Kingsport News from Kingsport, Tennessee • Page 1

City's Carte Blanche For Thief Inflation Hikes School Budget By $40 Million UK iiiii'i allarnoy nemly summed up Ihe success! ul itm ot almost 1 million by amii-Jine perhaps a member of (ho Mafia, who used a blank cheek stolen from Iheclty ircusurv Mild routed it through a Swiss bank The money's gone," he said. "We don't kwiw where it's gone or received 11." Nine more such blank checks arc sill! unaccounted l-ocal Investigators, Hilled by US organized crime probers who covered the scheme, are still trying lu how )H checks signed by the city comptroller but with no amount filled In disappeared frum the supposedly elcsely guarded computer vault at Uty Hall Last March. Musi of all, District Attorney Joseph Busch said Tuesday, lie wants lu kmiw who got the from the Hanquo de I'urls in Geneva, Swilerland, One of the stolen checks was filled In fur thai ahmunt, deposited last month; In Crocker International Hank In New York Jlty for deiwsit lu the Swiss hank. Busch declined to say what wus known about tlie identity of Ihe holder of thai account, hut a deputy said it had been cleaned oul not In cash, but "In a form thai could bo converted for Ihelr own use, be it diamonds or gold or whatever," The elly attorney's orfice and Crocker Bank In New York say they won't lie out the money the bank will. Meanwhile it was learned that by error variously blamed on the city computer and a sheriff's deputy one of the key suspects in the case, Morton Krceman.

had Ihjcji released on Iwiid fur lower tliun hud been sol, Bernard Howard, a Ynnkers, N. hc-countant arrested with Freeman, was arraigned Tuesday mi 10 charges of cons-piracy to commit grand theft and forgery In Ihe missing checks case. Senate organized crime Investigators said iluward has been linked with Brooklyn mobster Carmine 'The Doctor l.ombardozzi. arid through hlhi lo alluded New York Mafia "Ixjns of bosses" Carlu Uambliin. Freeman, wlio recently moved to Los Angeles from New York, was accidentally released from jail Monday night on bond, it was revealed, Instead of the $100,000 that bad been sel after they wu re booked, The Liistricl attorney's: office blamed "a breakdown in llic computer." of SSEITICS 44PAiES KINGSI'ORT, TKNNESSKE.

371112. TIHJRS1A. Hairy Wombat, Harried Keeper l.utlrell requested a $10 million hike In slate appropriations and million for building programs which continued emphasis on regional prisons. 'The need for three more such facilities is ureal fto that we might complete geographic distribution or such centers and reduce the slale prison population lo the 700 wu would like lo see Lul- -Irell said, "Our needs are great, bul we realize ihe need fnr constraint with Ihe tnum-irf i.iuure is Lodjy." Lullrell outlined a budget including million in improveinenls. He said an udditlona! HA million would be needed just maiiilain proarunis current levels.

Thecapllal outlay budget includes more Hum 3 million for regional prisons 1,425.000 at Morristown, $1,165,000 at Memphis, and 5500 00(1 sartccnovatc thu securily unit at Central said the state will always need a small maximum security unit to house convicts who are dangerous, lie said the Central Slate Hospital mill could serve such a purpose bul the 'ntw closed Brushy Mountain slate' prison near Polios not. In response to questions from legislators, Lul-(roll said the slale would have lo spend up lo SI 5 million to reopen Brushy and an additional million a yearlo operate it. "I don'l think it would be a good slop economically," Hie commissioner grade K-18, largely becauiio of vIviaTnmH 1J'lyi-'1 by Kdueahon tummissioner Benjamin Carmichael as legislators and the Depariment of F'inanee and Administration 'planned to wind up bearings on Ihe next fiscal Saying that inflation is "the most serious problem facing education today," Crmirhsol $4" lhL" "This amount is below actual inflatio cusls bul should be sufficient to reasonably maintain basic programs," Ciirmlehacl said. In addition to inflaliun, major factors in the increase were 320.8 million for education of the forvocatiunal.techn cal raiuis reduce pupil-teacher Ironically, the increased ljudget i'oincs in the face of a projecled 7,500 decline in the average studenl daily attendance. Carmicliael no(ed thai the two major areas of program expansion will be for the handicapped and comprehensive vocational-technical euiica- Because of the increased demand fur opcratlnK rumls, Die detriment rct.uesled no increase in money fur construction.

On Tuesday Cnrreclio Commissioner Mark CHICAGO (CDN) Pei'ur' Cruwcrofl, every inch a man, has ceased Ixein'g a mother. He gave his. baby one more bottle feeding yeslorday then wen! home lu catch upon his sleep. Crnweroft is director of the Brookfield Zoo aiid his baby is Aussie, the first wombat born outside of Australia, which also happens lo be Crowcroft's homeland. Aussie, hairy-nosed cousin or the koala and kangaroo, was born at Brookfield Zoo last Julv, the size of a peanut, and promptly did what all newborn wombats do.

He scurried into bis mother's pouch and attached himself to her breast where he was supposed to stay for six months or "Rut something' happened, and we're not sure what," Croweroft said, "Maybe lie fell out and couldn't get back into the pouch, maybe the mother got fed up with his kicking and dumped him out. You must-remember that wombats, as cute ane friendly as they eventually become, are not very intelligent." A couple of weeks ago Crowcrufl found Aussie crawling around bis pen, cold and miserable. Down under, you might say, "There was no way to gel him back into the pouch, so we made an artificial pouch out or a pillow case and some fur," he explained, "and started weaning it." Aussie should have hopped out of his mother's pouch weighing Vj nuisance or himself among I be farmers by burrowing holes beneath the fences that hold their sheep. The wombat is not a popular animal in Australia, but the government gives him protection because he is ncarlng extinction mainly because be is easy prey For the wild dogs that roam the wildlands. A strict vegetarian, lie feeds on roots, leaves and barks and is equipped with large, strong claws.

Al full size, he resembles a bear and his finest talent is digging long tunnels because be hales the cold. Croweroft said Aussie is putting on weight and seems lo enjoy the bottled formula. Wombats make nice pels, he added, but of course, Aussie is not for sale. "You could Irain them on their toilet problems IF you had one in the house," he said, "but, of course, you'd have to. watch their claws on Ihe rugs." ironically, in Australia thy wombat's coarse fur is used le make long-lasting rugs.

"Im delighted the way ihmgs turned out," Croweroft said, "but I'M rather he stayed in the pouch. I've been coming duwu lu the zoo lu give bim his 2 a.m. bottle, and that's why I sound a bit ragged. "It's jusl like feeding a baby, but nuw someone else is going (n tin it, I'm going to start getting some sleep." 'Great Peril To Life'; Gas Pares Away Earth's Ozone Dr. Croweroft and "Aussie." pounds and fully furred.

He now weighs Iwo pounds and owns less fur. lhan .1 Siberian janitross. Back home; Aussie would grow to about 60 pounds and make a general WASHINGTON (DPI). A scientist told i tmgress Wednesday the earth appears In be "on the verge or a period of great peril to lire on this Slube because of threats lo (he ozone layer tivm modern technology. Professor T.

M. Donahue if Hie University or Michigan testified at (he opening or Iwo days of hearings into the question uf whelher f'reon, Ihe used in aerosol sprays and as a coolant In refrigerators and air conditioners, has been ealing-away al the ozone layer near (lie (op of (he earth's atmosphere. Tlwiayvr Titters out must of (he sun's ultraviolet rays and some scientists have susKested that a thinning oi the layer will trigger huge" Increases in skin ranfer among the earth's peoples, Rep. Marvin L. Esch, said Wednesday it may be too late to head off an increase in skin cancer even if Confess acts rlgln away to contnl freon gases being released into (be atmosphere from aero.sol sprays and other "We must immediately begin a comprehensive study so thai slops can bo taken to defuse (his potential time-bomb if a beallh hazard is proven Ksch said.

Donahue suyiscsted thai ir a fleet of 500 supersonic transports have been buill as was discussed a few years ago enough or the protective ozone Juvcr would have been destroyed tn "drive life on iho globe back toward a slate il had several hundred million years ago." Donahue, who with oilier Michigan scientists recently raised (he issue before Ihe public, suid he and fellow searchers are not even sure lliey have exhausted the inventory if possible horrors that could result from ozone depletion. It might cverr be, he said, thai the effort lo feed a growing population through grains is using up nitrous oxide and taking that substance away frum the ozone layer as well. "We appear lo lie on the verge of a period of great peril lo life on 1hls globe produced by Ihe development or-the very technology designed to make life more pleasant; tolerable and even possible for all of ibis humankind," he said. "II is time to slop back and lake a very careful look at what we may be doing to ourselves and our planet haVhWeTt two I dialing for a study and power later to ban reons. testimony prepared for the hearing said a Umversity.of Michigan study widely quoted in news reports estimates ihat ozone destruction would not reach its peak until about even if all emissions were baited now.

"There are estimates," hu added, "that this ozon, fides true lion will result in an additional 8,000 cases of skin cancer by 1890 and at one prediction lhat the. incidence of skin cancer could bo much higher." To delay a priority study of Ihe question Esch said, "ctuld invite tragedy and suffering which Yet we are told It may already be too late lo I'tevem serious depletion of the ozone shield be uf- ract, we are faced with I he unnerving' prediction thai ozone destrudion will nlmosl cur" lainly reiull an incidence of skin nckl 12 months." Battle For Dead Leader's Body Sparks Martial Law menl said rioting appears to have erupted early Wednesday. The reports said that the situation later appears lu have gotten beyond the control of the civil authorities. The chairman of the Divisional Council, Thicn Aung, appealed ul that time to the Rangoon military commander to supply troops to assist the police, the reports said. His order, broadcast by Radio Rangoon, said that "some people within Rangoon are burning and destroying buildings and vehicles, demonstrating and shouting slogans." All persons were ordered to remain in (heir homes until further notice and in addilion a curfew was imposed hetween the hours of 6 a.m.

and p.m. According lo Slale Department reports, scattered demonstrations are still taking place in Rangoon despite the use of tear gas by police and soldiers. The reports said that there had been scattered gunfire ane mobs were roaming the streets. The violence apparently hecan on the university campus. In Bangkok, Ihe capital of neighboring Thailand, diplomatic sources monitoring Radio Rangotn reported Wednesday night that city authorities asked for help from the Burmese army In quelling demonstrations.

Mobs uf people looted and damaged property in the capital city, the monitors said. The. students and monks entombed Thant's body Sunday in a makeshift mausoleum on the campus of Rangoon University, using building materials intended for a library. By United Press International Burmese troops and police were reported hauling several thousand students and Bhudmst monks in Ihe Burmese capital of Rangoon Wednesday in an attempt to recover the stolen body rf former U.N. Secretary General Thanl.

Radio Rangoon said the government had declared a emergency and martial law. Information reaching the Stale Department in Washington from Kan'gotn said (he violence was widespread and the attempt lo recover Tbaut's body was ap-parenlly unsuccessful. Thanl died in New York on Nov. 25. The students and monks seized his body last week at the funeral in Rangoon on the grounds that it deser-ved a burial place befilling a wurld statesman.

Information reaching the Slate Depart- Stomach tramps Were Labor Pains OETHOIT(UPI) Lois Shcely and her husband, Toil, have canceled their Christmas plans for a Caribbean cruise, but they're not al all unhappy about ihe change of events. 'J'hey have gained a son, named James Robert Shcely, born Saturday and weighing 6 pounes, 8 ounces. To bolh of them, James' birth was a complete surprise. Mrs. Shcely, who is 40 and a school teacher, wenl to Sord Hospital here this weekend because "1 thought I had stomach' cramps." She didn't.

The examining physician told her she was in labor and would soon give birth. In 16 years or marriage, the couple had been childless. "Shocked is an understatement," she said after learning she had been carrying a child for nine months wilhout knowing Mrs. Shcely and her husband, a -musician, had just returned from a vacation in the Bahamas. Proposal Would Open Kids' School Records the record1.

The committee's decisis lo whether chane.es in Ihe record will JONESBOKO The Washington County School Board will discuss a new policy, which sets up a procedure for allowing parents and guardians access to student's school, records, at the Thursday night meeting in Jonesboro. The proposed new school board regulation will allow parcnis to file a writlen request lo see their child's records with the school principal and will establish a procedure by which parenls may challenge Ihe accuracy or information included in the records. Under terms of the new regulation commidce.s (o hear challenges of student's' records will lie set up al all schools. The secondary school committee will be made up of the school principal, a counselor, a teacher, and an alternate for the (cacher and counselor. The elementary school com mi lie will be made up of the school principal and Iwo teachers, plus an aiternale for Ihe teachers.

The new regulation stipulates lhat a tearing will be held no later than 10 days after a parent challenges information in made will be final, unless appealed lo the school board Other persons having access to student's records, in addition in parents, are: school officials and teachers from the local system, who have legitimate educational interest and officials of other school systems in which the studenl intends (n enroll, on the condition that Ihe student's parenls be nntifed of (be (ransfer. receive a copy uf the record if desired, and have an Dpporlunily to challenge Ihe content of Ihe record. In oilier action, 1he board will: approve Ihe payment of the month's bills; approve an energy conservation resolution; review final plans for vocal ional additions to Daniel Boone and David Crockett High Schools; Vole on resignations, leaves of nb-sense, transfers, and election and placemen! or school personnel for the 1074-75 term. The African Bandits and their collection of toys. Santa On A Motorcycle Gang Collects Toys For Needy Kix.s Clotty n4 eir tUy.

likely Airing WrfHdi; nigkt, hit eadlag thts mmlng. High sfcoW be I tie (taper 4i. Owner of rain 30 per real May. Hunters, Ecologists Clash Over Deer IMU.AS fUi'I) Hlood red silk on a blue denim jacket, ragged ann holes flying in Ibc wind. A big black man on a molorcvcle, its molor gunning.

That won't pass for Clans to most kids, bul the African Hand its don'l worry about Ihelr appearance. For months, ago thev decided lo do kooiI rather lhan be bad. "We're gonna Imy Ihe toys on the mill of December. We already Miked tvilli the dis-trihulors and I've gol top priority on Hie prices," said "Bift John" Alexander, president of the motorcycle outfit. We also have cnnlribulions rrnm some department stares in 1he cily and we gol a storage room nl (he clubhouse full of Con-tribulions from outside people." The loys will lie dlsirlbuled (wo days later lo children selected by workers al Dallas' Crossroads C'ommmilly Ceiiler, Die VMCA and several black churches.

In addilion, Alexander anil his HO members arc working on whnl they call "I)ullas' first black CbriKlmns parade." "Kivc guys slarled oul lo be an fliillaw club Inst Augusl," said Alexanilcr. 34. a frelghl line serviceman, "We nil sal down and talked it over and decided lu go the other way. "As an outlaw club, Just anything -thai comes down, you're ready for it. Oilier motorcycle clubs are.

your enemies. You do some of every I hi ng, "I just Tell like 11 wasn't a gonil Idea lo go outlaw. We Jusl didn't waul lo niln a good name." According lo police intelligence, (here has liccn no trouble from the African Bandlls, which Is nol necessarily Irue for neighboring oul law groups in the area, The bandlls, bunch of shordinul truckers and day laborers, say ihcy have been doing as much good as they can contributing (o needy families and causes. N. J.

(UPJJ Ilunlcrs wild liermlts bagged three dozen 'deer Tuesday at Ihe Great Swamp National Wllrilirc Refuge, but environmentalists were outraged that hunllng was permitted at the game preserve. Wildlife officials said the hunt was necessary In reduce (ho size of the deer herd and thus prevent many animals from starving, bul some conservation isls said would be better to eliminate the decr some oiher way, Including lolling wolves loose nti the reugc. other groups had argued lhat more humane inelhods than shooling should be used to reduce the deer population. 'The real reason this hunt was allowed was simply lo provide outdoor recreation for 400 men," said FFA President Richard Kenley. lie said during court hearings government lawyers had said the only alternative 1o shooting the deer was to use marksmen and btoogis( 1o select nnd shoot only deer thai were sick and diseased, which Ihc The U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals In Philadelphia refused earlier Tuesday to bkick the hunt. State and federal officials sbIiI there Is insufficient food on Ihe preserve lo support the present deer population of A00, and also said some of (he deer were sick from malnutrition. They haveallowed 350 deer to be taken by about 400 hunters with special permits. Several groups, including the t'unii for Animals, fought In federal court In a vain effnrl lo stop Ihe hunt. The KKA and 'ti A vim, would COM too much.