The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 13

I 1 The Des Moines HEGibrtftMSAriiKiJAY, Septembers 1993 Metro iews It's Been a Strain andidate: a oar' Dateline Iowa Handicap Village worker fails to get his job back Tur. Rf.c;istkr's m. NfwsSfrvicf. Clear Lake, la. David A.

Rar- Gosches divorce after 26 years lacks Christian view Their son Johnny's been missing 1 1 years; they vow the search will continue. By FRANK SANTIAGO Rwiistfr Staff Writfr John and Noreen Gosch are getting a divorce but that won't end a long search for their son, Johnny. "Any new de- velopments will be handled be- cause we are still Johnny's mother and father. Whether we remain married or not is immaterial when it comes to the case and the welfare Johnny Gosch of our son," Missing Noreen Gosch said. Her comments Friday came almost 11 years to the date when Johnny Gosch was last seen Sept.

5, 1982, a few blocks from his West Des Moines home. The 12-year-old was delivering The Des Moines Sunday Register and is believed to have been kidnapped. The case has baffled authorities, who say they have no suspects. Eugene Martin, 14, who also was delivering the Sunday newspaper on the south side of Des Moines Aug. 1 2, 1984, when he was last seen.

That case is also unsolved. Police cannot determine whether the two cases are connected. Because of the similarities, a link is suspected. Noreen Gosch said the long, stressful search had taken a toll on the 26-year marriage, which is expected to Political Mailing f. ft Bert Wagoner By KELLYE CARTER RegisterStaftWriter Bert Wagoner says he would bring a fundamentalist Christian view to the Des Moines school board.

"I think I would be a voice for what I would call the conservative Christian," Wagoner said. "I do think this is a voice that is definitely lacking on the school board right now." Wagoner, 63, of 3701 E. 38th St. Court, is making his 12th bid for a Des Moines school board seat in the Sept. 14 election.

Voters will choose three from a field of 1 1. The retired US West worker has crafted a list of 16 issues he wants the schools to address. They include starting Bible clubs in high schools, allowing students to cite the theory of evolution on science tests, and including European-Americans and Jews in the district's multicultural program. "Obscene resources" should be removed from sex education, he said. Wagoner said he wants to evaluate class material using the state definition of obscenity.

That says material is to be taken as a whole and, applying contemporary community standards, is deemed obscene if it is found to appeal to prurient interest and is "patently offensive" and if it lacks serious literary, scientific, political or artistic value. But as he talked, Wagoner didn't differentiate between "obscene" and "offensive." "The thing I guess I would be concerned about is if it's offensive to some, should it be in the classroom at all?" he said. Wagoner said the district needs guidelines to limit the use of "offensive or obscene material by educators." "I'm concerned that right now there's nothing in the district to say you can't show a second-grader a couple copulating or perverted activities," he said. That's part of the reason he opposes the district policy that prohibits discrimination against homosexual staff and students, he said. "These people could bring anything they want to use in the school system," he said.

In 1970, Wagoner served on a district committee that looked at sex education. "I came out in a minority report saying without morals it would not benefit young people," he said. Wagoner also is concerned about the way the Declaration of Independence is taught. The United States is "the greatest nation on Earth" because it was founded on Ju-deo-Christian principles, he said. "We're created equal and we're created by a creator," Wagoner said.

"Why can't we tell them the truth? Why is our system saturated with evolution and nothing with the Declaration of Independence? "What you're just teaching them Teacher Cutbacks Criticized DMACC supporters in trouble with panel rett, residential services director at Handicap Village in Clear Lake for years, has failed to get a court order allowine him to keen thp inh The U.S. Department of Health ana Human bervices notified Barrett on Aug. 13 that he would be banned for five years from holdine anv dosi- tion that receives federal money. Ac cording to the notice, the department issued the ban because Barrett failed to report suspected incidents of adult abuse. On Aug.

24 Barrett filed a lawsuit seeking to have his conviction set aside. He also soueht an order from U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to Dlock the ban until the Department of Health and Human Services holds a hearing on his appeal of the department's action. Judge Michael Melloy turned dbwn Barrett's request, noting Barrett pleaded guilty to the charge in Cerro Gordo County District Court in March and was fined $50. Barrett on Friday called the deci sion "totally unfair." "It is our plan to work with our law firm to see if we can work through the judicial process," Barrett said.

He said his actions were appropriate. In February 1992 an employee told Barrett a Handicap Village resident had complained of being sexually abused by a male employee, according to court records. Barrett investigated, deciding the complaint was unsubstantiated. He did not report the incident, and the accused employee resigned, records show. The administrator of another facility later heard about the incident and reported it to the Iowa Department of Human Services.

The former Handicap Village employee admitted he had a close relationship with a resident, but denied having sexual contact, according to court records. Sexual abuse charges are filed in Iowa City Tiik Nkws Si.kxut Iowa City, la. An Iowa City man has been charged with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse after he abused two girls younger than 14, according to court documents. Manuel Kevin McKune, 36, pleaded not guilty to both charges. According to documents filed in Johnson County District Court, on Aug.

1 McKune had intercourse with a 12-year-old girl. Nine days later, McKune was arrested and jailed on a parole violation, after he attempted to have sex with another girl, age 13, records show. A jury trial has been set for Nov. 8. Former Fort Dodge businessman sentenced Tin: Ki: iimkk's w.

NkwsSkkvio: Fort Dodge, la. A former owner of the defunct Marso-Roden-born Manufacturing Co. Inc. in Fort Dodge will have to spend four months in prison for submitting false claims on a government contract. Ronald J.

Brinkman, 58, now of St. Louis, received an eight-month sentence in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids Thursday, but Judge Michael Melloy allowed him to serve the second half in his home. Brinkman admitted in February he filed false claims for progress payments on a Department of Defense contract. The claims requested payment for production materials to which the company did not have title, requested payment for costs that had not been incurred and requested payment for materials that the company said it would, but did not, pay its suppliers for.

Dog breeders are found guilty of animal cruelty Tiik Rmiistkii's Iowa NkwsSkhvio: Newton, la. A Jasper County couple will be sentenced Sept. 17 after a judge found them guilty this week of animal cruelty charges at their dog-breeding business. District Associate Judge John Crouch convicted Lennie and Jean Thompson of five counts of cruelty to animals and four counts of improper disposal of dead animals. Pleasant Hill veterinarian Eric Jayne reported the Thompsons to Newton Animal Rescue League offi- cials after the Thompsons brought him a beagle with a rectal injury.

A search of the Thompson farm near Runnells in March found 41 penned animals with little or no bedding, food or drinking water, Crouch said in his ruling. Five of the dogs were seized. Jayne and rescue league officials also found four decomposed dog bodies. Six years ago the Newton Animal Rescue League seized several of the Thompsons' dogs, charging they were malnourished and mistreated. No charges were filed and the Thompsons sued the league.

Director Judy Salier said the league's insurance company paid the couple $1,000 in a settlement. makes his 12th The Register BACKGROUND: Born May 9, 1930, in Des Moines. EDUCATION: Completed ninth grade; DeVry Tech, industrial electronic home-study course, 1963. CAREER: Registered lobbyist; building specialist, US West, 1962-90; Otis Elevator, 1958-62; Solar Aircraft, 1952-58; U.S. Navy (Korean War veteran), 1949-52.

SCHOOLCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Former Little League coach; member and former deacon, trustee and school board member, Grand View Park Baptist Church and School; launching a national Christian boycott of advertisers who sponsor violent TV shows; Des Moines school district study committee on sex education, 1970. FAMILY: Wife, Beverly; adult children Timothy Wagoner and Valerie Hagman; 5 grandchildren. is, 'Well, behave like In the area of finances, Wagoner sharply disagrees with the board, which recently anguished over budget cuts. The district spends about $150,000 per class of 25 students, he said. (His figure includes all district-wide costs, including special education, administration, transportation, utility and building costs.) "I don't really think we can say that the district is hurting," he said.

The problem is the district has too many programs, Wagoner said. They don't work because inner-city schools continue to score poorly on standardized tests, he said. "I don't think, just because we have an abundance of various programs in the district, that that is going to help them with the basic skills they need in the job market," he said. For example, the district gets more dents have a better understanding of new technology than the staff, she said. Challenger Peter Prugh said the district should be careful about rushing into new technology.

He said schools should be more concerned with training students to think. "If you train people well in the basics, then companies and businesses can train them in specifics," he said. Lags in Technology Challenger Jon Neiderbach said the district lags in the area of technology, adding training requires more than buying new computers. "You can't train children unless you have given them a solid basis in fundamentals. And you can't give them the basic skills if you keep cutting teachers, and that's what the board is doing," he said.

To improve students' competitiveness in the workplace, challenger Jim Kelly said the district should spend money on teachers rather than on technology. He added that the district should hire teachers with computer backgrounds and fire those unwilling to acquire the proper training. Incumbent John Phoenix said a solution to the problem of an under-trained staff is to have more training sessions for teachers. "Technology is great, but you need to have a trained staff with the abili rifc 4. A bid for a seat than $9 million from the federal government, he said.

"I may be better off without the $9 million and spend more time on the basic skills," he said. Wagoner said he could not name the programs he feels are unnecessary. "I haven't taken the time to look at the specific programs this year." There are some he wants to add, though. Basic skills, along with discipline and a dress code, are emphasized at Jefferson and Phillips elementaries, the district's two traditional schools. Wagoner, who has two grandchildren at Phillips, wants to see that program expanded to a middle school.

He'd also like to add a new math program to teach children how to calculate complex problems, such as 92 times 94, in their heads. It wouldn't cost much and would increase student self-esteem, Wagoner said. His views on other issues include: He calls the board's open enrollment policy "illegal and discriminatory" and said there should be no restrictions on student transfers. If 2,000 or 3,000 students start leaving every year, though, the district might consider restrictions then, he said. Wagoner supports the three schools that will try a tougher attendance policy this year.

But he said parents should be able, for example, to take their children out of school for a two-week vacation and not be penalized. "What I'm saying, parents are the ones who should make the decision for their children," he said. Before voting for such a policy for the entire district, Wagoner said he wants to see if it creates hardships for parents and too much paperwork for administrators. He's lukewarm on the downtown school, saying it takes away from neighborhood schools. "I'm not sure it's going to be that good of a program," he said.

Superintendent Gary Wegenke gets a "D-" from Wagoner. Wegenke is deceptive about the true number of dropouts in the district, he said. (Wagoner figures the rate at about 26 percent, but Wegenke has reported it at 4 percent.) Creationism materials are available only in 12 school libraries, he said. The entire district program needs improvement, Wagoner said. Wagoner ran for the board in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1992.

Although he hasn't been elected, Wagoner said his campaigns have been successful because he was able to discuss his views. Is 1993 Wagoner's year? "I may have name recognition, that may be one thing in my favor," he said, smiling. "You just never know." This is the last in a series of 11 articles profiling the candidates for the Des Moines school board. ty to use that technology," he said. Socialist Workers Campaign candidate Ruth Nebbia cautioned against the district shifting its role of educating to that of training.

"Our school budget, instead of going to teach the fundamentals, has to also fulfill the role of training," she said. "Everybody can say we need more computers or we need more basics, but nobody is addressing where the money is going to come from." Candidates also were asked how they would ensure funding for helping at-risk students. Dropout Rates Margy Langford said the district needs to increase its accountability for minorities, citing the high dropout rates of such groups. "We're not even listening to the problems of minorities," she said. She said more low-income and minority parents should be placed on school-based councils and called for increased community support and funding of schools.

Challenger Marilyn Farr said the school board will always have a problem meeting the needs of at-risk students, but she said one remedy would be design smaller classes to help disadvantaged youngsters. Voters will choose three candidates for three-year terms on Sept. 14. dfc A.AAaaaaa Noreen Gosch John Gosch end in October when the divorce becomes final. "The situation is that we've just grown so far apart that it's impossible to be together," she said.

John Gosch said, "The stress has been unbearable for both of us. A lot of people have wondered how it has lasted this long. "We went through a lot of crap. Noreen has taken most of it because she has been home and I've been on the road." Gosch is a sales representative for a farm chemical company. The Gosches say they continue to get leads through their private investigation.

The latest development is a picture purportedly of their son taken in recent years by Gibson, a Milwaukee native. Gibson surfaced after hearing about the case on a nationally televised program. Gibson claims to have known Gosch and Martin, who he said are living in the same community that he hasn't disclosed. Police have interviewed Gibson and say they are skeptical of his story. Noreen Gosch said she hasn't seen the photograph but expects to.

She said she is "keeping an open mind" on Gibson's story Donald Kerr, said Friday that he did not know how much was spent but said between 3,000 and 3,500 letters were mailed to people who voted in the previous school board election. Kerr said the letter was carefully written so it did not advocate approval of the levy. The "Vote Yes" brochures were mailed by mistake in place of more generic advertisements. "The brochures were supposed to be brochures that said we should be judged by our contributions," Kerr said. Kerr said the money to print and send the mailing was from DMACC student government and not tax dollars.

Reier said the lack of a disclaimer and failure to register are both common campaign violations. The commission has found 14 disclaimer violations already this year. The six-member board will decide what action to take. If a disclaimer violation were proven, the commission could require the Pioneers to put a notice in the newspaper or send another mailing to residents explaining who paid for the previous mailing. A late registration fee could result in a $10 fine, she said.

150 airplane "started running real rough" as he was returning from Mount Pleasant. He decided to land in the soybean field after it became apparent he could not make the runway at the Cedar Rapids airport, Markley said. He called the off-airport landing "uneventful" and "quite smooth." "It wasn't a crash. It was a successful landing in a bean field," said Markley. "It's not much different than landing on the runway.

The plane's fine. It wasn't damaged a bit." He said he filled the plane with fuel before flying to Mount Pleasant with a friend and he did not know why the plane developed engine problems. Markley said he did not know how he was going to get his plane out of the soybean field. If the soybeans weren't so tall, he said, he would takeoff from the field. A.iiW.j L.jtA.jfl By MARK SIEBERT Rkcistkr Staff Whiter A group of Des Moines Area Community College boosters apparently violated Iowa campaign laws by sending out a political mailing without registering it or including a disclaimer, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board said Friday.

The mailing supported the continuation of a 20.25-cent plant fund levy for DMACC to be voted on Sept. 14 in 1 1 central Iowa counties. "It does need a disclaimer statement on it showing who paid for it," said Sandy Reier, a staff member for the state board. The mailing included a letter from the DMACC Pioneers a group of retired former trustees, faculty, staff, administrators and students and a brochure explaining why residents should vote in favor of the levy. The only address listed was for DMACC's Ankeny campus.

A group spending more than $250 on a political campaign must register with the board and report where its money comes from and where it is spent, Reier said. The Pioneers have not registered, she said. Pioneers co-chairman, 'Smooth' Emergency Landing Board candidates weigh use of technology in classroom C.R. pilot puts down plane in soybean field By CHARLES BULLARD and COLLEEN BRADFORD Rkcistfr Staff Writfrs Cedar Rapids, la. A pilot of a single-engine plane made an emergency landing Friday night in a soybean field near the Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport, forcing airport officials to close runways for about an hour.

Two people were in the plane when it landed, but neither was injured and the plane sustained little damage, said officials with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department. Larry Mullendore, airport director, said the off-airport landing occurred about 8:05 p.m. and the airport was closed to commercial aircraft for about an hour. The pilot, Gary Markley of Cedar Rapids, said his single-engine Cessna Most say basic skills must continue to be a priority as schools face the future. By ESTELA VILLANUEVA Register Staff Writer Participating in their fourth public forum, nine candidates for the Des Moines school board Friday faced off on technology in the classroom and programs for students at risk.

About 30 people attended the fo rum at the YWCA sponsored by the YWCA, Downtown Des Moines Inc. and the League of Women Voters. Candidates Angela Lariscy and Bert Wagoner could not attend. Questioned about how the district should prepare students for the technological needs of the workplace, most candidates cautioned that basic skills continue to be a priority. Incumbent Jacqueline Easley said the district has been successful in preparing students for the future through the new downtown school and mentoring programs.

She said more youth apprenticeship programs would help students. Computer Training Suzette Jensen, also an incumbent, said all students should be trained in computer skills by the time they graduate. But the district has been faced with a "catch-up game" as stu AA, Jfc 4 Get an early start, Beginning at im Monday-Friday and 8:00 on Saturday. Classified sates representatives are ready lo talk about your ad when you call early In Ine day. -KISS IT GOODBYE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS.

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