Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 3

metro City Editor, Jim Wallington Ph. 377-1040 State Journal Saturday, June 30, 1984 3A No progress in Midland talks Opponents of Consumer Power trouble-laden Midland nuclear power plant reported no progress late Friday in talks between the company and the state to salvage one of the plant's two reactors. Two key members of the coalition of state, industrial and public interest officials attempting to close the plant emerged from a Friday meeting with Roger Fischer, chief of staff of the Michigan Public Service Commission, and repeated what they had said Thursday: The talks have produced not a whit of hope. By TOM GROSE Staff Writer FISCHER, A member of the coalition, has been negotiating since Wednesday with Consumers Vice Chairman James B. Falahee in a "last-ditch" effort to save at least one reactor of the twinreactor facility.

Consumers started an "orderly shut down" of the plant Wednesday. The coalition is composed of Fischer and his staff, the state attorney general's office, the Michigan Citizens Lobby and ABATE, a group of the company's largest industrial electric users. They met Thursday afternoon briefed by Fischer by telephone. Talks between the coalition and company broke off Tuesday. Joseph Tuchinsky, executive director of the Citizen Lobby, and Hugh Anderson, an assistant attorney general, said after the Thursday session that "there was no reason for optimism." BUT AN HOUR later, state Senate Majority Leader John Engler, R-Mt.

Pleasant, released a statement saying that Fischer and Consumers Chairman John D. Selby "have indicated to me that progress is being made in their negotiations." Engler postponed indefinitely a scheduled Friday morning meeting between him, Selby and Fischer. The ill-fated power plant is in Engler's district and he instigated the last-minute talks between the company and Fischer. Before Engler's intervention, company officers Wednesday were pre ETHNIC FESTIVAL Dick Petersen pours steaming saurkraut help of Ella Mae Evitts, both of the Lansing Liederkranz Club. German garb, plays a Wisconsin jump stomper at the German Riverfront Park.

The festival runs from noon until 11 p.m. tonight Prostitution cases frustrate police By DAN POORMAN Staff Writer Lansing police officers fear their recent arrests of several women on prostitution charges won't have much long-term effect on prostitution in the city, but that hasn't stopped them from continuing to try. "You can always hope," said Lt. Jim Rapp, head of the Criminal Intelligence Unit which works vice. And his officers, both male and female, are continuing to work the sex beat making cases against both the women and their customers.

VOL. 130 No. 64 LANSING STATE JOURNAL (USPS 520-180) Gregory L. Deliyanne, Publisher, 377-1001 Harold Fildey Executive Editor, 377-1076 Claude Burgett Managing Editor, 377-1038 Robert Stuart Editorial Page Editor, 377-1049 Frank Wippel Business Manager, 377-1030 Ted Sondag Advertising Director, 377-1120 Richard Ferris Circulation Director, 377-1024 David Sprague Production Director, 377-1080 Published daily by FEDERATED PUBLICATIONS, inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of GANNETT 120 E.

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Sunday. Metro Roundup Motorcylist critical Steven Abfalter, 26, of Grand Ledge, who was injured in a motorcycle accident on westbound M- 43 in Oneida Township, was listed in critical condition Friday night at St. Lawrence Hospital. Eaton County Sheriff's deputies said Abfalter's machine ran off the highway at 2:55 a.m. Friday and struck a railroad tie which was part of a flower in a traffic island.

The flower bed was part of a memorial to Frank D. Fitzgerald who governor of Michigan in 1935-36, 36a5 the sheriff's department said. Conviction upheld The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the 1982 second degree his murder conviction of Christopher to Catey of Grand Ledge. Catey is serving a 20- to 40-year sentence for the stabbing death of Violet Tobatto, 71, at her Grand Ledge home before setting fire to the home in September 1981. Catey was convicted in Eaton State Roundup Prisoner found hanged KALAMAZOO (AP) A 24-yearold Kalamazoo County Jail inmate contemplated suicide before hanging himself in a cell, a relative says, but a sheriff says deputies didn't know the prisoner planned to kill himself.

Richard McCormack of Kalamazoo, found hanging by a bedsheet in his cell Monday, died Wednesday at Bronson Methodist Hospital, said a hospital spokeswoman who refused to give her name. McCormack's sister, Mary McCormack, said other prisoners said her brother became depressed Friday, and it was common knowledge he planned to kill himself. But interim Sheriff Thomas Edmonds said deputies did not know McCormack was contemplating suicide. McCormack's family also has charged that deputies were slow to take the man to the hospital, Edmonds said. Deputies found McCormack, who was serving a one year sentence for malicious destruction of police property, at 4:25 a.m.

Monday after they were alerted by cellmates, Edmonds said. Police chief charged ROYAL OAK (AP) State police are investigating charges that acting Royal Oak Township Police Chief Odis Solomon sexually harassed three female members of the force. No charges have been filed against Solomon, said State Police Sgt. Greg Leech, who is looking the matter for the Michigan Attorney General's Office. Solomon has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically inspired.

"The Township Board is trying to remove me," he said. "This is part of a political strategy." The Attorney General's Office asked State Police on Monday to start an investigation, Leech said. Father convicted DETROIT (AP) A jury convicted a Detroit man of first-degree murder for setting a motel fire that killed his 2-year-old daughter. Capitol Roundup More corn planted in '84 Michigan's corn acreage is at a near-normal level for 1984, after last year's federal Payment In Kind program which kept some land from being planted, a statefederal agency said Friday. The Michigan Agricultural Reporting Service said farmers planted three million acres this spring, compared with 2.2 million acres last year.

Acreage planted for soybeans was about 1.15 million acres, an increase of 9 percent from last year and equal to the record acreage planted in 1982. Nearly 400,000 acres of Michigan farmland were planted with dry beans, up 11 percent from last season, and 109,000 acres went for sugar beets, a 3 percent boost from 1983, the service said. Anti-crime bills signed Legislation that continues the state Commission on Criminal Jusand the Office of Criminal Justice through 1987 was signed into law Friday by Gov. James Blanchard. The agencies help coordinate state and local anti-crime efforts.

In addition, a separate panel was Obituaries LEONARD, GORDON, G. 75, of 14302 Grange Road, Eagle, retired state highway employee, died Friday. Services 1:30 p.m. Sunday at North Eagle Cemetery in Clinton County. Arrangements by Peters Murray Funeral Home.

McKEE MARIAN 75, of 30 Lacey Lake Road, Charlotte, died Thursday. Services 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Ray Funeral Home, Charlotte. McMAHON, AGNES 85, of 6055 Dawn Ave, East Lansing, died A EMERGENCY HOTLINES Housing: 487-6051 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) Housing: 484-7461 (Evenings, overnight) Food: 372-6330 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri) Energy: 1-800-292-5650 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mon-Fri) Ingham Rural Emergency Outreach: 676-1065 (1-4 p.m. Mon-Fri) pared to ask their directors for an immediate shut down of the operation. Instead, the board ordered the company to begin shutting down plant, while conducting the talks with Fischer. ENGLER'S statement said he "remains cautiously optimistic that an agreement will be reached." Tuchinsky, by and Engler's Anderson message. seemed Both claimed Fischer had not talked to Engler.

"John was in contact with him," retorted Jeff McAlvey, an aide to Engler. Company officials were remaining tight-lipped about the talks, refusing to characterize them in any fashion. By implication, however, the company seems to be signaling progress, since Selby had said he would break off the talks by Friday unless progress was made. Selby also said a full shutdown would be ordered by Tuesday if no agreement is reached. FISCHER AND Falahee probably will not meet again until Monday, Staff photos by EILEEN into a serving tray Friday, Buster Crabb of Lansing in tent at the Ethnic Festival and Sunday.

Tuchinsky said, after they have spent the weekend separately "going over their own numbers." Consumers and the coalition began talks several months ago to try and work an agreement to either complete or abandon the plant. The coalition in April presented the company with a 25-year "survival plan" it said would protect the company if it abandoned the plant. Consumers rejected the plan. The talks between them broke down Tuesday when the coalition rejected the company's final proposal to finish the Unit 2 reactor for $4.1 billion, while charging ratepayers $3.5 billion. Consumers has already abandoned Unit reactor and seek to recover $800 million in losses.

AFTER ORDERING the orderly shut down, the company laid off 1,500 skilled workers; there are 5,000 workers at the site. Friday, the state Labor DepartInent announced it would open an emergency office in Midland Monday for laid-off power plant workers. Switzer's conviction reversed; new trial iffy A former Lansing man serving fore Switzer admitted he struck five to 15 years for the July 1982, the child. slaying of his girlfriend's baby may The baby, a son of Nyla not be tried again even though the Schrader, was pronounced dead at Michigan Court of Appeals Friday Sparrow Hospital from severe inreversed his conviction and or- ternal injuries. dered a new trial.

The Appeals Court said it is Ingham County Chief Assistant common knowledge that police Ingham County Prosecutor Kim cannot coerce a confession from a Eddie said he will look carefully at defendant for use in court, and the case before seeking another ruled that the same principle aptrial because, with the 180-day plies to a private citizen. early release, credit and time al- "I wonder if private citizens will ready Marvin J. Switzer have to 'Miranda' (rights) probably has served the minimum warnings before they talk to anyprison time he would get if con- body?" Eddie asked. victed again. The Appeals Court ruled that, Switzer was found guilty of in- without the confession, there was voluntary manslaughter, but men- not enough evidence to convict tally ill, in a non-jury trial before Switzer.

Circuit Court Judge Robert H. Bell "If we don't have a case without in 1982 and sentenced to serve five the confession, and, with him servto 15 years. ing most of the minimum sentence, On Friday, a three-judge panel I doubt if we will re-try him," Edruled that Judge Bell had improp- die said. "But we'll have to look at erly considered a confession it very closely." Switzer made to a relative of the Switzer is at Camp Pugsley in dead child. The relative had threat- Kingsley, according to Department ened Switzer and struck him be- of Corrections records.

Notorious black cat really gets around JOHN B. ALBRIGHT "Then it took off," Graham said. The cat slipped under a fence and By Staff Writer disappeared, according to police. A big black cat which may have A Lansing State Journal story Frifigured in reports of panther sight- day about a sighting of a big cat on ings ein the Lansing area Friday U.S. 127 north of Lake Lansing Road eluded police about 8:10 p.m.

near prompted numerous calls to the Clinthe Capitol City Airport. ton deputies, Graham said. The animal was nothing more than During the day, about 10 or 20 pera cat with a long drooping tail, and sons called to report cat sightings, was little bigger than normal," while another half dozen calls were said Sgt. Ray Graham of the Clinton inquiries about the animal, the serCounty Sheriff's Department. There geant said.

was no cause for alarm, Graham Colleen Bowen, 21, of 317 East said. Washtenaw County Point Lane, East Lansing, said she investi- saw a big black cat run in front of Meanwhile, Sheriff's deputies, who of have a her as she drove southbound on Colike in their area since late lumbine Road about 3:15 gated numerous reports pantheranimal p.m. was re- "I don't know if it was a May, said a big in Superior Township or something from the leopard famcat sighting panther near Ypsilanti. Friday ily," Bowen said. "But it was a huge ported The Washtenaw sightings origi- black cat." nated around Manchester, south of THE ANIMAL was bigger than a Chelsea.

Labrador retriever but smaller than A PANTHER Clinton posse airport and a St. Bernard, she said. of security officers, deputies "He went behind a house on Copolice from DeWitt and Lansing con- lumbine," Bowen said. verged on Capital to City the off Bowen said she reported the sightBoulevard the approach road airport, ing to East Lansing police about 4:30 Grand River Avenue a re- p.m. but she said officers didn't beafter port of a cat sighting there.

lieve had seen anything out of Officers got within 10 feet of the the ordinary, East a Lansing police feline which was sitting at Richlyn told Journal that Bowen had Industries, 3800 Capital an ordinary cat. Graham said. probably seen County Circuit Court of stabbing Tobatto, who rented a room to him, following an argument over his drinking and bringing a friend to his rented room in violation of a house rule. The elderly woman's body was found by firefighters summoned by neighbors who heard Catey scream that the house was on fire moments before he jumped from a second floor window to safety. Robert Gambrell, 22, was found guilty Wednesday of killing his daughter, Michelle Hennings, who died Dec.

20 in a fire in a suburban motel. Prosecutors told the six-man, five-woman Wayne County Circuit Court jury during the two-week trial that Gambrell used the child to get back at the girl's mother, Shelly Hennings, 21, for ending their relationship. The couple never married. Hennings testified that on the day of the fire she refused Gambrell's requests to have the child join him motel overnight. She said Gambrell responded by threatening to kill himself and his daughter by dousing the room with gasoline then setting it on fire.

She said that when Gambrell hadn't returned the girl by 11 p.m., she began searching motels. Police and firefighters were already at the motel when she arrived, Hennings said. Lottery Friday's daily number: 833 Friday's Daily-4: 5720 Friday's Card Game: Seven of diamonds Ten of hearts his at No Detroit curfew DETROIT (AP) Detroit Mayor Coleman Young said he won't impose an earlier curfew for city youth this summer as he did last year to help reverse a rising crime rate. "Things are going very smoothly in the city right now," Young said Wednesday to a group of community leaders. However, Young said he would not hesitate to order enforcement of the city's existing curfew ordinance if nighttime crime increases.

A year ago, Young imposed a curfew at 10 p.m. on week nights and 11 p.m. on weekends for people under 18, requiring them to be off the streets about an hour earlier than specified in the ordinance. Rapp said it appears that the number of prostitutes working Lansing streets has diminished somewhat since the multiple arrests last weekend. But, he said, he fears that effect may be short lived.

SGT. TOM BOLAN, whose night crew did most of the work of the recent sting, said he feared the major effect of the arrests would be to make the women more cagey and harder to make a case against. Police have arrested all but two of the 19 women against whom sex-forsale charges were brought last week. The arrests followed about six weeks of undercover work by new officers in the CIU. Those arrested have posted $250 bail and are awaiting court action which takes anywhere from two to four months, Rapp said.

Rapp and other vice officers frustrated is that they believe at most, 30 women are working as street prostitutes in Lansing. Yet, prostitution, he said, is taking up as much as 25 percent of his 10-person unit's time. RAPP SAID he's not diminishing the prostitution problem for business persons and residents of areas where prostitutes ply their trade. The problem is that even with the city's "tough" anti -prostitution ordinance, the women are back on the streets doing business shortly after their arrests, leaving police to wonder if their work is worth the effort and what can be done to control sex for sale in the city. State may appeal ruling on dumps By The Associated Press The state is deciding whether to appeal a circuit judge's ruling which blocked it from closing a dozen northern Michigan landfills it contends pose a groundwater pollution threat.

The dumps some operating for more than 30 years could not be closed without a hearing to permit operators argue the issue, said Ingham County Circuit Judge James Giddings. The state cannot simply say "you're out go peddle your trash elsewhere," Giddings said Thursday as he issued his ruling. According to the Department of Natural Resources, the lawsuit involved 11 landfills in the Upper Peninsula and one in Lower Michigan, in the counties of Mackinac, Chippewa, Baraga, Menominee, Marquette, Alger and Arenac. created to supervise juvenile justice programs. "The Commission on Criminal Justice and the Committee on Juvenile Justice are important fofor people from the law enforcement, judicial and corrections communities to share information and experience in an effort to make our system of justice more effective and fair," said state Rep.

Perry Bullard, D-Ann Arbor and sponsor of the measure. Also Friday, Blanchard signed a bill that puts the marine fuel tax at the same level as motor fuel tax 15 cents a gallon. The Legislature failed to include marine fuel in a package of transportation bills raising gasoline taxes last year, and the measure was introduced to correct the oversight. Correction Editor not MSU prof A headline in the Community edition of The Lansing State Journal incorrectly identified Edward Reed, the creator of the New World Black Almanac, as a MichiState University professor. He gan is not affiliated with MSU.

Friday. Services 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, East Lansing. Arrangements by Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel LEMM, MILTON, 18, of 4646 Eastlawn recently employed at Bud Kouts Honda, died Thursday.

Services 2 p.m. Sunday at Chapel in the Pines Funeral Home. EVELYN STEWART, 85, of Lansing, died Friday. Services 1 Greater p.m. Tuesday in Estes-Leadley Lansing Chapel.

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