New Jersey Nightly News; New Jersey Nightly News Episode from 03/10/1979

Jerzy nightly with Sean repeat. That evening in the news tonight. College faculty members at a state school say they'll strike in a week. We'll have a report. In other news there's another unexplained boom and the slaughter of seals in Canada has some residents here upset. In sports Rutgers does it. They won their first game in the NCAA double a zz. Bill Perry will have highlights and he'll have highlights and a round up of today's high school games on a closer look tonight. We'll leave you stories on federal aid and the oil companies. The possibility of a teacher strike is facing New Jersey's eight state colleges. Three days of voting by members of the American Federation of Teachers ended last night with more than three quarters of the vote in favor of a strike. That's if the new contract with the state isn't agreed on in the next nine days. Rutgers would not be affected. And as usual it's a question of money. But as Phelps Hawkins reports also at issue is whether legally the strike can even take place.

Trenton State is only one of the eight state college campuses that would be affected by a strike and if the faculty actually does strike it will be the second time a New Jersey State College history both in the last five years at this point. The two sides are still a ways apart. They have to you want it across the board 12 percent pay increase. The state says it's offering about two and a half percent with other benefits boosting the offer to about six percent. The state's higher education Chancellor Edward Hollander says this is just a bad year for money but it's been better in the past. Well you know the average salaries in our state colleges because of past large increases exceed those of Princeton and most of the private colleges in the state. We rank near the top in the country in terms of the average salaries for the state college for State College faculty. But given the reality of the strike threat another issue has come up that the no strike clause in the current contract the union has an answer.

It also has a clause that said that the state of New Jersey was to complete negotiations by February 1st of this year so that the results could be included in the governor's budget message. We weren't offered a package until February 1st of this year. I interpret that as a take it or leave it attitude and we're not about to take it nor are we about to leave it. Well that's nonsense it's unlawful to strike in the state for public employees to strike in the state. The contract continues an unequivocal clause that says this contract is in force until June 30th. Well there's a no strike clause in the contract. There's no basis at all for say somehow the strike is justified. None whatsoever. Both the Union and the state of said they're willing to negotiate around the clock to work out a settlement. But the next talks aren't scheduled until Thursday and Friday. Friday is March 16th. The union says if there isn't a satisfactory agreement by Sunday the 18th Monday will be strike day.

Chancellor Hollander is figuring there won't be a strike either because of a settlement or because many union members won't honor picket lines because of their higher duty to their students. But if there is a strike he says he'll do all he can to convince students to keep right on working at their studies. You don't close down colleges in a free and democratic society. But that's not what the unions is at Trenton State College. I'm Phelps Hawkins. You won't have to worry about running out of gas on the Garden State Parkway in the middle of the night but there will be a limit on the amount of gas you'll be able to buy. A $10 limit. Earlier in the week Exxon wanted to close its pumps on the parkway between midnight and 6:00 in the morning to conserve gas. But Park with officials and Exxon have reached a compromise to limit gas sales rather than cut gas supplies altogether. Police switchboards in Somerset County were kept busy last night by worried residents reporting sonic boom like noises from at least five towns in the Somerset

Hills area. Said their homes had been shaken by the boom which hit just before midnight. But no damage was reported. And authorities say they haven't got a clue as to the cause. Even though there aren't any seals in New Jersey a group of demonstrators gathered in front of the state capitol in Trenton this morning to protest the annual slaughter of baby seals in Canada which officially began today. But news reports indicate the hunter started killing the baby harp seals two days ago and two seal hunting ships are said to have already taken almost ten thousand seal pups white coats are highly prized. But the seals must be killed before their six weeks come in for darkness. Environmentalists claim the clubbing to death of the seal pups is cruel and that the harp seal could face extinction hunters disagree saying the government controlled hunting is needed to control the seal population. Other demonstrations were scheduled today in New York Boston and Nova Scotia.

A federal judge has ordered an investigation of the Passaic County jail employee who is allegedly supplying drugs to inmates. The tip came while Judge Herbert Stern held a hearing on the jail's policy of barring contact visits. The state public advocate says that preventing inmates and visitors from physically touching is a violation of the prisoner's rights. The say County is opposed to any change in the policy saying physical contact will only lead to increased drug traffic in the jail. Doctors at Jersey City Medical Center today said the condition of the comment towse woman who gave birth to a baby Tuesday is unchanged. She's not expected to live to see her daughter. The 39 year old woman who officials have not identified is still suffering the effects of a brain hemorrhage. She's been in a coma for two weeks. The baby however is doing fine and doctors say she's in excellent condition. Let's appeal your court judge in Bergen County has refused to reinstate a registered nurse who was transferred from her maternity ward duties because she refused to assist in

abortions. Beverly Jessalyn has charged Valley Hospital in Ridgewood with religious discrimination but the hospital claimed it was nothing of a kind. A hospital spokesman said the transfer simply ensured that she will not be required to perform any act that violates her belief. Judge Sherwood Lester said the two sides should settle their dispute out of court but he scheduled a hearing for later this month just in case no compromise is reached. In Jersey City. A juvenile court judge ruled yesterday that a 14 year old boy charged with murder by arson should be tried as an adult. The charges involve the boy's alleged role in a January 22nd fire that claimed the lives of seven. But 20 year old codefendant has been indicted on seven counts of murder. The boy's lawyer says he'll appeal the juvenile court ruling. About one hundred and fifty angry parents showed up at an emergency school board meeting in Bellville today. They're angry about a school that's falling apart. They got some answers as Wells tells the story. They're waiting to see if those answers will change the

conditions. The school in Bellville is 76 years old and in need of repair. Last September the school board approved an expenditure for repair of the roof but the school board said it had other priorities and work on the roof was put off. But during the recent heavy rains the roof started leaking and last week portions of several classrooms ceilings collapsed when the plaster started falling on the children. Their parents raise the roof. The question was. Are leaking water not too much. A lot of water. Now is the time when by when. We're in a condition we are now whether you have been falling in the water just pouring in. The Bellville school board president agrees that many of the problems could have been averted. The letting of the contract back in September October would alleviate this whole problem would never come about. However the Board of Education and Bella like many other boards runs on a majority basis majority of the board did not want to or the contract at that particular time.

Therefore it was delayed until now. Grammar School Number Four in Bellville is located in a low income section of town and parents here say the school board is not responsive to their needs. They say they pressured the school board into holding today's meeting by boycotting the school yesterday. They say only 53 children showed up out of a total enrollment of three hundred ten. But the parents seem pleased today with the results of this session. At today's meeting school emergency was declared five classrooms were condemned and the Board of Education promised that a contract for the repair work in the school would be signed no later than Tuesday and the parents say if that contract isn't signed they'll take their kids out of school again. At School Number Four in Bellville I'm right well. A state policeman has been convicted on charges of stealing food from a Wal township restaurant. He's John Russell of Manasquan an 11 year state police veteran. Now suspended. Russells neighbor and the state's chief witness said he joined the state cop in stealing shrimp steak tomato sauce and cheese from the restaurant's

storage room following a softball game last summer. Better get that spring fever out of your system for a little while anyway. Today gray dreary road weather made its rather undramatic return to New Jersey and cold weather and rain have returned to the weekend forecast. Tonight along with cloudy skies. We'll have that rain and it may change to snow late tonight before it all ends tomorrow morning. Temperatures will range from the low to mid 30s throughout the state. Tomorrow it will be partly cloudy in the north with highs in the 30s. In the south we'll have more sun and clouds with highs in the upper 30s to low 40s. The chilly weather. Runs right through Monday. The outlook. Partly sunny. And cold. Public Television Festival 79 It's TV worth

some time struggling in the dark. It is easier to pretend the danger does not exist. In the depths. Deadly threat. But it is there. And I did a New Jersey Public Television. Good news for Rutgers and basketball. Bill Perry is here with the details. Thanks Andy. Excellent news the Rutgers women advanced last night with an 88 82 win over Penn State in the mid-Atlantic region of the National Womens tournament and then the NCAA today Rutgers men advance beating Georgetown 64 58 number 40 Darrell Strickland had a big first half of the night scoring 17 points. Tom Brown lobbing here to James Barry James played a super game with the turnaround family inside 19 for James today a bunch of rebound and block shots. He was named the game's most valuable player. Strickland talk from the corner records of twenty nine to twenty six at the half in the second half Georgetown

took a small lead. They go up one here on Greg Shelton's follow up jam thirty six thirty five. Georgetown up 48 45 Brown lobster badly plus the foul James hit the free throw forty eight all 819 that Shelton fouled out on the play. Now it's 50 all 630 left Rutgers starts a run of nine unanswered points Kelvin Troy inside from badly it goes 50 to 50 nights up to stay 50 for 50 on to Billy free throws 56 50 on two more for King James then a fast break the jam by Troy at the other end. Made it 58 50 as I said Rutgers with a good run here knights on to win it 64 58 to advance. The Nets lost their third in a row last night and are back at five hundred thirty two up thirty two down Seattle wanted to get away want to wait 100 at the half Seattle led 60 to 60 the net spurted to a nine point lead in the third quarter and then suddenly transformed into The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight. John Williamson and Eddie Jordan made the brick throwing brigade both were ice cold and he fired seven blanks in the second half. Williamson threw it up 12 times and rarely hit the rim the

shot selection was going to be kind now poor. As a team the next shot 22 percent in the fourth quarter Gus Williams was the standout for the Seattle Supersonics and I talked with him after the game. They get 60 points in the first tip let me ask you how conscious it was on your body have to tighten up the D in the second half you know. Williamson over 12 Jordan over 7 Air Guards went over 19 in the second half. Well you know you know the first thing you really stressed in the market you have time money so we have to tighten up the defense we just can't afford to give him 60 points in the second half. John Williams did the job on office number one scored 38 points on 15 of 26 and eight of nine What a performance when he wasn't shooting Williams was dishing off the assists. That means Gus had a direct hand in fifty two of his team's 108 points. Philly losers last night still 2 1 1/2 games ahead of the nets and elastic division visit Piscataway tomorrow afternoon. The state high school parochial championships were decided today and the group C game Sacred Heart won the championship with a 75 to 68 win over St. Anthony's it went

into overtime Sacred Heart and Red took an 18 and 4 record into the game they led one thousand fifteen after one 36 28 at the half and 48 40 after three. The violence will seem to be in control of St. Anthony's and gold 21 in 4 going in fall behind by as many as 13 but they rallied here down 58 54 two minutes left. Phil Robinson hit two free throws for St. Anthony's after the second oppressed netted a steal and a Robinson way up that tied at 58 the first time since for all. Sacred Hearts Ralph hates to put his team up by two they were up 64 62 four seconds and a missed free throw by Tom Mack led to a buzzer beater here by Mandy Johnson 64 off into overtime in the OT Sacred Heart took the momentum right back. Sacred Heart maintained their poise they hit their free throws. They won it. Seventy five to sixty eight to one a very exciting group C title. And the group the championship game that was our Lady of the value of our rings wearing the blue I hope you can follow that against St. Josephs of Toms River

in the white valley wanted 78 56 they led 14 10 and then they blew it open number 34 and Marvin Wiggins with the steal and way up here led the way with 20 points 14 in the first half of the valley last year finished as the group the runner up they didn't have a fellow by the name of Troy Webster number 24 he's a 6 3 freshman and Webster helped today he had 17 points. Our Lady of the valley the group beat parochial New Jersey champions winning over St. Josephs 78 to 56. In the group a title game that was Bergen Catholic in the red against Christian Brothers Academy of Lynn Croft in the white Christian brothers and win it. Sixty nine fifty six last year Bergen Catholic won the group a Title 42 39 CVA up after three. Patrick school did it all or only in the fourth quarter hitting shots. Fast Breaks hitting his free throws after the fouls Christian Brothers Academy opening up their lead winning it by 13 points. Sixty nine fifty six they led by two after one quarter four points at the half three points after three quarters and they win by 13. At runaway state prison today inmate James Scott the highly regarded light heavyweight went up

against Richie Cates in the second round. Cates opened up a cut on Scott's head Scott in the dark trunks last month James suffered a cut during training and Cates found it and opened it up Scott profusely in the third round of later go. In the seventh it looked like Scott was going to put skates away but Richie held on and here on the tenth and final round Scott did and did. The 31 year old Scot is now 14 0 0 1 1 the time of the TKL in that tense around 1 minute and 32 seconds. We're not down Nehemiah has won the NC double a sixty yard hurdles for a second straight year when Al Gore ran a six point nine seconds today in the Championships in Detroit. That's one hundredths of a second shy of his world record since we opened with so much basketball one more note the all Ivy basketball team was announced today. For instance Bob Roman made second team Payne's Toni Price is the Ivy League Player of the year that's a busy day in sports sanity. Indeed it is banks fail a superior court judge has frozen the assets of the corporation that hope to rebuild the gutted Garden State racetrack. The court order

also delays efforts by the Bank of New Jersey to foreclose on the tracks mortgage. That injunction will remain in effect pending the settlement of an action brought by two disgruntled investors. The race track was destroyed by fire in 1977 a year later the burned down track was bought by Garden State Park Incorporated which said it would put fifty eight million dollars into restoring the facility. But the bank says the corporation has failed to meet its mortgage payments and the two investors who brought suit say they're still out one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Residents of Berkeley Heights have complained for two years of a foul odor from a local chemical firm. Now it looks like they'll be getting some relief. The firm Berkeley chemical company says the smell comes from the production of an insecticide. Company officials say they'll change the process to make it less offensive. Last night we told you about an honest man who was having some second thoughts about his good deed. Well today Donald may be feeling a little better. The Franklin Township

man who turned in four hundred fifteen thousand dollars that he found on the street. His reward from the armored car company that lost the money was $1000. Locke thought he deserved more and he said so. Well apparently he wasn't alone in that belief because the Middlesex County Police Chiefs Association. Has decided to match the reward dollar for dollar. The chiefs say the thousand as an incentive for the next guy who's faced with the choice of doing the right thing. Or keeping a bundle. Your home or are. You. On the way. And.

Don't miss it. New Jersey Public Television. This week New Jersey officials took to the road looking for that elusive financial help for the cities and in Washington they got something of an answer. Governor Byrne and other elected officials met with the President Carter's proposing to Congress a 400 million dollar federal program. The money hard pressed cities including New York City. And it's meant to reduce services or increase taxes. It's also intended to replace some of the anti recession money that Congress cut off last year. Grateful for the president by the president. Is reinforced by conversations we've had with the White House which clearly indicates a commitment to get the bill

fish. That's encouraging. New York would get 2.7 million dollars. And while it's not going to solve that city's major financial crunch mayor Gibson too was pleased. All things are relative. The last time we were here as has been pointed out we had nothing. Two point seven million dollars above what I have now is a great step for me. New Jersey's total take from this package would be 14 million dollars. That is if Congress goes along with it gets a Mansur's on this and other stories of the week. I'm John McLaughlin. He's a commentator for New Jersey nightly news and columnist for New Jersey magazine and from James McQueen He's the bureau chief in Washington for the Newark Star-Ledger. Jim what does this money mean for New Jersey. Well for New Jersey it's going to mean. A lot more help than they were getting are they getting no they're not getting anything. And for Newark in particular under the ministrations bill is more targeted.

For instance even though the package is less than what died in Congress last October the money is Six hundred thousand dollars more than they would have got under the bill that died in October. Mel Gibson said he wants to use this money now for offsetting the property tax increases he expects in the city. Before we talk about how the money would be used to back up and talk about what the chances are that that money will ever become reality will Congress go for it. It's got a long really tough road to go through in a matter of fact there's a strategy behind this the White House coming out with a lower range program of 400 million dollars. That's called the low ball approach and the high ball approach is being taken by Congressman Rodino. His package is about a hundred fifty million dollars and they expect between the two of them they'll reach a compromise of some kind of low compromise closer to the White House. One of the problems that they want to overcome on Capitol Hill is to try and get people to Lott lined up

behind the principle of counter-cyclical aid once again. And then they'll go toward a specific approach. QUESTION You mentioned the principle of countercyclical late. This was a program designed to combat the recession. Of the early 70s or had a period of slow economic growth and high unemployment we now have a period of low on unemployment. Runaway inflation and very high economic. Growth. And what's the rationale. For recreating a program designed to solve a problem that no longer exists. Well the problem may no longer exist nationally and by average unemployment statistics that are put out by the U.S. Labor Department either new or particularly well in urban areas and this program that the White House is putting out is highly targeted to these areas. The unemployment rates are still fairly high that much higher than the national average and it doesn't even take into account that in a lot of the cities the way they count in employment misses a lot of people they don't know what's going to kill it in Congress the fact it doesn't piece off the suburbs and roller rural areas.

Well you know that wasn't it. That's going to hurt the old program would have gone to 30000 communities across the nation. This one will only go to about a thousand. In fact the Rodino bill which is very similar to that other one will go to 500 New Jersey communities. This one only go to about recall I think. 83 at 63 community but I wonder if John's question doesn't represent exactly the kind of excuse that you're going to be hearing in Congress. Why they shouldn't be counter cyclical aid and why the cities are in fact. But one thing the cities have going for them is that their high representation urban states in Congress the coalition Midwest and Northeast states figures that they might be able to just lobby behind the principle of counting arms on Capitol Hill to address the fact that these needs are very very current still current not just the problem to be resolved by the national unemployment rate going down the 5.8 from the 9 percent it was during the recession. That problem is still a problem in cities like New York will be waiting to see if Congress buys that argument.

Another story dominated the news this week it's the bubbling energy controversy. While companies are complaining of a shortage of fuel. New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection doesn't buy the argument. Next on this week's at its refineries aren't getting enough crude oil and in turn it's tank farms are running out of the cleaner burning fuel. State law won't let most industries burn the dirtier for oil. Exxon says it has plenty of that public service electric and gas of New Jersey burns the oil at its Linden generating station. The company buys it from the Exxon refinery nearby. But Exxon says deliveries may run 40000 barrel short this month. So PFC Energy told state environmental officials this week that it wants to use the dirtier oil it's available and it's cheaper. If we are allowed to use the higher sulfur fuel oil to replace that being displaced from us we will be able to reduce our cost. About two hundred and twenty thousand dollars per month savings would be passed on

through us to our customers. The Department of Environmental Protection isn't convinced of the crisis. John why not. Well this is a question we're going to have now every winter and spring for the forseeable future this burning question is there is or is there right now oil. There is oil available in New York Harbor and absolutely outrageous prices. This is low sulfur. Residual oil which is produced mainly by that as well. So this market area. And also by Iran. We've had a break with because of what has been war. But during that call snap in February. Not just the utilities but the apartment houses. And homes all through the metropolitan area. Great quantities of well everyone I've talked to many times it was a real shortage. And what about government people what do you hear from environmental people testifying on the Hill. There even seems to be a mixed voice from their approach.

It's just a really difficult thing. At least that's the impression one gets from hearing from people whether they're even sure there's an a real acute shortage that would manifest itself with rationing much much higher prices and those kinds of consequences. Publish or not hear that. What is it going to mean if the high self is permitted. What does that mean in terms of environmental impact are we stuck with dirtier air. There's no question that there will be dirtier but if you're going to burn it at all this is the time of year to do what you all have. In the spring and early summer the sort of. Air inversions the air that occurred during the winter. And the air is cleaner naturally because there are not so many furnaces going in. And also. Utilities will burn this fuel and high stacks. Which means that the. Sulfur dioxide which is the poison of the Met's will dissipate much much more easily.

One problem with that if everybody thinks the same way. Jersey is the last guy along the trail of all the states that might be doing this is going to be the one that's hurt the most because they'll have the cumulative effect of places as far as Pennsylvania and Ohio manufacturing centers. I mean that's a real problem that they've even the Environmental Protection people have brought to Washington. Gentlemen we'll be following this story in the weeks ahead. For now our time is up. Thank you. Thanks to you. Recapping our top stories. Teachers of eight state colleges have voted to strike a week from Monday. The state's education has told them they can't do it. Another booming noise rocked several communities last night. There's no explanation. And New Jersey's weather is turning weather. Rain is forecast for tonight. We may even see some snow later tonight but colder temperatures expected tomorrow. And Monday. And that's New Jersey Nightly News the Saturday edition.

Have a good night. New Jersey presentation New Jersey Public Television and 13 Saturday and Sunday. The program is broadcast at 6:00 p.m. both in New Jersey public television and on Channel 13.