Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 1

Sioux Falls Balloonists attempt crossing of Atlantic Page 8B ADER A newspaper for the home Price 20 cents A Gannett newspaperSpeidel division Sioux Falls. S.l). Vol.92, No. 253 1 6 pages Weather, page 3A Saturday, September 10, 1977 akg KXON says'no 'Soap" to eastern South Dakota TV audiences By HUGH O'GARA Argus-Leader Entertainment Editor "Soap" has gone down the drain in eastern South Dakota, but a spokesman for the ABC television affiliate in the western part of the state says the cancellation by the Mitchell-Sioux Falls station was "extremely premature." The ABC series revolving around two fictional families is being billed as an adult comedy with a new concept in prime time humor. It debuts nationally at 8:30 p.m.

CDT Tuesday. The two South Dakota ABC affiliates have taken opposing stands on the controversial KXON, serving eastern South Dakota and parts of Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota from Mitchell and Sioux Falls, is one of 16 cf the 195 ABC-affiliated television stations across the nation refusing to air the program and will be substituting the syndicated "Muppets" show. KEVN-KIW in Rapid City, covering the western portion of the state as well as parts of Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, has delayed air time until 9:30 p.m. to avoid running it during children's viewing time. It also will broadcast a warning to parents of the program's adult sexual themes.

Joe Shields, KXON's general manager, said the station's refusal to air the program was a "value judgment" based on previewing two episodes in May during an affiliates meeting in Los Angeles. The decision to cancel "Soap" came approximately in late June. "In our judgment," Shields said, "we felt it did not meet the standards we are willing to show on television. It really is just something we didn't want to put on KXON." The series, which touches on homosexuality, promiscuity and adultery, has been criticized by such divergent groups as the U.S. Catholic Conference and the National Gay Task Force.

The Catholic Conference, the national action agency for the Catholic Church in the United States, issued a statement urging Catholics, "to prevent this new debasement of the television medium through a contempt for human beings." The gay rights organization has called for local ABC affiliates and sponsors to drop the show and threatened a boycott of any advertisers' products because of the portrayal of the homosexual son in the series. Despite pressure from national groups and local clergy, the ABC station in Rapid City decided to air "Soap" and mounted a public relations campaign involving showing the first three episodes to a Rapid City Journal reporter and a writer for the area's Catholic magazine. A five- minute preview of the program also was aired Thursday evening. "We are urging people to watch the first five episodes of 'Soap'," said Jerry Condra, executive vice-president for KEVN-KIW in Rapid City. "We think they will see as they go through the series there are problems like homosexuality and marital infidelity that are dealt with, but they are dealt with in a satiric manner." Condra said the series does not glamorize antisocial behavior by characters and said, "We don't expect any of our viewers will look at the characters on 'Soap' and model their lives after them.

"Our approach is different from KXON's," he said. "We think KXON has been extremely premature in what they have done." Shields said KXON will continue to monitor future "Soap" episodes but, "would have to see what changes are made" before reassessing its cancellation. Condra said he expects the program to offend some viewers but said, "I'm a very conservative Catholic and personally I don't agree with things on the show, but I think it's a shame a city like Sioux Falls is denied a show of national controversy. "We plan to let our viewers see It and let them make their decisions." Lance probe files stored during nomination hearing -AM if ir -itiinnwaMnmniMH-Ki il.wininffin liTiMiMliiliri ir iWtriiMmmiMtir -i--mr nun rrllf-'iMIMiWrliiiriirir---t-f-'-(-iiiffnmMi BfinWiriirMi -if iirrtitiMiWfiwaiM-- Heimann, who has been reluctant to elaborate on his two reports on Lance's affairs, said he would put that question differently if it were up to him. "I would ask for proper cash flow to explain this happening," he said.

"What does it mean? Where did the funds come from?" The checks, drawn on one of Lance's Georgia banks, were made out to two New York City banks to repay two loans. Interest on loans is deductible for income tax purposes. The checks passed through the New York banks on Jan. 14 and 15. Former U.S.

Atty. John W. Stokes Jr. said at a news conference in Atlanta that Senate investigators asked him last week for information about Lance that he had turned over to the FBI last fall but which the Carter administration "withheld and concealed." White House Press Secretary Jody Powell said the information would have been supplied to the Senate committee if it had asked. The information was gathered in an investigation of Lance's campaign finances when he ran for governor of Georgia in 1974.

The investigation was closed without prosecution. The report also disclosed that a criminal investigation of Lance was terminated after Lance's personal attorney got in touch with Stokes, the U.S. attorney in Atlanta, last December to ask about the case. According to a sworn affidavit given to the inspectors by former Judge Sidney O. Smith who handled Lance's preparation for nomination.

Smith called Stokes to ask about an open investigation of overdrafts by Lance's election committee. Smith said he had known Stokes for 25 years. "Mr. Stokes called back and said the case had not been closed, that the assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted Mr.

William Campbell had intended to close the case (involving Lance's overdrafts)," the affidavit said. "Mr. Stokes told him that it would be 'dirty pool' to sit on the case for nine months and then reactivate the case when a man is being nominated to a post in the new administration. Smith's affidavit said. William Campbell was convicted of embezzling while he was an officer of the Calhoun bank.

Iran emphasized in U.S. planning WASHINGTON (AP) Presidet Carter has issued a secret directive placing new importance to the Persian Gulf, especially Iran, in U.S. strategic planning. The aim, U.S. officials said, is to protect the area's oil reserves from "foreign aggression," including possible Soviet attack.

The memorandum issued last month followed a six-month study by the National Security Council. The United States now receives more than 40 per cent of its oil from the Middle East. 198 years of royalty Howard Snyder, 96, Sioux Falls, and Mae Borst, 102, Good Samaritan Village, were named royalty at the 10th Annual Senior Citizens' Hobby and Talent Show at the Sioux Falls Arena Friday. That honor was awarded to them as the oldest man and woman in attendance at the opening festivities. The king was about to give the queen a little kiss when this picture was taken.

The two-day event ended Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Lloyd B. Cunningham) GOP Social Security proposal attacked WASHINGTON (AP) Files about federal examinations of Bert Lance's Georgia banks were locked in a government official's bathroom safe while Lance's nomination as budget director was being considered by the Senate. The incident is disclosed in a 200-page report that draws no conclusions and was submitted to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Friday by the Internal Revenue Service. The committee, which recommended Lance's confirmation in January, is now reviewing his financial affairs.

Lance, under increasing pressure to resign, is scheduled to testify Thursday. Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, the chairman, asked Comptroller of the Currency John G. Heimann to be ready to answer questions about the IRS report on Monday. Robert G.

Bloom, acting comptroller of the currency until Heimann took over in July, told IRS investigators he ordered files about the Calhoun First National Bank and the National Bank of Georgia stored in his office safe in December to avoid "leaks" of confidential information to the press. The safe was in a bathroom closet. Bloom said he had the papers removed from the safe in March or April because "I thought that the press interest in Mr. Lance was over, a judgment that will probably go down in history as one of the worst ever made." Lance's management of the two banks has been criticized by Heimann's office, although the comptroller found no violations of federal banking laws. Bloom told the Senate committee in January he thought Lance well qualified to be budget director.

Release of the IRS report followed Heimann's second day of testimony before the committee. The comptroller was questioned about checks worth $193,000 written by Lance at the end of 1976, when his checking account held only $27,000. Sen. Charles Percy, said he intends to ask Lance whether the checks, dated Dec. 31, "might have been backdated and income tax deductions might have been improperly taken." A Lance spokesman denied that a wrong date was purposely written on the checks.

Foreign student dies in accident BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) A Nigerian student at South Dakota State University died Friday following the collision of the bicycle he was riding with a pickup truck on a Brookings street. William S. Osanyintuyi, 25, was County Board reaffirms stand against alcohol, drug funding concerned with what happens to the system in the next five years. Without legislation to bail out Social Security, the disability retirement fund is projected to be bankrupt in two years, with all old-age aid ending by 1983.

The committee wants to find ways to avoid depleting Social Security reserves to gain time, Ullman said, to consider more fundamental changes in the system. He said the committee may recommend tax increases or allowing the Social Security Administration to move money between its various programs as needs arise. The Republicans included such a proposal in their plan. Health, Education and Welfare Secretary Joseph A. Califano Jr.

charged that the Republican proposal "shatters the solemn promise of the federal government to the American people." A Republican congressman also took issue with the party leaders' proposal to extend the retirement age. Rep. Robert W. Kasten Jr. of Wisconsin said, "We have a WASHINGTON (AP) A Republican plan to revamp Social Security has run into quick opposition, with criticism centering on a proposal that would ultimately mean most Americans could not retire with full benefits until age 68.

Republican leaders say they will mount a concerted drive for their package, which would also allow retirees to work without sacrificing retirement benefits, when a House Ways and Means subcommittee begins on Monday tackling the problem of keeping the huge retirement system solvent. The Democratic chairman of that committee, the secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and a Republican congressman all sharply attacked the proposal, announced Friday. The Republican plan would begin raising the retirement age from 65 in 1990, reaching 68 by 2001. People retiring early would have their checks reduced. Rep.

Al Ullman, chairman of the Ways and Means committee, said his panel is more commitment to millions of Americans who have worked hard and contributed all their lives to Social Security, believing they would collect benefits at age 65." House RepublicanLeader John J. Rhodes of Arizona said the proposal to extend the retirement age, coupled with the lifting of earnings restrictions, is consistent with the desire of many Americans to remain productive. "There are prices to pay for the problems our proposal solves," he said, "but we feel the prices are reasonable." The plan would lower payments 5 per cent overall, while raising the tax rate paid by employers and employes 0.5 per cent beginning in 1982. Republicans say their plan would guarantee the system's fiscal soundness for at least 75 years. Social Securty now collects taxes fom 108 million individuals, while sending checks to 33 million.

The Republicans would improve the retirement benefits for working wives and bring 2.7 million federal employes into the system. Ullman said he favored including the federal workers, who now have their own retirement plan, under Social Security, but that such a change would have to be made gradually. Farm bill clears Senate By TOM QUAIFE Argus-Leader Staff Writer Officials of two groups that deal with alcohol- and drug-related problems say they haven't given up hope of receiving funding from the Minnehaha County Board of Commissioners. But, as the director of the Alcohol and Drug Referral Center sees it, the outlook is rather bleak. The County Board met Friday and reaffirmed a previous decision to exclude the funding requests of Project Awareness and the Alcohol and Drug Referral Center from the 1978 county budget.

Board Chairman Nils Aspaas said the Sioux Falls City Commission ought to take the liquor tax revenue it receives from the state of South Dakota and be more generous with Project Awareness and the Alcohol and Drug Referral Center. "I firmly believe, and I think the other four (county commis-' sions do, too, that the revenue from this liquor tax ought to be used to rehabilitate people" instead of using personal property tax or real estate tax money, Aspaas said. The city Finance Office estimates that the city will receive $380,000 in liquor tax revenue this year from the state of South Dakota. The money will go into the city's general fund, to be used at the discretion of the City Commission. The County Board expects to receive a smaller share of liquor tax revenue $19,000 for the county Welfare Office.

Commissioner Garry Jacobson said the County Board will pose to the 1978 session of the South Dakota Legislature that a portion of the liquor tax revenue be specifically earmarked for rehabilitating alcoholics. Meanwhile, the directors of Project Awareness and the Alcohol and Drug Referral Center can only hope county and city officials will provide them with funding. Ed Bonnie, the director of Project Awareness, said he plans to attend next Tuesday's County Board meeting when the commissioners finalize the budget for 1978. "I think it is ridiculous to give up hope, because for one thing we do provide services outside the Sioux Falls area," Bonnie said. "We have a counselor who travels the county one day a week," he said.

"If they (the county commissioners) do decide to cut off funds, we are not going to travel outside the Sioux Falls city limits," Bonnie said. "There's no way we could afford it." Project Awareness currently receives $20,000 a year from the County Board, $15,000 from the city of Sioux Falls, $8,000 to from United Way, $8,000 to $10,000 from the Sioux Falls School District and a varying amount from private donations and grants. Thomas Meagher, the director of the Alcohol and Drug Referral Center, also plans to be at Tuesday's County Board meeting. Meagher said his group needs $78,000 from ity and county government, and he will get some idea what the city intends to provide this coming Monday. Outlook eligible will no longer have to purchase stamps in order to get additional government subsidized stamps.

The changes are expected to cut about 340,000 families from the food stamp rolls, but they will allow other eligible families, who in the past have not taken advantage of the program, to join. There are about 5.22 million families who use food stamps at a total cost of $5.4 billion a year to the government. The exact cost of the four-year farm program will depend on the amount needed in farm supports, which in turn will depend on weather and market conditions. The farm bill also includes production management programs called by Agriculture Secretary Bob Bergland as ways to bring crop supply and demand into a more favorable balance for farm prices. WASHINGTON (AP) A compromise farm bill, which will increase farm price supports and revamp the food stamp program, has cleared the Senate and now goes to the House.

The bill includes a provision for a record $1.2 billion in payments to wheat growers and forces up the cash price of corn by 10 to 20 cents a bushel. The Senate vote on Friday was 63-8. The House is scheduled to consider the legislation early next week. President Carter is expected to sign the compromise bill when it reaches the White House, although its cost of 11 billion a year is about $2 billion more than he originally had wanted. The measure makes wide ranging changes in the food stamp program administered by the Agriculture Department.

Average food stamp benefits will remain the $ame, but those Sports O'Gorman beats Washington in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL at Howard Wood Stadium. Page IB. U.S.World An ELDERLY DRIVER plows into picnickers at a nursing home, killing two and injuring 21. Page 6A. Editorial 4A Television 7A Movies 4A Sports Sec.

Record 3A Argus-Leader telephone Area code 605-336-1130 in his first year of a wildlife management course at SDSU. The Brookines County coroner said he started diplomatic procedures today following the man's death Friday night. Witnesses told police that Osanyintuyi may have ridden his bicycle through a red light into the path of the pickup driven by Gene F. Anderson, Brookings. The accident happened about 10:30 a.m.

Eidsness Funeral Home, Brookings, is handling arrangements..