European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and Stripe wednesday thursday december 25/26, 1991 embattled governor to donate Stock . Walter Nickel Anchorage. Alaska apr a Yukon Pacific represent a conflict be slate panel on monday dismissed ethics cause the governor has influence Over a charges against gov. Walter j. Hickel after he agreed to divest himself of his shares in a natural Gas pipeline company he has promoted. The governor has denied the conflict of interest charge which could have led to criminal penalties or impeachment hearings in the state Senate. The state personnel Board unanimously agreed Hickel could give his Stock in Yukon Pacific corp. To Charity in order to end the conflict charge. Hickel has supported building a natural Gas pipeline from alaskans North slope to Valdez. He founded Yukon Pacific corp. A decade ago to. Push for its construction. Although the pipeline has t been built the value of the Stock is estimated at More than $10 million. Special prosecutor Joyce e. Bamberger alleged Hickel s 39,507 shares of tons that could affect its value. Bamberger filed a seven count accusation. Similar to an indictment on . 2 with the personnel Board which hears complaints under state ethics Law. Yukon Pacific Stock in t openly traded but an arbitrary Price of $250 a share was set in i9sh during a Stock split among shareholders. That Price puts the value of Hickels Stock at about $10 million. Hickel issued a statement saying he was pleased with the Board s decision. A this episode is Over. We can now Pul it behind us and get on with the business of the state of Alaska Quot he said. A spokesman said Hickel would t be available monday for further comment. Linder the agreement the Board will Monitor the governor s compliance and could reopen the Case. The Board granted subpoena Powers to its special prosecutor to enable her to oversee the agreement. A it s not Over. If there s any violation of the stipulated agreement this proceeds a said Mike Andrews chairman of the personnel Board. Hal Horton Hickel s attorney said the governor was satisfied with the decision. A we re glad its finally Over. And we think it is Over Quot he said. Hickel was elected governor for a second Lime in december 1990. His first term was in the 1960s. He served for a time As Secretary of the Interior under president Nixon. A millionaire Developer Hickel has denied any wrongdoing and said he put his Stock in the Gas pipeline company in a Blind Trust before taking office. Hickel and his wife Ermalee formed a charitable foundation that would assume ownership of the Stock this week Horton said. Spotted owl wins a round san Francisco apr a Federal appeals court on monday upheld a three state ban on logging in National forests inhabited by the Northern spotted owl. A three judge panel of the 9th . Circuit court of appeals said the ban would remain in effect until the . Forest service prepares a plan to preserve the owl. That plan is due March 5. T he ban imposed in May by . District judge William Dwyer forbids the Sale of Limber from 17 old growth forests in California Oregon and Washington. The Bush administration argued that the endangered species act was the Only Law applying to the owl because it was classified As a threatened species in june 1990. The requirement that the Forest service prepare a plan to maintain the owl As a viable species is contained in a different Law called the National Forest management and. T hat act still applies despite the owls classification the appeals panel unanimously said. Victor Sher lawyer for the Washington and Oregon environmental groups in the Case said the ruling was a another significant Victory for the spotted  Mark Rutzick a lawyer for logging companies and woodworkers said his clients would review the decision for a possible Appeal to the . Supreme court. The . Fish and wildlife service declared the spotted owl a threatened species last year and said excessive logging jeopardized the survival of the remaining 3,000 pairs. A government panel dubbed the a god squad Quot is scheduled to hear arguments next month on whether logging that might threaten the owls survival should be Alun cd. Left holding their bags passengers gather with their baggage outside a Smoky 30th Street station in Philadelphia after a fire halted rail traffic monday. The fire started in an underground Bowling Alley causing delays along Amtrak a Busy Northeast corridor which runs from Boston to Washington . At least three firefighters and two civilians suffered smoke inhalation in the fire. Trains were reported Back on schedule by tuesday morning. Santa jobs help make season merrier Sunnyvale. Calif. A when out of work Tony Castro applied Tor a temporary Job lie did t know what lie would he getting into a a big red suit and Lake White Beard. This year Castro is among hundreds of shopping mall santas who said a who Holio Quot for the Money not just for the Jelly Helt full of fun. A i did no tha a any other Job prospects so 1 put the Santa suit on Quot Castro said monday alter a monthlong stint As St. Niek at Sunnyvale town Center a Northern California mall. Sharon Burns a spokeswoman Tor Western temporary services that hires More Ihan 3.1mk santas nationwide each Christmas season said the Walnut Creek  company saw a broader Range of applicants this year. A a we had everybody from labor to Middle management applying for these jobs a Burns said. A we got our regulars like College students and retired people who just enjoy playing Santa Claus. But we got a lot More people coming in who were just looking for some work. It s hard times out  Burns said her company did t keep track of How Many applicants were just moonlighting As Santa compared with those w to had no other Job. Bui she said the Quot Santa business Quot was up by about 15 percent this year and she noted that most people who apply for temporary jobs Arentt usually employed. Castro 3n, was trained As a machinist but w As unable to find a Job for to o years As the economic slump hit the Region. His unemployment had dwindled to $73 a week so he welcomed the Chance to bring Home about $150 a week by working 20 hours As Santa. T he santas who must go to Santa Claus College for half a Day. Make from $7 to a per hour depending on experience. Quot my daughter came by and took a picture of me Quot said Castro whose wite works in the electronics Industry. Quot and 1 started feeling pretty Good about the Job. It was a morale Booster. In our House we Don t even have a tree this year. But i be got a big tree Here at the mail Quot Brian Snyder who managed the santas at the Sunnyvale mall this year and played the red suited icon too needed the Job after three years of doing it just for fun. In april Snyder was Laid off from Psi , an electronics firm. A at first it was Tough to be Jolly when 1 really Wasny to Quot said Snyder 25. Quot but then As so Mas you sit in that seat and kids Start coming up to you All excited to see this big fat Guy you become Happy  but David Steberger 34. A Santa at the Valley fair mall in san Jose was too embarrassed to Tell prospective employers about what he Lias been doing for work since he was Laid off in october irom business land. Instead he Simpio wrote on applications that he was working Quot part time at Valley  �?o1 just found a permanent Job at a travel term Quot said Steberger. �?o1 Start in february. Id just As soon forget about this Santa stuff."5-year-old has the right spirit Washington a there a no question this Christmas whether 5-year-old Zachary Devries has been naughty or Nice. Nice he s been president Bush vouches for it. On monday Zachary became the youngest person to be named As the daily Point of Light Bush s honorific for outstanding volunteers. The youngster from Shirley. N.y., began his career As a philanthropist by filling a Jar beside his bed with pennies. When it was full he carried it to his Church or the salvation army. He called in a Zachary s needy  one Day he visited a homeless shelter and noticed the children had few things to play with. Zachary talked his class at Floyd kindergarten school into donating toys