Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 3

www.siouxcityjoumal.com Sioux City Journal. Wednesday. Jan. 7, 2004-A3 Lawmakers brace for wide open debate on gambling Des Moines and Fort Dodge, are mulling riverboat proposals. But four counties, including Cerro Gordo, Linn, Clay and Dickinson, shot down gambling plans.

step. But that inaction only shifted the controversy to the Statehouse, where a ide-open gambling debate is likely to stir strong emotions and spawn plenty of behind-the-scenes horse trading. "There are a lot of new players in the Legislature since the last serious gambling debate and I'm not sure the votes are there to pass it," said Senate Minority Leader Mike Gron-stal, D-Council Bluffs. "But a number of communities have spoken and I think it's fair to deal with their issue." A push to lift the license A study presented to the Racing and Gaming Commission in October contends Iowa's untapped gambling market adds up to roughly $200 million annually. Local development leaders are hoping to carve out a slice of that economic pie while state officials see new casinos as a potential source of tax revenues.

Some state leaders also favor the idea of auctioning off new opposition to expansion. "As far as I'm concerned, any expansion is an expansion of the damage," said Robert Miller of Muscatine, who leads Truth About Gambling, an anti-gaming group. He argues the side-effects of problem gambling bankruptcies, divorce and crime erase any economic benefits brought by new casinos. "It's not good for our society for one thing. It's an activity and a lifestyle that is, by nature, destructive," said Sen.

Ken Veenstra, R-Orange City, who opposes expansion. Aides to Gov. Tom Vilsack say he is likely to sign a bill that expands gambling if lawmakers can work out deal broad enough to pass the House and Senate. "Nobody's going to make up their minds until they see what the final product is," Rants said. "There's a lot of soul-searching at the last minute, trying to decide what the right thing to do is." By Todd Dorm yixnd Da Wrvi Blictu DES MOINES State lawmakers are bracing for a potentially long, contentious debate over the prospect of gambling expansion in Iowa during the upcoming 2004 session, and legislative leaders say the outcome is no sure thing.

"All I can say is there's going to be a debate," said House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City. "I can't tell you whether the Legislature will end up passing the bill or what it will look like. Tt is a distraction," he said. Gambling was tossed back onto the legislature's agenda in November, when the state's Racing and Gaming Commission declined to lift a five-year moratorium on the issuance of new casino licenses. Appointed commissioners said they need clarification from elected lawmakers on several issues before taking such a far-reaching measures that would end the Cruising requirement for riverboat and allow racetrack casinos to offer table games in addition to slots.

It's also possible lawmakers will discuss revising the state's casino tax structure. But that may have to wait until the Iowa Supreme Court delivers the final word in a legal battle over that structure. Even with those steps, expansion might be a tough sell in river towns where gambling is already big business. "I think we have enough. I think all you're doing is trading dollars now," said Sen.

Maggie Tinsman, R-Daven-port Expansion proponents must also overcome the strong objections of gambling opponents who see gaming as socially damaging. It's likely critics will see the debate as an opening for new gambling restrictions, such as limits on the use of credit cards in casinos. But even new limits may not quell The 80th session moratorium and allow ex- mmm panded gambling is gaining political steam. Voters in four counties Black Hawk, Worth, Palo Alto and Wapello have already given overwhelming support to riverboat casino proposals. Several other communities, including mmmm casino licenses, potentially bringing in tens of millions of dollars for each new riverboat.

But building support for expansion likely means offering concessions to lawmakers from Iowa communities that are already home to casinos. Among those possible concessions are ((MEG continued from page 1 "I It was pretty much my first chance to anchor and I got to fulfill a dream I've always had, and I got to do it close to home." In addition to weeknight news at 6 and 10 p.m., KMEG will provide five local "cut-ins" between 6 and 7 a.m. during The CBS Morning News." Four cut-ins will offer local weather and the final, 6:55 a.m. cut-in will include local news and weather. On Saturdays, "Hollywood Squares" will replace the 6 p.m.

news, and first-run UPN sit-com, "All of Us" will replace the 10 p.m. news. On Sundays, "The CBS Evening News" will replace the local news at 5:30 p.m., and "The Cosby ShoW will replace the 10 p.m. news. Starting Jan.

18, that will be followed at 10:30 p.m. by a UPN reality show, "America's Next Top Model Search" with Tyra Banks. That will push "trip George Michael Sports Machine" to an 11:30 p.m. starting time. Voters reject riverboat gambling An effort to bring riverboat gambling to Sac County was rejected by voters Tuesday.

A measure asking for approval of gambling games on an excursion boat in Sac County was rejected by a vote of 2,007 against to 1,475 in favor, according to the Sac County Auditor's Office. Sac County was the fourth Northwest Iowa county to hold a special election on riverboat gambling in the past year. Voters in Dickinson and Clay counties already rejected the proposal, while it was approved by Palo Alto County residents in June. A statewide moratorium on new gambling licenses remains in place after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in November decided lifting the moratorium is a decision for the legislature. State lawmakers are expected to take up the expanded gambling issue this year.

McClure elected Sac County sheriff Sac County voters elected Ken McClure to be the new county sheriff during a special election Tuesday. McClure, running as a Republican, received 1,142 votes to beat out three other candidates running to fill the remaining year of retired sheriff Roger Owens' term. Acting Sheriff and write-in candidate Keith Flink was the runner-up with 883 votes. Democratic candidate Odebolt Police Chief Bruce Henderson placed third with 839 votes and Lake View Police Chief Ted Hclmich, who was nominated by a petition, finished fourth with 520 votes. McClure is a deputy in the sheriff's office.

Owens retired in late November to spend more time with his family. Flink had been serving as active sheriff since November 30 after being appointed to the position by the Board of -1 ou pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Hopefully we'll all move onto bigger and better things." "Due to the restructuring, I do not have the staff level to continue the weekend news," O'-Connell said. "They give me a budget and I either live within my budget or I don't. I will live within my budget.

"We'll be Monday through Friday at both 6 and 10 (p.m.)," O'Connell said. "Should a major event occur, we would be poised to go up and cover it as quickly as anybody else." O'Connell praised Koler and Pearl as good journalists, and likewise called Hawthorne "a quality meteorologist." He said viewers can continue to expect "good quality journalism, as usual, which is the standard of any newsroom I run." KMEG general manager Brian McDonough said in a statement that the restructuring will allow KMEG to "maintain our competitive edge. We have found over this past year that by concentrating our efforts on our 6 and 10 p.m. newscast, we have been able to elevate service to our viewers in both content and depth." He also said the station's prime-time and daytime ratings are up and the news restructuring will "dovetail nicely" with that. Job loss is 'monkey wrench' Wentz, who is engaged to be KMEG is not requiring the dismissed on-air talent to honor non-compete clauses in their contracts.

That means they are free to find similar work within the Sioux City market. Rupiper said she definitely wants to stay in the business, preferably in the Midwest, and has already put out feelers. "I'm fortunate I have contacts in other markets," said the former reporter who previously worked in Salt Lake City and in Lincoln, Neb. She joined KMEG in August 1999. She said while her dismissal came as a shock and she felt bad for her colleagues, she's hot blaming anyone.

"I'm really grateful for everything I got through KMEG," she said. "It was- pretty much my first chante to anchor and I got to fulfill a dream I've always had, and I got to do it close to home." Rupiper is from Hart-ington. and went to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Siouxlanders have gone through it recently. "We happen to be part of the universe that has experienced that," Wentz said.

"You pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Hopefully we'll all move onto bigger and better things." Wentz first came to Sioux City in 1991 to work for KTIV. He then spent two years working in real estate before joining KMEG in October 2000. Hagar, also reached at his home, said he, too, would prefer to stay in Siouxland. "Obviously, in the last 10 years we've established some roots and made some really good friendships," he said of his wife and himself.

He said he was not ruling out a different "I have other interests. It's quite possible those could lead to things that 'could support me." Hagar. who became the face of -KMEG weather in 1993 when the station started its KMEG Weather Eye and offered no local news, said married, called the job loss a "monkey wrench" in his personal life. He said he would prefer to stay in Siouxland for now, but doesn't rule out a move. His youngest child will graduate from high school this spring, but his fiancee has a fifth-grader and a high school senior.

Wentz and Hagar noted that job loss is part of the business cycle and that plenty of other Protester fined for entering restricted area around Bush COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A longtime political activist who en-! tered a restricted area during a presidential visit in 2002 was fined $500 Tuesday in federal court. U.S. Magistrate Bristow Marchant did not give Brett Bursey, jail time, saying the activist had been protesting peacefully and noti engaged in any wantonly criminal act. Budget Bursey, who said he would appeal, originally was charged by local authorities with trespassing when he refused to move to aj free-speech zone at the Columbia airport.

continued from page 1 That charge was dropped, but the Justice Department decided to prosecute Bursey five months later under a law that allows the Se cret Service to restrict access to areas during the president's travels. Stadium continued from page 1 The deficit continued from page 1 rect result of action taken by the Legislature and governor last year," Supervisor Doug Walish said. The county will increase funding for its liability fund by $250,000. The fund pays legal expenses and judgments against the county. The final large piece of the deficit puzzle is the loss of nearly $330,000 in property tax revenue because of the decrease in ag land valuations and an increase in residential rollbacks.

Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or Evening Iowa Pick 3 6-3-1 Early Iowa Pick 3 4-6-0 Evening Iowa Pick 4 1-2-2-4 Early Iowa Pick 4 5-1-4-9 Nebraska Pick 5 1-7-12-17-21 Iowa Cash Game 7-10-14-24-26 In addition to Kruse's report on Roberts Stadium, other board members gave reports on a variety of programs from construction of new Schools to test scores. The meeting was interrupted at 7:20 p.m. when the fire alarm sounded, the blaring horn making it impossible for anyone to talk. Several school officials hurriedly left the auditorium to discover the cause. A short time later, Mel McKern, director of operations and maintenance, reported that the custodial staff was taking a break and burned some popcorn.

The alarm was turned off and the meeting resumed. Lynn Zerschling mav be reached at (712) 293-4202 or lynnzerschling biggest sporting event in Sioux City. It primarily is run by the school district people. All the profits raised from the relays went back into Roberts Sta-. dium," he said.

"It is a community facility that involves a lot of other things other than football." Joseph Witt expressed concern over what would happen if the college decided to close the stadium and taxpayers were, faced with footing the bill for a new facility. Also testifying at the forum was Steve Will who expressed some disappointment in the No Child Left Behind program and asked whether North Middle "will open on time." Superintendent Larry Williams responded, "I am very happy to say it is exactly on time. It will be delivered to the school district in June," with the school opening in August. Tech Sgt. Dan Roupe, a recruiter for the 185th Air Refueling Wing, asked about character education programs and offered his willingness to serve on a district committee.

having served on the board and on the City Council for 12 years. 'The taxpayers don't want to pay more for services," he said. "I believe there are other solutions." He suggested the district could earn much more from concession sales. Per person, he said the district takes in 75 cents to $1 at football games. At the Tyson Events Center, hockey games generate $5.50 per fan in concessions, while football games will produce $6.50 per person.

Tom Pederson asked the board to consider Scott's proposals. He emphasized he was not speaking in his capacity as principal of East Middle School. "I want to point out that outside private donations did pay for that track," he said. "The people power is there. I know people would contribute" to the stadium's renovations.

Rich Vanderloo, activities director at East High, pointed out that more track meets than football games are held at Roberts. 'The Sioux City Relays is the fer," said County Auditorrecorder Patrick Gill, who faces a $31,000 cut. "People will have to stand in line a little longer." The cuts make it harder for departments that aren't heavy on customer service. County Attorney Tom Mullin said his department's case load has grown more than 20 percent in the past two years. "We absolutely need to have sufficient staff to handle all the cases we're required to prosecute," he said.

Mullin said he would be analyzing his full budget when determining where he will make $62,000 in cuts. Sheriff David Amick will be asked to cut $263,000. He was not in his office Tuesday. Board members spent nearly three hours during a meeting that stretched into the afternoon making their own analysis. All seemed to agree that the county can't cut $1.8 million from its budget without jeopardizing services.

"We're going to have a tax increase. It's a matter of how much," Supervisor Larry Clausen said. Over the next three or four weeks, the board will try to whittle down the deficit. The board seemed to agree that at least $200,000 should be cut to get the deficit under $1 million. Such a move would result in an estimated tax increase of $33 for a property valued at $100,000.

Those numbers could go higher. The figures used Tuesday included an estimated wage increase of 2 percent. The county has yet to reach an agreement with two of the employee bargaining units on new contracts that will cover next year's wages. i A-l Home Improvement 1 DOZEN ROSES Cash Carryj j-qq Wrapped I 3 Save $50 on 1-800-358-0830 www.3and4season.com "We all became aware of the budget deficit in depth today," Welte said after the meeting. "We began to address where the cuts go." Department heads will have two weeks to submit their budgets with the requested cuts.

Upset with the board's action, Knowler said he will only offer options on where his budget can be cut. "I'm going to let the board decide what cuts to make," he said. Welte said he hoped to have the budget finalized early in February The budget must be certified by March 15. Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytreksiouxcityjournal.co CAROUSEL OF FLOWERS 401 2rh 4I4H4 So. Sionr itv.

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