The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 2

2A Thk Moines Register Friday, August 1 1 1995 Iowa News Dateline Iowa Rundown ride still popular Ye Olde Mill's been through the mill after 75 state fairs Camping Also Discussed Disputed foresting plan OK'd for parks Environmentalists lose their argument against the harvesting of trees from state parks. By JIM POLLOCK Register Staff Writer couple, it was the place where he proposed. "A lot of people say it's the first ride they take when they get to the fair and the last ride they take before they leave," said Don Eveland, in his third year as manager of Ye Olde Mill. Eveland doesn't want the plain facade to change. And the big electric motor still turns the paddle-wheel with no trouble, even though it has been on the job since the beginning an 1 1-day work year can do wonders for your longevity.

Eveland just wants waterproof boats and a leak-proof tunnel, which seems reasonable. Of course, they talked about renovating Ye Olde Mill in time for this year's fair, too. Jim Thorp of Marion told his three little kids that they would really like it this time. "It was the first thing the kids wanted to go on," said his wife, Lisa Kenyon. They got here and it was just like always.

The kids liked it anyway. The parents aren't completely convinced that this antique will ever get restored. Lisa said, "Jim told the kids that next year the sign will say, 'To be renovated by By next year, it might seem a little less like a tour of a flooded basement and more like a theme-park ride that you would expect to find in, say, the 1990s. It should definitely be faster or slower and lighter or darker, in the opinions of three young riders Thursday afternoon. But they think it's "awesome" already, even in a world of hightech entertainment.

That's because they know how to spice up the trip. Seth Bauer, 15, of Ankeny, Jeremy Christiansen, 13, of Maxwell and Aaron Moses, 13, of Collins rock the boat, they stop the boat and they come as close to getting the boat stuck as you can without a coral reef. They're certainly not going to just sit and wait for those primitive little scenes of a train or a plow horse. "They're boring," said Bauer. "There's no other way to put it." Honeymoons, Proposals Other folks have other reasons for stopping by.

One year, a couple returned 50 years after taking a ride on their honeymoon. For another They patch the roof of the tunnel, they duck through the emergency door to free stuck boats, and every time a vessel returns from its five-minute voyage into darkness, they descend on it with vacuum and floor mop to counter the leaks. Ye Olde Mill may sound like a car just begging to be recalled, a TV show demanding cancellation, but don't worry, it's not going away. It's not only a 75-year-old tradition, but it also draws some 50,000 riders every year at the Iowa State Fair. So the plan is to fix it.

The board hasn't signed any contracts yet, but the sign promises that Ye Olde Mill brand-new in 1920, according to the State Fair Museum will be renovated in time for the '96 fair. Last Chance So this could be your last chance to experience Ye Olde Mill the way the pioneers did. By LARRY STONE Register Staff Writkr Racist graffiti report false; man arrested Thk Register's Iowa News Skkvkx Coralville, la. A University of Iowa student who told police racist graffiti had been spray-painted on his car was arrested Thursday and charged with painting the graffiti himself. Dewayne Byrdsong, 32, of Coralville was charged with providing a false report to police.

On July 15, he reported that he found "Go back to Africa" and "KKK" spray-painted on his 1983 Mercedes. Coralville investigators found a paint can in a trash container near Byrdsong's home, and state crime lab reports matched the can to the paint on the car. A store employee identified Byrdsong as having purchased the same kind of paint and a paint gun. Police found the paint gun at Byrdsong's home Aug. 8.

Police also learned that Byrdsong had been to several body shops to obtain estimates on the cost to repaint the car with an expensive color before the car had been vandalized. Byrdsong, who has been a minister in California, was taken to the Johnson County Jail, where he posted bond. Elsewhere: A Dubuque man was arrested Wednesday on charges of multiple acts of child endangerment after doctors said his 2-month-old son suffered at least 13 bone fractures, three broken ribs and a broken arm between June 1 and Aug. 3. Kenneth J.

McEowen, 23, admitted that his actions could have injured the baby. The baby's mother, Pamela McEowen, took him to the Mercy Hospital Medical Center emergency room Aug. 3. McEowen was being held at the Dubuque County Jail on $15,000 bond. An Ottumwa man was arrested Tuesday on charges that he sexually abused a 3-year-old girl at his home.

Joseph Allen Cain, 36, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday. He had been arrested after the victim's mother reported to police that he molested the child Tuesday. Cain was being held at the Wapello County Jail on $32,500 bond. Inspectors prowl State Fair midway THE RFOI8TB ill IOWA STATE FAIR FAIR Oakdale, la. Despite protests from several environmentalists, the Iowa Natural Resources Commission Thursday reaffirmed its guidelines allowing harvest of trees in state parks.

The action came on a vote to incorporate a 1994 policy into formal state regulations. That policy, which states principles, issues and goals for management of state-owned forest land, has been criticized as too vague by some opponents of tree cutting. The issue has simmered since late 1993 and early 1994, when the commission sold walnut trees from Ledges, Walnut Woods, Pikes Peak and Wanata state parks. "Precious Jewels" Dianne Kaufman of Iowa City said the state should protect trees not cut them. "You are the people who need to take leadership for helping to maintain the bits and pieces of our natural heritage that we have left," Today 's highlights I sne iota ine commission, vv nai we have are these precious jewels.

"People with good intentions can disagree," she said, "but we have to err on the side of caution." Richard "Sandy" Rhodes II of Iowa City said old trees are invaluable scientific and cultural Continuedfrom Page LA stuffed animal, Barley-Davidson cigarette lighter or cool skull belt-buckle: Watch out for tricky basketball hoops. They may appear normal, but some have been cut apart, bent around and spliced back together into an oval shape and you can't tell by looking from a distance. And sometimes the basketballs have been overinflated. Former Hawkeye basketball star and NBA player Bobby Hansen gave one of the basketball games a try Thursday and went a suspicious 2-for-12. It's pretty tough to knock over those three heavy iron bottles with a Softball.

Agent Diaz tried more than a dozen times from point-blank range and couldn't do it once. See if the operator can win in a few attempts in a demonstration. Most of the games checked out fine Wednesday. A few didnt Those were written down by Don Menden-hall of the inspections department They must be modified before the public will be allowed to play them. Mendenhall said each game must display a license and a sign that is at least 30 inches by 30 inches stating the rules of the game and the name and address of the game's owner.

The object of the game, which may not cost more than $3 to play, must be attainable by the average person. Prizes may have a retail value up to $50. $5, regular gate admission. Free, age 11 and under. $1 discount (or adults with coupon from participating rural electric cooperatives.

Events: 7:30 a.m.i FFA market swine judging, swine bam. 9 dairy cattle judging begins, Pioneer Pavilion. 10 a.m. 4 pjiu tiddlers' contest for youths age 14 and under, southeast of Pioneer Hall. 11:30 Jn, 30, 4:30, 6:30 hlgh-dlve show; Expo Hill.

1, 30, 3:45 State Fair Singers and Jazz Band concert, Channel 8 Stage. 6:30 pjiw line dance lessons, Pioneer Hall. 7, p.m.: Tommy Dorsey Orchestra concert, Bill Riley Stage. 7:30 pjnj Rock 'n' Ron Reunion concert, grandstand. Information: Hotline (8 a.m.

8 p.m.): (800) 645-3247 Internet: http7www.ioweb.comfun&only "When you cut large and old trees, you are ripping out pages of Iowa's history," he declared. Michael Carrier, administrator of parks, recreation and preserves for the Department of Natural Resources, defended the forestry plan as promoting wise use of the state's resources. The rule passed unanimously. CamDina Discounts MICHAEU. HAMTILThe Register Cancer report cites early diagnosis Thk Register's Iowa Nkws Service Iowa City, la.

In the last 20 (. years, the incidence of cancer in Iowa 1 has increased 27 percent among men and 19 percent among women, said a report released Thursday. Cancer deaths among women rose only 5 percent and cancer deaths among men rose only 2.5 percent in that time. Dr. Charles Lynch, associate professor of preventive medicine and environmental health, credited earlier diagnosis and improved treatment.

About 250,000 Iowans were diagnosed with cancer and more than 115,000 died from cancer between 1973 and 1992, the period covered by the report compiled by the State Health Registry of Iowa at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. A burlap sack and gravity provided a whole day's worth of enjoyment for Kory Beattie, 8, of Runnells at the State Fair Thursday. Champions by the ton at fairgrounds By JERRY PERKINS Register Farm Editor On another matter, the commission: Proposed rules to reduce the time when discounts are given to campers at some busy state parks. At most state parks, people pay the regular fee of $9 for modern campsites and $7 for non-modern sites from the Monday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. During the rest of the year, campers get a $3 discount.

Under the "market-based" plan, Carrier proposed extending the full-rate period through October in eight parks and beginning the no-discount time May 1 at one other site. When there is a heavy demand for campsites, such as during the peak of fall leaf color, people shouldn't get a discount, Carrier said. Campgrounds where the full rate would apply from the Monday before Memorial Day through Oct. 31 are: Elk Rock, Emerson Bay, Gull Point, Lake Manawa, Ledges, Marble Beach, Pikes Peak and Waubonsie. The regular camping rate would be charged from May 1 through Labor Day at Fairport.

Another part of the proposed rule would benefit people with disabilities by setting up a reservation system for campsites and cabins that are handicapped accessible. They bought Apollo at the 1993 State Fair from Robert Ekstrom of Vincent. They kept Apollo on a diet of ground corn and "pig slop," David Hirsch said. Apollo will continue to produce champion pigs, the Hirsches hope. They cross their Duroc boars, including Apollo, with Poland China sows and sell the progeny.

Equally Huge There was a tie for second-heaviest boar, with Cormaney Brothers of Webster City and Jared Gienger of Gladbrook both showing boars that weighed 980 pounds. Gienger collected the second-place ribbon when he won a card draw with the Cormaneys. Tim, a Belgian, won in the largest horse contest. He is owned by Chuck Thorson of Floyd, who bought the 4-year-old horse two years ago in Indiana. Tim was the only entry in the contest.

Maximo, a 407-pound ram owned by Craig Van Arkel of Grin-nell, won in the biggest ram con test. Second place went to a 401-pound ram named 2043, owned by Merle Vanklompenburg of Orange City. Joe Driscoll of Williamsburg FFA topped 108 other entries Thursday to win champion commercial gilt honors at the FFA commercial gilt show. Leah Ploeger of the Schaller-Crestland FFA showed the reserve champion commercial gilt. Other class winners were: 179-209 POUNDS Brian Pearce.

Rock-well Sheffield 2 10-220 POUNDS Jarred Hag-erty. Montezuma 221-229 POUNDS Keith Patterson. United Boone 230-242 POUNDS Elmer. Mount Ayr 243-254 POUNDS Ploeger 259-269 POUNDS R. Lett.

Orient-Macksburg 270-280 POUNDS Driscoll 281369 POUNDS Dee Bowman, DeWitt Central. Here are the results of the youth dairy show. Grand champions, by breed, were: AYRSHIRE Laurie Ehrman. Benton County. BROWN SWISS Cindy Siegert.

Dubuque County GUERNSEY Jessica Eilers. Jones County HOLSTEIN Jared Stewart. Fayette County. JERSEY Ethan Strottman, no address given. MILKING SHORTHORN Sam Nichols.

Cass County. SENIOR GRAND CHAMPION SHOWPERSON Chad Gotto. Dubuque County INTERMEDIATE GRAND CHAMPION SHOWPERSON Bill Raven. Dubuque County. JUNIOR GRAND CHAMPION SHOWPERSON Bridget Hesse.

Bremer County. That's two pounds more than the previous record weight of a super bull, set by one owned by Gene Bedwell of Osceola in 1986. Carrico said JC eats about 20 pounds of com and oats a day and also is fed grass hay and grazes on pasture. "We'll keep him around for awhile," Carrico said of JC's future. Biggest Boar Apollo, a purebred Duroc boar owned by Hirsch Farms of Indianola, weighed in as the biggest boar at this year's State Fair.

Apollo, just 2Vi years old, outweighed the two next-biggest boars by more than 100 pounds. "He's got a good frame and he's well-muscled, so any boar like that will grow big," said David Hirsch, who runs the farm with his father, Harlan. This is the seventh time the Hirsches have won the fair's big boar contest. They are longtime State Fair exhibitors. Harlan Hirsch has been in the business more than 50 yeare, his son said.

Liggins sentenced to life in prison Thk Register's Iowa Nkws Skk ilk Davenport, la. Stanley Liggins, who was found guilty in the 1990 murder of a 9-year-old Rock Island, 111., girl, Jennifer Lewis, did not appear in court Thursday but was given a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Lewis was sexually assaulted and strangled and her body was wrapped in plastic, doused with gasoline and set afire. Her burning body was found a Davenport schoolyard. Liggins, 33, of Rock Island was found guilty in 1993 of kidnapping, rape, willful injury and murder but the case was retried last month after the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the verdict.

JC Mac Stud, a 6-year-old purebred Angus, set a record at the world super bull contest Thursday at the Iowa State Fair when he tipped the scales at 3,360 pounds. This is the fourth time JC has competed at the fair, said owner Jerry Carrico of Redfield. The bull was judged cow-calf champion Angus with his mother in 1989. He was the reserve junior champion Angus bull in 1990 and was the reserve senior champion Angus bull in 1 99 1 Carrico said. "Best and Biggest" "He's the best and the biggest bull we've ever raised," said Carrico, who has been in the purebred Angus business for more than 20 years.

JC was up against some big competition this year. The second place bull, Jumbo II, owned by Joe Holub of What Cheer, also broke the record when he weighed in at 3,260 pounds. Historical Society names new chief Morgan on TV show prompts calls about concert ft By KATHY BERDAN RtcisTER Staff Writer The State Historical Society of Iowa has named a native Iowan as its new administrator. Tom Morain of Ames will take over in mid-September as the historical society's administrator. He is now the director of history and community relations at Living History Farms in Urbandale.

Morain grew up in Jefferson and has written three books on Iowa history. His history of Jefferson was named best Iowa history book of 1 988 by the State Historical Society. Morain was an assistant professor of history at Iowa State University in Ames from 1975 to 1980. He received a bachelor's degree in political science and American civilization and a doctorate in American civilization from the University of Iowa. Morain was appointed by Bill Jackson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

He will succeed David Crosson, who left Iowa in April to become the executive director of Prairie Avenue House Museums in Chicago. Gambling boat tax assessment appealed Thk Register's a Nkws Dubuque, la. The former owners of the Dubuque Casino Belle gambling boat have filed an appeal in Polk County District Court in Des Moines over $404,000 in state use taxes assessed after the boat was launched nl991. The Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance imposed the taxes after an audit, but lawyers for the Dubuque Casino Belle owned by the Robert Kehl family, disagreed. They contended that Iowa's riverboat gambling laws, which impose high taxes on other parts of the gambling business, prohibit a use tax on the vessel or its equipment.

The Casino Belle left Iowa in April 1 993 after being sold for 1 7 million to a Missouri gambling company, but the Kehl family has continued to appeal the case. In March, an administrative law judge denied a request for a tax refund and Iowa Revenue Director Gerald Bair concurred July 10. lation when he saw her on TV. "I felt like if you say you're sick, you'd better be sick," he said. KCCI-TV, the local CBS affiliate, received more than two dozen calls Thursday morning, said Chris Blomgren, receptionist.

State Fair spokeswoman Kathie Swift said Morgan canceled because of flu and exhaustion. According to information from Morgan's publicist, doctors were considering hospitalizing the singer. She also canceled shows in Grand Island, and Billings, Mont. 'State Fair' preview tickets still available Seats are still available for the preview performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "State Fair" at the Des Moines Civic Center. Preview performances are at 8 p.m.

Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Opening night festivities for the pre-Broadway touring show are at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for the preview performances are $35, $32 and $26, with discount coupons good for $5 off the price of a single ticket available at all downtown Des Moines auto dealers and at 42 area McDonald's restaurants.

At participating McDonald's, customers must request the discount coupons from a cashier. The coupons are redeemable only at the Civic Center box office. Seats are still available for most of the performances of "State Fair," which runs through Aug. 20. For ticket information, call 243-1120.

When country singer Lorrie Morgan appeared on "CBS This Morning" Thursday, her Iowa fans were upset. Morgan had canceled her show at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand Thursday night because of a bout with the flu. Yet there she was on TV, singing, apparently healthy and apparently performing live. But the segment was taped "many, many weeks ago," said Liz Josephson, a CBS News spokeswoman in New York. Morgan's segment kept getting pre-empted for breaking news and other stories, Josephson said.

Tim Powers of Des Moines had just read about Morgan's cancel-. 1 I'' Lorrie Morean Canceled State Fair sliow.