The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • Page 1

I tonkin INDEX OF SECTIONS A General Newt J) Editorial-Newt Sporti-Butineit Comici Focui Fomily Family Weekly SUNNY (Map, details on Page A-3) AP, UPI, Newspaper Enterprise Los Angeles Times, Washington Post Vol. XCIII-No. 98 Six Sections Eighty-Four Pages Alexandria-Pineville, Sunday, June 22, 1975 Price 30 Cents House Votes to Hike 4 flll UX3- it if i -t a. ass A C's Rate Power ltd Utilities must use natural gas or other fuel to generate electricity. The bill would give the PSC authority to investigate the subsidiaries to assure they were not selling fuel to the parent companies at excessive prices.

The bill now goes to the Senate, which is expected to be lobbyied strongly by utility representatives who were caught off guard Saturday. On weekends, the House usually handles only routine matters and few lobbyists show up. "The PSC does not want this power," said Edward Brady of Houma. "It has authority now to look at the subsidiaries." No one explained why the commission didn't want the power. The commission now can regulate only the parent firms and cannot force subsidiaries to hand over records.

A similar bill was killed by the Commerce Committee recently and Bagert said representatives of one subsidiary refused to tell the committee how much money the firm had made. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) The Louisiana House voted Saturday to give the Public Service Commission more power to regulate the cost of fuel passed on to consumers by utility firms. It's power the commission doesn't want. The PSC was criticized earlier this year by consumer groups for allowing utility firms to automatically pass along rising fuel costs to customers.

Electricity bills have soared in many areas because of the energy crisis. Recently, under pressure, the commission decided to begin conducting public hearings before allowing the utility firms to hike bills to cover the added fuel costs. One of the main consumer complaints centers around moves by major utility firms to form subsidiary fuel companies. "It's like buying fuel from yourself and charging yourself more and passing it on to the consumer," said Rep. Ben Bagert of New Orleans, who pushed the bill.

"And some utilities may be making profits at the consumers' expense." Sparkman Role in Shady Deal Alleged drop an effort, launched after the first operator rather than at a higher price WASHINGTON (UPI) An Ala ri i' ill it 'w' i life 4 1,1 i fuk in the world market. Most of the crude was turned into industrial fuel oil that was sold to New York area utilities, the report said. Quoting three unidentified sources who worked in the Federal Energy Office during the embargo, Heller said both Sparkman and Hugh Carey, then a congressman, applied pressure on the Commerce Department and the FEO to get sales approved. The pressure caused the FEO to bama oil operator, aided by political pressure from Sen. John J.

Sparkman, reaped an $8.3 million profit in controversial sales to a Bahamian refinery during the Arab oil embargo, the Cox newspapers said in their Sunday editions. Cox reporter Jean Heller said the refinery, controlled by the brother of New York Gov. Hugh Carey, may have saved as much as $3.4 million by buying the crude oil from the Alabama sale, 10 oiock any further transactions, the report said. It said FEO officials considered the transactions an "obvious ripoff." The FEO has since become the Federal Energy Administration. Carey denied through a spokesman "that he had anything to do with the matter," but Sparkman "personally acknowledged he interceded" and Commerce Department documents ob-(Turn to Page A-4) Summer Fun These four Alexandria girls take advantage of the weather Saturday, the first day of summer, to combine working in the garden with a sunbath.

At upper left Noonle D'An-gelo, Pat Fitzsimmons and Karen Harris (from left) do the hoeing while Janet Dasko brings up the hose for watering the crop. But she can't resist temptation and in the next two photos decides to spray Karen instead of the plants. At lower right all four are in the act and the garden is long forgotten. (Staff Photos by Lee Huebner) African Official Killed When Found In Adultery With President's Wife If 1 City Salaries Below Average The youthful minister tried to flee from his home and the guards ordered him to halt. When he ignored their commands, they shot him, the spokesman said.

Government sources said the president's wife was "in good health" but they said they did not know any other details of the incident. The Republic of Dahomey in west Africa is a former French colony. COTONOU, Dahomey (UPI) Presidential guards caught Interior Minister Michel Aikpe Friday in the act of adultery with the wife of President Mathieu Kere-kou and shot him to death, a government spokesman announced Saturday. The spokesman said the guards acting on a tip broke into Aikpe's home in central Cotonou during the evening. The minister and Mrs.

Kerekou were "surprised in flagrante delicto of adultery," the spokesman said. Child Abusers Not Criminals, SayCounselors at Center Here By Billy Hathorn (Town Talk Staff Writer) Alexandria city employe salaries are generally below the minimum average paid by neighboring municipalities and businesses, according to a comprehensive survey just completed by Civil Service Director Richard G. Moriarty. Alexandria, trails the "minimum average" in 43 categories and exceeds that standard in 12 other instances. The civil service commission directed Moriarty to review the Alexandria pay schedule further and to recommend a systematic upgrading in sala lies.

While the commission can establish a new pay plan, only the city council can actually implement wage increases for any employe. Moriarty termed the survey the "first step toward eventually amending and upgrading our salary Councilmen are currently involved in a law suit filed by the AFL-CIO seeking resumption of wage negotiations and implementation of annual "step" pay increase. Moriarty said his survey has no bearing on the suit pending before Ninth Judicial District Judge Robert P. (Bob) Jackson. The survey covered salaries only, not employe fringe benefits, which are a vital part of public employment.

Eighteen jurisdictions participated in the study. Moriarty said 55 key classes of positions were selected as representative of various occupational groupings found in other municipalities or firms. "It was neither practical nor feasible to survey all of the classes of positions found in governmental jurisdiction, not only because of the number involved, but because many are peculiar only to the jurisdiction in which they are found," Moriarty said. The "average minimum" ai "average maximum" in each jurisdiction was tabulated in comparison to the Alexandria levels. The minimum salary reflects the normal entrance salary level offered an employe for each position.

Maximum salary refers to the highest step which an employe can achieve through normal increments based on tenure or merit. Minimum salaries in at least four major positions data processing manager parks superintendent electric plant chemist and light distribution superintendent ($1,090) trail the average by more than $300 per month. For the data processing manager, the maximum Alexandria salary is $433 per month below the average of the municipalities and companies surveyed. The Alexandria sanitation superin-(Turn to Page A-4) 1 lifting about By Janet Fontenot (Asst. Focus Editor) Most laymen probably think child abusers should be put away somewhere.

However, professional counselors here don't view them in that light. Child abusers don't deserve to be prosecuted as criminals, claims Lamar Ritchie, administrator of the Alexandria Child Protection Center. "We don't think of them or treat them as such," he said, noting that if severe bodily harm is caused, the abuser is arrested and the case is treated as an assault case by the police. "Usually when we start working with a person, he doesn't abuse the child any more," Ritchie said. Child abuse, he said, must be dealt with on two levels both the child and the abuser must be counseled.

"We try to focus on the entire family. We try to help the parent understand why he or she is doing what he or she does and what effect it has on the child," he said. The center started in February. It has since handled 70 cases. The first 45 were referred by professionals or law enforcement agencies, according to Ritchie.

"Lately, we've received more and more calls from the public. And the more calls we get from the public, the more invalid ones we get. It's usually one parent complaining about another or someone who really hasn't seen anything, but is just concerned," he said. "We don't want to discourage any referrals, but we don't want to infringe upon the rights of the parent, either." When the center receives a call, the first step is to interview the caller to find out what he thought he saw or heard. Callers are not required to' give their names but are encouraged to do so.

They usually ask that their names not be used unless the case goes to court. The center has a self-imposed deadline of 24 hours for investigating a report, but, Ritchie said, it usually acts immediately. A case worker goes to the home and questions the parent. "We don't go in saying 'So and so said you were beating your We usually take the approach 'we understand you were having problems on a certain date. What he said.

Parents are not obligated to talk with a case worker. However, if the worker feels the situation is critical, he can get a court order for further investigation. "If we are satisfied with the explanation, we drop it," Ritchie explained. There are two divisions of cases investigated by the center: physical and emotional abuse or neglect. Physical abuse is defined as treating a child in such a way that he or she would need medical care due to bruises, cuts or burns inflicted intentionally by one or both parents.

Emotional abuse is treating a child in such a way that he or she is unable to develop properly in an emotional sense. An emotionally neglected child usually (Turn to Page A-4) Grove Stafford Sr. Grove Stafford Expires at 77 David Grove Stafford 77, an attorney known in legal and government circles state-wide, died in his home here Saturday. Stafford served two terms in the state senate during the administration of Gov. Sam H.

Jones. He was known as Jones' right hand in the legislature and was president pro tern of the Senate from 1944 to 1948. He was instrumental in a complete reorganization of Senate procedures during his two terms and was cited by the Louisiana Civil Service League with a Monte M. Le-mann Award for helping fashion the state's civil service system. Stafford was a member of the State Democratic Central Committee from 1950 to 1958.

He also active in business and civic circles. He served on the first Alexandria City Charter Commission in 1947-(Turn to Page A-4) Good morning. How does a James Richard become a Nippy or a Christy Carlton a Kippy? How did Wookie, Blot, Nooker and Dollbaby get their nicknames? A story in today's Focus Section reveals the origins of nicknames of a number of Alexandria-Pineville residents who long ago stopped answering to their given names. Also in today's Focus Section is a story about a transplanted Central Louisianian with an extensive sea shell collection. A Preview of the News Here are some of the events that will make this week's news: Cenla The Alexandria City Council will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m.

Monday and a school and community health workshop will begin at LSUA. Also Monday, the renovated Concorida Parish courthouse will open in Vidalia and a new treatment center at Huey P. Long Hospital will open. The Rapides Parish School Board executive committee meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday.

The American Wheelchair Assn. begins a four-day bowling tournament here the same day. The Rapides Area Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. Thursday in the parish courthouse. The Alexandria Housing Authority will meet Friday to air grievances of residents of public housing projects here.

A sales tax and property tax election will be held in Vernon Parish. Revenues would be used for public school improvements. Elsewhere The Louisiana legislature resumes deliberations Monday. The Portuguese territory of Mozambique becomes an independent nation Wednesday. Murdering the Language The French language is being "murdered" in Louisiana despite the efforts of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, Adras LaBorde says in his column in today's Editorial Section.

Uranium 'Cartel' Under Scrutiny A new international cartel dealing in uranium is under scrutiny from the Justice Department for possible violation of anititrust laws. Unlike the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, this reported cartel is composed of industrialized nations. For details, turn to Page A-8. 'Trouble. Zone' City's Crime Center a situation which has necessitated in and on up to about 10th and Winn and Heaviest concentration in that section By Jerry Humphries (Town Talk Staff Writer) President Ford last week signaled a new push against violent crimes with a stern message to Congress.

He specifically mentioned such transgressions as murder, armed robbery, rape, muggings and hold-ups. His message prompts a look at the violent crime situation here what the rate is and where it occurs. A majority of the violent crimes In Alexandria occur in a mid-town section about one mile wide and three miles long, an analysis of crime data for this year from there up to about North 14th and Reed Alley. Serious crimes do occur at various places throughout Rapides parish, with an apparent high percentage of those outside the above-described trouble zone being committed by whites. But two big questions are why such a heavy concentration of crime in a specific part of Alexandria, and what is the solution to the problem.

Different people have different ideas. One law enforcement official says it is a case of persons who are attracted to booze, trouble and crime getting together, creased patrol of the zone. The analysis shows not all crimes in the trouble zone are committed by residents of the area. At least one shooting, four knifings and three serious beatings have occurred this year within five or six blocks of the police station. There was one knifing outside the courtroom in the police headquarters building, a case of a woman stabbing a man following a trial.

The violent crime rate in the mostly black Samtown-Woodside area of Alexandria is low, as is the case with most other (Turn to Page A-4) is in an area about 10 blocks long and nine wide, running from Third and Elliott to Third and Winn, down Winn to 10th, down 10th to Elliott and back up to Third. The crimes include shootings, fatal and non-fatal, and stabbings, beatings, assaults and strong-arm and armed robberies. The "trouble zone" has a high population of blacks. Data indicates the majority of violent crimes here are perpetrated by blacks on blacks. The zone boundaries are: Third and Elliott down to Third and Leland, down Leland to 7th, from 7th over to Broadway It's a Long Way Down That first step seemed mighty hefty for 7-year-old John Olmstead.

And so it was. But after falling 15 floors and surviving, young John is a changed boy, as a story on Page D-14 explains. Planning An Empire? Hanoi's readiness to fight neighboring Communist-led armies on their home grounds has fueled fears in Southeast Asia that North Vietnam may be planning to make an empire of the region. This report is included in a story on PageA-7..