European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 19, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes june 3 leading Banks drop prime rate to by the associated press three of the nations biggest Banks Cut their prime lending rates from 10 per cent to percent dropping the key commercial borrowing rate at major Banks into single digits for the first time since the fall of Morgan guaranty the nations fifth largest opened the latest round of cuts in the a Benchmark against which Banks measure their interest charges on business two other new York and Bankers followed suit at the prime has not been below 10 per cent since it was raised to that level from percent on it was last As Low As percent for two weeks in september in the government reported that housing starts plunged 14 percent last the sharpest drop since March the decline to an annual rate of million left housing starts in May 7 per cent below the May 1984 starts in april had soared to an an Nual rate of million a figure revised upward slightly in the latest re which was the highest in More than a falling mortgage interest rates have stimulated buying activity in both new and existing Home sales and analysts expect housing starts to reflect that in creased demand in the weeks the United states largest single foreign Oil stepped up the pressure against open by cutting the Price of its Lowe Quality Maya crude Oil by a barrel to that created a Prospect of lower Oil prices at a time of relatively sluggish economic the government reported that the nations broadest measure of foreign Trade returned to a record deficit Pace in the first Quarter of 1985 and activity among manufacturers slipped again last the Commerce department said the deficit on the current account of inter National transactions for the first Quarter was billion not quite up to the record billion recorded for the third Quarter of 1984 but Well above the revised billion figure for the fourth Quarter of four straight quarters at the first Quarter Pace would put the 1985 deficit at compared with the re Cord billion last the 1984 figure was More than double the 1983 Mark of 5 former marines sentenced in a Ripstop Case san Diego a five former marines who were among 66 people indicted in an undercover operation Ripstop received prison terms ranging from 366 Days to six years on charges stemming from the Sale of stolen military the five originally named in a 101count indictment last pleaded guilty under a plea bargain to one count each of making unauthorized sales of government All were former members of the 1st tank battalion based at Camp Pendleton in Northern san Diego James of was sentenced monday to six years in Federal prison and fined by District judge Howard prosecutors said Chaffin had made 45 transactions be tween and March at Golden state a bogus Oceanside surplus store set up by the Fri As part of the undercover who received from Golden state for the stolen was charge of ordering supplies for the tank according to court Chaffin would order equipment through the base computer system and later electronically erase the information to create an instant he and others then would remove the extra goods and sell them to Golden state and other surplus said assistant attorney Pamela David of Sacramento was sentenced to five years in prison and fined authorities say he was involved m 34 transactions Between and who worked in the tank battalions Supply Ware admitted sneaking much of the stolen equipment past guards by putting it inside his athletic he said he received for the Rodney of received a 214year prison sentence and a Fine for the unauthorized Sale of government property Rubin of san Drew a two year prison sentence and Fine and Albert of was sentenced to 366 Days in prison and fined the undercover inquiry was part of a joint Effort the Fri and the naval investigative service to combat the theft and Sale of an estimated million Worth of military gear each Naughton stolen equipment acquired during the operation included sleeping flak Gas masks and she winners include James Lee Buffy Ford 9 receive Jefferson awards for Public service Washington a Treasury Secretary James Baker Auto executive Lee Iacocca and former first lady Betty Ford were among nine americans honoured tuesday with Jefferson awards for out standing Public the award is especially meaningful to said since it carries the name of Thomas his principles of political and religious Freedom guided the creation of the United and continue to guide our nation Iacocca and Ford were not Able to attend the but Fords award was accepted by her the awards were presented by the Amer ican Institute for Public service in a Cere Mony at the supreme court Baker was cited for Public service by an elected or appointed Iacocca was honoured for service by a private Fords award was for outstanding Public service benefiting the a fourth National award went to Trevor of for outstand ing Public service by an individual aged 35 or Ferrell won National attention be cause of his efforts to care for and feed Street people in each of the four received and a Goldo Silver five winners of awards for outstanding Public service benefiting local communities each received and a they Are Linda Seattle Frank my Arturo Jean Kennedy new York City and Mary Beth Johnson Baker was nominated for his work As White House chief of his position be fore assuming his position at the Treasury the Institute called him the most respected and influential of the presidents inner although often criticized by the new a Marine corps showed an ability to advise the president in a pragmatic one which has brought him a continually increasing influx the Institute Lee Iacocca file photo Betty Ford file photo James Baker Iii file photo Iacocca was cited for rescuing Chrysler from financial the Institute called him perhaps americas bes known and respected Ford was nominated for her struggle against drug and alcohol the Institute said that her Public Candor in facing a Mastectomy her Public acknowledgement of her addiction to and drugs made it easier for other americans to fight those Barker was nominated for her work As Confounder and executive director of families and friends of missing persons and violent crime victims in for the last she has spoken out on radio and television around the country on behalf of victims her also played a key role in the restoration of the death penalty in Washington Mcglone has dedicated his career to easing the medical problems of the in 1952 he founded the medical care and re search the Only organization of its Type focusing on the aging More he founded the Johnson clinic in which offers free health care to the elderly and the National stroke Asso a retired was honoured for his work with yaqui donating his time and he provided yaqui children with shoes and and made it possible for the youngsters to take part in activities they  have because of the the Institute Smith was nominated for her pioneering work in bringing arts to the disabled in new York As a result of 10 years of her the very special arts Festi Val featuring work by handicapped is now an annual today event at Colum Bia and As Many As Stu dents a 17yearold High school senior in Johnson was cited for her work with teen alcoholism and drug Over coming drug abuse problems of her she spent the last two years volunteering her services As a peer she was one three teen representatives on Lamar alexanders task Force on alcohol and drug