European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 13, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday february 13, 1993 . The stars and stripes a Page 5 agriculture Secretary targets or staff Washington a agriculture Secretary Mike Espy said thursday that he would reassign Many of the department s Public relations officers because we do hot need 1,000 staffers. Telling the Public what a great Job we Are .doing.". Espy said he also was moving ahead with a general streamlining of the department but said his plan for a. Complete overhaul must wait until he fills key manage ment vacancies. I want to emphasize that these announcements today arc the beginning of a process to make this department Farmer Friendly consumer Friendly and just Plain Friendly Espy said at a news conference. Espy said he would eliminate the Public affairs staffs of the department s 42 agencies and put them under an office of communications. Although no layoffs Aree Lanned Many of the 1,000 employees costing $40 Mil on a year in salaries would be reassigned to other positions serving the Public he said. The Bottom line is that we do not need 1,000 staffers assigned to telling the Public what a great Job we arc doing Espy said. Instead we need More employees As signed to providing direct services to our  new offices of farming outreach and consumer outreach would replace offices of Public Liaison and intergovernmental relations and forcefully bring this government Back to its  Espy also said president Clinton has authorized spending $4 million to hire 160 More meat and poultry inspectors to help make the nation s food Supply safer. The step is one of several Espy promised to take in response to a fatal outbreak of food poisoning last month at Jack in the Box fast food restaurants in Washington state and other Western states the Money will be part of Clinton s economic recovery package which Espy said would have substantial assistance for Rural America. In addition Espy said he was giving up his reserved table at a depart mental dining room. Other members of the Cabinet have eliminated their executive dining rooms but the agriculture department does t have such a room. He was implementing an open door policy at his department and invited people to Send opinions typed Handwritten or Cray Ned faxed mailed or Carrier  v but while stating he was deadly serious about reorganizing his department Espy said he would have to wait until he has named a Deputy Secretary and other permanent staff. Congress will have to approve some of the restructuring Espy said adding that Well move right away to county office reorganization and consolidation after starting to reorganize the Headquarters. On the growing defaults by Russia on . Govern ment backed Grain Loans Espy said he was working with the state department and National Security staff on a Resolution. In the stars and stripes 10 years ago feb. 13,1983 a 605-foot Coal Carrier Sank in heavy seas off ports Mouth a. At least 24 of 36 Crew men aboard perished. The Fate of the 12 others was unknown. 20 years ago feb. 13,1973 a total of 143 american pos from the Vietnam War arrived at Clark a in the Philippines under the stars and stripes a Flag they had not seen for eight years. 30 years ago feb. 13,1963 . Jupiter mis Sile bases in Italy will be replaced with a sea borne Polaris submarine strike Force by april 1, american sources in Rome said. 40 years ago feb. 13,1953 the . Embassy in Tehran declared that the United states would not allow Iran to be come a second Korea or support a reported plan to Divide Iran Between the United states and soviet Russia. 50 years ago feb. 13,1943 with a series of . Air Force and Raf raids Cli maxed by a smashing night raid against Wilhel shaven Germany naval facilities a pattern of air War fare against nazi a boats has begin to emerge. World War ii 50 years ago today feb. 13 red army troops retake novo Cherkassky on the Southern soviet front a White other soviet forces drive to the outskirts of Rostov a vital position for the germans evacuation of the caucasus and of Oroshi Novgrad an important Industrial City German armoured forces in Tunisia move into their jump off positions for a big attack on the americans source 2 1 94 Days of War. W. H Smi in publishers inc., world almanac Book of world War ii. Bison books corp. 1981 a parents in Home alone Case plead innocent to neglect abuse charges Geneva Iii. A a couple accused of leaving their two Young Daugh ters Home alone while vacationing in Mexico have pleaded innocent to charges of neglecting and beating the girls. David schoo 45, and Sharon schoo 35, were arraigned thursday on 64 charges for leaving their children Ages 4 and 9, alone for nine Days. They also Are accused of Locking one daughter in a crawl space for seven hours and another in a room repeatedly kick ing one in the ribs and stomach beating both with a Belt and pulling their hair. A defense attorney tried at thursday s hearing to have the charges dropped arguing that the state s Law on child abandonment child endangerment and cruelty to children was unconstitutional because it did t specify the Type of be Havior that constituted the crimes. The schoos do not deny that they have disciplined their children As docs every Parent in America their lawyers said wednesday in a statement. However David and Sharon categorically deny the incredible descriptions of abuse As enumerated in the  the children 9-year-old Nicole and 4 year old Diana have been staying in Fos Ter care pending further action neither their parents nor the defense lawyers have been allowed to see them. The schoos were arrested dec. 29 at o Hare International Airport in Chicago As they returned from Acapulco Mexico. Police discovered the children were alone after the children ran to a neigh Bor s Home when a smoke alarm was Trig gered accidentally in their St. Charles attorney Gerard Kepple left escorts David background and Sharon schoo int court in Geneva Iii., on thursday. The schoos face 64 neglect and cruelty charges. Home. The schoos were charged with abandonment aggravated Battery to a child Battery cruelty to children contributing to the neglect of a child endangering the life or health of a child and marijuana Possession. Kane county circuit judge Barry Puk Lin said he doubted the abandonment charge could stick because he believes it applies Only to cases where there has been a permanent separation Between parents and their children. If convicted the couple could spend the rest of their lives in prison and be fined a total of $440,000. The couple remain free on $50,000 Bond each. Prosecutors say governor cheated on taxes Montgomery Ala. A prosecutors released gov. Guy Hunt s tax re cords thursday alleging that he failed to pay taxes on More than $270,000 and used a 1987 inaugural fund to buy cattle lumber furniture and pay personal Bills. Hunt responded by asking circuit judge Randall Thomas to hold attorney general Jimmy Evans in contempt of court for releasing the tax records. Evans violated state grand jury secrecy Laws and is making a mockery of the judicial sys tem Hunt argued in a motion. Evans claimed Hunt did t report $187,500 in political Money As income for tax purposes in 1986. Evans said Hunt used the Cash to pay debts and Loans from his Amway business and a subdivision development. Similarly Hunt did t report $84,837 in diverted political Money Over the next three tax years prosecutors alleged. Hunt did report using an additional $176,000 in Campaign funds for personal use from 1986 through 1988, according to the tax records and documents filed in circuit court thursday. Evans filing came As a state grand jury reconvened to continue its investigation of Hunt a primitive Baptist preacher named in a 13-count felony indictment in december. The indictment includes theft conspiracy and ethics charges. Hunt has not been charged with tax violations. Evans has confirmed however that the internal Revenue service is investigating the governor. The irs has declined to comment. The tax records show Hunt s taxable income jumped from $615 in 1985 to More than $120,000 in 1986, the year he was elected Alabama s first Republican governor this Century. Hunt has done nothing wrong said spokesman Terry Abbott. R the governor has fully complied with the  Evans office also released a previously secret political consultant s report advis ing Hunt supporters on ways to attack Evans and deflect criticism Over the governor s ethics problems. Abbott said neither he nor the governor knew anything about the report prepared by Hunt consultant Michael Swinehart. The two term governor pleaded inno cent to the charges last month. Hunt automatically would be removed from office if convicted of a felony. Grand jurors charged Hunt and three longtime associates last month with taking $200,000 from a 1987 tax exempt inaugural fund and converting the Money to Hunt s personal use