The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 1

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1C FINAL EDITION 41 PAGES 4 SECTIONS BENTON HARBOR ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN' MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1975 Fuel 031 hrpoit a ii ii ii i if ft mi i mi i ii i in ii i mmmms'1M I 11 Jl i -V ') tv, See Foe Dropped; Cut In Adkerson's son, Billie 9, runs from Sparkles (left), but Sparkles catches up with him with a flying leap and a bite on the pants leg. (Staff photos by Mike Wyngarden) BEWARE OF Postmen and salesmen should step cautiously around home of William Adkerson, 2165 Williams street, Benton township. Adkerson owns rabbit named "Sparkles" which displays unusual doglike trait of chasing and biting people. IN EXCHANGE FOR WOMAN'S LIFE African Tribe Demands Supplies domestically produced oil.

which could result in higher prices and spur inflation Removal of the fee on refined mi)orts. first imposed in April 197:1, fulfilled a pledge made by Ford to act if domestic controls ended. The antiinflationary iniie was made retroactive to Sept. 1 when domestic controls lapsed In the absence of price controls, refiners and importers are not legally bound to pass on the saving to consumers, but Zarb said he believed they would pass the benefits along because of current market resistance to higher prices. The 60-cent fee covered refined fuel oil.

gasoline and jet fuel. The expected 1.5-cent reduction in prices will primarily affect the New England and Middle Atlantic states where most refined im-(xirts are used. U.S. consumption during midwinter of last year ran to about 2.4 million barrels a day of imported refined products, the great bulk of it for fuel oil. Refined imports made up about 14 per cent of the national total of refined petroleum products consumed last year.

If Ford also decides to drop the $2-per-barrel fee on imported crude, the price of petroleum products nationwide is expected to drop by about 3 cents per gallon. But if oil companies raise the price of the domestically-produced oil that became free of price controls Sept. 1, the retail price is expected to show a net increase of about 3 cents a gallon, according to administration Oil producers thus far have generally refrained from raising prices in view of the move underway in Congress to reimpose price controls. N'djamena Sunday protesting that French efforts to ransom Mrs. Claustre were a violation of Chad's sovereignty.

Farkas said the rebels made radio contact Sunday with the crew of a French cargo plane circling the area. He said he did not know the status of the Mrs. Claustre was taken prisoner with Combes, a technical assistant, and Christophe Staewen, a West German physician, in a raid on the oasis village of Bardai in April 1974. Dr. Staewen, the resident medical officer at Bardai, was released several months later after the West German govern them by modifying his demands.

Reports from French newsman Jean-Pierre Farkas, who flew to the rebels' desert camp in a light plane, indicated that Habre had rejected France's offer of $2'2 million ransom and was insisting on an earlier offer of $1.33 million worth of non-military supplies and $88,900 in cash. A French plane dropped the new offer to the rebels Friday, apparently because of the government of Chad objected to any equipment being supplied them. The plane also dropped a radio set so the rebels could communicate with French planes flying over the area. Official sources said the Chad government delivered a note to PARIS (AP) The chief of a rebel tribe in the north-central African nation of Chad is reported holding out for supplies instead of cash to ransom French archeologist Franchise Claustre, captured with two other Europeans 17 months ago In a raid on a desert village. Marc Combes, who escaped the rebel camp in a stolen Landrover some time ago, said in a French television interview Sunday he believes rebel chief Hissen Habre will carry out his threat to shoot Mrs.

Claustre on Tuesday if the French government does not meet his terms. Combes said Habre, a graduate of law and political science studies in Paris, is "not of the same tribe" as his Toubou tribe lieutenants and could not afford to lose face with 4 1 FRANCOISE CLAUSTRE L'ader death threat WASHINGTON (AP) The price (if a Kallnri of imported fuel oil will drop 1.5 cents as the result of the Ford administration's decision to remove the Hll-cents-a-barrel import fee on refined petroleum products, officials say. Federal F.nera Administrator Frank (i Zar! announced the move Sunday and said President Ford will decide soon hether or not to remove a ler-barrel fee on crude oil imports. Dropping the tilk-ent fee came as a response to the abrupt lapse in price controls on most ment paid $500,000 ransom. Staewen's wife and, two French officers were killed in the raid.

The rebels also hold Claustre's husband, Pierre, who was captured when he flew to Chad recently to try to free his wife. which has leen converted into a chapel. To recent visitors, there appears to be a single large drop of some substance hanging from the palm of the hand. It appeared to change color, from red to brownish black. Mrs.

Poore says she discovered it April 4 when she was kneeling before the statue, praying. "I heard a beautiful voice say. i will present myself to you, now present yourself to she said. When she looked up. she saw the "blood," she added.

Visitors have differing reactions. "You have to believe what you see." said Upper Chichester Police Chief Anthony Mastro. "It's a miracle." Francis Pileggi, solicitor for the Chester Housing Authority, said that although the statue's hand "seemed to be darkening and coagulating," he was not convinced it was blood because "I'd like further proof." A neighbor of the Pooles, eight-year-old Steven News, said, "I wouldn't go into that house for anything. Bleeding statues give me the creeps." Zarb warned that removal of the fees could be only temporary and they could be reim-IMised to discourage increasing dependence on foreign oil. Meanwwhile.

Zarb also announced that the administration will collect all import fees due from oil importers for the months of July and August, amounting to some $500 million. The administration had offered to remove the fees re- (See back page, sec. 1, col. 1) Halt Search For Father Of BH Man REED CITY The search for Edward J. Sweet, 66, of Reed City, who vanished May 1, after setting out to reside with a son in Benton Harbor, has been halted, according to authorities here.

Sw-eet's car was found bogged diwn on a dead-end road near Ash ton, about seven miles north of Reed City. Authorities at the time said the car windows were down, flashers were on and the the key was in the ignition. Sweet, however, was not located. Osceola county Sheriff Don Grem said the search will not resume unless there is some sign of the man or his belongings, according to an Associated Press report from Reed City. The sheriff said he hopes hunters may find some indication of what happened to Sweet.

Sweet had sold his home at Reed City and was reported enroute to reside with a son. Carl D. Sweet of 125 Madeline. Benton township. Gulf Oil the only major firm to announce plans for substantial increased retail involvement, has terminated or refused to renew leases at scattered stations.

The firm has announced plans to directly operate about 15 per cent of its outlets by 1980. Crown Central Petroleum has notified its 22 franchise dealers in Virginia that it will (See back page, sec. 1, col. 1) Winning Numbers LANSING. Mich.

(AP) The winning number in the Michigan Daily Lottery contest for Monday, Sept 22, is five-eight-two (582), the state Lottery Bureau said today. The winning number in the Michigan Triple Play Lottery contest for the period July 17 through Sept. 18 is four -five-eight-four-four-zero (458-440), the state Lottery Bureau said today. Lottery officials said holders of the number on the $1 Triple Play tickets will share in a jackpot of more than $500,000. Sale Wedding Gowns, $50.

Dotty 's Chapeaux, St. Joe. Adv. Spec Converse. Hi.

top. 3 Col. Quanity Apple Price Goes To Arbitrators Oil Companies, Dealers Fight Franchise Battle DOES STATUE Several hundred people visited a small home near Marcus Hook, Pa. recently to see plaster statue of Christ shed what looked like blood from marks of nails in its hands. Reaction of those seeing the statue has varied, with most calling it a (AP Wirephoto) Thousands Flocking To 'Miracle Statue By Niet? SMITH Staff Writer Deadlocked price negotiations between most Michigan apple packers and the bargaining agent for the state's larger apple growers will be settled by binding arbitration.

It will be only the second time that the price of raw fruit delivered for processing will be settled by a unique kind of binding arbitration, outlined in the 1972 Michigan Agricultural Marketing and Bargaining Act. Friday evening, as the midnight deadline for a price agreement approached, the the French ambassador in Processing grade apples, US 1, 2-inch-up, Spys $4.75 per hundredweight; hard sauce and slicers $3.75 per hundredweight; Mcintosh and other sauce varieties $3.25 per hundredweight; juice and undersized $1.75. A three-member arbitration panel will consider the Growers final offer, the processors final offer, and choose one. No compromises are made in this form of all-or-nothing arbitration. Butler guessed that arbitration could begin as soon as late this week.

Butler also said that on Friday three of the 10 state packers who earlier declined to bargain asked, and were permitted, to buy Michigan apples from the bargaining unit. The three, including Burnette Farms, Keeler, will be involved in arbitration. Also in the market again are Speas Vinegar, Fremont, and National Fruit, Kent City. Juice packers who agreed to the $1.75 per hundredweight price are Eau Claire Packing M. Steffen Coloma; Spinks Corners Fruit Exchange, Bainbridge township; Vintage Foods, Bailey, and Indian Summer Belding.

Butler said the Growers marketing committee decided to drop its asking price "to put a floor on the apple market" and to have a better chance to have its offer chosen by arbitrators. In the spring of 1974, the price of asparagus was settled by an arbitration panel. The three-member panel will have one person named by the Growers, one named by the processors and one who both parties agree upon. Detroit Grocer Losing His Nerve Michigan Processing Apple Growers cut 25 cents from its hundredweight asking prices, according to Thomas Butler, manager of the Growers. Five juice processors agreed to the reduced price, but as of this morning none of the 20 some packers of sauce or slices had agreed with the reduced asking price, Butler reports.

On Friday, processors were offering only 50 per cent of the Growers asking prices, Butler said. The Growers'final offer, which arbitrators will consider. set by arsonists. Firebombs thrown through the front window caused the first two, in July and August. Investigators said the third fire, Saturday night, was set by vandals who broke through the boarded-up front door, poured gasoline inside and set the fire.

Sorisho says he's sure his neighborhood competitors are setting the blazes to discourage him. "It's the competition. It's gotta be," Sorisho said, standing in the middle of his grocery's charred remains. He said the store was repaired after the first fire, which occurred one week after the business opened. He made repairs of $30,000, but the second blaze destroyed the By MARTIN HIRSCHMAN Associated Press Writer Service station dealers across the country have geared up for an assault on their franchises by big oil companies interested in improving profits by moving directly into retail gasoline marketing.

In some cases, the battle a heady has begun. Some independent businessmen who run brand-name gasoline stations have been ordered or forced out of business by the large companies which supply their gasoline. The number is still relatively small, but if the trend develops, some experts say it could leave just a few companies fully in control of the retail market and at liberty to set prices as high as they like. "There's all sorts of things these people can do to get rid of dealers," says Dixie Diehl. a Minnesota energy official.

"We're concerned primarily for what it will do to price." The oil companies deny they are bent on driv ing dealers out of business, and most say they have no special plans to move into direct retailing. Under federal controls that were in effect until three weeks ago, major oil companies which wanted to take over stations wen- limited largely to waiting for dealers to leave voluntarily or pressuring them do so. But now, a nationwide Associated Press survey shows, some veteran service station operators are being ejected from their stations. Other dealers are faced with huge increases in station rentals, threats of eviction and other pressures. line backed up into the street despite a rainstorm.

Without any solicitations, some visitors have given donations. The Poores say the money will go for religious items and charity. Mrs. Poore has refused to allow a sample of the substance on the hands be taken. "I haven't been directed by God to do it." she declared." The 26-inch high, plaster statue stands in the sun porch, INDEX SECTION ONE Editorials Page 2 Twin Cities News Page 3 Woman's Section Pages 4-6 Ann Landers Page Obituaries Page 10 SECTION TWO News Roundup 10 pages SECTION THREE Sports Pages 21-27 SECTION FOUR Area Highlights Page 31 Comics, TV, Radio Page 34 Markets Page 35 Weather Forecast Page 35 Classified Ads Pages 36-39 MARCUS HOOK, Pa.

(AP) -Believers and nonbelievers, the afflicted, the sick and the curious. They've come by the thousands. Their goal is the porch of a small two-bedroom house where a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands, with a dark substance in the palms of the hands that some persons believe is blood. Despite a'disclaimer by the Roman Catholic Church, the visits have continued since last spring to the home of Russell and Anne Delores Poore in a blue-collar neighborhood in this town near Philadelphia. The crowds have become so thick the Poores have limited visiting to Fridays only.

"This whole thing has my family upset. We've had thousands of people in this house since last spring," said Mrs. Poore, who discovered the "bleeding" phenomenon. The Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia said it does not endorse the authenticity of the "alleged action (the bleeding)." But that doesn't stop the crowds. On one recent day, the DETROIT (AP) George Sorisho's grocery store has been ravaged by arsonists three times since it opened two months ago on Detroit's northwest side.

Its owner says he's beginning to lose his nerve. "Next time, I'll be the target, and that scares me," admits Sorisho, who vowed after the first two fires that he'd never be driven out of business. But now the 40-year-old father of nine says he's beginning to wonder. "Maybe next time, they'll get me. My wife is worried sick.

My whole family wants me to get out before I get killed," he said Sunday. Officials say all three fires at the Mini Mart Food Center were.