European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes tuesday july 12,1988 toll free hot line gives texans link to literacy Austin Texas up noting that one i five texans Are functionally illiterate Texas first lady Rita Clements announced monday the establishment of a toll free information hot line to address the problem. The hot line 1-800-441-read will be administered by the Texas literacy Council a division of the Texas department of Commerce Clements said. Using a donated computer data base Council staff members will provide callers with locations for literacy training give instructions on setting up literacy programs and share information be tween literacy programs. Literacy is the foundation on which an individual s personal growth As Well As employability Are based Clements said. From a strictly eco nomic Point of View there is a permanent and direct link Between educational achievement and economic  the Texas literacy Council was established bythe legislature in 1987 to make literacy instructions available to every Texas Community and to coordinate and promote programs. A study by the task Force on literacy showed illiteracy costs Texas about $17 billion a year in lost tax revenues unemployment insurance an welfare payments Clements said. Nicaragua bound Convoy again stopped at Border Laredo Texas up four members of the veterans peace Convoy Early monday attempted to Cross into Mexico with two truckloads of Aid for Nicaragua but were stopped at the Border and one of the four was arrested a . Customs spokesman said. We attempted another Border crossing at 1 30  two trucks and four people said Tom Hansen coordinator of the Convoy. It was a completely non violent action. Contrary to some news reports we did not Rush the  agents acting on orders from the Treasury department and other Federal agencies prevented the vehicles from crossing the Border on grounds that the trucks themselves violate the embargo on the shipment of certain goods to the Central american country. The government has said the Aid itself food clothing Medicine and educational goods could be taken South but that Convoy members must sign statement promising to bring Back the trucks. Hansen said three of the four people decided to obey customs officers but the fourth Louis Debenedette 43, a disabled Veteran from Washington d.c., said due to a deep moral conviction he would continue to attempt to drive across the Border. Debendette was arrested on charges of blocking Public Roadway and held in the Webb county jail. Hansen said about 30 Convoy members Are still i Laredo and plan to attempt to Cross the Border in coming Days. At 9 30 . Tuesday . District judge George  was scheduled to open a hearing on a lawsuit filed by the Convoy members against the government san on the trucks being Given to nicaraguans. About 50 people in 20 vehicles planned saturday to Cross into Mexico in route to Nicaragua where the hoped to deliver food Medicine and their vehicles to nicaraguan Relief agencies. Customs agents alerted that Convoy vehicles would try to Cross the Border at noon saturday had blocked All Mexico bound traffic on the International Bridge Between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo on the mexican Side said Charles Conroy a customs spokesman i Houston said. Laredo police forcibly removed eight members fro the vehicles and impounded three vehicles that tried to Cross the Bridge by dodging a blockade of government vehicles authorities said. Three of the eight arrested suffered minor injuries Convoy spokesman said. The eight were jailed on Misdemeanour charges of obstruction of a Public Roadway and resisting arrest. They were released late saturday after posting Bonds Otaling $ 1,250 each a jail spokesman said. The Convoy first tried to Cross in mid june. Custom officials demanded that c9nvoy members comply with . Sanctions against military Aid to Nicaragua an Promise to return their vehicles to the United states within 30 Days but Convoy leaders refused. The group then headed to Washington to plead i Scase to Federal authorities. When they were unable to meet with Federal officials the peace activists headed Back South for another try at entering Mexico. Possible fraud probe link to israeli firms reported new York up the Fri in Quiry into the military procurement scandal has turned up two israeli con trolled companies that bid on Pentagon contracts As the first foreign concerns with direct ties to the probe the new York times reported monday. In seeking a possible link Between Melvyn Paisley a Central figure in the scandal and the israeli companies Maylat Ltd. And local industries the Fri obtained a search warrant to seize evidence from the former Navy official s Home in Mclean va., on june 14. The warrant which listed the two companies indicated that the Fri was searching for documents showing Paisley worked for local or helped it obtain Pentagon contracts from 1981 to 1988 and also that he May hold a financial interesting Maylat an Israel based manufacturer of remotely piloted drone planes. In Washington israeli government spokesman Yossi Gal said he was unaware until this weekend that any israeli owned companies were under scrutiny and to the Best of my knowledge Nei ther the Fri nor any other . Agency had contacted the israeli government i connection with the investigation. Paisley a military Industry consultant and former assistant Secretary of the Navy had a social relationship in the Early 1980s with the principals of local a Scranton pa., company controlled Byan israeli weapons maker and his son the times reported. Two men identified in the warrant Only by their last names As Maylat s own ers Are apparently maj. Gen. Uri Simhoni and Gen. Zvi Schiller an israeli offi Cial told the times. They Are former israeli officers who served As military attaches at the Israel embassy in Washington in the Early 1980s. Local is one of several weapons companies controlled by Shlomo Zabludow Wicz a Tel Aviv Israel resident and Hisson Chaim. They met Paisley about eight years ago when they hired a Washington military consultant the Abington corp., to help them obtain Pentagon contracts the times said. Paisley then a senior official at the Boeing co., also had retained Abington As a Washington consultant. Abington was owned by John f. Leh Man jr., who dissolved it when he was named Secretary of the Navy and who hired Paisley to become a top assistant for research and procurement. Paisley has not been charged with an crime and through his lawyer has denied any wrongdoing. No Deal new York City policemen wrestle drug suspect to the ground in times Square after a Chase that began when the alleged drug dealer broke away while being handcuffed. The suspect was taken into custody. Ford amends extends rebate offer to oct. 5 Detroit up Ford motor  monday it will extend until oct. 5 a slightly amended buyer incentive program of Cash rebates of $300 to $1,000 on certain new cars and Light trucks. The program Extension by the no. 2carmaker follows a move by general motors corp. Last week extending Man of its buyer programs until sept. 28 the end of the 1988-Model year. The programs Are designed to clearcut unsold 1988 models and make room for the 1989s, most of which will debuting Early october. Industry analysts say top . Carmak ers have been Able to Cut Back incentive offers and still enjoy Strong car and truck sales which Are up 11.1 percent for the first half of the year. They Likely will end the current Mode year with a relatively Low Supply of in sold cars and trucks and be Able to enter the 1989-Model year with Little or no incentive offers at least during the Earl months. Ford s latest offer includes a $600 re Bate on its Aerostat minivan but it is valid Only until the end of this Mont because of an Early introduction of a 1989 Model a company spokesman said. The Aerostat was excluded from Ford s earlier buyer incentive program. Other changes include a $100 reduction on All new Ford Taurus and Mer Cury Sable cars to $500, and a $100 Cuton Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz compact cars to $400. Ford also Cut rebate offers on certain four Cylinder Mustangs from $750 to $500. But the car maker increased its rebate offer from $500 to $750 on All Ranger pickup trucks except the base s Model and raised the Cash allowance on Alles Cort exp two seat subcompact by $200to $500. The exp will no longer be produced after the 1988-Model year. Other offers Range from $300 on new escort subcompact to $1,000 on Ford thunderbird Turbo coupes and Mercury Cougar xr-7 models. Separately pm s Cadillac division announced a $1,000 consumer rebate on its front drive Deville and Fleetwood cars until july 30. Refugee pact of d Dhaka Bangladesh a a senior government official says an agreement has been signed in Pakistan on the repatriation of about 250,000 pakistanis who were stranded in Bangladesh when it gained Independence