The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 1

EuTERTAiiifiiEfiT: The King of Pop keeps his crown jewels off TV2A GOOD MORNING Saturday July 29, 1995 Springfield, Missouri 35tf an Kr Springfield Tf JFW- fabfr to tec Recession risk low, analysts say From Our Staff The Associated Press but it wasn't our choice on what penalty she was to receive. I'll never forget what Susan has done to me." He said he was thinking of moving away from Union to There was never any doubt about Smith's guilt. Her trial, which began July 10, was to explore why she killed the boys Oct. 25 and how she would be punished. Susan and David Smith divorced in May and were already separated when she killed the children.

During the search, he rushed to her side to support her, but after the hoax was revealed, he said he wanted her to die for what she had done. A defense psychiatrist testified that after Smith left his wife in August 1994, she became increasingly depressed, began drinking more and juggled sexual relationships with at least three men. would be torment enough. Holding a Bible, Brack read the story from the Gospel of John about a woman who committed adultery, an offense punishable by stoning to death. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," Brack read.

But Prosecutor Tommy Pope told jurors Smith's remorse for rolling her only children, 3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex, into a lake as they remained strapped in their car seats was meaningless. "She may be sorry now," he said. "But was she sorry when she dropped that hand brake down?" As one analyst put it, the nation's economy has enough wind in its sails to reach port, but it's not going to break any speed records. That was the assessment after new reports Friday showed the nation's factory output slowed abruptly during the second quarter. But stronger-than-expected consumer spending makes the risk of recession low, analysts said.

Inside: Our report. 8B Women are far less likely than men to receive the death penalty. 4A Smith's troubled past became known. "There is no good outcome to this case," Smith's lawyer, David Brack, said. "This case was an awful human tragedy and it still is and it always will be." Smith, 23, didn't testify during her trial and declined to make a statement to jurors before they began deliberating.

In his closing argument in the penalty phase of the trial, Brack said Smith's grief, remorse and memories while serving life behind bars UNION, S.C. A jury swiftly rejected the death penalty for Susan Smith, sentencing her to life in prison Friday after her lawyer argued she is tormented enough in her own "lake of fire" for drowning her two young sons. She will be eligible for parole in 30 years. Smith gasped as the unanimous verdict was read after just 2 XA hours of deliberation. She cried as she was led from the courtroom after a hug from her attorneys.

The boys' father, David Smith, sat stone-faced, later telling reporters he and his family were "disappointed, Smith escape the memories. Public opinion in Union, a town of 10,000 people, shifted from favoring the death sentence shortly after the crime to become more sympathetic as Evolving fair still about families Slaying suspect sticks by alibi in Workman case 7r "i i 7 1 v' I Ron Davis News-Leader If Christian County police get their way, the news soon will be full of Dwight and Bobby Banks. The two men, both in their 30s, are suspects in the 1989 slaying of Kelle Ann Workman. Dwight Banks has been suspected i 4 since the night Workman van-ished while mowing a church cemetery in Dogwood, the tiny Douglas County community where the Banks brothers live. All of which makes Dwight Banks laugh a bit nervously a bit sardonically.

Because for all the talk about "new leads," there appears to be little fresh ground being broken in the Workman case. True, Bobby Banks apparently took and failed a polygraph test a couple of weeks ago but his brother took one in 1990 and passed it. True, Bobby Banks' ex-girlfriend apparently told police that he sought an alibi for the night Workman vanished but Workman's mother said she found that out nearly two years ago and told police. True, Dwight Banks is no angel; he admits to enjoying his pot and to being in jail a couple of times. But he says he has a solid alibi for the night of June 30, 1989.

In an exclusive interview with the News-Leader, Dwight Banks talks freely about being under a cloud for the past six years; about having "vigilantes" shooting up his mobile home; about living near the parents of the 24-year-old woman he's suspected of killing. See BANKS, Page 8A Dwight Banks Amy Laval ley News-Leader Some things about the Ozark Empire Fair never change. The families who come in for a night of rides and exhibits and food, the carnival games, the smell of corn dogs and cotton candy, the animals shuffling in their stalls. But underneath that air of familiarity are differences that have crept up over the years. Some may be subtle, some may be obvious, but people who have worked with the fair over the years have taken note of what makes today's fair different.

"The fair is almost a living thing," said Bill "Pete" Graham, describing the fair's metamorphosis. Graham is working his 26th fair. He has worked as concessions manager for 17 years. Through the fair, Graham met vendor Larry Silver, who has been at the fair as long as Graham has. They see the little things, like the flowers that dot the fairgrounds and the benches that now provide people with a place to rest.

They also notice that even the crafts and other items for sale have changed. Offerings this year, for example, include pictures on papyrus, Egyptian-style jewelry and Asian gifts. The international flavor has increased over the years, they say. "Maybe it's just a sign of the times. The world's getting smaller," Graham said.

The exhibits overall have improved and are more diversified, Silver said. As society has advanced, so have the exhibits, which now include satellite dishes, computers and home spas. "If you want to see what's new, come to the fair," Graham said. They remember "Machinery Mike Wingo News-Leader NOW and then: Debra Barnhart and her son, Charlie, 5, of Springfield, thrill to a curve on the Grand Prix Racing Roller Coaster on Friday, opening day for the Ozark Empire Fair. Much has changed at the fair since the days of the photo below, a fdod booth in the 1950s.

Workman's body was found a week later in Christian County. The television news this week has been crammed with leaks from police, claiming the case is about to "break wide open." Christian County Sheriff Steve Whitney told KOLR-TV that investigators have the most promising lead since Workman died of unspecified causes. w4 i- tgf'4a Senators put limits on gifts they can get The Associated Press Falrgoers offer lips on the tastiest midway foods. 8A Row," a display of farm implements and other large equipment that used to be located between Gates 1 and 2 along Norton Road. Over time the number of dealers dwindled until the last one quit a few years ago.

See FAIR, Page 8A WASHINGTON Senators imposed strict limits Friday on the gifts they may receive from lobbyists and others, including a ban on the much-criticized practice of charity golf, tennis and ski out -aasaeai w-A rl Courtesy Ozark Empire Fair New temporary leader named at Red Cross ings paid for by special interests. "We have ended recreational travel," said Sen. Carl Levin, a chief sponsor of the gift limits. "And the that," said Majority Leader Bob Dole, just before the final vote. "It's always more difficult when it affects us." The final measure which takes effect Jan.

1 puts a $100 annual ceiling on gifts from any one source and makes all gifts over $10 count toward that limit. That is far stricter than current rules, which allow lawmakers to accept unlimited numbers of gifts, so long as they are worth under $100 each. The change also prohibits senators from accepting free transportation and lodging for ski, tennis and golf events that are used to raise money for charity but at the same time provide access to lawmakers for the wealthy interests that can afford tickets to the events. Because what the Senate adopted was a change in its own rules, it does not affect the House of Representatives, where GOP leaders have expressed little interest in the issue. Nor does it require House concurrence.

But Levin predicted the Senate's overwhelming vote would put pressure on the House. "I predict they will follow suit very soon," he said. Dole cer Don Thomson quit and began organizing theCBC. "I have approved her re-quest," Red Cross senior principal officer H.D. Maynard announced Friday in a memo ley said of the CBC.

Her resignation follows four top managers who have quit and are working for the CBC. Three more resigned Wednesday. "We've had applications from the three," CBC spokesman Gene Waite said. But the CBC probably won't hire again until next month, when it expects to lease operating space, Waite said. He and others are working from an office in St.

John's Regional Health Center. Creed said Friday she is pleased to be back in her old ob: "I felt like there was work that I needed to do there, and I wanted to get back and devote myself to it." office in St Louis. Replacing Creed as acting principal officer is Bob Carden, who works under Maynard as the Southeast Area's marketing director. Carden was in Springfield briefly Friday and met some staffers, but left town without speaking to reporters. Meanwhile, an eighth high-level Red Cross manager resigned and said she may apply at the CBC.

Helen Shipley, a Red Cross employ-eefor21 years whoservedmostrecent-ly as its inventory manager, quit late Thursday. She had supervised the shipping of blood to hospitals. "I probably will put in an application when the job opens there," Ship- Chris Bentley News-Leader The Red Cross Greater Ozarks Blood Region gained a new temporary leader Friday, as its acting principal officer for the past four months asked to be relieved. It was the latest move in an increasingly competitive atmosphere between the Red Cross and its new rival, the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. Felecia Creed, the Red Cross blood region's acting principal officer since April, asked to resume her previous position as its educationfinancial services administrator.

Creed had been acting principal officer since April, when principal offi Maynard worst abuses of meals and tickets (to sports and entertainment events) are over. It is significant gift reform." Final passage of the new Senate rules came on a 98-0 vote, belying the emotion and discomfort of weeklong behind-the-scenes negotiations. Not voting were Sen. James In-hofe, and Frank Mur-kowski, R-Alaska. "I think this is one issue we want to get behind us, and I think we've done to workers posted on bulletin boards throughout the building.

Maynard oversees the operations of eight Red Cross blood regions in the Red Cross' Southeast Area, which includes the Ozarks, from his LOTTERY INDEX WEATHER Vol. 105. No. 210 1 1995. News-Leader If I Ozarks 1B Sports 1D Weather 2A PICK 3 4-2-9 SHOW-ME 5 1-4-15-20-22 Classified SC Comics 3C Crossword 4C Markets SB Movies 2C Record 58 Opinion 6A INSIDE Marketplace: Mid-Am chief Gary Hanman tells cooperative members that the worst is behind them in milk prices, but feed prices remain a worry.

8B 95 74L Hot and sunny today, high near 95 with a heat index between 105 and 110. 2A Ozarks: Terry Fender, the Hill-crest High School cook reprimanded last month for her squirt-gun shenanigans, has been transferred to another school. 1B Please RECYCLE. The News-Leader is printed partially on recycled paper and is 100 recyclable. A Gannett Newspaper III Precipitation: 10 4.