Chula Vista Star-News from Chula Vista, California • Page 14

Off my chest THE STAR-NEWS Thursday, November 5, 1981 Bl ii. i 1 1 Whefe She hasn't missed voting in an election in 42 years people care By DONNA CIFARELLI Star-Newi Staff Wrltar By Lowell BlankfbrfJ I Its license plates proclaim its 10,000 lakes though this, typically, is an understatement; studies show more than 15,000 lakes in Minnesota, at least after the melting snows fill indentations in the rolling landscape." But, then, the Scandinavians and Germans who settled this far-north state never were known for self-puffery. They worked hard and did their thing and let the resultsspeakLfor themselves. For almost two years I have been involved, as an owner and itinerant "expert," with a group of small newspapers' in southeast Minnesota, near Rochester, site of the famed Mayo Clinic whose dedication to preserving human life epitomizes the civilizedaatue of this sprawling state, America's 12th largest in size yet with barely half as many people (4 million) as Los Angeles County. But last month I decided to see more of Minnesota than the airport and newspaper offices.

With my wife April, I spent 10 glorious days there. Here are some of my impressions Sylura Barron is "recovering from a heart attack that brought her close' to death last week, but -Tuesday she was more concerned about being able to vote. "I was worried that it was too late to get an absentee she said from her bed at Bay General Hospital in Chula Vista. Barron hasn't missed going to the polls in 42 years. She did vote Tuesday, but it was the first time she had cast an absentee ballot and she said it "hurt me to the depths of my soul." Active in politics since 1935, Barron said she usually helps organize the precincts on election day and if voters aren't getting out she "hauls them to the polls." "I missed doing that today," she said.

Although she began her political involvement in the Republican Party, Barron became a Democrat while Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. Her efforts to bring blacks to the Democrat Party led to her position as the first black to be named a full voting delegate to the Democratic National Convention! That was in 1948. Since then she has accumulated many other firsts including the first black to be elected to the Democratic County Central Committee and the first black in San Diego County to receive numerous political awards. Barron also has been offered a scholarship at National University and she intends to use it to study political science. She said her friends want to-know what the school can teach her ab6ut politics that she doesn't already know.

Anxious to recover and return to her normally active life, Barron said the flowers, cards and telegrams from are helping her recuperate and she appreciates their thoughtfulness. Her doctor wants her to slow down for the remainder of 1981, but Barron said she "hopes to be 1 7 0 Star News photo by Jonic Gordon SYLURA BARRON SIGNS HER ABSENTEE BALLOT She hasn't missed an election in 42 years back swinging in 1982. Two souoM IF I WERE asked to state one adjective to describe Minnesota, it would not be "beautiful" (though we saw lovely lakes and fall foliage) nor "bustling" or "progressive" (though both are true) but that word I used a few paragraphs ago "civilized." People here care about the quality of life, life itself, and each other. In every restaurant, the hostess asks whether you want "smoking or non-smoking" Minnesota law protects non-smokers from the foul weed, Highways and cities are remarkably clean and litter-free. Along urban freeways baffles muffle the din of traffic for nearby residents.

Half a century ago, Minnesota became America's first state to do away with capital punishment. There is no move to restore it. re ota DO 1 I fn fV hi I I in IS 'J VJE 'of 5, Maaal laMMaawJI Li mi i ml he added. DeSpain is also being sought by Long Beach police for questioning in connection with four incidents of a similar house scam there. In Long Beach, three victims reported a total loss of.

$2,175. One incident was an To try and prevent being conned, prospective renters and buyers should ask for the name and identification of the person trying to rent or sell the property, Cronin said. PAMELA KAYE CARMICHAEL JAMES MICHAEL DeSPAIN MINNESOTA CRIME RATES are relatively In the newspaper, off ice in Plainview (pop. 3,500) hub of a corn-and-hog economy where residents smoke their own bacon (delicious) and the family farm still thrives, the publisher and I are busy and April offers to drive the publisher's car to his home where she is to visit with his wife. The car is on the main business street.

She asks for the keys. They are in the ignition, he says. April looks at him questioningly. "We always leave our cars unlocked and the keys in the ignition," the publisher said. "My brother-in-law from Houston, who Was visiting here, thought it was unusual, too." '4 3 j'K'jw tr report to police after she paid Mitchell a $1,000 cash deposit on the house, but never received a key and never heard from him again, Two other victims were met by police at the house as they attempted to move in.

One-of the victims had cut the lock off the garage door to get in because the key Mitchell gave him didn't fit. The two' had paid Mitchell a total of $1,800 in checks and travelers checks. In a. fourth attempted incident, Mitchell failed, to meet a couple at the designated time and place to their deposit. The couple later read of the scam in the "newspaper, and Contacted police.

Police later traced the phone number used in the ad to a phone booth at a gas station in North Park. Identification of the male suspect was made after two brothers paid him $725 in an attempt to rent a San Diego house from him. One of the brothers had become suspicious and jotted down the license plate number of the man's vehicle. They contacted police and later identified him from a photo. The brothers, however, declined to press charges because they felt the amountof money they lost wasn't worth it, Crohin said.

San Diego police contacted Chula Vista police after -the cidents occurred here, ByDANADUBBS Star-Newi Staff Writer The Chula Vista police department has issued warrants, for the arrest of a couple believed to be living in the North Park area of San Diego in connection with the mid-October rental scam of a vacant house Three victims lost a total of $2,800 in the scam to a man who called himself John Mitchell and who rented to each of them a house he had no authority to rent. The house is the property of Coldwell Bankers. A warrant was issued for James-- DeSpain, (35, after each of the victims picked out his picture from a photo line-up, Detective John-Croninsaid. A warrant for Pamela Kaye Carmichael, early wasTissued after police obtained information that a woman using a driver's license with that name had cashed victims' checks at San Diego banks Croninsaid. DeSpain is believed to-use aliases of Douglas Chapman and John Michael Danna.

Carmichael is believed to use an alias of Pamela Mannino DeSpain. The scam surfaced in Chula Vista after three Victims answered an ad -in The Evening Tribune for a three-bedroom house which was renting for $525 a month. The house featured a stone -fireplace, built-ins and a -formal dining room. One victim made a SltS ommy new sis WMM vW-m rmtm tmt hew to mn ywmrty? MINNEAPOLIS is becoming a city of glass. The 57-story glass-paneled IDS Ceftter, built by an insurance dominates, the skyline, like; cathedrals dominated medieval cities.

Smaller though striking other glass buildings surround it, and more are going up. They have pedestrian walkways that connect buildings, fancy shops, vast glass-domed indoor shopping centers. 7 Our 16th-floor hotel room overlooks the glass-paneled Lutheran Brotherhood headquarters. Its panels change colors like a chameleon as the skies change. It is as if residents, facing those dull and short winter days, want to use mirrors to squeeze out of the sky and multiply every bit of available light, every ray of sunshine.

CONSIDER THE HIDDEN Buses to run COSTS WHEN BUYING A NEW HOT WATER APPLIANCE. If you're in the market for a new washing machine, dishwasher or other hot water appliance, here's a clue that can really save you i money. Compare energy costs too. You'll discover the energy costs may far THE TWIN CITIES are a cultural mecca. -Their huge enterprises-(this is the national headquarters of 3-M, Honeywell, Pillsbury, to name just a few) have funded art museumV galore, such world famous attractions as the Guthrie Theater with no seat more thaq, 52 feet from stage and its own repertory company that is not afraid to tackle serious drama (when we were there, two of its plays dealt with the Holocaust, one with the agonies of changing Appalachia) to Plaza Bonita National City Transit will do its bit to help outweigh the purchase price.

In fact, a new gas shoppers get to Plaza Bonita on water heater could cost up to 1 ,600 in energy Beginning this Sunday, the local transit system over ten years. Check the Energy Guide label, bef ore you buy. i Most hot water appliances carry the yellow Energy Guide label that will tell you the estimated energy costs per Or ask- any dealer that displays the "All Appliances Are Not Created Equal" banner for help. tfj A wise decision now nan rfiallv na a U. will begin making hourly runs into Plaza Bonita and also will begin making trips to the 24th St.

trolley station. 1 The buses won't run to the 8th St. trolley station, on Sundays anymore, accordrriglorNationar City Transit Manager Don Oliver, because few passengers were boarding at, or heading to, that station on Sundaysr'T'TT' Route 604 also no longer travel along 4th and Division Sts. The Sunday route of 604 will be combined with Route 601 to make the jog into the new shopping center and the 24th St. station.

4 The plaza and the 24th St. station are visited by the buses on the remaining six days of the week. Oliver said Route 6j)4 wilt continue to connect with San Diego Transit's Routes 29 and 32. He suggested "that bus patrons "with questions about what time to wait for their bus under the new Sunday schedule should call National City Transit at 474-7505. offin the long run.

LIKE MUCH of America, Minnesotans are busy building and rebuilding. In the Mississippi port town of Red Wing, the Sk James Hotel, which once hosted presidents, has been restoreS to 19th century graciousness; its menu, preprints old newspaper articles which show, for example, that in 1875 a total of 182 children were born to parents from Norway, Sweden or Germany, compared to 31 born of native Americans. Arid in Paul, not far from a magnificent state capital which features one of America's largest-unsupported domes, a multi-storied labyrinth of interconnected shopping centers features beautiful indoor city park with lunchtlme live music. Energy. You've got the power to save it.

San Diego Gas Electric This information la alao available from othar dealara SDOVI doaa not andoraa or fuarantM the product or aenrloaa of any manufacturer, euppller ORdealer. i.