The Times from Munster, Indiana • 1

Voting rights testimony starts Shots fired at Ferrer's home ByRUTHANNKRAUSE Times Staff Writer EAST CHICAGO Police say Councilman L. Daniel Ferrer reported two gunshots were fired through the front window of his home early Monday. The 5th District councilman wasn't home when the shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. According to a police report filed by Ferrer at 10 a.m. Monday, one of two slugs were recovered from the home at 3811 Parrish Ave.

Lt, Nestor Melendez said the report indicated one slug bounced off a color television and was found in a hallway, and the other caused minor damage in the kitchen. The report said Ferrer's brother, Albert, was awakened by a loud noise at about 12:05 a.m. Monday. Five witnesses were called during a preliminary injunction hearing in the class action suit challenging the 1983 redistricting and reapportionment of election precincts in East Chicago. The suit, filed in U.S.

District Court on March 30, names as defendants Mayor Robert (Continued Back Page This Section) HAMMOND Testimony began Monday in a federal lawsuit alleging changes in election precinct boundaries abridge the voting rights of East Chicago Hispanics. 1 Dm)dlDiin)i i I "Of Copyright, 1983, The Times Home Newspaper of the Calumet Region 2 sections-24 pages 25 cents Crime in U.S. drops 4 dl(oy Tuesday By The Times and Times Wire Services April 19, 1983 A What's right in the Region rape, robbery and aggravated assault dropped 3 percent nationwide, according to FBI statistics. Property crimes fell 4 percent. FBI Director William Webster attributed the declines to heightened awareness of citizens.

Webster said the increased participation of citizens has helped local law enforcement agencies institute crime resistance programs. The Impact of those programs may be what is causing the reduction, Webster said. The preliminary statistics record only figures for cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Figures for states and most Calumet Region communities were not available. Gary showed a 9.9 percent overall crime decrease in 1982, although the city had an increase in murders (85 to 91), car thefts (2,130 to 2,420) and arson cases (314 to 385).

In 1982, Chicago crime Increased 4.9 percent, fueled by increases in robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larceny thefts and car thefts. Chicago statistics for 1982 showed a drop in murders (from 877 to 668) and forcible rapes (1,255 to Nationally, crime In rural and suburban areas declined 6 percent. In cities with populations of 50,000 or more, crime fell 3 percent, an FBI spokesman said today. The largest decrease 7 percent occurred In Northeast states. The smallest decrease 1 percent was In the Southern states, the FBI said.

Serious crime in the United States declined 4 percent in 1982, snapping a two-year span in which crime reached all-time highs. In the 12-state North Central region, which includes Indiana and Illinois, crimes reported to local police departments dropped 6 percent in 1982. The drop is reflected in preliminary Federal Bureau of Investigation figures released today by U.S. Attorney General William French. Crime decreased in every region of Several East Chicago police officers have been given letters of commendation for assisting Drug the country, according to the figures.

Violent crime murder, forcible Enforcement Administration agents in the Hammond office in their drug crackdown. Officers in the narcotics division, personnel division and crime lab were cited in a letter from Police Chief Delbert Hartley to the safety board Wednesday for their assistance to DEA agents in stemming the drug tide in East Chicago. Officers receiving letters of commendation are: Sgt. Augusto Flores; Sgt. Robert Grau; investigators Jerry Horvath, Lonnie Brooks and Fernando Villicana; Rescue squads hunt victims Inspector Edward Sifel, and Officer Dennis Prewitt.

I Weather- Warmer A cold night and warmer Wednesday are in Calumet Region About 400 U.S. Marines and Navy personnel either provided security or helped sift through the rubble of the bombed embassy building for possible survivors. Warrant officer Bill Henderson, 34, of Artesia, N.M., said many of them were guarding a temporary embassy headquarters set up at Dillon's residence in the hillside suburb of Yarze, five miles east of Beirut. Dillon, who suffered minor cuts in the explosion, told reporters he had been trapped in his office by the embassy's falling roof but was rescued by his assistant and suffered only minor cuts. "I was standing up with a telephone in one hand and a T-shirt in the other preparing to go out and jog when all of a sudden my office collapsed," Dillon said.

"I was unable to move. My secretary and my deputy, Bob Hugh, came in and pulled the rubble off me (Continued Back Page This Section) forecast. The National Weather Service predicts it will be fair and cold tonight with a low in the upper 20s. Wednesday is expected to be sunny and warmer with a high near 50. The outlook through Saturday is for a continued warming trend, More temperatures and a national weather map on Page A-12.

For 24-hour weather information, call Weatherline, 895-2600. BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) Rescue squads today searched through shattered concrete and mangled furniture of the U.S. Embassy for more victims of the terrorist bombing. Police said the powerful explosion Monday killed at least 39 people and wounded 120 others, including up to 16 Americans. Col.

James ML Mead, commander of the U.S. Marine contingent in Beirut, said today the dead included seven Americans, with nine others missing and presumed dead. U.S. Ambassador Robert Dillon said it was "very unlikely" any more survivors would be found in the ruins, where authorities expected to find another 20 or so bodies today. Near the several tons of rubble that crashed from the building, a U.S.

flag flew on a flagpole undamaged by the blast. "The embassy Marines put it up at sunrise," Mead said. Witnesses and police said a pickup truck jammed with an estimated 500 pounds of explosives sped into the circular driveway of the seaside embassy and blew up Monday at 1 p.m. as lunchtime strollers passed. The blast shattered the main section's seven-story facade, hurling bodies into the Mediterranean and devastating the ground floor's visa wing.

In all, according to Dillon, about 130 people were at the embassy when the bomb went off, the worst attack on a U.S. facility in Lebanon. The top half of a man's body, clad in a tan suit, hung from the sandwiched fifth floor Ms morning, head and arms dangling and dripping blood. Rescuers attempted without success to extract the body today. Index Advice All Business A-5 Classified B5-12 Comics A-8 Editorial A-10 Obituaries B-4 Page Three A-3 Sports Bl-3 Theater B-3 TV A-9 2 LEBANON i Guaranteed Results The Times guarantees results on classified advertising for private party "For Sale" listings.

You sell your item or your money is refunded. See classified pages for full details. Our phone numbers Want ads: 219-932-8200 8a.m. 7p.m. Circulation: 219-932-3112 9a.m.

NewsSports: 219-932-3106 Other calls: 219-932-3100 Toll Free Numbers Calumet City, Lansing, Dolton, South Holland, etc. 312-375-2679 Crown Point, Hobart, Merrillville 219-738-2762 byria i I U.S. Marines stand guard in front of American Embassy. Whiting center renovation plan works By DIANE DONOVAN Times Staff Writer Lowell, Cedar Lake, Shelby, 219-696-0030 the federal money. Ciesar described it as a "brick and mortar grant," meaning it could only be used for repairs and remodeling.

Although U.S. Department of Interior sources are not sure how much money each state will receive, Ciesar said it's estimated Indiana's share will be between $450,000 and $700,000. (Continued Back Page This Section) Ciesar said the Federal Jobs Act passed in March had a $25-million rider attached to it. According to Ciesar, the money Is earmarked for renovation of historic landmarks. The Whiting Community Center is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ciesar said because of that and the fact Lake County is economically depressed, he feels the community center would receive high priority for Indiana House and Senate. Grenchik said the money would be specifically designated for community center renovation. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary J. Pettersen, D-Hammond, awaits the signature of Gov.

Robert D. Orr. According to Councilman At-Large William Ciesar the bill will cost Whiting residents about $1 each. Ciesar also unveiled some financing plans of his own Monday. WHITING The campaign to renovate the ailing community center at 1938 Clark St.

seems to be paying off. Mayor Joseph B. Grenchik told the city council Monday a bill enabling the city to obtain $50,000 annually in extra tax revenue has been passed by the 1 group interested in WCAE license mitJht ronsider a short-term lease on I Loser's corner. i an Indianapolis service I station owner. Barry D.

Seagrave has lost the i first round in his suit challenging constitutionality of paper money. Seagrave, who owns service stations in Frankfort and Lebanon, refused to remit state sales tax from the sale of gasoline on the theory I federal reserve notes paper money were an unconstitutional form of currency. His suit in Marion County Municipal Court sought an injunction to prohibit the Indiana Department of Revenue from collecting the tax and to prohibit all state banks from issuing federal reserve notes. At the state's request, Judge Edward P. Madinger dismissed Seagrave's suit Friday.

ByPETRALUKE Times Staff Writer school attorney, Richard Mayer, and J.B. Smith, attorney for the group. The group is made up of Calumet Region residents, many of whom were formerly associated with Channel 50. Mayer sent Smith a letter asking what program scheduling would be planned if the group anticipated using the equipment at Channel 50 daily, and whether the group would be willing to help train Lake Central students in television work. Smith told The Times Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc.

gramming two days a week until May 2. The school board voted in February to halt broadcasting by April 1. The school system had been helping finance the station, but the board believed it could no longer afford it. The station broadcasts from Lake Central High School studios. Roman said Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc.

isn't interested in keeping the station at the high school it wants a new location. Negotiations for the license transfer are continuing between the Channel 50's facilities at the high school. But eventually, the corporation would want a more centralized location with more room. Smith said the corporation is considering locations along the Borman Expressway or 1-65 because both are easily accessible to most residents of Lake and Porter counties. Smith said the corporation might commit itself to the Lake Central location for a while to help with the vocational television classes.

ST. JOHN Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting Inc. is the only group that appears willing to assume the broadcasting license of WCAE-TV (Channel 50). That was the opinion Monday of Lake Central School Superintendent Thomas Roman. Channel 50 went off the air March 31, but is continuing education pro.