The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 21

SECTION IB SECTION THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Memphis Term Sunday Morning Sept 10 1978 METRO BUSINESS Extortion Is Charged In Cases Two With Disease Listed As charged Another 48-year-old white woman is expected to be discharged soon The two patients in serious condition are a 64-year-old white man from West Tennessee and a 43-year-old white woman from Walls Miss Two other Mississippians are sus- Kof having Legionnaire's disease lth officials there have not confirmed that they da To find more about the disease and its cause doctors will be tracing the medical history and other details about the victims to see whether any common factors can be found In addition they plan to look at other cases of pneumonia at Baptist and other hospitals complete study is being done about anything that might even remotely resemble Legionnaire's said Dr George Lovejoy Health Department director be talking to dilferent hospitals to see whether they've bad any increase in pneumonic-type diseases" Although all confirmed cases have been at Baptist the disease has not had an impact on admissions Elliott said he knew of no cancellations Kenneth Bohan na an admission clerk said the hospital is 67 per cent occupitd which is less than the average during the week but about average for the weekend "Nobody seems to be that much concerned about it The hospital is about filled Mia up Several people waiting for admission or emergency room treatment late yesterday afternoon did not know about the confirmed cases (Additional Story oa Page 7 Sec A) By KATHERINE BARRETT Two people with Legionnaire's disease remained in serious condition at the Respiratory Intensive Care unit at Baptist Hospital yesterday a day after a 44-year-old liquor store clerk with the disease died A third person who has the disease is very and should be discharged soon said Maurice Elliott vice president of Baptist Elliott said an autopsy on Robert Knight who died Friday morning had been completed but that a specific cause of death could not be determined until microscopic tests are back on Wednesday assumption is that Legionnaire's disease was the cause or a contributing he said Meanwhile the Health Department is continuing efforts to determine the source of the disease with help from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta have not found anything new" said Dr Timothy Dondero a disease center epidemiologist who came to Memphis this weekend only new developments we can anticipate are when further tests are done in the laboratory" Dondero said complicated specialised tests are necessary that could not be done during the weekend The disease at this point seems to be clustered at Baptist Hospital Two of the five persons with confirmed cases of the pneumonia-like illness were employes of the hospital Knight's widow Mrs Sharie Knight is an orthopedic nurse at Baptist One patient with the disease a 43-year-old black woman recovered and was dis- By teonard Atkins Electrical Wire Is Homemade Antenna For Channel 24 WPTY Fourth TV Station Starts Telecasting Today A subsequent investigation by SgL Carl Mister and Patrolman A Brown Jr of the general assignment squad uncovered three similiar incidents for which Hutchins was charged In one of them Hutchins is accused of attempting to collect a 8500 reward from the parents of a missing teenager who he claimed to have information about He is scheduled to appear at 9 a tomorrow in City Court Division The investigation was continuing last night The scheme first was reported to the police Thursday but the first break did not come until Friday Smith said when the woman called Lt McMillan and told him of the planned meeting in the Sycamore View Road and Macon area' (McMillan and the patrolmen) did a super Job After receiving the information they had to act Smith said was no time to contact us (general assignment) He immediately got in touch with several He said officers arrested Hutchins as he approached the woman's car A butcher knife Smith said was found on the front seat of Hutchins' car Smith would not say if any of the victims ever paid rewards to Hutchins if any of the missing items and the child were found or if Hutchins actually was connected with the missing items will come out in court he said The two other extortion plots involved attempts to recover rewards from the own-er of two Doberman pinscher puppies and the owner of a boat and motor Each of the four schemes occurred in different sections of the city The owner of the Dobermans said the two puppies were stolen from her back steps at 11 pm Tuesday She said she placed an ad in the newspapers offering a 8200 to 8900 reward which ran Friday and received a call from a man about the dogs that morning knew he have my dogs because he kept talking about one (dog) If he had been smart he would have said two dogs But he wasn't nervous He had a very distinct even keeL He didn't seem The owner wouldn't discum any other details of the call but said She immediately notified the police She said she never met the man or gave him any money Her dogs taken from the Perkins and 1 240 area were still missing last night She said quicker action by the family might have saved the puppies 1 heard them (the poppies) hark and then squeal I let her (the mother) out and she couldn't have missed (catching the suspects) but by about 3 seconds We (she and her husband) saw the car had to have been two people The puppies weigh about 30 pounds (each) You know I had an inkling (that the puppies would be stolen) It was in the back of my mind That's why I rarily let them out know there is very little hope of ever getting my dogs back But if I have to spend every penny I make on the dogs I am going to do it I am Just tired of people taking stuff You can't even hang flower pots outside And I live in a nice neighborhood But it's not the neighborhood it's this city UHF reception requires an antenna adaptable to ultra-high frequency wavelengths For sets in the Immediate broadcast area that are not equipped with a UHF antenna an inexpensive loop antenna is usually sufficient Outside antennae an recommended for long-range reception In Memphis procrastinators who have failed to obtain UHF antennae can get by in the meantime with a solid piece of electrical wire about 30 inches long made into a loop The ends should be connected to the UHF terminals of the television set For safety's sake the set should be unplugged when the connection is made WPTY officials say they exped dear reception of their signal within a radius of at least 100 miles from their broadcast tower at 64 and Kate Bond Road near Bartlett WPTY is operated by Memphiabased Delta Television Corp a subsidiary of Petty Television Inc of New York Petty was granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission last December WPTY-TV the city's first ultra-high frequency (UHF) television station begins broadcasting today on Channel 21 When its first program the Jimmy Swaggert Show goes on the air at 7 this morning WPTY becomes the fourth licensed commercial television station to operate in Memphis Reception of the station is relatively simple to obtain on most television sets less than 15 yean old Virtually all sets manufactured since 1964 are equipped with a UHF dial and antenna terminals To pick up WPTY first turn the sett tuning knob to the position labeled UHF between Channels 2 and 11 That position puts a separate UHF tuning dial usually on the side or top of a set into active use The UHF tuners cm late model TV sets dick into place at each channel number between 18 and S3 On these sett simply turn the tuner to 21 The UHF tuners on older models do not dick and are marked only at random gradations To tune in Channel 24 turn the did to the 25 marking and then adjust for best reception By LEROY WILLIAMS JR A ache me to collect money from the owners of missing dogs end boats aiul the parent of a missing child yesterday netted four chargee of extortion for a 30-year-old cook at the Memphis Community Release Center Lt David Smith assistant commander of the general investigation squad said the scheme Involved persons who had placed notices in the lost and found sections of Memphis newspapers After placing an ad they were usually contacted by a man who said he could tell them where to find the miasing items in exchange for a reward Billy Hutchins was arrested at 2 pm Friday near Sycamore View Road and Macon when he was snagged in a hastily planned stakeout by Lt a McMillan of the East Precinct and four of his patrolmen Police had set up the stakeout after one of the dog owners called officers Friday and told them a man had called and told her to meet him on Sycamore View Road with a $200 reward if she wanted her dog back Police Face Trial Board Disciplinary hearings for police officers accused of violations of law or departmental policy during the police strike (Aug 11-18) are scheduled to begin Wednesday Jones deputy director for operations said yesterday Jones who will preside over a five-man -trial board which will hear all the cases said he has met several times with trial board members work out procedures and establish guidelines He said the board "will take no final action on these cases but will make specific recommendations as to punishment or administrative action to be taken against the officers accused He said the recommendations would he automatically passed on to Police Director Winslow Chapman He said severe disciplinary measures if imposed by Chapman could be appealed to the city1! Civil Service Commission Jones said he did not know exactly how many cases would be heard by the trial board because be said is still some evidence coming in We have not been able to meet with our legal adviser (Patrolman Clyde Keenan) because he has been tied up with the (Shelby County) grand Jury investigation of the City Court clerk's office Jones declined to categorise the cases the trial board would hear However Chapman said earlier that at least 12 officers have been accused of offenses that could result in severe action against them including dismissals Argument Is Blamed In Shooting Death A man was shot and killed at 2J5 pm yesterday in front of Velma's Lounge it 542 Vance after arguing with another man about the victim's wife police said CapL Mariar command duty officer identified the victim as Robert Neal about SO of 2875 Broad Mariar said a 50-year-old suspect wss arrested at 4:38 pm at 580 South Lauderdale Apt Gm by Patrolmen 0 Selby and A Parks but had not been charged last night Mariar nid the two men had argued for about two hours inside the lounge He said Neal had walked outside and was shot in the chest with a small-caliber pistol He was pronounced dead at City of Memphis Hospital About 75 persons gathered nearby and across the street at Vance near Lauderdale shortly after the shooting A white sheet covered Neal as he lay sprawled on the pavement near a telephone pole Bousson And Ricketts Due Court Showing Tomorrow Keeping Cool City Court Clerk Joyce Bousson and Harold Ricketts a supervisor in her office are scheduled to appear in Criminal Court at 9-JO tomorrow morning to answer indictments charging them with mishandling traffic tickets Indictments were returned Thursday bp the Shelby County Grand Jury but were sealed pending tomorrow's hearing before Judge Bernie Weinman The new Shelby County Board of Commissioners is scheduled be sworn in again tomorrow and to elect a chairman and vice chairman although there is a chance the election could be postponed The new swearing in ceremonies stem from a paperwork foulup which invalidates ceremonies Sept 1 Charles Perkins chairman of the old County Court has received support from nearly half the members on the commission for his bid for a fourth one-year term However he could receive some competition from Commissioners Pete Sisson and Walter Bailey Jr at the 1 JO pm meeting at the Shelby County Administration Building -The Memphis Board of Education will meet at 5 pm tomorrow at 2597 Avery to consider a resolution to rescind its earlier cit We're acutely aware of that but we're also acutely aware that we must meet the needs of our customers also have requirements for good employe working conditions We don't try to overbuild in advance but we monitor closely these areas that are growing" He said five-year building plans are constantly updated and construction money is earmarked for projects that have been approved by a local capital investment committee if they are for less than 85 million or by the national committee if more than that amount offor of the superintendent's Job to Dr William Coats At Tuesday'S weekly meeting of the City Council Mayor Wyeth Chandler is scheduled to formally nominate David Hansen of Scranton Pa to be president and chief executive officer of Memphis Light Gas Water Division The council will meet at 2J0 pm at City Hall Hansen is scheduled to attend a reception at the Cook Convention Center from 4:30 to 6J0 tomorrow OH puMc mttlim icfitRuf NM Mk art: TOMORROW WM MwmpMi Owfinr chwwtc mmi R- Wait MampMi Part Cemmlwten pn CalUanriHa Mayar an Altrmn MB pm Garmantaam Mayar and Aiaarmaa Ml am Daiata Cawaty laari at AajMtmaiit Ml pm tucioay Mampfrli Mawinp Authority fam Garfiaft Mayar and A Mr man pm Waal MampNs ClvH Sarvica CamwNialaa MB pm Waal Mampftta Neusinf Authority IS pm Hawa HwnaiXi Maytr AMmtma Ml F-m WEDNESDAY THURSDAY ShatPy County Klacwaa Cammiitlaa I pm MampMt LiM Gaa A Wafer DivUfaM I pm Shafey Farm PiaafU Davatapmant AtfvHary Cam ttaa 7 pm Baara at KPacatsaa GwUMap Autfifa rtvm Ganwaafenm Parti an Racrtnilon MO pm Wait MampMt AJrpart CommiHan mppm Maa-eraat Gauntry Club FRIDAY MampMt BM an Caatract Santa I pm Included among the new Memphiaarea postal facilities built during the past five years ere Holiday City Station at 3715 Winchester at a cost of 5188959 A Bartlett post office at cost of 5878150 A Millington post office at cost of 5526000 A Germantown post office at cost of 5710000 old Holiday City post office got so crowded one Christmas we couldn't even get ell the mail said Harold Dominic DeMeio 15 months son of Mike end Ruth DeMeio of 636 Breedlove grabs a handful of ice from a watermelon tub at a picnic sponsored yes Postal Service Continues Building Despite Whopping Deficits Robber Takes $3000 A district circulation manager for the Memphis PressSdmitar was robbed at gunpoint of about 83000 last night while attempting to make a deposit at a midtown bank Michael Wayne Merri weather 24 of 1493 Shady Birch told officers he drove up to the night deposit box at Union Planters Bank at 270 North Cleveland about 7:10 Sm when another car pulled alongside im The driver of the other car held a gun on him while a second man took the money according to Capt Mariar night command duty officer "We are quite some years behind on providing decent facilities here said McCullough who became postmaster in January 1976 under the terms of the current labor contract we must provide decent working conditions for our employes At some of these facilities there are as many as 30 employes and only one rest Soon after it was created by Congress the postal service established a Working Conditions Improvement Program with a goal toward bringing 95 per cent of the postal facilities around the country up to the program's standards covered the whole gamut and included replacing entire buildings adding air conditioning improving lighting or rest room facilities" said Martin Caine general manager for the 11-state Southern Region which is headquartered in Memphis have met that goal and are taking a look at the remaining per cent on an individual basis" The formal improvement program ended in 1975 after spending 5260 million improving or replacing most of the 32000 postal facilities around the country When the program started 31 per cent of the facilities were deemed adequate and 20 per cent of the postal employes were working in environmentally acceptable quarters Caine said After the "vigorous on such conditions 95 per cent of the facilities are considered adequate and 92 per cent of the postal workers are in environmentally acceptable quarters he said The improvement program has not ended Last year the postal service committed 5389 million to buildings and new equipment Included were 17 major facilities completed 27 others under construction end 11 under design each costing more than S3 million The puzzling question seems to be: Why with multimillion-dollar annual deficits does the postal service persist in what appears to be an unlimited capital improvements program? Said Came: do we keep building buildings if we have a deficit? There's no pat answer We know we operate at a defi Barney Seifert terday at the Overton Pavilion by Associated Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) congested there's no room to get the mail in and out there's no parking" said Whitten who like other union leaders does not often find cause to agree with the management view (added facilities) in the city are needed" Figures show the volume of mail in Memphis has increased 66 per cent to 647 million pieces handled in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year Projections are that 7684 million pieces of mail will be bandied by the end of October an increase over last year's 7209 million pieces handled in fiscal year 1972c The immediate Memphis area now has 19 postal stations or branch stations Bids are being taken for a new Mallory station on the south side of Mitchell Road east of US aland Neely Road and for a new White Station post office at an undetermined site The only project now on the five-year building plan is a new station at an unknown site to consolidate the Binghamton Station at 2485 Broad and the Hollywood Station at 2490 Chelsea In addition building or renovation activity now is underway at: 1520 Union (formerly owned by Top Value Enterprises Inc) where 8238000 in renovations is being spent for a customer service center expected to open in November It will relieve crowded conditions at the 55 South Cleveland office which then will be used solely as a carrier base The west side of Prescott between Poplar and Walnut Grove near the Poplar Plaza shopping center where a $455000 customer service center is scheduled to open in November to replace the East Memphis Station on South Highland Park and Pendleton where a SM 3000 carrier station is tentatively scheduled to open in December to replace the Fast Memphis Station 680 National where 5250000 being spent on renovations to the Highland Heights Station is expected to be completed by December 5821 Park where an $89 pg) expansion VogTum tor a vehicle garage behind the White Station facility is about to begin Fortner a postal service spokesman moving into the new facility on Winchester we've been able to improve George Whitten president of the 1200-member American Postal Workers Union Local 180 agreed that new facilities are needed around the city because of over crowding and lack of parking for both postal drivers and customers Among the wont situations he said is the East Memphis Station at 623 South Highland 71 -4s "Mr Staff Photo Cost Of $710000 By LAWRENCE BUSER When the US Postal Service replaced the US Post Office Department July 1971 there were two predictions One was that the service would begin operating ss an independent corporation no longer relying on subsidies from Congress The second was that postal facilities across the country would be brought into the 20th Century On the first count the postal service has hardly delivered It has drawn billions from the US Treasury to balance its books Last year the service had a 86878-million deficit and the previous year showed a SI 176-billion deficit Stamps prices have increased four times since 1971 and many predict more increases are on the way The prospect of bringing the postal service into the 20th Century seems a more reachable goal During its first six years the postal service invested 836 billion in capital improvement programs compared to 812 bit lion during the last six years of the old post office department Included in the program was a 833-million bulk mail center at 1921 Elvis Presley which opened in 1975 (The Sll-million main post office at 555 South Third opened the same year the postal service went into operation) The building trend shows no signs of letting up of the things our new postmaster general (William Bolger) has promised the American customer is to provide coup tesy and attractive facilities to conduct said James McCullough Memphis postmaster "I share that philosophy It's going on in Memphis and all over the In Memphis some 8165 million in construction or renovation is now underway at five locations In the past five years four new facilities have been built at a cost of more than 523 million Bids are being accepted on two other buildings and plans for a third are scheduled to beigin next fall New Germantown Post Office Built At A tejfc.