New Jersey Nightly News; 03/07/1983

New Jersey nightly news is made possible in point by a grant from first jersey securities. Good evening. I'm can't not a hand I'm Rolanda Watts in the nose and there was a tragic explosion this afternoon at Fort Dix. And while in Passaic County Police removed a bomb from a total wall hardware store and the Coast Guard has rounded up a band of suspected marijuana smugglers. Death. In a tragic accident this afternoon for Army soldiers were killed in an explosion at Fort Dix. The soldiers were members of the 60th ordinance detachment according to Captain James Simmons six soldiers were performing their regular responsibilities of disposing of live ammunition. Two of the men were injured this evening they're reported to be in good condition and waltzed in Army hospital at Fort Dix.

And Lori is off limits because of scattered munitions down range. I have been here three and a half years and this is the worst tragedy that I know of that that's happened. Simmons says the names of the day withheld until their families are notified. An investigation into the incident is under way. For the third time in less than two weeks a bomb has been found in a county store. The bomb today was safely removed from a doctor reports. Authorities in Passaic County are taking bomb threats very seriously these days. Officials sealed off the shopping center evacuating all the stores. The phone threat came just before noon a channel's home center. Just a little I know there's a bomb in your store and hung up. And it was just before 2:00 o'clock when the bomb was discovered and slowly removed by the Passaic County bomb squad. What was going through your mind when you took this out of the store.

We were a little nervous this time because we have too much time on a card. Once we got it out of the truck and into the hole it wasn't too bad. From what you know about these devices what kind of damage with this have done it would have done extensive damage to the store to the rear of the store. A lot of people are going to go after. The bomb was whisked away. Traffic along Route 46 was backed up for miles while the operation unfolded. The next step was detonation in a deep pit. Our Garrett Mountain High above the city of Paterson. No one was injured. It was the third bomb to be exploded here in 10 days. Just this past Tuesday a pipe bomb was discovered at another channel store this one in Clifton. And last week another bomb of a different variety was found in a nearby Caldor department store. All the stores are along Route 46. All of the phone threats were made by a man.

Apparently the ring's individual or somebody the potential for for injury and damage like you said is. You know I miss all three of the bombs were found by a specially trained Labrador retriever Max sniffed out today's pipe bomb in a garbage pail near the rear of the store. Police won't confirm whether the same individual may be responsible but that theory is one of the focuses of the investigation. Law enforcement officials admit they are worried. Sources tell us whoever is responsible for the bombs appears to be a professional someone highly familiar with explosive devices in tow to what I'm dying doctor. The U.S. Coast Guard has arrested the captain and 20 crewmembers on a $1 in ship. Two hundred and seventy miles off Cape May also confiscated and million dollars worth of marijuana. The 21 men and the marijuana were brought to Cape May late this afternoon. Dan Hodgson was there.

To the 21 man crew the coastal freighters of only are citizens of Colombia. One is American. One is Puerto Rican. The crew apparently set fire to their ship soon after a Coast Guard cutter approached and asked to board early yesterday. The crew took to the lifeboats and were quickly arrested. The ship sank. But their apparent effort to destroy the evidence failed. As the Coast Guard confiscated Twenty six hundred pounds of marijuana in 52 bales that floated to the surface after the ship sank. Officials think the ship may have actually held much more illegal cargo that either burned up or sank in the 20 200 feet of water. This is the second drug smuggling ship cut off New Jersey Shores in the past year. And Coast Guard officials believe it marks a trend of sorts in smuggling operations. This vessel may have gone up a little bit farther north because of the task force situation in south Florida which has resulted in greater pressure on the South Florida Caribbean area forcing some vessels to travel a good deal farther outside and to the east and a little bit more. Traffic into the northwest Atlantic.

The return of the crew members and their cargo today by stiff winds that hamper the Coast Guard's effort to transfer the prisoners from a 300 foot cutter to smaller patrol boats to bring them back to the Coast Guard training facility. For more willing to be taken into custody than others. But eventually 21 were turned over to the Department of Immigration and Naturalization for processing and prosecution. In Cape May have been harsh. The New Jersey Transit rail strike is now in its 17th day with no new talks scheduled and today announced that beginning at midnight tonight Amtrak will no longer honor in monthly commuter tickets. I mean some 5000 rail commuters will have to rely on Amtrak who have relied on Amtrak trains during the strike will now have to pay up to 50 percent more to ride the train to work. And at a news conference today in Newark New Jersey Transportation Commissioner John Sheridan announced that NJT has filed suit against the United Transportation union's president their bows a settlement on two union factions on their ongoing seniority dispute.

It's been clearly stated to watch by the other side particularly on release without a resolution of this issue. There will be no settlement as far as they are concerned. A spokesman for the international I.D. you reached late today in Ohio said solving the seniority issue will not solve the rail strike at. The Hudson County lawmaker today said the closing of the Western Electric plant in Corning will affect 20000 workers and their families. Assemblyman Robert Gena chefs made that prediction as he unveiled a plan to try and save the plant and its jobs. Larry Stewart has the story. An economic emergency. That's what Assemblyman Robert Janis Cesky calls the closing of the Western Electric plant in Carney. Forty two hundred people will lose their jobs as the facility is phased out over the next three years. Today the Hudson County lawmaker proposed a plan to keep employees working and the plant in operation contained essentially in there are the three R's

not reading writing and arithmetic but rather a replacement of industry re employment of the employees who are scheduled to be laid off. And retraining for those who need it. Jenna chefs he wants the state labor department to run a jobs bank and referral service for Western Electric employees. He also wants the department of higher education to begin studies on how to best retrain the displaced workers. He says there's enough available money to pay for this part of the proposal. Jenna Chef Mickey's plan also calls on the State Economic Development Authority to explore the possibility of purchasing the Karni plant and turning it into an industrial park. The estimated price tag is more than 20 million dollars. The EPA executive director says the authority doesn't have that much money. You do not have that kind of money we certainly don't have it in our present Treasury. Need a Treasury that is. We do not have that kind of money even in the proposed community demand Development Act money which has not yet been appropriated. The maximum there is

10 million dollars. And what money we have available now would come nowhere near the 20 million dollars that may be needed. But Hughes didn't rule out a possible purchase of the plant. He said the legislature could appropriate the necessary funds for federal money might become available. Jenna Cesky sent copies of his plan to state department heads today with the hope they would begin to evaluate it immediately. This afternoon a spokesman for Western Electric said the company wasn't aware of the Jana Cesky proposal but it would be willing to help implement the plan if it receives the approval of the Kate administration in Trenton. I'm Larry Stupak. An attorney handling the cases of more than 100 clients pursuing claims that they were harmed by its best does so he's made a devastating and extremely ironic discovery that his son handled a suspected carcinogen as a first grade in a first grade art class at a school in Wayne New York as best as research are confirmed John Gilman's fears the 7 year old son made a snowman with a product called Fibro clay. It's a fiber concentration about half of which is as best Gelman says he fears that schools

across the country may still be using the fiber clay. He describes the product as a white and as white and gray in nature and machine washer resistant product was reportedly manufactured by the Milton Bradley company but was taken off store shelves in 1976. However Gilman says it's still on the sub supply line and can be bought in some New Jersey stores. The well known pipe smoking former congresswoman from New Jersey Millicent Fenwick has had her name submitted as a possible candidate to head the Environmental Protection Agency. In a letter to President Reagan Governor Kaine urged him to name Fenwick as head of the beleaguered agency the governor's press secretary Carl golden quoted Cain's comments about Fenwick saying she was above reproach and had a distinguished career in public service. This is Fenwick reacted favorably to the news and she said she would seriously consider taking the job if it were offered. The 73 year old Fenwick who gave up her House seat last year to run for the U.S. Senate said that before taking the post she would have to insist that she be able to follow the consumer interest wherever it leads. The Reagan

administration has been looking for a successor to EPA administrator and Burford who resigned under fire last week. President of an advertising firm and the former chief of staff to Governor BRENDAN BYRNE have testified before state grand jury looking into alleged activities of the lottery commission. Daniel gave the president of keys Martin and company of Springfield. So he spent about 90 minutes before the grand jury. He said the lottery Commission's advertising contract for six years. He has also bid for a five million dollar two year renewal which is pending before the commission gave me has said he paid one hundred fifty dollars to a lottery commission chairman Reese pally. Yeah that was for securing a Chinese businessman consultant for him last year. Harrell holds the former Brendan Byrne aide refused to comment when asked about his testimony yesterday before the grand jury. It's a commission on ethical standards has voted to file a complaint against Palli for alleged business contacts with the firm seeking a contract to provide the state video lottery machines.

Yeah. Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day and gets an open invitation to celebrate the event. Yet five New Jersey high schools turned down an offer to participate in one of the biggest celebrations of all. Brenda Flanagan reports. Last. Thanks.

Irish touse mingled with the sounds of marching feet and cheering crowds today as the two hundred and twenty first St. Patrick's Day parade turned Fifth Avenue into a party. Of. About 25 New Jersey bands played along proudly. But five New Jersey high schools canceled plans to march in the parade because they feared possible violence could surround this year's grand marshal. Michael Flannery a staunch supporter of the Irish Republican Army Flannery welcomed the political flap caused by his participation in government for the Irish government the American government never said. Right politics at home today to boycott the event and not a lot of bands to march in the parade.

The decision by a long standing tradition band has actually been more cheering in the parade for 16 years we've always celebrated as a very happy cultural event but this year it seems to have taken on political overtones. So we're not too much interested in getting involved in that. How did the students in the band feel about that decision. I think initially they were disappointed but we try to explain our reasons and I think even though they are still disappointed I think they they're trying to understand this about the biggest thing we do all year really is to go to New York is really something and that there are missing and it's very disappointing. It's been every year since I've been in high school in my senior year in a sort of looking forward to to be in it but I don't think I would go into it now the way it's been because so political and I'm Christian. A high school band did march today the parade route was nothing like Fifth Avenue and the

audience of grammar school students was small but they appreciated their special concert which never would have happened but for big city politics. Thanks in Somerville Somerset County I'm Brenda Flanagan. There was at least one unfortunate incident at today's parade in New Jersey a man drove his pickup truck the wrong way 12 blocks down the parade route. Hundreds of marchers and spectators were forced to scramble out of the way. Five people were injured one woman had to have part of her right hand finger amputated. Thirty six year old Eugene Francis Brady of Livingston has been charged with drunk driving. And the state's largest public employee union today criticized the Cain administration for undertaking programs without consulting labor leaders. Morton Bahr of the Communication Workers of America says he is distressed by the governor's proposed budget

departmental cutbacks and the proposed 3.5 percent raise is recommended for civil service employees. Barr So the administration's moves to streamline the bureaucracy is resulting in the wrong kind of employee layoffs. The Fiat. Quote unquote is not in the 15 and $18000 category. When an employee who is earning eighteen thousand dollars is the motive to a job paying $15000 that hardly cuts fine. The union said government should cut from the top echelon and eliminate political patronage jobs. Motherhood and apple pie were the focus of a protest in New Brunswick this afternoon. A group called Older Women's League or owls for short. Is about home bake pastry as part of a demonstration against the Social Security Administration. The owl's goal is to have years spent raising children counted as working years and they like benefits to be available whenever they need it at any age.

I have a particular friend who's who is 52 and her husband died and she couldn't collect Social Security until she was 60 what used to be 62. She couldn't count to 60. She had never worked in her home life she stayed home with her mother and she had to go out and get a job at 52 she had no skills. The women want President Reagan to set up a special commission to look into their problems. Well apple pie may be a novel way to protest but there are some groups who feel they must take more extreme measures to be heard on the Newark waterfront since the trailer housing five Hispanic dock workers now in the 11th day of a hunger strike. The men say they're taking such drastic measures because they feel the Longshoreman's Union is discriminating against them by giving jobs to other workers with less Inyati. Union leaders refused to comment. The protesters say they will starve if it means getting some action. There were loud arguments heard all over Princeton University this week. But don't worry the battles weren't anything serious. It was all in the name of fun and points in the world

championship debating tournament doctor reports. Though we have admitted a few preposterous dream ices from the proposition and have even agreed to accept them as definitions the rest still does not logically follow. And so it went to students for more than a dozen countries tried to convince and cajole their opponents and the judges. Now Mr. Speaker what the members of the opposition have done in this debate is they have violated the most basic rules of debate. Perhaps from ignorance perhaps from the right or perhaps even from desperation. The contestants are guided by the rules of parliamentary debate. In short that means almost anything goes and heckling is an important part of the plan. Therefore quibbling on the semantics of the West as the members of the proposition have chosen to do is I think an exercise in futility. What are you talking about. Right. Ask not do you know use west.

It is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet. The judges also place a premium on the little extras that make speakers more effective a gesture a certain pacing and ability to command attention. If this were his barn or in the grass. Anarchist think of the leader of Israel today. This is the first time in the tournament's 10 year history that it's being held in the United States. It gives more American schools a chance to participate. No the point is we made an obligation the students take their topic seriously. It's a long road to the finals on Saturday and by then there could be a lot of tired jawbones and a lot of worn out souls. If you can't convince them confuse them. Thank you.

In Princeton I'm dying doctor. State official said today the relatively mild winter has resulted in substantial energy savings and is bright New Jersey's economic outlook for the spring. The State Commerce Department's Office of Economic Research says energy savings will have the double powered effect of giving consumers more money to spend and helping reduce inflation. They've already been increased sales of non durable goods such as clothing and the department expects sales of other consumer products to increase as well. Now according to the report New Jerseyans save 100 million dollars on heating oil alone over the winter months. And here is what the weather has in store for the next few days. Cloudy with rain developing and we should see some fog toward morning. Now winds will be gusting at 25 miles an hour. Lows tonight will be in the mid 30s. Tomorrow the rain continues although northern areas of the state will see some drizzle highs will be in the mid 40s and the outlook for Saturday cloudy and cool with a chance of rain. You know you look at

the. Two kids on the bus. From one Irishman to another. This Irishman by the way gave out these nice green carnations just before our time. Take it away Patrick Scanlon thank you Karen. The NCW tournament begins for Rutgers tomorrow night when the Scarlet Knights meet southwest Louisiana in Hartford Connecticut. The Raging Cajuns are twenty two and six on the year. The Knights are twenty two and seven. The question is can writers recapture the magic of 74 75 when they made it to the Final Four. For starters Tonya Tom Young's club must forget about their 72 67 loss to temple in the Atlantic 10 semis last Friday. Secondly Rutgers must get the ball to the big guy in the paint. Roy Hansen and guard Clarence Tillman a streaky shooter has to be on if the defense sags on Hansen as Tempel did. Young's Knights are a senior oriented

team and the time to put up is now. I don't think a road team right now for good. This is what you put all season. So we're going to go in there and hope we come out with a couple of victories if not more if more victories are to come for Rutgers Hinson must play his game down low. Averaging seven point two points a game eight point nine rebounds and he walked one hundred forty two shots this year. But come and see Double-A time. Roy realizes everyone must contribute when the guys out there and I can't do it all for me personally I can score 50 points but still we have to win one. Now here's how it looks for Rutgers in the upper bracket of the Eastern Regional tomorrow night its rosters in southwest Louisiana. The winner advances to play begins champion St. John Sunday at 4pm in Hartford. Now tonight LaSalle plays Virginia Commonwealth The winner gets Georgia in Greensboro North Carolina Saturday the Eastern Regional is at the Carrier Dome. And USFL watching the winless New Jersey General Tso's undefeated Tampa Bay Sunday at

Giants Stadium while the two NL Philadelphia stars have the weekend off they play at Birmingham on Monday night. The stars have been winning with tough defense blanking New Jersey 25 to nothing on Sunday. Number 54 middle linebacker Sam Mills out of Montclair State is an active member of the star's defense. He has an interception 20 tackles and a sack in just two games is really great. You know to be able to play go to Grossman really where it is just one of the player in the program to us and just to prove to a lot of people that I can do it. Apparently the NFL didn't think Sam could do it. His 5 10 200 25 pound size seemed a little small by NFL standards but Sam's happy in the middle of that aggressive star's defense. We're coming through Big only because we are aggressive. We are constantly at war now to hammer on those running backs we will hear them. One of the estimated game aggressiveness. Speaking of aggressiveness last night two undefeated junior middleweights met at the Sands in Atlantic City.

Steve Johnson an Irish Billy Collins Well it was a brawl from the opening bell as Collins Rock Johnson with a left left charts and on his knees in the opening seconds of the flight. Johnson got up and continued to block punches with his face set for defense. Collins lands a big right to finish Johnson off at 215 of the first round referee Paul venti ends a fight as called remains undefeated in 13 bouts. Basketball The Nets climbed to within three games of third place Boston in the Atlantic Division with a 96 90 win over Cleveland last night. The nets are now 42 in 24 and tonight at the Meadowlands in hockey the Devils host the islanders hope your St. Patrick's Day is a happy one. And Pat on this day of the wear and of the green a little St. Patrick's Day bundle of joy was found abandoned in a wooden area of Dover and in honor of the patron saint the baby girl was dubbed Kelly woods. The seven pound 1 ounce newborn was taken to Dover general hospital a medical center where nurses named her a hospital spokeswoman said the little lass is doing just fine. According to police the infant was found in a paper

bag. Her parents are not located the baby will be turned over to the State Division of Youth and Family Services and she'll be placed in a foster home. That's the news for the St. Patrick's Day for PET scan. I'm Rolonda Watts and I get mad ahead from all of us here at New Jersey Nightly News Good night. Jersey nightly news is made possible in part by grants for the jewelry nor Dog Foundation and the Wu-Tang corporation with 150 offices serving the banking needs of New Jersey New Jersey Nightly News is a production of The New Jersey network and association. Look up at you and you can get your opinion if the program is broadcast weeknights 6:30 on Channel 13 and at 7:30 on the New Jersey network. Do is repeat broadcast at 10:00 p.m. on the New Jersey work and at 7 o'clock following morning on Channel 13.