Stevens Point Journal from Stevens Point, Wisconsin • Page 1

rl mm mm is. Monday, June 1993 3 Sections 24 Pages J5C ClOuQ)ln) taps 'Q Vv 1 K')- WASHINGTON (AP) President Clinton today offered the Supreme Court nomination to Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a moderate who sits on the federal appeals court in Washington, according to White House sources who said she had accepted. An announcement was planned this afternoon, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. If confirmed by the Senate, Ginsburg, 60, would take the seat of retiring Justice Byron White. She got the offer after the White House spent the weekend reviewing her background, and Clinton picked from a list of Ginsburg, Judge Stephen Breyer of Boston and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt Clinton called Breyer and Babbitt this morning to inform them of his decision, the sources said.

Late last week, Breyer appeared the favorite, visiting the White House for an interview with Clinton just hours after being released from a Boston-area hospital. Over the weekend, it was disclosed that he had failed to pay Social Security taxes for an elderly woman who did housecleaning for him. But most senators and women's groups said the mistake should not be disqualifying, and the White House officials today insisted Clinton did not pass over i (see judge, page 6) Gruszynski ENJOYING FRESH FOOD ON June Dairy Day, (left) Katie Anstett-Dekker, 4, and Sally Haulfmann, 4, eat some pancakes. The children are two of about 1,800 people who attended the 14th annual event Saturday and enjoyed hayrides, contests, meeting cows and learning about farms. (Journal photo by Tom Charlesworth) farm A family lesson Kostuchs share their life on the farm for June Dairy Day Accent-Pg.

17 Give dad a treat on Father's Day Local News-Pg. 2 Tax-exempt property totals $230 million Sports-Pg. 9 Suns break through in NBA Finals INDEX Accent Jg. 17 Classified jg. 21 ponders run for governor By TIMOTHY VERHOFF of the Journal Fresh from securing a position as the state Democratic Party's first vice chairman at the state convention this weekend, Rep.

Stan Gruszynski, D-Stevens Point, is tinkering with the idea of butting heads with Gov. Tommy Thompson when he makes a bid for an unprecedented third four-year term in 1994 Gruszynski said his interest in running is a direct result of his campaign for party leadership. But the legislator acknowledged that he didn't overtly campaign for governor at the convention, unlike Sen. Charles Chvala of Madison. Chvala supporters plastered the convention hotel with signs carrying his name and distributed "Chvala for Governor" T-shirts.

Gruszynski said his focus this weekend was on the first vice chairman position. "I had been actively campaigning for that among party members for the past few months," he said in an interview this morning. "I didn't want delegates to be confused of my motive. If the Democrats are going to take back the east wing and Tommy Thompson is to be defeated, we're going to need a strong grass-roots party organization. That's the issue I was addressing in my campaign for first vice chair." Possible gubernatorial candidates also include Attorney General Jim Doyle, Milwaukee Mayor John O.

Nor-quist, Assembly Speaker Walter Kuni- (see Gruszynski, page 6) 20 Editorial 4 Local News JPg. 2 Obituaries Jg. 2 Open Letters Packer coach likes his milk Showing his strength in farming contests, Green Bay Packer assistant coach Andy Reid won the milk drinking competition Saturday at June Dairy Day after downing 29 double shots of milk. Ken Steckbauer, Wisconsin Rapids and WYTE-96 FM radio announcer, came in second place with 27. Like father, like sons, Britt Reid, 7, and Garrett Reid, 10, tied for first in the children's division of milk drinking after downing 27 single shots of milk each.

Winning in the senior division for the cow mooing contest was Nicole Maslowski, Stevens Point. Second place went to Lee Custer. For the junior division, children 12 and under, Jamie Henke, Amherst, won and Thomas Maslowski, Jr. placed second. Dave and Dolly Peper, Amherst, brought their three children and a neighbor boy to the event.

Though Dolly grew up on a farm, the Pep-ers do not own a farm. Dave, whose job brings him in contact with farmers every week, said he came to the event to see the changes in farming. "Everything's changed," he said. "The dairy products are changing, there's more automation, even the feeding systems are completely different from IS years ago." Kostuch agreed with the changes. But also, he said, herds are bigger and there's more land per farm now.

In 15-20 years, many more changes will take place too, he said, if the farming tradition is not preserved. "The family farms will be going out and there will be more milking parlors," he said. "Herds will get up to probably 200-cow herds." In the meantime, the Kostuchs push on their family tradition. Having bought the farm from his grandfather in 1969, and Lorraine having come from a strong farm- (see dairy, page 6) glad so many people came out to enjoy the farm. Though neighbors have sold out their farms, the Kostuchs said the event was an opportunity to let children know what farming is all about.

"I'm concerned about the generations that grew up on the farm and their children have no contact with the farm," Tony said. "It's important to educate people." Lorraine said perhaps the experience on Saturday would inspire the younger generation. "I think it helps for the young people to be out here," she said. "It gives them an idea that maybe they can do this for a living." Education was one of the reasons Diane Beigel, Bancroft, brought her five children out to the farm. "They can look at all sorts of jobs and see some things they might like to do," she said.

Matt, 9, agreed with his mom and said he may be a farmer when he grows up. But her other children thought it was a family day for fun. "Look mom, there's balloons flying up in the air," Austin, 4, said. By HEATHER MCDONALD of the Journal Family farming may be a dying profession, but area residents showed that the spirit of farming still runs strong. Though the number decreased from last year, about 1,350 people were served breakfast and about 1,800 people attended the 14th annual June Dairy Day Saturday, consuming their fair share of fresh cheese curds, milk, pancakes and ice cream.

Many sat on straw bales and watched performances on the stage. For many, it was a family day, a day to enjoy. For some, it was a day of learning as well Kari Onan, 14, came for the food and fun. She already knows how a farm works she lives on one in Amherst Junction. But she said she will not be a farmer when she grows up.

"I enjoy coming and seeing the different things," she said. "I enjoy being around farmers, but I wouldn't want to be committed to it. It's really a lot of work, you can't horse around." Lorraine and Tony Kostuch, hosts for the event, said they were Public Record 14 Sports I TV Listings 23 HEATHER LOS Temperatures High 10:30 Saturday to noon Sunday, 80. LoW, 73. High noon Sunday to 11:30 today, 77.

Low, 62. 11:30 today, 70. Precipitation, .48. Sunrise tomorrow, 5:13. Sunset tomorrow, 8:45.

Ground wafer at record high basement for days, a side effect of the recent storm and city sewers backing up into their home. Otto Maves, 216 W. Pleasant isn't worried about flooding in his basement, but his sump pump hasn't stopped running in weeks, he said. "I've got a little sump hole that it runs into, and that's full of water," Maves said. "The sump has run all winter and spring." Most area residents tell the same story, according to plumbing contractors.

Water levels are placing high demand on the pumps, they said. R.J. Soik Plumbing and Heating, Stevens Point, has installed about two dozen of the pumps during the past 1 12 weeks, according to Bill Soik. Most were put in place in the town of Hull. "Over on Torun Road, there's water where they never had water before," Soik said.

"The ground water table is rising to a 20-year high. "It's very unusual," he said. "For the past five years, they were talking drought" But now is not the time for many homeowners to be thinking of installing a sump pump, Piotrowski said. "You can't knock a hole in the basement while there's water in there," he said. "The hole will cave in." Even with a sump pump in place, it may not be able to keep up with the large amount of water it encounters, according to Don Lee of Lee Plumbing and Heating, Stevens Point The wear and tear on a pump could cause it to give out, he said.

"They're just like a car. They can get 100,000 or 150,000, or another car can go in 60,000," Lee said. "Pumps are the same." The use they've been getting of late could make them give out in six months to a year, according to Kay Mc (see water, page 6) By KELLY BERG of the Journal The rains came and came and came, giving no hint of when they would leave. It may not be the great flood, but Portage County ground water is higher than it has been in 20 years, according to local plumbing designers and well drillers. As a result, area homes have encountered water seeping into foundation cracks and sump pumps working overtime.

Dave Medin Plumbing Design Testing has spent 15 years planning for this day, according to Dave Medin. "We've planned for a 20-year high in all the work we do, and we're right at it," he said. "People are seeing their water table at where we design." The last time ground water was this high was in 1973, when town of Plover residents recorded about a half million dollars in damage due to flooding. No estimate of how high the water table currently is around the county has been recorded this year, according to Chuck Kell, Portage County planner. For homeowners who are not prepared for ground water levels at this height, there are dangers of sandy soils caving in around the plumbing, Medin said.

Other hazards include precipitation creeping into basements. "Most of the problems are on the north side of Stevens Point where it's wet anyway," said Chuck Pio-trowski of Eagle Plumbing and Heating, Stevens Point "Most them are prepared." Some homes and sump pumps weren't ready for the onslaught of rain that has bombarded the area off and on for more than a week. Even in Plover, where soils are sandy, some problems cropped up, he said. Richard and Mary Lou Judy, 1833 W. Cottage are among those who have been fighting off the unwanted visitor.

The Judys have been pumping water from their I'M'; vi A t- 1 i 1 r.v-v THE PATHS in Iverson Park are wet these days as the Plover River has swelled and invaded the park area. Iverson isn't the only water-logged place in the county. Recent rains have put ground water levels at an all-time high and sump pumps are working around the clock. (Journal photo by Jack Powell) uw iinjl nmm luuiiiiui.Miiigii.i 11 mm pin iiyj miibi ijiijypijiL mi i iiljjg Jig- hi.iii iimnii ii u.i.iu-npw tm up. wiwMwmp .11 iu.i.

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