Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida · Page 8

0 2B7Talli 2BTallahassee DemocratThurs.. Sept. 10. 1987 Convicted killer escapes from prison Gretna Associated Press RAIFORD A machine-gun ; killer and one-time ringleader of the so-called "Dixie Mafia" remained at large Wednesday after escaping from Union Correctional Institution, prison officials said. Drug dealer and convicted murderer Richard Douglas Cravero, 44, was last seen at the North Florida prison's main housing unit Tuesday at about 1 p.m. He wasn't missed for nine hours, Superintendent Marion. Ellis said. Officials aren't sure how he escaped, Ellis said. He added that the escape was so clean that investigators are wondering if he might still be inside the prison compound. Because Cravero might have access to illegal wealth, investigators also suspect he may have had inside help in the escape, The Sun reported. Cravero and his partner, Ronald Clifford Chandler, were serving life sentences for 1975 and 1976 murders in Dade and Monroe counties. One killing, believed to be drug related, was the machine-gun slaying of the owner of Miami's Pirate Cove bar. From 1B Crash From 1B ; - of Health and Rehabilitative - Services. ; They have not seen their parents since the accident, according -to Katie Hudson, subdistrict ad- ministrator of HRS. "Z: She said they know their sister " is dead. The children "seem to be adjusting as well as can be expected," Hudson said. j She said HRS is working with relatives to get the family back to gether. She said the children will see their parents as soon as the doctors allow them to. No charges were filed Wednesday, but the investigation continued. It appears that no child-restraint seats were used, Lt. Ron Gambrell said. Florida law requires a child-restraint seat only for children 3 or younger. Four- and 5-year-olds can be restrained with a seat or a safety belt. It was unclear if safety belts were used, Gambrell said. "This family was in a bad situation, anyway," said Trooper R.C. Cox. "Now, they have just about lost everything they have." Poll From 1B The poll shows that Martinez's popularity has plunged since before the tax was enacted last April. A Hamilton poll taken in March showed that 64 percent of those polled rated Martinez's performance as favorable, while 24 percent rated his performance as unfavorable. The remainder had no opinion. In September, the poll said, 65 percent disapproved of Martinez's -performance and 24 percent approved, almost exactly the reverse ;jf the March figures. The poll said that the numbers ondicated that Martinez has lower approval ratings than any other "American governor currently "serving. Though details differ, the overfill thrust of the Hamilton poll is similar to a New York Times News-- "papers poll released over the weekend, showing Martinez had an approval rating of 12 percent and a disapproval rating of 53 percent. On the basis of the low ratings, "if the governor is not now a political basket case, he is very close," Hamilton wrote. "The governor is unpopular among virtually all subgroups even Republicans rate him negatively by better than 2-to-l," the poll says. Martinez's plummeting popularity is linked to his support for ; the sales tax on services. Seventy-eight percent of those polled said they hold Martinez responsible for the tax. Traylor noted that Martinez did not originate the services tax. Democratic legislative leaders and former Gov. Bob Graham set the stage for the tax in 1986, by automatically requiring all services to be taxed starting in 1987 unless this year's Legislature said differently. Martinez also said he supported taxing some services. However, Martinez also promised to cut $800 million in waste from the state budget, and blasted his Democratic opponent, Steve Pajcic, as a tax-and-spend liberal. After his election, Martinez enthusiastically backed the services tax as the best solution to the state's revenue woes. Martinez has called for a statewide referendum on the tax, vowing to run a multimillion-dollar campaign to convince voters it's needed. That campaign probably would fail, Hamilton concluded. Seventy-seven percent of those polled want the tax repealed, 17 percent support it and 6 percent have no opinion, the poll said. Voters' favorite plan to replace lost revenue would be to raise the state's sales tax from 5 percent to 6 percent. . Actually, state economists say, such a move would cost the average Floridian $173 a vear next year. The average family would pay only $120 with the services tax. Hamilton ureed that Florida Democrats do their best to destroy Martinez's political career. "The governor is down and we cannot afford to let him ud." the poll said. Cue lake the (Sake SMS b'r G with a delicous cake or .e-, gourmet food basket from We 1 ake the Cake. Cakes & baskets come beautifully wrapped, ribboned & delivered. A gift in good taste is only a phone call away! 386-Ct4K2. V! Children's & Materity Apparel & Gifts ' 20 VOFF everything in the store Thurs., Sept. 10-Sat., Sept. 12 20 off: Great Fall Fashions Children's & Maternity Previous Markdowns KillearnPublix Shopping Center Thomasville Rd. at Capital Circle 893-8853 Open weeknights 'til 7:00 Town Attorney Harold Knowles could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and Berkley's defense lawyer said he had no views on the subject. "Our goal at this point is to get a reasonably speedy trial," Mode-sitt said. "Mr. Barkley's position is, of course, that he's innocent. I think the way the state attorney's office worded it, that he overpaid himself, suggests the weakness of the state's case." The defense lawyer said he planned to present records and correspondence showing that the council intended Barkley to receive more than the $6,400 figure cited by prosecutors. "The salary that he is paid is really more of an allowance than a salary," Modesitt said. "It's more to cover his costs and out-of-pocket expenses. It is totally insufficient to Sarasota officials say . man shot after smiling Associated Press SARASOSTA - A 20-year-old man says he was shot for smiling at a woman whose companion apparently objected. Sarasota deputies said they're searching for a man who got out of his car and shot Herbert Howell in the chin with a rifle Monday. Howell was preparing to leave a Sarasota hospital Wednesday. Howell said he was returning from an outing when he saw a woman in a red car. Howell said he smiled at the woman, but her companion took it the wrong way. pay what he's really worth and really earns. He has benefited that community by obtaining grants for quite a number of years . . . "To say that he overpaid himself $700, compared to services he has provided over the entire year, simply highlights what we feel is the lack of fairness in the charge." It was not clear how Wednesday's developments might affect a citizens' recall drive, aimed at ousting Barkley and three Town Council members. Organizers have collected 361 signatures in a town with 736 registered voters. Before the effort can proceed, officials must confirm that 100 of those signatures are valid. That stage of the job will probably be completed later this week, said Denny Hutchinson, Gadsden County Supervisor of Elections. Meanwhile, Gretna has no permanent leadership in either its executive or administrative branches. After Akins was fired Aug. 4, the council appointed Michael Moore as interim town administrator. Hearing From 1B an absolute conclusion," said Assistant State Attorney Bob Cum-mings. "And we need to get the competency issue squared away before the case can proceed." Stimel outlined that Jenkins had a history of psychiatric hospitalizations, but was not receiving treatment at the time of her arrest. Jenkins case at Apalachee, Stimel wrote, was closed last year because she didn't wish further treatment. Among details of Jenkins' mental disorder, Stimel wrote, is that she believes there is a double, of her in Tallahassee who actually does the things for which she is accused. At one point in the hearing, Jenkins said she had something to say. "Your honor, I'm not opposed to mental-health treatment," she said. "But I've asked my lawyer for an alternative to the Florida State Hospital. There's a facility behind TMH (Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center) that's very nice. I'd much rather go to something within the vicinity." But the only viable options suggested by Stimel were Apalachee's PATH or the Florida State Hospital. And the psychologist preferred the Chattahoochee option, writing that Jenkins "is clearly in need of long-term treatment as opposed to short-term crisis stabilization." Once she gets to Chattahoochee, Jenkins said, she doesn't want to go the forensic unit, where patients are charged with crimes. Judge Smith gently explained that decision rests with HRS.r "Forensics is experimental medicine," Jenkins objected. "I'd just like to say I don't think I deserve forensic. But thanks for the chance to speak." At least, Showalter said, her client will be better off than waiting in jail. FREE BLOOD PRESSURE check sru rtTTS FREE consultation MEDICALLY STAFFED' 656-6420 241 8-B EAST PLAZA DRIVE APPOINTMENT PLEASE QO0S SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1987. 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM CHILDREN'S HEALTH DAY '87 AT 'GOVERNOR'S SQUARE lldren's Health Day '87 is the third annual event of entertainment, community resources and, most importantly, health information for the whole family. 7 "en 'mm AT TALLAHASSEE MEMORIAL Tallahassee Memorial staff will exhibit medical technologies and provide information on pregnancy, the birthing process, holiday safety, nutrition, wellness, children's services and more! And little ones can bring their stuffed animals or dolls for a check-up by a pediatric nurse at the "Hug-A-Bunch Hospital" to receive a Children's Health Day immunization card. mm a. m. V Entertainment throughout the day includes: Coo Coo the Clown "Pick A Story" Storyteller . Shelley Harshbarger Robot Becky Buckle-Up and the crash-test dummies Vince and Larry from the Florida Coalition for Auto Safety Balloon creations by the Family Practice Residency Program doctors Sketches by a forensic artist from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Missing Children's Bureau and more! COMMUNITY RESOURCES American Cancer Society American Lung Association Brehon Institute for Human Services Children's Home Society Compassionate Friends Drs. Carey & Mc Aninch Education Computers Etc. Florida Coalition for Auto Safety Now Leon County Public Health Department Leon County Public Library March of Dimes Parents Anonymous Stanley A. Sheppard, DMD Tallahassee Fire Department Tallahassee Police Department United Cerebral Palsy CONTRIBUTING MERCHANTS Commodore Travel Holiday Inn, Apalachee Parkway Maid-In-Tallahassee Marriott's Bay Point Resort Marriott Food Services Ramada Inn, Apalachee Parkway Shoney's Inc. The Mill Bakery and Eatery Quincy's Family Steak House Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, Governor's Square TALIAHASSEE MEMORIAL uu REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.