Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 9

Ruth E. Prcdl Obituart: County IsSfejfcScica long IsgicSaiive up aemm tion and disputed Nash's statist first. "The situation is not very? poorly spent, he said. i Two commissioners Duane Cowtill, R-Marshall, and Beverly Riskey, D-Battle Creek suggested: ending the contract with Kammer, at least for the summer when the Legislature is not in session. Commissioner RoWt Huntington, R-Battle Creek, disagreed.

"To get a bill through the Legislature By TRACE CHRSSTEMSGN 1 Start Writer MARSHALL Passing legislation favorable to the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners in its budget fight with the courts could take 18 to 24 more months, a lobbyist said Monday. "The process will be long. You won't see anv auick fixes. said for- was hired in March by the board for $1,250 a month. Kammer said despite little visible progress moving the bills to give counties power to determine the number of and compensation for court employees the lobby work will continue through the summer.

"It is not time Smith says he'll run again for seat in the 1 9th District By WON UgTZKE Two candidates for the state Senate seat being vacated by Harry DeMaso disagreed Monday on proposed liability reform that may be voted on by the House and Senate by next week. State Rep. Ernest Nash, R-Di-mondak, said the "so-called" liability issue results from insurance companies recouping losses. State Rep. Richard Fitzpatrick, D-Battle Creek, said he may vote against the legislation.

They appeared at a Rap With Reps breakfast sponsored by the Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce. Nash is a member of a House- Senate conference committee that has worked out the compromise plan that could be voted on. It limits awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases to $225,000, but has six exemp- tions including cases involving death, foreign objects being left in the body and wrongful removal of a Nash said the proposed legislation isn't perfect, but is the best that can be worked out before adjournment June 29. He criticized the $225,000 ceiling on pain and suffering, saying it would encourage higher claims. Ninety-five percent of pain and suffering claims now are settled for under $30,000, he said.

Dr. Charles Seifert, Battle Creek physician and. vice mayor, said he does not like the legisla different than it was," Seifert said. "I go to work today and I'm at risk for millions of dollars." Z- "You asked for it," Nash said. of physician lobbying for the cap: Seifert countered by saying obstetricians graduating from Mich-.

igan colleges are leaving the state! "The problem cannot be avoid- ed by moving to another said. "It is a (national) in- surance industry crisis and theyv are asking you to bail them Nash left for another ment after his presentation. "I couldn't disagree more," Fitzpatrick said. "It is a liability crisis, not a 'so-called crisis' the state has to spend less on roads. "The conference committee'- has chewed the issue up into holeS and it is politically expedient to pass it," he said.

"But I am con sideline votine aeainst it." Some states, including Califor- ma, have seen much lower creases in liability costs, he said, because they passed legislation more, than a year ago. "It's not an insurance problem," he said. "It's a political nrnhlem DeMaso, who is not seeking re- election to the 20th Senate District seat, said the liability reform package should have been approved in November, so that the problem could start being correct- ed. Most of the discussion since then has been political, he said. rental rehab grant.

If approved, Kolb said the at grant. If approved, Kolb said the city; AIISm eaAMnn fiinrlc would use the money to employ terns to explain the rehab program, to apartment building owners ahdl help with applications. "Despite Albion's great need for-rental rehab, we simply do not have the hours to do the intensive market-; ing evidently needed to get landlords into the program," said John Mau sert-Moonev. city planning director. takes continuous proaamg ana pusMng and it would be a mistake to stoo All nine commissioners' are expected to attend a Judiciary Com-, mittee hearing on June 13 in -Kalamazoo to discuss the bills and the problem.

The bearing begins at: 10 a.m. in the County Building. Shirley Zeller of Jackson is challenging Smith for the Republican nomination, while Democrat candidates are Lineas L. Baze of Jackson and "Bill Goff of Coldwater. Smith said his investigation of surplus food spoilages changed the way surplus food is distributed in Michigan, and that horse-racing reform legislation he sponsored was recently signed into law.

Smith said programs he is working on include: Student competency requirements; new techniques for improving the prison system, such as setting up a "boot camp" for first-time offenders and attacking drug abuse; property tax relief; and repeal of the Michigan inheritance tax. Smith and his wife, Bonnie, operate a farm in Hillsdale County. SS Clark appealed the assessments and the tax tribunal ordered those assess ments reduced to $1.4 million. The reduction required the refunds. -Springfield, however, did not change its assessments for 1984 and 1 985 and Clark again appealed.

But this time, the two sides aereed to set tle their differences once and for aU, The tentative agreement, which took nearly a year to hammer out, establishes Clark's 1986 assessed property value at $2,175 million. It also set values for the 1984 and 1985 tax years, which means the city must refund about $178,000 to Clark. Battle Creek Public Schools, which now operates schools in Springfield, must refund an estimated $400,000. The agreement also stipulates that Springfield is prohibited from revoking any tax abatement currently in use by Clark providing that the firm pay its taxes on time and not file any future property tax appeals that would seek an assessed value of less than $2.75 million. Births Elsewhere Dennis and Maria (Vaughn) Smith, North Attleboro, a son May 18.

She is a former Battle Creek resident. 0 curb a pw-note ALBK)N The city council is af- ter more monev to nromote an exist ing program to improve rental property. It agreed Monday to seek a $15,000 state grant to hire one or two part-time workers, advertise a $170,000 rental rehab program and help landowners apply for grant money, said City Manager George Kolb. The city also will use some of the money to buy a computer and software for the program. About 40 percent of housing in Albion is rental units, Kolb said but a rehabilitation program "is not known by the landlords.

We want to reach out" The Michigan State Housing Development Authority invited the city to apply for the administrative Police and Kolb said a concentrated effort to. contact landlords is the only way to Ruth (Miller) Powell, 88, of 239 W. Hamilton Lane, died Monday in Mercy Pavilion. She had been a pa- tient since Thursday and ill since J. i She was born in Ainsworth, moving to Battle Creek in 1919.

She was employed as a cashier and stock clerk; 31 years by Battle Creek Gas retiring in 1951. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Gleason A. Powell. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday: in Richard A.

Henry Funeral Home. Memorial donations may oe made to the Humane Society-Cal-houn Area. Jessie R. Yothor Jessie R. Yother, 79, of 469 Cornell Drive, died Sunday in Leila Hospital, where he had been a patient for one month.

He had been ill five months. He was born in Dayton, moving to Battle Creek in 1942. He was employed 25 years by Eaton retiring in 1967, He was a member of Church of God of Prophecy. His wife of 52 years, the former Esther M. Bedwell, died in 1981.

Surviving are sons, Harold Jessie C. and Paul W. Yother, and Wil-. liam J. Bedwell, all of Battle Creek; daughters, Mary A.

Abbott, Geral-dine Davis and Ruth A. Nye, alL of Battle Creek, Helen Cox of HamiK ton, Ala. Ruby West of Colorado Springs, and Barbara Young of Athens; 29 grandchildren; and 1 1 great-grandchUdren. Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in Church of God of Prophecy.

Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association. Arrangements are by Shaw Funeral Home. Leota J. Elrod Leota J. (Spidle) Elrod, 73, of 23 Bernardo Place, died Monday in Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, where she had been a patient 20 days.

She had been ill the past month. She was born in Mesick, moving to Battle Creek as a child with her family. She formerly was employed by Kellogg Co. and as a self-employed beautician, retiring from the Leila Hospital dietary department after 10 years of service. She was a member of the Metropolitan Club and Bedford OES Chapter 4i.

Her husband, Robert Elrod, died in 1983. She is survived by sons, Robert and James Elrod, both of Battle Creek; four grandchildren; and a brother, Gerald Spidle of Sherwood. Cremation has been conducted and memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in Minges Hills Church of God. Arrangements are by Royal Funeral Home.

Zygmunt A. Delikat Zygmunt A. Delikat, 7 1 died Sunday in the Battle Creek Veterans Administration Medical Center, where he had been a patient 15 years. He was born in Detroit and was an Army veteran of World War II. He formerly was employed in the automobile business.

Surviving are sisters, Genevieve Burzynski of Mount Clemens and Lottie Krol of Hamtramck; and a brother, Harry Delikat of Hamtramck. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in St: Jerome Catholic Church. Arrangements are by Shaw Funeral Home. James A.

Davis James A. Davis, 64, of 39 Hannah died today in Community Hospital. He had beenstricken at home. Arrangements are pending at Farley-Estes Funeral Home. John Rasmussen John Rasmussen.

92. a former Battle Creek resident, died today in River Forest Nursing Care Center, Three Rivers. Arrangements are pending at Hebble Funeral Home. Mary Ratliff Mary Ratliff, 76, of 93 N. Kendall died at home Monday after a long illness.

Arrangements are pending at Perry Funeral Home. Death Elsewhere Jordan L. Scheaffer, 7-month-old son of Jeffrey and Diana Schaeffer of Portage, died Monday in Bronson Methodist Hospital, where he had been a patient since his birth Oct. 31, 1985. Among survivors, in addition to his parents, are maternal grandparents, Mr.

and Mrs. Elbert Zebolsky of Coldwater, and maternal great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Scheidler of Coldwater. Services will be at 2 p.m.

Wednesday in Gillespie Funeral Home in Coldwater. Selected 2)43 OFF 1 O. MmJCMK Hum" IdWT Summer explain the rehab grant Owners that qualify can receive. money to improve their apartment buildings and if the apartment meets all city codes for 10 years, the debtis forgiven. --r.

The administrative grants will be-announced June 30. Fire Woyno E. Ccrpcntcr BURR OAK Wayne Carpenter, 83, of 61031 Lang Lake Road, died Monday in Borgeta Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a short illness. A He was bom in Athens, graduating from Athens High School and Western Michigan University. He taught industrial arts 40 yean in Sturgis High School, retiring in 1967.

He moved to Long Lake from Sturgis in 1 955. He was a member of First Church of God in Sturgis, where he was a Sunday School teach- a- anil htf1 mPRltvr ftiwl tliui tlMfl treasurer 18 years. He was a member of Athens Lodge 0220, the National, Michigan, St. Joseph and Branch county retired school personnel associations, St. Joseph County Hammond Organ Society, and was active in the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Association.

Survived by his wife, the former Lois Severance; stepsons, Walter L. Perry of Grand Rapids and Douglas M. rerry oi aiurgis, ccu grandchhlldren; one stepgreat-grandchild; and a brother, Neil Carpenter of Portage. Services, will be at 11 aon. Thursday in First Church of God, Sturgis.5 Memorial donations may be made tbi the church.

Arrangements are by Schipper Funeral Home, Colon. Oria E. LamDman Orla E. Lampman, 81, of 202 W. Roosevelt died Monday in.

Calhoun County Medical Care Facility after a long illness. He was born in Dayton Township, Newaygo County, and moved to. Battle Creek in 1933 from Hesperia. He first was employed by the old Holmes Ford agency, andlhen was a machinist with Clark Equipment Co. for 26 years, retiring in 1967.

He was a life member and past master of Bedford Lodge 207 a life member and past patron of Bedford Chapter 471 OES, and a member of DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Episcopal Church of the Resurrection and the Clark Retirees Club. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Lois Clark; sons, Audis of Lansing, and James Lamp-man of Woodland; a daugther, Kathleen Kincaid of Kingwood, Texas; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Charles Lamp-man of Muskegon, and DeLay and Allen Lampman, both of Fremont; and sisters, Vivian Bulson of Nun-ica, and Ella Wells of Muskegon. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Royal Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be.

made to Episcopal Church oi trie Resurrection or any charitable organization. Brenda Kay Holley HASTINGS Brenda Kay (Finney) Holley, 20, of 936 SL, died Sunday in Blodgett Memo-rial Medical Center, Grand Rapids, where she had been a patient five IShe was born in Keesler Air Force Base, moving to Hastings in 977. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1984 and Northwest Travel School in Portland, Ore. She was manager of ICS Travel Service in, Hastings and a member of Hastings First Baptist Church. Surviving are her husband, Christopher Holley, a son, Michael Holley, at home; parents, Gerald and Judith Finney of Hastings; a sister, Lynne Gordon of Brownville, N.Y.; a brother, Michael Finney of Tucson, paternal grandmother, Roberta Gryesiek of Hastings; and maternal grandmother, Lura Fetters of La Porte, Ind.

Services will be at 1 1 a.m.Thurs-day in Hastings First Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the Brenda K. Holley Memorial Fund. Arrangements, are pending at Wren Funeral. Home.

Dorothy Healy Dorothy t. (Blodgett) Healy, 72, a resident of Docsa Home, died Sun- day in Community Hospital, where she was admitted May 25. She had been ill since 1984. She was born in Albion, moving to Battle Creek from Michigan Center in 1947. She and her husband were private boarders for more than 400 children from 1951-70.

She was a member of Metropolitan Club Spirit 21 Auxiliary. are her husband, William L. Healy; a son, Robert L. Hea-1J of Bedford; daughters, Sandra J. Dkhlman of Galesburg, and Shirley M.

Hollister of Sidney; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; Sisters, Frances Zaiek of Denver, and Margaret Fast of Sturgis; brothers, Donald Blodgett of Six Lakes and Melvin, Edward and Alan Blodgett, all of Albion. i Services will be at 1 1 a.m. Thurs- day in Hebble Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to any charitable organization. Births 1 BATTLE CREEK COMMUNITY Russell and Betty Eberhard, 67 eanright, a son May 29.

-William and Christina Erskine, 70 Qroveland, a son June 2. -John and Janet Marlatt, 140 Beachfield Drive, a son June 2. OAKLAWN, MARSHALL Sally Jo Palmiter, 744 E. Michigan Marshall, a daughter June 2. Saying he wants to finish the work he has begun, State Sen.

Nick Smith, R-Addison, will seek another term representing the 19th District. "I'm proud of my work to combat crime," expand business and jobs and reduce Michigan taxes," he said in a statement. Smith is the fourth candidate tn throw his hat into the ring for the Aug. 5 primary election in the 19th Senate District, which covers Branch, Hillsdale and Jackson counties. By DENIS WOLCOTT Assistant City Editor A five-year-old property assessment dispute between Clark Equipment Co.

and the City of Springfield has been settled. But the tentative agreement requires Springfield and the school district return to Clark more than $400,000 the company paid in prop-erty taxes during 1984 and 1985. The pact remains to be signed by both side and approved by the Michigan Tax Tribunal, said Springfield City Manager Milford "AT Mellon. The tax tribunal ordered in .1984 that five local school districts, the city and Calhoun County return to Clark some taxes that the company paid from 1981-1983. Springfield had assessed the Clark plant at $7.8 in 1981 and 1982 and at $5.4 million in 1983.

Courts Larry Guy Jr. pleaded innocent Monday when arraigned in Calhoun County Circuit Court on charges he fired shots at the William E. Boards Jr. home, causing the critical injury of Charnis Boards in April 1984. Guy, 1 9, is charged with four counts of assault with intent to commit murder of Boards; his wife, Ceatte; their daughter, Charnis; and son, William Boards III.

He also is charged with possession of a firearm during a felony. Guy's attorney, John Hofman, filed a paper arraignment with the court. Kevin Scurry, 19, also charged in connection with the assault, was scheduled for arraignment Monday, but "the court has not yet received his plea from attorney Jeffrey Edison. Scurry is charged with the same counts as Guy. The charges are the result of indictments handed down by a Calhoun County grand jury in September 1984.

Both men, who are free on bond, were bound over on May 20 to stand trial on the charges. Charnis Boards, then 15, was struck in the head by a bullet while sleeping in an upstairs bedroom of her family's home at 680 W. Van Buren St Donna E. Frazier, who died Saturday, is survived by her mother, Eskie Morrison of Gallipolos Ferry, W.Va. The mother's name was not provided to the Enquirer for the obituary published Monday.

FULLPIOUSI FASHIONS SkUilHMhhr Nick Smith Setting It 1 Straight Fir dsmsoss home, 1 treated: albion a fire at 3. 1 1 pjn. Monday, believed caused by a child playing with matches, resulted, 1 smoke and heat damage to a two-story home at 1009 N. Albion St. Public safety officials said Patricia Baker, one of the occupants, was treated for smoke inhalation in Albion Community Hospital and released.

No informa- tion was available on the other occupants nor the age of the child believed responsible for starting the fire on the second floor. Officials said the house is owned by a Homer resident whose name was not available. StSFGO StDiSn parked Can A $700 stereo was reported stolen Monday from a car in the first block of Frisbie Avenue. Summer Celebration! Missy-Queen Sizes fill 7 ill Save on fee tops, pants, skirts, blouses, shorts, sweaters, and jackets; Missy Sizes 8-1 8 Queen Sizes 38-46 All Blouses and Tee-Tops off All M. uoruT Off Sportswear Selected lAirrn Off Sportswear Cttwssfcia Aiki il53 'HI 5-30 8I- '7l3iMWl A lity Fun! Choose from blazers, sweaters, pants, tee tops, skirts and blouses Missy and Petite Sizes Selected OFF Spring tat-nss STUMIt MAWMOt MMM1 1 Now I through LJ.

6786 I ISM Open.