The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 15

ksdw. .1 wi 3M; CitySuburbs Former Prosecutor Battling a Blaze Branstad names Blane to district court bench Suburban Report -yV- Elkhart sewer rates may take a big jump Elkhart, la. Sewer rates are expected to take a big jump in Elkhart on April 1 because the city's bond premium payments will double in the next fiscal year. The City Council eave initial an The decision disappoints those who wanted a black judge named to the post. By FRANK SANTIAGO RwiisTKH St.uk Wkitk.k Richard Blane II, a former prosecutor who has been in private practice in recent years, was appointed by Gov.

Terry Branstad to the district court bench in Polk County Wednesday. A partner in the Hansen, McClin-tock Riley firm in Des Moines, Blane, 45, will fill a vacancy left by Ross Walters, who left to become U.S. Magistrate. "Judge Blanc's no-nonsense, law and order approach coupled with his criminal and civil law experience in state and federal courts make him a natural for the bench. I believe he will be a very worthy and honorable addition," Branstad said in a prepared statement.

A Republican, Blane was an assistant Polk County attorney from 1973 to 1978 and first assistant U.S. attorney in Des Moines in 1978 and 1979. His appointment was widely proval to an ordinance this week that would raise the wwer rntP fmm $17.70 a quarter plus $1.65 per 1,000 gallons of water through the system, to nz.zi) a quarter plus trict court bench in more than a decade. Of the state's 101 district judges, only one George Stigler of Waterloo is black. Stovall, a district associate magisj trate in Des Moines, was heavily stip; ported by lawyers, some of therri blacks, who contended the governor shouldn't miss a rare opportunity to diversify the state courts.

Blane and Stovall were the two finalists for the position. "Rick Blane will make a great judge and is very qualified. Bbfii gentlemen are very qualified," said Don Nickerson, U.S. Attorney in Des Moines and a member of the Equality in the Court Task Force that studied discrimination in the legal system. "But for the integrity of the judicial system, we should have minoHty judges.

If the judicial system is gQing to claim to be fair and representative of attitudes of all people, then those being judged need to see some iridf-viduals who represent them in terms of color, sex, even disability. "Diversity would lend more credibility," Eager To Begin Blane said he was delighted with the appointment and eager to begin. "People need to be protected. Sentencing ought to be consistent and fair. On the other hand, there has to be an element of retribution in behalf of criminal victims, otherwise the system breaks down." -'v He graduated from Drake University in 1970 with a bachelor of science degree in political He got a law degree from the university in 1973.

z.iuperi,uuu gallons. The ordinance must be approved two more times probably in and March before it goes BOB NANDEUThf. Register appliances and clothing were destroyed," said Chris White of the Red Cross. "They lost everything." The family, Randall and Kathleen Powell and their three sons, found temporary housing with relatives. The family cat, Cooney, escaped uninjured, and a pet turtle, Herman, was found singed but alive in the rubble of the living room.

Des Moines firefighter Ralph Weber rolls away from the upstairs window of a burning house at 3610 Amherst St. Wednesday morning as heat, smoke, and water spray come out of it. The fire was caused by children playing with matches, officials said. There were no injuries, but the house was ruined, and the family had no insurance. "All the household furnishings, lntoenect.

City Clerk Gretchen Aldrich said the increase is necessary because the city's sewer bond premium will go up from $5,000 to $10,000 a year starting in the 1996 fiscal year. It win increase to a year in another three years. Impressed by 'Visionary Outlook' Aldrich said the bonds were issued in 1 98b and will be paid off in 200 1 Pizza Hut makes overtures praised by lawyers and judges, many of whom consider Blane to be a legal craftsman who has served well on several blue-ribbon professional commissions. Hopes Dashed But Branstad dashed the hopes of backers of D.J. Stovall, 44, who were expecting the governor to pick Stovall and add the first black to the dis rNoreen Gosch allowed to retrieve belongings to Des Moines' inner city West Des Moines, la.

Noreen Gosch, mother of missing newspaper earner Johnny Goschj will be allow' ed to retrieve her personal belong The Register brought it to our attention," said ings from the home she owns with By MARY HILL Register Stai? Writer her estranged husband, John Gosch, Evelyn Davis, co-chair of the com ,1 mittee. "It was through all the Polk County Judge Arthur Gamble Pizza Hut has promised to award issued the order as part of the cou efforts of all the neighborhood groups that this came about. I hope they will send in names of young pie's divorce proceedings. Gamble also ordered that Noreen Gosch not scholarships and to provide other aid to residents in neighborhoods where the chain had refused to provide delivery service. people from this area for scholar sell or dispose of her wedding ring until the court decides what should ships that are available.

A member of one neighborhood More than three years ago, Pizza be done with it. group that lobbied Pizza Hut to ex Hut's non-delivery policy in the pand its delivery area said all is not Both Gosches have been accused of harassment during acrimonious divorce proceedings, which began about 18 months ago. Noreen Gosch forgiven. "I continue to be offended at the inner city was publicized by neighborhood activists. Community leaders have said the policy is discriminatory, while the company has said it merely wanted to protect its drivers from possible assault.

way Pizza Hut has treated us, and has also filed for bankruptcy. In 1982 Johnny Gosch, then 12 will continue to buy my pizza from Island Pizza and Home Team," said Bill Cappuccio, past chairman of the BUY A SOFA AT 40 OFF REGULAR RETAIL AND GET THE; MATCHING LOVESEAT AT AN ADDITIONAL 10 LESS! WINDSOR FINE FURNITURE Last month, Pizza Hut completed a Moines burtday Register a few blocks Drake Park Neighbors for Action 90-day test delivery in those areas, and decided that parts of the inner home. The case has stumped "The fact that they've offered all authorities. (Formerly The Orange Crate) Sofas from $599 this hasn't smoothed anything over city are safe enough to provide serv BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY, Pizza Hut has offered the following incentives worth 6,000 to 7,000: to hire two entry-level shift managers from the mid-city employment pool. to provide two $1 ,000 scholarships to deserving students at the DMACC Urban Campus.

to work with Mid-City to provide free pizzas to designated community groups once a month. to provide 100 youth memberships at the John R. Grubb Community YMCA for the next two years. to confirm its plan to reopen certain parts of the area for delivery, and evaluate the non-delivery area at some future point. with me.

ice to on a permanent basis, said KoD 7220 University. (North of WalMart) sat 10-5 279-3170 Pizza Hut has expanded its deliv Doughty, vice president of public relations for Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kan. ery area to include 25th Street on the west, Hickman Road on the north. :S.E. Polk school board discuss new schedule Last week, Pizza Hut representa the MacVicar Freeway on the south and the Des Moines River on the east tives met with the Mid City Vision Committee to announce its plan to Runnells, la.

The Southeast However, it still does not deliver in TPolk School Board meets at 7 p.m. offer scholarships, free pizzas and other assistance. an area bounded by College Avenue 'today at the district office. Among the items to be discussed are the on the north, 13th Street on the west, "There is a feeling of community understanding and cooperation," Fifth Street on the east, and University Avenue on the south. The Newest Addition To Club 55 1995 Tour Calendar 'eight-period day, the high school registration handbook, and Rhytha- Charlie Plisco, Operations Director A representative of one of the neighborhood groups that brought for the Pizza Hut Iowa Market, said in a news release.

mette physical education. the issue to light said she is not sure "Mid City (Vision Committee) has Pizza Hut will follow through with a visionary outlook that is both healing and catching. It's made Pizza Hut want to work with this group, to do its part to make the area a thriving council to mull library consultant idea and we were impressed with them, and their vision for the neighborhoods," he said. "They have a worthy goal and objective, and they're the kind of group we want to support." The committee gives all the credit for encouraging Pizza Hut to increase its involvement in the inner city to the neighborhood groups. "The neighborhood groups need to be proud of themselves, those that Clive, la.

The City Council to- part of the city." Pizza Hut's civic involvement in the inner city had been its promises. "I don't believe everything I hear," said Laura Hudson, president of the King-Irving Neighborhood Association. "I prefer to not have an opinion until I see some action (by Pizza Hut). I want to see all the things they have in writing actually happen. Talk is cheap." night will consider a proposal to hire a library consultant to assist in the minimal before the debate over its delivery policies, Doughty said.

planning of a new public library. "Through this controversy, we met the people from Mid City Vision, 8 City Manager Dan Olson said he is recommending that the city hire George Lawson of Ames, who runs a jjprivate consulting service, to help Branstad outlines tax-cut strategy determine the size and type of 11-ibrary needed. Globus Alpine Countries Tour 1 Aug. 1-16, 1995 15 Day Tour Just $2,759 'based on double occupancy Tour Include: Roundtrlp airline transportation, 14 nights accommodation In First Class hotel. Sightseeing Indicated In brochure, airport hotel transfers, hotel baggage handling, service charges tax, tips to all sights elng guides and drivers ($60 value), AAA escort and Globus Tour Director.

Tour highlights: Germany, Austria end Switzerland For More Information About Club 55 Tours Your local AAA Travel Agency or Cherrie at 1-800-373-9609 Ext. 241. Brochures are available at no charge. TAXES The city began moving forward plans to build a library after a survey of 400 Clive residents in September and October showed that 72 percent of them would approve a I 1 1 Continued from Page 1M mental health care while the counties will assume the other half. Palmer estimated that within a de niiDrary oonu reierenuuin.

i Olson said the library consultant Jwould assess the library space cade it will cost the state about $225 million to pay its share of mental health care. needs, determine the setup, furnishings and electrical and mechanical 'needs, and assist in the selection of legislative leaders in both Darties said Iowa should go slow on tax cutting by first reducing the mental health and machinery and equipment property taxes. They also worry the state might be giving away too much of its tax base during good economic times and will regret it in the next downturn. Branstad said his plan "is a go-slow approach" to cutting income tax rates and should limit criticism of the income tax cut proposal. He said the state could cut taxes more quickly, but his approach assures lawmakers they will not be cutting revenues they don't have.

He said current law allows the state to spend only 99 percent of the tax revenues it is projected to get. The other 1 percent is placed in a reserve fund that can't be spent except by a 60 percent vote of the lan architect. In recent years, actual revenues have exceeded those projections and are being placed in the cash reserve. After that is filled, the money goes into an emergency fund. Both funds equal 5 percent of the state's general fund.

Branstad said there will be a temptation to spend that surplus, and he wants the Legislature to make some changes. First, he said, the cash reserve should immediately be filled. Next, he wants surplus revenues placed in a tax-reduction account. That account could be spent only by a 60 percent majority of the Legislature, unless it is for tax reductions the following year. After the income tax reductions are financed, Branstad said he would place surplus revenues in the emergency fund.

have cenerallv endorsed the proper 3 Plans call for the library to be lo ty tax initiatives. There is less sup-nort for the income tax cut. and cated in the Campbell Recreation "area west of Interstate Highway Wednesday Branstad moved to mute criticism from Senate Democrats who say income tax cuts might be Olson said the city hopes to have a bond referendum within 12 to 16 premature. To Join This Exciting Designed for mature travelers, sand your name, address, telephone number, birth date, and $5 membership fee payable to The De Moines Register to: Club 55, P.O. Box 10333, Des Moines, IA 50306.

For membership Information, call Lois Peterson at The Des Moines Register at 800-532-1455. ext. 8247. He said the state should set aside months. If the bond issue is ap- surplus revenue into a special "tax reduction account" to pay for in construction could start in 1996.

The council meets at 7 tonight at City Hall, 8505 Harbach Blvd. come tax cuts. Senate Democratic leaders have You're Invited To Club 55'S Kick-Off Party! cii. 55 Kick-Of PartvjngMjghijj The Des Moines Register and AAA Travel Agency invite Club 55 members and non -members to a Club 55 open house. We'll feature information on how you can become a Club 55 member and highlight upcoming Club 55 tours! Date: Sunday, January 22, 1 995 Time: 2 pm-5 pm Place: University Park Holiday Inn, West Des Moines Special Club 55 Princess Alaska Tour Presentation by Princess Representative, Sue Modiri, at 2:45 p.m.

and 4:00 p.m. Information will also be available on the following Club 55 1995 Tours: Branson Motorcoach Tour, April 27-30, 1 995 Princess Alaska Tour, June 20-July 1 1 995 Globus Alpine Countries Tour, Aug. 995 Mackinac Island Agawa Canyon, Sept. 24-30, 1995 Ozark Mountain Christmas, Dec. 7-1 0, 1 995 Itefrshments ill fx fr oit.

Travel Agency Admission is free, but you must RSVP Cherrie at AAA by Jan. 20, 1995 at 1 '800-373-9609, Ext 241.