The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 1

3 mm i Lindros returns, Flyers nip Quebec Sports Friday, D1 Let there be carols Hills are alive with to fill the air sounds of schussing Sports Friday, D1 5Chours 1h 1 993, The News Journal Co. A Gannett newspaper Wilmington, Del. 11 5th year, No. 250 35cents FRIDAY Dec 17 FINAL EDITION ,1993 YTfFyTTf rim: "maw i a 5S.fi. eN ourna DuPont aghast over new Benlate allegations Williamson said.

New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, also stopped using Benlate this week. Some merchants have taken Benlate off their shelves. New Zealand's government health agencies are investigating. A similar scare in England last year prompted an investigation as well. The result, according to the British Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries: See BENLATE A17 But that hasn't stopped a groundswell of conjecture that rivals Kennedy assassination conspiracy schemes.

The city of Christchurch in New Zealand this week suspended the use of Benlate after three parks workers bore children with birth defects, including malformed or missing eyes. Even the city manager, who made the decision, told The News Journal there's no evidence linking the fungicide to the problems. "The linkages that have been created by the news media have been based entirely on speculation," said Jim Williamson, Christchurch city manager. "We really have only taken the action stopping the use of Benlate because the intense media publicity has raised the anxiety level of the public and staff." "At this stage, we have no information whatsoever to connect the three births together, medically speaking nor any information to connect those "happenings to chemical sprays used," By CARL WEISER Staff reporter WILMINGTON There was a time when the DuPont fungicide Ben-late was simply accused of ruining hundreds of farmers' crops and poisoning the soil. Those were the good old days.

The latest allegations against the besieged Benlate are as shocking as they are unsubstantiated: that Benlate can cause severe birth defects including Company wins case in W.Va A17 babies born without eyes. There is not a shred of scientific evidence supporting such claims. The U.S. and British governments say flat out it's not true. Speculation linking Benlate and birth defects "is being perpetuated by the media.

It's totally irresponsible," said Pat Getter, a DuPont spokeswoman. "There is a wealth of material that absolutely refutes this." 0 Christmas Weed I 11 1 1 till Wilt StSSIMB i I 1 1 IV Del. board OKs school deseg plan Conclusion of case expected by Feb. By SANDY DENNISON Staff reporter DOVER The tentative settlement of the New Castle County desegregation case won unanimous approval Thursday from the State Board of Education. Board president Paul R.

Fine said there's still "hard work ahead" winning consent from the four northern New Castle County school boards and the General Assembly. Federal court assent is also needed for the settlement to take effect. The agreement would declare the Brandywine, Christina, Colonial and Red Clay Consolidated Board: Teachers need help 8 Del. dropout rate levels off C19 school districts successfully desegregated and phase out requirements for racial balances. It also includes programs to address discipline and other issues, i Fine said he is optimistic the school boards and legislature will accept the agreement by the end of January.

The board did not discuss the settlement publicly. Fine said itheir deliberations were private because they involved legal ramifications, including what happens iif the agreement isn't ratified. Arthur W. Boswell, who made jthe motion to accept the agreement, said later the programs it includes will "be a tremendous for helping students. Before the negotiations, Boswell once chairman of the Coalition to Save Our Children, plaintiffs in the case had argued against end-'ing federal court oversight.

Joseph E. Reardon, who seconded the move, said, "Since I was involved in the beginning of this case, I'd love to see the conclusion I don't trust the courts too well to come up with a viable solution." Jean W. Allen said she was bothered by a provision ending the at-large election of school board members in the four districts. "I think there are other ways to put minorities on the board, but it was an all or nothing deal," she said. Claihourne D.

Smith said the programs will improve the achievement "of kids who typically have not gotten the same level of attention from a racial and ethnic point of view." By RUTH MARCUS The Washington Post WASHINGTON President Clinton Thursday named retired Adm. Bobby Ray Inman to replace departing Defense Secretary Les Aspin, and Inman quickly staked out his independence by saying he accepted the offer only after convincing himself he could feel comfortable working for Clinton. Announcing his selection in the Rose Garden as a drawn-looking Aspin stood by his side, Clinton described Inman, 62, as a man with "a reputation for penetrating Character, credibility hailed A4 Editorial: Inman will be better A18 analysis, strong leadership and a rock-solid commitment to this nation's security." "I know he will be a national asset as secretary of defense," Clinton said of Inman, who has held various business posts since leaving government 11 years ago. Inman has a reputation for bipartisanship, a theme Clinton has been increasingly emphasizing. One Clinton official said Aspin "eventually wants another administration position" and suggested a high-profile ambassadorial post.

"It would be his if he wanted it," one administration official said. "The message to him is tell us what you want to do and we'll work out something." Inman said he "did not want" the defense job but agreed to take it because of "duty and country." He said he decided to "give up a very happy and prosperous life" only after reaching "a level of comfort" with Clinton: "that we would work together, that I would be very comfortable as your secretary of defense." Inman said that as defense secretary he wanted to persuade the public that "we are getting a dollar value for a dollar spent." He described himself as "an operator, hopefully with a strategic view." Though administration officials took pains Thursday not to criticize Aspin's tenure or to draw comparisons, one senior official said Inman's self-assessment provided an apt summary of stylistic differences between the two men. 4 fJf. Name: Bobby Ray Inman. Birth date: April 4, 1931.

Education: Graduated from University of Texas in 1950, National War College in 1972. Experience: Spent 31 years in the Navy. Director of Naval Intelligence; vice director of plans and operations, Defense Intelligence Agency; director of National Security Agency; deputy director of CIA; president of Microelectronics and Computer Technology and chairman of Westmark Systems Inc. Family: Married to Nancy Carolyn Russo; sons Thomas and William. Quote: "I am an imperfect human being who has been provided many wonderful opportunities, none quite yet of the status of this.

I have not done all of them as well as I would like, but I have always worked hard at them, and I will work hard at this one." a 0' 1 i 5 Aspin had been criticized for ruminating out loud without reaching definitive conclusions. Inman, said one official, "brings both a military and a corporate background. I think he'll run the Pentagon a little bit more like a corporation than a think tank." The News JoumalDONAQHEY BROWN It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, even In the gutter. A wild fir tree, growing from a crack In Philadelphia Pike near the 1-495 entrance in Claymont, has been decorated, apparently by passing motorists. With hope, Santa Claus will make curbside stops this year.

Slawik jury still undecided IF" HIGH LOW Judge orders sting panel to resume deliberations today 45 27 Details on B2 whether they could consider en D1 Business B1 Sports By JERRY HACER and CELIA COHEN Staff reporters WILMINGTON A federal jury spent about two hours deliberating whether Melvin A. Slawik Sr. corrupted the New Castle County zoning process, but failed to reach a verdict Thursday. U.S. District Judge Sue L.

Rob- Classified D7 55hours: A18 Comics 26-27 Editorial Gift recyclers are well re-presented Associated Press NEW YORK The toilet seat imprinted with a college logo just didn't sit right with the recipient. The clothes brush shaped like a duck was gathering dust. These revelations came from a poll in which one in four Americans admitted having passed on to someone else a gift they received. Although some of the recycled presents were unusual, they were mostly household appliances, perfume, clothing and other ordinary goods, according to the poll sponsored by American Express Travel Related Services Co. A18 Crossword 25 Letters Obituaries C6 Movies inson did not sequester the jury of four women and eight men.

She ordered them to return today. Slawik said he felt confident. "The last person that sees anything accurately is the defendant, but) we should win," he said. Slawik, a former Democratic county executive, faces up to 33 months in jail if convicted of the two counts of bribery and one of conspiracy. He is the last defendant in Operation New Clean, an FBI corruption sting that already sent former Transportation Secretary Kermit Justice and his business associate to jail.

Early in deliberations, the jury sent a question to the judge, indicating that one juror wondered trapment as a defense. Robinson said no. The trial was so engrossing that some of the alternate jurors seemed reluctant to leave. Alternate jurors attend the trial but don't deliberate unless a regular juror is excused. Defense attorney Joseph A.

Hurley said that two of the three alternates had a drink with Slawik after they were dismissed. They returned to the courtroom when Robinson sent everyone home. Later, News Journal reporters saw one alternate who had a drink with Slawik conversing with two jurors while walking along King Street. The identities of the alternates Public Diary C3 People Scoreboard D4 Television 22 JOSEPH A. RICHARD G.

HURLEY, ANDREWS, defense attorney U.S. attorney couldn't be learned. Robinson hasn't acted on The News Journal's request for their names. The case went to the jury after Acting U.S. Attorney Richard G.

Andrews portrayed Slawik in closing arguments as someone who knew how to put in the fix, while Hurley characterized Slawik as a down-and-out politician who told "desperate little stupid See SLAWIK A17 i 5 1 In search of 55hours? The News Journal didn't forget your 55hours. Because of press considerations, 55hours is printed with Macy's and American Appliance sections. SELL WITH CLASSIFIEDS: 324-2424 or (800) 427-2424 HOME DELIVERY: 324-2700 or (800) 235-9100.