St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 4

3 APR 19 1988 A REGION Sl.Lwuio I UJI 3 PATCH TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1988 McDonnell Discusses Radiation In Fields Lambert jfiw A c-' i "A Creek, which cuts through the area. "I don't think it's right to put a radioactive waste site in a populated area like this," Palmer said. "I'm concerned about the population. I think we should dig all this up and transport it to Nevada." Reaction to the presence of contamination was mixed among people using the ball fields over the weekend. "I'm really not concerned yet," said Dan Travers, a McDonnell Douglas employee.

"If I hear it's getting worse, I'll get concerned. But I don't have any physical ailments yet." For Dan Bruce of Breckenridge Hills, the decision is simple: "There's no where else to practice," he said. "The only way we'll quit is if they post a sign that says closed." Jack Brauch of Jennings was even more sanguine. "Everybody breathes (radioactive material) everyday," Brauch said. "There's nothing you can do about it." By Pamela Schaeffer Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Officials of the McDonnell Douglas Corp.

met Monday with federal officials to discuss the extent of radioactive contamination of ball fields used by the company's employees. Officials from the Department of Energy "have told us very low levels, and we want to make sure," said Jim Reed, a spokesman for McDonnell. He said the company's health officials and management would make a decision about the use of the ball fields after studying the information. The ball fields, near Lambert Field, have been used by thousands of company employees for softball over the decades. Last week, Department of Energy officials disclosed that they had found small amounts of thorium-230, a radioactive isotope, in the vicinity of the ball fields.

Thorium-230 can cause cancer if ingested, scientists say. Thorium-230 is created by the SCIENTISTS SEEK new ways to store radioactive waste. 1D decay of uranium and has a half-life of 75,000 years. That means that half of it decomposes in that period of time. Reed said McDonnell's scientists would carry out their own examination of the fields, which are north of McDonnell Boulevard.

The ball fields are near a waste site, just north of Lambert Field, that was used for the storage of residue from uranium processing in the 1940s and 1950s. The Energy Department has proposed an expansion of the waste site and has proposed that the ball fields be used to store soil contaminated by low-level radiation. That proposal was criticized over the weekend by Hazelwood Mayor Douglas W. Palmer. Palmer said he was deeply concerned that the radioactive material could spread throughout the area, especially if it got into Coldwater Revenue Restricted ByTimO'Neil Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Revenue from Lambert Field cannot be paid out to a local government as part of any plan for regional ownership of the airport, two federal officials told a St.

Louis study group Monday. Meanwhile, the city's Board of Aldermen voted Monday to approve a $1 million federal grant to pay for most of a long-range study of Lambert's future. Alderman Jo Anne Wayne, D-lst Ward and a member of the Lambert Airport Commission, had held up the bill because she was angry at Mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. and airport director Donald W.

Bennett. The two Federal Aviation Administration officials spoke to an advisory commission that Schoemehl created in January to consider having St. Louis County or other local governments own part of Lambert. The city has owned the airport, which is in north St. Louis County, since 1928.

When the Idea of joint airport ownership arose in January, County Executive Gene McNary said the county should own and control half of the airport and get half of its revenue. Since then, McNary has said that having part of the control is more important than a share in airport revenue. George Hendon, airport manager for the FAA's regional office in Kansas City, told Schoemehl's commission Monday that airport revenue must be used for airport operations. Milton F. Svetanics, commission chairman, asked whether any such revenue could be paid to a local government "that might buy into the airport." Said Hendon: "It is very clear that such use is not allowed.

Revenue from the airport must stay in the airport." William L. Skaggs, executive assistant to McNary, said McNary's original statement about airport revenue "certainly wasnt a condition." Skaggs Nixon Tests Oratory At Jackson Day Rally A member of one team, the Party Animals, took the threat of radiation more seriously. "I don't think I like it, not at all," said Scott Spaunhorst of St. Ann. "It makes me angry that they've never said anything about this before.

"I want to know what the levels are and how dangerous it is." He said he and his fiancee wanted to have children and added, "I don't know if I want her out here watching us play if the place is that contaminated." Charlie Disano of Berkeley said at first that he was mildly skeptical of the findings. "What I want to know is: Why now?" he asked. But later, reflecting on the number of years that youth leagues have used the fields, he asked, "Why didn't they do something about this when the park was full of kids?" Carolyn Bower and Robert Manor of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this story. Trial Begins For Slaying By Booby Trap LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a man charged in the booby-trap killing of a sheriff in southwestern Missouri last summer.

Shelby G. Debler, 32, of Caplinger Mills, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in the death July 26 of Cedar County Sheriff Charles A. LaRew. The trial: was moved to Clay County on a change of venue. Court officials said jury selection was expected to last all day.

Circuit Judge Glennon McFarland will hear the case. The sheriff was shot once in the head with a rifle as he entered a mobile home in Cedar County near Caplinger Mills. LaRew was answering a burglary authorities said. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against Debler. Authorities said Debler and his brother, Brent Debler, had rigged the rifle as a booby trap.

Brent Debler also was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. His trial was moved to Johnson County Circuit Court in Warrensburg on a change of Shelby Debler's public defender, John Lozano of Harrisonviile, said Monday that the defense would try to show that LaRew's death was accidental. Prosecutors contend that the Deblers called for an officer to invest tigate what authorities called a nonexistent burglary and that the brothers deliberately guided the sheriff to the rigged door. By Fred W. Lindecke Missouri Political Correspondent State Sen.

Jay Nixon of Hillsboro, facing no opposition for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, is polishing his stump speech as he prepares to try to unseat Sen. John C. Danforth, R-Mo. Nixon used the Jackson Day rally this past weekend in Springfield to try out what is likely to be his main campaign speech.

Nixon, 32, will face Danforth in the election Nov. g. Danforth, 51, is running for a third, six-year term. In his speech, Nixon accused Danforth of being "always on the side of the rich and powerful." Danforth has been voting against Social Security, for "a blank check for military hardware," and for tax breaks for big companies and private schools, Nixon said. Nixon gave the speech twice once at a sponsor's lunch and again at a banquet altering the lines and phrasing as he looked for the emphasis that brought the best reaction.

Asked for comment on Nixon's speech, Steve Hilton, press aide to Danforth, said only, "I've heard of being desperate in October. This is desperate in April. Sen. Danforth has an excellent record on education, senior citizens, civil rights and tax fairness." In his speech, Nixon said, "We must have a senator who is on our Side." Nixon said Danforth had voted against Social Security 19 times, including 10 times to cut the cost-of-, living increase. Danforth "has never gone to public schools, has never had to worry about paying bills and never had to get a job," Nixon said.

Danforth is an heir of the founder of the Ralston-Purina Co. Nixon, a native of De Soto, noted 31. They show that Danforth had $1,686,466 on hand at the beginning of the period and that he received $631,234. After expenditures of $344,372, the "Danforth for U.S. Senate" report shows he had $1,973,328 on hand to spend.

The report shows that 168 people employed by McDonnell Douglas Corp. in St. Louis each gave $250 to Danforth's campaign at the beginning of the year. Five top executives of the aerospace and defense contracting company gave $500 each. Seven other employees gave amounts ranging from $25 to $600.

Danforth's report also shows that Jo Anne Wayne "Other people have a say" said Hendon's statement does not hurt chances for a city-county airport. McNary has said several times that the county will not help build a new indoor stadium downtown unless the city agrees to sell part of Lambert to the county. Schoemehl's commission and a consulting company that the County Council hired last week are working independently of each other to estimate the airport's value and to consider possible regional management. Ken Geier, FAA regional counsel, said he did not know whether selling part of the airport would endanger the $3.5 million that the city gets each year through a utility tax at Lambert. That tax is allowed because it was in effect before local governments were prohibited from using airports as money makers for their general treasuries.

Schoemehl says the airport and stadium issues are not directly linked. His commission is to meet again June 6. At Monday's aldermanic meeting, Wayne said she had agreed to allow a final vote on her bill to accept the federal study grant because the city would otherwise lose it. She said she refused to allow a vote on it last month because she wanted to show Schoemehl and Bennett "that other people around here have a say in things." Monday. Baricevic and Nic Howell, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, both said they knew of no criminal record for Duncan.

Court records show that Johnson had been released April 1 1 after posting 10 percent of a $25,000 bond on the cocaine possession and weapon use charges. A hearing had been scheduled for April 22 on a state motion to increase Johnson's bond to $100,000. In making that motion, Baricevic had charged that Johnson had refused to cooperate with police after being released on bond, although Johnson had said earlier that he would cooperate. Johnson was arrested April 7 in a Washington Park case. 900 N.

Tucker Blvd. 63101, (USPS: 476-580) (314)622-7000 TO START HOME DELIVERY OR FOR CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE 622-7111 TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD 621-6666 TOLL FREE FROM ANY STATE EXCEPT ALASKA 1-800-231-1991 Nixon Collects Tenth Of What Danforth Gets Authorities Say Murder Victim Faced Drug, Weapon Charges Sen. Jay Nixon "I'm with you" that he attended public schools in Missouri and worked at construction jobs before he got his law degree. "I'm with you, the working people of Missouri, the elderly and families with kids," he said. he received $152,918 in contributions from business-related political action committees.

Nixon, a Democrat, received $62,715 in contributions from labor unions and political action committees. Dozens of lawyers around the state also provided contributions of $1,000 and $500. The "Nixon for U.S. Senate" committee says it had $40,153 on hand at the beginning of the reporting period. The committee received $172,757 during the quarter for a total of $212,910.

After expenditures of $92,476, the report shows cash on hand of $120,434. Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau JEFFERSON CITY U.S. Sen. John C. Danforth has collected more than 10 times the amount of campaign contributions collected by his challenger, state Sen.

Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon of Hillsboro, according to reports filed Monday with the secretary of state's office. Quarterly campaign spending reports show that Danforth, a Republican seeking his third term, had $1.9 million on hand as of March 31. By comparison, Nixon's report shows that he had $120,434. The reports cover Jan. I to March By Robert Kelly Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Nathaniel Cortez Johnson, one of two men found beaten to death in a Collinsville motel room on Saturday, had been released on bond just five days earlier on drug and weapons charges filed in St.

Clair County. State's Attorney John Baricevic said Monday that Johnson, 21, had been charged earlier this month with possession of cocaine and unlawful use of a weapon. The bodies of Johnson and Thomas Earl Duncan, 26, both of East St. Louis, were found by an acquaintance Saturday in a room at the Thrifty Inn motel on Illinois Route 157 near Interstate 55-70 in Collinsville. They had been bound and beaten to death, then dumped into the bathtub.

No suspects had been arrested by MUNICIPAL BONDS ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Founded by JOSEPH PULITZER. Dec. 12. 1878 Published daily by the Pulitzer Publishing Co.

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