The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 17

B2-The Post, Saturday, July 3, 1982 Local News Contributions Diminish in County Commission Campaign By Jeff Stanfield Pttt $tH Wrlttr Campaign contributions in the Districts 2 and 4 races for the Palm Beach County Commission generally were lower for the second quarter of the campaign than the first three months, but thousands of dollars continued to flow into the candidates' war chests. Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Frank Foster continued to amass the biggest fortune of any of the candidates in either race with a total of $83,781 in cash contributed to his reelection campaign as of yesterday's filing deadline. Incumbent District 4 Commissioner Nor Palm Beach, in his District 2 race, collected $10,491 for the quarter ending June 30, bringing total contributions to $12,241 for the campaign. West Palm Beach resident Arthur H. Walner, another opponent of Foster's, brought in $2,852, with previous cash contributions of $55 for a total of $2,907.

District 4 candidate Sol Roth of west Boca Raton fared worse this past quarter with contributions of $986, bringing his total to But former Boca Raton Mayor Dorothy Wilken did better. Although no totals were tallied in her disclosure statement as re man Gregory collected about $6,000 more during the past three months with cash contributions toUling $22,876, bringing his total treasury intake to $39,801, according to campaign treasurer's report statements filed late yesterday with the Supervisor of Elections office. Delray Beach City Councilman Malcolm Bird, who is running against Gregory, has pulled ahead of the incumbent commissioner with campaign contributions totaling $45,950. Cash contributions this quarter totaled $26,668 for Bird's campaign. Other challengers to the incumbents drew considerably less money.

Ken Spillas of West quired, she reported an estimated $5,000 for the quarter. She had no previous contributions. Foster listed contributions of $500 from Roger Dean Chevrolet of West Palm Beach, Raymond and Ethyl Frank of West Palm Beach, Corky Tomato Corp. of Boynton Beach and Edwin O. Bussey, Jr.

of Palm Beach. Hamilton and Associates, a public relations firm, provided free space for Foster's campaign headquarters, and Boca Raton lawyer J. Clinton Scott and his wife, Gretch-en Scott, provided the biggest individual contributions of the campaign totaling $2,000. In fact, Foster had to return $1,000 to them because they had exceeded the legal limit for contributions. Gregory listed a number of large contributors, many of them Palm Beach businessmen who contributed $500 each.

The largest contributors were the Greater Boynton Beach Golf Club with $2,834 and National Medical Enterprises of Delray Beach with $1,000. Bird's financial disclosure statement was not available yesterday at the county elections office, but Bird said it had been postmarked in accordance with state law. Lake Worth Ponders Official Says Farmers Face 3rd Bad Year Beach Improvements 1 By Ken McKinnon Poll SUM Wrlttr OKEECHOBEE U.S. farmers face a third straight year of losing money, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner told more than 200 Okeechobee County residents, mostly farmers, Thursday night. "The only time in this country's history that agriculture reported losses two years in a row was in 1933-34," Conner said.

"Losses have been reported in 1980 and '81 and unless something along the lines of a miracle occurs, 1982 is going to be another losing year. "Regardless of his ingenuity and hard work, the agriculture producer finds himself in precarious times." Conner was in Okeechobee to kick off his reelection I 1 jt I I jT r-2 By Nancy Powell Pt StaH Writ LAKE WORTH City commissioners reviewed ideas for improving the city beach yesterday at the first workshop meeting with architects hired for a beach feasibility study. But most commission members indicated they do not want drastic changes of existing facilities. Hap Lewis of Peacock Lewis Architects and Planners told the commission that our purpose is to verify our goals and to get feedback from you so we can get started." He said that based on the feedback he has received from the city, the community "wants something that is functional and economically sound." Participants discussed adding more green space near the oceanfront, limited or no oceanfront parking, traffic-flow changes, possible deck parking near SR A1A and a possible restaurant at the south end of the beach, which would provide revenues for the city. The architects submitted some concepts even before they were hired.

"We're not asking for approval of any concept," Lewis said as commissioners brainstormed for ideas. "Before we start an analysis, we want everything on the table good, bad and indifferent." Commissioner David Hinsa and Mayor Betty Cortese opposed taking parking away from the oceanfront. "I don't think the public will stand for having all the parking on the street (west of the casino near SR A1A, as proposed in one concept), Mrs. Cortese said. "We get enough complaints now from people who say they have to walk to far to get to the beach." But Commissioner Mark Foley said he liked the idea of moving the existing picnic park area to the oceanfront.

"It would be safer for people who use the park now and have to cross too many streets with all the cars there," Foley said. It's dangerous as it is, and 'Our purpose is to verify our goals and to get feedback from you so we can get started. Before we start an analysis, we want everything on the table good, bad and Consultant Hap Lewis if the park were on top (by the ocean), families could have picnics there with the ocean and the pool easily accessible." Hinsa said park and picnic facilities were available at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. "People who come to the beach don't care about a park," he said. 'They want to get to the beach, and I think it would be a mistake to take off parking" on the oceanfront.

Foley said he would not rule out any suggestions, but agreed with commissioners who preferred minimal development. "I think we set a base for their guidance," Hinsa said after the meeting. "I think they got a general direction from us on a general concept. Now we can wait and see what they do with our ideas." The commission was not enthusiastic about decked parking. "That means we would have more parking and it would be more crowded," the mayor said.

"We have problems taking care of the people now. Where would be put more?" The mayor also said she would like to see the Casino ballroom developed. And architects agreed to make a structural study of the building and take an inventory of the facilities. Foley also said the commission should consider acquiring an adjacent motel and the future of the city's submerged land on the west side of SR A1A, which is leased to a developer, for long-range planning. campaign.

He taces Kepuoiican Barbara Lindsey of Stuart in the Nov. 2 general election if no other Democrat qualifies to run against him in the September primaries. Conner is only Florida's second agriculture commissioner. He has held the office since 1960, when he defeated Buster Hancock. "Having only one other opponent through the years, my friends must realize there is a race to be run and it's no different than in 1960," Conner said.

At Thursday's political dinner, Conner said the United States' food policy has created economic calamity for farmers. "For years our farmers could make up the difference for stable unit prices and higher costs by working a few more hours in the fields or using a little more fertlizers and creating hybrids," Conner said. "But as time passed, they didn't know how to cope with LAI 'Regardless of his ingenuity and hard work, the agriculture producer finds himself in precarious Doyle Conner SUM phttt by Dtyna Smith inflation, which brought on higher interest rates and a VERY M.A.D.D. Linda Berg ioined other women in their Mothers Against Drunk Drivers protests yesterday as she lofted her sign at the Sixth Avenue South and 1-95 intersection in Lake Worth. Mrs.

Berg's son was seriously injured by a drunken driver and she has joined other concerned parents in the county and across the nation who have brought the problem of drunken drivers into the limelight. The state's new, strict drunken-driving laws went into effect this week. world of other Conner said he opposes government subsidizing farm Ex-Banker To Run for Appraiser's Office ers. "Subsidies are not right, but when they (foreign governments) say they are not going to let their farmers go broke, I have no answer," Conner said. "It made me alter my thinking.

If we're going to be rid of their subsidies, we have to be more productive and we are going to have to be efficient. "The American farmer has produced $25 billion in general surplus to offset (U.S.) oil purchases, but other countries pay their farmers subsidies in order to compete with the (U.S. market)," he said. Conner praised Flbrida residents for finding a happy medium so its agriculture economy thrives while urbanization continues. "I never thought it was possible to have such cooperation between agriculture and urban interests, but we see it happening every day in Florida," Conner said.

"When the medfly came to Florida and we had to spray in and around cities, no one complained. Everyone agreed we had a job to do. We didn't wait like they did in California, where everyone argued about what should be done and ran around chasing medflies with fly swatters." By Gayle Pallesen Pott StaH Wrlttr A Loxahatchee man who last week pulled out of the race for state comptroller announced yesterday he plans to run for property appraiser in Palm Beach County. Joseph Rodriguez, 33, said he will seek the Republican bid to try to unseat Rebecca Walker, the Democratic incumbent. "She's just a marionette for the governor who appointed her," said Rodriguez, a real estate appraiser and former banker.

"The governor appointed her to raise the assessed value in this county and she raised it example this week's failure to send the tax roll to Tallahassee for certification by the July 1 deadline. "There is no pride in the office, due to what happened before and after her appointment," he said, referring to former Property Appraiser David Reid's conviction for taking bribes from developers. Rodriguez said he has 13 years of experience in mortgage banking and with savings and loans. He recently resigned as assistant vice president of the appraisal department of Everglades Federal Bank in Belle Glade. He is a member of the National 62 percent.

She did such a fine job, it's going up another 22 percent." He said "in no way" does he want people to think his criticism of the job Mrs. Walker is doing is "a thing of woman against man." Rodriguez becomes the second Republican to announce his candidacy for the property appraiser's post. In the September primary, he will face James McDaniel, a former deputy appraiser who was fired last year by Mrs. Walker. Rodriguez said there was "poor management" in the office, citing as a recent Association of Review Appraisers.

Rodriguez said he pulled out of the race for state comptroller because he was unable to raise the money necessary to run an effective campaign against incumbent Gerald Lewis or challenger Ralph Haben, speaker of the state House. He said the state Republican Party had hoped he could elicit support from Cuban-Americans. Rodriguez was born in Wisconsin, but said his parents came from Cuba. Rodriguez has lived in Loxahatchee for four years and has appraised property throughout the county, he said. Jury Asked To Study Chiefs Drug Case Area News City Manager Bill Wilkins called for the complete support of the council.

Two years ago, during a similar enforcement program, there was considerable criticism. The plan was dropped when residents complained to City Council members. LW Dairy Pioneer Buried LAKE WORTH Services were held yesterday for William A. Boutwell, a prominent dairy farmer and public servant who helped build the city of Lake Worth. Boutwell, who died at age 98 in North Carolina Monday, spent 35 years in the dairy business and invented the process that produces half-and-half.

"I had a lot of opposition from local dairymen," he said four years ago when he was inducted into the Florida Dairy Hall of Fame. "They said I couldn't do it. But I figured a lot of people wanted a lighter cream, so I did it to satisfy the public." Born in Barre, Boutwell moved to Lake Worth in 1920. Four years later, he was elected to the City Commission. During his term, Lake Worth built 36 miles of streets and two elementary schools to accommodate the increasing population.

Fifty-seven years ago, he was the first president of the Lake Worth Lions Club. Boutwell is survived by four children: W.A. Boutwell George Boutwell, June Boutwell and Mrs. Josephine Burnstein; by eight grandchildren and nine JUPITER INLET COLONY Assistant State Atty. Ken Selvig said yesterday he plans to ask the Palm Beach County grand jury to investigate Police Chief Greg Day, who faces charges of possession of marijuana after sheriff's detectives found three bales stored in his garage.

Detectives found 97 pounds of marijuana, which Day confiscated from the beach last March, when they executed a search warrant June 21 at his home at 2644 Starwood Circle, West Palm Beach. Selvig said he will turn over results of his investigation to the grand jury after he interviews several witnesses, who are out of town. "The investigation hinges on whether there was less marijuana at the house now than when it was first put there," Selvig said. Day said in his statement to investigators that the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office refused to take the marijuana, Selvig said. Day also said he obtained a burn order to destroy the pot from the sheriff's office, and was storing the bales in his home until they could be burned.

Police Net 25 in Cleanup RIVIERA BEACH Twenty-five men were arrested on charges ranging from loitering to possession of cocaine in a "swoop and scoop" police campaign Thursday night to rid the city of loitering and public drunkenness. City Councilman Gerald Adams, at the June 16 council meeting, demanded police do something about people standing outside bars, on street corners and in front of shopping centers, drinking and talking for hours. In the first sweep, a special task force of uniformed officers and detectives started to attack the problem. Seven areas were targeted: Avenue and West 29th Street; Old Dixie Highway and West 27th Street; the 3600 block of Old Dixie Highway; parts of West Eighth Street; the Imperial Shopping Center at Blue Heron Boulevard and Avenue Avenue and West 13th Street, and the Tate Recreation Complex at Avenue and 10th Street, police said. The department sent out two teams, one led by Lt.

William Griffin and the other by Lt. James FitzGerald. The task force received assistance from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Griffin said. The charges against those arrested included drinking in public, loitering, obstructing a police officer, possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine. In addition, five were arrested on outstanding warrants.

The task force is expected to make more sweeps soon. In requesting the cleanup, Adams said the loitering was "unsightly" and "bred an environment I wouldn't want." HRS Fires 2 Workers After Probe By Steve Rothman Pot Stiff Wrlttr Two child-care workers have been fired and a third suspended following an investigation into sexual misconduct with female delinquents held in the Palm Beach Regional Detention Center on 45th Street in West Palm Beach. Larry Dougher, District 9 State Health and Rehabilitative Services administrator, identified the employees who were dismissed as Collis Ser-man, 36, and Doran Dickerson, 27, both of West Palm Beach. Serman and Dickerson allegedly took sexual liberties with several of the female inmates, Dougher said. They also allegedly stole shoes, dungarees, shirts and personal grooming items provided for inmates.

The third worker, Timothy Ford-ham, 22, of West Palm Beach, was suspended for 15 days for allegedly kissing a female inmate. Criminal charges are being withheld pending completion of an investigation by the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office in West Palm Beach, Dougher said. An unidentified informant provided information that led to the investigation, he said. The three men, all longtime employees, used their master keys to gain entrance to the female section of the complex. Some 90 boys and girls are generally housed in the one-story building just east of Australian Avenue, which was designed to hold 76.

Most of the inmates have been found guilty, of various criminal violations, Dougher said. However, there also are a small number of boys and girls who have been classified as runaways, school truants or unmanageable children in need of supervision. "I have continually pointed out a need for a separate facility for dependent children in tWs community," Dougher said. Fourth From Bl- The Night and Day Band will perform from p.m. at Garden Park.

The fun then switches to Lake Catherine, where the Swamp Fever Band will provide country music from 7-9 p.m. Fireworks at Lake Catherine begin at 9 p.m. A Bonnie and Clyde softball game will be held in Palm Springs at 5:30 p.m. at the baseball field off Cypress Lane. The Guy Schasatis Dixieland Band will perform from 7-9 p.m.

Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. In Pahokee, the volunteer fire department will sponsor a sausage barbecue and raffle during the day at the bottom of the Hoover Dike on South Lake Avenue. Fireworks begioj at 9 p.m at the dike on Lake Okeechobee. Club will kick off the day's musical entertainment at 2 p.m. with a country-western dance.

From 3-5 p.m., the Swamp Fever Band will perform country music and the Jonny Brewer Dixieland Band will play from 7-9 p.m. A buffet will be available at the Country Club Dining Room from p.m. Admission for adults is $7.50 and $3.50 for children. Reservations are required for the buffet. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

A 4-mile fun race at 8 a.m. will mark the beginning of the day's celebration at Garden Park in Palm Beach Gardens. Beginning at 1:30 p.m., activities at the park will include game booths, bingo, bake sales, car exhibitions and a "best legs" contest. of the city hall. Fireworks will begin at dusk at Van Bullock Park.

Lake Park residents will celebrate the holiday with a chicken barbecue and games Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Kelsey Park. The Trailblazers will provide country music at 2 p.m., and Showstoppers Unlimited will play contemporary music at 5. The Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches will wrap up the musical package with a 7 o'clock concert. Fireworks over the water will begin at 9 p.m.

North Palm Beach will host several events Sunday beginning at noon with games and activities at the North Palm Beach Country Club. The Shuffling Shoes Clogging suit pint by Slav crawlty CHILDISH DREAMS Remember the days when a swing, a lot of water and a slide were all you needed to be happy? The young lady is still youthful enough to take advantage of the simple plea-sure of watching the water in Jayfee Park in Martin County..