Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 15

MET 1B o. CSergy discuss war3B IVJ0NEY6B City editor Terry Sheiton, 252-61 18 Wisconsin State Journal Thursday. February 28. 1991 Flag Hienno angers officers Couples make deal on wells By Cary Seo.aU Wsconsn State JowiaJ Just as the gulf war wound down Wednesday, Madison Police Chief David Couper sparked a departmental battle when he asked police and other department employees not to wear flags or ribbons while on duty. In a memo that reaffirmed department policy but angered many employees Couper wrote, "I realize that this is currently an emotional issue given the fact that family, friends and departmental members are serving in the Persian Gulf.

"Imagine, however, the countless number of future issues which are just as emotional and could divide us not only from the community, but also from each other." Most officers were upset and surprised when they read the memo Wednesday morning, said an angry police stenographer who has given about 45 officers the yellow ribbons that many wear on their badges. "Everybody that I talked to without fail is unhappy about it," the stenographer said, noting that there are two officers and a retired officer in the gulf. "I was told that they will all have them (ribbons) on tomorrow. "They are not a political state ment at alL They simply say we want our people back safe and sound. "I was very upset," she added.

"I'm a city employee and I'm told I can't wear a yellow ribbon, but the rest of the city employees can. I don't like being discriminated against." County Sheriff Richard Raemisch said he will permit his employees to wear flag pins. In a letter to Sgt Dick Fowler, who had asked to give the pins to employees, Raemisch wrote, "It is my belief that the flag of the United States of America represents all Americans, and in this particular case represents those groups that both support the policies of the United States in the Persian Gulf and those groups that oppose the policy. "It is also my belief that the wearing of this flag pin in no way demonstrates a pro-war stance, but symbolizes not only the support for the men and women involved in the Persian Gulf, but also shows our support for all Americans." "There was a lot of grumbling," one sergeant confirmed. "It is a real emotional issue.

A number of officers have kids and friends on the front lines. One officer has a son in one of the tank units, so is directly involved." But, the sergeant added, he understands why Couper wants to ensure that the public doesn't think that police are taking sides on controversial issues. Couper said he was aware that he was going to make people angry, but noted department policy says "no pins, flags, or other such paraphernalia will be worn with the military style uniform." "Sometimes to do the right thing is controversial," the chief said, adding that public perception of the police as being neutral is important Couper said he had received complaints from inside and outside the department about the flags and ribbons worn by some officers. He wouldn't say, though, if he would discipline employees who don't comply. "I'm just asking for cooperation," he said.

"It's an adult workplace. I don't know what's going to happen to those officers. I hope they think about this." Later, when asked again, he quipped, "We've abolished capital punishment in this state. No one will be shot for this." He also said he didn't think police were in danger when wearing the patriotic symbols: "Only in Baghdad. Not in Madison." Meanwhile Wednesday, Dane Two rural Middleton couples whose drinking wells were poisoned by leakage from the Refuse Hideaway dump reached a secret settlement Wednesday with the dump's insurance companies.

Al and Jean Stoppleworth and Craig and Anita Schultz had won a 11 6-million verdict in August against the closed and bankrupt landfill and its operator. John DeBeck. But they still had to battle Bituminous Fire Marine and Mount Haw-ley insurance companies to collect. The insurance companies had argued that their policies didn't cover the damage and a three-day jury trial to decide the issue was scheduled to start Wednesday. "The settlement terms were undisclosed, but I felt it was a good settlement for all concerned to have the dispute behind them," said James Olson, attorney for the Schultzes.

O'Melia remembered The Natural Resources Board on Wednesday paid silent tribute to Donald O'Melia, a board member from Rhine-lander who recently died. This week marks the first board meeting since O'Melia's death, and Board Chairman Stanton Helland of Wisconsin Dells asked for a few moments of silence for "a hell of an Irishman." When barely seconds had passed, Helland proceeded with the meeting. "As he would say, that's about enough," said Helland, mimicking O'Melia's abrupt, no-nonsense style. Families endure wartime together 1 4 5- 7V 3 i 1 4 v. 'A 4 Boyum was friend to many When a crusty, eccentric old gent died last Friday, many people on Madison's East Side felt they had lost a friend.

Sid Boyum, 76, was a man of many talents. He was a sculptor, sign painter and as well as a photographer, col- IJliyarro? hQnssUsjjn outdoor museum ol concrete sculpture a Japa By Roger A. Gribble Wisconsin State Journal MONROE Lisa Ziltner, 3, insisted on going first the other night when Barb, her mother, asked if she and her brother wanted to say their prayers. The terse prayer that tumbled from Lisa's lips was eloquent: "Daddy come home. Be safe." Ann Goecks' son, Randy, 6, wondered "what it'll feel like if Dad will get shot," she recalled.

She wasn't quite sure how to respond, she said, but told him she was sure Dad would be OK. Monica Gillham, 7, only feels comfortable talking about her mother within the familiar surroundings of her family, said Charles, her father. But she and brother Eric, 10, are holding up pretty well, "though they miss their mom," he added. Betty Daehlin doesn't have small children, but she's had to take on more responsibility in running the family service station during her husband's absence. She's also given more responsibility to the station's mechanic, she noted, though she recalled that in the early days "I could change oil and fix tires and I even put in an exhaust system." Mary Petersen, who works at Swiss Colony, said she's doing fine financially, but that November day when her husband, James, went to Fort McCoy eventually Saudi Arabia seems ages ago.

A son in the Air Force was supposed to be home in January, but his hitch was extended and be is still there. In the meantime, she's helped out Ziltner with babysitting. For these five people, the days since the Monroe-based 1158th Transportation Company was ac- IS 1 Mary Petersen, left, Betty Daehlin and Charles Gillham talk about relatives in the Monroe National Guard unit stationed in the Persian Gulf. nese-style pagoda and a trolley car During the summer, Sid would plant corn and other vegetables among the statues, one of which depicted a nude pregnant woman painted silver. Inside, Sid lived with his art and more than MARV BALOUSEK tree" system for spreading news sprang into action.

These times are trying, these five people with family in the gulf agree. No one has received much mail and about the only contact from the gulf has been occasional phone calls, they said. Still, said Gillham, "many of us see each other daily." Added Goecks: "The support group helps with emotions." "We've had wonderful support from the community." Goecks said. That included cash donations for a unit Christmas party, refreshments provided by Swiss Colony for support group meetings, and the firm's offer to provide gift boxes to relatives of the group in Saudi Arabia. As for friendships that have sprung up within the group, Goecks said, "someone suggested that we'll have to understand the camaraderie within the unit when they come home, but they'll have to understand ours too." Clergy criticize war3B Soldier buries family3B band and the unit's first sergeant.

"All he called for was to say the whole unit was safe," she said. "The call was from an 'undisclosed' place and their mission was also he said. The only reason he probably got to call was because he's the first sergeant and wanted everybody to know the unit was OK. All the phone calls were cut off at about the time of the (Scud) bombing for security reasons." Ann Goecks quickly got on the phone, passing along that news and the support group's "phone tivated Nov. 17 have been an emotional roller-coaster ride.

But they banded together through a family support group, sharing information and the fears and uncertainties that go with having a family member in the Persian Gulf. A particularly frightening incident occurred this week after a Scud missile hit Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 25 servicemen and two servicewomen and wounding 89 others. At 4 a.m. Monday, Goecks, of New Glarus, received a phone call from Lonny, her hus two dozen cats. For most of the past year, a life-size sketch he never finished of six young women running nude across the canvas was propped up in his living room.

An avid fisherman, Sid for many years drew an annual, detailed cartoon for the Wisconsin State Journal to commemorate the first day of the fishing season. A cartoon published in 1974, for example, showed a fisherman who looked a lot like Sid bending over in a stream with a full-toothed fish biting him in the rear end. He also wrote stories about his fishing exploits for the paper, some of which were true. Often chewing on an unlighted cigar, Parking ideas worry downtown groups Sid was a skilled storyteller, winning the title of world champion liar in 1976 awarded by the Burlington Liars Club To) -j the yarn: During a recent cold sftSp, I JB Joef Effoadway -City cjovwnmeru reporter Two downtown business groups lira wary of a city proposal to increase public parking on the Isthmus and halt the rental of backyard spaces to commuters, their leaders said Wednesday. A city parking task force is recommending that the city create more than 1,500 parking spaces Downtown and start enforcing laws against renting backyard spaces to non-tenants.

Harvey Temkin, chairman of Downtown Madison says the city must create hundreds of af dent of the State Street group, which has about 100 members. Merchants and property owners in commercial districts should be allowed to rent parking spaces, Waisman said. He's worried that the task force proposal to allow back-yard parking in some areas will not include State Street, where parking is scarce. DMI is also pushing several proposals to help create more parking Downtown, Temkin said. The Madison City Council should allow the city's parking utility to keep part of the $400,000 it collects annually in parking fines.

That money currently goes into the city's general fund, which is spent to provide city services. Temkin said it's "absolutely critical" that the parking utility get part of the fines. The city council's Board of Estimates rejected that recommendation by the parking task force, because it would mean raising taxes. City officials also rejected the task force suggestion to exempt the parking utility from paying about $530,000 in year in property taxes. The utility is supposed to function like a private business.

Please turn to Page 2B, Col. I Temkin and DMI members are worried that the city will lift its moratorium against enforcing back-yard parking laws, before it creates enough spaces in city lots and ramps, Temkin said. Another downtown business group, however, the Greater State Street Business Association, argues that the city should repeal its laws against renting back-yard parking. Many State Street employees and downtown office workers cannot afford to pay $75 or $85 a month to park in city parking ramps, said Dan Waisman, presi fordable parking spaces before it stops commercial and residential landlords from renting back-yard spaces. "The business community Downtown has substantially relied on a lot of that parking," said Su-sanne Voeltz, executive director of DMI, which has about 200 members.

DMI is supporting the city's plans to build "park-and-walk" lots a few blocks from the Capitol Square, which would rent spaces for about $35 a month, compared to $75 or $85 a month in parking ramps. saw a night crawler steal the fur coat off a caterpillar and crawl back in his He was a lifelong friend of Alex Jordan developer of the House on the Rock, and Sid served as chairman of the attraction's corporate board for several years. He also took many photos for the brochure. During his last few years, I got to know him well while researching a book about Jordan, "House of Alex." Sid was delighted to share his anecdotes and photos. He was proud of the sketches he drew for the front and back covers.

He also had an idea for marketing the book. Sid suggested I put out a story that a rare dinosaur egg had been found near the House on the Rock. By the time people found out the egg was bogus, Sid reasoned, the book would be well-known. I nodded and told Sid it might work, but I had other ideas. A year ago, Sid was in robust health.

As Christmas cards, he sent photos of himself sitting backwards od a donkey with the caption: "Hindsight." Like many of his other friends and acquaintances, I'll miss Sid and his unique sense of humor. Balousek covers county government for the State Journal. Phone: 252-6142. Thompson: Lottery suffers growth pains 'Anything growing that rapidly is going to have some growing Gov. Tommy Thompson TIT ILL mittee about militaristic management at the lottery bureau.

One former employee called it "a living hell." "I'm always (concerned) when anybody complains about anything in state government," Thompson said. But Thompson said he talked to his appointee Flynn about the complaints and said Flynn told him the workers were complaining because they had not received the promotions or pay raises they wanted. Among those who testified Tuesday before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, however, was Cyneth Dahm, the lottery's personnel director. And a legislative audit released in January found low morale and "an envi- By Jeff Mayers State government reporter Accusing "liberal Democrats" in the Legislature of political mischief, GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson on Wednesday defended Lottery Director William Flynn and dismissed lottery worker complaints as "growing pains" in a new state operation.

The Democrats, Thompson complained upon his return from meetings in Washington, DC, will "use any excuse whatsoever to embarrass" Flynn. Thompson said Flynn 's job was secure. Legislative Democrats recently have attacked Flynn's management style and lottery advertising. On Tuesday, seven current or former state lottery employees complained to a legislative com Thompson spent two days in Washington, D.C. attending the Amtrak board meeting and met with the state's congressional delegation A host of aides accompanied him or joined him for part of the trip, including Administration Secretary James Klauser and his deputy Nicholas Hurtgen, Welfare Director Gerald Whitburn, Revenue Secretary Mark Bugher, Public Service Commission Chairman Charles Thompson and Transportation Secretary Ronald Fiedler.

Bugher said the trip was a good opportunity for the administration to talk to the state's representatives about many concerns, ranging from laid-off Uniroyal workers in Eau Claire to the state's Medicaid debt. ronment of intimidation." Thompson said he was confident Flynn could correct the problems but said people should look, at the positive side of a lottery he claimed had "exceeded all expectations." "Anything growing that rapidly is going to have some growing pains," said Thompson, hailing Flynn for directing one of the "most successful lottery start-ups anywhere in the country." WISCONSIN Wed. Megabucks owino: 6-16-22-30-47-50 Est. toe pot: $9 minion Lost iocfcpot winner: Feb. 13.

OMi at one ticket winning lodkpoh tin 11913,513 Wedj Supercash: 3-21-22-25-32-33 OAS of moHMng all numten far S2S0fiOO: I i 71J9 JJNOIS WedJ Dally Gome: t-O-6; Pick Four 6-4-4-5; Little LOtto: 2-14-14-20-35; Lotto: 25-2S-30-32-51-52. Est. Lotto (ockpot: S6 million. IOWA Wed. Lotto: 14-20-21-78-29-36; Est.

(ex pot: 1800,000. LOTT ONEIDA Wed. Big Green: 1-2-12-19-24-33. Tommy Thompson.