The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 16

JULY 26, 1998 B2 SUNDAY NEWS JOURNAL Around Delaware Summer cleaning GOP attacks gays; Del. lawmakers stay quiet on issues Biden, Castle, Roth take different tack 1 is. H- rJj till A jt 'i 'iiiiim .1.1,11 fi'T' rA -vT i NCCo police hailed for aiding mentally ill The New Castle County Police Department has been recognized by the National Association of Counties with a 1998 Achievement Award for its "Assisting the Mentally 111 Through Community Policing" program. The program, developed under the leadership of County Executive Thomas Gordon and county police Chief Col. John L.

Cunningham, lessens the amount of time a police officer has to spend dealing with an individual having a mental crisis. Police alert the Division of Mobile Crisis Intervention Services and have the patient immediately evaluated. The program allows the officer leave the patient in the custody of hospital personnel and return to street duties, rather than waiting an average of five hours for the 'individual to be treated and evaluated by hospital staff. The program ultimately was "made policy for police agencies throughout the state after Gov. Carper signed legislation in January.

Ann Breslow to lead Association for Blind VI Ann Breslow was recently elected president of the board of directors of the Delaware Association for the Blind. Other officers elected were vice president Ralph C. Schiefersten of Chesapeake Utilities sec-qnd vice president Stewart Wiggins, secretary Mitzi K. Law and treasurer Robert Mosch of Students can apply for Senate program Applications are available for vthe 37th annual U.S. Senate Youth Program to be held Feb.

27 through March 6, 1999. Each year, two students from every state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, are selected to travel to Washington to observe the federal government in action and meet with top government officials. Eligible students include high school juniors or seniors who have not previously been a delegate, are serving in an elected position in student government, civic or educational organization. Each delegate will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. Interested students should contact their high school principal or guid-.

ance counselor for more information or to obtain an application. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Has office policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. Voted with the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay-rights lobby, 78 percent of the time in the last Congress.

Voted with the Christian Coalition 17 percent of the time last year. Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, barring companies with more than 15 employees from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Supports nomination of James Hormel, who is openly gay, as ambassador to Luxembourg. Sen.

William V. Roth Has office policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. Voted with the Human Rights Campaign 11 percent of the time in the last Congress. Voted with the Christian Coalition 50 percent of the time last year. Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.

Voted against Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Won't reveal stance on nomination of openly gay James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg. Rep. Michael N. Castle, Has office policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Voted with the Human Rights Campaign 56 percent of the time in the last Congress. Voted with the Christian Coalition 42 percent of the time last year. Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act. Voted for "Don't AskDon't Tell" policy on gays in the military. Opposes effort to gut Clinton executive order barring discrimination against federally employed gays.

Note: Some bills were voted on in only one house of Congress. jiiif utr mtum hmi mi r- Norman Hodson, 11, from Chelsea Estates, helps sand playground equipment during a park cleanup Saturday in Chelsea Manor Park near New Castle. The "Community Pride" cleanup day, which began at 8 a.m., was hosted by the Central District Advisory Council. The council is one of the New Castle County police community liaison groups. Volunteers helped paint and sand equipment and improve the look of the park off Jay Drive.

By CARL WEISER Gannett News Service WASHINGTON Congressional Republicans are sharpening homosexuality as a political issue a move bringing denunciation, discomfort and ducking from Delaware's three members of Congress. Democratic Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. condemned recent attacks on gays, calling them "mean-spirited." Republican Rep.

Michael N. Castle called them "divisive" and said he wished his party would quit pushing the issue. And Republican Sen. William V. Roth Jr.

didn't want to talk about homosexuality at all. He read, and reread, his statement: "It's my position that the federal government should not advance or promote policies based on sexual orientation." For the most part, Delaware's three members of Congress have been silent bystanders in the last month as: Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, likened homosexuality to alcoholism and kleptomania. House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said, "I do not quarrel with the Bible on this subject." Conservative Republicans in the Senate stopped the confirmation of openly gay millionaire James Hormel as ambassador to Luxembourg because he has promoted gay rights. House Republicans moved to gut a Clinton executive order, issued in May, that bans discrimination against federally employed gays. House Republicans, in a move aimed at San Francisco, also moved to withhold funds from cities that require subcontractors to offer health benefits to same-sex partners.

Religious organizations bought full-page ads in three national newspapers, urging homosexuals to abandon their lifestyles. Gay groups see the moves as organized attempts by Republicans to pander to religious conservatives, especially because the attacks came after a May meeting between GOP officials and leaders of the Christian right. Conservatives say they are defending traditional values against what they see as stepped-up attempts to push the homosexual agenda and lifestyle. "We oppose special rights based on behavior," said Dave Cline, chairman of the Delaware Christian Coalition. That includes opposing efforts to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation, he said.

Homosexuality leads to AIDS, he said, and disrupts efforts to form solid families, which are the building block of a stable society. "We want to encourage things we know are good for society. Anything that hurts marriage man-woman marriage sends a bad message to the next generation." Delaware gay activist Beth Dew-son said gays mostly seek the same rights as minorities: to be safe from drimination and hateful attacks. "Job performance is what people should be judged on, not any other factors," said Dewson, coordinator for the Delaware American Civil Liberties Union's Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights Project. Cline and Dewson said they were not knowledgeable enough to assess records of the Delaware delegation.

But Vicky Morelli, a board member of the gay rights group Delaware Pride, said the delegation runs the gamut. "Biden has usually been pro-gay about 80 percent of the time," she said. "Roth has been against us about 90 percent of the time. Castle has sort of flip-flopped. "None of them have come out as incredibly outspoken one way or the other which could be a good thing," she said.

"But it makes them hard to pin down on certain things." They're all good enough politicians that they know not to make hateful comments against gays, yet not to fight so vigorously for gay rights that alienate voters, she said. and setting goals. The center is a short-term facility, with residents staying from eight months to a year, Sokolowski said. The Kennedy and Evans buildings are long-term facilities. Families typically stay two years, or longer if needed.

Sokolowski said residents at the Kennedy and Evans facilities are receiving counseling following Friday's shooting. "We did bring a psychologist in to work with our staff and our residents," she said. Pridgen said WHA staff members also visited resident! to pro Fair: 4-H competitions are tough, In the end, prize winners were named in each category, but in reality each one left with something more. "It builds leadership, it builds self-confidence," said Mary Brown, leader of the Dover Clover 4-H Club. "And it is about subjects that a kid might not get at home.

The competitions, the demonstrations are just a part of it," she said. Fain 4-H is about learning and it is a chance to reach out into the community and give back," Linda Reeb said. That's why she encourages her 11-year-old daughter, Emily, to stay involved. Each county sends local contest winners to state competitions at the fair, said Stan Bradley, a 4-H spokesman. And, in case you haven't noticed, 4-H is no longer just about agriculture, he said.

It includes everything from computer training to photography and learning about wildlife habitats. "I love animals the deer, the squirrels, the birds around our house. I love being around them and lilillllHiliifclidW iiBMhi The News JoumallONIQUE BRUNSBERG varied Here are the top three winners in the 4-H Photography, Food and Wildlife Habitat competitions Saturday at the Delaware State Fain Wildlife Habitat 1 Kelli Martin, Kent County 2 Chris Miller, Kent County 3 Adam Murabito, Sussex County Photography 1 Meredith Brown, Kent County 2 Stephanie Gray, Kent County 3 Devon Lofland, Sussex County Food 1 Cindi Hewitt, Kent County 2 Veronica Ford, Sussex County 3 Amy Russell, Sussex County I love learning about them," said Arcona, who is heading into the 11th grade at Dover High School. For the record, the top scores in the wildlife habitat contest were in the 200-plus point range. This reporter failed to make the cut.

wilder than any of the preceding rhythm-pounding songs. Papa Tug, the former Phillies pitcher, perhaps more widely beloved here than his son, sounded pretty good during a brief duet on the final song "I Like It, I love It." Biden, the delegation's most outspoken proponent of gay rights, attributed Lott's statement to "ignorance, but not malevolence. I've not found Trent to be a malevolent guy." Biden also said it is "ridiculous" and "outrageous" that Hormel's nomination is being throttled. "I have a very, very simple test," he said. "How would you treat someone in your family if they were gay? I don't think there's anything that justifies denying a gay person any of the basic human rights anyone else has." He attributed the GOP attacks to an effort to court Christian conservatives in the fall elections.

Castle said he is "not judgmental" about homosexuality. "It's an existing fact of life," he said. "It may not be a lifestyle most of us would choose. We have to be tolerant as long as people behave appropriately." On homosexuality, as with other social issues such as abortion, Castle is more liberal than his party's leaders. He said stirring up the issue could alienate voters.

"Unfortunately, from time to time, I think the Republican Party gets into situations that are politically divisive," he said. "This would appear to be one of them." Roth said he believed sexuality was a private matter and shouldn't be made a political issue by either side. He would not say what he thought of Lott's comments, the Hormel nomination or any other specific issue. "I put together a statement on which I stand and really don't want to get involved in specifics," he said. "At this time, I have really nothing further to say on this matter." under review vide "an ear to listen to them, what concerns they may have." Jacqueline Paradee Mette, head of Widener University School of Law's domestic violence clinic, said she hopes the shooting won't result in a "backlash" against the local YWCA and its programs.

"That would be unfortunate, be- cause they do so many terrific things," she said. Staff reporter Terry Spencer contributed to thfis story. FROM PAGE B1 Lewes, quickly noted the absence of frogs, fish and insects in the water. "No food source," he observed. Yes, well who couldn't see that? The water is surrounded by low-lying grass, said Peter Arcona, 16, of Dover, but there is little in the way of cattails or beach grass something that would provide cover for animals normally IS? State tound living near water.

Eight-year-old Emily Reeb of Camden, thought along the same lines. "What it needs is more trees, and water plants for protection," she said. When it came to food and photography, contestants were just as sharp. As part of the photography competition, the contestants had to identify the best of a half-dozen photographs, based on crispness, color and other factors. It didn't take long for Jonathan Rutledge, 11, of Smyrna, to select his.

"I have a little bit of a good eye for those things," said Rutledge, who plans one day to be an aeronautical or civil engineer. Tim McGraw By MATHEW A. SCHWARTZ Staff reporter They like him, they love him, they can't get enough of him. Tim McGraw lit up the packed grandstand Saturday night at the Delaware State Fair with that unique blend of modern country and hard rock that has made him one of country's top stars. From the opening bars of his controversial and satiric "Indian Outlaw" to the final smashing chords of "I Like It, I Love It," McGraw held the crowd enthralled.

He followed a top-notch set by Chely Wright, whose years opening for superstars such as Trisha Yearwood and George Strait have made her well-versed in the art of warming up a crowd. In jeans and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up.McGraw looked as if he could have just come from a day of work on the farm, or helping his roadies set up. On some artists, the duds woiiid have looked like a What: Delaware State Fair When: Today through Aug. 1. The Strates Shows Midway opens at 1 p.m.

today, noon Monday, 5 p.m. Wednesday, noon Thursday, 4 p.m. July 31 and noon Aug. 1 Where: State Fairgrounds, U.S. 13 south of Harrington.

'h Admission: $4 Information: 398-3269; grand- stand ticket information, (302) 398- '5020; World Wide Web site, www.delawarestatefair.com While the fair's marquee events 1 feature some of the biggest names in country and popular music, other popular attractions also abound. The longstanding tradition of motor sports continues at the fair as championship stock car racing begins at 6 tonight at the grandstand. -This year's main attraction will be the big block modifieds, street mod-ifieds, vintage cars and small cars. Last year's winners will compete to defend their titles against top drivers from the Delmarva area as well as surprise entries. me six-horse bouthern States Percheron Hitch team, fea-' turing horses bred since medieval times, will perform precision maneu- 1 vers noon today and Monday in the Quillen Arena.

The shows are free. Other free events throughout "the week include the popular bam tours, from noon to 6 p.m. through Aug. 1 in the animal bams, led by a professional livestock tour guide; a display of antique tractors; the Itinerant Dance Theater at 1 and 3 today; a pig-kissing contest, dance -classes, marionettes, Robinson's ftJ Racing Pigs and Farmyard Frolics, a daily children's show with an "agricultural theme. Today's schedule 8 a.m.

Open horse show. a.m. 4-H dairy show in the paddock. 10 a.m. Antique auto show.

"Noon Southern States Percheron Hitch Team in Quillen Arena. "1 p.m. Midway opens. Strates Shows. 5 p.m.

Open swine show. 6 p.m. Championship stock car races at the grandstand. 7 p.m. Free stage all-youth talent showcase.

has the females swooning Shooting: Shelter's safety costume. On McGraw, it seemed genuine. He's still the same country boy from Louisiana that he was four multiplatinum albums ago. Tunes such as "Everywhere," the title track of his latest album, the rockabilly "It Doesn't Get Any Countrier Than This," and the toe-tapping "Where the Green Grass Grows," have potent rock roots. You can hear how his sound is a cousin to that of John Cougar Mellencamp and Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Bruce Hornsby.

But the cornfields in his voice undeniably make McGraw a "country" cousin. McGraw is at his best on ballads. Songs such as the bittersweet "Just To See You Smile" and the mournful "One of These Days," evoke the emotional core that sends his fans, especially the females, screaming. McGraw has said he wants to start writing songs. But why, when he has people providing him with such gems as the Girl," which drove the crowd FROM PAGE B1 Pridgen said there were perhaps as many as seven vacancies in the buildings.

The YWCA's Transitional Housing Program is for homeless families "working to improve their education and their jobs," Soko-lowski said. Many of the residents, mostly single mothers, but some men, are former residents of the YWCA's Home Life Management Center on Madison Street, where they were taught skills such as housekeeping, cooking, bullgeting.