European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 31, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes thursday March 31,1968 shoppers use Coupon cents at commissaries by  Arrington Doke Kaiser a Autron Bureau military shoppers More than Dou bled their a of discount coupons Al army and air Force commissaries in Europe last year a statistic commissary officials relate directly to the dollars poor performance overseas. At air Force commissaries custom ers traded in s1.5 million Worth of Cou Poni during fiscal 1987, up from1738,376 tit previous sisal year. Army customers redeemed $2.6 million Worth of coupons in 1987 a 129 fat cent increase Over 1986, when custom ers turned in is i million Worth Laid officials at the army troop support Agency european commissary Region. Everything Points to Ilic falling value of the Dollar for the increased us and i think there has been a concerted Effort by both the air Forte Andich army commissaries to make Cou Pons More readily available said Luis Diaz regional comptroller for air Force commissaries in Europe through special arrangement with manufacturers both commissary sys tems now accept coupons up to Sis. Months past their expiration Date since commissary goods often take As bag As six months 14 reach shelves overseas officials Taid often products and coupons have arrived Loo late Tor customer to Lake advantage of promotional programs established in the United sum said Denise Gomes spokeswoman for the troop support Agency. In the first Quarter of fiscal 1988, the trend continued air Force commissary customers in Europe already have turned in 1522,350 Worth indicating Coupon use will probably reach about$2 million Worth this year Diaz raid. Army commissaries in Europe report Coupon use Worth $994,196 in the first Quarter of fiscal 198b, a figure Gomes said reflects a 53.5 percent increase Over js47.529 in coupons used during the same period last fiscal year. The commissary organizations cot led handling fees usually about 8cents, from manufacturers for each Coupon redeemed in their respective systems Bolh army and air Force commissary system use handling feet to offset worldwide operating costs. The air Force commissary system in Europe earned 1268,338 last year in handling feet up from j168,772 in 1986, the army s troop support Agency earned j5.i million in Coupon handling fees worldwide. A breakdown of handling Lea contributed by the army i european commissaries was not available. Pir Masens to test Utility tax Relief program by Daryl e. Green  Bureau Pir Masens. West Germany Theopi Masens military Community will begin a six month test Friday of a Utility tax Relief program which if successful could mean an end to German value added taxes on Utility Bills for service members. Simply the program is to allow the current Economy housing occupants to obtain lax Relief on their Utility Bills with the local Utility company said maj. Francis x. Gillis. Parmasena military Community director of engineering an housing. The program establishes a Nan appropriated fund business to act As Middle Man Between Scricc members of the Pir Masens Community and the local Pfalz worke and Sladow Tryc Utility company eligible military members wit pay their deposits and Utility Bills to the military Community which will Ihen pay the util Ity company in a monthly Lump sum. To join the program military Mem Bers have to sign up at the local Bousi Goffice and ensure that the Utility meter Al their residence it in their name. It s a Radical approach Gillis said about the Pir Masens plan. The approach at Usa Elfr has been that they were trying to do it As a government business a government service. What we be done is establish it As a non appropriated fund  official with the air Force in Europe said they Are awaiting the results of the Pirr Nasons test before uttering similar savings to residents in air Force communities. Since Usa eur is the Lead Agency in Germany to negotiate vat issues Safe is prohibited from conducting separate  said capt. Gail Hayes a spokeswoman for the command. She said the air Force in Europe will review the army test and will Likely begin its own program in the future. Getting the army to consider the Pir news updates death penalty Bill London a sin conservative lawmaker launched another attempt tuesday to restore the death penalty that As abolished in Britain nearly 20 years ago seven previous attempts to it in Roduco capital punishment have failed most recently in april of 1987, when inc House of common voted 342 to 230 against hanging for particularly heinous murders Taiwan secret report Taipei Taiwan a a secret government report release wednesday sail a former top Gen eral did not participate in the 1955 military coup attempt that resulted in his House arrest for 33 years. Sun i Jan inc 88-year-old for Mer Ihu f of staff of president Chiang Kai Shek was unaware of the plot according to the report by a five member committee of inc control Yuan the government watchdog body. Correction an article monday with the schedule of marches and demonstrations planned for easier weekend contained some in Correct and some incomplete information the largest demonstrations at . Military facilities can be expected sat urday at Wiesbaden a at 2 30 . Sunday noon at harm a Rhein main a b. About 2 . Neucom Headquarters in Stuttgart Al 3 . And monday be ginning at Al noon at Frankfurt Hauson and ending with a rally on Frankfurt ski Merberg or City Hall Plaza at 1 . Masons idea required a lengthy Battle that reached the office of the . Ambassador to Germany Gillis said. A year of bureaucrats trying to con Vince them that ibis ii what we were try ing to do and that in could work if you give it a Chance he said "11 was Dis cussed on inc highest finance minister level because the German government Here is obviously losing taxes that they be always been collecting although the German government May lose tax Revenue Utility companies face higher profits by having unpaid Bills guaranteed by the military Community tie said. We have to establish a floating account where we pay any kind of de faulted Bills As the business Gillis said. So the business that we re running will be taking the obligation of paying inc Bill Utility  to the 1 the Community through army Finan Cial channels can collect from soldiers platoon saves alien lost in . Desert Elpaso tens a guardsmen on Convoy saved a 34-year-old woman they found near death on an army firing Range in the new Mexico desert North East of Elpaso. Maria Terra Gas told the men she had been lost in the desert for six Days said 2nd i. Robert to Nevarez platoon Leader for the 25 new Mexico National guardsmen who found the woman. Terra Gas was suffering from sunburn and dehydration when the platoon found her sunday morning said Helen to a Kis spokeswoman Al fort Bliss. Terra Gas was in serious but stable condition tuesday at Beaumont army med ical Center in Elpaso. The woman who does not speak English told authorities she had come into the United slates from Mexico sin Days before and had gotten lost in the desert. 4 arabs killed in Gaza news Agency shut Down Jerusalem up soldiers killed four arabs during anti Israel protests wednesday and the army shut Down a palestinian news Agency choking the flow of information from the scaled off West Bank and Gaza strip on one of the bloodiest Days of the palestinian uprising. More than so people were injured Al least 14 of them by army gunfire during riots that swept villages and  Camps. The eruption was a blow to israeli authorities who had closed the West Bank and Gaza and deployed thousands of sol Diers and police to prevent violence Dur ing land Day protests against the 20 year occupation and the government s confiscation of Arab lands inside Israel. Scattered protests by israeli arabs were reported in Northern Israel and a Call for a general strike was generally observed. An estimated 10,000 people turned out for a peaceful rally in the town of Sohnin. But the protests fell far Short of organizers predictions of massive demonstrations by israeli 800,000 Arab Citi Zens. The Ecsi Bank and Gaza were sealed off for a second Day under an army order issued monday night the 850,000 palestinians in the West Bonk were not allowed to leave the Terri tory and a general strike closed All Busi Nesses and left roads deserted. The650,000 residents of Gaza were under virtual House arrest As a 24-hour curfew turned the teeming coastal strip into what a . Official ailed one Gigantic Host  Telephone lines to Gaza were Cut for second Day. Who fail to pay Ribeir Utility Bills. Operating expenses for the operation will come out of the taxes above 14 per cent thai Utility users pay. There is More than 14 percent thu us on Utility Bills Gillis explained noting that Utility users pay Between 16 percent and 21.5 percent in lanes on each Bill right now the Soldier gets Tern Tayback said Linda Howard chief of the financial management division in Pirro Seni. We have achieved 14 percent for him. The Benefit of negotiation hat Given moral welfare and recreation funds the ability to retain those other taxes. However when we know our exact operating costs when we re Limtt the program Well see if we have inc ability to return More  military Community also is expected to share in the benefits of the de business. Eventually inc floating account will begin earning interest Gillis said. That interest will be profit that pm be reinvested in the  a Relief for the user and � profit forthe Community the new program Al May provide a savings for Usa eur. We anticipate the program will amt Benefit appropriated funds Howard said. All of those people who Are paid overseas housing allowance especially civilians once the program is on line they will be Able to reduce 14 percent out of their Bill and the savings will be passed along. If you re recouping 14 per cent that s 14 percent thai the govern tent does t have to Shell  it s also 14 percent thai the individual Soldier does i have to Shell out. "1 think in j really giving the soldiers break because the Mark rate is not doing that Well plus it s a break for the younger enlisted said staff sgt. John h. Morten with the 7th combat support Hospital who was among inc first to sign up for the program. Berlin a senior Al Berlin Ameri can High school has advanced to Eark scout the highest rank in boy scouting. Tracy c. Terrell. 17. Will receive the award at Eagle court of Honor ceremonies monday at the Berlin Community Chapel. To Cam inc rank a boy scout roust fulfil requirements in the areas of leadership service and outdoor skill. Terrell exceeded inc usual requirements and qualified for the Eagle scout award witha Palm. He completed his service project i Harker Heights Texas where be re stored and repaired the Community base Ball Field and Concession building and replaced the facility s fencing. The son of maj. Clenny and Jackie Terrell he is treasurer of the nude Council and has lettered in varsity foot Ball. After graduation he plans to attend the University of Texas Al Arlington and major in accounting