I- Tfts wefk. .dlnfon County Football Preview Page 9A Kelley rules Tape ban illega The Clinton County Board of Frank J. Kelley said that any recording the commission pro­ Commissioners was overruled action taken to bar tape record­ ceedings. Monday by the state's attorney ers used by the press at public "It is my opinion that a rep­ general when he approved the use meetings of the county commis­ resentative of the press, includ­ of tape recorders by the broad­ sion was illegal. ing radio stations, cannot lawfully cast reporters. His opinion overruled several be prohibited from making a tape In responding to a request is­ attempts by the Clinton board recording of a public meeting of 115th Year, No 20 ' ST. JOHNS, MICHIGAN - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1970 15 CENTS sued byt State Rep'. William S. to expel a WRBJ radio station a boardofcountycommissioners, Ballenger (R-Ovid) Atty. Gen, reporter who refused to stop so long as such tape recording is made without using county elect­ ricity, ismadewithan essentially silent tape recorder, and is in S.R.O. such a way as to not unduly dis­ tract from or intrude up'on the" normal functioning of the meet- ' ing," Kelley's statement read. St. Johns ed board ratifies contracts Kelley cited several court cases establishing a precedent By TOM McELENEY adjourned, Supt. Earl R. Lan­ decreed that tape recorders the midpoint in many areas of for his opinion, though none have New Staff Writer ' caster said he was reluctant to would be permitted at all school the test. ever been brought before the, go along with the agreement but board meetings for use by re­ The testing was done on a Michigan Supreme Court. Standing room only was the that since there was so much statewide basis and many of the presentatives of the news media. He cited a California case, situation at the St. Johns Board work put into the contract, he A burst of applause came from school districts in Michigan re­ of Education meeting on Wednes­ did agree with it. ported low results for their 4th Nevens versus the City of Chlno Ray James, news director of (1965) In which a newspaper re­ day Sept. 9 as many teachers Board President Raymond radio station WRBJ, and myself. graders, also. An investigation were on hand to witness the is being made by the testing porter sought injunctive relief to Parr said much the same adding The results of testing last prevent the defendant city from ratification of their new con­ that he was glad classes were year's 4th and 7th graders last company to see if the test was tract. at fault in causing low marks. enforcing a ban on tape recorders not interrupted. spring were presented to the at city council meetings. Ratification came on a 4-2 In an unofficial piece of bus­ board in the form of scoring Seventh graders in the St. Johns He said the court found that vote in favor of the proposed iness before the regular meeting sheets. The sheets indicated that district all scored above the mid­ "the First Amendment of the terms. After the meeting had got underway Wednesday, Parr the 4th graders scored below point In areas of achievement. United States Constitution was Eighteen new instructors were indirectly affected becauseanin- hired by the school board for ability to make an accurate rec­ the coming year. Their names ord of the meeting could affect and areas of instruction are Kay the quality and quantity of news­ Ben Wieber to supervise Morrison, second grade; Luke paper reportsdisseminatedtothe Koenigsknecht, sixth grade; citizenry." Linda Linder, girls physical ed­ ucation; Terry Seybert, building Kelley also cited a 1963 New trades; Tom Sutton, junior and York case, Davidson versus Stylemaster Homes plant senior high school art; Perra Common Council of the City of Unger, second grade, John Rus­ White Plains, in which a citizen wished to record the meetings Initial procedures for ground­ the appointment of Ben Wieber sell, sixth grade, and Patricia Hooper, fifth grade. of the defendant common council. breaking activities at the site of as supervisor of the new plant. "The citizen alleged that any a new plant in St. Johns were According to Lebrato, activity Others are: Leston Schwartz, member of the public should have completedTuesdaymorning^when at the site will get underway in sixth grade; Lee Ormsby, junior the right to see, hear, take notes, representatives of Stylemaster the next few days or as soon as high math; Rosemary Remus, tape record or photograph pro­ Homes, Inc. met with City Man­ necessary permits and construc­ fifth grade; Judy McEnaney, high ceedings so long as the proceed­ ager Harvey Weatherwax. tion requirements have been school art; Mary Fitch, first ings are not disturbed thereby," In addition to construction completed. grade; Tom Smith, high school Kelley noted. preparations, Ralph Lebrato, English; Glenn Grieve, high The new firm, which will pro­ treasurer of the firm, announced school business; Marilyn Voss, Kelley said that the only es­ duce modular homes for distrib­ first grade; Nancy Lashaway, ution throughout Michigan, will sential difference in the two cases first grade, andDonaldValentine, was that Davidson in the New York be located on a segment of land high school vocal music. Free clinics along Gibbs St. formerly owned case did not claim the right of by Maurice Gove.Thelandtrans­ other business included paying - CLEAN-UP PROJECTS IN DeWITT free press in his appeal. action was completed .late last' the outstanding bills and verify- !} Ballenger requested the opin­ fo continue month. ing the minutes of the previous , ThIs js Q "c|ean" v|ew 0f the Looking Glass River after most of the ion after the owner of the radio •#• board meeting. .. ,. .. station, Robert Ditmer, sought -Wieber has been involved in trash was removed from the water. Adults, teens and small children all < The immunization clinic will construction work since 1951 his help. be held- the second Thursday of 0106 m when he began his own general [; v./s" \jt> ^ ^.y" *!»*"-*'" T " I " helping to beautify the river banks near the city park. Ditmer commented that he was each month and will not end Sept. contracting business. In addition "most pleased and it cleared the 10 as reported in last week's to general contracting he has in BEN WIEBER - [ More photos on Page 16 A way for continued accurate re­ paper. recent years entered int o the porting of the public meetings of The clinic will be held at the field of industrial construction.* time the St. Johns Area Develop­ the board of county commission­ St. Joseph Catholic Church base­ He and his wife, Dorothy, are ment Corp. assisted the firm in ers." ment and is scheduled to open at St. Johns residents and are the He also stated that he appreci­ 8:30 a.m. and run until 11 a.m. making local contacts. There Commissioners say-. parents of five children. were at least two other towns ated the support that six of the Shots will be given by Dr. commissioners gave WRBJ'sre- J. E. Pauer and nurses from the considered by the Indiana firm quest for permission to record at _ health department. Stylemaster's selection of St. before the decision was made. the Sept. 8 meeting. The following immunizations Johns came after severalmonths Deputy Atty. Gen. Leon Cohan.; will be admininstered: DPT, DT, of consideration during which Speaking for the development Yslo recorders' groupi Chairman Rollin A.Huard announced the opinion penned by .* Typhoid, smallpox, measles, oral T o allow tape recorders or media representatives introduce When the commission reconvenes Kelley late Monday. * polio and the tuberculin skin test. Jr. said Monday, -"We are most Announcement happy to have helped in bringing not to allow tape recorders, that their new members to the com­ its recessed meeting of Sept. Rubella vaccinations will be was the question at the Sept. 8 mission? Are theytrying to sneak S on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. : available free of charge. Stylemaster Homes to Clinton A public hearing on the County. The nature of the busi­ regular meeting of the Clinton someone into the meeting?' A proposal for hiring a person GM suppliers The church is located at the proposed school budget for the ness will further diversify our County Commissioners. to begin work on a drug program corner ofCassandLindenStreets 1970-1971 school year will be industrial community and should The question of tape recorder Cobb was referring to this re­ for county school children was east of the Clinton County court­ held at the High School Cafeteria aid greatly our goal of economic use arose at a previous com­ porter when he spoke of the rep­ passed unanimously by the com­ aren't worried house in St. Johns. on Monday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. stability.*' mission meeting when Ray resentative trying to sneak in. missioners. Commissioner James, news director of radio A letter was received and read Maurice Gove explained to the at strike start station WRBJ in St. Johns, to the commissioners by County commission that if they approved brought the electronicdeviceinto Clerk Ernest Carter from the the proposal, state aid might be United Press International a possibility. He went on to state Two local General Motors sup­ the • meeting to assist himself pliers say the strike won't hurt in the gathering of the news. Broadcasters Association with that the aid would come in the North Clinton Avenue FRIDAY - regard to the use of tape re­ form of matching funds for the them "too much" if Ford and Chrysler stay in production.