European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 8, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday novembers 19b9 the stars and stripes rags engineers have fun battling rubble Heap by Mike Heron Mussi of writer Werderich Hausen Ger Many it was a dirty Job bul the engineers said they were glad to do in. A month before fire had destroyed an abandoned House and three pig Sta Bles in the tiny German town of Werderich Hausen leaving a smelly eyesore where 300-year-old buildings once stood. When the owner said he could t afford to clean up the mess the assault and Barrier pit of cob both engr in 3rd inf div launched its heavy construction equipment into the mess an mud Toh Copoul. A Dozer scoop loader 5-ton dump trucks and 13 soldiers attacked the rub ble heaped Between other barns and houses monday. The Only casualties were hat Tiro lots of them from driving Over tractor Blades and other farm equipment in the rubble. On truck Sal Idle thursday afternoon Wail ing for a replacement lire to reach the front lines from bad Kissinger. For the soldiers it was a Battle nearly won. The final layers of topsoil were dumped on the lot thursday and work was to be finished Friday. Gebhard Behr said he could t afford the $,0000 to 6,000 Marks 52,500 to s 3,000 it would Cost to have Ger Man contractors clean up after the fire. But he made sure the americans  with a Good Laste in their Mouth. Breakfast was served every morning at 5 30. The typical German breakfast of Rolls butter Jelly cold cuts and cof fee was followed at 9 . Each Day with a Coffee break said 2nd la Michael j. Teague platoon Leader. Work stopped at the soldiers ale Rolls juices and Tea the lieutenant said. But that was Only a preview of what was. In store at lunchtime. You come out Here to work or to Eal one Soldier was kidded As he leaped food onto his plate to eat he replied before filling his Mouth. They really piled on the schnitzel one Soldier said. Thai s some really heavy Ham an other said a everyone sat Down 10 eat thursday. Large slabs of meal Mounds of Pota toes a Platler of noodles two boots of sliced tomatoes a Green salad liter bottles of Toft drinks and plenty of str Aubeny Cream dessert topped with whipped Cream disappeared within the  you believe a sergeant went Back to the company because he did t like German food one of the soldiers said. All he likes is hot dogs and  while the soldiers were getting Lols to eat they were Alto gelling some training and having fun doing what they would do in War Teague  Job would include destruction and Clearing of bunkers on the Battle Field. Knocking Down the Bam still standing on the lot and removing Al the rubble was similar to that wartime Mission said Sec. Thomas l. Wells platoon sergeant. Today s americans better off study finds Washington a american today Are healthier wealthier and better educated than their forebears the Cen sus Bureau and the conference Boardway. The government s main statistical Agency and the Large business group said thursday in a joint study Given where we Are today our dreams of tomorrow can be even More ambitious and their fulfil men even More  the study How we live then and now concludes Modem Medicine has Given us a new generation As boiler care food an fitness allow people to increase their life spans and the number of elderly people grows. Affluence has become widespread despite pockets of economic distress. Some 40 percent of households own two or More automobiles and consumption of goods and services has doubled in the last 35 years. About half of All Young people Loday spend at least some Lime in College with each generation achieving More Educa Tion than the one before. The combination of a Shorter work week More holidays and vacations an higher earnings has allowed increased at Tention to Leisure activities. This has boosted tourism and helped build sports and other recreations into Large businesses. After reducing the poverty rate in the 1960s and 70s, the nation s economic growth has slackened. Poverty remains particular problem among women and children. Racial segregation has been reduced and Blacks have managed considerable improvement in their economic conditions although most remain less Well off than Whites. Congressman offers Rad Ca fix for social Security Washington a rep. Newt Gingrich in a bid to Force debate in the new Congress on a volatile Issue is pro posing Radical overhaul of social Security in which mandatory private retire ment accounts would generally replace monthly government checks. Gingrich r-ga., who intends to out line his ideas in a speech to the Georgia business Council in Atlanta next week says his idea for a stable permanent social Security is designed to Force Dis Cussion on an Issue thai has plagued re publicans politically for decades. Hiding social Security in a closet is a net loser for the republicans because the democrats kick the door in he said in a Telephone interview thursday Gingrich won re election to his fifth House term from Georgia on tuesday Wilh 60 percent of the vote but in a replay of past campaigns re publican candidates in Georgia Ala Bama and other states were Defeated in races where they came under alack Tor voting to Cut social Security Cost of Liv ing increases. Gingrich said he intends to recommend creation Ofa new National sales tax 10 replace the current payroll tax that finances social Security and medicare benefits for retirees. Those now retired and older workers nearing retirement would continue to receive social Security checks As 36 Mil lion americans now do. Younger workers would be required to establish individual retirement accounts to provide for their own retire ments. However the Federal government would be responsible for ensuring that the living Standard of All senior citizens would be above the poverty level. Gingrich says the plan would lower interest rates by creating a new Pool of private savings help Correct the Trade imbalance and help create jobs by Abo Lishing the payroll tax. In addition he said it will decrease our fears about retirement. Gingrich whose conservative views rep. Newt Gingrich and confrontational tactics have made him a Thorn in the Side of democratic House leaders As Well As some of his own party s elders is a charter member of a group of House republicans whose Polit ical goal is creation Ofa conservative of Pon Unity society the key is to recognize that our Bud get deficits our International Trade prob lems and the demands of free world leadership require that our generation re think he Liberal welfare stale and inns form it into a Irue Opportunity society he says in a draft of his speech a copy of which was made available in Advance. The real dividing line in american polities for the next decade will be be tween those who maintain thai we can avoid fundamental change and those who believe thai we must totally rethink our welfare  Gingrich will propose abolishing the payroll Las thai currently finances social Security beginning Jan. I 1989. Instead businesses would be required to pay Uteri 7 percent share of the payroll tax directly to workers. Workers Over age 40 would Ihus find heir take Home pay increased by 14 per cent their own 7 percent contribution matched by what their employer pays them. Workers under 40 would have their Lake Home pay increased by 4 percent and required to place the other 10 per cent into a new mandatory Ira. A new Trust fund would be set up to keep All senior citizens above the poverty level. Ii would be financed by a value added Pix described As a simple across the Board sales  american exports would be exempt from the lax bul imports would be Cov ered a step designed to help reduce the massive . Trade deficit. Current social Security retirees would continue to receive their benefits with those living below the poverty line receiving supplemental Aid. Retirees would receive a one time in crease in social Security payments to off set the Money they would lose through the new sales tax. Americans Between the Ages of Wand 65 would receive social Security benefits when they retire As current retirees do. Retirement benefits for those currently under 40 would come from their mandatory iras although they Loo would be guaranteed enough government assist Ance to live above the poverty level. In addition Gingrich will propose abolishing the current income tax on so Cial Security benefits for wealthier recipients and repeal All provisions which Dis courage working after 65. Sheridan Plaza to reopen temporarily by Charlie Bowden Munich Bureau garm1sch, Germany the armed forces recreation Center s doomed Sheridan Plaza hotel has in Given a new although temporary lease on life. Although the hotel had been closed i preparation to be torn Down military officials reversed that decision and Are investing about 1350,000 for renovations so the Sheridan can be used As a overflow hotel during Peak tourist sea sons arc spokesman Hany Connors said. The Sheridan when it reopens dec is will not be a full service hotel con nors said. Million Hole and conference Center com season As an overflow hotel he when the arc ski package programs Are in full swing they just about fill up our other hotels. This will allow arc to provide a place for those skiers who just want a bed to sleep in when they come off the  the hotel will serve Only breakfast. The Sheridan will have about Iso rooms available when in reopens but Only about 15 will have a private Bath he said. Doting the Sheridan was the tint phase in setting ready to build a $60 torn Down to make room for the new  decision was made to keep the hotel open As Long As possible to provide the greatest possible service for a guests Connora said. The hotel probably will remain Ope through april or until the end of the Peak skiing season he said. Connors said military officials do not know How Many Peak seasons the Surri Dan will be open heals said toe hotel is being opened to provide a service an officials Don t know Bow much Money it will earn