European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 a a a the stars and stripes monday april 30,1990naf workers fighting to keep benefits by Steve Taylor Munich Bureau when her Job changed from a non appropriated fund position to civil service Chris Wenk Harrison lost about $6,000 in pay and benefits. Gail Howerton puts her own loss at $2,000. Both were affected by congressionally mandated changes in the Way morale welfare and recreation activities Are funded. Those changes have spurred a lobbying Effort from employees who face similar losses when their Job positions Are converted. In the 1989 defense authorization act Congress decided that certain recreational activities such As Golf courses and clubs should no longer be funded by taxpayers. The Law also switched about $300 million in tax dollars annually to previously non appropriated fund activities such As child care facilities recreation centers and libraries. And if Congress does no to change the rules by oct. 1, about 2,000 other civilians in Europe could face similar Cost s and losses of benefits As their non appropriated fund positions Are converted to civil service jobs. The total figure has been put at 8,000 employees worldwide. Wenk Harrison said she was one of the first to experience the transition As outdoor recreation director in Worms West Germany. Overnight she went from the non appropriated system at the ua-9, step 7 level to a gs-9, step 1 under civil service. And after 16 years of service she lost All seniority had to serve a one year probationary period required by civil service and lost about 2,000 hours of sick leave. She also lost the Way she accrued vacation time going from eight hours per pay period to four hours. Howerton outdoor recreation director at Pir Masens West Germany with 2 i years service also experienced a Cut in pay with a loss of seniority and sick leave. Both said that they had no Choice in the matter. It was either make the transition or lose their jobs even though current rules say that the conversion in t allowed without the written consent of the employee. But without Naf Money available the army can to pay them. Carol Koenig is looking at the oct. 1 deadline with trepidation. As a non appropriated fund librarian in Baum older West Germany with 12 years of seniority she stands to lose similar amounts of pay and benefits. If she does no to agree to the change Shell simply lose her Job she said. Koenig intends to fight Back. Her Battle however is not with the military establishment but with Congress. A a it a not a confrontational Issue of the employee is. Management a a she said. A Congress must change the  As the legislative advocate for the european recreation society a private organization made up of nearly 350 recreation specialists she is leading an Effort of letter writing and publicity that she Hopes will motivate congressional action. She has already had help from the defense department. About a year ago a defense committee forwarded a legislative proposal on the benefits Issue to the office of personnel management. Its now before a House subcommittee awaiting consideration. Koenig has found Little opposition to the proposed legislation which would allow the Transfer of benefits Between non appropriated fund and civil service employment systems retroactive to Jan. 1,1987. A but its just not recognized As a hot Issue. We want to raise the Issue a she said. In addition to the letter writing Campaign Koenig is eliciting support from such organizations As the association of the . Army the air Force association and the National recreation and Park association. Many employees however done to see the move to civil service As All negative with possible Long term benefits for their careers. Since her move to civil service two years ago Wenk Harrison has been promoted to gs-11 and become the director of outdoor recreation for v corps. But she and others object to the Short term loss of pay and benefits. A we need to get this Bill out of committee a Koenig said. News update Cricket plague Reno Nev. Apr the worst mormon Cricket infestation in Nevada since the 1930s appears under control a state agricultural official said As the Federal government launched a second Aerial attack on the voracious insects. The infestation covers some 700,000 acres in five counties of North Central Nevada with crickets counted at up to 100 per Square foot in some areas near Winnemucca 160 Miles Northeast of Reno. A i think we be made real Progress in killing the insects although there a a lot of them out there a said Dick Rowe coordinator of the Nevada department of agriculture a Plant Industry program. A at the present time i think we be got things under control. A i might change my mind 30 Days Down the Road but for now it looks like we re doing of and the insects Haven to done any real damage  Rowe said the crickets which Are related to Grasshoppers Are about three quarters of an Inch Long now but will grow up to two inches Long. Eagle scouts Darmstadt West Germany a Marcus s. Perrocco a member of troop 65, has joined the ranks of the Eagle scouts the highest Honor in scouting. The 18-year-old has been involved with the boy scouts for seven years. For his Eagle scout project Perrocco devised plans to renovate the Munster Cavern Chapel. He supervised other scouts and civilian and military volunteers in planting Flowers and shrubs installing fences cultivating the Lawn and preparing the Walkway. Perrocco is in the senior level at Lich Tenberg gymnasium. He is the son of chief warrant officer 4 . Perrocco and Bibiane l. Perrocco. Ramstein a West Germany a Kipp Aurele Keller a member of troop 12, recently has joined the ranks of the Eagle scouts. The Ramstein High school senior has been in boy scouting for three years. For his Eagle scout project he renovated the Ramstein a Pond grounds by Clearing the drainage ditches replacing grills and painting play equipment picnic tables and bathrooms. Keller 17, is the son of Ronald and Patricia Keller. To earn the Eagle scout award a boy scout must fulfil requirements in the areas of leadership service and outdoor skills. This includes earning at least 21 Merit badges and completing a Community service project. Final chorus cast members of a a chorus line kick up their heels during the finale of the Broadway musicals final perform night. The show ended its 15-year run Mance in new York on saturday with a record 6,137 performances. . Prosecutor in Miami probed Washington apr the Justice department is conducting an internal inquiry into allegations of misconduct by the acting . Attorney in Miami whose office is prosecuting Manuel Noriega according to sources. The investigation of Dexter Lehtinen comes As the Senate judiciary committee considers his nomination by president Bush to a full term As the chief Federal prosecutor in South Florida. The sources familiar with the inquiry and who asked not to be identified by name said the Justice department office of professional responsibility recently sent investigators to Miami to conduct interviews into allegations including a that Lehtinen pressured his staff to inflate overtime reports to prompt Washington to boost the size of his office a now one of the Justice departments largest. A that Lehtinen tried to participate in a Public corruption investigation after disqualifying himself from a Case which involved a potential political rival of his wife rep. Ileana Ros Lehtinen a Fla. Lehtinen has been in the headlines before. In january attorney general Dick Thornburgh eased Lehtinen off the Noriega trial team. Government sources said at the time that the attorney general took the action because of concern that Lehtinen a volatile temper and his relatively modest trial experience could hamper the governments drug trafficking Case against the deposed panamanian Leader. The internal Justice department investigation comes at a politically sensitive time. Lehtinen a nomination to a full term As . Attorney in Miami is pending in the Senate. The review also could prove ticklish for the Bush administration because of Lehtinen a political ties to the White House. One of the items under review involves an alleged attempt by Lehtinen to involve himself in the corruption investigation of Hialeah mayor Raul Martinez after publicly disqualifying himself from the Case according to sources familiar with the probe. In announcing his recusal Lehtinen explained that Martinez who was indicted this month on racketeering charges was a possible political rival of his wife. The false overtime report allegation stems from a staff meeting during which Lehtinen told prosecutors they should take More credit for the Long hours they put in the sources said. Lehtinen told the staff that he wanted the . Attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida to replace the Southern District of new York in the eyes of the nations lawyers As the Premier Branch of the Justice department the sources added. A the number of Federal prosecutors in the office increased from 88 in november 1988 to 154 currently and the Justice department has authorized As Many As 200 this year officials said