Traverse City Record-Eagle from Traverse City, Michigan • Page 1

Christmas money for needy kids stolen School project set back by burglary By DAN HANRAHAN Record-Eagle staff writer RAPID CITY A few people just don't seem to care about Christmas. Like Scrooge of "A Christmas Carol" they go about their business despite the season. Burglars rifled the school file cabinet here early Wednesday and walked off with $100 in cash being saved by students for a special Christmas gift to less fortunate, handicapped children. Ten days ago, 25 students in Meryle Klages' resource room began making large Christmas stars to be sold for a quarter each as tree decorations. After a lot of hard work, the children had made 400 stars and raised $96 in cash and about $5 in coins.

The money, to be used to buy materials and boods for a special education classroom'at the Rapid City Elementary School, was locked in uie principal's office. Until Thursday morning, that is, when Mrs. Klages discovered the money was gone. "I feel bad," she said, "but the children feel even worse. They had worked so hard on the star project." Determined, the children have vowed to begin again.

Parents and other residents can expect to see the stars on sale once more at a price of 25 cents. Mrs. Klages had talked to the Record-Eagle about the project before the burglary saving there is a "production line set up in the classroom. The children are making stars by folding long strips of paper into a three-dimensional star. The star is then dipped in wax and sprinkled with glitter." The end product is a decorative star for holiday decorations, one that looks especially nice on a Christmas tree, she says.

The 'star' project started off small, but grew to a full-scale effort by the children who made and sold more than 250 stars. Orders kept coming in, so the room which was nicknamed by some the 'star stayed in operation. "Besides earning 25 cents for each star, the children are gaining experiences in the motor skill of paper folding, math skills of keeping track of orders and donations, and working together in a group for a common goal. Each student works on part of the star according to his abilities. Students are learning that what he has done no matter how small contributes to the final product a bright and lovely star," said Klage "This is the first project the students have Klages said.

"Thanks to parents, school staff, and ar accepting community, the children have had a successful first venture into the business world. Such 'Star' students as these deserve nothing less." But unfortunately they learned another lesson, that there are people who can ruin such efforts with a heartless act o) thievery. Police said today the burglary is under investigation, but no suspects have been found. The Kalkaska County Sheriff Department and Region 10-East detectives are working or the case. Burglars broke a window to enter the school.

Mrs. Klages said she wished the burglars knew what it was they had stolen a "merry Christmas for a lot of loving children." Traverse City Record-Eagle Three Sections, 42 Pages Traverse City, Michigan, 49684 Friday, December 17, 1978 Price 20c Porno figures tried to join Big Brother By MARILYN WRIGHT Record-Eagle staff writer Copyright 1976 the Record-Eagle TRAVERSE CITY Associates of missing Ann Arbor millionaire Francis D. Shelden apparently tried, unsuccessfully, to use the Big Brother organization as a source of boys for alleged homosexual and pornographic activities, according to police. Set Joel Gorzen, of the St. Glair State Police post, told the Record-Eagle today that Gerald S.

Richards had applied for membership to the Big Brother group in Port Huron but had been turned down. Richards, president of Brother Paul's Childrens Mission and director of its nature camp, is now serving time in Jackson Prison on criminal sexual conduct charges. Another associate of Shelden, Dyer Grossman, also applied lor membership with the Oakland, Calif, Big Brother group and he, too, was rejected. Grossman, now being sought by police on a charge of criminal sexual conduct involving a 10-year-old Port Huron boy, is vice president of the children's mission believed link- ed'to a national chain of pornographic homosexual activities. Shelden is a director of the mission and sole owner of North Fox Island, the alleged site of the camp's activities.

In a 1975 interview with a downstate newspaper, Shelden was reported as devoting much of his time to the Big Brother organization, however, officials in Detroit, Port Huron and Flint vehemently deny that Shelden was ever connected with that organization. "If he said that, he was lying," a spokesman for Big Brother told the Record-Eagle. Gorzen also confirmed that Big Brother "has very strict rules and thoroughly investigates applicants." The St. Clair detective flew into Traverse City this morning to meet with Sgt. Don Chappell, of the local post, and sign a complaint charging Shelden with second-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with alleged homosexual acts involving an eight-year-old Port Huron boy on North Fox Island.

That incident is alleged to have occurred between July 1214 this year. Gorzen said. A warrant for Shelden's arrest was authorized Thursday by Leelanau County Prosecutor James Williams following a Wednesday afternoon meeting with Chappell. District Court Judge Richard L. Benedict was expected to issue the warrant today.

The whereabouts of Shelden remain shrouded in mystery today amid reports that he is believed to be on a business trip on an island off the coast of Spain, or in the Caribbean where his family is said to own property. His father, Alger Shelden, of Grosse Pomte Farms, told reporters that his son was "out of the country." Earlier, the 48-year-old bachelor was charged with criminal sexual conduct in connection with a homosexual in- rictent in Port Huron involving a 14-year-old boy, St. Clair authorities said. Investigators also believe Shelden is linked to a national chain of pornographic film-making some of which is alleged to have taken place at a nature camp on North Fox Island and at a boys camp in Alto, Tennessee. Shelden is listed as a sponsor of the Tennessee camp and a member of the board of directors of the nature camp operating under the guise of Brother Paul's Childrens Mission.

(Continued on Page 10) U.S. halts flu shots, paralysis link probed Dr. William Foege, assistant director of the CDC In Atlanta, answers questions Thursday following a conference where he announced that the Federal Swine Flu immunization program has been suspended. (UPI) ATLANTA (UPI) Clara Ruth Jarrett was 48 and, according to her husband, had "never been sick a day in her life" until 12 days after she got her swine flu shot. Less than a month later she was dead.

Today, the government's $135 million swine flu immunization program is in suspension while federal health officials try to determine if there is any link between the vaccine and the unusual form of paralysis that killed Mrs. Jarrett and four other persons all recipients of swine flu shots. About 40 million citizens less than 30 per cent of the eligible adult population received the vaccine before the program was abruptly suspended Thursday. Officials of the Center for Disease Control and the Health, Education and Welfare Department said they called a halt to vaccinations because of statistical relationships between persons receiving vaccine and the incidence of a paralysis called Guillain-Barre syndrome. In announcing the suspension, Dr.

David Sencer, director of CDC, said an intensive two-day survey turned up 94 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome in 14 states. Of those, 51 had received swine flu shots within one to three weeks of the onset of paralysis; 31 had not been vaccinated and the status of the remaining 12 was uncertain. From those statistics, a CDC official said, the chances are 7 in 1 million that a person who has received the vaccine will contract Guillain-Bare syndrome, as opposed to 2 in a million for the unvaccinated. There was no. mention o'f fatalities in either the announcement or in the ensuing news conference.

Sencer said, "We are not able with the available data to rule out the possibility of an association" between Guillain-Barre syndrome and the vaccine. OPEC split on price hike DOHA, (UPI) The 13-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries split today in a dispute over an increase in oil prices. Eleven members called for a 15 per cent hike but Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates held their increase to 5 per cent. Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the Saudi Oil Minister, said the 15 per cent two-stage increase called for by Iraq, Iran, Venezuela and other militant OPEC members could damage the world's economy. And he pledged that Saudi Arabia would increase its oil production to meet the demand for the lower priced oil.

Both Yamani and Sheikh Mana Saeed Al-Otaiba of the United Arab Emirates said that in exchange for their moderation they expect "an appreciation" from the West -progress at the North-South talks between rich and poor countries in Paris and a solution to the Arab-Israeli crisis. The North-south conference was scheduled to resume after the inauguration of Presidentelect Jimmy Carter. The increase by the 11 members could raise the price of gasoline in the United States by 1 to 2 cents a gallon and up the price of heating oil. The first effect was felt in Argentina which raised its oil prices about 10 per cent without waiting for the OPEC announcement. Yamani said Saudi Arabia would put its increase into effect on Jan.

1 and would lift all production ceilings. The other 11 members will increase oil prices 10 per cent on Jan. 1 and another 5 per cent on July 1. Whether the split in the oil cartel was permanent remained to be seen. The OPEC members will meet again in six months to assess their situation and the crisis brought on by the two dissidents.

Saudi Arabia stunned the current meeting at its outset by calling for a price freeze for another six months. Yamani predicted the 11 other OPEC nations would not be able to sustain the 10 per cent increase and that the increase would be no more than 5 per cent. Asked what he would do if oil companies flood the market with Saudi Arabian crude, Yamani replied, "I will wish them good luck." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates produce about one-third of OPEC's oil and have a capacity to produce much more. The majority of OPFC countries here rallied round Iran call for a 15 per cent increase to offset the effects of Western inflation, which OPEC'S economic commission said had increased the price of industrial goods 26.9 per cent since the last 10 per cent oil price increase in October 1975. Although Saudi Arabia has been in close contact with the U.S.

administration-designate in recent days, Yamani said Washington had not put pressure on him. "An increase of more than 5 per cent now would be harmful for the world economy," Yamani said. "The world recovery now is much less than it was earlier in 1976. There are reports of a recession. Why should we take part in this?" Asked whether he thought the price would settle, Yamani said "the market will decide, it is not up to Saudi Arabia." Yamani said it was difficult to find a price structure other than one which is based on Saudi Arabian light crude, now selling for $11.51 a barrel and which will increase to $12.09 on Jan.

1. Yamani said the demand for 15 per cent would severely damage the economies of Britain, France, Spain and Italy, would have a ripple effect on the Common Market and from there to the developing world. The oil producers themselves would be affected. When Ohio state health officials mentioned two from the syndrome, Assistant Secretary for Health Theodore Cooper told reporters in Washington tod been four deaths all among those who had been vaccinated. Asked why it was not announced earlier, he said.

It didn't occur to me that it was necessary to say it. Later, Utah health officials reported they had discovered a fifth death. One was reported in Minnesota and one Mrs. Jarrett in Alabama. Mrs.

Jarrett was the only victim identified. Reports that Guillain-Barre syndrome was occuring among the vaccinated first appeared Tuesday. On Wednesday, the CDC announced "there doesn't appear to be any association." Guillain-Barre syndrome usually begins as a rapidly developing weakness in the legs, then in the hands and arms and finally the trunk, neck and face. It is a poorly understood often misdiagnosed illness frequently preceded by a pulmonary disorder. Ninety per cent of its victims recover completely, CDC officials said, 5 per cent are left with "some weakness" and 5 per cent die.

It is not as bad as swine flu, they insisted. Dr. William Foege, assistant director of CDC, said the program would be halted at least three weeks while officials make an intensive statistical survey the only way to determine a possible link. But "if there is any evidence of swine influenza, we will immediately start up the program because the risk of flu is far greater." Yet health officials in at least three states New York, Mississippi and New Mexico say the suspension in effect means the end of the program. Others say that even if the inoculations resume, fear will keep the public away.

It will not be until late January, Foege said, that officials can predict whether the feared swine flu epidemic will materialize. The vaccination program, delayed until October by an insurance controversy, was dealt a severe blow at its inception by the deaths of several elderly persons soon after vaccination. Officials said there was no relationship between the vaccine and their deaths. A woman was actively supervising her son as he transplanted seedlings and shrubs. A neighbor complimented her generously on the beauty of her yard.

Finally the youngster looked up from his work and commented, "Yes. my mother has been blessed with a green tongue." Prange department store to go in mall 1 Cfrrtl By DAVID HAYES Record-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY A "top flight" clothing and soft-goods store will be added to the Cherryland Mall Shopping Center if negotiations are successful between the mall's developers and a Wisconsin-based marketing group. Developers of the mall are in the "final stage of negotiations" with the H. G. Prange a large Wisconsin wholesale and retail sales group which is beginning to expand from Wisconsin to Michigan.

The announcement was made this morning by Robert L. Wittbold, vice president in charge of development of the mall for Schostak Brothers and Co. of Southfield. "This will be an upgraded full-line department store," Wittbold said. He said the H.

G. Prange Co. is similar to the Hudson's Department Store chain based in Detroit and the Bloomingdale's chain of New York. The Prange department store would be the third and final large department store in the mall, Wittbold said." If i a i developers are completed, construction on the Prange facility will begin this spring and be completed by October, Wittbold said. He said the store would be limited to soft-goods, such as clothing, and consist of feet.

Wittbold said the new Prange Store Industrial fund OKs city offer By JIM HERMAN Record-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY The Traverse City Industrial Fund, a non-profit corporation, has agreed to sell 20.6 acres of land on Parsons Road to the city for $150,000. The land, which will be used by the city to expand its industrial park, had been the subject of negotiations between the city and corporation during the past several weeks. Earlier, the city commission agreed to make a firm counter offer to buy the property with the condition that certain restrictions on use of the land be dropped by the Industrial Fund. Thursday morning, the Industrial Fund's board of directors met and agreed to accept the city's counter proposal and to drop the conditions. The conditions would have banned use of the property for government or propietary purposes.

"We have instructed our attorney to get with the city attorney and work out details of the transaction," Roger Reb- man, president of the Industrial Fund said. Acceptance of the counter offer by the Fund makes the land deal final, City Manager Larry Savage said. The only way it would have to go back to the city commission for further consideration, he said, is if some major changes are sought in the proposal. "The commission agreed to make a counter offer and if it were accepted, it'd be a contract," Savage said. The city will use money from its industrial fund to purchase tie land.

According to a recent audit, that fund contained more than $250,000, which has accumulated from sales of lots at the city's existing industrial park. The city balked at the corporation's proposed restriction to prevent using the land for government or propietary purposes because they would have made the 20.6 acres more restricted than the existing city industrial park. The 20.6 acres is contiguous to the city's park. would be "almost identical" to a store opened by the chain in Marquette in October. The Prange department store is expected to open simultaneously with a Sears Roebuck and Co.

facility and the remainder of the Mall's approximately 45 stores next October. Sears Roebuck announced last month that negotiations had been completed to construct a hard goods facility at Cherryland Mall. The Sears and Prange Stores probably will be designed to complement each other, Wittbold said. The development firm appeared before the Garfield Township Board of Zoning Appeals last week to revise a site plan review on the 40-acre development at the corner of South Airport and Garfield roads. The site plan, which was approved by the board of zoning appeals, is similar to one first introduced to Garfield Township officials in the early planning stages of the development, Wittbold said.

The development will be shaped in a semi-circular mall design with the present Kroger Store at the mall's southeast corner, a drug store next to the food store and the Sears facility adjacent the drug store, Wittbold said. The Prange store would be located in the cenier of the malL Cloudy tonight with lows in the 20s. Cloudy Saturday with highs in the See Page 2 for more weather information. Two Mancelona are found not guilty In a trial for an alleged theft and sale of two snowmobiles. Page 3.

Elk Rapids residents are eligible for low-cost flood insurance for their property through a federal program. Page 5. The state legislature passes and to Gov. Mllliken a campaign reform bill for state gubernatorial races. Page 6.

Big Ten adds nine months to Michigan State probation. Page 12. National Football League playoff spotlight Saturday falls on two veteran quarterbacks. Page 12. St.

Francis returns home Saturday night to face Cheboygan Catholic Central. Page 12. A protest by local Indians In the issuing of funds Baextauly withheld from otoler. Bombeck 24 Bridge 24 Calendar 21 Classified 23-29 Club clips 21 Comics 22 Dlxon 22 Editorials 4 Heloitt 24 Landers 20 Obituaries 1ft Religion 19 Riebs 20 Sports 12-16 Stocks 8 TV 3ft Thosteson Weather 2.