European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes saturday May 23, 1992 smoking hits 35-year Low in ., Survey indicates Atlanta apr smoking in the United states reached its lowest level in 35 years because of health concerns the increasing Cost of cigarettes and Public smoking restrictions officials said thursday the National centers for disease control reported that 25.5 percent of americans smoked in 1990, the latest year for which figures Are available. That a the lowest since the Agency began monitoring smoking in 1955. A this tells us that americans Are responding perhaps in even greater numbers to the Public health education Campaign that a occurring a said Gary Giovino the a it cd cd a chief smoking epidemiologist. Smoking has been decreasing at a rate of 1.1 percentage Points a year since 1987, More than double the rate of decrease from 1965 to 1985. If the rate continues the United states will meet its National health objective of 15 percent smokers by 2000, the cd said. The Atlanta based cd surveyed 40,666 people in 1990. The prevalence of smoking was highest among american indians High school dropouts and people Ages 25-44. The lowest Levels were people older than 75 a 6.5 percent a and College graduates a 13.5 percent. A we have reason to believe that this innovation of not smoking will diffuse throughout society a Giovino said. A if it can be that Low in some segments of society it can diffuse through All aspects of  the sharpest declines occurred along gender and racial lines. From 1965 through 1985, 39 percent to 45 percent of women Ages 20-24 who had a High school education or less were smokers. In 1990, the percentage dropped to 33.4. In 1965, 43 percent of Blacks smoked it was Down to 26.2 percent in 1990. For the first time Blacks and Whites were smoking at about the same rate the 1990 rate was 25.8 percent for Whites. Blacks have smoked at higher rates a up to 8 percentage Points higher. In 1965, 43 percent of Blacks smoked it was Down to 26.2 percent in 1990. Thirteen year Olds Lawson Fite and Geoffrey Hatchard Battle it out in the 1992 National geography Bee on thursday. Geography Bee is Eez for 8th-grader Washington a with a perfect record in two Days of Competition 13-year-old Lawson Fite of Vancouver wash., won the National geography Bee on thursday. Fite an eighth grader at Shumway Middle school claimed the title after a tight Battle with Geoffrey Hatchard 13, of Cresco a. Both students competed last year. A the deciding match came when the boys were asked to identify the initials Eez described As the areas that extend 200 nautical Miles from Shore of Many coastal coun tries that claim Sovereign rights for resource exploration. Fite said a exclusive economic  Hatchard who already had missed an earlier question said a environmental economic zones a Michael Sherback 14, of North Easton mass., claimed third place. As the Winner Fite gets a $25,000 College scholarship and round trip first class tickets for four to any Amtrak destination. The second and third place winners get scholarships of $15,000 and $10,000, plus interest until the students enrol. The top 10 finalists each get $500. Also opening the final round thursday were Jetta Hatch 14, Blackfoot Idaho Noel Erin Jeri 13, Flint Mich. Jason Crowder 14, St. Charlesmo. Brian Hall 13, Browning Mont. Matt Graybosch 13, Sayville . Robert Ricks 14, Provo Utah and Matt John son 14, Montpelier it. Nearly 6 million sixth through eighth Grade students have competed in the various Levels of the 1992 National geography Bee. The 57 finalists who began the Competition wednesday represented the 50 states the District of Columbia the department of defense dependents schools and five  Territories. Put yourself to the National geography Bee test Washington apr Here were the questions asked in the championship round of the National geography Bee on thursday 1. A proposed territory for the inuit people of Canada would be the largest aboriginal land claim settlement Ever made. What name is currently proposed for this territory 2. What is the term for a submarine Mountain or Volcano 3. Four of the most populous cities in the world Are in latin America. Name three of these cities. 4. The year 1815 was known As a the year without a summer because of the Ash Cloud that circled the Earth after the eruption of mount Tamora. La Bora is one of the Many volcanoes that make up the landscape of what Island country 5. Many coastal countries have established so called eels a areas extending 200 nautical Miles from Shore Over which countries have Sovereign rights for resource exploration. What do the initials Eez stand for answers 1. Nunavut 2. Seamount. 3. Buenos Aires Argentina Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo Brazil and Mexico City. 4. Indonesia. 5. Exclusive economic  find physics fun at Ohio amusement Park from wire reports Sandusky Ohio a quiz the Law of Gravity says a whatever goes up must come Down or b the study of physics must remain solemn and sedate. If you answered a you were proven wrong at Cedar Point amusement Parks physics Day. Thousands of High school physics students earned Laboratory credits and in some cases took final exams by conducting experiments tuesday at the Park. For instance they buckled themselves into roller coaster seats with accelerometers strapped to their wrists to measure How fast they were going. A a it a kind of Nice because they re smiling while they do it a said Robert Speers physics professor at the fire lands Branch of Bowling Green state University in nearby Huron. Speers who has coordinated physics Day at Cedar Point since 1986, said 6,000 students participated this week. Toledo teacher Terry Wyatt said the Outing helps students understand concepts such As velocity Gravity and motion and gives them Field experience using measurement instruments. Besides said student Sean Welch 17, its fun. Sandwich chokes teen de Kalb miss. A a 17-year-old boy who tried to show his classmates How fast he could eat a Sandwich choked to death school officials said. Shawn Michael Hendrix and some other Kemper Academy students had discussed who could eat a Sandwich the fastest during lunch in the cafeteria tuesday school officials said. Witnesses said Hendrix began choking after he placed All or nearly All of a Ham Sandwich in his Mouth. Headmaster Pete Mccleskey tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the Sandwich with the Heimlich Man Euver. The 250-Pound teen Ager was pronounced dead at a Hospital. Cause of death was asphyxiation said county Coroner Jerry Lowers. The school has been closed until next  incompetent Gainesville Fla. A a Tennessee Man charged with setting 20 fires in 19 Florida and Tennessee churches is incompetent to stand trial a Federal judge ruled thursday. The ruling by  District judge Maurice Paul returns Patrick Lee Frank of East Ridge tenn., to the Federal medical Center in Springfield mo., for a maximum of four months to determine whether there is any Chance he will be Able to stand trial later. A the suffers from a mental disease rendering him mentally incompetent to understand the nature and composition of the charges against him and to assist in his defense a Paul said. Federal grand jury indictments returned in february in Tallahassee Fla., and Knoxville tenn., charge Frank with setting fires in 16 Northern Florida churches and with setting four fires in three Tennessee churches Between january and november 1991.Man accused in 3 deaths Jacksonville Fla. A Man arrested at his sex girlfriends Home on harassment charges returned the next Day and killed her her grandmother and the couple s 2-year-old daughter then critically wounded himself police said. Cedric Brown 21, also stabbed a 14-year-old girl in the apartment sgt. Gus Carlson a spokesman for the Duval county sheriffs department said thursday. Browne a 2-month-old child Wasny to injured. Brown and the 14-year-old were hospitalized in critical condition thursday. They were expected to survive Carlson said. He said he did no to Lenow the girls connection to the family. Brown was arrested tuesday at the apartment of Michelle spinner 19. He was charged with prowling and breach of peace. He spent the night m jail and was released wednesday because he had no criminal record Carlson said. Spinner and her grandmother Patsy Williams 44, were shot to death. The 2-year-old was stabbed. Brown shot himself in the head