European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                , january 26. 19b8 the stars and stripes Page 7 Nofziger had influence witness says Washington a former presidential aide Lyn c. Nofziger was hired 10 help cd Lech corp. Gel an army con rare because of his influence in the Reagan administration a former company executive testified monday Al Nofziger s conflict of interest trial. Mario e. Moreno former cd Lech executive vice president said the company hurried to Nof Iger in Early 1982 be cause we were Al a stalemate with the army and inc opposition was  we needed More powerful people. To get rolling again Moreno said. The army was unwilling to pay More than 124 million and Widt can had offered $3� milion. A bid later lowered to $34 million Moreno said. Nor Igor s annulling firm was retained because he had been one of the most powerful people in the administration and he was familiar with the Engin problem Moreno said referring Loef forts in 1931 by the while House to help the company win the Cormacl. Nofziger a. Is charged with four felony counts of improperly lobbying former while mouse colleagues on behalf of we tech and two other clients after he resigned As president Reagan s political Dirc Clor in Early 1981. His business partner Mark a. Bragg a charged with one count of aiding and abetting. Each of the charges against the two defendants carries a two year Sun Tench and a $ 10,000  said Nofziger was hired be cause Nofziger was Able to communicate with people at he lop of the army and the sea Small business administration to plead our  was awarded the contract in september 1982, following White House  described a May 19, 1982, meeting of army sea and other govern ment officials thai was called Al the while mouse by Deputy presidential Counselor James e. Jenkins. Jenkins was controlling the meeting almost completely Moreno said he indicated the administration was very interested in having this contract come to we lilt on a fair  Moreno said referring to we tech by its earlier name Wal Bill electronic die  quoted Jenkins As saying inc army should make every conceivable Effort to give the Bucsi Price to  although army officials said inc Price was very High Moreno said he and other cd Lech officials came away from the meeting almost sure that the contract now had a very High probability of coming to  we realized that the White House was involved in the program All the  Moreno said Moreno also testified that Nofziger was interested in sic we Lech contract before he left the president s stuff in Early 1982.in late summer 1981, Moreno taut pier Talon i an aide to Nofziger visited the company s piano in inc South Bron Section of new York cily As Par of the Reagan administration s Effort to help stimulate business in inc economically distressed area. Moreno quoted Talenti As saying the administration and or. Nofziger were very interested in helping cd Lech receive this  prosecution is trying to show that Nofziger s involvement in the administration s efforts to stimulate business in vestment in depressed Urban neighbor hoods created a conflict of interest when he later was retained As a lobbyist by Wedech. Moreno said Tel Coli who was an unpaid Volunteer on Nofziger a White House Slaff indicated he had been placed in charge of trying 1o help gel this engine contract to Wedech corp at the Lime. Cd Lech had offered to build 13,000 Small gasoline engines forj39 million but the army did nol want to pay More than $14 million. Moreno said. The army also refused to audit i accompany s last proposal which rep resented a $60 million reduction from we Lech s original offer he said. Talon i said he had been assigned to help resolve differences Between the army we tech and the sea. Which ran a program for minority business to qualify for no bid government contracts. About nine months after Wedech was Given the engine contract. Nol Zigr an Bragg received Stock in the company icy later sold for More than $�30,000. The Bronx n.y., company filed for bankruptcy Lail year after becoming the focus of a widening influence buying scheme. Moreno is one of four former we tech official who pleaded guilty 10participating in inc plan to bribe Public  week inc prosecution Pui into evidence memos Nofi Igor wrote in 1982 indicating he had contacted then presidential Counselor Edwin Mccase 111 and Jenkins about the contract. Cold calculations Jaek tile of Wal hum mass., uses a stick to Check drink off Wollaston Beach for a Din. Tulle 80, Rocs the depth or the Waler More dropping into the Ley swimming Dally despite the cold. Babbitt s father Dies candidate returning Home Flagstaff Ariz. A Paul j. Babbitt sr., the a incr of democratic presidential candidate Bruce Babbitt died sunday Al the age of 89. Babbitt who had been in declining health for several months died Al 4 . At his Home a family member said. Aides to Bruce Babbitt in new Hampshire did he would cancel his Campaign appearances in that stale Mon Day and his appearance at a debate in Boston on monday night he said the family comes first and he will be re Luming Early monday morning from new Hampshire to Phoenix said Mick Mccurry. Reached Al a bed Ford . Hotel with the Campaign. The candidate had nol been Lold what Day the funeral would be Mccurry said. He said Babbitt was planning on an interruption of several Days in his Campaign schedule. The elder Babbitt who ended his involvement As a. Corporate officer and Legal counsel to the Babbitt Brothers trading co in the mid-1970s, enjoyed he distinction from 1976 to 1982 of being the father of Arizona s governor and the father of the mayor of one of its cities. While Bruce Rabbit governed inc state his brother Paul j. Babbitt jr., was mayor of Flagstaff. Paul Babbitt or. Was bom May 21,1898, in Flagstaff and attended High school in los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor s degree from Georgetown University i Washington and a doctorate of Law from Loyola Mary mount University in los Angeles. From 1937 until 194s, he practice Law in los an Geles returning to Flagstaff after the death of a younger brother to become Legal counsel for the family owned trading company. Other survivors include his wife Frances Perry three was Kenneth and Paul of Flagstaff and Charles of Phoenix one daughter Christine Babbitt of Berke Ley Calif. And five grandchildren. Services will be private inc family said. 3 children teen killed in California House fire Montebello Calif. A fire raced through a Home Early sunday As eight people slept killing four of them including three children and leaving the others seriously injured authorities said. Inside a charred closet in the Home authorities found an unopened bos con Taining a smoke Detector. There were no operating smoke detectors in the Home said police it. Michael Kighal two of inc victims were guests who spent the night following a christening parly the Day before police said. The infant in whose Honor inc party was held had spent the night at another relative s Home officials said. The fire broke Oul in the three bed room House about 4 20 . And was extinguished 20 minutes later said fire Cap. Randy Merrill. Aida Dorunda 13, Danielle Medina 6, and Kac Hucl Lopez 6. Were pronounced dead on arrival Al two area hospitals Kighal said. Kac Hucl Mcdona 7, died despite Al let pts to resuscitate her Al Beverly hos phial he  Medina 33, and his wife Gloria 38, who lived in the House were in. Serious condition sunday suffering from smoke inhalation cuts and bruises said Beverly Hospital nursing supervisor Madlyn Bloxham. Joi Medina a was listed in critic a condition after suffering smoke inhalation Mundick Lopez 10, also was in Crit ical condition and undergoing treatment with oxygen said Steve Wagner spokesman for Long Beach memorial  Lopez girls were cousins of the Mudinas but did not live at inc House said battalion chief Roy Richardson. The party was for another one of the Medina family. The baby was Laken to the grandmother s House after the part because there was no room in the Medina House Richardson said. We Don t know exactly what inc relationship ii Between Borunda and the me Dinas but we believe inc is a child from a previous marriage Merrill said. Borunda lived with inc  Sause of the fire was not immediately determined but it apparently started in the family room near a fire place  is 10 Miles Southeast of downtown los Angeles