The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 29

THE CHARLOTTE ORSFRVFR THURSDAY JULY 17 1997 3C Doctors deplore counseling policy 19 member of the panel that drafted the letter said the doctors object to goal just their means counselor in their right mind is going to work with the family to reinforce the family to involve the he said you working in a vacuum The tragedy is Mr James and I probably want the very same things just how do we get prediction that the policy will lead to more pregnancies and disease sort of like sky is falling! The sky is falling! The coming to an end because parents are going to be involved in their sexual you find that a little bit haughty on their part? That a requirement to involve parents in the counseling of their children is somehow going to increase sexually transmitted diseases? the most Alice-in-Wonderland viewpoint ever Pediatrician John Johnston a By JIM MORRILL Staff Writer A Mecklenburg County commissioner said he expects only minor changes to a policy that restricts youth counseling despite warnings from a physicians group that the policy could result in more teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases In a letter to commissioners the 1300-member Mecklenburg County Medical Society said the policy would impair essentia counseling In response to criticism commissioners voted Tuesday to give themselves another month to fig- ELECTION FIUNGS Candidates began filing July 7 for local offices in North Carolina Filing continues through noon Aug 1 Here are the most recent filings: Mecklenburg County MATTHEWS COMMISSION Karina Glaus 39 2628 Whisper Ridge Lane Kress Query (i) 57 14122 Creekside Drive Martha Krass (i) 56 803 Elizabeth Lane MINT HILL MAYOR Robert Fox (i) 48 7001 Old Oak Lane MINT HILL COMMISSION Tal West (i) 40 6741 Hollow Oak Drive Craig Webb 385633 Beaver Dam Lane Steve Horton (i) 50 4610 Pine Needle Trail PINEVILLE COUNCIL Jim Eschert (i) 44 116 Mallard Drive William Holt Earnheart Jr (i) 31 243 Eden Circle (i) denotes incumbents absentee voting put on hold Text of Medical Society letter Seepage 11A ure out how to word the new policy which requires parents to give permission and be present when county-funded counselors talk to children or teens about sex It was to have taken effect July 1 The physicians argue that the policy would discourage troubled children from seeking help and possibly endanger those with abusive parents Commissioner Bill James said Wednesday he buy the 1996 would have had an option in the year 2000 Now they will not have that option very The Senate had overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier this year but it get past the House elections committee chaired by Mecklenburg Republican Rep Connie Wilson Wilson said there were too many concerns about the bill including whether it would make fraudulent voting easier committee voted 13-7 to have a study commission look at the bill and return with interim recommendations next year and final recommendations in 1999 That angered some Mecklenburg lawmakers should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots not more said House Minority Leader Rep Jim Black D-Meck-lenburg right to vote Staff writer Mary Elizabeth DeAn-gelis contributed to this article Rep Martha Alexander D-Meck-lenburg who waited to vote for 50 minutes in November remember watching people leave who could not afford time away from their jobs or family to stand in Alexander said saw one woman it was her third time she had returned to the poll and it had closed She was very upset and so was Reach Taylor Batten at (919) 834-8471 or tbatteickarlottecoM in a timely manner is important When we can make a change to improve on that situation we are derelict in our duty not to do In the meantime Mecklenburg is taking other steps to shorten lines The county commissioners provided funding to buy 400 voting machines And the Board of Elections plans to split precincts eventually adding about 35 precincts and spreading voters out across more voting places Those actions though are not enough Culp said That frustrates By TAYLOR BATTEN Raleigh Bureau RALEIGH One of Mecklenburg greatest hopes for reducing long lines at the voting booth was put on life support by a state House committee Wednesday A bill that would have provided for absentee voting was tabled until at least 1998 and probably 1999 The bill would have let voters cast absentee ballots for any reason Under current law they have to be sick or out of town on Election Day Letting anyone vote ahead of time would have tripled the number of people who use that option and so would have shortened lines at the ballot box said Mecklenburg Elections Director Bill Culp just incredible to said Culp who was on the hot seat last November when waits in some precincts approached four hours people who stood in line in Designer Home Furnishing Sale Furniture Art Silk Plants Lamps Brass Mirrors Fabric Accessories Saturday July 1 9th 8am 4pm 601 Cedar Street "The 358-0277 Cash-Checks-Visa-MC Available No returns July 18 19 20 Fri Sat Sun 97 FESTIVAL NG Legislature Ail ideas for election reform suit Basnight RALEIGH State Senate leader Marc Basnight said Wednesday that he would favor legislation that incorporates nearly every idea Republicans and Democrats have proposed this year to change how money flows into NC elections In an effort to stir lagging political resolve to change campaign finance laws Basnight said he would throw his weight behind a bill that joined provisions advanced separately by Senate Democrats and House Republicans The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would reduce the amount of money that could legally flow into state campaigns The House removed spending limits with their own vision: increased reporting requirements in order to expose heavy-spending statewide campaigns and political committees that contribute to them The bill has been stalled in a hostile committee for more than two months Questions about Blue Cross RALEIGH The NC secretary of office has launched an inquiry into whether Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina violated state lobbying laws when it hired a marketing firm to talk to its customers about legislation affecting Blue Cross Blue Cross says it has done nothing wrong Also Wednesday Secretary of State Elaine Marshall caUed on lawmakers to enact reforms aimed at regulating how marketing firms can contact legislators Cooper to lead Democrats Senate Democrats have elected Sen Roy Cooper D-Nash as majority leader for the remainder of the 1997-98 session Cooper replaces Sen Richard Conder D-Richmond who leaves the state Senate today and begins working at the state Utilities Commission on Friday Address on race relations John Hope Franklin a Duke University professor emeritus of history and chairman of a presidential panel on race relations will address the General Assembly on Tuesday President Bill Clinton named Franklin chairman of a seven-member panel last month to examine race relations in the United States Disclosure on police OKd People who believe they have been mistreated by a Charlotte police officer won new power Wednesday to be told how or if an officer was disciplined State lawmakers gave final approval to a bill that lets Police Chief Dennis Nowicki and City Manager Pam Syfert release certain disciplinary information about an officer Until now people who complained of treatment by an officer had no way of knowing how their complaint was addressed The bill lets the police chief or city manager reveal whether an officer was found guilty of the accusation as well as the information file that led to that finding The bill also lets new citizens review board have that information when it is reviewing a case 3 confirmed for school board The General Assembly has confirmed three appointments by Gov Jim Hunt to the State Board of Education including the reappointment of former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Superintendent Jay Robinson Robinson is stepping down as chairman of the board but will continue to serve as a member for another term spend that $20 yet The state House rejected a Democratic bid to give each taxpayer a $20 refund for the sales tax on food by dipping into an unexpected bonanza of tax collections Republicans want to save the money for emergencies PAGELAND SOUTH CAROLINA "Farmer's Market" Just south of NCSC State Line US Hwy 601 Closing Out a stock of very fine spring Ladies Sportswear from in our opinion the most well known department store in St Louis Mo All of the clothing is current famous maker names of top labels in the Ladies Business today SWEATERS BLOUSES SKIRTS SUCKS CHAUS 357! alfred dunner A Usuear FRIDAY Downtown Downtown Festival Fair Helicopter Rides Arts Crafts Hay Rides Petting Zoo Pony Rides All Weekend at Market 10:00 AM Melon tours of History-Moores Park Departure 11:00 AM Melon Magic at Moores Park Contest Prizes and Music fc 1 Subcommittee backs Discovery Place grant to credit A US Senate panel on Wednesday approved a $25 million grant for Discovery Place The grant approved by an appropriations subcommittee would be used for a new exhibit called the Space The proposal still must win passage by the entire Senate and then by a House-Senate negotiating committee Discovery Place President Freda Nicholson called the money dream come She thanked Sen Lauch Faircloth R-NC for including the money in the Senate budget Said Faircloth: visited Discovery Place for the first time in late May and came away with a real understanding of what the hands-on science museum does for Charlotte and the surrounding Jim Morrill EXHAUST EVAS 24" 13 II 6000 CFM $13900 30" 13 II 7630 CFM $14900 36' 13 II 10500 CFM $24900 42' 12 II 14500 CFM $26900 12 17500 CFM $28900 FAN SUPPLY DEPOT" 2333 Lucena Street Charlotte 28236 Call 364-9198 LOOK FOR THE GREEN DOTS TAKE AN ADDITIONAL Off Summer Clearance Sale Prices of Ladies SPORTSWEAR AND SHOES ALREADY REDUCED 20-50 TOTAL SAVINGS OF 36 to 60 OFF ORIGINAL PRICES TOPS BOTTOMS AND DRESSES TOO! DERITA Sugar Creek Rd at Mallard Creek Rd MINT HILL Mint Hill Festival at Hwy 51 CORNELIUS 21224 Catawba Ave HUNTERSVILLE Food Lion Center at Gilead Rd and Hwy 21 Also DENVER STANLEY ROCK HILL BELMONT LOCUST WEEKDAYS 1 0-7 SATURDAYS TIL 6 At Independence Tryon Locations Only NOW NEW STOCK OF T-SHIRTS EFJEFP1 fllA Rccbok Saturday Sunday Fair and Helicopter Rides Electric Racing Petting Zoo Miniature GolfGames CONCERT TICKET SALES Tickets for Friday and Saturday shows are $600 in advance and $800 at the gate Sunday night free admission Tickets are available locally at your Newspaper BC Moores Belk's and Record and Video Centers in your city Group Rates available 10 tickets $5000 For more information call 1-803-672-5257 South vww yiV Tickets may be purchased locally at Monroe Mall Carolina Hollltllltl Phla'' Rain or Shine IV Ui WfeFLJ trJ Al jggggggg Southwood Traditional Plaid Sofa with Leather Welt and Contrasting Pillows 1049 RoyaleEvery Complete Group In Stock As Is $200off "lV Emerson leather 8 way Hand Tied 3pc Group (Sofa Chair Ottoman) In Hunter 1 If Green Top Grain Leather $2999 if fi Bradlngton Young Green Leather Tilt Chair Ottoman $1299 Wellington Hall Solid Mahogany Bedroom Group Queen Rice Bed Dresser Mirror Chest Lowboy Nightstands 1 to sell as is no reorders $4250 Southwood Magnolia Print Sofa with English Arm (as is) $1600 Bradlngton Young Leather Chippendale Wing Recliner (wine Green) $099 SAK Round Maple Topped Breakfast Table with White Legs 2 Leaves Four Chairs S799 CENTURY COUNCIL CRAFTTQUE HANCOCK A MOORE HERMAN HICKORY CHAIR ROYALE HICKORY WHITE KNOB CHEEK HABERSHAM PLANTATION HOOKER KINCAID AND SOUTHWOOD (7 In-Store Guaranteed Financing Lowest Prices Available Just North Of Charlotte at Exit 28 Off 1-77 Next to Comfort Inn SIC If If I Of If COME SEE US MONDAY SATURDAY 9AM UNTIL 6PM ui UltCv BREW BILL The Senate Finance Committee endorsed a bill Wednesday that would let people go to a do-it-yourself brewery to brew their own beer The bill has already been approved by the House and now goes to the full Senate It was written for Scott Saffer who wants to open a business in the South End called The Brewing Experience illegal in North Carolina to rent equipment to make alcoholic beverages Saffer has spent the past two years pushing the bill which would let businesses rent equipment to brew beer if they pay $200 for a newly created permit Taylor Batten The Associated Press mo a 4.