European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 05, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page6 the stars and stripes thursday december 5, 1985 1,500 competing for Chance to be first reporter in space Columbia . A the 1,500 americans in my Majaj Soofi a a the 0 american Terestea in becoming the first reporter in space include an 82-year-old former publisher and one Man willing to be the first journalist to be severely nauseated in  Albert Scroggins Dean emeritus of the University of South Carolina school of journalism who has been called on to help pick the Best candidate said he is looking for someone who can write Well and be an articulate radio and television broadcaster. The project is being administered for the Nalic in aeronautics and space administration by the associate of schools of journalism and mass communication head quartered at the University. It s time to gel an old girl up there and let her try it out says Alita . Dickerson the 82-year-old former publisher of a weekly newspaper in smack Vir. Ark., other bid to Fly aboard the space shuttle in september. Ill sure by to go through with it if they give me a Chance. I have a broader View of  Dickerson who now lives in an apartment in Pomona calif., is one of More than 1,500 journalists seeking the Ull Imale out of town assignment the Opportunity offered by Nasa to Fly on a space shuttle Mission und report the experience. Another journalist wrote that he was willing to be the first journalist to be severely nauseated in space at taxpayers  formal applications for the Post Are being mailed out this week to inc 1.500 people who have Shewn interest. There is no age limit placed on the applicants and the Only requirements arc that they must be . Citizens have the backing of their employers have at least five years experience As journalists and pass a minimal physical examination that would not automatically exempt someone who wears glasses or a hearing Aid Scroggin said. We Are interpreting inc term journalist broadly to include reporters editorial columnists broadcasters photo journalists and editorial cartoonists he said. We Felt there would be 125,000 people qualified from the Job they do on a Day to Day basis. There s Only one scat but at the same time we re trying to find someone who can write Well and who also will be articulate in broadcasting Back to Earth. There arc a lot of people who can do that Scroggins said. The journalist ultimately selected for the night will have to agree to be a Pool reporter sending reports to All of her institutions besides his own for 30 Days after resuming from space but Scroggins said he realizes the person will probably keep a diary and write a Book later. The support of the journalist s employer is necessary because the person will not go on Nasa s payroll during the six month training period. We Felt it would be a conflict of interest Scroggin said. The application is about 12 pages Long but about half of that includes instructions and an explanation of the project. Three pages arc for three recommendations of the a photo Albert Scroggins shows draw Erful of applications from people seeking to be the first journalist in space. Applicant s choosing. Jennifer Mcgill executive director of the association said the application is not much different from a Job application. Applicants will have to submit samples of their work and the form will require respondents to answer two essay questions. The questions Are designed to learn How Artic ulate they arc. Why they want to Fly and what they View As the future of journalists in space Scroggins said. The applications must be submitted by Jan. 15. Five regional panels will judge them and the names of eight finalists from each Section of the country will be sent Monasa Headquarters in Washington. A National panel made up of Veteran journalists and educators will interview the regional finalists and narrow the Field to five candidates who will undergo Nasa Orien tation and medical examinations. Nasa will announce Winner and an alternate april 17. Springsteen appeals to company not to close Plant in his Hometown Freehold . A Ryk Star Bruce Springsteen whose songs have rhapsody sized Blue Collar life is pleading in a newspaper advertisement wednesday on behalf of 430 workers due to lose their jobs it 3mplants Here in his Hometown. The and in four newspapers features a letter signed by Springsteen and country Singer Willie Nelson asking Minnesota mining & manufacturing co. Not to close its magnetic audio video Plant and reduce staff at another plan there. The 24-year-old audio video Plant which makes lanes for the entertainment Industry is to be phased out by june the company announced last month. About 360 workers would lose their jobs and 70 More jobs would be lost because of cutbacks at 3m s nearby electrical products division Plant. Dear 3m on behalf of the working people their families and the Community of Freehold new Jersey we urge you to reconsider your decision to shut Down the 3m video and audio tape facility the letter reads. We know that these decisions Are always difficult to make but we believe that people of Good will should be Able to sit Down and come up with a humane program that will keep those jobs and there workers in  the and was sponsored by local 8-760 of the Oil chem ical and atomic workers onion and the labor Institute a new York based Public interest organization that provides services for unions. The ads were placed in the new York times the As Kurycz. Do f75-1 the a Paul Pion car press and dispatch the St. Paul Minn Pioneer press dispatch where 3m is based and variety the weekly show business newspaper. Below the letter appear lyrics from my Hometown " Springsteen s ode to inc City where he was born the lyrics read in part vow main Street s whitewashed windows and vacant stores. Seems like Here Ain t nobody wants to come Down Here no More. They re closing Down the textile Mill across inc rail Road tracks. Foreman says these jobs arc going boys and the Yam i coming Back to your  a news conference to discuss the singers Linvol Mcmeni in the Union s Job saving Campaign was schedule wednesday outside the Plant. Two weeks ago local president Stanley Fischer said the Union asked 10 entertainers to help in the Campaign. We be been pursuing him Springsteen actively Lor weeks. We re going to keep pursuing this Issue until we get National recognition Fischer said tuesday. Stateside a sen. Chiles progressing Well after 4-hour open heart surgery Lakeland Fla. A sen. Lawton Chiles d Fla., was moved out of intensive care ahead of schedule because doctors were pleased with his recovery from open heart surgery. Just remarkable Progress said Jack Pridgen the sen Ator s press Secretary after visiting with Chiles at Lake land regional medical Center. Originally Chiles a scheduled to spend two Days in intensive care. The 55-yc.ir-old, third term senator underwent a four hour quadruple coronary bypass. America s birth rate drops to lowest level this decade Washington a childbearing has dropped to its lowest level in this decade in America despite a Fertility increase among women in their Early 30s, the census Bureau says. The nation s Fertility Rale was 65.8 births per 1,000 women aged 18 to 44 in the year ending in june 1984, the census Bureau said in a study of inc most recent Fertility figures available. This represents the lowest rate recorded so far this decade Down from a rate of 71.1 births per 1,000 in 1980," said the re porn by Carolyn c. Rogers of the census Bureau. While Fertility had edged up from 67.2 births per 1,000 women in that child citing group in 1976 to the 71.1 figure in 1980, the rate was nearly unchanged Fay 1982 and then fell possibly because of the recession the report suggested. The lower Fertility rates May have been partly influenced by the economic conditions in the prior Yean 1982 and 1983considering the Long term responsibilities and economic costs in raising children the stud said. Oldest repertory theater in nation destroyed by fire Rose Valley a. A fire destroyed a 145 year old converted grist Mill that housed the nation s old est repertory Thaler officials said. We re shocked said june Prager artistic director of the Hodg Crew theater. Hundreds of people have put their souls into this  the hedgerow was one of the country s oldest theater and the first to present repertory shows changing plays every night. Movie greats Richard Haschart and Van Heflin per formed at the 134-scat theater Early in their careers and George Bernard Shaw s Man and Superman had its american premiere there she said it was a very historic intimate theater said Prager. It was  she said she did not yet know the monetary value of inc loss bul inc building was insured. Thief uses sleight of hand to steal valuable diamonds cerr1tos, Calif api a thief played a game of now you see it now you Don to with two jewelry store clerks pocketing two diamonds Worth $45,000 and replacing them with fakes authorities said. Similar thefts have been reported recently at two other branches of the Slavick s jewellers Chain and investigators were comparing descriptions to  if the same Man was responsible a los Angeles county sheriffs Deputy a be Fosselman said. Fosselman said a Man who told clerks he was a doctor and who had a Stethoscope clicking Oul of his jackal pocket visited the Slavick s store in the los Cerritos Center 20 Miles South East of los Angeles and asked to look at Loose diamonds. At some Point the suspect was Able to switch some imitation diamonds for some real ones he said eve though two clerks were watching. Girl 15, Dies 11 months after near drowning in icy Lake Saratoga Springs . Up1 a 15-year-old girl who survived for 11 months Afler she was submerged in icy Walcer for More than half an hour has died in a Saratoga county Hospital officials said. In a a orly if a a was Ridin in a Sedan Jan-3that skidded and plunged into Mariaville i Ake. Near the Schenectady county town of Duanesburg. The Driver of the car John Callahan 20, of sch Necta a i escaped from the automobile and ran for help but to snap underwater in the car for Between 30and 40 minutes and was comatose when she was rescued