The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 91

53 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6 1997 7C THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER mm Legislators endorse transit tax referendum TRANSIT TAX Leader In Solving Male Impotence Serving: CHARLOTTE GREENSBORO COLUMBIA GREENVILLE SC New FDA Approved MUSE System Available Most Insurance Accepted Medicare Affordable Without Insurance NO SURGERY MEDICATION ONLY NO CHARGE CONSULTATION WITH OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS mmm Alan Resnik MD city that runs a public transportation system charge a tax of $5 a vehicle as long as the total tax did not exceed $30 Gastonia officials asked not to be given that authority and so were left out Charlotte already charges a $30 fee and so would not be affected The bill also provides a 5 percent tax on rental cars in the Triangle Supporters of the sales tax hike will have to overcome anti-tax sentiments to get voters on board But they have to persuade Michael Jones who confronts traffic each day as he drives across town to his job at Hoechst Celanese Charlotte you really have a good choice forced to use a Jones said many beltways would you like to BUS Continued from page 1 it or not going to have to find some effective system of mass transit in order to maintain the health and prosperity of this Helms said Unless more people use mass transit in coming years already-congested roads will have to absorb about 250000 more cars in the next 18 years county planners say The area can handle that kind of growth proponents say only by reducing the Charlotte reliance on the automobile Charlotte spends about $24 million a year on public transportation So the sales tax money along with the federal dollars expected to attract could more than triple the amount spent on mass transit Charlotte 398-0000 mis Observer Plus An Cases dismissed for efficiency Instant Information 24 Hours A Day Dial 377-4444 Enter a 4-digit Reach Taylor Batten at (919) 834-8471 or tbattencliarlotteconi solicitor says think something we can try or get a plea Justice said Leon Banks the public defender for Lancaster cited the same reasons as Justice as explanation for the high dismissal rate feeling is you see those numbers because Justice is doing something right not Banks said think the main reason is that John staff as a whole does not hold bad cases on the Lancaster County Sheriff Johnny Cauthen said he is not concerned by the high number of dismissals are dismissed Cauthen said we seen any major cases dismissed Sure it concerns me sometimes when the sentence in a plea is not as long as it could be because other charges were dismissed But I understand that the way the system Press to return to main menu then enter another category code CLASSIFIED 1234 CarLine 5000 GarageLine Advertiser Rates 1 890 Contract Rates 1891 Private Party Business fees 1892 Special Advertising 1900 Civic Rates Distounts 1 905 National legal toes 1946 Special Fatures 1 956 Blind Sox Rates ONLINE SERVICE 1843 Charlotte Com TOMA 1989 Consumer Survey CMM NEWS 6700 World Headlines 6705 National Headlines' 6710 Business Headlines DROP Continued from page 1 judge for the 6th Circuit from 1984 until his retirement earlier this year I were John Justice want to take a good look and find out why those numbers are so out of line They be like The gap between the 6th Circuit and the rest of the state is dramatic The second-highest dismissal rate in the 16th Circuit covering York and Union counties is 42 percent Justice said his high dismissal rate reflects the small size of the circuit and the efficient way he handles cases office has come under state scrutiny after his deputy Kim Roberts was arrested and charged Thursday with soliciting sex from a woman in return for dismissing a DUI charge Roberts could not be reached for comment Tuesday Justice said the Roberts case is unrelated to the dismissal rate got no reason to believe that any said Justice who suspended Roberts on Monday got to add until last week I never would have believed this (incident) could have The SC Law Enforcement Division and the state attorney office are investigating other cases Roberts handled But the offices were unaware of the high rate of dismissals said Tom Landess a spokesman for the attorney general When told the numbers Landess replied amazing definitely investigate A half-percent increase in the local sales tax would cost consumers a nickel for every $10 they spend on goods except food how much the tax would raise the first four years: (in millions) $489 $549 $518 1998- 1999 1999- 2000- 2001-2000 2001 2002 SOURCE: Legislative fiscal staff DEAN NEITMANStaff Come on I in Friday's Observer RESORT PROPERTIES Sale or The Charlotte special advertising feature will publish again on Sunday August 31st If you are a resort property owner interested in selling or renting your property you want to miss this feature This is your opportunity to reach people who are interested in prices facts and information on resort homes condos townhouses time-shares campgrounds lots etc as well as rental properties Advertise your property and reach over million readers For rates and space reservations call Donna (704) 358-5384 or call toll free 1-800-332-0686 ext 5384 DEADLINE Monday August 25th Noon (Charlotte (Dteerver Darrell 'I imberlake MBA The first money would be used to buy more buses and create more bus routes including crosstown ones like Jones wants It also would be used to help build high-speed busways along Independence Boulevard and South Boulevard zipping commuters past the rush-hour gridlock Many Charlotte residents though question pouring so much money into a system that is used so little an attitude change here significantly important to making transit said Sen Betsy Cochrane R-Davie heard anyone talk about how going to get people to use retort: If we build it they will come With more buses running more places more quickly attitudes about public transportation would change they say The bill would also let any NC Since solicitors control which cases get scheduled for trial they also decide which Charges may be settled out of court with defendants agreeing to plea bargains Or they may be dropped for a variety of reasons the evidence could be weak the charges illegitimate or the court could be backlogged But the decision is always at the discretion Justice cited three reasons for the high number of dismissals in his circuit First he said larger counties require the office to review all warrants before they are issued while smaller counties such as Lancaster Justice estimated that about 1 5 percent of his cases stem from civilian warrants As a result many arrests are made with little evidence he said have no input on the issuance of a Justice said counties like Charleston if a piece-of-crap case the never Rushing said Richland and Greenville are among other large counties that review warrants but York is not Second Justice said many of the cases involved multiple charges for the same crime In the interest of efficiency he said he often dismisses some charges to get a plea on others I can get the same result by taking a guilty plea on some charges and dismissing others going to do he said Lastly he said he regularly dismisses weak cases to prevent backlog believe in letting something linger on the docket if I five years She began at WBTW-TV in Florence SC after graduating from journalism school at UNC Chapel Hill in 1987 Luring Gantt back to Charlotte the 28th-biggest TV market with about 802000 viewing households involved several factors Timing and money were two although Gantt did not discuss her WGN contract she said Belo was patient and very She also cited the reputation for high-quality television journalism Another outside factor may have been the abundance of talent at WGN all that Sonja Gantt was a rising star at WGN you have to remember the station has a pretty deep said Jeff Borden a former Observer TV critic now covering media for Chicago Business would have taken her a while to get to something like evening news fU 1-800-276-1502 information Service from any touch-tone phone category code FUNERAL INFORMATION 1970 General Information 1971 Why pre-arrange a funeral? 1972 How to pre-arrange a funeral 1973 Services and costs 1974 Cremation KIDS FEATURES 6948 Children's Activities 6977 Entertainment Express 6865 Joke of the Day 6914 Holiday Stories 6938 Weekly Storybook INTERACTIVE GAMES 6872 Outer Space Adventures 6873 Wizard World 6904 Entertainment Trivia 6907 History Trivia 6905 Really Hard Trivia 109 Classical 1 1 0 New Age RELATIONSHIPS 1940 Enhancing Relationships 1941 Singles Love Lines LUNCH MENU MAN 1955 Lunch Menu Talk To Me I Sing Country Order T-Shirts Atlantic Records 1954 1953 1952 1957 BUSINESS CONSUMER SERVICES 1 932 Quality Team Empowerment 1942 Voice Services 1916 Fax Machines 1915 Copiers 1914 Computer Networks 1 880 Female Voice Talent tRETIRED'ORlRETIRINGlSOON Well-known name may encourage viewers to check out new anchor emorCitizens 1 No charge or obligation just valuable information that will help vou choose the best financial road for retirement THURSDAY AUGUST 7th Your Choice: Daytime or Evening Seminar Daytime Seminar starts promptly at 10:00 AM and concludes at 12:00 Noon -OR- Evening Seminar starts promptly at 6:00 PM and concludes at 8:00 PM Both Seminars followed by a free three-course dinner Hilton at University Place off East WT Harris Blvd Southeast Succession Planners Inc GANTT Continued from page 1 home husband (Mitch Gibson) is from Charlotte as my family obviously she said this job presents a different challenge never been one to distinguish success by market choice appears to be a shrewd one for perpetual third-place ratings finisher WCNC At 32 been getting national exposure in the 40 million cable households nationwide that carry WGN (including Charlotte) The added kick of a well-known Caro-linas surname will encourage viewers to check her out And she provides the diversity requisite in a multiracial city like Charlotte assets include experience Besides her anchoring duties she has been a longtime health-care reporter Before joining WGN in 1993 she was at WBTV (Channel 3) for Paul Talor answer your critical questions such as how can you: Avoid being taxed on your hard-earned Social Security benefits Put up to $125000 tax-free in your pocket if you are age 55 or older Obtain the best mileage from your personal or retirement plan assets Receive nursing home benefits from the government without losing your assets Simplify your financial affairs and enjoy the more Control what life-sustaining medical treatment you want used or withheld Eliminate current taxes on both interest earnings and dividend income Guarantee that your wishes and desires will be carried out should you become incapacitated Avoid probate and the related fees and expenses involved Make sure your savings are safe and secure Be sure your will is up to date and consistent with your estate plans Be sure your heirs receive your hard-earned estate and not the IRS Free Parking Available-Refreshments Will Be Served Door Prizes (2) $20 Gift Certificates to Grill Bar SEATING IS LIMITED THEREFORE PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY PLEASE CALL AT 599-4496 OR 1-888-366-9601 FOR YOUR RESERVATION (For other financial service professionals attending there will he a $500 fee) Now is the time that families begin thinking about Child Care Whether they are seeking Child Care for the first time or seeking alternatives to present arrangements they know they need to plan for quality affordable care well before the school year begins On Wednesday August 13 The Charlotte Observer will publish a special feature: CHILD CARE AFTER SCHOOL CARE This feature is a road map to Child Care in the Mecklenburg County area especially for hundreds of new families to our city Make sure your classes are full come school time by advertising in this special feature For more information or to reserve your space call Donna at 358-5384 Weezie's Horoscopes Mrs Hart Indian Healer Russell Todd Love Psychic OBSERVER AT YOUR SERVICE 1984 Want A Back Issue 1 985 Customer Service Billing 1990 Death Noticetetter to Editor 1991 SubscriberCarrier Information 1992 News Reprint Permission Copies 1993 Ads Reprints Engagements 1994 School Program Tours Speakers 1995 Oplus: General Information Sponsorships WEATHER 7198 Asheville Forecast 7041 Charlotte Forecast 7199 Columbia Forecast 7200 Greensboro Forecast 7197 Myrtle Beach Forecast 7059 Raleigh Forecast codes for national cities page 2C DEADLINE Thursday August 7 at Noon Information service is FREE Long-distance rates apply to calls made outside the 377 calling area Member National CITYLINE Network VS lAulMtn.