New Castle News from New Castle, Pennsylvania • Page 5

NEW CASTLE NEWS, TUESDAY, JUNE 13,1978 Big statue of Lincoln may move CHARLESTON, Dl. (UPI) A 62-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln has been the butt of numerous jokes among residents of the eastern Illinois community of Charleston. So now, it may find a new home appropriately, in Lincoln, 111. Representatives of Lincoln, the only town named for the 16th president before he became chief executive, plan a trip to Charleston Thursday to take a look at the statue. The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce has offered Charleston city officials $5,000 for the statue that was erected in 1969 at a $21,000 cost to area businessmen.

Charleston accepted the offer, but a final decision by the board of directors of the Lincoln Chamber must be made before the sale is final. we feel it is good for us and tourism and adds to the historical outlook in the city of Lincoln, we will carry on regardless and not listen to one or two Walter Strohmenger, executive director of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce said. The steel and fiberglass statue said by some to be the ugliest likeness of Lincoln ever built stands two miles southeast of Charleston and has attracted vandals and partygoers, not tourists as planners had intended. The idea for the structure came from Charleston merchant Andy McArthur who had seen a large statue of a lumberman In Iron City, and thought Charleston could use a similar attraction. Initially, a commercial developer planned to build the statue as the center of a large tourist attraction, and 21 businessmen each signed $1.000 promissory notes to begin the project.

But the developer backed out and the businessmen were forced to come up with the $21,000. Later, some of the merchants decided to hold a festival to raise money and recoup some of their losses. Few people attended, though, and the Charleston Chamber estimated that, in all, the Lincoln statue cost its backers $37,000. Another sore point with residents is the looks of the statue. Is some question about how the thing said Jack Ensign, a Charleston merchant and former City Council member, who was one of the 21 financial backers.

use all kinds of sarcastic adjectives to describe it. grotesque and the head seems to be out of proportion with the rest of the body. too Even with all its problems, Strohmenger said the statue may be just right for Lincoln. He said he is aware of thousands of tourists who come to Illinois each year to visit native home and he added that if the city purchases the statue, it probably will be placed in Railsplitter State Park, south of Lincoln. FIVE Polititians urge Bellomini to resign, or face expulsion HARRISBURG (UPI) tion and avoid a nasty confron- they will have no alternative.

House members, voted to House leaders hope to persuade tatlon. Most legislators say that allow- Sweeney. There was only convicted Rep. Robert "I am dealing with politicians, ing a convicted felon to remain in vote In favor. Ml IPwi nil i A.

HARRISBURG (UPI) House leaders hope to persuade convicted Rep. Robert Bellomini, D-Erie, to resign from the House rather than face an expulsion fight they are sure he could not win. House Speaker K. Leroy Irvis, D-Allegheny, Monday said Bellomini was to meet either late Monday or today with Majority Caucus Chairman Harry Englehart, the Cambria County Democrat who Is one of closest friends in the House. Englehart will try to convince him to step Irvis said.

Irvis said he had been unable to contact Bellomini personally but considered a resignation right thing to do." Bellomini. chairman of the House Transportation Committee, was convicted last week on two counts of attempted extortion In connection a state liquor warehousing contract. He lost his bid for re-election In the May 16 primar)'. If Bellomini refuses to resign and he said on Friday that he would not unless a planned appeal of his conviction Is unsuccessful there were signs that the House would expel him. Irvis said one Republican and one Democrat lawmaker were prepared to Introduce expulsion resolutions.

He said both legislators agreed to wait until Tuesday to give Democratic leaders time to force a tion and avoid a nasty confrontation. "I am dealing with politicians. They are not going to Irvis said, indicating the resolutions would be introduced Tuesday If Bellomini refuses to step down. The House leaders would like to avoid the trauma of expelling Bellomini. who is well-liked by many of his colleagues, but believe that If he refuses to resign they will have no alternative.

Most legislators say that allowing a convicted felon to remain In the House is a political liability they can't afford, especially In an election year. In 1975 the House voted to expel Hep. Leonard Sweeney, an Allegheny County Democrat convicted of federal mall fraud, after he refused to resign, Bellomini. along with 195 other House members, voted to oust Sweeney. There was only one vote In favor.

Sweeney fought the expilsion In Commomwealth Court arid in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the grounds that he was denied right to due process, but the state Supreme said House rules requiring a twd- thirds vote In favor of expulsion protected that right. Political boss charged Kickback trial opens PITTSBURGH (UPI) It was just last week that assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander H. Lindsay won a conviction for attempted extortion against state Rep Robert Bellomini. D-Erle.

Monday. Lindsay was In the U.S. District courtroom of Judge Maurice B. Cohill and his target this time was John R. Torquato, former Democratic chairman of Cambria County, and two PennDOT employees, John fieorg, 55, of Johnstown, and Harold G.

Stevens of Clinton. The three arc charged with extorting more than $80,000 in kickbacks from 16 heavy equipment contractors who had been working under contract for the state since 1971. The indictment listed 385 alleged payments in amounts ranging from $1.80 to $1,620. Lindsay, in his opening statement Monday, charged that Torquato, who he termed the political "boss" of Cambria County, enlisted the aid of (ieorg and Stevens to work as his bagmen. Torquato resigned last week as Democratic chairman of the county after 36 years.

Lindsay said Georg and Stevens collected more than $80,000 in kickbacks during a four-year period from businessmen who supplied snow removal equipment to PennDOT. "You had to take care of John Torquato for the privilege of leasing equipment to PennDOT in Cambria County," Lindsay said Lindsay indicated the contractors were initially charged 5 percent of the equipment contract price in 1971 and later that percentage was doubled. "Evcrv' two weeks they (contractors) would get their checks and every two weeks (Jeorg or Stevens would be by to pick up 5 or 10 percent." Lindsay charged. "There was a system that ran like clockwork and everyone in Cambria County knew it and knew the men behind Lincoln statue may get a new home QiiEiirs OPEN 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M.

CALL'S PLAIA 1700 WILMINGTON CALL'S PLAZA TAB Btu. Plus Deposit Local Co. Fost Strvke Good Work ALUMINUM SIDING REPLACEMENT WINDOWS NEW ROOFS DOWNSPOUTS DOWNSPOUTS BETTER BUILT HOMES 654-7196 or 652-6901 High court ruling favors owners of news-broadcast WASHINGTON (UPI) Publishers and broadcasters are applauding the Supreme 8-0 ruUng allowing most existing newspaper-broadcast combinations that operate in the same market to remain intact. But they like another part of the high Monday decision upholding federal regulations that do require the sphtup of 16 "small cross-ownerships that the Federal Communications Commission feels comprise local monopolies. elated.

happy. I think it was a good and fair finding by the said Joe Dealey, president of the Dallas Morning News and chairman of the American Newspaper Publishers Association task force on ownership, of the decision in general. But, of the 16 ordered divestitures, he said: regret The case stems from challenges to FCC rules issued in 1975 that were designed to promote diversity of media ownership without disrupting the entire communications industry. To meet that goal, the FCC decided to bar future formation DAN'S POULTRY 8 E. WASHINGTON ST.

Try Our Deboned Chicken BREASTS of cross-ownerships located in the same market, and to use a to exempt all existing such combinations except for 16 it felt constituted local monopolies because of having both the only newspapers and broadcast facilities in their cities. The federal appeals court in Washington D.C. sent shock waves through the media in March. 1977, by ruling the FCC must oversee across-the-board divestiture of almost all samecity combinations not just 16 in order to comply with its policy of promoting diversification in media ownership. That ruling could have required more than 60 newspapers to get rid of television stations they owned, and affected nearly 100 newspaperradio combinations if it had been allowed to stand.

But the Supreme Court ruled Monday the apiieals court was wrong to invalidate the grandfather clause. The FCC regulations are In their Justice Thurgood Marshall said in delivering the opinion. All but 16 of the existing combinations thus may continue to operate until they decide to sell or trade their properties. At that time, their exemption will end and they must break up the combination. GOOD NEWS! RENT TO OWN Color TV only Weekly WASHERS DRYERS M.50 REFRIGERATORS 7.00 GAS ELECTRIC RANGES STEREO 7.00 etc.

No Repair Bills, No Interest, No Credit Required WEISS BROTHERS LAWRENCE VILLAGE PLAZA Phone 658-9766 ANNUALS and VEGETABLES 12 Pock 87 BEFORE YOU BUY ANYTHING IN THE FIELD OF ELECTRONICS CHECK OUR PRICES AND SAVE AUDIO MART TV PARTS CO. 2002 WILMINGTON RD. Open Ffi. 'Til 8:30 9 to 6, Sat. 9 fo 5 Hoping to buy this year? LAWRENCE VILLAGE PLAZA what's new in new haggarweek in our men's area Stop in our newly remodeled Men's Area on the lower level, and this week register to win a week's supply (7 prs.) of Haggar slacks.

you may win a weekend supply (3 No purchase necessary. Stop in this week. better than ever at Strouss New Castle. WE GIVE AND REDEEM EAGLE STAMPS 321 S. Mill St.

Open 8:30 o.m. to 11:30 p.m. 7 Days Week THE FINEST MEATS IN TOWN AT THE LOWEST PRICES we make the going easier. As shelter or investment, home ownership is worthwhile. It begins with a down payment, which often starts with a Dollar Savings 5V a Passbook Account.

Regular deposits plus daily interest build into your down payment-often before you know it. also established good credit at Dollar Savings, so a mortgage loan easy to live with is a definite possibility!) We make easier at Dollar Savings. Get started saving toward that home of your own. Come in and talk with one of our savings counselors. II We make easier.

Sharon, Pa. New Castle, Pa, Meadyille, Pa, New Wilmington, Pa, Association it..