European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 7, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday february 7, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 3honors students take on handicaps by Jimi Jones education writer Pitburg a Germany a the students roaming the hallways of Pitburg High school looked out of place. To see All the bandages and wheelchair bound people. You would think that there had been. A bus wreck or something a Andrew Childers said. There had been no Accident but you might say students had been wounded. For two Days students in the English 10 honors classes assumed new personae As part of handicapped awareness and sensitivity week. Childers was one of the students who with the help of the school nurse took on temporary in Mcwilliams pair ments that included paralysis deafness and the inability to speak. English teacher Lana Mcwilliams said the objective was to increase the awareness and sensitivity of both students and staff. It was a period of frustration laughter new experiences and added insight according to participants. The project also included guest speakers and experts on physical impairments. Students kept journals for the week recorded their experiences and observations of other a a disabled students and critiqued each guest speaker. Students will share their experiences by serving As guest speakers at elementary and Middle schools. Mcwilliams who uses a wheelchair said that its usually about Midway through the first Quarter before her students feel comfortable with her and know that she is going to be a real open about her condition. A amps Ken Goorge Renee Schnell right uses sign language to interpret a conversation by English teacher Lana Mcwilliams at Pitburg High school in Germany. A i take the time to try to explain to the kids because i done to want people to be afraid of someone who is  several students said their Brief experiences with Dis abilities taught them to appreciate being a Normal a and difficult life could be if they How Rule some people can be to those who Are differ How difficult life could they weren tas Well As ent. Krista Thompson thought that being mute and losing the sensation in her hands would be relatively easy to Deal with but she had great difficulty in class she said. Of All the disabilities the Blind were treated worst and it made her angry she said. A they were made fun of had tricks played on them and people forgot that just because they  Sec did no to mean they  hear a she said. The students who were sightless for two Days said others tended to speak More loudly and slowly to them. One of the a a Blind students Rue feathers said she was afraid at first. By the second Day she was jealous of those with other impairments feeling those were not As restrictive she said. A i no longer knew where i was a feathers said a it was As if i had slipped Back into a dark world. I was alone and unsure. A it was not a game i was playing for English class. I was alone and scared and locked in this  she was left out of class discussions and forgotten at lunch time she said. Of All her classes Only one teacher included her in class discussion which a meant a lot to a Blind girl a she a said. A a a Childers called his final Day of deafness a resurrection  a i looked at the clock All seventh period counting Down the minutes until my a miraculous recovery a a he said. A this Hasni to been that bad an experience but i am so glad its  Earl Smith said the majority of his teachers basically ignored him. A i Felt like a quadriplegic asking a swimming coach if i could swim the English Channel a he said. V a a a Quot a a a yeah right have a seat in the Corner and ill get to you next year if i have  a Stacy Skelton said she was mute for two Days and encountered a great Deal of teasing. A it started with the name calling and ended up with people even teachers being very rude. I give a lot of credit to people with handicaps because they have the determination a lot of us would love to have a she said. A it was not easy for me to go a whole school Day without talking and it made me realize How Lucky i am. This experience has taught me that i should treat everyone equal and to always thank god How Lucky i am. The temporary disability she said explained a part of life and the a detours it May  silent on Darmstadt by Craig Martin staff writer Darmstadt Germany a the investigation into allegations that a Darmstadt operations Ana contracting employee solicited and accepted bribes is Complete but Community officials Are tight lipped about the results of the nine month probe. John Mcclure who served As operations officer for the directorate of Community activities was investigated by the Darmstadt office of the army a criminal investigation come on suspicion of requesting and accepting Money in Exchange for help in arranging a food Concession contract. He was fired july 9. Teri Viedt spokeswoman for the 233rd base support in the local Community command said the probe was completed Jan. 14 and forwarded to the . Justice department for action. Viedt refused further comment. A they investigators decline to be interviewed concerning cases which Are subject to later prosecution a she said. Several attempts to reach Mcclure a retired army officer who lives in Cache okla., have been unsuccessful. In such cases the investigation usually is turned Over to the Justice depart ment office nearest the suspect. However David Walling chief of the criminal division for the Justice department in Oklahoma City said he could not comment on the Case or even acknowledge whether his office had received the report unless an indictment is brought Walling said Justice department regulations prohibit him from discussing the Calhoun status of the Case. A a it a really a secret process a he said. Army Community activities directorates typically oversee morale welfare and recreation programs such As clubs Bowling alleys gyms and other Leisure activities. Mcclure was working in that function when the investigation began. Mike Calhoun then the operator of smokes Chicken and ribs Concession at Cambrai Fritsch Cavern in Darmstadt has said that Mcclure told him that for $2,500 he could arrange a new contract for the fast food outlet. Calhoun said he tape recorded an encounter with Mcclure in which the civilian employee solicited and accepted the payment. Joel Cohen Calhoun a attorney said his client was working with investigators at the time of the taped meeting. A Mcclure was audio taped and caught with $2,500 in marked Cash that was provided by the government a Calhoun told the stars and stripes. Calhoun said that Mcclure told him a i had a 100 percent guarantee that i would be awarded the  Mcclure did not have the authority to award contracts. However Calhoun said Mcclure led him to believe that he a had contacts and was Able to influence people who awarded the contracts throughout the  contracts within the Darmstadt Community were sent to the regional Community command at that time the 103rd area support group in Frankfurt. Darmstadt and Frankfurt now fall under the 104th ask based in Hanau. Mcclure began working for the Darmstadt Community in 1989. His duties included five months on a project team that consolidated the contracting financial management and marketing activities of the 103rd. The stint ended in March 1993. Contributing to this report Start writer Tim Cahill in now York . Revising defense plan in face of n. Korea buildup by the new York times Panmunjom North Korea while the world is focused on North koreans program to develop nuclear weapons an equally serious buildup in conventional troops and equipment in the North has prompted . Military commanders to overhaul their plans for defending South Korea. Over the last year North Korea has used its huge array of artillery and troops near this heavily fortified Border to try to intimidate the United states and its asian allies in their dealings with the North on its nuclear weapons Sites. . Military commanders say that the North a nuclear program conventional arms buildup and concentration of forces near Seoul and the South a vital economic centers has made Pyongyang the Paramount threat for the Pentagon. A North Korea will be the critical major military threat for the next few years a said it. Gen. James r. Clapper jr., the head of the defense intelligence Agency. That threat and other military and political developments have led . Commanders to revise their approach in the event of a North korean attack on the South. Rather than simply driving the North a troops from South Korea the new plan provides for a fierce counteroffensive intended to seize the North a capital Pyongyang and try to topple the government of Kim ii Sung . Officials said. The administration also has confirmed it is planning to Send Patriot antimissile systems to help protect South korean airfields and ports. The commander of . Forces in South Korea Gen. Gary e. Luck has requested still other Steps in the event that the negotiations Over inspections of the North a nuclear Sites break Down and Washington and its allies impose economic sanctions. North Korea has said it would consider sanctions an a act of