Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 55

-J IB) Section Sunday, September 20, 1037 Btnildiimg permits reach 'Brainstorm' creates new board game By LEE KELLY Business Editor Dale Turner always thought games were a waste of time. That is, until a road trip to the East Coast sparked "a 22-hour Langford Roofing, 721 Sylvan Drive, additions to bedroom, $30,000. Al Moore 34 Chestnut Lane, change flat carport roof to pitched roof, $20,000. Jerry W. Sharp, 2806 Granite, room addition, $8,000.

i iZLbrainstorming-se ss io nM hat X. Phoenix and Sons, 907 Beaumont, add den and Longview's new construction program soared to the $1,290,000 level last week with the issuance of 47 permits, the largest to Sabra Construction Co. for a $600,000 expansion of Bealls Department Store in Longview Mall. The secondjargest authorization was $100,000 to E. Wood ConstructTonccfor-wjtory eighty room veneer and wood dwelling on Harley Ridge Road.

Third largest was to Bill Billingsley ConstrUrti6n, $46,000 for finishing a lease space at 1757 Loop 281 for a second location for The Camera Shop. Eight roofing jobs were approved at a combined Cost of $25,000. Other residential projects: created STAX, a board game designed "to make education fun;" Turner, a Diana master carpenter and cabinetmaker, said STAX is based on the popular Trivial Pursuit game and incorporates elements from television game shows such as "Jeopardy." Like Trivial Pursuit, STAX uses multiple-choice question cards, mostly i Other projects in the nonresidentiatciassifica- tion including the following; Ace Fire Equipment, 1-20 and Estes Parkway, install hooding at McDonald's Restaurant, $4,000 Oklahoma Installation, 3500 McCann Road, emodeLspace in Dillard's, $6,000. Bill Billingsley Construction, W. Loop 281, remodel and repair lease in Bank of Longview Building also 3400 Marshall, finish interior, and 1755 W.

Loop 281 remodeling and additions! at Hot Biscuit Restaurant, $32,000. A-l' Rentall, 605 Gilmer Road, erect tent for temporary display, $1,000. Custom Remodeling, 807 Mobberly, addition for sewing shop, $15,000. Reliable Management, 717 S. Green replace, and repair balcony walkways at Four Seasons useless facts the game is based on grade-school course work.

"The main idea is to make education fun, so the questions are tied to information kids use in school," the 40-year-old inventor said. The first version, incorporating facts from eighth-grade history texts, passed a crucial test in Diana schools last week. Turner said Diana eight-graders who tried STAX out in their history classes gave it high marks for entertainment and education. Of 2J girls who played the game, 57 percent rated it "great," as did 61 percent of the 18 boys who participated. Also, 43 percent Of the girls and 39 percent of Apartments, $35,000.

Good Shepherd Medical Center, 621. N. 5th; remodel west wing, $40,000. Wilmoth Construction 211 E. Tyler, 7th Floor, remodel space for office, $15,000.

Carl Short, 111 E. Pliler, remodel dwelling, $10,000. Brice Davis, 1402 Lake Drive, remodel dwelling and add bath to utility area, $2,000. C. Morris, 1616 Garner Drive, mdve in single family dwelling, $20,000, Richard Rogers Builder, 1809 Northpark Circle, install patio cover and add to patio slab, $4,000.

Clayburn Jackson, 403 Waggoner, close in carport for bedroom, $1,000. Randall Walker, 11 Eric Lane, repair dwelling damaged by fire, $39,000. J. E. Hortman, 1309 Inverness, add second, story portion $6,000.

Rogers Constructioh.1597 Springdale, addition to dwelling tor family room, $30,000, and 2901 Clendenen, addition to dwelling for bedroom, $8,000. Hacker Development, 907 Sequoah; addition to dwelling for bedroom, $8,000. David Stewart, 429 S. Center, install bathroom, $1,000, and 502 Prince, enclose carport for garage, $1,000. PWD Systems, 446 S.

High, remodel dwelling, $2,000. A. M. Canida, 1011 Cherokee, addition to dwell- ing, $3,000. Glamour Pools, 1700 McCord, pool, $30,000.

Tom Davis 1906 Franklin Drive, attatched open carport, $12,000. Clarence Tubbs, 211 E. Melton, repair detached garage $1,000. Roy Bridges, 203 Eden repair apartments, $30,000. Longview Canvas Products, 914 W.

Loop 281, awning in front of building, $5,000. Builders, 118 Pinebrook, repair apartment units, $2,000. Kirby Restaurant Supply, 2002 Judson Road, in-taTtfire-suppression'ange hood, the boys rated STAX as "OK." a stax was created after Turner amesman uaie i urner with STAX and 'Search'. and his wife completed a driving tional game along the same lines." Turner has offered the game' to a major Canadian manufacturer and is waiting for a reaction. But Back home in Diana; Turner "got to thinking about reports I'd heard on television of the abysmal records students were making in American hist try.

The word came we playffeie road -v. Recipients of roofing permits included Town Houses Apartments, one for Hacker Development, two for Bill Henderson, one for Cassity Jones, Ophelia Brooks, Designer Homes and Construction, one each at $1,000 Tyler Lumber Salvage was permitted to demolish two buildings at 807 Methvin. trip to the hast Coast and back. To pass the time, Turner began making up a word game based on license plates. Once he worked out the preliminary details, the diversion worked and the boring hours on the road seemed to slip his real goal is to manufacture was fresh in my hJ nd I de- and market STAX and other r' cidetf I a try to inearo eauca- games cmsi i exas.

away, he said, 1987 First Quarter Gross Sales of top three Northeast Texas Markets KETK anchor accepts post in ashington Ruth Allen', news director and 6 O'Clock news anchor for KETK- Gregg ranks first in sales among East Texas counties Cregg County with $736,122,738 ranked first in East Texas and 13th in the state in gross sales in Texas during the first quarter of 1987, according to a report from State Comptroller Bob Bullock; At the same time, the LongviewMarshall metropolitan area ranked 12th and had a total of $89509,623 in gross sales. -v TV Channel 56, has resigned her post with the Longview-Tyler-y Jacksonville station to'assume The Longview MSA (Gregg and Harrison counties) was up 0.2 per cent while TylerSmith was down 2.6 percent from the same quarter a LongrwtteiMltSA TjtarKSA TtnrkinillSA MDUSTXY (MMi GnmSdMChwgt Otfrts Gran Ctangi OutMi (km Si Ctiinpl Aiwstry 157,274 (K 1,902,988 532 Ifcwg (45)' WM.998 (J2J -352 "Construction (91) 12.746.805 25.5 (65) 3,601,647 41 916,192 Vywfacttfvtg 203) 319,781,196 (145) 44J74J42 -15 (53) 372 TrW-AJW (37) 382893 (33) 5,893,334 7,63534 4.9 WHOUSAUTRAOC OurteGoodl (217 67.840.627 (W3) 52.842,017 -13 (67) 17,469,826 ,,,0.1 Nonduribk Goods (84) 104,44256 57.7 (62) 196.881,692 1 4.4 (32) 20,660,076 20.9 TOTAL WHOLESALE (301) 17282.883 21.0 (205) 249,723,709 (99) 38,129,902 10.4 RET Al TRADE V. (148) 16,621.593 -122 (168) 22,194,816 (61) 15.560,193 202 GenrtUer. (48) 26.770.131"" 53 (36) 362752 36.4 (31) 19.456,974 10.9 Food Stores (308) 73.370297 (184) 63,169,555 (104) 28,087,887 Automotw (246) 56.414.383 -122 (213) 52.915285 4.9 (109) 23.727,847 CWfwg (187)1 -112 (188) 12957,425 (93) 5,370,159 HomeFunwft. (145) 9257.480 (126)- 8,148,699 (72) 4,703,770 18.6 Restaurants (394) 23,559.458 4.0 (283) 20,724,913 4.1 (126) 9,977,409 4.1 Drugstores (41) 8.613,650 (36) 6.745,016 1.8 (20) 2,863,449 1.9 Liquor Stores (73) 5,825,481 .13.4 MisceAmous ($43) (894) 38,463,470 3.9 (316) 9,311,723 TOTAL RET AL (2439) 275,282,364 261,547,131 4.3 (932) 119,059,411 0.0 Franoal Services (9) 227,746 -02 (14) 110,585 4.3 Serwes (619) 69,627,071 15.3 (574) 20,783209 (215) 2225,955 9.1 TOTAL (3.756) $895,709,623 02 (3.199) $591,127,574 -26 (1,341) $280,743,416 11.8.

the duties 'of assistant news for WTTG Independent TV in Washington, according to Philip H. Hurley, president and general manager of KETK- -WTTG is owned by Fox Television. Allen, who came to Channel 56 from KDAF Channel 33 in Dallas, will supervise a ews staff of 70 for the Washington independent. WTTG is the current market leader in news and the number one. independent station in the United States, Hurley year ago.

LongviewMarshall had 557 more reporting outlets than TylerSmith 3.756 to 3.199. In the retail trade division. LongviewMarshall reported sales of $275,295,709 from 2,439 outlets while TylerSmith had $261,547,131 from 1,128 outlets a difference of $13,735,233 and 311 outlets. The third market. Texarkana, had gross sales of $280,743,416 and retail sales of $109,059,411.

In the retail division; LongviewMarshall transcended 14 markets Abilene, Brazoria, BryanCollege Station, GalvestonTexas City, KilleenTemple. Laredo, Midland, Odessa, ShermanDenison, Texarkana. Tyler, Victoria and Wichita Falls. It was exceeded by 15 markets Amarillo. Austin.

BeaumonUPort Arthur, BrownsvilleHarlingen, Corpus Christi. Dallas, El Paso. Fort Worth Arlington, Houston, Lubbock. San Antonio, Waco, McAlIenEdinburgMission' and BrownsvilleHarlingen. order for retail sales, number of Job markets healthy for final quarter Counties listed in alphabetical outlets and percentage of change: Anderson County A97 e- $47,097,121 percent Angelina County- 764' $91,604,869 percent Bowie County 932 $119,059,411 0.0 percent Camp County 142 $12,584,481 percent County 331 $29,024,408 percent Cherokee County 431 $43,027,506 percent Franklin County 73 $5,135,457 percent Gregg County 1.883 $221,093,053 percent Harrison County 556 $54,189311 percent Henderson County .766 $58,017,730 percent Hopkins County 350 $41,214,936 1.5 percent Lamar County 605 $58,899,625 0.7 percent -Marion County 163 $4,907,235 percent Morris County 165 $10,197,512 -14 3 percent Nacogdoches County 701 $68,383,842.

0.1 percent Panola County 219 $18,394,770 percent Rusk County 448 $36,691,808 percent Shelby County 281 $30,224,514 28.3 percent Smith County 2,128 $261,547,131 percent Titus County 312 $35,034,462 percent Upshur County 259 $29,325,334 percent Van Zandt County 468 $29,325,334 percent Wood County 430 $28,309,039 percent ture reflects optimism as 27 percent of the nearly 13,000 employers surveyed plan to add personnelwhile 10 percent foresee cuts. Here in the South, 27. percent, expressed plans for more hiring and 9 percent expected fewer job opportunities. -In Longview, employment prospects are reported by durable goods manufacturers, the construction industry, and wholesalers and retailers. Staff reductions are forecast by non-durable goods manufacturers, fi- nanceinsurancereal estate firms and the services sector.

Other industries should remain stable, according to the survey. Across the nation, the 27 percent of companies anticipating higher employment levels represents the brightest expectation for a fourth quarter since the late 1970's. In 1987, a gradually strengthening job picture has, emerged, with expectations now. that by year's end the year will be recognized as one of the best for job hunters in the past nine or ten years. As is customary in the fourth quarter, cer-, tain seasonal trends are evident, Manpower said.

Wholesale and retail firms wll be add-ingk help for the holiday season and construction companies show hiring decreases in cold-weather areas. Manufacturing companies, both, of durable and non-durable goods, are unusually optimistic for a year-end period. Geographically, the Northeast continues in the forefront of the nation's plans and Southern states are showing signs of re. from the crises that beset energy-dependent areas and clouded the Southern economy, in recent years. Although the fall job market is always by the loss of students and leaving summer work to return to classrooms, a record number of housewives and mothers are expected to be needing work after their children return to school.

Employment prospects. in the Longview area continue to look healthy for the final months of 1987, according to the latest Employment Outlook Survey released by Manpower the worlds largest temporary help service. Rachal Jacobs of Manpower's Longview office said the quarter survey shows that 23 percent of the area employers polled intend to increase staff during October, November and December, and 10 percent expect' cutbacks. The other 67 percent anticipate no change in staff levels." ajimilar survey conducted three months ago, 19 percent of employers contacted predicted increases knd 8 percent foresaw declining employment Wanks. Last year at this time, however, the situation was grave, she said, as 12 percent indicated plans to add staff while '24 percent intended to reduce their workforce.

Nationally, the year-end pic- edicare change would bill elderly for AIDS care are eligible for Medicare benefits. Indeed, pne pro 1T EW YORK You, have to 11 hand it to our noble mem posed amendment would waive this waiting period. The issue is not whether AIDS patients should receive federal aid in acquiring drugs to treat their tragic and so far incurable illness. The question is not compassion, but rho should the issue is whether a potentially hefty part of such re- bers of Congress: Every time -you think they have exceeded all possible limits for terminal dumbness, they prove they have scarcely begun to be stupid. The latest of con-gressional insanity is a bill, passed by the House, and awaiting Senate action, that would lay a significant part of the cost lief should come from the older Americans the Rukeyscr competence of the Ways and Means Committee to distinguish between diseases." Maybe so.

That alone could be reason enough to, support the proposal of Senate Finance Committee chairman Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, for a one-year study by the National Academy of Sciences as to which prescription drugs should be covered by Medicare. Meanwhile, the Reagan administration, which gave an enthusiastic send-off to the illness plan' when it was first broached last year, is sending out signals: that the many expensive changes since then may induce President Reagan to veto the measure. (His Health and Human Services secretary, Otis Bowen, called the AIDS proposal "well-intentioned and You might think Congress would have learned by now to get out the pocket calculator before rushing new, open-ended proposals into law. But even failing that, you might wonder how the House wound up asking the elderly, whose strapped financial cqndition the whole system was supposed to be recognizing, to assume any part of this loadust call it Washir.gton-as-usual. Fact nobody has any idea how much prescription drug "help for AIDS victims will cost.

One estimate is that it could exceed $10,000 a year for some patients. Nor does anyone know how many AIDS patients there will be. One study predicts 13 million Americans will have the disease in 1991. A few of Washington's brighter minds have begun to recognize the dangers in transforming Social Security, a program originally designed for the elderly, into a means of financing a big part of the costs of combating AIDS through increased drug payments by most of the 31 million Medicare beneficiaries (whose regular premiums will be rising sharply in January anyhow). Illinois Republican Philip Crane has called it "a potential time bomb that could bankrupt the whole system." A study published by the Heritage Foundation warned that older Americans could be shelling out in four figures annually if the plan went forward t- "a huge income tax increase on the elderly." The counterargument, as made by one of the bill's original House sponsors, California Democrat Fortoey Stark, is that AIDS patients should be included in this measure because it is "beyond the Catastrophic Healthcare bill was intendedf.to protect- But that's what would happen under the bill as it passed the House.

Some of the money, for the prescription drug portion of the new bill would come from the Part coverage of Medicare that now pays for physician and other health-related costs but not for prescription drugs. The bill calls for the Medicare enrollee to pay the first $500 of drug costs and 20 percent of the balance. But the $500 deductible would be subjeel to increase after 1989 if the cost of the program goes up. And the flat-fee annual premium paid by the elderly, initially ranging from a modest $28.26 to $65.99 depending on income, also can be increased later. of caring for AIDS victims on get ready now the nation's elderly.

No, I'm not making this up. While it clearly was not what the legislators had in mind, this would be the effect of what is being advertised as an effort to help those very same senior citizens a bill to provide, them and other Americans coverage for catastrophic illnesses that could wipe out their savings. What was apparently not realized by many early backers of the legislation is that AIDS patients are recognized as disabled persons by the Social Security Administration and thus, after 24 months, i.