1985-11-15; Central Michigan Life

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Central Michigan LIFE
Vol 69 Na 34
C1985CMUFE
Mount Pleasant. Michiaan 4&&S9
12 pages
Friday. November 18.1965
Task force to study
sexual assault cases
by JEFF GREEKS
LIFE StafT Writer
Police are optimistic the task
force formed to investigate the
seven sexual assaults that have
occurred in Isabella County since
July will produce results.
The team is composed of
representatives from Department
of Public Safety. Mount Pleasant
Police Department. Isabella
.County ShenfTs Department and
the Michigan State Police, said
Capt. Robert Denslow, deputy
director of the Mount Pleasant
Department of Public Safety.
Information regarding the team
was released Wednesday by the
University and outlined the basic
structure. The team will work
specifically on investigating the
sexual assaults full-time for a
minimum of 30 days.
The team will be running down
tips and information we've
received in the past and look for
additional information. It's been a
cooperative effort all along but
now they'll  abe working together
with one main particular goal. It's
very expensive to have each man
working separately from each
department," Denslow said.
He aaid the team will be
composed of Sgt. Wayne VanDyke
and Officer Bill Griflim from the
Mount Pleasant Police Department; Officer Jeff PicJder of D.PS;
Det. Morris Vincent of the
Michigan State Police; and Det.
Bert Palmer of the Isabella
County Sheriffs Department.
VanDyke is the task force
commander, Denslow added.
"Every time we get a tip we run
it through the University
computer (DPSI. If a name comes
back twice we take a second look
at it." Denslow said.
He said they were expecting an
average of 15-20 tips a day from
publicity the sexual assault team
receives.
"I don't want anyone to think
the tips bother us, that's what we
want I'm convinced it's going to
be .something someone sees or
remembers that breaks this case."
Denslow said.
Denslow said the team will look
into all sexual assaults and
related offen.se* in the area,
including the attempted abduction of a 9-year-old girl in
September.
"The team probably also will be
looking into the indecent
exposures. We've found out who
did most of them but we will
probably check them out," he
added.
Denslow also said the team will
be consulting with Steve
Thompson, sexual assault prevention expert, during the course of
the investigation.
Thompson said the sexual
assault team would be a positive
step.
"I think it's a really good idea. It
shows the concern the police have
for sexual assault," Thompson
said.
Denslow said an episode of
"Crime Stoppers." a TV commercial designed to encourage the
.♦See Task force*—page 2
Firearm deer season
opens; attracts many
by BETSY MINER
LIFE Asa't. News Editor
Approximately 750,000 hunters will take to the
woods in Michigan today feir the opening ofthe 1985
rttmmrm d^mr a»«aaaon.
Th« Dwp»rUrv»nt oT'Naturat Resources ex poets
400.000 ouldoorsmcn lo hunt in the western half of
the lower peninsula, while 100.000 are expected to
hunt in the upper peninsula, said George Burgoyne.
a Michigan Department of Natural Resources deer
•specialist.
Trie deer herd in Michigan this year is higher than
previous years, Burgoyne said The herd compares
with approximately 700.000 te> 800,000 deer which
roamed the wexxls last year.
The increased numbers can be attributed to
wildlife habitat imjinivimcnt work in Michigan as
well as the mild winter and spring experienced in
the state last year. Burgoyne said. Other factors
include the numtier of fawns born in the summer
and the high survival rate, he added.
Burgoyne said if the weather is good, it will be a
successful opening day.
The DN'R expects one out of five, and possibly one
out of four firearm hunters to bag a deer today.
"Combined with the archery season which opened
Oct. 1 and will end Dec. 1. we expert a deVr harvest
in excess of 170.00O. and it may appreiach 200.000
for the season." he said
Half of the deer will lie' killed today. Burgoyne
adde-d
The rest will tn- sheit during the remainder ofthe
season which ends Neiv   HO
"It should be a good season." he said.
If hunters spend time in the woods during the
weekend, the number of deer bagged this season
should approach the record kill of 208.000 in 19S1.
he added.
RaJph Rock, maneigfr of Miei \lichitfan Sports,
102& ti. Miaaion. a«id thea 107 firearm Uranivt Hold
there so far this season are up from last year
K-Mart Corp.. 2125 S Mission, has sold approximately 1,030 thus far. a clerk said.
Burgoyne said hunting is one ofthe safest outdoor
sports in Michigan, however, accidents do occur.
"The primary danger will be the hunters driving
north and then driving back." he saiei.
Another primary danger for hunters occurs when
they are careless when loading and unloading their
firearms, he added.
"Most firearm accidents occur under those circumstances." Burgoyne said. "Most hunters will end up
shooting themselves or the- companion next to turn,"
he added.
Other dangers occur when hunters are mistaken
for game. For this reason, the requirement fa.r
hunters to wear hunters' orange while hunting
began in the 1970s
Since then the number of hunting accidents has
been reduced drastically, tie adde-d
Hunters previously were required tei wear the'
protective coloring unle-ss hunting em property they
own. This year it is required on all lands. Burgoyne
added.
I-ast year, seven people were kille-d and 29 we re-
injured in hunting-related accidents, authorities
said
Alma assault case snagged
The investigation of an alleged
sexual assault in Alma Oct 9
involving a CMl" feothall player
and four Alma College stude-nts
suffered a snag this week.
Mark (tales. Gratiot County
prosecuting attorney, said last
week the investigation was to be
finished "by the first of the week
at the latest." Huwever. Gratiot
County Sheriff .Jack I-ingan said
a "scheduling problem* has put
the investigation on hold
"It's a scheduling problem  1 was
hoping to be able to make some
sense with it this ipast > weekend."
1-angan said "We waited so darn
King for this The investigation hit
a snag I wanted to be able to tell
the prosecutor something early
this week, but that's fallen
through "
Neither I-angan nor Det. Mike
Vetter. who is investigating the
incident, would discuss the
reasons behind the delay.
"Everyone's cexiperating with
the investigation. I don't want to
botch that up now." 1-ang.in said.
Vetter said he' expects no new
developments until at least next
week
"We're still having scheduling
problems." he said.
Oates ceiuld neit tn- re-.iche-d for
comment.
Warrants have not been issue-d
in the case, but Gates said in n
previous interview it is being
treated as first-degree criminal
sexual conduct
Kids
'n   crafts
Eight students from Ron
Lutz's IET class** mad* thalr
onc*-a-s*m*st*r trip
Thursday afternoon to
Ganiard Elemantary School.
101 S. Adams, to help young
students develop their *rts-
snd-crafts skills. Loft.
Theresa Gailarno, Brighton
sophomore, helps Adam
Garver. ag* 7, with his
project. Above, savaral of th*
23 second-grade studonts In
Mary Molson's da** work on
designing magnet*.
cm trr/tm i
House committee passes
capital outlay legislation
hy RENEE M. SMITH
LIFE Staff Writer
A bill authorizing the ceintinued
planning e.f twei building projects
at ('Ml' was approved Thursday
by th*' state House App -opriations
CommitW-e, the. assist ant tei the
director of the Department of
Management and Budget said
Th«. lull also appropriates
million- eif dollars for maintenance' anel remodeling .it state
ceilleges and universities, said
I.vnne Schaefer, assistant tei the
directe.r at DMH
Kichard Miller. CMU Board of
Tru-Je-e-s secretary, said although
the- capital r.utlay budget hill
pa-se-d thremgh ceimmitu-e. he- is
uncertain when actual construction will begin on either the
industrial engineering and
techr.ealngy building eir the- Broeiks
Hall expan-iain pr.eje-ct
"It's rnuvt d eelong one step
further 'but i I wouldn't start
digging the- hole >et." Miller said
The- capital outlay budget bill,
which passed the committee by a
vote e.f 22-0. authorizes $16 2
million for the building of a new
industrial engineering and
Uchnologv    building   at    CML".
Schaefer said
Of that amount, the bill appropriates $500,000 for final
planning and beginning construction for this year, she said
Reauthorization e.f planning for
a new CMU science add it lean also
was approved by the committe-e.
she said
Schaefer said she is unsure-
whether the new science building
planning provision refers to the
recently discussed Brooks Hall
expansion project, although she
said taoth attempt to addres.s the
issue of overcrowded science lahs.
The- bill also appropriates $17
million t'i four-year state colleges
and universities for special
maintenance repairs and $5
million feir remodeling and
additions, she said
■Jim Heckman, deputy director
of the House Fiscal Agency, said
this money will tee divided among
the various universities on either
a formula basis or a priority basis
The einginal capital outlay
budget bill passed the Senate May
30. and the House bill is a
substitute or new version. Appropriations Committee Clerk Linda
Benedict said
The House version added $leS"> 7
million worth of additional
building and remexleling projects
at various state universities not
including CMU. said Ellen Jones,
press secretary for the Department of Management and Budget.
The bill probably will go to the
fWr eif the House at its Monday
evening .session, Heckman said.
Myron Henry, dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences, could
neit Ir- reached for comment.
,'aihn Novosad. chairman ofthe
department of industrial
engineering and technology, said
the committee's passing ofthe bill
is "astounding" news.
"Whenever   you
anything   for   a   whil
worrying,   but   this
good   news    It   look:
don't hear
e you start
certainly is
.   like   we're
moving forward and there doesn't
st-em to be any reason why the
building  won't  be  approved."  he
said
The bill previously had been
stalled in the House committee as
state leaders discussed which
building projects if any to add to
the bill, said Bob N'aftaly, director
ofthe Department of Management
and Budget, in an earlier interview
•See -Bill"—page 2
[        LIFE-line      )
News Brief
The deadline for submitting a repeat course card is today at 5
p.m. Cards must be turnafd into the Registrar's Office. Warriner
260.
Inside
l
Discussion of CMLTs policy
of religion continue.
page 3
Weather
Partly sunny Friday. Highs
upper 30s to mid 40s. Clear
north but increasing cloudiness south Friday night. Leows
mid 20s north to upper 30s
south. Mostly cloudy with
chance of rain Saturday.
High* mid 40* to low 60*.
Index
LIFE-wire page 2
Q&A page 4
Comment page 4
Bloom County page 4
Entertainment page 6
Spotlife page 6
Sports page 8
Chippewa Corner page 10
Classifieds page 11
Police Reports page 11
Court Reports page 11
Code of Conduct page 11
Century to inspect phone damages
by BETH MENGE
LIFE Staff Writer
Century Telephone Company officials have- offered to investigate
damaged CMU phone cables. Telecommunications Director Ken
Johnson said.
Johnson said he received a letter fre.m Century officials late
Tuesday.
"They just acknowledged the receipt of my letter and indicated that
they are going to perform their own investigation," Johnson said.
A group of Century officials from the regional headquarters in
Pinconning are going to inspect the cables in early December, said Lee
Schwartz, public relations administrator for Century Telephone.
"We are going to come over, take a look and see what's happening
down there," he said
"It's what we expected." Johnson said
Johnson said a letter was sent to Century' officials two weeks ago
asking the company to compensate CMU for damages from improper
installation of phone .cables.
"I'm pleased that they responded so quickly to my letter and also
that they are going to investigate," Johnson said.
Sections of underground cable were not properly waterproofed when
installed by Continental Telephone Company at a cost of $600,000 in
19S3
The water cannot be removed from the cables and eventually will
reach the wire Unless repairs are made, service may be discontinued
in as early as 18 months
Water entered the cables during a September storm, causing a
week-long interruption of service and permanent damage to the
cables Water that entered the cables is slowly making its way through
the insulation which protects the wires, Johnson said in an earlier
interview.
Since the installation. Century Telephone bought out Continental.
Johnson said portions of the cable may have to be replaced. He
would not put an estimate on the damage.
"I expect that we will, within the next two to three weeks, have
specific information relative to the total of all the damages. We re-tlly
don't know the total extent ofthe potential damage." he said.
Johnson said the letter from Century officials at the company's
corporate headquarters in Monroe, La., requested more information
about the problem. It also ttated Century officials will be contacting
Johnson when they investigate, Johnson said.
"As of this point in time, the only information they have relative to
this is what I've given them." .Johnson said.
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