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Show y -- 1' "tiyiit'j,iM ' Parents of Leukemia Victims File Fallout Suit Charles Seldin Tribune Staff Writer Parents of seven Pleasant Grove children, who died of leukemia during the 1960s. brought federal suit Friday, claiming downwind fallout from underground detonations at the Nevada Test Site sent flumes of radioactivity over central Utah, causing illness, and eventually death. Claims were also filed on behalf of three Pleasant Grove adults, who also contracted leukemia and died during that period. All victims lived within 10 blocks of one another. Though the plaintiffs names are a matter of public record, they have been withheld from publication to avoid harassment by others, who in By past instances have thought the idea of suing the government to be unpatriotic. The suit maintains the victims were subjected to fallout from more than one test, but allegations zero in on one particular underground experiment, code name Project Sedan. As an underground test, the earth was to have sloughed inward, leaving an indent. Instead, according to studies conducted following detonation on July 6, 1962, it blew outward, sending a cloud of radiation northeasterly. The cloud, visible by scientists who were on a field trip, turned due east as it hit Utah's border, and swept into Utah County. Today, remnants of Sedans potency remain in Nevadas desolate desert, w here the world's largest clear crater was created. nu- six-yea- child-leukem- According to the suit, filed in U S District Court for Utah, the government monitored the cloud as it moved through Nevada, warning citizens to stay inside and take precautions. As it passed into Utah, authorities believed that it had essentially diffused itself, and no warnings were issued. Now, 22 years later, the victims are arguing that an abnormally high "leukemia cluster" occurred in Pleasant Grove, which had census population of 4,800. a 1960 Wayne Owens, who along with Stewart Udall is representing the Mr. Owens and Mr. Udall also worked on the remit Allen case, in which U.S. District Court for Utah Judge Bruce S. Jenkins held the government negligent in the deaths of nine cancer victims from southern Utah, as well as a tenth, who survived thyroid cancer. Eight of the deceased in the Allen case contracted leukemia, the other died of complications stemming from breast cancer. 5 The essential charge is similar to one argued in the Allen case, and turns on allegations that the govern- See Page J "1 B-- Column Tribune Mott Photo bv Roveil Coll Fawn Poulson, and Wendell C. Kettler, right, at Democratic convention Friday. 4 Utah Schools Honored for Excellence Peter Scarlet Tribune Education Writer South and Timpview high schools, Logan Junior High and Eastmont Middle schools all have one thing in common: They are among 202 outstanding public schools across the country honored Thursday in U.S. Education Secretary Terrel Bells Secondary School Recognition Program. Were elated. Were so happy we can let others know we are a good school like weve been talksaid South High ing about, School Principal LaVar Sorensen. Positive for School Its very positive for our school. Were very strong academically and have good, balanced programs, said Dolan B. Condie, Timpview Highs principal. Naturally were delighted. But were not surprised. We have a good program up here, commented Raymond Haslam, Logan Junior High's principal. Were very, very pleased and delighted. This is a real compliment to our faculty, staff, student body, patrons, the entire commusaid Eastmont Middle nity, School Principal Glayde Hill. Just to get into the final stage prior to Thursdays selections in Washington, the principals agreed their schools gained much honor. In Utah, all secondary schools were eligible to send applications to the state Board of Education, which selected five high schools, five junior high or middle schools, and an alternate in each category. After an initial screening by a committee in Washington, the top three schools in the categories re lum. Upon their return to Washington, another panel reviewed the findings and made the final selections, which Dr. Bell announced Thursday. "Its really quite a thing to go through that kind of assessment said South Highs Dr. Sorensen. Different Than Last Years He pointed out this years competition was different than last years recognition program, the first year for it. The chief criterion used to identify the schools last year, the principal said, was the number of graduates who went on to college See Page B-Column 4 By Con Psarras initiative, which would give California property owners a $1.3 billion tax rebate and put limits on future tax and service fee raises, may make it difficult for cities involved in the IPP to pay off their bond debts to the project. To Take Major Load Six Southern California cities that are partners in the IPP Los Angeles, Glendale, Anaheim, Burbank, Riverside and Pasadena are scheduled to take as much as 95 percent of the 3,000 megawatts of electricity the IPP will start generating in late 1986. The six cities have contracted for a 75 percent share of the IPPs output and are therefore responsible for of the projects cost. In addition, the California partners have boosted their share of the projects output and their share of its cost by signing excess power layoff contracts with Utah participants who will not need a share of the IPPs initial generation. three-quarte- rs "Restrictions on revenue-raisin- g capabilities which could be imposed by the Jarvis initiative could impede the ability of the municipal utility systems to meet their contractual obligations to the Utah-base- d power agency, Standard & Poors said in a statement released from its New York headquarters. Calls It Premature Ann Garrett, spokeswoman for the Intermountain Power Agency, the projects governing body, said it is premature to suppose that the initiative could have any ill effects on the repayment of the $3.7 billion in bonds the IPA has issued for project construction. For one thing, the initiative has to be passed by voters, and for another thing, it isnt certain that the initiative covers the payment of municipal fees for utility services, Ms. Garrett said. Howard Jarvis, the California tax See-Pag- B-- Column Mr. Alder said In addition, that the rising Great Salt Lake level during topped the 4,209-fothe week, reaching its highest level since July 1878. The lake was measured at 4,209.15 feet above mean sea level Friday, the highest reading since the lake's elevation was recorded at 4,209.4 feet above sea level 106 years earlier. Close to Peak He expects the 4,209.15 reading to be close to the peak reached this year. Utah Lake, meanwhile, was measured Friday at 543 feet above compromise, a legally rec ot ognized flood level. That mark represents the highest level in 122 years; Utah Lake was 6.42 feet above compromise in 1862, Mr. Alder noted. While those lakes will continue to cause long-ter- problems, dramatic flooding incidents like those which attracted national media attention in the spring of 1983 were relatively sparse, even though numerous precipitation and streamflow records were set this year. Many counties had their share of problems but, in general, the flooding was not as catastrophic as in the spring of 1983, he add- ed. Could Have Been Worse The situation could have been much different, however, if pre- cipitation had been plentiful dur- ing May. Had even the first half of May been very wet and cold like the first 10 days of June, the results could have been devastating with of the a repeat performance floods that widespread plagued Utah the year before), Mr. Alder said. He noted that some areas along the Wasatch Front received 3 to 4 inches of moisture Saturday Morning, June 16, 1984 Section B Page 1 Tribune Political Writers Utah Democrats convened a two-dastate convention in the Salt Palace Friday night with adoption in relatively quick fashion of a party platform and policy resolutions. A few hundred of the 1,900 eligible delegates registered in the early evening and then mingled with the armies of supporters for contending gubernatorial candidates, who hawked their wares leading up to Saturdays key nominating vote. In sharp contrast to recent past conventions, delegates approved a three-plan- k platform in less than a hour with little comment, a few relatively minor amendments, and a dwindling audience that represented only a minority percentage of the eligible conventiongoers. The platform included generalized statements supportive of a fair and progressive tax structure, expanded education funding, and bolstered economic development. The convention kicked off with the unopposed election by acclamation of popular party figures to fuur-yea- r terms as national committee-womaand committeeman the Utah Democratic Partys voice and image in national party affairs through membership on the Democratic National Committee. Norma Matheson, wife of outgoing Gov. Scott M. Matheson, was chosen national committeewoman, replacing retiring Elizabeth Vance. Mrs. Matheson, 54, blossoming into a public figure in her own right during her husbands tenure, comes to the new post with past organizational activity as an officer with the Utah State Bar Auxiliary and the League of Women Voters. Still in Politics Calvin L. Rampton, the states only three-tergovernor serving from 1965 to 1977, gained a full term Mr. as national committeeman. Rampton, 70, was appointed to the post six months ago to fill a vacancy, a final rung in the party ladder he started to climb in 1940 as president of Utah Young Democrats. A special presentation was made honoring Mrs. Vance, Ogden, a former Weber County state representative for 14 years who has served two terms as national committeewoman starting in 1976. Her retirement marked 50 years of association with party affairs, including participation in national conventions going back to the 1940s. National Convention Delegates also started Friday night the process of filling out a state delegation to the national party convention next month in San Francisco, including 27 delegates and 9 alternates. Beth Brown. John Johnson, Sabrina Bedke. Janet Gibler. Tim Houpt. David Watson. Rep. Blaze Wharton, Joyce Coleman, Theresa Marchant. Bruce Baird, Ed Mayne and Gordon Parker. Alternates chosen were Rhonda Struhs, Connie Meske, Kathie Anderson. Warren Nuesmever, and Mat Alverez. The convention recessed at about p.m. following adoption of 10.30 resolutions, including opposition to locating a high-levnuclear waste repository in southeastern Utah and support committee-propose- d See Page B-- Column 4 James E. Ferguson Lieutenant Governor? m California Initiative Would Suggest Negative Implications for the IPP Tribune Staff Writer Californians will vote in November on a special initiative that would restrict increases in local taxes and fees for municipal services that could have negative implications for the financing of Utahs giant Intermountain Power Project, a Wall Street credit rating agency said Friday. As a result of the pending initiative, Standard & Poors Inc. put the IPP and 458 California municipalities on its CreditWatch list, which may forecast changes in the individual bond ratings for the cities and the IPP. A spokeswoman for the IPP said officials are concerned about the move, but do not foresee serious consequences for the financing of the $5.8 billion power plant, under construction in Millard County. Standard & Poors, one of the nations two principal bond ratings firms, announced that the Jarvis IV 0 n ceived on site visits by officials from the Education Department who visited with students, teachers, parents, classrooms, administrators, and examined curricu- and evaluation, B-1- Wayne Horiuchi. John Caine, y By Page 3 By Douglas L. Parker And Dan Bates Lee Hart, left, wife of presidential candi- date Gary Hart, talks with delegates Fare, Democrats Take Spotlight, Adopt Platform 4 Lee Hart, wife of Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, was on hand with a preconvention reception for delegates to keep alive the senators bid for the presidential nomination against former Vice President Walter Mondale. Sen. Hart won the presidential preference vote in Utah on April 25, garnering 14 of 22 pledged delegates. Six were chosen on an uncommitted slate, and two were assigned Vice President Mondale. Another five are to be officially unpledged party figures. Caucus voting Friday night elected 15 national convention delegates from the state's congressional districts. They were Bobby Coray, Meteorologist Says Good Luck, Hard Work Eased Flood Damage By Mike Gorrell Tribune Staff Writer Ideal weather in May, as much as extensive flood mitigation measures, provided a good luck charm that helped Utahns avoid the devastating flooding of 1983, according to a National Weather Service official. After several months of inordinately heavy precipitation, moderate temperatures and a relatively dry spell throughout the month proved "conducive to a mostly neat and orderly snowmelt, said William Alder, meteorologist in charge of the Weather Services Salt Lake office. Sports TV Al-do- male-dominat- . Local News J. Anderson. Feminine Poverty Equal Partners Women, I guess its fair to say, are here to stay, Gov. Matheson said. Its time to accept their talents and make them equal partners in the work force. By 1982, 56 percent of working women were on the job because they were divorced, separated, widowed, single dr had husbands earning less than $10,000, he said. The work environment must be structured to support working parents and their families, according to Gov. Matheson, who said the greatest need is for adequate day care and health care benefits. Another concern is the cultural bias in Utah that teaches girls to be homemakers and boys to have careers, Mr. Petersen said. We need to start educating fathers and mothers to teach their sons to do parenting and teaching daughters they should prepare to be he said. We need an effort to equip parents with the information required to teach their kids to prepare for adulthood. Priority recommendations addressed by the report include collaboration between public agencies and private industry to eliminate barriers that prevent single females from integrating into the work force and attaining New programs in career development for women also are needed, the report indicates, and adequate child care and health care benefits must be addressed. "When industry doesnt pay a See Page B-Column 4 ribunr was taken, leaving the claimants free to bring suit. Mr Owens then researched the case for four years, leading to Friday's filing. The case has been assigned to Chief Judge n Seeks to Eliminate By Carol Sisco Tribune Staff Writer Calling the integration of women into the mainstream work force one of the major challenges we must meet in this state, Gov. Scott M. Matheson announced Friday a joint effort between government and private industry to eliminate the feminization of poverty. The governors announcement resulted from completion of Utah Women in Economic Crisis: A Report from the Governors Task Force on Integrating Women Into the Workforce. Neither business nor government can continue to absorb the costs of decreased productivity and increased public assistance caused by the lack of adequate support systems for single working mothers, according to James E. Pete Petersen, Westminster College president and task force spokesman. Live in Poverty The traditional labor force has changed with women making up 41 percent of the states labor force, Mr. Petersen said. But 42 percent of the single female live in poverty. Those expanding numbers of poor women are a drain on taxpayer dollars, he said. Besides training women for higher paying jobs, the state will begin effort July 1 to help woan all-omen collect child support, the governor said. Effective July 1, if youre not paying support payments we are after you with a vengeance, he warned errant fathers. I can promise you that one of these days we will get all of you. People who sire children will support them in this state, the governor continued. jialt f ak t The United States had six months in which to respond, and no action The Pleasant Grove circumstance Effort Eyes Women In Crisis me came to light four years ago last month, when Mr Owens and Mr Udall filed claim with the Department of Energy, successor to the Atomic Energy Commission, which conducted the Nevada Test Site operations victims' relatives, said during a five r or period in the 1960s, Pleasant Grove recorded a death rate in excess of 10 times the national average. from a series of early June storms. The overall weather picture, the meteorologist said, is basically unprecedented in Utah history. Never can you find consecuor basically a little tive years over 2 Mi years from the fall of 1981 this wet on record. And, he noted, the emergence of numerous potential mudslides in central and northern Utah mountains, many of which are lingering evidence of ancient slides, serve as reminders that the state's landscape is due for more changes in the years to come. Gardner Taps Provoan as Mate in Race '$ By Dan Bates Tribune Staff Writer Provo Mayor James E. Ferguson landed in Kem Gardners corner Friday as the Democrats lieutenant governor running mate, rounding out Saturdays fight card for delegate patronage against the Wayne Owens-Dal- e Carpenter ticket. Mr. Gardner had said all week he planned to announce his choice once the state Democratic Convention began Friday night. Instead, the gubernatorial candidate called a news conference Friday morning to confirm Mayor Fergusons selection. Mr. Owens, the former congressman, named his partner Thursday afternoon, choosing Dale B. Carpenter, executive director of the Utah Department of Community and Economic Development. The third Democratic candidate for governor, Byron Marchant, had yet to announce his running mate as of Friday. Ratification Saturday Some 1,800 delegates in the Salt Palace Exhibition Hall are slated to ratify the lieutenant governor nominees Saturday after results of the gubernatorial balloting are known. This election year christens the tandem ticket" process adopted by a state constitutional amendment in 1980. The Republicans take the spin next weekend at their state convention. Reaching for administrative experience and geographic balance, Mr. Gardner said he and the Provo mayor were "compatible politically, both being moderates in our party and fiscally conservative. With Democratic and Republican candidates raising gubernatorial economic growth as a key campaign issue this year, Mr. Gardner, a property developer and chairman of See Page B-- Column 4 Yes'lerdays Chuckle Sign in bookstore: Satan hates us because of our low price on Bibles." |