The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 11

AROUND IOWA Wednesday, January 24, 2001 Page 38 The Pes Moines Register ST Critics rain on rain forest's parade Dateline Iowa From Register staff and news services TWA merger criticized byGrassley 5 2 3 By KENNETH PINS Settlement reached in school pictures case The Iowa City school district will pay an undisclosed amount of money to eight families who sued after a school volunteer took suggestive photos of their children. Tom Riley, attorney for the families, said the children would remain anonymous as part of the agreement. Terry Abernathy, the attorney for the school district, declined to comment. The families sued shortly after Roland Thomson, 73, admitted taking photos of children in his wife's sixth-grade class at Lucas Elementary in 1997-98. He is serving a one-year term for a federal child-pornography conviction but wasnt named in the lawsuit.

His By COLLEEN KRANTZ REGISTER IOWA CITY BUREAU Coralville, la. City officials have barely rolled out the red carpet for the Iowa Child Institute, and some area residents are trampling on it. About 75 doubters of the $293 million complex, which developers say would feature an enclosed, simulated rain forest, aquarium and 300-student elementary school, aired concerns at a forum in Iowa City on Monday. The forum was sponsored by a group calling itself Stop a Vast Error, or SAVE, as well as the Iowa City Green Party and Environmental Advocates. Concerns were raised about the project's cost and environmental impact.

"This is far from a done deal" said Clara Oleson of SAVE. Des Moines businessman Ted Townsend, who came up with the idea for the institute, said Tuesday that it's the nature of such a large project to have some unanswered questions. "We dont pretend to SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER No "done Critics wonder about the cost and environmental impact of the Iowa Child Institute. REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU Washington, D.C Sen. Charles Grassley, voiced concern Tuesday about growing concentration in the airline industry to William Compton, the president of Trans World Airlines.

Compton, who made a courtesy visit to Grassley's office, is seeking to merge TWA with American Airlines. If that merger goes through, along with the merger of US Airways and United Airlines, the resulting two airlines will control more than 50 percent of the U.S. market. Is that tolerable? "No," said Grassley. "In fact, I started my conversation with the "What is this? It's primarily a tourist attraction.

They are using the name of public education when it's really the commercialization of public education," Oleson said. The Coralville City Council "continues to be supportive" of the idea, said City Administrator Kelly Hayworth. Detractors, Hayworth said, should wait to make up their minds once the details are settled. after the idea a year ago, only to have Coralville catch attention by offering land near the interstates. Those leading the fight against the Iowa Child Institute aren't from Coralville.

Oleson, who lives in Cedar County, encouraged people to sign petitions against the project, which is seeking millions of dollars from Vision Iowa, a state community attractions fund. have all the answers yet," he said. Townsend, who wasn't at the forum, is selling the plan as a center for education and teacher training and a tourist attraction. The complex would be built on 80 acres at the intersection of Interstate Highways 80 and 380. Townsend proposed the project for Des Moines, but it received a cool receptioa Cedar Rapids went wife, Shirley Ann Thomson, Lucas Principal Brian Lehmann and former Superintendent Barb orone were named in the suit.

Shirley Thomson is awaiting tact that there too many mergers. This merger's not good (because) it reduces competition, and it's particularly harmful to rural America." trial on charges of child endan-eerment for allowing her husband. UNI professor tries to take the 'super' out of the Super Bowl who had a previous conviction for taking inappropriate photos of children, to photograph her students. mm -1 Grassley said Compton responded by saying his company is in bankruptcy, and if it goes out of business, consumers and businesses wont have access to flights to St. Louis from Iowa.

And 20,000 TWA employees would be out of work. Grassley said TWA's bankruptcy was largely caused by the actions of billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who bought the company and who has drawn criticism for some of his business practices. is that we can safely say at least 90 percent of the world population isnt watching the Super Bowl" The NFL acknowledges that its audience numbers are estimates. The league uses US. ratings to gauge "potential" numbers in 180 other nations that carry the game.

Martin says World Cup soccer, rugby and cricket all reach larger TV audiences. By LARRY BALLARD REGISTER STAFF WRITER Christopher Martin says there are at least 5 billion people who wont be coming to your Super Bowl party. Martin, a University of Northern Iowa professor, says organizers of football's biggest game overstate their worldwide TV audience. The audience-size claims for the Super Bowl are more super hype than reality," says Martin, who teaches communications and studied worldwide TV ratings data to determine that nine of 10 people will ignore Sunday's game. The National Football League estimates that nearly 1 billion people will tune in to watch the Baltimore Ravens square off with the New York Giants.

Martin, after hearing similar claims two years ago, decided to check it out. He joined forces with Jimmie Reeves, a colleague at Texas Tech University, in an attempt to verify the numbers. "It's just not true," Martin said. "Part of the purpose of the hype is to make us think that literally the whole planet is watching the broadcast," he said. "But the reality Icahn still owns part of TWA, The other matter the two men spent a good deal of time discussing was whether TWE, a subsid Man charged in slaying was already in jail Clinton police say a man charged Monday in the January stabbing death of a bar manager had been arrested on drug charges after the slaying.

Robert L. Jackson, 45, of Clinton Was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Pam Wiedner, 54, of Clinton, who was found dead Jan. 15 at the River City Brewing where she worked. Police said Jackson was already in jail for unrelated drug charges when he was arrested. Bond was set at $1 million.

iary of TWA, is planning to keep flights between Burlington and bt. Louis. "In terms of the merger, the TWE service done by Corporate Air decided it was not said Grassley. "What we can do to help Burlington, and we will do this, is to see what we can do to get them designated as an Essential dive a dollar. Wei give yy a pteme amid Bt shame.

Air Service. 3 The federal government can order an airline to continue service to a city under the Essential Air Service designation. It was designed to ensure rural areas would continue to get air service, Under the program, airlines ordered to continue service receive federal money to help offset the Trucker's casino stop is very profitable Riceville trucker Daniel Sprung won $279,037 while playing a Wheel of Fortune slot machine Jan. at a Nevada casino. Sprung stopped at the Vacation Village Hotel and Casino while passing through Las Vegas, casino officials said.

He had put only $20 into the machine when he won the "MegaJackpot." Sprung told casino workers he plans to use some of his winnings to pay for truck expenses. cost. ''Compton said American Eagle, an American Airlines subsidiary, could continue service to Burling ton alter a merger. FA 3 Developer plans race track near Newton By PERRY BEEMAN REGISTER STAFF WRITER 1-838 BUT UitU Man held in attack on store clerk An Albia man allegedly robbed a convenience store and twice raped the clerk before being captured. A California developer said (50 Heath Amos Burgess, 19, was Tuesday that he intends to build a racetrack and entertainment com plex south of Newton.

arrested Monday. Police said he was armed with a knife when he forced the clerk of the Albia Kum Jerry Lowrie, who is developing Go into a storage area and the Yosemite Motor Speedway in Madera, wants demanded she take off her clothes, Burgess then sexually assaulted to build the mile-long, paved the clerk, police said. track for stock, Burgess forced the clerk to open Ntwton i IDES MOINES) open-wheel and sports cars on 0 MM 200 400 acres south of Interstate Highway 80. Lowrie would finance the speedway and the cash register and took $121, police said. Albia police and Monroe County sheriff's deputies apprehended Burgess shortly after he left the store.

He was being held in the Monroe County Jail on kidnapping, sexual assault, armed robbery and vehicle-theft charges. Bond was set at $750,000. related entertainment facilities with the help of a grant or loan from the Vision Iowa program. The Vision Iowa board is mulling at least 20 projects that hope to Goa (Mm 'MD (llujiidi fjliGm? fCn GnUy ng" 0 QfflHD dliKflliiia liHiUB iMlfiliKSi increase tourism and economic development in Iowa. 31 Lowrie replaces Cincinnati developer Jerry Carroll, who backed out to focus on a similar development in Kentucky.

Luanne O'Shea, Lowrie's repre sentative in Des Moines, said the Jasper County Board of Supervi sors vote Tuesday on the prelimi Gun is confiscated at school; teen charged i A Waterloo teen was arrested Tuesday for allegedly bringing a loaded handgun to school. Police say an anonymous caller tipped Bunger Middle School administrators that Charlene Hol-loway, 14, had the gun in her backpack. The gun was confiscated at the school. No one was injured Holloway was charged with nary incentive agreement marked the beginning of Lowrie feasibil ity study. That is expected to take a month or two.

"There is not a project right now," O'Shea said. There is an agreement to see if there is a project. carrying weapons on scnooi grounds and was taken to a juvenile-detention facility. The county has offered tax breaks and a $3.5 million grant. Lowrie would pay $4 million for the county -owned site.

Lowrie wants to run a race track that also would stage concerts and miwmtm mm iivotill other events, Shea said. An earlier plan to include training facilities for police and firefighters may not be included, she said. i W4tot. 1500 N. Jeff.

(515 962-0642 Moon Vifege So, Pta. 616 SWWi St, (515)957-0862 i CobbhttrnMartat 8475 Htfmon Rd. S15 2494800 i WaUtat. 3501 6 St SW. 1515) 957-0227 WomMMomo 5958 fchworthRd, (515) 2234880 Also uncertain is the scope of the Cmtoo VMAtan 612 New Ybrl Avt, (515) 782 9777 DmMomo Merit Hay Mai 5151 727-6200 Mom VWMat.

5101 St 14th St. (5151 287 5826 DmMomm WWt 1001 73rdSt. (5151 279-7704 ft Mm Crowoo Mai 5th A $. 6 25 St. 1515) 571-5000 ft Mm S.

(515) 5734611 i North Grand Mai 2801 N. Grand Avo, 515 2904000 i WMt 3015 Gmt (515) 233-5640 project. Local backers have called Mm 502HAnk BM 1 15151 9654797 Bryant motorist dies after collision A Bryant man died Monday in a two-vehicle accident in Clinton. Clinton County Sheriffs Lt Charles Witt said a car driven by Steven Werner, 40. struck a parked car on Fifth Avenue.

Werner was pronounced dead at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was unknown, pending a medical examiner's report for a grandstand of 40,000 to 65,000 WMa 1002 SE Nabonri Dt, 1515) 963-1671 Carol 425 Hwy. 30 Weft (712) 792 3456 seats and an $80 million development. They expected to ask Vision Iowa for $35 million to $40 million. Now the price tag is uncertain.

O'Shea said Lowrie would not ask for county bonds. Shoo S. Cenum on the Internet at www incetMai com Ofler requires I new activation with an 11-month service agreement Monthly packaqe minutes available while CeMar home ate ore v. 2,000 bonus minute? available on digital rate plans 535 ant hiqNei tonus minutes are a one time offer and ept on 12,3101 Nnooonal phone 6 subject to change and based on availably Bonus minutes and penny phone oftet not available on SoanAmencj plans. Roaming charges, taxes, tofts and fees not nduded.

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