The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 3

Oct. 8, 1982 3A illoines IOWA NEWS SHOTWELL'S CITY A grave error During the recent Des Moines School Board election campaign, The Register and Tribune editorial board, as usual, invited all candidates to come in and express their views. But Patricia Donahey never showed up, explaining that she had to see to the burial of her late father again. The story she told, said Gil Cranberg, editorial page editor, was the most unusual any candidate for any office ever gave for declining to chat with those who can bless candidates in the newspaper. Donahey's father was buried in the wrong place and the remains had to be moved.

It turns out that this kind of thing happens occasionally, but it's not something cemetery operators are eager to talk about, and it's not always their fault. In Donahey's case, she said it happened like this: Her father, Donald Joseph Bracelin, 71, died in a hospital on March 4, a Thursday. A surprise snowstorm hit town that morning; in fact, Fleur Drive was a mess of snarled traffic. The funeral was set for Saturday, a raw day with a trace of snow and temperatures well below freezing. Services were held at St.

Pius Catholic Church, and Westover Funeral Home had dutifully notified Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery that the burial would be in a twin plot that Bracelin and his wife, Dorothy, had purchased. But snow covered the ground, explained Jim Peterson, Chapel Hill president for about five years. Thus, the grave was opened the half intended for Mrs. Bracelin instead of her husband, Peterson explained. The error was discovered when the headstone was placed, Donahey said.

"It was terribly upsetting" for the entire family, she said. As you stand at the head of husband-and-wife graves, Peterson explained, it is customary for the man's grave to be at the right and the woman at the left, the way they stood at the marriage altar. The Bracelin headstone, Donahey said, was engraved with those positions in mind. Her father's date of birth and death were already engraved, as was the mother's date of birth. Therefore, instead of simply switching a headstone from one site to the other, the reburial became necessary.

"She was very upset at the time," Peterson said of Donahey. "It was an emotional time the loss. I understood that, but it was an honest mistake." Does this kind of thing happen often? "Thank God, no," Peterson said. "The whole thing was a shame." Still, said Peterson, bodies occasionally are moved for other reasons, usually because a family disagrees on location. Albert Miller, manager of Waveland Cemetery, a municipal cemetery, said it is infrequent, but not especially unusual for bodies to be moved after funerals.

Usually, he said, it's because a family changes its mind, deciding to relocate the deceased in a prettier spot or perhaps in a newly purchased family plot. Peterson said the Bracelin reburial was handled at" no expense to the family, and Donahey said the family anticipates no action against the cemetery. "It's easier to just let it go," she said. Donahey came in fifth in a field of seven school board candidates, and she regarded her showing as quite good, considering she campaigned very little. Walt Shotwell 6 UNI grads to be honored The Register's lewa News Service CEDAR FALLS, IA.

Six University of Northern Iowa graduates will receive Alumni Achievement Awards in a ceremony tonight. The award winners are Dr. Gordon Cawelti, executive director of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; Dr. Dwane Rolland Collins, emeritus professor of education at the University of Hawaii; Walter Cunningham, principal at East High School in Waterloo and president of the Black Hawk Civil Service Commission; James Hearst, poet and emeritus professor of creative writing at UNI; Jean Ray Laury, author of several books on applique and creative sewing, and Dr. Robert Yager, professor and head of science education at the University of Iowa and president of the National Science Teachers Association.

The 1982 honorees will be recognized a at a 6 p.m. dinner in the UNI Commons Ballroom. Wife forgave Graney, letter to him says By JACK HOVELSON Of The Register's Waterloo INDEPENDENCE, days after allegedly 22-day-old son to Bureau IA. Nine stabbing his death, Michael Craney received from his wife a letter forgiving him "because this wasn't you." The short letter was introduced into evidence Thursday in the fourth day of Craney's firstdegree murder trial in Buchanan County District Court here. Craney, 29, of Jesup, has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity of the May 5 slaying of his son, Matthew.

Craney's ex-wife their divorce became final Sept. 27 testified Thursday that she wrote her husband on May 14, while he was in jail, to tell him "that we had to remember the times that we'd had before this, that we wouldn't be together again and that I was thinking about him." The letter said: "My dear Michael. I'm devastated by this as I'm sure you I know you weren't yourself. I'm forgiving you because this wasn't I'd appreciate it if you would not contact me again. You are in my prayers.

Kim." Kimberly Craney, 24, Wednesday told a six-man, six-woman jury that her husband first tried to strangle the baby in its bedroom, then carried it downstairs to the kitchen where he slashed its throat as she (Kimberly) tried to stop him by hitting him with a telephone. The alleged murder weapon, a kitchen knife with a six-inch blade bent near the handle, Thursday was introduced into evidence. Authorities said they found it on the kitchen floor in the Craney home when they arrived the morning of the slaying. Michael Craney was arrested a short time later at the farm home of his three brothers and widowed mother. He offered no resistance.

Two of the brothers, Leo and Larry Craney, testified that Michael announced when he arrived at the farm that he had killed his baby. Leo Craney said Michael went into a bathroom, washed his hands, then went to a refrigerator where he found "a whole and started chewing on it." Kimberly Craney had testified that shortly before her husband killed their baby, he said the child was "possessed by demons." The two brothers said Michael told them the killing "wasn't the devil's work." Several witnesses have portrayed Michael Craney as a devoutly religious person. Larry Craney said Michael refused to enter an Independence convenience store to purchase sleeping pills because the store sold what he considered to be pornographic books. Ex-North Polk chief gives up his certificate By JONATHAN ROOS and MARK HORSTMEYER Register Staff Writers Former North Polk Superintendent Richard Shockey, the subject of a sexual harassment complaint, surrendered his teaching certificate to the state Department of Public Instruction. But Shockey hints he may try to teach again someday.

DPI officials say they may not accept the surrender of Shockey's certifiRICHARD cate because he SHOCKEY doesn't spell out the reasons for his action. Also, the Iowa Professional Teaching Practices Commission, which has agreed to hear the harassment complaint against Shockey, may have jurisdiction over the case. Shockey, 42, said in a letter accompanying his certificate that he was giving it up on the advice of his lawyers, but might reapply for it "when my doctor feels I am: medically capable of returning to the teaching profession." Shockey submitted his resignation as superintendent Sept. 20 in the wake of allegations that he sexually harassed seven North Polk teachers. Later he asked the school board to make his resignation effective Oct.

1 rather than May 30, 1983, citing personal reasons for the change. He will receive his salary of $38,000 and benefits through May 30. He also is acting as a consultant to the school board on teacher negotiations. Jim Sayre, attorney for the North Polk teachers, said Shockey's letter "does not admit or deny" any of the allegations and he suggested that it was a subterfuge to let him regain his teaching rights in the future. REGISTER PHOTO BY RICK RICKMAN His record spoofs the pols Disc jockey Layton "King" Zbornick, 42, does recordings series of Iowa gubernatorial candidate debates, has been from this small studio in his Albia home.

His new record getting wide play on a number of Iowa radio stations in titled "The Last Great Debate," spoofing the current recent weeks. STORY: Page One. Murder charge in lowa shooting By BILL GORDON Register Staff Writer A man accused of shooting a Lake View bartender after he was refused service now faces first murder charges. Lake View Vera Susan Auen, 58, of Lake View, DES MOINES died late Wednesday Miles 200 night from gunshot Sept. 16, prompting Sac wounds couffered thorities to amend the attempted murder charge against Wilbur Chapman Baker.

Sac County Attorney Lon Tullar said he will ask that Baker, 72, of Lake View, be held without bond on the charge. Baker was being held in the Sac County Jail on $50,000 bond. He was moved to the Iowa Mental Health Institute at Cherokee about midnight Wednesday because he became depressed and threatened to kill himself after learning of Auen's death, Tullar said. Authorities said the shooting occurred after Baker was refused service at Susie's Tap in Lake View. He allegedly went to his car for a newly purchased shotgun and shot Auen in the back.

Sheriff Duane Rohde said at the time that patrons of the bar said Baker was refused service because he was behaving in a surly manner, "cussing and using bad language." OBITUARIES ALVIN L. PORTER The Register's lowa News Service ROCK VALLEY, IA. Alvin L. Porter, 61, owner of Porter Funeral Homes in Inwood and Rock Valley, died Monday of a heart ailment at a Sioux City hospital. Services will be at 10:30 a.m.

today at the Pioneer United Methodist Church in Rock Valley. Mr. Porter was former mayor of Rock Valley, past lieutenant governor of the Northwest Iowa Kiwanis District, past master of the Rock Valley Masonic Lodge and cofounder and past administrator of the Valley Manor Nursing Home. Survivors include his wife, Jean; two sons, Randy of Rock Valley, and Rick of Dallas, Texas; a daughter, Pam Porter of Denver, his parents, Jake and Dora Porter of Rock Valley; two brothers, John of Rock Rapids and Stan of Inwood; three sisters, Rose Duven of Pella, Dorothy Moen of Inwood and Alice Cirk of Alma, and three grandchildren. Police tackle man with gun leaving Davenport school By WILLIAM RYBERG Of The Register's Davenport Bureau DAVENPORT, IA.

A burglary suspect was arrested before dawn Thursday near' West High School after a police lieutenant chased him on foot and tackled him while the suspect aimed a handgun at the officer, police said. Other lawmen surrounded the school while officers conducted a room search after the suspect told them he had an accomplice, police said. No one was found inside. Officers armed with shotguns still were on the scene when students started arriving for school, and a school official used a police loudspeaker to warn young people to stay outside and away from the building. "Early bird" classes that began at 7 a.m.

for about 155 students were canceled, said Principal David Bess. The doors were opened to students and teachers about 7:50 a.m. after police assured school officials that the building was safe. Classes normally start at 8 a.m., and things were pretty well settled down by 8:15 a.m., Bess said. Police Lt.

Donald Schaffer was credited with capturing the suspect after the man bolted from a school door as Schaeffer arrived in his unmarked car, responding to a report that a burglar alarm had gone off in the building about 5:30 a.m. Schaeffer was struck on the side of the face with the gun as he tackled the suspect, police said. Other officers helped disarm the man. The suspect told police his name was Johnson D. Riches, 47, address unknown, said police Capt.

Charles Borgstadt, chief of detectives. But Borgstadt said the man had given police some misleading information, and they were continuing to check his identity. Police had not "totally discounted" the possibility that the man did have an accomplice, Borgstadt added. Riches was charged with firstdegree robbery, first-degree burglary and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was being held in the Scott County Jail on $55,000 bond, Borgstadt said.

State, industry officials meet By TOM KNUDSON Of The Register's lowa City Bureau IOWA CITY, IA. Top officials from the University of Iowa, state government and private industry met here Thursday to discuss the relationship between business and the university, and the possibility of attracting more high technology firms to Iowa. But it's not known what was said at the meeting because University of Iowa officials did not allow the press to attend. "This is an informal discussion of university and business people and we want to be as complete and candid as possible. And we feel the presence of the press would inhibit that," said D.C.

Spriestersbach, vice president for educational development and research at the of I. Earlier this year, Gov. Robert Ray appointed a task force on high technology to explore ways to rejuvenate Iowa's sluggish economy by attracting more high technology companies to the state. One idea suggested by task force members is to try to locate such firms near the of I and Iowa State University, where important high-tech research is conducted. Several key university and state officials attended and gave presentations, including of I president James 0.

Freedman and David Swanson, director of the Iowa Develpment Commission and a member of the Governor's High Technology Task Force. Tabor man dies in 40-foot fall The Register's lowa News Service COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. A Tabor man was killed Wednesday in a fall at a construction site here Authorities identified the man as Robert Sichter, 53. He was employed by Knudson Construction Co. Inc.

and had been with the firm two weeks when the accident occurred. Authorities said Sichter was working on scaffolding at Iowa Western Community College when he apparently slipped and fell about 40 feet. He died of massive internal injuries at a Council Bluffs hospital. In showdown of mussels, foreign 1 clam may win Of The Register's Dubuque Bureau DUBUQUE, IA. The setting is the murky shoals of the Mississippi River.

The script reads like a grade horror movie. But the villain is not Vincent Price. Instead it is a small mussel called the Asian clam, better known as species Corbicula among the scientific community. The prolific, self-fertilizing, muscular mussel has finally made its way into the Upper Mississippi River region, and like the organism that grew out of control in the old horror flicks, it threatens the lives of the natives. So says LaCrosse, clam expert Marian Havlik.

Havlik is worried about what this "introduced exotic" will do to the native mussel species clinging to life in the increasingly polluted Upper Mississippi River. In a five-mile stretch of the river near Prairie du Chien, just across from McGregor, 35 different species of freshwater mussels have been identified by Havlik as one of the last strongholds of native clam diversity along the Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin border. The Asian clam, a foreign species that seems to thrive in disturbed waterways, now has been found there, too. "When I found the first one alive at Prairie du Chien a year ago, I was just absolutely sick," Branstad: My economic plan better By DAVID YEPSEN MICHAEL CRANEY Register Staff Writer DECORAH, IA. Lt.

Gov. Terry Branstad, the Republican candidate for governor, Thursday said his plan to create an investment fund for Iowa is better than the $300-million bonding proposal offered by his Democratic opponent, Roxanne Conlin. And Branstad said Conlin's proposal is a "desperate" attempt to win the election. On Wednesday, Conlin proposed the state borrow $300 million at about 9 percent interest for 20 years by selling bonds and then spend that money on various public improvements in an effort to provide more jobs and stimulate the state economy. She said that it will cost $660 million to repay the loan, but that her plan is no different i in principle from borrowing money for a home.

Branstad campaigned throughout northeast Iowa Thursday, and in speeches to GOP groups of 150 at the new Cobblestone Restaurant and about 30 at the Bradford House in Nashua, he attacked Conlin's plan and argued for his own. "Desperate Attempt" He said voters should view her plan as evidence that she is losing the race and it is a "desperate attempt to win the election." Conlin said she would repay the loans by cutting $36 million each year in state spending and earmarking that much income tax revenue to repay the bonds. She would cut travel and equipment expenses by as much a $12 million, improve the coordination of services to save $7 million, reduce the number of supervisors to save $7 million and implement ideas suggested by Gov. Robert Ray's economy committee to save $5 million. Branstad said there isn't that kind of money to save in those programs because GOP belt-tightening already has eliminated much of it.

He noted that the entire budget for travel is less than $1 million. "Little Bit Naive" "Just remember, she has never served a day in elective office and I just don't think her ideas are very realistic in terms of what is practical," Branstad said. "Frankly, I think she's just a little bit naive about the legislative process and how you get things accomplished and I think she's a little desperate, too. Every week or so she comes up with another She's going to be thrashing about with a lot of crazy ideas." Branstad has called for tax cuts and business incentives to create jobs. He also has called for a development bank, which technically would be an "investment mutual fund" called the "Iowa Fund." He said this plan would raise money for business loans by allowing Iowans to invest in this bank.

He said his idea is better because it would mean no state debt and would not encourage the growth of government. "My approach is to encourage and assist the private sector to create real jobs, not makeshift government jobs that are going to end in six months," Branstad said. He repeated his view that Conlin's plan "is the kind of spend-now, pay-later philosophy that got us into trouble in the first place." Conlin says Iowa must do something to provide jobs, stimulate the economy and repair bridges, roads and other buildings. Branstad said her idea may be unconstitutional, but even if it isn't, it is "mortgaging our future." Branstad also hit Conlin's call for higher income taxes on Iowans earning taxable incomes of more than $75,000, saying it would discourage businesses from locating in Iowa because those decisions are made by people who earn that kind of money "and they don't want to come to Iowa if they have to pay taxes like that." By KENNETH PINS Havlik said. things crawling out of their newly poured "In the South, it -competes with the native concrete." freshwater mussels," she said.

"The invasion of "This is one animal that's built for hard times," the Asiatic clam has simply wiped them out." said University of Arkansas malacologist Now a new barge harbor has been proposed for Dr. Louise Kraemer. the Prairie du Chien area, and Havlik said: "I can And not only are they tough, they're promiscuonly fear for the worst." ous. That harbor will make conditions even more "They're very active little animals, and they suitable for the Asian clam, and less hospitable have a marvelous reproductive capacity," for the indigenous species, by disturbing natural Kraemer said. "Just incredible." habitat and polluting the water further, she said.

Unlike most of their American cousins, the The fact that the Asian clam has appeared in Asian clams are hermaphroditic, capable of the area in the first place, Havlik said, "I quite producing both eggs and sperm. And, Kraemer frankly directly attribute to the increased barge said, they have the ability to self-reproduce. traffic in the area, and you can quote me on The Asian clams were first found in the United that." States in 1938, along the Columbia River in WashIt's ironic that a clam so small could be ington. Scientists think the clams were introcausing so much concern. duced by immigrants who brought them along for The adult Asian clam gets only slightly larger food.

than the fingernail clam, and it's worthless to Since then, they have spread across disturbed commercial clammers. waterways all the way to Florida, Kraemer said, But in the South, it has all but taken over but their appearance in the colder Upper Missisdisturbed waterways, clogging barge canals with sippi Region is a relatively new phenomenon. a "biomass" three feet deep. How the species made its way north remains a "There are horror stories where they have mystery. Havlik thinks the clam caught rides on dredged for gravel and sand out of the river in northbound barges, but Kraemer said there could the South," she said.

"These things were in the be a number of explanations. "It can hitchhike in sand, and when they used the sand to make the cuffs of a man's trousers, for example," she concrete they didn't die. They got those little said..