Argus-Leader from Sioux Falls, South Dakota • Page 13

Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Friday, July 1, 1994 HOW TO REACH US Local news Inquiries and tips: Maricarrol Kueter, city editor, 331-2327 or Rosemary McCoy and Cindy Uken, assistant city editors, 331-2301 or 1-800-530 NEWS mmk Empnir STATE NEWS 2-3 OBITUARIES BIRTHS lla. JUST CURIOUS ffSKS QBoffilDft ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS But protest-free zone would not affect Sioux Falls clinic, doctor says' By STEVE YOUNG Argus Leader Stall Sioux Falls doctor Buck Williams doesn't think a Supreme Court decision Thursday creating a buffer zone around a Florida abortion clinic will have much impact oh his practice. The court said a state judge in Florida did not violate the free-speech rights of anti-abortion protesters when he ordered them to stay at least 36 feet away from a Melbourne abortion clinic. "I would tend to create 300-mile zones outside of my clinic," said Williams, who performs abortions in his clinic on South Louise Avenue. "But no, really, our building is uniquely located so that we already have a sort of buffer zone out here.

"Our door doesn't face the street, so if a protester comes up to the door, they are trespassing. And I'm not sure, but I think the sidewalk is more than 36 feet from our door. So we feel pretty comfortable here." Although the Supreme Court ruled the Florida judge went too far in creating an additional 300-foot protest-free zone outside of the Melbourne clinic barring demonstrators from approaching, unin vited, anyone seeking to enter or leave the clinic that didn't placate abortion opponents here. Paul Dorr, executive director of Rescue the Perishing, called Thursday's decision alarming. "This is nothing but a dark day for freedoms in America," Dorr said from his Ocheyedan, Iowa, office.

"A police state is being implemented upon us, especially on political dissent. "This cannot go untested, because if they can get away with a gospel-free zone, and that's primarily what we're doing, presenting the gospel and the truth of the gospel, then what's to say the Supreme Court can't come back in six months and move it back to 100 feet or 500 feet or 500 miles." Dan Wunrow, executive director of South Dakota Right to Life, said he's worried about what the decision might do to peaceful dissent and education. "It's one thing for the court to address the issue of trespassing and civil disobedience," Wunrow said. "But it's another thing to say there can't be peaceful dissent, or the handing out of literature that would provide for basic informed consent, within a certain area near it. I a clinic." But Thelma Underberg, who supports abortion rights, said she thinks people who demonstrate outside Williams' clinic won't be affected by the decision.

"I don't see anything happening that would require there to be a buffer zone around the clinic in the future," said Underberg, director of South Dakota's affiliate of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League. "I think our law enforcement is already pretty effective in stopping a lot of things from happening." N.D. firm to acquire KDLT-TV By BRENDA WADE SCHMIDT Argus Leader Staff A Fargo, N.D., television company has agreed to buy KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls. Red River Broadcasting, which owns KVRR-TV in Fargo, is buying the Sioux Falls station because the two cities are similar and close together, Ro Grignon, general manager of the station, said Thursday. KVRR is a FOX affiliate, and KDLT is affiliated with NBC.

The purchase price was not disclosed. "The market and the town are just booming, and it's a very progressive town," Grignon said. "We're excited about getting there. It looks like a real good property." KDLT, which has been owned by Heritage Media Corp. of Dallas, is the second Sioux Falls station to be sold in the last year.

New Vision Communications in Michigan bought KSFY-TV, an ABC affiliate. Steve Herman, president and general manager of KDLT, said he has not met with the new owners but nothing will change at KDLT during the consideration period by the Federal Communications Commission. The sale requires approval from the federal agency, which could take several months. Grignon said he could not comment on what, if any, changes would be made at the station. KDLT has 44 employees.

The station, which is licensed in Mitchell but has its studio in Sioux Falls, is rated third in the market, behind KELO and KSFY. Heritage Media also owns KEVN-TV in Rapid City, but it's not being sold to Red River. A -4 i Meat's moisture shows doneness QUESTION: Is there a simple method to determine when a steak is done while still on the grill? Ben Horacek, Tyndall ANSWER: John Romans, a professor of meat science at South Dakota State University in Brookings, recommends a method using a wristwatch and noting when the meat's moisture bubbles to the surface. "No matter what the temperature is on your coals, if you watch your watch and when the bubbles come out, look at your watch, flip it once and leave it the same amount of time, it'll be about 150 degrees, which is medium," he says. Have a general news question? Call the Argus Leader at 331-2291 and leave a message.

Or send your questions to Just Curious, Box 5034, Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5034. BRIEFLY U.S. health secretary to speak in city U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala will be the guest speaker during a health-care meeting Wednesday in Sioux Falls. The meeting is sponsored by the South Dakota Health Care Reform Coalition, a group of consumers, business leaders, and labor and health-care representatives.

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Ramkota Inn. For information, call 338-1401. Pressler to visit Sioux Falls on Fourth Sen. Larry Pressler will take part in regional celebrations during the Fourth of July hoi-, iday weekend.

During the South Dakota Republican's visit, he will discuss issues such as rural health care, agriculture and economic development. In the Sioux Falls area, he will attend the fireworks display at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds in Sioux Falls, at dusk Monday. Two face charges of growing marijuana Two men have been charged with growing marijuana near Vermillion. John Howard Wright and Russell Riley, who have been staying at a Yankton motel, appeared Wednesday in U.S.

District Court in Sioux Falls. They face charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, manufacture of marijuana and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug-trafficking crime. A Vermillion area farmer found the 400 plants while mowing, and drug officers set up surveillance, U.S. Attorney Karen Schreier said Thursday. A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday.

Wright and Riley are being held in the Minnehaha County Jail until then. Switch failure puts part of city in dark Between 500 and 600 city utility customers in Sioux Falls were left without power Thursday night after a switch failed near Seventh Street and Phillips Avenue. Craig Overfield, superintendent of the light department, said River Tower Apartments, some traffic signals, the city bus depot and some residential homes on the east side were impacted by the outage. Crews worked so that power was restored to most customers within an hour. The city light department has about 2,200 customers, most in the northeast part of Sioux Falls.

LOTTERIES POWERBALL: None of the tickets sold for Wednesday's game matched the six numbers drawn, which were: 23-26-27-28-39. Powerball 4. TRI-WEST LOTTO: There were no jackpot winners in Wednesday's drawing. The numbers were: 6-7-8-9-10-17. MINNESOTA DAILY THREE: 6-3-3.

MINNESOTA DATO: 3-23-60. IOWA $100,000 CASH GAME: 6-10-20-24-28. j. 4 Mike Roemer Argus Leader Water skid Cody Marshall, 15, of Sioux Falls practices tricks on a self-propelled water ski Thursday afternoon at Wall Lake. The high temperature Thursday was 92 degrees.

Today's forecast is for partly cloudy skies, with an expected high of 85. Business owners may keep their video-lottery machines New laws on the books today in South Dakota What the lottery amendment says Sex offenders will have to register with local police Seat-belt law on hold The Associated Press PIERRE Blocked from the usual July 1 enactment of new state laws is a measure to force seat-belt use in South Dakota. Opponents gathered the necessary 12,836 signatures to put the issue on the November ballot, said Chris Nelson, state election supervisor. "The law will not go into effect until after the people have voted on it," he said. The measure in limbo would require front-seat occupants to buckle up.

Motorists could be ticketed only if first stopped for another offense. Failure to wear seat belts would bring a $20 fine, though the penalty would not start until Jan. 1. State law already requires children under 5 to be buckled up, Dravland reminded. in cooperation with one or more other states.

The entire net proceeds of such lottery shall be devoted to the operation of state government or such other purposes as the Legislature shall determine." The proposed new wording: "However, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law a state lottery or video games of chance which are regulated, controlled, owned, and operated by the state of South Dakota, either separately by the state or jointly or in cooperation with one or more states or persons, provided any such video games of chance shall not directly dispense coins or tokens. The Legislature shall establish the portion of proceeds due the state from such lottery or video games of. chance and the purposes for which those proceeds are to be used. SDCL chapter 42-7A, its amendments, regulations and related laws, and all acts and contracts relying for authority upon such laws, beginning July 1, 1987, and through the effective date of this amendment, are ratified and approved." The final part of Article III, Section 25, dealing with Deadwood gambling, remains the same. The Associated Press Here's the wording of the constitutional amendment that is being submitted to the South Dakota Supreme Court for an advisory opinion before the July 11 special session of the Legislature: The first sentence of Article III, Section 25 would remain the same: "The Legislature shall not authorize any game of chance, lottery or gift enterprise, under any pretense, or for any purpose whatever provided, however, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law, bona fide veterans, charitable, educational, religious or fraternal organizations, civic and service clubs, volunteer fire departments or such other public-spirited organizations as it may recognize, to conduct games of chance when the entire net proceeds of such games of chance are to be devoted to educational, charitable, patriotic, religious or other public-spirited uses." The next two sentences would be repealed: "However, it shall be lawful for the Legislature to authorize by law, a state lottery which is regulated, controlled, owned and operated by the state of South Dakota, either separately by this state or jointly or But critics contend games are illegal, not just playing them By KEVIN WOSTER Argus Leader Staff PIERRE If a court ruling shuts down video lottery this summer, pending a public vote, bar and restaurant owners will have the choice of leaving the machines in place or moving them to storage, state officials said Thursday.

Larry Long, chief deputy attorney general, told members of the South Dakota Lottery Commission that the machines could stay where they are. Although the state Supreme Court ruled last week that video North Sioux City reacts 3B lottery violated the state constitution, Long said the ruling applied to the electronic games such as poker and keno that were played on the machines, not the machines themselves. "We've concluded that the games can remain if they are not operated and are not altered," Long said. The state Legislature will meet in special session July 11 to consider placing a constitutional amendment making video lottery legal on the November ballot. Meanwhile, the state is asking for a rehearing on the court decision and a delay in its effect.

Without the delay, video lottery By JOE KAFKA Associated Press PIERRE Sex offenders, drinking drivers and child-support deadbeats all face new restrictions as hundreds of new state laws go on the books today. Additional new laws deal with obscenity, gun control, job injuries and numerous other subjects. Beginning today, sex offenders placed on probation or released from prison must register with local law agencies each year. Those who move have 10 days to update their registration. Sheriffs or police must be provided with names, photos, fingerprints and addresses of sex offenders.

Failure to register could result in a year in jail and a $1,000 fine on first offense, up to twice that for subsequent violations. The new penalty for minors caught drinking and driving is twice as tough as before loss of their driver's licenses for 180 days instead of 90. It applies only to underage drivers and not passengers. But the measure eliminates a previous law that suspended driving privileges for 30 days of any underage passenger caught drinking. Those convicted a second time for drunken driving could get permits to drive to work upon completion of alcohol counseling, another new law says.

Among other new laws that go into effect today: TOBACCO Boost the $20 fine for selling tobacco to those under 18. The maximum penalty is $200 and 30 days in jail. Areas where children are tended in unregistered day-care centers and private homes Laws See 3B could be shut down as early as mid-July and not start up again until after the election, if at all. That could cost the state $25 million in lost lottery revenue. Lottery official Curt Everson said the system of almost 8,000 privately owned machines could be shut down overnight through the main computer at the lottery headquarters in Pierre.

Lottery See 3B.