European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and stripes Friday March 29,1991revised figure on Gnu eases recession fear Washington apr the . Economy fell at an annual rate of 1,6 percent in the final three months of last year a less severe downturn than previously believed the government said thursday. The Commerce departments revised estimate of the Gross National product a the broadest measure of economic health a served to bolster the Bush administrations View that the current recession will be Shorter and More shallow than the average downturn. The departments estimate that the Economy shrank at. A rate of 1.6 percent in the october december Quarter represented an upward revision from two earlier Gnu reports. A a a. The unexpected strength came in the country a Trade performance which added $37.7 billion to economic activity in the fourth Quarter As exports expanded at a much faster clip than previously believed while imports fell. A a a a the unexpected pockets of strength in the four Elf Quarter support the View of Many economists that the current recession the country a first in eight years will probably end in the april june Quarter without inflicting As severe a loss of output or jobs As is typical the Bush administration is counting on this outcome to keep the Domestic Economy from becoming an Issue in next years presidential race. Treasury Secretary Nicholas Brady said thursday that the country was beginning to see the a first tangible signs of a Brady noted a big jump in consumer Confidence following the end of the persian Gulf War and a Iipp last month in existing Home sales and housing construction As evidence that the Economy was on the verge of a rebound. ,7> a a. A a a 7 7\ 7v7 77 a a however Many private economists believe that economic growth will remain anaemic for some time to come because of strains on the financial system from the huge Levels of debt being carried by Consumers businesses and the Federal government spectacular sight a lightning Bolt crackles Over Lake Michigan near a wednesday causing at least one death when an 88 Cine wis. As a storm system moved through the area. Year old Man was struck by a falling kids member denies a 7 a map Donnie Wahlberg of the new kids on the Block appears in court on an arson charge in Louisville by Louisville by. Up a Donnie Wahlberg of the pop sensation new kids on the Block denies he set a Small fire with Vodka in the hallway of a hotel where the group was staying. Wahlberg 21, of Braintree mass., surrendered to the Louisville fire departments arson squad wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued charging him with first degree arson. He pleaded innocent at his District court arraignment As Young fans crowded outside and was released on $5,000 Cash bail. A pretrial conference was scheduled for april 11, authorities said. Wahlberg later said the charges Are untrue. A i never came across any Vodka never came across any matches and never even rubbed two Sticks together. The charges of arson arc really ridiculous a he said. A. A a a 7 meanwhile two of the band s Security guards were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after they were allegedly abusive to hotel workers and police while trying to fend off a crowd of Young girls clamor ing to see the band members. Also police questioned 11 minor girls on undisclosed allegations against new kids members but said they found nothing to substantiate the accusations. Louisville fire chief Russell Sanders said the Small fire broke out about 2 . On the ninth floor hallway carpet of the downtown Seelbach hotel. The Blaze was started when Vodka on the carpet was ignited Sanders said. Media reports said Wahlberg poured the Vodka onto the carpet and set it ablaze after an argument with a girl. The chief did not confirm the reports saying authorities were still investigating. A we. Have witnesses that indicate Wahlberg started a fire on the ninth floor in the hallway and at this Point thalls All we really have a Sanders Sahl. Another witness told authorities Wahlberg tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the Blaze. The fire was eventually put out with an extinguisher by an unknown person Sanders said. No injuries were reported. In an unrelated incident about 30 minutes later fire in hotel Louisville police arrested the two band Security guards at the hotel. Police said the two a Randy Jones 33, of san Francisco and Marcus Johnson 32, of Huntington Beach Calif. A had been trying to control a Large crowd of mostly Young girls a trying to get up on the upper floors to find the band a the two guards were cursing they were loud and abusive to hotel workers the hotel desk clerk a Louisville police sgt. Carl Yates said. A when the officers tried to Calm them Down they became abusive to the officers and they were arrested for disorderly Yates declined to disclose the allegations involving the minor age girls and band members. The Case was investigated by the police crimes against children unit. A a they interviewed 11 different Young women Ages 14 is who were in the hotel last night and Early this morning a Yates said. A and As a result of those interviews they developed no information to substantiate any reports of wrongdoing by the band a spokeswoman for Bob Woolf the groups Boston based business manager said Woolf was looking into the entire incident and had no comment. Fans of the pop group crowded outside the Seelbach hotel and then at the City shall of Justice As word spread about Wahlberg a arraignment. The new kids had enjoyed a reputation for being squeaky clean but that image was tarnished last year. A Houston teen Ager Melissa Cantu 19, said last december that she had sex with three of the new kids who passed me around until i was thrown on sept. 2, 1990, a Harvard student Benjamin Suttner 20, charged that he was attacked by Wahlberg on an Airliner when he refused to give up his seat. °xor0�?T ass it Man in August alleged he was attacked by a bodyguard for group member Joe Mcintyre at a bar in Quincy mass. I Wahlberg a Brothers were also arrested for disorderly conduct last summer in an altercation outside the family Home in Braintree after teen age girls locked to the neighbourhood in Hopes of spotting Wahl a
