Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 13

MONTANA Great Falls Tribune 3B Friday, April 15, 1994 More investigators working on unsolved murders Iervation In Wyoming. Currently, Fort Peck has two BIA investigators. To provide Information: People are asked to contact the BIA at 768-3448 or the FBI at 228 2533. tional Investigators when necessary, said Main. The cases being probed are: Jody Howard, 28, of Frazer, was last seen by family members in the Wolf Point area in October 1991.

Howard, the mother of four sons, was the subject of a reservationwide search. Reports of her appearance in several other states have come up empty handed. Kenneth Spotted Bird 47, Brockton, was found dead in a wheat field 12 mile west of here on March 2, 1992, during a search. Authorities said death was caused By RICHARD PETERSON Tribune Correspondent POPLAR Two additional Bureau of Indian Affairs criminal investigators were sent to the Fort Peck Reservation this week to intensify work on three unsolved murders and a disappearance in the area. The crimes occurred between 1991 and 1993.

"They're here to help the local Investigators follow leads and help in follow-up Interviews, and maybe help find information they were un- Former Montana educator quits BIA; probe continues? pw: if in If Earl Barlow, a well-known former Montana educator, has retired as regional director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Minneapolis, but an investigation into his conduct continues. The publication "News from Indian Country" reported recently that Barlow resigned his position as BIA director for Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa Barlow in February. Barlow and his executive assistant, Deanna Rasmussen, had been on paid suspension since October while the agency investigated reports that they accepted vouchers good for cash from Indian casinos he regulated. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Barlow "routinely accepted complimentary vouchers" that could be cashed for hundreds of dollars during visits to a southern 7i able to get previously," said Jerome Main, head of law enforcement services at the agency's Billings area office. The two investigators were detailed from the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and the Wind River Res- to be working toward a uniform policy that affects the nation fairly and evenhandedly." Brown's amendment says Congress' intent is to ensure against geographical discrimination where entrance, tourism or recreational fees are concerned.

It directs Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to identify by May 1, 1996, all federal lands and facilities used for recreation or tourism and analyze by state or region the amount of fees charged. Babbitt would have another year to recommend changes necessary to streamline the fee set-up. The House must also pass the amendment in order for it to take effect. The very notion of charging admission to the Smithsonian museums appeared to offend a spokes READYING SHIPMENT: Gary Motarie fills containers with liquid ammonium sulfate, Steve Deavila puts on the lids and Ray Wells stacks more buckets Tuesday at the Cenex Express Center, 116 Bay Drive in Great Falls. The liquid fertilizer, according to supervisor Phil Mclnturf, is manufactured In Kremlin, and repackaged and distributed throughout the region from the Great Falls Center.

The batch packaged Tuesday was being shipped to Minot, N.D. Pair of walkaways from Butte caught In brief Montana Former pharmacist charged with theft MISSOULA (AP) A former Missoula pharmacist has been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing more than 70 grams of pharmaceutical-grade cocaine. Gary K. Prescott, who was fired from his job at Community Medical Center, is scheduled to appear in Justice Court on May 3. Deputy County Attorney Karen Townsend said she charged Prescott with theft rather than a drug offense because she was unsure she could prove drug possession.

"With the theft, we have an audit by the Drug Enforcement Administration that shows the cocaine was taken" from July 2, 1992, to March 2, 1993. Townsend said. Court records said Prescott admitted during a drug-treatment program that he was also taking Tylenol No. 4 tablets from the pharmacy. Prescott now works as a pharmacist in Poison.

Man pleads guilty in random killing BILLINGS (AP) A Billings man accused of randomly shooting another man in 1992 pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempted murder. Brant V. Gilbert, 22, who is now in prison on several theft convictions, told District Judge William Speare on Wednesday that he and another man had stolen a shotgun from a parked car on Nov. 10, 1992, and later drove to the Rim-rocks overlooking Billings. During an argument with his accomplice, Gilbert said he pointed the shotgun at a pickup parked nearby and fired "for reasons still unknown to myself," even though he saw the outline of a person sitting in the truck.

The shot went through the pickup's window and hit Robert Davis in the face and neck. Although he was bleeding profusely, Davis drove himself to Deaconess Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. 'Gilbert confessed to the shooting last December while at the Swan River prison boot camp on the theft convictions. The Yellowstone County attorney's office planned to recommend that Gilbert be sentenced to 60 years in prison with the possibility of parole in 15 years. Sentencing was set for May 18.

Helena, city police settle labor dispute HELENA (AP) The city of Helena and its police officers tentatively agreed on Wednesday to settle a labor dispute for $350,000. Helena officers filed the federal suit against the city in 1991, contending they were owed money because they weren't paid for remaining on duty during meal breaks and for training sessions. District Judge Charles Lovell agreed and told the city to compensate the officers for a two-year period from 1 989 to 1 99 1 Whitefishman draws 16 years KALIS PELL (AP) A White-fish man was sentenced Thursday to 16 years in prison, with 10 suspended, for fatally kicking another man during a fight outside a Whitefish tavern 16 months ago. j.Chad Rothacher, 20, also was ordered to pay medical costs for his victim, 34-year-old Ron Raper, who died two days after the fight in a Kalispell hospital. iRothacher's attorney, Gary Do-rdn, said he will appeal the case.

Rothacher was convicted of mitigated deliberate homicide. Doran said five jurors contacted him and wrote to Judge Michael Kjeedy after the trial one wanting to change her verdict, and another requested leniency. Senator: Westerners' park BUTTE (AP) Police in Montana and Nevada have caught two convicts who walked away recently from the Butte Pre-Release Center, but another inmate at the center is missing. Terry Wayne Evans, 33, was arrested in Three Forks and was taken to the state prison in Deer Lodge. Evans, who failed to return to the nJUIUUl HIS fll ICOIO 1 1 SVVII made, Main said some progress was noted on the cases.

He declined to give details. Investigators have also focused on the suspicious disappearance of a Frazer woman three years ago. Main said a new federal law makes it easier to assign extra investigators to a particular reservation when the caseload of resident officers increases sharply. The BIA will continue work on these cases and will supply addi- Trlbunt photo by Waynt Arntt fees unfair woman for the institution. "The Smithsonian and its collections belong to the people of the United States of America and we don't charge admission," the spokeswoman, Mary Combs, said.

"We never have." Eighty-five percent of the Smithsonian's budget comes from outright appropriations and from grants and contracts, Combs said. The museums are asking for $400 million in appropriations alone for fiscal 1995. Private donations provide the remainder of the budget, she said. Simple calculation shows that if the Smithsonian had collected $2.50 apiece from the 25,887,243 visits to the museums in 1993, it could have generated $64.7 million minus the administrative cost necessary to handle the transactions. (406) 727-6106 Cascade Gifts play a direct part in the continuing advancement of health care in our Gifts may be made in honor or memory of a loved one or a friend to the following: Where the need is greatest Renal Dialysis Women's Regional Cancer Center 'Family Housing Center 'Charity Care Maternal Child Care Cancer Research 'Senior Service? Hospice Rehabilitation Services 'Home Health Gift of Life Community Health Information Library by a stab wound to the stomach.

Kenneth Shields, a 65-year-old Poplar resident, was discovered dead on the Red Thunder Roadi three miles north of Poplar, on Dec. 12, 1992. No details of the death have ever been released, Alonzo Three Stars, 58, Poplab was found dead near an alley behind an abandoned trailer home in Poplar on Aug. 30, 1993. A relative discovered the body, which had 4 stab wound in the upper torso, said police.

No motive has been disam ered. Minnesota casino on official business and once won $5,000 on a progressive slot machine. Barlow denied that it was improper to accept what he called "marketing incentives." He maintained the BIA's regulatory role in Indian casinos was greatly reduced by a new federal law. And he said he visibly patronized Indian casinos in his off-work hours to promote them as a good form of entertainment that spur economic development for Indian tribes. Barlow, 66, decided to retire on his own and was not asked by the BIA to resign, according to News from Indian Country.

It quoted bureau spokesman Carl Shaw as say; ing that Barlow will receive fit retirement benefits. Barlow was a former Browning school superintendent and chairman of the Montana Board of Public Education before his 1979 appoint ment by President Jimmy Carter as director of the BIA's Office of Indian Education in Washington D.C. He directed the midwest BIA area since 1982. center after work Monday afternoon, now faces a felony escap charge, according to pre-release supervisor Steve McArthur. Another walkaway, Jim Reynold's, was caught by police in Win-nemucca, McArthur said.

Still missing is Jack Scott War? kentin, 34, who didn't return to the center Wednesday night. and are tax deductible as allowed by Box 1821, Great Falls, Montana 59403-1821! MONTANA or 1-800-451-9107 Ext. 5860 727-0950 Located in the Nature's Den Building on the State Fairgrounds M-F Sat. 8-6; Sun. 12-5 J.

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