European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes wednesday october 23,1991 Etc suit accuses 2 firms of Gulf War Bracelet scam Alexandria a. Apr the Federal Trade commission sued two companies monday that sold $1 million Worth of commemorative operation desert storm bracelets claiming they falsely promised that the proceeds would Benefit . Troops. The suit was filed in . District court against voices for Freedom a company in Alexandria va., and phone base systems inc. , a. Voices for Freedom had told buyers that most of the proceeds from the bracelets one of which was worn by first lady Barbara Bush would fund a Bank of telephones that soldiers in the Middle East could use to talk to friends and families Back Home. Olympia Wash. Apr Washington voters Are leaning toward making their state the first to allow doctor assisted suicide and euthanasia of terminally ill patients who want to end their suffering. More than 223,000 signed a petition to put initiative 119, the so called death with dignity measure on the nov. 5 ballot. If passed it would become Law immediately. The vote will be the nations first on euthanasia. Backers Hope to put similar proposals on ballots next year in Oregon California Florida and Washington . Elsewhere euthanasia is illegal but tolerated in the Netherlands. A it is the most important bioethical event in be seen in America Quot said or. Arthur Caplan director of the University of Minnesota Scenter for biomedical ethics. A a it a not artificial hearts its not grandmothers who give birth to their grandchildren. It is a break from a 2,000-year-old tradition that says doctors cannot harm. The measure would legalize Active euthanasia such As a lethal injection and assisted suicide such As prescribing sleeping pills and giving instruction on now Many to take. It would be limited to patients who Are determined by two doctors to be within six months of death and who make the request in writing while still Alert. A poll published oct. 10 in Tacoma a morning news Tribune found that 61 percent of 336 Likely voters supported the measure 27 percent were against it and 12 percent were undecided. The margin of error was plus or minus four Points. A said in dying sounds dreadful but the alternative instead according to the lawsuit most of the proceeds were kept As profit by the company although it claimed it was non profit. The phone Bank which was to have been managed by phone base systems never was established the lawsuit claimed. The suit alleged that in some cases the company charged potential customers for Telephone Calls inquiring about the bracelets. The bracelets were sold beginning last november for $9.95 and $11.45 apiece. Etc officials said they Hope some customers will have their Money refunded. Several states also have taken Legal action against the two companies. Can be an agonizing death or something violent like going Down to the basement and blowing your brains out a said Midge Levy a hospice worker in Seattle. Aiding a suicide is a felony in Washington punishable by five years in prison and a Fine of $10,000. Prosecutions Are rare. A doctor who carries out euthanasia could be charged with murder and lose his or her medical License. The measure has divided the medical and religious communities and politicians have kept it at arms length. Initiative 119 is backed by the Hemlock society which advocates suicide for the terminally ill organized labor the state democratic party aids groups the Gray panthers some mainline churches Ana some doctors. Supporters say few would Avail themselves of the right to die. But they argue that availability of euthanasia would be a Comfort to the elderly aids patients and others who fear a lingering or painful death. A a it a my life and my death a said Pat Migliore a Seattle woman who has aids and whose husband Bob died of the disease. A i need to know i have a  a a it a the ultimate patient rights measure a a said Karen Cooper Campaign director for initiative 119. A patients want to make their own medical decisions. I done to see this As killing  a we did not go to medical school to learn to kill people a Washington physicians against 119 said in a recent flier. Or. Robin berhoft the groups president said pain control rather than euthanasia is the answer.  says racists fuelled attack on Thomas from wire reports Aurora Colo. A a Small group of racists intent on keeping Blacks from Power manipulated a Senate hearing into sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas the chairman of the . Commission on civil rights contends. A there is a Small group in this country who Are. Wedded to the idea that full participation of Blacks in government in wrong Quot said the chairman Arthur a. Fletcher. He did not further identify members of the group. Fletcher speaking to the congregation at Leake memorial methodist Church on sunday said the group fuelled the myth that Black men and Black women can to get along. He suggested that round table discussions be held to smooth out perceived differences Between Black men and Black women. A a done to come to the table trying to win your argument a he advised. The Senate postponed its vote on the confirmation of Thomas appointment to the . Supreme court to allow the Senate judiciary committee time to question Anita Hill a University of Oklahoma Law professor about her allegations that Thomas sexually harassed her a decade ago when they both worked in  files another suit Washington a James Earl Ray who is serving 99 years in a Tennessee prison for the assassination of or. Martin Luther King jr., has filed a new lawsuit in his efforts to take Back his guilty plea. Ray filed suit in . District court under the Freedom of information act seeking to Force the state department and Justice department to turn Over records on his extradition from England in 1968. The lawsuit contended the Agency has not responded to his request which was filed in december 1990. Ray pleaded guilty to the april 4, 1968, shooting of King in Memphis and is serving his sentence at the Tennessee state prison in  to record history Baker Calif. A a 134-foot thermometer is rising in the desert heat Here. When the project is completed next month Baker will be Able to claim the worlds tallest thermometer. Its height was chosen to recognize the Reading of 134 degrees recorded in death Valley in 1913. That is believed to be the highest recorded temperature in the Western hemisphere. Baker 100 Miles Southwest of Las vegas on interstate 15, is promoted As the Gateway to death Valley. The $700,000 thermometer the project of two businessmen consists of some 40 tons of steel and a giant column of red Neon in the Center that will Rise with the temperature. At its base will be a gift shop Selling such novelties As mugs with a thermometer that turns red when a hot beverage is poured into the  said at 4,000 feet Sacramento Calif. A the flight was coded cupid. The Altitude was 4,000 feet. The Mission was getting Ron Richey and Pam Freeman married in a three plane formation. Richey flew his restored t-34 two seat plane with Freeman in the seat behind him sunday. Retired judge Rothwell Mason conducted the ceremony from the Lead plane. The witnesses were in a third aircraft. The couple said their a i do so by radio and Mason declared them husband and wife Pilot and co Pilot. A i now order that you May do anything that does not Shock decency scare the horses or exceed the limits of your aircraft a said Mason a Veteran Navy Pilot. Since they could not reach to kiss Richey opted for air acrobatics. A fall right a Richey said. A one three tango will Loop a correction a will Roll the  the 44-year-old real estate broker and his Bride a real estate agent said the tight quarters of the plane ruled out a Long flowing gown. Freeman wore a White jumpsuit. Seattle residents Donn Keesler and Marcy Hook help with the Campaign to legalize physician assisted suicide. Watershed euthanasia Issue faces Washington state voters