates of Cedar Rapids. Design work should begin within three weeks, and the contracts to set up the system should be given by early January, he said. "I think we will be leasing this sys tem, but we can't rule out owning it, said Anderson. Lottery director Ed Stanek said, "This consolidation would decrease costs for the lottery and for everyone else." Iowa officials would not hazard a guess at the cost of the system needed by the lottery.

But in Washington, a state with about 4.1 million people, lottery officials said that communication costs for the state's on-line lottery games are $900,000 yearly for 706 sites and that hardware and other costs totaled another $3.2 million. Stanek said the lottery is looking to cut costs because telephone deregulation has resulted in skyrocketing costs for on-line lottery systems. In Illinois, he said, communications costs for the state's on-line game will triple this year. The Iowa lottery system must be extraordinarily reliable, Stanek said, because "millions could be at stake daily or weekly." "If a major line went down at any time, it could cost us tens of thousands of dollars," said Stanek. Anderson said that one reason con- LOTTERY Please turn to Page 8M Soda claim By FRANK SANTIAGO Rtgiitar Staff Writer Sam Soda, who said when he an nounced his candidacy for the Des Moines City Council that he was decorated with two Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars as a Marine in Vietnam, now says he was not awarded the medals.

"I don't have the medals but I think I was entitled to them. If it's a big deal, then make a big deal out of it. Frankly, I don't give a said Soda, a private investigator. The Purple Hearts and the Bronze Stars, which are medals for valor, were listed in a three-page press release distributed by the 43-year-old Soda at his Central State Investigators Ltd. office at 1123 Army Post Road last month.

During a press conference, Soda talked about a range of subjects including his candidacy, his Vietnam service as a Marine and his wounds. However, a check with the Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., found no record of the medals. When presented with that information from official records, Soda said that he did not have the medals. He indicated that he had no war wounds. Four-Way Primary Race Soda, who lives at 1403 S.W.

Emma is one of four candidates for the council seat now occupied by George Nahas. Two from the group, which also includes Karla Fultz, Richard "Ric" Jorgensen and Ralph Reed, will Firing of sheriff's deputy in sex investigation upheld TM Iwmr'i toot Nm torvka DAVENPORT. IA. The Scott County Civil Commission ruled Wednesday that a sheriff's deputy was fired properly in August for allegedly having sex with prostitutes at a truck stop and requiring them to pay money to avoid arrest. The commission found that Roger Ray, 32, violated the office's rules.

Dut Chairman Roy Porter said the commission did not back up the sheriff's department on its charge I that Ray was guilty of immoral conduct or improperly disseminating in-1 formation. Three-vehicle crash kills Mason City woman CLEAR LAKE, IA. (AP) Grace Marie Patterson, 67, of Mason City was killed Tuesday in a crash involving another car and a semi-trailer truck east of Clear Lake. The other' drivers, Gary Ginapp, 38, of Mason City and Sophie Rezabek, 79, of Gear Lake, were not injured seriously. An Iowa State Patrol official said Patter-sen's car apparently crossed the center line and collided head-on with Ginapp's truck.

The truck's trailer struck the Reubek car, which had stopped. Canadian warrant issued for Newton slaying suspect NEWTON, IA. (AP) Canadian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Dennis Lamar, 38, accused of killing Newton police officer Dan McPherren Sept. 13. Jasper County Attorney Charles Neighbor said the warrant will give Canadians the power to detain Lamar if they should catch him.

Lawrence Gladson, 41, was captured the day after the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder. Guttenberg mayor fires chief of police Tt Rtgiittr't tewa Nwi Sarvtc GUTTENBERG, IA. Guttenberg Mayor Karen Merrick has fired Police Chief Glen Witham, who had been suspended without pay, and appointed former chief Gerald Block to the post. In a letter, Merrick told Witham: "The effectiveness of the police department is dependent on the maintenance of control, discipline and morale within the department and community respect I believe you have permanently impaired your ability to maintain control, discipline, morale and respect." Pay dispute figures resign jobs in Iowa City IOWA CITY, IA. (AP) Johnson County employees Frank Burns and Jane Strabala, who were involved in a pay equity dispute earlier this year, have resigned from the Johnson Coun ty treasurer's office.

Burns' last day was Wednesday, and Strabala said Wednesday she is quitting Oct. 18 to work for the University of Iowa. Burns would not identify his new job. Strabala filed a sex discrimination complaint in April, saying Treasurer Cletus Redlinger paid Burns $17,695 to do the same work she did for $13,905. The supervisors cut Burns' salary to Strabala's pay level.

Burns said his decision to resign had nothing to do with Strabala's complaint. Stabbing fatal to D.M. man, 26 By STEVE BALLARD RtgMtr Staff Wrfftr A Des Moines man was killed Wednesday night when his stepson thrust a boning knife into his chest, piercing his heart, police said. Gerald Leonard Carl, 26, of 1714 Twenty-first St. was wounded about 9:20 p.m., police said, and was pronounced dead at Broadlawns Medical Center shortly after 10 p.m.

The incident reportedly erupted from a dispute involving the telephone, but police refused to provide details. The 15-year-old suspect was apprehended at 1517 Eighteenth St within 30 minutes after the stabbing. Police declined to name the youth. They said he will be turned over to juvenile court. Police said a knife with a slender blade of more than 8 inches, believed to have inflicted the fatal wound, also was found at the Eighteenth Street address.

Carl was found outside a house at 1718 Twenty-first where he apparently had fled his assailant, police said. In doing so, Carl had crossed a fence that separates his house from the one next door. Police refused to supply further details about the case pending their Salary boost would cost school district S3 million By MARK HORSTMEYER Rwtitf Staff Mfrttvr Des Moines teachers asked Wednesday for a 9 percent pay raise and increases that could boost tome coaching salaries 58 percent The pay requests would cost the school district an estimated $3 million, while other proposals of the Dos Moines Education Association would cost another $1.3 million, a school official said. The union, which bargains for the district's 1.997 certified staff members, Including teachers, nurses, and social workers, proposed that the base pay be raised from the current $14,600 to $15,900, or by 8 9 percent The association also proposed that coaching and other extra duties b-paid as a percentage of base salary rather than as a flat fee, as is done now. The result would be pay increases of 25 percent to 58 percent for those assignments.

The union offer marked the beginning of bargaining in the district for the 1986-87 school year. District ad ministrators will counter with their offer on Oct 23. This year, the entire labor agree ment is open to negotiation, and the teachers' proposals go beyond pay raises. Among other things, they want a one-year contract rather than a three-year agreement as has been the case in the past, four hours and 10 minutes a week for preparation time and class size limits 25 students for elementary classes, 30 students for transitional and senior high school class and a formula that takes into consideration students' special needs, such as gifted and talented and special education. No changes were proposed for the health and dental insurance programs.

A 9 percent increase would raise top pay to $31,959 for a teacher with a master's degree and 30 additional hours of credit. A teacher with a doctorate would receive an additional $1,000 under the proposal. The association also proposed pay ing teachers at the top of the salary scale $437 for longevity. For example, a teacher with a doctorate who is at the top of the pay scale would receive $33,396, which is 11 percent more than the maximum pay of $30,001 for a teacher with a doctorate. The average teacher salary this year is $24,600 but would go to $26,789 next year under the proposal.

Walter Galvin, chief negotiator for the teachers, said the pay proposal "is an extremely reasonable request. Ev erywhere you turn there's an $18,500 base salary. Coming in with a $15,900 is almost apologetically low." Of the proposals for sizable in creases in the extra-duty pay, Galvin said, "There is no question that Des Moines lags far, far behind. If coaches salaries were in a race, we'd be lapped even twice. The proposal for supplemental pay for head football and basketball coaches is 25 percent of the proposed base salary, or $3,975.

Currently, those coaches receive $2,511, which is the lowest among the 20 largest school districts in Iowa. The union proposals would cost the district an additional $4.3 million, said Donald Prine, chief negotiator for the district. The pay package would cost roughly $3 million, although Galvin said that was only a guess. The request for four hours and 10 minutes a week preparation time would mean that 50 new teachers would have to be hired at a cost of about 41.1 million. The longevity provision would cost $309,068, be cause half the teaching staff is at the top of the scale.

The district will receive only $2.4 million in additional money next school year, Prine noted, which amounts to a budget increase of 3.2 percent. "What rationale do you have to support the contention that you are asking for virtually twice that amount?" Prine asked Galvin. "I justify it by need," Galvin re plied. "The public in every instance says we need more. We'd be derelict if we wouldn't bring in something at least this high." Teacher associates also presented their proposals Wednesday, asking for basically the same things in their contract as the teachers' contract.

The as sociates classroom and library aides, study hall monitors and hearing interpreters asked for a $3.48 per day base increase, or a 10 percent pay boost. The range would be $38.25 per day for a first-year, classroom associate to $72.42 per day for a hearing interpreter with 12 years experience. Hearing interpreters were included in associate negotiations for the first time last year toward the end of bargaining after an agreement was worked out between the association and district and the Iowa Public Employees Relations Board. Galvin said the interpreters did worse under bargaining than they would have if they never had bargained. What we did last yei was wrong.

Frankly, I'm ashamed," said Galvin. ly for more than a decade, soon will get a personal greeting and an invitation to explore the nation's heartland from Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad who, incidentally, will be seeking re-election next year. The old green-and-white "Welcome to Iowa, A Place to Grow" signs, which stood without attribution along the state's border through most of Robert Ray's record tenure as governor, are wearing out and need to be replaced, said Warren Dunham, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation. The new signs, which will begin going up this fall, will be slightly larger and will include the Iowa Development Commission's new slogan, "Come Explore the Heartland," along with an adaptation of the old four-leaf clover logo and the governor's name.

Phil Thomas of the Iowa Development Commission said many states sur rounding Iowa include their governors' When the development commission's stad's name and the state slogan on road idea," said Susan Neely, Branstad's press do what all of our neighbors are doing." Last year, tourism raised an estimated $1.6 billion in Iowa, and Dunham saia the transportation department has been cooperating with the development commission to promote travel in the state. Replacing the welcome signs 55 of them along primary roads, 10 along interstates will cost the state slightly more than $60,000, Dunham said. And he added the signs would not have to be replaced in 15 months if Branstad isn't re-elected. "We would put a strip over the name, not a major investment." to war medals false, Marines say 01 rain, neaiuer awry, rage m. First Ward race is low-key stroll to polls Tuesday By JANE NORMAN Rtflttor Stiff Wrltor The First Ward primary race for the Des Moines City Council has been so low-key that by Wednesday incumbent Elaine Szymoniak hadn't even PRIMARY '85 met her two challengers, Hugh Hammond and Bettv Saunders.

But all three said they have been knocking on doors, handing out flyers. talking to interest groups and putting up yard signs in preparation lor lues-day's primary election, which will narrow the field to two. With two council terms to her credit and a crew of 200 volunteers combing PRIMARY Please turn to Page 6M Marine Corns, emerging in 1971 after seeing combat in Vietnam. He was awarded two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and the Joint Services Commendation. Sam also has the dis tinction of having been, at 21, the youngest recruiter in the History 01 me corps." The medals are also mentioned in a recent glossy brochure for Soda's Central States Investigators Ltd.

It says: "Sam spent 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, emerging in 1971 with two Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars True or False? Soda would not say that the statement in the campaign press release involving the medals was incorrect. "I don't know if it is wrong or not. It depends on how you look at it," Soda said. "Listen, nobody physically handed me anything.

I don't even have the certificates and I d6n't have the stuff for the joint service commendation. So you know, I don't give a. Print what you want." Asked whether he actually was wounded in Vietnam, Soda said: "You don't get wounds for being blown up. When you get blown up it doesn't mean physically blown up. I was on an amphibious vehicle at the time.

I was blown off the top." Asked whether that incident was the reason he believes he was entitled to the medals. Soda replied, "I guess you're right" who have been welcomed anonymous names on welcome signs. tourism division suggested using Bran signs, "The governor felt it was a good secretary. "We felt we might as wen or paint over it," Dunham said. "That's Sam Soda "I think I was entitled to them" Heart or a Bronze Star for him," Kappel said.

"No Big Deal" Soda said the fact that he does not have the medals is "no big deal." "The press release doesn't tell me that I was given the medals. And I didn't even write it" he said. He did not say who wrote the release. The press release says: "Sam Soda is Central States Investigators Ltd. He is tenacious, a perfectionist trustworthy, calculating and absolutely loyal to discovering the facts.

"Sam spent 12 years in the U.S. IU be selected at Tuesday's primary to run in the November election. Maj. Don Kappel, a Marine spokesman in Washington, D.C., said there is no record of Soda's having received either a Purple Heart or a Bronze Star. Quoting information from the Marine Corps Records Center in St.

Louis, Kappel said Soda was in the Marines from August 1960 to January 1971, including a year in Vietnam. Kappel said that before Soda received an honorable discharge, he was awarded a combat action ribbon for "being in a combat situation," a presidential unit citation, awarded to the unit to which he belonged, a Republic of Vietnam armed forces meritorious unit award, a Vietnamese campaign medal, a good conduct medal with two stars for nine years of unmarred service, a national defense service medal, and a rifle and pistol badge indicating he was a "sharpshooter." The ranking is above "marksman," the lowest ranking for firearm proficiency, and below "expert," the highest "Our records show that he was involved in five combat situations," said Kappel. "The fact that he didn't get a medal for one of those situations, one might think he wasn't in a job where be was charging over the hill. But that is a supposition. I don't know what he was doing the records don't show that" "We have no record of a Purple rfk mm i.