Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 13

Capitol Lansing State Journal Sunday, January 31, 1999 3B it' 'emocnats say their plan more tax savin allows Capitol Question Capitol Question is an opportunity for readers to voice their opinions on questions before the Legislature and state government. Responses run Sundays. What we asked: Michigan Democrats want to raise the state minimum wage by $1 to $6.15 an hour by 2000. The proposed increase also would have adjustments for inflation. Do you agree with this increase? What you said: Yes.

Some of those people out there who work for that minimum wage work harder than the governor does and he's getting his raise. I think they need it more than he does. Madalean McDonald, Holt No, I do not agree. It's high enough now that people can have help with their wage extra help from the government if they need it. If.

they raise the rate that will merely raise everything under $10 that we have to purchase by $1 to $1.50. Anything over $20 they'll raise the, cost by $2. Can't afford to buy a car now! If they raise minimum wage, if II only make it worse. I am not in favor of an increase. Sandra Davis, Lansing I definitely approve of the miserly $1 increase of the minimum wage.

It should be more. Will Engler veto it, fearing it will interfere with the 18.8 percent increase of his $127,300 income? I'm just wondering Margaret Baker, Laingsburg Yes, I do agree with the Michigan Democrats' idea. I think it is right for the simple citizens to also get a pay raise. We're also dealing with inflation and hard times as well as the governor and his staff. I think it's not fair for us not to be able to have a pay increase and try to make a living as well as the governor and his crew.

Zella Randall, Lansing Associated Press Highlights of last week's action at the Capitol: House Democrats say a tax cut idea they announced Monday would save families more than Republican Gov. John Engler's proposed income tax cut that is poised to speed through the Republican-dominated Legislature. Under the newest plan to increase the personal exemption, House Minority Leader Michael Hanley said even Engler would save more money than under his own tax cut plan. Pledging to concentrate on helping Michigan families, Senate Republicans unveiled an agenda Tuesday to improve education, cut taxes and curb drug abuse. But the Senate will delay until September any debate on imposing the death penalty in Michigan.

A proposal to authorize capital punishment was introduced Tuesday in the Senate, and its sponsor, Sen. David Jaye, R-Washington Township, said leaders in both the Senate and House supported it. State representatives got the best of both worlds Tuesday as they rejected pay raises for themselves and other top elected officials, but will receive the raises anyway. The increases automatically take effect unless both the House and Senate vote by two-thirds to reject them, and Senate leaders have no plans to vote on them. Meanwhile, George Hubka of Dowling has submitted petition language for a ballot measure that would abolish the commission that recommended the salary increases and let voters decide on pay raises Local State Digest Locally Community theater may reopen EATON RAPIDS The cur-tain may rise again for Eaton Rapids Community Theatre, which took a financial dive more than a year ago.

The former members of the Board of Directors of the Eaton Rapids Community Theatre -hope to revive the organization which had staged dramas, musical and variety shows at the Dorothy Merritt Auditorium at the high school, said Barbara Payne, a former president of the theater group. The organizers will confer Monday to set plans for a telephone survey to explore community interest, she said. One hurdle will be to raise $2,200 to pay old debts. For information or to volunteer help, call Lee Anzicek at 663-0500 or Nathalie Colthorp at 663-5288. Parks landscape architect hired LANSING Tanya Moore has been named landscape architect -for the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department, with duties to include playground construction and maintenance.

J'TMs position was developed to focus on our 80-plus parks with playground equipment," said Eric Reickel, Lansing's parks and recreation director. Moore graduated from Michigan State University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture. She has worked with Landscape Architects Planners of Lansing and DP Hoffman Play Works of Brighton. 1 Michigan Suspect's trial may be delayed MUSKEGON The teenager accused of killing his family likely will face trial this summer but it could get pushed back. Seth Privacky's trial on five counts of open murder in the Thanksgiving weekend shootings of his parents, grandfather, brother and the brother's girlfriend is scheduled for July 7.

Muskegon Circuit Judge James Graves Jr. set the date Friday, after the 18-year-old's defense lawyer asked to waive the state's speedy-trial rule. The Muskegon County prosecutor's office may seek a delay until September, said Assistant Prosecutor Brett Gardner. "We have dozens of witnesses, and with a July trial we'd expect at least a few to be on vacation," Gardner said Saturday. Authorities say Privacky killed his family after a spat on Nov.

29. Compiled by staff writer John B. Albright and The Associated Press. Capitol Question: Competing tax-cut plans Republicans acted quickly on a plan to cut the income tax from 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent over five years, which they say will help the state's economy. Democrats, who say the GOP plan will help the wealthy more than the middle class, offered their own plan to increase the personal exemption from $2,800 to $6,400.

Which tax-cut plan would you prefer? Please respond by noon Thursday. Results will be published in Sunday's newspaper. You can: Call 485-5463 and press 8978 to leave a voice-mail message. Mail it to Capitol Question, 120 E. Lenawee Lansing, Ml 48919.

Fax it to 377-1298. er meat mystery to officials Databank Continued FROM 2B LeRoy, Emma 85, of Altoona, formerly of Webberville, former Tupperware manager, died Jan. 21. Services have been held. Arrangements by Bellevue-Cedar Hill Funeral Home, Daytona Beach, Fla.

Macomber, Genevieve Ethel, 80, of Garland, Texas, formerly of Lansing, former Caro School District employee, Michigan State University electron microscopy technician, died Jan. 24. Memorial services 11 a.m. Saturday at Collon Funeral Home, Caro. Sedore, Roy, 55, of Upland, Air Force veteran, 3M service technician, died Jan.

23. Services have been held. Arrangements by Holi-han-Atkin Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. Births Lansing Evans: To Marvin L. and Barbara M.

Evans, a daughter, Destini Mo-zelle Evans, at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Jan. 27. Gillespie-Hernandez: To Andrew D. Gillespie and Elizabeth Ro-sitas Hernandez, a daughter, Selicia Elizabeth Gillespie-Hernandez, at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Jan. 27.

Bacteria may have been spread through vents at Zeeland Bil Mar plant Associated Press DETROIT Investigators aren't sure how meat in a Michigan plant was contaminated with bacteria, causing an outbreak blamed for a dozen deaths. Tainted meat from the Bil Mar Foods plant in Zeeland has killed 12 people in 16 states and sickened 79 others, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bil Mar, a division of Chicago-based Sara Lee on Dec. 22 recalled 15 million pounds of hot dogs and other packaged meat products sold under a variety of names, saying they could be tainted with listeria bacteria. Investigators with the CDC, U.S.

Department of Agriculture and the company have been trying to pin Under the dome Here is a daily look at activities of the Legislature and state government. If you've got ideas for stories. tL 5 call Chris Jttfbi Andrews at 377-1054. IMffilii Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and Rep.

Laura Baird, D-Okemos, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Lansing against U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, who would give the final approval to the compacts. High school students who prove they've mastered reading, writing, math and science would get $2,500 for college or additional training under a plan Gov. John Engler unveiled Thursday.

Engler said in his ninth State of the State address that he also would like to see seventh- and eighth-graders who do well on state standardized tests get $500 toward higher education. A majority of Detroit Board of Education members sat stone-faced on the Michigan House floor Thursday night as Gov. John Engler delivered his State of the State address, wondering how to combat his plan to let mayors take over failing school districts. Club: Board likely to OK zone request Continued FROM 1B negotiate. Miller won't do that, said his spokesman, Bob Kolt.

Miller made other promises this week to appease Vogt and Varner, including to pay for both of them to hook up to his water and sewer lines. The Governors Club plan calls for an 18-hole public golf course surrounded by 225 homes on 285 acres at the corner of Bennett and Hagadorn roads. It also will include a $5 million clubhouse, tennis courts and a community center. Kelly Arendt of Howell said she and her husband, Greg, want to move to Okemos. The golf course atmosphere appeals to them.

"We have two small children, so we want a community with other children," Kelly Arendt said. "And my husband is an avid golfer." Lansing Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit. But until they're complete, the rumors likely will continue to fly. They did Saturday. For instance, neighbors reported seeing police return to the crime scene fueling speculation that police still were searching for a weapon and raising doubts among some about the accuracy of the department's investigation.

But Lt. Raymond Hall, a police spokesman, said a chrome revolver, reportedly in McKinstry's possession, was recovered, tagged as evidence and is being analyzed. "There will be rumors and rumors of rumors," Hall said. "Our job is to investigate this as thoroughly as possible. Once this investigation is concluded, there will be answers." Bill Walker, a neighbor since McKinstry was a boy in Holt, got restless Sunday watching friends mill on the sidewalk in Old Town a forest-green Cadillac hearse idling at the curb.

"Yes, it's the time for mourning," he said. "But Monday morning is the time for answers. They better have some." Hall said an investigation should wrap up in two-weeks. Mi Send tor your free brochure todayl MAIL TO: Independence Village 11525 Hartel Road Grand Ledge, Ml 48837 16 E3 mi I Oranil I-i-dee I 1, Baird Jaye every two years. House Democrats are proposing an education agenda that includes funneling the state's take of casino slot machine revenues into school infrastructure and technology improvements.

They announced the plan at a news conference Wednesday. Legislation to cut Michigan's income tax was put on the fast track Wednesday in the Legislature, with committees in both the Senate and House overwhelmingly approving the package. The legislation would cut Michigan's income tax from the present 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent over the next five years. It would Erovide a total savings of about $3.7 illion to Michigan taxpayers through 2004. House Democrats released a 16-item education agenda Wednesday that included a plan to give community college tuition for two years to any student who maintains at least a average and 90 percent attendance record in high school.

Two Democratic state lawmakers filed a lawsuit Wednesday to stop final federal approval of four tribal gaming compacts that were given legislative approval last December. point the source of the contamination. Tests found an increase in the amount of listeria found on plant floors and equipment after work was done on its air-conditioning unit July 4, according to a report released Saturday. But it's not clear if the air-conditioner was the culprit, said Sara Lee spokeswoman Theresa Herlevsen. One USDA document obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows the USDA didn't urge the December recall.

"There was circumstantial evidence but there wasn't a smoking gun," said USDA spokeswoman Beth Gaston. It wasn't until two days after the recall that tests found the bacteria in unopened packages stored at the Bil Mar plant. Between May 26 and July 4, 25 percent of samples tested positive for listeria along the hot dog production line, the report said. Between July 5 and Nov. 5, 79 percent of the samples tested positive, using a firearm during a felony.

Police could not confirm if McKmstry was convicted for the arrests. Police say they had three outstanding warrants for McKinstry when they responded to a report of a fight in the early morning hours of Jan. 23 in the hallway of the Curtis Apartments, just south of Capital City Airport. McKinstry jumped from a second-story window and fled on foot with a gun, later breaking into a basement on Alfred Avenue, police said. They surrounded the basement calling for McKinstry to come out, warning they would send in the dog a German shepherd named Sabre.

In the end reportedly after five minutes of warnings they did. Police say McKinstry shot first hitting Sabre three times. The dog was buried Thursday in a funeral attended by more than 500 police officers and civilians. Police returned fire, shooting 18 times. McKinstry was hit six times.

A fatal bullet hit him in the forehead, an autopsy revealed. Stevens and Ramsey are on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a criminal investigation by Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III and a probe by the 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Opening Soon! Spacious living units Helpful services conveniences Planned activities Friendly neighbors Call toll free at: it li 1 Teen Hundreds attend funeral rrO -n Toski: To Victor M. and Elizabeth Toski, a daughter, Lurdes Esperanza Toski, at Sparrow Hospital, Jan. 27. Divorces Ingham County Hitchcock: Steven James and Su-zette Marie.

State Lottery Saturday Michigan Lotto: 13,17,19,30,33,40 Six-number winners: none This Wednesday's jackpot: $10 million Midday Daily-3: 574 Evening Daily-3: 161 Midday Daily-4: 0472 Evening Daily-4: 2607 Last Friday Big Game: 04,09, 12,32,47 Gold Number: 27 Winners: none This Tuesday's jackpot: $60 million Compiled by staff writers Hugh Leach and Sally Trout. For lottery results 24 hours a day, call 485-5463 and press 9031. Excludes Birkenstock) I 5 PM 1 Abbott MAC EAST LANSING, MI Cops and courts Morrice resident in hospital after crash Lansing State Journal CORUNNA A Morrice man was hospitalized in critical condition Saturday after a two-vehicle crash in Vernon Township, six miles southeast of here, Shiawassee County sheriffs deputies said. Donald Brooks, 32, was in Flint's Hurley Hospital. Uriah Dailey, 25, of Owosso, was treated at Owosso's Memorial Health Care Center and released.

Brooks in his 1994 GMC pickup and Dailey in his 1993 Ford Taurus collided at about 11:50 a.m. at the junction of Goodall and Vernon roads, a.m., Sgt. Mike Termeer said. Dailey, eastbound on Goodall, failed to stop at a posted stop sign, Termeer said. Dailey's car nit Brooks' truck, which was northbound on Vernon.

It was not immediately determined whether alcohol was a factor 'irvthe collision, deputies said. 'Compiled by staff writer John B. '-Albright WSODEN Jewelry "Only once every 3 years do we offer savings of this magnitude rs. xx Continued FROM 1B stuff," Shaull said. "I know A.J.

doesn't want to be in there." Toxicology tests, completed this week, set McKinstry's blood-alcohol level at 0.10 percent enough to be legally drunk in Michigan at the time of the shooting. But McKinstry's family insists he was "good child" but was mistreated by school and law enforcement officials. Attorney and former gubernatorial candidate Geoffrey Fieger is investigating the case on retainer for the family. Fieger has won two wrongful death lawsuits against the Lansing Police Department for a total of $14.5 million. For Singleton, the teen's death has him bemoaning a way of life especially among young people that has taken him from church, "to the hospital, the crime scene, to the morgue" all too often.

"This is time to fear God," he said. "This is the time for mourning. And I am mourning because my heart is hurting." "It's true," Shaull said later. "We been getting in trouble too much all we'll do is end up dead." Police released McKinstry's record last week a record spotted with arrests for drug possession and SKAE Antiques (Selected Styles OOTS SHOES SAI FREE gemsfone with this a Sapphire 9 Garnet Amethyst Citrine Peridot Smokey quartz SUNDAY r-r rh Between DOWNTOWN -Your choice all good size quality stones! ho purchase necessary 1 .3 Mi. E.

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