Show Idaho Week The Herald Journal Logan Utah Saturday March 6 1999 In brief Page6 Abortion issue Snowpack helps some fish hurts others OKOFINO (AP) — High snowpack the Clearwater River Basin are producing mixed results for the region's Fish populations The Clearwater Basin holds 142 percent of its average snowpack twice as much us the area had last year at this time according to a Natural Resources Conversation Service report The high accumulations are good for struggling anadromous fish dependent on spring runoff to aid their journey to the ocean But purges from Dworshak Dam to make mom for flood control could harm already suffering populations of koka-ne- c in the reservoir Ed Bowles Idaho Department of Fish and Game anadromous fish manger lccls in said the prospect of uncontrolled spilling on mainstream Snake and Columbia River dams is not a worry Spilling increases the likelihood that smolts will be exposed to dangerous levels of dissolved gases in the water hut the increased water velocity makes up for that by speeding their journey to the ocean he said “Spill is much better than any other way of getting fish past the concrete” he said But it also could suck kokanee into the Clearwater River and present hazards to anglers downstream In 1996 about 13 million kokanee were lost when water was spilled at the dam Populations have remained low since then clouded Parental consent is key issue activists on both sides of debate are fighting over nitude with the session expected to BOISE (AP) — Some activists on Friday embraced the compromise parental consent hill Gov Dirk Kempthorne says he might sign if it passes this year But legislative leaden formalized their strategy of delaying action on the prosession posal until after the election-yea- r convenes next winter anti-aborti- adjourn by March 19 "We really don't want to force this bill through the process this year and if we did it would be a replay of what happened last year" Republican Caucus Chairman Robert Geddes of Soda Springs said “The last thing we want to do is force something on the agenda" Nancy Bloomer of the Idaho Christian Coalition quickly said there was no excuse to delay action on what she called a “great bill” — which she and other activists opposed just two days earlier “Months and months of debate would not change a single vote" Bloomer said And Republican Rep Bill Sali of Meridian an point man said support for the compromise would be withdrawn if the bill is not passed Kempthorne reiterated his position that the timetable for handling the legis- lation is up to lax makers who went through a wrenching debate over the issue a year ago But he said “We've seen significant progress Now we have legislation I believe both houses support that I support This does deal with that issue of parental consent” closed-doo- r A two-homeeting of the 31 Senate Republicans led to agreement that there was not enough time to adequately consider legislation of such mag anti-aborti- ur now But the threat did not move Senate President Pro Tem Jerry Twiggs mho ther delay introducing the bill fearing said the bill would come to a vote this that doing so before the last few days of year “over our dead bodies” the session would give The compromise rejects Sali's attempt forces time to pressure law makers into to expand the definition of abortion to voting this session anti-aborti- include prescription medicines and other substances which raised the specter of consent for birth control It also broadens court access for teens who are unable or unwilling to ask parents for consent beyond the county of residence that Sali originally demanded That was another major bone of contention in the divisive wrangling that lengthened the 1998 session and generated considerable toward advocates among some lawmakers with the same philosophy Under the strategy embraced by both chambers the compromise bill will be introduced in the Senate next Thursday but there will be no further action The six women senators wanted to fur ill-w- ill anti-aborti- Introducing the bill any earlier Democratic Sen Betsy Dunklin of Boise said “is just caving into pressure from people who want to abuse the process This is not about parental consent Parental con- sent is the vehicle being used to do something much broader" And Republican Shaw n Keough of Sandpoint chastised the men in the Senate and the governor for spending so much time on abortion saying there are more pressing issues like school safety child adoption and child abuse She urged them to “join me in spending just as much time spent on the unborn children on the children here with us today” Dairy cattle groups fight bill offering restrictions Human rights group adds education arm BOISE (AP) — The Idaho Farm Bureau and dairy and cattle organizations are opposing a bill that would give counties more authority to enforce restrictions on large livestock operations The organizations say they are already regulated to the hilt and the broad powers would allow counties to reject large livestock operations for almost any reason COHl'R D'ALENE (AP) — A new foundation will help the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations raise funds and battle hatred in northern Idaho An 1 member board of directors will oxersee the Human Rights Education Foundation and Mary Lou Reed a former state lawmaker from Coeur d'Alene and longtime supporter of human rights has been named the foundation's president The board hopes to create a first-yebudget of $10000 Reed said Thursday the group’s formation began about nine months ago It was brought together by task force supporters and members who believed it was being pulled in too many different directions “So this new organization is considered the educational arm of the task force” Reed said “You can legislate all you want to but you can't legislate changes in attitude and hate and changes in hearts and minds The way to do this is through education” 'llic foundation's First project is to sell “benefactor tables” at the task force’s annual banquet scheduled April 8 Twenty tables casting $300 each will ho reserved for corporations or individuals The organization also hopes to put on diversity workshops in the near future Reed said 1 -- After hearing three hours of conflicting testimony Thursday the House Agriculture Committee delayed a final vote for a week while it tries to amend the bill to meet the objections of opponents Even with amendments the bill faces an uphill battle Five committee members including Rep Max Mortcnsen R-Anthony voted to kill it even before it could be amended Rep Bert Stevenson complained the hill is being introduced only because of the threat of large hog confinement operations and that dairies and livestock operations should not be included Meanwhile county commissioners from both Gooding and TVin Falls' counties say what little authority they do have to regulate livestock operations needs to be backed up by the state or they will continue to be sued Tom Faulkner chairman of the ar Reward offered as more dogs found dead AMERICAN FALLS (AP) — Power County authorities have found nine more dogs shot to death in eastern Idaho but still have no information on why the killings occurred Lt J Morse an investigator declined in say where the animals were found Niching snow revealed the carcasses Four dogs that had been shot and killed were found two weeks ago near the Willow Bay Marina near American Fulls Since Halloween 29 dogs have been reported missing in the area many taken front their owners' yards during the day An $11 (XX) reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible Lewiston-base- d rail project gathers steam — LEWISTON (AP) Plans are on track for a $13 million rail museum and a local passenger train service geared toward tourists The Lewiston Historic Live Steam Railway Co a nonprofit group announced plans to use expected state and federal grant money to build the Lewis and Clark Railway Educational Center Museum in downtown center would include The three-stor- y an (MAX theater and educational exhibits on regional railroad history and Lewis and Clarii's expedition The rail service would take passengers on trips of up to 67 miles through the Nc Perce Indian Reservation and on the route of Lewis and Gark Service could begin this summer while construction of the center could begin next year Cache Valley news tips St AP photo Idaho Gov Dirk Kempthorne reads to a group of Cole Elementary School In Boise Kempthorne was reading third-grade- rs 7522121 Ext 3030 a book by Dr Seuss in honor of Dr Seuss' birthday and also celebrating National Reading Week House ignores complaints OKs part of plan to improve student reading BOISE (AP) — The Idaho House approved the first two pieces of a sweep- The most expensive portion of the $44 million plan at about $27 million a year the proposal would require districts to offer four-we“extended school” classes two hours a day to help children who might otherwise be left behind It was approved 38-2- 4 and sent to the Senate even though opponents said there was no guarantee the program would be more effective than initiatives already in ing plan for improving students' reading skills Friday despite complaints that it would interfere with parents and school districts A third bill is expected to be considered Monday by the House which sent the First two to the Senate after drawn-odebate in which lawmakers agreed there is a problem but were sharply divided about how to address it “There's an awful lot of very very d things going on here that I don't think are necessary" said House ek ut use Supporters said it might not be a perfect solution but would at least try to solve a problem that is apparently stumping load educators “It's obvious that what we're currently doing in our schools is not working in all areas” Republican Rep John Tippets of Bennington said However Tilman said most school districts already have some form of reading intervention effort While every lawmaker wants to make sure children can read heavy-hande- Education Chairman Fred Tilman of Boise He argued against a proposal endorsed by his committee to mandate that every school district offer a summer intervention program for students from kindergarten through third grade reading below grade level he said that is not the issue before the House “What we're really debating here is is this the right solution?' I think it is not" Tilman said He said the bill approved by the House 37-- 3 on Friday would give schools the help they need It would incorporate into law the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Plan which has been adopted by the state Board of Education as a guideline for reading instruction The plan sets specific standards and requires semiannual evaluations of all students in kindergarten through third grade Among those opposed to that move Gooding County Commission said the dairy industry sued and got that county's regulation ordinance thrown out “Now they're threatening to sue on a second ordinance" Faulkner said Twin Falls County Commissioner Dennis Maughan said his county turned down a swine operation because of lack of stale regulation "Counties need some assistance from the state when we make these regulations” he said But Jerome County Board Chairman Roy Prescott said counties have the ability and do draft ordinances regulating livestock operations and that further regulation will only drive dairies away “We’re encouraging dairies to come to Jerome County This leg- was GOP Rep Wayne Kendell of Aberdeen a staunch conservative who argued that it would usurp local control over schools The problem Kendell said cannot be legislated out of existence by the slate but must be solved at home islation does not do that" Prescott said Missionaries treasure life after kidnappings BOISE (AP) — Andrew Props! wanted to tell his stray at the McDonald's in his old Boise neighborhood After what he went through in Russia a year ago he appreciates the basics of American life Now a student at Portland State University Props t 21 came home fra a visit and for the first time shared his talc one of the strangest ever told in Ronald McDonaldland It began March 18 in the Russian city of Saratov southeast of Moscow That evening Props! and fellow Mormon missionary Travis Tuttle of Gilbert Ariz went to meet a Russian who said he was interested in the Church of Jesus Christ Saints of Latter-da- y Propst who speaks fluent Russian Call reporter Nicole G Farrell at took along a box of brownies he made as a goodwill gesture “We were pretty excited" he said “It's not every day somebody approaches you in Russia and wants to know about the Mormon Church" When they arrived at the man’s home he gave them slippers and asked them to remove their shoes As Propst bent over to put the slippers on a man he hadn’t seen hit him from behind with a baseball bat "When I got up he smacked me again and I fell to my knees I heard a ringing screaming sound in my ears I thought it might be good to get out of there so I readied for the door handle It look four or five hits to make me realize it might be smarter to stay" The last blow knocked him out When he woke up he was lying on his stomach with his wrists handcuffed behind his hack The cuffs were so tight his fingertips hurt “When I asked them to loosen them they smacked me again My concern was that I was going to lose my hands They felt ice cold When I couldn’t stand it anymore and started bawling they put a gun to my head and threatened to shoot me" A year later Propst has no feeling in his right hand or the little finger of his left hand Late that night the kidnappers moved him and Tuttle to a shack outside the city "That night was the first time they showed any mercy They loosened my handcuffs" he said The two Americans spent five days there blindfolded with tape and handcuffed to a radiator The Russians wanted money from the Mormon Church for the missionaries' return When they told him how much Ptopst laughed "They said they wanted $2000 1 told them that was a joke that I was worth a lot more than that! Then they decided on $1730 for me and $1230 for Tuttle They figured he was wrath less because he got sick a lot" The kidnappers four men and a woman weren’t as naive as they initially seemed Their final figure was $300000 Following US policy the church refused to pay or negotiate After three days without food the Americans were given ravioli hot dogs and water melted from snow By then the Russians had grown to like them “We got to be pals" Propst said “They'd drink beer and get all tanked up They said we were the best they’d ever had “They nad a portable radio Every half-howe'd get news updates on how we were doing That's how we learned kid-napc- cs ur See LIFE on Page 8 I '- -- - - i ! Wb i I T i AJL X PO |