European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday october 1, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 7voters spurn primaries study finds Washington apr fewer than 20 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 1990 primaries according to a non partisan study released on saturday. Dismal As it might appear that turnout was about average for a midterm election reported the committee for the study of the american electorate. The report also cautioned that turnout in primaries is not an indicator of whether voters will be motivated to go vote in november. The turnout for the primaries for both parties was 19.56 percent Down a fraction of a percent from 1986. Hot contests for the Republican and democratic nominations for governor of Massachusetts brought out 32 percent of the voters the highest turnout for such elections there since 1962. In the District of Columbia nearly 27 percent of the eligible democrats turned out to choose Nomi nees for mayor the highest participation since the City gained Home Rule in 1974. In Massachusetts and the District of Columbia the surge of primary election voters resulted in a rejection of political insiders. John Silber won the democratic nomination for governor of Massachusetts easily defeating the reelection favorite former attorney general Frank Bellotti. Also campaigning As an outsider William Weld captured the gop nomination for governor defeating legislative Republican Leader Steven Pierce. Sharon Pratt Dixon who has never held elective office Defeated four officeholders to win the democratic nomination for mayor of Washington. A even in this Era of cynicism Public disillusionment with politics and declining voter participation the Public will vote if they have something important to vote for or against a said Curtis b. Gans director of the committee. But Gans said it was a too Early to Tell whether the anti incumbent mood that was reflected in some of the primaries will turn activist in november and whether it will affect All incumbents or As is More traditional the party which occupies the White  he also noted primary election turnout has a not necessarily been a reliable indicator of general election  the states with the highest percentage turnout in the primaries were Alaska with 37.9 percent Wyoming 36.3 Arkansas 32.5 Massachusetts 32.4 Montana 32 Oklahoma 31.3 and Nebraska 30.2. Lowest turnout was in Connecticut with 5.2 percent new Jersey 5.5 South Carolina 7.4 Wisconsin 9.0 Maine 11.3 and Michigan 12.3. Soviets recognize mormon Branch in Leningrad Salt Lake City up the soviet government has officially recognized a Branch of the mormon Church in Leningrad after More than three years of efforts by the Church to expand into the soviet Union officials said saturday. The Leningrad Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day saints will be part of the Baltic District of the churches Helsinki Finland East Mission the officials said. A under soviet Law each congregation of a religious organization must be registered separately they added. Official registration of the first mormon Church Branch inside the soviet Union was completed sept. 19 in Moscow by Eugenii Che Metlov head of the Council on religious affairs Section of the non russian orthodox religions. Mormon efforts to expand into the soviet Union began in june 1987 when Russell n. Nelson a member of the churches Council of the twelve met with Council on religious affairs officials. Nelson also met with Council leaders in August 1989 and april of this year. The mormon Church began missionary activities in the Leningrad area in 1903. But the missionaries were recalled in 1914.three years ago the Church opened a Temple in Freiberg East Germany and also has expanded activities into Czechoslovakia Hungary and  s Farewell to arms symbolized by dismantled Rifle president Bush and nicaraguan president Violta Chamorro share a laugh Over her gift of ak-47 Rifle As nicaraguan foreign minister Enrique Dreyfus looks on. New York apr nicaraguan president Violeta Chamorro gave president Bush a souvenir saturday of her country a shift toward democracy a confiscated ak-47 Rifle Cut in half by a Blowtorch. Chamorro said the soviet made weapon was seized from a civilian As part of her governments efforts to pacify the country after a decade of Sandim Sta Rule. The two presidents met in Advance of sundays world Summit for children at the United nations. A this is a souvenir of the peace that i am bringing about in my country. I want to give it to you As a sign of the end of the War and the beginning of our democracy a Chamorro said. Chamorro a newspaper publisher Defeated sandinista president Daniel Ortega in elections last february and took office two months later. A i done to know if you really like the gift a she said. A i do like the gift a Bush assured her. The sandinista distributed rifles to the populace during their time in Power and Chamorro a government has since been rounding them up. Bush assured Chamorro he would make a special Effort to ensure that Nicaragua gets the full $200 million in Aid for fiscal 1991 that Bush has asked for notwithstanding the United states cur ing rent budget difficulties. Convictions upheld in Fla. Child s death Lakeland Fla. Apr a state appeals court upheld the murder and child abuse convictions of a Christian scientist couple whose 7-year-old diabetic daughter died after they withheld medical treatment from her. William and Christine Hermanson should never have been allowed to argue at their trial that religious Freedom exempted them from prosecution the 2nd District court of appeals ruled Friday. A the right to practice religion freely does not include Liberty to expose the Community or the child to communicable disease or the latter to ill health or death a the appeals court said quoting a 1944 . Supreme court  43, a former Sarasota banker and his 39-Vear-old wife were convicted last year or felony child abuse and third degree murder in the 1986 death of their daughter Amy. The Herman sons were Given suspended four year prison sentences placed on probation Tor 15 years and ordered to seek medical treatment for their surviving children. They have moved to St. Louis since their convictions. In accordance with their Christian science beliefs the Herman sons shunned Medicine and instead relied on prayer. A was the jury could and did determine the Herman sons acknowledged absolute right to hold their religious beliefs did not permit them to exercise that right at the Price of amyl a life a the appeals court said in its 32-Page decision. A i think they covered the whole Ballpark with it a said assistant state attorney Deno Economou the Lead trial prosecutor. A a in a extremely  regardless of further Legal proceedings spokesman Nathan Talbot said the Boston based Church must maintain its efforts to make people understand Christian scientists Reliance on prayer. A a we la just have to continue to let people know that there san alternative method of Healing that does no to have a perfect track record but has been so successful that a Large segment of society relies on it a Talbot said. Teen Ager sending goodies to the Gulf Milwaukee a a 15-year-old girl whose song promoting peace captivated Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev is organizing an Airlift of Granola bars and lip Balm for american soldiers in the persian Gulf. Sherry Lynn Biedrzycki said she got the idea from news reports on mail Call and meal times being the most important parts of the soldiers Long hot Days m the desert. A i saw on a Good morning american a Soldier who looked into the camera at mail Call and he said a looks like there a no mail for me a a Sherry said. A i Felt really bad for  Sherry gained International attention in 1987 when her song a we can walk in peace a caught the attention of soviet and . Leaders during the height of nuclear arms reduction talks. The tune earned her a visit from then president Reagan and a trip to the soviet Union to meet Gorbachev. The latest Effort of the suburban Milwaukee girl began two weeks ago at St. Francis High school. A she was going to Start a letter writing Campaign at school and then she decided that she could do better than that a said Sherry smother Judy. The Milwaukee office of the Vietnam veterans foundation has agreed to Send Sherry s a a bars other in acc mixes and lip Balm Michael Pepp special events coordinator for the group said the items Likely would be on their Way this week. Sherry wants teen agers All Over the United states to join in her Effort. A i want this to be a teen project and show that teens care abcs soldiers a she said