The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 20

65 THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Friday August 16 1991 65 TH 11 rise for new roller coaster Court says retirees ''f shouldn't get rebate of! discriminatory tax 1 44 PV Carowinds stand-up Vortex is park's most expensive ride Cal is 1 1 i 1 11 1 4ilt 1 04- A we 1111114 (:" 41111Skk 111111 I 171' 010i --1 11 041 ''1'' 1b: qs! approximately $14000000000 This would require a further increase in taxes or a further cut in 67 services by the state" At first glance Wednesday's ruling seems vulnerable The high court on June 28 ordered Virginia and SC courts to reconsider their decisions against retroactive refunds But Charlotte attorney John Wester who argued the case for the NC Department of Revenue said the state court followed a different line of legal reasoning In -te fact Wester suggested that the SC and Virginia courts might follow 1z North Carolina's lead Even if the state loses on appeal the retroactive refunds might go only to those who applied within 4 30 days of filing their 1988 taxes -P as was then required In North Carolina Currin had ruled that the US Supreme Court ruling on the tax system was retroactive He said the state must refund taxes paid by retirees and soldiers for three years before the ruling Wednesday's majority ruling reverses that decision Stall writer Joseph Menn contributed to this article -1a r' I in i'- ml- a- igh 1- nia ieir ive )ho -s for ue 1 a in -te oW 14z al go hin 4 tes tad iurt 0 vas lust By DENNIS PATTERSON Associated Press RALEIGH A divided state Supreme Court decided against federal retirees and military personnel Wednesday ruling that the state doesn't have to pay them as much as $140 million in back taxes By a 4-3 vote the court reversed an order issued by Superior Court Judge Sam Currin and said the suit brought by federal retirees and military personnel should be dismissed The retirees sued the state after the US Supreme Court ruled that income tax laws like those used in North Carolina discriminated against federal retirees The state exempted the first $3000 of a federal pension from income taxes but charged no income taxes for state retirees The state also exempted the first 1500 of National Guard pay from state taxes but did not exempt the pay of federal military personnel The ruling effects 150000 retirees "We can take judicial notice of the fact that this State is in dire financial straits" Justice John Webb wrote for the majority "The refunds of taxes as asked by the plaintiffs will cost the state flat spin) in 2 minutes and 30 seconds at a top speed of 50 mph Like all true roller coasters the Vortex is brought to the top of the ride (in this case 90 feet up) by a chain where it is released and pulled downward by gravity The Carowinds coaster announced Thursday at the park south of Charlotte will be only the sixth stand-up coaster in the country and the third extra-wide stand-up coaster Four people ride abreast instead of two producing a smoother ride on a wider track "It's the Cadillac of stand-up roller coasters" said Scott Rutherford an ACE member from Charlotte who visits coasters around the country and works as a flight attendant for USAir "And this track configuration will be the only one of its kind in the country" Passengers will be propped up by a saddle seat and held into position by a shoulder-restraint system that is adjustable to the height and girth of the rider The National Consumer Product Safety Commission does not keep statistics on amusement park rides but Rutherford pooh-poohed any danger in riding coasters as long as you obey the rules "It's safer than playing billiards" he said By TONY BROWN Stall Writer If you get caught standing up on the Carolina Cyclone roller coaster you are unceremoniously thrown out of Carowinds amusement park for a year But next March when Carowinds opens the new $55 million Vortex roller coaster the most expensive ride built at the NC-SC border park you are not only encouraged to stand up you have to Enthusiasts say stand-up roller coasters are the biggest thing in amusement park ride technology since 1884 when La Marcus Thompson invented what he called "the scenic railway" On a stand-up roller coaster your center of gravity is raised from the seat of your pants nearer to your heart said Ray Ueberroth of Baltimore president of the 4500-member American Coaster Enthusiasts club "When you stand up you feel like being lifted off your feet" said Ueberroth who has ridden more than 300 coasters "it's been described as being like skiing" The Vortex designed by Bollinger Mabillard of Switzerland will hurtle passengers down 2040 feet of steel track (with a vertical loop a corkscrew loop a carousel and a By TON Staff Write If you the coaster thrown ment pa But Carowil $55 mil the the NC are not up you Enthu coasters amusem since Thomps called "1 On a your ce from thE to your of Balti 4500-mi Enthusia "Whe like bell Ueberro than 3( describe The I ger Mi hurtle of steel a corks( The Vortex an extra-wide coaster like this one will hurtle passengers down 2040 feet of steel track (with a vertical loop a corkscrew loop a carousel and a flat spin) at up to 50 mph 11 SIMPLE INTEREST LOANS 2nd 3rd MORTGAGES LOAN IN 24 HOURS REDUCED MONTHLY PAYMENTS INSIDE POLITICS gunman said "Shoot her too" Finally she figured out how to open the register and gave the men $90 in cash CAROLINAS WATCH GRAHAM INVESTMENT CO a NORTH CAROLINA on 219 GRAHAM ST 376-8438 ram 71 Rep Huffman studies run for it gov Al South Charlotte teen kidnapped and assaulted te ai 'ANNUAL I FRI SAT 25-65 OFF SENSATIONAL SUMMER CARPET SALE A IATIATVY I 0 AV "e111111111111111111111111MIL A state lawmaker from Newton is considering a run for lieutenant governor FRI SAT 2 DAY ONLY 6 Mo 00 interest Completely Installed One price is all you pay! 3 FOR 1 INSTALLED SALE! 1) Carpet 2) Pad 3) Installation NO A estO 004 vi 'NA- I 3 FOR 1 INSTALLED 6i i SALE! z- do' 7 fit' 1) carpet 4-'t Lill- 2) Pad A 7 liV I 3) instaHatia 1 t34 4 :1 I ill P' tie 1 f-''' Oe qt'4 '41114 404 1 i '1 al I NO EXTRA CHARGE WI NO EXTRA FOR PAD CHARGE TO ti NO EXTRA CHARGE TAKE UP FOR INSTALLATION STRETCHED FA NO EXTRA CHARGE IN CARPET FOR MOVING FitI NO HIDDEN FURNITURE CHARGES 10 NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR WOOD STEPS TURN KEY-JOB Kuwaitis fight to stay in US RALEIGH Kuwaiti residents who fled to North Carolina after Iraq's invasion last year are now in another battle This time they're fighting to stay in the United States A one-year work authorization given to some families by immigration authorities will expire later this summer At least 50 families in the Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte areas have been unable to secure permanent status "It is like we are lost in a desert" said Sobhi Amin a Kuwaiti evacuee Kuwaiti residents will meet with State Department and immigration officials next week Schedule set in child-abuse trial FARMVILLE Opening arguments will begin next week in the sexual abuse trial of day-care operator Robert Kelly Jr Superior Court Judge Marsh McLelland spent Thursday listening to arguments on 13 motions that will determine procedure during the trial He threw out defense subpoenas he said would require witnesses to spend too much time searching for documents and records The defense had asked that witnesses bring notes diaries recordings and financial records The subpoenas applied to parents of children Kelley 43 is accused of abusing as well as doctors and therapists Kelly has pleaded not guilty to 183 charges of sexually abusing 22 children at Little Rascals Day Care Center Ride ft a A 16-year-old was kidnapped and sexually assaulted late Wednesday by a man who came to the door of the house where she was baby-sitting in south Charlotte and forced her to go with him to a nearby unoccupied house Threatening the girl with a knife the man took her to the house where he pried open a window and broke in police said Once inside he forced her at knifepoint to have oral sex with him and attempted to rape her police said The man left through another window police said The girl a West Charlotte High School student was treated at Carolinas Medical Center early Thursday and released The residents of the empty house where she was assaulted were on vacation and aren't expected to return until the weekend police said She described her assailant as in his late 20s or early 30s 5 feet 5 to 5 feet 7 160 to 170 pounds with dark skin and hair A assau the do south nearb Thr her tc and her a attem throu Tho was Thurs house and a police ShE early with COMPLETELY INSTALLED COMPLETELY INSTALLED COMPLETELY INSTALLED I Itmnant liriatTo Chaos Fro udet ne tarpe min 5 nc tarpe Rep Doris Huffman R-Ca tawba 45th Dis6 1014m Nt i trict said it Wednesday she's formed a "or special committee to deter- vom I 1 mine if she has party backing i 5 le 4 "I am encour- 1 aged by the Huffman endorsement of my exploratory campaign by party leaders from throughout the state who are familiar with my service in the legislature" said Huffman 56 "My task is now to examine the possibility of building broad support at the leadership and grass roots level in a bid for the Republican nomination" The committee includes US Rep Cass Ballenger of Hickory and state Reps Jonathan Rhyne of Lincointon Harry Grimmer of Charlotte Theresa Esposito of Forsyth County and Charlotte Gardner of Rowan County Barry Kowa include carpe fanatical CID 41 $895! Af) Best Quality Carpet for the Lowest Price at gw-1ado14 6316 Independence Blvd (next to Piers) Look tor the Huge Blue Building Serving Charlotte for 25 Years 7 'sdffAtooldso 1Ho VISA' 115421 Te 6316 Independence Blvd 25 sq gel minimum Financing Available (next to Piers) Look tor the Huge Blue Building Outterk Instattetion Serving Charlotte for 25 Years 90 uup----5365a3inenril Cavil I s'' iii CHARLOTTE PMEMIii Kee COMMERCIAL MOWERS 0 i 'I Get Back To Basics $899" Wonderful Food Great Value Outstanding Imported Beer Selection live Music Nightly Dilworth's German Tradition Since 1966 11 Student schedules reflect budget cuts CHAPEL HILL More than 15 of incoming freshman at 11NC-Chapel Hill will start the year without a full schedule and many might not find the classes they need because of budget cuts registrar David Lanier said While the number of freshmen without a full schedule is not so different from past years Lanier said this year's students face a schedule With 7 fewer class sections than last fall Man found not guilty in uncle's death GASTONIA A jury acquitted a Gaston County man Thursday of a manslaughter charge in the shooting death of his uncle Lawyers for Timothy Plemmons 22 of Gastonia said the July 1990 shooting death of Jerry McDonald was accidental McDonald 30 of Gastonia died in surgery at Gaston Memorial Hospital after being shot in the shoulder An autopsy attributed his death to the loss of blood Judge hospitalized for tests District Judge William Scarborough was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital on Thursday Scarborough called in sick Thursday morning said District Judge Richard Boner and Scarborough's wife Ann called court shortly before lunch to say he'd been admitted to the hospital for tests Reached at the hospital Ann Scarborough said doctors origi- nally thought the problem was a bleeding ulcer but tests and rays were still being done "He's fine" she said "He's just real weak" Boner said Scarborough has never called in sick during Boner's three years as a district cs court judge Scarborough Mecklenburg Chief District Judge James Lanning ran Scarborough's court Thursday Dis ted tc Sca said I ough' to say hospi Rei Scarb natty bleed rays "Ho just re Boi never er's I court Me JudgE Thurs Pc 1 1 itNiia 1 Lritr 4 I Model 18001 Hi-Wheel Mower 8 HP Briggs IC Engine 25 in cut Self-Propelled Commercial Grade Mower Optional Bagger ALSO AVAILABLE: 4 HP 22" CUT $399" 90 DAYS SAME AS CASH ON APPROVED CREDIT Rheinland Hatts 44 Km hi 'room ienohon We Service What We Sell We Service What We Sell In Dilworth between Ideal Way Kenilworth 2418 Park Rd 376-3836 1 11 1 FdAlpm NT 1 10 4 i fil 44 A lig I EQUIPMENT IN I VSEN2111 i VISA' illiti)104VI 1334 Hill Rd TODAY'S QUOTE No Artificial Ingredients The Food Section Every Wednesday he QhatoUe Observer Serving Charlotte Since 1975 554-7944 Selling Charlotte Since 1975 Hi' South Blvd (beside Gowen Olds) Mon-Fri Sat 8-1 -'-r4- 'iilin''' 't "book owtot ear A '40020' 4 47 tr: (t7-4:" 1 0 ')-) Vb 2 men sought in shooting robbery Police were still searching Thursday for two men in their late teens who robbed a Pic Pay shoe store on Albemarle Road escaping on foot with four pairs of shoes and $90 in cash after shooting a store clerk in the leg Clerk Chris Mayotte told police the men came into the store about 8:30 pm Wednesday They came to the cash register with two pairs of shoes each Mayotte rang up the first two pairs and told the man That will be $140" That's when the man pulled a handgun and shot Mayotte in the leg Hearing the shot another clerk Lauren Seymour ran to the front of the store The other man told her to open the register She said she was new and didn't know how Then the 2m Pot in the store four store Cie into came each the pulleo He moor Tho said 5 "The man who will represent Fort Bragg will literally be the funding czar for most of the things that Fort Bragg needs now and in the future" Rep Charlie Rose D-NC talking about the new congressional districts that will take Fort Bragg out of his district and put it into the 8th District That district is represented by Rep Bill Hefner who serves on two House committees that deal with military funding 1 Rose Edited by Barry Kolar Gaston police recover stolen bras Go College Degrees for Working dults Business Administration Accounting Criminal Justice Excellent faculty Small stimulating classes Individual counseling Tape supplied for approved absence Lighted parking lots adjacent to the entrance Flexible financing or assistance when needed No weekend classes 14 Accredited by the Association al Colleges and Schools FEIFFER 0 College Degrees for 1 Working tdults Business Administration 4'f Accounting 14 Pr 4 iro et Criminal Justice nt ft s't cnks it gl1 Excellent faculty te I liul vast Small stimulating classes to Br 1'4 (Dill 1 tio Individual counseling nt 4 11a 11 I tile riglits L- I Lir 111 gree Tape supplied for approved absence 01 11 r41111111b 1Pperta Lighted parking lots adjacent to the entrance orth tk A "It Stal Flexible financing or assistance when needed totb its 1 01e- '-'4' i No weekend classes i'm kw i ge PC ---)---7 4 Aerredued in the Anoctonon ql Colleges and di 1 0 'C'ele koss 4 '''''-tt--- fo0 'A I 41 PFEIFFER ''''t44 '-k CHAR Man his girlfriend charged in theft of 2000 from plant Man made the undercover buy Payne was already in Gaston County jail when he was charged in the brassiere burglary He was arrested earlier this week on eight unrelated counts of cocaine trafficking The Hanes-Ball plant has had more than six thefts during the last year Phillips said Payne also is a suspect in the earlier thefts Payne was being held on $100000 secured bond Thursday Norton was being held on $51000 secured bond Police say Harold Dean Payne 36 sold the bras earlier this week to an undercover officer ostensibly so that they could be resold wholesale "We believe this was an ongoing enterprise of his" Gaston County police Sgt Johnny Phillips said Police charged Payne with breaking and entering and larceny There were no signs of forced entry at the Kinder Drive plant Arrested on the same charges was Kimberly Kay Norton 25 who lives with Payne Police said she was with Payne when the agent By CHIP WILSON Staff Writer KINGS MOUNTAIN Two thousand bras were missing from the Hanes-Bali plant in western Gaston County and that's a lot of lingerie Si) county police went undercover to recover the missing undergarments Their efforts paid off Thursday when a Bessemer City man and his girlfriend were charged with stealing the $8700 worth of bras from the plant laM weekend By CHIP Staff Write MU thousanc the Han Gaston lingerie Si) coi cover to undergar T11111 1040 East Wood lawn Road Charlotte NC 28209 704521-9116 Registration begins August 19 Classes being August 22 Call today.