The Missoulian from Missoula, Montana • 12

B-2-Missoulian, Friday, September 22, 1989 MONTANA SRS officials found guilty in vandalism case The defense argued that no set sentencing for Oct. 25 and released both men on their own recognizance. The prosecution contended that the two men decided to vandalize Bonnie Frey's vehicle because they believed she assisted in the investigation of a sexual-harassment claim lodged against Tickell. evidence proved either man vandalized the truck April 25 and that witnesses who saw Tickell and Stuart at the crime scene that night were mistaken. The nine-woman, three-man jury received the case about 4 p.m.

after three days of testimony. It deliberated about 3'i hours. Jack Stuart, chief of personnel for the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, was found guilty of criminal mischief for damaging the truck. Lee Tickell, acting chief of the agency's Centralized Services Division, was found guilty of criminal mischief-accountability for helping Stuart commit the crime. District Judge Jeffrey Sherlock HELENA (AP) A District Court jury on Thursday night found two high-level state administrators guilty of working together to vandalize a former employee's pickup truck earlier this year.

Each man faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $50,000, or both. Baucus upset over 'miserly' aid to cherry growers By ALICE GREENWAY States News Service $500 an acre for their losses. That's roughly 20 percent of what they actually lost." "The vast majority of cherry growers do not have records to establish their own yields," he wrote. "They rely on the ASCS office to determine an accurate county average yield." Cherry growers at Flathead Lake lost 90 percent of their cherry trees in a severe freeze last February. Under the 1989 Disaster Assistance Act passed in August, they are eligible for crop reimbursements and for a share of $2 million set aside to help pay for replanting.

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Baucus added the cherry orchard disaster provision to the Secretary Clayton Yeutter expressing his disappoint ment with the proposed payments. The ASCS has set crop reimbursement levels based on sales made to a local warehouse. But, Baucus said, cherry growers earn higher profits from road-side sales and usually sell half their crop this way. He also said ASCS was ignoring provisions in the 1989 Disaster Assistance Act, which requires the service to base reimbursement estimates on sales to various markets. "The ASCS procedures resulted in an absurdly low county average yield," Baucus said.

"If current ASCS figures continue to be used, Montana cherry growers will receive only WASHINGTON The amount of money the federal government proposes to give Montana cherry growers who lost their crops in a winter freeze is "arbitrary" and "miserly," Sen. Max Baucus, said Thursday. Montanans "are being shortchanged by a miserly federal agency," Baucus said, criticizing the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service that sets levels for disaster payments. Baucus also wrote a letter to Agriculture Police uncover elaborate auto-theft scheme By DON BATY of the Missoulian Washington authorities have uncovered an auto-theft ring involved in selling stolen vehicles in western Montana, Missoula police revealed during an auto theft school this week. Detective Brent Sells said 13 vehicles stolen in Washington were recovered in Missoula County between February and July.

He said a Washington vehicle also was recovered in Ravalli County last spring and a Washington vehicle was recovered in Gallatin County Trial set in 1981 homicide case POLSON Pretrial motions in a longstanding Poison homicide case involving a man currently housed in the state mental hospital at Warm Springs are set to be heard Oct. 10, Lake County District Court Clerk Kitty Pedersen said Thursday. The case revolves around the 1981 slaying of Vincent Peter Siragusa who allegedly was shot by Worley Buchanan at Buchanan's camp site southeast of Poison. The Buchanan case has attracted considerable attention because it has gone through the hands of several judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and psychiatrists as the suspect alternately has been found mentally fit and unfit to stand trial. The issue of Buchanan's competency, however, seems to be resolved for the moment and he is scheduled for trial Oct.

30 before a District Court jury in Deer Lodge. In a May 23 ruling, District Judge Thomas Olson said Buchanan, also known as Walter Douglas, must stand trial, even if he has to be medicated to participate in his own defense. Drug charges net innocent pleas MISSOULA A University of Montana professor emeritus pleaded innocent Thursday in Missoula District Court to charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, along with felony charges of possession of Dilaudid and possession Of methamphetamines with intent to sell. Robert L. Peterson, 62, was arrested Sept.

5 after state and local drug agents allegedly discovered drugs in the apartment he shared with another, man. Authorities said Peterson had $1,200 cash and nine Dilaudid tablets in a coat pocket when he was arrested. Dilaudid, a high-powered pain reliever, sells for about $40 a tablet on the street, authorities said. Peterson taught history at UM from 1966 to 1985, when he went into semi-retirement. His attorney said Peterson now teaches during one quarter a year.

Peterson's roommate, David Christenson, 43, also pleaded innocent Thursday to the same charges, except that Christenson was charged with possession of Valium rather than Dilaudid. Both men are free on $5,000 bond each. Woman injured in reported assauSt MISSOULA A Missoula woman was in guarded condition at Community Medical Center on Thursday night after allegedly being assaulted in downtown Missoula early Wednesday morning. Missoula Police Sgt. Mike Ginnings said the victim was taken to the hospital by relatives Thursday afternoon.

The woman suffered head injuries in the incident, Ginnings said, but he would not release details Thursday night pending further investigation. Laments chain changes hands BELLEVUE, Wash. Aris formerly Texstyrene has completed the acquisition of Bellevue-based Lamonts Apparel Inc. from Northern Pacific Aris announced Thursday. The purchase price for the 49-store fashion apparel chain is about $136.5 million, including $101.5 million in cash, a statement issued by Aris said.

Another $35 million is being paid in 7 percent senior subordinated notes due in 1995, and Aris is issuing stock representing 20 percent of its outstanding common shares to Northern Pacific. Lamonts stores are located in throughout the Northwest. Lamonts opened its first Montana store Aug. 2 at Southgate Mall in Missoula. Aris plans to continue Lamonts' expansion and remodeling program and will not change the chain's management team, said Chairman John R.

Sloan. Havre woman hits $25,000 spin HELENA A Havre woman won $25,000 Thursday on the Montana Lottery's Big Spin. Also on Thursday, a Red Lodge woman became the second person to claim a 1989 GMC pickup truck in the lottery's "Pickup Plenty" contest. The lottery is giving away nine pickups on "instant winner" tickets. Rita Vinberg of Havre was the $25,000 winner in the Big Spin.

Valorie Griffith of Billings won $5,000 and Richard Brockman of Philipsburg took home $4,000. Denny Jackson claimed the pickup truck, which is worth about $21,000, including federal withholding taxes, vehicle licensing and travel expenses all of which is financed by the lottery. Jackson said she had stopped into a Red Lodge grocery store to buy a few items when she bought the winning ticket, and took it out to the old family truck, where her daughter scratched it off. "We didn't believe it at first," she said. "We sat there, my husband, my daughter, and passing the ticket back and forth." Whitefish, Columbia Falls luro obstetrician with special deal WHITEFISH (AP) After a year without an obstetrician-gynecologist, the towns of Whitefish and Columbia Falls have successfully recruited a Billings doctor by arranging for payment of his malpractice insurance.

Dr. Dan Molloy says he has moved his practice from Billings to Whitefish, after assurances that his malpractice insurance will be covered by North Valley Hospital. "The hospital has an unusual arrangement to keep obstetrics here," Molloy said. "I'm sure there are no others like it in Mon- AROUND MISSOULA numbers in Montana with Montana titles. He said the vehicles were sold to "unsuspecting Montana citizens." He said most of the vehicles, which included premium four-wheel-drive vehicles and luxury cars, were stolen in the Seattle-Ta-coma area.

The operation was unearthed when Washington State Police discovered a number of buried vehicle hulks near Wenatchee, Sells said. He said some identification numbers had been removed from the hulks, but authorities were OBITUARIES William Fehrs HAMILTON William Fehrs, 82, of Hamilton, died of natural causes Thursday, Sept. 21, at his home near Hamilton. He was born Feb. 1, 1907, in Warren, to Peter and Alvina Jetter Fehrs.

When he was 6, he moved with his family to eastern Montana on the Missouri River south of Brockton. On May 18, 1931, he married Selma Ramsey in Sidney. They ranched in eastern Montana until moving in 1945 to Minnesota, where they operated a dairy farm for 20 years. They then moved to a farm southeast of Hamilton, residing there for 24 years. Mr.

Fehrs served on the board of directors for Land O'Lakes Creamery in Sandstone, for 10 years. He attended Hamilton Wesleyan Church. Survivors include his wife, a daughter, Joanne King, and a foster son, Robert Head, all of Hamilton; a sister, Mary Lewis, Fairview; a brother, John, Junction City, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, a sister and half sister. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m.

Sunday and 9 a.m.-noon at Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton. Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Hamilton Wesleyan Church with the Rev. Douglas Trennepohl officiating. Burial will follow at Grantsdale Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the Gideon International Memorial Bible Fund, P.O. Box 876, Hamilton 59840; or to the Hamilton Wesleyan Church, 401 Golf Course Road, Hamilton 59840. Robert Ira Hicks CLINTON Robert Ira Hicks, 26, of Clinton, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, of injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident east of Missoula. He was born Dec.

28, 1962, in Spokane to Peggy and Robert Hicks. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, and was educated in Spokane and Clinton. He graduated from Sen tinel High School in February 1981. He worked in construction before joining the U.S. Army.

He was awarded a Citation of Commendation in October 1982, and was selected for appointment to West Point. Tr-n his honorable Robert I. Hicks discharge in 1987, he traveled from Alaska to Arizona to Missoula, working in construction. He received the Siberian Express Valorous Duty Commendation in 1989 from Champion Security. He was employed by Russell Excavating in Missoula.

Associated with the 4x4 Independent Racers, which puts on local benefits for people with urgent medical needs, he loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He sold fishing flies to several local outlets. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Peggy and Cyclone Bjorn-berg, Turah; three sisters, Terry Day, Sitka, Alaska; Debbie Langford, Missoula; and Jackie Hicks, Seattle; four grandparents. Jay and Jennie Bur-bank, Republic, Cecil Kenney, Spokane; and Margaret Bjornberg, Lake Bronson, four nephews and three nieces. Services will be 10 a.m.

Saturday at Squire, Simmons Carr Funeral Home. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. able to identify the vehicles through hidden numbers. The case currently is being heard by a grand jury in Washington, Sells said. Meanwhile, he said, the operation remains under investigation and stolen vehicles are still being recovered.

The 37 local and regional law enforcement officers attending the auto theft school in Missoula are learning how to find the identification numbers on stolen vehicles. He said Missoula police also are investigating a similar salvage scam, and charges are pending. Harlie L. Wimmer HOT SPRINGS Harlie L. Wimmer, 80, of Hot Springs, died of natural causes Wednesday, Sept.

20, at Hot Springs Convalescent Center. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Falls Cemetery. Coffelt-Bunch Funeral Service of Plains is in charge of arrangements. Mary Elizabeth 'Betty' Postma SPOKANE Former Plains resident Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Postma, 69, of Spokane, died Saturday, Sept.

16, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane after a long illness with pneumonia. She was born Nov. 4, 1919, in Columbus, and was raised in Absarokee. She graduated from Polytechnic Institute in Billings in 1942, and taught English, music and commercial subjects at Westby, Reed Point and Absarokee. In 1943 she married H.

Marlin Postma in Absarokee. They lived in Noxon before moving to Plains in 1946. Mrs. Postma was the first woman employed by the Plains Ranger District, retiring after 20 years' service as a district clerk. An accomplished pianist, she played with a local group at formal functions.

Survivors include her husband, Spokane; two sons, Kent, Kailua Kona, Hawaii, and Steven, Missoula; and six grandchildren. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Riplinger Funeral Home in Spokane. The family suggests memorials to" Horse Plains Post 3596 Auxiliary, of which Mrs.

Postma was a past president and active member. Mary C. Lawrence EVERGREEN Mary C. Lawrence, 75, died of cancer Thursday, Sept. 21, at her home in Evergreen.

She was born May 6, 1914, in Butte to Frank and Rose Marron. Raised in Butte, she graduated with a degree in education from Western Montana College in Dillon, and began teaching in 1933 at Camp Three in the Swan Valley. On April 3, 1937, she married Lester Lawrence in the Swan Valley. The couple lived in the Swan Lake area until moving to Evergreen in 1950. Mrs.

Lawrence continued to teach in the Evergreen school system until retiring 30 years later. She enjoyed her family, and was an active member of Risen Christ Church in Evergreen. She also was a member of the Quilting Club. Survivors include her husband, Evergreen; four sons, Thomas, Sand-point, Idaho; Douglas, Missoula; Dennis, Swan Lake; and Dick, Somers; a sister, Rita Crowley, San Francisco, three brothers, Frank Marron, Deer Lodge; John Marron, Helena; and Harold Marron, Butte; and three grandchildren. An infant son, sister and three brothers preceded her in death.

Cremation is under the direction of Johnson Mortuary in Kalispell. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at Risen Christ Church. Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev.

William Stanaway as celebrant. The family suggests memorials to the Hospice Society or to Risen Christ Church. last week. Sells said the operation appeared to involve an elaborate salvage scam in which the suspects would locate a wrecked vehicle in Montana, then allegedly steal a similar vehicle in Washington. The wrecked vehicles then were transported to Washington, Sells said, where members of the ring apparently would transfer vehicle identification numbers to the stolen vehicles.

The suspects then disposed of the wrecked vehicles, Sells said, and allegedly sold the stolen ones with substituted identification tana I'd never heard of any anywhere." Hospital administrators created the program in response to high malpractice insurance rates that made it difficult for an obstetrician to locate in the area, said Jim Alderson, director of finance at the hospital. Besides Molloy, the hospital covers obstetrical insurance for nine family physicians, he said. Doctors reimburse the hospital for premium costs, which are about half what they would independently pay, Alderson said. WIDOWED PERSONS SERVICES OF MISSOULA needs volunteers. Training session, Oct.

9-12. Call 549-0219. WHATS FOR LUNCH? SCHOOL DISTRICT 1, HELLGATE ELEMENTARY, FLORENCE-CARLTON SCHOOLS: Taco salad, fry bread, green beans, melon wedge, milk. WESTERN MONTANA MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION Ladies Auxiliary, opening fall luncheon, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 11:30 a.m.-l p.m., Missoula Country Club.

Call Nancy Beelman at 728-0189 by Sunday, Sept. 24, for reservations. DISTRICT 1 4-H LEADERS meeting, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 29-30, Montana Power Co. Building, meeting room, 1903 Russell St.

Registration: $6. Workshops, snacks and lunch provided. For time call Gary Hewitt at 721-4095 or Barb Parker at 273-6416. SEPTEMBER 20 DEBORAH and DONALD CREPEAU, Missoula, girl. SEPTEMBER 21 CHERYL and JOHN MILL, Florence, boy.

KAREN and BRIAN JAHNER, Missoula, boy. CONNIE and ROBERT MATTHEWS, Missoula, boy. SUSAN WALLACE, Missoula, girl. JUSTICE COURT John Arthur Silvas, 48, Belgrade. Daniel L.

Knight. 39, 147 W. Main No. 370. MUNICIPAL COURT Stephen Jephrey Raymond, 30, 133 Grove St.

Denise Grant, 24, 217 A Craighead. Alan Ronald Van Dyke, 46, Dillon. Gayle Sandra Stevens, 19, 933 S. Fourth St. W.

William Charles Knuchel, 61, 3031 W. Central DUI per se. Frank Rosales, 22, Butte. John Tromp, 29, 1423 Dickinson second offense. Katherine S.

Fairbanks, 50, 521 Defoe St. Larry Eugene Beaver, 38, Sweet Rest Motet. Joseph Edward Ambre, 33, 3825 Highway 200 second offense. 1 FROM PAGE Tribal pact PUBLIC EVENTS PUBLIC PINOCHLE CARD PARTY, 7:30 p.m., Welcoma Club, 3100 Clark St. ORGANIZATIONS MISSOULA SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER, 705 S.

Higgins Washington, D.C., trip departs, 7:40 a.m.; snack bar, 10 a.m. -3 p.m.; men's blue-plate special, noon; dance to Pauline Ellis, 8 p.m., $2.50 per person. VILLAGE HEALTH CARE CENTER, 2651 South Ave. exercise, 9 a.m.; devotions, 10 a.m.; bingo, 1 p.m.; Play It Again Sam, "How Green Was My Valley," 2 p.m.; hall programs, 3 p.m. ORCHARD HOMES COUNTRY LIFE CLUB, spaghetti dinner, 6:30 p.m., 2537 S.

Third St. W. Bring salads and desserts. SINGLES UNITED, beginners' pinochle, 7:30 p.m., 2515 S. Fifth St.

W. Bring snacks to share and own beverage. Call 543-8802. SWINGOLA SQUARE DANCE CLUB, plus-level square dance, 8 p.m., Square and Round Dance Center, 2'A miles west of Lolo on Highway 12. Caller: Ray Granger.

Call 273-0141. SUPPORT GROUPS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, Sunrise group (closed), 8 a.m.; High Noon group (closed), noon; Missoula group, 8 p.m.; Candlelight group, 10 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 312 E. Pine Nooner group (closed), noon; 2-For-I group, 5:30 p.m., Alano Club, 725 W. Alder No Name group (closed, non-smokers), 8 p.m., room Women's HALT group (non-smokers), 8 p.m., room Providence Center, 902 N. Orange New Life Indian group (closed), 7:30 p.m., MIAD Building, 2010 South Ave.

Florence group, 7:30 p.m., Florence Fire Hall. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, supportive help for people who want to stop compulsive eating behaviors, 5: 30-7 p.m., Unity Church, 201 University Ave. No fees; no scales or weigh-ins. CaJI 728-4710. SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS, help for women and men who suffer from compulsive sexual behavior, 30 p.m..

Providence Center, room first level, 902 N. Orange St. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, closed meeting, candlelight, p.m., Alano Club, 725 W. Alder St. SERVICES YWCA, Stretching and Toning and Art of Drawing classes begin Saturday, Sept.

23. Call 543-6691. non-tribal residents vigorously protested the draft agreement, which was signed by tribal officials last year during former Gov. Ted Schwinden's administration. The state is seeking an agreement that would enhance the reservation's fish and wildlife habitat, simplify regulations and provide adequate enforcement.

"Our goal is to reach an agreement that is recognized as fair, protective of rights, and improves fish and wildlife management," the staff memo said. Marx and Cool said they believe the "majority of people who attended the public forums want some kind of cooperative solution, but this solution must be equitable and it must be fair." Marx said that about a third of the public comments supported no agreement; a third agreed that the proposal is in the state's best interest, but needs major changes; and a third view it as "essentially fine" and support its intent. Among other things, the draft agreement calls for: Cooperative hunting and fishing licenses to be issued by the state and tribes. Cross-deputization permitting tribal and state wardens to enforce all game regulations on the 1.2 million-acre reservation. Giving the tribes revenue from licenses and fines to pay for wildlife management on the reservation.

Handling violations by non-Indians on non-tribal lands in state courts. (continued) affected by the proposed agreement are "not racist." Some non-tribal reservation residents who attended Thursday's briefing welcomed Stephens' decision to not give the administration's blessing to the draft agreement. "I'm happy the governor isn't going to sign it as it exists," said John Cramer, a Poison-area resident and vice president of All Citizens Equal. "We've been sweating this out for ages." Stephens and staff reviewed comments and recommendations gathered during 40 hours of state-sponsored public hearings this summer on the controversial proposal, which would create joint state-tribal management over non-Indian fishing and bird hunting on the reservation. Jurisdictional issues surfaced as the "pre-eminent point of contention" in the hearings, the governor's staff said.

I "The perceived loss of constitutional rights, the possibility of Atrial in tribal court and tribal authority of any kind over private were issues which dominated discussions during the forums and dominated the written the staff memo said. This summer's hearings were mandated by state Senate Bill 446, also gave the governor authority to enter into an agreement, if he desires. But a number of.