European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday october 14, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5bush solid re election Choice poll shows Washington apr an overwhelming majority of americans believe president Bush will be re elected even though some Are unenthusiastic about that Prospect according to a poll released saturday. The times Mirror Telephone poll of More than 1,200 people also found that As the 1992 presidential Campaign picks up steam voters Are extremely interested in the Economy and Domestic issues in general. Bush s approval rating peaked at 84 percent in the times Mirror poll in March and has been declining since. The latest poll taken oct. 3-6, shows it at 61 percent or pre persian Gulf War Levels. A substantially higher percentage than that a 76 percent a predicted Bush would win the election. Even among those committed to voting for a Democrat six in 10 predicted Bush would win. However responses to a series of questions asked during the Survey indicated Many respondents were not solidly committed to any candidate or potential candidate. These included the following. A Only 28 percent said they had decided to or were leaning heavily toward supporting Bush. A Only 22 percent were firm or leaning heavily in support of voting democratic. A among independents 36 percent a the single largest bloc a were Bush supporters who said they might change their minds. Among democrats the poll showed a surge of support for Nebraska sen. Bob Kerrey who was receiving heavy Media coverage the week it was taken because he formally entered the race for the democratic nomination sept. 30. Kerrey was favored by 21 percent of poll respondents who described themselves As democrats or independents leaning toward voting for a Democrat. Three other declared democratic candidates were clustered behind him a Virginia gov. L. Douglas Wilder with 15 percent. A Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton with 14 percent. A Iowa sen. Tom Larkin with 13 percent. Former Massachusetts sen. Paul Tsongas trailed the rest of the Field at 9 percent. A full so percent of those surveyed said they would like to see More candidate discussion of issues and 58 percent wanted More candidate debates maximum Morphonios to retire As judge Miami up a one of the nation s toughest judges Ellen j. Morphonios dubbed a maximum Morphonios a for her penchant for sentencing criminals to hundreds of years in jail says she a retiring. The Dade county circuit judge notified gov. Lawton Chiles by letter Friday of her intent to step Down from the Bench after 20 years. Morphonios 62, who was profiled on cd so 60 minutes by the late Harry Rea Soner in 1988, told the Miami Herald she plans to return to radio and is working on a Deal with an out of town station. The judge a former Beauty Queen who was Florida a first female felony prosecutor and Dades first female circuit judge is retiring 15 months before her current six year term expires. A live served Long enough. Now is the time a saturdays Herald quoted Morphonios As saying. She said her retirement has nothing to do with operation court Broom the state and Federal corruption investigation of Dade county a judiciary. Investigators reportedly tried to catch Morphonios in some wrongdoing but could not. The probe already has re in the stars and stripes10 years ago oct. 14,1981 a the United states planned to Send military equipment and possibly advisers to Sudan and Egypt to fend off a libyan threat but officials ruled out any combat role.20 years ago oct. 14,1971 a Dean Acheson 78, Secretary of state during the turbulent years just after world War ii and architect of much of the United states cold War strategy died at his Sandy Spring md., farm.30 years ago oct. 14,1961 a officials reported that maj. Gen. Albert Watson ii . Commander in Berlin went to soviet Headquarters at Karls Horst to deliver a stiff protest against East German authorities shooting wildly into the american sector of berlin.40 years ago oct. 14,1951 a after appearing in a record tying 10 world series having a lifetime batting average slightly better than .325 and being selected As the american leagues most valuable player in 1939,1941 and 1947, 37-year-old Joe Dimaggio of the new York Yankees announced that he would retire from baseball. Suited i i the resignation of one judge and the indictments of three sitting judges and one retired Jurist. Morphonios is scheduled to testify at the trial of David Goodhart a retired judge accused of offering Morphonios Money to fix a Case in her courtroom. The Herald reports its sources have said Morphonios tossed Goodhart out of her office. The judge has refused to comment. Quot i m obviously a witness a she said. A and i know in a not supposed to talk about it and i m not going to talk about  among those indicted were two close friends of Morphonios a Dade circuit judge Alfonso Sepe and county judge Harvey Shenberg. A the problem is these Are very close personal friends of mine that 1 love dearly a she said. A Harvey Shenberg is like a son to me. He is one of my kids. Sepe and i have been buddies for 30 years. A it is a two edged thing. From a personal standpoint my heart absolutely Breaks in two. In a devastated. It has just torn me  Morphonios has been uncharacteristically silent during the months since the judicial corruption probe became Public. A fall i be tried to do in this thing is exactly that which is right a she said. A and in a going to keep right on doing it and keep right on taking my lumps. That a the Way it goes. Life goes on. The hell with  Morphonios said she had discussed her retirement with her two sons last year before the court Broom scandal erupted. She said her retirement has a lot to do with frustration with the overburdened and under financed criminal Justice system. A a in a getting a Little  she said. A my patience string is not As Long As it ought to be. Quot in a a Little tired of seeing someone i sentenced to forever and a Day walk out the door and be Back in my courtroom for another horrendous crime a she said. A i sent him away and Here he is a Boom a Back  Morphonios earned her reputation by imposing harsh sentences including one sentence of 1,698 years to a criminal convicted of a string of robberies. When a woman testified in Morphonios court that she stopped a would be rapist by shooting him in the Groin. Morphonios chimed in with a Nice  judge Ellen j. Morphonios California governor signs legislation Banning distribution of free cigarettes Sacramento up gov. Pete Wilson handed the tobacco Industry a major setback saturday by signing a Bill to prohibit the distribution of free cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in Public the vigorously lobbied measure was among More than 500 Bills awaiting his action before a Midnight deadline today. A minors Are not allowed to buy tobacco products but too often receive free samples that Are handed out publicly a Wilson said in a statement. A this an important Law to protect the health of our children by eliminating one of the ways they can get easy Access to cigarettes and chewing  beginning Jan. I the Bill sb1100 by state sen. Marian Bergeson a Newport Beach will prohibit a non Sale distribution of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes in any Public building Park playground sidewalk Street or other Public grounds. It also outlaws giving away coupons or rebate offers for tobacco products in Public places. Violators will be liable for civil penalties of no less than $200 for the first action $500 for the second and $1,000 for each succeeding violation. Existing Law prohibits furnishing a minor with any tobacco product and forbids distribution of free samples of smokeless tobacco within two blocks of any school clubhouse or youth facility. But smoking foes say such protections Are inadequate in View of the nearly 97 million free cigarettes that Are distributed in California each year. Wilson cited estimates that some 6 million minors use tobacco and that about 80 percent of current smokers began the habit before age 18. Tobacco companies have defended the use of free samples by saying they Are provided Only in limited areas and Only to adults who were interested in smoking. Industry lobbyists were unsure Essul in attempts to get weaker rival legislation passed by the legislature however. Smelly problem stalks town s streets Corydon ind. A people strolling downtown watch out for them. Some make sure the coast is Clear before they venture outdoors. This Southern Indiana town has been infested by skunks a hundreds of them by some residents estimates. A a it a nothing to see one walk right Down the Middle of the Street Here in town big As you please. They re everywhere and nobody a Ever seen anything like it a mayor Fred Cammack said. The invasion began in Early August residents say. As the Skunk population has increased their fear of people has waned. A we were sitting outside in the front Yard one night and three of them came up and started walking toward us. I threw a chair at them but it was just like they were tame a said bartender Shirley Austin. Carol Norton let her Golden retriever Honey Dew in the House one night Only to find it had been sprayed. After one month and a hath by the veterinarian Honey Dew still reeks. A they Tell me it takes a Good four to six weeks to get it All out a Norton said. The nocturnal animals emerge from their daytime hideaways around dusk Cammack said. They descend on the town of about 2,560 and spend the night scavenging for food. You can t just shoot the varmints in business and residential areas the mayor said lie has asked the state department of natural resources for a trap but that poses other problems. Quot our Street superintendent is a lug woodsman Quot Cammack said a lie loves to Hunt and trap but he says he won t have nothing to do with any