European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 16, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 a the stars and stripes tuesday july 16, 1991 residents facing for services in Massachusetts Belchertown mass. Apr residents in some Massachusetts communities face paying to go to the Library to participate in sports or even to hire extra teachers for their children a schools. Such services have Long been funded through local taxes or state or Federal Aid. But cities towns schools libraries and museums Are All part of the pay if you go trend which is reaching new Heights As the Massachusetts Economy Bottoms out. In Belchertown a Rural Community Northeast of Springfield the school District last week sent out 324 letters to parents of fifth and sixth graders. It asked parents to donate Money to hire an extra teacher or teachers aide. School officials said they sent the letters at the urging of parents who were alarmed by the Prospect of More than 35 students in a classroom. A Public education is becoming a privilege a not a right a and that is a dangerous thing a said Belcher towns school superintendent Robert Byard a but this is what happens when taxpayers led by the legislature and the governor walk out on their  t the District has received More than $1,500 in contributions but needs another $23,000 to hire a teacher Byard said. Sherman Kinney director of the Massachusetts interscholastic athletic league said about half of the states Public school districts Are considering fees for students who want to play sports. The fees run into hundreds of dollars in some cases. Other communities Are taking similar Steps a in Springfield the non profit group that operates a Public Library museum Complex plans to charge an admission fee for the first time in the groups 135-year history. A in Somerville outside Boston softball leagues Are charged $30 a night to Light up playing Fields. A in Holyoke City officials Are considering ways to dump their 21 trash collectors and turn the Job Over to a private company. Some anti tax activists said they support increasing fees and transferring Public services to private operators. They said it appropriately shifts the financial Burden of a service to its users. Chip Faulkner associate director of the Boston based citizens for limited taxation said that several years ago the costs of Many More services were buried in local property tax Bills. He said the fees prompt residents to take a closer look at government services. A now i think its Good that people Are charged a specific fee for a specific service a he said. A if they have to Shell out 100 or 500 Bucks for something that was formerly hidden in a High property tax Bill they might Well ask what Are we getting a others believe the trend can be carried too far. A i would assume that Public education and Public safety Are things that Benefit the whole Community and the whole Community should pay for a said John Robertson a fiscal officer for the Massachusetts municipal association. "1 would assume most people would agree that if a fireman comes and puts out a fire at your House you should not be charged a  Belmont track Security guard charged with hitting horses Belmont . Up a a Security guard at the Belmont race track was charged with hitting three horses and throwing bleach in the face of one of them damaging his eyes police said monday. The guard Terrance Knight 18, of Queens was nabbed after a Groom at the track saw him lift a shovel As if to hit a horse at 2 45 . Sunday said a spokesman for the Nassau county police. Workers move debris from the Hyatt Regency Crown centers lobby in Kansas City mo., on july 17,1981. 10 years later memories of Hyatt collapse remain by Tim Curran the associated press Kansas City to. A Sally Firestone stood on a suspended Walkway watching dancers below when her world came crashing Down with tons of Concrete t and steel. The collapse of two 120-foot-Long skywalk at the year old Hyatt Regency Crown Center on july 17, 1981, killed 114 people and injured 200. It left Firestone now 44, a quadriplegic. A i done to think i was Ever bitter a she said. A that just Isnit part of my makeup. I guess my reaction is More hoping that people engineers and inspectors and what not Learned their lesson and that it  be  experts such As Edward Pfrang of the american society of civil engineers say the Accident had a dramatic Impact on construction methods. Pfrang then with the National Bureau of standards headed a seven month Federal investigation that blamed a design change during construction for the collapse. The second floor Walkway was suspended from one at the fourth floor level rather than having both skywalk suspended from one set of rods attached to the hotels ceiling As in the original design. The investigation showed that As a result the Structure  hold even a third of the weight required by building codes. A eth Only Silver lining is that somewhere there a a building or a Bridge or something that a going to be built that a not going to fall Down because of what happened Here a said Kansas City lawyer Patrick Mclarney. He represented the state engineering Board in proceedings against two structural engineers who were stripped of their licenses. Pfrang said a professional practices manual his society developed after the Accident is now widely used. But the St. Louis attorney who represented the engineers disagrees. A a a in a like to be Able to say that the construction Industry is producing a product that a safer and better but i done to think that a True a said lawyer Lawrence Grebel who represented Jack Gillum and Dan Duncan. An administrative Law judge found Gillum and Duncan guilty of a Gross negligence misconduct and unprofessional conduct for failing to realize the design changes would be catastrophic. Firestone sued and was awarded $12.75 million in damages the largest among settlements and judgments totalling More than $140 million. She spent seven months in hospitals returning to her Job at ism about a year after the collapse. She took permanent disability leave three years later. Rescue workers say they Bear emotional scars. A no one who was there will Ever be the same a said or. Joe Waeckerle who spent hours looking for survivors. Arnett Williams the Deputy fire chief who directed search and Rescue efforts retired in 1983 and is now a minister. A i really done to dwell on the Hyatt a Williams said. A i just kind of Block that out of my life and go on. I put it in the Back of my closet in the Back of my mind and close the  the hotel is owned by Crown Center development corp., a subsidiary of hallmark cards inc. It no longer has skywalk and guests rarely ask about the collapse said general manager Steve Trent. A when i first got Here six years ago there were a few references to it a Trent said. A but i Haven to heard anything about it in a Long time probably a Good three  robbery suspect captured on videotape los Angeles up in the latest episode of real life violence captured on videotape a Man on a family Outing in Griffith Park trained his camera on an armed robbery suspect As he fled from the City a largest Park police said. The cameraman provided a copy of his tape to the police and local television stations which broadcast it sunday night. The gunman stole about $5,000 from a Pony ride operator in the Park about 5 30 . Sunday then tried to hold up a woman sgt. Bil Maarschalk said. The gunman at first tried to escape in a stolen Van but was unable to get it away from the curb because other Drivers parked too close. The robber then fled from the Van when he was attacked by another Man wielding a Large Metal pole and fired six shots at his pursuer and others in the Park but hit no one Maarschalk said. After hearing the first shot an unidentified Man turned his camera on the fleeing Man catching in the shaky viewfinder a picture of the gunman. A the turfed around and zoomed in on it a Maarschalk said. The robber eventually escaped in a Yel Low Cadillac. The car also held a Man and a woman but police did not know if they were his accomplices or if they had been forced to go with him Maarschalk said. The recording of crimes and assaults has become More common since Amateur cameraman George Holliday captured on videotape the beating of unarmed Motorist Rodney King in March