The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 19

Publication:
The Des Moines Registeri: Location:
Des Moines, Iowa: Issue Date:
Thursday, March 17, 1983: Page:
19

1 I DES MOIIIES 4 ir 1 i i v4 Mrit Svt'tion rDATCLIJE IOWA B.M. property owners face tax rise vh Center prow nope turn to deficit As the accompanying chart (Page 4St) shows. Drs Moines will get 41 cents of the property tax dollar in 1963 64. compared with 38 rents in 1979 80. Polk County will receive 17 cents, up from Man charged In theft of car from police lot 15 cents five years ago vn Moines scnoois. on me other rand, are getting a smaller share. They received about 39 cents of the tax dollar in the 1979 80 budget year. PORT MADISON. 1A A Fort Madiioo man was arretted Wednesday fd charged with stealing car from the police impoundment and in 1983 84 they will get about 35 cents. Broadlawns' share bas dropped nearly a penny over the five yean. m. Aulooritlea Identified the man AmhonyLeeFranklln.il Homeowners in suburbs and unincorporated areas of the county are taxed at different rates By DICK BROWN The owner of a $50,000 Des Moines home will pay about 11,049 In property taxes for 1983 84 government spending about 5 7 percent more than the property taxes being paid on the same bouse this year. The Increase it the result of budgets adopted by local governments this month. Tbe 1913 14 bill, which will be about $51 higher than the 1912 13 bill in the example, reflects tax rates of the city, school district, Des Moines Area Community College, Broadlawns Medical Center, Polk County, the city assessor's office and the county agricultural extension office. Tbe toUl of tbe tax rates for those bodies will be 136.41 per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation, compared with the current total of $36 05. That 43-cent Increase amounts to a 1 percent Increase In the tax rate. But homeowners' tax bills will go up by more than that because the state has made more of home's assessed value subject to taxation. The percentage of the tax increase $.7 for the $50,000 bouse would vary with houses of higher or lower valuations. Tbe taxable valuation of a house Is less than its market value, and only 67.2 percent of a home's assessed value actually Is taxed. Last year, the state allowed only about 64.6 percent of a house's assessed value to be taxed. Also, the example assumes that the homeowner than those who live in Des Moines. That results in Authorities uld the car was stolen Sunday morntn while It wu parked in front of a church In Went Point It wai found Monday night In Fort would take advantage of a homestead credit that reduces taxable value by $4,150. Of the seven governmental bodies that divide up property taxes paid by Des Moines homeowners, only the city approved a higher tax rate for 1983-14. Tbe rate will go from $13 92 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $14 90, and could go up 20 cents more depending on how the city decides to pay off bonds. Polk County's rate stayed at about $6 22, and DMACCa remained at about 44 cents. The rate for Des Moines schools went down, from $13 36 to $1292. The Broadlawns tax rate also decreased, from $1 62 to $1.73, the city assessor's stayed at 25 cents, and the rate for the agriculture extension office remained at 2 cents Lower or unchanged tax rates do not necessarily mean taxing bodies collect less money, however. For example, Polk County will collect $2 million more with the same tax rate because the county's total valuation bas gone up and the state has made more of a home's value taxable. Sarah Matthews of the Polk-Des Moines Taxpayers Association says the county's valuation has gone np more In recent years than has the city's. Both Des Moines and Polk County have increased their share of tbe tax take over the past five years different tax bills. Mtfduoo and taken to the Impound By JIM IIEAIJEY The Des Moines Civic Center, which bad hoped to tfct it pr this fiscal year, la lacing a defkit instead, acting general William McElrath reported Wednesday. "You could probably biamo It all on the economy," he Mid, Tb performance havt not drawn the six audienc we expected. Tb lack of a good big Broadway show this spring, like those wt bad last spring, will hurt, too," be uld. Last spring's major productions Included 'Dancin' and "Best LlUte Whorehouse In Texa." This year have just one big show in the spring. Peter Pan. he uld. Despite the downturn. McElrath noted. "Rock 'n' roll show are good to us. They are tbe one thing that has remained consistent for us as the economy has gotten worse." The original operating budget In Ankeny. for instance, the owner of a borne valuod at $50,000 paid $890 in 1942-83 Uses and will pay about $933 a $43. or 4 I percent. ment lot behind the police station. increase. West Point Marshal Austin O'Brien uld be spotted the car being driven In West Point about 11pm. Monday and chased the car west along Iowa Highway 101. Tbe driver drove the car down a 50-foot embankment and The estimated 1983-64 tax rate for property in the Ankeny city limits and school district is $32 45 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, compared with $32.33 for 1982 83. fed on foot In West Des Moines, a homeowner paying $827 Police arrested Franklin at tbe this year cn a $50,000 home would pay about $841 TAXES high school In Fort Madison, where be I'lcase turn to Paye 4l is a student, police said. Muscatine board won't terminate coach's contract fgutf photo iv iv I neibfrgall projected a $17,000 profit for the year ending this June 30. "Instead we'll probably have a net loss of $47,000," McElrath said. Hudson pupils boycott over MUSCATINE. IA. Tbe Muscatine School Board bas voted Last fiscal year, tbe center reported an operating profit of against terminating the contract of $57,000, be said. head high school wrestling coach Don Tbe Civic Center will receive about teacher cuts Yahn. Superintendent Arthur Sensor bad $135,000 In hotel and motel tax money as public subsidy this year. suspended Yahn. with pay, as By JOHN CARLSON That's $35,000 less than had been teacher and coach on Feb. II. Tbe Muscatine Journal reported that Yahn bad been accused of falsifying planned, he said, because Polk County withdrew its commitment when the Some 175 of Hudson High School's 300 students boycotted classes county needed the money for its own budget Wednesday protesting cutbacks In tbe documents after a wrestler was injured and it was discovered that physical examination and insurance school teaching staff. On another matter, McElrath said According to Hudton waiver forms had not been signed be tbe center has Installed five Macintosh stereo amplifiers, each Principal Mark forehand, as required. Haack, the students ntsvoiNfS Tbe board's vote, taken Monday with a maximum output of 500 watts per channel, to improve the hall's 4 rime to school Wednesday morning sound system. Tbe center's JBL speakers in custom-built enclosures itb notes from their parents were not replaced, he said. v- tf I V1 after an executive session, was 4 against firing. Oubuqui youths held in salt of stolen shoes Ttei IxWVi im tern ferrtc excusing them for the day. Haack said the students are upset with the district's plan to reduce three teachers from full-time to half-time The amps cost $3,300 each, with the money coming from tbe capital budget, which be said doesn't affect the projected operating deficit. status. The changes are coming as a result of a "budget shortage" in the The amps were bought be said, not so much for volume as to school district DUBUQUE, IA. Four youths have been turned over to juvenile authorities for alltgedly selling stolen "The students were concerned prevent distortion." A powerful amp shoes. is less likely to distort because it about the cuts and they wanted to demonstrate to the school board they Authorities said 132 pairs of were concerned," he said. doesn't need all its power to reproduce loud passages. Haack said he first beard talk of a athletic shoes were stolen last week from the Marting Shoe Store in the Kennedy Mall here. The youths McElrath, 33, who has been on the possible walkout last week and called I Hmtm meeting of juniors and seniors on center staff since March 1979 and who has been operations director, was allegedly were selling tbe shoes valued at $40 to $50 a pair for as little as S. Friday to discuss the situation. picked Wednesday by the board to act "The decision was made to select Louis Lavorato In Des Moines. Borkett is charged with Bertram Burkett, 25, right, talks to his attorney, Alfredo Parrish, Wednesday as testimony began in Burkett's first-degree muder trial before Polk County District Judge the Oct 22 death of Derrlca Moss, 3, who had been left In as general manager until a successor is found for Gerald Bloomquist, who died of heart attack March 6. student representatives who would present tbe board with a statement of their concern." bis rare. The search committee, which will He said the board agreed to bear Farrier decides to stay in Iowa the statement following a special advertise nationally In trade journals for Bloomquist's replacement, Child died after 29 blows, jury fold meeting on Monday. But on the advice of the board's attorney, it was decided against getting involved in such a meeting with protesters. consists of David Kruidenier and J. C. "Buz" Brenton, both past chairmen of the center board; Ann Anderson and Charles Betts, both vice chairpersons; Robert Houser, treasurer, and William Vernon, chairman. "The students were frustrated and neck, thigh and middle finger of her right hand, the doctor By WILLIAM PETROSKI Iowa Corrections Director Hal Farrier said Wednesday he bas withdrawn as a candidate for the top prison post in said. felt they weren't getting a chance to be beard," Haack said. "I knew they were upset and I met with the entire Gooney 'fine' Saying the child's death was no accident, Lacsina also characterized many of the bruises as resulting from a "strong striking force" to tbe body. And he said most of the injuries were sustained within four hours before she student body Tuesday afternoon because I heard they were planning a walkout. died last Oct. 22. "What they did to cover their bases after surgery was use a school policy that says if a parent excuses a student it is allowed. Lacsina said he ruled out the possibility of accidental death because of the severity, extent and different By MELINDAVOSS Register Staff Writer Three-year-old Derrica Moss died of shock from internal bleeding after suffering more than 20 blows to her body, Polk County's chief deputy medical examiner said Wednesday. Dr. Emmanuel Lacsina testified about his findings as testimony opened in the first-degree murder trial of Bertram Rene Burkett which started Monday. The 25-year-old Des Moines man is accused of beating to death the daughter of his girlfriend, Shirley Moss, last fall while they were living together in Urbandale. Burkett's attorney, Alfredo Parrish, gave the jury a different version of the case, saying that his client has "become a victim of a series of mistakes and a frantic rush to judgment by doctors and law enforcement officials." Parrish said bis client, also known as "Herky," bas a "record for stealing hubcabs and a $150 television set that caused people not to believe what he said about the case." During four hours on the witness stand, Lacsina testified the autopsy showed the girl bad bruises on her lower West Des Moines Police Chief Colorado. Farrier, 45, a native of Brighton in Washington County, said be decided to remain here after having a long discussion last week with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad. "That was the most con locations of the injuries. So (Wednesday about 175 or so came in with notes signed by parents saying they were needed at home for personal reasons. Then they turned Orval Cooney was reported "doing fine" Wednesday after heart surgery at Iowa Methodist Burkett said in a sworn statement before the trial that Derrica, who was left in his care while her mother went to work at a day care center, began choking on milk and that Medical Center. around and walked out. be tried to revive her before taking her to Northwest The report was "I told them Tuesday the boycott) HAL FARRIER Community Hospital, where she later died. given by a man who answered tbe was not a school-approved activity and was not something they should by forced or coerced to take part in. I Parrish said in his opening statement that his client family's phone in by "pumping on this child vigorously" before West Des Moines. A recommended they attend classes and rushing her to the hospital. I find an alternative to deal with the hospital spokesman said that the family But Lacsina testified there was no evidence that the child had choked to death because there was no foreign problem." chest, abdomen, buttocks, right thigh and eye, and on the top, back and front of her head. She also had a ruptured liver and internal bruises, he said. has requested that Haack said "it was a quiet day" at matter in ber lungs. And he said no illness was detected by Cooney's condition the Hudson school and classes went on as normal and he expects all the a microscopic examination of tissues from the girl's body. and the nature of his illness not be ORVAL COOMIY Methodically showing Lacsina each of the 23 8- by 10-inch color photographs of the child's body taken during students to return today. Under cross-examination by Parrish, Lacsina admitted that in drawing his conclusions he did not look at the disclosed. There was no picketing or demon the autopsy, prosecutor Kevin VanderSchel, an assistant Polk County attorney, had the doctor explain the injuries medical records kept by the doctors who tried to resusci- West Des Moines Mayor George in detail. BURKETT strating of any sort My understanding is the students were just taking one day to gain some attention with the school board." Mills said that Cooney has been granted sick leave from his job but Scars also were visible on Derrica's face, upper Hp, Please turn to Page 4M that he continues to be chief. vincing reason that made me stay," he said. "I was just impressed with tbe governor's commitment and dedication and support." Farrier, who was among four out-of-state candidates being considered for the Colorado post by Gov. Richard Lamm, said he telephoned Lamm last Friday to inform him of his decision. As of Wednesday night, Lamm still had not announced his choice for the job. Farrier said Branstad did not assure him that Iowa will have a separate department of corrections if he remains. The two talked briefly about a separate department, Farrier said, but "it was a very insignificant part of the discussion." The Iowa Division of Adult Corrections is part of the Department of Social Services. Under a bill being considered in the Iowa Legislature, the administration of social services and corrections would be split in an attempt to place greater emphasis on prison and crime problems. Students who had their parents' Mills said that Cooney had peti tioned for retirement permission to skip classes will not be Minutes tick by, man's life saved By TOM ALEX disciplined, he said. But there were "a handful" who cut school without notes from their parents. Haack said they would be disciplined as they would be 487 ticketed for no stickers Realtor Sfartf Wrttvr By the time Marvin Radden, 26, in any other situation, probably with reached the emergency room at Iowa Methodist Medical Center Tuesday short-term suspension. Des Moines police had written 487 Haack refused to identify the tickets to motorists by 10:30 p.m. night he had entered "the golden hour." teachers being reduced to half-time and said he believed they planned to enter a hearing process in hopes of Tuesday for failure to display 1983 license plate stickers. The number of tickets written on Wednesday won't Perhaps a third of his blood was on the seat of his car, which was against overturning the board decision. a utility pole be available until today, Assistant Police Chief Thomas Teale said. tne noo oiocr oi west of Des Moines' Locust Street Various violations were discovered loop. by officers Tuesday and Wednesday, Police said Radden had been officials said, but none so unusual as the violation uncovered two years ago stabbed in a domestic argument and then drove his car until he passed out. Medics, thinking he'd been injured when a woman placed ber stickers on her rear-view mirror. icz and several other doctors started to work. As doctors, nurses and technicians went about the ABCs of life support to save Radden, they used intravenous fluids to replenish the blood and other fluids he'd lost. Between Radden's room and the room across the hall, where an all-out effort was being made to save traffic accident victim Terry Smith, 33, of 4107 Seneca some 25 people, several of tbem doctors, were "running back and forth," Bratkiew-icz said. Within half an hour Radden was conscious and feeling stronger by the minute. Smith could not be saved. He died at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Des Moines police said Radden allegedly was stabbed by his wife, Ann Radden, 26, of 1145 Thirty-sixth but no charges were filed. Radden and his wife had been separated, police said. About 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Radden, who had been living at 3124 Kingman dropped his children off at the Thirty-sixth Street residence. An hour later he returned, police said, and pounded on the door. Ann Radden reportedly yelled at him to "go away" several times. Ann Radden called police, then returned to find Radden inside the doorway. She yelled at him to leave and then allegedly went for a kitchen knife. After asking him to leave once again, police said, she started "stabbing at him" as she chased him down the street Later, witnesses saw Marvin Radden's car swerving down the 2300 block of Ingersoll Avenue. When Radden was brought into Methodist, there was a "trauma alert." Because of Radden's condition and that of Smith, the three emergency room doctors were joined by four others and a call went out for more nurses and medical technicians. Robert Black, spokesman for Methodist, said: "It was about as good a demonstration of the significance of a trauma center as anything I know of" when the car struck the pole, were Officers were cautioned in roll-call amazed at the amount of blood in the car. that one of the first places they were to look for violations was in their own "The golden hour" is a term used to Hot rock show item: Earplugs The Civic Center made a record $28 Tuesday night selling earplugs to patrons on hand for tbe Busboys and Stray Cats rock show, acting general manager William McElrath reported. The center has provided small sponge hearing protectors "as a service to the patrons" for about two years, he said. "It's not something we count on for a lot of income." He said the idea to offer the devices for 50 cents apiece was spawned by "complaints we'd get that shows were too loud." McElrath said performers, not the Civic Center, retain what contracts refer to as "artistic control" over the shows including how loud the sound system is. "Tbe house manager will listen at 'sound check' and he can usually tell whether there'll be a market for earplugs," McElrath said. "If so, he'll tape up a little sign and we're in business." parking lot. Spring break ahead describe a critical time when the patient is close to death. In Radden's case, he was not much more than 10 minutes away, the medics said. A major artery in his arm bad been severed. for D.M. students Des Moines schools will have a week-lone SDrins break next week. The pulse in bis hands and feet was weak or "thready," but circulation to the heart and brain was still relative Gasses will be dismissed a half hour early this Friday and will resume March 28. ly strong when Dr. Richard Bratkiew-