European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 28 a a the stars and stripes Wedgie Day August 1,1990 girls testify 8-year-old sister Wasby Rosemary Sawyer staff writer bad Kreuz Nach West Germany a the 8-Ycar-old daughter of an army staff sergeant was forced to sleep on the bathroom floor and stand in the Corner for hours at a time in the weeks before her death her Sisters testified tuesday. The girls also said Michele Valdez was frequently whipped by her father and Stepmother. Staff sgt. Ricardo Valdez is charged with murder in Michele a death. His West German wife Christina is under investigation by Mainz authorities for possible child abuse but not murder said i inter Muth the state prosecutor in Mainz. A we Hope Ter finish the investigation in the near future. Mrs Valdez is free to come and go As she pleases. She has not been placed under any kind of restrictions a Muth said in a Telephone interview. Valdez who is assigned to he co 4th in 34th Armor in Mainz is also charged with maiming three counts of child neglect assault on a child under age 16 and larceny of military property the second Day of his general court martial was held tuesday. Medical authorities said Michele died March 27 or 28 of staphylococcal pneumonia. The prosecution argues that the uncommon Type of pneumonia was caused by bacteria that entered her bloodstream through sores related to beatings it contends that the bacteria entered the blood through Mouth injuries including Loose and missing Teeth and tearing around the Corners of the Mouth or through a bedsores. Doctors said Michele developed the bedsores from sleeping on one hip to relieve pain in her other hip where she had severe bruising and  Efrom Page 1 a percent of the alliances general infrastructure accounts. The defense department a remains committed for funding for Croton Quot Williams said. A the Alliance is in agreement the land has been purchased and we still plan to break ground around the end of  in approving the Bill two weeks ago the House appropriations committee voted to defer funding for the base until dec. 31 to allow time for the House and Senate armed services committees to Deal with it As part of next years defense authorization Bill. But the floor amendment offered by rep. Bill Alexander d-ark., bans ail funding through sept 30, 1991, the end of the next fiscal year. The Overall Bill approved by a 312-82 vote cuts More than $800 million from the administrations construction request. The Bill includes a one time appropriation of $1 billion for spending related to base closures. Aside front that Money the Bill contains $700 million less in general military construction funding than was provided for the current fiscal year. The administrations request for overseas construction and nato infrastructure funds was Cut by $457 million. The biggest reduction came in West Germany where the administration s request of $154 million was pared to Only $33 million. Another major Cut was  in construction for South Korea where the administration s request of $83 million also was slashed to $33 million. Most construction projects in the United states were approved and lawmakers ached $226 million in funding for National guard and Reserve construction reflecting a growing consensus in the i Louse and Senate that the military Wall have to rely More heavily on those forces in future years a House appropriations committee staffer said Croton probably will not be an Issue when the panel meets with its Senate counterpart to come up with a single defense spending Bill probably in september. The Senate appropriations committee has not begun work on its version of the military construction funding Bill but support for Croton in the Senate has been dwindling since april when sen. Sam Nunn d-ga., the influential chairman of that chamber a armed services committee voiced doubts about the project. Sen. Alan Dixon die chairman of the subcommittee that oversees military construction vowed to try to kill the Croton project when the full Senate debates its defense authorization Bill. The hip was so misshapen that doctors initially thought it was broken or dislocated. An autopsy re pc Ald that the muscle tissue was dead and abscessed. Michele a 10-year-old sister a Clleta Valdez and 8-year-old Stepsister Charlene Young told the court tuesday that Michele was repeatedly forced to stand in the Comer until three weeks before her death. She was Only allowed out of the Comer for meals which she Quot ate apart from the rest of the family. Under questioning they testified in soft voices that Michele was unable to stand up during the last couple of weeks before her death and spent All her time lying on the bathroom floor with the door shut. They recalled How Michele was hit often with a shoe suitcase strap or Belt when she soiled her clothes or bedding. Investigators said Valdez said in a sworn statement that Mich la slept on the floor of the bedroom and later the bathroom because of this problem. Michele had no Blanket or Pillow in the bathroom because Christina Valdez had said the Rug would be warm enough the sergeants statement said. When asked by investigators about his daughters injuries Valdez said her Teeth fell out when he was trying to resuscitate her in route to the Hospital on the Day she died. He said her swollen Ankles were from standing in the Comer All Day and her fractured wrist was the result of a fall. His sworn statements which were read to the court by the investigators who took them included admitting to kicking Michele two times in january and february. He said he kicked her in the buttocks and Only with his Bare foot. He said he never kicked her a with full Force or with combat  Valdez a statement also said he had caught Michele a Sisters kicking her on at least one occasion. Michele a Sisters acknowledged under questioning that they had kicked her. Charlene said that while Valdez had told them not to do it Christina Valdez told them not to listen to him. Null Etc testified that she had heard her Stepmother threaten to leave their father if he did no to get rid of Michele. In a letter to his Mother that was found in the Home Valdez wrote a it has gotten so bad that Christina can to control her anymore. Michele just does no to listen to Christina. Christina said she wanted Mich la out by  two of Valdez a neighbors in Clark housing area at Fin then army Airfield testified that they did no to know the family had four children Christina Valdez also has a 7-year-old daughter who lived with them. Nelleke said she Wasny to allowed to Tell anyone about Michele. Quot if he catches me telling anyone about Michele hell spank me a she said. She recalled drawing a family picture at school with just five members and said she did no to include Michele because her Stepmother would have Tom it up. A Mainz investigator who searched the Valdez apartment said Christina Valdez a daughters had an elaborately decorated bedroom with Many toys while Michele and null Etc shared a room with just one bed and fewer toys. The court also heard specifics about the military property Valdez is accused of stealing. More than 200 m-16 Blank rounds were found in Valdez a basement during a search of the apartment. The trial was to resume at 9 . Wednesday at Rose  Page 1 ahead. Teich said he sees the Buck falling at least another 2 pfennig in the next few Days. A a it a very very difficult to say How Low the Dollar might fall but i think soon we could be below 1.58 Marks on the world Market Quot he said. A of course that a not very Nice for you Guys the american troops a Servic members civilian workers and their family members Are caught Between a Rock and a hard place by the dollars dive even though they receive housing and Cost of living allowances to Cushion the crunch. Americans Are paid in dollars and Many must pay rent for West German apartments utilities and Telephone Bills in Marks. Of course americans also like to travel eat out at West German restaurants and occasionally buy european fashions at downtown department stores. But those pleasant pursuits Are becoming nearly impossible to afford. A the weak Dollar Means my family will be taking fewer trips and going out to eat a lot less often a said Anderson. A few other service members and family members interviewed tuesday said they re spending practically no Marks these Days. A i think things Are out of hand a said Beverly Springer a civilian worker at the Frankfurt Burger King whose husband is a stall sergeant in the army. Quot we be really got to budget a lot More  Springer said she a buying half As Many goods at West German grocery stores today As she did three months ago and her family is frugal when it comes to spending Money on entertainment and sightseeing a a in be taken Only four Days leave in three years and my husband has taken just two weeks Quot she said. Instead dollars Are converted to Marks Only to pay the monthly phone Bill and to buy 30-Day Public transportation passes to get to and from work she said. A a a a the Marks steady Advance against the Dollar began in Earnest last november shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. On nov. 10, the Day after the Wall cracked open one Dollar was Worth 1.82 Marks and by years end the Exchange rate Hud slipped to 1.66. So far this year the Buck has lost another 10 pfennig. A a it a really been a shocker to me a said spec. William Monigan who works with the 17th signal in in Frankfurt. A a in a like to get out and see Germany but 1 can to afford to unless the Exchange rate gets above two  pfc. Jerry Shackelford assigned to the 317th engr in said he a had to Stop spending Money on clothes and entertainment on the West German Economy. A right now its getting pretty ridiculous a the Young Soldier said. Quot my friends and i stay around the Barracks a lot. We quit going  it Shackelford who has lived in Europe a Mere seven months said he has vowed to Stop shopping in West German stores until the Dollar gets stronger. He came to that decision after spending 78 Marks last month for a dress shirt nearly a $50 Purchase. A if you re Between e-2 and e-4, you can to afford to do anything a the sadder but Wiser Shackelford said. Pvt. 2 Sean Hibler agreed. A i done to spend Marks. If you do you get Short changed Quot said Hibler who has been in West Germany four months and is assigned to the 317th engr in. Hibler said he gets no More than $50 Worth of West German currency about 78 Marks out of every $450 paycheck. That he said goes for Entrance fees at nightclubs on weekends and a couple of Beers. A getting Marks is almost useless a he said. Anderson the dentist said his family is cancelling plans for at least two major purchases because of the poor Exchange rate in West Germany. A my amp be wanted a new bedroom set and a big closet but nov we can to afford to buy them on the Economy a Anderson said. _ Springer said she Hopes the Dollar starts showing some spunk soon. A i done to think it can go Antuch lower Quot she said. Quot but if it Falls below 1.55 Marks we h All be in a world of  Trinidad from Page 1. In both feet during the takeover and nine people were a killed. His condition tuesday was not immediately known. Earlier Bakr said Robinson needed medical care for glaucoma. He claimed the prime minister was going Blind because of a Lack of medication. It was not known if Robinson had a history of glaucoma. Selwyn Richardson the Justice and National Security minister spoke to a local journalist by Telephone from inside parliament on tuesday. He also said the government had granted amnesty to Bakr and his followers and that the agreement was contingent Quot upon the Sale return of All members of parliament held hostage. However the program manager of government run television Bernard Pantin said no formal Deal was signed and he doubled an agreement had been reached. Under the agreement reported by Robinson and Bakr Deputy prime minister Winston Dookheran. Widely respected moderate would take Over irom Robinson until elections Are held