St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 39

o9 I5AUG1 31998 http: www.stlnel.com ILLINOIS ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH METRO THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1998 B3 Police check out leads in slaying of former Post-Dispatch reporter lose a fourth of its nearly 1,600 black students and one-tenth of its more than 9,100 white students. The departures would cost UMSL more than $3 million in tuition, she said. In addition, gifts to the university would drop by 20 percent, she estimated. Gifts amounted to $10 million last year.

The Klan sought in 1994 to join Missouri's Adopt-a-Highway program and clear litter from Inter-, state 55, between Utah and Gasconade streets, in St. Louis. The Klan wanted a sign posted along the highway reading, "Knights of the Ku Klux Klan." Last August, the Missouri Department of Transportation denied the group a permit. A department official said the Klan "is known to discriminate and has a history cf violent, criminal behavior." lilt nr v-, i y-v Mv Klan spat with UMSL goes before US. judge Continuedfrom Page Bl "The Ku Klux Klan is noted for violence and racial disunity," Bennett said, "and that's an image we did not want to share." Michael Cuffley, leader of the KKK's Realm of Missouri, testified that he wants the Klan's announcements on KWMU because of its high-quality programming and highly educated audience.

He said the KKK wants new members. "I hoped to attract a more educated person," said Cuffley. "I oppose violence in every way," he testified. "If any of my members do anything, I'll be the first to carry them to the police station." U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Mummert is not expected to rule on the Klan's request for at least a week.

Touhill estimated that if the Klan wins its suit, UMSL would sionals and academics. "This is one of the best neighborhoods in the area," said Lee Durham, Gayle's next-door neighbor. "It really kind of floored us." Family members and some of Gayle's friends said that as a reporter and an advocate, Gayle was often remarkably sensitive to others and often saw the good in people. She recently wrote in a letter to a reporter, "Evil likes to sniff out a person's weakness and attack from there." Gayle reported for the Post-Dispatch for 11 years, from 1981 to 1992. After resigning from the paper, she volunteered, tutored children and championed in mi 1 mtmmali Larry Wiujams POST-DISPATCH The home in the 6900 block of Kingsbury Boulevard in University City where Felicia Anne "Lisha" Gayle Picus was found fatally stabbed Tuesday night.

Police have provided few details. immm iMiiEl i iiiit -feir-ili t. environmental and other social causes. "She might have been diminutive in size, but she was never afraid to stand up for what she believed in," said Ellen Gardner, an assistant managing editor at the Post-Dispatch who hired Gayle Gayle in 1981. "She'd plant those little feet in those big, clunky shoes and stand her ground," Gardner added.

Gayle had an unaffected demeanor and style of dress, characterized by her waist-length hair and Birkenstock-style shoes. At 5-foot-1, Gayle was slight of stature, but colleagues remember her as having a big heart. "Anytime that Lisha Gayle sank her teeth into something, she pursued it vigorously," said John Brophy, the paper's newsroom administrator. Brophy said the newsroom recycles its paper because Gayle instigated an internal recycling program in the late 1980s. Gayle was remembered for sending kind notes to colleagues, congratulating them for doing their jobs well and commiserating with them about deaths in the family.

Bill Bryan, a reporter, covered the police beat with Gayle during the early 1980s. She was well-liked by police, he said, and was an avid feminist. She used to joke about changing the word "manhole" to "personhole" in stories, he said. Added retired Capt. Bob Rich-ters, former commander of the St.

conspiracy trial can only with drug conspiracy and has pleaded innocent. But District Judge William D. Stiehl has ruled that the jury of six men and six women chosen Wednesday in East St. Louis can hear some evidence to support allegations that Westmoreland arranged the murder of I I I Any One I Regular Priced Item, With This Coupon I Umftdrw par cuatonw. Vabd on regular priced nwchandtse only.

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Ann Funeral information A funeral service for Lisha Gayle will be at 1 1 a.m. Saturday at Rockford College in Rockford, III. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a fund for a charitable gift in her memory. Send checks to the Lisha Gayle Memorial Fund, First of America Bank, 120 West State Street, Rockford, HI. 61101.

Sanford Gayle of Raleigh, N.C., Andrew and Samuel Gayle, both of Rockford, and Christopher Gayle of Salt Lake City; and two sisters, Sydney Beth Schuyler, of Lamont, and Emily Gayle of Rockford. Some of her neighbors said they were upset that police hadn't revealed more details. Spearman responded: "We would rather protect our investigation and catch the person involved" than provide details to reassure the community. murder allegation ranged the Dec. 27 killing of Debra Abeln, 44, to protect the drug deals.

Richard Abeln will be tried in February and, if convicted, could become the first person in Southern Illinois to face a federal death sentence. If convicted, Westmoreland could face 10 years to life. THINKBIG Heights IN: Evansvitle Burglaries may provide clue to fatal stabbing in University City home By Deborah Peterson And Lance Williams Of the Post-Dispatch Police said late Wednesday that they had no motive and no suspect jn the fatal stabbing of Felicia Anne Gayle Picus, a former Post-Dispatch reporter, volunteer and advo cate for the disadvantaged. Lisha Gayle, as she was known, was found stabbed to death Tuesday evening in her home in University City. Police responded to a 911 call about 7:50 p.m.

and discovered Gayle's body. The house is in the 6900 block of Kingsbury Boulevard. Lisha Police released few details. "We feel like we've got some promising leads," said Capt. Jeffrey Keller.

Sgt. Roger Spearman said Gayle's husband, Dr. Daniel Picus, a Barnes-Jewish Hospital radiologist, was at home when police arrived. He would not say whether Picus phoned police. Gayle, 42, had been stabbed more than 10 times, Spearman said, and police found a knife near her body.

Police said they were trying to determine whether the murder was linked to a break-in and burglary in the neighborhood on July 20. Broken glass was found at Gayle's home police wouldn't say where but investigators said it was not yet clear whether the broken glass was the result of a break-in. Police wouldn't say whether anything was taken. The house is in a private subdivision called Ames Place. The community is gated to keep out vehicular traffic but allows pedestrians entry.

Neighbors said the area is quiet and mostly inhabited by profes- Judge says jury in A federal jury will hear evidence today against Guy Westmoreland of Florissant in what prosecutors say was a drug conspiracy that led to a contract murder. Westmoreland, 36, is charged Deaths Couple married 54 years die in murder-suicide Continuedfrom Page Bl "They did everything together," Donna Schlueter said. "Not only were they husband and wife, they were best friends." The couple had no children. Julian Scheske was a retired real estate appraiser and broker. He had been partners in Belleville with his late brother, Oscar.

Scheske. Another brother, Leroy Scheske, a podiatrist, committed suicide four years ago after suffering from a heart ailment, the Schlueters said. A third brother, Robert Scheske, is in a Belleville nursing home. Emily Elder, a neighbor, said she saw the Scheskes in their back yard Tuesday morning. "It was a shock when the police came," Elder said.

"You just can't understand this, how he could just shoot her, sitting in the car." Man pleads guilty over transactions on casino A University City man has pleaded guilty in federal court in East St. Louis to using fake identification and Social Security numbers to make phony currency-transaction reports on the Casino Queen. Leslie Anthony Norwood, 38, admitted Tuesday that he used false identification when buying gambling tokens at the casino and when cashing in tokens in 1995 and 1998. He was attempting to avoid reporting of $155,545 in currency transactions under his own name. Federal authorities are seeking forfeiture of Norwood's assets in the ame amount.

'All Things Considered' POSTnet has more on the program. Go to http:www.stlnet.com and click on Today's Links. tofi'tH mm SoftStrider 789 Reg. $899 Save $110 JsSoftStrider BALANCE mm It 4 rl I 1 hKEfH I TjyyTTj iCHom fcdi Summer Louis Police Department district that includes downtown: "She was such a nice, decent person. She was always pleasant." Gayle was passionate about helping children.

The second-born in a family of eight children, Gayle had no children of her own but volunteered in schools, tutoring children on writing and other skills. She grew close to one family tutoring the three daughters, taking them to the symphony and home with her to bake them cookies. She suffered with the family, too, when one of the girls, Parris Williams, 9, was killed in an auto accident last August. A Rockford, 111., native, Gayle got her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Illinois. She and her childhood sweetheart, Daniel Picus, were married for 18 years.

In addition to her husband, among survivors are her parents, Veronica and George Gayle of Rockford; five brothers, William Gayle of Huntington Beach, Calif, hear evidence on Debra Abeln because she threatened to expose the drug deals between him and her husband, Richard Abeln, 44, of Sappington. Illinois State Police said Richard Abeln, who has pleaded innocent of murder conspiracy charges, has said that he and Westmoreland ar ft 1 i mr jr St Louis St. Peters Warrenton IU Fairview ONLY! 15 16 SPECIAL UPT01 "Young Chang Sitca spruce weighted keys, 100 lumber that gives an lea ranee Sale SoftStrider Pro I $1389. i-vxi BABY GRAND PIANO 3 DAYS Aug. 14, 1 GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A SERIOUS PIANO BUYER TO PURCHASE A BRAND NAME BABY GRAND FOR BELOW MARKET PRICE! Fllintinal fl Crosstrainer BRS Strength Trainer FIND THE $479 Its ilk 1T7 4 YOUNQmCHANQ Baby Grand features solid sounding board, individually solid copper-wound bass strings, construction and unique design excellent tone for a small piano.

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