Daily Journal (Newspaper) - July 13, 1977, Fergus Falls, Minnesota Record corn crop foreseen 104th YEAR NO 163 FERGUS WEDNESDAY JULY 13 1977 SINGLE COPY MIDWAY with Shows yesterday assembled a Ferris Wheel at the Otter Tail County fairgrounds in preparation lor the opening of the midway at 1 Thrill rides games shows and concessions will be among attractions at the fair which runs through Sunday Journal photo by Harley Inmates battle at prison SAX QUENTIN Calif AP San Quentin Prison was de- scribed as tense but calm today after Black Muslim and Nazi inmates battled wilh clubs and knives in racial clashes that killed three convicts and in- jured five in an honor wing Prison officials were keeping inmates their cells in a When the conflict erupted in an honor wing of the prison on Tuesday Mike acting information officer said The lid's flying off The hospital looks like a battleground There was blood and people everywhere It's an incredible mess Prisoners are being kept in their cells in a that officials say will probably last a week Luxford said there have been three major racial fights in the last 15 years at the prison But when three people are killed it's a pretty large-scale incident Anytime somebody loses their life over the color of their skin nobody lie said The climate here is all tension and fear Inmates attacked each other along corridors in the north and west wings with makeshift knives and clubs be- fore guards firing rifle shots quelled the disturbances The deaths and injuries came in two separate attacks by members of the American tional Socialists on members of a Black Muslim prison sect of- said The fights took place in the west wing honor which houses 364 men as prisoners lounged outside their rells after meals officials said Continued on ST PAUL Minn lAP A record bushel corn crop is expected in Minnesota this fall the Crop Reporting Service said day The small grain acreage is down from last year the ice said because of the shift to corn and soybeans the state's two cash crops The service indicated that near bumper crops are also ex- for most small grains Yield estimates for soybeans will be not be made until August by the U.S Agriculture Department The projected corn crop com- pares with the previous record of 513.4 million bushels vested in The expected yield of 90 yield of 90 bushels per acre is slightly below the all-time high of 93 bushels per acre in 1973 The 5.9 million acres of corn is up 5 per cent from last year but total production will exceed 1976 by 61 per cent The ex- crop is per cent above the average Most Minnesota crops were hurt by an extended drought in 1976 The corn crop averaged only 59 bushels per acre last year compared with 80 bushels in 1975 and the five-year age oi 75.2 bushels The service said growing were favorable in nearly every part of the state during June Crop development as of July 1 was generally two to three weeks ahead of normal Although topsoil moisture was adequate in most areas subsoil reserves were low The service said timely rains will be essential during the critical ear and pod development stages of corn and soybeans Minnesota farmers will vest 118.1 million bushels of wheat down 9 per cent from last year and under the 1973 record of 130.5 million bushels However the acreage is down 18 per cent from 1976 and the anticipated yield is up 11 per cent The wheat crop is ex- to average 35.7 bushels per acre compared with 33.2 bushels last year and the year average of 32.7 bushels Spring wheat production of 112.3 million will account for the bulk oi the wheat crop rum production was placed at bushels up 5 per cent from a year ago and ter wheat production of 2.9 lion bushels is 31 per cent from 1976 Oats production is expected to total 142.2 million bushels an increase of 53 per cent from last year There is a 17 per cent increase in acreage and a 31 per cent increase in the average yield The oats crop is expected to average bushels per acre M bushels more than last year and 8.9 bushels above the fiveyear average The barley crop will total 44.1 million bushels an increase of 27 per cent over last year with the acreage up 14 per cent The projected yield of 45 bushels per acreage compares with 40.5 bushels last year and the year average of 40.8 bushels live production of 2.3 million bushels is up 12 per cent from 1976 even though the total age declined by 12 per cent The expected yield of 25 bushels per acre compares with 19.5 bushels last year and the 76 average of 26.1 bushels Summer potato production primarily in the area will total 2.1 million hundredweight an increase of 3 per cent over last year The yield of 275 hundredweight per acre com- pares with 250 hundredweight last year For another speciality crop I Crop Continued on Callahan not surprised by kidnaping indictment ST PAUL Minn lAP Kenneth James Callahan 52 one of two men charged in the SI million kidnaping of Virginia Piper appeared for formal ar- in St Paul Tuesday telling the court he was not prised by his indictment Callahan a carpenter appeared before Judge Edward Devitt in U.S District hear the in- read and be advised of his rights Callahan and convicted derer Donald F 51 a Prison were named in the grand jury in- voted Monday just 16 days before the statute of Board shows concern for fuel conservation 1 City Editor In a motion designed to conserve fuel the Board voted Tuesday to require that the next two pickups the county purchases be compacts County engineer Dennis Berend appeared before the commissioners to request the board advertise for bids for two Bert Hovland pointed out that the commissioners should be looking at economy vehicles to save fuel since smaller trucks are adequate for inspections and a great deal of other county business Hovland moved thai ads specify pickups bids for the four vehicles will be accepted at 1 p.m on Aug 23 The board passed new parking regulations for the lots east and west of the courthouse The parking lot on the corner of Junius and Mill will remain county employes parking only Spaces now reserved in the east and west lots will remain reserved and all other parking will be for one hour only The lots will be patrolled by the sheriff's department the fine will be 52 for the first parking offenses and on the third violation the car will be away at the owner's expense Parking stickers have been ordered for county em- ployees Sealed bids for 140 miles of striping in the county will be accepted at 10 on Aug 9 The county will receive some federal aid for the project The commissioners decided not to sell a gravel pit near Hush it has never been used by the county bul the board delayed its sale until it is determined whether there is any gravel there Hub Nordgren introduced a motion to allow the county Drop in spending causing concern WASHINGTON AP The third straight monthly decline in consumer spending is raising new questions about whether the economy faces a substantial slowdown in months ahead The decline in consumer spending began in April the month that President Carter withdrew his proposal for a tax rebate for each American Carter said the rebate no longer was needed to stimulate the economy Some government economists privately say they think withdrawing the rebate plan was a mistake and that the economy now may be paying the price But Maynard Cornier a ing Commerce Department economist said it still is too early to say whether the my is headed for a significant slowdown He said the Carter administration had expected the economy to grow at a er rate in the second half of the year than the 7 per cent growth rate in the first more like Comiez ad- mitted but quickly added I'm not saying there's going to be a pause In 1976 the economy grew rapidly in the first half of the year then suddenly ground lo a near halt as consumer buying and production slowed and unemployment climbed President Carter sounded op- about the economic outlook at his news conference Tuesday 1 have been im- pressed with the long-range trend projections that have been given me 1 feel very good about our he said The Commerce Department reported Tuesday thai retail sales in June totalled billion down very slightly from the May total of billion While the decline was less than of 1 per it followed a decline d tenths of 1 per cent in May and engineer to provide engineering assistance at county landfills but Andy Leitch John berg and Sid Nelson voted to defeat the motion Hovland voted with Nordgren The board had decided by the same vote to discontinue engineering aid to county fills at the Monday meeting An ordinance making a misdemeanor the use sale consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages at Phelps Mill Park was presented by county attorney Harlan Nelson A hearing will be held on the matter at 10 on Aug 10 The board decided to look into the purchase of several more business band radios for county each Hovland complained that the county is getting ripped off on radio repairs He pointed out that the for this is from each month he would like the county to in- the possibility of entering a maintenance con- tract so a set figure would be paid for repairs each month Dr Dorette was appointed to the regional board of mental health The board agreed lo aid Ellington Township with 40 percent of its costs for topping tations runs out on the July 2 1972 abduction of Mrs Piper from her fashionable home in Orono a Minneapolis suburb Minutes after the indictment was issued the FBI arrested incidental his rural home near Cumberland Wis realized I was almost tain to be Callahan told Judge Devitt adding that he had plenty of opportunities to flee if he had chosen His attorney Kenneth besher elaborated that han had appeared before the grand jury and in a police up and thus was aware of the possibility he was a suspect Mrs Piper wife of a wealthy investment banker declined to say Monday night how long she had been aware that the in- was to be pressed on the grand jury I've known that it was com- ing so I guess I don't feel one way or another about she said The indictment read to han by Judge Devitt accused the two men of transporting Mrs Piper 54 from Minnesota into Wisconsin and then back into Minnesota Two days after the abduction and after Harold C Piper Jr had paid 31 million ransom in bills the FBI re- information leading to discovery of the woman chained to a tree in Jay Cooke State Park near in northeastern Minnesota Prominent defense lawyer Ronald a brother of Kenneth said Tuesday he believes the FBI has a weak case unless have some surprising new dence 1 was frankly surprised by the said in a telephone interview from Reno Nov I know they're innocent It's typical that the FBI wanted to close their file without saying it is unsolved Meshbesher said Callahan retained him about five months ago and he represented Larson two years ago when the tried in the killings of his wife her lover and three children at the house near Willow River Minn Larson was sentenced to a life term at Stillwater Prison Callahan wore a grey shirt and burgundy slacks when he appeared in court Tuesday He had no belt Judge told him of his righi to counsel and advised that he had a right to Anything he says might be used as evidence against him Callahan was told Kenneth Meshbesher told court he had no knowledge of Callahan ever failing to up for a court appearance In 1955 Callahan received a 14-year prison term for posing I Callahan Continued on Weather roundup Partly cloudy through dav Chance of thunderstorms tonight ending early Thursday tonight low to mid 60s High Thursday mid 80s Winds northwesterly mph tonight Probability of measurable precipitation 50 percent tonight and 20 percent Thursday Tuesday 77 56 At 65 At Noon 74 Precipitation 24 hours ending 8 today none Sunrise Thursday Sunset Temperatures One Year Ago High 92 58 Brown Swiss calf does not appear eager to join activities at the county fair which opened in Fergus Falls The calf owned by Doyle is at- tractions at the Children's Barnyard photo by Pat Walkup I On the inside I There's slill lime for hick Page On I he local Page 111 Sun of blacksmith retiring from I I- Ink 21 IIP the IS School board organizes elects Leland chairman By JAMES GRAY The Fergus Falls school board last night elected Harold Inland chairman to succeed Charles Duncan Charles Swanson was elected clerk Paul Gust Jr treasurer and Wayne Ronning vice chairman Garnet Muehlhausen began her term as a new board member Supt Richard Baker presented Harold Erickson retiring board member with a school bell in appreciation of his 12 years of service That is longer than any board member has served during his 30 years as a superintendent Baker said The salary lor board will continue at a year Inland suggested raising it to since it has been for four years and more time is required of board members Gust Duncan and Honning suggested holding off Swanson said additional pay for out of town meetings might be considered The board approved a page master contract and pay schedule for teachers for the nest two school years Raises including fringes amount to 6.75 percent for and 5.25 percent for Beginning pay for teachers with a degree increases from to for the school year Maximum pay for teachers with U years ex- and an degree plus 45 credits toes from to Changes in the master contract include bumping in connection with layoff and recall That means that a teacher placed on leave of absence may elect to replace a teacher with less seniority who is employed in a position for which both are licensed Each teacher has a seniority number used as a basis for layoff The new contract also has a change in severance pay Each teacher accumulates five of credit for each year of teaching up to a maximum of days If resignation occurs between the ages of 52 and 57 a teacher will be allowed 100 percent of severance pay From 58 to 60 the allowance is 90 percent from 61 to 62 it is 80 percent at age 63 it is 50 cent at age 64 it is 25 percent and at age 65 severance payments are exhausted Supt Baker the Fergus Kails school district is one of only 17 districts settled out of over 400 districts in the state Ho and board members com- mended Don Ness the teachers chief negotiator for the cooperative attitude shown by teachers in negotiation The board accepted resignations of and Thomas teachers of trainable mentally retarded in the slate hospital program and the resignations of three management Mueller Monica and Valerie Wallrich Temporary leaves were granted for Mrs Kathleen junior high French teacher and Mrs Darlene Heiter secretary at Adams School The board granted extended leave to Rodney junior high social studies teacher Under a new mobility law teachers can request leaves of absence up to five years During that time if the contributes to a I Schools I Continued on Page 24
