European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday june 12, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 7rejection by scouts was no fun Chicago up a an 8-Ycar-old boy who is suing to get into the boy scouts testified at his Federal trial monday that hews a surprised sad and made when the youth group rejected him because his family refuses to profess a belief in god. The lawsuit was filed in Federal court by the parents of Mark Welsh against the boy scouts of America. The trial opened monday and is expected to last two weeks. Elliott Welsh said that he was a scout from 1949 to 1956 and that he was shocked when told his son could not join the organization. The Welsh family is agnostic. A it had never been in my experience a particularly big Point that religion was required a Welsh said. In court monday Mark who is from the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale said lie wanted to be a scout because a my friends were in . In september 1989, Mark  Welsh attended a boy scouts membership meeting at a Public school. Welsh said it was at that meeting they Learned the scouts require members to declare a belief in god. The boy s Mother Donna ,.said they filled out a membership application anyway and attached a letter explaining the family is agnostic but were assured Mark would be allowed to join. The application however was rejected and in March the family filed its suit. Arsenoff said her son realizes that by the time the Case is resolved he May be too old to join the scouts. A but he said a ill still be glad we did it because of All the other kids it will help a a a arse off said. Rob Sherman the director of the Illinois chapter of the american atheist association said the boy scouts have their own opinion on religion and a do not accept  -. A a the Mark refused to profess a belief in god. He refused to take the oath that says a on my Honor i Promise to do my. Duty to god and my country a a Sherman said in an interview on wbb am. Judge Liana Rovner who is hearing the Case originally issued a 50-Page ruling saying there May be ado quate grounds to believe the scouts practice religious discrimination. Welsh lawyer Richard Grossman said the suit argues the boy scouts Are actually a a Public accommodation or a a place of entertainment much like a swimming Pool or train. Grossman said the suit is the first to apply the Public Mark Welsh leaves Chicago a Federal building monday with his Mother Donna Arsenoff. Accommodation Section of the civil rights act to a private nationwide organization. A fall of the cases decided. Were All state human rights accommodation Laws a Grossman said. The boy scouts organization has claimed it does not fall into that category because it tries to build the character of members As Well As provide entertainment. Rovner said however the groups fliers Are distributed in Public schools and emphasize having fun. A therefore a a the court cannot conclude As a matter of Law that the boy scouts is not a a place of entertainment a a Rovner  military equipment damages streets in . _ from wire reports Washington a tanks and other heavy military equipment left Inch deep tread Marks on main thoroughfares of the nations capital during saturday s National Victory Parade City officials said monday. A mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon said she hoped the Federal government would help pay for repairs. However a representative of the City Public works department Schanolia Barnes said engineers Felt the Normal traffic How and summer heat would flatten the tread Marks. A we Don t plan on doing anything right now Quot Barnes said. Quot if we determine repairs Are needed we certainly will seek recovery of our costs mostly Likely from the Federal  candidate charged Austin Texas a hot dog Vendor John Johnson who confessed to being a former mafia Hitman during a recent mayoral race faces Misdemeanour charges of Public drunkenness and profanity. Court records show Johnson who was known As John Patrick Tully while serving for a new Jersey crime family was charged with drunkenness and profanity sunday. He faces a maximum $200 Fine Johnson 53, received 496 votes in the May 4 mayoral Campaign. Police reports say Johnson was at his hot dog stand on sixth Street about 3 . When the incident occurred. As Tully Johnson served time for murder armed robbery and drug trafficking. His testimony to Federal authorities reportedly led to the arrest of Many alleged organized crime members. A Indian chief turns 115 North Way Alaska chief Walter Northway turned 115 on monday and hundreds of people in the Athabasca Indian Village named after Nis family whooped it up with a feast of Moose and Muskrat meat to celebrate. A a it a hard to live so Long Northway told his daughter Martha 61, the youngest of his children lie told her he never thought he would be around this Long but attributed his longevity in part to getting up Early and performing hard Fork. Northway has had 12 children and has 38 grandchildren 70 great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren Daisy Northway said after checking her figures with other relatives some of whom came up with slightly different numbers10-year-old dishes up Success with Cookbook Perrysburg Ohio up when 10-year-old David Ferguson saw his cookbooks rolling off the press last March the youngster had High Hopes that his a Cookbook for kids would be a commercial Success. The family pledged a portion of any profits for children a charities but the family members admitted it was a Long shot for it to become an accepted Cook Book. The Book is now listed on a computer network used by bookstores throughout the country and has been sold in six states. The a Cookbook for kids Quot features 31 original rec pics for snacks main meals desserts and beverages children can prepare safely by using Only a blender toaster or microwave oven. The food consists of things most children like to eat. A tidal wave tacos is an item David said is similar to regular tacos but different a or a a cheerleaders cheese Steak Sandwich a which is his mothers favorite. A  a the idea was that David wanted to be Able to fix his own meals if he desired but we did not want him using the oven the stove top burners or the deep Fryer because of the potential danger to a Young child Quot said the authors Mother Jane Ferguson. The fifth grader wrote the Cookbook Over a two year Span with encouragement from his parents and family. It is the first Book for David and Abigail publishing. Abigail is the family dog. A when i told my mom that 1 wanted to write a Cookbook for other kids to use she said she would get it printed if i really wrote it and it took me Over two years to figure out the recipes try them on my Brothers and write them up a David said. Quality Assurance was performed by his Brothers Andy 14, and Matt 13, As Well As by their parents. His Mother took David a Handwritten recipes and put them on a computer. A neighbor who Hail previously illustrated a High school yearbook provided original drawings. The family ordered a private printing of 5,000 and initially sold the $9.95 Book through friends mail order and by placing them in local bookstores. David smother said the Young author is unaffected by the attention. A the would much rather be outside playing Tennis than inside signing  successor Philadelphia apr a Federal judge monday rejected Pennsylvania a method for picking a successor to the late Republican sen. John Heinz throwing attorney general Dick Thornburgh a candidacy into doubt. The judge said state election Law unconstitutionally lets Republican and democratic party committees pick nominees for a special Senate election instead of letting voters choose the candidates in primaries. The ruling by . District judge Edward n. Cahn could delay the special election scheduled for november to fill the unexpired term of Heinz who died april 4 in a plane helicopter crash. The Law a operates to abridge the right to vote of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Quot Cahn held in a 21-Page decision. President Bush last week announced Thornburgh s plans to seek the Senate seat and asked the attorney general to stay in office at least through july. Democrats demanded Thornburgh a immediate departure. Thornburgh aides said later last week that concerns about the lawsuit that was before Cahn prompted him to delay leaving the Cabinet. Justice department spokesman Dan Eramian affirmed that statement monday. Cahnt a ruling offered no alternative method for selecting a replacement but he suggested in a footnote that Pennsylvania could have a fall primary and Spring special election. State attorney general Ernie Preater a office was studying the opinion to determine How to proceed spokesman Jack Lew is said. After Cahn issued his ruling a Thornburgh aide said the attorney general still planned to run for the Senate if an election were held this november but his plans could change if the balloting were delayed indefinitely. Thornburgh would run in a gop primary if one were scheduled before a november election the aide said. The state gop Hasni to formally endorsed Thornburgh. The democratic state committee has endorsed Harris Wofford whom gov Robert p. Casey appointed to fill i Leinzy a seat until the special election. Cahnt a ruling came in a lawsuit by John s. Trinsey jr., a Developer from suburban Philadelphia who was going to try to get on the ballot As an Independent. Trinsey said monday night hell now seek the Republican nomination. A the people of Pennsylvania Are going to have a fair Chance at elections from this Day on a Trinsey said. Quot no one is going to pull of  room