Centre Daily Times from State College, Pennsylvania • 7

STATE NEWS Centre Daily Times Sunday January 7 1 996 7A Ridge shepherds children through Farm Show primarily shaking hands and cheerfully chatting with other children introducing them to his son and daughter The Itidge family was just one of thousands that flocked to the farm show More than 250000 people are expected to attend the six-day event which showcases livestock state cuiqjne and farm equipment and Tommy and I had breakfast this morning and it was tiie only day of 365 this year that we had Lebanon bologna fudge potato chips and ice cream with maple Ridge told show visitors after perusing the food court The trio originally planned to leave the show soon after Ridfge addressed a throng in the main arena but they stayed longer when son Tommy asked to watch a rodeo said spokesman Jerry Feaser First lady Michele Ridge was in Erie visiting her mother Feaser said The family watched a hog auction and sheep shearing met a Dairy Princess rode through the arena in a horse-drawn surrey from New Orleans and occasionally paused for photos with other families kids a heck of a way to see a farm said one onlooker as a crowd pressed ckne around the governor Some who stopped to watch the three said they were satisfied with first year in office have found the Ridge administration' has come directly to us By HEIDI RUSSELL Tnt Associated Press Harrisburg Sporting a denim shirt and khaki pants Gov Tom Ridge pet sheep and explained cow-milking techniques to his children Saturday while espousing number one industry during the first day of the 80th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show It was the first Farm Show experience for the Ridge children Tommy 8 and Lesley 9 The siblings grimaced each time they touched a mooing animal and huddled near their father in a crush of photographers and curious onlookers Ridge meanwhile spent the tour BRIEFS LEMON JUICE WORK ROBBER JAILED Amid-dle-aged bank robber who rubbed lemon juice on his face because he thought it would prevent surveillance cameras from taking a clear picture of him faces a prison sentence of almost 25 years MacArthur Wheeler 46 was sentenced on Flriday Clifton Eari Johnson 43 received a fiveyear sentence in April in part because he testified against Wheeler Johnson told him about the juice Wheeler said Surveillance photos at the bank clearly showed die men taking $5200 from a Mellon Bank in Swissvale on Jan 5 1995 The men wear masks because they were sure the lemon juice would work according to Shaun Sweeney who prosecuted Wheeler US District Judge Gary Lancaster ordered that Wheeler serve three years on probation after completing his 24Vyear sentence seeking our concerns They are wiU-1 ing to work with us and resolve I problems facing agriculture and rural said James Mentzer spokesman for the Pennsylvania State Grange adding that Ridge's decision to do away with the state Department at Environmental Resources has made things easier for farmers 1 During 1995 the administration also implemented agriculture cur- riculum for Pennsylvania schools -and made it possible for farmers to shoot deer herds disrupting crops Mentzer said think doing a fine said Norman Rehm of Mechanics-J burg who asked Ridge to pose for a photo with his two grandchildren isawNm 'MO 'Mo RECEIVE A FREE 11-0Z CURL SAVER TREATMENT WITH PERM RECEIVE A FREE 11-0Z COLOR SAVER TREATMENT WITH COLOR Farmer sell his land for state prison The Associated Press INDIANA A juvenile prison the state (dans to build would bring about 250 jobs to a small Pennsylvania town The only problem is that the rite is occupied by 125 dairy cows and a family that says the state never contacted them about buying the land Tom and Duane Trimble the brothers who own the farm want to selL They can't pay the Tom Trimble said earlier this week I get in this mood money don't mean On Wednesday the Department of Corrections announced plans to build the prison on 170 acres near Indiana about 45 miles northeast of Pittsburgh The $52 million project would house about 500 offenders under the age of 18 lawyer Pamela Miller of Indiana said too early to say whether the family would negotiate over the sale of the land haven't even discussed it she said The state their responsibility to do something Something has to be The Corrections Department doesn't know what it'll do if the Trimbles won't sell now there is no plan said Dennis Buterbaugh a department spokesman still very hopeful that negotiations wiU be successful with the Trimbles We don't view this as the door being Buterbaugh said the Indiana County of Planning and Development chose the four rites tire state considered fix' the prison The Corrections Department assumed aU four rites were available I Year End Inventory Clearance Sale UP TO 50 OFF Everything in Stock Storewide miss out on the LARGEST SALE OF THE YEAR Come in early for the best selection Take advantage mmm of our convenient qw mr wia financing 1359 College Are 234-1513 MWF 1M Til SaL 10-5 Su 124 Cal today for your appointment SALON AT THE BONTON Expkw Saturday Fab 3 Not valid with any othar diaoounta or apadab AvaUabi wMi Mtocted atylats Baitahiia DM 376-1790 Wyoming VWay KM 82S-1414 NKtwiy IM 234-1 71 3 Labanon Plaza Mdl 274-2366 PoyWatown Shopping Canlar 840-2373 SUSPICIOUS TROOPER FINDS COCAINE CASH MERCER State police searching a van they stopped for speeding found a hidden compartment that contained almost $132000 and a white power residue that turned out to be cocaine Michael Britvich said he became suspicious Friday morning when the man driving and a woman passenger told him they were coming back from a trip to Detroit even though they didn't have any luggage Their stories conflicted so the trooper called for a drug-sniffing dog that indicated drugs were in the van Troopers searching the van at the police barracks in Mercer about 45 miles north of Pittsburgh found a partially hidden switch that evened the compartment in the vehicle's floor Inside they found $131799 and the powder The driver Juan Cartes Madera of New York NY said he did not know the money was there He and the woman were not arrested and were allowed to take a bus to New York Police are looking for the Philadelphia man who owns the van MEDICARE FRAUD BRINGS STIFF PRISON TERM The head of six defunct Philadelphia medical supply companies has been sentenced to years in prison for run ning a telemarketing scheme that swindled $34 million from Medicare John Cocivera 46 had sent elderly people in 10 states medical equipment they did not need He was given the stiffest sentence possible Friday by US District Judge Marvin Katz Cocivera shown any indication that he even recognizes the enormity of the harm that he has caused society with the Medicare program" the judge said notions are grandiose and they seem detached from the reality of the evidence in this He was indicted in September 1994 Prosecutors said his telephone solicitors called more than 5000 elderly people telling them they were entitled to free medical equipment and obtaining the numbers of their doctors After the equipment was delivered the solicitors would call the doctors and get the physicians to approve requests for Medicare reimbursements by claiming the patients themselves had requested the equipment His office manager Diane Rooney 60 of Summerdale pleaded guilty last year She was sentenced to eight months of house arrest and five years of supervised release From Associated Pits reports missespetitesXwomens-JUNlORSPORTSWEARlDRESSES WE KE EArYcQATSS HOESAC CESS OR I ES't I NTI MlYrEAP PAR EL? PLUS30jDFF0RIGINAL PRICES SELECTED HOME CLEARANCE THE BONTON YOUR FASHION STORE MwcSman MbcttowHv by Worn Hoiim Slew Miaul CaouMlCanlai: Bala axrtudw CarWad Vblut mawhandlaa MantHlad by prioa Tiding! and apadal lignins.