The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 69

Sije Itaffloincs No. 25, 1982 Polk could owe U.S., says tentative federal audit "bl IOWA nny DaveLusson: You turkey! JACKSON JUNCTION, IA. In the local school system, they teach computer science to students from kindergarten By DICK BROWN and PETER RACHER A federal audit, described as very tentative, suggests that Polk County might have to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars it received for child support recovery work by its Friend of Court office. The audit questions the legitimacy of claims the county submitted for more than $1 million in federal funds since 1979. Both county and federal officials say it's unlikely that the audit will determine that all of the money was improperly received.

In fact, the county official who oversees Friend of Court said he doubts the federal government will require any repayment. "The truth is, when this all washes, the county isn't going to owe the federal government any money," said Clerk of Court Clark Rasmussen. Rasmussen also said the audit doesn't mean there is any suspicion of wrongdoing by officials at Friend of Court Routine Check Federal officials agreed that the audit is routine. They said they are examining child support recovery units for the state of Iowa and for some counties, including Polk, Linn and Scott Friend of Court was created in 197S to collect A study conducted just last week set the figure at about 65 percent he said. Rasmussen is angry that information about the audit was given to a reporter.

He suspects that the information came from someone in state government who wants to make Friend of Court look bad. This is a critical time for the office because Iowa and Polk County are haggling over what its makeup should be. The state has suggested that it absorb Friend of Court into its Child Support Recovery Unit but Polk County has resisted that. "Somebody has released this to discredit Friend of Court," Rasmussen said. "It's unforgivable it became public." Dale Frederick, the county division chief in charge of Friend of Court, echoed Rasmussen's complaint.

He predicted that the final audit would be "very critical" of the state recovery operation. Max Smith of Kansas City and Dave Leame-ister of Topeka, two Health and Human Services officials involved In the audit, declined detailed comment. Smith said most audits of recovery units question at least some federal funding and recommend some repayment. in funding isn't sufficiently supported in claims submitted by the county. But Rasmussen said that finding means only that the federal government wants to be sure the money was used for collections involving welfare clients.

"I can't emphasize to you enough that this is a very tentative report and the information in it is rebuttable," he said. Polk County receives the federal funding through a contract with Iowa's Child Support Recovery Unit a part of the Department of Social Services. The state examined how much time Friend of Court spends on welfare cases and then recommended the level of federal funding. The audit's contention is that Friend of Court spends only 38 percent of its time and resources on welfare cases, as opposed to the 60 percent cited in the state contract. That's why federal auditors are tentatively recommending the repayment of the $167,000 and further documentation of $1.2 million.

Rasmussen said federal officials are wrong. Friend of Court actually spends more than 60 percent of its efforts on welfare cases, he said. and distribute child support and alimony payments. The federal government pays for its efforts to collect payments for women on welfare. Those payments reduce welfare expenses.

The audit is being conducted by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department which provides the federal money to Iowa for distribution to county recovery operations. Officials aren't releasing the audit yet because it isn't completed. Rasmussen has a copy of what he termed "a preliminary draft," but he declined to make it available to a reporter. However, Rasmussen outlined the contents of the audit.

The chief issue is whether Polk County received more funding than it should have for its efforts to collect payments from ex-spouses of welfare clients, Rasmussen said. $167,000 Recommendation The audit recommends that Polk County repay 1167,000 of the money Friend of Court received in the three-year period that ended Sept. 30, 1981, Rasmussen said. It also suggests that an additional $1,246,000 through 12th grade. Almost amazing that an intellectual slug like me could have a role in their education too, isn't it? Hey, I'm a guy who won't use lie, lay, lain in my columns because I don't understand bow to.

DAVt LUSSON i REGISTER PHOTO SY LARRY NEI8ERGALL Branstad But this is Thanksgiving, and I have made another pilgrimage to Gobbler's Gulch, as some call this wide spot in a northeast Iowa road. The nickname comes from this being the home of Turkey Valley High School, so named 22 years ago because of its location between the Gosch with 'weird' man fold keeping fop A a Ray aides By DAVID YEPSEN JttMtsMr Stuff WrUvr Gov. -elect Terry Branstad announced several key appointments Wednesday, and he said he plans to keep several of outgoing Gov. Robert Ray's top aides. branches of the Turkey River.

The seniors and I have been in cahoots to recognize another "turkey of the year." They select a classmate, a genuine good gobbler they think the whole state should know. Then I come up, buy the turkey a real turkey and sit down and talk turkey with him or her. Later, we add the bonoree's name to a beauteous trophy. You ought to see it It's been a great fall here. As glorious as a state championship by the girls softball team.

As nutty as a fall dramatic production called "Clumsy Custard Horror Show and Ice Cream Gone Review." In that same nutty spirit, the students decided that in this third year of our alliance, the identity of our top turkey would be announced with a flourish. So at a pep rally last week, social studies teacher Bill 9 Among Ray staffers Branstad Is retaining are State Comptroller Ronald Mosher and the governor's executive assistant David Oman. The appointments are important because the governor's staff members help establish and implement policies that affect all By FRANK SANTIAGO I Before newspaperboy John Gosch vanished early Sept 3 from the quiet streets of a West Des Moines residential neighborhood, he had a conversation with a man in a blue car. "That man," the 12-year-old boy told two witnesses, "is really weird." Why the youngster found the man "weird" and what the two Ulked about Isn't known. But the mystery man may ba Involved In the youngster's disappearance, his parents now believe.

Two Sketches Wednesday, Noreea and John Gosch called reporters to their home at 1004 Forty-fifth St in West Das Moines for a press conference and to release two drawings they had made of the mystery man. The Goachet uld they have all but broken with authorities in the search Iowans. They also art the first indica tion that Branstad plans 2 on a campaign promise bouse in state government Mosher, 19, has served I A. to mike good it not to clean edulowa's r. j' (Y 1979.

The i 'i Delaware! returning top financial officer since ice Fort Dodge native wu I chief budget officer before ore a. II Strudthoff suddenly appeared In an absolutely awful turkey costume, complete "with a little tall feather taped on back be said, pointing to a tall feather's natural spot. He summoned to the stage the three turkey finalists Dan Costlgao, Kevin Kleve and Dave Lusson and said the last test for the honor would be that each had to gobble. And do It right there before the assembled student body, faculty and administration. Imagine how you would" ve handled that at age 17.

They were lousy gobblers. Or as LussoQ, this year's winner, to succinctly put it "We were all chicken." Oh, what have I done to education here that a quality teacher is dressed in a turkey costume and three strapping young men red-facedly are home to work for Ray. Oman, 30, wu Ray's chief of staff, and will serva Branstad In a similar capacity. The Cedar Falls native previously wu Ray's press secretary. Branstad also reappointed Edward SUnek, 33, director of Ue Office of Planning and Programming, and Douglas Croat, 26, Ut governor's chief lobbyist SUnek is a Chicago native who also BRANSTAD ieoae turn to Pag 7M i A.

if t- 1 1 i for their ton and now rely mainly oa private Investigators. Drawn by John Jacobs, a Boone portrait artist the sketches are baaed 00 the descriptions provided by the two witnesses, who gsve the uma descriptions to West Des Moines police. Police and the Gosches have declined to identify the wltaetaea, but it Is believed that they were out deUv erlng the Des Moiaes Sanday Register, as wu young Coach, and that one Is a parent and the other a youngster about John's age. The elder Coach Mid the polict sketch ta a compoaitt one that "wu made from kit very much like a Mr. Potato game" that the -5-5.

J'f js Polico force to fill vacant posts next year By SUSAN CAfiA aadKENrUSON trying to avoid a microphone into which they art supposed to gobble, their best cbams howling all the while? I felt uneasy about It until I ambled across the road and sat dowa to the comfy old rocking chair In 74-year-old Rosle Jirak's general store. "We can it Ue psychiatric chair because so many people sit there and tell bs their troubles," she Mid. "We deal charge for our treatment." Roaie and I talked about the grim state of farming, business, politics and International order. It lata occurred to me that with people acting like teca turkeys oa the global tti(t. why, yoa cat una almost anything happening 00 the stage of Turkey Valley High School la Jactsoa Junction, la.

By golly. Roale's chair Change of address lewa Ptwer llaenea dlareaaeet wlrvt te a large TWtleh aad CWt ttreats la Dt Maia. The hawse was beteg staved by Ue Baaed Mrl Caaataay tf Waakta. A doses or mora vacancies la the Des Moines Polict Department probably will be filled after first of the year. City Manager Richard WUkty Mid Wednesday.

Police Chief BJUt Wallace said the derlsioa ta fill vecasciea ta tht raa tart Ue earaer al Ue teierwrtlae tf twt-etary witnetaet uid is "very Inaccurate." But Gerald Shanahaw. chief of tht Dtvtsioa of Criminal InveatlgaUoa, which la auisling the West Det Moines police to tht anarch, defeoded the police sketchea. "We had oaa faom tht third day. and It's accarate and toofcj vary mack like sketchea Ue Coaches have. I really hate to get lata rhubarb with them.

I do think It teema like watted effort. They spent a lot of money aad Uey came ap with something vary similar and It taoald ba tinea came from Ua same wttaaaaas," ha said. 1 Pratecttlaa Problems Saanahat Mid Uert It coarert Ual the tataat tketcsaa "might raau soma sarfcNt proaarttiot praeJetraT they doal look Ute aa abdartor who may ba breeght la trial at timing, Saaaahaa Mid. that Ua yaanfiur baa baea abdarted. Yaaag Joaa bt aUU roraaarrad la ba tely "tniaMiig." "At attoraey caald My Utf la Ua persoa Uy wart toeejaf for Ua Gears ateirhael tad ssy tVfradaat Judge: Rehire W.D.M.

officer with back pay aeparxment could restit la more minority aad fraak otfieert ea the forte. move that hat beta recoro-mended by a committee sttdytag police and commsnity rvlatioea. Eljil of tht poxiUant la be filled havt beta vacaat for more thae a year. Bat WUkry said the city did aot fill tht varaactea beraaw doable-digit iBflttloa madt them lea Reporter won't bo sent to jail By rHAM SANTIAGO iJat Mgtnrt Ftaf later reporter Met Uharta will tot ha la ga tt for duceeytag yadgt't ardr la -mtj ta clvtl By DAVID tXXT A Wert Dre Moiaea tolica affkar waa wu fired lat rrbraary wu rthirad wtU bach pay oa Wedraadjy by fVk lCtttly DlilrKt eipeaaivt. aad beraast the rity wu roacratrstinf ta remiiUng muxxV Ut potica ctdrta.

ta addiUoa la torn eit tathor. bed poaiUoaa, at least lit other varaarfca havt baea cmled by ra- Sg had beta gtvaa 3a-day aaa-taaslet by Caaaey. Wlea Sitg rtW Ua aacWea ta Ut 0U Sarvlra CcwvniaaMA, Ua eenwuaafcw aatad la Pan him. Glaatea'i raUag Mi4 Ual Ua 34ay taataaal aVmia ataad. bat Ual Ua my af Waal Dm Hoi ahowid "VcmadUUfy affar ra awtaMwwat atth ftJ tiaruj hi)ta, bark pay tad frtaf hawafiU ana aay laraena nC by Sf tiara wu fired.

T'iaoaa twra la faye Jtigt Ltlltr Ciaataa. Ctaatta rattl Ual Ua fir 1 af OtHcar David Of Stprema Cttrt I rmiad ledaaaday. j- taaalmaat I dartaloa, Ua raart 1 Jk rtled thai the works! It speaks well for theae Turkey Valley kldi that they are sport etwegt to accept Ue turkey honor, or booor turkey, instead of sugieetlag N)uetbt stuffed. In, Uaaaa, as hart the other horwrtvs befart htm. said be was coming to enjoy the eackliag he was gHting la the kills.

And by the Urn we sat for oar chat, be had perfected a pretty darted good gobble. Ask him. He's farm bey. oae af three chiWret of WUIiam tad Irma Lam. He rt at tea.

be eaa get hi share of the rfcorta out tf Ue way la Ue moraine leaving hit eflaraooat frea for Ut pracOcet whl hire helped make him a sttadoat la foottatt. basket bel 4 Uh- Ut a admirable academic rereri, all) arersft ea a cotat rratam Lttaoa said he It rrvairg cofleft to tat where be wsata ta aaraat KedWa hi either math tr. tf coarse, computer arknra. Be wUl ta af end I will be araad I bttVo4 bit tdaraUoti ftarawa tf Iby Ua rity Oil Ivrvha Cammiwrtat au "gramtj aartieaatt It Ue Urvrmwt ar ratigTMUoa. tad WUkey said there sney at ather areUiont apa by Ue time irta blm Wallaca said bt hoea la ml mxr af the aoaiuoat wuh atianrtty tad Nneie amrert Tat UM atae raavtt kirad by the tVpartRMnt havt ta pmmimti I3yttrtld IaidWu rauld act ba bald la reatwte4 far refatitg it laatify aa a lavtail 1 mi WednaaMy ba It UM4IH TW rawl artaraa4 raha by ra Cawaty DtairVt Jada TVaoaa wka Ittl yatr erltfed Lawaavta la kil alWr be rfe4 la yi nC4 wu baoad ka a vwtary far free Ma) ealacetf eel" aaa wm thart4 with, aaawty Ual aa had wrt at aaoUer afHrvr bfvt Ua laa wat aa tvtv sg WMtnaaf II Wel te Mnuwa piritra affkwt aha waaf fmkiH alih ramtJaiatt aSnrt faiira Chtaf OrJ Cvwy fie nndH aoUra af Ua fVVg day tft Ua pmr.fUmiM ar camad la awry it Da aTrtaaaa TVe raiaiais lala4 baa Ual au la ka paa.

tt Unas bad a 4 aa brttlh tal it rUfMtul traauaaail It trajaj tad raUuvM lt wu Rrad by Ue tHiH na VrWa CaawMMtaa aa t-uf Ual ba a4 a tttrvitit la (tUt the tarrataf tf tniaartty raatta at 33 aertaal The Da Moom Oti ferrtra Cam-tnkmtom tciartt Ihe lf BpfiifM hr acMMags at Ut folic tVeartJfwat WaUara hat Mid Ue cwnniMa tVat ao have It caocaa mbnatuj eHa for Ue tfaif, vat ut pmmUUf tthrta Umbrt af wwUsm by Ue Ktitoaal CWrw CV-Uat aad lrt have argd Ue tUi ta tJX tea fmte at la Ut way ta rervatt awt tntoorH tttxrt rrd by Ua graf I wtil ue rl'n bat mH ba ave 4 rvysa tfea In Unmm ratwa ttaftw4 a) affH tt a Ua firm He Md Ua City eaaa Imr thm T.44 la bark pay al tiva M4t City Atlaraay ir Mid ba bad art ex a cff af Ut IHnir tfunrama M4M lara wtw Um fdy wk-4 tftal Ua ea Ua awvaa4 IUI U4 la 3-f I tmmmmi, Wawb) bad fww ImM Uat Si a taaciaaifcid Nf aa day aflav ba 14 lara Ua ka fraaa ry an4aa fr Tfi Tva ra tie. Ue hoy beraad bow te foaalt, Chat. 0raa'af Tlai at Ua flrvt tia Ua luarvwa faart baa bad la deJ with a rMtve aVa baa baaa wataajd la btj Mmi4 la ta ae rwTa UaJ ItarataiMaw ti Rarbart atari. larta atteaaay aad Ua faar AtUaffe bey St Tta-r. 13.

AtUaOr, t4 VrtrmmlMj aat af arwt Womi etU1d la Ike Ukfnff anil tf a bit fsiler ltm tailt tl AltantJf. fmaait Ua FUf-atar t4 Traaaa rWaat la'a fct I ArtMtaaraef IWH tani ke fave t'u Vaaa mKm II. tHI.