News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 4

An 4A NfcWS-PRESS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1994 IN THE NEWS: NEW YORK CAPITAL CORNER I Here's a look at political and governmental events in northern capitals. Family of slain 4-year-old sees murderer sentenced NEW JERSEY I -4-5'. The Associated Press The Associated Press AFTER THE ORDEAL: Dale Robie talks to the media following the sentencing of his son Derrick's murderer, 14-year-old Eric Smith, in the Steuben County Court on Monday in Bath, N.Y. Smith was given nine years to life, the maximum sentence, for the bludgeoning death of the 4-year-old boy in August 1993. The Associated Press TEEN-AGER SENTENCED: Eric Smith, 14, shows no emotion during the reading of his sentence Monday in Steuben County Court in Bath, N.Y., for the murder of 4-year-old Derrick Robie.

slaying, could be free by age 22 and "back among us at some point in his 20s," Prosecutor John Tunney said. Under state law, a child as young as 13 can be tried as an adult for murder, but faces a more lenient sentence. INDIANA GOP hopes to gain 3 seats Republican ambitions to recapture the U.S. House of Representatives on today may rise or fall with districts like Indiana's 2nd: a Democratic seat where the incumbent is not running for re-election. The race between Democrat Joe Hogsett and Republican David Mcintosh for the seat vacated by the retirement of Rep.

Phil Sharp remained too close to call on the final full day of campaigning. House races in two other districts where Democratic incumbents are seeking re-election likewise appear to be going down to the wire. MASSACHUSETTS Hitting the air on last day U.S. Sen. Edward M.

Kennedy and Republican challenger Mitt Romney hit the airwaves and the air on Monday, arguing on the radio and traveling the state by helicopter in a last-minute appeal for votes. The two Senate candidates were ROMNEY among several seeking statewide office who were out beating the bushes before today's vote. They duked it out one last time, making separate appearances on WRKO-AM. MICHIGAN Libertarians hope for respect Members of the Libertarian Party, hungry to challenge the dominance of the two main parties, hope they can win major party status in today's election. To do that, their U.S.

Senate nominee, Jon Coon, needs to win 5 percent of the vote cast in the secretary state's race. The latest polls going into the election indicate he should be able to do that. They show him getting 5 to 7 percent of the vote in that five-way race. The other candidates in the Senate race are Republican Spencer Abraham, Democrat Bob Carr, Chris Wege, of the Natural Law Party, and William Roundtree, of the Workers World Party. mm m.

i Amendment waits until '95 A proposed constitutional amendment that somehow didn't make it on today's election ballot will be put up for a public vote next year, Secretary of State Lonna Hooks said Monday. Hooks also said her office isn't at fault in the case of the forgotten referendum. She said the Florio administration's transition team never told her about the proposed amendment to create a permanent commission that would carve out congressional districts. NEW YORK Democrats lash out at GOP The Democratic candidates for attorney general and comptroller lashed out at the statewide Republican ticket Monday, accusing the GOP of preying on voters' fears and prejudices. Attorney general candidate Karen Burstein, who would become the first openly gay candidate elected to statewide office if she wins today, and Comptroller H.

Carl McCall, who would be the first black person to win a statewide election, made the comments at a political rally in Albany. OHIO Governor closes campaign The man with the most reason to tout pre-election polls said he doesn't believe them. Gov. George Voinovich, who recent polls showed getting as much as 74 percent of the vote in his bid for a second term, campaigned right up to Election Day. "I don't believe it," Voinovich said Monday in a response to a prediction of a landslide today.

"I'm campaigning to the very end." PENNSYLVANIA Hoping for sunny skies Republican Tom Ridge chugged into Philadelphia on a train Monday, guaranteeing supporters a better future if he is governor, while rival Mark Singel said an Election Day forecast of sunny "Democratic weather" will bring his backers to the polls. News-Press wire services disorder," characterized by uncontrollable violent impulses. He will serve at least the first part of his sentence at a lockup for juveniles; he could be transferred to prison at 18. Eric, who was 13 at the time of the we NEWS OF INTEREST FROM THE NORTHERN STATES Editors Brittany Wallman and Shanna Mooney Friday through Tuesday, 3 p.m. 9 p.m.

335-0345 GROUPS AND CLUBS 'DELAWARE Spud guns' popularity grows GREENWOOD State Police say the popularity of spud guns has spi-raled since a booth featuring one of the weapons was set up last year at the Greenwood fair. The weapons are made from PVC tubing and are fired by jamming a potato down the tube and igniting lighter fluid or some other flammable liquid at the base of the pipe. State police say the weapons are illegal and dangerous. In Kent County, for example, a 'man was severely burned a few "months ago when his potato gun exploded, said Lt. William Bryson.

ILLINOIS Sears Tower to swap owners CHICAGO Sears Roebuck and Co. said Monday it will give up ownership of Sears Tower, the world's -tallest building, in a restructuring of fthe building's financing. But the 'name will remain the same. The building has 110 stories rising to 1,454 feet. The building houses jSears' national headquarters.

Corporate offices will remain in the tower under a lease that expires in the year 2000. BATH Heeding a heartbroken father's plea, a judge sentenced a teen-ager Monday to nine years to life in prison the maximum for luring a 4-year-old boy into the woods and crushing his skull with a rock. The 14-year-old killer, Eric Smith, cast his eyes downward but showed no emotion. Eric confessed in 1993 to leading Derrick Robie on a supposed shortcut to a day camp they attended in the western New York village of Savona. In an overgrown lot, Eric choked the boy and bashed his head with a 26-pound rock.

He then sodomized the body with a stick. "When Derrick came into this world I cried and when Derrick left this world I cried," Dale Robie, his voice trembling, said in asking the court for the maximum. "I have felt the whole realm of loving and losing." After Judge Donald Purple passed sentence, Robie, a 34-year-old printer, said, "We got what we came for." Eric was tried as an adult and convicted of murder. The defense had argued unsuccessfully that he suffers from "intermittent explosive from THE HEWS two alleged abductors walking along U.S. 23, about two miles north of Pikeville.

MASSACHUSETTS Talk show host out of ICU BOSTON The condition of talk show host David Brudnoy, hospitalized last month for a heart ailment, has improved and he is no longer in the intensive care unit of Massachusetts General Hospital, a WBZ official said Monday. MICHIGAN Meeting set on bell-ringer ban LANSING Representatives of Meijer Inc. met with Salvation Army officials Monday to discuss the grocery and department store chain's decision to ban holiday bell ringers from its stores. The Grand Rapids-based Meijer instituted the ban in June after the United Food Commercial Workers filed an unfair labor practice complaint saying pickets should be allowed in front of four Meijer stores in Toledo, Ohio, where workers were striking. Meijer's decision to ban the bell ringers would cost the Salvation Army more than $500,000 in collections in Michigan, the organization said.

Stay ordered in recall try ONTONAGON A hearing will be held next month on whether a recall aimed at ousting Greenland Township Supervisor Jean Schertz can proceed. Ontonagon County Circuit Judge Roy Gotham on Friday ordered a stay on the recall process pending the Dec. 13 hearing. The petition alleges abuse of office and intimidation of citizens and township officials by Schertz. MINNESOTA Ice cream plant to reopen MARSHALL A month after it closed because of what eventually became the largest salmonella outbreak in state history, the Schwan's ice cream plant in Marshall has been given the green light to call back workers and re-open, state agriculture officials announced Monday.

The approval to reopen the company's flagship plant came after an search by investigators concluded that the contamination resulted from tanker trucks hauling raw, unpasteurized eggs before they carried a liquid ice cream premix to the plant. NEW HAMPSHIRE Governor apologizes to guest CONCORD There was no room at the inn for Linda Freidberg. No room at three inns, in fact, because she carried no ID showing that's her ICS 71 name- 'j i i ne tcunu A I.ndpe. Howard Johnson and the iT' Inn in Manchester -i refused to rent the MERRILL Chicago woman a room Sept. 7, though she had $1,000 in cash.

All three companies said they only accept ID-carrying guests for safety reasons. "We are the most livable state in Here's a list of groups for former or part-time residents of northern states. If you have information, send it to Lizz King at the News-Press, P.O. Box 10', Fort Myers, FL 33902 or call 335-0387. The Michigan Club of Cape Coral meets the second Thursday 5 of each month for a 5:1 5 p.m.

potluck dinner at Sportsman's Yacht and Sailing Club on 47th St. Call Shirley for more information, at 542-1076. The Long Island and New York Club meets the second Sunday of every month for a 1 :30 p.m. dinner at Cape Coral Yacht Club, SB 51 89 Driftwood Parkway. For reservations, call 433-4553 or 945-7191.

The Cape Coral Land of Lincoln Club meets the second Monday of every month at noon at Christ Lutheran Church, 291 1 Del Prado Cape Coral. Call 574-4772. The Penn State University Alumni Club meets the first Thursday of every month for an 1 1 :30 a.m. luncheon at Myerlee Manor, 1499 Brandywine Circle, Fort Myers. Call 481-0801 or 368-S 6366.

1 to ss as Q. Former and current residents of Pennsylvania reunite in Southwest Florida on the third Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral. For details, call 945-0126. The New England Club of Fort Myers meets Wednesday for a 12:30 p.m.

potluck luncheon at Schandlerk Hall on Florence Street, off Palm Beach Boulevard. Entertainment is proved. Call 939-3188. IN BRIEF the nation this year, but we didn't show that to you!" Steve Merrill wrote Friedberg last week. NEW JERSEY Whistle-blower arguments NEWARK Johnson Johnson, the world's largest health products company, fired a scientist because he opposed sending federal regulators inadequate test results to secure quick approval of a medical device, his lawyer told a jury Monday.

Daniel Tripodi, an immunologist, lost his job at a subsidiary because he wanted clinical trials to prove to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the new device was effective, the lawyer, Ronald Shur, said in U.S. District Court. lawyer Myron J. Bromberg countered that the New Brunswick-based company will prove that the "new generation" of the device didn't require such extensive testing, and that Tripodi was fired because he failed to get his job done.

NEW YORK 2 die from marathon attacks NEW YORK Two men suffered fatal heart attacks after finishing the New York City marathon, but a third runner whose heart gave out on the course Sunday fell in front of a doctor and was saved by quick treatment. The deaths were the second and third in the 25 years of the event. One runner also died in 1984. The man who was saved, Edward Barry, 47, was "alive, doing well, sitting up and talking in good condition," Pamela Hamilton of Harlem Hospital said Monday. Group demands sheriff quit SYRACUSE A group of law enforcement officials today urged former Syracuse police chief Leigh Hunt to abandon his campaign for county sheriff because he received a $50,000 loan but failed to report it on financial disclosure forms.

The group, which included Syracuse's current and past two police chiefs, said they "emphatically condemned" the manner in which Hunt obtained the loan and lied about its origin. OHIO 'Kissing bandit' gets 50 years CLEVELAND A woman convicted of slipping men tranquilizer-laced champagne and robbing them as they slept was sentenced Monday to up to 50 years in prison. Tabetha Dougan, 22, was dubbed the "Kissing Bandit" because she would pass tranquilizer-laced wine or champagne from her mouth into those of her victims, who would swallow the drug with the drink. The men would awake to find their home had been burglarized. Dougan was sentenced to consecutive terms of five to 25 years on each of two counts of aggravated burglary.

Truckers plan boycott COLUMBUS A group that accuses the state of unfair treatment of truckers is organizing a boycott of Ohio today. The Organization of American Truckers has asked truckers nationwide to support the boycott by eliminating unnecessary Ul fuel, food and supply stops in Ohio, and by avoiding the Ohio Turnpike. "We are treated like third-class citizens," said Carl Hendricks of Defiance, who started the organization last year. "And Ohio is the most-hated state in the union among truck drivers." PENNSYLVANIA Winner wants schools job ALLENTOWN The winner of an $8.9 million lottery says he wants to share the wealth with taxpayers in his local school district. Ted Yackera, former business manager for the Panther Valley School District, says he wants to be superintendent and will do it for $1 a year, plus benefits.

"I truly believe that God had a reason for providing me with health and financial freedom," he says. WASHINGTON D.C. Observers out to watch vote WASHINGTON The Justice Department will send more than 200 federal officials to 11 states for today's elections to protect the voting process and prevent intimidation of minority voters. Some 216 federal observers will monitor polling places in Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and Utah to detect any voting rights violations. Seven federal officials will be on duty in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas to receive voting rights complaints.

WEST VIRGINIA More brush fires erupt KANAWHA COUNTY Weary firefighters have fought more than 125 fires on at least 6,000 acres in West Virginia since late last month, and weekend rains did little to help, a state fire official said Monday. No one has been injured and no evacuations have been reported in fires that have plagued the state since Oct. 28. Arson is suspected in most of the fires, said Coy Mullins, state fire mobilization coordinator. WISCONSIN School bus hits semi; 1 dies MILWAUKEE Scaffolding from a semi-trailer truck ripped through a school bus in a freeway crash Monday, killing one boy and injuring 1 1 others, authorities said.

The metal scaffolding from the truck went through the side of the bus and killed the victim, said Sgt. David Iushewitz of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's CANADA Ex-botanist comes up roses MONTREAL Pierre Bourque, who promised Montrealers less graffiti and more flowers, posted a stunning upset victory in the city's mayoral race Sunday. The former botanist's strong performance 46.6 percent of the popular vote was a big electoral defeat for Jean Dore's bid for a third term. News-Press wire services ss S3 The Minnesota Club meets the third Sundays of each month at 'A 5 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church Hall, 291 1 Del Prado Cape I Coral.

A potluck supper begins at 5:30 p.m. Entertainment will be provided. For more information, call 574-8005. Gypsum insurers liable CHICAGO An Illinois Appellate Court has ruled that insurers of U.S. i iGypsum Co.

are liable for $600 mil-j ion in asbestos property damage 'claims from dozens of lawsuits nationwide. Eleven insurance carriers of U.S. t2 Gypsum, a subsidiary of Chicago-J-; based USG had refused to Cj pay claims brought against the pany for asbestos removal and dam-j5 age lawsuits. INDIANA 'Good Samaritan' arrested ROSELAWN A man who said IJ he was establishing a scholarship JvJ and memorial fund to honor victims of a commuter plane crash was i4 arrested Monday on an outstanding traffic warrant and contempt of court citations. David D.

Swearingin of Lafayette was being held in lieu of $2,100 bail, said state police Sgt. Steve Hillman. He said he didn't know the back-pi ground of the contempt citations, which stemmed from a civil action. THE LIGHTER SIDE OHIO Couple never miss a vote ELYRIA A couple who have voted in every election for 50 years say people who don't vote have no business complaining about government. If you don vote, you lose your right to criticize," said Lois Rieth, 74, who has not missed a general, primary or special elec tion since 1944.

The Rieths, of Elyria, are among more than 11,000 Ohioans who have consistently voted for 50 years or more, said Maureen Brown, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State BobTaft. Taft has predicted about 3.4 million Ohioans about 55 percent of the state's registered voters will vote today. Robert Rieth. 76, said he has voted ever since 1938, the first year he was eligible. Both Rieths are registered Republicans.

In 1944, when he was a soldier away from home, Rieth submitted an absentee ballot that required the notarized signature of his commanding officer. The Associated Press DAILY FEATURES Pokagons to vote on casino SOUTH BEND Members of the newly recognized Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians may decide this week whether to embrace gambling to support the tribe. Recognition by the government means more than just permission to operate casinos or bingo, said Potawatomi spokesman John Low, an attorney in nearby Niles, Mich. KENTUCKY tl Abducted girl found PIKEVILLE A 5-vear-old eirl abducted from Indiana on Monday turned up unnarmea in eastern Kentucky, and the two men she was 'with are facing federal kidnapping charges. Kentucky State Police Capt.

Robert Forsythe found Rachel Dawn Rose of Charlestown, and her Here are highlights of News from the North features for the week. Call Brittany Wallman at 335-0345 with comments and suggestions. SUNDAY Reader call-in State spotlight THURSDAY Personalities Things to do FRIDAY Talk of the town Northern news clips SATURDAY News calendar Obituaries MONDAY Lotteries Quotes of the day TUESDAY Groups and clubs Political roundup WEDNESDAY State spotlight Interesting trivia.