New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 05/19/1979

Oh. New Jersey Nightly News with Robert Cohen in Trenton. Good evening and thank you for joining us Sandra King is off tonight. In the news the gasoline situation is tight but not as bad as it has expected so far this weekend. Demonstrators protest Jersey Central Power and lights proposed a rate increase. And the ACLU is protesting that marijuana crackdown in Monmouth County. In sports Bill Perry has new rules of the rain delayed women's golf tournament and some boxing highlights. And tonight we'll look further into the controversy behind scared straight the lifers program at Rahway state prison. That's a closer look.

A follow up and preview of a special program to be aired tomorrow night. And now the news. Motorists may have some trouble getting gas here in New Jersey this weekend but things aren't nearly as bad as they could have been. Instead of all gas stations closing down for a long weekend some gas dealers have called for. Many were closed but many others were open. The state gas retailers association says 35 percent of the state's filling stations are staying open this weekend and most of those that are closed are off the main highways. The Garden State Parkway service areas have a three dollar limit on gas sales and some of the turnpike service areas have five or six dollar limits. But traffic on both of those main roads is lighter than usual perhaps in part because of the rain. A small group of anti-nuclear protesters from the Alliance for Safe energy alternatives the sea Alliance picketed the Jersey Central Power and Light offices in Red Bank this afternoon. They're trying to raise public anger over the power company's proposed rate hike. Hearings on the request will be heard next week by the State Board of Public Utilities. Hawkins reports. One of the hundred thirteen

million dollar wage increase requested by Jersey Central a third will go to repay losses at Three Mile Island. After he paid a bill Three Mile Island as ratepayers pay to run it would be shut down. Why we should pay extra if something goes wrong. One obvious question Why hold a demonstration here in Red Bank especially on a day when the major portion of the C alliance is meeting in Princeton. Well the reasons they leaders here is that this is one of the few AJC PNL offices in the state located near a major thoroughfare and they were hoping to attract some of the Saturday shoppers to the demonstration and to their cause. Jersey Central has claimed it will drop into insolvency by July without the added income from the rate increase. But the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission has already denied interim relief for the Pennsylvania Power companies involved in Three Mile Island at least until studies on the economic effects of the near disaster are completed. Perhaps in mid June that may be a good sign according to the alliance. But they

can't believe that Jersey Central even made the request in the first place and in effect next. Position that JCP you know has some kind of god given right to a certain level of profit no matter what mistakes they make no matter what goes wrong in their business or their plans. But we have to make up the difference. And I still feel that way and I believe the Board of Public Utilities will agree with us. The three commissioners will oversee the public hearings in person which is unprecedented daytime hearings will be held Monday through Thursday in Newark. Nighttime hearings are scheduled for Morris Ocean Monmouth and Warren County in Red Bank. I'm going to talk about technicians at the Salem nuclear power plant using a large remote controlled vacuum cleaner to pick up damaged parts of the reactor core. Officials think the damage was caused during the refueling process which began last month. The plant will remain shut down at least until the summer. But public service electric and gas which owns Salem says the shutdown won't affect its ability to meet the heavy demand for power during the summer months. The state chapter of the

American Civil Liberties Union has blasted the tactics police used in their probe of marijuana use at a Monmouth County Junior High School. Fifty three students there were arrested last Wednesday after the police had used hidden cameras for two weeks to record the seventh eighth and ninth graders allegedly smoking pot and selling it on the school grounds. The ACLU says the use of the hidden cameras is atrocious. Mind boggling. 1984. The police say the pictures were taken in a public place. And similar surveillance efforts will definitely be made at other Monmouth County schools. And arsonists efforts went to naught early this morning in Newark an off duty special policeman also Buchanan was driving along Fairmont avenue when he discovered a tenement building on fire. He stopped his car blew its horn until everyone in the building woke up and got out safely. Fire officials say it was definitely a case of arson and anyone who can help them catch up with the arsonist will qualify for the city's arson bounty. As much as a thousand dollars. A mall bro township girl was killed last night in a car accident on the way to her senior prom.

Seventeen year old Annette Needham Ereli died in the car in which she was riding skidded and collided with another car and home depot. Both cars were on their way to the prom when the accident occurred. The two drivers are listed in critical condition. It was one of two accidents in New Jersey which killed a total of two people and injured nine others last night. The State Board of Higher Education did as was expected yesterday and voted to raise tuition rates at state colleges and at Rutgers. Most students will be paying from 30 to 70 dollars more for next year. Today was graduation day for many colleges and universities across New Jersey at Seton Hall's commencement State Attorney General John Degnan called for a new public ethic that would force private industry to police itself. He urged the graduates to press industry into acting not only legally but also morally. At Centenary College in Hackettstown State Higher Education Chancellor t Edward Hollander told the all women graduating class that they are part of a transitional generation one that will develop a new concept of the

family unit. Our reporter read Wells covered the commencement exercises at another all women's college and at a university where the main speaker was a TV star. There's the traditional approach for a small school at the College of St. Elizabeth in convents station one hundred women receive degrees at the school's 77 commencement today. Saint Elizabeth says the first four year college for women in the state and they held a baccalaureate service here this morning followed by a warning of degree the commencement address was delivered by Sister Hildegarde. She's the head of the college's board of trustees. And it was a relatively solemn ceremony. But there was also the guest star approach here at Drew University in Madison the commencement speaker was scheduled to be Reverend Jesse Jackson. But he got sick at the last minute and had to cancel but his substitute didn't seem to disappoint anyone. When Captain Benjamin Franklin Hawkeye Pierce or Allen all the responded in the

procession. The crowd went wild. All their lives in Bergen County and is on vacation from his TV duties on May. ALTER was asked yesterday to fill in for Reverend Jackson today. And if any of the 300 graduates expected all to be serious those thoughts were quickly dispelled. I'm sorry I didn't have better weather today understand the last time the commencement exercises were held indoors. I was 17 years ago when you had the locusts. And today you got me. Just ask yourself for a second what you what the most important thing in the world is to you your family your work your money your country getting to heaven. Sex dope alcohol. You know I don't need a show of hands on this. It was interesting though thank you. All that was later given an honorary degree much to his surprise and the graduates delight

I conferred upon you to the degree doctor of humane letters many of today's graduates expressed mixed emotions. They say they're happy about graduation but some students expressed apprehension about job prospects in today's economy. One thing is certain. Twenty years from now these Drew University graduates will remember the name of their commencement speaker in Madison. I'm red well. Fire officials still know the cause of a fire which destroyed the historic Windsor Hotel in Cape May. Fire broke out of the 100 year old hotel yesterday morning and was brought under control by noon. The hotel has been closed since 1973 because it was considered a fire hazard but it was one of the areas outstanding examples of Vitoria in architecture. When it rains you tend to think of people's plans ruined by the weather. And think of the people of many weeks of preparations went into today's seventy fifth anniversary celebration for the town's fire department. The event through bands marching groups and fire engines from all over the state to join in the

festivities the parade was more than two hours long and then Up front of a reviewing stand set up in the center of the small town. Several hundred people lined the main and only street through town rain taking its toll. But for the youngsters It was a little rain and there's a parade. The weather forecast is calling for more clouds more fog more mist and more rain. Tonight will be cool with a 70 percent chance of rain in the north. A slightly smaller chance in the south. Lows will drop into the 50s tomorrow the greyish weekend will continue. We'll have cloudy skies with periods of rain. Temperatures will remain mild from the mid 60s to around 70 in the north and in the upper 60s to the low 70s in South Jersey. The outlook for Monday more of the same temperatures but with little or no chance of rain meaning yet again New Jersey's weekend is all wet but the weekdays will have pleasant Mayweather. That's Monday at 10:30. Jersey Public Television.

Bill Perry now with the Garden State Sports in the main story a big signing ceremony very big Robert thank you as in 6 8 the most highly recruited girls basketball player in the country. And Donovan of Paramus Catholic has signed to play college basketball at Old Dominion in Virginia Donovan number 22 at Paramus Catholic to an undefeated season and her state title and her just completed senior year promise also won the state and junior year and is the all time leading scorer in girls basketball in New Jersey and she will join a team which won 35 and won and won the national championship this past season. Get this Old Dominion returns its first seven players including Nancy Lieberman who won the way trophy as the top women's player in college ranks the sixth. Donovan will play in Madison Square Garden in a holiday tournament next season with her new Old Dominion teammates the garden will have Texas Maryland and Rutgers in that tournament rector's is a school that he wanted and Donovan badly. Round two of the LPGA is Coca-Cola Classic it's still in progress play was suspended for two hours this morning at the Upper Montclair

country club because of heavy rain What a shame to look forward to it and it comes out wet. Anyway here's how it stands at the moment. Defending champion Nancy Lopez had a 70 today. She's 3 under for the day and now Nancy Lopez the leader in the clubhouse three under for the tournament. Mickey right through 16 holes today is also at minus 3 for the tournament. She's even so far in today's round. This right had a 70 yesterday Caffie at her and through 16 holes minus two for the tournament rookie Beth Daniel is minus 1 through 16 holes. Stacy is 72 today is even for the tournament Joe and washed him through 16 holes is even for the tournament. There's a group that won over including Judy Rankin to 72 today. And Lara ball who had a 70 today. I want to talk to you a little bit about Sandra post she was one over par 74 yesterday and today she had a 76 that's a 150 total for the 36 holes four over par Sondra is the leading money winner on the LPGA Tour this year. Here she is in yesterday's first round nailing a putt for a birdie on number two.

Post has won three times this year last year she won twice. She hadn't won since her rookie year of 1968. You broke in Rookie of the year and won the OPG championship in 68 then it was 10 rather than lean years so you know what turned it around for your last you did very well and you didn't Super this year. Well I think it's just a matter for me it's it's time I think I have matured and I start to understand a little bit more about my swing and. And. I think it's just my whole attitude is change a little bit that's why I'm probably doing better. So I came up with a little statistic reading the paper on the way up here today the 10th leading money winner on the men's tour Bill Rogers already made a hundred ten thousand dollars you're the leading money winner on the women's tour you've made ninety one thousand dollars women's purses have come up but they're nowhere near what they are on the men's tour. I do feel it's terribly unfair. Well we've come a long way that's true I like to look at the positive side. They have so many more men trying to make the tour and the numbers like 500 every week that try to

qualify to get into a tournament where we still we have a hundred and ten players every week which is a lot of women to play to play the game. I'm just I just think that's who has him. That's a long way away. And I rather look at the aspect that we're going to go a lot further to him and that's what I like to really consider that it's not fair then to compare it to the men's tour. No I don't think so. That interview was conducted earlier in the week before the rains came to the Garden State. Preakness Stakes today. The winner spectacular bid that pretty pony is now two thirds of the way to the Triple Crown baseball today the Red Sox beat the Yankees 4 3. Cards came up with a five spot in the 12th inning beat the Mets 9 4 tonight Montreal at Philadelphia and the NC Double-A Division 3 South Atlantic Regional tournament being played in Virginia Lynchburg Virginia two to one today in the double elimination tournament all three southern teams are now out of it and three New Jersey teams remain alive up select state and Glassborow state one will survive as the tournament wraps up tomorrow. Game four of the Stanley Cup playoffs will be played tonight at Madison Square

Garden the Rangers trail the Canadiens two games to watch Resorts International and Atlantic City stage the boxing card last night amateur fighters representing Mohammad Ali went up against Joe Frazier's amateur team. In all there were 11 3 round fights Frazier's kids are all out of Philadelphia while Allie's team is made up of kids from around the country. And Ali's team just won the team title in the national championships in Lake Charles Louisiana notching two gold one silver and three bronze medals. Ali and Frazier were introduced to the crowd both of course greeted warmly by those in attendance at Resorts International last night and both fighters hung around their team's corners for most of the evening but Ali was on the verge of formally announcing his retirement seemed a bit pensive throughout the action as you'll see coming up in a few moments. The champion was on hand early and then unexpectedly he split. We were hoping to have an interview with Ali after the fight party said he'd be around. But Muhammad split on us before it was all over. Smokin Joe of course was to wait it out he was anxious for the final

bout which featured his son Marcus a heavyweight against the highly regarded Tony Tubbs. Alley of course before this fight took place. Listen to this five wins going into the final. It came down to Fraser and Tubbs and the winners team would win the team title Marvis in the yellow right there won the fight so Fraser's team scored the victory 6 to 5. It will be Giorgio ki NAIA day tomorrow at Giants Stadium cosmos 7 and 1 hosting Tulsa with the season. About a third over I asked cosmos coach Eddie from Mani for a progress report the cosmos a coming off a loss to Tampa Bay and five of their wins were by one goal. What I think we've had a very good food of the season you know I'd like to have a kid like this. Another is the same and the other did the same to be 7 1 in the threes. Truth is all together maybe have three losses and then go into the playoffs and then not lose one. You know that's probably exactly what they'll do around three LPGA Coca-Cola

Classic tomorrow. We'll have the full story right here at 6:00 Robert. That's sports. Thanks very much Bill. When Governor Byrne flew to Washington this past Thursday his state police chauffeur drove his empty limousine the one hundred fifty miles down there to help the governor help get around the Capitol. Later in the day an empty state police helicopter flew down to Washington to fly Burne home when he was done and the limo was driven the 150 miles home again empty. Aides to the governor say he needs police protection and quote what are you going to do fly the trooper down and rent a car. Republican Senator James Wallwork apparently unimpressed with that reasoning says the governor has earned the title. Fuel hog of the month. Incidently Byrne went to Washington to complain about the president's transportation and energy policies. Finally after six years a Polish woman and her son are allowed to come to the United States but not for a very happy occasion. But for a husband's funeral. Alina parado has been trying to come to this country ever since her husband jumped off a Polish merchant ship in Newark and was allowed to remain here. The Polish government wouldn't let her

come to see him. Last Saturday her husband Jan parado drowned while fishing. Today his wife and 13 year old son were to arrive in time for his funeral. The card says alimony. The card was supposed to have on my shoulder there but it's really palimony that June Felton Schwartz of Scotch Plains will be collecting from her former boyfriend millionaire Phillip Swartz after they lived together for nine years he moved out and she sued for half of his estate. It may take several years for the case to work its way through the courts. In the meantime a judge has now ordered Mr. Schwarz to pay Ms. Felton Schwartz five hundred fifty dollars a month and to allow her to live in his house until the case is settled. Police departments across the state displayed their finest today as police we came to an end. About 100 people braved the rain to watch the special units of the Trenton police perform their specialties. They saw the SWAT team demonstrate how to overcome a sniper holed up in an apartment building. And they saw the canine corps go

through drills and a simulated attack although it was real enough for one German Shepherd. By the way the victim of that attack was Bob Sheehan. Trenton policeman of the year. Somebody's stolen a statue that for more than 100 years overlooked the Hudson River from Weehawken. It's described as three feet tall weighing 60 pounds with a lion's body but with a head and wings of an eagle. It's not the Maltese Falcon. It's a griffin a mythological beast but its disappearance is mysterious enough to lead the Weehawken police to ask for help from a New York detective who's a specialist in stolen art. Sunday May 20th at 8:00 p.m..

The movie you probably know by now is called Scared Straight. Its subject is the Life program at Rahway state prison. Since the film won an Oscar and national recognition a life as program has come under increasing scrutiny praise until recently has been loud and clear for the plan to bring students in contact with inmates. The inmates in turn tell the students about the harsh realities of prison life. There's a study that basically criticizes the program saying it's not all that effective in keeping kids from crime. Tonight's question is given a closer look 13 is prepared an hour long look into the controversy and we present a segment of that discussion here featuring the lifers themselves teenagers who have been through the program and the professor who study criticized the lifers. Sandra King of New Jersey nightly news is the moderator. Simply 15 years experience in this field led me to to the to the belief that life was could not be that simple. However being

conscious of that I was still prepared to let the chips fall where they may in terms of with the results. While skin straight brought us a lot of publicity which was absolutely necessary. I think what happened was scared straight that the public took it. As the entire lifers group program not only the entire human eye witness program but they took it as a life as a group program as ours I think was taken out of context grossly. Can't have a town I was scared straight surface to the lifers and indeed to society was an exploitation of those of you who were in rowing. Right I think it was exploitation. It didn't give a true picture of the lifers group or what we were about. As George said it they took out the segments that they wanted the person say Szell ism and they didn't show the true the true picture of the lifers group band. What we're really about what we're really trying to accomplish. The people knew that and I don't think that they would have any objection about us bring in

any type of juvenile into the institution because we're a juvenile we're in this program and all rollways state prison is it's a preview of the coming attractions. You bring a kid in here and you show him what he's going to face if he keeps bill when he's going to do. And how that could hurt somebody and how it could be how it can get a kid to go out and commit a crime. I'll never know because our whole program is based on a negative approach anything everything in this prison is negative. There's nothing constructive that could come out of this prison except the program that we have. And I when a kid leaves this prison. He has a completely negative view about prison prison life a life of crime because for a minute and it just it just could make a guy go down the street and commit a crime and want to relate to me and want to be like I am sitting here doing 33 years in prison.

Pat Our next guest calls himself knowledge. He's older and perhaps tougher than many of the youngsters who have made the trip to Rahway knowledge. When did you go to Rahway and sit through those two or three grueling hours and months a modest 78. And. Did it have any effect on you and your life. Let's talk first about what your life was like before. Well before I went into the program I was more or less the link we know. When you see this stalemate you knob and tube J.A. and things like that. But on the program is so you would you know where in Rikers Island. Now the program is so they don't actually scare me but it made me think because these people spoke you know to life. Well they had nothing going for though they didn't have to do this for us. They being that they did this. It made me think you know that oh well I could do something to help my SO. Being

that I've been a little bit you know not to the point of life or not. And have you helped yourself you call yourself knowledge does that indicate something about how you're feeling about yourself now. Right. So you like now in Delaware the juvenile you know where news and education project. And where we basically deal with trying to get that education across you know being that education is the right way to go. OK. So I have a young man here named Angelo who's also gone on to do some exciting things and I let him tell about it but let's start first before you run away experience what was your life like and what happened since. I consider my self like a tough guy. I figured I need money that's all I need. And I would go out and rob. How old were you then. About 12 annoying 12 to 16. Did you worry about getting caught. Not

until I got caught. I figured I ain't going to get caught you know. Oh wait. Stupid people get caught and I'm not stupid I won't get caught. Don't you get a court to find out what it's like. Dr. Israel what. Is your impression of the effect on the gentlemen who participate every day in the Life program. Well I don't see anything wrong in there being some incentives to prove to perform a socially constructive way. We on the outside have incentives why should they be treated any differently. But what they go through I think you have to understand there are motives that go much deeper than parole or anything else that comes from a sense of seeing in the juveniles a come before them some of themselves. I think there has to be a motive that's much stronger than anything that any of us is really aware of. Dr. Frank and I are the men who were talking to the men we've seen scared straight men we've seen and we're always stay away. They seem like genuinely reformed

people. Do you believe that referring to the lifers themselves actually. I think reformed is perhaps too strong a word. However it's my experience in looking at the operate this program that they could not do that without it having some effect and I think a positive effect on them. But that's not to say that they're reformed definition of that term. That discussion on scared straight in the lifers program will be aired in its entirety tomorrow night. It's part of a special Dateline New Jersey program on W. 13 that begins at 6 p.m.. The program will preempt New Jersey nightly news on Channel 13 tomorrow. The news will be seen on the New Jersey Public Television. Once again our top stories anti-nuclear protesters were out again today demonstrating against JCP and elles latest rate hike request. The American Civil Liberties Union has lashed out against the authorities who conducted that massive marijuana raid in Monmouth County. The gasoline situation is not as critical this weekend as some had expected helped out in part by the Rain rain by the way is expected to continue off and

on through tonight and into tomorrow. You probably won't see clearing skies until sometime next week. And that's New Jersey nightly news a Saturday edition of Bill Perry and the entire staff. Good night. There's a joint presentation of New Jersey public television on Saturday and Sunday the program is broadcast at 6:00 p.m. both the New Jersey Public Television channel 13. Portions of the record.