European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes . Tuesday. July 19,1994 food stamp loss put at $1.8 billion Washington a thousands of americans pocketed More than $1.8 billion in food stamp benefits they were not entitled to receive last year a a record loss that the agriculture department blames on mistakes and fraud. ,. 1 a in a recent letter to key members of Congress the agriculture department said that 8.29 percent of All food stamp benefits went to people who were ineligible or collected More than they were entitled to receive. At the same time thousands of Low income people were denied benefits totalling s559 million because of mistakes made in running one of the Federal governments largest and most expensive welfare programs. Food stamp benefits which totalled $22 billion in 1993, help 28 million people a year to buy groceries. The agriculture departments food and nutrition service said fraud and mistakes by welfare recipients and state and local welfare caseworkers quickly add up to Large amounts of  to the department food stamp recipients May inadvertently or deliberately provide incorrect information about their incomes or assets while Complex and inconsistent rules governing food Stamps and other welfare programs May confuse some workers and Lead to mistakes. A a to estimate food stamp overpayment and underpayment rates states review a Sample of food stamp households to determine How accurately benefits Are issued. The department then checks a Sample of those reviews and calculates a nationwide error rate. A the department said difficult economic conditions and rising caseloads in Many areas have created problems for states and May account for the increase in errors from 1992, when mistakes Cost the food stamp program $1.7 billion in overpayment and $500 million in underpayments. In some states the number of welfare caseworkers has fallen while the number of people seeking assistance has mushroomed noted the departments Tetter to lawmakers. A a you be got a situation where waste and abuse is up according to their numbers and the number of fraud investigators is Down a and that is really an ominous mix a said rep. Ron Wyden an Oregon Democrat who is the chairman Ofa House subcommittee on regulation. Since the beginning of the Clinton administration Federal spending on state and local welfare fraud investigations has fallen and the number of food and nutrition service investigators has also dropped from 53 in 1992 to 47 today according to information obtained by. Wed Cne a office. A Wyden said the growth in food stamp fraud and errors could damage the Clinton administrations efforts to Reform the welfare system with a $9.3 billion package of education training Day care and work programs. Sen. Patrick Leahy chairman of the Senate agriculture committee  waste and fraud out of the food stamp program should be the first step in reforming welfare a the Vermont Democrat said. Leahy also said that states need help a cracking Down on caseworker errors fraud Black markets and applicant deception.�?�. A americans do not want to see families and children go hungry but they do not want billions of dollars squandered at the expense of taxpayers and the families the program is intended to serve a Leahy said. A s "4 \ / a a in nip x ii a i f a Ais Quot i. It v a ass it in a inv it a win  Vilas Brian works Security and has very irregular duty hours. He has had to find an alternative to classroom courses to fulfil h is degree requirements. A a highly recommend Chicago a vide courses for anyone looking to Complete an associate degree especially military members who Are unable to take traditional classroom courses a lion a anytime anywhere at Hackettstown . A a fund raising rally for an elks Lodge turned deadly sunday when members of two motorcycle groups exchanged gunfire. Two people were killed and three were wounded. Several Hundred motorcyclists were taking part in the event organized by the Tri county motorcycle club when members of another group called the pagans arrived. The two slain victims were shot to death Warren county prosecutor John of Reilly said late monday. Three others were hospitalized with gunshot wounds and of Reilly said one wounded Man was expected to be charged with murder. Two of the wounded were taken to Morristown memorial Hospital and the third person was taken to Hackettstown Community Hospital said police dispatcher John Reed. Officials at both hospitals refused to release any information. A medic who would not give his name said emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 3 45 p.m., but were held Back for a half hour while police pursued the alleged assailants. Tom Schiano manager of nearby mamas pizza said about 500 motorcyclists were gathered when the shooting occurred. Most of the elks Lodge members Are motorcycle enthusiasts a fall we saw is people running. A couple girls were Yelling a god help me a said Schiano whose business is two buildings away from the Lodge. A so we just locked the doors to the restaurant until the police came Down  a Man who answered the Telephone at the Lodge More than two hours after the shootings said he did no to know what had happened. A aim know is in a sitting Here locked up in a building until they straighten things out a said the Man who. Would identify himself Only As a Lodge member. Rcd said police did no to allow people to leave the Lodge until they completed their questioning. Hackettstown is about 45 Miles West of new York City. 1 cruise for legionnaires bacteria by Mandela Ternandez news Day. New York a team of City and Federal health inspectors is investigating a luxury liner for traces of legionnaires disease bacteria after three passengers were diagnosed with the illness. Throughout the ship a the horizon a vent Cooling systems and Basic mechanical systems that produce a Mist of vapor or  were inspected. The legion Ella Neu Sophila bacteria believed to be responsible thrive in air conditioning ducts storage tanks and Rivers. A this is the first possible Case of legionnaires disease involving a ship in a . Port Quot said Steven Matthews a spokesman for new Yorkus department of health Matthews said his office was contacted late Friday by inc. State department of health in new Jersey after three new Jersey residents were diagnosed with legionnaires disease following their return july 2 from a. New York to Bermuda cruise on the horizon. Inspectors a from the City health department the Federal centers for disease control and prevention and the . Quarantine service a were primarily concerned about the health of passengers on the two subsequent horizon cruises from new York to Bermuda Matthew s said. Texas Bishop san Pedro Dies of cancer Miami Beach Fla. A Bishop Enrique san Pedro the spiritual Leader of 650,000 catholics in Texas lower Rio Grande Valley died sunday after battling prostate cancer. He was 68. San Pedro had undergone surgery for prostate cancer earlier this year and was expected to return to his duties in july but never recovered his Energy following radiation treatment. The cuban born cleric flew to Florida three weeks ago to be with his family. A Jesuit san Pedro was installed As Bishop of the Brownsville Texas diocese on sept 26, 1991, upon the retirement of Bishop John j. Fitzpatrick. He had been auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Galves ton Houston for five years before that