The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 1

www.magicvalley.com rrnn nrv mm Twin Falls, Idaho94th year, No. 5 Tuesday, January 5, 1999 50 cents il I Good morning Bills await lawmakers Mostly agency-generated legislation filed week before session By Gregory Hahn Times-News writer agency-generated, said Legislative Services Director Carl Bianchi. The process is a courtesy for the governor, he explained, allowing measures he supports to be introduced without a floor sponsor. But this session's plans were laid by outgoing Gov. Phil Batt.

Each proposal had to be in House Speaker Bruce Newcomb's hands by Dec. 1, 1998, too soon to go through Dirk Kempthorne, who took office Monday. "I don't think anybody was in place to look at those by the deadline," said Kempthorne spokesman Brian Whitlock. Members of Kempthorne's transition team have been reviewing the proposals since then, though. If anything, Bianchi said, agencies probably withheld some ideas because they hadn't had a chance to rally Kempthorne's support.

So far, proposals include a plan to make driving a snowmobile under the influence of Please see LEGISLATION, Page A2 TWIN FALLS The Idaho House of Representatives doesn't meet for a week, but it already has 76 bills and two concurrent resolutions filed and waiting at the Statehouse. The number rests squarely in the range of years past pre-session filings have ranged from 62 to 100 since 1994. The early filings are almost exclusively Searching class choices MattTaber searches through a list Monday in the Taylor Building to register for spring semester classes at the College of Southern Idaho. f'HU lf DMINOSWUBTlll classroom and have greater access to computer resources. The college is advancing in its effort to offer a seamless education, said Mike Glenn, dean of CSI's technical division.

The division between academic and technical divisions is closing. Starting in fall 1999, all technical students will be required to take 16 credits of core academic courses to better prepare them for the demands in the new century. "It's a major philosophical change," he said. Times-News staff writer Jennifer Sandmann can be reached at 733-0931, Ext. 241.

7 1999 This year the college will seek money from the legislature in three areas, said Jerry Beck, vice president of instruction. $400,000 in matching funds for the estimated $1.6 million expansion of classrooms and office space in the Aspen Building the health occupations building referred to by students as the "Aspirin Building." A portion of the money needed to finance the expansion of the Fine Arts Center estimated to cost about $6 million. Money to raise faculty salaries to the mean earned by instructors in western colleges. It will be interesting to watch this year how changes in state The Associated Sniper's iWEATHER Today: Variable hioh rlnurlc -e" and light winds. High 44, low 22.

PageA2 Magic Valley New owners: A Burley cou ple has taken over ownership of Anderson Camp. Page A6 Ag aide: Idaho's new congressman has hired a Filer man to work on farm issues. PageA6 SPOR'IS. One vs. Two: Florida State and Tennessee faced off for the college foot ball nation al championship Monday night.

Page A7 By George: After a few years off, George Seif ert is back among the NFL coach- ing ranks. Page A8 Countdown: The NBA lockout entered what could be its final week either way. Page A9 Opinion Prime parkland: Bringing Box Canyon into public ownership was a classy final touch from former Idaho Gov. Phil Batt, today's editorial says. Page A10 GOMMUNITY Know your neighbor: Keep track of what your friends have been up to.

Page B4-5 Nation New territory: Senators won't have a detailed road map to follow during impeachment proceedings. PageB3 Section Section A Weather ....2 Nation 3 Magic Valley 4-6 Obituaries .5 Sports Opinion Section Money 1-2 BY SECTION Computers .3 Community Morning break 6 DearAbby ...6 Movies .....6 Comics 7 Nation 8 IdahoWest .9 Classified -U We print on recycled paper. fE-J? Please recydet again. Classified Get your ad on the World Wide Web for only 50 cents by using the times-News Marketplace. Just 733-0931 or in Burley 677-4042 SOI tor CSI reviews plans Dirk Kempthorne is sworn In as Idaho's 30th governor Monday in Boise.

A public inauguration is planned for later this week. Idaho has new governor Kempthorne keeps plans for office quiet The Associated Press BOISE Republican Dirk Kempthorne became Idaho's 30th governor on, Monday, acknowledging the responsibility of the state's highest office and pledging to keep its people as his highest priority. "Decisions will be made in this office but always with the prayer that we must put the people of Idaho first," Kempthorne said after taking the oath in a low- 'Dccisionswill be made in people of Ida- ho, I say this office but Jfy ateaysmth- honor," the sprayer new chief executive said with his wife, Pat, and -Dirk daughter, Kempthorne Heather, at his side. Kempthorne's transition from U.S. senator to governor brought him full circle from 1992 when the former Boise mayor went to Washington to help wrest power and decisions from the federal government.

He now begins to exercise the power that Congress has, given back to the states. "I feel good," he simply said. Kempthorne continued to keep details of his "new vision 1 for the 21st Century" quiet, promising to begin fleshing it out on Friday in his Inaugural Address during the formal inauguration on the Capitols -steps. He is still working on his State of the State and budget messages, which will be delivered to the 55th Legislature after it convenes next and he has yet to fill several major cabinet and policy advis-; '-er posts. To give himself some breathing room, Kempthorne quickly announced that former Democratic state lawmaker and special adviser, Darrell Manning, will serve as acting director of the Department of Health and Welfare in place of Linda Caballero and State Police Superintendent Ed Strickfaden will temporarily take over the Department of Law Enforcement from Robert Sobba.

Deputy Director Steve Woodall will serve as interim director of the state Lottery, replacing Dennis Jackson. to bow out Elizabeth Dole Administrators set sights on expansion By Jennifer Sandmann Times-News writer TWIN FALLS While students registered for. spring semester Monday at the College of Southern Idaho, college administrators explained to faculty and staff where the fastest growing college in the state is headed in the next several years. leadership play out for CSI, said Jeff Duggan, assistant to CSI President Jerry Meyerhoeff er. "Gov.

Kempthorne is a very good friend to CSL" he said. And Rep. Randy Hansen, R-Twin Falls, is a member of the powerful-. Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. Rep.

Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, sits on the House Education Committee. The college will benefit beginning this year from a $1.7 million federal grant distributed over the next five years, said Kim Prestwich, a grant administrator. College staff will see professional development training available. Students will find the use of technology enhanced in the bullets close interstate Press the interstate remained closed in both directions Monday afternoon for about 10 miles. "we're looking for somebody that likes to shoot at cars," Washoe County sheriffs Sgt.

Bob Towery said. Officers were having trouble pinpointing where the shots came from because the vehicles struck by gunfire all kept moving for various distances before pulling off the highway, Towery said. All the shootings came between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. In two cases, bullets traveled "right through the center of the windshield between the seats," Towery said.

RENO, Nev. A man was shot in the chest Monday by a sniper targeting traffic on Interstate 80. Three other vehicles were hit by gunfire, forcing the closure of the highway from the outskirts of Reno to the California state line. The wounded man was able to drive several miles to a fire station. He was hospitalized with a wound that police said wasn't life-threatening.

Two other people were hurt by flying glass from gunfire. Dozens of law officers, a SWAT team and two helicopters from the Nevada Highway Patrol were searching the area as UpM Law officer Becky Hawkins checks the trajectory of a bullet that went through a car's windshield Monday west of Reno. Elizabeth Dole considers run at presidency; Ashcroft "She's beyond soul-searching," said one longtime friend, speaking on condition of anonymity. "She's down to finding out whether the money is there are whether the supporters are there." Her entry would add a compelling wrinkle to a GOP presidential field that is still taking shape. Ashcroft was said to be concerned that running for president would put his seat in jeopardy in 2000, when the GOP are at risk of losing control of the Senate.

organization's historic headquarters two blocks from the White House. In an interview later, Mrs. Dole said she plans to decide by March whether to run. Tm going to give it serious consideration," she said. Yet friends and allies say Mrs.

Dole is determined to run for president if her financial and political support is as strong as she suspects. "I'm sure she's preparing to commit herself," said pollster Tony Fabrizio, who worked for former Sen. Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign. has decided not to run for president The Missouri lawmaker had spent the last year laying the groundwork for a presidential bid, and was considered one of the strongest prospects among social conservatives. Addressing 500 cheering, sometimes teary-eyed employees, Mrs.

Dole announced plans to leave in two weeks, after nearly eight years as head of the nonprofit relief group. "There may be another way for me to serve our country," she said at the The Associated Press WASHINGTON Elizabeth Dole, a Cabinet member in two GOP administrations whose husband lost to President Clinton in 1996, said Monday she will leave her job with the American Red Cross to pursue a potential White House bid of her own. Mrs. Dole, 62, made her plans known as Sen. John Ashcroft pri vately told surprised supporters that he will announce Tuesday that he.