Sioux City Journal from Sioux City, Iowa • 5

Tha Sioux City Journal, Tuesday, May 18, 1999 A 5 Siouxland State may ftihdl mnalhia cemfteir war a In other action in the Nebraska Legislature Monday: Farmers soon could be composting dead hogs, sheep and any other livestock under 300 pounds through an amendment approved by the Legislature. Sen. Cap Dierks, a veterinarian and rancher from Ewing, said he offered the amendment to give livestock producers another option besides burning, burying or giving carcasses to a rendering plant. He said many Tenderers no longer accept small carcasses including dead piglets and have started charging for picking up dead animals. Lawmakers voted 26-0 to attach the amendment to a bill (LB 870) that would exempt small livestock producers from livestock-waste inspections.

A measure aimed at creating parity for insurance policies covering serious mental illnesses advanced on a voice vote to the third and final round of debate. The proposal (LB355) requires insurance providers that cover mental illnesses to offer a rate, term or condition no greater than the financial burden covered for a physical condition. Sen. Chris Peterson of Grand Island is working from home this week by no choice of her own. Mrs.

Peterson had tests done Friday that indicated she needed to have her gall bladder removed immediately. She was admitted to Bryan-LGH Medical Center in Lincoln on Saturday morning for surgery and was released Sunday. She was recuperating Monday at home, monitoring floor debate on cable television and answering telephone calls. LINCOLN (AP) Using an hourglass as his prop, Sen. Ernie Chambers promised Monday to drag out debate as long as possible on a bill that would help Omaha finance construction of a convention center.

Chambers, who opposes the bill, followed through on his pledge for five hours before finally agreeing to a compromise that led to the bill advancing to the final stage of debate on a 37-5 vote. The bill (LB382) calls for a portion of state sales and income tax revenues generated by the convention center in Omaha to be put into a fund. Seventy percent of the money, up to $75 million, would be returned to Omaha to help pay for the $210 million center. First, voters in Omaha would have to approve the city issuing construction bonds to pay for the project. The bonds would be paid off through the returned funds and property taxes paid by Omaha residents.

Having just approved a $254 million school bond issue. Chambers said he does not think voters will go for another bond that would raise taxes. But Omaha Sen. Dan Lynch, chief sponsor of the bill, said there is broad support for the convention center in Omaha. The state's money to Omaha could be used only for the convention center, not for a proposed sports arena expected to cost about $80 million.

Chambers ended his filibustering of the bill after agreeing to an amendment that may make it even more difficult for the project to be successful. Under the amendment, the bonds must be approved by more than 51 percent of those voting instead of by a simple majority. Also, the bonds would have to be on a primary or general election ballot, not a special election. Speaker Doug Kristensen of Minden said it is not clear whether it is better to have the bonds voted on at a special election where turnout is lower or at a primary or general election. Lincoln Sen.

DiAnna Schimek wondered if the issue would get overshadowed in a regular election when there are so many other issues on the ballot, including a presidential race next year. Chambers disagreed. "I don't think (the convention center) will be one of those that gets lost in the shuffle," Chambers said. Chambers was not the only senator who objected to the bill. Sen.

Bob Wickersham of Harrison and Sen. Gene Tyson of Norfolk both said the state should not get involved with the financing of local projects. "This is a bad bill that establishes a bad precedent," Tyson said. Sens. Ron Raikes of Lincoln and Jim Jones of Eddyville, Tyson, Wickersham and Chambers voted against advancement.

The bill provides for 30 percent of the applicable state tax revenue generated by the center to be available to other Nebraska communities interested in building similar, smaller convention and civic centers. Chambers doesn't think people will want to come to Omaha for con ventions, therefore the center will not generate enough applicable tax revenue to build up a pot for smaller communities to use. But Omaha Sen. Jim Jensen argued Omaha will be an attractive place for conventions to come. S.D.

ranks 14th in children's well-being Tornado damage Molly Heaps, left, and Louise Cox, help salvage belongings of their relatives, Bev and Howard Harter near Logan, Iowa, Monday. The Harters' farm was destroyed by a tornado Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo) Forbes wants switch from Social Security to private retirement South Dakota ranked 35th for teen deaths by suicide, homicide and accident in 1996. There were 75 deaths per 100,000 youths ages 15-19 that year a 14 percent increase. Nationally, the rate was 62 deaths per 100,000 teen-agers in 1996.

The 1996 figure in South Dakota compares with 72 deaths per 100,000 youths in 1986. 92 in 1988, 97 in 1990 and 83 in 1994. At the same time, the state's rank has ranged from a high of 22nd in 1986 to lows of 44th in 1992 and 45th in 1988. According to the survey, the state also saw a 25 percent increase in the number of 16- through 19-year-olds who dropped out of high school between 1985 and 1996. Nationally, the high school dropout rate decreased by 9 percent.

The state finding was surprising since South Dakota' generally has fared well in that category, Cochran said. pared to a nationwide figure of 26 deaths per 100,000 children, the report said. The state ranked 45th in that category, which includes deaths from all causes. Only Wyoming, South Carolina, Mississippi and the District of Columbia fared worse. A year ago, South Dakota's child death rate was ranked fifth in the nation.

Carole Cochran, project coordinator for South Dakota Kids Count, cautioned against interpreting the statistics too literally. Because South Dakota's population is small, just two or three child deaths could have easily have skewed the percentage and changed the state's overall ranking, she said. SIOUX FALLS (AP) South Dakota ranked 14th in a 50-state survey that measures the well-being of children despite figures that show a high rate of deaths among youngsters and teen-agers. Iowa was seventh and Nebraska 11th in the ratings by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Researchers examined poverty levels, child deaths, teen-age births, infant mortality and other factors between 1985 and 1996 in preparing the annual Kids Count survey. They found that the death rate for children between ages 1 and 14 increased 29 percent in South Dakota, while the rate nationally fell 24 percent. In 1996, there were 36 deaths in the state per 100,000 children, com SI you don't have to trust Washington," he said. "The younger you are, the more I think people will go for it." Moving to the new system would require a transition period, but not a terribly long one, he said. "You could probably do it over a five- to seven-year period," Forbes said.

Forbes is scheduled to outline his proposal in a speech Tuesday before the Small Business Survival Summit in Washington, D.C. He said that DES MOINES (AP) Publishing magnate Steve Forbes will call this week for a speedy switch to a private retirement system largely replacing Social Security. Forbes said the transition could be made within seven years and said a key to selling the package is to make it clear that those currently in. the system, or about to retire, would have the option of sticking with traditional Social Security checks. "The way you make it feasible is you make it clear you're not going to tamper with the system for those who group is likely to be receptive because diverting money from Social are on it or about to go on it," Forbes Security likely would free up a huge amount of money converted to capi via If you're like most people, you're busy working and taking care of your family.

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Other pieces of his proposal including ending a "penalty" for those who continue working between the ages of 65 and 69, and he accused Clinton administration officials of continuing to divert money from the Social Security surplus. Those surpluses instead could be used to help phase in the new system, Forbes argued. Privatizing the system is ultimately the only way to avoid raids on the fund by politicians, Forbes said. "They are like bears with a pot of honey as long as it's available, they'll continue to gorge themselves," he said. "You give people a choice who are working, a choice of going on the new system or staying on the old one," he said.

"No one would be forced to do it against their will." State moves to prevent boot camp molestation YANKTON, S.D. (AP) State workers are trying to make sure there are no more reported episodes of molestation at the boot camp in Custer, Gov. Bill Janklow said. Darwin Heuer, 52, who was a youth supervisor at the Custer Youth Correctional Center's Living Center since January 1990, was arrested in April. He is charged with sexual contact with a boy under 16.

said in a phone interview Monday. Forbes conceded details need to be worked out, such as devising a method of giving credit for Social Security taxes already paid. There's also likely a need to put in place age cutoffs, but those are technical details, Forbes said. "You could engage the actuaries on that," he said, while policymakers focus on the bigger picture. "We have to rapidly phase in for younger people a new system where eventually the bulk of their Social Security tax goes to their own individual retirement accounts," Forbes said.

Given the chance to opt out of Social Security, up to 80 percent would do so and younger people almost unanimously would choose private retirement, he said. "It puts it in your own hands and Wet weather continues to slow spring planting SIOUX FALLS (AP) Wet weather last week continued to hamper spring planting across the eastern part of South Dakota. The USDA's South Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service said that 1.5 days last week were suitable for Our Money Market Gold Account Earns an Impressive 4.59 APYK Looking for financial growth without the wild and woolly ride of risky investments? Frontier Bank has the answer earn a 4.59 annual percentage yield with a $15,000 minimum balance in our Money Market Gold account. Your investments grow fast with Frontier! FROMTIERBANK Mil Western Iowa Tech Community College 4647 Stone Avenue Sioux City, Iowa 51106 (712)274-6400 (800) 352-4649 in Iowa www.witcc.com infowitcc.com Something Nice. For a Change.

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Bronson, D.C, F.I.A.C.A., Dipl. Ac. Diplomate -National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Over 20 Years Of Clinical Experience Traditional Chinese Acupuncture Botanical Herbal Medicine fieldwork. Statewide, 55 percent of topsoil and 50 percent of subsoil had surplus moisture, the service said. Soggy land was concentrated in the eastern half of the state, with western farms reporting adequate moisture.

The statistics are compiled from reports from county extension agents, farm service agency directors and others, the service said. Corn planting is 31 percent complete. Over the last five years, 45 percent of the crop has been in the ground by this time. A year ago, 76 percent of the corn crop had been planted. Some farmers have started to plant soybeans, with 6 percent planted.

The five-year average is 14 percent, and last year the figure was 30 percent Small grains planting has been slow as well, with spring wheat and oats planting at 91 percent and 83 percent, respectively. Last year at this time those were both nearly finished, at 99 percent and 98 percent, respectively. Still, this year planting is ahead of the five-year average, 74 percent for wheat and 71 percent for oats. Most crops are emerging faster than average. Coming in the Thursday, May 20th edition of the I YV fcjfifs I THE Digestive Disorders Addictions Headaches Asthma Back PainSciatica TendinitisBursitis NervesDepression Pain Control Neuropathies Chronic Fatigue Irritable Bowel Syndrome Insomina IlrUl 0mr "Celebrating Siouxland Pride" If you are interested in advertising in the APARTMENT GUIDE Call Sheila at 293-4337 ficuyunctute.

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