Council Grove Republican from Council Grove, Kansas • 1

CO Grove Tuesday Forecast High 90s Low 60s OUNCIL EPUBLIC Published Daily Except Saturday and Sunday Council Grove, Kansas (Birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail) Volume 126 Number 166 Monday, August 24, 1998 w. ,4) A Sudan's President Calls Clinton "War Criminal;" Expels British Diplomats Down 39 Students At Prairie Heights Opening Day Head Count Drops 42 Today At USD 417 Schools center said a hurricane watch may be issued for a portion of the southeast- em U.S. coast later today. Prairie Heights Elementary School). The official enrollment, figures submitted for state funding are not sent to Topeka until later in September, when kindergarten pupils are counted as one-half student because they do not attend class full time.

The head count this moming at each attendance center, compared to the first day of class in 1997 (a breakdown of classes at each attendance center will be published Tuesday): 1998 1997 Council Grove ElementaryMiddle 473 461 Prairie Heights Elementary School 179 105 Prairie Heights Middle School 93 106 Wilsey Elementary 65 74 High School 349 355 TOTAL: 1,059 1,101 Head count figures will vary some this year at the elementarymiddle school attendance centers, compared to 1997, because of consolidations and other changes made since the start of the 1997-98 term. to 211 on opening day a year ago. Part of the drop is because Alta Vista and Dwight started out with 40 eighth graders a year ago, but there are only 13 kindergarten students coming in this fall. First day head counts for other recent years were: 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1998, 1987, 998; 1986, and 1985, 985. Council Grove ElementaryMiddle School was up 12 students this morning (473, compared to 461 last August), with most of this because Wilsey seventh and eighth graders are attending class this year at Council Grove Middle School.

Wilsey Elementary School is down nine, from 74 a year ago to 65 today. Council Grove High School is down six students. There were 349 enrolled this morning, compared to 355 on opening day of the 1997-98 term. There are 93 students at Prairie Heights Middle School and 79 at Services To Be Tuesday For Irene Phelps Services for Irene Marie Phelps, White City, will be Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock at the White City United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the White City Cemetery.

Mrs. Phelps, 90, who died Friday, Aug. 21, 1998, at the Twin Lakes Healthcare Center here, will lie in state at the Kendall Funeral Chapel Councio Grove, until 9:00 o'clock tonight. Family and friends will gather there from 7:00 to 8:30. Born at the family farm south of White City Mar.

11, 1908, she was the daughter of Walter and Bessie Gamer Ingmire. Feb. 1, 1935, she was married to Clarence Edward Phelps in the home of her parents. She had taught school nine years before her marriage. The couple owned and operated a cafe and grocery store in Delavan several years before moving to White City in 1941.

Mrs. Phelps worked as a clerk in stores until 1949, when she and her husband purchased an insurance agency. They owned and operated the Phelps Agency 26 years, retiring in 1975. She was a member of the White City United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and Fidelami Club and was active at the White City Senior Center. She also was an avid sports fan, never missing a home game of any kind and rarely missing an away game.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Clarence Aug. 8, 1988, a grandson, Jeff Kahnt July 12, 1995, and two brothers, Howard and Waldon Ingmire. Survivors include a daughter, Joann Kahnt and husband Keith, White City; two grandsons, Joel Kahnt and wife Stacy, Chanute, and Jay Kahnt, Ottawa; a great-granddaughter, Alexis Kahnt, Chanute; two sisters-in-law, Marie Mewhin-ney, Aurora, and Dorothy Hurdle and husband Ben, Ft. Worth, and a brother-in-law, George Phelps and wife Roxie, Wichita. Memorial contributions may be made to the Irene Phelps Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date.

Hope State Has Beaten Livestock Disease WICHITA (AP)-Kansas officials are optimistic that the state may have finally eradicated brucellosis, a livestock disease that has tormented ranchers, infected animals and sickened humans for most of this cen- people. A second U.S. attack was carried out Thursday against bin Laden's bases in Afghanistan. But el-Bashir said that bin Laden "has no shares at all in the factory," adding bin Laden left Sudan before the factory was opened in 1996. Bin Laden lived in Sudan in the early 1990s but was forced out under Western pressure in 1995.

El-Bashir said Clinton based the attack on wrong information from some groups in return for giving them money," he said. In the AP interview, El-Bashir added that if Americans really believed the factory made chemical weapons, then bombing it would have released deadly poison into the air and put at risk the thousands of Sudanese people who live around it. "Then this is a crime, an ugly crime," el-Bashir said. The Sudanese president accused Clinton of being "a war criminal of the first degree" for the strike. Hurricane Watch Likely NASSAU, Bahamas (AP)-Hurricane Bonnie churned up the Atlantic today with 115 mph winds, prompting people from Florida to North Carolina to stock up on emergency supplies and tune in to weather reports.

Two swimmers drowned and dozens had to be rescued from East Coast beaches. The governor of South Carolina urged tourists not to worry but called on the National Guard to get ready for Bonnie, and surfers in several states flocked to ride the pounding waves. The hurricane a Category 3 storm capable of causing severe coastal flooding and serious damage to buildings and homes has been wobbling northwest at 5 mph. The Two Salina Men Killed In Traffic Accident ABILENE (AP)-Two Salina men were killed and a third seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident near Abilene, the Kansas Highway Patrol said. Troy Nichols, 22, and Kevin Voll, 23, were killed Saturday night in the crash about four miles south and two miles east of Abilene.

Duane McA-namey, 20, was in serious condition with head injuries late Sunday at a Wichita hospital. The patrol said Voll and McA-narney were passengers and Nichols the driver of a car that left a Dickinson County road and struck a power pole. Michael A. Dickey Reports For Marine Squadron.Duty Marine Pvt. Michael A.

Dickey, a 1988 graduate of Council Grove High School, recently reported for duty with Marine Wing Control Squadron 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, N.C. Dickey's rotation to a new duty station exemplifies the worldwide assignability of Marines and Sailors. This flexibility allows the naval forces to protect U.S. national interests around the world while providing a visible deterrence for regional conflicts. He joined the Marine Corps in January 1998.

Scots To Try Libyans WASHINGTON (AP)The United States and Britain have agreed to allow two Libyans charged in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Scotland to be tried by a Scottish court in the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said today. Albright challenged Libya to accept the offer and described it as a "take it or leave it proposition" for the Libyans. The Pan Am bombing killed all 259 passengers and crew, and 11 people on the ground. Among the dead were 189 Americans. Villages In Flames PRISTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) Several villages outside Pristina were in flames today as clashes between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian rebels moved the closest yet to the capital of the embattled Serb province of Kosovo.

Houses were burnine. aDDarentlv targeted in a Serb attack. Lodging Complaint ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Pakistan is lodging a complaint with the U.N. Security Council after a U.S. missile aimed at neighboring Afghanistan landed by mistake on its territory, the Foreign Ministry said today.

Volunteer Donors At Recent Bloodmobile Volunteer donors during the recent, American Red Cross bloodmobile visit were: Bemadine Wessel, Henry Wessel, Kay Bratton, Bob Burr, Bec-ki Burr, Sally Bliss, John Bliss, Betty Young, Elizabeth Greve, Susan Grimmett, LeRoy Archer, Donna Frese, Billy Swofford, Bob Collins, Sharon Jones, Linda Pos-ton, Loretta Keyser, Kristie Hayes, Brad Hayes; John Goodell, Sheila Brown, Cindy Olliff, Gail Daugherty, Donnu forrrll frlrnf Unphman Gwen Weaver, Lorna Newton, Car-' ole Day, Elvie Aikens, Carie Ar-heart, Mike Monnington, Dennis Hewitt, Raymond Eads, Sylvestcrt Sauder, Doris Sauder (first time" donor), Jeremiah Hershberger, Gary. Allen, Steve Simonis, Cheryl Si-monis, Gary Wirtz; Ranelle Hugunin, Dana Neal, Jo-lene Bremer, Anna Ross, Kathy McKimens, Eric Nelson, Denise Blount, Karen Davis, Mary Ruhnke, Stephanie Ochoa, Eleanor Phillips, JoLane Filkin, Wayne Criser, Karen Harper, Barbara Lerner, Ruth Sc-holes, Ken Daugherty, Marida Barber, Regina Johnson, Vclma Dickson, Marsha Seymour; Ellen Lentell, Charlotte Erichsen, Teresa Wilson, Michelle Wessel, Kari Adkins (first time donor), Tracy Burnett, Joe Hecht, Ronald Elsen, Betty Robidou, Jane Dixon, Gordon Schmid, Sandy James, Carl Smith-eran, James Sholin, Cindy Riedcl, Greg Avers, Delia Hopke, Rita Loom is, Robin Kaspar, Susan King, Rita Buchanan and Ora Garibaldi. Goes On! KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) Sudan's president said today that the United States has sought cooperation from Sudanese security officials and assured him that last week's attack on a Khartoum factory was aimed at terrorists, not at his government. President Omar Hassan el-Bashir spoke in his first news conference since Thursday's strike on a factory that U.S. officials said manufactured chemical weapons agents but Sudan insists made only medicines.

He said the U.S. government had communicated with Sudan through a third party, which he would not name, to say that his country was "not targeted in the attack, but terrorism." "They also said that they wanted cooperation between the Sudanese and the American security apparatus," he said, adding that U.S. officials had refused a similar request Sudan made previously on that issue. There was no comment from U.S. officials on the cooperation report.

Last week, Sudan called back all of its diplomats from Washington. Today, el-Bashir said American diplomats, who have been working out of neighboring Kenya and Egypt since 1996, "will not be allowed to return to their work in Khartoum." In an interview with The Associated Press, El-Bashir also said he was recalling Sudan's ambassador to Britain and would ask London to recall its ambassador from Khartoum to protest Britain's support for the U.S. missile strike. President Clinton tied the factory to Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire blamed for the Aug. 7 bombings of U.S.

embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 257 Paul Robinson Dies Paul M. Robinson, 80, Council Grove, died Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998, at the Morris County Hospital. He was born Mar. 23, 1918, at Wilsey, son of Charles Samuel and Melinda Ann Chalker Robinson.

Mr.Robinson was a World War II Army Veteran. He was a farmer and dairyman in the Wilsey area most of his life. His marriage to Ina May Wigle was June 18, 1948, at Solomon. She survives. Other survivors include three sons, Earl Robinson and wife Helen, Wilsey, Kenneth Robinson.

and wife Glenda, Goddard, and James Robinson and wife Joan, Kansas City, two brothers, Ralph Robinson and wife Mina, Bella Vista, and Willard Robinson, El Paso, Tex; eight grandchilren, Gwen Robinson, Terri White, Michael Robinson, Lori Robinson, Staci Robinson, Stephanie MacEwan, Ryan Robinson, and Kyle Robinson; four step-grandchildren, Cindy Dougherty, Tina, Alfonso and Tobias Baxa; a great-grandson, Tristan White; and a step great granddaughter, Karen Daugherty. Preceding him in death were his parents; five brothers, Chester, Donald, Earl, Norman and George Robinson; a son, Mark Robinson; and a great-grandson, Jeremy Dean Robinson May 26, 1998. Military graveside services conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard will be conducted Wednesday morning at 10:00 o'clock at the Wilsey Cemetery. Mr. Robinson will lie in state from noon until 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday at the Kendall Funeral Chapel, Council Grove. A visitation will be Tuesday evening from 7:00 until 8:30 at the funeral chapel. Memoral contributions may be made to the Paul M. Robinson Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date. Warranty Deeds Warranty deeds recorded at the register of deeds office include: Mike and Diane Meisinger to Margaret Taylor lots 12-14, block 1, Richter and Houck's addition to Council Grove.

SaraJane Doty to Thomas Burk -part of the southwest quarter of 16-15-6. William and Clclen Stephenson to Laura and Michael Presley 2.54 acre tract in northeast quarter of 15-14-8. Files For Divorce Roxane N. Brown had filed for divorce from George J. Brown, in a district court case.

USD 417 experienced a big loss in students this morning when the qpening day head count showed a drop of 42 from the first day of class a year ago. There were 1,059 enrolled today, compared to 1,101 in 1997. Most of the loss was at Prairie Heights Elementary School (Dwight, kindergarten through fourth grade); and Prairie Heights Middle School (Alta Vista, grades 5-8) where the total was down 39 students from the opening day head count at those two attendance centers August. The total today at the two Prairie Heights schools was 172, compared Jury Verdict In Limited Civil Suit The verdict of a six-member district court jury in the limited civil suit of Caroline E. Daugherty vs.

David B. Stahl has been accepted by the court and judgment entered in favor of the defendant in the amount of $992.47 plus costs of the action. The jury found the plaintiff 75 percent at fault and the defendant 25 percent at fault; and also determined the plaintiff sustained $1,404.68 in damages and the defendant $1,323.30 damages. The suit involved an accident on Oct. 12, 1996.

Pastor Has Surgery While On Vacation The Rev. Lane Bailey of the Council Grove United Methodist Church had his vacation interrupted In Indiana byaTl" emergency gall bladder operation. Following release from a hospital, he was driving home "a little at a time" as he felt better and was expected to arrive here Sunday afternoon. Kurt Cooper, Emporia, filled the pulpit at the local church Sunday morning. Babe Ruth Boosters Club Picnic, Swimming Party The Babe Ruth Boosters Club is sponsoring a picnic and swimming party this Sunday evening, with all members, players and family members encouraged to attend.

Next year's Babe Ruth players and their families also are invited. A pot luck supper is planned at 6 p.m., at Ben I. Smith field, with the club furnishing drinks. Those attending should take something to eat, table service and lawn chairs. The meal will be followed by a swimming party from 7-9 p.m., at the pool.

Babe Ruth baseball players will receive a hat pin from the club. Uniforms are to be turned in at the picnic. Morris County Hospital Notes Admitted: Sunday-None; Satur-day-Oran Conrad, Dwight, Lisa Williams, Strong City, and Leslie Fuqua; Friday-John Green, Cottonwood Falls, and Peggy Baker and Linda Alexander. Dismissed: Sunday-Lisa Williams, Strong City, and Linda Alexander and Katie Sigle; Saturday-Haven Bledsoe, Cottonwood Falls; Friday-Hannah Horst and baby, Elmdale, and Lois Blanton, Loy Gillaspie and Mattie Smith. A cut line near Alta Vista caused an interruption of telephone service between Council Grove and Alta Vista from approximately 12:30 p.m., Thursday, through mid-morning on Friday, with a few repairs necessary later in the day on Friday.

Don't forget Congressman Jerry Moran will be in the area Wednesday and Thursday on his annual "Big First Listening Tour." The schedule: Wednesday 10:30 a.m., Red Diamond Restaurant in Solomon; p.m., Dwight Community Building; 1:45 p.m., Country Cafe at Alta Vista; and 3:30 p.m., Breck-enridge Country Cafe, Americus. Thursday 9:30 a.m., Emma Chase Cafe in Cottoowood Falls. -CM. Some Odd Ends iajiu iLii.i iiiniiiuiiiniiiijaiii.mil uij.i iwii TO Serve Dwight Rolling Prairie Senior Center at White City has received requests for meals to be delivered in the Dwight area. Senior citizens in Dwight and the surrounding area who are interested in participating in the meal program should call 349-2813; or after 1:30 p.m..

349-2281. State's Jobless Rate Defies Seasonal Trend TOPEKA (AP)-The state received more good news about the strength of its economy when unemployment decreased to 3.5 percent in July. The rate was 3.7 percent in June. The Department of Human Resources reported today that about 4,800 more people held jobs in July than in June, while the number of unemployed dropped by more than 3,000. The department normally expects the unemployment rate to remain constant during the summer, after increasing in June.

College and high school students who do not have classes enter the job market, increasing the number of people who are looking for work. In recent months, unemployment levels have dropped to their lowest levels since the late 1970s. "Kansas has had a remarkable year," said Wayne Franklin, secretary of human resources. "Our economy continues to be fueled by more jobs and increased wages." The department said the state's civilian labor force had more than 1.44 million people in July, up slightly from June. About 1.39 million of them had jobs, the agency reported.

About 50,000 Kansans were unemployed in July, compared to more than 53,000 during June. The unemployment rate in July matched the figure for July 1997. However, last year, nearly 51,000 fewer people were employed. Lt. Gov.

Gary Sherrer, secretary of commerce and housing, said businesses continue to expand in Kansas and may be drawing some people from outside the state. "Even though internationally and nationally there are some signs of a slowdown, we have not seen it in Kansas," Sherrer said. "We have not seen a weakening." The unemployment rate for three of the state's four largest metropolitan areas followed the state trend. The exception was the state's portion of the Kansas City metro area, where unemployment remained constant at 3.9 percent in July. However, nearly 5,000 more people had jobs.

In the Wichita area, the unemployment rate decreased from 3.1 percent in June to 2.8 percent in July; in the Topeka area, it dropped from 3.8 percent to 3.5 percent, and in the Lawrence area, it decreased from 5 percent to 4.5 percent. Morris County's jobless rate in July was 2.4 percent; Dickinson. 2.5; Geary, 5.4; Marion, 1.9; Osage, 4.6; Riley, 3.7, and Wabaunsee, 3.9. Divorce Case John R. Sykcs has filed in district court for a divorce from Mary M.

Sykcs. Traffic Fines Fined recently in district court, for traffic or fishing violations were: Walker M. Waugh, Topeka, $50 and $45, no valid fishing license; Robert D. Barrett, Topeka, $100 and $45, five days in jail, probation fee of $25, driving while license canceled, suspended or revoked, and $200, no proof of liability insurance; Keschia D. Logan, Wichita, $100 and $45, and five days in jail, suspended, suspended drivers license; Bryon D.

Crank, El Dorado, $10 and $45, speeding 65 in a 55 MPH zone; Claudia J. Goff, Blackwell, $45 and $45, speeding 80 in a 55 MPH zone; Steven E. Knowles, Murdock, $20 and $45, speeding 70 in a 55 MPH zone; Wayne R. Nelson, Ben Wheeler, $26 and $45, speeding 73 in a 55 MPH zone; Dennis A. Johnson, Wellington, $10 and $45, speeding 74 in a 65 MPH zone; George R.

Litteral Wilsey, $20 and $45, speeding 70 in a 55 MPH zone; James R. Lewis, $20 and $45, no brake lights on trailer; and John J. Swisher, $20 and $45, no valid driver's license. Walter L. Resner, Emporia, $54 and $45, speeding 83 in a 55 MPH zone; Michael J.

Sullivan, Hering-ton, $10 and $45, speeding 75 in a 65 MPH zone; Jeffrey L. Man-grum, Dexter, $50 and $45, log book violation; Robert W. Cof-fland, Humboldt, $24 and $45, speeding 72 in a 55 MPH zone; Richard C. Matteson, Manhattan, $20 and $45, speeding 70 in a 55 MPH zone; Jeffrey D. Hughey, $42 and $45, speeding 79 in a 55 MPH zone; Joel Steven Force, $30 and $45, speeding 75 in a 55 MPH zone; and Steven J.

Tapley, Holton, $10 and $45, speeding 65 in a 55 MPH zone. Kansas Today HUTCHINSON (AP)-The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center may be parting ways with Hollywood. The center will close its Space Works subsidiary, which had built props for such movies as "Apollo 13," "Deep Impact" and "Contact." About 10 people will lose their jobs in the reorganization, which is designed to refocus the center on its own exhibits and operations, said Max Ary, president and chief executive officer of the Cosmosphere. 'We want to put our stuff as a priority," Ary said. 'We haven't opened anything new since our grand (re) opening in March of '97." Ary said the center would consider another commercial project but "if we have the choice to do a restoration project for a museum or go off and do a movie project, we would do the restoration.

That is our true unique function that no one else in the world does." The restructuring comes during a lull in projects for Space Works and a dip in attendance figures for the museum portion of the Cosmosphere, which officials blame on the lack of new exhibits. "In the next six to nine months, we will have two major exhibit galleries open," Ary said. "That takes a tremendous amount of focus." Along with new exhibits about the (Continued on Page 4) The Heat tury. It has been more than six months since a new case of the disease has been reported in Kansas. If that continues, it could signify the end of an era of livestock quarantines, costly vaccinations and widespread animal tests that have been used to fight the disease for 65 years.

"We're gonna make 'er," said Kansas Livestock Commissioner George Teagarden. "We're hopeful that if we can get through this run of fall months, then maybe we'll be out of the brucellosis business." In 1957, Kansas had nearly 3,000 herds under quarantine for the disease. A widespread control effort forced that number down, and since Feb. 1, Kansas has reported no infected animals. "We've had it around for a long time and spent a lot of time and energy and money," Teagarden said.

"Producers have spent the same. It's time to be done with it." In livestock, the brucellosis bacteria causes cows to abort, makes calves sickly, decreases milk production and interrupts breeding cycles. The bacteria can spread to people who drink unpasteurized milk or handle infected animals as well. In humans, the disease is called undu-lant fever, and it can lead to severe flu-like symptoms for years if untreated. Thanks in part to the eradication effort, undulant fever is now extremely rare in the United States.

"One of the things that's helped greatly in this country has been the pasteurization process because it kills the bacteria," said Valerie Ra-gan, USDA's national brucellosis epidemiologist. "But many countries don't pasteurize their milk, so it's a disease that's very common worldwide." The success in Kansas is mirrored nationwide. Once, 124,000 U.S. herds were infected with brucellosis. Just nine remain.

Ranchers tip their hats to the government. "It's a testament to how important keeping the herd healthy is to producers in this country," said Alisa Harrison of the National Cattlemen's (Continued on Page 4) Readings at Office of Corps of Engineers, Council Grove Reservoir Maximum and minimum temperatures for the weekend period ending this morning were 100 and 64, with the 8 a.m., recording being 78 degrees. High and low readings for the 24-hour periods were: 8 a.m., Saturday 92 and 64; 8 a.m., Sunday 96 and 64; and 8 a.m., today -100 and 74. Reservoir pocl elevation is 1273.87 feet above sea level. High and low readings a year ago were 82 and 63.

FORECAST Morris County Tonight, mostly clear. Low in upper 60s. Tuesday, hot with mostly sunny skies. High in middle 90s. Kansas Tonight, a slight chance for thunderstorms west, otherwise mostly clear.

Lows in 60s north and west to lower 70s southeast. Tuesday, a chance for thunderstorms northwest, mostly sunny central and east. Highs from upper 80s northwest to mid-905 east. Extended Forecast, Morris County (Wednesday through Friday) Wednesday: hot and dry with high in 90s; Thursday: chance for late thunderstorms and high in 90s; Friday: chance for thunderstorms with high in upper 80s to lower 90s..