The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 1

HOMETOWN EDITION: Bohners Lake, Burlington, Eagle Lake. Kansasville, North Cape, Raymond, Rochester, Union Grove, Waterford, Wind Lake, Yorkville Mississipp Connecticut: Cincinnati Kiwanis program helps young Racine musicians grow i CO 14 years; judge calls him a terrorist PAfSO ID I page -2 WMb lit MAWMVWMJ.Hbb.ifttt ill 3E3 i rawer sybmnt Elections Board staff favors recall Associated Press and Journal Times staff ra Kennedy said. If Petak were to lose an election to a Democrat, Republicans could lose their numerical JODIE DeJONGE Associated Press 17-16 control of the Senate. Petak said Friday his supporters are geared up for an election. "We have been preparing for and in fact running a campaign since we 6 It looks like the Brewers have really done their part.

Now it's up to the stadium authority to go ahead and get something done. Brewers manager Phil Garner MADISON Sen. George Petak, R-Racine, would face a recall election June 4 if the state Elections Board follows the recommendation of its staff, a board official said Friday. Petak was targeted by a group called No More Petax for his swing vote on a Milwaukee Brewers stadium financing plan that created a special sales tax in Racine County and four other Milwaukee-area counties of one-tenth of one percent. The Elections Board staff said it found some challenges presented by Petak's supporters have merit, but that the group has the 11,577 valid signatures needed to force a recall, board Executive Director Kevin deadline.

Design work on the new stadium was halted last month and a ground breaking scheduled for Sunday was cancelled. On Thursday, the Brewers and Miller Brewing Co. announced the $41.2 million pact for the right to name the retractable-roof stadium and have the exclusive rights for beer signs inside and outside the stadium. But the present value would be only $20 million to $22 million to a bank, according to stadium board Chairman Robert Trunzo. The difference accounts for inflation over the 20 years of the deal.

The Brewers' lead bank, NationsBank of Charlotte, N.C., declined to say if it had a role in the current financing package. "I can't confirm or deny it," spokesman Todd Rubenson said. "We do have a relationship with the Brewers, but they have relationships with other banks as well." More on DEAL, Page 7 A MILWAUKEE The Milwaukee Brewers Friday submitted a financial package for their $90 million share of a new $230 million ballpark to a stadium board, but declined to publicly reveal the source of much of the funding. Gov. Tommy Thompson said the Brewers met a noon deadline by presenting the package, which included a loan from their bank co-signed by Milwaukee business executives and a $41.2 million deal with Miller Brewing Co.

to name the stadium Miller Park. Still, the governor wouldn't declare the deal complete. "I don't think they're quite there yet," Thompson said. The Brewers had been striving for weeks to secure the funding after an expected $50 million state loan fell through because the team lacked collateral. The board that oversees collection of a sales tax1 hike to help fund the new park said it Petak ready realized the Democrats were involved," he said.

"People for Petak are ready to stand up and present a very positive record of More on PETAK, Page 7 A might suspend the new tax on five Milwaukee-area counties if the Brewers didn't meet the Expecting The Worst useumni Senate blocks new tax estimate TERRY FLORES Journal Times gets boost franm state $2 million approved for proposed Imaginarium DEBORAH ALEXANDER Journal Times The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority has approved $2 million in funding for a proposed interactive children's museum in downtown Racine, it was announced Friday. The board of directors approved the funding for the Imaginarium, a $4.5 million "learning center" proposed in the former Zahn's Department Store. "We couldn't be more pleased 3 1 with WHEDA, the state of Wisconsin and all the people who have worked so hard in supporting this project," said Joseph E. Gro-macki, of the museum board, and executive director of the Downtown Racine Corp. "We are more than half way.

This puts us in the driver's seat. We're well ahead of schedule." The $2 million bond issue puts the project closer to the $3.1 million needed to begin construction TOWN OF WATERFORD Legislation designed to block a state-ordered reassessment of the town of Waterford passed the state Senate this week and is headed to the governor for his signature. State Sen. Lynn Adelman, D-Wa-terford, said the legislation clarifies the intent of the state's laws and overturns a state Department of Revenue interpretation that led to the order for a new assessment. The legislation passed on a voice vote Thursday in the Senate.

In November, town of Waterford officials expressed concern over a letter from the revenue department that ordered a supervised assessment of town property. According to town officials, the town's 1995 assessment came in at 88 percent of its equalized value, not at the state's minimum requirement of 90 percent. The state requires a municipality to come within 10 percent of its equalized value at least once in five years and flagged Waterford for being in non-compliance. In 1995, the town paid $60,000 for its assessment. The standard contract used by the state could have cost town residents as much as $100,000 more in assessments, town officials have said.

"This is very good news for residents of the town of Waterford," said Adelman in a prepared statement. "From the beginning I was worried that the residents of the town would end up having to foot the bill for an extra assessment that would only end up costing many homeowners more money." LCJi I NEWS in June or July. The original timetable called for two-thirds of the $4.5 million estimate. Gromacki did not immediately know the current fund-raising balance for the museum. Smaller, private contributions have been coming in since the announcement of the project.

"When we reach our goal, we can start to beautify a really grand old building," he added. The Imaginarium expands on the concept of a traditional children's museum by creating a multi-purpose education facility focusing on the sciences, art and history. There will be exhibits and playscapes on each of More on BOOST, Page 7 A LIANA J. GRIFFITH Journal Times A Flatria Home, 18, anticipates the stick of the needle as Julie Hammond, a registered nurse at the Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, readies her arm during a blood drive Friday at Park High School. Over 160 pints of blood were donated by students and faculty members at the event, which was sponsored by Park Student Leadership.

House votes to repeal assault weapons ban INSIDE (ft i Ann Landers 2A Classified 3B Comics 5P Community 1C Crosswords 7B.8B Dr. Gott 6A Horoscope 5D Movies 6A People 2A Racine County IB Sports ID Stock listings 6D TV listings 7A Wisconsin 3B 6 Newt Gingrich has bent his knee and is kissing the ring of the NRA Rep. Charles Schumer, II DAVID ESPO Associated Press WASHINGTON In an election-year gesture to the National Rifle Association; the Republican-controlled House defied a veto threat from President Clinton on Friday and voted to lift the nation's ban on assault-style weapons. The 239-173 vote crossed party lines and came after three hours of crackling debate. "Let's step outside together," New York Republican Gerald Solomon said to Rhode Island Democrat Patrick Kennedy 37 years his junior after the two men clashed heatedly over the measure.

The measure would lift the two-year-old ban on selling fearsome weapons such as AK-47s, Uzis and other semiautomatic firearms. Polls indicate strong public support for the ban, and in a last-minute maneuver to minimize political fallout, Republican leaders added provisions to the repeal bill mandating stiffer prison terms for crimes committed with firearms. Clinton's veto threat was underscored by Vice President Al Gore during the day. But a veto probably won't be necessary. Sen.

Bob 1) Associated Press Think cnrinn Lending a spring mood to a pet supply store I 1 1 1 1 1 tV oUIIIIU window in Watertown, Lewis Faytus, left, Dole, Clinton's likely Republican opponent in the November election, told reporters Friday he doesn't think the bill will get to a vote this year on the Senate floor which Dole controls as his party's leader. But the House vote served as a political flash point, as Democrats mounted a withering attack on Republicans and their leader, Speaker Newt Gingrich, for bringing the NRA's top legislative priority to a vote. "Newt Gingrich has bent his knee and is More on VOTE, Page 7 A OUTSIDE Sunny early, then increasing clouds. Highs in the low to mid-40s. Light winds becoming easterly around 10 mph.

8A page editor Francis J. Reich Lindsay Mahoney and John Faytus adhere stickers to glass in front of the building. Racine's weekend forecast calls for cloudy skies later today and rain on Sunday, with highs both days in the low to mid-40s. The outlook for Monday? Snow with highs in the 30s..