The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 16

Page 1 6 The Lincoln Star STATELOCAL Friday, April 2, 1993- Judge rules McElroy merrily competent Hearing gathers evidence in killing i i fj vj 'fell Vfi'it 4 VMS Vt KA Pwmi- posed to the stress of a trial. How- ever, he said he could not predict if McElroy would be unable to function if his delusions were challenged; In? court He said it was unlikely McElroy would suddenly become imcompe-I tent Martin said he believed McElroy began to suffer from the disorder in 1982, when he became convinced hisl chances for promotion in an OmahajJ insurance company were sabotaged" by a conspiracy. ZZ HE SAID HE BELIEVED McElroy obtained a law degree in part to gain power to counteract the 2 perceived conspiracy. After Thursday's hearing, during; which Martin was the only witness, Endacott determined McElroy waaj competent to stand trial. Before any trial, however, issues raised in a defense challenge of the charges against him must be relj solved.

An April 15 hearing was scheduled on the challenge, which alleges the! charges are legally flawed. 't If the prosecution prevails, McElroy would be scheduled for a district court arraignment where his mental health might again become an issue. "I won't be surprised if there will be a plea of not responsible by reason of! insanity," Deputy County Attorney John Colborn said. Deputy County Public Defender! Webb Bancroft, who represents McElroy, said an insanity plea has yet to be explored by the defense, Mental health evaluations of McElroy have focused only on competency issue and not on his state of mind at the time of the Octobeu noticed he had blood on his neck and his hands and couldn't find anything in the car to wipe it off so then he dropped the body in a field near Walt-hill," Krieger said. Under cross examination by defense attorney Michael Levy, Krieger said Douglass also said that both Anton and Webb had been very drunk on Dec.

15. EARLIER THURSDAY, State Patrol Sgt Charles Phillips said an autopsy report on Anton's body showed her blood alcohol content was 0.228 percent. The report also listed her blood type as the same as blood traces found in Webb's car and in his apartment, Krieger said. Webb was being held in the Sarpy County Jail without bond because Burt County has no ail. The hearing Thursday was delayed twice, then continued until next week so the defense lawyer could get documents the two Nebraska State Patrol investigators used to prepare their testimony.

Burt County Judge FA Gossett III ordered Burt County Attorney Nora Goll to provide Levy with reports Krieger and Phillips used to refresh their recollection of the case. "This isn't a preliminary hearing by ambush," Gossett said. Webb had a relationship, including sexual intercourse, with Anton before and during the 2' months she lived in Lyons, Krieger testified. But a friend of Anton's told Krieger that Anton complained on Dec. 8, 1986, that she was concerned Webb had a key to her apartment and had been making passes at her.

WEBB DISAPPEARED from Lyons on Dec. 30, 1986, and a warrant was issued a week later for his arrest on a first-degree murder charge. Krieger said authorities knew Webb withdrew $3,500 from a savings account and bought a plane ticket to Belize, a country in Central America. Webb was arrested in February at a Holly Hill, construction site after a Florida man called the Nebraska State Patrol when watching a rerun of the television show "Unsolved Mysteries" that highlighted the case. Moureen BoguMLlncoln Star Kerry Braasch jams with Eddie in April Fools' Day gag.

A chance to meet Eddie VH? Cut it out! Former Lyons police chief says he awoke to find Anna Anton's dead body in his kitchen. TEKAMAH (AP) A former police chief charged with murdering his neighbor told another police chief he awoke to find the woman's dead body on his kitchen floor, a Nebraska State Patrol investigator said Thursday. Investigator Jerry Krieger testified at a Burt County Court hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to order former Lyons Police Chief Gregory Webb to stand trial in the shooting death of Anna Anton. Webb, 42, disappeared in 1986 from the northeast Nebraska communitv he once patrolled Webb shortly after Anton, 34, was last seen. Krieger testified that Oakland Police Chief Gregory Douglass told the investigator about statements Webb made to Douglass on Dec.

28, a day after Anton's naked body was found in a farm field about 20 miles north of Lyons. Anton had last been seen on Dec. 15, 1986. WEBB TOLD the Oakland chief that Webb found Anton's body on his kitchen floor early on Dec. 16 and realized she had been shot, Krieger said.

Webb told Douglass that he discovered two spent cartridges in Webb's .38 caliber revolver, said the State Patrol investigator who tracked Webb to Florida where he was arrested in February. "He (Webb) knew he had to do something to make it look like Anna Anton had disappeared," Krieger said Webb told Douglass. Webb told Douglass he stripped the body, wrapped it in a blanket, pulled the body downstairs and put it in the trunk of his car, Krieger said. I Webb told Douglass he began driving north, Krieger said. "As the sun was coming up, Webb California base bring squadron (AP) Offutt Air Force Base just south of Omaha could gain 130 to 180 military transfers if a base irt northern California is closed, Rep.

Doug Bereuter said. Bereuter said closure of McClellan Air Force Base near Sacramento could lead to the transfer of the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to Offutt The Utica Republican said the transfer also could involve a few civilians and four or five aircraft A federal base-closing commission said this week that it would add McClellan and the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, to a list of 31 major military installations it would consider for closure. "This opens a real opportunity for business and civic leaders in the Omaha metropolitan area, with support from the greater Nebraska and tywa region, to launch a strong effort to convince the Air Force that the 55th WRS be relocated to Offutt," Bereuter said in a printed statement The 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flies WC-135 aircraft a variant of the EC-135s and RC-135s based good humor, though several others sputtered a few unprintable words. Jeff Larsen merely slapped his head when he found out he'd been had. "I didn't even think about it (being April Fools' Day)," he said.

He made the best of the situation, though, and settled for a photo with cardboard Eddie and got the two disc jockeys' autographs. Travel agent Kerry Braasch took off work to come down. "I should have known better with The Blaze," she said. One couple, Greg Mostek and Kim Oakley, showed up in Van Halen concert T-shirts. "I got out of bed early," said Mostek, who arrived at about 10:30 a.m.

"I went and bought film and everything," he said. Amy Conrad, who also sported a concert T-shirt, said she suspected it was a joke, but didn't want to take any chances. "I had to make sure," she said. cident, Bancroft said. return materials factory's production, despite his com- 2 pany's demands for the materials.

Without the materials, the lawsui- alleged, Jade Inc. had been unable to I fulfill a sewing contract and has sufJ, fered damages of the $30,000. Judge Paul Merritt Jr. Wednesday that Jade Inc. is entitled, to the materials and issued an order for them to be delivered to Jade.

me Reebok moves account! STOUGHTON, Mass. (NYT) Reebok International Ltd. moved its' ad account with billings of about $9 million, to Ammirati Puris, New 2 York, for its Boks casual footwear and apparel division, previously nan- died by Toth Carlisle, Mass. i Lincoln Arthur McElroy, the man authorities allege wielded a gun in what could have become the worst mass murder in modern Nebraska history, was ruled Thursday to be competent to stand trial on attempted second-degree murder, terroristic threats and weapons-related charges. Authorities allege that in October, McElroy, 44, of Bennet brought a semiautomatic carbine and ammunition to his actuarial science class at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and attempted to fire at classmates.

The gun jammed before any shots were fired, and McElroy and the other students fled In a Thursday hearing before Lancaster County District Judge Donald Endacott, a Lincoln Regional Center psychiatrist said McElroy has been-diagnosed as suffering from paranoid delusional disorder. Dr. Louis Martin testified that people suffering from the mental illness believe hostile forces are acting against them or they develop unrealistic notions that they have special missions or significance in the world. DESPITE THE MENTAL disorder, Martin said, McElroy now basically meets legal standards for mental competency in criminal cases. Generally, they require that a defendant understand the nature of the criminal proceedings against him and be able to assist in his defense.

McElroy's condition has improved since he began a treatment plan developed after his transfer from the Lancaster County Jail to the Regional Center in December, Martin said. The plan includes daily doses of the tranquilizer Thorazine. Martin said he was somewhat concerned disorder might interfere with his defense if he were ex Prison ordered to The former operator of a sewing factory at the Nebraska State Penitentiary has won a judge's order for the return of material left inside the prison when the shop was closed. Harvey Martin of Nebraska City operated the prison factory, known as La Pen from December 1987 until February of this year. The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services closed it, stating Martin owed $200,000 to the department and the factory's inmate laborers.

Last month Jade Martin's Nebraska City sewing business, filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court, alleging the Corrections Department had not turned over fabric and other materials used in the prison 30s .201 CI 900 Aocu-Wwther Ine. E3 E3 SUNNY FT. CLOUDY CLOUDY SconMuff5a' ending at 4 p.m. oou 477-3333, 1600 ffinwi AwT Friday, April 1 Aoca-Weedier foracen Weather Forecast The Accu-Weather forecast for noon, Friday, April 2. Lines separate high temperature zones tor Ihe day.

Umiiiil I ,77,7. Sunrise: 6:09 p.m. Sunset: 6:52 p.nw Total daylight 12 hours, 43 mlnuteitj i MoonPhiee 0O0QI Firat Quarter Full Moon Uet Quarter New Moon Mar 31 Apme Apnl13 Temperatures Hli COLD WARM STATIONARY Prmtur 0 man low E3 E3 ED E3 SHOWERS RAIN TSTORMS FLURRIES Some unsuspecting radio listeners who thought they'd get to meet rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen Thursday morning had forgotten to check the calendar. Instead, they were greeted with a lifesize cardboard cutout, courtesy of radio station KIBZ "The Blaze" and morning disc jockeys Tim Sheridan and Jon "The Animal" Terry. About 60 local fans became unwitting participants in an April Fools' Day stunt that promised a photo and autograph session with the legendary rock star at Dietze Music House, 1208 St "The cost to bring Eddie in would be prohibitive," said Sheridan.

"So we did the next best thing. They had to expect it from us. We're pretty mean." Sheridan and Terry went so far as to drive around with "Eddie" in a chauffeured limousine before bringing him to Dietze's. They also gave away free music and photos to those who showed up. Most of the victims took it in Young children, families invited to Saturday fair Lincoln's first-ever citywide Early Childhood Fair will be held Saturday from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

More than 70 activities geared to children 8 and under will be available at the event open to the public and planned for young children and their families. Some of the displays and activities include face painting, computer games and musical activities, as well as ongoing performances by singers, jugglers, dancers and community groups. The Family Fair is one event of the Early Childhood Celebration, which also includes a presentation called "Beyond Discipline: Parenting in the Nineties," set for 7 p.m. Sunday at East High Auditorium. Both activities are free.

The event is presented by the Child Care Advisory Committee's Collaboration Subcommittee, with includes representatives from the Lincoln Association for the Education of Young Children, the Community Child Abuse Prevention Council, the Nebraska Association of Child Care Workers, Family Service, the Nebraska Family Daycare Association, the Nebraska Director's Association, the American Red Cross and Lincoln Public Schools. Hastings woman dies in Kansas crash HASTINGS (AP) A 44-year-old 1 Hastings woman was killed in a utility vehicle-truck crash on U.S. Highway 36 six miles west of Phillipsburg, Kan. The Kansas Highway Patrol said Elizabeth L. Wolfe was 'dead at the scene of the accident that occurred at 12: 10 a.m.

Thursday. Wolfe was driving a Jeep Wago- neer westbound on Highway 36 when she apparently crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound semi-trailer truck driven by Ricky Dale Snead, 22, of Albany, the patrol said. Snead wasn't injured Authorities said they don't know if Wolfe was wearing a seat belt the first floor. He said the blaze caused extensive heat and smoke damage throughout the structure. The home was considered a total loss, Bruns said.

He estimated the home's value before the fire at 140,000. Bruns estimated the damage to the home's contents at $20,000. He said Samson's cat was killed in the blaze. Lost Yesterday's Thursday year Normal records High 42 58 a7lnl5e- Low 24 25 33 17 In 1968; Thursday's hourly readings: jj 1o.m.33 9a.m.31 5p.m.41 2o.m.32 10o.m.32 6 p.m.39w 3o.m.31 llo.m.34 7p.m.34 7Z 4a.m.31 Noon36 6p.w.29 5 a.m.30 1 p.m.37 9 p.m.30 6o.m.30 2p.m.41 7 o.m.30 3 p.m.41 11 p.m,26 IS 4 p.m.42 Mldnlght2iTI closure may to Offutt at Offutt. Bereuter said the McClellan unit's aircraft are being modified to conduct reconnaissance over Russia and other republics of the former Soviet Union to verify their compliance with strategic arms limitation treaties.

"Whether or not McClellan is closed, this unit move is a logical one and is likely to find support within the Air Force because the new product will serve the intelligence and arms-control-monitoring functions which are located at StratCom headquarters," Bereuter said. Offutt is home to the U.S. Strategic Command, which manages long-range nuclear forces on alert with the goal of deterring a major attack on the United States. Bereuter said he learned about the potential for moving the Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to Offutt from his service on the House Intelligence Committee and his participation with a group of House members who have observed arms-control talks. threats were made toward a key figure in the case, indicated their re lease would pose a danger.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Full-erton said the lengthy sentences Moore and Robinson face, the discovery of a gun in a business run by Moore and a number of other factors, also indicated they are dangerous and that they might flee if they were released. Attorneys for the men said any threats made during the electronically monitored phone conversation were not voiced by the defendants. The attorneys proposed a release arrangement they said would ensure that the defendants would not flee. Piester listed Fullerton's arguments in his Thursday orders that the men be detained without bond.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for today. ine unj agreea to form a community-discussion committee, conduct outreach workshops and refrain from using such outreach services for arrest and enforcement of immigration-law violators. Judge denies bond for two men charged with crack conspiracy SNOW National Forecast I Precipitation 24 hours to fnldnlght lost night Month to dote trocj; 1.90 Normal month to date 2.09. Year to date Normal year to date 3.3S Unsettled weather will linger across the Northeast today with some rain from central New England to northern Virginia. A mixture of snow and sleet will continue throughout northern New England.

Unseasonably cold air will push southward through the Great Lakes. Showers of rain and snow will affect the central Rockies. A federal magistrate ruled Thurs day that two defendants in a criminal case involving Lincoln's largest seizure of crack cocaine should be held without bond. 1 Drug distribution conspiracy charges were unsealed Monday in VS. District Court in Lincoln against Eric J.

Moore, 30, and Craig C. Robinson, 24, both of Lincoln. Authorities said the two men were involved in an operation to distribute crack cocaine in Lincoln. In March, narcotics agents intercepted two packages shipped to Lincoln from California, allegedly as part of the conspiracy, and removed a total of 10 ounces of crack from them. During a hearing before U.S.

Magistrate David L. Piester on Thursday, a prosecutor argued that the defendants' participation in a telephone conversation, during which (p) For Travelers IlSJZI National Forecasts For Today World Temperatures Wednesday City hllo City hllo City hlle City hlle City Mk city hllo Albony Columbus Los Vegas Phoenix Athens 4343 Manila 91nZ Albuquerque Dallas Little Rock cdyl37 Pittsburgh Bangkok 9581 Mexico City Amarlllo Denver Los Angele Portland Belling 4450 Moscow 39734 Anchorage Pes Molnei Louisville Raleigh Berlin 5934 Nairobi 7757 Atlanta Detroit cdy ,3923 Memphis Ropld City Bermuda 7341 New Delhi Billings El Paso Miami Reno Bogota 6848 Paris 5248 Birmingham Flagstaff clr.5527 Milwaukee St. Louis Buenos Aires 7963 ri STS Bismarck Honolulu Minneapolis Soil Lk Cty cdy ,4137 Calgary 4327 5772 Boise Houston New Orleans San Antonio Dhohran 8261 son Juan 9175 Boston Indlanopolls New York cdy ,4838 Frnclsco Hong Kong 7768 Singapore mfl" Buttole Jocksnvlle Norfolk Seottle roln.5545- Jerusalem 4444 Sydney 73757-i Casper Juneou cdy.4734 Qkla. City roln.5949 Washington -cdy Johannesburg 7354 Tokyo 4852' Chlcogo Kansas City Philadelphia Wichita London 5248 Toronto 463i Yesterday's high: 89 In Lake Havosu City, tow: 12 In West Yellowstone. Mont.

Modrid 4441 Vienna siTjy-" nJi Extended Forecast Forecast For Today tz Latino Forum, INS to work for understanding for daytime eondirioM tai high tempentmee NEBRASKA: Mostly cloudy, 30 percent chance of light rain Saturday. High In lower 50s. Cold and dry Sunday. Highs mid 20s to mid 30s. Lows 5 to 15.

Monday, highs In the upper 50s to mid-oOs. Lows In the blaze destroys West Lincoln home 15stata Highs And lows Yesterday's highs and lows for the 14-hour period OMAHA (AP) Representatives of the Latino Forum of Nebraska and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service say they will work together to improve public understanding of immigration laws. Wednesday night A fire that began Wednesday nieht in a furnace at 720 W. St.

destroyed a home and all of the property inside, City Fire Investigator Jack Bruns said. Bruns said Rita Samson, 81, the woman who owned and occupied the home, was evacuated safely after the fire was discovered by a neighbor. He said Samson refused offers of medical treatment at the scene. According to Lincoln Fire Depart-. a IOWA Noffolh47 I M' Omaha 47 Grand leland 50 to5 KAN.

Flrrlti Snow City High Low City High Low City High Low Alnsworth 41 28 Falls City 37 86 Wo. Platte 43 33 Alliance 51 31 Grnd Island 44 31 Omaha 34 Beatrice Hastings 44 30 O'Neill Broken Bow 43 30 Imperial 47 27 Ord 45 27 Chodron 47 32 Kearney 42 32 Scottsblutf S3 26 Columbus 42 30 WcCook 47 34 Sidney 52 2 Coiod Norfolk 42 79 Valentine 40 27 ment records, the blaze was reported at 10 p.m. Firefighters battled it for about 35 minutes before gaining control. Bruns said a heater in the basement of the home overheated and ignited the wooden structure of the floor above it as well as paneling in the basement The fire burned a large hole in the floor between the basement and the first floor of the home and spread to Fingertips waather Information;.