M6 pol LI5 DEC 21 1993 8 ILLINOIS ST. LOUIS POST- DISPATCH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1993 Stop The Politics In Judicial Picks, Panel Asserts CHICAGO (AP) A panel appointed to Stephen M. Kernan said he would not take study Illinois' court system recommended Report Urges Use Of Nominating Commissions any position before studying the panel's findMonday that the state form nominating com- ings. But he expressed doubt that politics missions to fill judicial vacancies. leaders from across Illinois.
"One of federal most sions had been held for years on appointing could be eliminated from the court system. It also recommended creation of the posi- The panel also recommended restoring important lessons is that the judicial system judges on merit rather than electing them. "While it always sounds nice to make tion of inspector general to guard against state funds to the agency responsible for must be removed from the political process," He said any alternative was "a political procjudges completely apolitical, as a practical investigating allegations of judicial said Jerold Solovy, chairman of the ess," and he did not believe appointing judges matter I suspect it's impossible," Kernan corruption. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed the misconduct. would affect corruption.
said. "Almost any system that you design for commission. incidents of panel after a scandal in Cook County's courts. Chief Justice Benjamin K. Miller said the One way to do that is by creating commis- "Saying that has any the selection or appointment of judges is The panel said in a report that politics must high court had yet review the report, sions of lawyers and others to help appoint proven relationship to corruption in the going to have some kind of politics in it." be removed from the state judicial system to which is almost 350 pages.
But Miller said he judges to the bench in Illinois, the panel said. courts is dubious at best," Ferguson said. The panel also recommended that an office expected it to be "very helpful to the court and then stand for rather than He said he was unsure how an inspector of inspector general, reporting directly to the prevent corruption. in Many judges are appointed to fill vacancies "The principle of judicial independence is administering the state's judicial re-election, general would provide better review than the chief justice, would audit and running originally. Judicial Inquiry Board, which he noted was court programs seriously eroded when elected officials or The Supreme Court appointed the commis- finances, identify areas that vulneraother political figures are able to manipulate sion in January 1992 following the federal Politics has kept the commission system established by the state Constitution.
He said appear ble to waste or fraud, and issue reports to the judicial decisions on cases and the selection" government's investigation of bribery and out of Illinois, although a about 35 other states restoration of funds that had been cut for the of judges, the Special Commission on 1 the case-fixing in Cook County courts. It resulted have something similar, the panel said. budget reasons would allow the board to and public. court Administration of Justice wrote in its report. in the convictions of 13 people, including Chief Circuit Judge Edward C.
Ferguson of conduct more investigations into complaints Charles Bosworth Jr. and Robert Goodrich The 50-member panel comprises promi- three circuit judges, a state senator and a Madison County said Monday he was unfamil- against judges. of the Post-Dispatch staff provided some innent lawyers, judges and business and civic Chicago alderman. iar with the panel's report. But he said discus- In St.
Clair County, Chief Circuit Judge formation for this report. BRIEFS ILLINOIS WASHINGTON Moseley-Braun Appoints EPA Official As Top Aide Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D- appointed a new chief of staff Monday who has deep experience in government and service organizations in Washington and Illinois. The new chief, Olga Corey, will take the post early next year to replace Michael Frazier, a former aide to Sen. Edward M.
Kennedy, D-Mass. Frazier resigned from Moseley-Braun's office after less than a year because he said he was "burned out." Corey is an official with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. She works on pollution prevention and energy efficiency, a spokeswoman for Moseley-Braun said. Previously, Corey worked for the Illinois Board of Economic Development in Gov.
Otto Kerner's administration, managed the state's office in Washington for Gov. Dan Walker and was manager of public relations for the Chicago Urban League and assistant communications director for Roosevelt University. She has been a media and legislative consultant to organizations such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the National Council of Churches. CLINTON COUNTY Drug Suspect Is Charged In Standoff With Police A man from rural Clinton County arrested after a two-hour armed standoff with police went before a judge Monday on charges of aggravated assault of a police officer and felony marijuana possession. The judge set bail at $25,000.
The defendant, Gary C. Steinberg, 50, lives in a rented cabin near the Kaskaskia River. Authorities said police had seized a supply of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, three rifles and a large supply of ammunition. Sheriff Don Krohn said Steinberg pointed a rifle and threatened Deputy David Behrens about 6 p.m. Saturday as Behrens was helping a Mascoutah policeman investigate a hit-and-run accident.
Behrens and the Mascoutah officer took cover and called in help from state, county and local law enforcement officers, who surrounded Steinberg's cabin. Police subdued Steinberg after a struggle when he emerged about two hours later. TROY, IlI. Crash On Highway Curve Kills Woman, Injures Man A crash Sunday morning on Illinois Route 162 killed Sharon M. Troeckler Chaney, 33, of Troy.
Chaney was driving a Toyota pickup east of Troy when it ran off the highway on a curve about 4:45. It skidded 35 feet atop a guardrail and overturned, State Police said. She was thrown from the pickup, troopers said. A passenger, Don Miller, 29, also of Troy, was taken to Anderson Hospital in Maryville, then transferred to St. Louis University Hospital, where he was listed in satisfactory condition Monday.
EAST ST. LOUIS Man, 27, Is Found Slain In Living Room Of House East St. Louis police are investigating the apparent murder of a REGION man found at his home about 10:20 p.m. Sunday. St.
Clair County Coroner Rick Stone identified the victim as Don R. Fuse, 27. He was found in the living room of his house at 512 North 86th Street. He had been shot in the head, chest and left leg. Detective Walter Boone said an investigation indicated Fuse left home minutes earlier to walk to a store, and was accompanied by four men when he returned.
ALORTON Victim's Body Dumped At Site, Police Believe A man whose body was found Friday in an industrial area in Alorton may have been shot a day and a half earlier in East St. Louis, police said Monday. St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone identified the victim as Lawton Teer 25, of the 2400 block of Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis.
A passer-by found his body about 11 a.m. Friday in the 3800 block of Industrial Drive in Alorton. He had been shot in the head. Detective Lenzie Stewarts said someone had called East St. Louis police shortly after 11 p.m.
on Wednesday to report shots fired and a man down at 26th Street and Illinois Avenue. Officers found blood at the site but no body. EAST ST. LOUIS Writers Club Will Hold Poetry Reading Tonight The Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club will hold a pre-Kwanzaa celebration complete with poetry readings and storytelling beginning at 7 tonight at State Community College, 601 Thompson Drive, East St.
Louis. Educators and community leaders will also discuss "Culture and Community Regeneration." Panelists include Sherman Fowler, a parent coordinator with the East St. Louis public schools; Norman Ross of the East St. Louis Chamber of Commerce; psychotherapist Lena Weathers; and Michelle Lowery of the Role Models program in St. Louis schools.
Several organizations at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and the Black River Writers Press are sponsoring the event. People may call (618) 692-2060 or (618) 692-3991 for information. MISSOURI ST. LOUIS Jean Ponzi Appointed KDHX Program Director Jean Ponzi, a volunteer radio host who is active in environmental issues, has been appointed program director of KDHX-FM, a public radio station. Ponzi has two programs on the station "Earthworms" and "Gene Pool." She has coordinated several public events in St.
Louis, including Earth Day 1990 and World Environment Day. Ponzi has worked as company manager for Circus Flora and as a videographer and producer for the Missouri Botanical Garden and Media Two Inc. Ponzi replaces Terry Moses, who left the station to become host of a radio program in Columbia, Mo. Georgette Bronfman, general manager of KDHX, said Ponzi brought "a rich and varied radio background and a lot of enthusiasm" to the job. DEATHS Recent deaths in the Metro East area: Wednesday, Thomas.
Belleville Martha Wainwright, 74, died Sunday, fu- Greenville neral today, Renner. A. Jane Brown, 92, died Sunday, funeral Wednesday, Donnell-Wiegand. Carlyle Irene E. Melton, 86, died Monday, funerRobert J.
Furmanski, 69, died Saturday, al Wednesday, Donell-Wiegand. funeral today, Zieren-Day. Lebanon Collinsville Katie L. (Virden) Yelverton, 72, died Grace E. (Stratton) Reeves, 90, died Monday, funeral Wednesday, SpengelSunday, funeral Wednesday, Kassly.
Boulanger. Columbia Troy Earl S. Donaldson, 78, died Saturday, Sharon L. Chaney, 33, died Sunday, fufuneral today, Lawlor. neral Wednesday, Irwin.
Leo L. Warden, 36, died Monday, funeral East St. Louis Thursday, Herr. Travis L. Price, 19, died Sunday, funeral today, Herr in Collinsville.
Waterloo Herman W. Mueller, 98, died Sunday, Granite City funeral Thursday, Quernheim. Mary M. Yobby, 77, died Sunday, funeral Flinn Gives His Support To Holbrook By Robert Goodrich Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Legislative candidate Tom Holbrook of Belleville was introduced and endorsed Monday at a news conference by the man he hopes to succeed, state Rep. Monroe Flinn, D- Cahokia.
Flinn, 75, has announced he will retire when his current term ends a year from now. He has served in the House since 1971. Holbrook, 44, has the Democratic Party's endorsem*nt, but Belleville Township Supervisor Charles "Chuck" Oelrich, 61, has announced he, too, will seek the Democratic nomination for the Illinois House seat. Flinn said Holbrook's 13 years on the St. Clair County Board minilegislature that does pretty much what we do in was good preparation for the House.
But he emphasized, "I have nothing against any other candidate." Just before introducing Holbrook in Belleville, Flinn said he thought he should support Holbrook because the party had endorsed him. But in the general election in November, he said, he would support whichever Democrat wins the primary in March. Flinn added that even if a Republican should be his successor, he would offer that person whatever assistance he could. "I think I owe it to whoever replaces me," he said. ENUF AP Permanent Outrage Lauryl Boyer of Castle Rock, holds a photo of herself before she got a permanent two months ago at a stylist.
Angered by the work, she sued, and a judge awarded her $837.29. "I look like a bad poodle," she said. E. St. Louis Gets 1994 Budget By Margaret Gillerman Of the Post-Dispatch Staff East St.
Louis city officials and a state oversight agency have reached agreement on next year's city budget, just a few weeks after both sides were considering suing each other. Spokesmen for the city and the state group, the East St. Louis Financial Advisory Authority, said Monday that they were relieved the disagreements had been resolved and both hoped the cooperation would continue. Lee F. DePriest, an aide to Mayor Gordon Bush of East St.
Louis, said the mayor was satisfied with the budget, which includes $12.6 million for general city operations, or about $3 million more than last year. The overall budget, including special federal grants, tops $25 million. The extra money next year will come largely from the Casino Queen gambling riverboat; East St. Louis expects to get about $5.4 million from the boat. DePriest said the relationship between the city and the authority is "a lot better than it was" just a few days ago.
Last year, the authority drew up the municipal budget when the city failed to come up with its own. This year, the city's budget was accepted. "This is their budget," said Amina Everett, the assistant to the executive director of the state advisory group. "It should be considered a step forward." The authority on Saturday unanimously approved the budget submitted by the city. The dispute began early in November when East St.
Louis proposed a budget. The authority sent the budget back twice to the city to redo. The last major sticking point was over the authority's demand that the the city set up a reserve fund of about $1 million to cover any unexpected bills from past years. The city did not want to set aside a reserve but instead wanted to spend the money on police and fire services. Everett said the major impasse was overcome when the City Council agreed to spend $1.6 million to pay off some bills and set up a $400,000 reserve fund for some others.
Democrats Drop Challenge To LaRouche Candidacies By Tim Novak Illinois State Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Illinois Democratic officials decided Monday that they had no legal basis to challenge the right of 21 followers of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche to run in the Democratic primary on March 15. Democratic officials decided that the nomination petitions from the LaRouche candidates contained enough valid signatures from registered voters to nominate the LaRouche followers for the primary ballot, said Gary LaPaille, chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois. "After discussing our options with attorneys and 'real' Democratic statewide candidates and leaders, it was our unified decision to focus on exposing the candidates and their extremist views rather than engage the Democratic Party in a lengthy, expensive battle," LaPaille said. Disbarment Is Chosen Over Discipline Hearing Edgar's Ex-Aide Gives In CHICAGO (AP) A former top legal adviser to Gov.
Jim Edgar has asked for voluntary disbarment, a move that would forestall a disciplinary hearing against him on allegations of lying and professional misconduct. Arnold Kanter, the former adviser, has entered into an agreement to surrender his license, according to a petition submitted recently to the Illinois Supreme Court by the state agency that investigates lawyers. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission had been investigating allegations that Kanter had failed to disclose a $75,000 debt on applications to borrow money and on an ethics statement. Kanter also is accused of failing in his private practice to properly represent a corporate client. The company was fined $5.7 million when Kanter failed to show up for a court hearing because he was attending Edgar's inauguration in January 1991.
"The governor and the administration were not aware of this conduct until after Mr. Kanter left the administration," said Jim Montana, Kanter's successor as chief legal counsel. "The governor feels conduct was wrong, and he's very disappointed." Kanter declined to comment but said in the petition that evidence gathered by the commission would "clearly and convincingly establish the facts and conclusions of misconduct." Kanter resigned as legal adviser to Edgar a year ago, shortly before the commission charged that he had engaged i in misconduct by lying to a client he represented in private practice. If the court agrees to remove his license, Kanter would be unable to practice law for at least three years but could then ask for reinstatement. By surrendering his license, Kanter would avoid the possibility of a disciplinary commission hearing and revocation of his license.
No criminal charges are pending against him. Kanter now works for a health maintenance organization in Chicago. Gerald Pechenuk, a spokesman for the 21 LaRouche candidates, could not be reached for comment. The LaRouche candidates include Sheila Jones for governor, Anthony Harper for lieutenant governor, Rose-Marie Love for secretary of state, Mark Bender for state comptroller and Thomas Beaudette for state treasurer. LaRouche supporters upset the Democratic Party in the 1986 primary by defeating the party's candidates for lieutenant governor and secretary of state.
The LaRouche victories forced the Democrats and their candidate for governor, Adlai Stevenson III, to form a losing third-party ticket. LaPaille said the party objected to the principles of LaRouche, a frequent presidential candidate who remains in a federal prison for tax evasion and fraud. LaRouche and his followers often spout anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric, LaPaille added. St. Louis University Sets 8 Percent Hike In Tuition Tuition for undergraduates at Hayes, executive vice president St.
Louis University will rise 8 and provost. percent next school year to But SLU also is budgeting more $11,690, school officials say. money for faculty salaries, womThat's a smaller increase than en's sports, advising, libraries and last year, although still above the other programs, she noted. rate of inflation, which is 2.8 The biggest jump in spending percent. will cover financial aid, she said.
Rising costs on items such as Next year, SLU will offer $15.3 scientific equipment are driving million in aid, or 17 percent more the tuition increase, said Alice B. than this year. Woman Shot Dead At Cahokia Restaurant A man shot a woman to death at a 1605 Camp Jackson Road when she drive-through restaurant in Cahokia suddenly fled from the truck. Monday evening in what police call a The driver jumped from the truck domestic dispute. and chased her.
He caught the womPolice said the woman, identified an and shot her, police said. as Mary D. Cordevant, 26, had been sitting with the man in a pickup about The assailant fled in an older model 6:30 p.m. at Rally's restaurant at pickup. Murder Mystery Ends With Plea, 60-Year Sentence DECATUR, III.
(A.P) The mystery of a missing 20-year-old woman from Decatur ended Monday when a man pleaded guilty of murder, three days after he led authorities to the burial site behind a backyard shed. The man, Daniel Parker, 22, of Decatur, said he abducted and killed Penny Timmons on Oct. 31, 1992. He was sentenced immediately to 60 years in prison. Timmons was last seen that day at a gas station, where she left a plea for help inside the bathroom.
"At least we won't have to go through a lengthy trial," said Timmons' father, Gary Sebens. "We're putting our daughter to rest Tuesday. Maybe we can get on with our lives." Timmons was a photographer at a Kmart store and was abducted from the parking lot. Macon County Sheriff Lee Holsapple said there was no evidence that she knew the killer. Parker, who is in prison for an unrelated conviction, was the chief suspect less than 10 days after Timmons disappeared.
Witnesses who saw him with Timmons at the gas station later recognized him in police photos, Holsapple said. Parker's car was seized April 1. Genetic tests of body fluids inside the car linked it to Timmons. A Parker was indicted last month, although a body had not been found. Rather than face a possible death sentence, he agreed last week to give the location of the body in exchange for the 60-year prison term, said State's Attorney Larry Fichter.
Timmons' body was unearthed outside the home of Parker's mother and stepfather. "The parents had no knowledge whatsoever that he buried her in the back yard. He did a good job covering it up," Holsapple said. Parker's motive is unknown, the sheriff said. "The only cooperation we had from him is where he buried the body," Holsapple said..
