Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 29

1 "i Central llinois SA3 i I I Decatur, Illinois Herald Review Saturday, September 17, 1994 Out About wy; Semen found on victim's body was key evidence, but test's validity in doubt. By SCOn PERRY Effingham Bureau Chief murder of 16-year-old Krystal Lynn Naab. Naab bled to death in her rural Ramsey home after being stabbed 81 times with sewing scissors. Heaton, 27, was linked to the crime scene by a spot of semen found on Naab's body and reports of a white pickup truck seen near the victim's home the day of her death. Defense attorneys were refused a special hearing to challenge the genetic testing procedure's reliability two weeks before publication of a National Research Council report that said the test was not generally accepted by the scientific community.

While the council's report was mentioned during the trial, the defense did not renew its request for a special hearing. "Under these circumstances it cannot be said that the trial court's decision to admit the DNA evidence was an abuse of its discretion," Fifth District Appellate Judge Thomas M. Welch wrote in the majority opinion released this week. While the NRC Report raised questions about the reliability of the evidence, Welch wrote the appellate court could not consider the report because it was not presented to the trial court. "The proper place to present and analyze data such as the NRC Report is in the trial court, and this court should consider only that which appears in the record on appeal," Welch wrote.

In his dissenting opinion, Justice Philip J. Rarick contends the appellate court has "broad review" powers that allows it to consider the NRC Report. BATMAN -J MOUNT VERNON A state appeals court has upheld the 1992 murder conviction of Stuart Heaton, whose case partly turned on genetic evidence. Heaton appealed the conviction arguing that the DNA test used by the prosecution was improperly performed and overstated the probability that a spot of semen on the victim's body came from Heaton. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the July 1991 Fiddlin' around still at 74 Wv uvc TWTTrPi Firebomb participant gets 5 years Jerome Tarr admits providing lighter, serving as lookout in incident.

Herald ReviewHerb Slodounik Some of the competitors in today's Pushmower Demolition Derby practice their short cuts to destruction. Left to riqht are Dennis Pease, Calvin Pease, John Stokes and Bobby Pease. ,0 By SCOTT PERRY Effingham Bureau Chief NEWTON Jerome Tarr entered a Jasper County courtroom Friday hoping his cooperation with an arson investigation would lead to a lenient sentence. Tarr emerged from the courtroom teary-eyed, but telling reporters that justice was served when Circuit Judge Steven Seymour sentenced him to five years in prison and ordered him to pay more than $33,000 in restitution. Jasper County State's Attorney William Hoffeditz had sought six years in prison and restitution.

Tarr could have been sentenced to as many as 14 years in prison. Tarr, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of arson in connection with the June 23, 1993 firebombing of an elderly Newton woman's home. Tarr admitted being the lookout and providing the lighter used to ignite a homemade bomb thrown at Eileen Kasserman's home. The bomb went through Kasserman's bedroom window at about midnight and ignited the bed in which she was lying. "I wonder why you just didn't lose the lighter on the way to Mrs.

Kasserman's house," Seymour said, challenging Tarr's claim that he was an unwilling participant in the crime. Tarr said he only went through with the crime after he was threatened by co-defendant Andrew Baker. Seymour also questioned whether Tarr knew the home was occupied. In return for his guilty plea and a promise to testify against Baker, a more serious charge of aggravated arson was dismissed. Baker was convicted by a Jasper County jury last week of the same charge.

It was Tarr's testimony that placed Baker at the scene of the crime. nnUO1 Demolition mower derby highlights Tower Hill festival By TONY REI3 Staff Wrrter TUSCOLA When Leroy Smith of Tuscola was 8 years old, he played guitar with the "Harry Smith Band" his father's country and western group. As the band performed in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia for square-and-other dances, Leroy became infatuated with the world of music. At 16, he fell in love with a big ol' bass fiddle. Leroy saw the fiddle in "Bob Crosby's Bobcats" (Bing's brother's band), fell head-over-heels, got an after-school job, and in a mere three weeks saved $380 to buy his first bass fiddle.

At 74, Leroy is still fiddlin' around. He performs five nights a week in Springfield at Gaba-toni's Italian Restaurant and Pizza House performing with "Paul Gronemeier's World Champion Ragtime Trio" and with "Ruthie Who and Whozits" on Saturdays and Sundays. If you happened to be near the beer tent at the Areola Broom Corn Festival last weekend, you no doubt heard Leroy's fiddle-playing and singing. He has helped Pat Mona-han round up the entertainment for the beer tent for the past 17 years. Leroy has been nominated to the Musicians' Hall of Fame, which will announce its 1995 selections in May in Tallahassee, Fla.

If Leroy is elected, his name will be added to the Honor Roll in Preservation Hall in New Orleans. "Actually, it looks pretty good," Leroy says. "But everyone keeps telling me that to make it the first year you are nominated is very tough. Out of the 18 nominations, only eight will be selected." Although Leroy is a fan of Dixieland, ragtime and jazz, his favorite entertainer is Perry Como. "He has the smoothest voice in the world," Leroy says.

"He has a voice second to none. The vibratos, the way he sings well, that just says it all." In 1988, Leroy and his son, Mike, were both named champions. Mike was a member of the Areola foot- ball squad, which won the state championship. His father won the World Championship Rag Time Competition in Pennsylvania. "That was a good year," Leroy says, "having two champions in the same family." Leroy has performed with former Decatur resident Tiny Hill; Buddy Lee, banjo player with "Celebration Dixieland and Randy Banks and Mark Hal-derson, five-time winners in the World Piano Playing competition.

Actually, Leroy has played almost all over the country including a "lick or two" with Harry James. "He was a suave gentleman," Leroy says. "There was no drinking on the stand, and dope wasn't even heard of back then." Leroy also performs with one of his own bands: "Miscellaneous 3-Man Band," which was featured at the Broom Corn Festival. "I've even got my Gold Card, which makes me a life member of the International Musicians Union," he says. "Music is my whole life." Nancy )o Batman is always on the lookout for odd and interesting goings on in Coles and Moultrie counties.

When not accosting area residents for stories, Nancy Jo can be reached at 4294356. Mowers in the children's classes cannot have gas tanks or working engines. And all adult mowers must have gas tanks fully shielded. Other detailed safety regulations run on and on for a closely typed page. "Competitors will face off in twos and go through elimination rounds," said Pease.

And while the mowers won't actually be trimming anything, there is some green at stake. The last surviving adult gets $100 and a trophy, and the most battered kid machines both mow home with a $50 savings bond and a trophy. Fancy your chances? It's not too late to enter. Registration starts at 3:30 p.m. in the village park.

Fees are $10 for adults and $4 for the children's classes. Call 567-3636 for details. Seasoned veteran Calvin Pease, 31, is a hot favorite in the adult class. He's been smashing lawnmowers for fun since he was 11 and has some advice. "Don't let the other guy get to your handlebars," Pease warns.

"One good blow and, man, I've seen handlebars fly right off." The mower derby was organized by his brother, Leonard, who's used to being involved in regular car derbys as president of the National Demolition Derby Association. "I was asked to come up with an event that would appeal to kids and people who wanted to play at being kids again," said Leonard, 42. "It wasn't hard to find participants. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun. We will have strict safety rules, though." To prevent any short cuts to the emergency room, all mowers must have their blades removed.

TOWER HILL They're out there on sport's cutting edge. Brave and mean, these tough hombres are pushin' mowing machines. They are, believe it or not, competitors in what may be the world's first Pushmower Demolition Derby. More than 20 Central Illinois mower pilots go head to head at 5 p.m. today as part of the Fall Festival in Tower Hill near Pana.

Before hundreds of spectators, they will ram their machines to pieces until the last movable mower with a running engine is declared the winner. There are also two classes for children ages 8-12 and 12-16 in which the winners will be the kids judged to have the most crunched mowers. racing familiy roots helps children to deuelop self-esteem 0 By DAVE MOORE Staff Writer longed to. "We want our children to know about this," Hood said. "It builds self-esteem, and lets them know about the kings and queens of Africa." Hood said she hopes to build unity, by giving blacks and whites a mutual respect for their roots.

For more information, call Hood at 423-4014. about the importance of researching family trees. "We (as blacks) were told many times we couldn't trace our family trees," Hood said. "But they were in wills of landowners and slaveholders. You just have to do a lot of research to find it." Hood said it's even possible for blacks to find the names of what tribes in Africa they be speak of the importance of learning their roots to kids of Super Church at the center at 314 N.

Main St. Super Church is an activity for youths organized by the Maranatha Assembly of God. But everyone will be welcome to the center Saturday black or white. Admission is free. Hood and others will speak children a respect for the blood that flows through their veins.

"We hope to promote unity and to educate children about black history much of it has been left out," said Hood, who works at the Decatur African American Cultural Center and Genealogical Society. At 2 p.m. today, Hood will DECATUR The respect Evelyn Hood hopes to give to children today extends far beyond holding a door, or saying "Thank you." The respect she will give to children comes by teaching them about their ancestors. It's a history lesson that gives Hood Building unity DiQ mm imiii rap University ranked sixth by peers in U.S. News World Report poll.

By KRISTI RUCGLES Staff Writer and The Associated Press Midwest's Top 10 The top 10 Midwest re- 5. St. Norbert Col. gional liberal arts col- (Wis.) leges. 6.

Millikin Univ. (111.) 1. St. Mary's Col. 7.

Taylor Univ. (Ind.) (Ind.) 8. Otterbein Col. 2. Hillsdale Col.

(Ohio) (Mich. 9. Mount Union Col. 3. Marietta Col.

(Ohio) (Ohio) 4. Ohio Northern Univ. 10. Augustana Col. (Ohio) (S.D.) deans and admissions directors at about 1,400 colleges and universities to rate schools in their categories.

The magazine said about 66 percent of the schools participated. McCray was among the participants. He evaluated other universities in the Midwest liberal arts college division. Among the areas considered for the ratings were student selectivity, faculty resources, financial resources, graduation rate and alumni satisfaction. McCray said he is not surprised Millikin landed where it did on the list "I think Millikin has a very solid campus, a good endowment, a very solid faculty, and those things are thought highly of by other institutions," he said.

The magazine categorized universities by national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional colleges and universities, regional liberal arts colleges and specialized institutions. Three other regions are listed in the report. Earlier this year, Millikin was named in "Peterson's Competitive Colleges," a guidebook listing academically challenging colleges and universities, university spokesperson Reggie Syrcle said. DECATUR Millikin University is named among America's best liberal arts colleges in the upcoming Monday edition of U.S. News and World Report magazine.

College officials learned Friday that Millikin was ranked sixth among liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. Universities named in other categories in the report include Harvard, Princeton and Yale, which were named as the best national universities. But Millikin University President Curtis McCray said the ranking alone should not sway students. "I would urge a prospective student to look at other things than just this list," he said. "There are a lot of good universities that are not on here.

But with that said, I'm happy we are." Even the source of the rankings cautions readers about relying solely on the lists. "Rankings are just one of many criteria prospective students should take into account in choosing a college," the magazine said. "Simply because a school ranks at the top of its category does not mean that it is the best choice for every individual." U.S. News and World Report asked school presidents,.