Stevens Point Journal from Stevens Point, Wisconsin • Page 1

Stevens Boint Journal Friday, November 19, 1993 3 Sections-24 Pages Clinton pushes Pacific trade SEATTLE (AP) President Clinton, a self-described rug-merchant, is out to sell Pacific nations on stronger U.S. ties and to use that warming relationship to try to push Europeans into a global free trade agreement by mid-December. The setting is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum of 15 mostly booming economies on the Pacific Rim that together comprise the fastest growing area of the world. Clinton, buoyant from a congressional free-trade victory this week, wants to steer the United States into a more profitable share of the Asian market. "Someone sort of made fun of me the other he said Thursday on arriving at Boeing Field in this eastward-looking emerald city.

"They said, you know, President Clinton is almost like a rug merchant out there selling American products. Well, I'm not ashamed." He referred directly 1 to promoting sales by Boeing, the nation's largest exporter, but the message was far broader than that: The United States does 50 percent more trade with Asia than with Europe; more than half of U.S. trade last year was with other Pacific Rim nations. And the administration came prepared to deal. It has decided to allow the sale to China of an $8 million Cray supercomputer to help in forecasting natural disasters, U.S.

officials said Thursday night. Tentatively approved, as well, was sale of power turbines for nuclear generators, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. One official said final approval depended on China showing a willingness to respond to U.S. con(see Clinton, page 3) Still time INSIDE Business-Pg. 14 Deer hunting helps sales at local stores Local News-Pg.

2 County's Amish like it here Sports-Pg. 9 Area girls' teams win season openers INDEX Accent 6 14 Classified. 17 1 12 Editorial Local News. Obituaries 2 Open Letters. 5 Public Record 7 Sports 9 TV Listings 23 WEATHER LOG Temperatures (24 hrs.

ending 7:30) High, 45. Low, 34. 7:30 today, 38. Precipitation, .01. Sunrise tomorrow, 7:01.

Sunset tomorrow, 4:26. to talk about power line By KELLY BERG of the Journal You can't fight city hall, er, the Public Service Commission. Admonitions of the sort abound when it comes to a transmission upgrade slated to impinge upon the back and front yards of a number of Portage County homes. Area residents don't buy into the talk. Related stories, page 2 For about three years, an Amherstbased group called Promoting Options for Wise Energy Regulation (POWER) fought a time-consuming battle against the establishment.

Now, about five months away from public hearings that will decide the fate of the $23 million project, other groups have taken up the cause. Officials close to the project say there's plenty of time for them and others affected by the upgrades to become involved. "It's not too late. Their concerns are valid no matter what," said Dave Barger, a state PSC member. Barger helped create the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) describing the effects of the project, which proposes high-voltage power lines from New London through Portage County.

Some people, like those in the town of Stockton, were worried (see power lines, page 3) BANANAS AT LARGE: Shane Totten (left) and Gary Nilsen celebrate the release of "Da Turdy Point Buck" album on compact disc. Not pictured is Mike Skurek, who is also a contributor to the song. (Journal photo by Tom Kujawski) Get dat turdy pointer Local musicians By MINDA MAURER of the Journal Sporting events have the "Star Spangled Banner." Graduation has "Pomp and Circumstance." Deer season has "Da Turdy Point Buck." The popular novelty song extols the virtues of deer hunting while tracking down the deer of all deer. It's been popular since it was first released in 1990 but now the Bananas at Large, the group that recorded the song, is celebrating the tune's rebirth with the re-release of the "Da Turdy Point Buck" album on compact disc. Based out of Amherst Junction, Bananas a at Large is a think tank "idea" group responsible for the tune.

Shane Totten, Gary Nilsen and author of the song, Mike Skurek, are the main contributors to "Da Turdy Point Buck." "We poke fun at anything and just about everything," Totten said. "We want to have songs and ideas for 3-year-olds to 70-year-olds." The group had to come in line with the times because radio stations couldn't play the song anymore with their conversion to compact disc players, Nilsen said. Chopped, bound and ready Yule trees are set for shipping By BRIAN LEAHY of the Journal The Christmas shopping season doesn't officially start until next week, but Christmas tree growers are just about done harvesting this year's yuletide crop. Harvesting of trees for wholesale began in mid-October at Detlor Tree Farms in Plainfield, according to Richard Detlor. The shipping season is just starting.

"It's getting into full swing and we'll conclude shipping in the first week of December," he said. Tree harvesting will be done in a few days and tree lots will soon be opening, he said. This year's supply will be adequate, Detlor said. Even though there doesn't seem to be the oversupply like recent years have had, the cost of trees this year will be stable, he said. One reason for fewer trees this year is that the Scotch pines being LOADING CHRISTMAS TREES for shipment at Detlor Tree Farm in Plainfield are (on the harvested this year were planted during notoriously planting ground from left) Larry Gustin, Matt Sagen and Steve Golla who hoist them up to (on top poor years, Detlor said.

1987 through of truck from left) Leroy Swanson, Pat Peterson and David Poters. (Journal photo by Doug (see trees, page 3) Wojcik) go bananas over deer hunting The compact disc album consists of "Da Turdy Buck," "Spring 99666 "I Hate Cockroaches, "Grandma's Revenge," "Deer Widows Blues," "Da Farm News Report," and "Vee Kom Froom Veeskonsin." "It's been a good experiment," Nilsen said. "If it's not fun, we don't do it." The Bananas at Large originated four years ago. At first, the group released some of the songs as singles but now they are compiled into an album. Banana members don't spend their full time on the group's projects.

Totten, who is rebounding from leukemia, is an art and science teacher at Pacelli High School. Skurek is a junior high school teacher in Wisconsin Rapids, and Nilsen is a piano tuner at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and manages the group's exploits. When deer season rolls around each year, Nilsen finds himself swamped with fan mail and responding to requests for "Da Turdy Point Buck." The song has become increasingly popular and is even featured by Dr. Demento on his syndicated radio show. Two weeks ago, the disc jockey for novelty songs featured the tune as number one.

But Bananas at Large is considering expanding beyond novelty music and into commercials and other ventures. Seasonal novelty keeps coming around but usually only lasts for seven years, Nilsen said. To be successful, creativity is the all important key. "It's hard to spit out ideas before they get away from you," Nilsen said. And bananas are an essential ingredient in their idea making.

They are an inspiration for naming the group and signify the group's attitude. Nilsen said one day he had a bunch of bananas on the counter, he traced it and then enlarged it. Eventually the symbol was made into a banana table and is now the group's trademark. "When you're not inhibited, you do anything and go bananas," he said. The creativity is easy once it's started, but sometimes it's hard to start the inspiration, Nilsen said.

"When it comes time to put together music to be something, that's when it adds up," he said. (see Bananas, page 3) Programs add human touch to justice By TIMOTHY VERHOFF of the Journal The American justice system can be cold and distant. Criminals and victims, adults and juveniles all shuffle through the institution's corridors. But some safety nets stretch across the abyss, adding a human touch 1 to a sometimes impersonal process. Courting Last in a series "It's terrible for anybody having to Justice go into court," said Sally Haas, victim-witness "I to coordinator keep for them Portage in- The legal system County.

try as formed and give them as much knowl- at work edge as I can. I take them into court before-hand to tell them what will be going on and who the players will be, so to speak." parent, letting them sit on her lap to feel more comfortable. As the victim witness coordinator, "We don't them In addition to paint any pretty her duties vary. helping pictures, Haas said. "We don't tell victims and witnesses prepare to testi- them it's as a moral sup- going to be easy." fy in court, Haas acts port for those going through the sys- The idea of giving support to victem.

Through her office, victims and tims and witnesses is fairly new. In their families are informed about the 1979, Wisconsin became the first state progress of cases when court to pass a "Victim's Bill of Rights." appearances will be held, what prison Victims' rights were extended in 1983 an offender will be sent to and how when a law was passed permitting long until an offender will be released them to submit impact statements to from incarceration. the court, which judges are required She's even taken the stand when to consider at sentencing. children are asked to testify against a (see courts, page 3) Partly cloudy Winds Lows 15 to 20.... Increasing cloudiness Highs in low to mid-30s..