The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 2

2ATHEDES MOINES REGISTER Friday, February 17, 1989 Hit 1 1 i lis! WM i i i ls til II MORE IOWA NEWS: 5A RANDY EVANS, Iowa news editor, 515-284-8065 DATELINE IOWA 'I hate convict yells in court to her 'angels' partner By WILLIAM RYBERG Of The Register's Davenpert Bureau PEORIA, ILL. Sobbing hysterically, Pamala St. Charles screamed an angry outburst in court Thursday at Donald Lowry, her co-conspirator in the "love angels" mail-order sex fantasy scheme. "I can't go back. I can't go back," she shouted, crying uncontrollably as law officers escorted her from a hearing in U.S.

District Court for her return to the Peoria County Jail. "I hate you, Don. I hate you, Don," she screamed. In an interview later at the Peoria County Jail, Lowry blamed the outburst on the strain St. Charles has been under since being behind bars.

He said he feels only sympathy and concern for her. "She didn't hate me yesterday," Lowry said. "What she'll feel tomorrow I don't know." "No More Fantasies" He said he's "burned out." "I've got no more dreams left. No more fantasies. No more ideals.

No more Chonda-Za," said Lowry, 60. Chonda-Za was the name of a paradise that was part of a fantasy that Lowry created around a non-existent colony of women called "love angels." It also was the name given to a retreat he once hoped to build. Lowry and St. Charles, 25, were in court here for an initial appearance after being returned to Illinois from Florida, where they were arrested Feb. 2 for jumping bond while awaiting subdued and depressed and sat nearly motionless.

Their appearance was in stark contrast with the trial, when both acted confident and dressed like successful business people. St. Charles told U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm that she now wants to be represented by a separate lawyer from Lowry. "During the course of the trial, there were things that were brought up about Don that unfairly reflected on me," St.

Charles said. She apparently was referring to evidence that Lowry paid some female COL employees and models for sex. Parents Will Pay Lawyer's Fee She said she didn't have money to hire a lawyer, but her mother, Rachel Ortiz of Bettendorf, rose in the spectators' gallery to say she and her husband would hire a lawyer. Mihm said a hearing will be held next week to determine whether either of the two can be released on bond and whether an April sentencing date should be changed. In the interview, Lowry said St.

Charles was terrified of returning to jail because she'd been the victim of three attempted sexual assaults since her arrest. He agreed it was his idea to flee and didn't dispute St. Charles' assertions that he pressured her into it. He said he regretted running, but blamed it on a sense of paranoia, "verging on mental breakdown for both of us," stemming from the strain of being convicted and facing prison. ii She didn't hate me yesterday.

What she'll feel tomorrow I don't Donald Lowry founder of 'love angels' mail-order sex fantasy scheme They were convicted in federal court here in December on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, stemming from their operation of the COL or Church of Love, in the Illinois Quad Cities. Prosecutors said the two cheated lonely men out of millions of dollars by using letters and nude and semi-nude photographs to convince customers that the colony was real and the women needed money for living expenses and to build Chonda-Za. Drabber Appearance Dressed in blue county jail coveralls, the two were led into the courtroom in handcuffs, which were removed for the hearing. St. Charles, her brown hair cut short and dyed blond and looking unkempt, sobbed softly and slumped in her chair, nervously swiveling and rocking in it.

Lowry, sporting the white beard he grew on the lam, looked School heads told to keep sports clean 1- Jul Taking a break Sisters Mildred Schultz of Truro (left), Vesta Batten of Show at Veterans Memorial Auditorium Thursday. Carlisle (center) and Berniece Phillips of Peru take The sisters come to Des Moines each year to see the five while visiting the Des Moines Home and Garden show and each other. The show runs through Sunday. Grassley selects finalists for Iowa U.S. attorney post Hog confinement company files appeal for site The Register's lew News Service BOONE, IA.

The lawyer for Premium Standard Farms, the company whose plan to build a hog lot near Ledges State Park was shot down last week, has filed an appeal with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In a petition filed Thursday, Premium Standard Farms asks the state to reverse its ruling, claiming natural resources officials approved permits for the hog lot in November. Company President Dennis Harms has said he and his two partners stand to lose $500,000 invested at the site. Burlington chief fired for alleged misconduct The Register's Iowa Ntwi Service BURLINGTON, IA. The Bur lington police chief was fired Thurs day for alleged misconduct related to his handling of a traffic ticket re ceived by a family member, the city manager said.

Police Chief Ted Behne, who has been chief for 13 years, has already said he will file an appeal with the City Council and the Iowa Civil Serv ice Commission, said City Manager W.G. Lawley. He would not say who the family member was. Wendell Patton, currently the de partment's acting chief of operations commander, has been appointed to the police chief position. Vinton, Shellsburg reach grade sharing agreement The Register's lewa News Service VINTON, IA.

The Vinton Com mumty School District will gain about 150 middle and high school stu dents by way of a whole-grade shar ing agreement signed with Shellsburg Community School District, and as many as 14 teachers stand to lose their jobs. Superintendent Everett Hidle baugh said Shellsburg students in grades seven through 12 will go to Vinton's Washington High School. In exchange, Vinton's 115 sixth-graders will go to Shellsburg. Hidlebaugh said the 14 Shellsburg teachers who will lose their jobs will be guaranteed an interview and "careful consideration" to fill the six to eight positions created by the addi tional students in Vinton. Academic group critical of Cornell College policy From Tht RtgiMtr's Ctar Rapids Bureau MOUNT VERNON, IA.

Cornell College's policy of asking faculty and prospective faculty to be aware of scholarly works pertaining to women has come under fire by Accuracy in Academia. In its current monthly "Campus Report" publication, the Washington, D.C., group cited the Chronicle of Higher Education's report saying Cornell faculty must be aware of "feminist scholarship in their discipline or are willing to take it up as an interest." "It is a litmus test," said Kip Kra-dy, a field researcher for the nonprofit organization. "You're saying someone has to follow a certain basic ideology or be aware of something, and if they're not aware of it, they're excluded from being a professor at your school." Dennis Damon Moore, dean of Cornell College, says Accuracy in Academia has a too-narrow definition of the intent behind the policy. Ottumwa man electrocuted in hydraulic lift accident The Register's lewa News Service REDFIELD, IA. An Ottumwa man was electrocuted Thursday when the hydraulic-lift bucket of his truck came in contact with overhead lines carrying 13,000 volts of power.

Douglas E. Taylor, 26, was unloading coal dust at the Cargill plant in Redfield when the lift hit the lines. Dr. Thomas Bennett, state medical examiner, said Taylor was taken by helicopter ambulance to a Des Moines hospital, where he died about an hour after the incident. Glenn Miller's house sold to his daughter, son-in-law The Register's lewa News Service CLARINDA, IA.

Delbert Smith, who has lived in the Clarinda house where Glenn Miller was born, has sold the house to Miller's daughter and son-in-law, Jonnie Dee and Barry Soper of La Jolla, Calif. The Sopers, who hope to turn the home into a museum, plan to close the deal March 1, the 85th anniversary of Miller's birth. The iale is good news for Clarinda and the 600 or so members of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society. The museum is expected to draw bigger crowds for the annual Glenn Miller festival. be in TERRY FARRISThe Register County attorney specializing in the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

She was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor in 1979 and for the Des Moines City Council in 1985. She is the chairwoman of the Des Moines Plan and Zoning Commission. "I'm very honored to be picked," Fultz said Thursday. "I look forward to serving very much and I feel I have the background and the ability to do the job. I have served as prosecutor and as a defense attorney and I am confident I can do the job." Pelton, 48, has been a district judge for 15 years and was a candidate for the U.S.

attorney's job shortly after Turner's death. The post was not filled then because of bureaucratic delays. Pelton previously served as Clinton County attorney and as a member of the Iowa Legislature. "I'm happy to be included," Pelton said Thursday. "It was kind of Senator Grassley to send my name forward.

I would feel very comfortable working under the Bush administra tion. I feel I am capable and suitable." Shepard, 48, a native of Allison, was appointed public safety commissioner by Gov. Terry Branstad six years ago. Before that he served as Butler county attorney for 10 years. He and Grassley are both from Butler County.

"We'll see what happens," Shepard said Thursday. delivery this spring. Record sales set in gamble for jackpot By CYNTHIA HUBERT Register Staff Writer With visions of Winnebagos and winter vacation homes dancing in their heads, Iowans are snapping up Lotto America tickets at a record pace this week. An estimated $16 million Lotto America jackpot, the largest in the contest history, is causing a state wide outbreak of lottery fever, Iowa lottery spokesman Bret Voorhees said Thursday. "They're already lining up," said Kevin Steinkamp at Holiday Station Store on West Broadway in Council Bluffs, the hottest spot for lottery ticket sales in the state.

Iowa, five other states and Washington, D.C., participate in Lotto America, and Iowans consistently buy more tickets than the people from the other areas. They have been richly rewarded for their enthusiasm: Three of the five multimillion-dollar jackpots have gone to residents of the Hawkeye State. The largest to date, $13.6 million, went to a Norwalk couple in Decern ber. West Virginia, Rhode Island, Ore gon, Kansas ana Missouri also take part in Lotto America. Iowa is leading the pack in ticket sales again this week, said Voorhees As of Wednesday, 692,000 Lotto America tickets had been sold in Iowa, setting the pace for a new re cord.

Combined, the seven participat ing lotteries sold 2.7 million tickets during the same period, meaning Iowa accounted for more than one-fourth of the total sales. "Over half of all tickets are pur chased in the 24 hours before the drawing, so we expect some lines," Voorhees said. "Beating the lines might not be a bad idea. Tickets will be sold through 8 p.m. Saturday for that night's Lotto America contest.

The drawing is scheduled for 9:59 p.m. Meanwhile, Iowa lotto is having an average week, Voorhees said. About 900,000 of those tickets were pur chased last week, and 450,000 had been sold as of Wednesday this week. Voorhees said the record Lotto America jackpot seems to be drawing first-time players to the national game. "At certain levels, people decide: Now is the time for me to put my dollar he said.

"Double digits is one breakthrough, and over $15 million seems to be another." Voorhees said a typical lottery ticket buyer is male, middle-aged and middle-class. "But with $16 million, you get all groups." Greg Dillavou, assistant manager of Hy-Vee Store on Euclid Avenue in Des Moines, said ticket sales were 'pretty steady" Thursday. "It cooled off just a bit today, but that's typical on the first day after a drawing," Dillavou said. "Starting tomorrow, it will be tremendous. The lines start forming, and they go all the way down and out the store.

"People start talking about the money and what they plan to buy, and we use it as a conversation piece," he said. "The first thing we want to know is if they're going to share it with us." Phone line handles track questions Do you have a question about the new Prairie Meadows race track in Altoona? Here's your chance to get those questions answered. A special Des Moines Register telephone line has been set up to take questions about the track, the state's first pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse track, which opens March 1. Callers can phone the special number 515-284-8296 and leave their questions on the recording. As many of the questions as possible will answered next week in an article The Register.

By NICK LAMBERTO Register Staff Writer U.S. Senator Charles Grassley has selected three finalists to be U.S. attorney for the southern half of Iowa: Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Gene W. Shepard, District Judge Charles H. Pelton of Clinton and Des Moines lawyer Karla J.

Fultz. The top candidate should be named in three to six months, said Allen Finch, a spokesman for Grassley. The job has been held by acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Hagen, 45, of Des Moines since the death of U.S. Attorney Richard Turner in 1986.

Hagen said he did not apply for the job because he is a Democrat. The names of the three candidates will be sent to the U.S. Department of Justice for review before the name of one finalist is sent to President Bush. If Bush approves the recommendation of the Department of Justice, he will send the name to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

Shepard and Pelton both had indicated interest in the job, and both have said they talked to Grassley Ia.) about it. Other applicants included Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Beamer and Robert Dopf, both of Des Moines; Mark Schlenker of In-dianola and Page County Attorney Stephen Patrick O'Meara. O'Meara recently said he has accepted a job as an assistant U.S. attorney at Omaha.

Fultz, 49, has served as juvenile court referee and as an assistant Polk By LINDA LANTOR Register Staff Writer Charles Duchen, a member of the Iowa Board of Regents, cautioned the state university presidents Thursday to be mindful of misconduct in their athletic programs. "All I am saying to you folks this is your individual responsibility," Duchen said at a regents meeting in Des Moines. "Our institutions are just too fine to have that kind of a disappointment of a serious nature happen." He added that he knew of no current problems at the three state universities, Iowa State, Iowa and Northern Iowa. Duchen said later he was referring to the fact that several schools have been put on probation because of violating National Collegiate Athletic Association rules and had other problems "to the extent where it's really an embarrassment to those schools." He said that besides recruiting violations, for which most schools are penalized, programs have been hurt by drug and alcohol problems. University of Oklahoma Duchen specifically mentioned the University of Oklahoma, whose football program has been placed on three years' probation for recruiting violations.

Since it has gone on probation, one football player shot and wounded another in the athletes dormitory, three football players have been charged with rape and last year's starting quarterback, Charles Thompson, has been charged with selling cocaine to an FBI agent. Duchen noted that other schools have had problems, too. The Kansas basketball program, last year's NCAA champion, is on probation. The University of Missouri basketball orogram is under investigation following allegations that a former player received improper extra benefits. ISU's football program in December completed two years' probation.

Duchen said ensuring that programs are clean must not be left only to people supervising the athletic departments. Officials Praised Regent Percy Harris said he was sure university officials act quickly when they see a problem. He expressed approval for the way the University of Iowa handled a recent situation in which treatment was obtained. He was not specific about the incident, but it was reported last week that the university paid for drug abuse treatment last summer for basketball players Roy Marble, Ed Hor-ton and Curtis Cuthpert. The presidents said they appreciate the regents' concern.

"I think that's quite responsible and appropriate, given many of the things that go on nationally," of I President Hunter Rawlings said. His statement was echoed by ISU President Gordon Eaton and UNI President Constantine Curris. In other business, the regents: Voted to let the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs require that employees be proficient in sign language. It asked for further review, however, of the school's proposed two-year time limit for developing proficiency. Moved toward adopting rules for how the state universities may compete with private businesses.

The proposed rules are being made in response to a state law passed last year that prohibits state agencies from1 competing with private enterprise. Exemptions were made for state universities. The proposed rules address such matters as letting the schools sell personal computers to students, faculty and staff at a discount, as they do now, said Cynthia Elsenhauer, a regents official. Sioux City teen cashes in on Jeopardy debut By LARRY BALLARD Register Staff Writer Eric Newhouse was willing to bet $2,000 that he knew his Nobel Prize winners. It was a good wager.

By naming Marie Curie as the first woman to ever win the award, New-house, 15, 15 and a half. Al most became the youngest per' son ever to advance to the finals of Jeopardy's Teen Tournament. The championship round of the syndicat ed quiz show, taped last month, airs today, but the only way to find out how Newhouse fared is to tune in. He's not telling. "It been fun keeping the secret, said Newhouse, a junior at Sioux City East High School.

"I wasn't going to tell anyway, but then someone from the publicity department at the show asked me not to reveal what happened until afterwards." Only New-house and his parents, Michael and Genny Newhouse, know the outcome. He is guaranteed $7,500 for reach ing the final round. The winner will be awarded at least $25,000. In the semifinal round, he walked away with $14,500, and ran away from his nearest competitor, a 17-year-old from Raleigh, N.C. Newhouse watched Jeopardy's 1988 teen tournament on television and made it a goal to appear this year.

A straight-A student who hasn't even begun to think about college, Newhouse drove to Omaha for try- outs in November and "aced" a 100-question written test. Show officials contacted him two weeks later and sent him plane tickets to Los Angeles. The three-day tournament was taped in the first week of January. Newhouse says he didn't mind tak ing time off from school to participate on Jeopardy. Other than East's Quiz Bowl team, which finished second in a national competition last fall, he's not involved in many extra curricular activities.

"I try not to gauge myself on what I do for other people," he said, stating his academic philosophy. "I try to measure myself by what I do for myself." Even though Newhouse sees him self as a lone gunman shooting for the Jeopardy grand prize, he has built a cheering section in his town and school. "The school and the community are very excited about this," East Assis tant Principal John Pas said. "It's not too often we get someone on national television from this community." Newhouse not only is the youngest Jeopardy Teen Tournament finalist ever, he's also the youngest junior at East High. St.

Ansgar to display well-known albino deer By JACK HOVELSON Of The Register's Waterwe Bureau Mitchell County's beloved albino deer will have a permanent home in St. Ansgar. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has notified St. Ansgar oniciais that the deer, which died two months ago, Anjr v. may be put on display in the community.

The animal has been mounted by Mar's Taxidermy of Britt and I des moines will De ready lor i "It's standing here, drying now," Marlene Peterson, owner of the taxidermy firm, said Thursday. The albino doe roamed the St. Ansgar-Carpenter area for nearly nine years under the watchful eyes of farmers who warned would-be trophy hunters they'd be in trouble if they attempted to bag the animal. Apparently no one ever tried to shoot it. A trapper in December found the deer dying on an abandoned farm four miles west of St.

Ansgar. It was given medication by a veterinarian but died two hours later of pneumonia and old age. A drive in St. Ansgar to raise money to mount the deer and establish a place to display it has netted about $2,500, said Ray Priem, a member of a committee formed to preserve the animal. He said the estimated cost for mounting the deer and building a glass case to house it was $1,000, but someone has offered to buy the glass and another person will donate the wood base.

Any extra money will go toward purchase or construction of a building for the deer display and other St. Ansgar historical items..