Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 27

Page A 3 -Community. Drratur. Ulinoin. Friday. January 2.

1981 Youth holds" hostages, then kills himself and accompanied Laatsch to his apartment Police and sheriffs deputies were outside the apartment when they heard a shot fired. Officers had their weapons drawn when Laatsch came out of the building and were initially uncertain who may have been wounded. Bartel was armed with a pistol owned by his father, according to police reports. He was home on leave from the Twenty Nine Palms Marine Corps Base in California. Bartel was recruited about a year ago through the Decatur Marines recruiting office at 233 E.

North St. The present recruiter at the office, Sgt Bill Brisch, said. "I can't feel it is all military-related. I've been in the service myself four years and had some rough times. "But there's always a way to go around a problem.

He had to have other problems besides the military." A predecessor of Brisch recruited Bartel. However, Brisch said local recruits often return to the Decatur office while on leave to visit and talk about their experiences. "We hadn't heard from him. He didn't come in with any problems. We didn't even know he was in towii until we heard about the shooting." Funeral services for Bartel are 10 a.m.

Monday in Brintlinger's Pershing Funeral Home, with visitation after 9 a.m. Monday. There will be graveside military services at Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield. rife1 pggn -g) p-lJ Gastman School is tumbling By JUDY TATHAM Herald ft Review Staff Writer A young Marine reportedly despondent about his military service took bis own life Thursday morning after kidnapping three Decatur residents at gunpoint Dead is Marine Cpl. Andy C.

Bar-teL a 19-year-old graduate of Mac-Arthur High School, who was home on leave. Bartel shot himself in the head with a revolver about 7:55 a.m. Thursday in an apartment at 807 W. Eldorado St He died at 9:28 a.m. in Decatur Memorial Hospital, according to Macon County coroner reports.

Bartel had told witnesses of his apprehensions about military duty, including an upcoming overseas assignment, according to police reports. He had been despondent when on leave in August and talked of suicide then, according to Lt Joseph M. Meyers. But 1st Sgt Dewey Garrett a commanding officer where Bartel was stationed, said today he is not aware of any orders which would have sent the youth abroad. When told of Barters death, Garrett said he was surprised and added that the youth had never appeared to be disturbed.

"He was an outstanding individual clean-cut quiet and a pretty good athlete," Garrett said. Bartel was assigned to the weapons section of the 1st Batallion of the Marines' 4th Division. Meyers declined comment on whether drugs or alcohol were related to events surrounding the youth's death. He said police are waiting for the results of laboratory tests. The episode began about 3 a.m.

Thursday in the apartment of Mark Laatsch, 22, who was an acquaintance of Bartel. Bartel arrived at the apartment house in a truck he borrowed from another acquaintance. Bartel and Laatsch were joined by Jill Laatsch, 24, of 37 South Side Country Club, and William Burns, 27, of the same address. Sometime between 3 and a.m. Bartel produced a handgun, forced the trio into the truck, threatened to kill them and forced them to drive about the area.

Bartel released Ms. Laatsch about 5:30 a.m. in the area of Scovill Park Golf Course, where she called authorities. Bartel returned to the city with the two men some time after 6:30 a.m. What looks like a relic from war-torn Europe in the 1940s is ac- owns the property, say the church plans to convert the land into a tually all that remains of the 76-year-old Gastman School building, parking lot.

210 W. North St. Officials of First United Methodist Church, which (Photo by Ron Ernst) Hospitals face hazardous -waste rules "Most hospitals would have to make new purchases," he said. "About half rely on the landfill as their primary means of disposal." He said most hospitals probably will choose incinerators, which generally are larger and can be used for all kinds of waste. "Most sterilizers aren't large enough, although some companies are trying to build larger models," he said.

The new regulations define hazardous wastes as those caused in the treatment of infectious diseases reported to the state Department of Public Health. Radiological wastes are covered in separate legislation and are not affected by the new rules, Ahrens said. Medical institutions have a year to draw up new disposal plans. The pounds of hazardous wastes are produced daily, said Raymond Moneich, assistant administrator of the physical plant. Moneich said the possibility of incinerating wastes and using the excess energy to heat the facility is under consideration.

If adopted, that technique would be used in a planned addition to the hospital and would cost approximately $250,000, he said. Simple incineration would cost close to $50,000. One area hospital will remain relatively unaffected by the regulations. Jarman Memorial Hospital in Tuscola already has an incinerator capable of handling hazardous wastes, administrator Dan Stoner said. Jarman has 58 beds, which Stoner said is "very small in terms of hospitals.

I'm very happy we don't have to worry about this." made for school land By LORI MILLER Herald Review Staff Writer New state regulations governing hospital hazardous waste disposal are expected to mean higher operating costs for facilities not now in compliance. Regulations prohibit storing hazardous wastes in landfills and require hospitals to incinerate or sterilize the materials. Several facilities now face the cost of installing new equipment, which ranges in price from $15,000 to $75,000, a spokesman for the Illinois Hospital Association said. And new federal regulations, which may make the Illinois requirements even stricter, are expected sometime this year. James F.

Ahrens, vice president of the hospital association, said there is "no question" costs will go up because of the new rules. No decision No decision has been made on what to do with 38 acres of Decatur School District property adjacent to Stephen Decatur High School. A proposal to buy the property fell through in "December when the Decatur City Council voted against a request to rezone the land from single-family residential to a residential development plan. Contractors Engineers Inc. of Des Plaines has an option to buy the property, providing it could be re-zoned.

The company planned a $28 million project that would have provided 128 units of subsidized housing for the elderly and 432 condominium-style units. Residents of the area objected to the proposed development. Mario Edigi, president, has not contacted the school board about the property since the request to re-zone it was turned down, said Robert Oakes, superintendent of schools. Food program operators hope to meet winter needs city Counly --n iW Scene i original compliance date was Jan. 1, but the association won a delay, arguing 65 percent of its members would not be ready by that date.

Decatur Memorial Hospital, a 429-bed facility that generates approximately 1,864 bushels of hazardous material a week, is looking at "the whole matter of waste disposal," its president said. Anthony Perry added that it is unlikely the three Decatur medical facilities DMH, St. Mary's Hospital and the Adolf Meyer Mental Health Center will share treatment facilities. "It's not just a question of incineration. We're looking at the whole problem of how to handle our own wastes," he said.

No cost estimate has been set. At Urbana's Carle Hospital, a 281-bed institution, approximately 90 had said he hoped the list of candidates would be finalized by New Year's Day. Selections for the slate, made by the party's candidate screening committee, are to be ratified at a caucus on Jan. 13. Bean said Thursday that he is uncertain when the slate will be completed, but, "It will be announced prior to the 13th.

"We're still waiting on our 'mystery' candidate for supervisor to make up his mind," Bean said earlier this week. Ruling on dividing costs for rail crossing expected Approval of a division of costs to repair a railway crossing at Brush College Road and Faries Parkway is expected from the Illinois Commerce Commission by late January. The ruling will determine how costs for a $30,000 repair project 'i 111' i 4 Andy Bartel three food banks by the Decatur Breakfast Lions Club as a major factor in helping the situation. The food banks expect donations to drop off during the remaining winter months and expect an increase in their caseloads. However, Mrs.

Bosley and Pelz said, the donations will be sufficient if they come in at the usual level for late winter and demand does not increase too much. "We certainly do not have enough for the rest of the winter," Mrs. Bosley said. "It is amazing what 10 to 15 calls can do to what looks like a good amount." However, she added, current food stockpiles will give the agency a good start for the remainder of the season. set next week Wednesday at the Macon County Farm Bureau building.

The class is open to the public. Reservations must be made no later than Monday by calling 877-2436. Bolstered by a large holiday response from donors, Decatur's emergency food programs hope they can meet the need during the remainder of the winter. "We're in pretty good shape right now," said Naomi Bosley, director of the Decatur Association for Racial Equality. "We had a real good response over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays," added Jerry Pelz, operator of the Northeast Community Center Fund.

"I was really pleased by the response we had in the past six weeks. It was the best we had in the past few yers," Pelz said. Both Pelz and Mrs. Bosley credited the $1,500 in food donated to CPR course The Macon County Farm Bureau Women's Committee and the Illinois Heart Association are sponsoring a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course at 7 p.m. Tuesday and iiiimmiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiimiiiiimmiimiiiiiiimiiiiiimmiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiim Veterinarian works to save every animal life he can The property is still for sale, Oakes and school board President Richard Sevier indicated today.

However, they added, there has been no effort made to find a buyer. "There has been no decision or discussion on what to do with the property," Sevier said. "We will probably continue to rent it as farm land," for the time being, he said. Sevier said he does not expect any formal discussion about the property by the school board unless someone approaches the board about buying the land or unless school officials develop a plan for its use. Democrats still need a township slate Decatur Township Democrats still do not have a slate of candidates for township offices.

Earlier this week, Macon County Democratic Chairman Stephen Bean ing pets whose owners call and say they want them put to sleep. In some veterinary clinics, such animals are turned over to the Humane Society and put to sleep if an owner can't be found, he said. Baker, however, cannot bring himself to kill them. Instead he advertises for owners. He said he receives assistance in his humane activities from several clients Aid to Animals and the Humane Society.

During a typical month, three to four such animals will come into Baker's care. The arrangement provides several rewards for Baker. There is the satisfaction of helping a wounded animal recover and helping it find a good home, he said. There is also a learning experience gained from nursing the animals back to health. Having grown up on a farm, Baker is familiar with the notion that cats are for catching mice and dogs for hunting.

However; he believes the animals have another purpose. Even a blind cat can provide companionship and love, he said. "God created them, and all God's creatures deserve a chance to live." should be allocated, ICC hearing examiner Bernie Morris said. Illinois Central Gulf and Illinois Terminal railroads, the City of Decatur and Macon County have all been involved in the hearing process. In addition, the ICC will rule on whether the state Grade Crossing Protection Fund should be tapped.

Repairs are needed on buckled sectional pieces of concrete in the crossing. The pieces were not anchored when renovations were made at the crossing in 1975, and draining water has caused the sections to buckle. ftf" 5 -1 uit inui 1 1 3 1 Jd 1 Jit if A Photo by Ron Ernst and feline friend Dunn co-sponsors bill to change debtor law 1. ptOfW 1 i 1 0nmvn- By RON TAYLOR Herald ft Review Staff Writer As a veterinary student, Dr. Larry Baker had to put some kittens to sleep.

It was an experience he did not want to repeat. Today, as a successful member of Decatur's veterinary community, Baker is working to save animal life, not destroy it. "I think animal life is precious," he said. "It is something I don't feel I have the right to take." His position on euthanasia means he is often sought out by people who have found abandoned pets in need of medical treatment. During his 10 years of practice, Baker has treated three-legged dogs, a 16-ounce rat with a 7-ounce tumor that caused him to fall over constantly, and now a blind cat.

A practical person, Baker realizes he cannot treat every stray animal that is found in Macon County. So, when an animal is brought to him, he accepts the animal if the person who brought it in accepts responsibility, he said. However, sometimes the person reneges on the agreement, leaving Baker with the animal. Baker also finds himself possess a State Rep. John Dunn, D-Decatur, is co-sponsor of a bill that would reform the state's debtor exemption laws, bringing them more in line with recent federal standards.

Dunn and state Rep. Alan J. Grei-man, D-Skokie, are seeking to amend the Illinois Debtor Exemption Law, which became effective Thursday. That law effectively negated the federal law passed in 1978 that allowed greater exemptions in cases of bankruptcy. "What formerly was usury is now the going interest rate," said Dunn, "and it is unfortunate in these times that the banking industry has seen fit to have legislation passed which will very effectively deprive not only deadbeats but worthy individuals in business caught in our current economic squeeze of any hope for a new start" The Greiman-Dunn bill would increase the amount a debtor is able to declare exempt from creditors.

Current Illinois law exempts $10,000 in homestead allowances for the head of the household. A single person can exempt $300 of personal property, the head of the family $1,000. Also protected are some insurance policies, veterans' benefits and other pension awards. Greiman and Dunn would retain the $10,000 for homestead but extend it to individuals rather than only the head of a household. Their amendment would also increase personal property exemptions from $300 to $2,500 and exempt tools of one's trade along with $1,200 in motor vehicles and professional health aides.

"Exemptions for those who take bankruptcy, which when times were good were just meager, are now essentially non-existent" said Dunn. "Lenders are driving more and more people into bankruptcy and showing less and less concern for what happens to them." IT Dr. Larry Baker 1 -a iiiiiii niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiifiiii iiiiiiiiii.