Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 9

Argus Leader Section School ballot George, Iowa, voters defeat $2.95 milTion bond issue for an ackiticm and renovations. 33 5I0UX State newt 2-3 Obituarie 4-5 Opinion 7 Wednesday March 1.2000 City Editor. Maricarrol Kueter 331-2236 Assistant City Editors: Mike Trautmarm 331-2301; Patrick Lalley 331-2291 FDLMIU Official: Oglala Sioux council members failed to approve budget on time By STEVE YOUNG Argus Leader The suspension of 13 Oglala Sioux council members could affect some tribally run programs but hasnt hindered efforts of a new Empower ment Zone program on the reservation, federal and tribal officials say. Oglala Sioux Chairman Harold Salway suspended all but four of the 17 council members late last week "for holding an illegal council Special judge to settle public-safety issue 8B not officially removing tribal Treasurer Wesley "Chuck" Jacobs, whom they accuse of mismanaging funds. The council suspended Jacobs and has repeatedly tried to remove Salway, who members say misappropriated funds meant for victims of a Pine Ridge See 8B meeting," among other things, said Salway's press secretary, Eileen Janis.

The suspended members illegally met Feb. 17 and 18 in Kyle without Salway present, Janis said. They also overspent on a number of budget line items this year, failed to submit indirect cost proposals for the coming fiscal budget in a timely manner and did not finalize the overall budget on time, she said. "By not having the budget done, it puts all of our 638 con-tracts at risk," Janis said. Those are pacts in which the tribe contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide its own services in such areas as health, education and law enforcement Salway and the suspended council members could not be reached Tuesday for comment Four council members -Darwin "Bogie" Caiiow of the Pine Ridge District, Robert Red Owl of Wakpamni District, Emmett Kelly of Wounded Knee District and Philip Good Crow of Porcupine District were not suspended.

Janis said the suspensions were indefinite at this time and that suspended council members will not be paid. The next constitutionally mandated council meeting isnt until April 30, she said. Salway's dispute with council members coincides with a six-week-old occupation of tribal headquarters in Pine Ridge. Protesters there have been angry at the council for IMPROVING PARATRANSIT lav JP v' Thimsen, who represents Arnett and the city of Sioux Falls, said the officer did nothing wrong. He was called to the apartment complex to handle a van Melissa Walther i-T -7 Photos by Val Hoepprwr Argus Leader Sioux Falls Paratransit driver Pete Doucette helps Sarah Basche board a bus Tuesday in front of the Convention Center after a public hearing on the paratransit system In Sioux Falls.

City asks riders tfdradvice JUST CURIOUS ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS 1 Post Office sells ZIP code books QUESTION: Where can I find a ZIP code book? Sioux Falls ANSWER: A two-volume set that lists the ZIP codes for the entire United States can be purchased from the Post Office for $25. These are available in Sioux Falls at the downtown Post Office and at the Meadows Post Office on Louise Avenue. Researched by the HELPIine, 339-HELP, a division of the Volunteer Information Center. Have a general news question? Call the Argus Leader at 331-2285 and leave a message. Or send your questions to Just Curious, Box 5034, Sioux Falls, SD57U7-5034.

BRIEFLY. Court to consider gag order March 20 The state Supreme Court will hear arguments March 20 on a gag order in the criminal case of two former reform school workers charged with child abuse. Several news organizations, including the Argus Leader, have challenged the order, and the high court will consider the issue when it meets at the University of South Dakota Law School. The order was issued in December by Circuit Judge Ronald K. Miller of Kimball in the case of Tamara Waga-man, 41, and Raelene Layne, 34, each charged with four counts of child abuse.

Miller's gag order bars lawyers, law officers, public officials, witnesses and jurors from talking with reporters about the evidence or testimony. Extensive publicity would make it dif- ficult to seat an impartial jury and assure a fair trial, he said. GOP delegates chosen March 16 Delegates from Minnehaha County to the state Republican Convention will be selected March 16. The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. at the Minnehaha County Extension Office, 220 W.

6th St. in Sioux Falls. The state caucus will be held March 25 in Pierre, and the primary election to deter-. mine some of the presidential delegates will be June 6. Those delegates selected will go to the Republican National Convention on July 31-Aug.

3 in Philadelphia. For questions about the process, call the Minnehaha County Republican office, 605-336-7340. Police seek tips on attempted rape Police are investigating an attempted rape in the 700 block of North Elmwood Avenue. Lt. Mark Moberly said a 43-year-old woman reported that a man grabbed her and said he was going to rape her while she was at a pop vending machine.

She was able to get away. He was described as a thin black man, 6 feet 5 inches tall, with short cropped hair, wearing a gray BUM T-shirt and blue jeans. Call CrimeStoppers at 367-7007 with any information. Correction Deputy State's Attorney Matt Theophilus was incorrectly identified in a story in Monday's Argus Leader about Christopher B. Fischer, 17, charged with first-degree robbery.

Also, Fischer's address is unknown. The address supplied to the Argus Leader was incorrect. LOTTERIES DAILY 3: 4-5-0 $1 00,000 CASH 1-3-2 1-22-32 CASH 4 LIFE: 77-88-93-97 GOPHER 5: 8-1 4-23-34-42; bonus ball 20 IOWA PICK 3: 4-8-8 Walther suing officer and city for delaying help By JENNIFER GERRIETTS Argus Leader A woman whose throat was slashed by an ex-boyfriend five years ago said Tuesday that she still has flashbacks of being left for dead by a Sioux Falls police officer. "I just kind of lost my last ray of hope," said Melissa Walther, 33, testifying in her civil trial against the city of Sioux Falls and retired officer Frank Arnett, a 30-year veteran of the force. Walther was nearly killed June 24, 1994, when her former boyfriend, Ricky J.

Sieler, broke into her apartment, raped, stabbed and repeatedly slashed her. He is serving 105 years in prison. "He said, 'You're not going to make it out of here Walther recalled Sieler saying. She told the story in a coarse, gruff voice, a result of the cuts to her throat. "I was just laying there saying my prayers hoping someone would notice me." Walther said she tried to escape, getting out of the apartment, but was pulled back by Sieler.

She left a trail of blood that prompted her neighbor to call the police. In opening arguments Tuesday, Walther's lawyer, Bob Morris of Belle Fourche, said Arnett arrived on the scene at 8:25 a.m. but did not see Walther's body until later. He thought she was dead and didn't call for an ambulance. Another officer arriving at the scene saw Walther twitch and told Arnett to call an ambulance after 9 a.m., Morris said.

During that time, she continued to bleed and lose hope. "If only someone could have touched her and reassured her," Morris said. Walther is asking for an undetermined amount of money to compensate her for the physical and emotional trauma she suffered as a result of the delay. Sioux Falls lawyer Gary dalism and found Walther as he followed up leads. Walther was so injured, there was nothing Arnett could have done, Thimsen said.

When the officer called in the case as a homicide, he assumed the 911 dispatch center would send an ambulance, the lawyer said. "It's not the fault of Frank Arnett or the city," Thimsen said. "His actions were reasonable." Doctors will testify that the delay in getting the ambulance did not cause any physical damage, Thimsen said. Walther's story about flashbacks was not relayed to any psychologists except the expert hired by her lawyer, he said. Walther, who has moved away from the area, said she works as a department head at a Wal-Mart store.

She said she is engaged and trying to make a new life. "I'm trying to make the best of what I have and move forward," Walther said, sipping from a straw in a glass of water. Walther described being unable to move or talk but hearing voices outside the door. At one point a "male voice" could be heard, and the door opened and a shadow passed over her. Walther said she relives that moment, plus Seller's attacks, in flashbacks about once a month that usually occur when she is sleeping.

She said she'll wake up and be exhausted and shaken up. "Some days are harder than others," she said. The trial is scheduled to last several days. Reach reporter Jennifer Gerrf-etts at 331-2312 or jgernetargusleader.com Ryan Green, who works at Prairie Freedom Center, gives his thoughts on the Sioux Falls Paratransit system at a meeting Tuesday at the Convention Center. The city was seeking suggestions for improving the service.

r-. mi. ii in I jf I i i i Lilirt'iawlTi'ir lrirl)f I mmmahWmmmmammJammammwV sort and work this through the budget process," Hannestad said. Paratransit shares a bud-. get with the traditional bus system.

The fixed-route buses had 571,000 customer trips in 1999. Hannestad and Kellar asked customers to prioritize who should have first access to a paratransit bus. They offered medical, employment and education needs as the areas to choose from. The handful who answered all indicated medical needs should have the first priority. There is some confusion about pickup times that surprised Hannestad.

Several users said they were not aware that they would not be picked up at exactly the time they designated. Under paratransit guidelines, those calling for a bus can be picked up 10 minutes before or 20 minutes after the time they have requested. City Council member Mary Glenski said congestion because of certain Paratransit See 8B 117,000 used system in 1999 By DAVID KRANZ Argus Leader The rapid growth of the Sioux Falls Paratransit system is causing problems for riders, and city officials are looking for ways to solve them. City vehicles made more than 1 17,000 trips to pick up and transport people with disabilities in 1999. That was a 10 percent increase over the previous year, said Jane Hannestad, an urban planner for the city.

"It is a combination of existing passengers taking more trips and new people coming in," said Hannestad. Even with the problems, the Sioux Falls system "is the envy of many" in the country, said Jim Kellar, the moderator of a discussion Tuesday at the Convention Center to search for solutions. But any program needs to re-evaluate from time to time, Kellar said. About 100 users, providers, caregivers and staff affected by paratransit listened to the points of concern and offered solutions. Hannestad said the focal point of the problem is prioritizing demand.

Currently, 80 percent of the paratransit users are subscription customers. That means they have reserved regularly scheduled pickup times. The remainder are people who call in advance for single trips not made on a regular basis. "We need to establish a subscription policy of some Alleged assault victim seeks protection Popular disc jockey John Price, 36, dies Mike Costan-zo, general manager of Midcontinent Radio, which operates KRRO from its downtown office and studio complex. "I have never A John Price statutes that allow for the prosecution of someone who witnesses a crime and doesn't report it.

However, to charge someone with that offense, there has to be proof that the witnesses knew what happened, he said. The 19-year-old's application for a protection order claims the beatings began in October, when Leaf hit her with a coffee cup. The attacks intensified in February, she said. She described assaults with steel-toed boots, a wooden crutch, a crowbar and a hammer. She was admitted to the intensive care unit at Sioux Valley Hospital this weekend with head-to-toe bruising.

She probably bled two to four Assault charge See 8B and isolated me from the outside world by having his family watch me and report back to him," she wrote. Leafs mother, Sharon Sully, told Sioux Falls television station KSFY that the charges against her son aren't true. "That's my understanding because she was out here visiting with him quite a lot," Sully said. "She would have said something." Charges have not been filed against anyone else in Leafs family or home. "At the present time, we believe we have the correct person charged," said Deputy State's Attorney Tom Hens-ley, who is prosecuting the case.

Hensley said that he can't talk about Leaf case specifically, but there are state By JENNIFER GERRIETTS Argus Leader The man accused of beating his 19-year-old girlfriend with a hammer and crowbar coerced his family into keeping tabs on the girl, the victim claims in court documents. Jeremy Leaf, 20, is being held in the Minnehaha County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. He is charged with aggravated assault in connection with the alleged beatings. In a request for a protection order filed Monday, the woman said that since Feb. 23, Leaf kept her in a room of a trailer he shared with his family at 7010 W.

12th St. Leaf made her wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to hide her bruises, she wrote. "He would turn up the radio when he began to beat me By BOB KEYES Argus Leader Sioux Falls rock fans and the broadcasting community mourned the death of KRRO-FM disc jockey and program director John C. Price on Tuesday. ii Price, 36, died of an apparent heart attack early Tuesday, just hours before he was scheduled to begin his morning shift at the rock 'n roll radio station.

The station announced the news of his death hourly starting at 6 a.m., resulting in a massive and continuous response from listeners. Friends, fans and co-workers flooded the station with e-' mails and other expressions of sympathy. "You don't realize when you open the microphone how you touch people's lives," said seen an outpouring of sympathy like this. Our front office looks like a flower shop. John Price was a loved individual." Fans posted their well-wishes on the station's Web site throughout the day.

"Our deepest sympathy go out to the Price and KRRO families. Say hello to heaven," said one message from members of the Sioux Falls band PrlceSee5B Christopher Gannon Argus Leader Jeremy Leaf accused of aggravated assault, walks to his arraignment Monday..