European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes saturday november 10,1990 news update trouble with truffles Avignon France a a fraud scandal involving truffles the ugly fungi prize As a delicacy by gourmets has led to an investigation. Authorities this week said four companies that handle the bulk of truffle sales in France have been implicated in a scheme to defraud wholesale buyers. The culprits allegedly used Walnut juice to stain Light coloured summer truffles so they appeared to be the More coveted and More expensive dark Winter truffles. The Case has been turned Over to prosecutors in the Southern town of Carp contras after an investigation by a government consumer fraud Agency. Summer truffles sell for about $36 per Pound compared to $164 per Pound for Winter truffles. The fraud allegedly involved several tons of truffles. Truffles grow just under the surface of the soil. They can be found by a person using a stick but More commonly pigs or trained hounds arc used to sniff them  crash averted Chicago apr a passenger Jet nearly collided with a Small plane Over downtown Chicago last week because an air traffic controller erred the Federal aviation administration said. The Crew of a United airlines Boeing 737, in. Route to Seattle from Chicago on nov. 1 with 96 passengers reported a a near midair collision with a Cessna 172, Faa spokesman Mort Edelstein said wednesday. The Jet came within about 1,300 feet of the Small plane horizontally and 200 feet vertically the Faa said. Federal guidelines require a minimum separation of  Miles horizontally and 500 feet vertically the second aircraft was a Law enforcement plane said Donald Zochert another Faa spokesman. But he declined to identify the Agency that operated it. A preliminary investigation indicated the controller had planned to turn the Jet but apparently failed to Issue the order fast enough Edelstein said. The controller was removed from his position and has undergone retraining the Faa  sales Raf Molesworth England the defense re utilization and marketing office will hold an auction of surplus government property nov. 15. The auction which includes 186 separate lots of goods and vehicles will Start at 10 . At the Village Hall old Weston near Huntingdon. Bidding will be conducted using prices in British Sterling. Payment May be made in either . Dollars or British Sterling except for taxes which must be paid in Sterling. Sale items can be inspected from nov. 12-14 at Raf Molesworth Between 8 . To noon and 1 to 3 ., and from 8 to 10 . The Day of the Sale. For More information Call the demo at 0480 842631. 7 women fired from Thrift shop taking Case to German court by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer seven women fired from the Heidelberg Thrift shop Are taking their Case to a German labor court. The workers were Given 30 Days notice in letters received oct. 16. The employees were fired by the Board of the Heidelberg officers and civilians women a club which operates the second hand shop. Club president Cille Crago said the workers were being Laid off to accommodate the boards plans to reorganize the store. A in my opinion the Case is illegal at least under German labor process Law a said Michael Auerbach the workers attorney. German Law does not allow workers to be fired with just 30 Days notice. Because the women a club is a private organization it comes under German Law. The women were working on contracts that were to expire one year after their respective hiring dates. Crago refused to comment wednesday. Auerbach said he expects a judge to hear the Case by the end of november. In the first session the judge will attempt to mediate. If this fails another court session will be held before three judges. Auerbach did not know what settlement the workers would seek. However he did not think they would try to get their jobs Back. Quot naturally it is very difficult to work afterwards in the same place As before after such a court session he said. About half of All such labor disputes Are settled in the first couple of sessions. Employers normally seek a Quick settlement because workers must be paid for the Liti gation period if a Case takes a Long time and the employer loses Auerbach said. A we feel it is Worth pursuing in court because we were treated so badly a said Roxanna St. John fired Thrift shop manager. A we were told that we had this right to go to a German lawyer and we did  an eighth fired worker chose not to take part in the Legal action fearing it could Hurt her husbands career. The women a club also dissolved the Thrift shop committee of six by firing its Volunteer chairwoman. The eight part time workers together Are paid $3,100 a month. The Thrift shop located in Patrick Henry Village has profits of $12,000 to $15,000 a year. The women a club contributes the Money to Community welfare projects. 3 missing in crash of . Copter from staff and wire reports Athens Greece a greek search and Rescue planes hunted thursday for three . Soldiers whose helicopter crashed into the sardonic Gulf on wednesday night. The uh-1 Huey helicopter belonging to the Southern european task forces det 6, was in route from its base at Vicenza in Northern Italy to hell Nikon a near Athens said army it. Col. Lee rials a task Force spokesman in Vicenza. The chopper crashed about 6 20  The helicopter reportedly crashed about 500 Yards South of the tiny Island of Eireos. The islet is about 15 Miles Southeast of Corinth. Residents of the Corinth area reported hearing Aii explosion at that time according to reports. On thursday morning search Crews found wreckage off Eireos. Det 6 officials said they had no Way of knowing who was piloting the helicopter because it had two qualified pilots aboard. They were chief warrant officer 2 James Harbeson 37, and chief warrant officer 2 Manuel Gomez 29. Also aboard was the helicopters Crew chief sgt. Michael Chandler 23, said rials. Harbeson has a wife Luffa a daughter Alexandra 13 and a son John Luca 11. Gomez has a wife Hannelore. Chandler has a wife Barbara and a 15-month-old-daughter, Kristin. All the family members live in Vicenza. The helicopter left Vicenza on wednesday morning for hell Nikon where it was scheduled to relieve another det 6 helicopter based there rials said. It made an unscheduled maintenance Stop for 45 minutes on an Island near Corfu in the ionian sea. The sem official Athens news Agency quoted unidentified greek military sources As saying a malfunction forced the chopper to land on the Island of Otho Noi just off Corfu. The helicopters Crew chief repaired the malfunction and the helicopter then refuelled at Corfu before departing for Athens the greek sources said. Rials said he did not know what weather conditions were in the area at the time of the crash. But he said thunderstorms in the area forced the Aerial search for survivors to be suspended from ii  Wednesday until 4 30 . Thursday. Ships continued searching through the night and found wreckage off Eireos on thursday morning rials said. No cleared of intimidating gis in probe Augsburg Germany a amps an Augsburg sergeant has been cleared of charges of impeding the investigation that led to his company commanders being relieved of duty a Community spokeswoman said thursday. Sgt. 1st class Harry l. Jackson now with service Btry 1st in 18th Field arty will resume duties As a first sergeant the spokeswoman said. The initial investigation looked into allegations of mistreatment of unit Mem Bers. As a result of the probe capt. Frank e. Cowden Iii the commander of the artillery units cob was reassigned within the Augsburg military Community. Jackson the units first sergeant also was relieved after the investigating officers concluded he had intimidated soldiers who testified against Cowden. But Jackson who had been assigned to the United states on temporary duty soon after the investigation began said he never had a Chance to rebut the accusations. When he returned to Europe on sept. 6, he asked for another investigation. The latest investigation report gave him Quot a clean Bill of health and recommended that no action be taken to a preclude him from serving As a first sergeant in this or future  in that report the original investigating officer said be had Errea by failing to obtain statements from Jackson or conduct a a thorough inquiry into the background of the situation. Army to shut recreation support Center Heidelberg Germany a amps a the . Army recreation services support Center will close sept. 30, the . Army Europe announced wednesday. The Center on a Schaffenburg a Taylor Barracks provides recreational entertainment and artistic services. It has a staff of two military members 67 local National employees and 37 department of the army civilians. Gen. Crosbie e. Saint Usa eur commander ordered the phaseout because of changes in morale welfare and recreation funding and the reduction of. Forces in Europe. The 11-month phaseout allows time for local communities to take Over some of the centers duties Usa eur said. The graphics Art shop will cease operation in mid january. According to the statement some communities already Are using local sources for printing services. Other military communities have offered to take Over music and theater services including costuming. These communities have been asked to submit their proposals to the Community and family support activity by nov 15,1990. Staff reduction will be accomplished As much As possible by attrition and relocation. Go gets 10 years in prison for pm break in _ Forth Germany a a Vii corps Soldier has been sentenced to 10 years confinement for the theft of More than $40,000 in Post Exchange merchandise a division spokesman said thursday. Pvt. 1 Vincent j. Felder of he Btry 210th Field arty Brig was convicted in july of the april 16 break in at the Firth Exchange it. Bryan Williams said. Authorities said Felder and another Soldier broke into the building through a skylight smashed display cases with a crowbar and took camera equipment and watches. Charges against the other suspect whom Williams declined to name Are still pending. The Soldier is absent without leave Williams said. Felder was charged with larceny destruction of private property conspiracy and perjury. His sentence also included reduction to the lowest enlisted Grade a dishonourable discharge and forfeiture of All pay and allowances. Williams refused to say whether there had been a pretrial agreement reducing the time Felder will serve in confinement