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

Thursday, March 10, 1988 THE DES MOINES REGISTER 3A QUOTE OF THE DAY Loan programs proposed for towns, small businesses Civic improvements eyed Big companies left out STATEHOUSE BRIEFING By THOMAS A. FOGARTY J' J' because they otherwise would be penalized by unforeseen problems when lawmakers rewrote the unemployment compensation formula last year. THE HOUSE Education Committee voted 18-3 Wednesday to pass a bill that requires school boards in the seven largest districts in Iowa to abandon at-large elections. The bill, which has already been approved by the Sen-, ate, would apply to districts with more than 9,000 students. SNOWMOBILES AND all-terrain vehicles would be titled and registered under a bill approved Wednesday by the House Transportation Committee.

The panel approved the change, which would take effect in 1990, without opposition. HOUSE SELLERS would be required to disclose the results of radon gas tests to potential buyers under a bill passed Wednesday by the House. Lawmakers voted 52-40 to approve the measure that requires disclosure of any results from the preceding year. The bill also directs the Iowa Department of Public Health to establish a certification program for radon testers. Radon is an invisible, odorless, naturally occurring gas that has been linked to lung cancer.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE Dorothy Carpenter of West Des Moines announced this week she will seek re-election to the Iowa House. Carpenter, 55, a Republican, is serving her fourth term and is an assistant minority leader. Lawmaker seeks equal time from broadcaster opponent iilf we're subsidizing some newspapers, why not require them to use a product we're promoting? It's a perfect quid pro quo Representative Jack Hatch, jokingly suggesting that newspapers that publish legal notices be required to use soy-based inks "The incumbent is saying because I am a candidate for political office, I should be denied my livelihood," Christensen said in a statement. "The incumbent also is saying a broadcaster shouldn't run for elective office. I can't help it if I have name recognition in the 15th Iowa House District." Kurt Stoebe, a lawyer for Christensen and Humboldt County attorney, said he intends to research the issue.

He said his understanding of FCC rules is that when political matters are not under discussion, equal time does not have to be provided to an opposing candidate. "We're going to check into it and make sure we're not violating any rules," he added. But Mullins said it doesn't matter whether or not Christensen is talking about the House race while he's on the radio. She said President Reagan's old movies were pulled from the airwaves when he was a candidate for the presidency. By CHARLES BULLARD Register Stall Writer Iowa communities could qualify for no- or low-interest loans to finance streets, sewers, bridges, airports and the like under a bill approved Wednesday by the Senate.

The legislation, sent to the House on a 29-16 vote, would provide up to $15 million a year in loan money. Supporters said the measure is needed to help struggling Iowa communities finance badly needed civic improvements so they can attract new business and industry. Federal grants for sewer, water and street projects are drying up and communities need another source of money, they said. Unless towns are able to maintain their basic infrastructure, companies will not want to locate there and traditional economic development efforts will be futile, backers said. "We need to act as a state because the federal government is retreating from a long-held position of providing these kinds of money to the states," said Senator James Riordan, the bill's floor manager.

"As the federal government retreats, it is incumbent upon us to respond." But opponents said the state should not be lending money and they questioned whether the state can afford the program. Bonds for the loan money would be backed by $5 million a year from the cigarette tax. That money already is earmarked for other uses so the cigarette tax money would be replaced by money from the Iowa lottery. "We have another pie-in-the-sky, creative bookkeeping theory tossed out here on the table," said Senator Edgar Holden, a Davenport Republican. "This is high finance, a fast shuffle operation." Holden said communities can sell bonds on their own or borrow the money from other sources.

"We ought not to be in the business of loaning money. That's for financial institutions," he said. Riordan defended the concept. "This is no pie-in-the-sky program," the Waukee Democrat said. "I believe this is a critical element, in fact the centerpiece, for rural community development in our state." Other critics questioned how $15 million could be stretched to meet the needs of more than 900 communities.

"We have 936 communities in Iowa and I'm not going to stand here and tell you that every one of those towns is going to be helped, but it is a beginning," Riordan replied. "It's taking an important first step in recognizing that one of the best things that we can do for economic development in Iowa is help our communities become viable. To be viable, they have to have the proper infrastructure in place to attract business, industry and manufacturing." In addition to traditional public works projects, the loan money could be used to provide housing for low- or moderate-income residents or for elderly Iowans. Communities also could seek loans for non-traditional public works such as communications systems, day care, health care and transportation services. sue that has been widely misunderstood by the public," Norman said in a statement to legislators.

Social workers currently have legal authority to visually examine pre-school children in child-care centers for signs of child abuse without their parents' permission. The department staff sought the same authority when dealing with school-age children in elementary and secondary schools, but a number of parents strenuously objected. Norman said visual examinations involve asking children to show social workers areas of the body reported to be injured. Only in rare cases have children been asked to disrobe, she said. "The greatest care is taken not to distress the child, to respect the child's privacy and to prudently inspect for injuries," said Norman.

But she said she understands why some Iowans would object to the practice. THE HOUSE Agriculture Committee passed a bill Wednesday requiring state agencies to purchase soy-based inks and corn starch-based plastic garbage bags. The bill, which has already been approved by the Senate, requires the agencies to begin using the products next year and calls for annual increases in the amount purchased. GOV. TERRY Branstad signed into law Wednesday a bill granting a $4.6 million unemployment tax reduction to about 2,700 Iowa employers.

Lawmakers said the reduction in taxes of some employers is justified BILLS IN THE IOWA LEGISLATURE PASSED BY THE HOUSE H.F, 2303 Changing Insurance regulatory law. 90-0. To Senate. H.F. 2396 Establishing the Iowa Business Development Corp.

88-9. To Senate. H.F 2381 Establishing water protection proiecls in conservation districts. 93-0. To Senate.

H.F. 2354 Requiring house sellers to provide information on radon gas to potential buyers. 52-40. To Senate. H.F.

2384 Changing notice requirements when debtor's property is levied on. 96-0. To Senate. H.F. 2395 Permitting water utilities to become cooperatives.

83-12. To Senate. H.F. 2386 Changing guidelines for state economic development assistance. 94-0.

To Senate. H.F. 2387 Changing legal provisions for laving fiber-optic cable 93-0. To Senate. H.F.

2390 Changing provisions relating to court-ordered visitation rights for grandparents. 94-1. To Senate. H.F. 2391 Changing fees tor service of process by sheriffs 95-0.

To Senate. H.F. 2392 Allowing the findings of the state criminalistic laboratory to be admissible evidence in civil cases. 96-0. To Senate.

H.F. 2173 Changing the military service dates that determine eligibility lor membership on veterans' committees. 94-0. To Senate. H.F, 2247 Protecting statements on unemployment insurance reports from libel action.

95-0. To Senate. H.F. 2401 Changing health care facility inspections laws. 93-0.

To Senate. Pull-tab lottery revenue to provide relief for elderly By CHARLES BULLARD Register Staff Writer Dissatisfied with the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Senate State Government Committee Wednesday voted to earmark revenue from the new pull-tab lottery tickets to help the elderly rather than to create jobs. "I don't want it to go to the Department of Economic Development. Things seem to get lost there," said Senator Robert Carr, a Dubuque Democrat and chairman of the committee. Senator William Dieleman, a Pella Democrat and author of the proposal, said the money would be used to eliminate prescription co-payments for elderly Medicare recipients.

Recipients currently have to pay the first $1 of the cost of their prescriptions and Dieleman said money from the pull-tab lottery tickets would cover that sum. "We feel that is a priority more than some of the economic development things we've seen the money go into," said Dieleman. Many elderly Iowans must frequently have drug prescriptions filled, Dieleman said, and the $1 fee is burdensome. "Many times the elderly simply can't afford it," he said. "I guess we're saying we feel that's a priority more than some of these economic development things we're funding." Senator Michael Gronstal, a Council Bluffs Democrat, said Iowa already is spending enough money on economic development.

From 1984 to 1987, per capita spending on economic development in the state went from $1.17 to $10.58, he said. "We are No. 10 in per capita spending and that's pretty high," said Gronstal. Carr said he believes some of the money for economic development grants could have been better spent. "We never seem to know where the grants go," he said.

"There is very little follow-up. I've been really disappointed with some of these programs." By JANE NORMAN Register Staff Writer State Representative Sue Mullins and a Humboldt broadcaster are locked in a tangle over whether it's legal for him to continue talking over the airwaves while challenging Mullins for her seat in the Iowa House. Robert Christensen, general manager of KHBT radio in Humboldt, is running against Mullins for the Republican nomination in the 15th Iowa House district, which covers parts of four counties in northern Iowa. Christensen announced his candidacy in January and has continued to read news, sports and weather to an audience including much of Humboldt County. Mullins, who lives in Corwith, contends that Christensen is violating Federal Communications Commission rules that require broadcasters to provide equal time to political candidates.

"I have the right to equal time, free of charge," she said. Recent changes in federal Fairness Doctrine rules do not affect that concept, she said. Scott Buchanan of Algona, a lawyer for Mullins, recently sent a letter to Christensen on the issue and said the broadcaster has three alternatives under FCC rules. They are to: Continue to broadcast, but provide Mullins with free time equal to the amount of time Christensen's voice is heard on the air. Ask Mullins for a waiver from FCC rules, which she has the right to deny.

Quit broadcasting while he is a candidate. Mullins said those alternatives are the same ones outlined in a guide published by the National Association of Broadcasters. "It's my understanding if your voice is readily identifiable every time you're on the air, that's considered a use of time" and is subject to equal time requirements, Mullins said. Christensen contends he hasn't violated any FCC requirements. He said he has given free air time to Mullins on Saturday mornings for 12 years so she can talk about events in the Legislature while it's in session, and has continued to give her that time since he announced his candidacy.

Register Staff Writer Small Iowa businesses would have a new source of financing, under a bill passed Wednesday by the Iowa House. On an 86-9 vote, lawmakers voted to create the Iowa Business Development Finance a government-controlled lender that would be operated initially with $5 million from state lottery proceeds. The bill was one of two major economic development measures passed by the House Wednesday. Lawmakers also voted 94-0 to pass a bill intended to severely restrict the ability of IBP Inc. and other large corporations from receiving economic development assistance.

Both bills now go to the Senate. Representative Ed Parker, a Mingo Democrat and chief supporter of the business development bill, said the proposal is aimed at existing Iowa businesses- needing capital to expand or diversify. Under terms of the bill, the product of an interim legislative study on economic development, the finance corporation would be allowed to attract private capital through the sale of memberships to financial institutions and through the sale of stock. The corporation would be overseen by 12 directors, a majority of whom would be from state government. The bill grants the corporation authority to meet the capital needs of small business through direct loans, loan guarantees and stock purchases.

Financing for the corporation would come from a reduction in the appropriation for the $8 million Community Economic Betterment Account, the lottery-financed program that provides grants and loans for job creation and retention. Parker and other lawmakers have criticized the program as a form of corporate bribery because they say it assists industrial giants that threaten to move jobs out of the state. Supporters argued the finance corporation is needed to redirect the focus of the state's economic development effort to Iowa companies that have the potential to add new jobs if they received sufficient capital. "We have a system that is not attuned to entrepreneurs and inventors," said Representative Tom Swartz, a Marshalltown Democrat and supporter of the bill. Critics, mostly Republicans, said the bill would gut the Community Economic Betterment Account program.

"It's had problems, but CEBA has had a significant impact on economic development in this state," said Representative Janet Metcalf, a Des Moines Republican. Representative Hugo Schnekloth, an El-dridge Republican, criticized majority Democrats for constantly changing the state's economic development strategy. "What we need to do is stick with what we've got and make it work," Schnekloth said. The second bill directs state decision-makers to consider pay rates, the quality of jobs, the environmental record and the impact on Iowa competitors when granting aid to businesses for expansion. AIDS bill recalled In an apparent change of heart on the touchy subject of AIDS, the Iowa House Wednesday voted to bring back for further debate a bill passed earlier that allows minors to withhold the results of blood tests from their parents.

Following emotional debate about the conflicting rights of parents and children, lawmakers voted 54-40 to reconsider their decision to keep test results from parents. Lawmakers adjourned for the day before taking a separate vote to strip from the bill the provision that requires a responsible adult not necessarily a parent to be notified when a minor tests positive for the AIDS virus. Representative Gary Sherzan, a Des Moines Democrat who led the effort to bring the bill back for further consideration, said the strength of the vote virtually assures that House members will amend the bill to ensure parental notification. 'worried well' ety is simply irrational. We get calls from people who ate in a restaurant and saw someone who looked funny and are concerned." Still, the test may be worth taking if it offers peace of mind, Kelly and Wintermeyer said.

"It's not for me to try and tell anybody whether to have the test," Kelly said. "If someone is at zero risk and is anxiety ridden, it might be productive from a mental health standpoint to have it." Dr. Gary A. Peasley, a member of the health board, cautioned against indiscriminate screening for AIDS, noting that the test is not 100 percent accurate. "There are lots of false positives," he said.

NORWALK Beulah D. Braddock, 81; Vera L. Wilson, 63. ORANGE CITY Clarence Jonker, 82, Marlon De Haan, 78. OELWEIN Lvle Sisco, 72; Edward L.

Westen-dorf, 40. OSCEOLA Robert C. Coolev, 67; Earnest E. Cornellson, 73; Theresia G. Huohslon, 82.

PRAIRIE CITY Edith Elrod, 93, Clara B. Smet- ser, 103 POSTVILLE Elliott Nelson, 87. ROCK VALLEY John Van Zanlen, 93; Anns Flull, 78. RUNNELLS Eunice Mott, 62. SIOUX CENTER Ethel Keizer, 75.

STANLEY Kenneth L. James, 68. SULLY Harriel D. VandeVoort, 74. SWEA CITY Margaret Meyer, 77; Milton Peterson, 85.

TITONKA Kennelh Brandt, 60. TOLEDO Verda Ebersole, 88; Larry Thomae, 49; Christina McFale, 65; Julia Lorenjen, 81. VINTON Lucy J. Bridge, 81; Merrill Allerdlng, 89 Lucy Sloner, 95, Myron Caldwell, 81. WAVERLY Waller Sauerbrei, 85; Elden P.

Ed-man, 63. WEST DES MOINES Minnie A. Kisler, 88. WHITTEMORE John Marie, 91. Delay in child-abuse laws urged By CHARLES BULLARD Register Staff Writer The head of the Iowa Department of Human Services urged lawmakers Wednesday not to enact legislation governing the examination of children for physical abuse until the agency can study the controversial issue.

Nancy Norman, commissioner of the department, said balancing a child's right to protection with a family's right to privacy is difficult, and she asked legislators to delay any action on the issue until next year. Controversy erupted last November after it was learned that Department of Human Services social workers were visually examining children at schools for physical abuse without their parents' knowledge or permission. Gov. Terry Branstad ordered a halt to the practice and lawmakers threatened to enact legislation to prohibit it. "The department recommends deferring any actions which might over-react to an is By CYNTHIA HUBERT AIDS tests rise; most for Source of drugs still a mystery Lawyer seeks to control Cooper children's finances Register Staff Writer More than 9,000 Iowans had their blood screened -for exposure to the AIDS virus last year four times the number in 1986, health officials said Wednesday.

Most of those tested represent the "worried well," who are at low risk for contracting the deadly disease, officials said. Positive AIDS tests were confirmed among only 2.6 percent of the 9,006 people screened in 1987, down from 6.7 percent in 1986, state epidemiologist Dr. Laverne Wintermeyer told the Iowa State Board of Health. "We are not seeing an increase in positive AIDS tests," Wintermeyer told the board. "The numbers are really being diluted by the worried well." AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, destroys a key part of the body's immune system.

Homosexuals, bisexuals and intravenous drug abusers are considered to be at greatest risk for the disease. But Jack Kelly, director of the division of disease prevention for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said his office regularly gets calls about AIDS testing from healthy people who fall into none of those groups. "It's just anxiety," Kelly said. "Unfortunately, what this does is divert valuable resources from people who really need them. "We've had calls from people who had a sexual encounter seven or eight years ago on a business trip and are worried.

In many instances, the anxi By DEBORA WILEY Of The Register's Cedar Rapids Bureau CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. A battle to handle the financial affairs of the five Cooper children is shaping up in Linn County District Court between their former lawyer and the father of three of the children. The children, who range in age from 3 to 13, stand to receive about $75,000 from an NBC television movie contract, according to court records. The movie would deal with their nationally publicized fight to remain with a Kellogg foster family. Newton lawyer Jane Harlan represented the children from 1985 until February 1987, when District Associate Judge Thomas Mott removed her from the case, claiming that she had wrongly disclosed information about CORRECTIONS CLARIFICATIONS Dr.

Thomas Carlstrom, a Des Moines neurosurgeon, says he has agreed to accept whatever Medicaid will pay him for surgery on 4-year-old Casey Ubben. Carlstrom says he expects that amount to be substantially less than the $11,000 figure included in a story in Wednesday's Des Moines Register. The Register strives for accuracy and fairness. Errors in our news columns will be corrected In this space. Readers who believe the paper has erred may request a correction by phoning the office of the editor (SIS) 294-8502.

By CYNTHIA HUBERT Register Staff Writer University Hospitals was following proper drug-handling procedures on the day one of its nurses died of a drug overdose while on duty, an investigation has concluded. Investigators for the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners were unable to find out where the nurse obtained the morphine-like drug, called fentanyl, which is only available in hospitals, a board official said. "We will probably pursue that further," said Norman Johnson, executive secretary of the pharmacy board. The board launched its investigation of the way drugs are handled at University Hospitals after the body of Dorothy Gergis of Iowa City was found Dec. 29 in a bathroom on the sixth floor of the hospital.

State Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Bennett ruled the death a suicide. Johnson said the pharmacy board's investigation covered records and security measures taken on the day Gergis died and for "a short period of time after that." "The records maintained during that period of time accounted for the drugs involved in her death," he said. "Our conclusion is that there were no gaps there." Gergis had been off duty for two weeks prior to returning to work on Dec. 28, Johnson noted.

DEATHS Iowa the children and subjected them to exploitation by reporters. Harlan disagrees. "If they had the opportunity to choose, I believe they would select me for their conservator," Harlan said in her court petition. Dennis Cooper of Reasnor, the father of the three oldest children, has asked to be appointed conservator to oversee the financial affairs of all five youngsters. A court hearing on the issue has been set for April 6.

Gilbert R. Caldwell III of Newton, who now represents the children, and Newton lawyer James Cleverly who serves as their guardian, have filed objections to Harlan's request. Last November, the Iowa Supreme Court terminated the parental rights of the children's mother, Karen Cooper of Cedar Rapids. The children are staying in a Cedar Rapids foster home. Harlan has asked the U.S.

Supreme Court to overturn the Iowa court's ruling terminating the care of the children by foster parents Larry and Paula Mick of Kellogg. Harlan was reprimanded by the Iowa State Bar Association for her handling of the case. Winning numbers drawn Six winning numbers 1, 6, 20, 27, 29 and 33 were drawn Wednesday for the $1 million Iowa lotto jackpot. DEVOE BOVENMYER The Register's Iowa News Service OTTUMWA, IA. Services for Dr.

DeVoe Bovenmyer, 86, a retired Ot-tumwa eye, ear and nose specialist, who died of a heart ailment Tuesday at Ottumwa Manor, will be at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Bovenmyer practiced in Ottumwa from 1932 until retiring in 1979. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; two sons, Dan of Bettendorf and Sam of Waterloo; a brother, Earl of Soda Springs, Idaho; a sister, Vivian Jones of Holstein; and four grandchildren.

BAXTER Ada H. Schmidt, 80. BOY DEN Jonn Hoeksfra, 82. BRISTOW Harry Oslendorf, 77. BUCKINGHAM George Garyev, 73.

BURR OAK Agnes M. Wicks, 87. CHARITON Helen H. Ross, 68; Gladys Madigan, 99. CHARLES CITY Otto C.

Huxohl, 69, Leonie Buckler, 85. CRESCO Tom Wilson, 45; John James, 45. DES MOINES Juanifa F. Green, 80; Jeanne M. Oliver, 40; Robert Puckelf 71; Richard A.

Robinson, 85. EDGEWOOD Mildred M. Jones, 70. FORT ATKINSON Monica G. Nienhaus, 77.

GREENE Ruth Brinkman, 85. IDA Virgil P. Geerhart, 75. INDEPENDENCE Jodi L. Fernau, 29.

INDIANOLA Raymond D. Reasoner, 91; Wy- man C. Smith, 72; Alice H. Ferguson, 74. IONIA Herbert Schmidt, 57.

IOWA FALLS James P. Crolly. 85. JESUP Olive Davis, 106, Carol W. Oren, 79.

KEOKUK Steven Miller, 46; Tom Pearson, 71; Walter Cllnlon, 81; Russell Hanks, 77. MINGO Berllne Shaffer, 77. NEW VIRGINIA Donald D. Miller, 60. NEWTON Frances L.

Gearharl, 78; LaVlna M. Beane, 91; Zora B. Smith, 90, Arthur A. Gitford, 81; Freda E. Svnhorst, 98, Gerald D.

DeBruvn, 74; Krislen Craver, 20. NORA SPRINGS Bernard J. Hahn, 72. 1.