Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • Page 3

EARLY EDITION THURSDAY, JANUARY 27. 1994 eirou eimce mciie timta todfc FTp INSIDE lrNr 77 Call 463-4636 and enter access MetroTcday code 1290 for Miami Valley lOjD ff news and traffic conditions from DEATHS4 jWJ "gg, 11 1 5'! 1 United Way funds down Shortfall in contributions has resulted in other belt-tightening for the United Way: Rva high-level staff positions, totaling $224,000, were eliminated. $200,000 was cut in nonpersonnel costs. $63,000 allocation for equipment and building improvements was shifted to agencies. campaign revenues to pay United Way's capital costs.

"As I've said before, member agencies have a real problem with that," Kramer said. "We're all required to meet that cost out of our allocation for services and operations. If it's set aside for United Way, it comes out of our allotted funds. It seems the whole brunt Of the shortage is being shifted." The funding cut probably will mean eliminating two full-time positions in Dayton-area programs of Catholic Social Services, and therefore some reduction in services to clients, said Ron Eckerle, the organization's executive of local United Way priorities. Board member Lynne Irwin, a community volunteer, said the cut could significantly hurt smaller agencies that have a heavy dependence on the United Way.

The only agency serving a certain group of troubled teen-agers is going to take a $7,000 cut, which doesn't sound like much, but it's going to really hobble that program because United Way funds nearly half of its program," Irwin said. In other examples, the YWCA will take a $45,000 cut under the formula, and Catholic Social Services will see funds trimmed by $61,800. "I think our priorities are all fouled up," Irwin said. "We need to look at the contracted agencies (American Red Cross and American Cancer Society), our operations, the information and referral services and decide if that is really where we think donors want the money to be going." Winton Beaven, chairman of the Community and Resource Agencies Council, said the decline in available funds indicates the nature and extent of the United Way's problem. "We must address that decline if we expect to continue to receive community support," he said.

YWCA director Linda Kramer said she takes issue with setting aside money from the top of the By Jim Bland DAYTON DAILY NEWS About 60 agencies that serve health and human service needs in the Miami Valley will have to do with 11 percent less from the United Way in 1994 a result of the shortfall in contributions. The board of the United Way of Greater Dayton on Wednesday handed out a portion 'of the $19 million in cash pledges raised during the 1993 campaign a decline tion to the Visiting Nurses Association, which serve thousands of people in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties, vied for shares of a $6.5 million pie. The severity of the cut drew heated comments from board members and agency directors, many of whom asked for a review of 4.25 percent from the previous year. Because of funding commitments to specific agencies, the shortfall translated into an 11 percent cut for agencies that make up the Community and Resource Agencies Council. Those 60 groups, from the Arthritis Founda 9 6 Salt in short i I supply Expect icy roads for morning rush; By Jonathan Brinckman and Laurie Denger DAYTON DAILY NEWS This morning's freezing rain expected to coat roads with treacherous film of ice just in time; for rush hour couldn't come at a worse moment.

-L Miami Valley communities are facing serious shortages of road, salt, and many officials had been praying for a respite from winter, Today, a low pressure system' swinging into the area is expected to drop freezing rain until late morning or early afternoon. The sleet probably will turn to heavy rain in the afternoon and evening. "It's shaping up to be a pretty significant icing event," said Matt Volkmer, a National Weather Ser-; vice meteorologist at Dayton International Airport. "The rush hour drive's going to be a mess." The Ohio Department of Transportation said it has enough road IN BRIEF Portmann targeted Montgomery County commissioners are taking aim at county Public Defender Kurt Portmann, saying he should resign over racial slurs he admitted making while at a downtown tavern. See story, Page 2B.

Gunshot victim dies A 38-year-old Dayton man died Wednesday after being shot Tuesday night. Willie R. Raglin of 48 Horace St. was shot in the head at 3033 Wexford Place about 11:30 p.m. A witness told police that Raglin and another man were handling the weapon when it discharged.

Dayton police have not determined whether the shooting was an accident. 1 Hospice seeks property Hospice of Dayton is seeking to double its parking space if legislators agree to sell eight acres of state-owned land adjacent to the facility at 324 Wilmington Ave. The state-owned land has been used temporarily to accommodate the parking overflow, but Hospice executive director Betty L. Schmoll said vegetation and a building obstruct view of the lot, making it a safety concern. The parcel is appraised at $235,000.

The sale proposal is included in a bill sponsored by state Rep. Tom Roberts, D-Dayton, now under consid- eration by a House subcommittee. Agency accredited The Montgomery County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has again received national accreditation. The agency's three-year accreditation includes the board's work services, job placement and community employment services. New Antioch University VP Michele Genthon has been appointed vice president for finance for Antioch University.

Genthon came to Antioch in 1989 and served as dean of administration and finance for Antioch College. She will work with Antioch's five campuses and will be responsible for all university financial matters. for headlines The top local headlines are available day and night on the Dayton Daily Newsline. Call 463-4636 and press 1005. Teen to spend life in prison By Benjamin Kline DAYTON DAILY NEWS Her defense attorneys portrayed Laura Jean Taylor as a girl who ran away from home and "met up with the wrong people." But Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor Angela Frydman said Taylor was the wrong people." Taylor, Frydman said, "was capable of killing people, and she did people she knew." On Wednesday, 13 months to the day after Taylor's arrest, a jury of nine men and three women agreed with the prosecution.

They deliberated 5lA hours and found Taylor guilty of three murders and nine other felonies stemming from Dayton's 1992 Christmas killing spree. Common Pleas Judge Robert M. Brown immediately sentenced the 17-year-old defendant to consecutive life terms for the aggravated murders of Joseph Wilkerson, 34, and Sarah Abraham, 38, and 15 years to life for the murder of Richmond Maddox, 19. Court officials estimated Taylor has no chance for parole until she is in her mid-70s. "This makes us feel a little better," said Floyd Wilkerson of Detroit, father of Joseph Wilkerson, "but it's not a good feeling.

None of it's good." Wilkerson, his wife, Christine, and the victim's two brothers and three sisters have traveled from Detroit to Dayton for most of the Taylor trial and two earlier proceedings. Sarah Abraham's brother, Samuel, said, "Whatever happens isn't going to bring my sister back, but our family is satisfied justice is being done." Richmond Maddox' sister Yolonda said she was happy with the verdict, but she described it as a strange kind of happiness, "an emotion you can't explain. I won't be really happy until all of them are put away." Four persons were charged for robberies, burglaries and six deaths in a 60-hour crime spree Dec. 24-26, 1992. One is still awaiting trial Defense attorney Matthew Arntz said the verdict will be appealed.

"She was responsible for unlawful acts, but she didn't do everything they say she salt stockpiled to cover this storm barely. Dayton and most area JAN UNDERWOODDAYTON DAILY NEWS Laura Taylor may not be eligible for parole until she is in her mid-70s i did," Arntz said of Taylor. "The prosecution introduced things that weren't relevant, and they didn't give her a speedy trial." Arntz, who presented no witnesses or testimony in Taylor's defense, said he felt the jury's verdicts reflected a "domino effect, a momentum as they went through the 11 counts." Taylor's conviction brings to three the number of people convicted in the crime spree. Marvallous Keene, 20, has been sentenced to death after a trial. Heather Mathews, 21, is serving multiple life prison sentences after entering a plea agreement with prosecutors and testifying against Taylor.

DeMarcus Smith, 18, is scheduled to stand trial Feb. 14. WORLD WAR 0 Peter Gullette, father of victim Fifty years ago today, a survey by Dayton Dally News revealed that 35 Miami Valley residents including 13 Daytonians had been reported as prisoners in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps. Of those incarcerated, one was a nurse and four others were civilians. The survey showed six area residents died in Japanese prisons during 1943.

A tense House passes ethics commumues nave enougn as weu, but a few are running short. Middletown has been rationing salt for more than two weeks. Washington which needs 200 tons of salt to cover all its roads, only had 79 tons as of Wednesday. Officials there plan to' only salt main thoroughfares. "It's a terribly critical situation," said Bill Johnson, director of public works.

"We're just about out." Salt began running low in communities across the Midwest and East Coast last week. Snow followed by record cold had road crews pouring everything they had onto streets. The cold froze rail switches, halting Conrail trains for; two days and slowing delivery of replacement supplies. Since then, thousands of com- munities across the East have been wrangling for the material. "It has been a nightmare," said.

Cindy Strayer, purchasing agent for the city of Middletown. "People are scrambling." The city of Columbus, which normally stockpiles 14,000 tons of salt, was down Monday to about' 1,000 tons. Replacement supplies began rolling in Tuesday night. "We were screaming at everybody to get it," said Mike Beckner, a city maintenance engineer. "We finally made it just in the nick of time." The Miami Valley's main salt de-' pot, a yard in Dayton that normally holds 24,000 tons of salt, is virtually empty.

Tom Miller, who manages the yard, said he has only been giving salt to communities that are completely bare. Miller said he expects replacement trainloads to start rolling in today. "We had some panicked calls this afternoon," he said. He's cut off supplies to private companies like shopping malls so he'll have salt for municipalities that need to clear roads. The depot is supplied by Akzo' Salt Co.

of Clarks Summit, Pa. The company, which provides salt to 5,000 municipalities across the country, said it has had to ration! supplies in many parts of the Midwest and East. Measure goes to Voinovich MetroFOCUS Tehavetho opportunity today to show the public that politics can boa clean Career change More than 1 00,000 veterans are expected to return to Ohio over the next several years due to military downsizing efforts. Public officials: The bill affects most elected officials in the state, including county officials, most mayors and many staff members or appointees. Officials and township trustees who are paid $16,000 or less a year would not have to meet all of the filing requirements.

Financial disclosure: Officials would have to disclose all sources of outside income. They would not have to state the ex- act amount from each source, but would have to give the range of income. The ranges go from $1 to $1,001 to $10,0001 to $25,001 to $50,000 to and over $100,000. Wining and dining: Lobbyists will have to report three times a year how much they spent on Individual public officials. They cannot spend more than $75 a year per official.

The officials cannot accept gifts from other than family members If the total value of the gifts is over $75. CTrips: Allows for reimbursement of actual travel expenses if a trip is in conjunction with a speaking engagement or seminar. The official must report the source and amount of payment, which they do not have to do now. Revolving door: Members of the General Assembly or staff cannot lobby the General Assembly for a one-year period after i leaving their job. Current members and staff are exempt if they leave before the end of next year.

Honoraria: Payments for speaking to a group Of attending a meeting is prohibited except for university presidents and members of college boards of trustees. Monitoring: Would abolish current House and Senate ethics committees and establish a new, bipartisan 12 -member ethics committee that would hire a full-time inspector general to investigate alleged violations. More than 1,300 veterans By Tim Miller COLUMBUS BUREAU COLUMBUS The tension was evident Wednesday in the chambers of the Ohio House as Karen Doty, a freshman legislator from Akron, rose to speak. Four months ago, Doty and a handful of her new colleagues from both political parties became the driving force behind an ethics reform bill that would become a center of controversy in the nearly 200-year-old institution. "To quote a great American Jerry Garcia what a long, strange trip it's been," Doty began.

From the looks on the faces of her fellow members, few recognized the name of the lead singer for the rock band the Grateful Dead and it's likely even fewer had heard the song Truckin' from which the quotation came. But all 99 members knew they attended state-sponsored 'career seminars in 1993. About half found jobs or were Rep. Karen Doty were about to cast a historic vote that could forever change the long-standing relationship between lobbyists and lawmakers. The House voted 96-2 to concur with Senate changes to the bill, which now goes to Gov.

George Voinovich. His press secretary, Mike Dawson, said Voinovich plans to sign it immediately. For months the bill triggered strong responses from those most affected by its provisions. Many veteran legislators and lobbyists called it an overreaction to news media reports of alleged ethics violations. SEE ETHICS2B referred to training programs.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS.