European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 a a the stars and stripes thursday december 20, 1990 no con soviet Houston a a soviet official said wednesday a contract has been signed to allow an american to travel to the Mir space station despite a report by the official Sov to news Agency that a sweepstakes offering the trip was a hoax a the soviet Side agreed to it. We signed a letter of intent on nov. 22,�?� said Vladimir Nikitsky the Deputy director of the foreign Trade subsidiary of no Enervia which negotiates commercial deals for the soviet space program. The Tass news report had called the sweepstakes a Quot cosmic canard a but contest operators claimed there was a a a misunderstanding with soviet officials. The District attorney s office tuesday subpoenaed three executives of space travel services they were scheduled wednesday to answer questions before a grand jury on whether the promotion which contestants can enter by dealing a 900 number for $2,99, violates Texas lottery Laws. A there s just so much  so Many sources so fast we just had to look into it. We re dubious a said Russell Turbeville head of the consumer fraud division. Texas Law bars charging people for a Chance to win something. Space travel insisted it has a contract with the soviets the Houston company also said the contest is Legal because people can also enter by mail for free. A a we re looking Forward to talking with them a James Davidson space travel senior vice president said of the inquiry. A grand juries investigate and this is a thing they re interested in. We have done nothing  after the company began offering a Chance to win a trip aboard a soviet rocket and a week on the space station so Many Calls came in from around the country that the Telephone system handling them collapsed monday. By the time the system was restored tuesday Tass bad called the promotion a hoax. A a we basically have our contract in hand so we know that we re basically straight a said David Mayer space travel president. A a it a just a matter of us finding out what a going on behind the scenes in the soviet Union to find out where the confusion lies. It s obviously just a misunderstanding and 1 Don t think it will be that difficult to Clear  Davidson said that if the project Falls through callers will act refunds. He said thousands have called the num her a a a a a a a. A space travel spokesman George Nelsen said the company has a contract with no Enervia for the trip aboard a soyuz rocket to the Mir station. However the soviet space Agency Ola Kosmos must approve any contract. Nikitsky declined to comment on the Tass report Savinc that the space Deal was a a commercial  Bethesda my. Apr Arun Vohra was Only trying to be a Good citizen when he warned the state Highway administration about a possibly diseased Pine tree in front of his House. His Reward the state Cut Down seven healthy Trees. The Pine still stands. Vohra joined the slates adopt a Highway program last Spring pledging to keep the woodsy Road in front of his House free of trash and debris in due course Vohra spotted a Pine tree that appeared to be infested with borers and called the state Highway administration. The tree was in front of his House but on state property i Felt the tree was dangerous and told them it was going to fall Over and kill somebody and if it hit Over Nea Power lines there might be a big tragedy a he said. Days later Vohra returned Home to find that two other Pine Trees three Blooming dogwoods and a giant Lilac tree had become victims of what he Calls the a Abc Thesda Chain saw  the neighbouring Pine was unscathed. A these were just awesome Trees a Vohra said about the six that were Cut Down Quot you done to see that kind of Trees Ever he got on the phone to the Highway administration. A the Guy i talked to said a we re sorry it was a new Man. He did no to know what he was doing a a Vohra said. �?o1 guess he just went crazy with the Chain  he was told that the holes in the Pine he originally called about were made by woodpeckers whose foraging for bugs does no to Hurt a tree. Vohra says he called a couple of More times finally letting the matter drop until november. Then he talked with Henry Page the Man in charge of the tree Crews. A the came to my House. I showed him the tree ringed a a a a a a a. V. A a v v a Arun Vohra with his children Amira Center and Arvin Points to the Pesky Pine that remained standing in the a a Bethesda Chain saw  with holes. He said a yes yes this tree has to come Down. Its too close to Power lines a a Vohra said. Page told him the tree was too big for state Crews head have to Call in a contractor. Vohra said he marked the Pine tree with a ribbon so there would be no More mistakes. But there was. The latest victim Lay on the ground neatly sawed a. A Cedar tree that had been 80 feet to 100 feet tall by Vohran a estimate. Athe Pine still lived. The Montgomery journal a daily county newspaper wrote the Story under the headline a they came they sawed. They  / a a i was just absolutely in Shock a Vohra said. Quot i acted a Little crazy. I tried to Call the governor of Maryland at the governors mansion i called the county  and his state Delegate. And his congresswoman. And the state natural resources department. The next morning he telephoned Page. A i said a you Cut Down the wrong tree. You Cut Down a Cedar that Lovely Cedar  he said a the Cedar is the one you pointed  i said a we never discussed the Cedar tree that a 15 feet  athe journal quotes Page a the dogwoods and Lilac that was a mistake. This particular time they just went in and made a boo-boo.�?�. But he insists that Vohra pointed at the Cedar and not the Pine which Page says is perfectly healthy. And so the Pine remains. Vohra deprived of the Trees that shielded his property from the Road said he has a a Book on Trees in a going to give the state Highway people so they know what a tree looks  Man Oshkosh wis. Up a judge wednesday dismissed the sexual 1 a a suit Case against a Man who had been accused of assaulting a woman by taking advantage of her multiple personalities. The Case against Mark Peterson 29, was dropped after prosecutors consulted with the woman a doctors and were told that another trial could Worsen her mental condition. Peterson was convicted of second de Grce sexual assault nov. 8, but judge Robert Hawley on monday struck Down that conviction saying a defense psychiatrist improperly had been prevented from examining the woman. The 27-year-old woman known As Sarah contended Peterson took advantage of one of her vulnerable personalities when they had sex last june in an Oshkosh Park. Hawley dismissed the Case at the request of the Winnebago county District attorneys office. Quot our office filed a motion and supporting letter dismissing the charge a said Deputy District attorney Vince Viskupic. He said after the conviction was overturned his office contacted the woman a physicians to determine whether to proceed with another trial. Quot All of the doctors stated that it would not be in the Best interest of the victim to go through with another trial a Biskupic said. A a a a. / a a a. He said the woman a number of exhibited personalities increased from 18 to 46 during the course of the first  said the jury a verdict in the Case although overturned on a technicality sent a Strong message about protecting the rights of the mentally ill Peterson had been convicted under a Wisconsin Law that makes it a felony to have sex with someone who is mentally ill. Hawley ruled monday that Peterson did not have a fair trial because Darold a. Treffert a defense psychiatrist was not permitted to  Hawley acknowledged that he erred in refusing to allow the interview but he also said defense attorney Edward Salzsieder should have pursued that Effort. Peterson admitted having sex with the woman but said she agreed to the Liaison. The prosecution contended he seduced a vulnerable personality known As Jennifer. Of criticized Framp toy Hartford Conn. Apr bowing to pressure from advocates for the homeless the Walt Disney co has decided to Stop Selling a toy figure of a tramp a a a a the Rev Christopher Rose Rector of Grace episcopal Church inspired the protests Early this month when he cited Quot Steve the tramp As one of the most offensive toys of the 1990 Christmas season Quot in a glad somebody there has got a conscience a Rose said tuesday when he Learned of Disney a action. A but i feel it is a hollow Victory because it is Only a week before Christmas a .7 he 5-Inch-High plastic figure is one of a series of 14 a coppers and gangsters Quot toys based on the movie a Dick Tracy a which was produced by Disney owned Touchstone pictures. The tramp is described on the package As a hardened and bitter after a life on the mean streets. A lout who would just As soon take your life As your Wallet. And will use and abuse any Young helpless prey he conies  a we feel that the action figure when viewed outside the fantasy world of a Dick Tracy a is being misunderstood a said a statement released by the Walt Disney co. In Burbank calif., monday evening. Joining in the statement were playmates toys inc. Of la Mirada calif., which is licensed by Disney to manufacture and Market the toy and the National coalition for the homeless based in new York City. Quot playmates has decided to discontinue production and distribution of the doll. Disney has removed the figure from shelves at its Chain of retail stores and theme Parks a the statement said. However Disney spokesman Chuck Champlin acknowledged tuesday that it was too late to recall the toy from other retailers a week before Christmas. Some chains discontinued Sale of the tramp doll after advocates for the homeless protested and picketed stores. Rose brought the figure to the attention of advocates for the homeless in is annual Quot warped toys for Christmas display at his Church dec