European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday March 17, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 7 to dupe police for Long tourist fails fort Lauderdale Fla. Up a Boston Man who duped police into believing he was a russian tourist victimized by South Florida thieves ended up in jail charged with filing a false report. The fort Lauderdale police department called a news conference thursday to publicize the plight of russian student Mikhail do Rasenti who had reported he was mugged on his Way to a youth Hostel. The Man reported he had arrived by train wednesday and strayed into a crime Ridden area where thieves had conked him on the head. The gang stole $1,500, a rolex watch a Gold Bracelet and a Saddlebag containing his clothes police were told. Police bought the Man Medicine and put him up at a Holiday inn. The sad Story of a tourist falling victim to the cruel ways of Urban South Florida Drew the sympathy of More than 100 people one from As far As Wisconsin who called with offers to help. But All of the Charity doled out was wasted. By Friday police had Learned the so called victim was not named do Rasenti Isnit a student and Wasny to telling the truth about much at All. Although he insists he was born in Moscow he does no to speak russian. A a in a sorry for what i did a he said in Plain English to detective James Pott. A i am very upset. I did not want to go about doing it in that  the Man eventually identified himself As Michael Dupree and said he had come from Boston left his Luggage and about $25 on the train and made up the rest of the Story police said. Dupree also said he is mentally ill was fleeing a broken Home and had concocted the scheme As a cry for help. Police were not sympathetic. Dupree was in Broward county jail on saturday in lieu of $1,000 Bond and charged with filing a false police report.2,700 transit workers begin strike in Pittsburgh from wire reports Pittsburgh a Public transit workers went on strike just after Midnight monday throwing transportation plans into confusion for tens of thousands of commuters. Workers began picketing at 12 01 . At a port authority transit bus garage in Ross township a suburb North of the City. Local 85 of the amalgamated transit Union voted 2,125 to 94 sunday to strike Union officials announced. The unions 2,700 members have been working without a contract since . 1. They make an average of $15.77 an hour about $32,802 per year. Bill Millar the authority a executive director said paths last offer was a one year contract through nov. 30, 1992. It included a wage increase of 1 i percent effective Jan. 1, continued quarterly Cost of living increases and continued benefits. Tom Foerster the chairman of the Allegheny county commission called the strike a the ultimate act of violence on a  the strike halted a system that handles 285,000 rides a  Dies new York a writer and lyricist Helen Deutsch Best known for her National velvet screenplay died sunday at the age of 86. Police said she died of natural causes at Home. Deutsch was a founder of the new York drama critics Circle in 1934. She wrote the 1944 movie National velvet and the 1953 movie Lili which received an Academy award nomination for Best screenplay. She also contributed to the Glass Slipper released in 1955 ill cry tomorrow in 1956 the unsinkable Molly Brown in 1964 and the Valley of the dolls in 1967. Deutsch wrote the television score for no cd a Jack and the beanstalk in 1956 and wrote songs including i Lili Hilo take my love and the Ballad of Jack and the beanstalk. Deutsch a scholar in classical languages wrote a novel and poems and published Short stories. Flames Rise Over White Bluff Tenn., after two natural Gas lines exploded sunday. At least five people were injured.5 injured in Tennessee town when natural Gas lines explode White Bluff Tenn. A two natural Gas lines exploded in flames sunday shooting fire 200 feet into the air destroying three houses and blackening More than 400 acres of rolling Farmland officials said. At least five people were injured two requiring hospitalization and More than 100 residents within a 4-Square-mile area were evacuated after the mid morning blast. A i was asleep in the bedroom when it exploded a said april Knight 16, who suffered smoke inhalation injuries. A then i went downstairs and i thought it was a Tornado because the wind was blowing and the windows were blowing out. A i went outside and everything was burning a she said. A i hosed off and ran through the  the girl who also suffered from exposure and another victim whose injuries were not disclosed were hospitalized in satisfactory condition. Three others were treated and released. Two of four natural Tenn eco inc. Gas lines in the area exploded said Glynn Barton a safety director with the state Public service commission. The cause was not known. A it could have been a fracture a said Tenn eco spokesman David Lane. A but the ignition had to come from another source. These lines fracture All the time because of  the Blaze burned out of control for about four hours until workers were Able to close valves reducing flames to about 10 feet in height. Emergency Crews waited for lingering Gas to Burn out and for hot spots to Cool late sunday before approaching the site to begin an investigation. White Bluff is about 35 Miles West of  motels draw Gay tourists owners Hope fort Lauderdale Fla. Up owners of three motels Are investing innovations they Hope will lure Back High income homosexual tourists who Nee considered fort Lauderdale among Lebest vacation spots in the nation. London born Michael Trace had Vaca one Here since 1977 but grew tired of be aging state of hotels catering to homosexuals. A year ago he bought and re camped a crumbling guest House near the each the Palms on Las oils and fills it mostly with homosexual British tourists a it used to be that hotels just had to be Gay and it did no to matter if they had standards a Trace said. A that has changed. People would rather stay in a Nice place than a place that is Gay and  Trace remodeler the swimming Pool replanted Yards with Palms built new walkways and installed docks on a canal beside the hotel. Rooms and apartments rent for $60 to $70 a night. Nancy Anderson said she bought the Mermaid inn in 1989 and decided to gradually fix it up to specialize in lesbian vacationers. Now homosexual women and men Book about half the 19 rooms at the Mermaid. A in a year or two we wont have to be Soso a Anderson said. A the Gay people who come Here Are not just the party people any More. They just want a quiet  homosexual visitors also Are getting the attention of motels that list themselves in publications As receptive to a mixed crowd. A whoever comes that a Fine As Long As they Are Good customers a said Jitu Patel co owner of the sans Souci which is listed in a homosexual guide to South Florida. Such measures could Lead to fort Lauderdale a return to its 20-year reign As one of the nations top homosexual resorts. A nationwide Survey of 44k homosexual men conducted by Simmons Market research Bureau in 1988 ranked fort Lauderdale the 10th favorite vacation spot. New York City ranked first ahead of san Francisco Washington . Los Angeles key West Fla. Boston Atlanta Philadelphia and Provincetown mass