The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 10

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November 25 1987 Section 1 A A't A A A tril3ttt Observee'' td 1 0 'A IDS rug's High Price Tag Draws ncern 1 A 4 1 'Tr xa 1 1 i eti- 1 44 3 iTN ----v ---r--- AI i iJo 4- II dtrAt ttAtv 2 4- 41 -1t4i0'1i 1 El 8 La' ZI I ill :1 13 -t- 1 g3 is est I 0 i i Z1 Pori- 1:: I N4r1( 1 srit 1 1 111111'11Iissu Jfir tf if 11 :1161" it! austi 1a00714 14 come wouldn't disclose information officials thought they needed to protect But he said that's not fair to taxpayers or AIDS victims "You can't take the position that this life-and-death question on the pricing of this extraordinarily important drug which is being priced very high and may be price-gouging or may not we don't know you can't simply say it's none of anybody's concern or it's proprietary and you have to take us on faith" he said Burroughs Wellcome is the only producer of AZT the only drug known to prolong AIDS victims' lives Burroughs Wellcome spokeswoman Kathy Bartlett said Tom Kennedy a senior vice president is expected to attend the meeting with Nadler Bartlett said the price of Retrovir AZT's prescription name had been set in February before it gained final approval from the Food and Drug Administration "The price is set worldwide at MO for a bottle of 100 100-milligram capsules" she said "The price has remained constant through this period of time" Bartlett said AZT is "an unusually expensive and complicated drug to manufacture" Company officials who go to the meeting will "share with him (Nadler) the many many factors that go into the pricing of AZT" she said Atsodated Pms RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Burroughs Wellcome Co of fidais faced with the threat of a subpoena will meet with a New York state representative this month to explain the pricing of the AIDS drug azidothymidine (AZT) "It would be imprudent when the taxpayers not just in New York but nationwide are paying for this to just take at face value anybody's assurance that this extraordinarily high cost is Justified" said Rep Gerald Nadler of Manhattan chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee in New York's legislature Nadler said state officials will examine the information "to see if in our opinion it's adequate or we need more data or if there's price gouging going on" His meeting with Burroughs Wellcome officials will be Dec 16 or 17 he said Burroughs Wellcome officials agreed to the meeting after failing to attend a hearing last month to explain why AZT can cost $700 to $3300 a month Nadler said He said he told company officials that he would issue a subpoena to get the information if they failed to Justify their prices "To be fair to them they've agreed to show us that information" Nadler said recently "But if they do not show us adequate information we will subpoena" Nadler said Burroughs Well DON STURKEYStall Temple Demolished Demolition crews at the site of the old Masonic Temple have reduced the building to a huge pile of rubble The remains are being carried away by truck In the background are buildings along South Tryon Street New Airport Commissioners Oppose Plant NC Groups Receive Money To Aid Homeless Associated Press LAURINBURG Laurinburg's three new representatives on the six-member Laudnburg Airport Commission all have spoken out against a hazardous-wastewater treatment plant planned for Scotland County by GSX Chemical Services Inc A local group 6pposed to GSX Sensible Concerns About Toxins has focused attention on the airport commission because it must give final approval for GSX to build its plant on land next to the airport The Laurinburg City Council last week replaced its three members on the commission The other three airport commission members are appointed by the Maxton Town Board of Commissioners Appointed to two-year terms were Jim Milligan publisher of The Laurinburg Exchange and a former airport commissioner Lucile Bridgeman Scotland County commissioner and retired county health department director and Bill Morgan a math professor at St Andrews Presbyterian College and former county bottom line" Morgan said he fears the cities of Laurinburg and Maxton would be legally liable if there were a dangerous spill from the GSX facility because the spill would get Into the river through the cities' sewage treatment facility "It's extremely important that we examine the multimillions of dollars of liability that could arise there" he said adding that if GSX used its own discharge facility the company would be responsible for damages caused by spills Nelson Mossholder GSX's vice president for business development said the company is not concerned about the change in the airport commission "We really don't think It's going to affect much of anything" he said He added that the airport commission runs a public utility that cannot legally deny GSX a permit if the company has complied with all state and federal regulations If GSX is denied it will sue the airport commission to get access to the sewage treatment facility he said Ann Slaughter a newly elected Laurinburg City Council member who has led the local opposition to the waste treatment plant said Monday the three were appointed to the airport commission because "we wanted someone who could see the liabilities as well as the benefits of this plant "We're trying to get a rounded perspective on the whole GSX issue" she told the Fayetteville Observer "One of the reasons they were nominated was their ability to see a side of this Issue that was not presented by GSX" GSX also plans to use the airport's sewage treatment system to funnel its waste into the Lumber River and the commission must give GSX a permit to use the facility It is this delivery of waste into the river that has caused residents of Laurinburg and Lumberton to oppose the plant Lumberton which is downstream from the proposed plant site gets most of its drinking water from the Lumber River "These people will do all they can to ensure the drinking water in Lumberton is protected" Morgan said about himself and the other two new airport commission members "That's the Associated Press LOS ANGELES A $38 million final installment of money raised by Hands Across America has been distributed to 61 groups aiding the hungry and homeless nationwide organizers say NC groups getting money are NC Hunger Coalition $35000 Robeson County Clergy Laity Concerned $43733 Rural Advancement Fund $35000 and Shaw Speaks Community Center $22000 USA for Africa the parent foundation for Hands Across America said the grants to 28 states and the District of Columbia will fund long-term solutions toward ending hunger homelessness and poverty in the United States The money was raised In the May 25 1986 Hands Across America fundraiser in which an estimated 6 million people joined hands in support of the nation's hungry and homeless One year after Hands Across America $12 million was awarded to nearly 1700 organizations that provided direct services to the needy More than 500 organizations applied for the long-term grants The anthem "We Are The World" performed by dozens of the nation's top musical talents including Michael Jackson Quincy Jones Ray Charles Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Diana Ross and Kenny Rogers raised $53 million for USA for Africa's famine relief effort in Africa Edmisten Will Try Again This Time In Bid For Secretary Of State Post NC Law Decreased Accidents? 1 LI i ''''7'': 4 i5 4 0' tc i' ''-'''''''''k ''ft? Fool 5 01'" it :4 publican also has become a candidate Some Democrats have said Eure's retirement offers an opportunity to round out the party's statewide ticket with a black or woman But Edmisten said the party should not anoint anyone "All of us who've ever run know that if you want to drink the cool clear water in the well at the top of the mountain you've got to climb up there and get it" he said Edmisten had little to say about possible issues in the campaign but said the secretary of state's office could be used to fight hostile takeovers of NC businesses The office is basically a record-keeping office Corporations and lobbyists are required to register with the office Some supporters who watched his announcement at state Democratic Party headquarters wore old "I'm for Rufus" buttons But Edmisten said it will be a much different campaign this time He'll keep practicing law and campaign "on nights and weekends" And he said it will take $100000 to win the primary and general election a fraction of the $4 million he raised in 1984 By TIM FUNK Raleigh Bureau RALEIGH Former Attorney General Rufus Edmisten entered the race for secretary of state Tuesday saying politics was still "in my blood" three years after becoming only the second Democratic nominee in this century not elected governor Edmisten 46 said he chose to run for the office Secretary of State Thad Eure is leaving after 51 years because "I enjoy serving the public and I get a kick out of helping people" This will be the third statewide office Edmisten has actively sought since his first run for attorney general In 1974 A year ago he told reporters he was considering a bid for a fourth one lieutenant governor But on Tuesday Edmisten denied critics' charges that he was casting about for any state job "I admitted I have it (politics) In my blood" said Edmisten who started his own law practice in Raleigh in 1985 "But I've not been casting about It's been a hard decision for me I have enjoyed the private life I've been able to have a semblance of privacy I've been able to grow roses and do other things I didn't do for 10 years" The race to replace Eure could become as crowded as the 1984 contest for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination which Edmisten won by beating nine others Besides Edmisten who will begin the campaign as the front-runner and former Wake County Democratic Chairman Brad Miller who announced his candidacy earlier other Democrats said to be considering a bid are: Wayne Hardin a Forest City radio station operator Franklin Freeman director of the state Administrative Office of the Courts Betty Wallace deputy assistant superintendent of public instruction former Chapel Hill Mayor Howard Lee former state Rep George Breece of Fayetteville Brenda Pollard Eure's executive assistant Dan Bell Eure's assistant secretary for securities and Howard Kramer a lobbyist for the NC Sheriffs Association Mecklenburg Rep Ray Warren a Re LAl HINSHAWStatt Pilgrim Power Sharon Bishop 3 fills herself at an early Thanksgiving celebration Tuesday Children at Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center in Davidson came dressed as pilgrims and Indians for the occasion Thanksgiving Closings Students Rebuffed In Attempt To Seek Smoking OK By DON PRIDE Rale 4gh Bureau Chief RALEIGH The NC Safe Roads Act has decreased the rate of alcohol-related accidents in the state and increased the likelihood of conviction for those accused of driving while impaired (DWI) a legislative study committee was told Tuesday John Lacey of the LINC Highway Safety Research Center called the 1983 legislation a "very good drunken driving law" when measured against those of other states "Now that doesn't mean that It's solved the drunken driving problem" he said "By no means has it It's just that we've realized a reduction in the percentage of crashes that are alcohol related We certainly haven't eliminated them" The 12-member Safe Roads Act Study Committee formed to consider proposals to strengthen the law and make recommendations to next summer's legislative session appeared to be in no mood for sweeping changes "We may have to fine tune it a little bit" said Rep Dennis Wicker D-Lee the group's cochairman "Some of us felt like the '83 law was effective and was adequately reducing the vehicle death rate" said Sen Bob Swain D-Buncombe "There is a time when laws can become too oppressive and when that happens they're not enforceable" During this year's session Swain chaired a Senate Judiciary committee that held up action on most bills in a package of anti-drunken driving legislation proposed by Republican Gov Jim Martin "Some of these laws may be helpful" he said Tuesday "but they might be right on the borderline of being a little too strong" Martin lobbyist Ward Purring ton noting that three of the governor's bills were enacted urged the study group to give favorable consideration to the remaining seven See SAFE Next Page Thursday Friday NC SC banks Closed Open Federal offices Closed Open Post offices Closed Open NC ABC stores Closed Open NC state offices Closed Closed SC ABC stores Closed Open SC state offices Closed Closed Stock markets Closed Open dreth said they will come back Dec 7 "Smoking doesn't have anything to do with the process of education" Chris said "It's Just a matter of student rights" Smoking is forbidden at Monroe High this year a switch from last year when parents could give permission Penalties for violating the policy include clean-up duty in-school suspension detention and expulsion Smoking is allowed at board meetings Supt Tom Batchelor Associate Supt By VALCA VALENTINE Monroe Bureau MONROE Five Monroe High school students watched two top school officials and a board member smoke for two hours at a school board meeting Monday night Then the students learned they couldn't ask the board for smoking privileges because they didn't get prior per mission Chris Haire Mike Grogin Michael Parker Nathan Hargett and Ryan Hil Craig Horsman and board member Chuck Booth puffed while they listened to a report on tobacco abuse Batchelor declined Tuesday evening to comment on the issue NC seniors smoke less than most US seniors said Assistant Supt Robert McCain quoting a recent Alcohol and Drug Defense report issued by the NC Department of Public Instruction More than one in five students reported smoking in the month before the survey Special delivery end express mall delivered box collections on holiday schedule FCC Approves Sale Of WJZY Television To Raleigh Firm Gantt will remain on the station's board of directors "We've been interested in Charlotte for a long time" said Jim Goodmon president and chief executive officer of Capitol "We've made offers on other television stations in other markets but have been unsuccessful This is a big one for us because it's our first successful effort and it's in North Carolina close to our home" Metro-Crescent Communications Inc which owns channel 46 Capitol also assumes about $8 million in debts primarily expenses related to building the station and purchasing programs Capitol announced the purchase Tuesday The sale which became an issue in the Charlotte mayoral race because Mayor Harvey Gantt is a 15 partner in Metro-Crescent was approved by the FCC Friday By JEFF BORDEN Radiorri Writer The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the transfer of WJZY (channel 46) an independent station licensed to Belmont to a Raleigh-based broadcasting company Capitol Broadcasting Co which owns WRAL-TV in Raleigh and six radio stations In three states paid $3 million to acquire Goodmon said viewers wouldn't see any changes in programming on channel 46 which isn't affiliated with a network The station primarily broadcasts movies network reruns syndicated shows and children's programs Marvin Rosenberg a broadcast law attorney representing Capitol said the FCC's See FCC Next Page.