The Spokesman-Review from Spokane, Washington • 3

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW AND SPOKANE CHRONICLE FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1991 PAGE B1 ALSO REGIONAL DIGEST. B2' WASHINGTON RECORDS, B2 EDITORIALS. B6 -LETTERS. B7 SENSITIVE LOGGING State board will work on implementing logging reforms even though efforts died in Legislature earlier this year. STORY, B3 State to join Oregon for primary The 1989 primary initiative set the date for the fourth Tuesday in May, but gave the secretary of state authority to switch to some other date to advance the concept of a regional primary." Munro announced Thursday that he was exercising this option and moving the primary to the third Tuesday in May.

He said Democratic officials in Idaho also are considering holding their party caucuses on that date. Washingtons Democratic Central Committee had tried unsuccessfully to force Munro to move it to the fourth Tuesday in March, hoping to spur a regional primary conventions. Munro once said more people attend a boat show or Seattle Seahawks game than participate in the quadrennial caucuses. After a small, well-organized group backing television evangelist Pat Robertson swept the 1988 caucuses for their candidate, voters decided to scrap that system in favor of GOP and Democratic primaries. The 1992 primaries will mark another first for Washington: voters will have to choose either a Democratic ballot or a Republican ballot.

That will be the closest thing to party registration the state has ever had. Vote will be held on May 19, 1992 Associated Press OLYMPIA Washington will join neighboring Oregon in a regional presidential preference primary next May, Secretary of State Ralph Munro said Thursday. The May 19, 1992, primary will be Washington's first. Until now. Republican and Democratic convention delegates have been picked through a complex, poorly attended series of precinct caucuses and local WASHINGTON GRAPEVINE Cheers star will address postmasters Whos the last person youd think would be invited to address a convention of postal officials? Yep, Americas most famous postal buffoon, a fortysomething guy who goes blind at the sight of his girlfriend, a guy who delivers the mail to the wrong address, a guy who spends way too much time with his buddies at a Boston bar called Cheers.

But also a guy whos the most zealous defender of the U.S. Postal Service and who calls mail workers the Indiana Joneses of civil servants. Maybe thats why the state convention of the National Association of Postmasters of the United States invited Cliff Clavin, the butt of countless Carla cracks, to talk to them on June 1 1 Either that, or these guys have a great sense of humor. Actor John Ratzenberger, who portrays the bumbling geek on the long-running sitcom Cheers, will be at the Red Lion in Pasco along with Sen. Brock Adams, D-Wash.

Guess wholl get the most er cheers? Though many downtown Wenatchee business owners feared the annual onslaught of revelers for the Apple Blossom Festival and shut their doors, this years affair was tame. From noon Friday through the end of the 1 1-day event on Sunday, 73 people were booked into either the Chelan or Douglas county jails, mostly for partying a bit much, the Wenatchee World reported. There were 18 drunken driving arrests and six felony busts, four for drugs. This is one of the quietest Fridays Ive seen as far as arrests go, a Wenatchee police spokeswoman said. Floats from six Eastern Washington communities won awards in Saturdays Grand Parade: Chewelah earned the Community Sweepstakes Trophy with an Uncle Sam sequined tn red, white and blue.

Wilbur took the Applarian Chancellors Award with a float decked in marine blues and purples for its Under the Sea theme. Entiats red, black and silver jukebox with its Let the Good Times Roll message captured the community division for its category. Leavenworth won the Golden Apple trophy with its Autumn Leaf Festival float featuring gold streamers and a red carpet in front of a Bavarian castle. Cashmere took first in its community division with a water wheel and old-fashioned street lamps in shimmering green and gold. Mansons Apple Blossom Festival float won the Director Generals Award with tropical colors of Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.

Staff photo by Lisa D. Finger WHALE WATCHERS. Sean Tiffany and Katie Kennedy of Opportunity Elementary get a close look at a sperm whale Thursday during an exhibit at Walk in the Wild zoo. The show runs through May 19. that would attract candidates while the hunt for convention delegates still is hot." The state House, controlled by the Dem-ocrats, approved such a bill.

The sponsor, Rep. Cal Anderson, D-Seattle, secretary of the state party, said during debate May is too late to have a meaningful election. Peo- pie wont participate." But the Republican-controlled Senate went along with Republican Munro and killed the bill. In promoting a presidential preference primary, our goal has always bn to attract presidential candidates to campaign Please see PRIMARY: B2 WSU plan praised, criticized Some say race report; doesnt reflect reality By Eric Sorensen Staff writer PULLMAN Washington State University officials had nothing but praise for an in-depth report on minorities this week, but the document and how it was prepared is receiving substantially more mixed re-views While the 20-page report by the Commission on the Status of Minorities sets a tight timetable for improving ethnic diversity on campus, recent events on campus and on the commission put its work in a different light. Their intentions are good, said Leah Galanti, incoming chair of the Council of Minority Student Presidents, but the atmosphere here in Pullman does not really reflect what theyre doing or what they say theyre doing." School officials point to the report and recent minority hirings as signs of improvement, yet Galanti points to a number of concurrent events that show things staying about the same.

Among them: a Pullman police SWAT team arresting black students at rifle-point, a well-liked black student counselor leaving without as much as an offer to stay. Of particular concern is last weeks ombudsman report concluding a teaching as-sistant who made racial remarks in class did so only with good intentions. The ombudsmans conclusion, Galanti said, amounts to a whitewash that negated ev-' erything they sad in this report. If they are truly working towards diversity and wont put up with racism, why did they call this thing a communica-' tion error? Galanti said. Why did this happen? Two years in the making, the minorities report alluded to a cold classroom climate for minority students, hostile and destructive contacts with city police and general dissatisfaction with the professional opportunities of faculty and staff.

Moreover, the commission continues to be concerned about the effect of the teaching assistant incident and others on the racial and ethnic climate on campus, Chairman Felicia Gaskins said Thursday. The commission recognizes and I believe that the administration also recognizes that the commission work and the work of the university is far from complete, and 1 would emphasize that, she said. Please see WSU: B2 Phone poll: Callers back" needle swap By Julie Sullivan Staff writer Nobody likes needles. But area residents say they like AIDS even less. In a non-scientific poll conducted by Cityline, a telephone service of The Spokesman-Review and Spokane Chronicle, 56 percent of callers said the Spokane County Health District should go ahead with a program to swap used intravenous drug needles for new ones.

Im not for drugs. But Im definitely not for AIDS either and anything we can do to help clean public health and clean we said Catherine Spencet-Mills, one of 298 people who supported needle swap plan. The wife of the environmental health director in Adams County, Spencer-Mills said she has seen used syringes in women's restrooms while shopping in Spokane. Not only would an exchange program help remove contaminated needles from circulation, it would reduce the risk of spreading hepatitis as well. Its a great idea," Spencer-Mills Others agreed.

I believe the needle exchange is well worth it if it can keep one youngster from, picking up a dirty needle and becoming contaminated, one man said. Please see NEEDLE8: B2 v. Plan cuts Methow Valley water use Agencys conservation proposal would cost $17.6 million but I will have extreme reservations until we can see all the strings that are attached, district chairman Jim Gerlach Congratulations to the team of four smart Colfax kids who are finalists in a world problem-solving contest. The Jennings Elementary School students, coached by Tenny Brannan, will represent Washington state in the 17th annual International Future Problem Solving Bowl in St. Louis, on June 7-10.

Meghan Austin, Angie Hall, Alison Harder and Stacie Lintvedt outperformed 16 other from their level, grades four to six. The competition is a yearlong program that challenges students to solve problems from five topic areas. This year topics included school dropouts, depletion of the ozone layer, transportation and censorship. For the upcoming contest, the Colfax kids are researching government corruption. Last year, Brannan, a junior high language arts teacher, coached the high school team to the international championship.

All those brains graduated. This is the first year the school district has not paid to send a team to the championship. Undaunted, the kids already have raised about $1,600 of the $2,500 they need for travel expenses. To get the rest, theyre are holding a raffle of arts and crafts, a tanning session, a haircut and other stuff. A spaghetti feed will be held today at the Jennings cafeteria from 5-7 p.m.

Tickets are $4 for adults, $2.50 for kids under 1 2 and 1 2 for an entire family. A faculty vs. student basketball game will follow the feed, with donations accepted, of course. Associated Press TWISP, Wash. The state Department of Ecology is floating a $17.6 million proposal to conserve water in the thirsty Methow Valley, where lack of water has halted new building and well drilling.

The Methow Valley Conservation Proposal calls for changes in the way water is allocated and used, ranging from improving irrigation ditches to outfitting homes with toilets that use less water. Where the money will come from is not known. Money won't be readily available from Congress until the proposal is more clearly defined, Gretchen White, an aide to Sid Morrison, said Thursday. The state Senate has earmarked $1.2 million toward the project, but it is not luiown whether the appropriation will survive a forthcoming special budget session. As proposed by the Ecology Department, the conservation project would be largely funded by federal money, much of it through the Bonneville Power Administration and Northwest Power Planning Council.

Additional state money could be available through grant and loan programs, At a meeting Wednesday night, Methow Valley Irrigation District directore were skeptical of the proposal, although it could result in the district getting millions of dollars to rehabilitate its aging water distribution system. This thing looks good on the surface. Hard-won water rights could fall victim to the plan, irrigation district directors and water users said. The Legislature recently enacted a law that allows the state to acquire private water rights for conservation measures. The conservation plan could serve as a national model for the innovative ways varied water uses are managed, Ecology officials said in the proposal document.

The plan calls for studies of water uses, rehabilitation of water systems, management techniques and municipal conservation programs. 1 'll ''7 1 7 Congrats also to Elaine Porter-Cole, principal of Fort Colville Middle School, who will receive the prestigious Washington Award for Excellence in Education next week in Olympia. Established by the Legislature in 1 986, the awards program honors educators and school board members for exceptional leadership and their contributions and commitment to education. Porter-Cole will be among a group of more than 70 honored by Gov. Booth Gardner and Superintendent of Public Instruction Judith Billings.

The award winners will receive free tuition for one academic year and a stipend of $1,000 for costs connected to their schooling. Or winners can opt for a $1,000 grant to use toward education. The Colville honoree told the Statesman-Examiner she has already decided how to spend her award. Its a principals staff which makes it possible for principals to win awards. This is our award together, so the staff will have input on how to use the money for a school project." IT' i 4 RP rty -ll 1 Mourners call David Sohappy gende warrior Associated Press WHITE SWAN, Wash.

Indian activist David Sohappy whose religion demanded he fish for salmon in defiance of government laws, was buried at dawn Thursday in a windswept cemetery on the Yakima Indian Reservation. Hundreds of mourners stood before snowcapped Mount Adams for the ceremony honoring the quiet leader who became an international symbol of Indian fishing rights. They remembered a man who revered the spiritual value of salmon, in conflict with a society that revered the monetary value of the fish. Each mourner threw dirt on the pine coffin three times, lifted their right hand with open palm, and spun once in front of the grave before walking away. In the background, mourners chanted in the Yakima language, while a handbell rang over the grave.

The burial followed an all-night session of drumming and chanting in the nearby Toppenish Creek Longhouse, and was preceded by a rifle salute by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sohappy died Monday at the age of 66. He was buried next to the grave of a son who died in infancy. The spirit of his activism will live on, supporters said. AP photo Mourners circle Sohappys grave at a service Thursday.

Washington State University President Sam Smith has made it a regular ritual to hold meetings with the local press, saying the media help him keep in touch with life outside the French Administration Building. When one scribbler suggested last week that he appoint a reporter to his Cabinet, the high-level group of advisers with whom he consults every Monday, Smith quipped: I wouldnt want to isolate you." Compiled by Christopher Wille and Eric Sorensen. in August 1987. Sohappy received international attention in 1983 when he was convicted in a sting operation called Salmonscam, in which illegally caught salmon were sold to federal undercover agents. A federal jury found Sohappy guilty of the illegal sale of 317 fish.

He received a five-year sentence, which was later cut in half. Sohappy and others were later acquitted of violating tribal fishing seasons by a Yakima Indian court in 1987. His image was one of the most positive we developed, said Roger Settler, a family friend. "He became a symbol of the Indian fishing rights struggle. Settler said Sohappys health and spirit were broken by his prison term in the late 1980s for salmon poaching.

He was a gentle warrior. He was never violent or mean-spirited, Settler said. Sohappy died at a Hood River, care center. He had been in failing health since he suffered an apparent stroke at the Geiger Correctional Center near Spokane.