The Morning Herald from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 11

The Morning Herald Tuesdoy, Feb; 8, 1972 Hogerstown, Md. Paga 11 i Gops hit theft ring FREDERICK Four stolen ears were recovered in police raids In Frederick and Anne Arundel counties Monday during an, FBI-spearheaded attack on "a sophisticated aulo theft State Police said. No arrests were made, but several are expected within the next few days as the FBI continues its, investigation, police said. More stolen cars ire also expected to be found, The ring is believed to operate out of Baltimore. Police Monday recovered a Mercedes Benz and a Cadillac from a garage in Hanover in Anne Arundel, two Cam arc; from a speed shop in Ever Green Point, in and stolen auto parts from a garage in Myersville and a garage on Madison Street in Frederick City.

Police would not give the names the garage owner. No charges were made. The raids iwere coordinated by the FBI with some 40 Baltimore: City, Baltimore County and; Maryland State Policeman paarticipating. Memberr of the federal National Auto Theft Bureau also participated. The raids were made aimulUneously at 11:20 a.m.

8:20 a.m. briefing of law officers at the State Police barracks in Frederick. Jack! Marsh, information officer; for (he State Police, said the stolen cars were engines changed serial numbers switched anc' ears then resold. He said thieves were apparently buying wrecked cars and putting their serial nunv bers on the stolen cars to avoid identification. AH the raided garages were either custom body or "speed shops," he said, Police here it hasn't been determined if all the shops raided Monday were working in--conjunction 'iwith' each other.

They further said this Is believed to be the first large auto theft ring operating in Frederick County. They believe it has been in existence for about a year. A spokesman said the FBI cracked-down on it after a two- month probe. Officials accept downtown proposal Pom Coalson, a hostess on the Potomac Turbo, Hands out food and drinks during the trains first passenger run Monday. Turbotrain makes debut MART1NSBURG, W.Va.

-The futuristic-looking Potomac Turbo made its i passenger carrying run here Monday night and wowed crowds who had turned out to see it. More than 100 persons awaited the three-car train'; arrival in Martinsburg at 7:04 and greeted the approximately 30 -people who disembarked here. Passengers on the turbine- powered train were equally impressed, although some seemed more appreciative of food and being dispensed then they were with the train. "I'm glad I came," said long-haired Fred Spencer Funkstown. "If they keep up with the drinks I may go to Parkersburg instead of Martinsburg." Spencer said he thought the train was "pretty groovy, but then I don't know much about trains this is the first one I've ever been on." A Martinsburg woman who commutes to Washington eyery day also voiced enthusiasm but wished for an earlier departure time.

"The old train (the West Virginian) was slow but it left Washington earlier. I don't get home any sooner," she moaned. The train leaves Washington at 5:45 p.m. The West Virginian left at 4:45. A Baltimore: Ohio Railroad employe boarding the 'train at Harpers Ferry said he was riding the train "strictly for fun and Us free." A resident of Martinsburg, he said he may get off there "or maybe go to Clarksburg, I don't work) for a few days.

Paul W. Craig, a 28-year BO employe called the train "very nice, quite an improvement," as he mixed drinks and popped beer can tops for thirsty passengers. The experimental train will make daily runs between Washington and Parkersburg for the next four months. The only other one operates between New York and Boston. Pam Coalson Jacksonville, Fla.

and Phylissa Farnor of Manassas, Va. are the counterparts of a i i stewardesses, or passenger representatives, as Amtrak calls them. Both young ladies are turbo train veterans, having spent a month on one when it made a nation-wide tour last fall. "Us a lot better than regular trains," said Pam. "But you have to have good tracks and a good railroad to really appreciate it, then it goes really smooth and fast." "Its all right," admitted John Bourkas of Martinsburg.

"But it lurches and screeches just like any other train. But then I've never been able to look over the engineer's shoulder before," he said while sipping his drink in the lead dome car. Passengers in the. lead car are separated from the engineer by transparent plastic partition but view the tracks ahead. looks weird but I don't care," said a weary executive on his way to Cumberland.

"If they can just keep the damn thing on the run so I don't have to drive I'll be happy." By TOM FERRARO FREDERICK The comprehensive plan to revitalize downtown Frederick City took a step closer to reality Monday. Mayor E. Paul Magaha and the County Commissioners made -a joint announcement of "formal acceptance" of the plan which is estimated to cost between $8 to $10 million to implement. The action gives the Downtown Action Committee (DAC) Ihe go ahead to prepare a detailed study of the plan and its proposed implementation, but it doesn't pledge either county or city funds for it. Officials said DAC's findings will be examined and then a decision lo move ahead on it may be made within six months.

Magaha, a strong supporter of the plan since it was unveiled Sept, -9, com fn eh ted, "Hopefully the city will approve it and give it funding so we can actually star' implementation." The plan was prepared by the county planning staff and Marcou, O'Leary and Associates df Washington, D.C. Simultaneously, DAC announced the hiring of David Bork, president of Community and Organization Development Association, to begin "coordinated" study and implementatin of the plan. Bork intends to draw support from the Downtown Merchants Association, the Historical Commission and other county civic associations to help him come up wilh plans of action. The redevelopment plan calls for a new county courthouse, library and county office building, 120 new middle-income homes, restoration of hundreds of other homes, broadening city sidewalks, building a 500-car parking lot and burying overhead utility wires. Commission President John A.

Derr voiced reserved approval for the proposal. He emphasized the commissioners are only concerned with that' portion of the plan that affects the county, specifically the courthouse, library and county building. Asked when the buildings would be constructed, Derr said, "The commissioner! realize their responsibility and will take action on it at the appropriate time." He declined to say when the appropriate time will be. The county'buildings have bean a controversial issue since proposed. County towns fear if they are built in the city, they will benefit the city at the expense of all residents.

They have argued the county buildings should be built outside of Frederick City. The commissioners haven't taken a stand on the issue. Last week (he, commissioners asked stale legislators to introduce legislation to dissolve a $4.5 million county bond issue presently slated for school construction and transfer the money into a general bond issue for all "public buildings." Commissioner Lawrence A. Dorsey said the possibility of a new courthouse will be studied with these funds. He said the commissioners have not decided where to build it.

At a meeting with the Downtown Merchants Association Monday afternoon, Bork emphasized the plan is moving into a "phase of action," although he admitted more planning is necessary to do this. He stressed some sections of the plan can be now, such as painting and refurbishing some old buildings and planting trees a installing benches along some city streets. "These sections aren't going to take the approval of the county or city, but a commitment of the public," he said. To assist DAC, the county has donated the services of county planner Richard Bork said up. tp of.

the funding of the project may''b available through federal and state sources. He explained DAC is preparing applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federally-funded Neighborhood Development Program. Academy Park to hire teens Film industry conies out against review board gets new head or slunmer work MERCERSBURG, Pa. A graduate and former teacher at Mercersburg Academy wil become the school's new headmaster on July 1.

Walter H. Burgin, 37, currently a teacher, at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., succeeds William C. Fowle who is retiring. A native of Harrisburg, Burgin will become the academy's fifth headmaster. After graduating from Mercersburg in 1953 at the top of his class, Burgin received his bachelors degree from Dartmouth College in 1957.

For the next two years he did graduate study i mathematics at Princeton University. Burgin was chairman of the Mathematics Department at Mercersburg from 1959 to 1964. Since then he has been a teacher at Phillips Exeter. HARPERS FERRY, W. Va.

For the second, year 30 Jefferson teenager will find jobs this summer wilh the youth conservation camp 'at the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. The eight week program, sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Interior, will run from the end of June the middle of August. Last summer the 20 participating youths performed office work, cleaned trails, helped direct traffic and worked on the preservation of artifacts, according to Benjamin Davis, superintendent of the park. The program is open to any county youth between the age; of 15 and 18.

They will be paid $1.60 per hour for a 40 hour work week. Davis said. Hiring will be done through the Jefferson County Board of Education. Persons interested in applying should contact the school superintendent or thei school principal, Davis added. At Harpers Ferry workers will live at home.

At other a in the nationwidr program the youths will live at the park. The only other camp In West Virginia is for 50 teenagers at Monongahela National Forest. CHARLESTON, a A a for the motion picture industry testified Monday that any board the state might set up to censor and rated movies would not necessary and might be unconstitutional. Barbara Scott of New York, appearing on behalf of the Motion Picture Association of America and the National Association of a Owners, testified during a public hearing on so-called "crimes against chastity" bills introduced by Sen. Louise Leonard, R-Jefferson.

of Mrs. Leonard's proposals appeared last week before judiciary committees of both houses, calling for a film censorship board patterned after the one in Maryland. But Miss Scott labeled the boards "not necessary and at best doubtful constitutionally." After a series of Supreme Court rulings, she said such boards disappeared across the nation with the exception of Maryland. And the Maryland board, she claimed, has been anything but a success. Shs said the only movie blocked last year was "I Am Curious Yellow." The rating system adopted by the industry three yean ago, she said, a censorship a necessary.

Judge advocates reform of criminal justice system FREDERICK To stop the nationwide i increase' "the whole criminal justice system needs overhauling," Frederick Circuit Court Judge Samuel W. Barrick said Monday. Barrick told the February Grand Jury there is a need for more and better trained policemen, prison reform, improved courts and "more and belter agencies to deal with the convicted criminal who not incarcerated." Barrick said prescriptions are appropriate for Frederick County Where the crime problem "is bad and i5 getting worse." He declined to a what steps should be taken here. Hilling back at advocates of atiffer jail sentences, Barrick said lengthy prison terms, are not the answer and "do not deter crime." Prisons should be reformed Ihey "rehabililate rathe: than deteriorate" inmales he added. presently operaling, the judge.said; "Our correctional institutions do not correct or rehabilitate.

The proven tact is that the longer a criminal is kept in prison, the more he will deteriorate and more likely he is to commit other crimes when released." He said 70 per cent of th criminals incarcerated in Maryland jails return to crime upon release. He also noted that very few criminals ever come before the court. He said less than half of all crimes are reported to police and of those reported, only 17 per result in arrest. Of those arrested only Iwp or three per cenl of the cases result in convictions. In his address to the previous grand jury last Sep tember, Barrick called on citizens 'lawmakers to increase efforts to stamp-out crime.

He fepeated Monday that government a the resources, particularly money, to solve our crime problems." Barrick said "some effort; have been made," to curb the problem, "but so far, for the most part they have been unsuccessful. The crime rates are rising, streets are still unsafe." After Barrick's September remarks, the County Council of Governments (COG) formed a crime committee. No anti-crime programs were drawn-up, but many mayors heavily criticized courts for being "too lenient on convicted criminals." Barrick refuted COG's contention about jail terms, but applauded their efforts to crime and cooperation of the court to the council. "To solve the crime problem," Barrick a i ''it'' going to take a combined effort of all of us." The 23-member grand jury's term runs until Sept. 11.

During the next few days the State's Attorney's office will come before them seeking indictments on 16 criminal cases. The jury will also Inspect and report on the jail, county buildings and courthouse. Southeast school opens in Berkeley Douf Coombt Students enter Berkeley County's Southeast Elementary School for the first time Monday MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -To the accompaniment of "oohs," "aahs," "looka this," soreams and yells Berkeley County's newest elementary school opened its doors (o 631 second through sixth" graders Monday morning. The opening of Soulheas' Elementary marked the end of a $3.8 million construction program which begun in 1958 when Berkeley County voter approved a bond issue which has built three elementary schools, financed 1' six others and additions and improvements to the county's five high schools.

Southeast is the comity's third open-space clementory school. The two others' are Northeast, opened December 1970 and Valley View in Pikeside, opened November, 1970. They are the first elementary schools in the state to abolish the traditional classroom Under the new system children a be separated and grouped together in a variety of a dependinr upon their skills or learning deficiencies, The system is generally applauded as being more flexible and adaptable to varying needs than "one classroom, one teacher" concept. Principal Clifton W. Jenkins noted Monday that the children had been prepared for the move by allowing more flexibility al the old John Street School which Southeast replaces.

Those with varying abilities In mathematics or reading ikills were grouped with others of the same skill regardless of their actual grade level. Jenkins also said that In some respects Ihe open-space school is a return to the one- room school where all grades were lumped together under the supervision of one teacher. Although strictly speaking the school is une large classroom it is partitioned into segments by bookshelves while table groupings cluster children together in separata groups. Movcablc partitions can also be used divide the room. The $614,000 school was erected in record time.

Construction started in late September and was completed less than five months later. Tlie quick construction was attributed lo experience by fhc contractor, the Blaka Construction Co. of Hagerstown, in building the other two schools, and the availabiltv of building materials. materials for all three schools had been purchased at the same time. Construction only began, however, after a large abandoned quarry had been filled in.

Beginning in a earthmovers pushed more than 50,000 tons of gravel, dirt. and rock into Ihe giant holp near South Queen Street on the city's southeast The school was then built on the filled quarry site. The great majority of Southeast's students were transferred from the John Street School, however, some of them carne from Northeast which had been faced with some overcrowding. Jenkins and other school officials I that th' transfer had been completed without trouble. "Even belte- than we had expected," tayi Jenkins..