The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 23

TELEVISION, KAD10, Sl'OlUS, FINANCIAL AND COMICS Muter WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1972 SECTION IS 7S Site for part of future convention center aeon's to close its downtown store on Sept. 6 state revenue bond issue to finance construction of an exhibition center. Ford's office in Frankfort yesterday declined to comment on the contents of the governor's speech. Wilson Wyatt executive director of the LCA, responded that "you've asked a question I can't answer at this time" when queried about the possibility the governor will announce plans for a new convention center on the Bacon's site and other nearby property. Wyatt emphasized that Ford's speech would fall into the "major" category, however.

In January, Ford told the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce annual meet ing that his administration was exploring ways in which the state could take part in financing a downtown exhibition center. At that time the governor said financing possibilities included the issuance of revenue bonds that would give the state a return on its investment. A group of Louisville and Jefferson County leaders, including officials of the Chamber and LCA, early this year approached Ford with a plan that would use income from the proposed facility to pay off a bond issue in much the same manner toll roads are paid off. About 300 members of the LCA, a downtown group promoting the revitaliza- about 115,000 square feet of space. Bacon's has other stores in St.

Matthews and Shively, and in Jeffersonville, Ind. Asked about a potential tenant for the space the 127-year-old retailer is vacating, Dorethy said there have been rumors that the city is interested in the site for a convention hall. Gov. Wendell H. Ford is scheduled to deliver what has been called a "very important" speech regarding Louisville when he appears tomorrow night before the 13th annual meeting of Louisville Central Area, Inc.

(LCA). There has been speculation that Ford will propose an $18 million to $20 million tion of the central city, are expected at tomorrow's dinner meeting in Stouffer's Louisville Inn. In explaining the plans to close the downtown Bacon's store, Dorethy said the present 150 employes will be offered jobs in the Bashford Manor store and another 50 to 60 will be hired. New and expanded departments will be featured in the new facility, he added. Founded in 1845 by Jerry Bacon the store moved to its present Market street location in 1901.

Considered Kentucky's oldest department store, Bacon's was acquired in 1914 by Mercantile Stores, New York City. By JIM THOMPSON Courier-Journal Business Writer The closing of the J. Bacon Sons downtown store was announced yesterday amid rumors that the site may become part of a convention and exhibition center. Marvin Dorethy, manager of Bacon's, said the store at 332 W. Market will close Sept.

6. He added that the present facilities "aren't adequate for our future needs." A two-story Bacon's department store will open in the Bash-ford Manor Mall off Bardstown Road in late September. The downtown store has State commission sought to study mental health care 9 SSSST II ization represents a refreshing development. "However," the study continues, "the committee is of the opinion that the pendulum may have swung too far. "Admission to a mental hospital and an adequate length of stay still represent proper and often necessary methods of treatment.

The present and future policies for admission and treatment in mental hospitals merit careful and continuing review to insure that a balanced program, including adequate hospitalization, is presented." Among other conclusions, the study says that while Kentucky is the first in the nation to serve its entire population with community care centers, the state needs to "add adequate and high quality care in each of these centers. The study also notes that a state-by-state survey by the National Association for Mental Health in 1971 indicated that Kentucky was below average in expenditures of money on patients in mental hospitals. "A great deal of attention must be paid to the mental hospitals and the upgrading of both the expenditures per patient and the care provided for each patient," the study says. The report has been delivered in preliminary form to the governor's office, which declined comment on it. A formal presentation to Gov.

Wendell H. Ford is expected to follow the document's publication. Dr. Dale Farabee, state commissioner See STATE PAGE 11, col. 2, this section By CHRIS WADDLE Courier-Journal Staff Writer A new study of Kentucky mental health facilities and needs recommends that a high level commission be appointed by the governor to evaluate mental care in the state.

The study, which was begun four years ago by the Kentucky Association for Mental Health and the Kentucky Psychiatric Association, will be published this week. A copy was made available to The Courier Journal by the associations. A prime issue raised in the study involves trends in treatment: residential care in mental health hospitals versus out-patient and other services in community comprehensive care centers. The proposed commission would be expected to decide if one trend should predominate, according to Ashar S. Tullis, executive secretary of the mental health association.

While mental health care traditionally has taken place in state mental health hospitals, Kentucky over the past few years has been shifting much of its treatment emphasis to community care centers that feature out-patient care. Kentucky currently has state mental health hospitals in each of four geographical regions, in addition to the system of community care centers. Referring to the question of treatment methods, the study says: "The joint Survey Committee acknowledges the national trend of the past decade in reducing the resident population of mental hospitals. "We believe that reduction in hospital size and seeking alternatives to hospital Staff Photo by Frank Kimmel A challenge to the clouds TO MOTORISTS passing Louisville's Tyler Park yesterday, it Metropolitan Park and Recreation Board, squirted a few shots might have looked like John Ridge was trying to get the attention into the air while hosing clean the park's pool. Apparently nobody of somebody UP THERE.

Ridge, 19, a summer employe of the UP THERE heard, because he didn't get help from the clouds. Keeping afloat Couple's remodeled tugboat serves ivell as river home The down payment barely scratches the surface By SANDRA DUERR Courier-Journal Staff Writer It could be a "baby Belle" or a miniature oldtime riverboat with its two long, narrow black smokestacks and bright red and yellow paddlewheel. But it's not. Actually, "Claire-E," that colorful little boat that has been docked at the foot of Fourth Street the past two days, is a 50-year-old tugboat. It's hard to believe, but the inside of Gene and Claire Fitch's river home looks almost like any other home, except for a bundle of orange life jackets on a shelf.

Gene Fitch is quite pleased with his home. "We're even more enthused now than we were seven years ago when we first bought it and fixed it up," he says. "We wanted to buy a stern-wheeler for a long time," Fitch added. "Almost every kid wants to go down river on something like this and I'm one of the lucky ones who's gotten to," Fitch explained. The couple bought the old tugboat, "Diesel," for $2,500 and almost completely remodeled it.

Inside, the "Claire-E" is decorated with a combination of old-fashioned and modern furniture from a big black stovepipe reminiscent of a country general store to a miniature TV set. The Fitches obtained most of the furnishings from a hotel that was going out of business. "We're just trying to preserve a little bit of Americana," Fitch said as he showed his three-bedroom home and portable garage to some visitors. A garage? Yes, they've even fixed up a room on the foredeck for their Kar-mann-Ghia. Fitch chuckled as he mentioned the garage since it causes almost "We've never closed 'Claire-E' to the public.

Why, one time they were lined up 15 feet to come on board and we keep a register of all of them, or at least my wife does," Fitch adds. Gene and Claire Fitch anchored here for a few. days so Claire could drive home to Hebron, Ohio, for a visit. Fitch says they'll probably leave today to continue their river trek to Charleston, W. to compete with about six other boats in a race on the Kanawha River.

And then they'll continue on their way. Few people will know what type boat they're seeing that is, until Gene or Claire decides to toot their horn. Then, 'Claire-E" might be blowing her secret away it sounds too much like the foghorn of a tugboat. as much comment from people as the remodeled tugboat itself. A chart room is above deck, or upstairs.

An old gold iron steering wheel, about 2 12 feet in diameter, seems to dominate the room. Fitch explained that the "tugboat had air steering and we decided to put the wheel back on." Fitch says he and his wife have covered almost 5,000 miles traveling on rivers the past seven years. "You'd think it costs a lot to run, but it doesn't," Fitch says. "We use about 3,000 gallons of fuel and 2,000 gallons of drinking water a year." Fitch and his wife believe they're the first people ever to convert a tugboat into a stern-wheeler. They readily admit that they've attracted a lot of publicity.

"We've been on CBS twice and in magazines and papers all over." Fiscal Court action Beer sales to be allowed at 3 county golf courses he would respond eloquently, "stand four square on a round stump!" Werst on Best CORT BEST, New Albany, was vacationing with his family in the Northwest and in Minnesota they passed through a small town whose main street was Best Avenue. The largest building on Best Avenue was Werst Company. The proper name ADD THIS one to the ever-growing file of names that provide a perfect definition of profession: R. G. Livingood, minister of the First Baptist Church, Cold Spring.

Home grown monster No doubt you read the eye-popping story about the UK professor who claims to have seen a water monster at Herring-ton Lake. The report drew this comment in The Soot Blower, the newsletter circulated at the Kentucky Utilities Company power plant at Dix Dam, the barrier that creates the lake: "The Herrington Lake version of the Loch Ness monster, known as the Slouch Mess, has been discovered by a professor in Lexington. The Slouch Mess is supposedly shy of people and the only one of its kind. I believe the man who discovered it also is one of a kind." More monster NEWS OF the water monster at Herrington Lake caused Lance Mabry, editor of the of newspaper, to perform a great public service. Fearing Loch Ness-style boogers might be on the loose, at great personal risk he checked out Cochran Fountain on Belknap Campus and has certified it to be absolutely free of monsters.

The size of the fountain is 80 feet by 5 feet by 18 inches deen. BECAUSE IN this country people in all walks of life prefer to ride, the automobile has become an indispensable commodity to the vast majority of Americans. For instance, last year we spent more than $20 billion on new automobiles alone, but that sum, like the small exposed tip of the iceberg that can be seen, represented only a fraction of the total that was invested in wheels. I was curious as to how much it really costs to own and operate an automobile, so I did some research into the matter. I'm sorry I did because now I realize that a car will get you where you're going if it's the poorhouse.

From what I have learned, presuming the cost of licenses, insurance, gasoline, maintenance and such defy inflation and remain unchanged, it will cost the owner of a standard size 1972 automobile 13.55 cents per mile to operate his car. Thus, if he drives 10,000 miles a year, his cost, not including the original price of the car, will amount to $1,355. Since cars have a life expectancy of 10 years and 100,000 miles from assembly line to junk yard, that means the owner who buys a car new this year will shell out $13,552 before the old gas buggy has its last gasp. All of which reminds me of the old sayingand if there isn't any such old saying, I've just invented one that while one small jack can lift a car, it takes a lot of jack to keep it up. How's that again? SINCE politicians are forever being expected to take a stand on particular issues, it would seem necessary that they express their views in words that sound promising but which can't be held against them later.

That being the case, Joe Claunch, an Eastern Kentucky native who now lives in Louisville, recalls a candidate for sheriff in McCreary County years ago who parried every campaign question with an answer that certainly couldn't come back to embarrass him. By CHARLES BABCOCK Courier-Journal Staff Writer To a lot of golfers there's nothing like a cold, frosty beer after 18 holes on the course in a hot sun. Ever since the repeal of Prohibition, golfers on Louisville's five public courses have been able to enjoy their suds at the 19th hole. "Why, some fellows enjoy drinking their beer as much as the round of golf," says Joe Lally the pro at Seneca Golf Course, the city-county system's busiest. Now, after several years of trying, Jefferson County courses will be allowed to sell beer, too.

Jefferson Fiscal Court passed a resolution yesterday permitting $. a. i'iii'wi4 the Metropolitan Park and Recreation Board to enter into lease agreements with the golf pros at the courses. The pros would then apply for beer licenses. All the pros, that is, except Ken Diehl-man at Long Run, in the eastern part of the county.

Long Run, it seems, is in a "dry" voting precinct, so there'll be no beer sold there. Pros at the other county courses Chenoweth, Bobby Nichols, and Sun Valley all indicated yesterday that they will apply for beer licenses. At Bobby Nichols, on E. Pages Lane, pro Paul Cline said, "I'll definitely get one (a license). I've already got the forms filled out.

It'll mean more money for me, and I think attract more golfers to the county courses." Chenoweth pro Carl Owen said he thinks allowing beer in the pro shops will mean the Jeffersontown course will be cleaner. "I find beer cans all over my course now," he said. County Judge Todd Hollenbach said "it's only fair" that county golfers have the same beer privileges city golfers have had for nearly 40 years. It takes a minimum of 17 days to process a beer license, a spokesman for the state Alcoholic Beverage Control department in Frankfort said yesterday. So it's possible there'll be legal beer drinking at the three county courses before fall.

Beg your pardon Because of a reporting error, the name of Dr. William VonderHaar, a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education, was misspelled as Vonderharr in yesterday's Courier-Journal. Because of incorrect information from the funeral home, the name of Mrs. Maurine E. McCory Hayes was misspelled Hays in her obituary in yesterday's Courier-Journal.

Staff Photos by Ford Raid The tug of home GENE "Claire FITCH relaxes in the wheelhouse of his "home," the a remodeled tugboat docked at Louisville..