The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 109

Dally Herald Tuesday, January 18,2000 CHICAGO Section 7 Police who shot woman face hearings The four Chicago police officers involved in the fatal shooting of unarmed motorist LaTanya Haggerty last summer which unleashed weeks of angry demonstrations will begin fighting for their.jobs today. "The reason this case has galvanized the community is that here is a woman with no criminal record, from an upper-middle class background, whose only crime was riding while black," said Stephanie Gadlin, Operation PUSH spokeswoman and press secretary to the Rev. Jesse Jackson. But while Operation PUSH and other groups are calling for the dismissal of officers Serena Daniels, Stafford Wilson, Carl Carter and Michael Williams, Fraternal Order of Police President Bill Nolan is urging the police board to show restraint. "Our position has been that they acted in the manner they were trained to do, and if they made a mistake, they should not.be crucified for it," he said.

"We hope they get a suspension, if necessary, and they can go on with their jobs." Daniels is accused of firing the fatal shot on June 4 after she and the other officers stopped a car near 64th and King. Haggerty was a passenger in the car. The officers had chased the car and fired at it even though supervisors ordered them to call off the chase, police said. Study backs idea of freight transfer station A proposed freight hub in northwest Illinois wouldn't steal much business from huge Chicago terminals, but could provide feeder service for cargo to and from southern California, consultants said Monday. A study poses tough questions for backers of the plan, amid resistance from railroads and strong competition.

Supporters say the intersection of the nation's two largest raih-oads and the proximity of Interstate Routes 88 and 39 make Rochelle a natural transfer point for cargo switching between trains and trucks. They hoped it could become a major alternative to intermodal facilities in Chicago run by Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. But the study indicated that most cargo moving from one point to another within the region travels by truck. And freight to the far corners of the country goes by major railroads. The best bet is a satellite facility for truck freight to and from northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, connected by rail to Kansas City, the study suggested.

From there it's an economical train trip to southern California. The smaller facility could cost up to $50 million. Decaying rock garden may get restoration A 10-year-old boy climbed the limestone-slab walls at a secluded water-garden-gone- dry, envisioning a day when the sun would again sparkle off the pond. Now a seventh-grader, Ian Feldman was in fifth grade when he chose the almost-hidden "water landscape" as the subject of his school history project at his Chicago school. Last fall, he attended a city budget hearing at Gray High with his conclusion: The 75- year-old rock garden deserves to be restored.

The pond is attributed to revered landscape architect Jens Jensen, who composed in stone and flowers, earth and water. It is located in what was the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium at Pulaski and Bryn Mawr. Alderman Margaret Laurino of the 39th Ward hopes the 3- to 4-acre garden can become a tranquil refuge available to all. "It's like nothing you've ever seen before," she said, touring the plot on a sunny January day. "It's absolutely a beautiful location, and we'd certainly like to see it open to the public." But nothing is settled, including how to fix the leaky pond, re-pipe the waterfall and shore up loosening or where to get the $1 million estimated cost of restoration.

Laurino said an opening date to wish for would be Sept. 13, the 140th anniversary of Jensen's birth. Tax cut possible as state elections loom Associated Press SPRINGFIELD Flush with cash, 31 states gave their residents a little present last year by cutting taxes or fees. Illinois raised them. Now, with elections approaching, Illinois lawmakers are eager to wipe away the memory of that decision.

Lawmakers are talking about everything from a brief break in sales tax collections to a permanent income tax reduction. A tax cut may end up being the chief accomplishment of a legislative session scheduled to wrap up six weeks earlier than usual, lawmakers say. "Government will spend the money if we have it," said Sen. Laura Kent Donahue, a Quincy Republican and a member of the Senate GOP leadership team. "With the unexpected revenues and the economy so strong, I think it should be given back to the taxpayers." The danger, though, is that lawmakers will cut taxes so much that the state would have trouble paying bills if the economy falters.

"The one thing you don't want to do is permanently change the Spring session issues Items that Illinois lawmakers may consider during the spring legislative session: Child-support checks: Lawmakers may consider paying interest on late checks and hiring a business to take over delivery, Freedom of information: Attorney General Jim Ryan wants to strengthen FO1 Safe neighborhoods: Lawmakers, are debating whether ille- gal gun possession should be a felony or a misdemeanor for first- time offenders. Zero tolerance: Some lawmakers are considering limiting school boards' authority to expel students. Tobacco settlement: Lawmakers must decide how to spend billions of dollars from the settlement of a national tobacco lawsuit. structure of our tax code while things are good and then get into trouble when times are tough," said Timothy Bramlet, president of the Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois. Lawmakers seem to agree.

Ask them about tax relief and they tend to toss around words like "modest" and "limited." Many remember the state's financial meltdown a decade ago when heavy spending collided with a sour economy. "We've been there, done that and gone broke," said Rep. Bill Black, a Republican from Danville. Lawmakers are getting down to business earlier than usual, hoping to end their "spring" session by April 14 instead of May 31. Gpv.

George Ryan is helping by rolling his State of the State Address and his budget message into a single speech. Sessions in even-numbered years are supposed to be limited to the budget and emergency items, and that will be truer than ever this time. In addition to the early adjournment, House Speaker Michael Madigan is limiting his members to moving three House bills and two Senate bills each. So lawmakers are predicting a quiet session: the budget, tax cuts, more wrangling over the Safe Neighborhoods anti-crime package, some action on botched delivery of child-support checks and not much else. It would be a sharp contrast to last year Ryan's first session as governor when lawmakers dealt with everything from gambling to booze to hogs.

The biggest aspect was Ryan's $12 billion "Illinois FIRST" plan to pay for new roads, bridges and schools. But that program involved raising liquor taxes and vehicle fees. "We didn't look very good last year. When everybody around us cut taxes or held the line, we raised taxes," Black said. A report by the National Governors Association shows 31 states approved net reductions in their taxes and fees for this fiscal year.

Illinois' climbed by $436 million. That money supports specific programs. But general state revenues continue to be very healthy, giving lawmakers some cash to work with. Bramlet said the end-ot'-year balance is likely to be around $1.3 billion. He argues the balance should drop no lower than $1 billion, allowing $300 million to be put toward tax relief if lawmakers want.

Lawmakers say dozens of tax proposals are floating around the Statehouse. They include: Cutting the income tax rate. A temporary reduction is mentioned most often, but some lawmakers also talk about permanently cutting it from the current 3 percent individual rate to 2.5 percent. Offering a sales tax "holiday" during which the state would not collect sales taxes. The holiday, depending on who's asked, should last from a few days to more than a month and might be offered when parents are buying back-to-school items for their children.

That also would be near election time. Creating an "earned income" tax credit. This would mimic the federal credit aimed at reducing taxes for the working poor. Increasing the income tax deduction people can take for the property taxes they pay. Investigator takes another death-row case Associated Press A Chicago investigator who helped exonerate two condemned prisoners is taking on the case of a Florida drifter sentenced to die for the murder of a Boca Raton jeweler and florist.

Paul Ciolino said that despite Paul Scott's partial confession, he doesn't believe Scott killed James Alessi. He said the case against Scott, 43, is made of "bad witnesses, bad physical evidence and no physical evidence." "Frankly, the evidence I've seen is poor," said Ciolino, who has been investigating homicides for 19 years. "To put this guy on death row with this kind of evidence, a lot of bad breaks have to happen." Scott, who had a prior conviction for second-degree murder in California, was sentenced to death in 1979 for Alessi's death. An 18-year- old accomplice, Richard Kondian, received a 45-year sentence. Kondian, who had no prior record and was, at that time, too young to receive a death sentence, served 15 years.

Scott met Alessi through Kondian, a runaway and prostitute who turned tricks on the Fort Lauderdale strip. Prosecutors said Scott and Kondian planned to rob Alessi at his home, but after a night of partying, events turned violent. Alessi later was found nude, bound and bloodied, killed by six savage blows from a blunt object Scott has clamed that Alessi first attacked Kondian. Scott said he then hit Alessi, subdued him and helped Kondian tie up the larger man with electrical cords. Alessi was but alive, when he fled, Scott has said.

Assistant State Attorney Ken Selvig, who prosecuted the case, remains convinced of Scott's guilt. "There's not a question at all none that Paul Scott was involved in the murder. The only question that was even arguable was the extent of his involvement," Selvig said After the trial, an investigator working on the case related his disappointment in the Scott verdict to a friend. That friend, country songwriter Bob Pauley, was so inspired by Scott's situation he wrote a song about him. Pauley then embarked on a 20- year crusade to free Scott, eventually penning a screenplay and movie about the convicted killer.

Pauley's persistence led to the support of Helen Prejean, a Catholic nun whose fight to save a condemned Louisiana inmate inspired the movie "Dead Man Walking." He also won the backing of a small Pennsylvania church that over the years has supplied Scott with money for the prison canteen and legal expenses. Ciolino entered the picture last summer after he appeared on the CBS television news magazine "48 Hours." Pauley saw the story about Ciolino's investigation into the case of another Florida death row inmate and hounded the Chicago investigator until he got a response. Ciolino said he plans to begin his investigation later this month. Scott is thrilled. "I am the poster child for (anti-death penalty) people 'cause I have the worst case on record," he wrote in a letter to the Palm Beach Post.

Ciolino helped a Northwestern University journalism class gather enough evidence last year to clear former Illinois death-row inmate Anthony Porter. Northwestern sororities OK alcohol limits Associated Press Sororities at Northwestern University in Evanston will still have on- campus mixers with fraternities, but alcohol won't be part of the mix. Sorority members at Northwestern voted last week to stop co-sponsoring parties with fraternities if liquor is involved. The new policy goes into effect in the fall. The policy does not bar fraternities from serving alcohol at parties in their own houses, but sororities will no longer help pay for such functions.

"By passing this, it forces fuller cooperation with the fraternities and sororities, who will have to work together to come up with good (nonalcoholic) events," said Caroline Keating, the student leader of the Panhellenic Association, the govern- Resident retraces Trail of Tears Associated Press It took him more than 50 years, but J. Samuel Burton is making good on a childhood promise to his grandfather to retrace the Trail of Tears. The retired engineer from Illinois is retracing the trail in reverse. His journey began on horseback last month in Tahlequah, and will end in Cherokee, N.C. He said the journey was a promise he made to his grandfather, Samuel Burton, who spent much of his life on a reservation in North Carolina before walking the trail to Oklahoma.

"I told my grandfather I would someday ride the Trail of Tears," said Burton, 60. "And a promise is a promise." Burton, who is part Cherokee and African-American, said his goal is to complete the ride by March 26. He passed through Rogersville, Mo. on Sunday, riding with two paint horses Tibiano Cherokee, a stallion, and his pack horse named Ghost Dancer. He said he usually spends the nights at the roadside or in willing farmers' fields.

"I am having a great time. This is something I should have done years ago," he said. "I knew it would be rough and tiresome but, with the good people in the world, it has been well worth it." Burton said the trip has helped him leave behind the stress of city life. ing body for North western's sororities. Sororities can still have joint parties with fraternities involving alcoholic beverages if they are off campus, Keating said.

The Northwestern sorority system is one of eight nationwide that have adopted similar anti-drinking policies. The others are at the University of Florida, Southwest Texas State University, East Carolina University, Indiana State University, the University of Texas, the University of Utah and Ohio University. The new policy comes amid nationwide concern about binge drinking on college campuses. Although statistics indicate that college drinking is down from a decade ago, several recent studies show binge drinking five or more drinks in one sitting for men, four for women remains a serious problem. A 1998 Harvard University study found that 42.7 percent of students had been binge drinking in the two weeks before they were surveyed, only slightly from 44.1 percent in a 1993 Harvard study.

At many schools, the number of parties where drinking is allowed is dwindling because of various rules aimed at curbing alcohol consumption. At Northwestern, fraternity parties must be registered in advance with university officials if alcohol is to be served. Fraternities also must supply monitors and stick to a strict guest list, while the Interfraternity Council uses student patrols to ensure compliance with university rules. Downstate school board might ban Spandex, jeans for teachers Associated Press GRANITE CITY Spandex, cutoffs and blue jeans in the classroom are no-nos, but a suit and tie would be nice under a proposed dress code for teachers at Granite City schools. The proposal being drawn up at the request of the school board isn't sitting well with some teachers in this community near St Louis particularly since Superintendent Steve Balen said he is not aware of any problems with how teachers dress.

Ben Schutzenhofer, field service director for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said he isn't sure why the district would want such a policy. "I don't believe there's a need for one," he said. Granite City has already imposed a dress code on students banning certain types of clothing and jewelry, unconventional hair styles and unnatural hair color. The proposed policy for teachers would prohibit blue jeans, crew neck athletic wear, nylon gym shorts, cotton athletic sweat suits, Spandex, excessively tight clothing, revealing clothing and cutoff shorts or short shorts. Recommended attire includes "If kids have a dress code, then teachers should have one, too." Robbie Gerber, sophomore slacks, collared shirts and blouses and sweaters.

Suits and neckties are recommended but not required. The board and the leadership of Granite City Federation of Teachers Local 743 are negotiating the policy. A policy that states staff should dress professionally should be good enough, Schutzenhofer said. Board President Ron L. Dillard said the board may consider a policy allowing principals to send teachers home to change.

The union wants administrators to deal directly with inappropriately dressed teachers rather than adopt a formal policy. But Granite City High School sophomore Robbie Gerber said he sees nothing wrong with a dress code for teachers. "If kids have a dress code, then teachers should have one, too," he said. A Classic Look For The New Millennium SOPHIA A And other Top Designer Frames Porta Romano Calvin Klein Armani I Kenneth Cole Tommy Hilfiger Versace Hush Puppy Jessica McCiintock Kenneth Cole Glasses Special Buy One, Get One Free First quality, single vision lens. Includes Sunglasses sports glasses.

2nd pair of glasses may not value of the st. Eye Exam not included. Contact Lenses Complete $99.95 Includes eye exam, personal training for new contact wearers, starter kiu Cooper Clear Optima 3S lenses. 6 months follow-up service. One Hour Service 4000 Frames Most HMO Vision Insurance Plans Accepted Dr.

Paiici. Scsso.O.D. Dr. Lisa Spcvjoi. O.D.

Dr. MarijoE. Freednvffl. O.D. Dr.

Kriacn Linger. O.D. Dr. Jaoqudcie O.D. Dr.

Paid Pud. O.D. Dr. Shdly Kim, O.D Dr. Kevin KukU.

O.D EYE BOUTIQUE DOCTOR'S EYE CLINIC "One of Chicagoland's Largest Contact Lens Specialists" Downtown Arlington Heights (847) 398-9800 27 S. Vail (I block S. of Arlington Train Station) Won. Thurs. 9-8.

Tues. Wed. Fri. 9-7. Sat.

9-5 Naperville (630) 369-8098 1261 S. Napcr Blvd Crystal Lake (815) 479-0177 5657 N.W. Highway Schaumburg (847) 891-9096 1760 Wise Rd. Open 7 days Joliet (815) 729-3752 151 N. Springfield Rd.

Call for our convenient hours. yga.